Great Indian Summer Vacations

Great Indian Summer Vacations

The thought of a holiday or a vacation is exciting….to say the least!

Summers are round the bend…..and it is vacation time ! ( In India)

Newspaper supplements are full of travel destinations.
The advertising hype is extremely tempting….and difficult to resist….if

you are a travel buff !

There would be a great Indian middle class departure to the hill

resorts like :

Shimla
Mussoorie
Nainital
Manali
Srinagar(Kashmir)

The upper middle class travellers would make travel arrangements

through travel agents and resort cos. But lakhs of not-so-affluent

would ‘simply’ go !

On a typical day in a place like Shimla or Nainital or

Mussoorie…..Thousands of families would be arriving…..and since they

have arrived without a confirmation of a hotel…..next two-three hours

shall be spent …..Hunting for a bargain !

And it is quite likely ….these bargain hunters would be out-smarted by

the wily agents of the dingy hotels…. And the hapless-yet-happy

vacationers would end up in a room-with-a-view-of-a-dirty-back-lane !

Then there would be peak days when …..If you arrive towards the late

afternoon/evening….you would not find a room (even of the type

mentioned above).

You would then have three options:

1. Sleep in your car….or in a nearby village ( people have done it!)

2. Convince a restaurant owner to accommodate you and your

family….and many other similar ‘adventurers’ in the hall for the

night…..and you shall be kicked out at the first stroke of dawn !

3. Go Back ! ( sad)

But instead of experiencing dampened spirits…..these vacationers

would be found next morning….and each morning…..full of

excitement…..and would go about the business of

holidaying…..including ‘exotic’ experiences like:

Pony Rides

Cable Car adventures

Roller Skating/boating/trekking

….and much more ( including eating away to glory ) !!!

It is quite an experience….these Great Indian Summer Vacations!

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Indian Summers

Indian Summers

A different kind of heat is on ! During the winters….it was  an

economic melt down….now people…..sort of….would melt !

Temperatures are rising….upwards of 40 degrees Celsius !

A few things…. that are typically going to happen….once the summer

arrives:

1. People are going to….once again… proclaim that they like winters

better !

2. There is going to be a rush for the hills. At least those who

can…would take a summer break in the hill resorts .

3. Power outages would occur….in cities like Delhi…for more than 3-4

hours each day!

4. Swimming pools would become full…..and sun-tan lotion companies

would be in business…..so would the manufacturers of sun

–glasses…..and cold drinks.

5. Corporate houses would find the efficiency dipping down….as it is a

‘common’ knowledge in India that there is a significant drop in office

productivity during the months of May-July !

6. Morning joggers and walkers would make a bee-line to the area

parks.

7. Schools and colleges would break for almost two months ….parents

would be at their wits end….to find some ‘engagement’ for their

children……summer workshop organisers would make a neat ‘killing’ !

8. ‘Dressy’ dresses would be moth-balled and… out would

come….pastel shades in T shirts, skirts and cotton wear.

9. The ‘philanthropic’ souls would constantly grumble about the lot of

‘poor’ labour force….who have to toil in the scorching heat…..

10. Sultry Life would go on….like each summer….and then there would

be an endless wait for the rains ( monsoon in India)….and rains would

either not come on time….or be scanty….or they would come in a

spate and wash down various regions !

And then….finally….would come October…..and a hope of a better

times ! Phew !

It happens each year !!!

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Cinema

Cinema

The origin of the word is from Greek ….Kinesis….that means Movement….

So Cinema is the magic of the moving pictures !

It is the world of make-believe !

Some words/phrases that are often used to describe the movies and various inter-related magical phenomena are:

Matinee Idol (matinee is a theatrical performance held during the daytime (especially in the afternoon) so matinee idol is a way to describe a hot  a film star !

Celluloid Story ( from flexible celluloid used for making photographic films )

Tinsel World (According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the word is from the Old French word “estincele”, meaning sparkle.) So the reference is to a sparkling land of fantasy and glamor.

Silver Screen (the cinema screen onto which movies are projected; By extension, the movies or that related to movies or cinema is called silver screen)

Reel Life ( a pun to indicate artificial Life on a cinema reel….as against real life )

Box Office (A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to a venue ) So box office is used for the ‘success’ of the film in terms of its tickets sold etc.

Movie magic
“Cinema is an old whore, like circus and variety, who knows how to give many kinds of pleasure.” FEDERICO FELLINI

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Is it in our genes?

Is it in our genes?

Is it in the Genes ?

Our genes decide what we eat
Our Genes decide what we like to wear
Our genes decide if we are gay or straight
Our genes decide if we like outdoors or indoors
Our genes decide at what age we lose our virginity

These genes are our controllers …it seems !
In a recent scientific study in USA…startling revelations have been made
Here is an excerpt from internet

A unique study of twins separated at birth finds a genetic link to the age at which a person first engages in sexual intercourse.
It’s not like there’s a gene for having a sex at a certain date, says Nancy Segal, a psychologist at California State University in Fullerton who led the new study. Instead, heritable behavioral traits such as impulsivity could help determine when people first have sex, she says.
As genetic determinism goes, the new findings are modest. Segal’s team found that genes explain a third of the differences in participants’ age at first intercourse – which was, on average, a little over 19 years old.

If what is stated above  is true…or empirically valid….then all moral scientists, sociologists and human do-gooders can take a long-term vacation !

What we would like to know is

If it’s all about the genes
….then …..What about peer pressure…. media influence….provocative dresses and

……..tight jeans….!!!

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Schools need to be de-schooled

Schools need to be de-schooled

Schools need to be de-schooled ( a short play)

(This is a fictitious account of how creativity has been scuttled in schools…..)

Main Characters:

1. Creativity
2. School
3. A random student

( Play is set in a representative school…in a representative city…in a representative country….on this planet Earth )

Creativity :

Ah! What fun…to be with the young…I am elated !

Random Student:

Wow ! It is a great day…Creativity has come to play !

School:

Ah! What a bother…this de-schooled creativity….she can’t do a thing…. She can’t teach !

Creativity (reading school’s thoughts):

Please dear school…don’t be too rigid…..Open your eyes…I am no fool !

School (peeved at being found out ): Ah! Dear Creativity…there are no issues ! Go ahead the way you want…but please finish the syllabus !

Random student (unaware of these under-currents):

Dear Creativity…when you are supposed to be a part of us…then why …am I  still afraid of the school ?

Creativity (pained) :

Dear Random student …You and I need to wait till the end of school….to really have some fun….and some learning !

Random student:

But…dear C….Why…dear C…why cant we play in the school…we shall play while we learn !

School:

Shut up…you underdeveloped brain….you can not learn this way….learn first…and then play as much as you like…with creativity …or whoever you wish to!

Creativity:

I am sad …very sad today…to realize that I am at the wrong place…so long random student…so long SCHOOL !

(Creativity exits….Random student is stunned into silence)

School (now showing some fake concern for the student’s hurt ):

Don’t worry dear random student….let her go…we shall find someone else…someone more suited…to teach you creatively…while not missing out on the syllabus !

Random Student (to himself):

Goodbye creativity….and welcome to the mundane realities of School!!!

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Right Brain Creativity

Right Brain Creativity

Right Brain Creativity

Our brain…they say has two hemispheres:

LEFT HEMISPHERE

RIGHT HEMISPHERE

Left brain …as it is commonly called… is responsible for:

Analysis
Logic
Sequencing
Remembering dates and facts
Intellectual Jugglery… etc.

Whereas….Right Brain is responsible for:

Feelings and emotions
Art and Creativity
Poetic Expression
Holistic Thinking …etc.

Right brain Creativity is an expression that would suggest a departure from schooled ‘taught’ intellectualization….and an exploration of non-linear patterns and processes….to come up with an innovative/original/creative idea (s) !

A few Right Brain Creativity Energizers would be:

POETRY
MUSIC
PAINTING
DRAMA
LITERATURE

What we want to emphasize here is that schools (including the entire academia) swear by left brain…

But schools are wrong….as they are not RIGHT !

How can we develop right brain creativity….in education….or in any other aspect of life….including corporate decision making… is by simple things like:

Crosswords…. in education and thematic crosswords for situations
Poetry…. in Education or poetry in life
Role Plays and Story Completion activities
Theatre Games and Group work
Creativity and out of box thinking workshops
Painting holidays
Outdoor programs incorporating actual experiences and situation-based decision making/learning ( we call them Right Brain Holidays)

We at PEGOMAG constantly do such things….Write to us if you are interested !

http://www.pegomag.com

 

Eco Tourism

Eco Tourism

Eco tourism is a buzz word ! It is one of the fastest growing tourism ‘niches’….with an annual growth of over 15%.

When we talk of things like:

Sustainable Tourism
Responsible Tourism
Cultural Tourism
Nature Travel
Travel and preserve   etc. etc.

We are definitely talking of Eco Tourism !

BUT…..some people have started talking of this as ECO TERRORISM !

They feel that all the hype about RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE tourism is a façade to get virgin….pristine….fragile eco centers onto the tourism map !

The local benefits and community up-liftment is only on the surface.
At best…locals gain lowly jobs…and seasonal employment !

The most argued aims of any effective eco tourism activity are:

Eco Tourism involves travel to nature
It Minimizes Impact on ecology
Eco Tourism Builds environmental awareness
Provides direct financial benefits for conservation
Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Eco Tourism Respects and conserves local culture
Eco Tourism Supports human rights and democratic movements

Whether Eco Tourism fulfils this role….We shall leave for you to decide…

….but a parting thought:

Eco tourism is a concept that is great
But as you know….such is fate
All good things bow before economic reasons
…. nature travel may be  a way to find bucks in off seasons !!!

http://www.pegomag.com

 

Criminals in Politics

Criminals in Politics

Criminals in Politics

Last few days have been amazing….watching the prime-time TV….and reading National Newspapers in India!

Elections are looming large….and once again the subject of ‘Criminalization of politics’ is being hotly debated.

There was a news feature that gave a sorry record of leading National Party Candidates- with respect to their criminal Stats!

This well-researched feature left one wondering:

Do we have to always  go for the lesser evil ?
(While all party nominations had ‘criminals’ in the list….the one with least blemishes was the one having only 23%… or was it 19% ?)

…well… these statistics are of no consequence….nor is the quantificational accuracy of the news features……what is alarming is:

THAT CRIMINALS ARE being fielded by all parties….!!!

Since legal eagles are now….sort of….running the show….in most parties…..It was quite ‘painfully interesting’ to understand the LEGAL RATIONALISATION on this issue!

These are some of the mumbo jumbo  facts (almost) that were highlighted in an ‘intellectual’ debate on TV :

While a person alleged of a crime is not a criminal ( makes sense)….a person convicted of a charge Is….but he/she can still fight elections….if the court has not yet announced the sentence !

A person who is undergoing a trial….even for a gory crime like murder …is Not !

One on bail is a fence-sitter….he can be labeled as a criminal….or otherwise….depending on the political necessities !

Election commission can only POINT OUT…cannot debar a candidate….even if he/she is a known criminal….and  who passes the MAGICAL LEGAL ACID TEST!

The argument that was like an icing on the cake….. “Let people decide if they want to vote for a ‘criminal’…. ( in the past people have brought noted criminals into parliament with thumping majority !)”

This is not a journalistic piece ….that will talk of statistics….and specific cases ….

….it is just our way to share with you….dear readers….the fact about the bottomless pit that democracy has fallen into….it needs to be looked at in a ‘redefining’ sort of way!!!

http://www.pegomag.com

 

Double-Speak in Politics

Double-Speak in Politics

Political Manifesto of any party leaves one with the following thoughts:

Language may have been the greatest achievement of mankind but it is the greatest weapon in the armory of politicians!

Words are potentialized thoughts….according to spiritual masters….but in Politics ….they are smoke-screens!

Lies….damn lies….statistics…….is a common phrase…..and now it should be modified to include: double-damn lies…..the political manifestos!

It is not that politicians are a different breed….they are one of us….so why blame them ! Maybe it is the very nature of a MATURE DEMOCRACY….that warrants such romantic fiction to be written before the elections !

People in general….the masses…..the pillars of democracy… are averse to honesty…..as a political party/candidate without a ‘fairy-tale promise list’ is bound to lose the elections !

We all have a hidden desire to be conned……and led up the garden path ! This fact is amply demonstrated in our fascination for REALITY SHOWS on TV …..And (rightly) some people call the election coverage on TV as the biggest Reality shows of them all !

Is democracy a process of governance …of the fools….for the fools…. by the fools…..or is the last part a bit different?

http://www.pegomag.com

 

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Corporate Social Responsibility

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

Is it a desire or necessity ?

Ask any well meaning Company

And this they cannot deny:

That CSR is a kind of P R….for sure

While S R is a thought that is pure

Such pure deeds have to be left alone in business

As it is not corporate business to clean the mess

Governments are there for these very things

But CSR is ‘shown’ to be done…it surely brings

Good Name to the company and its brand equity

That is why you see many manicured parks in the City !

http://www.pegomag.com