It's Still A Man's World!

We like to call ourselves progressive, we like to extol values of gender equality and empowerment. We like to believe that there is no glass ceiling.
But episodes like the sacking of Debrahlee Lorenzana from Citigroup for being too hot, prove that all these concepts are indeed alien in the workplace.
Frankly, Debrahlee looked pretty ordinary to me from the her photos that appeared in the press, but there may be men who thought otherwise.
But honestly, aren't men supposed to rest their raging hormones when they are at work? In any case, if they don't, it's their problem, and not that of women like Debrahlee.
This episode got me to think a lot. And it forced me to recall my conversations with career women, both in the family and friends.
I have felt this in the past. Female friends have told me this.
It's still a man's world out there.
If a woman is exceptionally successful at work, colleagues would speculate that she sleeps around with the boss. If she's aggressive, the males around her get threatened and she's asked to take it easy, whereas, similar aggression by her male colleagues would be appreciated and applauded with backslaps.

If she gets involved in discussions on the nuts and bolts of business, menfolk can't believe their ears.. She's not taken seriously.
If she becomes pally with the folks around, it's taken for granted that she's "easy". If she avoids inappropriate and off-colour conversation, she's accused of having an attitude.
These attitudes show up in all professions, politics included and across geographies. The recent Nikki Haley case in the United States shows that sexist attitudes may still be all pervasive. Perhaps, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman may be a tad better off, given their experience in battling sexism in the boardroom over the years.
For God sake, women are not playthings. Women are not "women" in the workplace, they are just employees like her other male colleagues around - love to look and dress smart, have ambitions and aspirations and crave for success.
But unfortunately, it's still a man's world!

A 5 on 5 for Raajneeti!

Neeti and I just got back from watching "our" movie last night, or perhaps early this morning.

Yes, Raajneeti was a much awaited movie for us, just because that's what both of us are called by our folks and pals.

The movie is eyeball riveting, astounding and gripping in every second that it was played.

The movie bares what goes on behind the spiel of our politicians, how we are manipulated or rather goaded into believing what suits our politicians.

All this, in the name of the supreme national interest, which is some kind of fantasy woven around a pack of lies.

And, we the gullible citizens of India fall for it at each stage.

At unexpected moments, some or the other character in the movie is bumped off. If you look back at Indian political history, you would also tend to suspect whether a few deaths were actually accidental or were they engineered.

Prakash Jha's painstaking research was actually paid off by his flawless depiction of intra-party politics and shadowy dealings of politicians. The sex and the sleaze in the movie makes you speculate about the number of skeletons (in thousands I'm sure) waiting to fall out of the cupboards of Indian politicians!

The casting was near perfect.

Nana Patekar, the real power centre, the "remote control", shapes the destiny of our characters skillfully with utmost finesse!

Manoj Bajpai is the quintessential underdog, who doesn't give up without a fight till the very end.

The icing on the cake was Ajay Devgan, who despite having few very dialogues to mouth, had an overpowering screen presence that said it all!

Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor, who despite having great potential as actors in their own right, were unsuited for the roles they played. They ended up looking more like eye-candy than anything else. In my view, Shahid Kapur would have been a bit better.

Undoubtedly, Katrina's character was modelled on Sonia Gandhi. That gait and accent was unmistakably similar.

The only flaw in the whole movie and Prakash Jha's direction was the (mis)casting of Nikhila Trikha as Bharti Rai. Perhaps someone more established would have made this character a lot more believable and powerful, at the most critical turning point of the storyline.

I felt someone like Vidya Balan would have breathed life into Bharti Rai's character. Interestingly, I feel that Vidya today is India's most under-rated actress with oodles of unrecognised potential and energy.

The end result, despite some flaws here and there, is brilliant.

Finally, we have someone who's created a work of art that stands up to the likes of 3 Idiots and Aamir Khan.

I would rate the movie at 5 on 5.

In all, it's an unmissable flick, depicting the Mahabharat of our times!

All Decked up for the Monsoons!

While everyone in the city is complaining about the heat and humidity, I love to think otherwise.
After a few showers last week, the city looks a bit more cleaner, a bit more brighter.
The rain washed down the suspended dust in the air, reducing the pollutants. Now look at it from another perspective, the skies look bluer, the bright and intoxicating hue of blue - that kind of blue that makes the whole world around me look pretty.
And the sun shines a bright yellow these days, complementing the bright blue hue of the sky.
Walking down the very uncrowded lanes of Bandra Kurla Complex post lunch, I can't help but appreciate the glow of the dense green foliage in some locations - all this magic woven by a few short showers, which we call the pre Monsoons.
And big white clouds which look like huge balls of cotton float around the sky in gay abandon, their splendour reflected in the glass facades of buildings in Bandra Kurla Complex!
Coming to office these days has a special charm.
From my seat I get a clear view of the Mithi River with lush green mangroves on both the banks. The Gulmohurs on the banks on the Mithi look aflame with their red flowers! And the Mithi itself gently flows, reflecting the blue sky giving a false sense of calm. And it was the same river that wreaked havoc in Bombay on that fateful night of July 26, 2005.
And one does get a clear view of Mahim, Worli, Lower Parel and Prabhadevi. The city's newfound symbol - the Bandra Worli sea link looks splendid in the bright yellow sunlight.
All this beauty is temporary - is only here for a few more days till the Monsoons come in.
Or shall we say Bombay is all decked up for the Monsoons to come in?

India: The New Minnow in Cricket?

India's second loss, in a row, to Zimbabwe is quite shameful indeed.

The Indian tigers now just seem to be purring like pussy cats in front of the Zimbabwean lions.

Surely, the politics and sleaze associated with cricket in India has taken its toll, a very heavy toll indeed. Very soon we could see a repeat of what happened to Indian hockey decades ago if nothing is done to arrest the downfall down.

I was never a big fan of the game nor do I still claim to be. I am not an expert on the game, but there are a few things that I am absolutely convinced about.

Firstly, we need to get the basics right. Cricket is a game. If played well, success will come and so will money. But, the business aspect is secondary and subservient to the sporting aspect.

Secondly, fitness and technique is something the players should focus on or rather should be made to focus on. Post-match parties, drinking binges and brawls, chasing pretty chicks and soliciting commercials are secondary to the game.

Thirdly, attitude is everything. The Aussies have shown it time and again. We simply seem to lack it.

Somehow, we seem to lack a vision in cricket as well. And it seems all is well as long as the BCCI is able to rake in the moolah.

Sad but true. If things don't change, twenty years on, India will be a minnow in international cricket.

Gaza Flotilla Attack: Was Israel Wrong?

It's surprising to hear the outcry over Israel's attack on the six-ship flotilla headed for Gaza.

Israel is a sovereign state and it has a sovereign right to defend itself and its borders from potential attacks. Is it wrong to assume this?

It has been suspected that the ships, which were sponsored by a Turkish "humanitarian" outfit were actually carrying supplies for the Hamas, which leads a terror war against Israel from Gaza.

If that was not the case why did the flotilla not heed the Israeli warning to head to Ashdod port for inspection? And when confronted, why did those on the flotilla adopt an aggressive posture?

We all know very well that the supposedly "humanitarian" outfits may actually be fronts for terrorist organisations. That seems to be very much the case over here.

As for the international reaction, well, it again is a reflection of hollow and double standards.

The United Nations was as spineless as ever.

The United States (which under Obama has developed the knack of pissing off allies and courting rogue states) regretted the attack, but at the same time pursues operations operations half way down the globe that supposedly threaten its security, another classic case of double-speak.

The media was also critical of Israel's approach with the sole exception of the Wall Street Journal.

Israel's "no nonsense" and "I give a damn" attitude when it comes to national security is indeed admirable and worth appreciating.

Mossad's operation to eliminate senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai, earlier this year, using faked British, French and German passports was one such incident that was characteristic of Israel's internal security policy.

Hats off to Israel for standing up for rights, against the might of global opinion.