In the brief moment it takes me to press the button of my choice on the voting machine, I become the master of our rulers and that feeling is exhilarating, though only in fleeting. Democracy above all forms of government is the most natural and enduring because in principle, every individual citizen is counted and respected.

Unfortunately, in our country, the power I wield is very ephemeral. Till I get another chance after 5 years at pressing that button again, the people whom I am supposed to have anointed to rule over my destiny run amuck. They amass wealth, plunder, and run rough-shod over the people on whose behalf they govern. During those 5 years, I become part of an amorphous, formless crowd. Let me tell you the sad story of Dr.Binayak Sen so that you may understand the other side of the dance of democracy.

Young Binayak wanted to be a doctor and he went to C.M.C, Vellore to do his M.B.B.S in 1966. He was a gold medalist and was selected to do M.D course in paediatrics. Here again he excelled and was among the top students. He then joined the faculty of the Centre for Social Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Though as a bright doctor the world was his for the asking, his idealism led him to join a rural health programme in Madhya Pradesh.

Later, he And his wife, Illina, a teacher, chose to go to rural Chattisgarh, to work with mine workers’ unions. The husband-wife team plunged headlong into various projects aimed at improving the rural health and education of the community. The tribal Adivasis lived in a world of abject poverty, injustice and a system that bred exploitation. He then worked for a salary of Rs.600.

Dr. Sen and his wife, Dr. Ilina Sen, founded Rupantar, a community-based organization aimed at training and supporting community health workers in several villages, fighting against alcohol abuse and violence against women. Dr. Sen has been involved in various other organizations committed to developing a low-cost, effective, community health programme in the tribal and rural areas of Chhattisgarh. He holds the postion as the Vice President of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

It soon became clear to him that health of the community he sought to serve was linked to organized movement towards attainment of human rights. He raised his voice against human rights violations and the fake encounters involving supposed Maoists. He also spoke up against the war waged by the government of Chhattisgarh against the adivasis in Dantewara in the name of Salwa Judum which is an army of private citizens armed and supported by the government supposedly to fight the menace of the Maoists. What Salwa Judum initiative has achieved is to pit Adivasis against Adivasis and break their bond and unity.

On 14 May 2007 Dr Binayak Sen was arrested and thrown into a Raipur prison on trumped up charges of supporting Naxal activity in Chhattisgarh. He is charged under various draconian laws pertaining to sedition, waging war against State under various sections of the repressive Chhatisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005 and the Unlawful Activities Act, 2004 (Amended) and various sections of the IPC. He has been denied bail though the case against him is very weak. To compound matters, Dr.Sen has a weak heart condition and he has been denied permission to get treated in Vellore Medical Mission hospital.

Two years of continuing sentence in jail is the price a non-violent, peace loving Dr.Binayak Sen has paid for giving three decades of his life for the sake of the poor and the voiceless. It is a shame that we in India allow a person like him to be sent to jail while carrying on our shoulders some elected looters and murderers masquerading as our leaders. Just as we celebrate the greatness of our democracy through these elections, Dr.Sen’s case should prick our conscience. In this case, the less said about the Indian judiciary, the better. It has repeatedly denied Dr Sen bail for two years.

Is it not frightening when the state wages a war against its own citizens and the rights of the individual is confined only to the constitution? What is even more depressing is that Dr.Sen is a non-issue for most of us Indians.

There is a nice quote from Martin Niemoller to wake us up. “First they came for the Jews. I was silent. I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists. I was silent. I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists. I was silent. I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me. There was no one left to speak for me.”

At the heart of democracy is the right of the Individual. The rights of the individual should last beyond the act of voting. It should last a life time. We have a long way to go.

Image Credit: contact@binayaksen.net

Popularity: 47%

Ghajini

Produced by: Geetha Arts
Directed by: AR Murugadoss
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi
Music: AR Rahman
Audio on: T-Series
Starring: Aamir Khan, Asin, Ziah Khan

Aamir Khan should be appreciated for trying to break away from routine films. This time it is Ghajini, a remake of a Tamil hit starring a south Super Star Surya and Asin. Aamir successfully managed to keep up with Surya’s looks in the Tamil Version. Here’s a glimpse for you:

Images Courtesy: Wikipedia and The Hindu

Lets now jump straight to our topic, music.

This is the fifth score from AR Rahman this year and this time he teams up with Prasoon Joshi. Music for the Tamil version was by Harris Jayraj and was a big hit. I personally have couple of favorite tracks in the Tamil Version and I was eagerly looking forward to Rahman’s take on this movie. Gladly, I am not disappointed. On a track to track comparison, Behka Behka is the only track where Harris version is better. Rahman trumps the rest. Read take of few others on these two versions here.

I have mentioned in my earlier review of Yuvvraaj that usually Rahman’s music grows on you. Same is the case with Ghajini. However for a change these are a few tracks in this album which are instantly likeable.

Let’s get straight to the tracks.

Tu Meri Adhoori:
The album opens with this track and guess what it is likeable right from the first note. The track progresses very smoothly and again Javed Ali does a good job. Sonu Nigam lends his vocals and does that very well. Made me wonder why Rahman had to put to use two great voices for this track. Hey but again he has his way of making songs sound wonderful. Scores (10/10)

Aye Bacchu:
Stylish song Suzanne sang the song with exhilarting spirit. Very western and peppy. Short song, but impressive.
Scores (9/10)

Kaise Mujhe:
Soulful track in the album. Benny Dayal and Shreya Ghosal are superb. The haunting rhythm of the song doesn’t leave you once you listen to this. Lyrics are strictly ok, Prasoon Joshi seems to be running out of his stock. The music and excellent vocals make up for them. Scores (9/10)

Behka Behka:
I personally felt this song is the weakest perhaps because I love the song for this situation in the Tamil Version. But I saw the song in the TV the other day and it felt much better with accompanying visuals. Rahman has used Saxophone again after the Jazz number from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, but it doesn’t sound as well as it did in the latter. Overall this song sounds just about ok. Karthik, I felt is unimpressive on this track.
Scores (7/10)

Latto:
My favourite track in the album. Shreya Ghosal is outstanding in this track. Shreya sings this with lots of energy. I had an impression that Sunidhi is best for such songs, but Shreya is just too good in this song. The music and instrumentation is superb and is no less to any R&B tracks say of Rihanna or anyone else. Score (10/10)

Kaise Mujhe – Instrumental
Instrumental version of Kaise Mujhe.

Needless to say Ghajini is yet another success for Rahman this year after Jodha Akbar, Yuvvraaj, Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na and Ada.

Overall Score: 9/10

This year was a great year for all music lovers with five albums from AR Rahman. Now that we have all the releases for the year for Rahman. I wanted to provide a overall rating for his releases this year.

Top 1: Jodha Akbar 10/10
Top 2: Yuvvraaj 9.5/10
Top 3: Ghajini 9/10
Top 4: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na 9/10
Top 5: Ada 7/10

If it weren’t Rahman’s releases, there aren’t any albums this year to write home about. Wish there could be so releases every year from Rahman!

Popularity: 22%

The SHOW DADDY series is back …and this time I intend to finish off and show you what SHOW DADDY is all about.  We talked about the various steps that help you take the right path…Below are the last 2 in the series..

9. Yearn for excellence

Excellence is a habit. Excellence is an addiction. Excellence is what all of us crave for, irrespective of what our individual fields are, what our background is and what yearn to become one day. The urge to perform under pressure, to deliver beyond expectations and to think beyond the obvious itself helps you in putting yourself much ahead of others. This not only helps you in your career as an employee, but also in your family life as a supportive husband, father, son etc.

If you have the eagerness, the right skillsets and the urge to excel, there is nothing that can stop you. Having said that it is important to note how you can use this skillsets to manage your time. Here’s how. If you have the urge to succeed, you will find yourself time invariably to do what you always loved. This will put yourself ahead of others and it is this advantage that will carry you through.  

Yearn for excellence instills in you a habit of perpetual optimism resulting in quick and quality turnaround time which eventually save you time.

10. Get organized

Rahul has been told that he works too hard. He has been told that he doesn’t take care of his family. He has been told that he is too fat for his age, too fat for his height and more than anything else, too fat for his job. He was told that he was too much of a bore when it comes to walking and talking. That he was a failure written all over.

Well, ask Rahul and he wouldn’t deny any of these. But he never gave up. He is somewhere in between trying to balance the dreams and the unwanteds of his life

That was the story of Rahul a couple of years back before he put his career back on track. And today there is no looking back. If he has had such an experience, I am sure there are many who would too. Most of us go through similar situations and do not know what to do in such circumstances.

Here are a few tips that changed Rahul’s life, for the better in many ways than one.

• Rahul understood that his 5 senses needed more sensibility. So he listened to their needs – His music, his child, his family, his food and of course, the scent of a woman (read the wife) helped him bring back his senses
• He answered to his physical and emotional needs.
• Rahul harnessed his intellectual needs
• Rahul cared for the needy and respected the elders

In short, Rahul gave to himself what he needed most – the power to organize himself so that every need of his is met without him losing the focus. Rahul was reborn !

If you didnt get it still, here is a gist – Get organised. Get what you want !!!

Popularity: 7%