A Big Divide
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: A Big Divide
Topic: My articles
A big divide Saturday, May 20, 2006 01:00:57 am A silent protest The whole country may be in the grip of student protests. But on Friday, IIT Mumbai saw a protest of a different kind. Students raised their voice against reservation by forming a human chain. Both pro and anti-reservation voices were raised at the forum. “Death of Democracy”, this poster perhaps tells the entire story. On Friday, students of IIT Mumbai raised their anguish against reservation and the ill treatment on the medical students all over the country by forming a human chain. Amit, an IIT Mumbai student says, “We are here to save the quality of our institution; this is just dirty politics and nothing more”. At an arms distance, another group with perhaps the same passion for its cause, but a small difference, was the one favouring reservation. On the opposite end Pratish, another student at IIT Mumbai says, “Even after 56 years of independence the elite institutions are dominated by upper caste and we feel the backward students should be given equal chances.” While protests all over the country have mostly turned violent, this protest has no doubt made its presence felt without raising decibel levels.

Love out of control
Mood:  special
Now Playing: Love out of control....
Topic: My articles
Love Out of Control Monday, May 15, 2006 08:20:41 pm Bitten by love bug, Asha Patil's love story is a classic case of love knowing no boundaries. Her love story could easily be the script of a Yashraj movie. A tale of courage and determination wherein this girl packed her clothes to make a long journey from Mumbai to the Line of Control (LoC), just to meet the man she loves. Speaking to TIMES NOW, Asha Patil said that she wanted to go across the border to meet the person she loves "Us paar milney jaana hai apne pyaar se....'' . Last week 24-year-old Asha Patil of Thane, packed her bag and baggage for Poonch LoC. Patil had plans of crossing over to Pakistani side to meet her love, Lahore-based Mumtaz Khalid, who runs foreign exchange business . However, unfortunately the harsh reality of boundaries and army snipers put a halt on their plans. They were apprehended few metres inside the border. Their love affair dates five year back, when they came in contact with each other through internet. And one fine day while chatting, Khalid expressed his love for Patil, which she accepted. Since then, they have been regularly in touch with each other via the internet. Preliminary investigations reveal that the love between them bloomed and two years back, the duo decided to marry. On April 29 this year, Patil went to Wagah border to have a glimpse of Khalid. She says that this meeting further enhanced the intensity of their love for each other. She is not worried about the cross border affair and feels that the relation between India and Pakistan can in no way stop her from meeting her eternal love Khalid. She avers: "Jo bhi tension ho dono deshon mein, it cannot dampen my love''. Asha has left no stone unturned to cross the border, however, all her efforts went in vain as Pakistani authorities denied her visa on one pretext or the other. Despite that she did not loose heart. Last fortnight, media reports about opening of Poonch - Rawlakote road generated new ray of hope in Asha Patil and she headed for Poonch along with her friend, Ayesha Sharma and tried to cross the border. However, before she could succeed in her intentions, army snipers brought her to screeching halt. The bottom-line, whatever, be the outcome of story, one thing remains clear that internet technology has blurred borders for many a love birds like Patil and Khalid...

Give us Death...
Mood:  on fire
Now Playing: Poverty-stricken family pleads for death
Topic: My articles
Poverty-stricken family pleads for death Wednesday, May 10, 2006 12:05:05 am Let us die: Mukhtar Ahmad Shaikh The Shaikhs are a family so tired of pain, and suffering that they want their misery to end. And so they have sent letters to the Supreme Court, President, Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra pleading for death. When death seems the only way out Abject poverty and disease have plagued this family - Mukhtar Ahmad Shaikh is asthmatic, his -30 year old daughter Khurshida and 26 year old son Mehfooz suffer from incurable muscular dystrophy, and his wife Sufiya Bano is suffering from cancer. "If government can’t do anything for my kids and my family then the only option left for us is to end our lives", says a despondent Mukhtar. A long winding road of pain and agony and an impossible task of treating his children on a salary of just Rs 2,200 have forced Mukhtar Ahamad Shaikh to think the worst. But then what are his options in a state where there is little social support. Unless help comes their way fast, the Shaikhs will have nothing other than death to look forward to.

Next big thing in Bollywood?
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: GLITZ NOW!!!!
Topic: My articles
Next big thing in Bollywood? Monday, April 10, 2006 04:09:20 pm Upen Patel: All set for a dream debut Every year, a number of aspirants are lured by the glam and glitz of Bollywood. And the latest hot-stepper is model-turned-actor Upen Patel. Another model-turned-actor, another handsome hunk. But will he be the next John Abraham? Now that's a question that will be answered once his debut film "36 China Town" hits the marquee later this month. One thing's for sure though - Upen is one of the lucky few Bollywood wannabes to make a dream debut with the likes of Abbas-Mustan and Subhash Ghai firmly backing him. Subhash Ghai, producer of '36 China Town', feels that the young talent is always enthusiastic about making their career and is expected to give 100% which is why it is beneficial to launch new stars. A dream debut Upen was officially announced as the next big thing in Bollywood with a grand introduction at the music release of the multi-starrer over the weekend. Even though the film stars Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna, Upen is unruffled by the competition. "I am not going to get lost in the array of stars and the way Subhashji and Abbas-Mastan have introduced me, I am sure that I will make big", says a confident Upen. It looks like Upen's debut vehicle is all set to propel him into superstardom, considering the wonders that the pre-release hype of the film is doing for the actor. Sources indicate that the hunk has been signed on for no less than six big budget projects even before the release of his first film. Now this is what we call a dream debut.