Lest we remember...

To all those critics, who kept asking “What have we learnt from 26/11?”, I have this to offer in reply:

1. RR Patil has learnt that making blasphemous statements like “Aise chhote mote haadse hote rahte hain” (such minor incidents keep happening) can get you a much-needed vacation until you get back into action in the same Ministry.
2. RR Patil has also learned that he should speak in Marathi and then blame it on the translators for misinterpretting him.
3. Vilasrao Deshmukh has learnt that striking a deal with Bollywood directors for their next blockbuster adds value to one’s CV and helps you get a Union Minister post while the lay public is pleased with the “prompt action taken”.
4. The public has learnt to take these “smart moves” in their stride. After all, their removal was only to keep their critics quiet - the aam aadmi was only hoping for improvement in the security measures to avoid such breaches in future, weren’t they?
5. We have learnt that we need a common enemy in a foreign land to unite us – even if it is for a short while and even with that we don’t keep united for long..
6. We have also learnt that, soon enough, some of our politicians will remind us of our regional, religious and other affiliations and pit us against each other so that we are engaged in fighting each other rather than how to deal with external threats.
7. Tourism operators have learnt how to capitalise on the incident and promote “terror-tourism” by organising visits to Leopold Café, Taj Mahal Hotel, Hotel Trident and Nariman Bhavan. Maybe they could throw in a visit to Dharavi as a free “slum-tourism” package, popularised by the award-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” (or vice versa)
8. We have learnt that kind souls do set up NGOs and assistance groups to look into the problems of those affected by the terror attack
9. We have also learnt that Government Cheques do bounce!
10. We have learnt to wait for the next anniversary.

We could go on…..So it isn’t that we haven’t learnt!

Now that the first 26/11 anniversary is behind us and we’re done with lighting the candles, floral tributes and joining the peace marches or whatever it is that makes us feel we’ve done our bit for those who laid down their lives, it is time to move on with life. At least until the next anniversary becomes due in 2010. By which time, we may pitch the counter-terrorism ball shorter and not with the same pace or force as this time around.

The first anniversary was also timely – at least for Madhu Koda, whose story receded into the background while the nation paid tributes to the national heroes and the media shifted focus from scams to martyrs and heroes of 26/11. Also, fortunately for scamsters like Ramalinga Raju and Madhu Koda, the nation does not observe any anniversaries of scams! Naturally, since nobody dies – we all continue to live, albeit duped and deprived. How about a “scam tourism package” thrown in, now that we have a portfolio of scams to boast of? Perhaps the only thing that may remind us of a past scam is the next bigger scam! How about a new mega scam around 26/11/2010?

Bloggers' Post-Script: Readers of the blog who have not yet read my interview featured on Webneetech.com may read the same in this link here.

Do read my microblogpost on India-tweets "The other cheek please"

Mee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Boltoy

Thank you, Blogadda - for picking this post for Spicy Saturday Posts

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to watch a popular Marathi movie, “Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy”. I quite liked the movie, considering that it presented to viewers, the kind of predicament a typical middle class Maharastrian family living in Mumbai finds itself in, when dealing with members of other communities who have migrated to Mumbai and made it big, while they continue to struggle in their mediocrity and don’t really know how to cope with the aggressively competitive and ambitious “outsiders”, who beat them on their home turf.

Watching this Marathi Manoos taking all insults lying low, Shivaji Maharaj, the all-time hero of the people of Maharashtra, decides that he cannot continue to see his own people suffering anymore. Shivaji Maharaj rides it out to the humble abode of the protagonist and offers to guide him out of the rut that he has gotten himself into due to his own low self-esteem and lack of spirited approach to life and calls upon him to change his own thinking to take on the world in his own terms. He transforms the humble son of the soil, wallowing in his own miseries, into a force that the world reckons has truly arrived.

I have never posted a movie review on my blog. Nor is this post a review of this wonderful Marathi movie, which deserves to be translated into every known Indian language and released nation-wide. This post is about how several Marathi stage artistes, movie-makers, writers and thinkers have done more for the Marathi Manoos than a couple of cousins haggling for vote banks! The work of Pu La Deshpande needs to be translated and made available to every Indian. Movies like Shwaas has made it to the Oscars, but why don’t we find dubbed version of such great masterpieces showing in other states of India?

Every week I watch several young boys and girls singing great Marathi songs in the Zee Marathi channel “SaReGaMaPa - Punha Nave Sapna Swaranche” on Mon/Tues 9.30 pm onwards. Several non-Maharashtrians told me that they too watched all the episodes of SaReGaMaPa including Little Champs, and simply loved that program! What makes them watch a program in a language that they couldn’t understand much, I asked.

“We love the manner in which the judges, Avdhoot Gupte and Dr Salil Kulkarni guide and advise the participants about music, humility and about life! The participants are blessed and it is a rare treat for us – we don’t find this kind of mentoring in any other language music reality shows!”, was their reply!

How very true! In fact, some of the participants, who are non-Maharashtrian, have made it to the top 12. A South Indian, Abhilasha Chellam and a North Indian, Rahul Saxena, are doing a great job for Marathi music and culture! Truly, music has no language barriers – neither have evolved human beings!

When the true-blue proud Maharashtrian and Mumbaikar, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who completed 20 years of entering the International Cricket arena spoke about Mumbai being a part of India and that he was an Indian first, I thought, he was entitled to his view. He may have done more for Mumbai, Maharashtra and India than the 2 Senas put together have done for Maharashtra. And I am glad that by speaking up against regional divides, which harm the interest of our country, he has just padded up – and will bat for India! One does hope more enlightened writers and thinkers and prominent state figures that truly make Maharashtra what it is today do join in and unify the country!

And to my fellow Indians from other states, I have this to say – Maharashtra is more than a couple of cousins squabbling amongst themselves for the coveted title of the “Grand Saviour of Marathi” – Its much more!

Blogger’s Postscript: This subject has got more attention than it really deserves. This post attempts to say something different. (I hope it does).
After all, I am an Indian Blogger first!

First Book Review of my First "ArTicKles" Book

It gives me great pleasure to announce that a fellow author and blogger, Jeena Papaadi, who accidentally discovered my book "The ArTicKles Collection", while googling for the Bangalore Book Festival (BBF), has posted a Book Review in her blog.

I do thank Jeans, as she calls herself, for this!
Do read the review here

I do hope the copies of my book are sold out before the BBF closes on Sunday 15th Nov 09! The book is available at a specially discounted price of Rs. 100 until 15th Nov 09 at the Pothi Stall in BBF held at Stall No. 288, Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, (entrance near Chowdiah / Bellary Road side) at Bengaluru.

Blogger's Post-script:
Meanwhile what do you think bloggers do when they arent posting blogs? Well, they are posting tweets on Twitter! So get on to Twitter and follow me @gopinathmm and you will be amazed at the fun and excitement abuzz on the microblogging platform.
So when most people were worried about Phyan in Mumbai, tweeple had several views why it wouldnt enter Mumbai "MNS didnt allow it because it doesnt know Marathi" said one,"becoz it does not have a Marathi name" said another. I also found the origin of the name of the cyclone Phyan here.

But now that it is past us, it is safe, I presume to disclose that this Burmese word for berries falling of trees is just crap, it was indeed of marathi origin! Since the rural Maharashtra folks felt that this cyclone was no great stuff and God had just put on the fan sot they kept saying "Phyan", as they always say in rural Marathi, you see... so now you know!

Phyantastic, isnt it?

BBF is on

The Bangalore Book Festival is on since November 6th and will be open until 15th Nov 09. My self-published book, enabled and powered by Pothi.com has been put up in their Stall No. 288 there as I have already announced in my previous post.

Pothi.com has begun posting all the happenings and pics in their blog “Booknomics” here.

Jean, blogger and author of “Tales from the Garden City” has posted some pictures and written about her visit to the Pothi stall in her blog, which can be read here.

Jean also left a comment on my blog that she has bought a copy of my book! Thanks, Jean! Do write a review on the Pothi.com website and/or your blog, once you’ve finished reading it.

All a writer wants, once he completes writing his book, is that his book reaches as many readers as possible. Though some of us have opted for self-publishing our books at Pothi, this does not prevent us from trying to approach established publishers for buying the rights of the book. I forwarded copies of my books to 4-5 publishers till date and they were quick enough to revert with a standard reply, “At the moment, our hands are full, you may try some other publisher”.

Just wondering why Goddess Saraswati did not bless our publishers with a dozen hands instead of just 2 – in which case, wouldn’t they have some hands free for handling my book? Anyway, just take it that this message is just an accepted publishing industry norm for a “rejection slip” to the author. Having collected several such rejection slips from newspapers and magazines, these just add to the tally, I thought.

However, according to this piece, even some best-sellers in the market today have been rejected several times before publishers see the potential in them, citing 14 best-sellers which were rejected more than 15 times (some more than 30 times) before acceptance!

Who would guess that “Gone with the wind” by Margaret Mitchell would have been rejected 38 times, “Carrie” by Stephen King was rejected 30 times, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach was rejected 18 times, “Chicken Soup for the Soul” by Jack Canfield was rejected 140 times, “The Peter Principle” by Laurence Peter was rejected 16 times? So you now know how wrong publishers were to reject the book submissions! Chicken Soup for the Soul ended up selling over 80 million copies and was translated in 37 languages once published.

I wonder how so many publishers didn’t find such remarkable books worth the print paper? So authors should not get disappointed by rejections by established publishing houses who can print many copies of our book and place them in the bookstores all around the world, and who knows they may be the best-sellers in the days to come!

So, guys, we have a new platform of self-publishing to get started, but we need to keep trying our luck with established publishers and distributors and of course keep improving on the work in terms of presentation and details – that’s what successful authors have been doing all along.

My Book at the Bangalore Book Festival 2009!

As you all know, I have been doing the write stuff for some years now. Writing involves imagination and as we work upon our skills, fantasies come to us quite naturally. So it happened that I got this idea about self-publishing my first “ArTicKles Collection” early this year. Now writing nonsense is one thing and publishing it in a book, quite another. But thanks to well-wishers and some helpful souls who tend to our fantasies and work to see our creations see the light of day, like Pothi.com, my first book was published in February 2009 and has been available for purchase on the net here.

Soon, I learnt that publishing a book is one thing and selling it, quite another! The book is available on the net, but nobody seems to be buying it! So what’s wrong with my book? I began to wonder.

“Nothing, its just that it doesn’t get the publicity and since most readers still pick up books in the book-store and online purchases hasn’t yet caught up, your book lacks the visibility” said a good friend of mine.

That reminded me about what a very popular author said in his television interview. He narrated an incident about how a young aspiring author once asked him whether he considered himself the best author in the world today, to which he quickly replied “Certainly not the best author, but probably the best–selling author or close to being it”.

That sorted out the entire muddle in my head! For someone who cannot sell a refrigerator to a guy staying in a desert (not an eskimo, take note), no wonder the book doesn’t sell. Moreover, one did not even heed the advice of well-intentioned friends who suggested that I throw in some romantic love stories and garnish it with juicy bits of holding hands while naturally progressing into promiscuity, that would be certain to irk the big-wigs in the several “Senas” and several self-appointed moral brigades of the region. I could’ve just handed over a couple of free samples to their staunch supporters in my region and hoped and prayed for my book to be banned or better still, burnt in public – after which it would become an instant international best-selling success!

Finally, I did none of it!

So I am now happy that Pothi.com, the self-publishing platform has come up with an idea (not as exciting as my friends’ suggestions, though, I must admit) to help sell our books apart from the online bookstore! Pothi has decided to set up a stall in the Bangalore Book Festival to be held in Bangalore from Nov 6th to Nov 15th and signed copies of my first book will be available at a discounted price of Rs. 125/- (Listed price Rs. 140)during the event.

The details of how to get to the Book Stall of Pothi is as follows:

Stall No. 288, Bangalore Book Festival,
Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds,
Bangalore
(Entrance from Chowdiah/ Bellary Road side)


So now that you know what my book isn’t about, what are you waiting for? Go grab a signed copy of my book!

PS: Oops, I almost forgot – the book contains some selected “ArTicKles” – humorous, informative, entertaining collection of old published and unpublished pieces,which I promise shall be a great read especially for those who have limited access to the net! It is a great gifting idea for elderly people who read books and newspapers and enjoy some good humor in life!

For those in Aamchi Mumbai or Fascinating Goa, some copies are available for the same discounted price of Rs. 125/- plus courier charges as applicable. If anyone is interested in purchasing my book, kindly write in to my email id which is g_mavinkurve AT hotmail DOT com to be the proud owner of a work of outstanding human fantasy or...er...stupidity!

For those who think they are well-connected (to the internet, i mean), just head to my best posts in my blog here. I have actually improved upon my posts in the book! So do buy my book, guys!

Jab Tweeple Twoot Pade!

Kal Twitter pe saare Indian Tweeple twoot pade the!

All Indian Twittering people were posting tweet after tweet their own contribution to the thread that became the rage on Twitter #unlikelyindianbooks

It was surely a special treat on my special day - I was glad everyone was celebrating and having fun!

I am posting some choice picks that caught my attention from what Indian tweeple posted yesterday below (not necessarily the very best - it was difficult to choose from thousands of them)

The Best of #unlikelyindianbooks

Tweets By @amitvarma'
'A farewell to Arms' by Varun Gandhi.
'Who Moved My Cheesecake' by Adnan Sami.
"On The Road" by Salman Khan. "The Son Also Rises" by Sonia Gandhi.
'Men Are From Toronto, Women Are From Mumbai' - Rakhi Sawant.
'How the Parsis and Gujaratis Built Mumbai' by Raj Thackeray. @Krishashok
"Drink in peace & other punny tales" by Morarji Desai
"The Great Indian Navel" by Shilpa Shetty
"The Interpreter of Melodies" by Anu Malik
"Amar Shonar Nano" by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
"A Suitable Boy" by Rakhi Sawant
"Meri Rashtrabhasha" by M Karunanidhi

Tweets by @Rameshsrivats
"Attempted yorkers and other fuck-ups" by Chetan Sharma
"Have you seen my stamp collection" by Telgi
"Headache Remedies" by Ravana
“Shoots, Eats & Leaves - The story of Salmaan & a Blackbuck"
“Cocktail Recipes" by Morarji Desai
"Damn. Pluto is out." by Bejan Daruwala
“Eyes wide open" by Deve Gowda
"Tree's Company" by Aishwarya Rai
"Cookbook" by Ramalinga Raju
Lol RT @shubhas: The buck stops here by Salman Khan

Tweets by @Jhunjhunwala
"Being Silent" by Navjot Singh Sidhu

Tweets by @SachinKalbag
"How I Created An #unlikelyindianbooks Meme Monster" by @jhunjhunwala
"A.P.J Abdul Kalam - My Friend, Philosopher and Guide" by K Santhanam
“The Art of Prime Ministership" by L.K. Advani

Tweets by @TheComicProject
"Yeh haath mujhe de de thakur" by Varun Gandhi
"How to talk like Amitabh" - By Sachin Tendulkar
"Mackenna's Gold - By Bappi Lahiri
"Employee Retention" - by Hari Sadu

Tweets by @Vinod_sharma
"A few good men" - by Laloo, Mulayam, Paswan
"Jai Shri Ram' by Karunanidhi
"Main aur meri young bai" by Shiney Ahuja
“From Pizza Hut to Dalit Hut" by Rahul Gandhi
"Bhaichara with gaichara" by Laloo Yadav
“Desperately seeking Sonia" by Amar Singh
"Hens Pecked" by Dr Manmohan Singh
"The bucks stop here" by Prannoy Roy
"Keep mom, give gas" by Anil Ambani
'Dressing up for terror attacks' by Shivraj Patil

Tweets by @gopinathmm _ Hey that's me!
"Consistency and Stability in the Indian Education System" by Kapil Sibal
“Flexibility at WTO negotiations" by Kamal Nath
“The ultimate Self-Yelp Book for Canines" by Maneka Gandhi.
To order call toll-free number 1-BOW-BOW-BOW-BOW
"How to present the news without getting excited" by Rajdeep Sardesai
"How to conduct a talk show without cross-talk" by Vikram Chandra
"Lobbying for a favorable tax slab for the unlisted gender" by Bobby Darling
"How to put the interviewee at ease" by Karan Thapar
"Committed to Industrialising West Bengal" by Mamata Bannerjee
“How to tackle tough neighbours" by Dr. Manmohan Singh
"How to handle sibling business rivalry" by either of the Ambani brothers
“How to build an empire by running an ethical business" by Ramalinga Raju

Needless to say, Twitter kept flashing the message:
“Overcapacity – Too many Tweets to handle – login after sometime”

So folks who are not yet on Twitter, you know what you are missing out!
Follow me on twitter on @gopinathmm

We may have a blast on this microblogging platform like this one again!

Magical Treachery – Breaking Codes, Vanishing Charm

Thank you Blogadda for picking this post!

“Watch the masked magician as he reveals the best kept secrets of magic on the AXN show, ‘Breaking the Magician’s code’” announced an ad in a newspaper, which immediately caught my attention! Amazing illusions of levitation, slicing a person into two parts with a powerful saw, penetration through tough walls, assistants locked and tied up in metal cages vanishing - all in front of our very eyes, had been always fascinating us since our childhood days. “How did he do it?”, was always a question on the minds of people in the audience.

While watching the 'Masked Magician', who was later found to be the well-known Val Valentino, on AXN Channel’s Thursday night show at 10 pm, “Breaking the Magician’s Code – Magic’s Biggest Secrets finally revealed”, one was shocked to see how the skillful masked performer, after presenting several conjuring acts, quickly followed them up with the revelations about the props used, hidden assistants, secret trap-doors, misleading gestures to divert attention, specially designed chairs and tables, that had actually helped deceive the viewers into the amazing effect adeptly handled by the performers. What was unknown to the audience for several years was unfolding right before them on their TV screens! ‘Oh, such a simple thing, after all – how couldn’t I guess that?’, an instant would come to one’s mind.

As *POOF* - the charm of the trick just vanished!

Being part of the Indian magicians’ fraternity since my school days, yours truly had fiercely guarded these secrets for a singular cause – to maintain the charm of these intriguing, enthralling acts which had regaled the audiences and kept them guessing. “Oh, how does he do it?”; “Does he hyponotize us?”; Surely there’s something hidden up his sleeve, isn’t there?” “There’s something special with the wand in his hand, isn’t it?” When asked, I had only one answer –
“It’s magic!”

Raja the Magician performing an act

Being the younger brother of Rajaram Mavinkurve, better known as ‘Raja the Magician’, a popular children entertainer in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I had the privilege to assist him at stage shows and birthday parties. So did I not follow into his footsteps and perform the acts myself? Well, no! While he was adept at his sleight of hands and deceitful ways, my sloppy fingers and slipshod ways were a threat to the entire trade, much before the betrayal of the masked magician. Having learnt this in private performances at home, my brother was convinced about one thing: Before the arrival of the masked magician, the best way to tell the world how it is all done was really to ask me to perform!

Raja the Magician performing an act

The magicians' fraternity was a close-knit one and guarding secrets was a major avowed principle being strictly followed. Naturally, my public performance was out of question. That left me with a limited opportunity to help out by setting the table before the show and ensuring that curious kids don’t rampage the magical stuff, until it was packed up and carried away for the next show. Several friends and kids would coax us to let them know the secrets to these mystifying acts, but to no avail. The only reply would be:
“Hey, It’s magic!”

Rajaram was also good at networking amongst magicians and entertainers all over India (and abroad too). He took active part in the Society of Indian Magicians and was also the President of the organisation for several years. This involved organizing get-togethers, picnics, competitions and such other activities. Sensing my resolve and interest in the subject, one had no difficulty to gain entry into these esoteric events of magicians, hailing from all over India, in which the secrets of acts were discussed, improvements, innovations and new tricks were actually being demonstrated and taking shape.

After his sudden early demise in 1998, due to a massive heart atttack, (he was 45 years of age), my connections with these wonderful performing artists were lost, barring a few who would call up and keep in touch. So I called up some of them recently and wanted to know their take on the on-screen exposes by the “recent” show. I was informed that the Val Valentino had begun exposing these in the US as early as 1998 and was continuing to do so even until 2008, all for the lure of money.

It was amazing, I thought – several Indian magicians were battling to keep their trade from slipping into bankruptcy but hadn’t fallen for the lure to expose the secrets, thereby letting down their own brethren and here is a guy from the western world who is doing it and raking in the moolah! So what was the reaction of the magicians, one wanted to know?

“Well, good performers continue to do well”, I was told. “Most of the folks know that we are only entertaining and want everyone including kids to enjoy themselves. There’s competition from other performers too, but the challenges are being met by being innovative, introducing some new tricks. And moreover newer kids keep coming into this world!”, he said reassuringly. So, they aren’t vanishing any time soon! I heaved a sigh of relief for my good old friends!