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SOMETHING YOUNG

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OLD COUPLES
Hakeem walked towards the stove to put the boiling kettle down. As he took in the fresh smell from the kettle, he stirred the dull brown colored tea with a steel spoon. He walked towards the fridge and bended a little bit to look for the milk container and something sweet. When he found it he placed all these things on a tray and took it to her wife lying upstairs in the bed.
” Ah! you bought me your special” said his wife.  Hakeem handed her a cup. When her hands felt the cold surface of the saucer  she said “And I am guessing the milk is cold”. “Just how I like it ” Hakeem replied.54465476712989467mrolyrzdc
Hakeem was a 67 year old married man who had undergone 2 hip replacement surgeries and could only stand for an hour not a minute more than that. His facial skin had lost the charm that it had when he was young, wrinkles had taken place of a stubble, His hair had started to fall off and you could see his scalp easily. His lips were always chapped and his eyes always tired. Hakeem had married his college sweet heart and were now together for 40 years.
Sarah was just 2 years younger than him and they loved each other dearly. They couldn’t have children because of some medical problems but that didn’t stop them from loving and caressing each other.
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Sarah and Hakeem had decided to go on a vacation after a very long time. The bags were packed and the doctors had approved. They were all set to travel all the way to Mumbai for there long awaited vacation. After flying for almost 3 hours they boarded a taxi and journeyed towards their hotel. ‘THE AMBIENCE’ read the huge board on the building. Sarah got out of the taxi and walked towards the door when a young man who was a valet offered to take her bags. She pointed towards Hakeem and asked the man to take the bags from him.
When Sarah crossed the hotel gate, Hakeem got of the car easily and steadily because of his weak hip. He had one hand on his back and the other on the taxi door as he finally got out. He was straightening his pants as his eyes met another. There a was man in his sixties standing on the door in red uniform. When Hakeem saw him his heart jumped out of his chest. For a second there he thought that he was having a stroke and took his hand toward his heart. Suddenly a young man came towards him and offered to take his bags for him. Something snapped in Hakeem’s mind and instead of letting the valet take over he pulled the huge bag and dragged it towards the door. Since the door was close he stopped to open the door himself when the man in the uniform interrupted him. He stood there with his hand on his hips and they looked deeply at each other. Hakeem’s eyes moved towards a badge on the mans uniform which spelled ‘Brijnath’. He held out his hand and Brijnath shook it without looking away from him.
When Hakeem entered the hotel all he could think about was that doorman. How he looked at him and how he shook his hand and for a guy who had lived most of his life it didn’t feel wrong. That night Sarah and Hakeem had decided to go out and explore the city but Sarah had a very painful ache in her back because of which their plans got cancelled. Sarah felt bad for keeping her husband indoors, so she asked and begged him to leave the room. She told Hakeem ” I am going to need some rest, you should go out and have fun”.
  So Hakeem left. All his day he had been thinking about Brijnath and when he walked towards the entrance of the hotel he stopped and straightened his pants and ran his hand through his hair. Even when the faces look old, hearts still want some young love. He walked towards the door and the man from his mind opened it for him. This time Hakeem looked at him carefully. Brijnath had chocolate brown eyes just like Sarah’s, he had a lot of hair on his head unlike Hakeem himself but the hair was white and complimented Brijnath’s face which was as brown as his tea. In a soft tone Brijnath said ” Plans for somewhere Shahab’? “Hakeem” replied the old man and there in the starting of a raw night, in the entrance of a old yet modern hotel emerged an unacceptable love.4071750861_5f13a8eaf3
Hakeem didn’t leave Brijnath alone for the whole night which ended too quickly for both of them. They ate the same food that Brijnath had bought for himself, they talked, laughed and looked at each other for the whole night until Brijnath yawned. Hakeem felt responsible for the doorman he thought he had occupied him the whole night and it wasn’t just a feeling of concern but it was something much more than that. When they left each other for the day they looked back at the door at least 10 times.
In his room Hakeem panicked when he saw Sarah sleeping peacefully on the bed. He thought about what just had happened. He kept finding a way to figure out what he felt when he was with that man. His heart that had been feeling the same things it felt with Sarah suddenly became weary and old again. When the idea of something absurd to him popped in his head he felt disgusted. He felt as if his experience had melted. Hakeem decided to forget about the whole incident after all with his wife on the bed he had to spend the whole vacation in this hotel. but we all know love, it cant be stopped.
 Hakeem  went by that door at least a hundred times and saw the doorman a hundred times. He tried to ignore the door all day, until the time came when their “feelings” had born. He was staring at the door when he saw Brijnath looking right back at him his first instinct was to make a run for it but his weak hip was a big hurdle for him. Brijnath came closer and closer and Hakeem’s forehead kept getting plainer and plainer. When Brijnath smiled at Hakeem, he let out a sigh and the feeling of disgust was replaced with a feeling of young love.
Again, all night. They ate the same food and they laughed the same laugh. Brijnath and Hakeem shared stories from their 60 year old lives and somehow it felt they were together all those years. They spent constant three nights together and they just had four more left. One night Hakeem felt a little bit sad about the fact that he would have to leave soon and Brijnath read his face. They didn’t say much that night but one thing was clear. They both had the same love in their hearts.
When Sarah asked Hakeem where he spent his whole night Hakeem said “I was just in the restaurant reading a book”. After all how could he tell the only women he loved about the only man he will ever love. Hakeem knew that he would never leave Sarah as I said earlier he loved her too dearly. He could never do that to her.  Days passed by with her wife and nights passed with his lover. On the last night of his vacation he held Brijnath’s  hand without saying any words. Brijnath knew it was goodbye but they never said it. They held hands like any other young love and the night passed by.
In the morning they were all packed, Sarah had stepped in the lobby for the first time in her vacation. Hakeem had given all the bags to the valet as he got nearer to the door his heart started jumping again. There he was, The Doorman that he fell in love with, opening the door for his wife. They both got out and Hakeem held out his hand for the doorman to shake. They shook hands but what really was shaking was their hearts, suddenly Sarah opened her purse and pulled out a 50 rupee note. Holding Hakeem from one hand and the 50 rupee note in the other. She offered it to the doorman and said  “Thank you For Your Services”.tlumacki_bellmannormanretires_metro602
 
 

Demonetization

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Currency-Crunched India!

8th of November, 2016 has become a date of historic importance for India as the country witnessed a majestic and so far the boldest move taken by the Prime Minister of the country on this date. The Government decided to put out of circulation the 500 and 1000 denomination notes by terminating them as legal tender. The decision naturally shocked the nation as the declaration came at 8 pm and the country was given time till midnight (of 9th November,2016) after which the currency would be legally banned. The government did say that these denominations would be accepted in hospitals, gas stations, consumer cooperative stores, government buses, airline and railway ticket counters, milk booths, and crematoria till 24th November, 2016. Moreover, the government gave a period of 50 days to deposit and exchange old notes. Many welcomed the move, while many questioned it. This article is for the prejudiced, the mislead, the uninformed and for the pessimist.

Broad Vision

Demonetization

If I speak for myself, I have never been pro-BJP or pro any XYZ party. But I am not prejudiced against any party, any political personality, or any bureaucrat. If I can see what the move intends to do, how strategic and planned it was and in a sweep what is it capable of achieving then I cannot shut my senses and pretend to speak like a messiah for the poor and the suffering, which I can see most people doing on their Facebook wall. At the same time I am not oblivious of the inconvenience it is causing. But let me put things in perspective. It is very important to get a wholistic view and understand the larger goals that the demonetization intends to achieve. Nalin Kohli, advocate at the Supreme Court of India and an official spokesperson for the BJP said that the currency ban will achieve five goals- target the black money, render the fake currency and black money used for illicit trade, terrorism and unlicensed arms useless, check the imbalance of currency circulation, make the banking structure less cash based by drawing more and more people into the banking system and make them use plastic money, and the government will also be freed of the liability to honour that black money.

Not an impulsive decision!

Demonetization

We cannot overlook the fact that a fair amount of vision and strategic thought went into it. Our PM first started the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna or the Bank Inclusion Programme which aimed to draw all those people into the banking system who did not already have their bank accounts. Around 23-24 Crore new accounts were opened which covers a sizeable segment. Then he gave a chance to all the black money hoarders to voluntarily disclose their real income. It was only after all these moves and warnings that he finally announced the demonetization.

Questioning the move?

Demonetization

This big a decision is also bound to cause inconvenience in an economy worth trillions of rupees. I will now put in the frame the questions that have been raised:-

  • What about the real black money hoarders, the richest people of the country who have their money deposited in the Swiss bank? Who will bring back the money from Swiss bank where the real black money lies? When the PM could not bring back that money he is using these ploys just to distract the innocent citizens of the country.
  • The planning was not up to the mark. The strategy is causing such troubles to the common man. He is standing in queues for hours. Such a harassment for everyone! The government had not printed enough notes and there was lack of planning regarding the recalibration of ATM machines.

Demonetization

  • Around 14 deaths have occurred as people as falling ill standing the queue all day. Who will account for those?
  • It is the season of marriages. At a time when families should be celebrating, this had ruined everything for them. They are facing cash-crunch when so many preparations are left to be done.
  • What about the farmers? It is the harvesting season and they mostly deal in cash.
  • Small businesses, vendors, informal sector will be crippled. Poor women, domestic helps who all have their life’s savings in a small bundle of cash, who are without a bank account, what will they do?
  • The government should have come up with a strategy that is long-lasting. This isn’t one.

Many such questions on economic development, fall of the currency, business sectors are being and will be slapped on the face of the government. But I just do not understand why do the educated Indians behave so irrationally at a time when they should whole-heartedly support the courageous move which no previous government could dare to take when they knew that “250 out of every 10 lac notes are fake…and that 2000 crores of fake notes were found to be in circulation in the year 2009.”

Hypocrisy unveiled!

Demonetization

I will attempt to justify the move in my own way. My answers are not solutions to these problems, but a reflection that how these problems are a miniscule in comparison to what this demonetization might achieve. This move will not bring the black money back from Swiss bank, true. But which previous government has been able to do so? And just because the government cannot bring the money taxed abroad back to the country, it should let the thousands of crores of undeclared income within the country be where it is and not do anything about it? That does not look like any kind of logic. Secondly, people are being harassed when they have to stand in queues outside a bank or ATM as if they have never in their life stood in queues. People don’t get harassed when they stand for hours to give auditions for reality shows, for Roadies or Masterchef India or Indian Idol or others. They don’t get harassed when they stand for hours to pay their college fees. They don’t get harassed when they wait outside restaurants for hours on a weekend evening for an empty table. They don’t get harassed when they stand for tickets to visit a tourist place, a fort or a museum on a holiday. They don’t get harassed when they wait outside a branded showroom on a day of bumper sale. They have never got harassed to buy tickets for a rock-concert or an IPL or world-cup match. But a little inconvenience for the good of the country is giving them unbearable pain. Deaths have occurred as people are standing in the queue. This makes the government look like monsters. What about the Hyderabad blast in 2007 which took the lives of 42 and was generated through the use of counterfeit currency? Weddings are more important than Dawood Ibrahim and such like him smuggling crores of fake notes in the country every year. This time period should not have been chosen as it is the harvesting season for some crops. Jan-April is also the harvesting season, April- June is the period of scorching summer when making people stand in queues would be catastrophic and is again the wedding season, July-September is the period of monsoon when the rains would make it impossible, October is the season of festivals, so apart from November-December which other month are we left with? Regarding the poor, they have nothing to worry because they don’t have a truck load of cash. They also have a 50-day window period to get their cash exchanged. Only the ministers who have indulged in scams, the black money hoarders are worried and they are very conveniently shooting putting their guns on the shoulders of the poor, the poor are just facing a little inconvenience. Lastly, this strategy may not be long-lasting but this is ‘something’ compared to the ‘nothing’ which was done in the past. This is a small step if not the big climb and to begin is better than to step back.

Nation Comes First!

Demonetization

We all are facing a little inconvenience but should personal inconvenience override the national interest? The terrorists cannot open bank accounts, which means the 500-1000 notes lying with them have become useless trash of paper. Pakistan which sponsors terrorism is much more worried today than you or me. Countries like Nepal who exceeded their stock limit long back, apparently by 30,000 crore is more worried than you or me.  If this move cleanses the parallel cash economy worth 90 lac crore, if this move incapacitates the terrorists for the time being from planning another blast, or attack which has claimed thousands of lives in the past, then why not DEMONETIZATION?

   

Alluring Dreams

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Those who are determined to face the storm, turns into the storm, creates the storm and tastes the glory. Life is seriously not about chilling, gossiping , fashion, social sites, affairs, and a so called public image..Ouch now this doesn’t sound that cool. No issues, don’t become a not so cool creature. Come out of illusions, these things can be trendy or classy, a vital part of our lives may be, but definitely not our LIVES. Life is too much more than this. Its all about being realistic and keeping a positive approach towards life.

Alluring Dreams

ACTION SPEAKS IT ALL

Alluring Dreams

Become firm about not decreasing your standards for anything or anyone, become impatient towards all the negativity, excessive criticism or cynicism. You are not here for fake praise, hypocrisy or manipulation. Don’t encourage gossips either. Stay with those who are capable of lifting you higher, the ones who can encourage you.

INDEPENDENT BEING

Alluring Dreams

Turning independent will make your journey most beautiful, you are the creator and destroyer of your life, who doesn’t need any support or sympathy. You are not here to follow the commands of others in order to live your dream life. Seeking guidance is no harm but learn to be an independent decision maker. Yes of course some people are definitely going to be special but they have to be completely selfless, their love has to be the purest so according to me, they can be your family or else your true friends. Don’t look for anyone to accompany you till your goal , your destination, found those who can make your journey amazing and if you cannot found them go ahead my friend , always remember you are your biggest asset. Your self confidence is your treasure . Your pain , the failures are going to make you transform into a gem of a person.

Alluring Dreams

Success is made up of experiences and experiences are made up of bad experiences. Failures means you are trying and this is all you need……

“Why you should travel to Kerala.”

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Kerala mahnn!! What a place, what a scenery, what people, what a food..  waaah!! Kerala is one heck of a place.

Have you ever been to Kerala?? Yeahh!? Then especially your say on Kerala would be the same I believe. Kerala is one such tourist spot that has grabbed much attention from  local and foreign tourists. You would be wondering why all this too much Kerala talks above. 

well … I personally have a bond with Kerala, I am from Kochin (Cochin)and I can proudly say I am a Malayali.

Hi .. i am  Aishwarya presenting this blog to you travel freaks and others out there, about KERALA!! And why you should travel at least once to Kerala. So fasten your seat belts I am off to take you to an extraordinary imaginary journey to the one and only “Gods own Country”, our own Kerala.

The year through balanced climate is one of the gifts of Kerala, in a year it is blessed with two monsoon seasons which contributes enough water to the crops and rivers. Most of the districts are sharing the border with Arabian Sea, hence Kerala has many flooded and beautiful beaches. Kerala is one of the major contributors of tourism revenue in India. The dense forest in south Kerala and the beautiful hill stations attracts Indian and foreign tourists.

These are the top 10 reasons why you should definitely travel to Kerala at least once in your lifetime. You would not want to miss any of these things from your perfect holiday plan.

 Tourism:

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Kerala “Gods own country” is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Kerala is named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler.

It is also famous for its beautiful backwaters. The beauty of Kerala in terms of its cuisine, the art and culture, beautiful backwaters, spices makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Laze on the Beaches:

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Kerala is home for many fine stretches of sand – Beaches which attracts both domestic as well as foreign tourists. Kovalam beach (near Thiruvananthapuram) is among the first beaches in Kerala to attract most of the tourists. As per the latest tourism survey, Kovalam is the most visited beach in the state. Other such beaches are Varkala and cherai Beach (Close to kochi).

Experience the Kerala beachside fun with hot fish fries(made on spot) and divine Sea food. Rise and shine early morning to find the local fisherman return with their catch of fresh fish.

Feel the beauty of Hill stations:

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Eastern Kerala consists of land encroached upon by the Western Ghats; the region thus includes high mountains, gorges, and deep-cut valleys with waterfalls. 

If it’s too hot out there, grab your backpacks and escape to the nature, a hill station and relax with the cool, fresh and breathtaking views from the hills. One of the famous hill station being ‘Munnar’ and ‘Wayanad’ which have thick blankets of green shades is definitely the favorites of most tourists.

The view over tea plantations is rather mesmerizing scenery.

Spices of Kerala:

Kerala is one of the main centers which have healthy spice production. Kerala is famed for its rich production of pepper called “black gold” and “King of spices” by most people because of its price and rich quality.

Even at present there is huge demand for spices from Kerala. Wayanad and Kumily are some major spice plantation centers.

Wildlife:

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Most of Kerala, whose native habitat consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate. Periyar wildlife sanctuary is home for Tigers and leopards and is one of the main attractions for most of the adventurous tourists which consists of Thekkady forest reserve and Backwater Lake.The boat service in Periyar River and forest trekking will be the evergreen experience for all the tourists.

You have not enjoyed Kerala unless and until you see the Elephants pass by the roads; Wayanad is one of the best places to spot elephants.

Kerala is not just home for tigers and elephants, but also wide varieties of birds and other such species of rare found butterflies.

Waterfalls:

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Speaking of Nature and beauty how can someone miss out the beautiful and ever flowing Waterfalls in Kerala?

There are few most beautiful and marvelous waterfalls which can really seize your legs for a while. Are you someone who loves listening to the sound of the waterfalls?? Then get ready to feel the beauty and elegance of Athirappilly, Adyanpara falls, Aruvikkuzhi falls and other such waterfalls in kerala.

Colorful Festivals:

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Have you not yet been a part of Kerala’s colorful festivals yet??

The major festival in Kerala is Onam, celebrated by most malayalis of Kerala irrespective of their caste; onam is all about drawing colorful flower rangoli (Designs) and having a yummy feast called “Onam Sadhya” (One should never miss this – because you get to have the yumm only once a year).Speaking of onam not to miss the “Vallamkali”(Boat race), and “puli kali” (Tiger play) you have to experience the energy and positive vibes and have fun.

Kerala has a number of religious festivals. Thrissur Pooram, Attukal Pongala, and Chettikulangara Bharani are the major temple festivals in Kerala.

There are particular months in which each festival is celebrated, join the Keralites in their festival celebration.

Cruise the Backwaters:

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Kerala is also famous for its beautiful backwaters.There are two ultimate popular backwaters destination namely Allepey (called Allapuzha) and Kumarakom attracting most of the tourists and travellers.

There is nothing as relaxing as spending a few days in the house boat, listening to the sound of mild water waves and the birds chirp and feeling the cool Kerala wind.

The backwaters in Kerala are very promising and ensure you a relaxing and chilled out holiday during your travel in Kerala. The mesmerizing beauty of the waterways would capture your soul completely.

Ayurveda:

As we know Kerala has abundance production and supply of rich spices and medicinal plants; Kerala is home of Ayurveda an ancient medical science based on medicines and oils extracted from plants and trees. This is being practiced in India from over Centuries. Ayurveda is the natural way of healing any complex problems that require attention. One can just not say no to the Ayurveda treatments which has properties to relax your body and mind.

Rich Art and Culture:

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Kerala has a variety of artistic forms. The Major performing arts are koodiyattom,  kathakali,  Kerala Natanam, Chakyarkoothu and mohiniaattam. However, most of the art forms being largely played to tourists or at youth festivals in Kerala.

Additionally, a considerable Malayalam film industry effectively competes against both Bollywood and Hollywood.

There are several other ancient ritualised arts that are of Keralite in origin; these include kalaripayattu.

Other ritual arts includeThirayattam, theyyam, poorakkali and Kuthiyottam.

The Kerala Cuisine

the-kerala-cuisineYou should try the yummy Kerala Cuisine at least once in your life; there are varieties of dishes one would never want to miss. And also if you are a foodie person, trust me the Cuisines taste would remain at the tip of your tongue.

The major Food of Kerala include “Puttu and kadala” (Rice cake and channa curry) along with the exclusive Keralite “Pazham” (Bananas).Other items include Dosa chutney, Idly and kerala sambar, Idiappam and stew, chicken fry etc.

Also not to forget the “Onam Sadhya” a perfect lunch of 14 varieties of dishes served on a plantain leaf, along with 2-3 varieties of sweets (Payasam) on the day of Onam.

This is not the end of it, also there are more things that can attract people to Kerala, I only handpicked a few reasons this time. So, are these reasons not enough for you to visit Kerala once? Take back some happy and cherished memories during your stay at Kerala

                    KERALA!! Welcomes you!! Do visit!!

Academy Awards, When art is colour blind

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Academy Awards

Do you watch Hollywood movies? Truly, Hollywood movies charm us with their realistic touch, meaningful storytelling and deeply meticulous performance. No wonder we look at them with great reliance, expectations of divine inspiration and some of us even picturize ourselves working in that magical industry. But let us be clear about one thing- not all is well in Hollywood.

Give yourself a minute and think about all the Hollywood actors and actresses you know. Your mind must be flashing Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Julia Roberts, Ben Affleck, Tom Hardy, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, and Christian Bale all staring, smiling in a monochrome background. Now ask yourself- How many of them were African-Americans? There might be a jolly Will Smith peeping at you or a wise Morgan Freeman simply looking at you with a calm breath, steady smile and an inescapable look. But how far do we go than the simple reception of the screen presence of most African-American actors?  Does skin colour matter more than talent even today? You may agree or disagree but today racism is real because it is mostly subconscious.

The 88th Academy Awards created buzz, not just because the great Leonardo Dicaprio finally got his Oscar but also because the Academy was criticised for being racist. Though it had an African American (Chris Rock) as its host, Spike Lee pointed out that it was the second consecutive year where no nominees in the acting categories were black. It is also true that only 11.2% of all Academy Awards winners are non-white. When Chris Rock said it in his monologue- “We want opportunities, we want the black actors to get same opportunities as white actors. Not just once. Leo gets a great part every year and everybody gets great parts all the time but what about the black actors?” the little movie-buff heart in me went “Aye Aye Chris!” It is true that we only see black actors and do not really try to know them and still put their colour first before their talent.

So, here are only some of those great actors who can shiver our spines with their acting-  
  • Octavia Spencer

octaviaspencerShe is best known for role as the sassy Minny Jackson who made Hilly Holbrook eat her excreta for treating black maids in a cruel manner. She even might be the female form of Morgan Freeman- steady eyes, a calm smile and dialogue delivery that echo in the brain. She had done many minor roles like the woman who registered Tobey Maguire in the Boxing Match in Spiderman but it was her performance in The Help that won her an Oscar.  She was born in a family of six siblings and a mother who worked as a maid. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal arts from the prestigious Auburn University. Watch more of her groundbreaking performances on Get On Up, Fruitvale Station and the upcoming movie Hidden Figures.

  • Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor arrives at the 41st NAACP Image Awards on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)Known for his performance as Karl Mordo in Dr. Strange, Solomon Northup in ‘12 years a Slave’ and Dr. Adrian Helmsley in ‘2012’, Chiwetel Ejiofor is a big name in the world of movies, theatre and television. He received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2015 along with so many awards and nominations for BAFTA, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Critics Circle Theatre Awards and many more. Ejiofor was a part of the National Youth Theatre. He lost his father in a car accident when he was 11. He has been awarded by the GEANCO award for his charity work in Nigeria and also has made contributions to the United Nations Development Programme. There are few actors who can speak a lot without saying much. Ejiofor is one of them.

  • Viola Davis

viola-davisThe Julliard Graduate was born to a horse trainer and a maid who was also a civil rights activist. Davis has described her childhood as “abject poverty and dysfunction.” Programs like TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services helped getting her an education. Davis is known for her groundbreaking performance in The Help as Aibileen Clark for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She has also earned laurels in television and theatre as well. She also became the first black woman of any nationality to win the Primetime Emmy Award. She has raised her voice to end hunger, sexually-abused victims and has also devoted herself towards charity to improve the economically depressed community she grew up in. Her last scene in The Help tells you how great an actress she is. Those teary eyes, those fearless words and that boldness when she asks, “You are a godless woman, ain’t you tired Miss Hilly? Ain’t you tired?” Shivers.

  • Barkhad Abdi

barkhad-abdiBarkhad Abdi gave his first performance in Captain Phillips which earned him as Oscar nomination and many others but there is much more to know about this Somali actor. He was born in the war torn Somalia and his family had decided to move to Yemen when situations got worse. He came to America after winning a green card lottery and worked as a limousine driver and sold mobile phones for a living. He had to drop his schooling as he had no money. Surprisingly he never had any ambition in acting and got his role as the lead pirate in Captain Phillips because the role needed a Somalian and acting came naturally to him. Get ready to get glued to him when he looks Tom Hanks in the eyes and says, “I am the captain now.” Now the actor is expected to be seen in the Blade Runner 2049 and The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir.

  • Regina King

regina-kingOnce you see her on screen, your eyes will not see anybody else. She is quite a familiar face and appears as Janine Davis in The Big Bang Theory as well. Her notable works have been in Miss Congeniality 2, Enemy at the Gates, A Cinderella Stories but it was her role as Marcee Tidwell in Jerry Maguire and Margie Hendricks in Ray that made her stand out as an outstanding artist. She mostly plays the role of a black outspoken woman and she herself says, “My biggest challenge will be to play the totally submissive woman. It takes a toll on you when you play someone who’s far removed from your personality.” She definitely knows how to shut everybody’s mouth. Watch her movies for more of her energetic performances.

  • Jamie Foxx

161001-news-golden-globes-jamie-foxxHe is definitely a star of Hollywood but very few people talk about his performance as Nathaniel Ayers in The Soloist, Curtis Taylor, Jr. in Dreamgirls and his portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie Ray. Foxx is an entertainer- a comedian, a singer, a song writer and an Academy Award winner who truly can leave people in an awestruck with his amazing body language, charm and effortless acting. His role as Django in Django Unchained where he played the role of a slave gave him a nomination for the Black Reel Award for Best Actor. He described it as an ‘emotional’ time and said, “”It’s tough shooting when you’re in plantation row and that’s where your ancestors were persecuted and killed.”

Most African- American actors have played characters facing racism in many movies. Films can speak to us in so many ways and give us things to think upon. The first ever African American Actor to ever win an Oscar was Hattie McDaniels and during her acceptance speech she said, “I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.” Sadly, Hattie and her escort were made to sit on a segregated table for two in the Academy Awards of 1940. Hattie will be disappointed as we still have a long way to go.

5 Things You Need To Know About Raees

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raees

1. RaeesStarring SRK plays a character apparently inspired by Abdul Latif, an alleged gangster who ran the illicit liquor business in Gujarat during the peak of prohibition in the 1990s. Allegedly, Latif had over 40 murder cases filled against him.  The film is set in 1980s Gujarat. It tells the story of the bootlegger Raees Alam whose business is extremely challenged and eventually defeated by a police officer, ACP Ghulam Patel.

nawazin raees2. Things cant be better if you have an ace actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui on one side and the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan on the other. Well, thisSRK and Nawaz sharing screen spaceis a sight every movie maniac is looking forward to. After working with Aamir Khan inTalaashand Salman Khan inKickandBajrangi Bhaijaan,’ Nawazuddin will now be seen with SRK inRaees.The actor is playing a cop in the movie and his look from the film just got leaked. The khaki vardi is suiting him and the stern expressions that he wears on his face will definitely make the audience go whistling. Directed by Rahul Dholakia, ‘Raeesis slated to release in the year 2017.

mahira-khan-033. Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who rose to fame with her television serial Humsafar, makes her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees. According to reports, SRK himself dropped in at the audition to meet this VJturnedactress, Mahira. The actress is married to her college sweetheart Ali Askari. However, the films release might be jeopardised considering that Shiv Sena have vowed to not let Pakistani actors promote their film in Maharashtra. According to a report on Bollywoodlife.com, apparently, the actress got the jitters with an intimate scene with Nawaz. Quoting a source, the report stated that the sex scene is pretty edgy, dark and somewhat brutal which has Nawaz forcing himself on her. The report further stated that the sequence was unsettling for Mahira and she refused to do it.

ankita-shorey-044. Ankita Shorey the winner of Femina Miss India International 2011 was first considered for the role in SRK movie Raees which finally went to pakistani actress Mahira KhanI went through the look test for the role as it is a character of a Pakistani Muslim girl, andthey (filmmaker/producers) were looking for a certain face. I waited for six months for the confirmation of the role. However, there was a lastminute change,” the modelturnedactress told IANSThough it could have been a great launch for her opposite Shah Rukh, Ankita does not have any bad feelings for anyone for missing the opportunity.

sunny-leone-055. Shah Rukh, 50, is shaking a leg with Sunny in a reprise version of the 1980 chartbuster Laila O Laila from the film Qurbaani. The original track featured Feroz Khan and Zeenat Amaan.

A special set has been created at Mehboob studio.

Its a dance track, an item number which is part of the film and not an endcredit song. The set is that of an old retro bar. The situation is that it is a bar where they are selling alcohol in the pretext of selling cold drinks. That is where Sunny is dancing,” a source from the set told PTI.

10 Youtube channels you must subscribe for competitive exams

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After graduation, every student wants to pursue a career in the different field.Some want to move on and some try to sit for competitive exams that provide job security and a good pay cheque. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to go to best coaching center so here comes the second most search engine Youtube.

Here are some youtube channels that you must subscribe if you are preparing for competitive exams
Mrunal.org: Mrunal Patel is dedicated to helping all the aspirant who is preparing for competitive exams like UPSC,SSC etc.The economy and other lectures are very lucid and he has explained every macroeconomic term in Layman term.Just follow them religiously and you will be out of fear.

Online Guruji: A channel to help all the SSC CGL aspirants.He made all brief videos to explain all the complex topics and tried to solve last year question paper of aptitude section.He uploads the strategy guide and the list of book that will help you to clear this exam.

Takshzila Shikshak: If you are struggling with Quantitative aptitude then this channel will surely be the best shot of your life.Best video content that will help you to understand the various concept such as Geometry,Number System etc.

Current Affairs Funda: A team of samurai that will help you to build the basic on almost all the topics ranging from English to other subjects and they also update their video list with current affairs.If you don’t find any video just ping them to their Facebook page they might try to make it as soon as possible.

Feel Free to Learn: When you learn reasoning with Satheesh sir,you feel like you’re learning from Richard Feynman.Teaching is his passion and is trying to help all the beginner students who are preparing for banking entrance exams.

Vidya Guru:Started in April 2015 this channel is helping every aspiring student who wants to start a career in government sector.They cover a wide variety of topics which are depth full and pretty much they know what are the problems student face during preparation.

Unacademy: This channel is rich in content that aspires to become a youtube for education.With mini series on English,Polity Culture and etc this is the perfect channel for all the rural UPSC aspirants.

Talent Sprint:Their mission is to provide help all the banking aspirants who want to start a carrier in this field.They break down different topics with the help of weekly live session.

Edification: A channel that provides the shortcut for reasoning and aptitude section which will save a large chunk of your time.Tricks for surds and numerical ability are one of the most watched videos on this channel.

Mahendra Guru :This is the informative channel that aimed primarily to educate the Railways and SSC aspirant.They have a discussion page which aims to teach the aspirant about the current trends,change of syllabus anything related to the exam.

wifistudy: This one of the oldest and fast growing channels. They help all the banking aspirants who want to start a carrier in this field.They break down different topics with the help of started live session.

Is Fair The Only Lovely

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fairness creams

Most of you might feel that the caption is taking a dig at a very popular brand of cosmetics. Well, yes it is. A few days ago, I was pondering on the topics I could write my article about and I saw a commercial about a fairness cream on television. It showed two women, both equally beautiful. However, one of them was fairer than the other. The woman endorsed the cream saying that it was the secret to her fair skin tone. This made me sick. I asked myself” Does having a darker skin tone make me ugly?” It was just an advertisement. But it gave me a complex. And it has given millions of us Indians a complex; both men and women alike.

Is Fair The Only Lovely

 A local newspaper published a story about a girl from Zambia who had committed suicide. She came to India to complete her studies via the student exchange program. The newspaper stated that one of the main reasons for the girl to commit suicide was “depression”. She had a darker skin tone. Nobody wanted to be friends with her because of her complexion. She was a loner. She missed her country, her family and friends. One of my friends studies at that college and I asked her if she knew anything about this case. She told me that this was how people treated her. They stared at her and made fun of her. On the other hand, there is one student there from Belgium (which is close to France). This male student has a fair complexion and good looks. When I heard this, I was sure that he must have been treated the same way. But it was not so. People were eager to be his friends. He was like a small celebrity. Everywhere he went, girls gushed about him and guys wanted to be his best friends.

Is Fair The Only Lovely

                    It is sad that “not being fair” is looked down on. Even on matrimonial sites, people request that one of the things they want in their partner is that they should be fair. This is not a joke. People do make such absurd demands. We are so insecure about our skin tones that we rely on skin whitening products for confidence.

Is Fair The Only Lovely

In a country where temperatures go as high as 45 to 48 degrees, people are bound to be tan. But having a darker skin tone is nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, in other parts of the world, where being fair is extremely common, they associate beauty with a darker complexion. They spend a lot of money to look tan. This is what is referred to as “herd mentality”. Since here most of us are darker we want to be white. While in the west most of them are white so they want a skin kissed complexion. People always wish to have things they don’t have. They are under the illusion that getting it will make them contended.

Their dusky skin tone didn’t stop these two Bollywood actresses from becoming successful.

Deepika Padukone

Is Fair The Only Lovely

This gorgeous diva is at present, one of the most talented and beautiful…Yes!  Beautiful actress in the film industry. Women want to be like her and men are infatuated by her beauty. Producers and directors are lining up to cast her in their films. Having that caramel skin tone hasn’t stopped her from taking the world by storm.

Priyanka Chopra

Is Fair The Only Lovely

From acting in movies to television series and making her own music albums, Priyanaka Chopra has done it all. She has the confidence to conquer the world. But, in an interview to a newspaper, she confessed that she was bullied for her skin tone when she was studying in U.S.

” I was called Brownie and was told to take my curry and to go back to my country” she admitted.

Despite this, she went on to become one of the most sought after actresses in the world.

Everyone is beautiful or handsome in their own little way. Being fair or dark has nothing to do with it.  The only thing holding you back is your insecurity. So don’t feel let down when you see someone with a fairer skin tone than you. Because fair isn’t the only lovely.

 

 

 

 

The Cursed Village of Kuldhara

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The Ghost Village Kuldhara

If you have ever been to Jaisalmer, the world famous tourist spot in Rajasthan, you must have visited the Golden Fort that featured in Satyajit Ray’s “Sonar Kella” or Sam Sand Dunes. But the mysteries of the desert extend beyond the ramparts of the Golden Fort that reverberate the timeless past of Mukul’s previous life that Ray portrayed in his film, and even beyond the spell cast over the mesmerizing dunes by the setting sun. Some 17 km south-west of Jaisalmer lie the ruins of the cursed village of Kuldhara. This village has been abandoned for centuries. Legend holds, the curse put on Kuldhara does not let anyone inhabit in the village ever since it was abandoned.

The Cursed Village of Kuldhara

About 200 years ago Kuldhara used to be a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. It was then abandoned overnight by all its thousand-odd residents for some unknown reason. But according to a local legend, Salim Singh, the then Diwan of Jaisalmer fell for the beautiful daughter of the village chief and desired to marry her. But of course the Brahmin villagers could not have accepted it. Salim Singh, (in)famous for his debauched lifestyle and unprincipled ways of collecting tax, threatened to prosecute the Kuldhara Brahmins if his wishes were not granted. But the Paliwal Brahmins did not succumb to the tyranny of the tyrant. They held a council and not just the residents of Kuldhara but Brahmins living in some eighty-odd adjacent villages- all the villagers decided to flee, overnight without any notice. So, one dark night all the Brahmins hitherto residing in the villages abandoned their houses and everything within, and never came back. Nobody knows where they went. But before leaving they put a curse on Kuldhara that no one will be able to settle in this village ever again. The buildings have since stood motionless just as they were left, witnessing the passage of time for centuries.

The Cursed Village of Kuldhara

The ruins of hundreds of buildings, almost all of them now roofless, lay scattered in the village.  The houses were made of yellow sandstone, the kind of building material you will see everywhere in and near Jaisalmer. There are a few temples in the village. Few of the houses have been restored and redecorated- and you can even climb up the stairs to the roofs of these houses. The view of the vast expanse of the yellow ruins of what once used to be a prosperous village from one such roofs will surely send a chill down your spine. While walking up and down the dusty lanes between the rows of abandoned houses you will surely get one of the eeriest feelings ever. The moment you enter Kuldhara you will feel like you have entered into a whole new world where time has lost its course.

The Cursed Village of Kuldhara

In the early 2010s Indian Paranormal Society sent an 18-member team to Kuldhara which spent 12 hours in the village and later claimed to have experienced a few strange things: mysterious voices, moving shadows and even hand imprints of children on their cars. The spooky stories about Kuldhara earned it a haunted reputation which surely attracts a lot of tourists.

The Cursed Village of Kuldhara

Kuldhara is a heritage site today and is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Rajasthan Government has decided to develop it as a tourist spot. So if you plan to go to Jaisalmer do not forget to keep Kuldhara in your places-to-visit list.

GULZAR

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gulzar smiling
Gulzar, a name and an identity, or rather an adjective that not only does construct a poetic aura but also a sense of commonality that represents the beauty of life.
 
He is one of India’s most eminent writers and probably the finest lyricist, a country could have ever got. He had started off with the emergence of Progressive Writers’ Association and since then has been the soul of Hindi Cinema.
 
With his numerous anthologies, Gulzar has been living in everybody’s hearts. He has been recognized with many Filmfare and National awards for his contribution in Bollywood. Apart from that, he’s been given an Oscar and Grammy for his lovely piece called “Jai Ho”. Thus, not only in Bollywood but Hollywood also that he’s been celebrated.
Gulzar’s works present him as a person who is surrounded with regularities. He doesn’t probe into metaphysical elements but creates a transcendental environment with the very common metaphors he uses. His bilingual tongue makes him excel in both his Hindi and Urdu works. His simplicity is what makes him different from all the poets of his age. He is that light which holds both the possibilites of enlightenment and burning fire. A word, that is enough to discover all the realities within some unreal timezones. This is the power of his poetry, this is the power of Gulzar…
 
Let’s have a look on some of his excerpts that would answer all the questions about life and unfold the importance of love that has been missing out of from our dictionaries.
 
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GULZARGulzar’s verses outlive due to their unique symbolism. He doesn’t write within a vacuum but a multi-dimensional world that is interrelated. The earthly things portray earthly connections that all human beings have.
 
The most beautiful thing about his works is that he doesn’t conclude the issues he raises about metaphysical truths of this universe. In his poem, “Khuda”, he restricts the image of God to an imagined thought while at the same time, by calling God, a figment of imagination, he is attributing him an infinite space. Likewise, he plunges between the mundane and spiritual elements in his poems like “Libas” and “Girhen”. Gulzar masters all the literary aspects as well as writes within the pillars of daily life. Where on one hand he brings out issues like Rape, on the other hand, he shows his love for natural changes that leave a deep impact on our lives.
 In a nutshell, Gulzar is a poet of life and death. He is a poet of people and their emotions. His way of creating binaries and usual analogies makes him a “metaphor” himself.