Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

If you don't create change, change will create you. Change starts when someone sees the next step and the first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. Many fine things can be done in a day if you don't always make that day tomorrow. You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.

Sometimes it's the smallest decisions with larger aims that can change the lives of many. If our attempts can at least become a spark. We are really grateful and the TEAM can proudly proclaim ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’.

If you can LEND A HELPING HAND for the advancement of our country and its people be part of our ENDEAVOR.


Friday, January 28, 2011

R.I.P—HONESTY & INTEGRITY


The real shame of the 2011 Republic Day

By : Arjun.R.Shankar


In one part of this country everything was meticulously planned and arranged to showcase the valour and splendor of the 21st emerging global power—INDIA on the eve of 62nd Republic Day and on the other side was a man called Yashwant Sonawane an Additional Collector of Nasik, Maharashtra who chose to be an honest and upright man and had decided to discharge his duties with utmost sincerity and dignity. While discharging his duties even without a slightest equivocation, he was brutally burnt alive in broad daylight at a roadside eat-out at Manmad in Maharashtra’s Nasik district by the local mafia during raids to uncover illegal hoarding of kerosene and petrol.

Such a ghastly killing of a Collector is tragic and shocking and is beyond all canons of condemnation. On the eve of the Republic Day this reflects the real India, the present emerging India. An India dominated and quarterbacked by the deadly mafias. Such unbelievable but true instances about our country reminds me of the book written by Amit Bhaduri which is titled ‘The Face you were afraid to see’ in which he says that the image of India as an emerging global power is an illusion produced by private corporation which are the big players in the economic sphere.

The petrifying incident is a grim reminder of the fact that the mafias are assuming epic proportions in the system and are spreading their web in all fields.

These rancorous power mafias have barbarically shown their presence in food distribution, sugar, oil, electricity, roads, buildings, construction and many other fields. The list in this country goes unending. The whole society is encircled by the collusion of power mafias who dictate their terms and it’s always the common people like many of us who are on the receiving end. They are just the instruments of operations and on the top of the pyramid we have the top brass politicians, elites and the bureaucrats testifying an unholy and dreaded nexus. There is no doubt that in all cases there is a high level of political patronage which shields and insulates these mafias against penal actions which gives these criminals an extra edge.

These people commit such dastardly acts and we become accustomed to such bizarre and sinful acts of sold out politicians and dishonest bureaucrats that we soon forget these tragedies.

Why such incidents of disturbing magnitude happen in our country with calibrated regularity?

Now it’s high time to understand that there is a serious deficit in the whole system and that just cannot be simply attributed to a single person or institution as there are multiple entities involved. If we carefully scan through the root, the rot can be found. There is a serious failure of district administration, district magistrate and the police system because these so called dreaded mafias didn’t sprang up over a night. This orchestrated event is definitely going to raise fears and apprehensions among other upright officers, whistleblowers, human rights activist who are working relentlessly for the welfare and advancement of the people. It can raise fears for the innumerable NGO’s that are doing laudable works. Such an untimely incident can shake the confidence of many of them as this is the response which they might also get for being honest and upright. There are numerous other cases where innumerable officers and activists are facing series of ruthless and gruesome intimidations for their dedicated work. Many of the RTI workers have been seriously intimidated and even attacked.

Such attack simply undermines the very essence and the purpose of RTI. If you can ask a question and before the official reply the non official reply is a brazen attack, it is nothing but a callous undermining of the whole act.

The site where Mr Sonawane was burnt alivein broad day light


The group of whistleblowers and the activist called ‘MITRA’ is a classic testimony of this. It’s an acronym and that can simply tell things better. It means ‘Movement against Intimidation, Threat and Revenge against Activists’.

“This was formed under the initiative of activists who had to face such coward attacks says Sumaira Abdulali the convener of MITRA who herself is a victim of intimidation. She also categorically states that in the most cases the politicians have threatened them.

Another disturbing instance took place on August 2010 when the strong sand mafia in classic Taliban style attacked and stoned to death an activist named Ramdas Ghadkiokar in Maharashtra. He was a pioneer activist in uncovering various corrupt practices in PDS, fuel distribution and a strong battle against sand mafia.

A senior bureaucrat and a former cabinet secretary says that over the thirty years there were times when many honest officers were threatened to stop their concerted action against such mafias. Many settled with the ailing system in fear of losing their life and career and only some had the courage to fight back valiantly.

The rot in the system should be corrected and branding this is an inherent and endemic feature and difficult to cure is highly an unwarranted thought. At the grassroots level changes should be initiated and that should be followed to the highest level.

Wherever a mafia crime takes place there is a police station, there is a superintendent of police and there is a politician, so in such occasions the local police, district administration, politicians and other agencies should work in tandem for the ultimate good without favoritism. And the most important fact is to keep the administration and police out politics. In today’s scenario, it shouldn’t be made an arm of the state in real terms.

If we can address the deficits we can advance or else thousands of people like Yashwant Sonawane will pay the price of their honesty.

Whatever be the change, such a brazen act cannot be justified in a country like India. As India celebrates its 62nd republic day let’s hope that the real picture of India will change dramatically.

--- Team AKHSHAYAPTHRA extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and friends of the victim----



Sunday, January 16, 2011

The ‘green’ in EVERGREEN is still ‘GREEN’



Homage to the FINEst actor of this universe

By: Arjun.R.Shankar

Years have passed and lots of technological advancements have taken place and new and complicated vistas and avenue of film-making has been found out and the film culture has evolved over the years. The film field is now a grand platform. Now it has taken epic proportions and now in the film arena there are various components that are much above the acting part making it an attractive and luring field with lots of money and wealth. Glamour, technology, big-budgeted dance sequence, diehard fan following are all inevitable part of today’s film field. But still above all these post modern applications and touches we can still say that the ‘green’ in EVERGREEN is still ‘GREEN’

16th January 1989 was a sad and emotional day for the Malayalam Film fraternity, common people of Kerala and other film lovers of this country as the great legend and the versatile maestro of Malayalam cinema, Abdul Khader affectionately to known to all as PREM NAZIR departed from this world’s bondage. He is considered as one of the all time popular actors in Malayalam cinema. He is referred to as the Nithya Haritha Nayakan (Ever Green Hero) of Malayalam cinema.

In present scenario when a SUPER STAR means a rare species with exotic characteristics and privileges with huge fan following has often become the epitome of arrogance and extravaganza. But we are talking about Mr. Prem Nazir who was a superstar over four decades and was widely revered for his simplicity, humility and magnanimity. He always stood above the mantle of Superstardom to address the greater causes of humanity and filmmaking through sheer determination and conviction.

He was in the limelight as well as in the hearts of millions of people. As a human being he was always socially committed and that was unlike the present superstars who do all possible gimmicks to get PhDs, publicity and other accolades. He was not like present superstars who chased away their fans and became arrogant to others off screen. His commitments were very natural and were from the core of his heart. Many directors of yesteryears have recalled that they have not met an actor like Prem Nazir who was a naturally flavoured actor.

The directors, actors and especially producers who had worked closely with him still recall his multifaceted potential and flexibility throughout ventures spanning more than four decades “He is the epitome of humility and flexibility says Lenin Rajendran one of the prominent film directors of India.

He was an actor who was always concerned about the real art of film making and worked hard to encourage and refine the real motive of film making. There are many instances in film history as he had to do many films free of cost owing to financial crunch of producers which many stars today can’t even of think of. They were situations when whole project was going to sink due to paucity of funds and many other technical reasons. The project would have soon become a sinking ship and Prem Nazir as the captain of the ship amidst all the odds steered the dilapidated capsizing ship and gave unbelievable hits to the film industry. Punctuality was his catchphrase and he always abided that. He reaches the set before the crew Boys and inspects the set and conceives his character and welcomes other members and co stars.

“He was a great source which sustained innumerable families in Madras in those days. All their livelihoods depended on Nazir sir and he always gave relief to them without blowing the trumpet of Philanthropy. He was a silent and a secret philanthropist.” ---Kaviyoor Ponnamma, senior cine artist.

Nazir holds four Guinness records; for playing the lead role in over 700 films, for playing opposite the same heroine in 107 films with Sheela. For acting in lead roles in all thirty nine films which were released in a single year 1979 and for acting opposite eighty heroines. All these are unbeatable achievements which no other star in this universe has achieved. Just imagine acting in 700 movies as main hero. It’s unbelievable.

The larger question which we are posing “Is the present generation really appreciating the genius of Prem Nazir in this 21st century technology driven film space”?

Talks with many people mostly youth has revealed to this writer that the present generation regards him and accuses him of overacting with irreverence and profanation which we say is highly distressing and devitalizing. Many of them assume today’s technology as constant and compare the acting of 60’s and 70’s which is improper. There were numerous limitations in technology and over the years the culture has undergone a massive evolution. This massive transformation should actually learn to appreciate the olden days and people.

Govt. has instituted an award in his memory. But I strongly feel that there should be more attempts in similar fashion to spread the vision and acting marvel of many people like Prem Nazir. The govt. and the various films related organizations should stop their wrangling and should initiate film festivals at prominent places to screen such actor’s movies.

Prem Nazir is a legend and will be. He was a real gem of a man.

Team AKHSHAYAPATHRA is remembering this great legend and this write up is our humble homage to this great versatile maestro.

If ever there is a list formulated to shortlist a new category of “MORTAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD” (which can come in the future) like the wonders of the world. Prem Nazir will be one of the best choices from the Entertainment field.

“You still remain in millions of hearts.”

“By the common consent of all nations and all the ages the most valuable thing in this world is the homage of men who are really deserving”.