4 - a rOll Over of 3

On 04-04-2012, 'four' 'firsts' did happen in life:

1. Going for a movie with my wife (16 months) after marriage
2. Watching a Tamil movie on a big screen
3. Getting to see the ambiance of PVR Cinemas
4. Me visiting Forum Mall (being a Bangalorean?? shame!! huhh..)

It was during our vacation in Manali, for the first time I happened to see the song 'why this kolaveri di?' played in some (really don't remember which) channel; but, impressive it was! 'Hes Dhanush, S-I-L of Rajanikanth singing it for his own movie directed by his wife Aishwarya' - introduced my wife while we were breaking our fast early in the morning with bread-omelette. 'Hmmmmm...' I said; neither my wife knew nor me, whether it was my response to the song or the tasty dish.

Even after '3' (a little more than 'too') much of thinking for '3' days after watching, I really don't know why the movie is named '3'?. 'Why the name 3?' was my first question to my wife, who had no clue either and my conscious failed to pick any glimpse from the movie relating to '3'. Is it because '3' stars Dhanush (son of Director KasthuriRaja), Aishwarya (daughter of Rajanikanth) and Shruti (daughter of Kamalhassan) are involved in making this movie, the name '3'?

The movie feels fresh in every aspect, Aishwarya seem to have proved herself in this debut. Dhanush justifies his 'psycho' brand while Shruthi looks promising. Winning edge is the fact that the movie takes almost everyone back to their teen-age, which none can forget throughout life. With the pleasant aroma of 'love' from 'kolaveri' song, it will be a definite 'shock' to see the movie starting with the funeral of 'Ram' (Dhanush). Flashback trick used by Aishwarya really works in relieving viewers from this 'sentimental' shock. Re-recording alone reveals the extensive homework made behind the screens right from Script writing to Movie making.

'why this kolaveri di' song rocks on screen too; all the credit goes to Anirudh Ravichander, boy behind the Music. Enough has been made for the song in the Movie to help it find itself a place with ease adjacent to its Album version. Distributors did make sure to highlight 'why this KOLAVERI DI' on all stills, which signifies the importance of this song in the success of the movie as such. Also, this song gains a lot of 'meaning' (with bipolar disorder) on screen unlike in album to answer much of the critics it had gained for lyrics.

Film making is not just all about it. With its tragic end for Ram not disclosing his psychological disorder to Janani (Shruthi) and committing suicide, I strongly doubt if the movie successfully conveys the message 'Suicide is not the solution for Bipolar Disorder; it can well be treated to cure with the advancement in Medical Science', which is flashed on screen by the film makers soon after the abrupt dismissal of the screenplay. Instead, the movie would have been made in such a way that it conveys the message by itself.

'ok mama.. now theme changeu..'

The movie has gotten a lot in it to say that 'love can win anything'; very true. Ram scoring highest in Physics (coz Janani joins him in tuitions) and Janani's dumb sister starts speaking with her love towards sister are two such instances. Now, why not Ram cure his bipolar disorder after marriage with the 'love' that exists between them? Support program is one of the suggested therapy for bipolar disorder patients, a wife would definitely qualify for carrying out this.

Given a chance for me to play Aishwarya's role in this film making, I would have made Ram to disclose his psychological condition to Janani (frankly speaking, it isn't easy to hide 'anything' from wife) after marriage and given the responsibility of curing it to Janani.

'whaa wat-a change over mama..'

This way Dhanush would have made his way out of 'psycho' trend, Shruthi would have saved a lot of her tears for not crying, movie would have entertained all group of audience, love & life would have dominated and won over mania & suicide, viewers would have got into a positive frame of mind towards life at the end and most importantly there wasn't any need to flash the 'message' after the screenplay since the movie itself would have successfully conveyed it by then.

Finally, with all these changes I would probably not let the movie be named '3'. For all the successful changeover I made, with the existing '3' stars another superstar 'ME' would have been added to name the movie '4'!!

'super mama ready.. oneee twooo three 4'

Pick ur Partner - the scientific way!

Don't marry the person you think you can live with;

marry only the person you think you can't live without. 

~ James C. Dobson

'Greatest challenge in life is to pick a (nearly) perfect life partner' - My personal opinion. I do not expect everyone to accept this statement of mine! However, one's partner will be most influential in shaping up the post-marital life of an individual. Again, it's my personal thinking 'only'.

Now, let me not get into all the details as to how our parents and elders try and find a match to be our partner for life. Sometimes, individuals happen to face (rather, are forced to face?) huge difficulties in getting their (astrological) profile match with someone, just because they were born on some inauspicious day or time; if this happens with a girl.. God bless her! Such will be the torture imposed on her by our well-educated, modern society in the process of she getting married. Well, for being not responsible to be born on the presumably inauspicious day and time, how fair is it on our part to make him/her the victim of social prejudice? - is another debatable topic altogether.

While we try to match two individuals for compatibility, along with the age-old traditional custom of asking for the horoscope, how if we also request for a recent blood screening report? Did I sound nuts? Hmmm.. I strongly recommend that an would-be partner's blood should be tested, at least for:

1. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): We ain't getting married to make life a hell, right? It doesn't mean that we are suspecting someone by insisting their blood report for HIV as there are a lot many ways other than unprotected MPS (Multi-Partner Sex) through which one can get infected with HIV. Our intention is only to ensure that an would-be spouse is free from AIDS and not to correlate it for assessment of one's personality the other way round. It is proven that sex is one of the most important factors responsible for a successful married life, which would be impossible without a healthy partner.

2. Blood Group: In recent days, one of the most unpredictable things frequently happening in life is Medical Emergency. We can never say what happens to one, when! Along with the intensive technological development in the health care industry, there seems to be an equivalent increase of risk to life. Blood transfusion might be mandatory in certain emergencies, which cannot be catered to unless we know the blood group of an individual as blood group system in humans is highly convoluted. If we know the blood group of our spouse, we can act wise (anticipatory donor or recipient) in case of any future medical emergencies.

3. Rh Factor: Other important blood group system in humans, which is of utmost importance during blood transfusion and pregnancy. When mother is Rh-negative and father is Rh-positive, the chances of the baby being Rh-positive cannot be ruled out. There are every chances that an Rh-negative mother produce antibodies to destroy the RBCs of an Rh-positive fetus she is carrying in her womb at pregnancy, leading to abortion at worse. Key-factor is the husband to be Rh-negative; so, then, where should all the Rh-positive boys go?! Again, thanks to the advancement in medical technology - we can successfully monitor such pregnancy complications to birth, though the risks are quite high. Knowing mutual blood Rh Factors, it is more comfortable to plan for children after marriage.

Said that, lets see who can make one's ideal partner?

1. Who is free from HIV. Obviously.
2. A girl with blood group AB and a boy with blood group O (AB is universal recipient and O is universal donor and ours is a male-dominant society, so let males play the donor and females, recipient).
3. An Rh-positive girl and Rh-negative boy.

Before our marriage, when asked for compatibility, matching our horoscopes an astrologer predicted that me and my wife would have complications in second and subsequent pregnancies. Though his prediction can be substantiated based on the Rh-compatibility grounds, he had utterly failed in our case since my wife is Rh-positive and me Rh-negative. The astrologer had no time to study the Rh Factor and pregnancy complications, leave him alone please.

If you are yet to get married, be dare enough to ask for a blood report of your would-be partner. Do pick an Rh-negative boy if you are a girl and pick an Rh-positive girl if you are a boy. Happy married life, in advance!

Media Triumphs

Image from Google Archive

It was yet another day at School for me, when I had reached as usual on-time, carrying a huge bundle of books on my back and a small lunch box with water bottle in my hand. Tonnes of stuffs to a small mind and grams of food for a big stomach - controversy begins! But, wasn't too long it was proved not a usual normal day and we were Let-Off from School (hurray!!). All the way long back Home, I could only see burning tyres, shuttered down shops, taken off-the-road vehicles, police men replacing general public creating an absolute social nervousness around. I walk in the midst of these, gulping sips of water from the bottle to reach safe; on 6th December 1992.

Kar Sevaks had done a lot more than what they were expected to do in Ayodhya, they had demolished Babri Masjid. It was estimated that there were about 1,50,000 people in the 'purely' political rally that day and their 'courageous' act in Ayodhya had resulted in successful riots across the Country killing many innocent people (of both Communities) along with significant damage to public and private properties all over. It was 'said', that the organizing Leaders at place were unable to stop Kar Sevakas from performing their 'Seva'.

'I trusted them'; was all what the then Prime Minister of India P. V. Narasimha Rao had to say! Nothing much could be done by the Supreme Court, although it had assured that the disputed structure wouldn't be harmed and announced for a peaceful movement. Ten days later, on 16th December 1992, The Liberhan Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Government of India to investigate the 'act of destroying Babri Masjid'. This one-man Commission was to submit its report within three months, but it managed to embark itself as the longest running commission in the Indian history, which was granted extension 48 times before it submitted the report on 30th June 2009 following a delay of 17 years.

On 30th September 2010, it was a tough call for the Lucknow bench of Allahabad Court to deliver its verdict on the Ram Temple-Babri Masjid Title Suit. With a strong 6th Dec 1992 background, every precaution was taken to maintain law and order in the Country. Some State Governments declared the Schools and Colleges to remain closed and Special Forces were deployed in place to take the situation under control. Lucknow bench of Allahabad Court was declared no-access zone while it delivered the verdict and the High Court of Allahabad website graphed the highest visitor traffic in anticipation of the verdict.

When the verdict was actually pronounced, the pressure of the communal blood didn't record the expected hike. Though tight security and precautionary measures seemed to be the key factors, there were a lot more reasons behind. To me, the important role 'Media' had to play in this situation was as crucial as any other security steps taken by the Government; because with all the advanced Technologies in Communication, it is now possible to see Live pictures and updates from across the world right at the convenience of our fingertip.

It wasn't so easy a task for the Media covering this issue. Having picked the pulse of the people from their experiences in the past, NEWS Agencies of all forms acted aptly matured enough and did everything to educate the public of the issue and verdict. The way they sank deep in to the extent of basic English Grammar, to mention and impress upon the point that 'words used may convey different meaning given the context of the verdict' impressed me a lot. They did their possible best not to misinterpret the verdict, not to analyze the issue in a way that might hurt the sentiments of any Community and also played a key role in taking the situation of law and order under control.

If we can consider the way public and communal parties have reacted calm to the verdict on Ram Temple-Babri Masjid Title Suit as the victory of Judicature under the Constitution of India and intern consider it the success of Democracy at its best; I personally feel a majority of this credit is to be owed to the Media alone.

Why Blame Women?

Have you ever heard of Men who marry another woman, for their 'wives being incapable' of giving birth to a 'Baby Boy'? If not, lucky you! I always wonder why on this Planet Earth, people crave so much for a 'Baby Boy'? May be they think their Gene is (in)valuable and only Mr. Boy can actually Drop it down the generation lane!!

Even in my family, I was born following two elder sisters and "If at all you were not born boy, I might have had a tough time with in-laws" said Mom once. Today, I still do not find any valid reasons, to substantiate the necessity of a baby being born boy than a girl. Both of them, either a boy or a girl, at the end of the day are Human Beings; also, they both have every equal right to be born and make a living.

According to Cytology, all (normal) human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes (totally 46 chromosomes); out of which 22 pairs are autosomes and only 1 pair is sex chromosomes. These sex chromosomes are basically responsible in determining the Sex of an individual. A normal individual with 'XX' sex chromosomes is a Female and one with 'XY' sex chromosomes is a Male. During fertilization, a zygote (baby) is formed by one sex chromosome each from male (father) and female (mother). If both male and female contributes 'X', then the zygote is 'XX' (female); If male contributes 'Y' and female (can only) contribute 'X', the zygote is 'XY' (male). This is the 'XY Sex-Determination System' of human beings in a nutshell.

Biologically speaking, the crucial part of sex determination is played by the Y-Chromosome or in other words (normal) sex determination is solely dependent on male (father) alone. Although the process of sex determination is highly unpredictable and is a mere chance factor, it is crystal clear that female (mother) cease to share the responsibility in determining the sex of a normal zygote (baby).

For no reason and no fault of theirs, Women are being made responsible for the birth of a baby girl and are subjective victims of inhumane social torture from ages now. But, being truly responsible, Men have been safely enjoying a comfortable position in the family and society. It isn't forgotten that 'ours is a male-dominant society'; though male-dominance itself is a highly questionable debate, it definitely otherwise shouldn't authorize to 'torture women'.

With all the physiological pleasure and pressure of the 9-month long pregnancy, Women also are ably taking the curse and tolerating the social harassment in Silence. Isn't it now necessary to brand Men (with a red-hot iron) to be responsible for the sex of the baby born; and from the bottom of the heart say to Women 'Hats Off' & end her sufferings??

ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಬೆನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿ..

"ಇವತ್ತು ಯಾಕೋ ಮನಸ್ಸೇ ಸರಿಯಿಲ್ಲ.."
"ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಬೇಜಾರಾಗಿದೆ.."
"ನಿನ್ನ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತಾಡಿದ್ರೆ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಸಮಾಧಾನ.."
"ನೋವನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಂಡ್ರೆ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಹಗುರಾಗುತ್ತೆ.."

ಮೇಲಿನ ವಾಕ್ಯಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮಿಂದ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಬಳಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತವೆ, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ? ಮನಸ್ಸು.. ಮನಸ್ಸು.. ಮನಸ್ಸು.. ನಮ್ಮ ಸುಪ್ತ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನೆಲ್ಲಾ ತನ್ನೊಳಗೆ ಅಡಗಿಸಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುವ, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಶಕ್ತಿಶಾಲಿ ಈ ಮನಸ್ಸು. ಆದರೆ, 'ಮನಸ್ಸು' - ಇದು ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗೆ ಇರುವುದಾದರೂ ಎಲ್ಲಿ? ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೊಂದು ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವ ನಿಜವಾಗಲೂ ಇದೆಯೇ??

ಭಾವುಕರಾಗಿ ನಾವು (ಮನಸಾರೆ?) ಮಾತನಾಡುವಾಗ, ಬಹುತೇಕ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಗಳು ನಮಗರಿವಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೇ ಹೃದಯದ ಮೇಲಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ಮನಸ್ಸು ಎದೆಯ ಗೂಡಿನಲ್ಲಿದೆಯೇ? ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಎದೆಯ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿರುವುದು ಎರಡು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಅಂಗಗಳು; ಅವುಗಳೆಂದರೆ  - ಹೃದಯ (Heart) ಮತ್ತು ಪುಪ್ಪುಸ (Lungs). ಹೃದಯವು ರಕ್ತಸಂಚಲನ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ, ಪುಪ್ಪುಸವು ಉಸಿರಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ಇವುಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸುವ ಅಥವಾ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ; ಅಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದೀತು?

"ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಯಾವ ಅಂಶವು ಆತನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಪಂಚಿಕ ಅರಿವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ, ಲೌಕಿಕ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ತರುತ್ತಾ, ಅವನಿಗೆ ಆಲೋಚನಾಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿಂತಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಹಾಯಕವಾಗುತ್ತದೆಯೋ, ಅದನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆಯಾಗಿ 'ಮನಸ್ಸು' ಎಂದು ಗುರುತಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ" - ಇದು English ನಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ನೇರ ಅನುವಾದ ಮಾಡಿರುವ 'ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ' ಅರ್ಥ.

ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ನಿರೂಪಿತಗೊಂಡ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನ ನೀಡುವಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸಹಮತ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಮನಸ್ಸು 'ಆರನೇ ಇಂದ್ರಿಯ', 'ಹನ್ನೊಂದನೇ ಇಂದ್ರಿಯ' ಎಂಬುದಾಗಿ ವಿವಿಧ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ ತರ್ಕಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಲುಕುವಂತೆ ವಿವರಣೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ಶಿರಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಗೊಂಡು ಪಾದದವರೆವಿಗೂ ದೇಹರಚನಾ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಲಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಹಾಗೂ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನವಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಂದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಭೌತಿಕ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವ (physical existence) ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲೂ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

"ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಕಾಣಸಿಗದೆ, ಕೇವಲ ಅವನು ನಡೆಸಿದನೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗುವ ಪವಾಡಗಳಿಂದ ನಂಬಲಾಗದ ಕಾರಣ - 'ದೇವರ' ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವು ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಪ್ರಶ್ನಾರ್ಥಕ" ಎನ್ನುವ ನಾಸ್ತಿಕರ ವಾದವನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ, "ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಕಾಣಸಿಗದೆ, ದೇಹರಚನಾ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖವಿರದೆ, ಕೇವಲ ಅದು ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗೆ ನಡೆಸುವ ದ್ವಂದ್ವ-ಪವಾಡಗಳಿಂದ ನಂಬಲಾಗದ ಕಾರಣ - 'ಮನಸ್ಸು', ಇದರ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಾರ್ಥಕ" ಎಂದಾಗುತ್ತದಲ್ಲವೆ?!

ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಮನಃಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಜ್ಞರಾದ ಡಾ. ಮೀನಗುಂಡಿ ಸುಬ್ರಮಣ್ಯ ರವರು ಅವರ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ 'ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಇಲ್ಲದ ಮಾರ್ಗ' ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಾದ ನಾವು ಆಗಿಂದಾಗ್ಯೆ 'ಮನಸ್ಸು' ಎಂದು ಗುರುತಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ತಾರ್ಕಿಕವಾಗಿ 'ನಾನು' ಎಂದಾಗಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಂದರೆ, ದೇಹದಲ್ಲಿರುವ 'ಮೆದುಳು' ಎಂಬ ಅಂಗವನ್ನು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ನಾವು ಮಾಡುವ ನಿರಂತರ ಚಿಂತನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣ ಸ್ವತಃ 'ನಾವೆಯೇ' ಹೊರೆತು ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿರದ 'ಮನಸ್ಸು' ಅಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದು - ಈ ತಾತ್ವಿಕ ವಿವರಣೆಯು ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಸರಿಯೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಸೋಜಿಗದ ವಿಷಯವೆಂದರೆ, ದೇಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರದ 'ಮನಸ್ಸು' ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡು ನಮ್ಮ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ಇಡಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಾಧಿಸಿರುವ ಹಿಡಿತವು ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯೆನಿಸದೆ ಇರಲಾರದು.

"ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಮನಸಾರೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.."
"ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ತುಂಬೆಲ್ಲಾ ನೀವೇ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೀರಿ.."
"ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ನಿಮ್ಮದೇ.."
ಕೆಲವರು ಹೀಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹೇಳುವುದುಂಟು. ಆದರೆ, ವಾಸ್ತವದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರದ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಇತರರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವುದಾದರೂ ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂಬುದೇ ನನ್ನೆದುರಿಗಿರುವ ಬಹು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸವಾಲು.

'ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ' ಬೆನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿ ಹೊರಟ ನನಗೆ ಕೊನೆಗೆ ದೊರೆತದ್ದು ಬರಿಯ 'ಶೂನ್ಯ'ವೆ ಹೊರೆತು ಅನ್ಯವಲ್ಲ!!

About Me!

Frankly speaking, in Blogger, the most difficult part to handle is the 'About Me' stuff. It is my usual habit to keep things up-to-date; but, my Blogger Profile is an exception. Even before I could publish my First Post on Blogger, a sincere effort of mine to fill in the about me section had failed.

If you happen to be my interviewer, a very simple way to make me start counting stars in the blue sky is to ask "Tell me something about yourself". Phew! That would be the toughest question I (n)ever can answer.

One of my immediate superior at work, Dr. Channakeshava Murthy has something to say 'about me' in his Blog. It was a real surprise for me to read about myself following today's lunch at office, after which it took a lot out of me to digest, since I sank deep into my couch to introspect.

Finally, there is something to add in to the 'About Me' part of my Blog; "Do I really deserve it?" would be the immediate topic to debate.

Read 'about me' by Murthy Sir => http://drkeshoo.blogspot.com/2010/08/person-i-admire.html

The Unsaid..

Past: We Two; Ours Two.

Present: We Two; Ours One.

Future: We Two; Ours None!!

With the changing days, the concept of Family Planning is also changing. Why not?

Modernization and Urbanization has increased the awareness among people in the Society, that women are no longer be treated as what they were from ages ago. Continuous efforts have made life better for women amongst men. Men are no longer the only 'bosses' and Women are no longer the only 'slaves'. We all are convinced that, women enjoy a better position in Society. Good.

According to a recent analysis of figures collected from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka (under National Rural Health Mission - NRHM), 99% of those who underwent sterilization during 2008-09 are women. I repeat, 99% of those who underwent sterilization (family planning operation) during 2008-09 are women.

Family - the basic unit of Society, still seems to be under the strong clutches of victimizing women. Though often we speak to substantiate that women enjoy almost equal status as men in a Family, it seems to be too far from reality. Why should only women undergo family planning operations alone? Are there no ways available to sterilize men? There are.. but men opt not to!! Why so? Have we ever thought of this?

Great people have been dreaming of the so-called Moral Society, not from today, way back from ages. But, with such a thing happening to women in the very basic unit of Society - Family, how can one expect Morality in the whole system of Society? This clearly shows that we (men) are not wholeheartedly sharing our social status with them (women). Have women gotten the justice they deserve?

I just feel that the change should be initiated right in the Family, and not in the Constitution with the '33%' thing. We shout aloud in public that women are given reservation in education, jobs, buses, railways, panchayats, parliament, what not? But, we never say what have we given to them in the Family!

Stats Speak the Unsaid - with 99% of them subjected to family planning being women, the torture on women does continue to exist in Silence and in Abundance. So, my dear 'gender counterparts', please be prepared; your turn is not too far..

ಸತ್ಯ ಸಂಗತಿ..

ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ, ಅಂದರೆ 30-05-2010 ರಂದು ನನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಗುರುರಾಜ ತನ್ನ ಜೀವನದ 'ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯೆ'ಗೆ ವಿದಾಯ ಹೇಳಿ, 'ಗೃಹಸ್ತ'ನಾದ (ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವಾಗ ನಾನು 'ಏಕವಚನ'ದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭೋದಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಇದು ಅವರ ಮೇಲಿನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ, ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಹಾಗು ಸಲಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ತೋರುತ್ತದೆಯೋ ಹೊರೆತು ಅಗೌರವವನ್ನಲ್ಲ). ಈ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ಆತ ಜನವರಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ದೂರವಾಣಿ ಮೂಲಕ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದ. ಮೇ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುರಾಜ ಮದುವೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಜೊತೆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಗುರುರಾಜ-ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಇವರ ಸ್ನೇಹವು ನನ್ನ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಮೊದಲುಗೊಂಡರೂ ಸಹ, ನಂತರದ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಸ್ನೇಹ ತೀರ ಘಾಡವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದಿತ್ತು. ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಅವರು ಒಬ್ಬರನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರು ತುಂಬಾ ಗೌರವಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದ್ದು (ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ಮರೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವುದೇನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆ ನನಗೆ) ನನ್ನ ಗಮನಕ್ಕೂ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಇದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದೇ ನಾನು, ಗುರುರಾಜ ತನ್ನ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ನನ್ನ ಕರೆಯದೆ ಇರಲಾರನೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಗುರುರಾಜನ ಮದುವೆಯ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತುಕತೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದೆ.

ಮೇ ತಿಂಗಳ ಕೊನೆಯ ಭಾಗ; ನಾನು ಕಛೇರಿ ಕೆಲಸದ ಮೇಲೆ (ತೀವ್ರ) ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರಬೇಕಾದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲೊಂದು ದಿನ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ನನ್ನ ಮೇಜಿನ ಮೇಲೆ 'ಮದುವೆಯ ಕರೆಯೋಲೆ'ಯೊಂದು ಇದ್ದಿತು. ಕೈಗೆತ್ತಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆಯೇ ತಿಳಿಯಿತು ಅದು ನನಗೆ ಗುರುರಾಜ ತನ್ನ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ. ರಾತ್ರಿ ಬಹಳ ಸಮಯವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ, ನನ್ನ ಇಡೀ ದಿನ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದ ಆಯಾಸ ಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರ ಮಾಯವಾಗಿ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ ಸಡಗರ-ಸಂತೋಷ. ಮದುವೆಯ ದಿನಾಂಕ, ಮದುವೆಯ ಸ್ಥಳ, ವಧುವಿನ ಹೆಸರು, ವರನ ಹೆಸರು ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ, ಕರೆಪತ್ರದ ಮೊದಲುಗೊಂಡು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದೂ ಅಕ್ಷರವನ್ನು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ, ತಾಳ್ಮೆಯಿಂದ ಓದಿದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವೂ ಇತ್ತು; ಗುರುರಾಜ ಎಲ್ಲರಂತೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವದವನಲ್ಲ - ಆತ ಎಲ್ಲದರಲ್ಲೂ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ರೀತಿಯ ಹೊಸತನವನ್ನು ತನ್ನದೇ ಧಾಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿಸುವಾತ.

"Because you have blessed me with Friendship, Love, Care and Guidance, I would like to.."

ಹೀಗೆ ಶುರುವಾದ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥವಿತ್ತು, ಗೌರವವಿತ್ತು, ವಿಧೇಯತೆಯಿತ್ತು, ಸರಳತೆಯಿತ್ತು, ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ ಎದ್ದು ತೋರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಗುರುರಾಜ ಹಿಂದೆಂದಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಅತ್ಮಿಯನೆನಿಸಿದ. ಹೃದಯಕ್ಕಾದ ಆನಂದವು ನನಗರಿವಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೇ ನಗುವಿನ ಮೂಲಕ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿತ್ತು. ಇಂಥಹ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನನ್ನು ಪಡೆದುದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನೇ ಅದೃಷ್ಟಶಾಲಿ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರಿಡುತ್ತಲೇ ನನ್ನ ಹಾಸಿಗೆಯ ಜೋಗುಳಕ್ಕೆ ವಶನಾಗಿದ್ದೆ..

ಮಾರನೆಯ ದಿನ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ ಕರೆಮಾಡಿ ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದೆ; ಆದರೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ತನಗೆ ಗುರುರಾಜ್ Invitation ಕೊಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿದಾಗ ನನಗೆ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ!! ಗುರುರಾಜ್ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಮನೆ; ರಾಜು ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ನನ್ನು ಕರೆಯಲು ಮರೆತದ್ದು ಏಕೆ..? ಹೀಗೆ ಇನ್ನೆರಡು ದಿನಗಳು ಕಳೆದ ನಂತರ, "Wedding Invitation" - "Gururaj" ನಿಂದ ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಸಂದೇಶ ನನಗೆ ತಲುಪಿತ್ತು. ಉತ್ಸುಕನಾಗಿಯೇ ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ "To" ಪಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದೆ, ಗುರುರಾಜ "To" ಪಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು "BCC" ಮಾಡಿದ್ದ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ ಕೇಳಲು, ಯಾವುದೇ ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಬಂದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ. "ಎಲ್ಲಾ mail ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನೋಡಪ್ಪ, Spam ಕೂಡ ನೋಡು", ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ ಶಿಫಾರಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ - ಅಷ್ಟು ನಂಬಿಕೆ ನನಗೆ ಗುರುರಾಜನ ಮೇಲೆ. ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ ಮದುವೆ ಇನ್ನು ಕೇವಲ ಎರಡು ದಿನಗಳಿರುವಾಗಲೂ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂದೇಶ ಬಾರದಿದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಈ ವಿಷಯ ತರ್ಕಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಲುಕದೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಗೆದ್ದು ನಿಂತಿತ್ತು.

30-05-2010 ರಂದು ಮದುವೆಯು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದಾಗ ಮತ್ತೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ. ತನ್ನ Institute ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಯಾವುದೊ Class ನ ಪಾಠ ಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತನಾಗಿದ್ದ. ಮದುವೆಯು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೂ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ Institute ಗೂ ಕೇವಲ ನೂರು ಮೀಟರ್ ಗಳ ಅಂತರ ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ನಾನು ಸುಮಾರು 10 ನಿಮಿಷಗಳವರೆಗೂ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವೂ ಇತ್ತು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹಿಂಜರಿಕೆಯಿಂದಲೇ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ನನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ್ದೆ "ಬಾರಪ್ಪ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಬರೋಣ.." ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಒಪ್ಪುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೆಂಬ ನನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಸುಳ್ಳಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೆ. ನಂತರದ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ವಿಚಾರವಾಗಿ ಗುರುರಾಜನ ಬಳಿಯಾಗಲಿ ಅಥವಾ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ನ ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಲಿ ನಾನು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ನನಗೆ ತೀರ ಅತ್ಮೀಯರಾದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಯಾರನ್ನೂ ಗೊಂದಲಕ್ಕೆ ದೂಡುವ ಬಯಕೆ ನನಗಿರಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಿನ್ನೆ ಗುರುರಾಜ ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಜಯನಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವುದೋ ಕೆಲಸದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದೆವು. ಹೋಗುವ ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮಿಬ್ಬರ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ತಿರುಗಿ, ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ನನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿತ್ತು. ಗುರುರಾಜು ಹೇಳಿದ "ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲ". ನನಗೆ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ!! "Card ಕೊಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತಿದ್ದ, ನಾನು ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ್ಲೂ phone ಮಾಡಿ ಕರ್ದೆ, ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಸರಿಹೊಗಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ ಅಂದ್ಬಿಟ್ಟ" ಗುರುರಾಜನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದೆ. "ಹಾಗ್ಯಾಕೆ ಅನ್ಕೊಂಡರು ಪ್ರದೀಪ್? ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ದಿನಾನೆ ಅವರಿಗೂ Card ಕೊಡ್ಬೇಕು ಅನ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ; ಆ ದಿನ ಜೋರು ಮಳೆ ಬರ್ತಿತ್ತು, ಆಟೋ ಹಿಡಿದು ವಾಪಸ್ ಬಂದ್ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆ. ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ ಅವ್ರಿಗೂ, rediffmail id ಅನ್ಸುತ್ತೆ.." ರಾಜು ಹೇಳಿದ. ನಾನು "ಹೇಳಿದೆ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಗೆ, ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ id ಗಳ್ನು check ಮಾಡು ಅಂತ, but ಅವ್ನು rediff id check ಮಾಡಿರೋದು doubt" ಎಂದೆ. ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಗೆದ್ದು ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ಈ ವಿಷಯವು ಈಗ ವಾಸ್ತವವನ್ನು ಬಿಚಿಟ್ಟು, ನಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.

ಆಗಿದ್ದು ಇಷ್ಟೇ; ಗುರುರಾಜ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ ಪತ್ರ ಕೊಡುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಮರೆತಿದ್ದನಾದರೂ, ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿದ್ದ. ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ತನ್ನ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದ್ದನಾದರೂ, ಗುರುರಾಜನ ಸಂದೆಶವಿದ್ದ ಇ-ಮೇಲ್ ಓದಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರದ್ದು ತಪ್ಪು ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ? ಒಂದರ್ಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಬ್ಬರದ್ದೂ ತಪ್ಪು - ಅದರೂ ಇಬ್ಬರದ್ದೂ ತಪ್ಪಿಲ್ಲ! ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ಇಂಥಹ ಕೆಲವು ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳು ಪರದೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ನಾಟಕೀಯವೆನಿಸಿದರೂ, ಅವುಗಳಿಗೆ ನಿಜಜೀವನದ ಅನುಭವಗಳೇ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಇದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ನಿದರ್ಶನ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಚಿತ್ರ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ (ಸಧ್ಯ! ಬದುಕಿದರು ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರು..), ಇಂಥದ್ದೊಂದು ಪ್ರಸಂಗವನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರಿಸದೆ ಇರುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ವಾಸ್ತವದ ಅರಿವಾದಾಗ ಗುರುರಾಜ-ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಇವರಿಬ್ಬರೂ ಒಬ್ಬರಿಗೊಬ್ಬರು ಇನ್ನೂ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ-ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಗುವುದಂತೂ ಸತ್ಯ ಸಂಗತಿ. ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಬರವಣಿಗೆಯ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ನೆರವೇರಿದರೆ, ನಾನು ಧನ್ಯ!