What is there in a name!

I do not like my name to be written as Partha Sarathi, because my name is Parthasarathi. I get irritated whenever my name is written in two parts in the certificates or somewhere else, where I had informed or sent my name as it is. Some people ask ‘what is there in a name?’ as they feel that it is just for identity and a name has nothing else to do. They cite example like a person named Satyaban may be a habitual liar- to prove their point. But I feel a name is more than an identity.
A name may be a matter of pride and can be attached to peoples’ emotion. Change of names of many African countries after their independence from colonial rulers and change of name of few Indian cities are example of this aspect. In corporate world name of a brand may become so popular that products of other companies are identified with the popular brand, not as a product. Example- photocopier machines are known as ‘xerox’ in India while Xerox is the name of a company.
Name may also create problem sometimes. When names are sorted alphabetically for any purpose, then a person has to wait for long if his/her name starts with U or V. In India, naming streets, government schemes, awards etc after some leader’s works as political instrument; at the same time it creates problem for students as they have to remember all these names for various examinations.
There is nice story in Hindu mythology. There was a person called Ajamila who spent his whole life in all sorts of negative works and was a sinner. But his soul found a place in heaven after his death as he was calling his son ‘Narayana’ on his death bed, which is incidentally the name of God. So many people name their children after God or Goddess.
What do you think now- is there anything in a name or not?

Is Hindi Film Moving Away From Common Audience?

Indian film industry is the largest film industry in the world. Hindi film industry which is popularly known as Bollywood, has a lion’s share in it. Hindi films have not only pan-Indian audience; they are doing good business in overseas market too. But I feel either intentionally or unintentionally Hindi films are moving away from mass.
Credits in Hindi are done away with from Hindi films long time ago. Perhaps Hindi films are the only films in which credits are shown in English and not in the language in which the film is made. Of course all the viewers are not able to read Hindi; but it should not be a excuse for the mass, who does not know English and want to know the people associated with a film.
Now-a-days many films are found with English title which confuses the common audience. Though we can find English titles for Hindi films in the past, they were generally common words even used by illiterate people. Today foreign films are also released in India adding more confusion in the movie title. English dialogues are also frequently used by characters of a film. The reason may be film makers are targeting multiplex and overseas markets more. I am not advocating for pure Hindi dialogues as used by Dharmendra in old ‘Chupke Chupke’. But it will be better if the use of English dialogues will be minimized.
Another aspect is characterization in films. Now films are being made more on western style. There is nothing wrong in it; problem lies in with adaptation. In some films, film makers are presenting actors as stand-alone characters. They are forgetting that we have strong family system in India and it plays a vital role in every aspect of our life. It does not mean that a director has to show a whole family on the screen. Script should be written to make a feel about the family of lead characters. This particular aspect is more alienating the Indian audience. Besides, western culture has replaced Indian culture in the films too. If film makers can present a veteran actor singing with young people on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, is it wrong on the part of a common audience to expect a sister sending e-rakhi to her brother in films?

Sports scenario in India

Normally sports news finds their place in the last pages of news paper or last part of a news bulletin. Occasionally it makes headlines when Indian cricket team wins any crucial match (as their performance is always inconsistence) or any miracle happens in other sporting events. But in the last few months; sports related news are making headlines for all wrong reasons in our country. It prompted me to write this piece.
Though I am writing this sports related article, at the very outset I want to make it clear that I am not a sports person nor I have any knowledge about sports. During my school days I had heard only few sports persons’ name like- Dhyan Chand, P T Usha, Milkha Singh, Viswanatha Anand, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and then emerging Sachin Tendulkar. As there were no kids of my age in my neighborhood I developed liking towards books and music. Later I had to read sports news only for various examinations. Only thing related to game I am interested is playing cards and in rainy days I feel nostalgic as it reminds me those college days when we friends spent afternoons playing it. So this piece is just some thoughts from a common man’s perspective.
It is really a matter of shame that in a country of billion plus population, we have very few sportspersons of international standard. More than sporting achievements we saw all sorts of scams – corruption, harassment of female players, doping by athletes – in the recent past.
Once upon a time hockey brought laurels for country. But Indian team failed to qualify for last Olympics. Recently sexual harassment allegation by women hockey players brought more shame to the sport. I do not know why hockey was decided to be our national sport and do we really need anything to be called as national sports. In our country everybody is a cricket expert and our cricketing body is the richest in world. But the performance of our team is not consistent though there are many individual records are held by Indians. Income of the cricketing body has increased as scope for advertisement in cricket is more in comparison to other sports and our country has a vast population. I do not think concerned sports body has much role in it. Rather this greed led to the creation of IPL and all sorts of scandals. It is better not to talk about football. But we have innovative ideas for solace- inviting weaker teams than Indian team for Nehru cup and congratulate ourselves on winning that. I do not know what is going on in athletics front. Our hopes for medals in various events rest on shooters. We can expect from our boxers, wrestlers, tennis and badminton players also.
Regarding organizing major sporting events like Asiad games, Commonwealth games and Olympics- should we organize these events? I know those who support for organizing these events always advocate that it will enhance the image of our country and will increase tourism. I am not good in cost- benefit analysis. What I firmly believe is that we can only save the amount spent on our large contingent if we host any major event. Otherwise arguments like increase in tourism, image of the country are only false claims if we compare with the amount invested in organizing such events.
Everybody knows where the problem lies. In our country politicians have occupied positions in all sports bodies. Government provides grant to these bodies but they are not accountable to anybody. So for improvement in sports in our country reform in the sporting bodies is required first- then everything will fall in place.

Sound Sleep

: Hello! How are you?
Me: Hi; I am fine
: So, what’s going on dude?
Me: Nothing, but who are you and where are you, I cannot see you
: I am God, now in invisible mode
Me: Hey, don’t joke. How can I believe that you are God? Why don’t you show up?
: Cool baby. I am not visible because I have many avatars which are created by human being and I don’t know which one you would like to see. You can believe me as God, as I know you are Parthasarathi
Me: That’s not enough. I am on social networking site and a blogger. It’s not difficult to google up and find me
: Ok, you want proof. Wish one thing and I will fulfill it
Me: What can I ask? I need so many things- money, power, company of beautiful women…
: See, politicians promise so many things, but they don’t fulfill. You wish only one thing, I shall fulfill that
Me: ok, grant me sound sleep every night
: Only sound sleep; nothing else? But why?
Me: See, sound sleep is enough for me. You very well know that without food, clothing and accommodation one cannot sleep. For this you have to make provision of good income for me. Besides sound sleep is not possible without healthy body and mind. So you have to keep my body fit and mind tension free. What else I need?
: You are very diplomatic
Me: My friends say so……….hello, are you there? Disconnected or what….
(My mother asked me to get up from bed as it was very late. Was that sound sleep)

My Tryst with Politics

Being a student of Political Science, I read Aristotle saying that man (human being to be more accurate-I am not gender biased) is a political animal. Naturally I have interest in politics-both keeping a tab on political news and participating in political activities. My friends know that I have unsuccessfully contested in university election.
I was excited from the beginning of this year, as implementation of Delimitation committee report created some sort of opportunity. I downloaded the voter list of my assembly constituency, did some research regarding the procedure for contesting election (this is one reason of being irregular in posting blogs though I have a dozen topics in skeletal form).
But I did not apply to any political party for ticket. You might be thinking which party would have given me ticket! Yeah you are not completely wrong. As there is nothing wrong in trying I should have gone ahead. But I was plagued with the middle class dilemma- what to do next if I failed in my attempt. Anyway I am jobless, so there is no fear of losing my source of income. But here lies the exact reason- as I have no income, no savings and nothing to spend in the election campaigning.
The objective of posting this blog is to make an appeal before my friends and well-wishers. It may sound rude, but moral support is not enough. I need financial support. So I request all of you to save some amount of money for me regularly and I will need that next time. In the meantime you enjoy your life and keep visiting this space- it is free.

Rasogolla And The Myth of Bengali Sweet

I love food. I love sweets. I love ‘Rasogolla’.you ask for mitha(sweet-meat) in a restaurant in Orissa and they will provide rasogolla, although they sell a variety of sweets; such is the popularity of this sweet. Rasogolla is available almost all over India. But regarding the origin one myth is associated with rasogolla. Many people believe that rasogolla is originated in Bengal; though the truth is that it is an indigenous Oriya sweet. Though the exact time period of its origin is not known it is believed that rasogolla is being consumed in Orissa from medieval period.
People who believe that rasogolla is of Bengal origin claim that one sweetmeat maker from Bengal invented it in 1868 when he tried to make something ‘different’. To discard others claim regarding rasogolla’s origin some even say that Indians did not know the use of milk derivatives as rasogolla is prepared from chhena- a milk derivative. They learnt it from Portugese and this knowledge came through Bengal. Such a pity! These researchers forgot that in Mahabharat we get the description of various milk products being prepared in Goppura.
Let us know the actual fact about rasogolla. Among many other variety of indigenous sweets rasogolla is offered as prasad in Jagannath temple. Particularly after Ratha yatra Lord Jagannath offers rasogolla to Maa Laxmi to please Her(as Lord Jagannath is accompanied by His brother and sister to Gundicha temple and Maa Laxmi is left). This ritual is followed every year. So one can get an idea of how old rasogolla is; definitely its origin is not in 1868. Another important fact about Jagannath temple is that; nothing is used as Prasad in Puri which is not indigenous including vegetables like potato tomato cabbage etc.(though these are being used in other Jagannath temples). This proves the point that rasogolla is originated in Orissa.
One might become curious as to how rasogolla is so much popular in Bengal. During nineteenth century many Oriya Brahmins were employed in Bengal as cook who were called thakurs. These people introduced rasogolla in Bengal which became popular for its taste. Oriyas were never interested in publicity. When people in Bengal wanted to store rasogolla for more days they mixed some impurities in the ingredients to increase its shelf life. Then only it could be easily exported. Lack of publicity and marketing by Oriya people led to the wrong notion regarding rasogolla’s origin. To get the exact taste one should try fresh rasogolla if available instead of canned one. Though canned rasogollas are also exported from Orissa it decreases the taste like any other packed food item. Salepur and Pahal are famous for rasogolla in Orissa. Next time you visit Orissa don’t forget to taste the authentic rasogolla.

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