Monday, April 21, 2008

Venkateswara Suprabhaatam - Molested for modernism? Salvation ... or Mutilation?

I am struck! I don't know how to start venting out my anguish.
I happen to be one among the unfortunate lot who got to hear(also watched) a jazz song from a Kannada movie "Khushi" which has taken Venkatesa sthothram as a hum! I have no clue as to what that non-sensual lyricist and the music director who suggested that, wanted to do with a devine sthothram in a party dance number! And adding to my surprise, this song has been "re-used" in a telugu movie "Maharadhi'(
I wonder why there hasn't been any protest against this song! Had it been the same with any other religion's sentiments, the movie which had that song wouldn't even release.(Note: I am NOT for breaking the glasses of any cinema hall staging it or destructing any public property!)
Adding to this frustration is a review of the song by a popular website saying that the song is novel! Do they even realize that they are playing with religious feelings of people? And oh, I forgot to mention about the skimpy dresses that the so-called females were wearing when the sthothram is played. I have zero knowledge on the kind of words that I can use to describe the dance moves they were making for that song. I cannot even imagine this being played in a disco or a pub!
I would also attribute an amount of this sin to that section of the youth who have a pair of legs to shake and nothing between their ears, and believe that it's kewl! And another portion of the sin to their parents who can't get their kids thoughts straight. I am very much infuriated as to why Hinduism is subjected to this kind of dishonor on a divine land of Vedas and Upanishads? Is it because of the people who fail to get Hinduism through their thick skulls? Or is it because of the anti-Hindu nature that is prevalent among the community(Thanks to the beloved political community!!!)
No, I am neither representing VHP nor Bajrang dal! I know, it has become common to say that any person talking for Hinduism belongs to these communities or is an extremist. But if the same thing is spoken of some other religion, they are protecting their religious sentiments! Is this what Secularism means?
Its high time that the Hindus unite and stand up for their rights. I know, there would be hundreds of people who will start saying that India has hundreds of problems like poverty, lack of proper education etc. I don't deny that they are serious problems that need to be addressed. At the same time, I wouldn't agree that this isn't an important issue to be taken up!
And yeah, I am not going to vent this out here and have a peaceful sleep after this! I seriously want to do something about this song- do something such that no body else does a similar kind of act! Please pour in your suggestions as to what can be done!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Mann se Ravan jo nikale Ram uske mann mein hai

How I love this movie Swades and how I love this song!! - Teaches the real meaning of Ram and real meaning of the religion. Can you believe it's written by a muslim???
Ram isn't a Hindu God! In a society where humanity is in the verge of suicide, Ram is about being a good human. In a society where children no more care about their parents, Ram is about being devoted to parents. In a society where the rulers are not concerned about the "Praja", Ram is about obeying his people. Ram is well being, Ram is Humanity, Ram is strength, Ram is devotion, Ram is purity and Ram is divinity.
Ram is everywhere. You need to first see the Ram in the other person to realize the Ram within you. Whether you hurt or help people, you are doing it to Ram. Kill the evil in you, Kill the Ravan in you and realize Ram.
As Tagore's Geetanjali says - don't lock yourself in a room chanting. Get out of the room, feel other's troubles and agonies, help them, get close to them and get close to Ram.
Experience the ecstasy!
Jai SriRam!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Either you’re part of the problem or you’re part of the solution! Choose which one you want to be!

I’ve created this profile long back but never actually wrote something and now it’s high time that I wrote one. But people, before starting off, a statutory warning! Let me tell you that you need a great deal of patience to deal with my cribbing. And if you are ready for that, read on.
As usual, today, I was thinking about how bad the world is. And this time I also started pondering about why it is so. I find that the only reason is the selfish attitude. We end up in traffic jams because none of us wants to wait for an obstacle to clear and we in turn become an obstacle to others. Everybody does some or the other act like this and every such thing out of selfishness. Patience is absolutely missing! People can’t wait for the traffic signal to turn green, can’t spare few seconds to give way to an ambulance, can’t wait for the railway gate to open, and can’t wait for any such thing. Surely they can wait for hours in the queue to watch a movie, just because it gives them pleasure! Anything for my pleasure, my health, my wealth, my family and the my-list goes on and on. None actually thinks “my society”!
There are many people who talk about these things. But People don’t think about solutions, they just talk about problems. I fail to understand how they bypass the fact that even they are part of the problem. You don’t need to be a mahatma to clean the society. Clean yourself. Stop doing wrong things even if they are small.
By giving this bhashan, I don’t say that I am perfect and nobody is! But trying to become perfect is all that is needed. On this note, I remember a dialogue from Rang de Basanti – “Koi bhi desh perfect nahee hota…. Usey perfect banana padta hai!” and if everybody strives towards that, the society in itself will improve. Wishing to be a part of that better society by being a better person, this is Subha signing off.