Rings of Power

What is power and what makes a thing or a thought a powerful one in our society. Who is behind a thought, is there an institution or a person behind it ?  Lets try to understand the rings of power.

Sex : Sex is good for good and bad for bad people. To some sex is love to some sex is lust. To some sex is biological need, to some it's the only way that helps the universe get going. However, there are people among us who view sex as a power play tool.  There are people who believe more you have sex with more people longer you live in life. Is that true ? the existence of superior sex and inferior sex is based on this thought who is powerful on bed ? Who can dominate one another on bed ? Why two different sex can't co-exist under the same roof when they have to share just one bed ? The whole concept of sex should be on union not on fighting for power play.

Money : There is this famous saying, money is not god but is not less than God also. When it comes to money there are whole world divided in two groups, one worships money as if it's god; as it solves half the problem on earth and other group view it as root of all evil. How come one takes it as supreme power and another sees it as root of evil ?  instead of knowing the root of its cause, we have people who will run after money or and some plainly blames it for all the bad things that happens in our society.

Religion: The thought of God is very personal and it is all about faith. People are always seeking to be in the like minded circle. A reason to talk and share view and believes when it comes to God. people are divided in many groups of religions. And there are feelings of supremacy among the many types of religions. It's really interesting to watch two group when one religious group beliefs my religion is better than yours. Religion is a kind of groupism. More people have been killed in the name of religion than in wars.

Politics : Politics is absolutely for people who like the game of power, because for them it's a center of power. Some like to be in the opposition of power and like to challenge the people in power. Everyone choose the kind of party that represent their own thought pattern. Some stick with politics purely because they are afraid of being  left out.

Education : Education is answer to all kind of darkness. It is education which can give us freedom for all types of shackles. We have all kind of education center there are all kind of faculty nowadays that are being taught in schools and colleges. Some, some gives importance to science and technology and some give importance to art and literature, gives importance to spiritual study. Paranormal science is some interested and I went to study commerce even if I had keen  interest in psychology.

Entertainment/ businessmen / science and technology : celebration is one of the most important part  of our life. Under this we can put all forms of art, sports, music, dance, literature and other way to express us. Celebrities are viewed and respected like god in some society because they do not talk about the other power games but just teach us to express us freely. They teach us to let some of our emotions flow. Game help unite all community regardless of caste, creed and nationality, celebration is above all kind of groupism which breaks all barriers that is build around us by other power players. When one sings a song our emotion melts down, when we dance fear flies out from window, when we read some books it unclogs some of our brain nerves and connect us to that part of life where we have never been. All these makes us feel more normal and that is what the entertainment industry do. Business covers also science and technology not just the other business in our society.

Movie, television, singing, dancing, literature, sports, painting, sculpture and other arts. Some worship the art and some artist shines like a bright star.

Media [public communication] : There are intellect people in media who can help the mass to understand what is going around us, in the society we live. They tell us about the new books, new technology, new invention, new leader, new hero or the rising star in sports. They are the one who help us to understand the cult in religion. They help us to understand the corrupt politicians and how this powerful politician’s handsome son is in broil of sex scandal. Although, there are good journalist there are also some journalists who never get tired of talking negative things around us and they think busting scam is their main job. Luckily, in every society there are some journalists and intellectuals who show us the right path to future.

What is interesting is a politician needs a religious guru for guideline, a religions guru needs a politician to amend some bill for the better society. A journalist needs a politician’s help to  crack some news and a politicians always needs journalists to rise and shine in news. A businessman needs a powerful politicians to get some deal approved, and a spiritual guru to realize some problem in his life. A religious guru needs donation from a businessmen. Every education institution needs mass to come and study what they teach in their universities. Every star needs general public to come and enjoy his/her art or talent. Every man and woman need each others back to support each other and move on in life and create a new life. So, who is in the center of power of ring of power ?

Note : This article has already been published in Our Society in August 2016

Dare Defy Fortune Teller

Shahrukh Khan is one of the three Khan who ruled Bollywood much longer than the other superstars of bollywood. I can remember clearly readding a movie magazine even when, years have passed by before me from the day I had read it when I was in school. an entertainment journalist had wrote that Shahrukh Khan was very angry with the fortune teller who had doubted  his desire to be as big and famous like Michael Jackson. Shahrukh Khan today is well known for his ability to handle media men. There are times he used to give interview 86 journalists in a day.

When Shahrukh Khan was a rising star and dreaming to make it big in Bollywood; he changed the normal trend of lead character playing the role only positive on the screen. So, he started playing the lead character role by a negative role in his early movies. His early movies Bazigar and Darr created such buzz in the market that over night he was the guy who became the talk of the town. It was his way to make a dent in that Kapoor dominated showbiz world. 

No wonder it was then he never wanted to hear, 'he won't make it', not even from those so called fortune teller who can be found by the dozen in India as he was secretly dreaming of becoming as famous as Michael Jackson.

Today, he is considered Bollywood's answer to Hollywood's Tom Cruise and to his delight , he is living his dream to be as famous as Michael Jackson.

The fortuneteller may not have any answer to his success.

Another who defied fortuneteller is the world conqueror, Napoleon Bonaparte of France. I was in the seventh standard when our teacher told us this story trying to shape your young mind for future.

Once a palmist told the curious Bonaparte that, "you will not achieve the desired success in your life". Hearing that, the young Bonaparte who would be world conqueror later in his life demanded to know, "what makes you to say that?"

"The luck line on your palm is not straight enough to indicate your success";  the palmist replied plainly. Then the dreamer, and believer of the saying, 'impossible is not in my dictionary', and the one who always believed and followed blindly his own rule only, briskly pulled out a knife from his pocket and cut straight line on his palm in front of the palmist. Then he told the palmistry with a cold voice, looking straight into his eyes, "now tell me, I will achieve my goal".

Out the classroom, we used to discuss with friends, is that the straight line on his palm or it's his ambition, that made him the world conqueror?

Those who believed in palmistry; used to say that it was the line - even if it was cut by him - on his palm that helped him to achieve what he wanted and those who did not believe in palmistry used to say that it was his sheer determination that led him to his goal but some used to say, it's the combination of both.

As for me, I believe that it is the determination, single-minded determination was the only reason. I admire these two for daring to defy fortune tellers and follow their dreams with all their hearts. They never wanted to see the other part of the truth; what they knew is you have to believe in yourself even though the whole would doubts on you.  

This post had first published in Our Society  in 2011. 

Two's Company

You must have heard that slogan of a multi billion dollar company which says, an idea can change your life. You must have heard it, again and again in life to be successful in life, all you need is an idea, that's all. And Idea can change your life and it does in so many ways than one. However, we know that, idea alone can't do anything. Some say perfect execution of idea is much more important than idea itself. There are some who pick a simple idea and convert it into a gold, lets say the choice Warren Buffett makes to pick a company to buy shares.  For that perfect execution of the idea or any idea to convert into gold all you need is one person you is easy to talk with, who makes it easier to walk with that idea in which you have so strong  believe on to make all the difference in life.  

You must have heard of the team of Bill Gates and Paul Allen and then Steve Ballmer of Microsoft company. Anyone from the tech world or outside of it must have heard of name Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak to form an Apple company and then Tim Cook who became the CEO of the company. Larry Page and Sergey Brin who formed Google company always comes together. Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgan, who surprised the whole world in India with their first four sequel of movies in India that did tremendously good in box office. Movie goers also knows the duos name like Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan for their series of successful movies to the world, mostly serving only NRI as Farah Khan puts it. Comedy movie lovers knows the domestic name of David Dhawan and Govinda for giving many movies that entertained the Indian diaspora around the globe. Beyonce and her husband and Jay Zee and her successful singing career, Celine Dion with her liquid platinum voice and her husband who is also her manger, Rene's ability to help her grow like bigger than life. I am sure you also have heard of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for their billion dollar industry to sell products to twins, which started when they were just six years of age.

I just was watching a BBC journalist trying to understand Warren Buffett whom he found very simple, down to earth yet super rich and brilliant mind. His company is richer than the many countries combined GDP yet his team in Berkshire consist of only twenty people who looks after 150 billion dollar business worldwide. Sure they have more than 1000 other people working in many nation to take care the thousands of its shareholders,  but; team to handle the massive 150 billion is just twenty.

What is interesting to pay attention here is, business partner to be successful could be be your classmate, whether you meet them when you are in school like Bill Gates met Paul Allen in school when he was just 12 years of age or Sergey Brin met Larry Page in College when both of them were there to do their Ph.D. The partner could be the one you can find in your work force like Directors meet their actors with whom they can stick with multiple projects to spin money or record company signing up the singer[s] for multiple album deal or keep them as your wife or spouse for mutual benefit. It could be husband and wife, it could be friends or sibling at times, who can help you to execute the idea what you have in mind to make money and be successful in life. It may not be business partner all the time but picking life partner right is equally important as picking up the business partners. Let's look into those names more closely to understand the gravity of twos company which can play a huge role in your life achievements.

When you know the good company I would like to talk about some company that went wrong after a good partnership only for short term. You must have heard about Mariah Carey's romance, marriage and divorce with Tommy Mottola, who was executive of Sony Music. It was that time, when she was high and rising and hitting all the blockbuster charts. This teaming up to let's make money worked only for the short term. I think both lost in this case. He may have denied having affair and paying her, her share of emotional investment and he may have won some money but in long run it did not serve for both the party. There was time Shania Twain was also high and rising and suddenly her liquid voice of gold lost in the wilderness of the real world cruel reality of teaming up with wrong company to gain something in life.

Being a Neali you must be aware of the team of MAHA jodi. Hari Bansha Describe the friendship of 37 years and counting to sugar cane and madan Krishna describe it as needle and thread without which one can't go alone. If you read both of them in different books or watch them in any interview both would admit candidly that the friendship lasted because staying paid them well. Had it not been money get going together would not have lasted this long. Another important thing  is without respect in a team work it also wouldn't have lasted this long. 

For long term relationship respect among the partners, compatibility and comfort feeling around the partner is more important than just working for money. Karan Johar says, I don't mind taking second position when it comes to Shahrukh Khan. He also says I can say Gauri to shut up but that is something I can never say to Shahrukh. Can you guess how much money it made to Celine Dion when she decided to marry the man who is much older than her ? At the prime of her life she was hitting the chart buster and she is still doing good. Do you know that twin sisters made billion dollars by the time they were just 18 years old ?

Even though we do not know who will be our partner in business, but if we put money first then the end of partnership will be only for short term so all the failed partnership only tells us why its so important to pick business partner wisely.

Comedians and God

Couple of years ago there was this participant on the great indian laughter comedy show.  He sure was one of the best and on the day of final, he opened the show saying that I did not pray to god to make him winner today. What If, I pray and I miss out one god out of 360 million; and what if that left out god gets angry ? I might lose the competition. That year Suresh Albela won the competition.    

It is rather interesting to watch comedian and hear their views on god. As they are good at their views not only tickle our funny bones at times it makes us think long and hard about the subject God which is the talk of daily life. Here are some glimpse of it. 

When Hari Bansha Acharya lost his first wife, he was so mad with god; as He gave him a deaf ear to all the prayer he was making to Him during his grieving time. It was that time, he just wanted to change god, [as if He is a politicians who needs to be changed every four year or so]. He also had written a poem on it also but the publisher of his famous autobiography, China Harayako Manchhe  took a very smart decision to remove it from the book when it came out. However, Rabindra Mishra, a popular journalist then, who was at that book release event had published and shared that poem on his facebook wall post. I read that poem , and trust me if you use your basic conscience then you will understand the common sense used by the publisher to omit it from the book. 

God is not someone you blame when things goes wrong or give all the credit to him for all the efforts you have put on it, during all these years; to be or get what you have. The very famous comedian shares in his book very candidly that he never believed in God when he enjoyed tremendous success in his life. Born as a poor, he achieved all, like the dream job, career, love of his life as a wife and has two boys; yet he said God do not have anything to do with all his achievements. That is absolutely understandable because not everyone gives credit to god for all their hard work. 

Then; why he was so angry with God, when he lost his wife ? Why god has to be his anger bag at times, when he is super frustrated ? Who will worship the god which he might pick up one day when he is sad or one day when he is happy with his other wife ? This somewhat offered me answer to that perplexing question which bugged me for years; why there is 360 million Hindu God ? And, we have journalist; even if he has experience of working with BBC for more than a decade found sense in replacing god.

However, it's not just him who has such conflicting idea of existence of god. Comedians  around the world keep giving you their viewpoint to think on the subject matter, and that is God. It's pretty interesting to know that comedian's take on god is a rather hilarious. And sometimes it's more than hilarious, like Ricky Gervais says, if there is god, then why he made me an atheist ? I watched Animal by Ricky Gervais who is a British comedian. In one of his show once he said Jesus is a free babysitter [my mom could not afford]. Other of his opinions on god is equally hilarious. He always find god or the people who tells us story of God are funny and gives us his take on Bible too, which will make you think hard. 

God is forgiving, so forgive and forget concept has been going on for some time in Christians society. One day, Howie Mandel was talking with Ellen on her show, out of nowhere he said, I forgive you. She asked why ? He said, I forget. He repeated this line not once, not twice but more than three times in that small video cut of about less than five minutes show. It's not hard to guess where it came from. It was his take on this thought which normally religious gurus preach. One of the reason it was said is, to heal yourself or free yourself from unnecessary worries that chews up your mind, you should forgive and forget. However, how that advice works on people who are worry wart ? how practical it is, is the big question in itself but when a comedian raise issue relating to God it's really funny and that really makes you to ponder over about god and religion. Howie Mandel is a Canadian Comedian.  He is also good with his understanding on how to achieve what you want.

Steve Harvey is another world famous comedian whose comment on God makes the church ladies rebellious. What is more interesting here is; they feel that way on his show not in their church. It's even more interesting for me to watch his show as more and more god believing and church going people mostly women come to his show regularly, even if this is Ask Steve not ask Pastor program. There comes a girl to ask him question like this, me and my boyfriend go to the same church which is also attended by his ex. She still eye him and  sending message to my boyfriend at night, what should I do ? Or on other day an  old woman who goes to church regularly asked him, I lied once to my friends of 50 years  and now they think I lie all the time, what should I do ? He has to face question like this in his show and he is not even that religious person. On his show, he talks things that is not appropriate to talk with those who are god believing. However, it's pretty interesting to hear him speak candidly, especially; when it comes to his take on, God as a giver. What more you need to know about this comedian is that he is raised by a mother who was a Sunday school teacher.

Ellen's famous call to God for her being gay; changed her life upside down. As a gay woman it was not easy for her to be accepted by the society, then. She was dumped and her show was cancelled when she came out as a gay. It was then she had this talk with God on one of the famous show of America. That changed her life forever. One of her friend had asked her how everything has changed after you were out of all the shows ? Her response was that I am a writer and I can write anything to change the story. She now is much loved person in America. Be kind to one another is one of her life motto. 

Secret Recipe for a Success

One of my favorite movies is `Kung Fu Panda'. Okay, I got to admit it; not until five half views, I fell in love with this movie. In all those half views it started with flying snake, doing tough marshal art stunts by a tiger and a panda whose father was a duck, a tortoise who stays on top of the stick so and so. Honestly speaking,  I just did not like flying animals doing all the marshal art stunts. 

After those initial five half views, I finally saw the whole picture and then I truly got the clear picture. It has a lesson of a lifetime. 

The lessons of this picture is, there is no secret recipe for a success, any body can make it in life just like those animals flaunting their marshal art skill and stunts. If there is no one's name written there, it may be you who is meant to do the unthinkable and remember there is nobody's picture on the mirror. You stand in front of it and you are the one. The other one is : some well experience eyes always see potential in you and some equally experienced eyes always doubt in your true potential. Trust yourself and believe in you, even if; nobody believes in you.

There are people who hold on some baseless things, like success or failure are written on your hand long before you are born and your family and its background helps you to be where you want to be.  At times, it may be true but the end result is you will be there where you want to be and where you dream to be. If you don't dream your dream, it never becomes true and then how come you ever live to tell it to your children and grand children I lived my dream life.

Let me give you one common example of real life. Bobby Deol & Kangana Ranaut is a known name in Bollywood. Bobby has a family who are from movie industry and yes he did have some movie due to his family back ground and okay due to his youthful look also. And then there is Kangana Ranaut from Himanchal Pradesh. She comes from very middle class family with no link in Bollywood. Kangana Ranaut gave some blockbuster movie like Gangster, Lamhe, Fashion, Queen and once upon a time in Mumbai to Bollywood. I can't remember which one was Bobby's block buster movie, can you remember one ?

When I am writing this, I remember one story from the book 'You Can Win' about a balloon seller; who would let go colorful balloons in the sky every time there was sort of sales and every time after seeing flying balloons in the sky more children came to buy it, more than his expectations. One day, when he was letting lose some colorful balloons from his hands, mainly red, blue, green and orange in the sky, he got his shirt pulled by one tiny colored boy. Who wanted to ask him a question "will it fly if the color of balloon is black ?" Then the seller told him "of course, it will; a balloon flies not because what's on the outside but because what's in the inside of it."

When some body believes in you, and say you can do this, just believe him/her and most importantly believe in yourself. Mirror has tremendous power in it, look into the mirror and say you can do it and trust yourself.

Note : This post has already been published in  Shades of Life in April 2011.

~ End ~

Insulted - not without my permission

While watching a video on YouTube another video popped up. After seeing the title I watched it. It was Russian version of Britain Got Talent. Maybe it's not entirely Russian but it sure belongs to some 'Russian' continent before. A woman in her mid twenties was singing on the stage. Not even a minute has been passed but just then a judge abruptly raised his hand to signal her to stop. The singer was totally confused, but she complied the gesture and stopped singing. Because she was doing well and audience liked her so they hooted to express their anger. However, two judges agreed on it and send two assistants to check on the back ground to see something there. As they found nothing they have to start the show.

Then the singer was signaled to start again. She poured herself in to that one song and sang so beautifully, her voice won the heart of audience as well as judges.  The hall was erupted with a thunder clap. Then why they had abruptly told her to stop ?

When it was time for judges to comment two of them admitted it was so good, I mean so good they doubted that it could not be she or her real voice. She could not have that good voice not without passing the backstage check up that she was not faking it by lip singing. Those assistants who were sent to back stage confirmed there was no machine to support her faking she was allowed to sing the song.

This whole episode took on the live TV when program like this have the highest on the most counties. We all are hooked to reality show now.  I must admit like the half world I too did not understand a word in it even if I watched that piece of video. This odd judgment skill exhibited by the Russian talent hunt show is something hard to understand. I watch such reality shows all the time. If an American find uh good talent performing so beautifully they will give the stand up ovation. Over the years, I have watched it hundreds of times artist around the world getting all three or four standing ovation, now they have found the word like golden buzzer moment for this. Then saying this show needs you and you are the reason we do this show.  

Whereas in Russia, they stopped the show, just because she sang so beautifully it was hard to believe it's her voice. Should that be the ground to allow anyone to stop the show ? But, before I raised this question it already happened in Russia.

During the British colonial ruling era white men took pride degrading Indians. at that  time Gandhi had tremendous influence over Indians. His take on such insult, well ignore it.

I remember reading a story about Abraham Lincoln, one of the most respected leaders in American History.  When he became president some of the parliamentarians complained about the shoes that needed repairing. Abraham Lincoln's father was a shoe maker and he was so good at it that most of the parliamentarians were his father's client when it came to shoe. After hearing the comments from his fellow members in parliament he said, I still can repair those shoes, my father did it and I can do it. That Shoe repairing episode and his remark of Abraham Lincoln makes the whole difference. It was his opponent tactic to make him feel insignificant, but with that remark he failed their attempt to degrade him that to after being President.

If you feel insulted then, probable; you deserve it. That is why you must stand tall for you yourself. For that, the best way is to know you. Embrace who you are and what you are. If you fail to do this small favor to yourself, there are plenty of people who will tear you apart. When someone insults you, some of you may opt for the Gandhi policy and if you don't fell like saint then opt for the Lincoln way. I mean face them boldly and answer in a way that the one who indulges in insulting will never even think twice to insult you. But, what about that Russian Singer on TV; who sang so beautifully, it silenced the doubting Thomas that to when millions of viewer were glued their eyes on TV. Sometimes, not words but your dignified act is enough to silence your critics.