The laughing gas that brings tears

Though Nitrous oxide is referred to as the laughing gas, Ammonium nitrate is the raw material. Now, this is the cause for a number of terrorist activities in the past few months.

Friday's multiple blasts in Uttar Pradesh, when investigated about were done using large amounts of the explosive. How are vast quantities of the explosives finding their way into the State? Do the multiple blasts foreshadow the looming threat of more strikes in the State?

These are the few major questions worrying detectives investigating the multiple blasts in Uttar Pradesh.

Though 15 persons, mostly lawyers, were killed, causing mass casualties does not appear to have been the objective. The purpose seems to have been to intimidate and demonstrate the reach and capability of the perpetrators. The explosions were synchronised to take place after the Friday prayers. It seems that the Jihadi terrorist organisations prefer to organise their terrorist strikes on Fridays.

The explosions have come in the wake of the judgements delivered recently in respect of the Mumbai serial blasts of March 1993 and the Coimbatore serial blasts of February, 1998. In both the cases, a number of Jihadi terrorists have been found guilty and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. The arrested terrorists were alleged to have been beaten up by some lawyers when they were brought to court. The local lawyers have also reportedly refused to defend terrorists in future.

From these circumstances, it is likely that the explosions were meant to intimidate the criminal justice community, particularly the lawyers.

But the entry of explosives is a little troubling!

In May this year, soon after the Gorakhpur blasts, police in Allahabad recovered 50 kg of ammonium nitrate and 1,000 metres of magnetic fuse wire brought in from the neighbouring State of Madhya Pradesh.

Just before this incident, railway police personnel, during a routine search, recovered about 10 kg of explosives and 20 kg of ammonium nitrate from the second-class waiting room of the Faizabad railway station.

"So clearly, huge quantities of explosives are being pumped into the state and with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India active in many districts, this could be a dangerous trend," warned intelligence sources.

Ammonium nitrate is commonly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertiliser. But, the chemical, when combined with diesel or kerosene, turns into an oxidising agent.

It’s a business run on fear

Recently, a BPO employee was admitted in Apollo hospital due to dizziness. The doctors had asked the parents of the girl, to take a series of tests. The poor parents were uneducated and also from a rural background. They had no clue, what so ever of the urban lifestyle ! They spent all their savings on their daughter and made all the tests. Five days later, when the girl’s parents enquired the doctors about her health status, they come towards them, just to say “The girl dies five days back.”

I can hear a loud ‘NONSENSE’ and I am sure all of you can’t accept that this happened in a reputed hospital like Apollo, but this is true! [Please consider this as just an alleged complaint]

The sad fact is that the issue is not yet being reported by any media, to my knowledge and I was told by my friend, that she would file a story once she gets more details from the parents. But something has to be done somewhere.

The Health of the State is getting worse by the day. The line dividing the haves and have-nots is clearly marked here too. As on one side, scientists find new ways to create life, doctors kill thousands of lives, simultaneously, probably, due to sheer ignorance.

But the above case, I am not sure, what to call, as I do not have full details.

I am just out of another hospital. My mom was admitted this time, as she was diagnosed of mild jaundice. I became over-cautious after hearing the sad case of that girl. We checked with a couple of doctors even before admitting her in the hospital. Thankfully, my aunts had previous experiences of handling jaundice patients. She actually could read the medical report and interpret facts! Any how, I didn’t stop it there. At each stage, I kept asking all sorts of questions, just to make doctors realise that patients are not mere fools to accept all that they say.

My mother had to take a scan of her liver to study the status of the problem, to help the doctor make a proper diagnosis. An amateur nurse who was studying the scan report, saw a clot in the gall bladder, and created a hullabaloo in the scanning room, calling it a big one! When we approached the doctor on this, he said that was nothing at all. I understand that nurses should be given training, but doctors can’t discuss patients so openly, and that too, with someone who doesn’t know much. Since the doctor here was a dependable one and since the patient is a well-educated one, there was no scope for anyone to fool!

I guess now, you would accept that it’s a business run on fear, a fear not in the mind of the doctor anymore, but in the mind of the patient.

Not just that.

It is a business run based on this fear factor.

What the fish? I assure OSO is fun!

Back home, mom was a little unwell. Dad was busy with work and luckily I had an off, that Saturday. And to my surprise, tickets for Om Shanti Om were available. And thank goodness, it was not an evening show! Since I had booked the tickets through sms, I had to go there one hour before. Uh, I was really bugged. Thank god once again, my friend Saranya was available. I was chatting with her till Shardha arrived, and it took a really long time for her to reach. Anyways, well ahead of the movie, we were inside the theatre. No missing title uh! ;-)

To tell in short, Om Shanti Om rewinds you to flashback ['70s Bollywood] and fastfowards you to the present [Bollywood, now]

Thirty years back, SRK [Om] is a junior artiste and Deepika Padukone, [Shanti] is the 'dreamy girl' of Bollywood. And of course, Om is fond of Shanti. But Shanti is in love with a big-time fim producer-actor, Mukesh [I'm not too sure of his real name] and wants to get married to him, But the villian in him refuses to accept Shanti. He organises to burn her alive in one of his grand sets. Till almost the end, Om tries rescuing her, but is thrown out by the power of fire and both, Om and Shanti die. As Om Ramprakash dies, Om Kapoor is born. Rajesh kaoor gets his first son at the same time and names him Om.

Thirty years later, Om kapoor [popularly called as OK in the Bollywood circle] emerges victorious as the king of Bollywood. Om Kapoor, who was born the same minute when Om Prakash died, looks very similar to him and is considered his re-birth. And now, as every viewer wonders why Deepika shouldn't have a re-birth, Farah Khan introduces Sandy, an aspiring actress from Bangalore [She looks very much like Shanti, and hence assumed as her re-birth] As Om Kapoor gets reminded of his previous birth, he gets to meet Mukesh [popularly called as Mike in the Hollywood] during filmfare awards. Now, as Om remembers how Mukesh killed Shanti, he decides to torcher him with that, using Sandy [Shanti-look-alike] but to everyones surprise, Shanti's ghost haunts Mukesh and kills him.

Now, the cinematography and the setting, is completely in Bollywood ishtyle. Too plastic. It's a complete masala film, something like a mixture of a Rajnikanth and Kamal film. The first half was hilarious. You can't stop laughing for a minute. Om's lovely partner, I mean, the one who acted in Iqbal [What's his name?], his filmy mother and everything else makes you glued to the screens. But the theatre becomes totally silent when Shanti dies. Mukesh, I would say is a mixture of Raguvaran and Prakash Raj. Later when he comes as Mike, I very much could assaociate him with Raguvaran's role in Batsha. It's a little funny to compare Kollywood with Bollywood, yet I think we can. In the latter half, there's a scene where almost the entire Bollywood, except for Ayshwarya Rai and Aamir Khan, assemble together during the filmfare awards function and that one was really a good one! It's quite tough to manage a whole lot of them, but it was great to see all of them dance together.

OSO is a must watch, at least for the one who seeks for some change and entertainment in life! I can assure you of 2 and a half hours of complete entertainment. Though the story line might not be too good, it is fun to watch. Btw, SRK's abs are not all that attractive to look at. SRK himself has become too old, that Its too tough to appreciate Farah Khan's idea of portraying SRK like this! Deepika Padukone is attractive. She shows a lot of her legs, probably to indulge the men, but her acting is amazing towards the end of the film. Mukesh [Not too sure of his real name] is one character I liked most, though he is the villian.

And I forgot to tell you, the way Farah Khan had put up the credits was a good idea. It was almost a scene, which would be similar to the premier, with all the technicians and actors in it. This ensures that the audience watch that as well. That's something very important, to me as a film studies student.

And the music is just wonderful!

Inside Bhansali's enchanting world..

This Monday, after protests from mom in sending me to Saawariya for the evening show with friends, I managed to watch the movie, with my dad, that afternoon. *sigh*

Despite the bad reviews that Saawariya had, I was very eager to watch the movie, for two reasons! One, the songs and two, puppy-dog-like-Ranbir Kapoor. With its raaga based seductive melodies and the blue-green sets, the mood created by Bhansali was truly amazing! And yes, the entire movie was set in a fairy-tale like stage! It was almost like something abstract and unattainable in reality.And the colours used, blue and green [colours of the peacock feather] are peculiar ones associated to Lord Krishna and yes, they represent 'passionate' love.

The movie starts with Rani Mukherjee, in a different and unexpected role [a prostitute] with Ranbir Kapoor [Raj in the movie - Yes, intentionally named] .. Ranbir is a singer in the RK Bar, where Rani comes quite often. The movie starts with the song, Saawariya, but it stops half-way there and it you tune your ears to the melody towards the end of the film. As Ranbir sings for the prostitutes in the bar, he spots a mysterious girl draped in black, standing alone at a bridge. Yes, he gets to meet our heroine, Sonam [Sakeena] He rescues her from a few evil-minded men. The minute he sees her, he falls in love! Love at first sight. But sadly, Sonam is already in love. Ranbir who is unable to accept her haunting past and her relationship with Salman continues to love her. [As I told earlier, the movie is set in a background of prostitutes, something that reminds me of Krishnadasi system, that still prevails in deep south.]

Now, the relationship between Salman and Sonam is quite unacceptable. What make them fall in love at first site is even more confusing? And how can a girl afford to give herself to him completely? And why does Salman have to leave abruptly are a few questions that kept me confused! How could I miss Lillipop. Zohra Segal, the land lady is adorable. For all that she says and does, I was very much reminded of my own granny! The love between her and Ranbir is a cute one.

Ranbir, till almost the end tries his best to make Sonam forget Salman, and when he almost achieves that, with his Saawariya song, Salman gets back! And yes, I hated it. More than that, Salman's looks were not too impressive.

Now, my rating for Ranbir: I would give him five stars. His performance was too cute and adorable and his puppy dog like looks and his hair falling over his forehead never lets us take our eyes off him. Sonam's performance was average! She didn't have a great role, I'd say.

Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon, spent in Bhansali's enchanting world.

Signing off,
Janu Krish

Celebs flag off controversies

When the elephant is down, even an ant kicks it. Or so goes a Chinese proverb. This might well fit the current situation. Celebrities have time and again been roped into controversies surrounding the national flag, much to their surprise.

Months back, actress-cum-cricket anchor Mandira bedi's clothes flagged off a controversy when she was spotted wearing the Indian colours in a disrespectful manner on a television channel, Hosting the live telecast of the Cricket World Cup, she was seen wearing an image of the Indian Tricolour below her waist, which seems to have gone against constitutional norms! Mandira's sari on the occasion had images of national flags of almost all cricket-playing nations printed on it, but it placed the Indian tricolour in a reportedly disrespectful position. However, after big hue and cry, she apologised publicly for her unintended disrespect shown to the national flag.

Now, Aamir Khan seems to have fallen into a fresh flag controversy! He is being alleged to have shown disrespect to the national flag. And this one is pretty serious. A non-bailable warrant is issued against him, which means; he can't walk in and walk out, like what Sanju baba keeps doing. The complainant has reportedly said that Khan had disrespected the national tricolour during inauguration of a car showroom on August 16. He accused that the flags atop the showroom remained hoisted even after the sunset and the showroom employees pulled the flags down in a derogatory manner. Aamir Khan has no way out, but to wait till November 7 for the next court hearing.

Team India could soon be in the dock for allegedly 'insulting' the National Flag. A petition has been filed before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Kanpur raising serious objections against the alleged disrespect shown by the team members to the National Flag. The complaint had in it that Dhoni and his men had not only wrapped themselves with the tricolour during the World cup celebrations, but also rolled it on the ground. And ‘spraying of champagne followed this' that fell on the flag. He views the entire act as an insult to the national flag. The Local Magistrate has been admitted the petition. And October 25, 2007 will be the day to decide the fate of Dhoni's men for their alleged disrespect shown to the national flag.

But a cricketer getting into flag controversy is not anything new. Sachin Tendulkar, the darling of cricket lovers was also roped into a similar controversy, few months back. A website - http://www.headlinesindia.com/ - had stirred up the controversy, splashing pictures of the master batsman cutting the cake in Jamaica with colours of the Indian flag and the Ashok Chakra very much in place at the centre. The function apparently took place on March 10 in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, K L Agrawal. Later the BCCI officials requested that the issue should not be blown out of proportion.

Tennis sensation, Sania Mirza has not escaped from the flag row. Early in 2006, an advertising campaign, featuring India’s rising star sparked off protests in her hometown, Hyderabad. The Lotto sportswear campaign featured Sania resting her foot on a guitar painted in the colours of the Indian flag. The complainant, Manoj Alexander, president of the Rahul Priyanka Youth Brigade, had said that Sania, while endorsing a foreign brand, was demeaning the Indian flag rather than holding it high.

It’s a well-known fact that we are a country full of Gods and Godmen. Their influence over people is legendary and they have them in awe. But it seems like their devotion had gone overboard. In 2007, two images showing the Indian national flag at the feet of Niramala Srivastava were circulated on the social network Orkut. The picture showed her husband, a former IAS officer and the Secretary General of the Intermaritime Organisation seated next to her. Later, Rajendra Kumar, a trustee of Sahaja Yoga Trust issued an apology on behalf of Nirmala Devi stating that the Sahaja Yogis have the "highest and deepest respect" for the national flag.

What is it with flag and celebrities? Do they really insult it in the real sense? If so, why would they? Why should they be pulled into such controversies?

Devil's advocate: Case One

One idle afternoon, as I was resting on my cozy cushion, I was thinking about how and when Mr Devil would appear before me with his case!

There he appeared. He looked quite familiar. Tall, dark, handsome? (No, bad luck). He looked like a Bulldog (Guess he read my article on him, where I called him, that way). Outsiders who meet him say he can be friendly and engaging, but behind the smile of the old fox lies the heart of a cold, calculating military tactician. But, Burma's 56 million people like to paint the 74-year-old as an unreasonable tyrant driven by a mixture of greed, fear and superstition.

He is none other than Gen. Than Shwe. The one who is testing the might of the monks of Burma, no, Myanmar (as he calls it, or as the military junta calls it)

I guess Mr Devil had been watching me so long and this is probably a revenge against me. Uh! I hate you..

So, when I asked Mr Devil about what the case was, he says that I should argue for him, that is, against Aung San Suu Kyi.

Oh my god! How can I ever do that? I've been singing songs of praise on her and now, how do I argue against her? Isn't she the xaviour of the Burmese? Hmm, that's how it is for a lawyer. She has to argue even if she is against the case, but will I accept this one? reject it?

"There's no solution, Mr Devil. There's no use arguing against Suu Kyi, when the entire Burma is for her!

You will defenitely lose."

Yes, your honour!

O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil! And Thy shall argue in from of you from today.

Yesterday, I met the devil. I mean, I really did. [chuckles] So, I proposed to him that I would argue for him from today and he has accepted my offer. The devil, who has been considered as the greatest enemy of man, for eternity, should surely not forget to pay me my fees.

You wan't to know what that was? I'll tell you at the end of my first argument.