Sense organs: Are we the slaves of our sense organs?

The five sense organs of the human body: vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.  Human existence revolves around these senses acting as the modes of communication for every human being. Obviously, for they are the channels through which our brain receptor cells get information from outside our body. By processing that information, our brain decides and controls the body and its actions to ensure its survival. We cannot imagine living without these sense organs. Our five senses are freeing us from the darkness of ignorance we surely experience without them.  

By now, you must be wondering about the point I am trying to make here.  Although these five sense organs free us from darkness, these are also tools used to enslave us. The decision of ‘whether to rule or be ruled’ is taken by the level of control one has over the sense organs of the other. Consider any industry including the Government, which incurs profit and loss, each one, is catering to the needs (original or created) of one or more sense organs. 

Media, Fashion, Entertainment, Travelling, Vehicles, Ammunition, Food, Education, Sex, Religion… take any industry! Every consumer good or service, as it’s supposed to be or trying to, engage our sense organs.  Consider local, national, international politics. Consider the immense power of propaganda, consider the role of media. What are they doing? They are controlling our lives by controlling the choices we make in everything we do.  We think ‘We’ do it. But in reality our minds are controlled, our choices are made much before we think we make.  We are the slaves of consumerism. We are the slaves of media aka politics aka government. We are the slaves of materialism. 

The entire human race is trapped in a net weaved by its own sense organs. Each one of us is caught by one such net, connected to each other, making us a mass. A trapped mass to be used by the few higher powers, and they are to be used by the super powers. This is the hierarchy of slavery. Everyone is trapped.  There is no escape. Not until we cut ourselves off from all five sense organs or at least stop being ruled by them, and look within to open the most truthful sense organ, which we named as the Sixth Sense. 

Should prostitution be legalized?

Every time I come to know about another case of rape, brutal or otherwise, this is the first thought that crosses my mind. Should prostitution be legalized?

I never wrote a single Facebook status regarding rape incidents, not even shared any message.  May be I found it too futile or maybe I had nothing to say. Today, when I decided to share my thoughts, let me tell you that this write-up is neither an attempt to voice my repulsion towards the loathsome series of brutal rapes in the country, nor I’m going to dig out the minds of the rapists to understand the ‘why’s behind their satanic actions. The collective contempt of the entire nation toward the outrageous events could not stop rape. Well-known psychiatrists discussed the issue, social activists were interviewed by the prime TV channels, broadcasted during prime-times to shoot up the TRP, news papers published many columns to come up with a theory behind increasing incidents of rape in the country…. all said and done.  High time, we should come up with a solution to this problem.

If I were to decide, I would have given command for shoot-at-sight in case they‘re caught red-handed, when convicted, nothing but death sentence. And how they die, should depend on public opinion. But this is not going to happen in our so-called socialist country.

So, here I come up with an idea. Legalize prostitution and give it a status of systematic and salaried profession.

My arguments for this proposition:

1. Unlike the Sanatan Hindu culture, if you go back to history, you’ll find that Semitic cultures and beliefs have always suppressed human sexuality, and portrayed it as a sin. The whole world is completely influenced by Semitic culture and beliefs. Any natural instinct or behavior, when suppressed or stopped from flowing normally, causes distortion of its original condition or form.  As a result, that suppressed instinct finds an unusual route to express itself and demonstrates itself as ‘abnormal’ and ‘unacceptable’.  Rape is such an outcome of such action. (Remember, we still are not allowed to express and talk about sex, though we can’t live without it. Hypocrisy! )
2. Kamasutra, the science of pleasure in sex, is more than the description of position for sex and achieving orgasm. Our ancient sages, who actually were scientists, knew the role of carnal desire or libido in human mind and how this affected human behavior on social and interpersonal relationships. In Vedic era, prostitution was known to be legal.
3. Prostitution becomes systematic, and the women, willing to be prostitutes, are provided with the knowledge of human sexuality and fulfilling desire including scientific and psychological part of it. Men are provided with the knowledge of their own sexuality with complete transparency. With the help of the trained prostitutes, they learn to understand their behavior, control it when necessary, enjoy and explore their own sexual side.
4. In case of uncontrollable or distorted libido, (chances will be very low if point #2 is already being followed) those guys with this problem may visit trained prostitutes and satiate their dark fantasies. Venting out has always worked as a successful therapy for innumerable mental problems.
5. The government will be earning the major chunk of yearly tax from such organizations. 

These are my arguments in support of legalizing prostitution. Please share your thoughts, in support or against this proposition. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. 

The mother in me

What the Macedonian Emperor Alexander’s mother wished for him?  What did Gandhiji’s mother wished for her son? What did Swami Vivekananda’s mother prayed from God for her son? What all mothers’ of famous, infamous, sharp and dull, genius and general children wish for them? I think that wish is pretty common…. of long and healthy life and of over-all prosperity.

From conception to birth, to the child’s becoming a full-grown person, what all a mother feels, expects and does, every woman who becomes a mother, knows.  Being a mother is the most precious joy and fulfilment for a woman. Of course depending on the situation in which she became a mother controls a lot of things, owing to the fact that the lives and expectations of women have changed in the process of receiving education and then achieving financial independence. Still, the joy of being a mother cannot be replaced by anything else in life.

In every culture around the world, mother-child relationship is considered to be the most divine of all. This is divine indeed, but it’s not divine in the same way as depicted by Hindi/Bengali movies I have     watched.  Not at least for me. 

Of course Hindi/Bengali movies are the partial or full reflection of our society and culture, yet I differ.  We hold a mother’s love as the most selfless, giving and great. Because she sacrifices her sleep, days and nights of her life in nursing her child, nurturing and taking care of his overall growth.  She puts her son’s well-being as her highest priority…in this process, most of the time; she forgets or ignores her own well-being. That’s why she is great, her love is great.  Yes, no one can love like a mother. I, as a mother, also think that no one on earth can be better than me in loving my son and taking care of his well-being.

I pray each day that he should grow up as a strong human being, with an honest character and independent mind and soul. Rest, how he decides to earn his livelihood and who will be his companion, completely depends on his own choice.  Yeah, though it seems to be tough and near impossible for a Bengali mother, but this will remain a fact. ;) I’ll never try to control his life, that’s a lesson I have learnt from life: Not to control anyone and not being controlled by anyone.

However, I don’t consider that my love for my son is something so selfless…that I loved him and nursed him and kept awake for days and nights, sacrificed many pleasures of life for him….makes me someone great and divine. Simply because whatever I did for my son Moktaavya, I did out of selfish happiness. The day I saw him for the first time wrapped in a white clothe, reddish face, closed eyes and mouth…he was the most wondrous thing on earth… the day he smiled and looked at me, that was the most pleasing  sight for my eyes…the day he called me Maa was the most fulfilling word for me. For a long period of time, he was the single most reason of my survival. I learned and unlearned so many things because of him. His birth gave me the status of a mother, without which every woman is incomplete, seeing him grow up was the most precious treasure of my life…after all the joy he has already given me, how can I say that my love for him is selfless? He already gave me everything that I might want from him.

My son, if ever you come across my blog in your life, I want you to know that I just want to be your mother, not someone great and divine, a simple mother, who does not think that she had sacrificed anything for you.  I love you and will always love you for you took birth through me, and made me a mother, gave me the honor and immense joy of bringing you up to be a lovely boy with the cutest smile and the most beautiful and compassionate eyes on earth. I am so very proud of you, today. Tomorrow, I’ll feel proud of each and every growth I see in you as a good human being, and I will forgive you for all vices that might be in you, and knowing that you will overcome all of those with your own inner strength, sooner or later. You’re an extension of me…wherever you go, whatever you do, you remain a part of me. 

Growing Up with Jingles:Jab Main Chota Bachcha Tha

Bari shararat karta tha, meri chori pakri jati….Jab roshan hota Bajaj!! Remember the jingle? It has been registered in our minds, and it is still there…running in a remixed version. I have literally grown up with my favourite jingles… as a kid and later as an adolescent, there was nothing else which I could catch so easily. There are jingles which I can sing for you even now…

·         Khushbu daar anti-septic cream boroline!

·         Doodh Doodh Doodh, Doodh hai wonderful pi sakte hai roj glassful (Though I hated milk!!)

·         Na na meri jaan, meri jaan murgi ke andey

·         Nirma Nirma, washing powder nirma, dush se safedi nirma se aye, rangeen kapra bhi khil khil jaye, sabki pasand nirma!

·         Buland bharat ki Buland tasveer…hamara Bajaj!

·         Mammi bhokh lagi, bas do minute! School se aate dhoom machaate
Ek hi baat pe manaate, Maggi Maggi Maggi!"

·         Pyar hua ikraar hua hai, pyar se phir kiun darta hai dil…(ad for promoting condom use in India )

·         Glucon- D, yeh jaan mein jaan daal de - peete hi!"

·         Yehi hai Right Choice Baby…Aha!

·         Bhul na jana, ECE bulb lana, Jyaada de ujaala din-o-din chalne waala ECE bulb aur ECE tube!

·         Ras ki rachna Rasna! I love you Rasna…

·         Amul : Zara si hansi…doolar zarasa…Taste of India …

·         Life Buoy: Tandurusti ki Raksha karta hai Life Buoy…

These were the jingles with which I have grown up, and am not ashamed of the fact that even now I don't look around when I just sing my heart out, and most of the times, these are jingles, and these are encrypted on my brain and comes out with the slightest attempt of similarity between the commercial and real life. That day Mom was nagging with my papa on a certain demand, when he was about to dismiss the idea, “ jo biwi se kare pyar, woh ….se kaise kare inkaar? ” came out from my throat so spontaneously that he was trapped even before I could notice! See the AD-addicted! When I serve someone coffee, I can’t help myself from singing “ Ho shuru har pal aise…Nescafe! Pap-pa-para ra ra ra… ” You must be wondering how people tolerate all these stupidities throughout the day…let me tell you whenever I feel someone is irritated…I just sing out “ You and I, in this beautiful world.. ” and when one smiles at me…I will just say “ Kya aap close-up kartein hai? ”

These are the snap shots of my life in which jingles are mingled. I am sure I am not alone; there are more jingle crazy people around. Jingles appeal to us so much, because they directly hit the basic emotional as well as practical needs. They are simple but subtle, real but touching, you don’t have to pay attention, because they are there, even if you do not like them to be there. You ignore the jingles, but they will find a way out, to haunt you, because they are designed to follow you where-ever you go…like the dog in the Hutch/Vodafone ad. They do control our minds, not just like that! The makers of jingles go through audience research and many rigorous tests. So the ad-effect is inevitable.

They literally are after our lives, even if you don't like to listen to them, they will make sure and find the best time so that you just cannot avoid these jingles, like the sales calls…they would always find out the best way to reach us. Even sometimes we do replace real music with these jingles. Let me give you an example; earlier when it rained, I used to hum the tune of an old classic “Bole re papihara papiha..ek man pyasa ek man tarse re”. Today unknowingly I sing “ Bundo mein jane kya nasha hai ”. I don't even try to amend these unconscious wrong preferences, as they are there and I, honestly speaking, do enjoy singing jingles, they are short, effortless and handy…I am happy to sing and listen to jingles, "jingle sunne wale always khush!!" :-)

Originally published on Oct 19, 2006 02:04 PM

 Source: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Ten-Best-Television-Commercial-Jingles-review-sorrnnonmm

‘Irritating’ Ads: to My Eyes, Ears and Intellect! (Published on Mouthshut.com on Dec 22, 2006 04:49 PM )

When I think of worst television commercials, I refer to those I cannot stand for a minute! I rather escape to another channel; even a scene from Ekta Kapoor serial appears less irksome at that moment.
People have their own liking and disliking based on their set of parameters. The question is, what are my parameters based on which I categorize the commercials as worst? I decide on the quality of an ad and mark it as BAD, WORSE OR WORST, based on the following aspects;
·         Stupid concept: When the ad fails to convey creative and rational value.
·         Misuse of resources: Using good location, cast for foolish presentation.
·         No recall value: When the ad does not register on the viewers’ mind
·         Negative image building: BAD ads that leave negative impression of the brand itself, most of the times, the fault is of misuse of resources.
Here is the list of worst advertisements from me:
1. Kya aap ke toothbrush mein Namakh hai?? : Colgate
Stupid concept: Does it denote the mushrooming news channel’s stupid way of reporting and journalism?
2. Sona-chandi khata to ho ja ta: Himani Sona Chandi Chavanprush
Misuse of resources: When SRK says ‘Sona-chandi khata to ho ja ta’, is that soothing to ears?
3. Its so hot, its so soft: Pepsi CafeChino
Misuse of resources+ Stupid concept: I don’t know how these hot babes managed to act so stupid in the stupid ad.
4. All ads of Harpic: YUCk!!! A big No-NO…can’t categorize it!
5. Sunny, the kid and Samosa: Lux Cosy
Stupid concept+ Negative image building: The wrong concept leaves negative impact.
6. Thanda Thanda Cool coool: Navrattan Tel
Misuse of resources: They use famous heroes, but turn them into a laughing stock.
7. Handsome hai…Centro wale hai….: Centro
   Stupid concept+ Misuse of resources: Again SRK talking like a stupid!
8. Muh mein Rajnigandha, Kadmon mein Jahan: Rajnigandha
Stupid concept: Business tycoon and Miss Universe (or India) winning because they chew Rajnigandha!! HUH!
9. Oye bubbly, oye bubbly, be my lover bubbly: Pepsi
Stupid concept+ Misuse of resources: Think and decide yourself!!
10.  A boy asks the viewer, “Bahoton ke man mein Pepsi ke bare mein sawaal hain…Kaun dega jawaab?”:  Pepsi
Stupid concept+ Negative image building: The Chairman of Pepsico says Pespsi is safe; it’s obvious that the CEO will never say negative about his own product! Coke did a better job using public personalities speaking for them.

I don’t know how the makers of these ads conceptualized the idea, how they could be so dumb!! Even if I think that they have created the ads to target particular audience, I am sure that these have not served their purpose. There are other ads in this list as well, like Fair n Lovely, Rupa Underwear, etc...but these have become tolerable with time and I had to give only 10 names so...:-(

Source: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Ten-Worst-Television-Commercials-review-proumtmrmm

The women of every species are the center of this 'Creation', every day is her day.

With sms, calls and other means of one-to-one as well as mass communication wishing Happy Women’s Day since morning, my mind started pondering over the significance of this day.  By afternoon, it could not hold up any more and accepted that the whole idea of celebrating a special day for being woman was bizarre…hypocritical.  I know that by now, all your minds are already coming up with many words of wisdom for and against what you think I am going to write next.

Hmmm… there is no point repeating what is obvious. Living life of a woman is not simple. Women’s body, mind, and life…all are complex and difficult as compared to their counterpart. Again, I’m not going to elaborate on this point also. A little scientific knowledge and unbiased perception on life is required to understand the statement above.  So, I’ll expect that my kind readers are smart enough! ;)

 “Frailty, thy name is woman!” said Shakespeare through Hamlet. Never would I say that he was wrong. Women are the personification of weakness, of physical, of mental, of spiritual...‘weakness’. What makes her very special and unique is her capacity to turn her weaknesses into a tremendous source of strength.  Again, I’m not going to give reasons for my statement, simply because a little deep thinking is enough to understand my points. And also, I am not the first one to say this. A woman’s strength lies in her weaknesses….this is a fact.

Women, falling within the category of Homo sapiens, have all dark as well as bright sides. Though we are weak, live life depending on our male counterparts, seeking their approval in every aspect of life and society, there is no way to deny the fact that we, the women, are the source of ‘life’ on earth. We bring life on earth. This simplest natural process is the basic requirement of entire ‘creation’.  And this very reality that we create life makes life itself revolve around women, around us.

Mother & son

I’ll help you understand. In this male dominated society, look at any household, any country, any nation…in any stratum of society, no matter how much the women are oppressed, battered, exploited… if you study the women, you’ll see that it’s the women who influenced, it’s the women who worked as catalysts. It’s the women who make things happen…through men.

Not only within human society, this trait is also valid for every living species on earth. Womankind brings life to earth, so life itself revolves around her.

I find it funny to celebrate Women’s day once in a year while the whole universe is celebrating womanhood in each and every moment. We, the women, forgot who we are. We are the source of power… being what we are, is enough.  Dear girl, if you don’t believe me, look into Nature…. then look within you. You’ll see that you’re not vulnerable at all! You just don’t know your reality. You’re the power. You are the Shakti. The society, when failed to hold your power, tried to suppress you, hypnotized you with false understanding of your own reality.

I took a long time to understand this…I thank someone who made me realize what I am. Women rule. Let the fools continue thinking it’s their world. :D

Mob attack...do you think it's fair?

In my school days, getting chased and teased by boys were normal. Ours was a girl’s school, so we had to face more of such problems. I remember an incident when I was in class seven. At that time, we had a very strict principal. He took care of every student individually, spoke to parents and used to be in touch with parents and each students of every class. During his time, eve teasing problem was controlled to a great extent. One day, during recession, we were informed that one eve teaser was captured and brought to the school field. All the girls were asked to come and see. So, out of curiosity, we all went there.

A boy of about 18 to 20 years was kneeling down, amidst girls, a police constable, a few teachers and our principal. The principal asked the girls to slap that eve teaser. Many girls did slap that boy, and one or two from my class also did the same. The principal then asked me to slap him…he was sure of my guts to do that because I was the daughter of a police officer and also was into NCC (National Cadet Corps). Yes, I was the daughter of an honest and fearless police officer, and was a Cadet at that time. But I could not slap him. Our principal and teachers later criticized me of being a timid daughter. But then it was not that I could not slap that boy, the fact was, I did not slap that boy. And yes, at that young age also, I clearly knew I was not timid.

Later, as a grown up, visited and lived in many other states, whenever I saw incidents of mob attack of thieves, eve teasers, and other law-breakers…I loathed it, abhorred it from the bottom of my heart.

 I remember another occasion of mob attack of a poor boy in his teens, a minor, right in front of our apartment in Kolkata. He was being punished for stealing iron bars from nearby building construction site. At least 6/7 grownups were hitting him. I lived in 2nd floor of the apartment, my son was one year old at that time, and there was no one in the house at that time. I was feeling helpless as my son was sleeping, the sun had just set, and I should not leave him alone at home to run downstairs to save the boy. Doing something is better than doing nothing. So I started by requesting them to stop beating that boy from my window, so did another lady from another window of another apartment. But they did not bother to pay attention to two stupid emotional women. They kept on hitting feverishly, and the boy was screaming in pain, we also saw him bleeding.

What to do next? I instantly thought of using bitter words for hurting them, ‘You guys are hitting that boy because you know he is weak. Have you ever thought of doing something about the political thugs we have in abundance in our area? No, you will never dare doing so! Because you know you don’t have that capacity. Your physical and mental capacity is limited only till torturing this poor boy suffering from mal-nutrition….” I saw that four of them already had stopped beating the boy and looking stupidly at me… while two of them were still hitting. Then I shouted again, ‘Another hit, and I am going to call the police and get you arrested for hitting a minor so ruthlessly!” and other two stopped. My blood was boiling after I saw the condition of badly battered kid lying on the dust. By that time the owner of the construction site had arrived and he apologized to me on behalf of those guys. He also took care of the boy who was trying to steal his construction stuff. I saw them leaving the place in silence while I was in my anger fits.  One of them looked up to me, and said that I was right; they shouldn't have beaten the boy so mercilessly, and then left. I closed the window and sat silently for several minutes to cool myself down.

Till now I wonder what is there in mob attack for minor crimes like stealing and eve teasing? Isn’t it like attacking a single person in a group… like wild dogs attack the elephant or a tiger? And how the same crowd remains indifferent to millions of crimes happening in front of their eyes on daily basis?  They do compromise with corruption on daily basis, they be hypocrite indoor and outdoor on daily basis. But when they catch hold of someone who is weak or alone, they will pour down their frustration of being truly weak or compromising in every sphere of life on that fellow.

True that mob attack was, is and will be relevant. Do you think that the public lose control after their tolerance crosses all limits and then they embark upon to hit that corrupt person? Well, I beg to differ. They do it because they enjoy doing it, because it is good to feel stronger than someone on earth at least once in a while. Or else, remember the recent Delhi rape case…. Why the girl was not even provided a blanket by anyone after those rapists threw her on the road side? Why many criminal investigations remain unsolved just because no one dared to speak the truth? There are so many situations, when the same people chose to do nothing at all!

I still remember that I was teased or judged for being weak that day by my classmates. But who was weak according to them has never compromised with anything unjust in her life. I was not successful always, but I never stopped protesting against injustice, which happened in front of my eyes. Even the rude, dangerous and rustic Delhi localites could not stop me. I have protested and made a difference within and even outside my capacity. But a mob attack? I would never touch a hair of that person who is being battered by many for his offence /crime/sin. Mob attack makes the criminal understand that he is weak and he is recognized as a criminal. But it does not help the criminal realize his crime.

My beautiful memories of Tezpur include the memory of my reaction to mob attack when I was just in my adolescence. After so many years, I must say that my perception has not changed. The only difference is that now I clearly know why I didn't choose to try my hand on that eve teaser. And I had not made a wrong decision that day. Feeding on other’s hunt is just not my type! ;)

My childhood memories of Tezpur and some traits which remained with me

Tezpur city view

I close my eyes to remember the hilly roads of turns and twists alongside the small and not so small lakes, trees standing tall on both sides of the roads to provide shade to the passerby…chirpy birds…the vast and fast flowing rivers, my school, the teachers, learning to ride a bi-cycle, morning walks by the river side with father, learning to drive scooter, my friends, my first crush, roaming about alone on my cycle…and the RAIN!!!! O beautiful Tezpur, how can I ever forget thee!

Kalia Bhomora Setu

Tezpur, a historical city situated besides the river Brahmaputra in Assam. It’s said that during the battle between Krishna's army and Banasura's army fought for the rescue of Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna, there was so much bloodshed that the whole place was stained in red. The city was known as Tezpur after this historical incident, ‘Tez’ meaning blood, ‘Pura’ meaning town. The ancient city bears the ruins from the 8^th and 9^th centuries and even from 4^th century AD!

Kanaklata Udyan

 I remember my father taking us to Agnigarh Hills, Kanaklata Udyan, Bamuni Hills, Kalia Bhomora Setu, Da Parbatia, several Shiva temples including Mahabhairav temple, Ketakeshwar Dewal, and Padum Pukhuri etc. He used to tell us about the historical significance of all those places…and we would listen to him with rapt attention. We also came to know from him how China almost invaded India till Tezpur during World War II, and about the Seven Sisters of northeastern hills…. My father is a natural guide, an explorer, and till date travelling with him means knowing everything about the place and enjoying the journey to the fullest! Only because of the travel experiences with him, I miss my childhood so much!

Agnigarh Pahar

This ancient city is the single place on earth where I wish to visit again.  My school was all girls’ school. I used to walk from home to school till I learnt to ride a cycle. On my birth day, when I was in class seven, I received the best birth day gift of my life, which was my bi-cycle. :D I remember jumping into road-side sewage while learning to ride that…and how my brother laughed at me and I cried. Now it seems so much fun!





I also remember that I could never reach school before the prayers started. It was a routine that I would stand outside the school gate waiting for the prayers to end. Apart from the National Anthem, we used to sing a prayer composed by Srimanta Sankar Dev… don’t correctly remember the words… it was something like ‘tumi sitto briti muro, parbatako narayana, diya muko ei nathavanta…”  

Tea garden

I also remember my class teachers being very annoyed by my habit of reaching school late. One day, I remember my class teacher telling me, ‘Ask your father to buy a helicopter, see if you can reach on time.’ No punishment ever worked to change this bad habit…actually I was never punished strictly, as compared to my other classmates…when I look back and think, the reason for this could be, coming late was my only bad habit…otherwise I was a very innocent and obedient kid. :D But I wish I was punished enough strictly to change this habit. After school, I never reached college, university and my workplace on time. This bad habit remains with me forever.

Tezpur, I really miss you… I really miss me when I was there with you…I miss Kamala Chhetri, my friend, I dream of visiting Tezpur again, someday… soon…

On tears and rain...

Tears flow

Yeah they do

To bathe my soul,

Let it back to me

Clear and true.

Needs I’d buried within

Things I’d brushed aside

Demand moments alone

To sit back and face me

Let loose the tide inside

I cry my heart out

Push me to the brink

Never mind what they say

For I'm neither scared

Nor I'm weak

Tears roll down

To wash the heart off the bitter brew

Like the rain rinses the earth and air

I be back to myself

As clear and as true.

Time, in between...

Learn to move on or accept the decaying. Time waits for none! But yes, at times, it helps you with a little push here and there... but it's you, who has to pull yourself together and walk on....

All the best!