What are you doing with your freedom?

I’m sorry, guys, for the disappearing act. You tend to forget things at times when you are right here in the middle of the action. There are speeches to be made, presentations to be prepared and people to be pleased…you know how it goes.

Anyway, we just celebrated Republic Day last Tuesday. Like we do every year. So what’s the big deal huh? It’s just a day. We became economically free on the day but so what?.

What you are effing doing with that freedom? Doing the drills? Screaming, “forward march” and tearing through others’ tympanum? There’s more, gentlemen.

Your blood is boiling? You want to set the damn country straight? Raise your voice. You don’t have to do something drastic as pull off a coup d'état or shoot the defense minister down. Start small. Just raise your voice. Exercise your freedom of speech.

Like today, the guy at the mess handed me a really worn and dingy twenty rupee note. I knew, by the time it was my turn to hand it over to someone else, it wouldn’t be alive. So I just asked him, “Do you have a better note?” You don’t have to take crap. Getting new notes is your birthright. Don’t suffer in silence.

Another incident where I raised my voice. A visiting faculty member here in MIC has not been turning up for classes lately. I called him up and said “Hi. You’ve got a class today.” He was shocked out of his wits, of course. Nobody from MIC had probably ever done that before. He made some excuse and promised to come for the next class, which was supposed to be today. I called him again. He didn’t come again, but has promised to, next week. He better turn up.

Start taking up people’s case if you think they’re screwing things up. If you can do it with a bit of humour, good enough, but it’s not necessary. You can be just plain straightforward as well. “Dude, this is not done, okay?”

So sit up, you folks. Raise your voice. Exercise freedom. Don’t take crap.

You Gotta Never Say Die!

The semester started on a depressing note: A19 had no sponsors. There was a dagger of cancellation looming large over it. The publicity team, of which yours truly is a part, was rearing to jump start the publicity campaign aggressively, but we were told that there can be no publicity without the fest itself. The recession-hit corporates had shown no interest so far.

I had seriously no clue what to do. But we were not going to give up. The sponsorship team spearheaded their efforts. Just a day before I came to know that a huge sum had been pocketed by the sponsorship team to organise the event. The sponsor, apparently overwhelmed by our enthu spirit, doubled the sum next day.

VOILA! Nothing can stop A19 from happening now!

Flashback: Gay Rights and Rockstar Dreams

It was a really awesome year, except that I didn't become a rock star. That's one thing due this year. I'm sure I can make it happen.

Lots of other exciting things have happened, about which I have lots of things to say. One of the most exciting things to happen in the year just gone by was the overturn on the ban on homosexuality by the Delhi HC. I can't tell you how happy that made me.

Now, people, you don't have to start getting ideas about me. No, I'm not GAY. But I feel strongly about gay rights.

What's my point? It's plain and simple. And scientific. That homosexuality is all in the biology. There's not a gay gene as such, but scientists know for a fact that homosexuality is a product of a complex interplay among genes, hormones and the environment.

You don't decide to be gay. It's not a mental disease (Baba Ramdev, are you listening?). Oh and the Delhi HC didn't do it because the country is coming largely under the Western influence (as some radical religious leaders were heard saying in a press conference I happened to attend).

But will just one amendment in the constitution flip the destiny of homosexuals in the country over? Perhaps not. I still find my friends cracking silly gay/lesbian jokes that can only be considered as ridiculing of the community...

Things are not going to change unless people accept the fact it's not a choice, it's not a disease...it's something someone is born with. Just like you are born with blue eyes and dark skin, you are born with homosexuality. Though of course it's not as simple as that. Some people with genetic predisposition to the condition may never go on to develop it but the root of the matter is that it is vey much biological, very much out of one's own hand.

And people need to know that. Only then they are going to "overturn' their deep seated prejudices about homosexuality.

Enlighten yourself on the origins of homosexuality. Go read this detailed report in The Telegraph (and it's not highly technical)

And make it a point to enlighten others about it too. Life is just way too hard on homosexuals. They spend a large part of their life fretting about the fact they are stuck in the wrong body. This is enough to provoke their suicidal tendencies. And then the rejection by society just devastates them.

They are humans, just like you and me. Make life easier for them. Accept them.

Oh, and on the closing note: The clock is ticking quick for the great event of the year. Are you ready?

New (Year+Decade+A19+ME)

Imagine if dates were not created. We would up wake up to every New Year, every Century and Millennium considering them as just another day. Women will be glad with the idea that they would never have to tell their age ever again as they themselves wouldn’t realize how old they are and committed Men will not have to bother taking the toil of remembering the anniversaries or the date of their first date. negative side include, lack of public holidays which sounds dull and frustrating. We would also have to deal with setting up A19, according to the climatic changes and warmth of the sun, to continue with it as an annual event.
But we have dates and calendars and we know that we have entered into a new Decade and a New Year has beckoned upon us, and more importantly so is a new A19 EVENT looming large over Manipal.

The hangovers are never easy to tackle. The fame that I have acquired over the last year comes with a heavy price I learnt; Christmas and New Years and then the Eves that come prior to them, prologue-d by days set off by commercial Corps. that lure the human and Bijleean mind with highlighted shopping offers that are never close to being true. Anyways my point being, well… nothing really, basically all that I said forms my excuse for being so laid back in keeping in conversation with my readers, if I have any.
Well what do you expect, with my new irresistible and charming visual appeal I was the heartthrob at most happening parties, engagements and weddings just like how a friend of mine had predicted in a comment on my previous post. My in box on FB is flooded with event invites.

After such hectic and heavy partying, I went into a much deserved slumber, to come back refreshed and full of beans. What awaits me and my friends back in Manipal is nothing better; from the moment the MIC gates are pushed open for all its students, the high octane action and suspense filled mass exertion begins to bring about the biggest Fest seen in Town.

Fans of mine who have not yet been lucky enough to see me in person have gotten a glimpse of my new self with the bettered design and photo of mine on this Blog I believe.
I shall meet you all soon I hope at spectacular events that have been planned up for the coming weeks in the student hub. Be updated through my Blog.

Happy 2010!

A whiff of freedom

We at MIC are all set. Article 19 flags are being cut into shape and are being pasted all over the university-town. Sound scratches about Article 19 play are playing in every restaurant in Manipal. The Hawaiian Luau Fun Fair work is in full swing, happy Hawaii colours make the college look very nice indeed! Signature campaigns have reached a big fat number for Power Off. There is constant calling between delegates and us. Arrangements and the jazz for the resource people is underway. It's all work here in college.

Right now, posters of mine are being put all around Manipal. I am famous, dude! Everybody knows who Bijlee is. I am shocked at mine own appeal. whiff

After the amazing entries we got from 5 continents, we are very content. The nominations are out and the list is available on the Article-19 website.

The festival is here and we are ready.

Freedom. Your right.

re-public day

Now first thing's first.. I would like to wish all of you:

Happy Republic Day!

Jai Hind!

Anyway, getting back to the point. I would like to make an announcement on Republic day. This blog is for the janta i.e. the public. The blog is today declared re-publican. On this blog, from today onwards, reading interests of the public will be taken into consideration. I hear from many sources that I must try and innovate more with my PJs. But if the standard of PJs are raised, do you think they would be PJs at all?

Heh!

Another one..

Be kind my re-publican readers. Criticise, comment, freedom is your right! And, that's what we are advocating through this festival. Freedom of expression, through A19.. Full on!

A few days ago, we got some more news about the moolah that matters. Union Bank has agreed to sponsor power-off-for-an-hour! Yipee! More money! You know, we can be hippie and say, money can't buy us love, but the truth remains, love can't buy us money either. So, it's all clear and simple. Money is most of what we need.

Now, besides this jazz, I must tell you another interesting something.. Mike Pandey, one of the country's most acclaimed documentary film-maker and wild-life activist has agreed to judge our entries for Documentary Express. Isn't that cool? The going just got tougher! And, the time is such that the tough should get going as well. The registrations being open is big news, you know..

All the volunteers are all enthused about Article 19. The publicity and other work is on in full swing. The college is shaken up with Article 19 meetings every single day, between 6 to 7 pm. Buzz and business of Article 19 is leaving most of the students breathless.

That's it from the Bijlee bulletin, no more news is worth being the breaking news. No Prince fell into any hole, after all.. Nor did any Aishwarya Rai get pregnant! Eh, commercialization of content in journalism, something like that.. All of this is and more, to be discussed at MMSC this year. Well, we got some food for thought there!

I shall bid adieu to all of you, please supply me with your honest opinion in the form of comments so that I can improve and all that. But just remember, my improvement is losing the essence of a PJ!

Oh yeah, one last thing.. I still don't see the point of power-off-for-an-hour! In the process of saving electricity, they are turning me off! I need a turn on!

Hope your heads be wise!

the blah post

Hello lovers!

I am sure you have guessed by now that Rahul Bose is coming! If you didn't guess already, then eat Mentos, dimag ki batti jalao! That way, you will save some electricity as well, batti like, get it?!

I am genuinely disgraced, sorry for the campy-cheesy jokes written above.. But that's my job! I am a bulb after all.. And these people are hell-bent upon doing power-off so how will I light up and come up with brilliant ideas now.. Making me mascot and then turning off the power! It's just not fair.. But you know, it's only fair to have fun at the Article 19 fun fair..! Another one..

Anyway, I wanted to say something.. Since I am so hungry now-a-days.. You know, no power and all that.. All I can think of is how Article 19 will be yummy.. I have been thinking and this is what I think are the reasons to make Article 19 yummy.. Here goes another cheesy list..

• 10 helpings of Express Awards
• 1 thinking cap full of Prahlad Kakkar
• Food for thought with Rahul Bose at power-off-for-an-hour
• Resource people spoon feed tricks of the trade at MMSC
• Seasoning of reasoning with workshops and screenings
• The fun fair flavour, you shall savour

Grab a bite now!
Register with me at www.article-19.com

The Man of the Moment

The batti bujhana that Article-19 wants to do is a very good thing! Turning the lights off is very turning on you know.. Darkness has some sex appeal now, doesn't it? Our very awesome 'resource people team' has done it again! Woo hoo! I am writing down a list of obvious clues.. The NAME is very big this time.. Guess who's coming?

• A man, he happens to be. I mean, he is not woman!
• He has not been linked with Rakhi Sawant or Ekta Kapoor, ever.
• Rugby, the sport, he plays.
• Bombay, is the place where he lives.
• Koel Puri, he dated, once upon a time.
• With Mallika Sherawat, pyar karke pachtaya..!
• He did split, wide, open.. (Umm, it's a movie! Perverts!)
• Everybody Says I'm Fine! He directed and showed off!
• The Foundation is the NGO, he founded.
• He is known for propagating profound opinions on issues of public interest!
• Social causes, he works for.

Any guesses? Ladies, this one is for you! I 'm sure you love this guy!

By the way, registrations open for Article 19. Send in your entries now.

For further details, on to www.article-19.com

Rise and Shine

Raju took away the money to become raja, but then again, he didn't realize his deed had no satyam.. Students are not getting money to do a simple college festival and these corporate big-shots are stealing away gloriously!

But, you know what, we got lucky! Our sponsorship team is killer. 'Kusuma', through the Center for Internet and Society, have given us money and made money matters slightly better for us. After all, money matters!

Anyway, the Article-19 semester has begun! The holiday mood is still lingering but in a lazy-town like Manipal, that is always the case.

Yesterday, we had one big meeting. Everything was discussed. All the teams updated each-other on the happenings over the winter break. Since, this college is full of communication students, the talk was endless. Some PJs here and there and a lot of work-talk. MICians and ideas, inseparable! No wonder I am around, see how the bulb woks every time an idea comes up. Dimag ki batti jala de, but these MIC people want to bujha de, this time! Making the 'Power-Off' work was also a priority on the agenda.

So far , so good. I shall keep you very updated on the news here at Manipal. By the way, in the holiday time, I discovered this really cool game for us bulb-kind. It's called fuse-ball. I should probably get a fuse-ball table for the 'Fun Fair' at Article 19. How I love the way Article-19 has that scope for masti as well!

Lets be kickin' ass this semester!

The 'Ad-Hatter'

We have got BIG news!

So, the last time around, I told you all about the Article-19 Guest List. I am sure, you were damn impressed by the mind-blowing profiles of our resource people. Our main idea behind calling these big people is to generate intellectual interaction in a not-so-modest manner. Nah! I am not boasting, just being honest. ;)

Coming back to the BIG news... I am sure the image here is obvious enough. But allow me to say it anyway: Prahlad Kakkar, the 'ad-hatter', is coming to Manipal! The man will hopefully, let us try on his very stylish thinking cap. His thinking cap seems to have churned up those cool ads for Pepsi, Kit Kat, Maggie, etc! Lovingly, he is often called the 'madman' of the Indian ad industry. He started work with veteran film-maker, Shyam Benegal in 1972, with an income of Rs 300/month. With that little money, he set up his own office table at a place called 'Khatmal Niwas'. I must tell you that 'Khatmal Niwas' lived up to its name, it was infested with a variety of insects. I am not kidding, really! He established his own production house, 'Genesis'. The rest, as they say, is history.

Besides being an ad-man, he is also a scuba-diver, restaurateur and cigar-brand owner. So for all those of you who are not interested in the great Indian media, can take scuba-diving tips from him. You can plunge into the sea.

See sea where? Manipal has a beautiful coastline. The beaches near Manipal are clean and picturesque. The only surf-club in our country is an hour's drive from Manipal, in a place called Mulki. And yes, there is scuba-diving, para-sailing, close-by as well. I shall pass on that adventure-tourism info to you a little later. Later when? When you come to express yourself here in Manipal. So you see, a tourist destination awaits you as well! Article-19 is amazing, aint it?

Anyway, I am very very excited! Prahlad Kakkar! Yay!

photo courtesy: The Hindu

Article-19, the guest list!

Happy Birthday!

Err...

Happy New Year, I mean.

Sorry, slightly hung-over.

After the terrorizing 2008, we must hope for peace in 2009. The last year was bad in terms of terror and troubles that kind. I sincerely urge all of you to pray for peace.

The best thing about the world in 2009 has got to be the good riddance of the rather infamous Dubyaman. Our fellow media-persons in Iraq bid adieu to George Bush rather aptly, literally shooed him away. I breathe a sigh of relief. Hopefully, Obama will do some big-time reform.

Anyway, getting back to business, I have got news. Good news. Our resource-people team has been working hard over the last month. And, they have got us some very cool people at Article-19. These people being around at Article-19 is gonna be one amazing experience. Look who’s judging and talking at Article-19, this year. I have written a little bit about these people down under:

• Sankalp Meshram – He gives films the right cuts. A film editor, director, and writer, he has many prestigious awards to his acclaim. The FTII-ian has also worked with MTV in the past. He is currently working on ‘Raat Gayi Tho Baat Gayi’ is directed by Saurabh Shukla starring the likes of Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey. Woo Hoo! His wise-words, I await!

• Kiruba Shankar – He is the CEO of Business Blogging Ltd, and the Internet and New Media angle to our fest. He is also a voracious blogger and also the Founder Director of F5ive Technologies. I think his blog will explain the big man better, visit his blog at: http://www.kiruba.com/ The blogger in me waits to interact with this killer entrepreneur.

• Anoop J – The talented young man works for a website called 1^st December.com, go see this link to see experience the brilliance and creativity for yourself. He is known for his good work in the fields of photography and designing. He will be judging the entries at Article 19 this year.

• 3^rd Thought Entertainment – These new-age entertainers have alternative ideas. They, integrate art forms to create magic and bring to the media their type of music, writing, film and art. They call themselves the 3^rd Community. They are not afraid to express, the 3^rd Community is not sold-out to mainstream masala entertainment. They are available at http://www.3rdthought.com/.

Bhaari Hai Na?

Sab bade aadmi aa rahe hain, Article-19 is a big deal.

Aren’t you more excited about Article-19 already?

Keep reading my blog for more updates on the festival.

By the way, I love reading comments on the blog. I just have one thing to tell you guys, don’t take criticism personally. Criticism is healthy. It keeps me going! So my dear lovers, I plead; don’t do personal verbal attacks on the blog.

Moolah Matters!

If I were a girl, I 'd be an item girl. I would then dance to an item song.
Which song? Isn't it obvious?
'Babuji zara dheere chalo, Bijlee khadi, yahan Bijlee khadi!'
Why do I want to be an item girl?
Well, then I 'd be well-paid. Money is all we need in this recession-struck world.
If only there were very-many rich people who 'd give money to my festival, Article-19. Ugh, money's the shit. My friends and I are looking for sponsorship, knockin' on corporate doors. Eh. The standard excuse is recession. With the global markets taking a downward plunge and the trend being that of relative poverty, we can only pray for some rich man's generosity to shower us and make our festival rich and successful.
While we are at it, we know that money is not all that important. We can't do without it but we can do with little bit. My friends and I are cool, we aren't the party pooper kind... We will pull off Article 19 with the jazz despite having little money!
Little money is not a deterrent, it is just tad disappointing.
Anyway, our condition is not so bad yet that we have to ask for chanda, so it's still cool.
And if nothing works out, I shall do some cross-dressing and dance to:
'Babuji zara dheere chalo, Bijlee khadi, yahan Bijlee khadi!'
By the way, if you know somebody who can help us do some fund-raising, mail me at mister.bijlee@gmail.com

Switchin' On

I am also known as: Bijli Anna, Biju Boss, and Bulb Bhai. What's in a name? Call me whatever you feel like calling me. I am known by my kaam, not naam.

I am from this university town in Karnataka called 'Mania-pal' and I LOVE expressing myself out loud. I shall say what-I-want because I can

I have been chosen as the mascot for Article 19, a communication festival hosted by Manipal Institute of Communication.

I promise to turn you on (pun intended) with my electrifying talk. I will tell you about this crazy festival from now on. Just doin' my job, am the mascot after all. Bijlee shining ;) Get ready to be shocked!