Tuesday, September 4, 2007

I am in search for my ‘current favourite colour’. Every semester, I involuntarily choose a particular colour, and I call it the ‘colour of the semester’. All my design sheets, rough papers, borders, even clothing- end up being either the colour, or its tone/tint. I can identify anything that I find from my earlier days in college from its colour. Well, even a cow could.(hehe). Red was my last favourite. These days pink is hitting my eyes a lot.


This cursor in this word file has suddenly shrunk to half its size. It’s irritating, really, when there are things happening on your computer that you cannot explain- worst even- cannot fix. I am planning to work on my thesis design digitally। I must be really careful. Absurd and unheard-of things happen the day before the final review. Wonder why the sandwich always falls with it’s butter side down.



I am absolutely proud of the staff of the Times of India newspaper. ‘Lead India’, their latest initiative, has hit the bulls eye. People have awoken. This is what they have to say to us all:

The last time we decided to do or die, it changed the map of the world.
Today we’ve reached a stage where the eyes of the world are on us again.
So what are we going to ‘do’?
Domination starts with DO.
Today we are in our sixtieth year of independence.
And we’re still happy being called an ‘emerging economy’, a ‘potential’ superpower, or a sleeping tiger.
This must change.
And it’s only possible if some of us dare to be the change.
So let’s stop basking in our glorious past or daydreaming about our great future.
Let’s start be dominating today.
LEAD INDIA.’

Unbelievable, eh? Not anymore. We are coming.


What I like best about the times group is that they have realized that they are not only a machine of paper and ink; they are not simply an agency that makes money from advertisements- they have a social cause. They have to help people help themselves; their position demands it. They cannot live to make money only- they have a nation to awaken. No one is bribing them to take the initiative; they’re not getting any extra money. All they are getting is applause; and God, they deserve it.(I love the logo as well). There are so many more people in the country who are at that place- Rahul Gandhi- he is right there- he must take responsibility. He must stand up. He must come forward. It’s really easy to say, but very, very difficult to do- you have to be able to give up your self, and place the country forward. It has never been easy to be king; the leader lives not for himself, but his people. Expecting too much, are we, in this timeline?

2 comments:

Prem said...

Hey!! Interesting perspective!
And no! I don't think we are expecting a lot from our leaders... This is our time and we should be the change!!

Anonymous said...

It absolutely drives me nuts when someone runs a populist campaign and people fall for it. Think about what the campaign is asking for: "Leadership". The reality is that 9 out of 10 "leaders" have caused enormous damage - Hitler, Napoleon, Ho Chi Min, Mao Zedong Robert Mugambe. For the rare person that has not caused damage - Just look beyond the hype. Who are your "leaders"?

Mahatma Gandhi & Nehru - They caused enormous damage to the Indian Economy pursuing the socialist policies. India was on the brink of economic collapse in the late 70s. Did we you know we almost defaulted on Loans back then? Same with the Freedom Struggle. How much of it was really because of the "freedom fighters"? Isn't it suspicious that all colonial countries gained independence around the same time? Is it because of "leaders" in ALL the countries? Or was it because of bigger economic forces in the parent country? The truth is that the British were is a mad hurry to get out of country or various reasons - read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/books/review/Macintyre-t.html

We've tried this leadership thing for 4500 years. It's been nothing but bloody war and murder. But we have hope. Our current civilization doesn't need "leaders" in the traditional sense. We've figured out a system - capitalism - that works on people's greed and self-interest. Which is great, because there's plenty of it to go around. Nationalism and Patriotism has never helped any country - Only caused war. Think about Nazi Germanic nationalism, The Soviet Communalism, all the medieval religious "crusades" and the latest terrorism. Let go of it.