Just a couple of weeks ago, the cable walas stopped showing 'inappropriate' content on the TVs. As a result, the stalwarts like HBO , Star movies, faded away. But, surprisingly, we also had every other movie channel following the same fate. The result being entertainment was clipped of its wings and as always the customers had to bear the brunt of it. Well, i dont intend to go into the details of this controversy - that would account for a separate blog !!! So, amindst this dearth of entertainment, we (roomies) wondered what to watch on TV. Prompt came the reply from one my friends - India TV !!!
For a few ignorant souls - India TV is one of the many many 24x7 news channels. The motto of most of these channels is to show the truth, get to the root of the problems and present the 'facts' to the viewers in the fastest possible time. Truly, all these channels serve towards getting transparency in any matter concerning (or not concerning) the common man. Surely, the magnanimity of their social awareness and plilanthropic activities knows no limits. I am indeed blessed to have seen the social revolution ignited by these dedicated bunch of people. Really inspiring - right ? Then is it that the channel was thought of as a perfect substitute for any other entertaining channel ???
No doubt, my friend should be questioned over his irresponsible comments. How on earth can you afford to challenge the motive of that noble channel !!! So what if Rakhi-Mika controversy was given more importance than the political turmoil elsewhere .... so what if Prince's rescue overshadowed resuce of hundreds of Indians from Lebanon .... so what if a certain cobra found in a courier made it to the breaking news .... so what if a ghost driving people away from school was more important than the terror strikes. Here it's proved, they care for the common man - cobra, ghost, Rakhi, Mika everyone is surely linked deeply to the common man of India. Of course Prince vindicated his name when he single handedly accounted for 36 hrs (dunno the exact figure !) of non-stop truth presented to the concerned viewers. And no....India TV wasnt/isnt the only one - the entire news industry did/does it bit (more than bit actually) towards the betterment of their fellow countrymen.
On a serious note though (just in case u thought i wasnt serious yet), under the name of 24x7 coverage of facts and in the race of being first to report the news, these channels are surely breaking the true essence of news. The emotions and sensitivity of the issue are kept miles away and focus is simply on who wins the brutal race. They dont see any harm in interviewing the bereaved just moments after the blast, they dont see the damage that can be done while showing the disastrous effects of terror live on screen, they dont hold themselves repsonsible for propogating andhashraddha amongst the uneducated masses .... Under the mask of showing the truth, these anti social elements have the sole aim of increasing their TRPs, be it at the cost of consciousness !!!
Yet, with all these factors known, these channels still thrive and would continue to do so. After all, the supply of any product is only as good as the demand - and who doesnt like to watch some exciting breaking news !!!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Dreamz unlimited !!!
The sparkling eyes showed innocent joys. The never-ending smiles enjoyed every moment of those 3hrs. They laughed, clapped, cheered and lived thru the entire period. Sometimes they even cried, out of empathy and humanity. Yes, the kids of the DI2020 Borivli chapter showed that they too are as human as others - and they too wanna enjoy life to the fullest.
Well, the scene was Lage Raho Munnabhai being screened for 29 kids, who stay in the slums of Kulupwadi, Borivli. The organisers were the members of the DI2020 team. The occasion was 'nothing - but smiles'. So what's DI2020 ?
Dream India 2020 (or DI200 as it's fondly referred to) is an NGO striving towards the betterment of the less-fortunate ones by educating them. Teaching English and Math are the prime objectives, along with imparting certain values too. Started by a couple of engineering students of Chennai, this NGO now has centres in 5 cities - Mumbai, the leader, has 4 centres. I was fortunate enough to know about this enthusiastic group a couple of months ago and there has been no looking back since. While Kiran still remains a dream, DI2020 actually paved the way for it. Life surely hasnt been the same - of course changed for the better !!!
Never have I come across a more dedicated set of individuals working towards a certain goal. Everyone of them is a working professional (mostly IT ) who slog it out the entire week (sometimes weekends too !) and yet find quality time for those wonderful kids. The classes are held on Sat eves and Sun morns. So, when they have a chance to just rest for a while on a relaxed sunday, we find people actually travelling from Ghatkopar to take a 2 hr class inBorivli. This is what struck me as something surely extra-ordinary.
And all this is possible coz of the man behind this - the founder of DI2020 - Varun R. A simple guy armed with simple thoughts and simple methods - he has undoubtely taken on a complex system with a resolve of changing it. Apart form these simple qualities, that guy has an unmatched vision and relentless will to implement the vision. It's about 2 yrs since they started their first class, and needless to say, the journey has been first-class. Hats off !!!
Amidst all this are those lovely souls who are deprived of the comforts which their 'well-to-do' counterparts enjoy. But, they have the will, the will to learn, the will to grow in life, in stature. They have the yearning for learning, they have the inclination - they just need the time from us adults. And that's precisely what we try to do at the Borivli class - try to bring about a change in them without changing their individuality. We try to give them an opportunity to have a holistic view towards life - Munnabhai was born out of this. Not only did the kids have a golden chance to walk proudly on the shining floors of the mall, not only did they escalate merrily, not only did they have a blast with the pop-corns ... they also got a chance to meet the Mahatma. The simplicity of the movie touched them; as they live, nothing, but a very simple life.
I have always been inspired by the Mahatma's words - Be the change you want to see. Call it a coincidence or conspiring of the universe - we practised what he preached :-)
P.S : For any info please visit http://dreamindia2020.org/
Well, the scene was Lage Raho Munnabhai being screened for 29 kids, who stay in the slums of Kulupwadi, Borivli. The organisers were the members of the DI2020 team. The occasion was 'nothing - but smiles'. So what's DI2020 ?
Dream India 2020 (or DI200 as it's fondly referred to) is an NGO striving towards the betterment of the less-fortunate ones by educating them. Teaching English and Math are the prime objectives, along with imparting certain values too. Started by a couple of engineering students of Chennai, this NGO now has centres in 5 cities - Mumbai, the leader, has 4 centres. I was fortunate enough to know about this enthusiastic group a couple of months ago and there has been no looking back since. While Kiran still remains a dream, DI2020 actually paved the way for it. Life surely hasnt been the same - of course changed for the better !!!
Never have I come across a more dedicated set of individuals working towards a certain goal. Everyone of them is a working professional (mostly IT ) who slog it out the entire week (sometimes weekends too !) and yet find quality time for those wonderful kids. The classes are held on Sat eves and Sun morns. So, when they have a chance to just rest for a while on a relaxed sunday, we find people actually travelling from Ghatkopar to take a 2 hr class inBorivli. This is what struck me as something surely extra-ordinary.
And all this is possible coz of the man behind this - the founder of DI2020 - Varun R. A simple guy armed with simple thoughts and simple methods - he has undoubtely taken on a complex system with a resolve of changing it. Apart form these simple qualities, that guy has an unmatched vision and relentless will to implement the vision. It's about 2 yrs since they started their first class, and needless to say, the journey has been first-class. Hats off !!!
Amidst all this are those lovely souls who are deprived of the comforts which their 'well-to-do' counterparts enjoy. But, they have the will, the will to learn, the will to grow in life, in stature. They have the yearning for learning, they have the inclination - they just need the time from us adults. And that's precisely what we try to do at the Borivli class - try to bring about a change in them without changing their individuality. We try to give them an opportunity to have a holistic view towards life - Munnabhai was born out of this. Not only did the kids have a golden chance to walk proudly on the shining floors of the mall, not only did they escalate merrily, not only did they have a blast with the pop-corns ... they also got a chance to meet the Mahatma. The simplicity of the movie touched them; as they live, nothing, but a very simple life.
I have always been inspired by the Mahatma's words - Be the change you want to see. Call it a coincidence or conspiring of the universe - we practised what he preached :-)
P.S : For any info please visit http://dreamindia2020.org/
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