I wish for a Brighter Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Saibaba Origins

Origins and First Appearance
Nobody knew the parents, birth or birthplace of Sai Baba. Many inquiries were made, many questions were put to Baba and others regarding these details, but no convincing answer or information has yet been obtained. Practically we know nothing about these matters. When asked about HIS relatives and other details HE gave only one answer: 'From very long.'

Note: These words uttered by SAI BABA have been actually heard by the daughter-in-law of Mrs Bayaja Patal. She was a witness to the dialogue between Mrs Bayaja Patal and BABA who came for Bhiksha at Mrs Bayaja's place.

He first manifested Himself as a young lad of sixteen under a Neem tree in Shirdi for the sake of Bhaktas. Even then He seemed to be full with the knowledge of a Brahman (the only one Universal force or energy governing all matters). He had no desire for worldly objects and pleasures even in dream. He renounced Maya (delusion) and Mukti (deliverance) was at His feet. With His blessings many souls attained liberation by HIS mystic plays and without any 'formal' teaching or philosophical discussion. For all the seekersHE uttered only three words- 'ALLAH ACHCHA KAREGA' by way of HIS blessings. Everything will be fine by the GRACE OF GOD.

One old woman of Shirdi described Him as follows:
This young lad, fair, smart and very handsome was first seen under the Neem tree seated in an ‘asana’ (a Yoga posture). The people of the village were wonder-struck to see such a young lad practicing hard penance, not minding heat and cold. By day he associated with none, by night he was afraid of nobody. People were wondering and asking, when this young chap had turned up. His form and features were so beautiful that a mere look endeared Him to all. He went to nobody’s door, always sat near the Neem tree. Outwardly he looked very young; but by His action he appeared to be really a Great Soul. He was the embodiment of dispassion and was an enigma to all. Nobody knew HIS where about and HIS mysterious behavior (Leelas).

It is said that one day, God Khandoba at Shirdi possessed the body of some devotee and people began to ask Him, "Deva (God), you please enquire what blessed father’s son is this lad and when did He come".

God Khandoba asked them to bring a pickaxe and dig at a particular place. When it was dug, bricks were found underneath a flat stone. When the stone was removed, a corridor led to a cellar where cow-mouth-shaped structures, wooden boards, necklaces were seen.

Khandoba said, "This lad practiced penance here for 12 years." When the people began to question the lad about this, He put them off by telling them that it was His Guru’s place, His holy ‘Watan’ (inheritance) and requested them to guard it well.

The young Baba thus stayed on in Shirdi for a period of three years. Then, all of a sudden, He disappeared. After some time, He reappeared in the Nizam State near Aurangabad and eventually again returned to Shirdi with the marriage party of one Chand Patil, when He was twenty years old.

Return to Shirdi
There lived in the Aurangabad District (Nizam State), in a village called Dhoop, a well-to-do Mohammedan gentleman by the name Chand Patil. While he was making a trip to Aurangabad, he lost his mare. For two long months, he made a diligent search but could get no trace of the lost mare. After being disappointed, he returned from Aurangabad with the saddle on his back. After travelling four Koss (haifa mile) and a half, he came, on the way, to a mango tree under the foot of which sat a fakir (queer fellow). He had a cap on His head, wore Kafni (long robe) and had a "Satka" (short stick) under His armpit and He was preparing to smoke a Chillim (pipe). On seeing Chand Patil pass by the way, He called out to him and asked him to have a smoke and to rest a little. The Fakir asked him about the saddle. Chand Patil replied that it was of his mare, which was lost. The queer fellow or Fakir asked him to make a search in the Nala(small stream) close by. He went and the wonder of wonders! he found out the mare. He thought that this Fakir was not an ordinary man, but an Avalia (a great saint). A queer personality. He returned to the Fakir with the mare. The Chillim was ready for being smoked, but two things were wanting; (1) fire to light the pipe, and (2) water to wet the chhapi (piece of cloth through which smoke is drawn up). The Fakir took His prong and thrust it forcibly into the ground and out came a live burning coal, which He put on the pipe. Then He dashed the Satka on the ground from whence water began to ooze. The chhapi was wetted with that water, was then wrung out and wrapped round the pipe. Thus everything being complete, the Fakir smoked the Chillim and then gave it also to Chand Patil. On seeing all this, Chand Patil was wonderstruck. He requested the Fakir to come to his home and accept his hospitality. Next day He went to the Patil’s house and stayed there for some time. The Patil was a village officer of Dhoop. His wife’s brother’s son was to be married and the bride was from Shirdi. So Patil made preparations to start for Shirdi for the marriage. The Fakir also accompanied the marriage-party. The marriage went off without any hitch, the party returned to Dhoop, except the Fakir alone stayed in Shirdi and remained there forever.

How the Fakir got the name ‘Sai’
When the marriage - party came to Shirdi, it alighted at the foot of a Banyan tree in Bhagata Mhalsapati’s field near Khandoba’s temple. The carts were loosened in the open courtyard of Khandoba’s temple and the members of the party descended one by one, and the Fakir also got down. Bhagat Mhalsapati saw the young Fakir getting down and spontaneously accosted Him "YA SAI" (Welcome Sai). Others also addressed Him as Sai and thenceforth he became known as Sai Baba.

Upon His return to Shirdi, Baba stayed there for an unbroken period of sixty years, after which He took His Maha-Samadhi in the year 1918.

Initially, Sai Baba stayed on the outskirts of the village of Shirdi, then under a neem tree for four to five years at the spot now called Gurusthan, before shifting to an abandoned mosque which later became known as Dwarkamai.

Slowly His greatness was revealed and His fame spread far and wide, until by the end of His life He was attracting thousands of people to Shirdi. In the last decade of His life, Baba was worshipped with all pomp and ceremony and the mosque was likened to a maharajah’s ‘darbar’, yet Baba never changed His simple and austere lifestyle of the Puritans.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:20:00 +0000

About Sai Baba

Sai baba Introduction

Shri Sai Baba is revered as one of the greatest saints ever seen in India, endowed with unprecedented powers, and is worshipped as a God incarnate. (SAI meaning Sakshaat Ishwar) - GOD THE ABSOLUTE

This mysterious Fakir first made HIS appearance in Shirdi as a youth and remained there throughout His long life. HE transformed the lives of those who met Him and continuously is doing so even after His Samadhi in 1918 for those whose hearts are touched by His love and who pray and call Him at any emergency in life for HIS blessings.

Baba stated that His mission is to “give blessings” without discrimination to all, and He proves it in myriad ways by healing the sick, saving lives, protecting the vulnerable, averting accidents, granting offspring, facilitating financial gain, bringing people into harmony within themselves and with each other and, above all, in effecting the spiritual evolution and transformation of those who came to him as the last resort.

Baba is, as one of His contemporary devotees put it, “The embodiment of the Supreme Spirit lighting the sadhakas (seekers') path by His every word and action”.

To His devotees, Baba is nothing less than a GOD. This has been a matter of experience and not imaginary. “I look at everybody with an equal eye”

An outstanding aspect of Sai Baba is that He is beyond distinctions of religion, caste or creed. He embodied all religions and preached the Universal religion of Love.

Devotees of all faiths find their meeting point in Sai and people from all communities and all walks of life are united by the great love and reverence Baba inspires in them. Baba had great regard for His Hindu devotees and their Gurus and He responded to their needs and permitted worship according to the Hindu and other religious rituals. At the same time His dwelling place was a Masjid (Mosque) and the name of Allah was ever on His lips. HE described Himself as in Service to GOD (ALLAH) and as a soul ever remembering ALLAH -(YAD - A - HAKKA)

People today flock Shirdi in ever-increasing numbers to pay homage to the Divine and to experience the truth of Baba’s promise that He would be active in answering devotees' prayers even from His tomb. Like Ten Commandments BABA has given eleven assurances to humanity for welfare.

Baba said that He was a slave in the service of those who loved Him that He was ever living to help those who turn to Him and that He has to take care of His children day and night. HE then taught values of total surrender to the Almighty Master (ALLAH MALIK EK- The only ONE) and experience his grace.

In coming to Baba’s Shirdi His children experience the truth how BABA unfailingly fulfils His commitments to HIS devotees by coming to their rescue in times of crisis.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Foot Prints...

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of Footprints in the sand, one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the Footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of Footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of Footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me." The Lord replied: "My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you have seen only one set of Footprints, it was Then that I carried you."

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:55:00 +0000

Child Marriage

Child marriage is a violation of human rights whether it happens to a girl or a boy, but it represents perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls. The harmful consequences include separation from family and friends, lack of freedom to interact with peers and participate in community activities, and decreased opportunities for education. Child marriage can also result in bonded labour or enslavement, commercial sexual exploitation and violence against the victims.

Because they cannot abstain from sex or insist on condom use, child brides are often exposed to such serious health risks as premature pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and, increasingly, HIV/AID S.

Parents may consent to child marriages out of economic necessity. Marriage may be seen as a way to provide male guardianship for their daughters, protect them from sexual assault, avoid pregnancy outside marriage, extend their childbearing years or ensure obedience to the husband’s household.

Facts and figures

• Globally, 36 per cent of women aged 20–24 were married or in union before they reached 18 years of age.

• An estimated 14 million adolescents between 15 and 19 give birth each year. Girls in this age group are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth as women in their twenties.

• Marriage of young girls is most common in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In Niger, 77 per cent of 20- to 24-year-old women were married before the age of 18. In Bangladesh, this rate was 65 per cent.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:45:00 +0000

CHILD TRAFFICKING IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION

Thousands of women and children are trafficked every day. Within the overall profile of trafficking in South Asia, India is a country of both transit and destination. There is a considerable degree of internal trafficking as well as some trafficking from India to Gulf States and to South East Asia. Sale of children and their movement across the state borders takes place within the country too. In other words, while there is movement of children through procurement and sale from one country to another, with India being both a supplier as well as a “consumer”, there is internal “movement” of children within the country itself - one town to another, one district to another and one state to another. It is undertaken in an organised manner, by organised syndicates or by individuals,
and sometimes informal groups. Relatives and parents are part of this as well.

Issues of sale and trafficking of children are also closely linked to issues of migration, especially illegal migration. Cross-border trafficking continues to flourish because the issue continues to be ignored by the nation states involved in it. There is lack of coordinated efforts to take effective measures to address this problem at the regional level, between the countries involved.

Individual countries - both civil society and government have been trying to cope with this violation of human rights. Laws have been enacted and international and national initiatives have been launched. This study attempts to look at the extent, causes, manifestation and the interventions made on trafficking of children in the country. There is very little reliable quantitative data on the overall problem of trafficking. This is because there is as yet no common understanding on this issue.

Almost everyone looks at and understands trafficking synonymously with prostitution. As a result, most of the studies, data and activity in the field of anti-trafficking work in the country have focused on trafficking for the sex industry and this applies to child trafficking also. The available information is in the form of news reports and stories published or highlighted in the media or those brought out by NGO initiatives. There is little or no systematic ocumentation on the other purposes of trafficking such as for entertainment, organ-trading, adoption etc. This documentation on child trafficking in India has been undertaken for terre des homes (Germany) – India Programme. It is based on the news clippings, journals/magazines brought out by NGOs, papers and reports prepared by 2 NGOs and UN agencies, donor agencies or individuals on the basis of their experiences and research, information downloaded from the internet, government documents relating to trafficking in women and children, legal/policy documents on human rights/child rights etc.

WHAT IS TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN?

The problem in dealing with this very complex phenomenon begins with its very definition. There is no single definition of trafficking. In the absence of a common understanding, it becomes difficult to design policies, guidelines or even interventions to tackle this issue. A broader understanding of the issue is that illegal movement of any human being in any part of the world is trafficking. There is as yet no internationally recognised definition of “trafficking in persons”.

¤ The preamble to the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (“Whereas prostitution and the accompanying evil of the traffic in persons for the purpose of prostitution are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person and endanger the welfare of the individual, the family and the community, ...”) assimilates trafficking with prostitution. The Convention in its very first article makes trafficking punishable, defining it in terms of procurement, enticement or leading away of a person for prostitution or sexual gratification of another person.

¤ The United Nations General Assembly, 1994 (Resolution 49/166) defined it as-“ The illicit and clandestine movements of persons across national borders, largely from developing countries with economies in transition, with the end goal of forcing women and girls into sexually or economically oppressive and exploitative situations for profit of recruiters, traffickers and syndicates, as well as other illegal activities related to trafficking, such as forced domestic labour, false marriages, clandestine employment and false adoption.”

¤ At the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, “trafficking” was taken to refer to the illegal moving and selling of human beings across countries and continents in exchange for financial or other compensation.

¤ The Global Alliance Against the Trafficking of Women (GAATW), on the other hand, defines “trafficking” as “the recruitment and transportation of (a) person(s) within and across national borders, by means of violence or threat of violence, abuse of actual or perceived authority arising from a relationship, or deception, in order to subject them to the actual and unlawful power of (an) other person(s)”.

¤ Another useful definition is that advanced by the Netherlands Advisory
Committee on Human Rights and Foreign Policy, “The traffic in person could be defined as transporting a person from one place to another in order to subject him or her to the actual and unlawful power of other persons by means of using violence or the threat of violence or by using a position of authority arising from a relationship or by misleading the other person.” Some other definitions are:

¤ “Trafficking is a question that belongs to the broader question of “migration”, nationality and the question of applicability of fundamental human rights to children and any individual irrespective of their religion, race, class, gender, colour or nationality” (UBINIG. 1996).

¤ “The recruitment and transportation of a person(s), within and across
national borders by means of violence or threat of violence, abuse of actual or perceived authority arising from a relationship or deception, in order to subject them to the actual unlawful power of (an) other person(s). An individual may be trafficked for various purposes, invariably ending up captive, in coercive and exploitative or commercial sex sectors, commercial servile, marriage etc.” (Sinha. 1997).

¤ Office of Drugs Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) of UN defines child trafficking as “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

¤ The Transnational Training Seminar on Trafficking in Women, held in
Budapest from 20 to 24 June 1998, promulgated the following definition:
“Trafficking consists of all acts involved in the recruitment or transportation of persons within or across borders, involving deception, coercion or force, debt bondage or fraud, for the purpose of placing persons in situations of abuse or exploitation, such as forced prostitution, slavery-like practices, battering or extreme cruelty, sweatshop labour or exploitative domestic servitude. Ms. Calcetas Santos, the Special Rapporteur on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography finds this definition to be the most workable, although she expresses reservations as to whether trafficking always places the victim in a worse position than that held previously.

Clearly, intrinsic to trafficking is the sale and purchase of children, as is their movement from one place to another or issues of migration especially illegal migration. The lack of concrete definitions of both sale and trafficking makes it very difficult in most instances to determine whether a particular transaction is a sale amounting to trafficking. There is therefore a need to examine what the understanding on these issues is to be able to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of trafficking.

Sale of Children

It is difficult to have a definition of “sale of children” since children are not, and should not be, legally and/or morally, the objects of trade or
commerce. The reality of such sales, however, proves the need for a definition. The traditional concept of sale is that it pertains only to property - real, personal or incorporeal - and that the consideration is always price in money. In order to gain a clearer perception of the meaning of “sale” in its commercial application, it may be useful to take a look at some definitions of “sale” in general. Black’s Law Dictionary defines it as “a contract between two parties, called, respectively, the ‘seller’ (or vendor) and the ‘buyer’ (or purchaser), by which the former, in consideration of the payment or promise of payment of a certain price in money, transfers to the latter the title and the possession of property”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “sale” as “the transfer by common consent of the ownership of a thing or an interest in land, or in incorporeal property, from one person to another in exchange for a price in money”.
Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn, the first Special Rapporteur on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, defined “sale of children” as “the transfer of a child from one party (including biological parents, guardians and institutions) to another, for whatever purpose, in exchange for financial or other reward or compensation” (E/CN.4/1994/84, Para. 31).
Ms. Ofelia Calcetas Santos, in her first report as the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly (A/50/456, annex), defined “sale of children” as “the transfer of parental authority over and/or physical custody of a child to another on a more or less permanent basis in exchange for financial or other reward or consideration” (Report of the Special Rapporteur on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, Commission on Human Rights. Fifty-fifth Session. 29 January, 1999. Para. 18). She adopted this definition in order to exclude transactions that are strictly on a temporary basis, as when a child is “rented” out, in order to obviate confusion as to whether the transaction constitutes sale or pimping, for
example. The confusion created by the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes the “sale” of a child has not helped the members of the working group on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in dealing with the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. One position taken by the negotiators is that a “sale” must be for the purpose of sexual exploitation; the opposing view is that it is dangerous to limit the definition of the term in that way.

Migration

While it may seem that migration and trafficking are distinct and separate, they are at the same time integrally connected. The pressing need to migrate in search of work creates a fertile ground for traffickers and unscrupulous agents to exploit this need and profit from it. In today’s world, trafficking cannot be seen out of the context of migration as the most common form of trafficking is ‘migrant trafficking’.
A line must be drawn between trafficking and illegal migration in that trafficking, as is currently understood, involves some element of involuntariness, either through deception, force or intimidation, whereas illegal migration often occurs with the free co-operation, if not the instigation of the illegal migrant. There are, however, linkages between the two activities. Contemporary developments have caused population movements due to war, persecution, and violations of human rights, natural disasters, or very poor economic conditions. A number of
countries have imposed more stringent measures for border control and entry requirements and have reduced opportunities for legal migration. Such measures, however, do not alter the demand in these countries for cheaper sources of labour in the informal sector which gives rise to irregular, trans-border movement. The process of ‘migrant trafficking’ occurs in at least two phases - recruitment and transportation, and confinement to the site of work under exploitative conditions; when a migrant and unsuspecting victim is recruited and/or transported and delivered to a site of work which is different from the one promised by the agent involved in it or, when such migrant is subjected to such conditions of work about which she/he had no prior knowledge and therefore did not consent to. A greater number of cases under this category are those that
fall on the borderline of illegal migration, smuggling of persons and trafficking. It is difficult to distinguish between the three as they have certain common elements. One common factor is that the ‘victim’ is invariably a ‘willing’ traveller, though it is well documented that the ‘willingness’ is based on a variety of reasons e.g. promise of a well paying job (which later turns out to be false), deception and fraud. (Sanghera. 2000). Chances are that these illegal migrants fall into bondage.

“The term ‘trafficking’ needs to be distinguished from ‘smuggling’, which refers to services provided in unlawful border crossing, while trafficking includes complex organisation of contacts”. (First Report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrant Workers. April. 2000). From the above summary of working definitions of sale, trafficking and migration for trafficking, and the above discussion, there emerge some basic elements, which seem to be widely agreed upon. They include:

¤ Some degree of involuntariness on the part of the person being trafficked, either through the employment of deceit or fraud.
¤ Coercion or actual force, abuse of authority.
¤ Involvement of exchange of money or any other form of consideration.
¤ Subjection to situations of abuse and exploitation.
¤ Confiscation of travel documents, or debt bondage.

One question on which the above definitions are in dispute is whether trafficking for other than illicit reasons should give rise to criminal culpability and whether the situation of person is always worse than before? Trafficking of children for adoption wherein they may be adopted by a better placed family is such an example.

The Special Rapporteur Ms. Santos, firmly believes that, as in the sale of a person, trafficking of a person reduces that person to the level of a commercial commodity and is therefore inherently condemnable, regardless of the ultimate purpose for which it is carried out. Thus, the argument that in most cases of adoption the children end up in much improved living conditions, would not in any way justify the trafficking of babies and children. Another issue that still remains unsettled is whether trafficking necessarily involves movement or transportation from one place to another and, if so, if it has to be across borders.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:05:00 +0000

STOP Child Trafficking- Save the children

India has been identified as a source, transit and destination point in the international circuit; large numbers of children are also trafficked within the country. According to a study conducted by Shakti Vahini in 2006, �Trafficking in India�, 378 of the 593 districts in India are affected by human trafficking. 10% of human trafficking in India is international, while almost 90% is interstate. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the states from where the maximum numbers of people are trafficked to other states. Intra state/inter district trafficking is high in the states of Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

States like Delhi and Goa are �receiver� states. Trafficking of women and children from the North-Eastern states of India and the bordering countries in the north-east is a serious issue but has so far not drawn public attention. There was no evidence of trafficking in Jammu & Kashmir. Intra country trafficking has not been documented to the extent that cross border trafficking has been. However, Shakti Vahini conducted a study in 2006: �Trafficking in India�.

The study reports that 378 of the 593 districts in India are affected by human trafficking. India�s porous border with Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the major reasons citied for the prevalent high levels of children being trafficked every year.Children are trafficked for several reasons including sexual exploitation; adoption; entertainment & sports (for example, acrobatics in circus, dance troupes, beer bars; as camel jockeys); marriage; labour; begging, organ trade (though only anecdotal evidence of this is available); drug peddling and smuggling.

Trafficking of children usually happens through well organized networks. Family, relatives, friends, community leaders, brokers, the pimps and owners of brothels, the police, political connections and the criminal nexus: all or any of these have been found to be involved in the process of child trafficking.

LEGAL PROTECTION

Though there is an �Immoral Traffic Prevention Act� that exists in India, it only refers to trafficking for prostitution and so does not provide comprehensive protection for children. Nor does the Act provide a clear definition of �trafficking�. There is a UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (the Palermo Protocol) that will, when implemented, give a comprehensive definition of trafficking, but this has still not been ratified.

SAVE THE CHILDREN'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE

The UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (the Palermo Protocol) should be ratified to clearly define Trafficking and to cover all its forms.� Effective law enforcement agencies should be set up to work against traffickers and exploiters with appropriate redressal mechanisms and victim assistance programmes. � There should be effective monitoring of trafficking� There should be more coordination between the Ministries of Tourism, Labour and Surface Transport to combat domestic and cross border trafficking.

TRAFFICKING AND CHILD DOMESTIC WORKERS

Homes in urban areas employ �live in� domestic workers, the majority of whom come from West Bengal Bihar, Jharkand; or Orissa. �Agents� provide the links between employers and employees and it is reported that many of these girls are trafficked/bonded in connivance with their parents. The Government of Delhi in 2006 estimated that in Delhi alone there were 700,000 girls working in homes. Children are reportedly trafficked into Rajasthan from West Bengal and Bihar as child labour; and to Surat from Rajasthan to work in the diamond cutting industry. In Orissa, trafficking for labour is concentrated in pockets of districts in the coastal areas as reported in the CRSA.

TRAFFICKING AND CHILD MARRIAGE

Due to a demographic imbalance in Haryana (850 girls/1000 boys), men find it difficult to find a bride. The easy way out has been through a network of touts who help men, young old and widowed men to find wives from West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. An estimated 5000 girls were sold in the Mewat region of Haryana (Tribune 8 April 2004).

CAUSES FOR TRAFFICKING

Economic FactorsPoverty, often cited as a major reason responsible for trafficking in children, is not the only cause. Loss of traditional sources of livelihood, growing unemployment, forced migration, the commodification of children and growing consumerism resulting from globalisation have all contributed to the increase in child trafficking. The socio-economic situation and geographical location of the family add to the vulnerability. While both boys and girls are victims of trafficking, girls are more vulnerable, especially to trafficking for sexual purposes .

Cultural, Religious and Social Factors

Anecdotal evidence suggests that through the outlawed religious practices like the �Devadasi� and �Jogin� sytems, temple priests have used their position to traffick girls for prostitution.
Traffickers sell girls to the Bedia and Bacchara communities who live in Madhya Pradesh, and the border districts of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and to the Rajnats of Rajasthan , families where prostitution is traditional means of earning a livelihood.
A myth that makes young girls vulnerable is the widespread belief that sex with a virgin girl will cure men of STD and HIV/Aids.

Geo-political Factors

India shares a porous border with over seven countries all of which is not fenced. With the connivance of border police on either side, it is not difficult to enter India. Political instability and economic compulsions are reasons for young girls from Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and even as far Uzbekistan, to be sold to traffickers. Trafficking from these countries is a one way route, �into India�.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:05:00 +0000

Fashion Vs Indian Women

Like it happens in any developing economy, in India, there’s been an apparent growth in aspirations of the people. Today, people aspire to be someone famous. And, to become ‘that someone’, they’re willing to pay a premium for quality, design and exclusivity. Be it the contemporary housewife, a sophisticated or the next generation of working class, they all want the best in life.

"Today people, in one word, want Glamour. Anything written on celebrity, fashion and social revelry etc. is received with great delight. By giving the readers’ what they want media whets their appetite for it. Then follows the vicious circle of desiring more and more. So media goes on providing the same. Let’s take up growing awareness about fashion among youngsters.

Media has given a boost to the fashion industry, to the fashion shows. The fashion industry is at its peak with Indian couture catching the fancy of the fashion gurus all across the globe. Beauty pageants have helped in promoting it. More and more youngsters are getting pulled in by the glamour of lights, camera, grease pint and fame. Young girls are being lured to the show bizz.

Almost every young girl wants to be a slim trim, sexy model dancing on ramp, or wants to get a “Miss ….” Crown on her head. Since the last 4-5 years , the whole scenario of beauty paegents and fashion industry has just turned on. Beauty contests sprout like common weeds today. Every small dance and college wants to organize one and ofcourse everybody wants to participate in it.

Well , from an ordinary looking girl to a “crowned ideal woman “, it’s a long long process. The body beautiful is carefully crafted in the beauty factory, to be sold at a beauty mela. A successful sale helps it to lure millions of other bodies back to the beauty industry. Except for a woman’s height which is non negotiable, everything else can be altered. And do we really know what is the price of a beauty crown? Sushmita Sen had to have her breasts augmented - artificially shaped to please the judges!

Women today are using silicone breast implants their contouring that make men drool. Silicone injections produce the precise lip-chin correction which gives women the ‘sexy pout’ that sells soft porn glossies. Lipo-suction for fat removal, nose jobs, facelifts, and every possible surgical trick In a way we can say that a girl passing through different surgeries is carved into a ‘new master piece’.

Through aggressive advertising the beauty industry has been very successful in convincing women of the ‘Ideal Woman’ myth. It has made the woman’s body into a commodity which should meet a standard i.e. of queen’s. Every woman desires to look beautiful, sensuous and she feels insecure if she does not meet this standard. Perhaps this insecurity persuades women to buy beauty aids with often false claims of "removing wrinkles", "changing skin complexion" or "making one fair".

But there is the other side of the woman, the true Indian woman in picture. The Indian woman, who hopes that her husband's longevity is increased by larger dot on her forehead, who has no idea of her rights. She just knows giving and giving.When we talk about fundamental rights of women. what are these? We all know these include every right being a human being should have in a society. And who wouldn’t want these rights?

These are the fundamental rights that every human being would love to enjoy. Law is there to protect these rights of women in particular. But after 54 years of Indian independence, the condition of Indian woman is even worsened. Of the 15 million baby girls born in India each year, nearly 25 percent will not live to see their 15th birthday. The Indian constitution grants women equal rights with men, but strong patriarchal traditions persist even today.

In most Indian families, a daughter is viewed as a liability, and she is conditioned to believe that she is inferior and subordinate to men. Sons are idolized and celebrated. May you be the mother of a hundred sons is a common Hindu wedding blessing. The rules laid down by Manu in 200 B.C.: "by a young girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house". "In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent." On the contrast, the new generation X asks they have the right to drink or smoke in public, right to wear seductive cloths in public, right to take part in beauty contests, right to sleep with anybody she wishes.

They should not be interrupted in whatever they do. Should all these include in fundamental rights? Don’t you think that these so called new rights only reinforce the 'objectification of women', the feudal and/or the consumerist culture. Whenever any association opposes the beauty paegents or fashion shows , our “Miss India’s and crown girls’ do talk about feminism and women’s rights but has any celebrity model expressed any anguish at the higher rate of infant mortality among girls in rural areas?

Did anyone mention a sharp declining male-female ratio, existing female infanticide and increased selective abortion of the female fetus through sex determination? Did these models even know that every hour a woman is raped and every 10 minutes a crime is committed on a women somewhere in her country? Hard earned money that could have been spent on nourishing food to bring on a natural healthy look is used for buying artificial blushes and skin nourishers.

These artificial aids only worsen the condition if a woman’s general health is bad. Women’s groups and activists are objecting mainly to the ‘commodification’ of women as sex objects. "Women should be free to decide which beauty products to use. They should not be conditioned by advertising and a beauty contest culture. India’s constitution guarantees free primary school education for both boys and girls up to age 14 but India has the largest population of non-school-going working girls. Foremost is the view that education of girls brings no returns to parents and that their future roles, being mainly reproductive and perhaps including agricultural labor, require no formal education.

The "another disincentive for sending daughters to school is a concern for the protection of their virginity. Women work longer hours than men. Still, men report that "women, like children, eat and do nothing. If all activities — including maintenance of kitchen gardens and poultry, grinding food grains, collecting water and firewood, etc. — are taken into account, then 88 percent of rural housewives and 66 percent of urban housewives can be considered as economically productiveMothers breast feed their girl babies the reason of feeding for shorter periods of time reflects the strong desire for sons.

If women are particularly anxious to have a male child, they may deliberately try to become pregnant again as soon as possible after a female is born Conversely, women may consciously seek to avoid another pregnancy after the birth of a male child in order to give maximum attention to the new son." A study in Punjab shows that medical expenditures for boys are 2.3 times higher than for girls. Why a woman does so ? obviously , to fulfill her patriarchal family wishes.Male violence against women is a worldwide phenomenon.

Although not every woman has experienced it, and many expect not to, fear of violence is an important factor in the lives of most women. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in atrocities against women in India. Every 26 minutes a woman is molested. Every 34 minutes a rape takes place. Every 42 minutes a sexual harassment incident occurs. Every 43 minutes a woman is kidnapped. And every 93 minutes a woman is burnt to death over dowry.

The most extreme expression of the preference for sons is female infanticide and sex-selective abortion. Women are kept subordinate, and are even murdered, by the practice of dowry. It is estimated that the average dowry today is equivalent to five times the family’s annual income and that the high cost of weddings and dowries is a major cause of indebtedness among India’s poor. There are too many contrasts between the Typical Indian woman and modern outgoing Indian woman. Should we say that womanhood has been divided in between two polarities? Between big dot on forehead and the hair style where vermillion finds no place.

The point is not to follow centuries old customs, but to maintain the grace and dignity of womanhood. To maintain herself in such way, her presence gives a feeling of proud of being a woman, no matter she be in any corner of the world. We must learn to accept women in all their diversity - tall, short, thin, fat, white or black....Let’s try to understand in real terms that "Beauty is not in the body but in the mind." Let’s try to improve women’s living conditions in real picture.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:31:00 +0000

The Temple Women- The Yellamma Cult

In southern parts of India, Goddess Yellamma is known for her abundance strength. She is also known as Jogamma, Holiyyamma, Renuka and by other such names. Her temples are located at Soudathi in Belgaum district, Chandraguthi in Shimoga district and Hulgi in Bellary district of Karnataka State. In neighboring states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh there are innumerable devotees of this Goddess.
History of the Deccan tells us that the ritual of temple women (or devadasis) was well established by the 10th century A.D. The Devadasis were invariably women, typically resided in the temples, and were educated as artists and courtesans. It is not clear if the Yellamma cult has its roots in the Devadasi tradition. There are many stories about the origin of the Yellamma cult. The most prevalent one says that Renuka was the daughter of a Brahmin, married to sage Jamadagni and was the mother of five sons. She used to bring water from the river Malaprabha for the sage's worship and rituals. One day while she was at the river, she saw a group of youths engaged themselves in water sports and forgot to return home in time which made Jamadagni to suspect her chastity. He ordered his sons one by one to punish their mother but four of them refused on one pretext or the other. The sage cursed them to become eunuchs and got her beheaded by his fifth son, Parashuram. To everybody's astonishment, Renuka's head multiplied by tens and hundreds and moved to different regions. This miracle made her four eunuch sons and others to become her followers, and worship her head.

The followers of Yellamma, who are mostly poor, and illiterate, take an vow to dedicate themselves, their spouses, or their children in the service of Goddess Yellamma when they are unable to face the hardships of life. The typical situations include life-threatening diseases, infertility, and dire financial troubles.

These are the people who are primarily responsible for propagating Goddess Yellamma's virtues and achievements and glorify the Goddess. An elaborate ceremony is held in order to initiate the Jogathis (female) and Jogappa (male) volunteers in the service of Goddess Yellamma. New followers have to bathe in three holy ponds and proceed to the head priest accompanied by community elders and other members of the family. The priests give them a long sermon on what they have to do please Yellamma. They have to identify themselves with the very poor and unfortunate ones and serve the society. At least twice a year they have to visit the Yellamma shrine on full moon days to express and confirm their obedience. During this semi-annual ritual, they have to observe preferably total nudity. If not, they have to cover their bodies with Neem foliage or scanty clothes. Such rituals, especially in the last decade, have become heavily publicized events due to the oversexed youngsters and tourists who gather around such pilgrimage centers to have glimpses of nude and semi-nude human bodies.

The devotees of Yellamma decorate their forehead by smearing turmeric (Haldi) and vermilion (Kum-kum). Usually they do not go in for expensive ornaments. Crowns, earrings and necklaces are made out of cowries. Some of them do not wear any ornaments at all. The male devotees dress like men, but many Jogappas prefer to dress like Jogathis (symbolic of the sons of Renuka who became impotent), although it is extremely difficult for them to hide their male characteristics. They sometimes engage in female sexual gestures. Thus, wherever Jogappas are around young males hover around them. The public enjoy themselves by hissing, shouting, whistling and calling names at them. The Yellemma followers just ignore them and go about their life.
The Jogappas acting like Jogathis should not be mistaken for natural or otherwise eunuchs (Hijras) who are primarily entertainers. The Hijras move in groups of three to five, play drums, clap, sing and dance for alms. They are born hermaphrodite or neuter. Hence their sexual organs are malfunctioning or non-functioning. But they make different gestures in order to arouse erotic urges among human males. These acts of theirs bring in good deal of money and some groups have made a fine profession out of it. They sometimes kidnap young boys and girls, castrate them and induct them into the profession. At various social functions such as weddings and child births, their presence is desired and hence demand a good remuneration.
Most of the time, the Jogathis carry a metal vessel or a bamboo basket on their head which stays stationary without any support. Hence it looks like it's part of their body. The followers of cult believe that it is their deity's blessings that made it possible. The basket or the vessel is meant to carry a brass bust of Yellamma. It is very artistically decorated with a great variety of flowers. Some Jogathis use different colored cloth for the same purpose. It is a sight to see them dance carrying the icon on their heads. They dance rhythmically in a predetermined pattern. One or two Jogappas play drums.
One of the most mysterious and misunderstood aspect of this extremely religious cult is, their intention to serve their deity by attending the needs of general public which includes fulfilling sexual urges of men around. This has led to the common belief that they practice prostitution. It is extremely unfortunate that the cult members social service has been misinterpreted and exploited as a profession. The various state Governments have since banned the nude parade of worshippers (most of whom were women of low caste) of Yellamma, after violent debates in the society about their rights and wrongs. The ban has resulted in resentment among the followers of Yellamma.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:26:00 +0000

Mar Jawaan - Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:24:00 +0000

FASHION- MOVIE TRAILER

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:24:00 +0000

Fashion Movie Trailer - Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:37:00 +0000

FASHION

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:01:00 +0000

FASHION

After impressing the critics and audiences with his hard-hitting subjects like CHANDNI BAR, PAGE 3, SATTA and TRAFFIC SIGNAL the 3 time National award winner director Madhur Bhandarkar is back with a vengeance with the film FASHION, which depicts the dark and positive side of fashion industry. This is Madhur's most expensive film till date which stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Mughda Godse, Arjan Bajwa, and Harsh Chhaya primarily.

Apart from them a horde of other B-towners will be seen in cameos namely - Konkona Sen Sharma, Ranvir Shorey, Arbaaz Khan, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Karan Johar, Prahlad Kakkar, Daboo Ratnani, designers Wendell Rodricks & Manish Malhotra and last but not the least of all Madhur himself will be seen in a small cameo. This time Bhandarkar changes his loyalties from his favorite Shamir Tandon (music director of TRAFFIC SIGNAL, CORPORATE, PAGE 3) and tries out with aspiring Salim-Sulaiman for the needful in the musical section.

The lyrics are penned by Sandeep Nath and Irfan Siddique. A co-production of UTV Motion Pictures and Bhandarkar Entertainment, FASHION is all set to arrive in the month of October.

Synopsis:

The journey of the rise and fall and phoenix like re-birth of India's number one Supermodel. Set against the glittering backdrop of the glamorous but ruthless world of haute couture FASHION, this tells the story of one small town girl with a dream and the determination to make it a reality. Meghna Mathur knew in her bones that she was meant to be famous. Ever ambitious and bright with stars in her eyes, even as a girl with conservative parents from a small north Indian town - she dared to dream of bright lights and the big city..

The world of FASHION - the clothes, the colors, the make-up.. all of these form a part of a fascinating world that Meghna longed to be a part of. Meghna never wanted to compromise on anything on her journey to success - as she puts it - whoever said intelligent women couldn't be glamorous? She reaches the peak of her success and rises to walk the ramps for leading designers across India.

The FASHION world lies at her feet - the parties, the brand endorsements, the photographers, the models, the romance and of course - the shows, the shows, the shows! However karma catches up with Meghna as she slowly starts to pay the price for her fame and her journey to the top. Her attempt at a comeback was going to be a near impossibility.. However she was never a woman to turn away from a challenge.. FASHION explores the world of style through the emotional personal journeys of the key people that make the industry - the dream-weavers of that elaborate world of glamour: the models, designers, photographers, businessmen, agencies etc. In the world of image - makers - is it possible to conquer it and remain true to yourself?

Click to download

Aashiyana

Fashion ka jalwa

Theme of Fashion

Kuch Khaas

Mar Jawaan

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:47:00 +0000

Weekly tips to help you and your colleagues become more effective and respected leaders.

Today's Topic: Communicate the Rules of the Game

People become confused when there are no established performance standards, when the rules are contradictory, or when the stated values are not being followed.
For instance, we may communicate that we respect employees’ time, yet we consistently begin our meetings fifteen minutes late – wasting fifteen minutes of everyone’s time. Perhaps we say employees are our most valuable assets, but we hire the first “warm body” we can find to be on the team. Or maybe we tell people that we value excellence, yet ask more and more from our top performers, while tolerating mediocrity and poor performance from others.

Earning employees’ trust begins with clearly establishing acceptable standards of behavior for the team. To do that, managers must first answer the question, “What are the team’s values?” Then they can determine the “rules of the road” and decide which behaviors are “non-negotiable.” If the standards are not clearly established, are continually changing, or are contradictory, you can’t expect to develop personal trust. After all, what would they be trusting?
When people understand the rules of the game, generally speaking, they will do their best to play by the rules.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:44:00 +0000

Weekly tips to help you and your colleagues become more effective and respected leaders.

Today's Topic: Be a Brand

Your brand is how people think of you. Tom Peters says that “a brand is a trust mark, it’s shorthand, it’s a sorting device.” Think of the well known brands – Coca Cola, Pepsi, Dell, Mac, or iPod. All of them are shorthand for a product. People can be brands, too. Here are several things you can do to ensure your brand is one of high integrity:

Be direct.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing so astonishes men as common sense and plain dealing.” Astonish people with your straightforward communication style.

Admit your mistakes.

We all make mistakes. When you own up to yours, you’ll gain a reputation as a straight-shooter – someone who is as honest with himself or herself as he or she is with others.

Deliver.

Become trusted by doing what you say you’ll do.
Keep confidences. Earn trust by being trustworthy. Avoid gossip. Respect privacy if someone entrusts you with personal information.

Give credit.

Do your job and give credit to others for doing theirs.
Choose associates carefully. Join only those organizations and associate only with those people whose values are in line with your own. If you aren’t comfortable with your surroundings, you’ll have a hard time making a positive personal impact.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:14:00 +0000

KIDNAP- MITT JAAYE

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:13:00 +0000

KIDNAP- HEY YA

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:09:00 +0000

KIDNAP- TRAILER

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:37:00 +0000

KIDNAP

'Kidnap' is a high-octane edge-of-the-seat drama about a power tussle between a young boy and the father of the girl he kidnaps.Sonia ( Minissha Lamba ) lives with her mother, Mallika ( Vidya Malvade ) and grandmother because her parents divorced when she was ten. A week before her eighteenth birthday celebration, she gets kidnapped.The abductor, Kabir ( Imran Khan ) is interested in speaking only to her father, Vikrant Raina ( Sanjay Dutt ), an affluent New York-based Indian businessman, with whom he has an old score to settle.

Vikrant returns to India to retrieve his daughter from Kabir’s clutches but has to carry out a series of daunting tasks set out by Kabir as a condition to rescue her.At the end of each task is a clue that helps Vikrant in coming closer to Sonia.

Is Vikrant’s mission as easy as it seems? How far will a father go to save his daughter? What redemption is there for Kabir at the end?Imran Khan, who made his debut with the romantic Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na , sheds his chocolate hero image for 'Kidnap'.

'Kidnap' makes for compelling viewing as the big festival release on Eid.'Kidnap' is directed by Sanjay Gadhvi , who has directed Dhoom and Dhoom 2 and has music by Pritam , who became popular after 'Dhoom' .

Click to Download

Haan Ji ...

Hey Ya ...
Hey Ya -remix ...

Mausam ...

Meri Ek Ada Shola ...

Mitt Jaaye ...

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Mumbai Meri Jaan Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:57:00 +0000

phoonk trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Today's Topic: Improvise to Maximize

Great conversations result when there’s an easy give and take, a go-with-the-flow sensation, along with an acute sense that you are being heard at a deeper level than the normal chitchat. In this instance, good conversations resemble improvisational theatre. Improv actually depends upon all the actors paying close attention to each other and then working with whatever is presented to them. Let me repeat that: pay attention and work with whatever is presented. Select someone you’d like to (or need to) talk to. Open up the conversation by stating either why you’ve initiated the conversation or by asking an open-ended question. Then, practice these techniques:

Encourage talking by saying, “Yes…tell me more.” This means that no matter what is stated, don’t change the subject, get defensive, fail to listen, or ignore the response. You have the opportunity to create new and positive results by building upon whatever is said.
Don’t plan your response while the other person is speaking.

Seek what is provocative, interesting, or new in what you are hearing. There’s a gift somewhere. Trust me. Ask the other person to expand on something that intrigues you – even if it bothers you.

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:18:00 +0000

STUPID QUOTATIONS!

So long as any amount shall remain unpaid under this note, the Borrower covenants and promises to that Bank that the borrower will not permit or suffer to exist any of the following conditions: death of the borrower.
American Security Bank loan agreement.

We're not afraid of challenges. It's like we always say: if you want to go out in the rain, be prepared to get burned.
Anonymous Brazillian Soccer Player

How to store your baby walker: First, remove baby.
Anonymous Manufacturer

Traffic is very heavy at the moment, so if you are thinking of leaving now, you'd better set off a few minutes earlier.
Anonymous Traffic Report

This is no longer a slum neighborhood. I haven't heard of a Cubs fan being shot in a long time.
Anonymous Wrigley Field Neighbor, Chicago, IL

We are unable to announce the weather. We depend on weather reports from the airport, which is closed, due to weather. Whether we will be able to give you a weather report tomorrow will depend on the weather.
Arab News report

Caution: Cape does not enable user to fly.
Batman Costume warning label

Sure the body count in this movie bothers me, but what are you gonna do? It's what everybody likes. At least its not an awful body count--it's a fun body count.
Bonnie Bedelia, actress, regarding the movie Die Harder

Well, I used to look like this when I was young and now I still do.
Yogi Berra, baseball catcher, manager

Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.
Yogi Berra, baseball catcher, manager

The other teams could make trouble for us if they win.
Yogi Berra, baseball catcher, manager

It was pretty good. Even the music was nice.
Yogi Berra, after attending an opera

Congratulstions on breaking my record. I always thought the record would stand until it was broken.
Yogi Berra, to Johnny Bench

What good is the moon if you can't buy or sell it?
Ivan Boesky, inside stock trader

I think "immoral" is probably the wrong word to use...I prefer the word "unethical."
Ivan Boesky, inside stock trader

The Minutemen are not tall in terms of height.
Dan Bonner, CBS sportscaster, during a UMass basketball game

The private enterprise system indicates that some people have higher incomes than others.
Gerry Brown, California governor

Our strength is that we don't have any weaknesses. Our weakness is that we don't have any real strengths.
Frank Broyles, college football coach

All I was doing was appealing for an endorsement, not suggesting you endorse it.
George Bush, US President

It's no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another.
George Bush, US President

I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions --but I don't always agree with them.
George Bush, US President

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:48:00 +0000

ROCK ON

Farhan Akhtar made a swashbuckling directorial debut with the youth-friendly DIL CHAHTA HAI (2001) that really set ground-breaking rules for modern filmmaking. This time he returns with a promise of holding many flags together in an album that shows the brawn to pioneer the spirits and feel of "hard-rock" music. ROCK ON, his forthcoming home-production marks his acting cum singing debut. The triumphant trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (S-E-L) and renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar makes another consequential outing with ROCK ON. The successful conglomerate made things brighter earlier with musical successes like DIL CHAHTA HAI and LAKSHYA. This time the feel is more experimental than contemporary in its packaging. Will this work? Let's check this out!

The zany electronic and rhythm guitar strumming followed by rigorous drum-beating sets the tempo for a typical "hard-rock" concert stylized number "Socha Hai Kya". Farhan Akhtar makes first sparkling vocal impact that is loaded with motivational wordings that concocts energetically with thriving arrangements. S-E-L makes spectacular use of "speed-enhancing techniques" in guitar works where the tempo and speed is sporadically raised to the highest volume. Farhan makes a confident start to the album with Javed saab's striking lyrical works ("Baadal Neela Kyon Hai...") and really sets the mood for "hard-rock" bonanza for the forthcoming soundtracks.

"Pichle Saat Dinon Main", a blazing rock song triggers off with a bombastic electric guitar strumming and gets accompanied with quizzical wordings ("Mera Laundry Ka Ek Bill...") about things lost in 7 days in a true concert feel style. Farhan makes another "rock star" appearance where the hook-line "Na Na Na Na" and frivolously played concoction of rhythm and electric guitar riffing in its middle preludes makes sound significance. Do play it louder and really feel the impulse of "hard-rock" concert that comes with racy energetic flows. The second version is "feel-good" concert number where vocalist energizes the crowd to sing with him. It picks up well with "Na Na Na" sounds with slower tempo that gets aggravated and finally culminates into a typical rock concert number.

Farhan Akhtar makes the maximum impact with his voice as his thriving vocals find a brilliant match of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums and keyboards in youthfully energized title track "Rock On". Undoubtedly the best number of the album; it signifies the feel of four "rock-stars" as their outrageously bizarre emotions are well emoted with zany "hard-rock" flows. The finely plucked electric cum rhythm guitar strumming followed with rhythmical drum-patterns delivers a harmonic signature feel of the film. S-E-L deliver a gem of hard-rock number that has the firing thrust of setting the concert floors on fire. This highly animated title track is likely to be having maximum takers among urbane listeners and do find it to be scaling high on charts in coming weekends.

Soulful and smoothening feminine textures epitomizing the captivating charms of a delightful evening gets mesmerized to perfection with delightful vocals of Dominique Cerejo in enchanting melody "Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein". This time S-E-L make effective use of delectable westernized arrangements to deliver a "soul" music ambience. The contours of lovable and genteel instrumentation are perfectly usurped with syrupy wordings with "bright as sunshine" vocals making this an everlastingly situational love track.

"Hard-metal" rock music makes its impulsive and animated maneuvers through Suraj Jagan's ferociously vocals, distorted loud guitar, dense bass and drum sounds and bizarre lyrical works in "Zehreeely". The continuous rigorous beat-patterns are ear-splitting where the voice screeches and yells to deliver a venomous feel of the protagonist. It's extra-vociferous and thunderous rendition is more akin to the situational needs.

Farhan Akhtar returns to scenario with a subtle and soft melody, "Tum Ho Tum", where he softens his vocals chords to deliver a mushy romantic appeal. The soft guitar strumming and sluggish percussion followed with a bass guitar lining tries to give it a theatrical feel. In this genteel number, one can feel the throw and flow of Farhan's voice that should work amiably in the tender moments in the film.

The fairy tales of "Sindbad the sailor" finds its motivational significance as "Sindbad" is idolized as stature of determination and dedication in snazzy sounding rock number "Sindbad the Sailor". Farhan finds the company of talented Raman Mahadevan as their voices complements and amalgamates well in tandem with rigorously punched "hard-rock" musical arrangements to deliver another worth-hearing number.

After the enchanting "Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein", impressive sounding Caralisa Monteiro's subtle vocals make mood mushier by ushering out emotions of dreams and hope in the magnificently rendered "Phir Dekhiye". S-E-L makes delectable use of rhythmical guitar and piano works that gel perfectly with silken feminine vocal moves. It's another delightfully gleaming soft number that will be adding dollops of sentimental delights in tender moments and surely will be making the singer proud of her remarkable rendition.

S-E-L deserves all accolades for adding the genre of "hard-rock" music in the marquee as they make aesthetically positive efforts in this album. ROCK ON is a tailor made product for urbane-cool listeners who have passion and understanding for "rock" music. The album's high points are tracks like "Rock On", "Pichle Saat Dinon Mein" and "Socha Hai Kya" while numbers like "Phir Dekhiye" and "Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein" have soulful impact. It's likely to be having major takers among lovers of the pop genre but its acceptance from hoi polloi is still unpredictable.

Rating -3.5

Songs- Click to download

Phir Dekhiye

Zehreelay

Pichle Saat Dinon Mein

Rock on

Sindbad the sailor

Socha hai

Tum ho to

Yeh tumhari meri baatein

Pichle saat dinon mein

noreply@blogger.com (Noopur) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:19:00 +0000

Today's Topic: Managing Performance in the Virtual Workplace

The virtual work environment provides unique performance management challenges. Addressing these proactively will have a positive impact on productivity, morale, and results. At the same time, the virtual workplace offers some distinct advantages to the performance management and evaluation process. Gone are the days of “face time” and the perceived sense that you know they’re working because you can see them sitting at their desk or workstation. In reality, the way you know that someone is working – and doing the right things the right way – is to have clear outcomes. In other words, you don’t really know that work is getting done unless you know what’s expected, how it’s to be done, and how it will be measured. This is where the virtual workplace has a positive impact on your need to manage performance effectively by requiring that clear expectations, behaviors, and measures be defined. When team members work remotely, you can’t totally control how they do their jobs, but you still need to manage their overall performance and results. It can be difficult – for leaders and employees – to discuss performance issues from a distance. Having a clear process with specific steps provides a guide and keeps everyone on track.