On Reservation...

Baby Stay Out...!
Let me begin by telling you people I'm neither a political activist nor an opposition sympathiser. But a few instances of unprovoked madness by the government of the state has left me thinking. True, I am disappointed by the govt, but the people here too leave me bewildered to no end. I wrote the engineering entrance a few months ago after months of dedicated slavery to the books, only to be told by a stubborn-as-an-ass education minister that he proposes to introduce reservation at unheard-of levels!!! THAT MUCH RESERVATION IN THIS AGE, IN THIS CENTURY??? Imagine a 50% reservation reservation for backward classes plus reservation for NCC, Sports, and virtually almost everything under the sun!!! Meritorious students are left with just 15% of the seats. And to top it all that shameless man (the education min) writes in a NATIONAL NEWSPAPER that his new scheme has 85% seats in merit!! (I wanted to stuff the newspaper up his *** after reading that). I am surprised the people of Kerala didnt even dare to raise a finger against this shocking impulsive decision of his. Even a 25% quota made doctors in Delhi go on the rampage!!!I dont understand what that man has against the self financing colleges. He claims "Education has become a business!" In that case, Mr Education Minister can th govt ban private hospitals just because they charge more than govt hospitals?? Can you ban 5 star hotels just because they charge more than a poor man can afford?? Can you ban private construction firms as they charge many times more than the KSHB??? Even fields like healthcare, food, housing have turned into thriving businesses, then why not education??? Its time we gave merit a chance and stand united against tyrranny like this. After all, adament as he is, all those who are suffering are the students...

Retrospect... The Loyola life!

XII, The known, the unknown and the forgotten

The known, the unknown and the forgotten Life is a misery to be born, a trouble to live, and a pain to die. -Click- the television goes dead. An ominous shadow looms large over me eclipsing that very sacred tube light which beamed out hysterically over me just moments ago. Time and space loses all meaning (with due apologies to Mr. Einstein) as I alter my line of sight vertically upwards and see dad with a remote in one hand and the other fixed towards a blessed chemistry assignment (with not more than a few hundred sums on volumetric titration) given so ungrudgingly by a very special “IIT coaching institute”. With words which would (literally) melt the toughest of hearts (“Better solve these questions by tomorrow or else….”) My story now takes an insane twist. From the cushioned comforts of my living room, you are taken to the deep dark environs of a dense evergreen tropical rainforest (Fr Edassery’s geography classes have worked wonders!!!) where the very mention of sunlight would mean sacrilege. In the murky depths of the forest lurks a primitive, uncivilized cannibalistic tribe, which rules the jungle with a murdering vengeance. The fifty odd savages (make that forty-nine. I prefer to remain an exception) spell T-E-R-R-O-R in the very souls of their terrified prey. Recent reports indicate that their cave codenamed “XII A” is where they plot and execute their deadly plans. Read on reader, as I shed light on this unknown tribe for the greater glory of science and humanity (who knows? It may prove to be an inspiration to National Geographic someday). Maybe I went a bit haywire in my exaggerations (I swear I didn’t!) but believe me life’s hell for the denizens of the eleventh. Just after tenth when they thought it couldn’t get any worse, the twelfth came as an unforeseen bolt from the blue (or shall I say made us see red?) The twelfth introduced us to a concept as old as time. A concept, which stands as a proud testimony to the invincibility of Indian culture. The concept of tuitions. Please let me explain before you open your mouth in unbounded exclamation. A few centuries ago we had gurukuls. These, usually located inside deep forests were abodes of gurujis who, for a limited dakshina taught their students. Modern day gurukuls, renamed tuitions are much the same (except in the case of a limited dakshina maybe ). It instills in me a real sense of pride when see that our ancient culture and values are followed to this day. Here’s an interesting fact. Ever noticed that the number of tuitions one goes to is directly proportional to the square of his heartbreaks. Sad but true. “The cause?” you ask. A singular evil that lurks in tuitions and stalks its innocent prey. An evil, which enters through your dazed head, makes its way to your heart and then rears its hood and strikes. No mortal hath defied it…. and lived. The GIRLS syndrome. Another tragic addition to the already long list of woes facing us. For instance take my friend’s case. One fine morn he sees this Goddess with deep blue eyes and, wavy hair and goes totally berserk! A die-hard optimist he searched for her across the seven seas (seven junctions between his home and tuition centre) but never saw her again. The poor guy lives in a state of perpetual trauma. If you happen to see a girl with deep blue eyes and wavy hair tell her that someone somewhere loves her deeply….( the author will NOT be responsible for any medical bills that may arise as a result) Everything that has a beginning has an end (take the matrix for instance). So snap back to reality, reader. I’ve got just 233 sums left in volumetric titrations which now brings us to the most important question “WHAT THE HELL IS THE ATOMIC MASS OF THE THIRD ISOTOPE OF THE SECONDARY ALLOTROPE OF POLONIUM??”
Life’s a long headache in a noisy street
Life’s just one damn thing after another (The author wishes to thank the readers who appreciate him for his extraordinary talent in writing. May these words of his remain forever immortal on the golden sands of time….)

The 2005 La Fest Speech
Distinguished Chief-Guest, Dr Neena Kumari, Reverend Fr Principal, Fr Varghese Anikuzhy, Teachers and all you guys and gals out here. It has been one long party today, but the time has now come for us to say goodbye. This day has been a break for all of us from our mundane everyday lives which usually consist of study, study and more study with very little time for any activity which gives way to your creativity, your talent and your innovation. LA Fest has been and will ever remain a celebration of Life n Art with a promise to be a melting pot of ideas, expressions, creativity and talent.

The day has been further enlivened by the presence of our chief guest, Dr Neena Prasad who inspired us with her inspiring talk/performance. I’m sure Madam; there are many here who would simply love to emulate you. We thank you madam for honouring us with your presence.

Second, I would like to thank our very own principal, Fr Varghese Anikuzhy who has been instrumental in helping us organize this festival. Thank You Father.

A special thank you goes to the Principals and teachers of the participating schools who have ensured that their teams put up a great performance onstage

I would also like to thank all the judges who have taken pains to come here, helping us decide the results and sacrificing their valuable time. A big hand for all of them please.

Its not the result that counts but your spirit, dedication and flair. And for sure there was no lack of it in the participants who rocked the Sutter Hall with some awesome performances. Keep up the spirit guys!

Its been a blast, thanks to the hard work, the perseverance and dedication of the Loyolites which included weeks of meticulous planning and team work. Come on, let me hear a roar for all of them.

And finally, no event is complete without the screaming audience, which has kept the Sutter Hall alive all day long. Thank you people for your presence in the tenth edition of LA Fest. It was great to be hosting you guys here at Loyola

Remember
Genius does what it must
Talent does what it can.
THANK YOU

On Trivandrum...

My Rockin City...
Trivandrum, a city that bears testimony to a vibrant mix of old world charm and new age culture. A city symbolizing a makeover from the cliché stereotypical to the trendy “Hey, that’s cool!” look with innovation giving way to a renaissance of age old tradition leaving a dash of gen-X contoured to perfection. It’s not your average stuffed up hellhole that chokes you up with each toxic lungful you take in. It’s a city with unparalleled beauty and finesse, leaving you at the end of the day, with a natural, yet insane urge for more, an urge to live, and live on forever. Yes, I’m one of them. One inspired creature from the millions that call Ananthapuri “home”. So are you. We both share this unique immortal spirit that binds us together. That, which day in and day out gives you pride in being called an Ananthapurian. Eighteen long years have I existed, in this place par excellence and am delighted, if not astounded at this city’s staunch and never-say-die spirit, each time something goes against it, which in recent times is a phenomenon, not too rare to be, as a matter of fact deemed coincidental. A slew of high profile development projects, proclaiming the dawn of a new era for the capital, took a turn for the worse as they met a not so celebrated end. Capital ideas, that one after the other took a rendezvous with the dust, only to be forgotten on the sands of time…
Lets begin from the beginning. Long considered Kerala’s Gateway to the world, it was a monument that stood unchallenged for a decade. The Trivandrum International Airport. A structure that once upon a time had the distinction of being the only one of its kind in coconut land. Up North, in a place called Kochi, money started flowing into Nedumbassery. And in a while, thanks to healthy private partnership, the CIAL project took off, which now does twice the business of the Trivandrum Airport. With innovative, free-minded private enterprise and a significant reduction in bureaucracy, we could have a world-class airport in our hands. After all, how much time does it take to procure land in an efficient democracy? Two, three, five years maybe. Ten long years does sound strange, rather weird for a project of such importance and magnitude. The Vizhingam International Transhipment Terminal. Let me quote a die-hard fan of Ananthapuri who gave his view on this subject on tvmlive, a website which invites views and opinions from people all over the city.” Had there been a port, here at Trivandrum ten years ago, it would have been the most happening place in South Asia”. A simple statement, multiplied in it its simplicity by the sheer logic behind it. Proximity to international shipping routes, natural depth, all facts which, I believe would provoke any individual, let alone a government to build a port over there.
Trivandrum has, since time immemorial been a centre of excellent academic institutions, having the privilege of being the most sought after destination in the state when it comes to education. The proposal to elevate the CET to IIT status brought smiles all around town. This again, was short lived as (God knows why?) Kochi was again in the limelight, and the entire plan shifted base leaving the city high and dry. Having an AIIMS should definitely be a turn for the good. Another neglect, the city has suffered is its roads. The pathetic conditions of the city’s lifelines would at best, evoke pity from an observer unfortunate enough to take a ride on them. The Himalayan mountain rally would be far more appealing to some, rather than an escapade on a potholed stretched of eroded tarmac. True, the Capital City Road Development scheme has a lot to its credit, like the Palayam underpass but the real success of the scheme depends on its efficiency and practicality. Allow me to start the Kochi Bhajan again. Which city has four lane roads lining its perimeter? Which city has a sky bus project in the dock? Why, it’s Kochi again! Its not that I’m suffering from some kind of an obsessive compulsive disorder, but it’s just that I want to see a sane equilibrium maintained in the pace of development. Development should not, at any cost be singly focused and unicentric. With the four laning of the NH-47 and the bypass, along with complete electrification of the railway route, a commendable transport system could be established which would set the ground for bigger projects that may take shape in the near future. One should look ahead with optimism. There’s a long way to go, but I’m sure that if you and I work together, TVM could definitely be THE best place to be!

My F1 Obsession

Scuderia Ferrari hires da BOMBAY BOYZ!!!
Ferrari's F1 team has fired its entire pit crew. The announcement follows Ferrari's decision to take advantage of India's high unemployment rate, and hire unemployed youths from Dharavi, Mumbai. The decision to hire them was brought on by a recent documentary on how they were able to remove a set of wheels from a car parked in the street in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment. Ferrari's erstwhile crew took more than 8 seconds with the right equipment. This was thought to be an excellent yet bold move by the Scuderia Ferrari management, and, as most races are won and lost in the pits, Ferrari would have an advantage over every other team. However Ferrari's expectations were exceeded, as during the crew's first practice session; not only were 'da boyz' from Bombay able to change the tyres under 6 seconds, but within 12 seconds had resprayed the car, filed off the chassis number and sold the vehicle over to the McLaren team !!!!

The SRK Chronicles

The SRK Chronicles
There’s no two ways to put it. In short, King Khan Rocks!!! A die hard fan of his, I’m amazed at his prodigal prowess, not to mention his insane rise to stardom. He’s not particularly sexy or obscenely macho…. But it’s his astounding prowess for acting that packs the punch.


Its hi s stammer that kills… Who could forget his haunting K…K…K…K…Kiran stammer in Anjaam (1994)… or his chilling rendition of a killer in Baazigar (1993).
Trivia
After filming in Kal Ho Na Ho, Khan had a lot of pain in his back but he's still filming.
Firmly insists that he will never kiss any of his heroines on the mouth, however, earlier in his career, he appeared in what was apparently an "explicit for Bollywood" sex scene in the 1992 film Maya Memsaab.
Lives in a palatial heritage mansion called Mannat (formerly Villa Vienna) at Bandra's Bandstand, in the city of Mumbai - a city where many Bollywood stars can only afford apartments, especially in the city's most expensive areas. The mansion is rumored to have cost more than 130 million rupees (13 crores)
Loves computer games and hi-tech gadgets.
On August 15, 2006, within the gates of his residency. One of his security guards was shot dead, by another one of his security guards.
Is two awards shy of matching Dilip Kumar's record for most Filmfare Best Actor awards. Shahrukh has won six in 12 years.
Khan is a chain smoker; he had vowed to quit smoking before his 40th birthday in 2005, as part of a Bollywood push to de-glamorize smoking. However, he has been seen smoking even after his 40th birthday, although he has dramatically cut down on the amount of cigarettes he smokes a day.
A grenade was thrown during his concert in Sri Lanka, killing two people.
Married to Gauri Khan who is a Hindu. The couple now have two children. His son, Aryan Khan, appeared in a scene in the film Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham, playing the younger version of the character played by his father. Aryan also collaborated with his father in dubbing the movie The Incredibles into Hindi and voiced Robert "Bob" Parr/Mr. Incredible in the dub. The film was released in India as Hum Hain Lajawaab.
Although his birth name, which means "Face of the King," is spelled Shahrukh, he prefers and signs his name Shah Rukh and his name is often abbreviated to SRK.
Said to be 5 foot 9 inches tall.
Believes that cinema can help the conflict on India/Pakistan relationships ----------- Courtesy Wikipedia Shahrukh has won six Filmfare awards for Best Actor, the most recent being in 2005 for Swades, acting the role of an Indian-American NASA engineer whose life is transformed by his encounters with rural India. 2004 was also a good year for Shahrukh; he acted in three movies, receiving Filmfare nominations for his work in each of them.

His Filmfare Awards include:1. Filmfare Power Award 2004 2. Best Actor - Swades 2004 3. Filmfare Power Award (along with Amitabh Bachchan) 2003 4. Best Actor - Devdas 2002 5. Filmfare Special Award Swiss Consulate Trophy 2002 6. Best Actor, Critics' Choice - Mohabbatein 2000 7. Best Actor - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 1998 8. Best Actor - Dil To Pagal Hai 1997 9. Best Actor - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 1995 10. Best Villain - Anjaam 1994 11. Best Performer Critics' Choice - Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa 1993 12. Best Actor - Baazigar 1993 13. Best Debut (Newcomer) - 1992 ---- Courtesy WikipediaTwo of the films in which Shah Rukh starred as a leading actor have been India's entry in Hollywood's Oscars. Paleli is the official entry for the 2006 Oscars. Devdas (2002) was an earlier entry. Shahrukh also appeared in a third Oscar entry, as a supporting actor in Hey Ram (2000). See List of India's official entries to the Oscars.He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004.National Honours:· 1997 - Best Indian Citizen Award · 2002 - Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellence in the Field of Entertainment · 2005 - Padma Shri Award He has won thirteen Filmfare Awards, ten Rupa Cinegoers Awards, six Star Screen Videocon Awards, six Sansui Viewers Choice Movie Awards, four Zee Cine Awards, four People's Choice Movie Awards, three IIFA Awards, three Zee Gold Bollywood Awards, two AFJA Awards, one Aashirwad Award, one Disney Kids Channel Award, one MTV Immies Indian Music Excellence Awards, and one Sports World Film Award.