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<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><title>INDOWAVES</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/</link><atom:link xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/feed/rss2/posts/"/><description></description><language>en-UK</language><generator>MokoFeed</generator><ttl>10</ttl><image><title>INDOWAVES</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/</link><url>http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/7f/cc4c378718a25f99ab60288d5a53db_160x200.jpg</url></image><item><title>VIEWS OF PEOPLE NOT HAPPY WITH OBAMA'S SELECTION FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/views-of-people-not-happy-with-obama-s-selection-for-nobel-peace-prize-7173726/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/views-of-people-not-happy-with-obama-s-selection-for-nobel-peace-prize-7173726/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:08:52 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;VIEWS OF PEOPLE NOT HAPPY WITH OBAMA'S SELECTION FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;            ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I am of the opinion that Obama is already basking in the glory of success. This award should be used to bring in limelight the deserving souls who need genuine attention for their tremendous contribution. It’s a meaningless and absurd gesture to award this to someone who is at the helm of global politics!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangirai, Chinese dissident Hu Jia, Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba who has campaigned for a peaceful solution to the almost 50-year-old conflict in her country, and Afghan doctor and women’s rights activist Sima Samar, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and democracy advocate Thich Quang Do, Chechen human rights lawyer Lidiya Yusupova, and Russian activist Svetlana Gannushkina and the Cluster Munitions Coalition or the humanitarian organization Handicap International could have been honured.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Only because just think of the consequences had Obama been not awarded Nobel.According to many  he would have then run short of enthusiasm to accomplish his dreams !!This award,by many,is being treated as ”catalyst” but my question is that why Obama needs an award to pursue his goal ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;He is the head of a ”superpower” and enjoys great resources to pursue his dreams.He should ,being in league with his conscience, discharge all his duties responsibly and that includes peaceful solutions in contentious issues plaguing the middle east.He should do all this naturally with or without award.Why should he be awarded for something that falls genuinely within his realm? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;No need to tell that whether it’s middle east or any other part of world U.S. has definite role to play.Only because most of the problems have been directly or indirectly created by United states.Today he talks about limiting the presence of nuclear weapons.One need to ask Obama which country has inspired the minnows to flirt with nuclear weapons? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I think  it’s not Mr Obama but some another soul that truly deserved Nobel.Because that person would have gone out of way to set new parameters and that too in absence of resources. Sadly,that’s not at all the case with Obama.He is Mr influential !!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Are now Nobel prizes given to serve some political interests? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I am really surprised that he has been chosen!! If he could be awarded Noble for inconsequential and insignificant international diplomacy, why was Gandhi not awarded Noble for his tremendous contributions that added new dimensions in the word humanity? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Like others I am also not hesitant in asking ”He won! For what?” &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;One gentleman has stated that he has won for his ”unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Like to tell that gentleman that this are empty words and nothing else...Big words devoid of meaning in our times !! &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I hope there are many names in the list who are unknown figure for many of us.Shouldn’t have they been given chance to bask in the glory of success?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Let’s have a look at what others have said in this regard.I am presenting the other side of coin-the people who are terribly upset.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Peter Beinart, no stranger to good analysis, deftly captures the gestalt of problems with Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize:&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I like Barack Obama as much as the next liberal, but this is a farce. He’s done nothing to deserve the prize. Sure, he’s given some lovely speeches and launched some initiatives on Iran, Israeli-Palestinian peace, climate change and nuclear disarmament — that might, if he’s really lucky and really good, make the world a more safe, more just, more peaceful world. But there’s absolutely no way to know if he’ll succeed, and by giving him the Nobel Prize as a kind of “atta boy,” the Nobel Committee is actually just highlighting the gap that conservatives have long highlighted: between Obamamania as global hype and Obama’s actual accomplishments&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Obama will survive this award. The damage to the Nobel Committee itself will be greater. They’ve clearly fallen in love with celebrity, and with the idea of shaping the course of history in other words, they’ve fallen in love with an absurdly grandiose conception of their role. The Nobel Prize Committee should be in the business of conferring celebrity on unknown human rights and peace activists toiling in the most god-forsaken parts of the world; the people who really need the attention (and even the money).&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It should be in the business of angering powerful tyrants by giving their victims a moment in the sun. Choosing Barack Obama, who practically orbits the sun already, accomplishes the exact opposite of that. Let’s hope Obama eventually deserves this award. And let’s hope the Nobel Committee’s decision meets with such a deafening chorus of chortles and jeers that it never does something this stupid again.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Financial Times: What Did Obama Do to Win the Nobel Peace Prize?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I am a genuine admirer of Obama. And I am very pleased that George W Bush is no longer president. But I doubt that I am alone in wondering whether this award is slightly premature. It is hard to point to a single place where Obama’s efforts have actually brought about peace - Gaza, Iran, Sri Lanka? The peace prize committee say that he is being rewarded for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.” But while it is OK to give school children prizes for “effort” - my kids get them all the time - I think international statesmen should probably be held to a higher standard.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;br&gt;
London Times: Absurd Decision on Obama Makes a Mockery of the Nobel Peace Prize&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;br&gt;
The Guardian: Barack Obama’s Nobel Prize: Why Now?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Indeed, the reasoning behind the awarding of the prize to previous American presidents has been easier to discern. Teddy Roosevelt opened the court of arbitration in the Hague and helped mediate a peace treaty between Russia and Japan; Woodrow Wilson was the founder of the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter won his prize for his “untiring efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts”.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Which is what makes the awarding of this year’s prize to a president who has been in office for a mere nine months an odd departure. It is as if the prize committee had been persuaded to give the award on the future delivery of promises.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;And A Very Interesting Remark:&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;But next year let’s give it to Miss World. Every year Miss World comes on and says I want world peace and the world free of nuclear weapons.It’s a hope, an aspiration. This is a Nobel Peace Prize for not being George Bush.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sky News foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/views-of-people-not-happy-with-obama-s-selection-for-nobel-peace-prize-7173726/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>nobel-peace-prize-2009</category><category>nobel-prize-to-obama</category><category>obama</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/views-of-people-not-happy-with-obama-s-selection-for-nobel-peace-prize-7173726/#comments</comments></item><item><title>IS SCIENCE REALLY NOW FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/is-science-really-now-for-hunanity-s-sake-7173684/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/is-science-really-now-for-hunanity-s-sake-7173684/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:02:30 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;        IS SCIENCE REALLY NOW FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                 ARVIND K.PANDEY &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Asian countries, especially Japan, are newly enamored with the wonders of science.Scientific innovations have great ability to untangle the painful complexities of human life but it seems that’s not researchers’ primary aim.Instead of pursuing humanitarian goals, science has become a tool for maintaining the rapid tempo of business globalization.In countries like India, scientific research has a vast but untapped potential for raising the living standards of the lower classes.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Asian scientists, however, see the Indian marketplace as a battleground for big brands, which are offering innovative products at attractive prices. It’s unfortunate that Asian governments have no agenda that includes bringing a change in the quality of life to the vast segment of humanity living below the poverty line.There is great need to revive interest in scientific projects that really make a difference in people’s lives.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In a recent survey conducted that only few thousands of students out of lakhs of engineering students go in for research projects.Only one percent of student graduating from IIT and IISc in B tech enroll themselves for M Tech and merely two percent M Tech students opt for PhD.According to report submitted by US study the research output in China has increased more than 25 times in comparison with India’s progression and the scientific papers of Chinese scientists published in quality journals increased by over 104 times.On the other hand,the Indian scientific research publishing increased only by 2.3 times.China spends about 1.3 per cent of its GDP on R&amp;D while India spends about US$ 5 billion on R&amp;D every year only that is 0.9 per cent of the GNP.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It’s really sad that for most of them good salary prospects is the real guiding factor for choosing engineering or medicine fields.No wonder we are nowhere during nominations for Nobel Prize.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/is-science-really-now-for-hunanity-s-sake-7173684/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>science</category><category>use-of-science</category><category>higher-studies</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/is-science-really-now-for-hunanity-s-sake-7173684/#comments</comments></item><item><title>THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM BADLY NEEDS A RIGHT MINDSET</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/the-indian-cricket-team-badly-needs-a-right-mindset-7173669/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/the-indian-cricket-team-badly-needs-a-right-mindset-7173669/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:59:51 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;      THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM BADLY NEEDS A RIGHT MINDSET&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;            ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The Indians lack right mindset.No doubt,the Indian cricket team has improved considerably but it still not able to develop a proper mindset.We still don’t know what are the elements that are involved in the making of team.It’s still under the awe of ”stars”.It’s still the culmination of various types of egos rather than being meeting point of brilliant minds.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;First of all we need to have a better mechanism,better set of rules.They need to be honestly translated into action.However,it’s easier said than done.It’s not that easy to rope in better changes unless we become truly interested in game alone.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In India politics is mixed with cricket.Many players are more politicians than cricketers.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In other teams,there are only players!!Unless that remains the case we are bound to remain a mediocre team happy with number game !!We find the same thing in Indian movie world..No actors.We have just superstars !!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/the-indian-cricket-team-badly-needs-a-right-mindset-7173669/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-cricket-team</category><category>indian-team</category><category>morale-of-indian-team</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/the-indian-cricket-team-badly-needs-a-right-mindset-7173669/#comments</comments></item><item><title>ARE GADGETRIES MAKING YOUTHS SLAVE TO COSMETIC VALUES?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/are-gadgetries-making-youths-slave-to-cosmetic-values-7173651/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/are-gadgetries-making-youths-slave-to-cosmetic-values-7173651/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:57:27 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;  ARE GADGETRIES MAKING YOUTHS SLAVE TO COSMETIC VALUES? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;             ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The invasion of gadgets in the lives of Generation X has turned them into moody and possessive creatures.Worse,it has confined them to the world of virtual realities,making them slaves of plastic values .No doubt these do help them to be in sync with times but not without taking toll on their nerves.Consider the way the Internet has become cause of sleepless nights for many parents or,for that matter,instant connectivity has helped youths to further increase the crime graph.The ever increasing cyber crimes have become cause of worry for the police officials.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;There is not a single day when I do not get such messages” Hello ! My name is Jane.I saw your profile today.I am interested in you.I will send U my pic.Kindly send message on my personal e-mail id.” If that’s not the case there is always someone present to turn me into a beneficiary so that I can become an owner of some unclaimed huge sum of money !!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Just visit any cyber cafe.You will find people involved in meaningless chatting with the strangers.Most of them are in their teens.Probably ,they are not aware of the fact that it’s not that easy to form relationships in our times.It takes lots of real gestures to win a heart.The drama in cyber world can never be as powerful as one’s taking place in real life.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In retrospect,we still don’t have a mindset to use these technological incarnations in a constructive way.These scientific toys may add meaning in the lives of upper echelons of society but for a large section people these are of little importance .&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/are-gadgetries-making-youths-slave-to-cosmetic-values-7173651/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>role-of-gadgets</category><category>youths</category><category>wrong-lifestyles</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/are-gadgetries-making-youths-slave-to-cosmetic-values-7173651/#comments</comments></item><item><title>HAVE WE INDIANS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/have-we-indians-fallen-in-love-with-complexities-of-life-7012971/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-09-21:/2009/09/21/have-we-indians-fallen-in-love-with-complexities-of-life-7012971/</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:15:57 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt; HAVE WE INDIANS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;          ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The globalized world has given rise to host of complex problems. One of the most unfortunate developments has been that one’s privacy and individuality have lost meaning as the shrewd souls have scant respect for them.Now one has to pay a heavy price to pursue one’s dreams and aspirations.Jeremy Seabrook rightly stated that ‘real reason for seeking to criminalize the despairing is that to do so pathologizes the individual,and leave society unscathed’.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It would not be out of place to suggest that ’shallow legalism’ and secular outbursts have tarnished the well-structured life-patterns of Hinduism.What’s the point in giving rise to complexities in name of upholding values of modern society ?For the time being,it has become our fate to reel under absurdities of modern messiahs!Look at the new laws.They are supposed to protect the rights of women.However,instead of protecting the rights of women they are breaking homes.Anticipatory divorce petitions are being filed at the time of marriage.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Look at our media.It has no respect for our privacy and it is least interested in ensuring a stable society.The word camera never evoked feeling of fear but when it gets combined with word “hidden” it becomes a deadly object!!It then gains the potential to turn your “happy home” into a graveyard!!Media has shrewdly used hidden cameras to indulge in “sensationalism”.Apart from that Media is promoting wrong lifestyle-one that caters to individualism.What are programmes like “Sach Ka Saamana” aimed at?They are only weakening the pillars of Indian society.In other words,all better values are now mocked at as we have somewhat accepted within that it’s age of baddies and therefore there is no harm in flirting with cheap values !!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Anyway,I am I’m proud to be born in a country where ” Gandhi-a naked fakir ” was enough to show 35,000 Britishers the door without the use of weapon! Realize the strength of nation when 1.2 billion souls come to have swords in their hands? Still,let not such a day come when we have to become the worshipers of sword than being the lovers of “power of self “.Unfortunately,there are many negative forces that are forcing us to believe in aggressive tendencies,cosmetic values and unnatural living patterns.However, we have to develop the power of resistance so that we are always at a safe distance from the wrong values.Let’s not forget that we have always believed in simple living and high thinking.Our culture deep-rooted in non-violence does not promote bloodshed.Let foreign powers view our politeness as symbol of weakness and love for simple things as sign of dumbness.There is no merit in being dictated by foreign values.After all,what’s the point in becoming like others when the sun in all the case is going to set !!!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/have-we-indians-fallen-in-love-with-complexities-of-life-7012971/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>modern-india</category><category>india</category><category>indian-values</category><category>globalization</category><category>morality</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/have-we-indians-fallen-in-love-with-complexities-of-life-7012971/#comments</comments></item><item><title>WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BRING REAL CHANGES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/when-are-we-going-to-bring-real-changes-in-our-education-system-6907300/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-09-06:/2009/09/06/when-are-we-going-to-bring-real-changes-in-our-education-system-6907300/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:34:40 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt; WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BRING REAL CHANGES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Education plays a great role in shaping our destiny. We are all aware of its importance but our policymakers are, apparently, not aware of this great fact. Perhaps they do not believe in waking from deep slumber. The quality of education in our schools and colleges has deteriorated with time. Despite being an area of great concern, education sector has suffered heavily at the hands of our policymakers. Half hearted attempts to renovate it have further tarnished its image.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Education says Radhakrishnan should not be equated with literacy and accumulation of factual knowledge. Sadly, our education system is aimed at turning student into godown of unnecessary details. There is no denying of the fact that India in recent past has made tremendous progress in fields like science, business and technology and that we have produced spectacular results in several prestigious branches of engineering. What we don’t realize- amid glitter of success achieved- is that we have trapped ourselves in all sorts of complexities. As a result of widespread confusion around us the things like scams, violence marred cities and political upheavals, to name a few, have become order of the day. To sole reason for rise of complex persona could rightly be attributed to bad education.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The number of students enrolled has increased from 17.9 million in 1961 to 72.4 million in 1991. The enrollments have shot up and the school system expanded substantially but there still exists huge number of children who have never visited the school. Above all, the drop outs are also major source of worry. On the top of it, poor standard of teaching in government run schools is not allowing the students to be at par with education offered in foreign countries. How many institutions of ours can claim a place among top institutions of world? I am sure there will only be one or two such institutions. Against this backdrop, it’s not hard to understand the fate of child who wants make a career in foreign worlds.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The teachers in villages are devoid of facilities to make students develop greater interests in their subjects. The schools in villages are not in good shape. They do not provide safe environment for little children. We have witnessed many tragedies in past that claimed lives of many students. Probably, that’s why in villages the enrollment rate is below desired rate, especially of the girl students. We are also far behind in “ universalisation ” of elementary standards of education is proving to be elusive. It has become some sort of challenge for educationists of our times.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The second largest education system has suffered due to over emphasis on the quantitative expansion of knowledge. Education should culminate in the growth of wisdom which lies in tolerance, understanding, and catholicity of outlook, compassion and humility. It should emancipate the mind from the tyranny of prejudice –personal, social, national, religious, linguistic, racial, and ideological-to “clear mental cobwebs” and “put the minds in order”. Education is meant “not to fill an empty vessel but to turn the eye of the soul towards light.” (Plato)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In a country like India for the successful panning and implementation of programmes we must have projects keeping in mind the ground realities. However, most of the programmes started to reform the education system have either perished or are being carried out in haphazard manner. I wonder what’s going to be the fate of initiatives of Mr Kapil Sibal. There have always been lack of sincere effort on the part of our policy makers .Lack of research and poor work method have led top untimely death of many ambitious schemes to reform the education system. Like all other areas, the education system has also fallen prey to political whims and fancies. Interestingly, budgetary allocations have been constantly increasing. However, there is urgent need for optimizing the utilization of these funds. Till now they have been used on activities hardly concerned with education. Ironically, teachers in villages are more busy in ensuring success of mid day meal programme rather than concentrating on teaching.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;True education is three dimensional and should cater to needs of the body, the mind and spirit. It is the third dimension “the culture of soul” which is missing in our education system .The third component is value based, value oriented education which is assimilated by exposure to the humanistic discipline, literature and philosophy, religion etc. Such an exposure will humanize the students, raise them to higher level and make them alive to deeper values .The moral and spiritual components constitute the true cornerstone of education. Sadly, instead of generating a sense of national pride and self respect the educational policies lay emphasis on intellectual efficiency.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The pursuits of intellectual goals never allow students to get attached to finer aspects of life-search of true knowledge and cultivation of character and discipline. The critical scientific attitude, which should have been blended with spiritual attitude for development of better personality, has only produced only one dimensional growth.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;‘We split the nucleus and now nucleus is splitting our lives’ is a view that highlights the futility of vain pursuits having nothing to do with growth of human beings and human society in proper way. We have failed to develop a vision that could enable one to witness the universe as one single entity. It’s time to reshape our education system and bring it at par with divine attributes which in turn is going to make such vision a reality. .&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/when-are-we-going-to-bring-real-changes-in-our-education-system-6907300/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>education-in-india</category><category>value-oriented-education</category><category>reforming-education-system</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/when-are-we-going-to-bring-real-changes-in-our-education-system-6907300/#comments</comments></item><item><title>HAVE PARLIAMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE TURNED INTO WHORE,CIRCUS AND 100% FARCE ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/04/have-parliaments-across-the-globe-turned-into-whore-circus-and-100-farce-6887071/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-09-03:/2009/09/04/have-parliaments-across-the-globe-turned-into-whore-circus-and-100-farce-6887071/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:39:37 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;HAVE PARLIAMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE TURNED INTO WHORE,CIRCUS AND 100% FARCE ?  &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;         ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Though Indian MPs love to visit foreign countries on flimsy grounds, wasting exchequer’s money, they are yet to imbibe beter mannerisms of their foreign counterparts.It’s sad that unruly scenes over petty issues have become order of the day in our parliament. Interestingly, before the start of every new session of Parliament, the Speaker organizes meeting wherein leaders belonging to various parties assure the Speaker of not letting their MPs give way to indecent behavior in the Parliament. However,” promises are made to be broken”. So once these “bhailogs” (read MPs) are in the Parliament,they take no time in entering into “tamasha” (drama) of all sorts.Walkout at the slightest pretext is the hallmark of Indian parliament.All parties during some part of session loves to turn into “walkout party”.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Blame it on the media that has glorified the “walkout culture “of our parliamentarians. It’s a real shame that our parliament once known for standard debates has today turned into ideal place to know choicest abuses or unparliamentary expressions.Surprisingly, our Mps who love to give sound bites to media over serious affairs like drought or floods are often missing when debates over these issues takes place in the parliament. No wonder lack of quorum fails to shake the conscience of our MPs. But ask them to enter in dogfight over petty issues and I am sure there will be no lack of quorum. One thought that live telecast will bring some changes in instincts of our MPs but technological incarnation brought no major change other than making them fashion conscious.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Somnath Chatterjee once stated in frustration that “Member of the House must understand that they have accountability to people…..every issue cannot be raised always”. His experience as Speaker of Lok Sabha is bitter. That’s why protagonist in the movie “Deshdrohi” sounds right when he says that leaders have turned Parliament into a “Sabji Mandi ( Vegetable market ).I don’t know what people in other countries feel about their parliament.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Going by the news I have,it appears that in others countries too there is lot of frustration the way MPs are behaving. Sometimes back Nawaj Sharif said that the “Pakistani Parliament was being turned into a concubine”. In the wake of expenses abuse in Britain, the media analysts now believe that parliament there has turned into “a vile snake pit”.The Bulgarian Mps seem to have turned parliament into “circus”.One Laurie Oakes states that “parliament is usually 90% theatre but Mr. Rudd turned it into a 100% farce.” In this case we are talking about PM of Australia Mr Kevin Rudd. It appears that Australian Parliament has disintegrated into “a high-farce shambles”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;However, being an Indian, I need to worry more what’s taking place in my country. I am really very sad that the highest forum of nation has been held hostage to dirty tricks of cocksure minds instead of turning into platform of eye-opening debates. Given the devious attitude of our electorates, there is little hope that right kind of people will be able to make their presence felt in near future. It’s not only time to subject our MPs to harsh code of conduct but also curb their access to super-facilities if found involved in rough episodes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/04/have-parliaments-across-the-globe-turned-into-whore-circus-and-100-farce-6887071/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-parliament</category><category>mps</category><category>save-indian-parliament</category><category>politics</category><category>india</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/09/04/have-parliaments-across-the-globe-turned-into-whore-circus-and-100-farce-6887071/#comments</comments></item><item><title>WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT SRIMATI RADHARANI</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/what-others-say-about-srimati-radharani-6840177/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-08-28:/2009/08/28/what-others-say-about-srimati-radharani-6840177/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:52:42 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;          WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT SRIMATI RADHARANI &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;               ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Today we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Sri Radharani. Radha Ashtami marks the arrival of Sri Radha-the chief associate and devotee of Lord Krishna and topmost of all goddesses.It’s celebrated 15 days after Krishna Janmashtami.Let’s know more about her to come closer to Sri Krishna and be one with Him.I am presenting excerpts from the writings of some enlightened souls who have talked about Sri Radha in a glorious way.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                 SRIMATI RADHARANI&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                  -By Stephen Knapp&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means the She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord’s energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God. Thus, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, God is both male and female. They are One, but Krishna expands into two, Himself and Radharani, for the sake of divine loving pastimes. If They remained as One, then there is no relationship, there are no pastimes, and there can be no dynamic exchange of love. (Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, 4.55-56) Actually, if we all remained merged or amalgamated into one single force or light, then there is no further need of anything else. There certainly would be no need for the material manifestation to provide the innumerable conditioned souls with the means to seek out the way to satisfy their senses, minds, emotions, desires for self-expression, intellectual pursuits, and on and on.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;So, similarly, the spiritual world is the manifestation wherein all souls have the opportunity to engage in a multitude of pastimes in loving relationships in full spiritual variety, without the many hindrances we find in this material world. The only difference is that the spiritual world is centered around the Supreme Being. And that Supreme Personality has expanded Himself into Radharani for exhibiting the supreme loving relationship, in which so many others assist Them.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows:&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;devi krishna-mayi prokta&lt;br&gt;
radhika para-devata&lt;br&gt;
sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva&lt;br&gt;
kantih sammohini para&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;To explain further, Srimati Radharani is also the source of the other goddesses, who are expansions of Her. Just as Lord Krishna is the source of all other expansions and incarnations of God, Radharani is the source of all other expansions of the energies of God, the shaktis, or other goddesses. Thus, Vishnu, Rama, even Shiva are all expansions of the one Supreme Being, and similarly Lakshmi, Sita, and even Durga are all expansions of this Supreme Feminine form of God, Radharani.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It is explained that the beloved consorts of Lord Krishna are of three kinds, namely the goddesses of fortune or Lakshmis, His queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja called the gopis. All of them proceed from Radharani. The Lakshmis are partial manifestations, or plenary portions, of Srimati Radharani, while the queens in Vaikuntha and in Dvaraka are reflections of Her image. The Vraja-devis or gopis are Her expansions and assist in the increase of rasa, or the divine loving pastimes. Among them there are many groups that have various sentiments and moods, which help Lord Krishna taste the sweetness of the rasa dance and other pastimes. (Cc.Adi-lila. 4. 75-81)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;“Among the gopis of Vrindavana, Srimati Radharani and another gopi are considered chief. However, when we compare the gopis, it appears that Srimati Radharani is most important because Her real feature expresses the highest ecstasy of love. The ecstasy of love experienced by the other gopis cannot be compared to that of Srimati Radharani.” (Ujjvala-nilamani 4.3 of Srila Rupa Gosvami)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Radharani has many names according to Her qualities and characteristics.Some of the names that Radharani is known by include Govinda-anandini–She who gives pleasure to Govinda [Krishna]; Govinda-mohini–She who mystifies Govinda; Govinda-sarvasa–the all-in-all of Lord Govinda; Shiromani Sarva-kanta–the crown jewel of all the Lord’s consorts; and Krishnamayi–the one who sees Krishna both within and without. She is also called Radhika in the Puranas because Her worship [aradhana] of the Lord consists of fulfilling His desires. Aradhana is the root of the name Radharani, which indicates one who excels in worshiping the Lord. She is also called Sarva-lakshmi, the original source of all the goddesses of fortune. This also means that She is the supreme energy of Lord Krishna, and represents His six opulences, which include fame, fortune, strength, wealth, knowledge, and detachment. She is also known as Sarva-kanti, which indicates that all beauty and luster rest in Her body, and all the Lakshmis derive their beauty from Her. It also means that all the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Srimati Radharani. As Lord Krishna enchants the world with His beauty and charm, Sri Radha enchants Him. Therefore She is the Supreme Goddess. Sri Radha is the full power, and Lord Krishna is the possessor of full power.(Cc.Adi-lila, 4.82, 84, 87-96).Thus, the two are non-different, as the sunshine is nondifferent from the sun, or as the energy is non-different from the energetic or source of energy.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In this way, without Radha there is no meaning to Krishna and without Krishna there is no meaning to Radha. Because of this, in the Vaishnava tradition we always pay respects first to the Lord’s internal energy in the form of Radha, and then to the Lord. Thus They are referred to as Radha-Krishna, or in other names as Sita-Rama, Lakshmi-Narayana, and so on. In this way, Radha and Krishna are one, but when Lord Krishna wants to enjoy, He manifests Himself as Radharani. Otherwise, there is no energy in which Krishna can attain pleasure outside Himself.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;To understand Himself through the agency of Radha, or the hladini-shakti, the Lord manifests Himself as Lord Chaitanya, who is Lord Krishna but with the super-excellent emotions of Radharani’s love toward Lord Krishna. This is because the Lord accepts a position and the emotions of a devotee in order to fully taste His own sweetness.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It is also described that the potency of love of God is called hladini, the Lord’s pleasure potency. Whenever the Lord wants to enjoy pleasure, He exhibits His own spiritual potency known as hladini. And the essence of that love is in the emotion called bhava. The ultimate development of that emotion is mahabhava, or great bhava. Mahabhava is full of the pleasure potency, and it is an exhibition of the highest love for Lord Krishna. Sri Radharani is the embodiment of that transcendental consciousness found in mahabhava. Her mind, senses and body are steeped in that highest sort of love for Krishna. She is as spiritual as the Lord Himself. In fact, being the personification of the hladini-shakti, the pleasure giving energy of the Lord, She is the only source of enjoyment for the Lord. This pleasure potency manifests spiritually as Radharani in a way that attracts even Lord Krishna. He takes no pleasure in anything material. The Lord could never enjoy anything that is less spiritual than Himself. Therefore Radha and Krishna are identical. Then She expands Herself into different forms, known as Lalita, Visakha, and Her other confidential associates that increase the mood of divine love. However, being the Lord’s hladini feature, She is also the ultimate source of all happiness for all the living beings. In other words, everything that gives pleasure and happiness within the spiritual or the material worlds is because of Her and the energy that emanates from Her. (Cc.Adi-lila.4.68-72) That same pleasure potency expands and spreads throughout the spiritual worlds, and then descends into the material creation into the many forms of happiness that is experienced by the conditioned soul, though it may be called by different names and perceived in assorted ways. Since we are all parts and parcels of the Lord, we also have that pleasure potency within us to a minute degree. But we are trying to enjoy it in the material world. Therefore we are like sparks that are dying out because we have left our place which is in the blazing fire of Lord Krishna’s association.&lt;br&gt;
The Hare Krishna mantra also directs one’s attention and devotion to Radha as well as Krishna. Radha is also known as Mother Hara, which is the name Hare in the vocative form within the mantra. So in chanting Hare Krishna, we are first approaching the Lord’s internal potency and asking Radha to please engage us in the service of Lord Krishna. Concentrating on Krishna through His names is one form of that service. In other words, it is through Radha that one more easily attains Krishna and service to Krishna. This is the advantage of approaching Lord Krishna through Radharani.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The descriptions of the beauty of Radharani are wonderfully poetic and descriptive. Actually, the residents of Vrindavana care more for Radharani than they do for Lord Krishna. They know that Krishna can be influenced through Radharani. They know that Radha can bring one to Krishna. She is also the compassionate nature of the Lord, and thus more easily approached than trying to reach Lord Krishna directly. And when we read these descriptions of Radha, it is no wonder why they are devoted to Her. For example, it is explained that Srimati Radharani has unlimited transcendental qualities, of which twenty-five are principal. These include: 1) She is very sweet. 2) She is always freshly youthful. 3) Her eyes are restless. 4) She smiles brightly. 5) She has beautiful, auspicious lines. 6) She makes Krishna happy with Her bodily aroma. 7) She is very expert in singing. 8) Her speech is charming. 9) She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly. 10) She is very humble and meek. 11) She is always full of mercy. 12) She is cunning. 13) She is expert in executing Her duties. 14) She is shy. 15) She is always respectful. 16) She is always calm. 17) She is always grave. 18) She is expert in enjoying life. 19) She is situated in the topmost level of ecstatic love. 20) She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula. 21) She is the most famous of submissive devotees. 22) She is very affectionate to elderly people. 23) She is very submissive to the love of Her friends. 24) She is the chief gopi. 25) She always keeps Krishna under Her control. In short, She possesses unlimited transcendental qualities, just as Lord Krishna does. (Ujjvala-nilamani, Sri-radha-prakarana 11-15)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.stephen-knapp.com/radharani.htm"&gt;http://www.stephen-knapp.com/radharani.htm&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;LORD SHRI KRISHNA - SRIMATI RADHA RANI&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita (9.10): ‘Under My superintendence the material energy is working’.Apart from the material, external energy, there is another energy - the internal energy. By the internal energy the spiritual world is being manifested. As the material world is manipulated under the external energy, the spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency, called the Hladini Sakti, is Srimati Radharani.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In CC Adi 1.5 it is said “The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krishna are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally”. Srimati Radharani, as the highest devotee of Sri Krishna, derives the greatest pleasure in serving Him. She is the origin of all the Gopis and of all the Goddesses of Fortune (Lakshmi devi) who are engaged in the service of the Lord. She is the mainstay, the ideal and the ultimate refuge of all devotees embarking on the path of devotional service. Without first getting the mercy of Srimati Radharani it is impossible to even approach Sri Krishna.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Vrindavan Lila&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;When the Lord descends, He is invariably accompanied by His loving associates. Five thousand years when Sri Krishna descended in His original form, as a cowherd boy in Vrindavan, Srimati Radharani accompanied Him in Her original form. She appeared exactly two weeks after the appearance of Sri Krishna on the eighth day of the waning moon (ashtami). Srimati Radharani was found on a lotus flower by Vrashabhanu and his wife Kirtida near the village of Barsana, a few miles away from Nandagrama. It is said that Srimati Radharani first opened Her eyes only when Sri Krishna appeared before Her. Until that time Her eyes were&lt;br&gt;
closed.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Understanding the mellows of the relationship between Krishna and Radha is impossible from the mundane perspective. Understanding madhurya-rasa (devotion at the platform of intimacy), which is the highest level of relationship of a devotee with Krishna, is only possible in the most elevated stages of bhakti where there is not even a tinge of material contamination. Therefore Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has written: “The loving affairs of Radha and Krishna are not ordinary, material loving affairs, although they appear like that. Rascals and fools misunderstand Krishna to be an ordinary man. They do not know Krishna’s transcendental nature. They try to imitate Krishna”s rasa-lila, His dancing with the Gopis”. There is no offense greater than this. Devotees starting on the path of bhakti must carefully avoid such offenses. They must simply pray to Srimati Radharani, as their most compassionate Mother, for mercy, for bhakti and for an opportunity to serve Sri Krishna.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.girirajji.com/srimati-radha-rani.html"&gt;http://www.girirajji.com/srimati-radha-rani.html&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Something From Wikipedia&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;She is the primeval internal potency of the LordRadha is the principal devotee of Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Gita Govinda of the Hindu religion.[1] Radha is almost always depicted alongside Krishna and features prominently within the theology of today’s Gaudiya Vaishnava religion, which regards Radha as the original Goddess or Shakti. Radha’s relationship with Krishna is given in further detail within texts such as the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Garga Samhita and Brihad Gautamiya tantra. Radha is also the principal object of worship in the Nimbarka Sampradaya, as Nimbarka, the founder of the tradition, declared that Radha and Krishna together constitute the absolute truth.[2]&lt;br&gt;
Radha is often referred to as Rādhārānī or “Radhika” in speech, prefixed with the respectful term ‘Srimati’ by devout followers. Radha is one of the most important incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In the Nimbarka Sampradaya, Radha’s relationship with Krishna is characterised by the svakiya-rasa, based on texts in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Garga Samhita describing the wedding of Radha and Krishna. The Gaudiya tradition focuses upon parakiya-rasa as the highest form of love, wherein Radha and Krishna share thoughts even through separation. The love the gopis feel for Krishna is also described in this esoteric manner as the highest platform of spontaneous love of God, and not of a mundane sexual nature.Proponents of the Gaudiya and Nimbarka schools of Vaishnavism give the highly esoteric nature of Radha’s relationship to Krishna as the reason why her story is not mentioned in detail in the other Puranic texts.[citation needed]&lt;br&gt;
In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows: “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radha"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radha&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;SRI RADHARANI -SRI KRISHNA'S BELOVED&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sri Radha is also known as Vrishbhanu Nandini , was born to Sri Vrishbhanuji and Mata Kirti in the land of Barsana. The divine Goddess blessed this Earth by Her birth on the nuptial day of Ashtami, Bhadrapad Shukla Paksh. Sri Radha Rani marks the existence of Sri Krishna for she is his soul, where the trinity (the three worlds that bow to Krishna’s feet) i.e: Sri Krishna himself bows to Sri Radha’s feet. Shri Radha’s beauty, power and resemblance create the ethics of love. None of the scriptures consists the power to verbalize her beauty, for it is clear enough that when beauty of Sri Krishna makes several hearts leave their boundaries, Her beauty is so mesmerizing that it makes Him loose consciousness. Then it is practical that thousand Kamas and Ratis are just soil particles before her. Sri Radharani is more sweet than her beauty for she reigns the world of love ,one who enchants her name before and along with Sri Krishna for example ‘Sri Radhakrishna’ is sure to reach Sri Krishna’s source full Bhakti. Usually we are told that Sri Radharani was a Gopi who was most near to Lord Krishna’s heart, but it is not true. In the world of Nikunj vrindavan, She is the empress of the world of Nikunj where Gopis and Sakhis serve her selflessly.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sri Radha rani is the soul of Radhavallabh Sampradaya. The reason and the inspiration of existence of Radhavallabh Sampradaya is the transcendental love filled bond of Sri radha and Sri Krishna.&lt;br&gt;
The supreme existence of Sri Radha rani is believed to be the soul of Sri Krishna Himself. Sri Krishna the trinity ruler said to be the most handsome charming and unbelievably brave himself bows to Shri Radha’s feet. This describes how magnificent exotic and pristine is the supreme power of Sri Radha.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The mystical world of nikunj is ruled by Sri Radhaji and to enter the corridors of Nikunj one has to be blessed by Her. Sri Radha the symbol of pure love and the soul of Sri Krishna is very innocent and tender. But Sri Radha cannot be easily approached because her aura is too mysterious to be understood by one.&lt;br&gt;
The world of Nikunja is based on the transcendental love filled endeavors of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna. Holy land of Nikunja consists of four eternal parts which are:&lt;br&gt;
Sri Radha, Sri Krishna, Vrindavan and the Sakhis.&lt;br&gt;
The world of Nikunja is untouched by the worldly materialistic illusions and selfish desires. Its every part for eg: the trees, river, soil flowers, birds etc are nurtured and nourished by the transcendental pure selfless love filled devotion of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.radhavallabh.com/radha.htm"&gt;http://www.radhavallabh.com/radha.htm&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/what-others-say-about-srimati-radharani-6840177/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>all-about-sri-radha</category><category>srmati-radharani</category><category>spirituality</category><category>hinduism</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/what-others-say-about-srimati-radharani-6840177/#comments</comments></item><item><title>SRI AUROBINDO:THE DREAMER OF DIVINE CONQUEST</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/sri-aurobindo-the-dreamer-of-divine-conquest-6726974/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-08-14:/2009/08/15/sri-aurobindo-the-dreamer-of-divine-conquest-6726974/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:47:44 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;           SRI AUROBINDO:THE DREAMER OF DIVINE CONQUEST&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                   ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;We celebrate our Independence day on August 15.It’s a very special day for all the Indians.It’s also a day to acknowledge the contributions of all the freedom fighters who made India’s tryst with freedom a reality.This day is also celebrated as birthday of India’s one of the greatest yogis Sri Aurobindo,who was much influenced with life of Lord Sri Krishna.He was instrumental in creating a big awakening among the Indians via his writings and speeches.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Ours is land of saints, bhaktas and yogis.It’s here alone that the invisible supreme has manifested himself in diverse ways like Krishna and Rama.Not only this, there exists so many ways to reach Him.While Gyana Yogis(Seekers of Knowledge)come to realize him through Shravana(Listening),Manana (Reflection) and Nidihidhyasana (Meditation),the Bhaktas(devotees)attain the Divine Abode by singing His divine glories.The Yogis come to apprehend him by disciplining their minds whereas followers of Tantra attain him via set of complex rituals.Each path further gets divide into various sects to provide suitable environment for the perfect development of the seekers according to his/her natural tendencies.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sri Aurobindo’s arrival manifested one more fascinating path to strike union with the Lord.He was born on August 15, 1872 in Calcutta.His father Dr. K.D.Ghose ,a civil medical officer , favoured European upbringing for his children. After spending two years in Loretto Convent School at Darjelling ,Sri Aurobindo went to England for higher studies.He was earlier interested in joining Civil services and was nearly very close to fulfilling his ambition but destiny had planned something better for him.It’s strange but true that though he was raised in an European atmosphere he always dreamt of reforming the Indian society. At the age of 21, after spending 14 years in England he returned back to India. The restlessness or “Tamas”(darkness) that has gripped his mind during his stay in England gave way to extra ordinary spiritual well being in Sri Aurobindo soon after his arrival.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;He joined the ongoing national movement and was one of the accused in Alipur Trial.In the jail the solitude gave him an opportunity to ponder deeply. As a result he came to ascertain that he was “called upon to preach to my country to make them realize that India had a mission to perform in the comity of nations”. He viewed the attainment of freedom as a first step towards establishment of Divine Rule in India. He engaged himself in spiritual practices for a greater target than freedom-the liberation of human race. He was a Mahayogi (supreme soul) who carved a unique way for the fulfillment of his task. Mysticism heavily shrouds his path which makes exact description of his ways and means adopted a little difficult for average person. So what exists is merely the tip of an iceberg. One reason which could be stated in this regard is that he functioned from a plane of thought that transcends earthly logic. In other words to coin earthly phrases for his sentiments serves little purpose. A fact which he himself asserts in the following words:” No one can write about my life because it has not been on the surface for man to see.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;His Yoga which has become known as Internal Yoga or the Integral Yoga has aspiration, surrender and rejection as its chief components .When one sincerely emulates his path one becomes open to supermind. His integral philosophy says that the “divine transcends from pure existence through the play of consciouness” and then there is compete transformation.There must first be the psychic change, the conversion of our whole present nature into a soul instrumentation; on that or along with that there must be the spiritual change, the descent of higher light ,Knowledge ,Force, Bliss, Purity into the whole being, even into the lowest recesses of the life and body, even into the darkness of our subconsconscience; last, there must supervene the supramental transformation, there must take place as the crowning movement the ascent into the supermind and the transforming descent of the Supramental Consciousness into our entire being and nature.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;We come to recognize our true nature when the veil is removed that separates the lower being from the higher being through the descent of the higher into the nature of the lower being and the forceful ascent of the lower being into the nature of the higher. The mind then recovers its divine light in all comprehending supermind and the soul realizes its divine self in the all-possessing all blissful ananda. Unlike the view maintained by Sri Adi Shankara who considers objective world an illusion, Sri Aurobindo feels that it has a reality separate from human consciousness. When we know ourselves, thinks Aurobindo, by going within ourselves and see with an inner knowledge man rises to the level of Brahman. The Suprarmental light at that stage imbibes his personality. But prior to that final state of pure knowledge or complete descent of supramental consciousness, a being has to pass through several stages from mind to supermind. Such a totally transformed person is known as Gnostic being. The normal human being reasoning rests on senses and reason but the Gnostic personality comprehends and penetrates the object by immediate total identification with it. Put differently, his reason is infused with synthetic vision of unity or identity. Such a being is not opposed to the so-called not -self but he treats it to be the part of the self which ignorant people fail to do.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Before the descent of supramental consciousness the mind passes through higher mind, illumined mind and the overmind. In the higher mind the limitations of thought or the rules of logic are absent. Totality is grasped as a single view in the higher mind. In the illumined mind the intuition plays a great role. Intuition allows one to look deeper into the reality underlying the substance by an intimate truth perception. Intuition brings before our eyes unknown by harmonizing will, feelings and emotions. Next comes the overmind which has the capacity to reconcile differences but that is not enough to bring integral transformation. The overmind cannot counteract the negative forces cause downward pull of the human soul.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The fear vanishes with the emergence of supramental consciousness. The descent of supermind is a prerequisite for formation of spiritualized society in which all the individuals unite themselves in a single world State This yoga comes to bring an inner elf development by which all beings discover the one self in all and evolve into higher consciousness. He comes to apprehend ‘the real truth of spirit in the world and real truth and highest law of life’. The attainment of this vision needs complete overhauling of our personality in order to make it adaptive to the higher consciousness.The supramental transformation brings an’ inner organized consciousness’ and personality vibrates with psychic abilities. But there must be preparation from below and grace from above. The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Asharama in Pondicherry provides us the features of being who has undergone supramental transformation which are a perfect and constant equality and absolute certainty in the highest laws of nature.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sri Aurobindo was of the opinion that gap between reason and faith, the phenomenal and noumenal world and the world of necessity and the world of freedom can be reduced to zero. He says” when we speak of It (read Absolute) as unknowable, we mean that, It really escapes the grasp of our thought and speech, instruments which proceed always by the sense of difference and express by the way of definition; but if not unknowable by thought. It is attainable by supreme effort of consciousness. There is even kind of knowledge which is one with Identity and by which, in a sense, It can be known.” In order to fulfill his dreams he set up a Ashrama at Pondicherry.On December 5,1950 he left his physical body to make his dream of getting Supermind into the material a reality. The much awaited descent of Supermind took place on February 29,1956. The Mother emphasized on April 24,1956 :’ The manifestation of the supramental upon earth is no more a promise but a living fact , a reality. It is at work here and one day will come when the most blind, the most unconscious, even the most unwilling will be able to recognize it.’&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;According to Sri Aurobindo whatever he is doing is “a beginning, not a completion.It is the foundation of a new consciousness on earth- a consciousness with infinite possibilities of manifestation”.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Let us not ignore the principles of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma as that will dangerous for the progress of this nation. What he wrote in Karma Yogin needs to placed firmly in our hearts and mind. He stated that “The task we now set before ourselves is not mechanical but moral and spiritual.We aim not at the alteration of form of a government but the building of nation. Of that task politics is a part, but only a part. We shall devote not only to politics alone ,nor to social questions alone ,nor to theology or literature or science by themselves, but we include all these in one entity which we believe to be all important ,the dharma, the national religion which we also believe to be universal. There is mighty law of life , a great principal of human evolution , a body of spiritual knowledge and experience which India has always been destined to be guardian ,exemplar and missionary. This is Santana Dharma-the eternal religion.We must return and seek the sources of life and strength within ourselves. We must know our past and recover it for the purpose of our future. Our business is to realize ourselves first and to mould everything to the law of India’s eternal life and nature. We believe that it is to make Yoga the ideal of human life that India rises today; by the Yoga she will get the strength to realize her freedom, unity and greatness, by the Yoga she will keep the strength to perceive it. It is spiritual revolution we foresee and the material is only its shadow and reflex.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;REFERENCES:&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;1. Sri Aurobindo by Navjata (National Book Trust, India)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;2. Concepts Of Reason And Intuition By Ramesh Chandra Sinha (Janaki Prakashan ,Patna and Delhi)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/sri-aurobindo-the-dreamer-of-divine-conquest-6726974/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>philosophy-of-integral-yoga</category><category>life-of-sri-aurobindo</category><category>making-of-a-better-india</category><category>india</category><category>religion</category><category>hinduism</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/sri-aurobindo-the-dreamer-of-divine-conquest-6726974/#comments</comments></item><item><title>LORD KRISHNA:THE SAVIOUR WHO WAS EMBODIMENT OF LOVE</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/12/lord-krishna-the-saviour-who-was-embodiment-of-love-6712778/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-08-12:/2009/08/12/lord-krishna-the-saviour-who-was-embodiment-of-love-6712778/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:32:16 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;      LORD KRISHNA:THE SAVIOUR WHO WAS EMBODIMENT OF LOVE &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;             ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The external world visible to us in its myriad forms appears solid and real. But few who know art of discrimination realize this beautiful world of us as no more than an illusion. Great souls have incarnated at various intervals to explain mysterious phenomenon of nature.Lord Krishna stands above all.He was not just a great soul but he was Lord Supreme. The “sixteen kalas”(sixteen attributes) which constitute facet of Great Purusha(Supreme Being ) namely Prana, faith, the five great elements,the sense, mind ,food ,strength, thoughts, mantra, karma, world and names manifested in him in full glory.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;During childhood he displayed great feat of valour by killing a large number demons including Pootana, Aghasur and Bakasur that represented our evil mental vrittis(tendencies).Some unholy minds –the charlatans-frown over Krishna’s association with the Gopis,making it at par with some sort of illicit relationship. Well, it’s really hard to bring any substantial changes in perceptions of such blockheads who are being swayed by the Tamasic tendencies.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Little they are aware of the highest plane of consciousness, which is seat of functioning of these great souls.It’s of little importance to them whether they are living in palace or a hut, whether they are in company of beautiful woman or a madman. Taking note of our poor state of mind, we should at least refrain from engaging in senseless criticism.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Lord Krishna was a great statesman. Although he could have saved his face by distancing away from the great crisis that loomed large over the Pandavas, the Lord preferred to represent them. It wasn’t lack of sincere effort on part of Krishna that resulted in war between Pandavas and Kauravas.It was haughtiness of Duryodhana that blocked all other options other than war. Nevertheless, battlefield of Kurukshetra prepared the ground for Sri Krishna to deliver eternal song –the Bhagavad Geeta. The humanity would always remain grateful to him for His great gesture.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The great sage Sukadeva in praise of Govind says “Thou are the highest in the highest! Who can sing your infinite glory?” After witnessing the “Virat Swaroop”(The Great Form) of Lord Sri Krishna the overwhelmed Arjuna accepting him to be the father of whole creation says, “ No one is equal to you, nor can anyone be one with you. How then could there be anyone greater than You within the three worlds Lord of immeasurable power.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Lord Krishna freely engaged in all sorts of activities. But for the sake of the welfare of people he solely shunned everything including his love for Radhaji. The poverty of physical language leaves on helpless while describing love of Radha and Krishna. Even the most insensitive heart is spellbound by novelty of intimate relationship between them. Observing Sri Krishna at human level we find that isolation severely affected him to an extent that in the later part of his life Krishna was left all alone. If one wishes to take notice one would certainly find that throughout His life amid company of high and rich he remained aloof.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Lord Krishna is always with those who sincerely pursue cause of truth. After all, he has promised to help seekers in all the ages and there is little to raise doubt over it. He has never failed in keeping his promises though at times delay takes place to test the sincerity of the seekers.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Lord Krishna says that we should “seek not for life on earth or in heaven. Thirst for life is an illusion. Knowing life to be transitory, wake up from dream of this ignorance and strive to attain knowledge and freedom before death claim thee.” Therefore, believing his words let’s try to add new dimensions in our earthly journey having Krishna both in heart and mind.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/12/lord-krishna-the-saviour-who-was-embodiment-of-love-6712778/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>glory-of-lord-krishna</category><category>remembering-lord-krishna</category><category>message-of-sri-krishna</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/12/lord-krishna-the-saviour-who-was-embodiment-of-love-6712778/#comments</comments></item><item><title>IS MAYWATI A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/11/is-maywati-a-good-administrator-6703453/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-08-11:/2009/08/11/is-maywati-a-good-administrator-6703453/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:33:32 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;           IS MAYWATI A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                 ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some sections of our Media have gone overboard while analyzing the persona of Mayawati.The media has projected an exaggerated version of her better qualities.These so-called better qualities of Mayawati are just like mirage that gives impression of water in the desert.In my eyes there is nothing like her wrong patterns of thinking have overshadowed better side of her personality.The truth is that she is almost devoid of right kind of beliefs.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I was too impressed with some of her qualities. Now having watched state of affairs in her reign, I feel it’s time to shatter illusions regarding her.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Look at the way she addresses senior officials. She has utter disregard for their persona. I don’t think that such an Hitlerian attribute has to do anything with”a tough administrator”. That’s why one of the chief secretaries was forced to go in for VRS.My father is a senior government official. He and other officials are very unhappy the way “Dalit equations” are being used in the offices.That’s not only hampering the smooth conduct of procedures in offices but also making officers insecure of their future who are quite aware of the fact that a different view other than the one sponsored by the “Behenji” group means suspension.The mindless suspensions may look good eye in the eye of common people but that’s not at all a good precedent.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Visit any Police station.They have become “Big Adda” of BSP leaders.You cannot dare to arrest any criminal, belonging to lower caste.The BSP leaders are quick to make life hell for that police official. No wonder, Allahabad has a new police chief after few weeks. I am sure that’s the case in other districts as well. The “goondaraj” of SP has been replaced by the “jungleraj” of Mayawati. The Tata Sumos bearing the flag of SP has now been replaced by the Tata Sumos bearing the flag of BSP-the symbol of terror on the road !&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Their leaders are engaged in “official extortion “.Are such things indicative of good administration? The criminals belonging to lower caste are having good time. They can molest women, hurl bombs and threaten the businessmen, to name a few. Nobody can dare to take tough actions against.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some political experts talk about her quick decision abilities. Her two major decisions related with cancellation of appointments of the policemen made in Mulayam’s period and Ganga Express Highway Project have been overturned by the Court. The judges were in bitter mood while passing the judgment in these two cases.They were left shocked to see utter disregard for norms while making important decisions.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Mayawati is fighting against all odds to provide legitimacy to her stupid beliefs!It’s a proven fact given the way she has tried to implement her impractical ideas into reality.Thank God she failed to become PM ,or else, whole nation would have been playing statue-statue.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/11/is-maywati-a-good-administrator-6703453/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>maywati</category><category>bad-administration</category><category>corrupt-leaders</category><category>cm-of-up</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/08/11/is-maywati-a-good-administrator-6703453/#comments</comments></item><item><title>MISUSE OF INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES AND ABUSE OF POWER ENJOYED BY MEDIA</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/07/13/misuse-of-investigative-agencies-and-abuse-of-power-enjoyed-by-media-6501825/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-07-13:/2009/07/13/misuse-of-investigative-agencies-and-abuse-of-power-enjoyed-by-media-6501825/</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:52:39 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;There is nothing wrong with the investigation. But aren’t we aware of the fact that in our country it’s very to harass individuals/institutions via fake cases? No doubt investigation should be carried out but I have rarely seen that news of acquittal ever makes a head line. Such news links are never displayed with prominence, more so if they seem to be associated with concerns of Hindu!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It’s not the act but the intention that’s creating problem. It’s the motive that makes or mar the purpose.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Well, Courts have expressed anger many times the way media comes to conduct parallel trial. Who has given the media to conduct parallel trials? Recently, a women accused four policemen of Gang raping her within Police Station. All the TV channels and newspapers started baying for the blood of policemen, with TV channels having heated discussion involving incompetency of police and rights of women. That made news. Now the said story has turned out to be concocted. The TV channels have now gone in the hiding. That’s the way our media operates. Why the media and TV channels are not highlighting first their own misdeeds and secondly how it’s easy for women to frame men by filing fake cases?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The job of media is to present facts by reporting as it is. Of late, it has started conducting ”parallel trials” in which person is held guilty or presented as criminals even if there are no sufficient proofs or for that matter even if there are many dark corners. The Hindu saints like Aasharaam Bapu, Swami Ramdev and Sri Sathya Sai Baba etc. are always at the receiving end of hostile media.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;What is the urgency? That urgency is more visible if any Hindu institution is involved. Why objectivity and transparency while reporting anything associated with Hindu saints means tarnishing their image with wrong set of findings? This has also to do with type of secularism we are following wherein it’s imperative to be anti-Hindu to honour the tenets of secularism! It’s shame that it does not sent ripple when hard core terrorists and organizations like SIMI not only come to find supporters but many come to shed tears how investigative agencies are violating the human rights. Look at the media how it changes it’s opinion on the role of investigative agencies. The whole world was so much concerned how we are using investigative mechanism to harass the Muslims or the innocent citizens. As a result POTA was taken back.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;But when the same investigative mechanism harasses Hindu institutions and Hindu saints the Hindus are asked to shut up and let the law takes it course. Please notice the paradox. That dubiousness angers Hindus. Nobody is against investigation but the motive that initiates the whole investigation.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;So there is no problem with the investigation. No problem with the reporting either. But one needs not to be Einstein that in India it’s very easy to manipulate the process and it’s very easy to plant dubious reports with help of money that’s enough to turn a ”hero” into ”zero”. What about it?Look at CBI. Haven’t this agency been used by the ruling party to frame innocent people ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Anyway, someone has rightly stated ”Jo hai naamwala wohi to badnaam hai”. We will always remember Michael Jackson as a great entertainer and not as an alleged pedophile. The great people are always remembered for their noble acts while the adversaries with so-called truth always get lost in oblivion.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/07/13/misuse-of-investigative-agencies-and-abuse-of-power-enjoyed-by-media-6501825/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>abuse-of-power-by-media</category><category>investigative-agencies-not-working-properly</category><category>hindu-saints</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/07/13/misuse-of-investigative-agencies-and-abuse-of-power-enjoyed-by-media-6501825/#comments</comments></item><item><title>WILL MANMOHAN SINGH PROVE THIS TIME THAT HE IS NOT A WEAK PM?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/25/will-manmohan-singh-prove-this-time-that-he-is-not-a-weak-pm-6171591/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-25:/2009/05/25/will-manmohan-singh-prove-this-time-that-he-is-not-a-weak-pm-6171591/</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2009 04:59:53 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;WILL MANMOHAN SINGH PROVE THIS TIME THAT HE IS NOT A WEAK PM?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;             ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The Indians have once again shown faith in the abilities of Manmohan Singh.He is our PM once again. Naturally,we all have high expectations from him.We expect that this time he will be little hesitant in taking definite and authoritative steps while dealing with the grave issues.This time he cannot offer the excuse that he could not do this or that because of the allies.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;This time there will be no self-serving political interventions of strange allies that often created embarrassing scenes for him.No doubt the electorates that allowed him to kiss the PM chair again will expect something more than soft and populist policies.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;His opponents see him as a weak PM.I am sure this time he will definitely set new precedents that will kill this tag or label.It will be interesting to analyze what were those issues that made him earn infamous label-a weak PM.We need to have a look at some of the issues that haunted his earlier stint as PM.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;1.Why was there no effective mechanism to counter terrorist activities in India during his previous tenure other than issuing weak statements after every incident? What difference are we going to see in the policies this time ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;2 What compelled Manmohan Singh to state that Muslims have first right over every resource” ? Will he restate the same things? Let’s see whether he rises above making outrageous statements or not.The appeasement of minorities has been the chief weakness of Congress.Will Manmohan Singh dare to bring a change in the approach of Congress or will he be dictated by other power centers in Congress ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;3.What prevented him to tackle Naxalites head-on? The Communists prevented him to take concrete steps.No more Communists now.Are we going to have better steps and changed policies towards Nepal ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;4. Manmohan Singh himself gave signals that he was a weak PM.Last time we heard him several times that he just cannot do anything because of his alliance partners.I don’t think he will be lamenting this time.Or are there still some chances to echo such shrill cry ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;5.Why was he silent when Tasleema was given a wrong treatment at the hand of Leftists in Bengal?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;6.Why was case against Ottavio Quattrocchi weakened ? Well,it remains to be seen how CBI is used this time.Will this body ever truly be able to function impartially ?Will it pursue cases related with Mayawati and Mulayam in proper way ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;7.Why Afzal’s death punishment is being delayed ?What will be the stand of government this time? Further delay or immediate execution ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;8. What was the urgency to rope in Sachhar Committee ?The committee has revealed its findings.How will the government ensure its execution without irking the majority ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;9.The Gujarat High Court quashed the U C Banerjee Committee whose report negated the conspiracy theory behind the Godhra train carnage, holding it as “unconstitutional, illegal and void.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It has become tendency of governments to form commissions.Last time Lalu formed this extra-legal commission and PM did nothing to stop Lalu from doing so.I hope this time he will not let his minsters make mockery of Commissions.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;10.Many decisions taken by Arjun Singh, Lalu Yadav and Renuka Chowdhary were indicative of the fact that there was no such thing as collective responsibility during his previous tenure.In other words,PM was a silent spectator by not questioning the motive of these leaders.Thankfully, Manishankar Aiyer and Renuka are not there.Will he ensure that various ministries act in line with Constitutional provisions instead of them turning into medium for catering to the over inflated egos of Congress leaders.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;11.There was sharp price rise that made essential commodities away from the reach of common man ? Will this time “Daal-Roti” be within reach of aam aadmi or will the economic policies of an economist PM keep the “Daal Roti” at a safe distance from the common man?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The dubious gestures or dubious stand on these issues made PM earn tag of a weak PM in the last government.Let’s hope this time he emerges as a “strong PM”!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/25/will-manmohan-singh-prove-this-time-that-he-is-not-a-weak-pm-6171591/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-politics</category><category>election-2009</category><category>manmohan-sngh</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/25/will-manmohan-singh-prove-this-time-that-he-is-not-a-weak-pm-6171591/#comments</comments></item><item><title>IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF VERDICT 2009 FROM EYES OF A CRITIC</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/17/in-depth-analysis-of-verdict-2009-from-eyes-of-a-critic-6127619/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-17:/2009/05/17/in-depth-analysis-of-verdict-2009-from-eyes-of-a-critic-6127619/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 06:23:39 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;  IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF VERDICT 2009 FROM EYES OF A CRITIC &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;           ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The cat is now out of the bag .Let me say without entering in the narrow groove of subjectivity that once again Indian electorates have fooled all of us by voting in a very unpredictable manner. It appears that they are above all theories and predictions shared by the political columnists and so-called exit poll analysts. At present all of us are hailing the “intelligence of voters”. The political pundits are now saying that people have aligned with Congress only because of its commitment towards the development of nation.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some are saying that our voters have done a great job by marginalizing casteist agenda of parties like BSP. The parties like Left and SP that are mixture of indifference, short-sightedness and vested interests have been taught a fitting lesson by the electorates by reducing them to virtually non-existent players in the Indian political landscape. It’s indicative of fact that people have by now realized that such parties are greatest obstacles in way of a resurgent India.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The Congress is at present on cloud nine. It has every reason to be in upbeat mood. It never expected such a thumping verdict in its favour. Manmohan Singh, who is set to be Prime Minister again, said: “The people of India have spoken, and spoken with great clarity.”Sonia Gandhi said that she never doubted the intelligence of electorates -““eventually the people of India know what is good for them and always take the right decision”. Some very enthusiastic analysts are highlighting the “Rahul factor” that helped Congress some stature in UP. Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that his party’s victory was a rejection of the politics of caste and religion and acceptance of “clean and honest” politics symbolised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.His decision to campaign alone in UP did not boomerang, which many feared. After all, his campaigning in 2007 in UP was a huge failure. In other words, he has matured as politician and now hailed as coming of age who is interested in greater democracy within parties apart from greater role of youths.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Let’s discuss the fate of BJP now. It has graciously accepted its defeat. Mr LK Advani has expressed its desire to quit. BJP said: “India needs political stability. It needs to put the national economy on track. It needs to strengthen national security. For these challenges, people have given a mandate to the UPA leadership to govern. The BJP and its allies, while acting as a constructive Opposition, will fully co-operate with the government in strengthening India.”It’s really pleasing to watch that BJP has not given any bitter reaction as it did in 2004 : “We accept the mandate of the people of India with all humility. We shall do our utmost to honour the spirit of this mandate.”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The Leftists, on the other hand, are shell-shocked. Prakash Karat said that huge defeat “necessitates a serious examination of the reasons”. CPI national secretary D. Raja said that the CPI would learn lessons for the future. His hope of having an “anti-Congress” government is now shattered after the humiliating defeat of Left front in West Bengal. There is not much to say about the performance of SP,RJD and BSP other than this that people have totally ignored their presence, their opportunistic elements.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Well, it’s very difficult to point out objective and subjective factors that dictated the outcome of verdict 2009. I wish to observe the whole results from critical eye. Though you cannot ignore the stunning victory of Congress with Congress and its allies gaining more than 50% seats, it’s hard to say that electorates really wanted Congress in the driver’s seat or that Manmohan Singh’s clean image and his policies mattered most to the electorates. How can you forget the fact that this time voting percentage has been very low in most of the states? Mumbai , the city that witnessed a big terrorist attack, didn’t took much interest in voting with half of its electorates refrained from voting. That was the case in other major cities as well. One of the chief features of this election was that it was devoid of issues. It was devoid of emotive elements. That’s why Congress was wrapped in insecurity and was wooing JD(U) and others. It really cannot be stated with conformity that Congress has really got mandate on the plank of stability .&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some state-specific strategies, the charisma of money, people’s frustration with Left in West Bengal and Kerala and complex political scenario in Andhra and Tamil Nadu enabled the Congress to make a comeback. In UP people are now totally unhappy with Behenji’s way of ruling and as a result allowed both BJP and Congress to register it’s presence. That’s why I feel it’s too early to endorse “Rahul’s magic”. In my eyes the strange hand of destiny has allowed the Congress to make a comeback. It remains to be seen how Congress use this so-called support of electorates.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;For BJP it’s time for it to realize that why it’s not able to increase its vote bank. However, there is no reason for it to lose heart. It should realize that it has still managed to make its presence felt. It has lost in states where it had no strong presence and ironically in these states Congress was dominant like Kerala and West Bengal. It has to realize that if you don’t fulfill the promises made to the electorates ,the electorates are going to reject you no matter what’s your ideology .The victory of Sheela Dixit in assembly elections in Delhi or the BJP’s landslide victory in Chattisgarh or Nitish’s JD(U) spectacular victory in Bihar or BSP’s current loss in UP should make it very clear to the top brass of BJP that people want concrete progress and real development.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;If you somehow can assure the voters that you are really going to do some good work, the voters are bound to elect you. I have always been in favour of two party systems. The present scenario is not exactly not moulded in two party systems but it has virtually allowed BJP and Congress to rule the roost. Anyway, it’s hard to determine the consequences of such new political developments.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I am also very happy that people have shown door to the Leftists. When last time they formed the government with Congress I was bit unhappy but,somewhere in my heart,happy too!!I thought that this alliance would allow the people to taste the real side of Left.I am now more than happy because the results confirm that people have now really known Left. Their exit along with the exit of likes of Ram Vilas Paswan and Renuka Choudhary-the lover of feminist agenda- is good sign for the development of democratic principles.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In nutshell, the burden of proving now rests on Congress. The real game begins now. Let’s hope that Congress does not play foul by making mockery of the faith of the electorates.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/17/in-depth-analysis-of-verdict-2009-from-eyes-of-a-critic-6127619/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-election-2009</category><category>congress-wins-the-elections</category><category>leftists-badly-defeated</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/17/in-depth-analysis-of-verdict-2009-from-eyes-of-a-critic-6127619/#comments</comments></item><item><title>MY TAKE ON EVE-TEASING</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/14/my-take-on-eve-teasing-6111779/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-14:/2009/05/14/my-take-on-eve-teasing-6111779/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 02:34:53 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;
          MY TAKE ON EVE-TEASING &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;            ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Yes,such obscene gestures targeted at women are distasteful.The aggressive stance of girls can ward off the eve teasers.Eve-teasing has taken form of social evil.It needs to be tackled in all possible ways from intensified vigil to teaching self-defense techniques to women to make lives better for themselves.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;However,you cannot ignore the changes that have hit the society.What about the conditionings created day and night by so many sources that treat women no better than sex object?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;You also cannot deny the fact that dress one wears speaks lot about one’s personality.If women are so bothered about eve teasing what’s make them wear revealing clothes ?The skimpy clothes are certainly not an open invitation to harass the girls but then wearing them does send wrong signals.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I do agree woman of our times are facing lot of problems. However,it’s time to realize that times have changed. Every age gives rise to peculiar set of problems.Have you witnessed ragging sessions ?Girls too participate in them and force the boys to perform all sorts of indecent acts.They too also indulge in immoral and indecent gestures on road.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I am not trying to lessen the intensity of problems faced by women.But it would be nothing short of hypocrisy if I ignore that women have become hypersensitive.They know that a little tact combined with aggressive stance can save them from such gestures.Still they create a tamasha.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;So learn to handle such unwanted acts with smarter use of brains.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Sometimes back I read a wonderful observation by an American lady wherein she has stated that most of us take it as a compliment when someone says ”Sexy” to them.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The other way to react is to become angry and think of beating blue and black the person who said it.This is cent percent an Indian girl’s standard response.If that’s the case,they are still trapped in worn out methods of women of ancient times.The evolved women will react like an American lady.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Receive it with smile instead of creating ”halla” or astonishing mess.Still interested in delivering few punches? I will be more than happy if few punches across the face serve the purpose of aggrieved lady.I am not against as seeing it as a real solution.There is no harm in employing aggressive tactics.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;And yes,please don’t understand I am trying to endorse the acts of eve teasers.I am also not diluting the pain felt by the women.I am just trying to view the issue from an evolved perspective.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/14/my-take-on-eve-teasing-6111779/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>adam-teasing</category><category>sex-related-crime</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/14/my-take-on-eve-teasing-6111779/#comments</comments></item><item><title>Why media is promoting superstitions and ghost stories?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/10/why-media-is-promoting-superstitions-and-ghost-stories-6089275/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-10:/2009/05/10/why-media-is-promoting-superstitions-and-ghost-stories-6089275/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2009 01:47:47 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;    WHY MEDIA IS PROMOTING SUPERSITIONS AND GHOST STORIES ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;            ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Well, media in our times is primarily money oriented. It needs money to conduct its business. Money in our times comes easily via sex related stories or via “bhoot- pret” (ghost) stories. So every other magazine is either conducting dubious surveys hovering around our sexual preferences or if that’s not being done then new columns dealing with so-called new ways of healing mind are being introduced. These “merchants of money” are cashing-in-on our basic instincts.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;If that’s not treated as anti-women revelation let me inform you all that women, especially ones hailing from affluent class, love to buy magazines/newspapers only to read astrological predictions.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Then these women alone are the most sincere viewers of “Bhoot-pret” (ghost)stories showed on various channels. In other words, they are responsible for high TRP enjoyed by these serials! They are the first ones to visit many so-called Babas with names like “Mobile Baba” or “Cycle Walein Baba”.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It’s time for us to become religious or spiritual in real way. It’s the only way to eliminate superstitions from our lives. When you are really spiritual you come to kill superstitions forever .
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/10/why-media-is-promoting-superstitions-and-ghost-stories-6089275/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>supersitions</category><category>wayward-media</category><category>india</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/10/why-media-is-promoting-superstitions-and-ghost-stories-6089275/#comments</comments></item><item><title>FEROZ KHAN: THE STYLISH FILMMAKER</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/feroz-khan-the-stylish-filmmaker-6042769/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-01:/2009/05/01/feroz-khan-the-stylish-filmmaker-6042769/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 20:44:00 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;        FEROZ KHAN: THE STYLISH FILMMAKER &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                 ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Feroz Khan the style icon of yesteryear is now no more on this planet.He will always be remembered for introducing style and glamour-oriented movies, for big budget movies that had soulful music.He was one of the most handsome actors to grace the silver screen. The presence of style quotient made his movies stand out from other movies. Though his movies were usually formula based, the brilliant direction in league with haunting music always made the movies hit among the viewers.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;His quest for scenic locations made the movies real fest for the eyes. Watch Dharmatma. The picturesque locations featuring Afghanistan when gets combined with beauty of Hema Malini the result is lethal. He started his movie career with Didi and came into limelight after doing movies like Oonche Log and Arzoo.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;He received Filmfare Best Debut Award Didi (1960 ),Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in movie Aadmi Aur Insaan and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 200.Safar , Mela, Upaasana,Ek Sapeera Ek Luteera ,Oonche Log,Arzoo,Aadmi Aur Insaan and Aurat ,to name a few, are some of the notable movies. Apradh was his first directorial venture .&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;However, he attained unparallel success after the release of Dharmatma made under his direction. The movies directed by him like Qurbani,Janbaaz ,Dayavan and Yalgaar allowed him to carve a permanent place in the hearts of viewers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/feroz-khan-the-stylish-filmmaker-6042769/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-movies</category><category>bollywood</category><category>feroz-khan</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/feroz-khan-the-stylish-filmmaker-6042769/#comments</comments></item><item><title>WHAT MAKES LOVE STORIES GREAT</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/what-makes-love-stories-great-6042760/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-01:/2009/05/01/what-makes-love-stories-great-6042760/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 20:41:18 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;          WHAT MAKES LOVE STORIES GREAT &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;              ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;All great love stories rest on trust and mutual understanding between the partners. The great lovers kept their love intact with the help of high degree of trust between themselves amid unforeseen and unpredictable consequences.Its easy to fall in love in our times but its never too easy to retain the intimacy for a long time.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Probably, that’s why most of the love stories of our times don’t inspire us than the tales of ancient lovers like Radha and Krishna Shakuntala or for that matter like Dushyant and Shakuntala.Anyway, its time to fall in love but lets keep it away from the eyes of moral police! True, in a lovers world moral police has no place at all.&lt;br&gt;
Tags: Great Love Stories, Bonds Of Lov
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/what-makes-love-stories-great-6042760/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>importance-of-trust</category><category>tale-of-great-lovers</category><category>love-stories</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/what-makes-love-stories-great-6042760/#comments</comments></item><item><title>FEMALE POLITICIANS:CORRUPT AND INEFFICIENT LIKE THEIR MALE COUNTERRPARTS</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/female-politicians-corrupt-and-inefficient-like-their-male-counterrparts-6042750/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-01:/2009/05/01/female-politicians-corrupt-and-inefficient-like-their-male-counterrparts-6042750/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 20:37:56 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;FEMALE POLITICIANS:CORRUPT AND INEFFICIENT LIKE THEIR MALE COUNTERRPARTS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;          ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;It’s a fallacious observation that women in power are going to make a significant change.Had that been the case American would have definitely given preference to Hillary over Obama!!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;My point is that let’s elect a suitable candidate for positions that matter lot to our country.Let’s not be swayed by emotion-treating woman as supreme or above all flaws- while choosing people as policy makers.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;What has been the contribution of Pratibha Patil as President till now ?&lt;br&gt;
It’s a fashion in our times to boast of women’s abilities in glorified terms without bothering least to analyze their contributions in proper light.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Look at some of the contributions of female politicians.Indira Gandhi might be hailed as ”iron lady” and I too personally admire some of her decisions but that’s no reason to ignore the fact that she was a dictator who hated opposition of any sort.She was the first one to trample the dignity of courts for her vested interest.Can anyone forget the emergency period ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;What has been the contribution of Jayalalitha as CM ?What’s Mayawati is doing as CM ? Both of them have virtually set new records in field of corruption.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Benazir Bhutto too had been involved in corrupt practices.Bangladesh is at present in grip of female politics. However, with each passing day, Bangladesh is turning into paradise for all sort of extremists that have become huge threat for Indians.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;So it’s clear that it’s not women in power that will make significant change.Only better candidates are going to change the destiny of any nation.It could be either he or she !!Let’s not commit the fatal blunder of glorifying the abilities of woman!!!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/female-politicians-corrupt-and-inefficient-like-their-male-counterrparts-6042750/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>india</category><category>female-politicians</category><category>women</category><category>indian-politics</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/female-politicians-corrupt-and-inefficient-like-their-male-counterrparts-6042750/#comments</comments></item><item><title>WHY DO WE NEED RELIGION ?</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/why-do-we-need-religion-6042735/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-05-01:/2009/05/01/why-do-we-need-religion-6042735/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 20:34:41 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;
              WHY DO WE NEED RELIGION ? &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;               ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The essence of religion is beyond the realm of people in league with dull intellect.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;All religions are journey from ”God with attributes” to ”God without attributes”.It’s journey from ”God with form” to ”God devoid of form (read formlessness)”.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Before you realize that life is nothingness or pure consciousness there are several stages.Religions merely let you know the steps but realization is beyond religious scriptures.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Small children are taught that ”A” stands for Apple even though it’s not the ultimate truth.However,it serves the purpose.Religions, customs, beliefs etc.also do the same.They give you the elementary knowledge , making us capable of apprehending the highest truth-NOTHINGNESS.In other words, don’t ignore the importance of religion in our lives if we are really interested in shattering the illusion called life.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/why-do-we-need-religion-6042735/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>meaning-of-life</category><category>need-of-religion</category><category>hinduism</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/05/01/why-do-we-need-religion-6042735/#comments</comments></item><item><title>UNFOLDING THE GLORY OF SRI RAMA</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/04/03/unfolding-the-glory-of-sri-rama-5883232/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-04-03:/2009/04/03/unfolding-the-glory-of-sri-rama-5883232/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:07:07 +0200</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;          UNFOLDING THE GLORY OF SRI RAMA &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;             ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;         Effect Of Chanting Rama Nama&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Chanting the Name of Rama is the only way out in this Age of Kali!&lt;br&gt;
if one cannot do even this (simple thing) one is completely doomed!&lt;br&gt;
Repeated chanting of the Name of Rama enhances prosperity! — sweetens the tongue, too!&lt;br&gt;
it purifies all - from the common man to the scholar!&lt;br&gt;
It is the Name that Lord Siva and His Consort Parvati chant!&lt;br&gt;
that removes sorrow and bestows peace!&lt;br&gt;
Chanting the Name of Rama, Hanuman crossed the ocean! — and, lifted the mountain!&lt;br&gt;
mountain sized sorrows melt away like the fog!&lt;br&gt;
Chanting the Name of Rama, Sabari attained Liberation!&lt;br&gt;
the Name and the Named are not different!&lt;br&gt;
there is no barrier for chanting the Name of Rama!&lt;br&gt;
all barriers are removed as one repeatedly chants the Name of Rama!&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Source: &lt;a href="http://www.namadwaar.org/articles/ramanama.html"&gt;http://www.namadwaar.org/articles/ramanama.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;NEVER FORGET THE GLORY OF SITARAMA&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Once Saint Thyagaraja sang a song&lt;br&gt;
extolling the mighty power of Rama “But&lt;br&gt;
for the power of Rama, could a mere&lt;br&gt;
monkey cross the mighty ocean? Would&lt;br&gt;
Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of wealth,&lt;br&gt;
become his consort? Would Lakshmana&lt;br&gt;
worship him? Would the intelligent&lt;br&gt;
Bharata offer his salutations to him? But&lt;br&gt;
for the mighty power of Rama, would all&lt;br&gt;
this happen? Indeed, Rama’s power is&lt;br&gt;
beyond all description.”&lt;br&gt;
There is no Amruta (Divine ambrosia)&lt;br&gt;
greater than Rama’s Name. Today people&lt;br&gt;
have forgotten Nama Chinthana&lt;br&gt;
(contemplating on the Divine Name).&lt;br&gt;
They repeat the names of cinemas, but do&lt;br&gt;
not repeat God’s Name. That is why the&lt;br&gt;
country is facing hardships. The educated,&lt;br&gt;
intellects and scientists do not think of&lt;br&gt;
God at all. Some people deem it below&lt;br&gt;
their dignity to apply Vibhuti on their&lt;br&gt;
foreheads. They have it on their foreheads&lt;br&gt;
when they are at home and rub it off the&lt;br&gt;
moment they step outside. This has&lt;br&gt;
become a fashion! Why should one be&lt;br&gt;
afraid of chanting God’s Name? Let&lt;br&gt;
people talk as they like. You don’t need to&lt;br&gt;
be afraid. Spread the glory of Rama’s&lt;br&gt;
Name in every nook and corner of the&lt;br&gt;
world. You can chant any Name of your&lt;br&gt;
choice - Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Siva,&lt;br&gt;
etc. As people have forgotten the Divine&lt;br&gt;
Name, every home is in turmoil. There are&lt;br&gt;
conflicts even among brothers. As there is&lt;br&gt;
no purity within, unsacred feelings have&lt;br&gt;
crept in. People are running after money&lt;br&gt;
and power. Can money and power give&lt;br&gt;
you protection? You find so many in this&lt;br&gt;
world who have plenty of money and are&lt;br&gt;
occupying positions of authority. Are they&lt;br&gt;
able to enjoy peace and happiness? No,&lt;br&gt;
no. Only the Divine Name can grant you&lt;br&gt;
peace and happiness. One who neglects&lt;br&gt;
God’s Name is bound to be ruined.&lt;br&gt;
The letter ‘Ma’ is the life force of the Siva&lt;br&gt;
Panchakshari Mantra Om Namah Sivaya. If&lt;br&gt;
‘Ma’ is removed from this, it reads as Na&lt;br&gt;
Sivaya, meaning inauspicious. Likewise, the&lt;br&gt;
letter ‘Ra’ is the life-force of the&lt;br&gt;
Ashtakshari Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya.&lt;br&gt;
The life-force of the Panchakshari Mantra&lt;br&gt;
‘Ma’, and that of the Ashtakshari Mantra&lt;br&gt;
‘Ra’ together have formed the Divine&lt;br&gt;
Name RAMA.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Source: &lt;a href="http://sathyasai.org/discour/2002/d020421.pdf"&gt;http://sathyasai.org/discour/2002/d020421.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;NEVER HAVE FALSE IMPRESSIONS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I just want to briefly narrate here an interesting anecdote that happened during the coronation (Pattaabhisehkam) ceremony of Sri Rama after His return to Ayodhya from the 14 years of “vanavas” (living in forest)&lt;br&gt;
All were busy on the coronation day revealing their extreme happiness. Sri Rama was seated with Sita on the throne with Angathan (son of Vaali who was killed by Sri Rama) standing on one side with a drawn sword and on the back was standing Bharatha holding an umbrella above the head of Sri Rama. There was Vasishta Maha Rishi preparing for the Yaga for the incoronation.&lt;br&gt;
As the coronation ceremony started, all those who had a look at Lakshmana were awe struck. Lakshmana was looking at the ceremony with his eyes wide open, and with his mouth slightly open and with a sarcastic smile on his face. Everyone was visibly upset, for, Lakhsmana, everyone knew was the most vociferous in trying to get the throne for Sri Rama and how anxiously he awaited this day of coronating Sri Rama. Now looking at Lakshmana’s posture like this, every one in the Mantapa (hall) made his/her own interpretation for the sarcastic smile worn on the face of Lakshmana.&lt;br&gt;
Vasishta Rishi thought like this:&lt;br&gt;
“Oh, after consulting the Almanac, I fixed the date of coronation 14 yearsback and the coronation did not take place, and so many calamities took place thereafter. Now, I have again fixed the date for coronation. So he is making mockery of me.”&lt;br&gt;
Vaali’s son Angathan interpreted Lakshmana’s sarcastice smile this:&lt;br&gt;
” He is mocking at me because I am holding the raised sword in the service of Rama who killed my father”&lt;br&gt;
Bharatan intepreted the smile like this:&lt;br&gt;
“Lakshmana is scoffing at me probably because that even though I had theAyodhya Kingdom in my hand I did not hold on to it and instead holding theumbrella to Rama.”&lt;br&gt;
And Sita thought:&lt;br&gt;
“He must be mocking at me because, I am not worthy of sitting on this throne having been Ravana’s captive for a year in Lanka.”&lt;br&gt;
And what did Sri Rama, the Avathaar in human form think of Lakshmana:&lt;br&gt;
“Lakshmana must be wondering how I deserve to sit on this throne having asked Sita to prove to the whole world that she was “pathiviratha” by entering into Agni (Fire), after she was released from the capitivity of Ravana.”&lt;br&gt;
Thus every one made his/her own interpretation to Lakshmana’s sarcastic smile and in a chorus shouted “Lakshmana! Why are you smiling sarcastically like this?”&lt;br&gt;
Lakshmana suddenly jumped up hearing the calls of all, and profusely apologised to every one for his behaviour, explaining the reason therefore.&lt;br&gt;
At the time when Sri Rama was made to go to the forest for 14 years, Lakshmana made a vow that he also would accompany Sri Rama to the forest and stay with him for all the 14 years, then bring him back safely and make him the King of Ayodhya which would be his sole purpose of living and until that was achieved he would not sleep. Lakshmana was well known for his unflinching devotion to his brother Sri Rama&lt;br&gt;
On the first night in the forest, he was standing in vigil outside the”Parnashalai” (hut) where Sri Rama and Sita were asleep. He started feeling sleepy. He tried his best to drive away his sleep but could not. Immediately he invoked “Nithra Devi” (goddess of sleep), and getting her darshan told her his vow and prayed to her not come near him for these 14 years.” She said she had to do her duty but since Lakshmana was on a special divine mission, she allowed him to go without sleep for the fourteen years but on one condition that she would sweep on him any time she pleased thereafter and he should not stop her. Lakshmana agreed and also promised to co-operate with her.&lt;br&gt;
Accordingly when every one was busy in the coronation celebration, NitraDevi suddenly announced to Laskhmana that she was going to make him sleep. Lakshmana requested her to allow him to witness the coronation and thereafter he would go into sleep for any period. Nithra Devi however, did not listen to him but gave him a concession that his eyes would remain open and everyone would be thinking that he was awake but actually he would be asleep. Because of Nithra Devi Lakshmana was actually asleep, even though he looked wide awake and because he was asleep he had that sarcastic smile on his face.&lt;br&gt;
When Lakhsmana thus explained the reason for his apparently strange behaviour and sought the forgiveness, every one burst into tears including Sri Rama and embraced him seeking his forgiveness for having misunderstood him.&lt;br&gt;
So the disease of misunderstanding others has been prevalent from time immemorial and even the Avathars were not left untouched by this disease.&lt;br&gt;
Let us always think noble of other’s actions. If at all we have to pass judgements.&lt;br&gt;
Let us make thorough enquiries and then only pass the judgements and just as thumb rule.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;V. Krishnan&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Source:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;a href="http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/7153/lakshmana.html"&gt;http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/7153/lakshmana.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/04/03/unfolding-the-glory-of-sri-rama-5883232/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>india</category><category>hinduism</category><category>sri-rama</category><category>ram-navami</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/04/03/unfolding-the-glory-of-sri-rama-5883232/#comments</comments></item><item><title>MOST WANTED:REAL PROGRESSIVE MEN AND WOMEN</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/03/17/most-wanted-real-progressive-men-and-women-5775889/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-03-17:/2009/03/17/most-wanted-real-progressive-men-and-women-5775889/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:01:48 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;                MOST WANTED:REAL PROGRESSIVE MEN AND WOMEN&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                     ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;One of the most common flawed impressions that we have generated is that an attempt to restore cherished ideals is an attempt to make the women run backwards in time. The whole debate to restore ideals is an attempt to paint women in tune with modernity in wrong colours. That some hate women and are not interested in making them progress at par with progressive ideals.The whole debate is intended at giving a bad name to women of our times by labeling them characterless, prostitutes etc..etc.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Yes,if one has a superficial view of the debate related with resurrection of value-based beliefs then it’s quite possible to arrive at such vague and flawed conclusions.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Nobody is interested in painting all women in wrong colours.The real purpose of the whole debate is to show the dangers of following a flawed ideals.Yes,the word ”progressive” sound good. But if it means giving way to corrupt and wrong set of ideals I am afraid it can never be accepted as it is. Well, if ”progressiveness” is really making women strong and if it’s really intended at achieving a perfect women then I have no problem in endorsing it. However, that is not happening. This word ”progressive” has come to be identified with everything aimed at toppling cherished institutions of Indian culture namely marriage and family. And that’s why I hate this word.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;This word has become synonymous with evil traits.That’s why,even being aware of the good side of women,I feel that it’s necessary to intercept the implications of turning ”progressive” without ever wondering what will be the consequences of following such flawed theories.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;One of the easiest way to check the flawlessness of any concept is to see the fate of societies based on it. Look at the West.The consumerist and individualistic traits have made all relationships superficial and impermanent. Do we want to be mirror image of their societies? The grass always look greener on the other side.That’s why our feminists and so-called champions of progressive society are not interested in acknowledging the real picture. Since Indians never learn from history, they are once again committing the same blunder which they committed years ago. The foreigners came to do business and later occupied the whole nation.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Now the times have changed.But the political equations have never changed. A country can only be weakened if it’s cherished institutions are demolished .All the theories intended at making women progressive are actually intended at shattering our homes. No need to tell that concept of family in Indian land is one of the most unique on whole globe.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Earlier, when we were not progressive we lived together as joint family. But as individualism increased we now have nuclear families. The way both the sexes are progressing we will soon have nothing as things like marriage or family ,not even nuclear.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Just see the result of following progressive trends. ”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Stress, impatience, feminism, ego, extra-marital relationships as a result of working, confusion in sharing of housework as a result of working women, etc are all contributors and often trigger domestic battles that lead to divorce”&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Rohan has just posted excerpts that form the concept of feminism. Can we ever imagine the consequences of turning into progressive beings based on these ideals ?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Pointing out once again some progressive views.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Destroy the family,” as Lenin said, “and you destroy society.” Thereby he merely repeated what Socrates had said before and what Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx put into words. Lenin set out to do just that, hoping that a new society — with the State as the ultimate father — could be constructed.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;“How will the family unit be destroyed? ... the demand alone will throw the whole ideology of the family into question, so that women can begin establishing a community of work with each other and we can fight collectively. Women will feel freer to leave their husbands and become economically independent, either through a job or welfare.”&lt;br&gt;
— Female Liberation, by Roxanne Dunbar.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;“The nuclear family must be destroyed, and people must find better ways of living together. ... Whatever its ultimate meaning, the break-up of families now is an objectively revolutionary process. ... “Families have supported oppression by separating people into small, isolated units, unable to join together to fight for common interests. ...&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;— Functions of the Family,&lt;br&gt;
Linda Gordon, WOMEN: A Journal of Liberation, Fall, 1969.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;“Feminists have long criticized marriage as a place of oppression, danger, and drudgery for women.”— Is Marriage the Answer?&lt;br&gt;
by Barbara Findlen, Ms magazine, May-June, 1995&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I just want to know what’s the use of following such progressiveness if that is leading to breakdown of relationships? Some very refined souls on IB are ridiculing us.One of the easiest thing is to ridicule.Some IB members are expert in it.But had they really bothered to understand ,they would have really understood that we are not attacking women but women’s attempt to follow wrong set of ideals.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;If progressive nature is annihilating the relationships, what’s the use of turning progressive. If that’s sabotaging all intimacy between husband and wife, leading to lawsuits what’s the point in worshiping these progressive ideals? Toady marriage has become a contract. Anticipatory divorce petitions are being filed at the time of marriage.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;What sort of society are we heading towards. Nobody is blaming women for all this but then why women should not be targeted for annihilating their share of responsibilities? Everybody is talking about rights but nobody is interested in duties.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Look at our earlier Indian society. There were problems but we were more happy as family. Now today both the sexes are working but still not very happy .That’s because we are all the time talking about rights but not ready to provide each other space. The divorce cases are result of overemphasis on individualistic traits .&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some are indeed genuine cases but most of them are result of meddling with false set of values. Sadly, all the provisions are being employed by the fair sex to have undue advantage in the relationship.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I also wish to know whether Indian women really need to be empowered. In other words, is it necessary for them to become progressive at par with borrowed ideals? In my eyes, yes Indian women have certain problems but does that make their dependence on false set of values imperative for their existence ?
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/03/17/most-wanted-real-progressive-men-and-women-5775889/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>relationship</category><category>progressive-men</category><category>gender-discrimination</category><category>women</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/03/17/most-wanted-real-progressive-men-and-women-5775889/#comments</comments></item><item><title>KETAN MEHTA:MAKING MOVIE ON HIS OWN TERMS</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/ketan-mehta-making-movie-on-his-own-terms-5510126/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-02-05:/2009/02/05/ketan-mehta-making-movie-on-his-own-terms-5510126/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:25:23 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;              KETAN MEHTA:MAKING MOVIE ON HIS OWN TERMS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                 ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;(Published in Graphiti, The Telegraph,Feb.01,09)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Ketan Mehta has been always a hot-favourite director amid sensitive and rational- minded filmgoers.His movies have always managed to project a social message in a successful way. Mirch Masala and Holi, to name a few, have left an indelible impression in the hearts and minds of viewers. Who can forget the role of Smita Patil in Mirch Masala?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Though his attempts to make movies for mainstream cinema have not produced desired effect but that has not deterred him from experimenting with off-beat themes. Ketan Mehta can nurture a sense of deep satisfaction within him. After all, he has achieved success on his own terms in our times when it’s not easy to downplay the market-oriented Bollywood.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/ketan-mehta-making-movie-on-his-own-terms-5510126/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-art-movies</category><category>bollywood</category><category>ketan-mehta</category><category>movie</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/ketan-mehta-making-movie-on-his-own-terms-5510126/#comments</comments></item><item><title>KATRINA KAIF :RIDING THE WAVE OF GOOD FORTUNE</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/katrina-kaif-riding-the-wave-of-good-fortune-5465475/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-01-28:/2009/01/28/katrina-kaif-riding-the-wave-of-good-fortune-5465475/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:50:18 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;                KATRINA KAIF :RIDING THE WAVE OF GOOD FORTUNE&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                        ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;I wish to attribute the success of Katrina to her good looks. She lacks real acting talent but she has still managed to be in the driver’s seat only because of her good features. In other words, she is riding the wave of good fortune. In fact, her movies have been devoid of substantial plot. However, her movies have been able to strike chord with viewers because nearly all of them had popular chart busters. Her popularity is going to be short-lived as she is devoid of acting skills something imperative to turn a beautiful actress into a legendary figure.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Some hit numbers picturized on her :&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;1.Soni Ke Nakhre...Movie&lt;img src="/img/smilies/graybigrazz.gif" alt=":P" class="middle" border="0"&gt;artner&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;2.Teri Ore...Movie:Singh Is Kingh&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;3.Ek Uncha Lamba Kad..Movie:Welcome &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/katrina-kaif-riding-the-wave-of-good-fortune-5465475/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>movie</category><category>bollywood</category><category>katrina-kaif</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/28/katrina-kaif-riding-the-wave-of-good-fortune-5465475/#comments</comments></item><item><title>SWAMI VIVEKANANDA:A TRIBUTE TO A SPIRITUAL GIANT</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/13/swami-vivekananda-a-tribute-to-a-spiritual-giant-5368819/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2009-01-13:/2009/01/13/swami-vivekananda-a-tribute-to-a-spiritual-giant-5368819/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:12:07 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;                     SWAMI VIVEKANANDA:A TRIBUTE TO A SPIRITUAL GIANT&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                            ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;We are celebrating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda born on January 12,1863.Let’s ponder over his teachings and try to bring them in application in order to change the face of globe in a big way.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Siva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Siva, and if he sees Siva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Siva in him, without thinking of his cast, creed, or race, or anything, with him Siva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Strength, strength it is that we want so much in this life, for what we call sin and sorrow have all one cause, and that is our weakness. With weakness comes ignorance, and with ignorance comes misery.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;***&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Teach yourselves, teach everyone his real nature, call uon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;First get rid of the delusion “I am the body,” then only will we want real knowledge.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;****&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;First get rid of the delusion “I am the body,” then only will we want real knowledge.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The authority of the Vedas extends to all ages, climes and persons; that is to say, their application is not confined to any particular place, time, and persons. The Vedas are the only exponent of the universal religion.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Although the supersensuous vision of truths is to be met with in some measure in our Puranas and Itihasas and in the religious scriptures of other races, still the fourfold scripture known among the Aryan race as the Vedas being the first, the most complete, and the most undistorted collection of spiritual truths, deserve to occupy the highest place among all scriptures, command the respect of all nations of the earth, and furnish the rationale of all their respective scriptures.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;(In “Hinduism and Sri Ramakrishna” from Swami Vivekananda’s Complete Works, 6: 181-86.)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;But they have not learnt the modern method of self-advertisement.&lt;br&gt;
The Hindu drank in with his mother’s milk that this life is as nothing–a dream. In this he is at one with the Westerners; but the Westerner sees no further and his conclusion is that of the Charvaka–to “make hay while the sun shines.” “This world being a miserable hole, let us enjoy to the utmost what morsels of pleasure are left to us.” To the Hindu, on the other hand, God and soul are the only realities, infinitely more real than this world, and he is therefore ever ready to let this go for the other.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;(Reproduced from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, 4: 303-307)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;**&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Have you the courage to face any hurdles, however formidable? Have you the determination to pursue your goal, even if those near and dear to you oppose you? You can be free men only if you have confidence in yourselves. You should develop a strong physique. You should shape your mind through study and mediation. Only then will victory be yours.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Don’t try to. Keep the shell of pretense that everybody goes encased in off yourself; don’t let it form. You will suffer, but you will feel more and do better work. Nearly all the world goes in a thick casing of convention and hypocrisy — like the two men in the fable, greeting each other with cheek pressed to cheek, each looking over the other’s shoulder, meanwhile winking at the rest of the world.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The Hindus have received their religion through revelation, the Vedas. They hold that the Vedas are without beginning and without end. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethical, and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the Father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain even if we forgot them.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Given a vast country thinly inhabited, there will, perhaps, be more of psychical power there. These facts the Hindus, being analytically minded, took up and investigated. And they came to certain remarkable conclusions; that is, they made a science of it. They found out that all these, though extraordinary, are also natural; there is nothing supernatural. They are under laws just the same as any other physical phenomenon. It is not a freak of nature that a man is born with such powers. They can be systematically studied, practiced and acquired. This science they call the science of Raja-Yoga.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;There are thousands of people who cultivate the study of this science, and for the whole nation it has become a part of daily worship. The conclusion they have reached is that all these extraordinary powers are in the mind of man. This mind is a part of the universal mind. Each mind is connected with every other mind. And each mind, wherever it is located, is in actual communication with the whole world.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;If a number of men, without any culture, be left to live upon an island, and are given barely enough food, clothing, and shelter, they will gradually go on and on, evolving higher and higher stages of civilization. We know also that this growth can be hastened by additional means. We help the growth of trees, do we not? Left to nature they would have grown, only they would have taken a longer time; we help them to grow in a shorter time than they would otherwise have taken. We are doing all the time the same thing, hastening the growth of things by artificial means. Why cannot we hasten the growth of man?&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Source:http://www.belurmath.org/swamivivekananda.htm&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ramakrishna.org/sv.htm"&gt;http://www.ramakrishna.org/sv.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://vivekananda.org/readings.asp"&gt;http://vivekananda.org/readings.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp"&gt;http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/vivekanand/"&gt;http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/vivekanand/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/vivekanand/page8.htm"&gt;http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/vivekanand/page8.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.vivekananda.net/KnownLetters/1902.html#18feb"&gt;http://www.vivekananda.net/KnownLetters/1902.html#18feb&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/13/swami-vivekananda-a-tribute-to-a-spiritual-giant-5368819/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2009/01/13/swami-vivekananda-a-tribute-to-a-spiritual-giant-5368819/#comments</comments></item><item><title>VISHWANATHAN ANAND IS KING OF CHESS</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/vishwanathan-anand-is-king-of-chess-5302631/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2008-12-31:/2008/12/31/vishwanathan-anand-is-king-of-chess-5302631/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:37:21 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;                     VISHWANATHAN ANAND IS KING OF CHESS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Vishwanathan Anand has emerged as the undisputed champion in the world of Chess. Instead of being rocked by tension, he managed to learn new tricks via his self-taught lessons. Anyway, his success reminds me of the fact that hard work does produce great results. Interestingly, his allegiance with the Russian Chess players allowed him to imbibe new thought patterns that helped him to comprehend the tactics of opponents with ease.
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/vishwanathan-anand-is-king-of-chess-5302631/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>vishwanathan-anand</category><category>chess</category><category>sports</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/vishwanathan-anand-is-king-of-chess-5302631/#comments</comments></item><item><title>CHILDREN DEVOID OF MOTHERS</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/children-devoid-of-mothers-5302614/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2008-12-31:/2008/12/31/children-devoid-of-mothers-5302614/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:34:32 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;
           CHILDREN DEVOID OF MOTHERS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;In many Asian countries including Philippines and India the mothers are abandoning their children to ensure for themselves a better career. In India, the mothers are making progress at the interests of children .It’s a sad reality that globalization has taught us to give more value to money than concerns of children. Ironically, it’s all being done for the sake of children. It’s very difficult to bring changes in attitude and mannerism of modern women because talk of staying home appears outdated and against progress to most of them. It’s time for the fair sex to stop being unfair with children!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/children-devoid-of-mothers-5302614/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>relationships</category><category>motherless-children</category><category>society</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/children-devoid-of-mothers-5302614/#comments</comments></item><item><title>MEDIA IS DEVOID OF VALUES</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/media-is-devoid-of-values-5302602/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2008-12-31:/2008/12/31/media-is-devoid-of-values-5302602/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:32:06 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;              MEDIA IS DEVOID OF VALUES &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;          ( Published in “The Hindu” dated Dec.28,2008)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The media has failed to react in a responsible way during the Mumbai attacks. It sums up the limited agendas of present age media that seems to prefer commercial interests over humane interests. It fails to understand the fact that self-serving interventions, all in the name of exposing harsh realities, makes mockery of the people hit by the negative developments.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;No body would like to be turned into a caricature during the tragic incidents. I fail to understand why media is so interested in treating everything as saleable ? It would indeed be a great loss if media comes to lose its respect via such atrocious behaviour in troubled times.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;in “The Hindu” dated Dec.28,2008)
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/media-is-devoid-of-values-5302602/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>media-coverage-of-mumbai-attacks</category><category>politics</category><category>india</category><category>media</category><category>terrorism</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/31/media-is-devoid-of-values-5302602/#comments</comments></item><item><title>ISHANT SHARMA:LET HIM EMERGE AS A REAL BOWLER</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/ishant-sharma-let-him-emerge-as-a-real-bowler-5248501/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2008-12-20:/2008/12/20/ishant-sharma-let-him-emerge-as-a-real-bowler-5248501/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:13:48 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;          ISHANT SHARMA:LET HIM EMERGE AS A REAL BOWLER&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;                  ARVIND K.PANDEY&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;(Published in THE SUNDAY INDIAN, NOV.24-NOV.30,2008)&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The arrival of Ishant Sharma in the Indian Cricket Team has added new dimensions in the pace-bowling squad. However, it’s too premature to glorify his abilities with pompous epithets. It’s true that India Team has always been devoid of real pace bowlers. The likes of Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar and Chetan Sharma, to name a few, have rarely appeared in the Indian Team at regular intervals. Ishant Sharma: Let him emerge as a real bowler&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;If you take a glimpse into the career graph of a famous pace bowlers, you would come to notice that injuries have always acted as spoilsport. The ability of a pace bowler to rise above injuries alone determines his success.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Going by that standard, Ishant Sharma has to cover a long distance before being hailed as a real fast bowler. Let us remember the fact that unwanted popularity has always destroyed the career of emerging super hero!!
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/ishant-sharma-let-him-emerge-as-a-real-bowler-5248501/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>sports</category><category>fast-bowler</category><category>india</category><category>ishant-sharma</category><category>cricket</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/ishant-sharma-let-him-emerge-as-a-real-bowler-5248501/#comments</comments></item><item><title>MADHUR BHANDARKAR:POTRAYING LIFE AS IT IS</title><link>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/madhur-bhandarkar-potraying-life-as-it-is-5248455/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:refresh.blog.co.uk,2008-12-20:/2008/12/20/madhur-bhandarkar-potraying-life-as-it-is-5248455/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:42:44 +0100</pubDate><description>	&lt;p&gt;        MADHUR BHANDARKAR&lt;img src="/img/smilies/graybigrazz.gif" alt=":P" class="middle" border="0"&gt;OTRAYING LIFE AS IT IS&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;       (Published in Graphiti,The Telegraph,Nov.30,2008) &lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;Madhur Bhandarkar has made great advances in the world of movies . One reason why he is at the zenith of success is that he has interacted with harsh realities of life in his formative years as a filmmaker .He has been successful in gauging the contours of subjects considered untouchable in Bollywood .&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;At least, he has taught cliche-oriented movie makers how to make hard-core realistic movies brimming with ironies of life . In other words, the elements involved in making of art movies are there in his movies side by side masala elements blended so well that these movies never fail to strike chord with all type of viewers .&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt;The movies like Satta , Page 3 ,Corporate and Fashion, to name a few, are successful in revealing macabre side of the colorful world that appears impressive to many from a distance !! The moral of his movies is very clear: The grass is not always greener on the other side.&lt;/p&gt;
	&lt;p&gt; in Graphiti,The Telegraph,Nov.30,2008)
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;small&gt; &lt;a href="http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/madhur-bhandarkar-potraying-life-as-it-is-5248455/#comments"&gt;Comments&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/small&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>indian-movies</category><category>bollywood</category><category>madhur-bhandarkar</category><comments>http://refresh.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/madhur-bhandarkar-potraying-life-as-it-is-5248455/#comments</comments></item></channel></rss>
