http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/As the rolling camera captures it all...without bias, without guilt, without fear; Just absorbs. Gulps it down. Stores. This blog captures my thoughts, my moments of joy, sorrow, anger, pain in its pages for me to relive these moments days, months and years later. Hope you like them. en-AUMokoFeed10http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/23/63e011f93852421916e2f57d1638a2_160x200.jpghttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/11/08/corelation-7329417/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-11-08:/2009/11/08/corelation-7329417/Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:42 +0100 <p> At the very beginning let me tell you that I am not a very mathematically/ statistically oriented person. In fact I hate both. I don’t think that life is a formula and if life is not a formula nothing else that revolves around life can be either. </p> <p>But, I must say that I love the term correlation normally used by statisticians. To me it simply means the relation between two or more objects and changing one affects the other. </p> <p>So simple; yet such a powerful concept…</p> <p>In fact I think everyone and everything is correlated. </p> <p>See for example when all the manufacturing in the world shifts to china…it means other countries losing jobs…and the Chinese gaining those jobs </p> <p>When American economy slows down, the world gets into recession.</p> <p>In a nutshell, in this world everyone and everything is interconnected by an invisible bond…you fiddle with one and the other gets affected consciously or unconsciously…strange</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/11/08/corelation-7329417/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>mathsbondcorelationhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/11/08/corelation-7329417/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/shantaram-6731539/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-08-15:/2009/08/15/shantaram-6731539/Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:53:45 +0200 <p>I had heard a lot about this book called Shantaram written by an Australian convict who escaped prison and took shelter in the Bombay slums in the eighties and wrote his experience of the city. </p> <p>I finally read it. </p> <p>The first reaction was: this man must be the reincarnation of the Papillion writer Henry Chariere… because both are very similar kind of people; men who had great powers but just happened to use them in the wrong way that got them into trouble. </p> <p>The book is brilliant. Simply brilliant and his creativity is out of this world. </p> <p>Shantaram made me think that we are all a bundle of contradictions. We all have love and hate within us. We can be helpful and harmful at the same time. There is good and evil living inside us. We have the power to choose whether to heal or harm depending on the situation. We are good and bad at the same time. </p> <p>A marvelous book, superbly written. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/shantaram-6731539/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>shantarammumbai-underworldgregory-david-robertshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/shantaram-6731539/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/23/dove-beauties-6372035/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-06-23:/2009/06/23/dove-beauties-6372035/Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:42:35 +0200 <p>The soap brand Dove keeps talking about inner beauty. A beauty that’s natural. Not influenced or enhanced by artificial ways to make one beautiful. </p> <p>Yesterday I saw some real beauties. Two girls I met, appeared beautiful to me not because they were good looking but because they were beautiful in their thoughts and passionate about their own beliefs. </p> <p>These two girls were in their early twenties and they ran a NGO on their own with volunteers who were not older than they were. And they were so passionate about it. And it reflected in their voice, in their eyes and that made them beautiful. </p> <p>May be they are just starting out. May be that they are just touching very small population in a small way but as they say with every drop an ocean gets formed, I hope too that these wonderful young ladies make it big some day. </p> <p>I am really impressed ladies. Keep up the good work. And if I ever have the chance to choose models for Dove, you can be certain that you two will feature on my shortlist </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/23/dove-beauties-6372035/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>social-workdoveyouthhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/23/dove-beauties-6372035/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/21/what-is-life-6355914/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-06-21:/2009/06/21/what-is-life-6355914/Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:10:59 +0200 <p>I think it is a question that has tormented mankind for centuries. People have spent their lifetimes thinking about the question. A dead person mostly has all the body parts of a living man minus the life. Only difference is that the heart does not beat, the lungs don’t breathe, the brain stops working. But what makes all these organs work? Work in a way that we breathe, we laugh, we cry, we enjoy, we socialize, we cry?</p> <p>I wish I had the answer….today when I saw an accident on the road and saw a dead couple, I thought of the same question, question that refuses to leave the subconscious mind of any man, always waiting to get surfaced. And torment us. Like a hidden fear. Just like a shadow.</p> <p>The couple was as alive as me may be a few minutes before. They must have enjoyed and planned their life like I do. But a few moments later they are gone. Forever; never to enjoy the worldly pleasures and pains….</p> <p>It is so complicated the state of being called life. I wish some day some smart hacker hacks into the creator’s system and cracks the code for life. So that just as we plant a virus in a system. Just as we planted a virus in an alien ship in the film independence day, we will be able to plant lives in human beings. In dead bodies, in statues and in which ever form we wish to. But I guess its wishful thinking and may never happen. As we have with our art of science spoilt the universe to the extent that the polar caps are on the verge of melting and making us extinct. If we manage to give lives on our own I don’t know what that will lead to. But the possibility sounds impressive. What say? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/21/what-is-life-6355914/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>life-beyond-deathlifesciencehttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/06/21/what-is-life-6355914/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/innocence-isn-t-dead-yet-5845391/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-03-28:/2009/03/28/innocence-isn-t-dead-yet-5845391/Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:25:31 +0100 <p>Growing up is the death of innocence in most cases. The childlike innocence that we had as children is methodically slaughtered by our education and our process of becoming a grown up. I am sure the innocence that you felt as someone gifted you a toy as a small child, you don’t feel any more. And it has happened as we are brain washed to not look too curious, too eager or too happy in order to look “cool”. </p> <p>The same happens with societies I guess. The underdeveloped countries to some extend manage to retain that innocence as they are deprived. And as they start developing, the innocence is usually replaced with the arrogance of taking things for granted. And that is the beginning of the death of innocence. And most countries that are developed have killed their innocence in a similar fashion. </p> <p>So I was surprised yesterday when I went shopping in a mall and saw a very innocent family buying their first music system. I was really touched. And felt that yes there is hope. We have not become innocence less yet.</p> <p>It was a family of five. They came from lower economic class. They must have saved the money for many months to make that purchase. And that showed in the satisfaction on their faces when they picked up the parcel and walked away from the counter. The entire family was charged and excited. Also the innocent questions they asked touched me. I am so happy that even today we have so many innocent people around. Who are having that sparkle in their eyes which we call foolishness as we think we are intellectuals. But, to me that is life…the eagerness to be happy with the small things. </p> <p>Seeing people like these I feel that there is still hope for mankind. We are not dead just yet. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/innocence-isn-t-dead-yet-5845391/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>innocencehttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/03/28/innocence-isn-t-dead-yet-5845391/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/true-lies-ii-starring-ramalinga-raju-of-satyam-5356385/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2009-01-10:/2009/01/11/true-lies-ii-starring-ramalinga-raju-of-satyam-5356385/Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:28:28 +0100 <p>I had seen an ad sometime back which said that the power of one is the power to do something, anything. And it had the picture of Mahatma Gandhi and his followers at the famous Dandi march. I think it was for the whisky brand Johny Walker. </p> <p>I have seen the power of it, but alas in the most negative sense I have dreamt of. As one man’s lies has had the potency to rattle so many people, companies and lives.</p> <p>A few days back, one of the top four Indian software companies, Satyam, reported a huge scam. It was the confession of one man Mr. Raju, which rocked the company and the nation. And unfortunately, the company is called Satyam (truth in Sanskrit) </p> <p>One man’s greed (I don’t know if it was mistake, though it sounds impractical for a man of his stature) has disgraced the whole country, has spoiled the reputation of an entire industry and country. And not to mention the 53000 employees and millions of share holders who are shattered. </p> <p>He has ruined the reputation of a sector that was carefully built over the last two decades.</p> <p>They say troubles never come alone. I guess after recession and stock market crash, this scam was the only thing that this country needed to lower the already down morale of the nation. Come on God, we have had enough, please help us salvage the economy, both global and Indian. Please please help.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/true-lies-ii-starring-ramalinga-raju-of-satyam-5356385/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>satyamrajuramalingahttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/true-lies-ii-starring-ramalinga-raju-of-satyam-5356385/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/in-search-of-the-perfect-world-5262805/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-12-23:/2008/12/23/in-search-of-the-perfect-world-5262805/Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:45:53 +0100 <p>As a citizen of this world, a world that is so complete in terms of resources, technological advancements and the comforts, when I see the suffering and unhappiness that we all are going through, I feel like the young Gautam seeking so many answers. </p> <p>Just as the young prince Gautam was shattered by the sorrow around, I am shattered to see so many people starving, suffering and dying, when we all can be happy in this world. It’s so surprising and it’s so amazing that we have learned so many things over the thousand years of our existence but we have not learnt to be happy. We have not being able to make this world perfect. </p> <p>I feel that the beginning of the perfect world would start with answer to one question, a question that each one of us needs to answer, to ourselves; and that is “What is it that we want from our lives?” </p> <p>Most of us are spending our lifetimes to answer this and in the end we feel that we have not done what we wanted to all our lives.<br> May be we should start the process of introspection right now. Seek the answers within. Delve inside us and the answer might just be glaring at us.<br> And may be when we can all live the perfect life, the life that we want to live and the way we want to live, can together make this a perfect world. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/in-search-of-the-perfect-world-5262805/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>lifehappinesspropsperityhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/in-search-of-the-perfect-world-5262805/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/mumbai-no-more-business-as-usual-please-5123887/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-11-28:/2008/11/28/mumbai-no-more-business-as-usual-please-5123887/Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:18:23 +0100 <p>I think Mumbai’s resilience is its biggest enemy. And life comes to normal forgetting the rough times in minutes. We, the people of Mumbai, are living like machines, machines that only know to add value to the balance sheets of the companies that we work for, and living for the next tragedy to strike us. We live to die another day. </p> <p>Yesterday more than 125 people died and around 800 people got injured. For what? Today we are back to work as in Mumbai its business as usual, going to offices with our iPods and phones plugged in our ears as if nothing happened.</p> <p>No Mumbai, it’s not business as usual. It’s time to introspect. It’s time to do things that will not make us helpless sufferers in the future. Let us look at steps that will secure our futures and the futures of our loved ones.</p> <p>Come on Mumbai. Wake up, before the next tragedy hits us. Wake up. Please. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/mumbai-no-more-business-as-usual-please-5123887/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>mumbaihttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/mumbai-no-more-business-as-usual-please-5123887/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/25/humour-fun-pj-5102335/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-11-25:/2008/11/25/humour-fun-pj-5102335/Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:36:22 +0100 <p>In times of recession and economic slowdown…attempting some original PJs*</p> <p>1) The Indian population kept saying ”O baba” and “O Ma” all these years whenever they had trouble. So the greedy Americans wanted to try it out but in combination so they cried “O BAMA” </p> <p>2) When Indians face problems they call Mr. Khiladi. When Americans have problems they call Ms. Hillary</p> <p>3) Agar chuha bill mein chupta hai toh bill kahan chupta hai? Monika ke dil mein</p> <p>4) Why did George W Bush have problems in foreign relations from the very beginning…cos he always started by saying “AMBUSH”</p> <p>5) What is the South film producers saying after recent films have flopped? RajniCan’t. RajniCan’t </p> <p>6) What will Jaylalitha call her party if it focuses only on dalits? Jayadalitha</p> <p>7) To clean your house – Get Colin. To clean your bank account - Get Palin. </p> <p>8) Why did Jerry Yang reject bill gates’ offer? Cos when he said I am jerry from yahoo bill asked Ya? Who?</p> <p>9) If the film “dil se” is to be remade, it will be called “man se” starring big B</p> <p>10) If Anil Ambani bought over the Nano project, it will be called the Big Nano </p> <p>11) If Microsoft took over Wonderbra, what will be the new entity called? Microwonders/ Softwonders</p> <p>*I claim to be the worst in Poor jokes. but if these are already common with someone else's PJ please laugh and move on. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/25/humour-fun-pj-5102335/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pjfunhumourhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/25/humour-fun-pj-5102335/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/19/ambanised-bollywood-5061107/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-11-19:/2008/11/19/ambanised-bollywood-5061107/Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:18:01 +0100 <p>They say that films mirror the society. And, one of the biggest influencers of the modern times for India has been the late Dhirubhai Ambani, a man who made into the billionaire club from scratch. And, inspired an entire nation in the process.</p> <p>He loved to think big. And it seems that he has inspired the new generation film makers of the country as well. Gone are the times of Satyajit Ray when you showed the plight of rural India, the India that was struggling to find its place in the globe post independence. Today films talk of characters who spend lavishly to entertain their girlfriends and who take copters to show their love around Australia. Indians don’t consider themselves poor anymore, atleast in the latest films made in India.</p> <p>I think it is very essential for people to see India as a modern nation. India as a country is today seen as an IT major and ITES major. We therefore cannot afford to have the image created by the films of Ray. Those days are gone. And the new times demand a different focus. And the filmmakers of today have understood and responded well to the needs to their audience and times.</p> <p>But I have a feeling that Mr. Ambani, the great Dhirubhai Ambani, is the catalyst to it all. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/19/ambanised-bollywood-5061107/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>ambanidhirubhaiindian-filmshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/19/ambanised-bollywood-5061107/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/12/we-the-citizens-of-the-world-5021131/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-11-12:/2008/11/12/we-the-citizens-of-the-world-5021131/Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:01:05 +0100 <p>The world is moving at a great pace<br> With America having now a coloured face<br> With global giants shutting shops<br> My brethren around the world are many out of jobs</p> <p>In the times of such deep recession and crises<br> And with OPEC countries cutting oil production leading to hike in prices<br> Zimbabwe struggling to fight inflation<br> As for a few thousand dollars today, one could buy out the entire nation</p> <p>Why is the world facing situations like these?<br> With people tense, angry and obese<br> Looking for solutions that aren’t there<br> Or may be we just stopped looking as we don’t care</p> <p>We, the citizens of the world, need to introspect<br> And obey the rules of nature and show respect<br> By trying to play intelligent games with natures’ resources<br> We unleashed the wrath of nature’s forces</p> <p>I think there is still time and hope<br> To save the world from going down the slope<br> By thinking that we are all in it together<br> By living in peace without bothering one another</p> <p>Lets all enjoy this beautiful world<br> Made of platinum, gold and emerald<br> Let’s do something that will take us miles ahead<br> As a civilization, to be pondered over long after we are dead. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/12/we-the-citizens-of-the-world-5021131/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>recessionworld-economyopecusobamahttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/11/12/we-the-citizens-of-the-world-5021131/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/31/madhur-bhandarkarsfashion-4959918/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-10-31:/2008/10/31/madhur-bhandarkarsfashion-4959918/Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:26:31 +0100 <p>They say that one works all one’s life to get famous, only to wear dark glasses to avoid getting noticed. So true. </p> <p>I think the story of Fashion is set on the right background, the background of middle class India, where people want to live like the rich and powerful thinking that money is the solution to all their problems. Hence, they flock for all the reality shows and every opportunity that might make them famous.</p> <p>But, most of them are not aware that how much pain and how much work goes behind looking good 24X7. And most of these people crumble under the pressure that success carries with it. And a Madhur Bhandarkar makes a Fashion on their life stories. </p> <p>That’s the story of fashion, backed by some fabulous performances by the leading actors. And somewhere at some point in the movie you will feel that you have also passed through the same indecisiveness in your life. Or have seen someone close to you go through it. That’s what touches the most and makes the story so real. </p> <p>It’s also a story of triumph against all odds. Of getting up and running every time you fall. </p> <p>But I love the end the most. It ends with the thought that we are never told the price we need to pay for our dreams. So true. As today most Indians are living their dreams to suddenly realize the baggage that comes with their dreams is not what they had foreseen and are forced to live with that weight on their shoulders, even as they smile to the outside world flaunting their success.</p> <p>And then the nagging pain within starts that takes you to places where you have never been before and makes you go through hell. A hell that only few can recover from.<br> That’s fashion for you guys. Please watch it. It’s success from a different point of view.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/31/madhur-bhandarkarsfashion-4959918/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>madhur-bhandarkarfashionhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/31/madhur-bhandarkarsfashion-4959918/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/10/opulentcelebrationsandindia-4850356/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-10-10:/2008/10/10/opulentcelebrationsandindia-4850356/Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:01:44 +0200 <p>I love celebrations in India and like them grand. Be it the Durga Puja or the Navratri or the mega weddings. I just love opulence.</p> <p>Opulence makes me feel good about the time. It makes me feel that the air around is positive hence people are spending without a worry.</p> <p>It also has a very deeper meaning for me. It is percolation of wealth, or the process of job creation and employment that the opulence brings with it.</p> <p>This is the time when the poor gets a chance to sell his hand made work without competing with the machine produced. And earn to get his daughter married. Or buy new clothes for the village panchayat darbar. Also it is the time when the generations old forgotten traditions and crafts are given a chance to survive and compete for attention. </p> <p>The more the opulence, the better it is for the economy. So, three cheers to celebrations!!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/10/opulentcelebrationsandindia-4850356/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>indiapoojasnavratridurga-pujacelebrationshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/10/10/opulentcelebrationsandindia-4850356/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/22/indian-childrain-4762756/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-09-22:/2008/09/22/indian-childrain-4762756/Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:35:17 +0200 <p>When the indian media went ballistic screaming on top of their voices that India is shining, the young boys continued to work at the tea stall or beg on the streets to feed themselves and family.</p> <p>A lot of children are draining their childhood and becoming adults very early or rather before time. </p> <p>Just as a premature baby is dangerous, a premature man is dangerous too. A man has to travel through each and every stage of life and a man without childhood is a very dangerous man. </p> <p>So when I see the children begging or working in the sun instead of playing or attending school, I wonder the future of the country and our future generations and the frustration that these children would be bottling up within them.</p> <p>The frustration that will grow with them exponentially making them lethal. As the society kills their childhood with hatred and oblivion, someday they will kill the society's fabric. Bit by bit. </p> <p>The more you hate them the more it will come back to you with more potence. We are not helping them to learn to be a part of the society and tomorrow when they turn against the society we will suffer. Suffer the bombs they will make and the murders they will commit. and the 9/11s they will create. It will be our fault all the while for not guiding them from the beginning. </p> <p>The seeds of hatred would have bloomed in their fertile imagination and turn devilish, which will be sowed by our very hands now. </p> <p>They say prevention is better than cure. We are not even thinking cure when we should begin with prevention. Let us start somewhere. with someone.</p> <p>I hope that there are some people who are selflessly trying to do something good for these cursed little creatures else our cumulative hatred towards them may pollute our lives and society forever </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/22/indian-childrain-4762756/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>juvenile-deliquentslost-childhoodchildrenhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/22/indian-childrain-4762756/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/slipping-bengal-4665732/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-09-01:/2008/09/01/slipping-bengal-4665732/Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:33:57 +0200 <p>I have grown up hearing that food, shelter and clothes are the basics that a man needs to survive. And all of these need money. And making money needs opportunity to make money. And that opportunity comes with jobs. In short, employment is empowerment. </p> <p>No matter how spiritual we get and how indifferent we are to the concept, money is the nucleus of the human civilization. </p> <p>West Bengal has been through some tough times post independence. It went through a phase where industries moved out of the state leaving the state helpless. The residents had to move out in search of employment and livelihood. </p> <p>Tata was to change that. With the Nano project, he was trying to revive the state to its earlier glory. The Nano is actually a macro step for Calcutta to show the world that they are good enough as anyone else. And why not? they have skilled people, they have the infrastructure and the only thing missing was the political will that the current chief minister was willing to garner.</p> <p>But alas! sometimes your best isn't good enough. The efforts made by the state for Nano bummeranged leaving it back to the days of darkness and despair.</p> <p>Still there is time....</p> <p>for the state to get tough and hold on to the project or the end of Nano could mean the beginning of a long dark spell for industries in Bengal and for the culturally inclined Bengalis.</p> <p>Lets hope they are able to avert the tragedy...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/slipping-bengal-4665732/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>ratan-tatawest-bengalnanomamta-banerjeebuddhadebhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/slipping-bengal-4665732/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/tease-me-tease-me-baby-4594957/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-08-16:/2008/08/16/tease-me-tease-me-baby-4594957/Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:58:10 +0200 <p>Teasers were a bad word for Indian advertising for some years. And the notorious Digen Verma campaign had a minor role to play. But of late the advertisers have regained their trust in the teasers and I saw two teasers of late one talking about KILB and Irfan Khan’s Smile and One on “this is Canadian not from Bombay”</p> <p>For a change I felt good. And I heard a lot of people talking to each other in my office wondering who could have done these ads and what could these be for!</p> <p>So I think the teasers are back with a bang and they are here to stay…Come on people …TEASE ME! I am all ears.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/tease-me-tease-me-baby-4594957/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>teasersindiadigen-vermaadvertisinghttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/08/16/tease-me-tease-me-baby-4594957/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/07/31/placebo-diet-4525201/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-07-31:/2008/07/31/placebo-diet-4525201/Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:51:37 +0200 <p>Obesity is becoming a concern across the world as food is being considered as medicine to kill stress, overwork and self abuse.</p> <p>Americans have mastered this art with a huge population of obese. And though there are drastic steps and measures to tackle this problem, can we think of a placebo diet?</p> <p>A diet that tastes yum, just like the mac burger and finger chips.<br> A drink that tastes as yum as coke<br> Yet is not absorbed by the body at all and is thrown out.</p> <p>I think this would be the ultimate form of pampering self for the foodies like me. Provided the side effects are kept minimum.<br> Any Einstein listening? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/07/31/placebo-diet-4525201/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>nutritionobesitylifestyle-diseaseshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/07/31/placebo-diet-4525201/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/14/mr-ambani-at-it-again-4313325/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-06-14:/2008/06/14/mr-ambani-at-it-again-4313325/Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:09:29 +0200 <p>Anil Dhirubhai Ambani is a man who can sniff out opportunities and can make money out of them. And I have a feeling he has sniffed something big again…</p> <p>Two days back there was an announcement that Ambani jr. is interested in picking up esselworld, the theme park in Mumbai, and convert it into a entertainment zone. This will be then replicated in other cities as well…</p> <p>The very next day there is a release from the tourism department that India needs to develop entertainment zones that will have casinos and other entertainment that will attract the rich Indians and foreigners</p> <p>Putting two and two together, I think Mr. Ambani is aiming for esselworld to make the first entertainment zone with backing from the government. And mint a few billions…wow!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/14/mr-ambani-at-it-again-4313325/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>anilindia-tourismesselworldambaniadaghttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/14/mr-ambani-at-it-again-4313325/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/13/the-indian-vegas-4310497/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-06-13:/2008/06/13/the-indian-vegas-4310497/Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:21:29 +0200 <p>Like a sinking person suddenly woken from stupor, the Indian tourism ministry and Indian government seem to have woken up to the importance of tourism. India has deprived itself, through lack of conscious efforts, to make billions out of tourism unlike other tourism majors. And today it gets less than one percent of world tourist traffic.</p> <p>So the Tourism ministry has a rescue plan. Create a mini Vegas in India to attract foreigners and affluent Indians. But isn’t that a very feeble attempt?<br> We need to think of other ways to promote tourism. Like promote how India is a great destination for Medical Tourism. That one in twenty docs in US is of Indian origins and hence Americans can trust their Indian counterparts.</p> <p>Are we tom tomming about our education systems like the IIT and IIMs?<br> Are we telling people that we can offer them the experience of Switzerland and Africa in the same country?</p> <p>Are we taking care of basic infrastructure like hotel rooms to accommodate tourists?<br> Are we encouraging and educating people about the prospects of tourism in India. Are we telling people how it will impact our GDP and help us fight inflation and bring down the fiscal deficit?</p> <p>Are we seeing the big picture?<br> I guess not…Shocking! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/13/the-indian-vegas-4310497/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/13/the-indian-vegas-4310497/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/05/birds-of-a-feather-flock-to-gather-4276310/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-06-05:/2008/06/05/birds-of-a-feather-flock-to-gather-4276310/Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:13:14 +0200 <p>In India, everyone’s on a gathering spree…grab whatever you can, how much ever you can and wherever you can. Somewhere everyone has suddenly understood the importance of flocking together and getting a better bargaining power.</p> <p>That’s why you find bollywood stars flocking over cricket. Cricketers are flocking over television commercials. Music directors are flocking over talent contests and common men flocking over their favorite contestants to vote their winner. Government servants flocking over pay commission. Castes are flocking for rights. Parties are flocking for muscle. Corporates are flocking for tax savings. And common man is flocking to get rid of troubles through vote. </p> <p>But, the flocking is Choking the country…I guess nobody really cares for that</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/05/birds-of-a-feather-flock-to-gather-4276310/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>nationflockinggroupshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/06/05/birds-of-a-feather-flock-to-gather-4276310/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/27/sir-branson-s-virgin-mobile-bowls-a-goog-3951238/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-03-27:/2008/03/27/sir-branson-s-virgin-mobile-bowls-a-goog-3951238/Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:37:13 +0100 <p>Sir Branson is known for googlies. So when he decided to come to the Indian market with his Virgin mobile, everbody expected a googly. And he has not let them down.<br> There is a new system on in the market, where in the consumer has the right to stop unwanted calls. Which is troubling the tele marketing companies.</p> <p>What Sir Branson has done is that they have changed it completely. With an offer that pays the consumer for incoming calls, he has turned the push to a pull. Once the offer is started, the college students, the TG for most brands today, would love to get incoming calls. And this would open a whole world of opportunities for the dying telemarketers in the country. </p> <p>So, if Virgin offers a consumer free talktime of say a minute of outgoing call for five minutes of incoming call/s, Virgin in turn could charge the marketer/s a kool fifty dollars.<br> With the mobile being considered the third screen for Indian consumers, I think its worth their money for the marketers.</p> <p>And if this turns out to be true, then we have another marketing classic from the genius. Looking forward to the Virgin launch eagerly!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/27/sir-branson-s-virgin-mobile-bowls-a-goog-3951238/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>indian-telecom-industryvirgin-mobilebransonhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/27/sir-branson-s-virgin-mobile-bowls-a-goog-3951238/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/19/farming-the-potential-indian-success-sto-3905371/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-03-19:/2008/03/19/farming-the-potential-indian-success-sto-3905371/Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:37 +0100 <p>I am terribly disappointed by the finance minister. By his decision to give a waiver to the farmers and winning votes. It’s like feeding a beggar once without giving him a living.<br> From a Harvard scholar, I wanted something more innovative. Something that would be long term. Something that would be a one time cost/ investment.</p> <p>Just imagine. There are 80% people in India depending on farming for a living. That’s around 80 crore people. Why can’t the government offer them a long term solution.<br> I have a few solutions that might work.</p> <p>Firstly, why doesn’t the government buy most of the land and convert these vast stretches of land into a public company. And employ farmers to produce and pay them a salary. If government an do that with airlines, banks, petroleum companies, then why not with agriculture? May be then there can be a lot more money invested on R&D and better practices. </p> <p>Secondly, why doesn’t the government let private players do that instead of the government directly? Like let the private companies float subsidiaries that would be funded by them which will sell farm products as the produce. If they can produce steel, if they can mine, if they can go for oil wells why not farming?</p> <p>Lastly, why doesn’t government let the RBI conduct a IPO where the public holds the shares of the company that will hold and own the land for agriculture. The risks for the farmers would be zero and would protect them against the vagaries of the agriculture sector’s unpredictability.</p> <p>With the food production going down in many countries why is India not playing the role of the world’s feeder in addition to the role of being the world’s backoffice? I think its more respectable, more profitable and would help the government earn the goodwill of the biggest vote bank in the country. And not to mention save our tax money from cheap thrills on part of every finance minister in the future.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/19/farming-the-potential-indian-success-sto-3905371/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>agricultureindian-economyhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/03/19/farming-the-potential-indian-success-sto-3905371/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/02/26/individuality~3781422/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-02-26:/2008/02/26/individuality~3781422/Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:09:02 +0100 <p>We are all unique. All of us. As our genetic combinations, our biological metabolism, our experiences, our reactions to those experiences together makes us very unique in our outlook and thinking. And thoughts maketh the man. So we are what we think and since our thoughts do not match with anyone else in the world, we are unique.</p> <p>But then why are we not unique then? There are many training sessions that we undergo in our life time that helps us blend in a crowd. Sometimes these impulses are so strong and the impressions are so strong, they last a lifetime. Look at the army, look at education, look at religion, and look at law. Don’t they say that we are all equal in the eyes of the law? And we start believing it so strongly that we start doing what everyone does. We try to emulate the success of other people. We try to dress up like the x actor or we start talking like the x superstar without realizing that their style works on them may not work well with me. </p> <p>Same applies when it comes to our dreams. We all want to be doctors, engineers and successful professionals without realizing whether we are cut out for it or not.<br> In an effort to form a society and smaller blocks of civilization like the family, workplace, we are losing our individuality. We are thinking like everyone and ending up in making mass blunders. There is no one thinking out of the box. As we are too stuck to the perimeter of the box. </p> <p>We will soon have a universal world, a unisex world and a unipolar world. We are already working towards it. But isn’t it at the cost of our individuality? And is that the way ahead or are we going to wake up and move out of mass production of everything and go back to customizations. Well only time will tell… </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/02/26/individuality~3781422/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/02/26/individuality~3781422/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/01/14/the_2500_car~3574586/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2008-01-14:/2008/01/14/the_2500_car~3574586/Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:49:18 +0100 <p>Finally a car for the masses from the company that is trusted by over a billion people. Yes, I mean the TATA built one lac car. There have been a lot of speculation both for and against it. But what does it mean to me?</p> <p>Firstly, I think the TATA should be applauded for doing the impossible. Which is telling the government that even without their help and subsidies, the common man, who forms the bottom of the pyramid could be tapped in a win-win situation.</p> <p>Why are cars so expensive in India? Because everything is over taxed. Why cant government reduce taxes and subsidise cars? Why are only farmers given the benefit of subsidies and nothing for the middle class that fills the government coffers with their 30% tax to run the government?</p> <p>Why should every American own a car and only a minute percentage of Indians? Why do people need to travel like cattles in trains and buses in metros?</p> <p>Sure fuels will leave a huge carbon and ozone layer deficit. But, lets think of a solution for it rather than living with the problem.<br> Why cant the government increase the usage of CNG and ethanol based fuels? </p> <p>I think the one lac car is a whole new experience for the growing and prospering new Indian, who wants to have more luxury and facilities than generations before.</p> <p>And the one lac car is a giant step in that direction to make Indians feel that they are no less than any one anywhere. And that staying in India they can have all the comforts that developed countries take for granted and that we Indians so far considered luxury.</p> <p>Congratulations Mr. TATA. You have made the Indians proud. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/01/14/the_2500_car~3574586/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2008/01/14/the_2500_car~3574586/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/11/26/the_om_shanti_om_hypothesis~3352659/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-11-26:/2007/11/26/the_om_shanti_om_hypothesis~3352659/Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:16:57 +0100 <p>The movie Om Shanti Om is a true masala film. The core thought of the film is "When you want something deeply from your heart, the entire universe works and helps to make you achieve it". A very beautiful thought indeed.</p> <p>I think thats why I like fiction. Its so interestingly different from reality. And it gives birth to non fiction. Flying was fiction today a reality. There are many more things that one can write on.</p> <p>But thats the beauty of fiction. Thats the craft of the filmmaker or the writer who can convince you of something that you yourself have not experienced with your five senses. But you are mesmerised for a few hours.</p> <p>I think thats what makes superman, spider man and batman so interesting. Thats what makes Disney cartoons so interesting. that makes reading Ludlum so interesting. Thats what makes Bond so kewl.</p> <p>I think its a very beautifully made film. really loved it. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/11/26/the_om_shanti_om_hypothesis~3352659/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>om-shanti-omimaginationhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/11/26/the_om_shanti_om_hypothesis~3352659/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/why_did_i_not_stay_in_a_college_dorm~3196508/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-10-26:/2007/10/26/why_did_i_not_stay_in_a_college_dorm~3196508/Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:17:25 +0200 <p>Inspiration is a smart dude. It lurks at places where you may never visit. And people who visit these places, come out with ideas that change their lives and the mankind’s destiny forever.</p> <p>Sabir Bhatiya, the famous founder of hotmail is an example of that kind. He changed the way the world communicates. Google too is an example where two kids from some tech college changed the way world searches for information. The list is endless.</p> <p>The next is facebook, a startup in a Harvard dorm that has sold less than 2% stake to Microsoft the big daddy of software for a whopping $240 million.</p> <p>Gosh why didn’t I study in a far away college and stay in a dorm? Guess its too late…. but not too late to appreciate these smart modern day entrepreneurs. Hats off to you gentlemen. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/why_did_i_not_stay_in_a_college_dorm~3196508/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>entrepreneursinnovationhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/why_did_i_not_stay_in_a_college_dorm~3196508/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/the_long_wait~3150068/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-10-17:/2007/10/17/the_long_wait~3150068/Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:52:09 +0200 <p>The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel are no doubt two of the most memorable monuments that Bombay can boast of. A little ahead, towards the Victoria Terminus lies the Jehangir Art Gallery. The place where artists are born. And die.</p> <p>Artists and Painters are like crocodiles. The reptiles who have seen the world change infront of their eyes but have not changed themselves. So the same madness that probably a Paul Gaugin or a Van Gogh or a Michaelangelo had, is still retained by the aspirants of today.</p> <p>So, if you happen to pass the Jehangir art gallery, you find these young people waiting patiently on the road for that first painting to sell or for the first person acknowledging their talent. Which may never happen….</p> <p>Its really a very sad sight to see these young people trying to find a place of their own in the imaginary world created by their predecessors many many years before them</p> <p>Please pay them a visit if you ever come to Bombay and contribute your bit to art. May be the young girl you are talking to and who is anxiously searching your face for an expression of appreciation, might be the star your children or grand children would read about some years later. And please buy a painting for they could be priceless many years later. Worth much more than all the wealth that you will leave behind.</p> <p>Besides, it will be your contribution to the world created by these wonderful people that only they or people who share their vision can see. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/the_long_wait~3150068/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>creativityartartistspassionhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/the_long_wait~3150068/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/when_caretakers_start_behaving_as_owners~3148634/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-10-17:/2007/10/17/when_caretakers_start_behaving_as_owners~3148634/Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:27:19 +0200 <p>It happens mostly in the government related jobs in India. People like the ticket checkers, the cops, the bus conductors, the bank employees; they don’t realize that they are the caretakers of “Public property” and the properties actually belong to the general public.</p> <p> That’s the reason you find extremely rude bus conductors and drivers of state transport, rude ticket checkers, rude bank help desk.</p> <p>Why?</p> <p>Don’t these people understand the difference between the chowkidaar and maalak?<br> That’s not the end of the problem.<br> The bigger problem is there is no authority to make them realize that.</p> <p>GOD! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/when_caretakers_start_behaving_as_owners~3148634/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>rudenot-fit-for-the-jobireesponsiblehttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/17/when_caretakers_start_behaving_as_owners~3148634/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/08/mumbai_pune_expressway_in_the_night~3101842/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-10-08:/2007/10/08/mumbai_pune_expressway_in_the_night~3101842/Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:10:34 +0200 <p> We were in Pune Partying. Just when we were all staggering on our feet with generous helpings of Vodka, Scotch, Whiskey and all the other poisons we could lay our hands on, one of us decided that she wanted to go home that very moment. I wanted to ask the driver. Surprisingly he agreed to drive through the night.</p> <p>That was just the beginning of nightmare. Thanks to my Redbull that kept me awake. And alive.</p> <p>The Expressway was way too crowded. We had not anticipated so much traffic. We were stranded on the expressway for nearly three hours. Heavy vehicles pushing us to brake every time we wanted to accelerate. The person sitting next to the driver went off to sleep.</p> <p>On the rear view mirror I saw the driver drooping his eyelids a few times. I was scared. I went and sat on the front seat next to the driver. Attempting to talk to him and keeping him awake. </p> <p>We nearly rammed into a biker near Vashi. We apologized to the furious rider and moved on. We reached Parel dropped one of us. And then I could not just take another chance. I told the driver to take a few hours off to sleep. I took a cab home. Reached home by eight in the morning. Crashed and woke up at around one.</p> <p>Some night!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/08/mumbai_pune_expressway_in_the_night~3101842/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>highwaytravel-in-the-nighthttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/08/mumbai_pune_expressway_in_the_night~3101842/#commentshttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/01/the_mutual_exclusivity_of_human_nature~3067874/tag:tilaktilak.blog.co.uk,2007-10-01:/2007/10/01/the_mutual_exclusivity_of_human_nature~3067874/Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:21:16 +0200 <p>It must have been dark. Very dark. With the sound of silence all around. Someone overcame the inertia to overcome darkness. Constantly tried to find light. And discovered fire. </p> <p>Was the discovery of fire really an accident? Can it be as bland and boring as that? Were my forefathers of many centuries back so dull and unadventurous? </p> <p>Can’t believe it. The hypothesis falls flat on its face since we have the same genes of those same people. </p> <p>The probably came the wheel. And then something and something and then something more.</p> <p>What is it that keeps us improving? When one strand of the same DNA produces spiritual leaders who think that we should not chase dreams. We should be happy with what we have. How can the other strand be so distinctively different? Always bettering the best.</p> <p>How can the two DNAs be entwined with each other? Is it because they are so different? Is it because one is active in some and the other in others. Have they decided their potency in select individuals and dormancy in others by a pole or through a common mutual understanding?</p> <p>Why is man so restless when man is basically born to be lazy to sleep for one third of his living moments daily? Why is man searching for perfection, when man himself is not perfect? The left hand and right hand are not mirror images of one another. </p> <p>Why do some people want to travel the space and the world and some one wants to take the long and difficult journey within?</p> <p>Why are human behaviors so mutually exclusive?</p> <p>When will man solve this puzzle called man?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/01/the_mutual_exclusivity_of_human_nature~3067874/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>enigmaevolutionhttp://tilaktilak.blog.co.uk/2007/10/01/the_mutual_exclusivity_of_human_nature~3067874/#comments