"Which one do you think would do a better job in reducing global warming: the government, through laws intended to reduce the output of greenhouse gases, or businesses, through competition in the market system?"

Global Warming, a phenomenon, which has started showing its effects, needs to be countered soon. Increasing earth’s temperature, rising sea levels, change in the amount and pattern of precipitation, tsunami and earthquakes, are all after-effects of Global warming. I believe, the larger accountability lies with the Government rather than businesses. Government, through stricter laws can ensure lower emission of greenhouse gases. Also, by incorporating systematic plans to reduce pollution can help world diminish the effects of Global Warming.
Governments especially of developed and developing nations should prepare a 10-20 year plan of imposing stricter laws. This would also allow businesses to adapt within a time frame, and will help them remain competitive. Businesses cannot be hold responsible for reducing global warming, as their primary goal is to achieve sustainable growth and profits. Governments are socially elected and thus are more accountable such social concerns. Also, global warming being a worldwide phenomenon; can be handled only by joint efforts of all the nations. Businesses can only support these efforts in the long run.

Kayastha ki Ladki, Brahmin ka Ladka…

Colors Channel has learnt the trick, how to woo the Indian family audiences. Beating all the other channels behind, Colors’ strategy of mixing main stream family drama with social messages, is proving to be their trump card. Replicating real life issues on small screen and after astounding success of “Baalika Vadhu”, Colors latest venture “Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam” has been an instant success. The tagline “Kayastha ki Ladki, Brahmin ka Ladka…” has brought in many eyeballs to this program. Issues in inter-caste marriages and families giving more importance to petty rites and rituals, without even understanding the essence of it, has been portrayed in the serial. Through this serial, Colors have also tried to catch-hold of the younger audiences, as most of them face the similar problems.

“This is the story of Abeer and Leher's love set against the background of caste politics and class differences. The story unfolds in the picturesque town on Lucknow where a Brahmin's son Abeer falls for a Kayasth's daughter Leher. The show tells the often heard though never-seen-before love story of people from different castes battling their own families and the society in order to unite. The story is a scathing critique on our country's obsession with caste and class.”

“Yeh Pyaar Naa Hoga Kam” program at Colors Channel has brought me back to daily soap dramas. The show reminds me of my hometown back in Uttar Pradesh. It’s a place where everything is divided into castes and classes, from families to politics. The story and screenplay is very realistic and I can vouch for it, as I am able to identify with the characters and situations. One feels the pinch, when things like dowry are discussed; taunts are made over other castes; rituals are given more importance over people, and relatives getting baffled on receiving cheaper gifts during marriages. It is mesmerizing to see such real life drama on television, which everyone must have witnessed in some or other marriage. At-least I have seen my very close relatives doing that. One feels the romance, when the protagonists discuss their issues in backlanes of Ganj on their adjoining roofs, in chilly winters. One feels proud, when families find help from unexpected corners, when their close relatives failed to do so.
I hope this serial will spread the right message and bring some change in the mindsets of people, who are still stuck in castes and classes. I will suggest everyone to experience “Yeh Pyaar Naa Hoga Kam” on Colors. If not entertaining, it would surely be a learning experience.

Mast Kalandar - Bengaluru

Working Singles like me are really handicap when it comes to good food. Girls still are able to manage their food, as generally they are good cook themselves. But a lazy guy like me, who does not know anything about cooking except Maggi, tends to search and research for good food joints. For us, a breakfast is an alien territory. And for lunch, we are dependent on home-made food brought by married office colleagues to fulfill our taste palettes. We look for food, which tastes yum, is lighter on my wallet, and some nutritional value. Moreover being a vegetarian, leaves me with minimal choices.

Mast Kalandar can solve all your food related issues in Bangalore. Mast Kalandar, is a vegetarian food joint with north Indian dishes at affordable prices. Its interiors are youthful and trendy. Its value-for-money meals are well packaged and interestingly named. It has variety of options from Punjabi dishes to Rajasthani dishes. If you are planning to visit their joints during peak hours in weekends, then forget about it. You can see people waiting in a queue outside their food joints during peak hours.

Mast Kalandar is been positioned well. It’s been targeted at the north Indian living in south India. Mast Kalandar has never lost its focus of catering to their target market even after their resounding success. Word of mouth marketing has helped the food joint to grow from 1 food-joint to 7 food-joints in the city in just 3 years.

I would recommend Mast Kalandar to every north Indian vegetarian.

Visit http://www.mastkalandar.com/

The Top Seven - Movies 2009

The year 2010 saw 240 movie releases in bollywood, mostly in the latter half of the year. The year started with disappointments like Delhi 6 and multiplex strike. But ended on a high note with Aamir’s 3Idiots grossing 93cr in the very first weekend.
Here are top seven hindi movies as my personal favorites, released this year.

1. Kaminey
2. 3 Idiots
3. Paa
4. Rocket Singh : The Salesman of the year
5. 13B
6. Luck By Chance
7. All The Best

These movies are irrespective of the fact of their commercial success. These are few movies which I would like to watch again. They made me laugh, they made me cry, they made me think.
 
Which are your favorite friends?

Year 1999 to 2009: From Human to Machine

My weekdays are quite simple. It’s full of work, with professional and family issues, a tired day and 8hrs of sleep! And weekends are spent in watching movie, networking with friends, washing and cleaning etc. But still far far away from mental peace. I have been running after success all these years (thanks to social and parental pressure). And realized, success is yet very far, but in the process, I lost… Myself.

Music was something that had always helped me in connecting me with my soul. Singing used to be my passion, Sonu Nigam, Rafi, Kishore Da etc. used to be demi-gods. Used to love singing for hours and hours. I used to listen to different songs, write their lyrics, and practice those songs. Everyone used to love my voice and my singing. Even though I have never learnt music, it was something that came naturally to me.

Interestingly, I was never the music buff. But in class 7th, school compulsorily asked everyone to attend activity classes. There were typography, computers, dancing, painting, electronics classes etc. I chose music, because there used to be no music teacher in my school in those days. I thought, it would be good to attend music classes as they would be free periods. I would use that time to finish my homework.

But the very day, a music teacher joined, Ms. Pratima Kumar. Every student was shocked. As they always thought, that music classes would be free time. Prathima Ma’am called every student one by one to sing “Hey Sharde Maa”. We all used to sing this song daily in our assembly. After everyone was over, she called me and Sumit Rathore to the stage. We were bit terrified. She announced, they were the best singers, as they struck the near perfect chords. I never looked back. Prathima ma’am was my motivation, my first Guru. She helped me in improving my singing skills, with Dice Sir who was an expert in English music. Soon I was among the best singers in my school. Next, I wanted to learn classical, I wanted to be trained.

In early class 12th, I asked my dad, “I don’t want to study. I want to be a singer. I want to learn music. ” My dad replied, “Finish up your board exams, become an engineer. Once you are successful, do whatever you want to pursue your ambitions.” His point of view was logical. But soon I realised that there is no connection between Passion and Logic.

So here I am today. I am an engineer, MBA, marketer, and yet “Nothing”. First engineering, then interviews, then MBA preparation, MBA, and now job. After 10 years of hardships, I realized, I couldn’t sing. I need to start afresh to polish my skills. I have lost the gift of God.

Programs like Indian Idol, Saregamapa, and Amul Voice of India, bring tears to my eyes, when I saw someone else fulfilling my dreams. Thanks to loved ones around me, as they keep motivating me to continue singing. And I even want to!

But thanks to the last decade, as I am more a machine now than a human. Emotions, aspirations and talent, all are lost in the process to be a machine, like everyone.