Blog@GraceJunction

The prosperous state of Gujarat has an ambassador now. A brand ambassador who will become the face of the state henceforth. It is none other than “Big B”, Amitabh Bachchan, and ever since he came to the state a few days ago for photo and video shoots at different locales of this state, every move of his has been reported by the media, including what he blogs and tweets about his experience everyday!

Mr. Bachchan too has been creatively churning out impromptu slogans and jingles. Actually, some of his observations are quite insightful. Posted on one of his blogs: “What a magnificent country we own. And it is only when you visit these places yourself do you realise that it’s not just the greatness of the domain that makes this land so wonderful and blessed, it is the man on the street, the commoner that gives this nation its strength and its glory!” I say, “Awesome insight”! (more…)

Indian Elections is the event that has made Prannoy Roy and NDTV what they are today and thus also almost responsible for the existence of almost every other news channel in the fray. Indian Elections, atleast in the last two decades, has been the subject of much speculation because of the change in the voting patterns of the electorate, more importance being given to local issues. This of course has kept Prannoy and his boys happy and very soon will make him a media baron! Jai Ho Prannoy? (more…)

“Abbu khudaa hafiz”, said Munir as he left the house for his school.

“Just take care of yourself beta”, said Moin, as he closed the door of the shanty. Munir’s school was in a HINDU- dominated area called Vejalpur. The wounds of 2002 riots were still afresh in Moin’s mind, as he saw his 10-year-old Munir running with his school bag towards Ronak, his best friend who was waiting on the ‘border’ – the name given to the crossroads between Vejalpur and Juhapura. Juhapura – the muslim dominated ghetto of Ahmedabad, and probably the largest muslim ghetto in entire Asia. But for Munir, these facts didn’t matter; only his home did. (more…)

You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!

For any generation, these are really tough and seemingly rude words. However, the acridity pales off before the events that play out before us daily. The news pouring in from different corners of the globe are appalling and shattering and only confirming to the confession we read above. (more…)

It been some time since I blogged. Well, I didn’t have any withdrawal symptom for sure. I wanted to ensure that too because of the way I was blogging, I had a feeling, whether it was becoming a compulsion. Gladly, all is fine.

During the time of this hiatus, however, I did have my urges to blog over certain issues that came up, but then I was really held up with some or the other work.

During the week, two figures firmed up significantly enough to impact thousands of people.

One is the inflation in India. It is almost becoming a sinful indulgence to buy simple fruits and vegetables. The Alphonso Mango has become unapproachable. The vendor showed me four pieces and said with absolutely no feelings at all, “one hundred fifty”!! I mean, almost 38 for a mango! Gold is firming. Good. Realty is firming. Good. Deposits in bank are firming. Ok. What about liquid cash? We need cash for our regular routines and its power is surely draining away. We can’t sell gold everytime and eat the profits! Inflation is hitting everyone hard. I am buying Kesar and Badaam mangoes to make up for the Alphonso vacuum! (more…)