IBM on a hiring spree

IBM has been on a hiring spree for the last one year or so. It is recruiting like crazy for Instructional Designers. Now that in a way, is definitely good news for the numerous IDs across the country, both experienced and freshers. The importance of India for IBM is reflected in the fact that it has opened up a Knowledge Factory in the past year, which services IBM's global bases. The focus is on understanding the content needs of the market, devise innovative learning solutions and meet the design needs of the elearning market. To ensure this, IBM is recruiting IDs who can set up the elearning system in India and APAC for IBM. Having said that, the first thing that would come into the minds of an ID is that how well would he/she be paid considering the fact that it is IBM. Whatever be the case, Instructional Designers in India are not very highly paid. In fact, in comparison to their American counterparts they draw peanuts. The reasons in my opinion are two. One, IDs in India do not have a degree in Instructional Designing or Learning Psychology (If it makes them any less competent from their counterparts is another debate altogether) and the second reason being that elearning is still not recognised in the Indian circuit as much as IT or anything else. And if you are talking about the remuneration, there are people who are paid as less as 1.2 LPA and it can touch up to 12 LPA. So what are you waiting for? Jump into the bandwagon and make hay while the sun shines!!

The three mistakes of my life

It is the latest by the most famous writer of the engineer-MBA grad-turned writer clan of India, Chetan Bhagat. The third in the series, its certainly not as good as the first but better than its precursor. This is one novel I would not speak much about because I feel a chetan bhagat novel is best devoured when you know nothing about it. Nevertheless, I would stick to the fact that Chetan Bhagat is bad at the climax. Three novels and I feel he kind of goofs it up at the end, whaddasay writers? Anyways, a 6.5 on 10 is what I would give this novel.

The Secret Friend Game

Since the last week, we have been playing this game at my office. The game is about making someone feel special. Well, heres how it all started! Everyone in the team picked up chits and the name which they got is their special friend for the next one week. Now what they need to do is make this person feel special, be it by suprise and anonymous gifts. As a matter of fact, anything that has some thought gone into it. This is nice!! You know the reason, I am richer by loads of chocolates, a cute lil key chain and not to forget a novel. I am enjoying it and its getting better by the day. Not really a secret though!! What can I say.. enjoy as long as it lasts!!

Milan Kundera's IGNORANCE

Ignorance by Milan Kundera was my last read. I liked it. Yeah. I did. Its pretty much on the same lines as Ulysses and Ithaca. The plot revolves around these two emigrants who dont really want to recollect the past few years of their lives. Circumstances have brought them to a point where they get face to face with their past but there is not much they want to remember or rather they remember. It can also be titled something related to forgetting. The novel kind of speaks of the same emotions that Kundera must have gone through himself being a Chezh emigrant. I guess its about wanting tp return to the bestest past in your lives when he/she is moiving on in life. And this can be rightly termed as Ignorance. An apt title for sure. Reading it is definitely a pleasure.

Tangled relationships

Very lately, I have been coming across quite some real life issues with regards to relationships. The time frame for which it has been there doesnt really make a difference per se. There can be situations where in people realise the vagueness of the relationship they are in and wonder what needs to be done to get it sorted out. Now what I am gonna figure out is how do things change if one gets married. Or should I say, do things change if one gets married?

I was talking to this long time buddy of mine. She has been married for almost a year now and there she was, confessing about having thought of some other man in her life with whom she once had a fling even when she was making love with her husband. She says, "its a strange thing to happen. Its not like I dont love him or something but the very fact that disturbs me is that I am having these thoughts even when my husband is around."

Well, I told my friend that she should take some time and try and figure out the reason as to why its happening. I for one had expressed my disapproval for her getting married to this guy not because he is a bad person or something like that but for the plain reason that she should know the person for a longer time before committing for a lifetime. She was plain dumb to listen to her friends and take their opinion that the guy could be the best one she would ever have in her life. Stupid is the only word I have for this girl!

And now, she still fantasizes this other guy with whom she once had a fling. She knows things could have turned their way and they could have been together if at all at any point of time, they would have tried taking their deep friendship a step ahead. Nevertheless, they are in touch and still love the fact that they can be themselves when they speak or are with each other. Now my friend's husband is not completely unaware of this chemistry that she shares with the other guy and at the same time is understanding enough not to mess up her relationship with either of them.

I see and perceive this as one of the most tangled and intricately coiled relationships that could have existed on the face of this earth. I know the other guy as well and he is apparently got a girlfriend now. But then there are weak moments. He and she would probably be the best of couple had they been together but its too late. And so, I suggested my friend to get outta this entire mess because in the end, the only person who would be getting affected is not anyone else, not the other guy but my friend.

My friend, if you are reading this, and feel my suggestion wasnt right, have the audacity to take a decision without thinking if its socially acceptable or not. But do not deceive yourself or your husband. Seriously, DONT!!!

Blogging is my religion

Yes...am back! And with a mind that has made up to blog religiously for as long as I can..rather forever! It gives me immense satisfaction and pleasure to know that the pieces of writing that I put on this blog are indeed read by a few people. Of course, these are the people who will probably read it anyways.. for the love or hatred that they so very deeply feel for me. But what the heck! It is good for me anyways..people want to read it and thats all that matters and is incentive enough for me to blog more regularly than I generally do! So here it is.. starting off with today. Hope this blog finds more readers excepting the people who read it when I ask them to or sometimes even threaten/force them to..

Weekend over U, Me aur Hum

Over the weekend, I caught up with this new hindi flick called "U me aur hum." Well, it was one of those movies which I decided to watch inspite of expecting to be a bad one anyways. Nevertheless, I convinced Kunal to come along( or take me along) for the movie and needless to say that it didnt work out too well. All the cribbing that I had to take post the movie was never worth it. What the heck anyways! By the way, it is supposed to be INSPIRED by a book by Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook."

Now, coming to the flick, I didnt really like it that much. Surely felt Kajol was the saving grace. and when I say that, I really mean it. Hubby Ajay for one, should not be trying his hand at direction. A very lame attempt at something too serious like alzheimer's but he did succeed in putting up a realistic how nevertheless! The first half of the movie falls flat on your face thanks to Ajay's histrionics and attempts to be a laugh riot. Kajol doesnt really get much of scope as well. What really happens here is the fact that there are these wimpering couples and this cruise that get all of our director's attention. One good point would definitely be the cinematograhy of the movie. Every frame looked like a picture postcard in itself.

The second half however, is something that you can hold on to your seat for. A brilliant performance from Kajol and a decent one from the director-actor is what one can really remember at the end. It comes across as a very poignant depiction of the gamut of emotions attached to the illness and associated with companionship. So with all the pluses and minuses, I would give this movie a 2.5 stars on 5. Catch it for sure.. if you dont have anything better to do.

The nothingness of void

My fingers refuse to type anything sane.. my mind declines any rational thought..it refuses to acknowledge the fact that I am supposed to complete my work on time. My mind refuses to brew any questions that I am expected to script. Why? A little exhausted mentally and this entire slow phase is making me ashamed of my own speed at work. A victim of my own speed!! Thats probably the right thing to say.

Strangely enough, I generally real fast. At least thats what my peers and seniors have time and again told me. But then today, something is really wrong. Having completed a considerable amount, I feel lost. Lost in a huge gamut of emptiness.. in the nothingness of the void. Wondering how I would return from this reverie to the stark reality of work.

Just a thought, I havent really taken a holiday ever since I have started working..thats after I completed college. Guess I desperately need one!

Into the wild

Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDorNilxPUY

Surprised with myself

Yeah.. thats what it is! I am very surprised and amazed with myself. I was kind of irritated with my brother for being influenced by this movie titled Into the Wild just because it deals with an unconventional subject. Its about this guy Chris McCandless who gives up all that he had, a well to do life just for the heck of it and goes bagpacking to Alaska. He was probably a lot influenced by a few writers of the likes of Jack London and Leo Tolstoy. 2 years of wandering in the wild comes to an end with him dying due to starvation. But at the same time, he lives his life to the fullest doing all that he wanted to during the period of 2 years. And guess what.. something thats stranger is the fact that I ve kind of started adoring what he did. I am tired of living a normal and monotonous life. I so very want to break free from the shackles of the societal and family bindings that I live within. Or as my boss puts it "I apparently have lot of rage within me" which I definitely agree and want to give a vent to! Just dont know what I am writing at this moment or for that matter whats going on in my mind. Wish I knew...

The dubious question!

Couples in love seldom drift away. That’s not what the truth is. Certainly not in today’s world where drifting away is so very likely. There could be manifold reasons that remain in oblivion till they manifest themselves in a very unexpected manner. Years of togetherness could come to a standstill not because something went wrong but more so because, you could not find the right reason to be together. That of course isn’t the case with most of the people. Love seems to be reason enough to be together for the rest of your life, bounded by the ties of matrimony. Life can be otherwise for some minute percent of the human population too. People who don’t think that love is enough to sustain a life with someone else for a lifetime. Not that they fall out of love or something like that. It’s just that they want the reason – they want to grow together, both as individuals and as a couple with loads of maturity and understanding in it. When couples have the desire and tendency to explore life together, they seldom grow apart. Couples need to understand the very fact that it is essential for them to have the same zest for enjoying and growing together. That of course comes when you share common aspirations in life with a tang of understanding.

Have I really found the person with whom I can grow together? The question is still very dubious.

Enterpreneurship is like Golf

I was reading one of the issues of Business World and I came across a stupendously realistic article by one lady named Lalitha Amuthan. She brings across an interesting metaphor between playing golf and enterpreneurship. Its about finding one's authentic stroke and you will definitely get it consistently right. Its indeed interesting. If a person doesnt really believe in something, if he doesnt enjoy what he does, no matter how hard one tries, he would not be able to succeed. I mean he may get it but for sure, wouldnt excel in it. Thats what enterpreneurship is all about. Believing in a dream, that passion and then working towards it. It would be quite some time before one can master its nuances but at least, its about moving in the right direction and not the pace at which one is moving. Isnt it?

Writing and Editing

Writing and Editing – two sides of the same coin. Basically similar yet totally different. People say they can both write and edit at the same time. I disagree. I cant. Writing a piece of article and then switching over to edit the same is literally next to impossible. I mean I would definitely be oblivious to the errors, which would have caught my notice otherwise. So I wouldn’t ever say I can write and edit at the simultaneously. But then, if I write an article and then sit and edit something else, it does work out. Ok, lemme put it this way. At my previous job, I scripted my own storyboards and then reviewed (read as edited) the ones scripted by my juniors. It was effective for sure. I mean there was a point of time when I thought I would be better off at only editing rather than writing. But then, that’s not true. I enjoy both in equal amounts. Or probably, I would give a little more weightage to writing. I have to admit it is so very satisfying. I could just spend the rest of my life writing. There is a quote by Issac Asimov that is very apt for me. Here it goes:

If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I’d type a little faster.

Working Class Heroes

Check out John Lennon's version at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

Check Green Day's version at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttTUT1maGdY

My personal favourite would invariably be the one by Green Day- more political, I would say! Whats yours?

Online Media - Boon or Bane

It has been quite some time since online community sites have come into existence. And they have picked up with great pace as well. Orkut, facebook, Hi5, Minglebox to name a few. It obviously has the advantage of getting people to be in touch with colleagues, long-lost friends and other people we would not have been in touch regularly otherwise. But at the same time, one cannot forego the intoxication of impuritites that has affected the youth today. Say for example, adding unknown people to your friend list - that has a lot of side effects. People are attracted to what is not the real person. The profile picture does not really belong to the same person. More often than not, it is just a representation of what they are or should I more appropriately say, desire to be. Avatars as they are better known are cool replications of borrowed identities. Maybe the real person isnt too good-looking, but to have images that attract another so as to make friends is not exactly what I would have like, but then again, maybe they have something to hide. Well, whatever may be the case, people should defintitely be themselves rather than pretending to be someone they are not!

Welcome MBA

Do I need to say more guys? I am sure I dont! Yeah yeah, its that time in my life when I have just started with my studies again and its certainly not a very good feeling. I mean I love the fact that I am studying and all but at the same time, I am kind of sceptical about the entire thing. You know, getting back to studies again after more than 2 years and wanting to get good grades coupled with the tremendous learning that I am looking forward to.. well, the pressure is humongous!! You can for sure take my word for that. But who cares? I dont for sure. When I mean to do it, I will do it. Wish me luck guys (assuming this blog of mine has readers) ;)

Career move

Does working in a smaller organisation in the initial days of your career serve the purpose? Does it give you the exposure and the opportunity to learn more and more things? It sure does. At least, it did in my case. I started my career as an Instructional Designer in one of the leading companies in elearning. But sometime down my first job, I realised the need to join a smaller organisation and get a chance to learn, with more responsibilities. Having decided on that, I moved on and needless to say, that whatever I know today can be credited majorly to this career move that I made. Good decision!!

Top 10 newsmakers in 2007

I know its a little late to come up with this blog. I mean its mid feb of 2008 and am still talking about 2007. But what the heck? Here it is anyways..
1. Shah Rukh Khan for many reasons ranging from a power-packed performance in Chak De India to his 6 packs in the tailor-made OSO. Leaving that aside, SRK popularized himself as a brand synonymous with Hyundai but could not live up to the charm and charisma of Mr. Bachchan, in KBC 3.
2. Chak De India which became the unofficial anthem that had both the masses and classes of India all geared to make it big in all possible sports.
3. Team India and M S Dhoni for winning the first T20 World Cup defeating arch rivals Pakistan in the finals and not to forget, the wonderful victory over Australia en-route.
4. The Sensex for touching the record-breaking 20,000 mark and giving a lot of scope to investors.
5. The Abhi-Ash wedding which made more news and had even more coverage in the news channels than anything else which is public and sane!
6. Prakash Karat for being the only ever marxist, almost killing the much awaited Indo-US nuclear deal and becoming a famous political actor in the process.
7.Ratan TATA for steering the largest acquisition of an overseas company by an Indian biz house when Tata acquired the Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus.
8. Sanjay Dutt for bringing the 1993 Mumbai blasts to the front and also his stay at the Pune Yerwada Jail.
9. Mayawati for rising back to the political scenario in UP and single-handedly steering BSP to power again.
10. Deepika Padukone for being the new face in Bollywood after a dream debut with King Khan in OSO and the link-ups with both the stars of Indian Cricket - M S Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.

The AC is driving me crazy

You bet, the AC is for sure driving me nuts. Yes. It is. I am trying to get used to but then the very fact that I am born somewhere near the Tropic of Cancer doesnt really let me get acclimatized to the cold surroundings, be it natural or artificial. The mercury has been dipping really low for the past couple of months here in Pune and to top it all, my home is nothing less than a cold compartment in itself. There are times when it gets so bad that I find it better to climb upto the terrace and enjoy the warmth outside even if its past sunset. The other place where I get to suffer the wrath of man-made tortures is my workstation which makes me freeze eternally. Too bad for me people. I am for one among those who is desperately waiting for the season to change. Come come spring!

Writing for self

Writing has always been something that makes me feel delectable and contended. My passion for writing dates back to the time when I used to drag myself to school and used to get caught by my mother writing stories and articles when she asked me to study. College days brought more avenues for writing to the forth. Eventually, I start off my career as an Instructional Designer. Its even better.. I get paid to write and to conceptualize things.. something that I could dedicate the rest of my life to. Notwithstanding this fact, I have some deep and sincere cravings that are churning a whirlpool within me. I feel its time I write for myself. Well, if you are wondering what that means, I want to write not for anyone (in my life, the client whose project I am handling) but for myself. And when I say that, I mean it. I want to author a novel and be one of the writers in the Indian writing scene who is ultimately known for being able to write sensibly and thoughtfully. I want to harness my thoughts and weave good stories from my imagination and put it on paper. Express my innermost thoughts and let the world be the critic. Good or bad, I long for people to opine about what I write. Well, the blog does serve the purpose to some extent but then, print media is my first and eternal love.

Instructional Designing as a career in India

I have been wanting to write this for quite sometime now. But something or the other has kind of stalled the coming of this post. Coming to the point, am talking about Instructional Designing as a career in India. Yes, it is booming. In the current scenario, its not not just the elearning companies but also BPOs, banks and software companies which are on a recruiting splurge for Instructional Designers. Youngsters start their career as a Trainee ID and move on to become Senior IDs and eventually may be a Project Manager or an elearning specialist. Sounds pretty lucrative! I know. It did to me as well when I started off a couple of years back. But at the same time, the grass is not all green. IDs in India are highly underpaid in comparison to their counterparts in other parts of the world. This can be attributed to the probable lack of skills in Indian IDs. Basically, most of the IDs in India are in this profession without any formal degree on Instructional Designing. But in other countries, people have a Graduate or Post-Graduate degree in Instructional Designing before they start working. I guess to match upto their standards and learning requirements, it is highly important for IDs in India to undergo some training in the same. Gear up IDs!

The actual journey has begun

These were the words of the winner of the Times India initiative, Lead India - R. K. Mishra. Originally, these words belong to his opponent, Nanavati. But thats another story. Mishra won the much coveted award after presenting his public partnership model along with his dream to start a dairy farm in his village Sonari in UP. Having very humble backgrounds, Mishra is an IITian and later studied at the Tokyo University. But this certainly did not deter him from wanting to go to his native village and help the people out there. My question - will this actually work?? We will have to wait and watch.

Overjoyed

Thats exactly how I feel right now.. overjoyed! The reason -...well, no prizes for guessing man! My bro' is back and am on cloud number 9. Its like blood running in my veins has come back.. I just dunno how to feel. Other than this sense of complete happiness.. something beyond measure and sans the quality of being expressed.

Cynical ramblings

Idealism is the precursor to experience; cynicism is what follows it.

There is so much of truth in this saying. I read it on the internet the other day and I was kind of left pondering about it. Thats exactly what I feel or would rather say, has gone through. Cynicism is definitely the best way to put an end to the huge galore of selfishness and corruption in the society. One can regard a modern day cynic as a social critic whose opinions can help bring some changes in the society. But at the same time, being at the extreme end of cynicism can undo the good and lead to a withdrawn state of affairs for the person in question. More often than not, the word "cynical" is associated with numerous negative qualities like bitterness, angry etc. But that is not what it actually is. Cynicism, in milder terms, can go long ways. Being cynical to a certain extent does work like a defense mechanism against people with wrong intentions but at the same time, this lack of trust may cause the person to miss out on the more delectable things in life.

My ramblings on cynicism would be incomplete without mentioning Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, The Catcher in the Rye. He is what I would say, a perfect embodiment of phoniness and cynicism. He exemplifies delinquency and is often referred to as an anti-hero. But somehow, there is something about him that really fascinates me to the hilt. Yet to figure out what exactly it is.

Since you have left....

What would you do if the person you have loved the most has just moved out of home, leaving a note saying that he wont be back and that you shouldn’t try searching him. The pain, the anguish, the shock, there was an entire gamut of emotions that I went through when I came back home from office only to see this note lying on the study-table. My bro’ had left. Left me, left home, left Mom and Dad. The pain is surmounting. This incident just made me feel as if I have failed. Failed as a sister and as a friend that Kunal needed. I wish I could just turn back time and be the most ideal sister and friend that he could have ever asked for. I wait for my prayers to get answered and Kunal returns back. I really wish and pray for that. I have sent him so many mails and with each mail, a hope that he would return, a hope that at least he will call up. But I guess all this is not sufficient. Kunal, wherever you are, just remember one thing dear! Mom, Dad and me are missing you a lot and more than that, a lot worried about you. Please call up the very moment you read this. Please don’t make it too late because with every passing moment, we are getting weaker without you. You are our lifeline, our strength, our reason for living. Without you, everything is just as meaningless as if it never existed. Just come back and everything will be great. The four of us – our family. We love you a lot, Kunal. And now I can tell you, you just don’t have a clue as to how very much we love you and you mean to us. Just please come back. Waiting for you…

You just start..

Yes.. that’s exactly what I used to tell Kunal when we were kids. Alright, lemme just tell you on what occasions I used to blabber that. Sundays were the best and most awaited days in the week..the reason being that Dad used to take me and Kunal to a bookstore in the mornings and generally for rides in the evenings. But at the same time, we made it a point to pop in the question to Dad if he would buy us books. Sounds pretty much simple and straight, doesn’t it? Well, it was always Kunal who did the talking , the reason being that he seemed to have tremendous faith in me to muddle up the situation and screw our chances of going out by saying something utterly stupid and ridiculous. We used to have this plan – one Sunday, it would be him and the other Sunday, it would be me. With his turn, there was never a problem. The issue actually used to crop up when my turn came. I used to ask him to just start with the talk with Dad and then assure him that I would take over. This is how it used to happen.

Me: lets go to Dad. You just start and I will continue. I would be standing right behind you.
Kunal: Sure? You backed off the last time.
Me: Aww.. this time I wont. Trust me. I will give you something nice if you help me with this.
Kunal: Like what?
Me: How about my new paint box? (depending on whatever was my last buy and definitely the most treasured one)
Kunal: Ok. That would do.

Kunal: Dad. We were just wondering that…. (waiting for me to speak up)
Dad: Yeah, what is it?
Kunal (muttering): Didi, say. Your turn now!
Me: Umm.. haaann… (looking petrified as if I am dumb)
Dad: Tell me Kunal, what is it?
Kunal: Well, Dad, will you take us to the bookstore today?
Dad: Hmmm.. only if you complete our studies.
Kunal: Its Sunday Dad and we have completed everything Dad.
Dad: In that case, Mom will decide.
Kunal: Dad, please. There is this nice book that I haven’t read and it would be in the store now.
Dad: Ok. We will go in the evening.

Me: Great. We will go.
Kunal: Why would you? You didn’t say a word.
Me: But I ll let you use my paint box.
Kunal: Use. That paint box is mine now.

And then starts the chasing game. Me running to my shelf and clutching my paint box and running helter skelter. And Kunal performing the TOM act chasing me around.

And if you guys are wondering, where does all this end, it surely does when my Mom comes into the picture only to thrash me up. Poor me!

Needless to say, am missing those days and much more than that, Kunal. I love you a lot dear bro. Love you a lot!

Missing Kunal

Wherever you are, Kunal, and if you are reading this, just remember that your sister is very lonely and down in the dumps without you. She seriously is. I know you feel it but this time, you got to realize that its impossible for her to live without you. Please call her up. She is worried to death and unable to take it anymore. She will do whatever you want her to.. that’s the promise that she gives to you Kunal dear. Please check your mails and I am sure you will realize how very incomplete we three are without you with us. We are nothing without you darling. Please come back. I love you a lot. I really do.

Tata Nano – An Auto Revolution in the making??

The much hyped world’s cheapest car has been unveiled. Yeah, Ratan Tata has unveiled Nano at the Auto expo and needless to say, its been a good deal so far, so good. Aimed at the lower end of India’s transportation spectrum, Nano’s price has definitely created a buzz in the minds of the scooter-riding middle class man. Tata has said that they expect the car to revolutionalize the auto industry and I believe it will for sure, force other manufacturers to lower the price as well.

Sundays are restless nights

I read a recent article on the Internet, which read this. I was surprisingly happy. I am not the only one who thinks the same. In fact, as per this article, there was this survey carried out in Britain, which revealed that 60 percent of the employees in Britain have the worst night in the week on a Sunday night. That of course, is undoubtedly credited to work related issues and pressures. I am pretty much sure much sure myself, the younger generation in India AKA the IT guys would be facing the same problem. Disrupted sleep leads lack of concentration at work, odd naps at the workplace and of course, increased irritability towards co-workers and maybe, even family. The survey also claimed that people tend to have the best sleep on a Friday. Oh.. do I even have to mention that? That goes without saying, doesn’t it? Chime in people!!

5 Friends I can’t wait to meet!

Yeah.. There are quite a number of them.. not that I don’t want to meet the others but then there are a few whom I really want to meet and be myself with. Yeah Yeah, I know it sounds a little too much like its clichéd but its true and I can bet my life on that! Lemme say now who are those lucky (that’s what I assume and think, let my ignorance be a bliss!!).. Here it goes!

1. Jeet – why?? Because I haven’t met him for ages –that’s why! And also for the simple and stupid reason that he thinks I am his lucky charm and so he wants me to go down and meet him before his placement week starts.
2. Punam – I miss pulling her leg and having outrageous fun with her…I really do.
3. Pushkin – ‘Coz he is married and ever since, he hasn’t had any time for US – his friends. So I just want to meet him and bash him up…Black and Blue if I can! Not to forget his “Elvis Presley” dance moves.
4. Sudha – long long time since I saw her.. wanna face her histrionics again!
5. Tulika – Wanna meet her and let history repeat itself!!

Black - An eternal style statement!

Black is back…It was not very soon when black was the “in” thing to wear when doubtful about the occasion. Whatsoever be the occasion, one could wear a black outfit and emerge as a stunner. Black is the color of power and authority, of style and grace, of charisma and poise. It has always been stylish and timeless. Fashion says that black is "sophisticated" "dramatic" and "safe" (aah!), so because the color ranges available are predominantly black, that is what people feel they have to buy. Then fashion houses continue to provide predominantly black clothes, because it is the best-selling color. It communicates sophistication and uncompromising excellence and creates a fashion statement of its own.

The end of a political dynasty

Benazir Bhutto's unexpected death due to an apparent suicide bomb attack has left the biggest political dynasty of Pakistan in jitters. It has brought to forth the end of the family. Benazir followed her father's footsteps not just in life but also in death. It was politics that caused the death of both father and daughter. With the deaths of both her brothers and now herself, all that remains is the memory of a faboulously bold and modern political clan of Pakistan.

Benazir symbolized a lot of things that were very unlike the typical politicians of the country. An iconic personality of the world tpday, her political career has both rises and troughs. She has both been loved and hated in her nation for her modern approach towards politics. Very often, a parallel is drawn between Indira Gandhi and her, the only difference being that she didnt get to attain as big as heights as Indira Gandhi.

I got to end this blog now. Otherwise, it would be very much evident that I am totally wholly smitten by the late Benazir Bhutto's iconic personality.