The Real Reel Life

Today, global terrorism is the greatest security threat faced by humanity.

(REMEMBER the 26/11-its two years now) Many believe that the world is presently going through the third world war. Scriptwriters, producers and directors put their minds to work and come up with unimaginable movies depicting violence; which is then imitated by adolescents, considered as the most vulnerable part of the society. Their impressionable mind is what makes them an easy target. The insensible dialogues, punch lines, body language, jokes of actors, actresses and comedians are very well inflicted on movie buffs.

The lyrics of some hit songs are obscene. The music we hear and the performances we watch can subconsciously influence us. The songs of some movies are stuck in our heads to an irritating degree. The tunes tend to be simple with a repeating melody or motif, which triggers the brain to repeat it on its own. Mesmerised by the high status of celebs? It’s our money, spent on purchase of tickets of movies, which has helped actors and actresses to live a life “King size”.

Mahatma Gandhi was the man who turned humility and simple truth more powerful than empires. Just as our bodies need good food every day, our minds need good thoughts every day. Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes. So, next time instead of rushing to a cinema hall, wait for the weekend and step into a book store. Look out for all-inspiring autobiographies of some of the best people ever born. Do recommend this to your friends, friends of friends. And who knows? You may become a role model for the future generation.

(Be the change you want to see in the world. –Gandhiji)

More than one billion Indians

A GIGANTIC PROBLEM OR A SEA OF OPPORTUNITIES?

One of the most visible changes in India is its population explosion. We have the second highest population in the world, next to China, i.e. a staggering 120 crores, of which 60% of the people are below the poverty line. With unemployment and poverty being the cardinal factors which hold us back from becoming a super power, it’s up to the government to react quickly.

Dale Carnegie, one of the world’s best professional speakers rightly quoted, “If you have a lemon, make a lemonade”. Framing favourable economic policies, providing free education, ensuring that every employable person has a job will help us turn the burden of population to a sea of opportunities in a short time.

“Be Indian buy Indian”, is a phrase commonly used. Are we following it? Mostly not. With the advent of LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation) policy, Indian goods can hardly be seen in the Indian market. A shocking fact which lay shrouded is that a staggering Rs.1, 32, 000/- crores is earned by the 5000 multinational companies operating in India. This is literally higher than the India’s annual budget (State & Centre)

Nothing will happen unless we act. If we decide to boycott foreign goods and buy indigenous products, it will directly or indirectly benefit the toiling farmers who bear the heat of the sun beating down on their backs. Our economy would improve to such an extent that even the so called super power nations will look up to us. Then the one billion Indians will not be a gigantic problem.

Book review of Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography

                                                 BOOK REVIEW

                                                            OF
                                    MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
                                                                                                       -Mahatma Gandhi

The autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi titled ‘My experiments with truth’ covers his life from early childhood through to 1920. His life from that point onward had been so public that there was hardly anything about it that people did not know.

Gandhiji was born in the mystic city of Porbandar, Gujarat on October 2, 1869. Son of Kaba Gandhi and Putlibai, he was the youngest among three brothers and one sister. At school he was typically shy and avoided the company of friends. He was mediocre in studies and the strict discipline enforced by his father kept him from telling lies or copying.

By custom, at the age of thirteen, Gandhiji was betrothed to be married. A person who hardly knew what life is was entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of his wife. Even before he could understand his counterpart, suspicion creped in. Things did not turn out to be worse as according to Hindu society a child wife spends more than half her time at her father’s place.

Gandhiji was one such illustrious person on the face of the earth to live by example. When it comes to learning from his life, the points could well be incalculable. Albert Einstein quoted on Mahatma Gandhi- “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a person as this, ever in flesh and blood, walked upon the earth.”

In what better means can religious tolerance be illustrated than his saying, “Truth is God” He kept in view the sensitivity of Christians’ leaders who propagated,” God is Truth” Thus he made people realize the value of truth and the immeasurable benefits that come along, one among them being fearlessness.

Who would have thought possible in the 19^th century that independence from the British rule was in the offing. But this man dressed up in loin cloth with a stick in his hand and determination in his mind made the unthinkable possible. He shook the British Empire by his firm resolve to change the way Indians were treated. And it is the word ‘Swaraj’ that sent shockwaves across the globe. Translating it means self-rule.

Once when Gandhiji was travelling in a first-class compartment of a train in South Africa, he was thrown out merely because he was not white in complexion. He boldly said, “You have thrown me out of this train. Wait and watch, I will throw you out of this country.” And he ultimately did. Gandhiji, the man who turned humility and simple truth more powerful than empires, may be dead for a few. But he still lives in the minds of millions of people- including mine.

GM foods

GM foods, Genetically Modified foods are going to hit the market very soon. To begin with, have you ever wondered why our ancestors were healthy and lived till their 80s? It's because they never used pesticides. All they used to keep rodents and pests at bay was cow's waste. Nowadays, the scenario is completely different. These pesticides cause hazardous side effects on humans. We keep scratching our head wondering why, though we don't smoke, drink, or inhale industrial pollution, we still get affected with cancer. Our lives are at stake due to farmer's greed of amassing wealth in a short period. 

Coming to the point of GM foods, Scientists and nutritionists and the government say that these are completely safe as the chemicals used in creating the hybrid seeds get destroyed while we boil the veggies. My question is do you boil Watermelon? Do you boil Apple? Do you boil cucumber? No right? The seeds may be proven as one of the high-yield ones. But in the long run these veggies can alter the genes in humans. It's not us but our future sons and grandsons who are going to suffer. They will curse and abuse us. May be even our dead souls will get disturbed by their wake-up-calls. I want to conclude by recommending the people of our country to raise their voice against GM foods. Better be late than NEVER!!

Here are some smart solutions to keep your cities from warming up

Global warming has alarmed the leaders of developing and developed countries across the world. It is a concept that has become the topic for discussion in the recent G-8 and G-20 summits and has, for many years, kept environmentalists on their toes. People have been polluting the air ever since fossil fuel was discovered. This has led to increase in the average temperatures, melting of ice in the North and South Pole, and ultimately rising sea levels. Researchers say that 20years from now during summer the Arctic ice cover would completely disappear. Now this will have even the sceptics wondering. At some point in the near future low lying countries like Mexico can be seen only in the History books.

Leading companies talk of greener solutions. What about the unauthorized destruction of green cover? NGOs aim at planting saplings. What about people who raze trees for almost no valid reason? We have indescribably taken nature for granted. Yet many of us are unaware of Mother Nature’s fury. Nothing stands a chance in front of it. After all nature reacts to whatever we do.

How can I help?

• Cut down on usage of non bio-degradable materials such as plastics. Insist on Jute bags. If not, carry a cotton bag whenever you go for shopping.
• Prefer Mass Rapid Transit System- buses, trains, etc., to Private Rapid Transit System.
• Plant saplings of trees which are well suited to your environment. Its shade will be a respite spot for you and your family.
• Travel on foot or use a bi-cycle for short distances. Both are eco-friendly.

We may have many such customized ideas. The best idea will not work unless you work your idea. Do your part to save the Planet Earth.