A DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY

It was 23rd February,2009 a day before my 22nd birthday.I woke up on that day around 6.45 am,a time which is quite early for me considering that day was a holiday for me as MahaShivratri was being celebrated in India.The reason why i woke up so early was because i had to watch the live and exclusive coverage of the 81st Oscar Awards on Star Movies.

I being an Indian and a Mumbaikar was quite obviously rooting for the film 'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE' a film based on the slum life of Mumbai,which had got 10 nominations.Of the 10 nominations,3 nominations were for my favourite music director AR RAHMAN(ARR).One nomination in the Best Original score and 2 nominations in the Best Original Song category.Considering the fact that ARR had already won awards in the prestigious Gloden Globe and BAFTA,I and all Indians were quite sure that he would win atleast one Oscar if not two.So i kept my fingers crossed that he would win.And guess what ARR won not one but two Oscars winning in both categories and created history by becoming the first Indian to win 2 Oscars.The film also bagged 8 Oscars making it the film with the most Oscars this year.

I was just over the moon that day and just told to myself that a what a pre-birthday gift i had got and the joy cannot be expressed in words.Well,I can say that no day before my birthday had been so special until this year which i will never forget and always cherish this moment.

And finally -------------- JAI HO AR RAHMAN

AGE LIMIT FOR DRINKING IS NOW 13.5

Next time you find a teenager in an inebriated state,you can't even dare to scold him because he has every legal right to consume alcohol as the age-limit for consuming alcohol has been reduced to 13.5 in India.This age-limit a few years ago was 19 and way back in the 90's it was 28.

India has the highest alcohol consuming population in the world.This alcohol consuming population is even bigger than the total Britian population.Between 2002 and 2008 India experienced a 90% jump in the sales of alcohol.And due to this the Government gets 20% of it's Excise revenue from these alcohol shops.The state of Kerala has the highest percentage of population consuming alcohol which is closely followed by Punjab and Haryana.

This further drop in age limit for dinking has our Health Minister Mr.Anubmani Ramadoss in worry as according to him alcohol consumption is the leading cause for many diseases.According to me,when we have statutory warning on all cigarette boxes stating "Smoking is injurious to health",why not have a similiar warning on all alcohol bottles.I even think the awareness of the harms of alcohol consumption is not that effective as Smoking.The Government should take more innovative steps in creating awareness among the youth by conducting seminars in schools,colleges etc.

The two states namely Gujarat and Jammu&Kashmir can take a lot of pride because they are the only two states in India that have a complete ban on shops selling alcohol.Why can't the other states follow this example?Why is Revenue more important than the lives of young people?

FIR FILED AGAINST RENUKA CHAUDHARY

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chaudhary who had slammed the Karnataka Government for not taking stern action against the miscreants who were involved in the infamous Mangalore pub incident where a mob of men assaulted a group of girls in public.A day after the miscreants were released on bail,Renuka even ordered a re-probe into the case asking the Karnataka Govt to punish them.Renuka then even went on to call the people of Mangalore as Talibans which led the Karnataka Govt to file a FIR against Renuka for her remarks against Mangalore.

As we know the Talibans don't give any respect for women in their community.And looking at the Mangalore incident,i can say that,yes Mangalore is heading the Taliban way.Renuka was right in making the Taliban remark as the culprits who had assaulted the girls in public have been released in bail even after so much of evidence.I ask these moral police brigade's,who has given them the right to take up the responsibility of saving these girls from not going in the wrong way.I think everyone has his/her own right to choose his/her own way of living life.As far as the case of girls going to pubs,come on we are in the 21st century and according to the Mangalore pub staff the girls were not consuming any alcohol or any drinks which the Sri Ram Sene cohorts are claiming they were upto some immoral activities.

And finally look the way Democracy is being used by the politicians.One politician(renuka chaudary) is trying to get the miscreants arrested for their crime and on the other hand the Karnataka Govt has filed a FIR against her for some petty issue just to divert from the original case.Way to go INDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!

NARAYAN RANE IS BACK !

The shrewd Narayan Rane an ex-Shiv Sainik who has even been a Finance Minister during a particular tenure of Vilasrao Deshmukh was 2 months back ripped off from the Congress party for his ill statements against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi,who had denied Rane to become the Maharashtra CM after Mr.Vilasrao Deshmukh who had to resign post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.He had even threatned the Congress chief that he would cause a divide in the Congress party in Maharashtra.

Just a few days back,the Congress party has decided to cancel the suspension of Rane after he had given an unconditional apology in which he had mentioned he was sorry for what ill he had spoken against the Congress chief.The Congress party has accepted the apology and even given him a minister post in the Cabinet.And the portfolio that has been assisgned to him is the Industry department.

Well,the reason why the Congress party has forgived Rane is quite clear.The Congress wants to garner votes in the Konkan region where the majority population is Maratha's.And Mr.Rane being a Maratha and born in Konkan is the perfect person to do the job.

As they say "IN POLITICS THERE ARE NO PERMANET FRIENDS OR FOES"

VALENTINE'S DAY-CELEBRATION OF LOVE

LOVE is in the air during this period of the month as every lover is looking forward to express his/her love to his/her valentine.Rather this year fear is in the air,as many "moral police" brigade's of the society have threatened to wipe out the valentine's across the country as Valentine's Day is tarnishing the Indian culture.

Sri Ram Sene one of the moral police brigade in Bangalore has vowed that no V-day celebrations would take place and any couple displaying their love or affection in public would be seriously thrashed.Another cadre of moral police named Bajrang Dal has even to said it would marry off couples who display their love in public.Surprisingly our very own Raj Thackeray of MNS has said that no men from his party would attack or stop the celebrations of V-day.The NCP has even decided to open shops where valentine greeting cards and flowers would be sold.

Well,now the question is why these elements of society are so miffed with the V-day? They claim that V-day has never been part of Indian culture and it has been adopted from the West.Well,India has always had a history where lovers have been beaten to death(eg:- laila majnu).But we are in the 21st century and every citizen has his/her own right to live life and choice to select his/her partner.Who are these moral police to tell me what is right for me?

Some people question do we really need a particular day to celebrate love? Well in today's world where every man is just so busy with his/her work that he forgets to express his/her love to their loved ones.Hence why not have a particular as V-day.

To all those moral police brigade who are trying to save the Indian culture,V-day is not just for lovers but even for brothers/sisters,child/parent and every other personal relationship.Why is it necessary that only a girl can love a boy? Why doesn't a mother love her son? Let's hope for the best this V-day and wishing everyone a HAPPY VALENTINE DAY!!

JAYAWARDENE STEPS DOWN AS CAPTAIN

After losing the series to India 4-1,the Srilankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has decided to step down as captain after the Pakistan series later this month.This news has come as a shock to the Srilankan team members.

Jayawardene has completely ruled out that the loss to india has urged him to take such a step.Instead he has citied his poor batting form as reason to quit his captaincy.Over the past one year Mahela's batting form has certainly taken a dip.

Mahela expects Sangakara as his successor but the decision is left to the selector and management.Mahela wanted to give his successor atleast 18 months to build the team before world cup 2011.Mahela has promised he would give 100% to the game and improve his batting performance in the coming games.

Mahela Jayawardene was quite a successful captain as he had led his team to the final of 2007 world cup in westindies which they had lost to australia but his batting had certainly taken a dip during his captaincy.

FACEBOOK-A NEW WAY OF COMMUNICATION

FACEBOOK--the latest sensational social networking site is surely changing the way people used to communicate.Earlier such sites had been used to just connect with ur friends and share with them ur photos,experiences and even ur daily activities.FACEBOOK ofcourse offers all these perks but it has been used by many people for some matters that attract national interest.

Consider the case where some members of the FACEBOOK had formed a community which was used to collect funds for the families who had lost their loved ones in 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.It even launched a community where u can have ur view over the recent attacks in Mumbai.

The most recent case of girls being assaulted in a pub in mangalore has attracted wide critcism from all parts of India.To protest against this incident,a 400 member community in FACEBOOK has decided to send pink panties to the Sri Ram Sene leader Muthalik on the VALENTINE DAY.Quite a diiferent way of protesting against a cause using FACEBOOK as a medium.Now Mr.Muthalik has decided to send a saree to each female member of that community as a response.

Putting everyone in disarray was a incident when a man had announced that he has decided to divorce his wife on FACEBOOK.It was the poor woman's friend who let her know about her husband's decision(poor woman was not so net savy).

Hence FACEBOOK has been now widely used for a variety of purposes.In a few years from now u will here some people announcing their marriages on FACEBOOK.And why not propose ur girl friend or boy friend on FACEBOOK this VALENTINE'S DAY...... seems to be a good idea!!!!!!!!!!