Aamir Khan Continues to Shake-up India’s Conscience
An Expedition Begins
The first episode of Satyemev Jayete had its impact of shock and awe.
Trust Mr. Perfectionist to maintain a perfect record. The show has had several episodes now, one added every week. And each one has made itself felt, succeeding in making a profound impression and impact. It has made us deeply aware of hard-hitting and difficult issues that people are facing in India. These are issues that often lurk around, so uncomfortable that they generally remain hidden away, ignored and swept under the carpet.
The Journey So Far: Stunning & Overwhelming
He has now tackled these weighty topics:
Child Sexual Abuse
Indian Weddings and Dowry
Medical Fraud
Love and Honor Killings
Handling Disabilities in India
Domestic Violence
Pesticide Abuse Harming Health
The bottom line is that each episode is worth its weight in gold. The visual snip below gives you an idea of the holistic coverage that each topic receives (this sample is the one on Love and Honor Killings).
It’s All About Real Stories
Not only is the significant issue in question illustrated through the use of real stories that touch you, move you and pull you in, this is combined with deep research and expert opinions. To top it off, it’s not just a discussion of problems and issues. Practical solutions are proposed, and enhanced with real world examples of success or resolution.
Given that these are such serious issues, one would think that they don’t make for “entertainment” or regular viewership. They sure sound like boring documentaries, don’t they?
Yet each has been presented so well that as I watch, I become totally immersed in the issue being discussed. It does not even matter that I don’t care much about a particular issue. In addition to making me aware of it from a 360 degree perspective, I find that I am paying close attention and yes, caring. That’s largely because of the sensitivity, humanity, depth and authenticity of the presentation.
Now, I’m sounding like an advertisement for Satyamev Jayate! Well, so be it.
If you have even a morsel of interest or are concerned enough to learn about some of the endemic and grave societal, economic or cultural issues facing India, you would do yourself a mighty favor by watching the show. I admit this may not be for everyone, but what do you have to lose?
Can you say IMPACT?
If it triggers even 10%…make that 1% of the viewers of any episode to think twice or make changes or personally commit to address related issues – why, then it’s all been so worth it.
However, it’s impact appears to have been larger.
For example, this: Lok Sabha passes child protection bill courtesy Aamir.
Click on this picture snipped from the show’s website to see more about what they are saying about the impact being made:
An initiative like this could not have been conceived and implemented without considerable thought, intellect and investment (financial and emotional). Never could I have imagined that someone from Bollywood – even someone like him – would take upon themselves the degree of ownership and responsibility to produce (at great risk indeed) such a significant and sweeping portrayal of national human issues. Not simple ones either but extremely serious, controversial and sensitive ones that face this country. It makes this initiative that much more awe-inspiring.
I’m hooked, can you tell? I’m half way around the world and unable to view this program on TV for a couple of weeks, but I still managed to stay caught up with the recordings posted online.
It’s time to once again thank Aamir Khan for the social crusader that he has become. And for bringing to India and Indians something that is daring, thought-provoking and exceptional. It’s a game-changer and so much more breathtaking than mere entertainment could ever be.
So, what are you watching?
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I think I just met my new tablet PC (and it’s not iPad)
The iPad “cool” that I never quite got
Maybe I’m just a boring person because despite all the manic iPad users and gushing fans out there, I have not been able to adapt to using it. For all it’s beauty, design and apps, to me it has always seemed like a play thing. I could not figure out how to do any real work on it – productively. And I sure didn’t need an additional device just “because”.
Movies, games, books, email, browsing – it’s great for all of those things. But, I need a lot more than that…so therefore I don’t need this. Even to, say, write this post. iPad is just not a choice.
I see people who bring their tablets to meetings in order to take notes. Sorry but that looks plain silly to me. My paper and pen work just fine for that purpose, thank you very much. And my fingers get some real exercise as a bonus.
A couple of years ago, I did get myself an iPad (’cause everyone said I just had to have one…). I played with it for a short time until the novelty wore off. Even the novelty of showing off. Then, I relegated it to someone who could use it for “playing” all the time.
After all,I didn’t need one more device in addition to my PC, which is what I use to do all my serious work. And if I occasionally want to watch videos or movies, it can handle that too. [Now, for reading, my personal opinion is that nothing beats the Kindle, certainly not an iPad].
In other words, I use my PC for work first, play second so therefore it’s all I require. I need it to produce content, not just consume it. Therefore, I can’t move very far without my laptop in hand. So between my PC, my Kindle and my cell phone, I could not figure out an appropriate place for a tablet like iPad, as cool as everyone said it was.
Well Done Surprise
Well, on June 18, I got a neat surprise. From Microsoft of all companies!
Watch the video beginning at 10:00 minutes to see the meat of the announcement. About the new Microsoft Surface. Looking neat!
This is a tablet PC that combines all the great features of a tablet with the essential ones of a real PC.
This looks like it can be my tablet PC – not an additional device, but a replacement.
If you are to believe what they said, there’s significant internal strength that comes combined with its external compact-cum-lightness tablet persona. It appears to be designed for my work and play, loaded as it is with Windows 8 and Microsoft Office.
You’re getting me hooked, Microsoft and I haven’t even seen the real thing yet nor do I have but a dim clue of what it costs.
A dream package…or just a dream?
Interestingly, when I first heard about the new tablet from Microsoft, the first thought that popped into my head was – here yet again is another me-too to compete with Apple and their ultra successful iPad. And late to the game to boot.
But when I watched the entire ann0uncement, I was impressed by the innovations that had been incorporated into the product. They appear to have thought this through carefully and correctly.
What does it have that iPad or any of the other tablets don’t? Here’s my top six list (so far) –
- A full-touch keyboard built into the “clicking on” snap-on cover
- A built-in kick-stand that looks cool and useful
- Microsoft Office
- Windows 8 (which I am also told I should be waiting for)
- A USB port (with 3.0)
- Dual antennas for high performance wi-fi
This is a list that Steve Jobs would mostly despise but what I need in order to function.
Steve Ballmer the keynoter is no Steve Jobs. Of course, not! But the lack of style to this announcement was made up with quite a bit of substance. Here I am, as anti-gadget as you can imagine, actually ready and waiting to pounce on this neat, packed tablet when it arrives on the market. Presuming that Surface is everything they say it will be, I will finally be ready and able to leave my laptop behind in the dust,
Interestingly, it appears that I was not alone in having this kind of reaction to the announcement.
One quote from Microsoft worth mentioning – “It was designed so that the hardware faded to the background and Windows 8 could rise to the surface.” (Expect for the Windows word, that could be Apple talking). In other words, it brings whatever you need to do – work or entertainment to the forefront. That’s a pretty important design principle to vision and implement.
Waiting…
Now the wait starts. Please don’t disappoint, Microsoft – be what you promise! Be more Xbox, less Zune -something that has a future because it’s as good as has been showcased, rather than simply fizzling out under the mammoth Apple impact.
Let the iPad users continue to play. I could easily be a fan of one computer device that is sleek, small and light for work (with play as a nice bonus). A tablet that is really a high-performance PC? That’s something even I can get excited about.
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 