Is porn so promiscuous?

 Avishek Ganguly

Once in an interview I was asked “what’s your favorite pastime?” “Watching movies”. “What kind of movies?” “From Eisenstein, Ray, Chopra to hard core porn”, I answered. And lo, the very moment, I could see a disgustingly astonished look on everyone’s face.  What is this guy saying, must be a senile or lech” that was the expression like. Well, this is what I exactly want to talk about. Why do Indians behave in such a weird disdainful manner when they hear about pornography?  What’s so abnormal about it? Is porn really a sin?

I guess you have already understood that I don’t nurture any inhibition or disrespect about porn and rather support it as a genre of creative art. No other form, I guess glorifies or describes the feeling of lust like porn does. Like love, lust too is a basic human feeling and we all should accept this fact. Agree or disagree, pornography is a form of human expression and yes, to a great degree, a huge form of entertainment and pleasure. Well, if you think or consider it as pervert, let me tell you that perversion too is part of human nature and form of enjoyment.

And talking about expression, unlike our common concept, it’s not so easy writing or filming porn. In his essay, ‘Inside the Whale’, which was actually a review of Henry Miller’s book ‘Tropic of Cancer’, George Orwell made a wonderful statement when he said “it is rather the fashion to say that nothing is easier than to write an obscene book (in our case movies), that people only do it in order to get themselves talked about and make money, etc., etc. If there were easy money to be made out of dirty words, a lot more people would be making it.” In fact there have been and are lots of ‘good’ porn films that are made, which have excellent cinematography, scripting and acting (well it takes guts and skill to act in porn, not everybody can do it). Click on the AVN Awards site for knowing more.

In India (a land of 330 million Gods), where society is greater than human freedom, its common that people will shudder at the name of porn, where sex is portrayed vividly. I somehow do not like this ‘S’ word, I’ll rather prefer the term ‘making love’. That’s more aesthetic and pleasing to hear. So if making love is a fundamental natural human feeling, what’s the harm if you show it on camera? Mahesh Bhatt had once suggested that special halls be made for watching porn movies. As always, our so called ‘moral watch dogs’, posing as “watch gods’ created huge furor. Some even went to the extent of calling Bhatt a pimp.  Anyways, they had to be loyal and keep up their’ Bharatiya’ spirit, even if it is filled with thousand hypocrisies. You judge it yourself- who is a better human being. A guy who watches porn but protests against eve teasing or someone who acts virtuous but ogles at a woman’s bedroom.

I guess it’s not getting too boring, just one more para left after this. Coming to the money part. Porn is one of the most lucrative industries across the globe with $10 billion to $14 billion annual sales. It is the second largest economy in Las Vegas. An average porn actor earns around $100,000 to $250,000 yearly. Forget high flying economics, ask your local CD vendor and you will know how popular the demand for porn is. If one stands at a busy road and yells “porn, porn”, the CDs will sell like hot samosas. I can guarantee that.

Then what’s the harm with something which is so popular and so talked about? Just like anything, it too is just a form of entertainment. Whether you wish to watch porn or not ultimately depend on you. There’s nothing so derisive or despising. And if anyone thinks me to be a pervert after reading this blog, I pity his or her mental abilities and wish a speedy mental recovery from the well of ignorance and foolishness.

Getting slimmer and fitter costs nothing

By Avishek Ganguly

Time and again friends ask me "how do you keep so fit?” the question automatically brightens my face with pride, just a like halo around our Gods. Well I may sound mean ( I beg forgiveness and punishment) but sometimes I do feel an epicurean pleasure seeing tummy clad fatties gasping their way through a stair or nudging their way like a hippo with immense difficulty in a crowded bus. However, it also pains me to see women with beautiful faces but with fat tummies; I guess this tummy thing somehow reduces the charm of ogling at pretty women. Anyways, coming straight to the topic- here are some fitness tips from me, an ‘aam admi’ who is a bit concerned about keeping his body fit.   

Yes, another handy word of advice and caution before I start my gyans! Please don’t ruin your body and mind by nurturing some hyperbolic ambition to make a physique or figure like the Salmans or Priyankas. And don’t even think of getting a ‘Kapoor Size Zero’ syndrome, or else you will land up at hospital bed. These people have different diet regimes and different lifestyles, so it’s better that we avoid imitating them. We are normal people and so we should try to remain fit in the normal way. It’s virtually impossible for us to maintain those hi-fi diet and fitness habits amidst the stress and wear and tear that we go through everyday. So try what can be achieved and not the impossible.

Lots of beating about the bush, now let’s hit the point: “how to lose excessive weight?” I guess (even those docs think the same too), more than what you eat and how much you eat, the time when you eat matters more in making you fat. Thanks to our fast lifestyle (a lot of us pretend to be busier even than the PM), we can’t maintain the basic regular diet timings. The result: indigestion and fat formation. So what’s the solution? It’s easy- try to maintain a proper diet habit even in your (too) busy schedule. And yes, have plenty of water…it filters your system and also does not cost you much time.

Walk and walk-run and run, it’s the best solution when it comes to losing weight. The next time you need to go to the 6th floor, walk the stairs instead of lifting yourself. The drops of sweat you lose can be precious fatty acids which will reduce your waistline. Coming to the second option, if possible, jog for at least 30 minutes (not a short stroll- by jog my mean jog). You can also play some outdoor sports. Not only is it enjoyable but also healthy. You can play badminton, rugby, football, cricket, tennis or anything. Even a ‘chor-police’ game, which involves running, will do. Substitute biking with cycling, the latter makes you fitter.

Try doing all these and trust me, you will lose weight. Before you go to those Dr. Batras and VLCCs, try these methods. They cost nothing but are worth huge. Let not some stupid doctor dictate you how to shed extra fat….you can do it yourself!

Aadhar: your unique own identity

Give me the answer to a simple question-How many cards and certificates do you have to identify yourself as a citizen of India? Well, simple it may sound, but it can lead to a very confusing and misleading answer. Some may have one, some may have two, and some may have three or even more. For driving you need a driving license, for getting to school you need the birth certificate, for working you need a PAN card or for going out, you need a passport. So doesn’t it sound too ambiguous and also inconvenient to manage so many cards for different purposes? Well, with the new Unique Identification Card (UIN Card), all these can be a thing of the past and land up in waste paper baskets. Named as ‘AADHAR’, this unique project aims to provide only one and individual identification to every citizen of the country. If implemented well, it can indeed prove to be a milestone.


Constituted in 2008, this ambitious project is headed by ace industrialist and market guru, Mr. Nandan Nilekani. Well, I guess Mr. Nilekani needs no introduction. He is one of those business professionals who has revolutionized the entire concept of doing business in India and has had a huge contribution in making our nation a global economic player. Under the chairmanship of a person of such high caliber, one can surely foster high hopes about the AADHAR project.

So what are the factors that can make AADHAR highly fruitful? In the words of Mr. Nilekani, it can act as a chain which will link all Indians together. Starting from Itanagar to Thiruvananthapuram, everyone will have their own unique identity, which can be used for multi tasking purposes. The Unique Identification Authority of India, which is funding the project, expects to create around 600 million cards over the next 5 years. Starting from the cities, the whole of India will be covered with the decade. According to Nilekani, “Aadhar would bring true transparency at grassroots level”.

Once you have the Unique Identification Number, no other cards will be needed. Starting from a license to a passport, this card will serve as everything. Whether you are enrolling for school or applying for a visa, the UIN will be your first and final identity. Surprising as it may sound, but it can even be used for getting loans. Just like the documents we need to provide for a loan, we have to provide our UIN and the entire verification will de done through it. Really, an astonishingly convenient way to get things done

Unlike any other identity card, ‘Aadhar’ will have finger prints and retina scan of the card holder, which will easily help distinguish one person from the other. Experts say that this can significantly minimize fraud and mishandling of identities. Moreover, the card will be software oriented which will make it perfect for electronic usage like bank transfer, fund transfers, currency exchange and so on.

So will ‘Aadhar’, the brain child of Nilekani, be the magic card for every Indian? Well, time can only justify that, but it must indeed be said that the initiative really deserves accolades. In a country with so much diversity, the UIN can really become an example of achievement and unity. Like Mr. Nilekani, we too can hope that “the reason why it (Aadhaar) will work is that people themselves will start seeing the benefits, and they themselves will drive the adoption."

Forum marketing: cash to your pocket

The other day, while turning the pages of a marketing magazine, I came across an interesting term- forum marketing. Well, it is the new in-thing in the sphere of online marketing and can be a good means to earn some extra bucks, if you are willing to devote some extra time and effort. So let’s see what exactly this concept is.


It needs to be said that the concept of forum marketing is still a comparatively new term in India and is more prevalent in Europe and USA. However, given the opportunities it offers and the lucrative earnings, it does have the scope to become a major player in market economics in our country. With the increase in internet usability in India, online marketing has already become a popular buying and selling platform and within the next five years, the demand is expected to rise.


So what exactly is this term forum marketing? It is a unique way of marketing through which you can promote your goods and services among groups and online forums. In this age of social networking, it is a very handy tactic which enables you to reach your target audience by banking on the forums or networking groups. If you have a keen social networking sense, you can easily choose your suitable forum and start marketing and promoting there. However, do understand the terms and conditions first and then become a member of one.


If you are an internet hobbyist and love social networking, you can simultaneously earn good money by forum marketing. All you need to find is a good forum; some online marketing tricks and build passenger traffic. If you are good at these, extra money will come to your pocket- guaranteed.


For starters, the best way is to create a link to your promotional blog in the forum signature. This brings in more visitors and traffic, in turn to create prospective customers. People who read your blog in the forum can be interested in the subject and are most likely to click on the link. Another way is to make some directing promotional postings in the forum. However, it needs to be said in this regard that not all forums allow direct posts. As such, you have to pick and choose.


Through forums you can find and build business contacts and prospective customers and can even start a partnership at some point of time. As for marketing pros, they can discuss specialized issues to become a “guru” in the subject.


Whether you are a novice or an online marketing specialist, forum marketing can make you rich. Register in a proper forum of your choice and start posting today.

Basu: communism backwardly redifined

17th January 2010, 11:37 AM:  Jyoti Basu dies at AMRI Hospital

19th January 2010: 13:00 PM: Jyoti Ghosh dies at SSKM Hospital

Well, let us now compare the two deaths. Well, the former was the communist leader and erstwhile Bengal Chief Minister while the latter was a common man like you and me. But then there is a similarity, due to the road blockade caused due to Jyoti Basu’s death procession where thousands joined needlessly, Jyoti Ghosh’s ambulance got stuck and the poor man did not have much time to live after reaching the hospital. However, there was no case made of negligence or public disturbance. After all for a true communist icon like Basu, there is no harm if a common citizen sacrifices his life.

Jyoti Ghosh, like most of us, spent all his life working hard, paying taxes on time and also casting his so called precious vote. On the other hand, Jyoti Basu spent his life licking on the taxpayers’ money and vote and making decisions and policies, which according to communists were milestones in the political, economic and social history of Bengal. According to them, Basu made Bengal what it was never before. True indeed, a state which was once the most advanced and cultured and known as the ‘Sheffield of the East’ was turned into ‘wasteland of the east’ in the term of Basu. A unique change indeed- full of darkness and despair. Well, but you can’t blame him- the main objective was to set an example and he had done that successfully, no matter how bleak the result and effect was.

Basu was one of the pioneers of preaching the communist ideology among the public and in his policies and doing exactly the opposite personally. Whether it was abolishing English in state schools and sending his grand daughters to UK or shutting down factories and granting the Goenkas the CESC monopoly, he was an expert in juggling with communism and capitalism to beat two birds in the same bush. Even if industries closed down or shied away, Basu had turned whole sale merchants (including his own son) into big time industrialists by unfair ways. So in that sense, he was pro-business too, forget the means and motive.

The English language too is indebted to this great communist leader, whom some Bengalis consider even greater than Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. It was he who had started the bandh and strike culture so vehemently, rather voraciously, that Oxford paid a tribute to this great ‘no work’ attitude by incorporating the word ‘gherao’ in their dictionary. Indeed a great linguistic achievement- after Tagore’s Gitanjali.

So what about law and order? There too, Basu the great had performed his grand magic. Such a magic where thousands of false votes were cast by cadres of CPI (M) (ahem comrades!) and the police looked mum and hypnotized. A magic which even the great Houdini wouldn’t have ever imagined of. This ‘farsighted leader’ was indeed farsighted enough to turn policemen into ‘political goons’. And what was his response to all these, “Emon to hoyei thaakey” (these are normal stuff), in his usual brusque manner.

So what’s the moral of the story: Do not criticize, hail Basu as a great communist who successfully used his hypocritical ideologies to make Bengal a land of the waste.



  

75 and still going strong

Avishek Ganguly

He may not be as strong with those bulging muscles like the ‘mans’ and superheroes of comics, but that, in no way, has hindered Tintin’s path to become the most loved comic character across the globe. In spite of not covering a story or undertaking another new adventure for more than 35 years, this intrepid and inquisitive Belgian reporter still shares a special place in our heart and brain. Starting from a five year old kid to a person who has turned fifty, ‘the first human to land on the moon’ is everyone’s icon. Former French President had aptly remarked that “you know, my only international rival is Tintin! We're both little fellows who won't be got at by the big fellows”.


With over 150 million copies sold worldwide and translated into more than 30 languages, one can well understand how much popular “the adventures of Tintin” are to the comic loving audience. Whether it is the ‘Les Aventures de Tintin’ in French or ‘avventure di Tintin’ in Italian; this unbeatable journalist is always looking for answers and cracking cases in the process.

A deep look into the traits of Tintin and you will find that he absolutely lacks the qualities that a normal comic hero is expected to have. Neither is he very handsome, nor does he have any affair or any type of sexual instincts. He does not even fight aliens or super-humans. In fact, Herge, the creator himself, had once admitted that he was at times upset by his hero’s unfaltering sense of duty and professionalism. Nevertheless, in spite of all these short comings, Tintin has still become an interesting personality among children, adults and even researchers.

Tintin may still wear those same pair of baggy trousers and fight gangsters, but his popularity never seems to fade even in the 21st century. Together with his pet dog snowy, this ‘boy’ reporter is as iconic a character as Mickey Mouse. In this regard, one should also not forget the other characters who lend a unique element to these adventures. Captain Haddock is portrayed as rough tongued, yet confused, whiskey lover, who in spite of his dual personality is a man of words and deeds. He is as popular as Tintin himself. The catchphrases that he uses like “blistering barnacles” and “ectoplasm” have done a great deal to enhance the popularity of Tintin comics.

Another popular aspect of Tintin comics is its graphic style and way of describing things. Unlike other comic strips, it does not have a gaudy setting, but this simplicity is the USP to capture the audience’s interest and attention. It makes Herge more of a storyteller than an illustrator. He had always preferred the ‘la ligne Claire’ style of graphics, where hyperbolic interpretation of aesthetics is avoided.

The popularity of Tintin continuous, irrespective of age, creed, region or international boundaries. In his 75th birthday, premier newspapers across the world paid tribute to this iconic reporter by publishing full front page stories. ‘The Daily Telegraph’, came up with a wonderful front page headline “from zero to seventy five’, while Le Figaro, published a 114 page special supplement with 250 illustrations. Such is the popularity of our super correspondent.

The city of stress

Avishek Ganguly

“seene mein jalan aankhon mein tufaan saa kyon hain?

is shahar mein har shaks pareshaan saa kyon hain” – Gaman

The first line from this great ghazal of Muzaffar Ali’s directorial debut Gaman perhaps explains city life more than anything else. Ask anyone who lives in a city and you will understand. Underneath the glitz and glamour lies an enormously lifeless and insecure life which takes the breadth away from all of us. This is how city life is: it gives but at the same time, takes more, the peace and joy of our very existence.

With all its advantages and amenities, city life is still an experience that most of us become fed up of. The city is all happening, but most of it is artificial; devoid of life and warmth. A village may not have plush parks and malls, but the warmth and peace you get sitting on your cot amidst a cool breeze is far better than sitting in an air conditioned multiplex. This is how village life is: it embraces you with innocent affection, while city life draws your blood away, little by little, under the antic disposition of vibrancy and liveliness.

Wake up from bed and what comes inside is some gust of poisonous gases (they have cut most trees in the city in the pretext of urbanization- there’s very little oxygen left). The lovely birds which once used to make your day by their sweet chirpings are gone. All you have is some vehicles honking and people shouting everywhere. “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” If you walk down the streets, you will see dejected and tired faces, from a laborer pulling a cart to a professional wearing a tie, everyone has the same look of insecurity and anxiety.

Accidents, murders, suicide, lay offs…whatever bad and evil you want to hear and see, you will get it in the city. Says, a young IT professional, “well, city life may be full of adrenaline rush, but ultimately that rush kills you”. A recent survey made on city life has shown that almost 70 % of urban people suffer from some kind of stress related disorder. Psychiatrists say that the trend is alarmingly increasing, more among the youth. The effect and result- more suicides, drug addictions, life style problems, divorces, break ups…the list continuous. After a hectic day, many of us go to pubs and coffee shops to hang out and enjoy. Well, it’s just a pretext to stay away from the stress, “hanging out” is the other name of “escaping from stress”.

So, how to get out of the stress? No answer. Once you start living in a city, you have to be a part of it, whether you like it or not. And well if you are not fast enough to match today’s fast life: you are considered as a misfit and moron. A city is like a bottomless pit, full of wealth and chances, but once you step in it, getting out becomes very bleak. To sum up with the words of renowned Hindi poet, Som Thakur, “taan hue shahar ke, par maan jangal ke hue, sish kaati deh liye, hum is kolahal mein, ghumte rahe lekar bish….”

Khap Panchayats: government’s own Frankenstein?

By Avishek Ganguly

The atrocious activities of the Khap panchayats have brought out the hard reality about superstition and caste divide that are still very much prevalent in India even in the 21st century. There have been disturbing incidents where the Khap Panchayats have resorted to heinous crimes like honour killings, banning same gotra marriages, women abuse and above all, infringing on the basic human rights. So is the center really responsible for what the khaps are doing today?

The answer is yes. Since the post independence period, it was the government which had patronized and encouraged the khap Panchayats in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. As time passed, these Panchayats were granted power and autonomy to decide on all matters and make their own verdicts. Well, times have changed and now these khaps are posing a big problem for the Indian society. Unfortunately all these have been caused by the ignorance and hesitancy of our government towards the issue. The center, over the years has turned a blind to the dominance of these Panchayats. Had our so called able administrators and ministers taken a step before, such black stamp on the Indian society in the name of khap Panchayats would not have taken place.

It is needless to say that government support on the Khap Panchayats was due to some selfish political motives. Most of the khap leaders or ‘sarpanchs’ have good political connections and play a big role in winning a MLA or MP in their constituencies (most of this of course is done by illegal or forceful means like threatening or false votes). To fulfill their interests, almost all political parties have patronized the Panchayat leaders in return of their assistance. In course of time, this has directly resulted in the dominance of the khaps and now they are doing whatever they feel.

Due to the political advantage that they got, the atrocities of the khap Panchayats went on increasing day by day. Today it has reached such intensity that almost every day, we get to hear news about honour killings, inter caste murders, rape, and other forms of social abuse in these states.

Under political pressure, the police too are forced to remain inactive. Mention needs to be made here about the Manoj-Babli honour killing case where it was found out that the accused were in fact helped by policemen who had been deployed for the protection of the couple. Such is the law and order situation in our country. The Karnal Additional Sessions Court has given death sentence to all the five accused. However, as always, the matter is pending in the higher court and sooner or later, the accused will be set free due to their financial and political backing.

While hearing 10 cases relating to inter caste marriages, Justice K.S. Ahluwalia openly pleaded helplessness about the limitations of the judiciary and urged the state to take some action. He observed that, “the High Court is flooded with petitions where … judges of this Court have to answer for the right of life and liberty to married couples. The State is a mute spectator. When shall the State awake from its slumber [and] for how long can Courts provide solace and balm by disposing of such cases?”. There is perhaps no better remark about government’s inaction than this statement.

Due to immense pressure from NGOs and social organizations the government may have been forced to set up a panel of ministers to tackle the khap Panchayat issue, but the real interest and initiative is missing. The government is not really keen to lose its vote bank for the sake of some human rights safeguard (after all 'rights' do not yield votes and make you win elections). In fact, some Congress leaders are even openly showing their support for the khap leaders. Naveen Jindal, the Congress MP from Kurukshetra was recently seen attending a meeting of a khap Panchayat where he apologized for the actions against these Panchayats.

Clearly, the khap Panchayats are Frankensteins of the center and our own political system. They are now getting out of control and if the center still hesitates to take a firm action, the end result will be a massive social divide and unrest among communities.

Chineseware eating into Indian market

 By Avishek Ganguly


As the tension mounts over Chinese military activities and its affect on India, there is perhaps one aspect which is not being given so much of importance that it ought to be. We may be worried about Chinese encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh, the deployment of troops in POK or the growing Chinese infantry, but one fact that most of us do not really realize is how slowly and steadily China is occupying a major share of the Indian market, which may put an adverse affect on the Indian economy.



I guess everyone will agree that today wars are fought more on money rather than weapons. Just like its military force, a country’s economic power too is a major factor which determines its strength in the global scenario. According to India’s first Chief of Staff of the military, Field Marshal Madappa Cariappa, "in modern warfare, a large army is not sufficient, it needs industrial potential behind it. If the army is the first line of defense, the industry is the second." A strong industry always acts as a boost towards a developed defense system. This is exactly what China is trying to do. By slowly encroaching on India’s economy, it is trying to weaken India’s indigenous industrial abilities and capabilities which in the long run, will make our country financially weak, both in economy and defense.


In the recent years, the small and medium scale market segment has been flooded with sub standard Chinese goods. Starting from nail cutters and toys to computer hardware and high end electronic products, you can get everything made in China. Due to their cheap rates, these products are also becoming popular among consumers. However, in this process, our own industries are suffering a set back. Well, industry giants and big businesses can sustain or over throw the competition but it is becoming extremely difficult for small firms and industries to tackle the competition. Says Ashok Khanna, chairman of Indian watch company K-Watch Ltd, “Chinese products, smuggled both from Hong Kong and mainland China, have no guarantees but have taken away a two-third share of the total demand in India”. Considering the situation, it can be well imagined what will happen to the Indian economy if this trend continuous.


It should to be mentioned in this regard that a large amount of Chinese goods come to the Indian market through smuggling. Most of the Chinese electronic items that we buy from the market are smuggled through Nepal. In addition to these, a huge amount of opium and other drugs are daily smuggled to India from China.


The Indian government which had once paid little heed to this problem now seems to be concerned. To tackle such dumping tactics of China, the center has imposed an anti dumping duty on Chinese goods in about 22 cases. According to the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), more such stringent anti dumping laws will follow.


Nevertheless, a lot more needs to done to tackle Chinese intrusion in the Indian economy. In todays perfectly competitive open market, it is virtually impossible to boycott or ban Chinese items. A well planned economic and commercial approach must be applied where our indigenous industries should be given an uplift to match or rather overcome the Chinese market share. Some public awareness also needs to be created regarding the low quality of Chinese goods. Strict customs checks and raids too need to be beefed up to reduce the rate of smuggling.


It’s high time that Chinese invasion into the Indian market is stopped, or else we will be digging our own graves.