feature A foreword to the 70s Once Upon A Time In India In the Street - A review of That 70s Show Blast

From The Past - 70s Hollywood Dramatis Persona - DHANNO One Piece At A Time - 70s Music An Age of Heroes - 70s Bollywood OpiniOns Let Them Work peOple Interview Djinns Lament Life of A Guardian Angel - Bulbul Behl spOrts Visca Barca the rest Movie Review - KungFu Panda 2 What I Made Best Of Facebook

Contents

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Once UpOn A Time in indiA

tHE ARTICLE TAKES YOU ON A SCINTILLATING JOURNEY OF INDIA IS THE 1970S RIGHT FROM THE EXTERNAL WARS TO THE INTERNAL CONFLICTS AND THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM THE DECADE OF THE GREATEST UPHEAVEL IN INDEPENDENT INDIA

The GUArdiAn circLe

LTGTR TALKS TO A MEMBER OF THIS STUDENT RUN NGOS MANIPAL CHAPTER TO FIND OUT HOW TGC AIMS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF UNDER PRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND SHARE HER OWN EXPERIENCES

One piece AT A Time

KARTHEIK GANESH IYER RELIVES THE EXPERIENCE OF SOME GREAT ENGLISH MUSIC THAT THE 70S. STARTING ZEPELLIN, DEEP PURPLE. KISS, CORRS, BLACK SABBATH ETC.
drAmATis persOnA

dhAnnO
EVER WONDERED WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO A HORSE...MORE SPECIFICALLY EVER WONDERED HOW IT FELT LIKE TO BE THE HORSE THAT SAVES THE LIVES OF YOUR MOST FAMOUS HEROES? SAYONEE GHOSH ROY TELLS YOU EXACTLY HOW DHANNO FEELS!

LeT Them WOrk

VAKUL MOHANTY TALKS ABOUT WHY BANNING CHILD LABOR AND STOPPING KIDS FROM WORKING FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD IS NOT THE SOLUTION THAT INDIA NEEDS AND HOW WE CAN EVENTUALLY PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

djinns LAmenT
REVANTH CHAUDHARY INTERVIEWS THE LATEST SENSATION ON CHENNAIS METAL SCENE DJINNS LAMENT. HE TALKS TO THEIR DRUMMER PRAKASH TO FIND OUT WHAT INSPIRES THIS BAND TO MAKE MUSIC

A Foreword

70s
to the

umans have an endless, sometimes bordering on morbid, fascination with the past. Maybe the allure lies in the fact that we know how those stories ended. Life is insecure, and the future even more so. So we tend to take refuge in the familiar, and we long for the comfort and predictability of a happy ending. The past gives us a limitless number of those very instances, which is why people love to talk about their childhood. And Im not just talking about Old People (otherwise known as Them, or The Others, as we tend to call those who are not young and heedless like ourselves). You see this behaviour in people of almost all ages. All of us, without exception, have told at least one story that goes, When I was little... or maybe, When I was in school... This instinctive gravitation toward the familiar and the comforting results in a tendency to declare that all things past were good, and by interpolation, all things present are, if not outright bad, then at least not as good as the things past. Thats what makes us invent (inane) sayings like old is gold, and to like Facebook pages declaring, Cartoons in the 90s were way better than now, and to discuss exactly how awesome the 70s were. In a way, we are all living in the past. Dwelling on it continuously, constantly comparing it to the ever-unsatisfactory present. Sometimes it leads us to depression, and a wish to live in the Past altogether (and therein lies the road to madness). Other times it inspires us to great deeds, to be better than we ever were. And some very rare times, it takes us to entirely different levels of obsession altogether, by dedicating entire magazine themes to it. (*insert self-indulgent grin here*) So heres to the past: may it never fade from our memories.

Once Upon A Time In India...

radios while commuting to work, of bellbottoms and maxis and ray-bans, of the Phantom (who, I have it from very good sources, never sleeps), and Mandrake (and towels as makeshift capes) and Chacha Chaudhary (and Sabu, big giant Jupitar guy), of Raspberry dollies, and Hawa Mahal and Doordarshan, of fridge covers and tinted glasses and fiats and Of course, from the land of ambassadors. And before I move on, Ill just golden reminiscences, there is a lot to be remembered, when the west mention the names. That should be had come to meet the east and had enough to get you started, you who gotten incredibly screwed up in the have lived through those times. (And process, the result of which brought if you havent, then youre just a lowly change and a reinvention of the pipsqueak who knows not what hes modern Indian household, along missed.) Shammi Kapoor, Rekha, with black and white television (and Zeenat, Amitabh B., Dharmendra, the occasional colour one, admired Shatrugan Sinha, Jaya Bhaduri, the possession and source of envy of Khannas, Rajesh and Vinod, Mumtaz, all the neighbours), of listening Hema Malini, Helen... (Please do not to cricket matches on transistor lose track, though, and once youre he seventies were a glorious period. Any coherent person you ask will affirm that. Even the sickliest, most weather-beaten, cynical old codger will tell you that, with the wrinkles on his face tightening with concentration as he makes an effort to remember. Woh bhi kya din the, kya zamaana tha

The land of Golden ReminiscencesRtheIK

KA

done smiling abjectly into the middle distance, please acknowledge the rest of this humble article.) But amidst all these fond memories lies more, for much occurred in these ten small years, enough to be called an epoch in its own right. Wiki, my hitherto reliable source of information, summarizes it in one sentence, poor thing. It says, ... multiple conflicts and crises occur in India and Pakistan during the 1970s including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Bangladesh Liberation War, and the Indian Emergency 19751977... But that barely skims the surface, ask anyone from those times, and theyll tell you. Tens of thousands of different stories, some interwoven, some cut short, some glorified, others vilified, were written in this period. A hurricane in the Bay of Bengal off

IYeR

the coast of Orissa in 1971 killed over ten thousand people, and those are just the officially reported number. Politics was reaching new heights, with competing factions causing unrest both within the country and with its neighbours. The Soviet inspired communist movement was spreading across Bengal, who saw it as an ideal method of governance. Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi was coming up for a second term as the Prime Minister, and the propaganda was in fool swing, literally. Previously, the Congress, the then ruling party, had split into two, the Socialist and Communist parties, led by Gandhi, and the conservatives, let by Morarji Desai. The amount of internal friction had to be seen to be believed, with some fanatics going as far as to claim that the other party was all part of a conspiracy theory that was plotting the downfall of the nation, and even the more sensible of the ranks claiming that they could not see any road to social, economic or financial security, with [the other partys] approach On top of this internal infirmity, India went to war with Pakistan in 1971, after all that the Pakistani army had done to the civilian populations of East Pakistan, and the Kashmir

Meanwhile, news was being spread like wildfire, (if you were among the politically concerned lot, the rest simply didnt care), that Mrs. Gandhi had been using government money to fund her election campaigns, and it was once again time to take sides, and there were mass demonstrations outside the Gandhis residence, both by ardent followers proclaiming their loyalty and angry demonstrators demanding repair. The skirmish that followed quickly becomes too technical to go into here, but everyone knows the fallout. Mrs. Gandhi declared a state of emergency from 1975-1977, the only instance of that clause to be used to date, which basically meant that useless and obstructive petty things like rights and civil liberties

tussle reached epic proportions, with the LoC coming into existence. All throughout, the then American president (he of the tapes) Nixons blatant bias against Gandhi didnt help matters along, and the alliances he formed with Pakistan causing trouble in the decades that followed.

were suspended until further notice. A lot of events followed, which can now be found on Wikipedia, but one thing remains. No matter how much money may have been siphoned off to private bank accounts, and loyal people installed in powerful positions, most people maintain that the Gandhi reign did a world of good for the country. The green revolution, for one kicked off in the seventies. Side by side the government started the white revolution or operation flood which greatly increased Indias milk production. These two together

helped produce the potatoes and milk that I and you now so easily find available. The story of Amul began in the 70s, the rest as they is history. Technology-wise too, the 70s were a decade of great importance. In 1974, under the project called Smiling Buddha, India demonstrated its military might by successfully testing a nuclear weapon in a small unknown village, which would have otherwise remained unknown, called Pokharan, right near the Pakistan border. Only time will tell whether we curse that day for being the beginning of the end of the world. It

was also the decade in which India launched its first satellite Aryabhatta into orbit. Ironically we established ourselves in space before we did on the global platform. But really the greatest achievement of the 70s was Indira Gandhis leadership. She took a crawling country by the scruff of the neck and made it stand upright. She ruled with an iron hand so powerful that the world woke up to India again and took notice. She took a stagnant ailing society and changed its psyche. Indeed the India of 1970s can be summarized in this one line India is Indira, and Indira is India.

successfully deal with the problems of illegal migration and refugees and with the conflict with Pakistan. In retrospect, maybe India paid too heavy a price in exchange for global goodwill.

looking at the population, those same methods dont seem so horrifying. There were good things too. Gavaskar made India take notice of cricket as a 5 feet 6 inch boy from Mumbai dominated the most fearsome and Then there is the curious case much taller pace attack in the world. of Sanjay Gandhi. Many, like his Today Dhoni and the gen-X of Indian elder brother Rajiv, would put all cricket have dominated the world the excesses and corruption during again by winning the World Cup. the Indira Gandhi squarely on his A female Gandhi led then, another shoulders. Undoubtedly Sanjay leads now in all but name. A son of Gandhi committed many atrocities hers took the reign from her then, a on the people of India but none son is ready today. The opposition deserve more attention than the was weak then, and the BJP of today family planning measures he took. lacks leadership as well. Corruption Forced vasectomies and sterilization plagues the government now like it and what not stain the decade of did then. the 1970s and still cause an aversion But perhaps the greatest parallel to much need family planning to be drawn arises from the peoples measures. struggle against government The end of the decade also saw the formation of the infamous Mandal Commission which while set up with good intentions continues to cause widespread discontent among students. But perhaps the most significant socio-political movement was the Jai Prakash Narayan led struggle which eventually led to the declaration of emergency. An ordinary man, freedom fighter with Gandhian ideologies, struggling against a corrupt government with the support of the people and the government panicking and using force to evict and arrest them; Ring any bells? Do the names Hazare and Ramdev seem familiar? There are so many more parallels to be drawn from the 70s. In the 70s Indira Gandhi wanted a peoples car. And so Maruti Udyog was formed. Today the Tatas have taken the meaning the people cars to a next level with Nano. In 1973 we faced an oil crisis. Now its a perpetual problem. In the 70s there was a food crisis and agriculture needed a boost enter Green Revolution. Today again, food security is a major problem. Family planning was needed then, they screwed it up big time. But now influence in their daily lives. The economy may have been liberalized but the government still influences peoples lives and choices far too much just as it did in the totalitarian and dictoral times of Indira Gandhi.

he 70s will go down as the most epochal decade in the history of independent India. Indias intervention in Bangladesh liberation war and the subsequent 1971 Indo-Pak has already been mentioned. The victory in the war and the maturity showed by India in the Simla pact with Pakistan was lauded in the world and gave immense popularity to the leadership of Indira Gandhi. But more tragic than the war it was Indias failure to

A sAhIL meht

A lAsTinG leGAcy

Much has changed and much remains the same. India has come a long way from the decades of old. No longer do we wait for hours for phone calls to connect, nor are there 7 year waiting lines for scooters. Democracy cannot be suppressed at the whims and fancy of any ruler. The judiciary plays an important role in controlling the government. And the world no longer ignores us; rather it sits up and takes notice every single time India takes the podium. But everything said and done, some of the same fundamental problems still face the country and it is important to go back to the 70s and learn from our mistakes then so that we can truly move forward into the future and deal with the challenge that arise from being a major player in a global economy.

In The
Street
he moment that we decided we were going to do a retro issue, I knew I simply HAD to write a review on That 70s Show. Call it absolute boredom , or the fact that the actors are so freaking brilliant ( Mila Kunis .... *sighs*) or perhaps the fact that for the past week, Id done nothing except watch episodes of this very sitcom, but I doubt the reasons for writing it are as important as the review itself, so here goes nothingCreated by ...... All right, Ill admit. Ive no clue who really created it. Once again, it hardly matters! On the surface, That 70s Show appears to be a straightforward sitcom with a penchant for the occasional dream sequence or other bits of high concept fluff. But if you truly pay attention, youll find a rather established cultural outlook to it. The show essentially parodies the 1970s, probably one of the most controversial times in the United States-- energy crises, the resignation of Nixon, the end of the Vietnam war, Star wars and of course,

A review of
the disastrous perms, bell bottomed jeans and disco balls ( which are actually kind of cool, Ill admit).

much anyones ass. Oddly enough, shes saddled with a couple of parents who are trying WAY too hard to be hip. Bob and Midge are the butt of most jokes, including a running gag about Bobs afro, which destroys the credibly of the very look that Hendrix popularized( a fact made clear to Bob repeatedly!) Also included in the show are the characters of Hyde, Michael Kelso, Jackie and Fez. Hyde is a smart-alecky, Led- Zeppelin loving, wannabe hippie who sees government conspiracies in everything. This is probably due to the fact that he supplies most of the weed to the group and is almost permanently high. Michael Kelso ( played by Ashton Kutcher) is a rather dim, though well meaning playboy who eventually becomes a cop( and gets thrown into jail himself half the time). Jackie( yes, finally, Mila Kunis!), is a spoiled and snobby little rich kid who believes the world revolves around her. Where would any show be without the stereotyped foreigner! Fez fill this spot on the show; hes a foreign exchange student with a strong Hispanic accent, a hair fetish, and a rather voyeuristic nature.

However, what truly brought the show alive was the brilliant acting by the main cast members . The show is set in the fictional Point Place, located in the state of Wisconsin. It revolves around Eric Foreman (Topher Grace-the guy who played Venom in Spiderman 3!), who is 17 and obsessing about the same things that all boys that age think about: beer, cars, and girls(not necessarily in that order), and who better to dampen his mood than a Communist-hating Vietnam veteran for a father, and a well-meaning alcoholic nurse for a mother! Throw in his promiscuous sister( who got around with pretty The plot itself is fairly lightweight, much every guy in town) and you but certainly gets the job done. The have a perfectly dysfunctional family. show describes the daily lives of these Of course..ONE crazy family just kids- hanging out in a basement, isnt enough. Enter Erics next door smoking up every chance they get, neighbor/ best friend/ girlfriend stealing beers, and, if time ever Donna , a feisty redhead feminist, permits, attending school. I could who ,by all indications, can kick pretty go on praising this show forever, but some things are better left unsaid, so I will end it on this note What makes this show really appealing? Strip the show of its crazy jokes, the marijuana sessions, its rather caustic view of the government, and youre left with a show about teens trying to find some meaning in their lives-a sentiment shared by almost everybody our age. Definitely a must watch for... well, everybody.

VIjAY NARAYAN

volution. Steadfast rule of life. Conventional wisdom states evolution to mean adaption as means of survival. In most cases thats true. Even with movies this rule remains unchanged. Well almost. While the norm is for films to evolve as per the tastes and preferences of the target audience, every once in a while a visionary comes along to make a movie thats ahead of its time. Case in point - Brian DePalmas Scarface [1983] - a movie that bombed at the Box Office (or so I heard on Entourage) and yet is studied by film-students today. Scarface is the quintessential gangster flick.

Blast from the past

its fair share of good movies, but what sets the 70s apart is the fact that the good movies of this decade werent just good, they were trend setters that ushered in a paradigm shift in filmmaking method. Theres not a genre that went untouched. The directors were visionaries and as ahead of the time as they were they still knew how to appeal to audiences. Every director was fearless and in a way the embodiment of Pacinos famous line from Scarface - all I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I dont break em for no one

ahead of its time in one sense - a homosexual male lead. A homosexual male lead in the 70s when the world swore by bigotry and conservative ideals. Yet Sidney Lumet knew how to sell the film. Slick direction and razor sharp editing apart, the race was half-won with the prerelease tagline - The robbery should have taken 10 minutes. 4 hours later the bank was like a circus sideshow. 8 hours later it was the hottest thing on live TV. 12 hours later, it was history. And its all true.

A NIshANt BooRL

Point to be noted - I mentioned Scarface at the beginning But such movies are exceptions because a lot of parallels can be to the norm and come about drawn to and from it. but once in a blue moon. Which Let me begin with a lesser brings me to the 70s. known masterpiece. Dog Day For me, the 70s was the era that re-defined film-making and set benchmarks that are adhered to to this day. Every decade has Afternoon[1975]. A film starring Al Pacino, the man who owned the 70s was a risky one in many ways. Most definitely

Al Pacino dominated the 70s with an eclectic blend of characters all driven by quiet determination. Its the hallmark of a true acting great to downplay theatrics to deliver an effective, breath-taking performance. He debuted as a male lead with The Panic in Needle Park in 1971. A film Ill come back to later on in this write-up. Stellar performances followed in Serpico, And Justice for all

and Scarecrow. Movie-lovers will note I left out two his most famous films. In fact, two of the greatest films ever made. But more on that later. Pacino asserted his dominance in this decade and picked up one Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and 4 consecutive nominations for Best Actor in a Lead Role. This brings me to the Directors. Let me start with the obvious choice. The man who has landmark films in every decade. Martin Scorsese. He kick started the decade with Mean Streets which is to this day sets the standard for street gang films. Again, a film that defined its genre. Realism in cinematography, gritty storytelling that borders on documentary style of filmmaking, flipping the birdie to all things glamorous. And of course, Scorseses trademark stylized violence.

case study, a social commentary and one mans twisted story. Genius. He also directed New York, New York which failed at the box office but is regarded as one of his finest achievements. From gang violence to shock and awe. Hello Stanley Kubrick! A Clockwork Orange took violence to whole new levels and is set in futuristic, authoritarian Britain. a setting echoed by V for Vendetta. Another 70s character study and a deeply disturbing one at that this is one of the most infamous movies from the 70s with a cult following. Kubrick of course went on to pioneer the use of the Steadicam which would become the staple of horror movies.

future Spielberg ventures that guaranteed quality film-making and big bucks at the box office. Spielberg went on to become friends with - George Lucas. The visionary genius behind the Star Wars. The franchise that took the world by storm was trend setting in more ways than one. To begin with, it announced the era of films with storylines set on an epic scale. Innovative directorial techniques and special effects and one of the most notorious villains of all time made this the most succesful franchise of its time. It shares the underlying theme of Scarface - what goes up must come down (issued in public interest by Sir Isaac Newton). Anakin Skywalker steps over to the dark side only to fall rather melodramatically to his son! Star Wars also set the trend for brand merchandising. Star Wars erasers, pencil boxes, t-shirts and what not?

Speaking of Horror. Steven Spielberg (yeah theres no end to name dropping in this article) broke through in to the big league with Jaws. A film that combined horror with creature-film effects, Jaws went on to set a record for Reverting to horror films, the He followed it up with Taxi the highest grossing film of its 70s saw two horror classics in Driver. Again, a path-breaker. A time. This set the precedent for stark contrast to each other. One

set in a house with a primitive storyline while the other is set in outer space with an extravagant premise. One had the most haunting background score of all time while the other was a silent killer. The former being The Exorcist and the latter Alien. Yeah Alien launched Ridley Scott who decades later gave us Gladiator. Alright, Ive been putting this franchise off for long enough. Perhaps the greatest film ever made followed by perhaps the greatest film ever made. Never have 2 films been made of such high caliber before. Both took home Oscars for Best Picture, with the second film being the first ever sequel to do so. The Godfather parts I and II. Francis Ford Coppolas epic tale of mob life, strong characters and the power of family ties and vengeance. A heady cocktail. The first movie, in my opinion the greatest film ever made, took home several Oscars. Marlon Brandos epic performance won him the Oscar for Best Actor while Al Pacino (yeah him again) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Both these screen legends boycotted the Academy Awards that year! Coppola followed it up with what is widely regarded to be the best sequel ever made, adding Robert DeNiro to the list of legends to have been associated with this epic fanchise. But Coppola didnt stop with those two movies. Oh no! He went on to direct the war epic Apocalypse Now. A film that was considered the best war film until a certain Steven Spielberg came along to make Saving Private Ryan. No doubt then that the 70s were the greatest decade for mainstream cinema. Honourable mentions - The Sting[1973], Chinatown[1974], One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest[1975], and finally - Network[1976] which had one of the greatest on screen monologues ever written. This monologue set the trend for what is in my opinion the greatest pilot ever made for a TV show - The pilot to Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Long live the 70s!

efore there was Jacqueline Fernandes, there was me. Cast a glance on the original babe of Sholay, arguably the only glam-factor in the entire movie......no, not her, thats Basanti, look at the one standing next to her and I happen to have not one but two fine pairs of legs. There you go, thats me Dhanno. Oh, how cute! One of those adorable animal memoirs! you say. And not the regular, run-of-the-mill types either. The only person who can truly describe me is.of course, me! So sit back and pay attention and remember - you had it straight from the horses mouth.

But once again, I must be pushed to the background because of the But that doesnt mean I dont have sad affair of Jai dying and all that. any feelings! I have every right to be The whole of Ramgarh went into affronted and be wooed back with depression and now that they had groveling songs, but no one lets more food grains for themselves as me enjoy, dammit! Everything was the extortion stopped (imagine and just fine with Veeru singing, Koi they didnt even have to play a game haseena jab rooth jati hain. for of cricket to keep all of that, they had me (and perhaps Basanti as well, he it easy, I tell you!), they all turned to seems to have a thing for her), when eating to pull themselves out of it. Gabbars cronies had to appear out And the first chance they got was at Suppose, in an alternate universe, of nowhere and ruin everything by Basantis and Veerus wedding, which far, far away, the story of Sholay had giving us chase. Thats when Basanti was, as you remember, so graciously actually played out in real life, then panics like the silly goose that she is solicited by Mausiji (no one asked you cannot deny the paramount and goes all, Chal Dhanno! Aaj teri me for my consent, hmpf!) Everyone importance of my presence. Im the Basanti ki izzat ka sawaal hain!!! and ate like a horse. only means by which one can reach Im like, Okayyyyyyyyy, dont get And was I invited? Of course. Ramgarh, so Im solely credited with your desi knickers in a twist I was The esteemed wedding rituals calls bringing those two good Samaritans, inclined to point out the selfishness for the groom to arrive on a ghodi, Jai and Veeru, to our humble village. of her above statement, but my dont they? Stupid, podgy Veeru! He Okay, Basanti tagged along as usual, self-piteous speech was cut short needs to sing me a song to make up but the poor girl had come down with by taking one look at our attackers. for all of this. a bad case of verbal diarrhea that Because theres nothing worse than day, kyunki yun toh use zyada bolne having to face jilted suitors (such ki aadat nahi. And yeah, I provide persistent beasts, I tell you!) So, thoroughfare for the neighbouring coupling the need to villages as well. But Basanti pockets save my izzat along with all the moolah! I wish I could say Basantis , I ran. I ran like the wind. I ran that I work for peanuts (and I would AYoNee hosh oY too!) but the silly girl thinks she like lightning. But they can assuage me by putting fodder were gaining on us and in front of me. Lagta hain uski akal Basanti and Veeru ghaas chadne gayi hain. were captured Coming to this nuisance of Gabbar, and the onus of it is common knowledge that once a taking the blame month; his lackeys swoop down from fell on me. Now the mountains to loot the village. The before you can villagers are incredibly fed up with condemn me, I them and rightly so. Uncivilized men urge you to get off with even more uncivilized steeds! your high horse examine Those studs never fail to make a pass and situation at me during their monthly raids, the but I always refuse and say neigh again. I couldve stopped, to them. They may be tall and dark just around, but definitely not handsome. When lazed probably taken a this fact finally penetrated their thick equestrian skulls, they went nap, but I didnt.

back with long faces. Strangely, their riders as well. I heard say later on, that Gabbar was questioning their basic arithmetic skills and had them shot for not being able to provide satisfactory answers. No wonder kids dislike Math these days. Oh well, what do I care? Im just a stupid, dumb animal.

Sure enough, people figured out something was wrong once I appeared Basanti-less and for that act of common sense alone (move over Lassie, theres a new rescuer in town), I should ascend to the ranks of Chetak and Bucephalus.

Dhanno
s G R

was listening to a rather diverse collection of songs today, slightly different from the music Ive been listening to of late. I swung up and caught the handhold as the train pulled into yet another station and a stream of humanity rushed past. The song was Paper Puli, by Bangalore rock band Thermal and a Quarter. The song starts off with, Frank Zappa once said, Rock journalism is all about people who cant write, interviewing people who cant talk, for people who cant read. The train pushed off again, with the stream of humanity, now a pool of humanity crowded into the half the space of a multiplex washroom, with one gentleman who was trying to facilitate the fostering acquaintance between my face and his elbow. I kindly declined, but getting back to topic, if not anything else, I could read. Couldnt I? Paper puli wound up its act and Deep Purple started off with Highway Star; remarkable how much the starting riff resembles that of Sinbad the Sailor from Rock On, but ah, well, it mustve been independently composed. I wanted to sing, but knowing my voice, Id probably have joined the railway casualties list , had I done so. The song was superb, the vocals scratchy, rough, and typical of that period. What period? The 70s of course. Wasnt that when it all happened? Well, yes and no. The seventies were an amazing time to be in, if you were a music lover. There was something for everyone. Rock, pop, metal, grunge, reggae, blues, you name it. Not that these genres didnt exist before that. Hendrix was wrapping up, he passed away in 1970, John Petrucci was three years old, and there was this new band t h a t

called itself Led Zeppelin, formed in 1968, in the same year as this other band called Black Sabbath. And the people of our world seemed to have rediscovered new and extremely inventive ways of using a variety of trance-inducing substances for both recreational and inspirational purposes, and would forge ahead and produce realms and genres of music that would then proceed to blow the minds (whatever fragments remained). It was to be an amazing high, er, no, amazing journey. After Deep Purple came Iron Maidens Blood Brothers. And good song though it was, I was rather distracted by two strikingly beautiful ladies who were engaged in the rather un-maidenly act of striking down an unfortunate soul who happeneth to glance rather lecherously in their direction, going by their version. The poor victim, er, pervert was mutinously complaining that it had simply been something in his eye. A crowd was in its nascent stages around the spectacle, for our people are never ones to turn down wholesome free entertainment, and were gatherin round with the satisfied expressions of one whos platform ticket has yielded its moneys worth. Unfortunately, the train had a schedule of its own to keep up with, and with a clang of the gears that amounted to a mechanical sigh , it set off once more, bearing me with it.

What surprised me, as my playlist progressed, playing Edwin Starrs War, Simon and Garfunkels Bridge over troubled water, and Rolling Stones You cant always get what you want, was the sheer amount of variety that emerged from that period. I thought of how people are stereotyped now according to what kind of music they listened to, Rock artists are dumb. Satanic Metal Punks, Gay pop loving freaks. And those days, when everyone was a brother, food was cheap and music was peace, how would they have been like? (Again, I have no idea whether the seventies were really like that, and they m o s t

probably werent, but what the heck, why cant people dream?) The train went on, its assorted clangs and rattles providing background accompaniment to the subtle nuances of an ever effective Pink Floyd Comfortably numb, which was followed by the Eagles Tequila Sunrise. I had almost reached, and AC/DC was playing Back in Black. I waited for the song to finish, and wound up my earphones. There was so much I couldnt cover- the Who, Queen, Alice Cooper, KISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bruce Springsteen, The Doors, The Ramones, Presley (deserves a special mention for cult-ishness, hats and wierd hairdos off to him.), Lennon, Marley, and godknows-how-many-more-bandsim-forgetting, so much more I couldnt write about, about the experimentalism, about the feckless, reckless nature of the bands, and their individual personae, the stories, world reception, styles and the emergence of the sub-genres that classify music

today, (and how dare I forget them, the groupies), and of course, Hindi music from that era, and how it influenced / was influenced by its western counterparts. But I leave all that for a later date, and end with an excellent dictum from the age of psychedelia. Peace, bro. ps. One interesting piece of information that puzzled me, though. Deep Purple once occupied a position in the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest pop group. Er, pop. How? Theories and answers are welcome at mail.ltgtr@gmail. com, on our facebook page, or at sahihaiyaar.blogspot.com. Also, this site, whose address I happened to find on wikipedia, happens to have a wealth of information on the 1968-1976 period, do visit it if you feel like. http://musiccollectorsite.blogspot. com/ Disclaimer. All the songs mentioned are the sole property of their respective artists, this article is not part of any promotional propaganda or publicity material, and may be shamelessly copied, lifted and reproduced in any form, with the cognizance of the author. Hed feel good about it.

Age for Heroes

sAhIL mehtA
to commercial movies. It was the era when movies stopped depicting real life and started setting the trend for common people. Colour had just made its way to Indian cinemas in the late 1960s but it was only in 70s that it broke through the monotony of daily Indian lives with its bright, sparkly and often awful coloured sets and costumes. But look beyond the obvious, the large floral prints, the oversized shades, t h e The story of the 70s is so long that you could fill volumes with it. I will stick to the parts which I believe deserve special mention and those to which I can do justice. If you ever ask people which is the most iconic Indian film ever, the answer would be obvious; Sholay! But if you look for the second favorite, a very popular answer and mine too would be Anand. This one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the silver screen passed away. Meena Kumari may have been The Tragedy Queen in both reel and real life but she was also a fine actress. And she portrayed with her role as a Luckhnow tawaif in her final film Pakeezah. This movie took 16 years to complete and was based on her own love story with the director the movie and two time husband Kamal Amrohi. Also starring Raaj Kumar, this movie is a cult classic. This was also the decade when Raj Kapoor, the showman of Indian cinema, slowly ended his acting career but not before delivering the blockbuster super-star studded Mera Naam Joker (1970). Soon a new Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor his grandson, alongside the scintillating Dimple Kapadia became the heartthrobs of the Indian public with Bobby (1973). There was also Roti Kapda Aur

an

he 70s were a touch decade for India. We were still grappling with the fact that Nehruvian socialism had led us astray. A lethargy gripped the Indian economy and pervaded through every section of Indian society right down to the common man. With internal conflicts, and the rise of Indira Gandhi and dynasty politics, despair had spread like wildfire through the people. The dreams of independent India lay shattered by the roadside. The India of the 70s needed a hero. Enter Bollywood! longish manes of our hero-dearest, The 70s were not the golden era of the bun on top of our damsels in Indian cinema. They were the period distress; beyond the dance sequence immediately after when every aspect around trees to groovy RD Burman of Indian cinema was at its peak. It tracks and beyond the poor boywas the era when we finally moved rich girl love story. Look beyond from socialist and neo-realist cinema and youll find an abundance of stellar individual performances and a decade full of evergreen Indian movies.

1971, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh starrer is a heart-wrenching tale of a terminally ill cancer patient who spends the last few days of his life spreading joy in others. While Amitabh perfectly fit the bill of a no-nonsense doctor who befriends this patient and then helplessly watches him die, Rajesh Khanna stole the show as the terminally ill Anand. The dialogue at the climax of the movie shall remain engrained in Indian cinema forever. The 70s were known for their rom-coms and masala movies. And whats a masala movie without tragedy, right? It was tragedy for Indian cinema in 1972 when

(1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Don (78) etc. His angry young man persona and star status persist to this day. Not far behind was Indias first action hero Dharamendra. Then there was Rajesh Khanna with his lover boy image. Shashi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor all gave numerous hits in this decade. It was also the time of directors like Hrushikesha Mujherji and Manmohan Desai and of course Raj Kapoor. Makaan by Manoj Kumar which we cannot but mention. But the real star of t h e decade was the year 1975 which saw arguably the three biggest movies ever. Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen starrer Aandhi was a wonderful film which was unfortunately banned for a couple of years due to its similarity to Indira Gandhis Life. The songs of this movie are still hummed by people and played on the radio in the nights. But the showstopper of this decade was Amitabh Bachchan and with Deewar and Sholay (both 1975) he firmly established himself as the leading man of Indian cinema. If you havent heard or seen of these two movies, all I can say is Tera kya hoga re kalia? The 70s were the Big Bs decade as he churned out one hit after the other in Kabhie Kabhie The story of the 70s has almost reached its climax but it would be incomplete without talking about the leading ladies of our movies. While dream girl Hema Malini and the ever graceful Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh and Jaya Bachchan enchanted Indian public and inspired women to be more fashionable, a

Dum Maaro Dum to their tunes. The 70s were not path breaking in terms of genre. They were mostly rom-coms and later a few action movies. But by Jove, they had it all; the comedy, the drama, the music, the panache, the action, the big mustached villain and the happy ending (mostly :P ). The plots were similar but atleast they knew how to make movies then and not just rip em off like they do now. There was originality in expression and a poetic feel to the dialogues. Its no wonder then that our present day directors keep going back to the 70s in search for a hit formula or just remake some film :P

new breed of actresses like Dimple Kapadia, Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman finally made Indian women a sex symbol. Their boldness on screen helped changed the way Indian women all around perceived themselves. It is truly unfortunate that the boldness of these women has now given way to vulgarity among present day actresses. Only one final ingredient remains for our story. The song and dance sequence. Kishore Kumar, Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle all lent their voices to the music of composers like RD Burman, Anandji Kalyanji during this decade. So just pick any legend and

fter the excruciating exams, repeated trips to the multiplex is a logical trend life tends to take. However these trips were hardly worth all the trouble. They were just screening one crappy movie after another. Then came 26th May and came a visual extravaganza from Dreamworks Animation KUNGFU PANDA 2. I can confidently say that this movie has wiped out all the clich that animated films are strictly for kids below 14. People irrespective of age were laughing their heads off. True to its genre, Kungfu Panda 2 had close resemblances to a Jackie Chan film which has madcap action. KungFu Panda 2, the second installment of the five films planned is the most beautiful CG films till date on celluloid in my opinion. The story of Kung Fu Panda 2 picks up right where the first one finished. The Dragon Warrior Po (Jack Black) has learned to harness his Kung Fu skills and now fights alongside the Furious Five battling the forces of evil. Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), banished prince of Gongman City, has returned with a new and dangerous weapon that will make all of China bow at his feet. When the Kung Fu master, Master Rhino, falls victim to this new and powerful weapon, Po and the Furious Five are called in to action. In his quest to defeat Lord Shen, Po discovers a terrible truth about his past. Orphaned as a child, Po learns that his parents were killed by Shen, who sought to kill all the pandas of China after the Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) informs him that his demise would be at the hand of a warrior of black and white. Po uses this terrible truth to find inner peace with himself, defeat Shen and save China. Creating ever-more compelling villains always represents a challenge for ongoing film series, from James Bond to Batman, so the introduction

of a slim peacock, which not only claims that, China will be mine! but also intends to eliminate kung fu, represents a real force to reckon with. One aspect of the film is really appreciable. The Dragon Warrior looks hilarious and ravaging in action sequences and like a cuddly toy in the others. Screenwriters have nicely used the title characters search for his real father to provide a little depth and poignancy to a character whose initial rowdy behavior was a bit grating but which has now been mellowed with a measure of self-reflection on his childhood. Coming to the characters and the celebrities who have lent their voices, everything is flawless. Jack Black as Po, the

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Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five comprising of Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper, and David Cross as Crane make it an engaging watch all through. In the first movie the action was a bit late, however in this edition characters are throwing fists at each other with 15 minutes. The increase in action sequences kept me glued to my seat. There is enough amount of time to small-fry-friendly bumptious slapstick and silliness, which feels generically mandatory. But it all moves along briskly, with a degree of visual grace and a solid feel of 3D effects. The settings were absolutely stunning, especially the sunsets, and the attention to every little detail, from the fur of Tigress to the feathers of Lord Shen, make it a visual masterpiece. The visuals in the film were the most outstanding aspect of the whole production. Hans Zimmers score is an asset and the perfect icing on the cake is the end credits, which employ a beautifully designed flipping lantern technique accompanied by wittily ever-accelerating music. In a nutshell, DreamWorks has outdone itself with this masterpiece.

VISCA BARCA!
port is fun because, simply put, its unpredictable. Sure every game, every tournament picks its favourites, but all in all theres always a sense of intrigue as to who goes all the way without faltering. However, over time, various teams or people have been dominating various sports, this being as much a part of a sport as winning or losing. To cite a few contemporary examples, the Aussie domination of cricket for about 15 years beginning from the mid-nineties, the Federer-Nadal duo, whove together achieved all there is to possibly achieve in tennis, the Schumacher era, then Spains rampant run of victories which culminated in them winning the World Cup last year, and more recently an epitomic Barcelona side who play like their only aim is to mesmerize you with their simple but effective passing game, complex strategies be damned.

sAGNIK ChoudhARY
What doesnt help the other teams, the teams that face the brunt of Baras prowess on the pitch especially teams like Real Madrid, is that this is a young team. The most influential players are in their early to mid-twenties. Xavi is 31, but rumors of Javier Pastore or a certain Cesc Fabregas switching to Barca are abundant all over the internet. Should one of these deals go through, Baras years of making merry dont look like ending any time soon. So what is that we (as neutrals) get to do? Well, we get to gape at the incredible stunts (hardly seems a fair word to use any more) Messi and Co. pull off game after game for one, and more interestingly, we get to experience first-hand how Baras reign as kings of pretty much everywhere ends, as it one day surely will. The causes of this eventual decline and what triggers the bringing-down-to-earth of one of the greatest teams that played in the history of the game will surely be something momentous, something all teams that nurture the desire to ape Guardiolas Bara will do good to keep in mind.

that every match involving Bara is almost always a foregone conclusion. What is even more delightful is that the onus of raising their game every single time, to imbue their game with the uncanny ability to leave the onlooker awestruck, is not just on Messi. Its a burden shared by every player on the pitch (and how?). True, this is a golden phase for Bara. Question is will it end anytime soon?

Rumours of dressing room spats, and hurt egos, have been emanating from the Bara camp over the past few months to suggest that alls not well in paradise. News of how Messi sulked after their La Liga victory or how Puyols gesture to hand Abidal the cup might not have been just a warm gesture after all have leaked to the press. The fact however remains that footballers today are professionals through and through, and such trivial hindrances are hardly enough to down the greatest team there is. Any harm done, if at Does this somewhat spoil the all, would probably involve a little fun that sport involves? If you play dampening of the team spirit and like Bara, surely not. At least not keeping the mood in the dressing for the neutral spectator. Seldom room a little less convivial than in football has a teams dominance expected. been so consummate, so absolute,

ReVAN

th

Chouhd

ARY

We catch up With one of the most happening metal acts in chennai ,Djinns lament , a relatively neW banD in the scene , to give us an insight into their musical career.their neW song , shift , has been Doing its rounDs fairly Well on the reverbnation charts anD their music can be DescribeD as an amalgam of blinDing aggressive riffs anD meloDic strains on an ambient backgrounD.this is What their Drummer , prakash , haD to say.
Q. WHATS THE STORY BEHIND THE already a part of the band along with some others. I met RG at a NAME DJINNS LAMENT? A: Our Ex-Guitarist was a big gig and we started chatting on fan of the online RPG League Of Facebook. Eventually I joined the Legends where he came across band. We were desperate to get a character named Djinn. When a bassist for the band which was he showed it to us we found the when we found Aaslesh and he name fascinatingand agreed to joined the band. The final line-up use it. Later on we added the word was ready by December 2010. Lament to it. Djinns Lament means Q. IF YOU HAD TO PICK A GENRE Demons Sorrow. FOR YOU MUSIC, WHAT WOULD Q. AND THE CURRENT LINE-UP OF IT BE? WHO ARE YOUR MAJOR INFLUENCES? THE BAND IS ? A: RG - Vocals Aaslesh- Bass Siddharth-Keyboards Moiz- Guitars Prakash- Drums A: Our genre is Progressive Death. Actually, our inspirational list is very long, few major Influences are Opeth , Meshuggah, Dream Theater, Children Of Bodom, Gojira, Q. WHERE DID YOU GUYS MEET? Lamb of God, Porcupine Tree, Tool, HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOW The Faceless and Obscura. EACH OTHER? A: RG, Moiz and Siddharth were Q. WHEN DID YOU FINALLY DECIDE TO FORM A BAND? WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER? A: The band was formed in mid 2010, but went through numerous lineup changes until we settled upon the final lineup in December 2010. The love for music and our respective instruments inspires us to make music together. Q. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT WRITING & COMPOSING SONGS? A: Moiz composes some riffs from which we take in a few and structure the song. Siddharth adds the Keyboard riffs based on the guitar riffs while I add the drums and Aaslesh compliments

Q. HOW DO YOU GUYS REHEARSE Q. FINDING ONES OWN SOUND IS A LONG GONE-BY THING, IN AND PRACTICE? A: We try to practice at least once in TODAYS GENRE-PLAGUED SCENE. a week but then finding a rehearsal DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU HAVE place becomes tough because the Found YOUR OWN SOUND? WHAT Q. ARE THERE ANY MAIN THEMES jam rooms are pretty expensive so DOES IT TAKE TO FIND YOUR OWN now we are planning to invest in a SOUND? TO YOUR SONGS?? A: We are experimenting a lot with A: In our new song SHIFT lyrics is Jam hub and practice with it. based on our personal experiences. Q. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST our sound by infusing Progressive The other two are about the diary CHALLENGE AS AN UPCOMING Death/Groove metal elements with melodic song structures. The of a dead man and apocalypse. We BAND IN INDIA? have a little space rock influence in A: Lack of exposure has been the Keyboards plays an important role in creating a unique sound of our our music too. biggest challenge for us. own. Q. WHICH SONGS DO YOU Q.HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PERFORM MOST FREQUENTLY? DO PRESENT DAY MUSIC SCENE IN Q. ANY LAST WORDS? A: Metal bands play only for you YOU EVER PLAY ANY COVERS? INDIA? A: We perform the songs Dear A: The western music scene has guys so please show your support Diary and Grand finale frequently grown a lot through the years. by attending all the gigs and and a cover of Opeths Classic Especially the metal scene is inspiring us to work even harder to Demon of the Fall as it suits the reaching new heights with many create better music. overall sound of the band. Recently well acclaimed international bands we started playing our new song performing in India and many Follow them on Facebook and Shift which we also recorded and Indian bands performing abroad. ReverbNation guys. Its the least released as a single. I am sure that the western music we can do. the guitar riffs with his bass lines. RG writes the lyrics and titles for the song. We compose the basic structure of the song and try to improvise on it later. scene will reach greater heights in the coming years.

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What I Made
Towering up, Through what I can See and Visualize, then beyond, Lie those pillars, I made for me, by me. Rising through, Depths of deepest trenches and caves, then beyond, Lie those pillars; I made for me, by me. Oh! How can I see, What I built for me, by me, When my vision is blinded by apathy incessantly. Oh! How can I feel, What I touch, built for me, by me, When I refuse, the touch from inside me. Growing up, through ages all, time-flies incessantly, then beyond, Lie those pillars , I made for me , by me .. Expanding through, space(s)-volume, domains glare, then beyond, Lie those pillars, I made, for me, by me. Oh! How can I grow old, when the transient is eternity, in I, And I refuse to accept the divinity of my humanity. Oh! How can I quantify, the whole of I, when domains expand, In ethereal bliss, And I Shrink enlighteningly. Standing tall, through any time, lifes in bounty, then beyond, Lie those pillars, I built for me, by me. Balancing the mortal skate, through terrain present in history, then beyond, Lie those pillars, I built for me, by me. Oh! How can I grow, quantify, see, feel , What they built, for me, by me, when my vision is unseen within I . Oh! How can I grow, quantify, see, feel, What I built, for me, by me, so inherent in geometric conformity... Then, realizing the lines that draw around, and circle overhead, then beyond, The whisper from the pillars, grounded through soil, speak Only I can hold my Time. Only I can hold my Space. Only I can hold my Me. Only I can hold my I. Only I can hold my Light. ................... Looking around inside-outside a placidly, Finding the light, liberation and universe, Outlet deserved and fear dissolved, To let Everyone else, Be.

ReVANth

ChAudhARY

he freedom of expression is a beautiful thing. I can blabber all I want, spew out all the bullshit I believe in and you cant do a thing about it (yes, you can passively resist by refusing to read or listen to my point of view, but there isnt much you can do about the fact that Im putting it out into the world for every intelligent organism to view) Also in the same spirit, you are entitled to have your own views and I can do nothing but crib and argue my point of view! Its this freedom of expression and enforced tolerance that gives me the courage to write this little article. I will draw the wrath of people holding very conservative views on this subject, but all I need to do, is stick my tongue at them and walk away unscathed. AhhI

scenario leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. In these situations a rather grim disturbing picture slithers into my minds eye - my comfortable existence is sculpted by the sweat and blood of little hands, I stomp on their delicate bare backs by just existing. Every year around Diwali this guilt boils over when a bunch of kids and activists go around trying to convince people not to burn fire-crackers made by children and contribute in their little way to abolishing child labour. The government of India has also banned child labour and every now and then there are flashes of news about how the police saved a group of teens working in horrendous conditions and set them free. But set them free where? In the barren street s of India? With no food,

because of your gracious heroics. The governments present policy is just a punch in the kids stomach. Yes, there was this policy that every child who attends government school would get a meal or two, well, I know for a fact that half the food grains meant for the schools are swindled and sold off, so that strategy isnt going to work, Sir! Its about time you put in a little thought the next time you go barging into a factory and rob a child of his only way of finding his next meal. I can already feel the glares and the fingers pointing at me. I dont care, I will buy those crackers, I will employ that child, and I rather have him earn his meal with dignity rather than steal or beg for it. True, the conditions that these children work under are

Let Them Work

love democracy. Now getting down to the point lets just start off with a general look at the problem of child labour. Indian society is perhaps the most populous in the world. Our concrete jungles and prehistoric villages (yes, its an exaggeration, but I let it stand for the effect) are crawling, milling with uneducated masses. In such a society, its not really surprising that children have to bear the brunt of poverty that comes crashing upon people when too little has to be shared by too many. Its not uncommon for us to see children working in factories, construction sites amongst other places. I wouldnt deny that a child younger than me once worked at my home, she sent to school and all that, but she still worked while I lounged around watching TV. The very no water, no shelter? Set them free under the treacherous sun of India to burn in the heat? The guys up there are great policy makers, but in India, policy is rarely, if ever, effectively translated into action and when the policy itself is so flawed then there is really no hope left. The Indian governments policy of abolishing child labour and making it a punishable crime for the employer really serves no purpose other than sow seeds of chaos in our already fragile social structure. You take these kids off their jobs and jail the man who employed them and feel good about the hard justice you have brought down upon evil. But did you wait for a second to consider that fate of the children you supposedly saved? Many of them are the sole providers of their family of tiny siblings, all of whom will die of hunger

horrendous, so if you cant save them, at least make the conditions tolerable. The only solution I see with the weak social system we have is to reach a middle ground where children arent allowed to take up extremely dangerous jobs, but they can take other jobs. Its a strategy that is already in practice but if made a law, it might have a far more profound effect. True, my esteemed reader, Im a kid from the Indian middle class; the suffering of the poor homeless children of India is alien to me. I will not even say I can empathize with them, understand their problem - all I have is sympathy. But I refuse to be blinded by guilt and sympathy. I stand by my point of view that simply abolishing child labour and preventing children from working isnt a solution to this heinous problem.

Y VAKuL mohANt

The Guardian Circle

About The Guardian Circle

BulbulAngel Behl Life and Times of A Guardian

The Guardian Circle is an initiative taken by students to help give back to society. It is an NGO which fully understands the importance of education. However, they are also aware that some children cannot afford it. TGC strives to fund such financially handicapped children so that they too can can have the opportunities rendered unaffordable by their financial state of affairs. They constantly keep a check on every childs progress and guide them online or in person and provide them with whatever they need to excel in their studies and help them towards a brighter future. They act as Guardians. We catch up Bulbul Behl, VICE PRESIDENT- Publicity and Marketing/Sponsorship and part of the manipal chapter of The Guardian Circle and ask her to share some of her experiences with us. Q.1 Before we get into details about your association with TGC, could you tell us a little about yourself. What are currently studying, your interests, hobbies etc. ? A.Well, I am currently pursuing Information Technology at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal. My interests are exceedingly long so to put it short. I would say that this world fascinates me on the whole. People fascinate me. Different Cultures intrigue me. I love to figure out how this world and our society as a large works. I love indulging in nature. I love interacting with kids. I also love animals so I try and do things that are usually a combination of all these. I love being on stage so dancing, dramatics, MCing are some of the things that keep me busy. Q.2 How did you first come across the guardian circle? What were your first thoughts when you heard about it? A. I first heard about it through a friend, Barkha Sengar, who is also part of TGC and happens to be on the Nation Liaison of the The Guardian Circle. She asked me if I was interested in becoming a part of it. The name just grabbed my attention.

Being a guardian for somebody was a perfect way to make my life count towards the betterment of society. Q.3 How long have you been associated with it now? A. I have been part of TGC since march, 2010.

their education? And how is what you are doing better than or different from all the other NGOs out there?

A. We at TGC believe that a solid foundation is the key to everything. For Q.4 TGC aims at helping financially handicapped and us, these kids will shape the future of underprivileged children. Moreover it is an entirely tomorrow so if we make sure that the students initiative. You hold an important post in seeds are well sown and properly TGC. What have you been doing at TGC to prepare the nourished the tree is sure to be healthy groundwork and start activities? when it grows. A. We have two things to work upon. Our organisation is very young but Firstly, we have to explore the area in and around manipal to figure out our target group. Details like how many orphanages exist, figuring out which ones need immediate help and also working out details such as how we wish to approach these organisations. We have visited a no of orphanages around manipal and now we have a rough idea of where to begin. It is only after these things that we can then plan the activities and have our action plan ready. That being said, since I handle publicity and sponsorships in Manipal nevertheless we have clear objectives. They may be small but they are concrete. We would rather focus on 1 childs life than boast the wellness of a 1000. For us, it really is as simple as that. Q.6 You must have spent lots of time with underprivileged kids. Can you share some of your experiences with

as well, another part of my job is to recruit as many Guardian Angels as we can. The more people we have the better it is! So we are doing as much as we can to spread awareness about our cause. Then lastly, sponsorships. That is a very tricky department. Unless you are well established and well known people dont really fund you.I mean why would they?! They need some sort of mutual benefit right? So then we have employed ways to make this process as transparent as possible so that the sponsors know how their money is being made use of. That couple with the fact that TGC is expanding at a rapid pace across the country goes a long way in assuring brand visibility.

those kids? A. Yes, I have and it has been a humbling experience.

I distinctly remember this one time where we were playing kho-kho with a couple of very adorable young ones. I remember a little girl named Ashwini. Now this girl was no more than 6 or 7 but when she ran she outdid people who were thrice her age. She ran like the wind. I just Q.5 We live in a land of destitute, poverty stricken couldnt believe it. Now imagine if this girl people, where corruption and disease run rampant. In wanted to and was given the opportunity this land of a billion people with a billion problems, to get trained as an athelete, she could why did you choose to concentrate on children and very well be representing India at the

Olympics. Now wouldnt that be great? Moments like these make me feel that there is soo much to be done. There are so many talented souls out there who need help. All it takes is a little push. Q.7 What kind of challenges do you face in trying to organize TGC activities? How can people help? A. Language is a big barrier. It is very hard to communicate with the kids when they dont know Hindi and we dont know Kannada(the local language of Karnataka) We make sure that we have enough epeople around who know the local language who can keep the flow going. Funds seem to be another issue. It isnt easy raising money. And to organize the smallest of events we need capital. There are no two ways about it. People can help by donating money, that way we can fund activities etc very easily. Also the more people we have the better so in short my message is - Come join TGC and be part of the change! Other things that people can do are donate books/ clothes etc that would help the kids. Q.8 Student life, and even personal life these days take a huge toll on the body. How hard you find it to motivate yourself and others like you to take on the arduous tasks involved with such an initiative? A. Not hard at all. When you see that youve made a kid smile at the end of the day it gives life a new meaning. I feel better about my self and I want to keep

feeling this way all the time. Sure, it does take a toll but trust me the feeling of having done something worthwhile keeps us going. Luckily for us, if one of us is down someone else always has things sunny side up. Its infectious, this feeling. Within minutes everyone is charged up again. Q.9 Some of the stories of the underprivileged kids are at times shocking and can overwhelm students who have never been exposed to such harsh realities. Were there ever moments like these for you? (if yes how did you deal with it?) A. Yes, there have been many. I do get moved by them. I am a very emotional person to say the least. Honestly? The first thing I actually have done is scream out loud inside my head. Then I probably went on to curse the Govt. for being such lousy caretakers. Then I guess I looked down upon myself for complaining about the smallest of things in my life. Its about time that instead of complaining and blaming others I get down to it and make a change. To see the change YOU have to be the change.

complain less now(or so I would like to believe). I waste less now. I make it a point to donate stuff that I m not using as opposed to simply throwing it away. Q.11 What is your hope for TGC? Where do you see it going in say next 2 to 3 years? A.I hope that TGC can reach out to more lives as the day goes by and make a difference. I can imagine TGC opening up doors in many more colleges if not all [ ;) ] across India. Youth is our strength and it is through fellow youngsters that we see our mission being accomplished. Q.12 Most of our readers are college students. Would you like to say something to them? A. Yes, I would. Here is the message I have for the Youth of India..

Education, efficiently provided at the grass root level can work wonders for this country. A good education makes one think twice before accepting a bribe. It makes one vote better and goes a long way in promoting a healthy civil society. Sadly the state of Government schools in our country is appalling as ever. Private schools, even the ones with low fee structures are a bridge too far for the majority. And it is this majority we want Q.10 TGC has already started to help. Democracy is run by the masses. impacting the lives of many children. Imagine a well educated mass. You can But how does it impact your life? help by donating, or even better, joining What have you learnt so far from the ranks of TGC and working towards your association TGC? enabling the underprivileged. A. I ll tell it short and simple. It has made me more humble. Made me be more thankful for what I have. I Be a guardian, be the difference!

Ashim Purohit A boy friend threw 6 cricket balls at his Girl friend..She yelled: What was that for? He said: It is Over..! Yeswanth Devisetty Girl txts- plz send some gud jokes. Boy- Dear Im studying. Girl- So sorry to disturb u. Boy- hey, It was a joke.... Madhu Garg Dentist to Manmohan singh during his annual check up Mr. P.M : At least in my clinic please open your mouth... Akhil Pawar Love that lasts longest, is the love that is never returned. Mohan Vamsi Ethamsetti SAVE GIRLS. Only 842 girls are left for every 1000 boys in India. We can save the tigers later!! What do u want on the back of your bike ...Girl or tiger ?? Nishant Boorla Man sentenced to being shot to death was allowed to select his firing squad. He picked Fernando Torres! :D Sankalp Singayapally | For him to be your favorite, he has to be your only. How very true about Chetan Bhagat. :) :) Varun Reddy marketing lesson: it takes one Aishwarya rai to sell a diamond and three Abhishek bachhans to sell a sim card :D Vaibhav Annam Girl (in a bookstore) : Hey, can I get the book titled, Women - The better half in a Relationship Salesman : Oops, the fiction section is on the other side mam .. :P :P Deepti Kaushal The biggest joke of recent years is that in a nation as humourless as India, joke books sell like hot pakoras (quoted from Khushwant Singhs joke book :P :D Jahnavi Meher Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese :P

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Dikshit Goel A man was doing Push-Ups on the bitchy beaches of Goa early morning.. A drunk Pathan saw him, started laughing and said : Sorry, to tell you, but the Woman below you has already left!! :P

Comic Strip
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Well behaved women rarely make history

There, There