Stray Thoughts...

Frankfurt: Morning Hours

2009-01-03T14:17:00.001-08:00

A Lufthansa Airbus in the morning hours, resting at Frankurt airport.

Stray thoughts… from half way across the globe

2008-04-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

My shoes require no polish here. The day was clear and sunny - just like in Hyderabad, but was unbelievably chilly – reminded me of Ooty. The ride at Metros is real swift and comforting – oh yes, I have seen the young offering their seat to the old. People, complete strangers, acknowledge your smile with a smile. The bus driver wishes me a good day everyday.

For Friday prayer, I went to the Embassy of Qatar – that was the nearest mosque some 1.5 miles away from my office. For breakfast it’s juices, tea, and Sara Lee’s Apple Orchids. For lunch – oh don’t ask!. For dinner, I have to cook for myself. And yes, I can cook well – thanks to Shan's Chicken Masala. The nearest “desi store” is right near my hotel. It’s called Halaalco – I like it because: I get halaal meat there, the staff is Urdu speaking, and also because its proprietor is a Hyderabadi (my first impression was that it’s a Pakistani store – but nay, it’s very much Indian).

Life goes on half way across the globe, but surely with some variations. Life’s good, Mashallah, in Washington - DC, USA.

Adam's Defiance...

2007-12-07T00:10:00.000-08:00

" Baagh-e Bahist say mujhay hukm-e-safar diya tha kyon?
Kaar-e-Jahaan daraaz hai , ab meyra intazaar kar"

Why did you order me out of the garden of paradise?
I have a lot of work that remains unfulfilled:
Now you better wait for me!

This is Adam taking God in defiance, asking why in the first place he was asked to leave paradise (as in why Allah raised him from his primitive stage and bestowed on him some sense and intellect). And that when God has already done so and given the entire Earth to him to strive, grow and evolve, Adam is relentless, and wants to keep striving hard unceasingly. He’s in no mood to rest, and is not yet ready to meet his creator, thus asking his Creator to wait for him.

Stray Snapshots from Raipur

2007-06-14T03:40:00.000-07:00

Feast at Muqaam-I-Mahmooda

The King of Good Times has recently launched a daily flight to Indore and Calcutta. After a rather long hiatus, Indore is once again connected to Raipur by air.

Once commonly called as the VIP Road, it's now officially named Rajeev Gandhi Marg, after country's late (aviator) Prime Minister. This road leads to Mana Airport. On a day with good weather, a drive down to this stretch of 9 KM can be real romantic.

The limits of Raipur municipality ends here.

I never imagined I'd be one day davouring "Prawn Biryani" in Raipur. Thanks again to Madrasi Hotel.

The good old Madrasi Hotel. They are pioneers of Mughal food in Raipur, and enjoyed a near monopoly for years. Now, Raipur does have a few more Muhgal eateries, but none that could compete with the Madrasi group. The above is their recently opened branch.

A quiet street of 150 year old Byron Bazar area on a dull Sunday afternoon. Yes, in Raipur cows are ubiquitous.

This was taken in a Byron Bazaar mosque. A notice asking people to turn off their mobile phones during prayer times. Unlike in other parts of the country, Hindi is almost a lingua franca for local Raipur Muslims. However, the spoken Hindi is more Urduized.

A "Nagar Nigam Raipur" water tanker being filled.

Something fishy...

A candid shot of a street of Raipur on a lazy sunday afternoon.

Raipur rivels Dhaka when it comes to cycle-rickshaws. For years now, cycle-rickshaw is "the" mode of local transport in the city, with no local busses or metered autos running. These rickshaws are pulled by the migrant labourers of Orissa.

Though it's almost end of summers in Raipur (the time is early June), you still see some earthern pots being spread out for selling. All shops are closed, as you can see in the background. It was a sunday afternoon.

Book Review: The Last Nizam

2007-06-07T02:11:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad as a city, and as an idea, has always inspired and interested me. So while casually roaming around at Walden, when I bumped onto The Last Nizam on display, I knew it would the next book I will complete.

Written by an Australian journalist, John Zubrzycki, the book speaks briefly about the first six, and in a little more detail about the seventh and eight (also the last) Nizam of the princely and feudal Hyderabad.

It took nine month and a handful of treachery for the mighty Aurangzeb to break through the supremely guarded Golconda, and ransack both the fort and the Kutub Shahi dynasty. And along with Aurangzeb, came to Deccan the forbearers of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Asaf Jah I, also known as the Nizam ul Mulk, would in the due course settle down confidently as the governor of Mughal ruled Deccan. The great Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad would start with him; he was the first Nizam.

In the course of seven generations, Hyderabad would grow into one of the richest states of the world. But interestingly, people would recognize its seventh ruler, Mir Osman Ali Khan, as the miserly King who although owned the most grandiose treasure of the world (“his pearls alone would fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool"), would smoke cheap Charminars, wear patched clothes, and would postpone buying a blanket for its cost won’t fit his budget!

Then one day, Operation Polo would happen and the feudal Hyderabad would become a part of democratic Republic of India, being led by an utter socialist Pt. Nehru. Osman Ali Khan would take this fact in his stride, and would start “expanding” his make-believe kingdom by adopting many of his subjects (mostly from his African Cavalry) as a family; these people still bank on the many Trusts the “Nizam Sarkar” created for their well being.

Osman Ali Khan nominated not his son, but grandson Mukarram Jah, to be the next (and last) titled Nizam of Hyderabad. However, as it would be revealed, Mukarram’s interest would lie elsewhere. Least interested in the affairs of Hyderabad and also slapped by a scurry of lawsuits filed by his extended family members for a share of the Nizam’s unlimited wealth, Mukarram found a welcome escape in the outback of Western Australia. Then onwards, he lived most his life here, which was dotted by episodes like his reckless passion for bulldozers and heavy machinery, his marriage and divorce to an Australian lady, Helen, who was infected by HIV virus by her bi-sexual boy friend, and the systematic collapse of all his business ventures. In brief, it was his enthusiastic but vain attempt of carving out his own flourishing kingdom in this part of the earth.

He attributes most of his financial losses to his over dependence on his set of managers and advisors, who all led to gross manipulation of jewelries and antiques he inherited. His financial health dwindled to such an extent that the Last Nizam had to simply leave Australia for Turkey, the country his mother hailed from.

You may like to read this book to know how the Last Nizam came down from numerable lavish palaces in Hyderabad to residing in a middle-class two bedroom apartment in costal Turkey. You may also like to read the book to know the glorious Hyderabad that once was, to know about the Nizams and their palaces; their wealth, wives, and concubines; about their escapades and their generosity, about the Jacob Diamond, and about the beautiful and confident Princess Durrushehvar; about the infamous extortions in the name of ‘nazar’ and about the fallen prince Azam Jah; about the alleged gross misappropriation of Mukarram’s assets by late Sadaruddin Zaveri…

Read about the rise and ultimately fall of the grandiose nation and notion of The Nizams.

Book Review: India Unbound, by Gurcharan Das

2007-03-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

Book Review: India Unbound, by Gurcharan Das

It was the worst of times, a time of subjugation. It was followed by the nastiest of times, a time of clipped wings and lame accomplishments--until we had the best of times, the time of liberalization and encouraging growth. The time in which we live today.

That’s how Gurcharan Das portrays the three different economic eras India has had to encounter: pre-independence, post-independence till 1991, and from 1991 till present. In his book, India Unbound, Das has neatly chronicled the factors that influenced (or crippled) the country’s economic and business growth in each distinct period.

The book starts with the pre-independence era, when India was ruled by imperial masters. Surely, imperialism was never about facilitating prosperity and development in one’s colonies. So, we aren’t surprised to learn that under the Brits, India recorded dismal progress. But it was in the post-independence era where we really failed to realize our economic goals, and the prime reason for that, according to Das, was Nehru’s socialist-oriented policies. Profit is evil, is what Nehru promulgated.

If India was dismal, economically, under Pt. Nehru, then under Indira Gandhi, it was further wretched, with all manner of draconian controls being imposed on Indian industry. License Raj wouldn’t let companies expand or produce over a government-specified limit. Pricing was controlled. MRTP and FERA made business houses bleed. With no foreign competition, Indian companies cared minimally for the quality of their products or services. PSUs enjoyed monopoly in their sectors… Das pictures this era very intensely; perhaps he experienced it most intimately as the head of P&G in India.

Finally, the book reveals the new dawn, the golden year of 1991 when India had to – forcibly, I dare say – liberalize and deregulate its economy, scrap all the “stupid” controls, and open its market for foreign companies. The rest, as they say, is history.

Das also speaks about the magnates of Indian industry, who ruled in their respective eras. Be it Ambani’s all too familiar rags-to-riches story, or JRD’s (who use to pay a whopping 97% tax) meeting with Nehru, or the mention of first generation IT czars of India – Das describes them all very neatly. Insight into the personality and enterprising attitude of the Merwari community is also well-presented in a chapter dedicated to the community. Another chapter deals with the confident and burgeoning Indian middle-class, which is now the backbone of the Indian economy.

This book is a must-read for every Indian, and for anyone who wants to understand the factors that have and are shaping the contemporary Indian psyche, which, unlike the past, is now progressive, assertive, confident, and vibrant. And also because we should understand this age, the age in which India will be ushered towards awaiting glory.

Pataudis: The Elegant and Spirited Nawabs

2006-08-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Though slightly old, this narration by Tiger Pataudi is really worth a read. After seeing his snap in the article, I was awed by the good looks the Nawab had in his younger days. Pataudi, the estate just outside Delhi, was just one of the many princely states of undivided India. However, its popularity stems mostly from the father-son duo: Iftekhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

Cricket lovers will remember how the Sr. Pataudi - in a very assertive and self respecting manner - refused his captain Douglas Jardine from fielding in the attacking position on the leg side. This field placement was a part of Jardine's unsporting "body line" strategy, which the Nawab didn't approve of. However, this gutsy decision cost the Nawab his position in the English side. (Though he later went on to lead the Indian side against the English team).

And the bravado of Mansoor Ali Khan can be gauged from the fact that even after loosing his one eye in an unfortunate accident, he still managed to play good cricket, and was particularly known for his agile fielding.

It's the grace of the duo that makes the clan of Pataudi count more than other erstwhile princes of British India.

And we thought that all Nawabs are laid back fellows -:).

Rang De Basanti: The Voice of the Youth

2006-02-20T01:59:00.000-08:00

Rang De Basanti is an awesome movie. Though it carries an age-old theme of “awakening the nationalistic spirit within the youth”, the movie still exhibits a different élan.

The movie revolves around five students of Delhi University, who are selected by a young British filmmaker to act out the revolutionary freedom fighters of India’s freedom movement. The British filmmaker, Sue, being played by a British actress Alice Patten, wants to make this film on the basis of her late grandfather’s memoirs, who was an officer in the British India government. Her efforts are well facilitated by Sonia (Soha Ali Khan), who is determined to help Sue in her filmmaking.

After several unsuccessful auditions of DU students, Sue comes across a group of four boisterous guys – JD, Karan, Aslam, and Sukhi – along with one serious-looking Laxman Pandey, and deems them fit for the roles.

The four brats are quite pessimistic about the future of their country, and are alien to ideas of patriotism and nationalism. All they know is to live one day at a time, and enjoy it to the brim. On the other hand, Laxman Panday is a member of a fanatic group, who lives puritanically by the ideals of his Party, which includes opposing all forms of western influences. The quadruple shares a belligerant relationship with him.

Initially these young brats would not take their part seriously, but gradually, over a period of time as they dig deep into the historic roles they are playing, they start realizing the sacrifices made by the likes of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, etc; and in a very subtle way start cultivating the sense of being an Indian. This subtle transformation is well pictured in the movie.
The story takes a tragic turn when their friend, Flt Lt Ajay Rathod, is killed is a MIG crash. Besides his death, what fuels their anger is the country's Defense Minister alleging the late pilot of reckless flying, instead of accepting the actual reason of the crash – the use of low quality aircraft parts. This incident makes them realize the futility of the system, and they now start seeing their part in trying to change it.

Helpless against the Establishment, they go on the kill the Defense Minister – their inspiration being the revolutionist of India’s freedom struggle, for they too adhered to violent means for “drawing the attention”. However, the Minister’s death is mourned by the sycophant media, and he is dubbed as a “martyr”.

You got to watch the movie to know what they do to justify their killing the Minister, and in the end how these hedonist youngsters get killed by the Police, before they deliver a nation-wide appeal.

The movie has an impressive star cast. Leading from the front in Aamir Khan, who plays DJ (short for Diljeet), a typical Punjabi guy with a quite natural Delhi-Punjabi accent. DJ wants to make a mark in this world, but is aware of the fact that “achchey achchey DJ piss gayey” (a good number of people like him got screwed in this world). He, like his friend, is uncertain about life and its aspirations. He just goes on with the flow.

Siddharth Suryanarayan plays Karan Singhania: a neglected child of a millionaire father. He is polite, but clueless, and like his friend, is pessimistic about India. He has not qualms about spending his father's money with both hands.

Aslam (being played by Kunaal Kapoor), lives in Old Delhi, speaks Delhi-Urdu (Aaiyo, Jaiyo, Mat Kariyo...), is generally polite, sports a non-religious beard, abstains from alcohol, and is frustrated by the narrow mentality of his orthodox Muslim family. He mix up well with his non-Muslim friends, and his being from a different (and minority) community doesn’t hamper his confidence a wee bit. He does some poetry, but beyond that he, too, is uncertain.

The character of Sukhi is played by Sharman Joshi, who is the comic hero of the gang. Like DJ and Karan, he drinks and get involved in post-drinking escapades. He is afraid of death, but will lot let his friends take on the fatal mission without him. Without his friends, his life is null.

Laxman Pandey is a fanatic; he works for a fanatic political organization, and believes in moral policing. He hates Aslam – wouldn’t sit together and eat. He isn’t the boisterous kind, and takes his time to mix up freely with others, and to befriend Aslam.

Soha Ali Khan plays Sonia: the DU student who facilitates all arrangements for Sue’s film, and is an inevitable member of the group. Sonia is Ajay’s fiancée; she moved around with all her male friends with full dignity and integrity, and commands a lot of love and respect.

The movie has emotion-stirring dialogues. I particularly liked the one by DJ, which he delivers with a good Punjabi tilt: “Jindagii jine ke do hi tarikkey hote hain, ek – jo ho raha hain use hone do, ya phir use badalne ki koshish karo”. The music is good, too, especially the Rang De Basanti… and Pathshala number. I particularly liked the Rang De Basanti… song with the imagery of rustic Punjab.

RDB has a clear message for the youth – try and change the system if you think it’s not perfect. It’s your country, and you are responsible for everything good and bad in it.

Point well taken, Sir!

Who can fix better - Azhar or Wasim?

2006-02-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

My apologies for a rather long hiatus. Here we go again...

In his "diary", ace editor of Outlook Magazine, Vinod Mehta, quoted Wasim Akram as being "the mother of all match-fixers", who is still being coveted by several sports channels, while the modest Hyderabadi, Mohd. Azharuddin was completely denounced by ESPN and Star Sports after the he was found guilty by the CBI for match fixing.

Vinod Mehta is not exaggerating when he terms Wasim as "the mother of all match fixers". Wasim was, time and again, alledged by his own countrymen for the grave malpractice. Leading from the front was Aamir Sohail, the troubled baby of Pakistan cricket, followed by Rashid Latif, and others. But somehow, Wasim managed to get a "clean chit" and continued to play cricket till he gracefully retired.

I am not the best person to comment on as to why the PCB helped Wasim Akram Chaudhry to roll all the allegations under the carpet, but the following thing might have helped for sure: his superb performance as Pakistan's captain, his lethal left-arm fast bowling, and a good all round performance. Wasim was, no doubt, the best left arm pace bowler ever to play international cricket, and when the allegations surfaced, he hadn't really passed his prime. So, perhaps PCB needed Wasim to play for the team and keep performing. After all, who would have liked to loose an awesome cricketer like him, who could make the ball (and the batsman) dance to his in-swinging and "yorking" tunes.

But this does not bury the fact that Wasim did fixed quite a lot of matches - making good sum of money, and leading his team to loose quite a few matches. The PCB not helding him accountable speaks a lot about their own accountability, while on the Indian side Azhar (who had passed him prime when found guilty) was banned for life, and Ajay Jadeda (who could very well have gone on to become India's captain) was given a stick for 5 years - thus, giving a dismal and sudden end to his career.

The following is what Mr. Mehta has to say:

http://outlookindia.com/diary.asp?fodname=20060220

Dhaani...

2005-08-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

In continuation with my earlier post: a wall-paper by yours truely. I was really motivated to put all of them together.

Call it a tribute to womenhood!

Strings of Life

2005-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

I like listening and moreover watching Strings, the pop-duo from across the border. Why, you may ask? Well, because they are different!

I am not very well acquainted with the Pakistani society, and hence cannot comment on whether their music videos depict their typical culture. But, all I can say is their video do have a message - at times subtle and at times clear.

For instance, in the video "Duur" that features Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia, a "child labor," a Toyota Jeep, and a (stray) dog. Now, try matching this ambience with the highly romantic lyrics of the song "Duur." The song would normally imply a man complementing his beloved for her beauty and charm. Where as, there is no trace of any nymph in the video.

I am sure there is a "subtle message" which I am not able to comprehend. Like most of the Strings video, this video has a class, a character, a style, something very lively, and life inspiring. The videos of Strings gives me the idea of a typical "guy next door" from the sub-continent - and more Indian than Pakistani -:).

Another video that I like is "Dhaani." I must admit honestly that I failed to comprehend this video - though I always loved watching it - till I read its review by one Muniba Kamal. It talks about a utopia where women rules the world and are involved in professions most commonly considered as "man like". Living in this feminized world might be quite an experience. A very blithe scene in the video overwhelmed me, where a lady "Paan" (betel nuts) hawker serves Bilal and Faisal Paan by her hands!

You can read the review here: http://www.pakipop.com/reflection/dhaani.html.

I remember another across-the-border singer, Ali Haider, who came up a very lifelike video, Puraani Jeans, that showcased a typical adolescent life of a guy in the sub-continent. Alas, Ali Haider could not repeat that feat again, and of late most of his videos are of typical indi-pop genre, unlike the true-life Puraani Jeans.

Josh Punjaabiyoon Da!

2005-06-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Speaking about the religious war cry of the Sikh community, here is Khushwant Singh with a very neat description of it. Also, read the Sardar Sahib's take on what he calls "increasing growth of intolerance among the Sikhs."

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20050606&fname=Cover+Story+%28F%29&sid=2

And, the following article speaks about the confidence, resilience, and humor among the Sikhs (the features for which I personally admire the community) that makes the community so much lively and inspiring.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20050525&fname=ananya&sid=1

Indeed, Jo Bole So Nihaal - Sat Sri Akal.

Jo Bole So Nihaal: the title inviting fury (or publicity?)

2005-05-23T23:48:00.000-07:00

No, it's just not a religious movie - as the disclaimer says in the beginning. But, that didn't suffice the temperament of several people of the Sikh community, who rightly felt offended by the movie.

"Now, I want to see the movie, any how. I want to see what's there in the movie that provoked the people to blew up two cinemas in the Capital" - this is how a colleague exclaimed, reacting to the blasts in New Delhi.

I told him, and I tell you all - there is nothing, just nothing wrong with the movie. In fact, there can never be anything wrong with the movie of Jo Bole So Nihal genre. Why? See for yourself and you will get the answer.

But, why the blast? Well simply because the title was absolutely inapt. "Jo Bole So Nihal" which is followed by "Sat Sri Akal" is a religious and spiritually uplifting cry, which essentially means: "He will be spiritually uplifted who says – The eternal God is true."

Now, when such a pious and inspiring greeting of a community is used as a title for a movie, which is loaded with lots of unnecessary sleaze and smut, the sentiments would be aggravated and agonized.

I repeat - there is nothing wrong with the movie or its contents - movies with more sleaze are doing the rounds of the box office. But, instead of a godly "Jo Bole So Nihaal," had the director thought about using a befitting title like: "No If No But, Only Jutt" (as the punch line of the movie goes), or "A Jutt in New York", or "Nihaal Di Talaash New York Vich" etc, there woudn't have been any controversy, what so ever.

But, the flip side of this would have been no publicity for an otherwise "avoidable" movie. The movie - mind you - got lot of attention because of the protests by several Sikh bodies including the august SPGC; and, there are many people like my colleague who NOW wants to know: "What's there in it to incur a bomb blast?" And, most likely after seeing the movie, they would agree to my views of the inapt title.

And, no, I am not at all trying to justify the reaction - the blasts in the theaters. I have just given my ideas as to what possibly was wrong.

So, we see a below average, in fact a very poorly done movie, has now a nation wide attention - only and only thanks to its inappropriate title.

Actually, there is a lot in the name, Mr. Shakespeare!

P.S. Some news about the incident: http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/23/stories/2005052311970100.htm

From the Mother's Heart!

2005-05-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

"Sub kuch Khuda se maang liye, tujh ko maang karr;
Phir haath mere utth na sake, eis dua ke baad!"

Don't know if the poet had his mother's love for him in mind, when he composed these lines; but, I have heard the most loving mother reciting this for her son.

A blessed son indeed, to have such a mother.

Raipur (Chattisgarh), 492001

2005-04-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

Going to Raipur, either on vacations, or just “to see mummy” always triggers certain mixed feelings in me. It’s the place where I was born, grew up, schooled, and graduated. It’s a place inhabited by my clan for past 150 years; a place where I learnt all the basics of life.

But, for a past few years, my visits to the now Chattisgarhi capital have been brief (can’t stay away from Hyderabad, man!). And, this brief time leaves me to cover some parts of Raipur that I cherish: Parents, cousins, friends, Mana Airport, Habib’s Biryani, Dahi Samosay etc.

Besides the To-Do list above, there are some surprises, too – like the Science teacher, who didn’t bother to stop or even smile at me and Raza, and kept walking with a plebian remark (or was that her way of showing love, Mr. Khan?): “Khaoo Khaoo” – yes, we were just out of a restaurant after cleaning a plate of Biryani!

Things that always put you off about Raipur were still there: lots of cycle-rickshaws (most of them pulled by the migrants from Orissa), dust along side the road, unbridled traffic, lack of eating places, and terrible heat during March-June, etc.

All right, I did see the roads being broadened; attempts being made to beautify the city; now you see streets lights everywhere (yes, Chattisgarh has lots of electricity - don’t believe me, then go ask Madhya Pradesh).

Raipur: The name sounds so familiar!

Sania!

2005-02-24T04:21:00.000-08:00

In an interview given to Shekhar Gupta (Editor-in-chief, Indian Express), in the talk show he hosts: ‘Walk the Talk’, Sania Mirza said something like “I know the way I dress is not good; but Islam believes in forgiveness. If I am doing something wrong, God will forgive me.” I really don’t know how to react to her statement. Perhaps, that’s optimism at its best.

Still, just one message to the new youth-icon-of-India: Miss Sania, what you wear is purely between you and your Allah Miyaan. But, being an Indian, and 50% Hyd’badi, I really don’t want you to go the Anna Kournikova way, i.e. all glamour and no tennis.

I am sure all your fans, more interested in your game, will agree.

~~ Manzoor Khan

What an Outlook!

2005-02-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

I have been a fan of Outlook magazine, since the time I became acquainted with it in 1997. I remember the USP of Outlook was the sensational stories it would flash.

It was Outlook that revealed India’s Worst Kept Secret. It was Outlook who sporadically kept mentioning about the changing sexual attitude of Indian middle-class (Kama Chaos, Male Vanity, Desi Viagra, He Sleeps like a Baby); it was Outlook who called Dawood, a Public Enemy No. 1, and Pakistan, a Failed State.

It was Outlook that hoped Sonia Gandhi would revive the Congress party – something she magnificently did.

It was Outlook again that described the changing life-styles of post-liberalized India (Food Mood, The Trendy Conservative, Small Town Big Money, Big Fashion Hoax), but it was also the Outlook that didn’t missed out on the have-nots, the unfortunate majority.

At times Outlook was mischievous; other times, it was concerned; at times entertaining; at times questioning, and questioning boldly, too.

Outlook presented all ideas of life, ideas that can influence your own outlook, as well. Any other magazine would have done the same. But, not the way Outlook did it.

If you ask me, I’d say: Outlook is wonderful, a delight, outrageous, at times unreasonable, even funny. It is also reasonable, inspiring, titillating, provoking, biased, and unbiased, too.

Outlook is beautiful, but it’s ugly too. It is brazen – and I love it for that. It is foolishly smutty and snobby - and I hate it for that.

Outlook is a magazine that approximates the world around quite intrestingly. And, that is the reason it’s numero uno among all weeklies in India.

Its editor-in-chief, the witty Vinod Mehta, had the following to say when the magazine completed nine years, a few months back. If you read this, you can gauge as to what makes Outlook so adorable to so many.

Over to Mr. Vinod Mehta:

http://www.outlookindia.com/diary.asp?fname=Diary&subsubsecname=Delhi&fodname=20041025&authorname=Vinod+Mehta

An Audacious Prayer...

2005-02-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

Khuda tujhey kisee toofan se ashna kar dey,
Key terey bahar ki maujon me iztirab nahin.

May God introduce you to a storm;
For, the sea of your life is placid, its waves devoid of tumult.

-- Iqbal.

O Darling Biryani...

2005-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Biryani, a ubiquitous cocktail-food made up of rice, spices and meat, is relished by millions of people of the Indian sub-continent; and, I personally have a lot of appetite for it, too.

Over the years, Biryani has been quite an experience. My early memory of Biryani goes back to the festival of Eid, when my mom would prepare a Hyderabadi style ‘Dum-ki-Biryani’ – never ever any Biryani can be more toothsome, as cooked by her.

Raipur, where I hail from, has a very modest Biryani offering, all the more when you compare it to Hyderabad: the undisputed Biryani capital of the world. But then, when you grow up with a certain taste, it acquires a sensitive place in you. I still crave for the moderately cooked ‘Degh-ki-Biryani’ along with the ‘Dalcha’, which was often served on religious and social occasions. My visits to Raipur are never complete without visiting the age-old Habib Hotel, for their simple, but superb Biryani.

The Biryani I have had at Cochin and Trivendrum was relatively different. It tastes great with the salad (which can be safely called ‘Raita’ in North India, as that “salad” is a mix of curd, cucumber, tomato, and onion, etc) that is served along. But yes, I must admit that Malabari Biryani is quite exotic.

Coming to the Biryani bastion, Hyderbad – there are several ways a Biryani is cooked here. But, you will get the best of Hyderabadi Biryani not at any restaurant, but in old and traditional Hyderabadi families and nobilities. Although, several restaurants in the city do serve Biryani at affordable prices, and calling that delicious will not be any exaggeration (provided you know the right places). Biryani is typically served along with ‘Mirchi-ka-saalan’, an exclusive Hyderabdi serving.

Going Northwards, I once had a Biryani at the famous ‘Kareems'’, in New Delhi, and it was awesome. I am yet to experience the Lukhnow – Awadh chapter of Biryani; perhaps, sometime my friends from Lukhnow might oblige.

Actually, Biryani is like a dialect, which changes every few miles in India. But, be it Tanveer - Nagpur, or Dilli-Durbar, Bombay; be it Lazeez - Indore, or Zam Zam – Trivendrum, or Hyderabad House in Hyderabad, Biryani has always succeeded in elating my spirits. I don’t say that I live on it, but then it’s almost an inevitable part. Biryani, for me, is a food that symbolizes energy, passion, exuberance, and lots of vigor.

I can never have enough of it!

More on Biryani at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani..

From the Last Mughal

2005-01-06T03:01:00.000-08:00

Koi hum nafas (companion) nahi hai,
Koi razdaan (confidante) nahi hai,

Fakat ek dil tha apna,
So woh meherbaan nahi hai.....

Marne ka tere gham mein iraada bhi nahi hai,
Hai ishq magar itna ziyaada bhi nahi hai......

Inhi patharon par chal kar agar aa sako to aao,
Mere ghar ke raaste mein kahi kahkashaan nahi hai.....

Kyo dekhte rehte hai sitaaron ki taraf,
jab unse mulaaqaat ka vaada bhi nahi hai....

A very touching and poignant lines from the last Mughal Emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Movie Review: Veer Zaara

2005-01-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

Another colorful flick from Yash Chopra. And, a dazzling star cast, too. The movie revolves around a Pakistani lady lawyer - Samia Siddiqui, played pretty decently by Rani Mukherjee, fighting for the freedom of Veer Pratap Singh (Shahrukh Khan): an ex-IAF Rescue Pilot.

Rani’s character is inspired by a real-life lawyer: Asma Jahangir; Rani plays a newbie lawyer, trying to make a mark in a society, and profession, hitherto dominated by men. It’s the dawn of her career, and she decides to fight for Veer, an alleged RAW agent spending his term in a Pakistani jail.

Samia is moved to hear Veer’s sad love story: the reason he spent 22 years of his prime, in prison. Veer, 22 years ago, falls in love with Zara Hayat Khan, a beautiful character being played by Priety Zinta. Zara comes to India, to complete the last rites of her Sikh ‘Aaya’ (Zohra Sehgal), and she finds a Top Gun styled IAF pilot – Veer.

Cross border love, unlike cross border terrorism, is never an easy idea. Veer goes to Lahore to fetch his love. Zara is willing, too. But the moral obligations do not allow them to elope, as Zara is engaged, and going to marry an upcoming politician from a nobility of Lahore – Raza Shirazi (Manoj Bajpai).

But, Veer’s dare to love Zara is punished by Raza Shirazi, and a RAW agent is made out of him. Veer wouldn’t defend himself, as that would make his and Zara’s affair public; hence, a bad name for his beloved, just before her wedding bells.

However, in the end, Samia manages to bring together the separated lovers in a typical bollywood style. How? Where? That you must see for yourself.

I’d give this movie an average rating; the sequences leading to ‘lost love found’ was too melodramatic. Also, the movie looked a drag in some places.

But, good thing was the homework the director did. All Pakistani characters were portrayed appropriately. The Benazir Bhutto style ‘dupatta’ over Rani’s head, for example. Also, the Punjabi spoken in Lahore. Just I thought the ladies wore a little less make up, as compared to what the actual Pakistani women would do -;). Boman Irani plays Zara’s father; a misfit, I thought. His was a very limited, and serious part.

On the Indian side, the countryside of Punjab was fabulous, and of course very lively. Bachchan Sahib played Shahrukh’s boisterous uncle, and Hema ji, his Punjabi speaking ‘Madrasan’ Aunt.

Though it’s a movie involving Indo-Pak, and Shahrukh playing an IAF chap, don’t expect any war sequences or any form of jingoism. The movie is primarily about Love, Friendship, and Trust – that can very well blossom between two countries – provided some good sense prevails.

An Iqbalian Thought

2004-12-24T01:19:00.000-08:00

Teri dua se qadha to badal nahin sakti,
Magar ye hay mumkin, ke tu badal jaaye.

Teri dua hay ki ho teri arzoo puri,
Meri dua hay ke teri arzoo badal jaaye.

Iqbal sagaciously explains the inevitable Law of Nature, and the way it is suppose to dealt with. The law (Qadha) of God cannot change by our prayers, but it is possible that we try and change ourselves in order to comply with it.

We pray that God fulfill our wish; he prays that we change our very wish (to coincide with the laws of Almighty God).

That’s Iqbal!