Why do I like Shahrukh Khan ?
Because he has what it takes to win.
a)Has Focus.
b) Is Iconoclastic.
c)Fights on his terms.
{quality c reminds me of an IIMA professor who explained an OM case using the analogy of the crocodile and the monkey . I couldn't relate this story to the case but got the larger picture . For those of you who don't know about the crocodile and monkey story ....hmm ....I guess I can safely say that you really missed out on a phase of childhood . My sympathies. }
Shahrukh is our HERO .
Love him ,Hate him you really can't ignore him.
Coming to the qualities which I think make him our hero ...
a) Focus: SRK left home wanting to become a TV star. He got more . He became the biggest star of the film industry. Instead of chosing to practice theatre , playing a lowkey role in an Hollywood movie ,or giving up his signature acting styles which many people (but certainly not me ) find irritating , or chasing other bollywood actresses {for glamour or not is a moot point ; after all filmstars are also people :)} SRK just focussed on his work. Minor shifts such as from a TV serial actor to a film actor still remain in the realm of acting.I mean yes he has had flops like Koyla and some other stray films ,yet he remained focussed on what he can do best . Acting.
Call them made -up, stupid ,over -practiced expressions ,but the fact remains that this is what sells in Hindi Cinema. SRK knows which audience he is catering to, he knows that the audience is changing and so he adapts accordingly. Which is why we have hits like OSO . Today he is bollywood's best actor .Nothing more nothing less.
b) Iconoclastic: Admittedly SRK doesn't have looks to die for. He is in the business of looking good. Yet this is the case of mind over matter.SRK has given sinewy Salman Khan, the too-intellectual- for -a- movie star Aamir Khan , good looking Hrithik Roshan (strictly from a Hindi cinema perspective ) a run for their money.
SRK has reinvented his looks, from the cute ( yes.... a resounding yes ) Raj in DDLJ to the six packed Om in OSO. He knows which audience he is catering to and this is precisely the type of audience which makes up the bulk of Hindi Cinema "clientele". In an era when good looks were considered a must in cinema , SRK focused on things which can be worked upon rather than concentrating on what is nothing of his doing ( looks:P).Take his dancing for instance . It just exudes strength and enthusiasm . Now that is something which can really sweep you off your feet. Rather than a hunk who's so good looking you cant help but think that he's got to be super dumb.
c)Fighting on his terms: Much like the proverbial monkey who waits till he gets on land to fool the crocodile SRK has never entered competition with any southie biggies (though the OSO take on south Indian Cinema was really tongue n cheek) or for that matter any Hollywood actors. He stammered his way to box -office fame and critical acclaim with the signature KKKKKKKiran. How many actors would believe that such an image could be their strength ? How many actors of his standing would sign for ads of some ayurvedic oil and also have courage to laugh about it. In a world where people are stuck up with high egos, chase eternal youth and spend close to 16 hours in teh gym only to "look good" , SRK delved on work . He epitomises professionalism. And today he can get 32(?? check figure) to act for him in his home production . Some were enemies who are now reconciled friends.
I'd like to conclude by saying that I am no friend/ biographer/neighbour of SRK hence the facts (if any ) presented here are subject to verification .Neither do I watch too much Aaj Tak. True SRK may have a band of think tanks who direct his intelligent ( atleast to me) moves , but I do think , and this is an opinion I dearly hold that SRK is the true King of Bollywood.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Case for Gender Sensitization of Trade Policy from an ardent supporter
Re post.
Yup for me. I am undertaking to write this post again , as it got lost when the net connection failed.
I am back from a three day conference on "Moving Towards Gender Sensitization of Trade Policy " organized by UNCTAD India at Delhi. My work for an NGO focusing on Women Entrepreneurship got me the ticket for this event.The unanimous decision that trade policies need to be gender sensitive is a true case of gender sensitization or the long hours at the session.
Unlike most posts where I have tried best to bring forth different sides of the argument, I miserably fail to do so for this post. The reason is simple. One is either gender sensitive or not . There is no flimsy middle ground one can take in this case. And yes I am gender sensitive.
A different issue is whether there is anything as a gender neutral stance ,if one is aware of one's true self and teh fact that one is a man or woman.We'll leave that for perhaps another post.
It was a good step to bring policy makers- Union Cabinet Minister , Secretaries and Joint Secretaries ,academicians , UNCTAD Secretary General and women entrepreneurs' associations together on the same platform.
Conspicuous by their presence were the number of academicians who were present at the gathering.
Now I hope we all agree that women (overall ;on an average ) are exploited and have been used like doormats for promotion of patriarchal relationships where men benefit from the exploitation of women. The conference was a run up to The 12th United Nations Conference at Akra in Ghana . It collated the research which has been done in the field.Very few studies have put numbers to this obvious aspect . Apart from the numerous statistics presented at the conference which highlight the fact that women continue to be marginalized ,typically in East & South East Asia and Africa, a particular study conducted by UNCTAD , India ,UNDP and NPC was quantitative in nature. It showed that there is a strong and significant correlation between exports ( trade openess as defined by Exports /GDP) and gender development index( as measured by UNDP and NPC) in several countries including India.
Did you know that increased exports were associated with increased female employment in countries such as Mauritius , Tunisia, Sri Lanka , Bangladesh and Malaysia. And that industrialization in the newly industrialized economies of Taiwan, Hong Kong,South Korea, China and Singapore is as much women -led as export-led.
Conversely , in countries with low levels of trade integration and a dominance of commodity - production the impact of trade on women is less positive.Openess of trade and status of women is a two way relation. Good trade ,Good status of women and vice versa .( citation can be provided)
But my take is why do we need research on the issue which is so existant you can see it all around you????
Anyway some numbers to put things in perspective.
Women form 48% of the world's population ( which is another cause of concern) do 66% of the world's labour ,earn 10% of the world's income and only 1% of the world's property. There is a wage disparity across sectors and women earn 30% less than men. A girl or woman is raped every 3 minutes . 75% of girls lose interest in math after grade 6.
It is a fact that women take part in prodcutive as well as reproductive- nurturing and raising kids is considered the primary responsibility of women- processes and reproductive processes influence women's participation in paid employment to a great degree. Women are primarily involved in back breaking agriculutural work. Thye score poorly than men on the education and health front. Gender stereotyping is deeply ingrained in the fabric of families,parties,nations and also the world.
What am I driving at?
Given the background it is essential that trade move from its current gender blind stance to a pro women stand.
Lost you now ? Yup ,this part is the most difficult to accept.
I advocate gender sensitization even in the cut and dry world of business. Not just tokenisms like raising the taxable limit for women so taht they save 500 rs a month. But some concrete measures in the trade policy and national budget bill. For instance , as a positive step ,collateral free loan limit has been raised to Rs 50 Lakh for Women Entrepreneurs in the recent trade policy.
And yes I don't ask for chivalry ( that's dead nowadays ) but bringing out gender equality given the fact that women have long been surpressed and also an attitude makeover to shun stereotypes. Positive discrimanation is what I ask for.
If you are reading this and are still not convinced , write to me at "jiveandlive@gmail.com" for further debate or if you care some concrete literature. You can be assured that I will reply.
Disclaimer: I am emancipated. I dont need policies ( though wudn't mind them either). I only advocate policy for those women who are most disadvantaged and exploited and also an acceptance of the fact that on the whole women are yet to receive their share of fair treatment.
Yup for me. I am undertaking to write this post again , as it got lost when the net connection failed.
I am back from a three day conference on "Moving Towards Gender Sensitization of Trade Policy " organized by UNCTAD India at Delhi. My work for an NGO focusing on Women Entrepreneurship got me the ticket for this event.The unanimous decision that trade policies need to be gender sensitive is a true case of gender sensitization or the long hours at the session.
Unlike most posts where I have tried best to bring forth different sides of the argument, I miserably fail to do so for this post. The reason is simple. One is either gender sensitive or not . There is no flimsy middle ground one can take in this case. And yes I am gender sensitive.
A different issue is whether there is anything as a gender neutral stance ,if one is aware of one's true self and teh fact that one is a man or woman.We'll leave that for perhaps another post.
It was a good step to bring policy makers- Union Cabinet Minister , Secretaries and Joint Secretaries ,academicians , UNCTAD Secretary General and women entrepreneurs' associations together on the same platform.
Conspicuous by their presence were the number of academicians who were present at the gathering.
Now I hope we all agree that women (overall ;on an average ) are exploited and have been used like doormats for promotion of patriarchal relationships where men benefit from the exploitation of women. The conference was a run up to The 12th United Nations Conference at Akra in Ghana . It collated the research which has been done in the field.Very few studies have put numbers to this obvious aspect . Apart from the numerous statistics presented at the conference which highlight the fact that women continue to be marginalized ,typically in East & South East Asia and Africa, a particular study conducted by UNCTAD , India ,UNDP and NPC was quantitative in nature. It showed that there is a strong and significant correlation between exports ( trade openess as defined by Exports /GDP) and gender development index( as measured by UNDP and NPC) in several countries including India.
Did you know that increased exports were associated with increased female employment in countries such as Mauritius , Tunisia, Sri Lanka , Bangladesh and Malaysia. And that industrialization in the newly industrialized economies of Taiwan, Hong Kong,South Korea, China and Singapore is as much women -led as export-led.
Conversely , in countries with low levels of trade integration and a dominance of commodity - production the impact of trade on women is less positive.Openess of trade and status of women is a two way relation. Good trade ,Good status of women and vice versa .( citation can be provided)
But my take is why do we need research on the issue which is so existant you can see it all around you????
Anyway some numbers to put things in perspective.
Women form 48% of the world's population ( which is another cause of concern) do 66% of the world's labour ,earn 10% of the world's income and only 1% of the world's property. There is a wage disparity across sectors and women earn 30% less than men. A girl or woman is raped every 3 minutes . 75% of girls lose interest in math after grade 6.
It is a fact that women take part in prodcutive as well as reproductive- nurturing and raising kids is considered the primary responsibility of women- processes and reproductive processes influence women's participation in paid employment to a great degree. Women are primarily involved in back breaking agriculutural work. Thye score poorly than men on the education and health front. Gender stereotyping is deeply ingrained in the fabric of families,parties,nations and also the world.
What am I driving at?
Given the background it is essential that trade move from its current gender blind stance to a pro women stand.
Lost you now ? Yup ,this part is the most difficult to accept.
I advocate gender sensitization even in the cut and dry world of business. Not just tokenisms like raising the taxable limit for women so taht they save 500 rs a month. But some concrete measures in the trade policy and national budget bill. For instance , as a positive step ,collateral free loan limit has been raised to Rs 50 Lakh for Women Entrepreneurs in the recent trade policy.
And yes I don't ask for chivalry ( that's dead nowadays ) but bringing out gender equality given the fact that women have long been surpressed and also an attitude makeover to shun stereotypes. Positive discrimanation is what I ask for.
If you are reading this and are still not convinced , write to me at "jiveandlive@gmail.com" for further debate or if you care some concrete literature. You can be assured that I will reply.
Disclaimer: I am emancipated. I dont need policies ( though wudn't mind them either). I only advocate policy for those women who are most disadvantaged and exploited and also an acceptance of the fact that on the whole women are yet to receive their share of fair treatment.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
One day at the Coffee Shop
Ahem , some poetry.which rhymes (for a change)
As I wander along the walkway,
with Dad by my side ,
A girl again, and a woman I may say,
Start a rumble with all their might.
The girl ..umm..shall we call her "Malvika"
Hops a bit ,skips a stair or two,
While the woman , who prefers to be called "Aparajita" ,
Walks with her soft lips held tight , much like plaster all new.
Now Malvika whistles a tune ,
And eyes a dude who's tall and lanky,
Unaware of her betraying eyes as she swoons,
Malvika gets a stare which is long and full , frankly.
Twas not the dude who reciprocated,
Ah!! Love -at first sight-rarest of the rare,
Is but a mirage in a world long long since last inundated.
Here was Malvika, brow beaten with just Aparajita's glare.
Why did you steal my moment?That dude got me interested,
With his lips turned to an assuring smile.
What got into you to ,O soul plump and jaded,
That look !O that Look ..it's been quite a while!
To this Aparajita ,eased her lips and let out a sigh,
"What will you have , for we'r at the coffee shop now,
Drink we must and get back to work piling high,
The dude's just waiting on you, he's not a painter and you not his muse ,silly cow!"
Caffe mocha and Latte ordered ,the twain waited,
One preening in the mirror, one eyeing ,
Not a word was stated,
Time flowed like sweet, viscous honey ,overly satiating.
They drank coffee ,one hurriedly ,one rather reluctantly,
After what must have been an hour the dude with the bill arrived,
Glances and change got exchanged, this time both swiftly,
A smile spread on Malvika 's face ,Aparajita and Malvika had just conciled.
Back on the walkway, they walk with thoughts quite random,
They walk their way , and will come to the coffee shop another day,
To have coffee and perhaps to even eye Mr. waiter handsome,
Lest the attrition at the coffee shop cause him to go another way.
As I walk along the walkway,
With Dad by my side,
I watch Aparajita and Malvika laugh in broad light of May,
Reconciled till the next fight.
As I wander along the walkway,
with Dad by my side ,
A girl again, and a woman I may say,
Start a rumble with all their might.
The girl ..umm..shall we call her "Malvika"
Hops a bit ,skips a stair or two,
While the woman , who prefers to be called "Aparajita" ,
Walks with her soft lips held tight , much like plaster all new.
Now Malvika whistles a tune ,
And eyes a dude who's tall and lanky,
Unaware of her betraying eyes as she swoons,
Malvika gets a stare which is long and full , frankly.
Twas not the dude who reciprocated,
Ah!! Love -at first sight-rarest of the rare,
Is but a mirage in a world long long since last inundated.
Here was Malvika, brow beaten with just Aparajita's glare.
Why did you steal my moment?That dude got me interested,
With his lips turned to an assuring smile.
What got into you to ,O soul plump and jaded,
That look !O that Look ..it's been quite a while!
To this Aparajita ,eased her lips and let out a sigh,
"What will you have , for we'r at the coffee shop now,
Drink we must and get back to work piling high,
The dude's just waiting on you, he's not a painter and you not his muse ,silly cow!"
Caffe mocha and Latte ordered ,the twain waited,
One preening in the mirror, one eyeing ,
Not a word was stated,
Time flowed like sweet, viscous honey ,overly satiating.
They drank coffee ,one hurriedly ,one rather reluctantly,
After what must have been an hour the dude with the bill arrived,
Glances and change got exchanged, this time both swiftly,
A smile spread on Malvika 's face ,Aparajita and Malvika had just conciled.
Back on the walkway, they walk with thoughts quite random,
They walk their way , and will come to the coffee shop another day,
To have coffee and perhaps to even eye Mr. waiter handsome,
Lest the attrition at the coffee shop cause him to go another way.
As I walk along the walkway,
With Dad by my side,
I watch Aparajita and Malvika laugh in broad light of May,
Reconciled till the next fight.
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