VOTED OUT!!??

The first eviction at BIG BOSS II, and I was shocked to see our veteran politician, Mr. Sanjay Nirupam being “voted out” of the show. I expected him to be a strong player not because he knew politics and had the capability (and the training) to remain diplomatic and tactful in his ways… not to forget that he was even emotionally tough (do u have doubt??... he is a politician yaar!). Well, shocked because I couldn’t believe that after having all these traits to be the strongest contender for the trophy…he was VOTED OUT??!!
Does this mean that his colleagues and fellow well-wishers were so busy looking after the welfare of the state that, they did not bother to create a favourable vote bank for him?? (they could have easily done that!). After all viewers had to vote for the one they wanted to see in the show.
Does this mean that its time to change our view point towards politics and at the same time also believe that reality shows honestly declare eliminations based on true voting???…or was it that Sanjay Nirupam came into the show only for a short-term publicity and calculatedly opted out? Any guesses…??

Quit, For Your Sake!!

I was just eighteen then in October 1999.... That was the time when i had written this. Just attained adulthood, yet I had a strong hatred for cigarette smoking then. And it was then, when I thought I must do something to appeal to the people and explain to them the hazards of smoking. I myself didn't know much, but I knew that it took lives.... sooner or later!
Well now that I have become a bit techno-savvy and that I still continue to have the same grudge (or probably it has increased with time); I decided I should put this across for people once again. Hope this not only touches but reaches your heart, and gives an important message to all those who smoke....
I appeal to all of them......THINK and ...........

Quit, For Your Sake!

A small piece of paper, white in colour,
Some powder sprinkled on it, brown in colour,
Rolled into a cigarette, a carrier of poison.
An inch of fire, orange in colour.

It all started with smoke; with poison in his mouth,
he enjoyed the smoke, loved his life style.
Proud of his deed; he asked his companion,
To enjoy the pleasure; and offered him the poison.

It was one then and now they are two,
But three were more merrier, so they enjoyed smoke.
One day they were again two; One amongst them, left.
It all ended with smoke again; and there was nothing;
Nothing but his cries; Deafening the ears of mankind,
ceasing the lives of the innocent.

Quit, for the sake of mankind, For the sake of life!
Somebody needs you, cares for you, QUIT, for his sake!
It is you and only you; For yourself, QUIT for your sake!
Save your life and save yourself; make yourself a paradise to live in.
It is only if YOU TRY!!

- VAISHALI PARGAONKAR

Corporate Social Responsibility

What comes to mind today when we think of prime channels on television in their prime showtime hours?
Is it only the saas-bahu serials gifted by our very own ‘K’-queen to the Indian Society? Or it is only about small and big children (who have just about discovered that Goddess Saraswati has showered blessings onto them) are trying to become future Kishore Kumar’s and Sonu Nigam’s, or Lata Mangeshkar’s and their parents pressuring them to return home only with the trophy in hand? Or about such reality shows where people are put together inside a house refrained from the luxury of worldly possessions, and given a platform and coverage to bitch about each other, so as to boost to the TRP’s for the channel?
Well amidst all this, I feel someone has finally realized how to use television as a medium to give a social message across the population of India; India which is still backward in spite of the IT revolution, the FDI inflows, the increasing purchasing power of the people reflected in the sales figures of innumerable malls. Yes! I’m talking about “Balika Vadhu”, featured on Colors; the story of small children married at the tender age of eight-ten, and forced to give up their childhood to fall prey to old customs and traditions that make them bear the repercussions for the rest of their lives.
Finally somebody has realized the sense of responsibility towards society, and still cares what our fellow sisters are undergoing in our remote neighborhoods. I guess the owner’s of television channels must make it mandatory for producers to come up with at least one such sensitive social issue, and use the most extensively reach of the medium such as television, to create a sense of awareness about basic human rights.
At least some broadcasting channel has taken the first step towards Corporate Social Responsibility; after all not only Doordarshan, but all channels are accountable for the same. Hats off!!