Mr. Tharoor, why tweet when you can write?

How will one feel about a company whose senior executives give conflicting statements in press release or discuss important company related issues on social networking sites. I am sure an action will be taken against them. Running a country is very similar to running a company. Taking that analogy, I don't find it surprising that Shashi Tharoor's latest tweeting has again landed him in trouble with his party colleagues and own ministry. Tharoor had questioned the tightening of visa rules in the backdrop of the David Headley case by tweeting. He was reprimanded for his gesture by India's external affair minister, SM Krishna.

There is nothing wrong with one expressing his/her opinion in a democracy like India. But being the Minister of State for External Affairs of a country comes with a huge responsibility. The demography of media has undergone a sea change today and social networking site is a gadget that needs to be used carefully. Most of the companies do not allow access to social networking sites in their office as it hampers productivity and nor are the employees allowed to discuss company's decision on Facebook or Twitter. To be fair to Tharoor, he was just voicing his opinion and trying an out of box method to change the system. The issue here is not Tharoor's opinion but the medium and language of expression. Being a seasoned journalist, he could have used the power of his pen to write a column justifying his reasoning or used his excellent oratory skills to do the job. Why make a callous remark in short forms on an informal media which stands exposed to any form of misinterpretation? Now, the valid reasoning behind his remark is somewhat lost and the whole focus has shifted to a non consequential issue.

Did Sacred Heart teach a lesson that we don't need to learn?

A lot has been written about Ruchika Girhotra, the 17 year old who committed suicide, three years after she was molested by the then Inspector General of Police S P S Rathore. Most of it makes us shameful of the existing corrupt system of India that protects the rich and powerful at all cost. But the silver lining comes in the form of the media pressure and the civil movement that has brought this case in limelight and is determined in making Rathore a social outcast and punishing him for his misdeeds. The conviction in Jessica Lal case has given an inspiration that will hopefully change the age old adage of public memory being short. The media has ensured that we don't forget Jessica, Priyadarshini Mattoo and Ruchika, at least, until the culprits are brought to the hook.

Many people and institutions have been accused of abetting Rathore's crime, but the most glaring for me is the school from which Ruchika was expelled. School is almost sacred in our lives because it is hugely responsible for shaping the minds of young lives and defining the future of our society. Sacred Heart, which is one of Chandigarh's most prestigious schools expelled Ruchika, driving her closer to her end. A school is supposed to help its students in distress, give them the emotional support and teach their other students the right value of fighting against injustice. The so called prestigious school has done exactly the opposite. What kind of lesson the students would have learnt in an institution which supports the hooligans and expels a hapless victim?

The definition of a good school has changed today. Parents want to send their kids to these prestigious schools most of which are convent schools, because they think these will mould their children into fine human beings. But do an English sounding name, over charged fees, great infrastructure, having celebrity children, teaching to rote to become high scorers in board exams, is all that makes a fine school? What happened to schools that cultivate creativity, teach harmony and not always competition, empathy towards your fellow classmates, drive to fight against injustice? Rabindrath Tagore's Shantiniketan taught us that maths, science, history, geography does not make a school. Hopefully the new age schools today will take an inspiration. I have a dream that one day I build a school where we can teach our children subjects beyond the boundaries of board exams. And when I realize that dream, I hope to take an inspiration from the right places.

Humara Bajaj - An end or a new beginning

Bajaj Auto announced this week, that it will exit the scooter market and stop producing its iconic Bajaj scooter. They plan to focus only on manufacturing motorbikes as they believe that the middle class symbol has changed from scooter to the bike. Bajaj Chetak and the jingle, 'humara bajaj' symbolized the Indian middle class of the 70s and 80s. The middle class has a come a long way since then and looks like the scooter brand could not catch up.

For me, Bajaj scooter is also a symbol of the license raj which did not permit the Indian households to own a luxury like a scooter or telephone or TV for a long time. Its also a symbol of the middle class wanting to break free from the shackles of the pseudo secular and pseudo social governments of the years post the independence. A look at the 'buland Bharat ki buland tasveer' may bring a lump in the throat of the generation that fought hard against the administration then, to realize their dreams. My father, being a part of that generation, to date considers owing a Bajaj Chetak then as one of his greatest achievements.

I see the end of Bajaj scooters as the beginning of a new era where the Indian middle class will hold the key to a better India tomorrow.

Saluting the Big B!!

I was never a Big B fan. Rather liked his son more than him. Of course like the entire world, I regard him has the biggest superstar India has produced. Add great acting skills to that and you have a living legend. Yet my not liking him had nothing to do with his acting or super stardom. Firstly, I have not grown up on his movies, so don't have that aura about him. Secondly, I was always put off by his diplomatic stance and the whole diplomatic front the whole family puts forth. Not being a big fan of diplomacy, I rather like people who say as they feel than ones who always put on a holier than thou mask.

But I can't help being super impressed with Mr. Bachchan after watching his superlative act in Paa. I haven't yet watched the movie and will catch it soon. But even during the promos, you can feel the effort this 65 year old man has put into this role. He has removed all traces of a superstar and has worn the mask of Auro like never before. Even in Black, in which his performance was hailed, I thought he was quite over-the-top compared to the natural subtleness rendered by Rani Mukherjee. But here, I can't help applauding everytime I watch the promos of Paa.

He clearly shows why he is the one and only one of the Indian film industry. After watching some of the stupid, inane, obnoxious ( and all the synonyms included) movies this year that have passed off as hits (Wanted, Ajab gajab whatever, alldbest...), I am sure Paa will be a welcome change if not for anything else, atleast for the performance of the Big Boss!!