Friday, March 6, 2015

Holi EDM and Dance fest held in Manipur

Manipuri youth thronged at Route39 Mantripukhri, Imphal to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours today. With the theme 'Let's Colour', Holi EDM and Dance Festival 2015 was organised  by the exquisite restaurant Route39 in association with Youth Street News for the youth of this region.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

D K Bose on my mind

Gone are the days of Munni and Sheila; it's time for DK Bose. DK Bose has not only chased 'Badnaam Munni' and 'Jawan Sheila' but has also left them way behind. No, no, he is not after some 'Tinku' or 'Laila' or any other item girl. And he is not interested in anyone of them; he has become as famous as these item lot, or, perhaps, even more. Now, Bose doesn't need to impress upon any youth, they are already impressed.

DK Bose needs no introduction, at least among youth, he is on everyone's mind including mine. He is also on Facebook, Orkut, iPhones, BBs and the likes of. I love DK Bose, so do all my friends. He believes in running away as he says to himself, “Bhaag bhaag DK Bose.. DK Bose.. DK Bose.. DK.. bhaag!”

Well, please don't take it otherwise. The DK Bose I am referring here is a character in a song from the yet-to-be released movie 'Delhi Belly'. The song has become such a hit that everyone is humming it the way as if they are in Pre-Nursery class and singing the popular rhyme 'Baba Black Sheep'.

Like last year huge hits 'Munni Badnaam Hui' and 'Sheila Ki Jawani', 'Bhaag DK Bose' has been able to capture audience's attention in its very first video shown on mushrooming music channels. Actually, it's not the video (with all due respect to Imraan Khan) but its lyrics that has successfully established instant connection with today's youth. Salute to the lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya who did wonderful job in creating such lines that can attract one's ears instantly. And with Ram Sampath blending these lines with his punk rock music, it can't get any better than this.

Why 'Bhaag DK Bose' is such a massive hit amongst youth? The answer to this question is, of course, because of its lyrics and music. Contrary to the popular belief that one should face any hardship that comes one's way, this song says when in trouble, just run away (Aandhi aayi, Aandhi aayi Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag)! Indeed, true. Since today's youth face so many hardships in terms of relationships, office tensions, jobs, admissions, economic status among others in this cut-throat competitive world, this punk rock music with great lyrics comes as a big relief to much stressed youth of today.

The most fascinating part of this song is that every single line of it carries a double meaning when listened to carefully. For instance, 'Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag' when sung repetitively, it makes sense as one of the famous abuses in Hindi (another reason for its popularity). Although there have been many literal Hindi abuses used in many of the bollywood songs yet, DK Bose is completely out of the box item that uses abuses in a different style. And when the product is from none other than Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan, one can only expect the best. It won't be surprising if the song becomes national anthem for youth! It's a fabulous good to ear song, deserves to be listened to it once.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Time to reveal 8-year-old secret

Life changes persistently; so does the life style – the way of thinking and perceiving things. But some memories just aren't meant to be forgotten, while some secrets are simply meant to be unveiled. Now that I am in 2011 and the Indian team has finally won the World Cup Cricket after a gap of 28 years, I think it's high time that I reveal my 8-year-old secret.
I know you all are confused thinking how can my secret be associated with cricket!

Well, the story goes like this: It was March 2003. I was due to give my board exams. At the same time Indian Cricket team has passionately made their entry in World Cup Cricket final along with its counterpart and the then all-time-favorite Australia. I was so obsessed by the game that I related all my answers in my board exams with cricket. Yes, I did that. And I scored impressively as well.

2003 witnessed a new wave in Manipur. Technological innovation was one of the major changing trends in Manipur. Here, I am particularly talking about the internet revolution. I was an active part of that revolution. In fact, there wasn't a single person, especially the school goers who didn't have their mail IDs. It was a must for one to have an account on Yahoo Messenger at least. Chatting was a kind of in-thing at that time. And I fully utilized that feature of Yahoo during the break after the board exams.

I was obsessed by chatting to the extent that I would sit inside internet cafes for long hours, chatting with unknown lots from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and the like (now, I wonder if they really were foreigners at all!!). Yeah, I had this craze of chatting with Whites as I like their red cheeks with golden spiky hairs.

Not just pass time, chatting had become my passion. I would collect posters of celebs downloading them from net. By the way, I only collected posters of that special one. Actually, I fell in love with Mr Lee. No...No...No...don't misunderstand me ...it's not Bruce Lee. It is the dashing, amazing, stunning and handsome mate, Brett Lee.

I loved him. I still do. I like the way he runs and releases the bowl from his right hand in style embossed with speed; I love to see his eyebrows raised when his bowl is being smashed to the boundary; I like the way he irritates batsman and then gives him that taunting smile – the smile that always brings a smile on my face. Yes, I like him to an extreme of craziness.

Today, in the quarter-finals of WC 2011, I was pretty much happy with India beating the Aussies. But somewhere in my heart there was a deep and subtle pain, for the obvious reason that: my Lee was out of the WC 2011. And I would not be able to see him in remaining matches of the tournament.

It has been 8 long years ever since I first liked Lee. Though the intensity my this one sided relation now is not that high as it used to be earlier, I am still crazy about him. Craziness, of course, has a limit; but I had, probably, crossed all of them. My first mail IDs on Yahoo and Gmail were an amalgamation of my name and his name (mehnaz_lee@yahoo.co.in). And because of my mail ID, everyone now thinks that 'Lee' is my surname.

Till I was a student, it was acceptable to keep a lid over it. Now that I am working, I think it's high time that I reveal my 8-year-old secret. So world, my name is Mehnaz Nasreen and I am not a 'Lee'.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Roads full of fools!

Driving on Indian roads could be one of your most terrible experiences. Being a driver is a curse in India. It hardly matters whether you are in a Mercedes or Maruti 800. When the roads are jam- packed and filled with chicken-headed people, it really doesn't count on which Ac car you are traveling. Here I am not talking only about the Delhi roads or for that matter other metro cities', roads in UP, Bihar, Haryana etc. apart from few states in north-east states too are horrible.

There is a subject called Civics which is taught as a part of Social Science in schools. I am damn sure these lot have never ever flipped the pages or attended any class of this particular subject for they consider roads as their drawing rooms. They will try to overtake your vehicle from whichever sides they want to especially the bikers as if they are professionally racers (which unfortunately they aren't). In a bid to show off their bikes, yes, the ones with superbikes will surely speed up in a zig-zag manner. They think that with this stupendous act (actually, a stupid one), they can easily impress girls. Well, let me take this opportunity to announce on behalf of all the girls' community that we fully detest these savaged riders from the core of our hearts. Yes, we do!

Honking is another habit which we Indians are proud of. And 'Don't Honk' is the popular tag one must have noticed on most of the vehicles especially on trucks and buses. Nevertheless, the ones whose vehicles flaunt this tag are the ones which indulged into high-decibel honking. I don't understand why these people press their vehicles' horns so brutally when they know that the red light is still on. Perhaps, they don't know the symbolic meaning of red light or is it some other reason, I can only wonder.

I am so used to listening this honking that I asked the taxi driver in Shillong (in my recent visit there) that if there is a ban on honking. He laughed out heartily and told me that patience is the key. Yes, actually, he was right. Unlike people in this part of the country (Yes, Shillong is a part of India that lies in northeast region. And it is the capital of Meghalaya), people backed in Delhi are so impatient and restless, they are always in a hurry to reach their destination as if they are Obamas, Wen Jiabaos or some other VIPs. While in Shillong, people even though stranded in a massive traffic jam, they would never honk or indulged in verbal fights. They are so disciplined that sometimes I am forced to ponder that if this lot are really Indian.

I learned driving when I was in VII standard. My then instructor would always tell me that drivers should not lose their temper though I am highly short-tempered a person. He would tell me that patience is the word you should always remember. However, when you are in a place like Delhi where people lack civic sense, I hardly can be patient. I get irritated when I see someone driving rashly or breaking traffic rules. But those golden words of my instructor would always struck in my mind then I would switched on the Ac at its maximum level and put on some soft music and I would drive on. Thinking that I have to go miles before I sleep, I would tell myself that roads are full of fools and I should not turn into one of them.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Anything for a cause

Youth love to support any cause and they never fail to flaunt what they support. Be it global warming, slum issues, deforestation, child labour, female infanticide, gay rights and the like; yes, you name it, they have it. Nowadays, you ask any youth specially the school and the college goers, they will surely tell you that they support a cause and will also try to show it off.

Scorching Sun or heavy rains or chilly December days, today's enthusiastic youth do not care of such hindrances and make it a point to hit the roads, streets, audis, schools, colleges among others supporting their causes. I am sure many of you must have noticed it. As I too witnessed this scene only a day before yesterday, it was an awareness campaign on climate change where I was one of the speakers (yes, yes, I am a member of an NGO called NECEER) , youth throng there in a huge number despite the day being Sunday. Only few of them were very concerned about the cause, others just came to get the certificate, badge, newsletters, posters etc. so that they can show off to their friends and acquaintances that they are associated with a cause and are really concerned about it.

Well, I know a junior of mine who proudly told me (I am sure he must have told this to everyone he knows) that he is associated with 25 NGOs and he is supporting around 150 causes! How he manages to support so many causes despite being an engineering student, only God knows. One can easily spot him for he always wears badges, carries flyer, pamphlets etc. of the causes he supports wherever he goes. I can only hope that he knows what are the problems behind climate change, global warming, female infanticide and the like.

Besides, there are so-called PETA activists, most of them models, who pose almost nude for the PETA campaign just for the sake of publicity. No, no, not only for the campaign but for their own publicity, these lot do such things and flaunting what they endorse is one of them. By the way, I don't see any logic behind showing your own skin for saving some endangered animal's skin. Are there no other ethical ways to save animals from unethical treatment apart from posing nude? I can only wonder.

Flaunting a cause is order of the day. Not only this male junior of mine is showing off what he supports but also thousands of youngsters are leaving no stone unturned to do the same. Anyway, as far as they are supporting the cause, it hardly matters whether this lot is flaunting or doing anything to publicise themselves (which is directly proportional to publicising the cause). But one thing is for sure that today's youth love to support any causes. And they can do anything for it.

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Pay us or face the music

“Pay 50 lakhs or face action.” A common threat that the people of Manipur get every now and then from the mushrooming militants in the state. Hurling a Chinese-made hand grenade at residences has become an easy way to extort money from the well-known personalities of the state.

Due to this violent act of the militants, many have been killed and hundreds have been injured till date. Ministers, bureaucrats, engineers, doctors, lecturers amongst others are the main targets of grenade attacks carried out by the militants. The grenade hurling incident has become such a day-to-day affair that even the local newspapers carry the news report in a single column. The latest attack is the one on Friday where a Chinese hand grenade was found at the residence of L Jayantakumar Singh, Health Minister of Manipur at Pishumthong, Imphal East. It was later diffused and disposed by the bomb experts of Manipur Police, according to a report.

However, Chongtham Ranabir, Executive Engineer IFCD is not as lucky as Minister Jayantakumar as one security guard was killed and other four were injured on a grenade attack carried out by unidentified militants on February 11 at his residence in Singjamei, Imphal West. An eye-witnessed said, “Two unidentified man on a motor-bike hurled the grenade from the front side of the engineer's residence.” But it was not a first attack on his premises but the grenades have been hurled on four more occasions as well. Ranabir told media that he has been receiving monetary demands from various militant groups. The undergrounds are after him to get contract works on favour of their fellow men, revealed Ranabir.

As a reaction to the rampant attacks, locals have been staging protests on streets and have been demanding to stop this violent way to extort money immediately. The Apunba Lup (Joint Action committee) of Khetrigao Leikei in Imphal staged a protest against the grenade attack at the residence of A R Khan, an IAS officer. The officer's house too faced a grenade attack earlier on January. Meena Begum, a member of the Apunba Lup said, “We are strictly against this kind of attacks where lives of many are at stake. We demand quick action from the militants to stop such acts immediately.”

http://thesundayindian.com/article.php?type=blog&blog_id=29&article_id=12878

Buying a perfect groom

Sale, sale, sale! buy one, get 50% off, seasonal discount up to 70% . Yeah, yeah, you got it right. It's a season of discounts and sale. You can avail anything you want at anytime but of course *conditions apply*. Search, select and buy from any nearby market or just surf the net then click the mouse and buy what you want virtually. Wait, wait, you people must have misinterpreted me, I am not talking about the ongoing sale in the mushrooming malls, but the sale of grooms in our developing country since time immemorial.

You don't believe me? You ought to trust me on this. However, you need to shell out those hard earned savings of your parents and yours too to get what you want (here comes that *conditions apply*).

Well, the other day this friend of mine was surfing the net with full concentration. She was too lost on it that she couldn't notice my presence in the room at all. Damn! She was surfing some matrimonial site.

Reena! You getting married? I shouted.

Shocked at my presence and shout, she scolded me and said no to my question.

Why were you surfing that flashy matrimonial site then? I curiously inquired.

Obviously searching for my perfect groom, was her reply.

Totally a gone case she is, I thought. Yes, I was confused as this newly schizophrenic friend first said that she was not getting married and then told me she was searching for a groom that too a perfect one. I mean what she was up to with man, only God knew.

Holding two hot coffee cups in her hands, she told me as she gave away my cup that she needs to find her soul-mate soon.

Look dear, I am 22 turning 23 in few days. As you know that I hail from such a place that finding a perfect groom is a Herculean task. Worst it is when one has so many boundations on the lines of caste, community, creed, profession and so on and so forth. And I being a teacher I want my to-be hubby to be well-educated as well. However, it's too tough a task to find a perfect combination of rich yet qualified, same caste but different gotra (sub-caste), similar community handsome man in today's time.

You know what, 50 lakhs is the rate of a PCS officer nowadays, she told me with a drooping face.

I said, “Excuse me, what do you mean by the rate?”

Ignoring my question, she told me that she has decided to opt for a teacher instead as it would cost her less. “You know, I always wanted to marry a civil servant but guess I have to compromise,” she told me sadly .

“20 lakhs is a huge amount dear, I can get a lecturer husband instead of a PCS one in just 30 lakhs,” she further told me.

Cases of infanticide, female foeticide, burning females to death and the like perhaps have surged due to the above, I pondered.

“So you were asking about the rates?”finally she remembered that she owed me an answer.

“Yes?”I replied enthusiastically.

“As I already told you one needs to arrange 50 lakhs to get a PCS officer but if you want an IAS officer then you ought to shell out another 20-30 lakhs from your parents' saving accounts,” she told me.

“40 lakhs for a doctor groom, 30 lakhs for a lecturer, same for the software engineer, 15 lakhs for a primary teacher, 10 for a shopkeeper....,” and she continued listing the rates.

“Wait, wait, wait, what about a journalist hubby? It's nowhere in your list,” I asked ( I ought to ask this for the obvious reason, hey don't take it otherwise, I am talking about my profession here)

"No Idea,” she failed to tell me.

"Get Idea,” I told. She told me she loves Airtel ( poor joke)

By the way it's so embarrassing that people don't consider our profession, journalists as a serious one. I mean what the hell yaar...Many Reenas are searching for IAS officers, doctors, teachers among others but no journalists...ammm...sad, I am now.

After searching several colourful matrimonial sites, finally Reena decided to zero down a lecturer as her 'perfect groom'.

By the way, forgot to tell you all that she got a 5% discount on her hubby as she is a platinium card-holder of marriage.com. The matrimonial site offered to negotiate the groom's price with the latter's family.

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