Kartikey Sehgal
Modern office cubicles are defined by strong walls, sound-proof glass doors and hushed conversations. Amidst the reigning modern discipline there are specimens of creative power in the form of the Laughing Buddha, cartoon sketches on walls and casual attires.
Starting from the collar, snake-like curvaceous patterns dominated his shirt-design. My interviewer announced.
“Seven percent”
Kartikey Sehgal
A scientist studies some fishes in the Amazon River. After noting their weight, size and food preference, she adjusts her oxygen mask and prepares herself for a few hours of observation. Outside the river, her team sits under a tree. Some reptiles and insects watch the men intently; watch them scratch their head and make some unidentifiable expressions. At once, the animal kingdom is superior to the men. They exhibit the qualities of patience and observation and are equals to the scientist under water.
Santa Singh
Outside a cinema hall, when the audience had finished braving another terrible Hindi movie, I walked towards a water cooler and found a young man, clad in a plain white shirt and faded jeans, reading some lines aloud.
These were not ordinary lines. They sounded like typical Hindi film dialogues. I wondered if this man would go on to become an actor and subject us to more atrocities. I felt like smashing his head then and there.
Kartikey Sehgal
Background.
[Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India. In the 21ST century, 50% (or more) of Mumbai's population lives on streets. Politics is very competitive. Currently, politicians are dividing people on linguistic lines for the sake of votes.
The hard-working Mumbai resident must do anything else but fall for political games, but he is frustrated with pathetic working conditions, filth, corruption and is ready to believe that his misery is the result of outsiders; people who come to live and work in Mumbai.
This story, however, concentrates on political games in Maharashtra.]
Santa Singh
Diwali is time for shy men to become brave hearts. My two friends decided to be generous and give a box of sweets to a girl.
About these two boys: They seldom talk to anybody. One of them is bespectacled and doesn’t tuck his shirt inside his trousers unless there is a formal function. He walks timidly, miles away from girls. The other one is a devotee of his friend. He is tall and lanky and very supportive of all forms of cowardice.
Kartikey Sehgal
[Anil Kumble, one of India's greatest Test cricketers and inarguably its most prolific match-winner, announced his retirement here at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday.] Source
Anil Kumble remained true to the tradition of ‘beautiful’ bowling. The tradition speaks that the bowler must aim to put the ball in the right spot. The batsman must adjust himself to play the ball. It was also expected that the batsman would play a proper cricketing shot. Cricket was graceful and batsmen would mind if they got runs the ‘wrong way’.
Kartikey Sehgal
[Why we celebrate Diwali: here and here.]
This Diwali, may you live up to your personal best.
When the road outside is lit with lamps and fireworks, may you find solace in your room with books and ideas. May you find solace anywhere you like.
May it be festive inside your self, so that when others greet you they don’t see decadence covered with a smile.
May you greet others with the entirety of confidence. You are not obliged to wish others. You can not change their life course with greeting cards and sweets. The best you can give them is your happiness.
Kartikey Sehgal
Journalists from Hindi and Marathi newspapers remarked that Raj Thackeray would be a good change for politics in Maharashtra. According to them, Raj never had problems with youngsters canoodling in beaches and parks. He planned to send his party men to the streets on February 14 to ensure safety for couples in love. He had also decided to protect shops selling Valentine cards and other ‘love’ merchandise irrespective of the owner’s religion or language. Raj wanted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to serve as an antidote to the partisan politics of Shiv Sena and thereby muster support of the people.
Kartikey Sehgal
[The author met actor Joy Sengupta who talked about his vision for Indian cinema.]
Joy Sengupta wants to develop films that cater to an international audience and the local Indian masses.
Movies should have fierce locality and a global vision. Movie watching should be an experience. It should make you grow from within.
That’s subject to movie-making…
That too should be an experience. Otherwise we’ll have masala films like *** and *** and ***. I am tired of Indian cinema that has been run over by Bollywood
Santa Singh
Some female acquaintances remarked that women have no reason to walk late at night and behave like **u** (the word) and attract attention.
I told them, “That’s because you want to get married and stay at home. You are working right now only to attract the highest earning man and make his home. All you are interested is in money and wealth.”
They didn’t respond and I continued casually.
“You can say that women can stay at home because you won’t mind doing so.
Of course, the home has to be wealthy and your friend circle influential.”
“You are a dog”
“You can’t get a girl yourself so you are…”
“You don’t know how to talk to girls”