Politics, Love, Ambition. Can you handle them all??

Recently I happened to watch this movie "Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi". Although I seldom take interest in politics and any damn thing related to it, I should say I liked this movie very much. To give an idea, this movie is based on the spirits of few young people during Indira Gandi's prime ministership in India( mostly during the emergency). Their dauntless enthusiam to bring about a revolution in India, given the fact that its an utterly corrupt political system and society. Everything in India during those times (and infact today!) was corrupt to its root, politicians used their powers for their own good. They were always interested in augmenting their power and wealth.

The thing I really liked was Siddarth's(Kay Kay Menon) and Geeta's (Chitrangda Singh) dedication to this revolution thing, to bring about a change in India. They infact spent most of their times in some reomte villages of Bihar, living there among Naxalites and bloody corrupt policemen. No matter what difficulties they went through, Siddarth was always for the revolution and this also inspired Geeta. I was nonplussed by their adherence to this social cause, they made great sacrifices just for this cause. They were to very small extent able to bring some changes in those villages But the point is great changes cannot be brought by a handful of people. you need a mass movement to bring any significant change in any society. This movie is really inspirational but I guess its impractical for the following reasons:

1) Common man cannot stand corrupt(and rich!) politicans and policemen. (Its a fact!!). Even in the movie Siddarth is the son of an Ex-Judge and his other friends whose parents are not any great person do not agree to go to villages in Bihar.

2) Political connections work everywhere. There is this rich guy Vikram (Shiney Ahuja) who always comes to the rescue of Siddarth and Geeta. Thats because he is rich and has deep political connections! Ironically Vikram himself would have been murdered by policemen had it not been for his father(who happened to be a politician) to arrive at time and rescue him.

3) These days its really difficult to find people who are really interested in bringing chage in society and nation. People are selfishly interested in their own future, their own ambitions and life. And its only through the power of youth that this nation can change. Even if the young people are ready their parents are not ready to deliberately push their child into a well!!

4) People are just not brave enough to sacrifice their life for the sake of their country!

Regardless of these things, Siddarth and Geeta were there to lay down their life for the sake of their nation inspite of the kind of sacrifices demanded and adversities encountered. The bottom line is that Siddarth and Geeta are exceptionally selfless and brave people and India needs such people to make great changes in its socio-political system. But the thing I most wonder is, do people like Siddarth and Geeta really exist today??

The Boxer

This is one of the best songs by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, one of my favourite bands..


I am just a poor boy and my storys seldom told
Ive squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station, runnin scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

Asking only workmans wages, I come lookin for a job, but I get no offers
Just a comeon from the whores on 7th avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there

Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than Ill be, thats not unusual
No it isnt strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same

And Im laying out my winter clothes, wishing I was gone, goin home
Where the new york city winters arent bleedin me, leadin me to go home

In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes he still remains