Muktha Balaga

ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ…… ಪಯಣಿಗ

Posted by: girishhampali on: November 6, 2009

Prashanth...Payaniga

He is not sitting in office. He is sitting in a gambling house.


ನಮಗಿಂತ ಚಿಕ್ಕೋರು, ನಮಗಿಂತ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವರಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಸ್ಥಿತಪ್ರಜ್ನರಾಗಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮಾತು ಹೇಳದೆ ಹೋದರೆ, ನಾವು ಅವರಿಗಿಂತ ಚಿಕ್ಕವರಾಗಿ ಬಿಡ್ತೀವಿ ಅಂತ ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಓದಿದ್ದ ನೆನಪು.

ಪಯಣಿಗ ಅನ್ನೋ ಅಲಿಯಾಸ್ ಹೆಸರು ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರೋ ನಮ್ಮ ಹುಡುಗ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ. Ipswich ನಲ್ಲಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ೪ ದಿನ ಕಳೆದಾಗ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿದ್ದು…

ಈ ಹುಡುಗ ಎಷ್ಟು patience ಹೊಂದಿದಾನಲ್ಲಾ?
ಈತ ಎಷ್ಟು talented ಇದ್ದಾನಲ್ಲಾ?
ಈತನಲ್ಲಿರೋ Zeal towards life ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ ಅಲ್ಲವಾ?

ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೇಲಿ ವೀಕೆಂಡ್ ಬಂದು ಉಳಿದುಕೊಂಡೋರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಮೊದಲನೆಯವರೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಕೊನೆಯವರೂ ಆಗೋಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, he made those hours to count. Kids loved him so much, they were talking about him for next couple of days.

ಈ photo ಹೊಡೆಯೋ ಹುಡುಗನ photo ನಾನು ತೆಗೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಹೇಗಿದೆ ನೋಡಿ.

ಹಿರಿಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಿಧ್ಯಾನಿಲಯ

Posted by: Veena on: October 6, 2009

ಹೀಗೆ ೧೫-೨೦ ದಿನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ, ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಕಛೇರಿಗೆ ಹೋಗ್ತಾ, ಎಫ್.ಎಮ್ ರೈನ್ ಬೋ ಕೇಳ್ತಾ ಕಾರ್ ಡ್ರೈ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದೆ.
ಪ್ರತಿ ಗುರುವಾರ ಬರುವ ಕಾಕಂಬಿ ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟ ಆಗೋ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದು.

ಆ ದಿನ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಒಡನಾಡಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪಕರಲ್ಲೊಬ್ಬರಾದ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಸ್ಟ್ಯಾನ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಸಂದರ್ಶನ ನಡೀತಾ ಇತ್ತು.

ಒಡನಾಡಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಸುಮಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಕೆಲ್ಸ ಮಾಡ್ತ ಇದೆ. ಬೀದಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದವರನ್ನ ತಮ್ಮ ಸೂರಿನಡಿ ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಕೊಂಡು ಅವರು

ತಲುಪಬೇಕಾದ ದಡ ಸೇರಿಸೋದೆ ಅವರ ಗುರಿ. ಸ್ಟಾನ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಮೊದಲ ಕೆಲವು ದಿನಗಳ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನ ಹಂಚಿಕೂಂಡ್ರು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೊಂದು ಹೀಗಿತ್ತು.

ಆಗಷ್ಟೆ ಒಡನಾಡಿ ಶುರು ಆಗಿತ್ತು, ಸುಮಾರು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಕೆಲ್ಸ ನಡಿತಾ ಇತ್ತು, ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಇಂದ. ಆಂದೋಲನ ಇನ್ನಿತರೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡ ಕೆಲ್ವು ಬರಹ ಗಳು ಬರೋಕ್ ಶುರು ಆಯ್ತು.

ಒಂಥರಾ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗು ಅಹಂ ಅನ್ನೋದು ಬಂದೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿತ್ತು ಆಷ್ಟ್ರಲ್ಲಿ (ಸಕ್ಸಸ್ ಅನ್ನೋದು ಮದ ತರೋ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು), ಎಲ್ಲ ಗೊಲ್ಡ್ ಮೆಡಲಿಸ್ಟ್ ಗಳು ಬೇರೆ.

ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಆಫೀಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ಸಾಗಿ ಬರಿತಾ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ವಿ, ಯಾರೋ ಬೀದಿಲ್ ಬಿದ್ದಿರೋ ಹೆಂಗ್ಸು ಗಲಾಟೆ ಕೇಳಿ

ಸ್ತು, ನಾನು ಹೊರಗಡೆ ಬಂದೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಆಫೀಸ್ ಪ್ಯೊನ್ ಕರ್ದು, ಎನ್ರಿ ಅದು ಆಕಡೆ ಅಟ್ಟಿ ಆ ಗಲಾಟೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಿರೊ ಹೆಂಗ್ಸ್ ನಾ ಹೊರಗೆ ಕಳ್ಸು ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರಂತೆ, ಆದ್ರೆ ಅ ಹೆಂಗ್ಸು ಹೊಗ್ಲಿಲ್ವಂತೆ ಆಗ ಸ್ಟಾನ್ಲಿ ಅವ್ರು ಬಂದ್ರಂತೆ

enammaa ninna kaShTa, yaake heege namagella toMdare koDtaa ideeyaa aMta vichaarisidraMte. aake, neen En Odiddeeyaa aMta kELidlaMte. ivru, maas kammUnikEshans nalli gOlD meDalisT aMta beegta hELidraMte. aake, neev en maaDtirO nanag gottilla, aadre, nimma mEShTru ninage obba beedil biddaake jote hEg maataD bEku aMtaa hELkoTTilvappa aMtaMlaMte.

iMta jaMgaabala aDagi hOgo praSne kELidaake oMdu hiriya vishvavidhyaanilayadaMte kaMDaraMte.

when good friends get together

Posted by: Sanjay M on: September 6, 2009

Though some friends were missing, still it was a good sized gang with lots of nice fun! Bellur and family was the first to arrive, and later joined by Usha, Srik, and later on Divya and Vasuki as well! Hadn’t played carrom for years and soon we got back in form (and out of it again as well) but somehow we managed to play a few boards :) Had some light snacks and later on was joined by Dwaraka as well on his new really cool bicycle. Chaitanya, Prof and Tiger Pran unfortunately could not make it, so also Teacher was missing in action this time on Teacher’s Day! Some of us visited Usha’s house later on before winding up for the day. Though venue was in indoors in the comfort of one of their homes, there was no question of host or guest and it was merely a venue 8) It was a very relaxing evening, and there’s just no substitute in the world for good friends!

MB-05Sep2009

ಗಣೇಶ… ನಿನ್ನೊಲುಮೆಯಿಂದಲೇ….

Posted by: girishhampali on: August 23, 2009

image001

THE ENIGMA CALLED MJ – by Anand Balaji

Posted by: destinationsrik on: July 4, 2009

I am sure we all have grown up either listening to his songs, or imitating his dance. Or just reading about and envying him. Here is a wonderful tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. It is composed by a good friend Anand Balaji.

I thought it would be appropriate to publish it on Muktabalaga as a tribute to this legend of our times, just on the verge of his funeral. RIP Michael Jackson!

- SRIK.

MJ

“Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight,
Here one day, gone one night;
Like a sunset,
Dying with the rising of the moon;
Gone too soon…”

The Rise
How poignantly these lyrics describe the rise and fall of the departed King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson. Little could anyone have predicted that this hugely talented boy from Gary, Indiana., would one day take the music world by storm.
Starting his career as the lead vocalist in the Jackson 5 along with his brothers, Michael, came into his own in 1982 when he stunned music fans across nations with his pathbreaking album ‘Thriller’.
For those of us born in the late 70s and early 80s Michael Jackson was a staple diet on the music front. His “hoo, hoo!” “Aowwww!’ and vocal hiccup were imitated by almost everyone I knew – not to mention poor attempts at trying a hand at his impossible dance moves!
His songs have become a major part of the soundtrack of our lives. “Thriller”, “Man In The Mirror,” “Black Or White,” “Billie Jean,” “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “The Way You Make Me Feel”. The list is endless!
Michael Jackson was the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. In fact, he was the first coloured artist to be featured in an MTV video (Billie Jean).
Michael was larger than life and yet appeared unassuming at awards functions, interviews and performances, such as the Grammy’s, which we got to see, courtesy Doordarshan. Those were times when the world hadn’t woken up to the wonders of internet technology, so whosoever was lucky enough to own a television set would invite their neighbours and relatives to watch late night programmes of the master weaving his magic on stage. Michael mania was all around.
Every song that Michael sang raced to the top of the charts in America and elsewhere. This coupled with his phenomenal dancing prowess steadily earned him fans from as far away as Japan.

At about this time, Michael co-wrote the charity single “We are the World” with Lionel Ritchie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief. In 2000, Jackson was listed in the book of Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer or personality.
The early 90s saw a different Michael… his facial features and skin colour had changed, making him look almost effeminate. Naturally, people speculated on this and arrived at the conclusion that the pop star was bleaching his skin a lot and that he went under the surgeon’s knife in a bid to change his looks. While the latter was true, Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey in February 1993 during which he explained that his pallor was due to a skin condition known as Vitiligo. Fans sympathised. But with Michael one couldn’t be too sure. After all, he’d claimed in the mid-80s that he slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow down the aging process. And what can you make of a person who shared his bed and bathroom with a Chimpanzee?
Despite being the superstar who commanded worldwide attention and respect, Michael Jackson was a loner at heart with severe traits of eccentricity, which nobody could quite comprehend. He recounted in an interview about his troubled childhood and adolescence. The confusions and depressive things he had to endure when those of his age were living a carefree life. Images of his brutal father who thrashed him senseless for the smallest of mistakes, haunted him even years later.
Thus, Michael chose to live in the secure confines of the fictitious world of Peter Pan… a place where boys never aged nor shed their innocence. He even named his 2,500 acre ranch Neverland in honour of the author of the book J M Barrie. This vast place with its train rides, zoos and giant wheels would prove to become a symbol of Jackson’s success and excesses.
The Fall
Neverland welcomed one and all; in particular, children. Michael took personal interest in catering to the needs of the (often unfortunate) kids who visited his ranch. It seemed that the super singer who donned the role of Peter Pan took care of the boys with kindness and immense love. He organised “sleepovers” and entertained droves of kids who flocked to his gates to savour the magical world called Neverland. But the supposed dark and seamier side of the place got exposed in 1993 when Michael was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler, who was a regular at Michael’s home.
The press tainted the image of the pop icon by likening him to a lecherous predator, who exploited the vulnerability of visiting children… a paedophile. These stories inspired the pejorative nickname “Wacko Jacko”. The tabloids in particular were ruthless in their reportage. The “revelations” shattered Michael a great deal. So much so that he began taking prescription medication in large quantities. His health deteriorated to the extent that he cancelled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation for a few months.
However, in 1994 a 22 million dollar out of court settlement meant that no criminal charges were brought against the singer. The question arises – If Michael Jackson had been sexually exploiting Chandler for a period of time wouldn’t his parents have been in the know of it, and wouldn’t the boy have protested the first time Michael (allegedly) laid his hands on him? Whether it was a strategy to finish Michael financially and professionally no one can say. It seems to me, it was. Stranger still is the fact that the boy’s mother vehemently denied that Michael had ever behaved inappropriately with her son. You be the judge.
In May of 1994, Michael married singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of King of Rock n’ Roll Elvis Presley. Their marriage (of convenience, as the newspapers dubbed it) ended less than two years later. Amid all the controversy in 1995 Michael released the “HIStory” album. During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married dermatologist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as “Prince”), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Michael.
The “moonwalker” performed a gig in India at the insistence of the Shiv Sena in 1996. When he left he wrote the following message on his pillow cover: “India, all my life I have longed to see your face. I met you and your people and fell in love with you. Now my heart is filled with sorrow and despair for I have to leave, but I promise I shall return to love you and caress you again.
“Your kindness has overwhelmed me, your spiritual awareness has moved me, and your children have truly touched my heart. They are the face of God. I truly love and adore you India. Forever, continue to love, heal and educate the children, the future shines on them. You are my special love, India. Forever, may God always bless you.”
Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) was born in 2002 to a surrogate mother.
In 2003 in a Granada Television documentary titled ‘Living with Michael Jackson’ the singer was seen holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Gavin Arvizo, who would later accuse him of child sexual abuse. It seemed like someone, somewhere was out to get Michael and his millions, but who and why remains a mystery. The trial lasted five months, until the end of May 2005, he was acquitted on all counts. Jackson then relocated to Bahrain as a guest of the ruler’s son, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Reports are now emerging that resorted to doing one-night gigs for private parties for Arab sheikhs and Russians in London. These gigs apparently commanded up to 2.5 million dollars for an hour performance. Oh what a mighty fall the King of Pop had suffered!
Upon his return to the United States, Michael announced a series of 50 concerts in London in a comeback tour ironically titled “This is It”. He worked hard every day to make sure the shows, which were to begin from July 13 this year, were a success.
However, on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, and died shortly thereafter leaving a void that nobody can ever fill. His funeral is scheduled to be held on July 7.
@A tribute to MJ by Anand Balaji (First time online after his “greatunknown” blog shut down).
Anand Balaji, had been a Journalist with leading English newspapers in Bangalore, and later worked as a senior copywriter in an ad firm. He was a successful blogger in 2007. He quit his profession to pursue work as a freelance writer. Mukthabalaga wishes him the best in all his endeavours.

Birds and Pot Water…

Posted by: Veena on: April 3, 2009

Kindly put a pot full of water in the balcony for birds to protect them in hot summer. Irrespective of your house type, request to do the same for animals. We must protect our birds & animals, those who can’t speak their troubles.

Bird

Bird

An Alternative…

Posted by: Veena on: March 19, 2009

My everyday’s morning drive to my office helps me listen to good radio channels. I am quite regular on FM Rainbow but

sometimes I do tune in other frequencies. The morning shows in any FM channels generally contains some questions to the viewers, sometimes a pollsometime that requires varied range of own answers.

Recession has been one of the favourite subjects to talk about, with reference to that an RJ’s question to people(specifically to

IT janta) was about the alternate career line they have thought about in case of job loss. There were quite an interesting set of ansers

major part of the people chose teaching as their alternate career option, few chose to look out jobs in other firms. There were quite a

 few  funny answers which included things like opening a barber shop(what ever may be the reason, people do come and cut their hair at all seasons), finance, taxi rentals etc.,

Honestly I had no answer to it , I went no where when I started to think about it. Probably, I don’t know…

If this question is posed to you, what would be your choice?

Also, post some funny RJ questions that were asked to people….

 

Have a great day ahead,

Veena

….and here comes Oscar

Posted by: girishhampali on: February 23, 2009

 

ಅಬ್ಬಾ! ಅಂತೂ oscar ಬಂತು. stage ಮೇಲೆ ತನ್ನ ಅಮ್ಮನನ್ನು ನೆನಿಸಿಕೊ೦ಡನಲ್ಲಾ ಈ ರೆಹಮಾನ್! ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟದ್ದು ಅದು.

AR Rehman gets BAFTA… Await for OSCAR

Posted by: girishhampali on: February 9, 2009

Hi, its a pleasure to hear that AR Rehman made it to BAFTA and Golden Globe. Now we all need to wait till 28th of Feb to hear abour Oscars.
Well done AR Rehman

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Lets potently deal with it!

Posted by: destinationsrik on: November 27, 2008

It is high time India wakes up to its challenging enemy. What we saw today was a direct attck on the Indian spirit. It is not enought if we just wake up tomorrow morning and live normally. It is also essential for us to avenge for the death of our National pride. Lets be more reactive.

Muktha Balaga prays for peace and honour be back with this amazing country. We also pray in God for peace to those departed souls in today’s attack.

Peace

Let peace prevail....... For ever!

Also read:
1. One captured terrorist speaks.
2. Speechless in Mumbai.
3. The lost self respect.
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