Not Being Human!

Being Human: The Salman Khan Foundation, is a registered charitable trust setup by Salman Khan for helping the cause of the underprivileged. It has two focus areas - education and healthcare.

This is what the Disclaimer on Mr. Salman Khan's Being Human Foundation's official website states!

Many of us who would have watched the hysteria created in last few days around Mr. Salman Khan's case, would wonder whether the founder of the Being Human foundation is really being human at all, contrary to what his website says?

This is yet another legal case where Justice to the dead has been delayed and eventually seems to be denied.

This is yet another case where one can say that इनके खाने के दात और, और दिखाने के और :-(

He, who died under Mr. Salman's car, regardless of whether Mr. Salman was driving or not, was he not underprivileged? Was he not human? Even if we leave aside the legalities, have you ever seen any act of remorse from Mr. Salman Khan in last 13 years since the incident took place?

To add to it, there is already a poaching case against him, but now we cannot expect much justice even in that case.

However it would be wrong to blame only Mr. Salman and the Legal system. Those people who adore him, who appoint him as Brand Ambassador for their product, who interview him, who support him openly, who offer him lead roles in films and television, who watch his films and programmes, who purchase products sold by his NGO, all are equally guilty of patronising a criminal.

Then there are others like Mr. Sanjay Dutt who in spite of being in jail are leading a comfortable life inside and outside, like Mr. Saif Ali Khan who has been alleged in a poaching case was awarded with a Padmashree!?

We have in the recent past seen people who have attained stardom being so abject when it comes to personal matters. They seem to be endorsing things like liquor, cigarettes, harmful soft drinks, etc. just for money - barring few honorable exceptions like Pullella Gopichand who refused to endorse Pepsi/Coke or a Sushil Kumar who refused to endorse any liquor.

I  remember Mr. Sachin Tendulkar asking for Rs 1.13 crore exemption on duties to import his Ferrari car (news here). I wonder was it such a huge amount that Mr. Sachin could not pay to the Government?

Mr. Aamir Khan - who proclaims to stand for all good things in life - visits Mr. Anna Hazare, supports Medha Patkar, comes out with Satyameva Jayate, does great films that pass a great message to the society, however when it comes to personal matters, visits and offers support to Mr. Salman Khan.

This just goes on to show that WE - the people of this country - as a society have fallen to lowest possible levels of value system which is a shame.

If all of us feel that the verdict in Salman's case is wrong then let's stop patronizing the criminal in any form.

Let's pledge today not to watch their films/serials, not to buy products that these guys endorse, not to follow them on any social websites, because if we do, we will be setting wrong examples before our children.

Let's educate our children on who the real heroes/idols in the society are - some of whom you may find HERE.

जयहिंद

The Roasted Society

[ We all should be extremely grateful to Ranveer and Karan-Arjun's of the Bollywood and their Roasted Roadies for introducing us to the new "Roastnary", I wonder how we used to live so far, so boring!! ]

1)

Son: xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxxx

Father: xxxx xxxxxx xxx x xxx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxx  xxxxx xxxxxx

Son: xxxxxxx x xx x x xxxxxx xx xxxx x xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx

Father: xxx x xx  xxxxxx xxxx xxx

Son: xxxx, xxxxx xxx xx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx

Father: xxxx xxxxx xx xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx

Son: xxx xxxx xx

2)

Lady Teacher (to Class XI students) : Well, students, today we will learn Derivatives.

Male Student: (murmurs) oh no, xx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxx

Female Student: yeah yaar, xxxx xxx xx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxx

3)

Group of friends enjoying hot burger and soft drink at a sit-out

Friend 1: xxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

Friend 2: xxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

Friend 3: xx xxx xxxxx xxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx

Friend 1: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxx xxx xxxx xxxxx

All burst into laughter

4)

Passenger 1: (to the bus conductor): xxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx

Conductor  : xxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxx

5)

Software Developer: (to Software Tester) xxxx xxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxxxx xx x xxxxxx xxxx

Software Tester: xxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxx xxx xx xxxx xx xxxxx

Project Manager: (to both) xxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxx

6)

(At High Level Corporates Dinner party)

Corporate 1: xxxxx xxx xxx xxx xx xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx

Corporate 2: xxx xxxxx xxx xx xx xx x xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxxx

Lady Corporate 1: xxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxx

Corporate 3: xxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xx xxxx xxx

(All booze throughout the night)

7)

Self-styled politician from the local ward carrying out a motor bike ride with his supporters

Supporter 1: xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxx

Supporter 2: xxx xxxx xx xxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx

All shout vehemently : xxxx xx xxx xxxx xxxx

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At a zuggi-zopadi in Pune's Bhavani Peth, a labourer and family are fast asleep after a long tiring day while an uncertain tomorrow awaits them.

At a remote village, a farmer and his family concerned about the long awaited rains have dinner which is just enough to feed the entire family; with no idea about what's in store for tomorrow.

What can we do for our country?

It’s been over 60 years since India gained independence from the British. And it’s been a journey of mixed feelings. While we have seen the industrial revolution in the early ’50s and ’60s, the last 2 decades can be attributed to the technology revolution mainly in the areas of Science, Communication, and Information Technology.

All of these have created an enormous amount of wealth in the country thus enabling it to take a great stride forward. At the same time, there have been events around us that leave us wondering where we are heading towards?

Thus, on one hand we create supercomputers and nuclear missiles, launch number of satellites, have more advanced defense forces, on the other hand, we see cases of corruption, murders, riots, the situation of unrest, poverty, and so on.

We from the corporate world are a highly educated lot. Many of us have seen the rest of the world quite closely for so many years. But do we do anything to improve the situation of our great country? The answer is a sad no.  

We do engage in hot debates on national/social problems over a cup of tea or lunch; but that’s it, nothing more. We all are too busy in working and enjoying our lives over the weekends.

This triggered me to think about the subject of this article and do some introspection along with a group of like-minded friends like Ashish Inamdar and Anand Joglekar.

The thoughts below are the outcome of the same. Hope it will inspire you to make a change.

Is patriotism a switch-on/switch-off feeling that is practiced only a few days a year? Certainly not.

Has the word patriotism lost its meaning in today's materialistic and fast-moving world? Certainly not.

Does patriotism only restricted to shouting 'Chak De India' slogans to support Indian teams or wearing India shirts or attending the flag hoisting ceremony on 26th Jan and 15th Aug? Certainly not.

If this is so, then what does patriotism mean today? A group of friends came together and brainstormed a couple of ideas that can act as a guideline to practice it in today's circumstances.

I do not claim that this list is complete or the only way to practice patriotism; however, the intention is to encourage some introspection and thought process amongst many of us to follow it on a day-to-day basis.

I am sure if many of us follow at least a few items out of the list below, it would help our country improve in a big way if we are to compete with the rest of the world.

You can share your comments/thoughts, but please avoid getting personal. Thanks.

At home and office: 

• Save Water, Energy, Fuel, and Food as much as possible

In public places: 

• Try and keep the place clean
• Do not spit or throw garbage anywhere
• Try and avoid doing anything that will harm/bother others
• Follow Traffic rules – do not jump red signals or drive in the wrong direction
• Do not blow the vehicle horns unnecessarily
• Where possible, try and avoid using private transport, use public transport
• Try walking or cycling to the office if you are staying within 2 km. radius

Our Duty and Responsibility towards Society and the Nation 

• Do not take or give bribes
• Do not get involved in or encourage in any activities leading to corruption
• Be aware of consumer rights and use it when needed
• Plant at least one tree and maintain it lifetime
• Get involved in any educational activities
• Avoid using plastic bags as far as possible
• Maintain the sanctity of the historical places and national flag
• Exercise your voting rights
• Follow yourself and teach your children good values of life