The individual blogger to the occasional writer through to the young and aspiring journalist will use the internet and other technology-enabled tools to create content and disruptive business models.
Looking forward to a year of opportunities.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Young writers from India
This year will witness the explosion of young writers from India. The British legacy of the universal language to India had already shown the world what India could achieve in the software industry. Now, with social media leveling the playing field across continents, industries, disciplines and pretty much anything that was only the prerogative of the haves, Indian authors of every hue and cry are bound to find world-wide audiences.
The individual blogger to the occasional writer through to the young and aspiring journalist will use the internet and other technology-enabled tools to create content and disruptive business models.
Looking forward to a year of opportunities.
The individual blogger to the occasional writer through to the young and aspiring journalist will use the internet and other technology-enabled tools to create content and disruptive business models.
Looking forward to a year of opportunities.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Inauguration 2009
The thermometer showed minus 13 degrees C when I woke up at 6am. The Inauguration itinerary had noted that they will close all security points at 9:00am. So there was time. Really chithappa? my niece asked me as she turned the TV on to CNN. We better leave as soon as we can. Look at those crowds! She was the only other brave soul at my sis-in-law's place (where I stayed the previous night) who volunteered to come with me.
Way back in 1963 on a warm balmy day in August, about a quarter of a million people heeded the call to March on Washington and proceeded to the gathering point in Washington D.C. by the towering spire of the Washington Monument. They would then march to the Lincoln Memorial a mile away, with their backs to Capitol Hill and listen in rapt attention to the speakers who will be giving voice to the anguish they have been living through. The winds across the open space and the reflecting pool will distort what little decibel strength the microphone system would help deliver. It will not matter to the crowd. They will wait for John Lewis, Dr. King and others to speak. They will applaud and cheer whenever they hear strong and passionate words. They will hear the speakers utter words of importance that will have an effect on the Kennedy Administration. They will know that they are fighting for their civil rights. They will know that theirs is a nationwide struggle for Jobs and Freedom. They will express through their hearts and souls, with no guarantees that it will create any change.
They will not know at that time that millions of Americans, Black and White will be watching the March and Rally on TV. They will not know then that the dignity, strength and character they will exhibit will transform the country to enact the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act within the next two years. They will not know then that the hopeful looks on their faces will inspire Dr. King to step over his seven-minute limit of a prepared speech to verbalize on behalf of struggling souls of oppressed people everywhere. To deliver those immortal words "I have a dream" that will resonate through generations, across geography to all human beings across time. Soul-stirring words backed by the other leaders on the stage leading to a crescendo of affirmation – “Free at last” !
Forty five years later, we are now a nation of achievers. Dreams and aspirations have translated to policies and guarantees. We live in a vastly different world. An estimated two million of us are now going to brave the winter cold and be at the same spots where history had happened. I would not miss it for the world!
Toe and hand warmers in place, heavily booted, a few layers of clothes, map in back pocket, energy bars in one of the front pocket, a bottle of water on the other, some cash, driver's license, a camera and a video cam strung over the neck, I was ready. Nivvi and I were dropped off at the local Metro station at pretty much the same temperature we woke up to. It then took us about 40 minutes to be able to get through the turnstiles using the commemorative daily pass that my sis-in-law had so thoughtfully bought for us the previous day.
There were smiling faces all around, making way for more of those on the platform to come aboard. No need for Japan’s Shinkansen locomotive-style people-packing help. Pretty soon we realized how planning could be so different from what actually happens. At 8:40 am, we were still riding the Metro watching in dismay as the train rode past L’Enfant station without stopping. There goes my carefully architected plan to be strategically situated midway between the Monument and the Capitol! Anyway, at least I will still be able to make it to the south side of the National Mall (the open 1.9 mile strip between the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial) so that the sun will be on my back to enable me to take good pictures.
Waterfront station was crowded when we got off. Walking towards the Mall, the crowd started getting thicker with people walking in all directions until finally on 14th street, one could only face West and attempt to move a foot at a time, towards what destination, no one knew. The smiles around us persisted and very soon all we could see was the skies above us and government buildings floating by passively. It was fascinating to watch the lone city-jet high above us trying to make “O” with his smoke flume. At about 10:00am, we caught a glimpse of the Monument, but still did not have a clue as to what lay ahead. A few hundred yards later, a spectacular sight sprung into view as the crowd began to descend on a slope towards the obelisk, giving us a perfect view of where we could have been if we were here at 4:00am! Thousands of human beings in bright colors, all looking in one direction. Only this time, they were all looking towards the Capitol where Dr. King’s dream of his children not being judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, will come to pass at exactly noon Eastern Standard Time.
We finally moved en masse towards one end of the slope facing the Monument from the East and what a treat it was to take pictures. One could not go wrong any which way you aimed your camera. The Jumbotron screen was far away, but the video cam came in handy. All I had to do was lift it high above my head, zoom in, tilt the view finder screen and watch. Four others craned their necks to watch the events on this small screen. We were not alone with this bit of creativity. Kids were hoisted by their dads to afford them a glimpse and teens took turns climbing on each others’ shoulders. Tears, smiles, pride, Obama caps, Obama buttons, twinkle in the eye – everyone was wearing one or more of these. People swapped tales of how they never thought that this would happen. Of how real this was. Happy people everywhere for whom all the world’s economic crisis meant nothing at this time. What mattered was that they were there.
Aretha Franklin’s rousing performance was lost to the enormous bow she wore. Pastor Rick Warren’s words were lost on the bowed heads of people who said their own thanks and prayers. Elizabeth’s poetry was lost to the anticipation of what was to follow. Reverend Lowery’s rhyming benediction was lost to the chuckles of all who thought that he was the better poet on stage. Justice Roberts’ fumbling of the Presidential oath was lost to the charming smile of the new President we could see on the screen. The soft cold breeze at minus 8 degrees C was totally lost to all of us as the crowd cheered in unison for Barak Hussein Obama while he accepted his responsibility to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States of America on this sunny day, January 20, 2009.
What a country !!
Check out my album à http://picasaweb.google.com/manick/Inauguration09?authkey=8TbXLWCoemQ&feat=directlink
Way back in 1963 on a warm balmy day in August, about a quarter of a million people heeded the call to March on Washington and proceeded to the gathering point in Washington D.C. by the towering spire of the Washington Monument. They would then march to the Lincoln Memorial a mile away, with their backs to Capitol Hill and listen in rapt attention to the speakers who will be giving voice to the anguish they have been living through. The winds across the open space and the reflecting pool will distort what little decibel strength the microphone system would help deliver. It will not matter to the crowd. They will wait for John Lewis, Dr. King and others to speak. They will applaud and cheer whenever they hear strong and passionate words. They will hear the speakers utter words of importance that will have an effect on the Kennedy Administration. They will know that they are fighting for their civil rights. They will know that theirs is a nationwide struggle for Jobs and Freedom. They will express through their hearts and souls, with no guarantees that it will create any change.
They will not know at that time that millions of Americans, Black and White will be watching the March and Rally on TV. They will not know then that the dignity, strength and character they will exhibit will transform the country to enact the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act within the next two years. They will not know then that the hopeful looks on their faces will inspire Dr. King to step over his seven-minute limit of a prepared speech to verbalize on behalf of struggling souls of oppressed people everywhere. To deliver those immortal words "I have a dream" that will resonate through generations, across geography to all human beings across time. Soul-stirring words backed by the other leaders on the stage leading to a crescendo of affirmation – “Free at last” !
Forty five years later, we are now a nation of achievers. Dreams and aspirations have translated to policies and guarantees. We live in a vastly different world. An estimated two million of us are now going to brave the winter cold and be at the same spots where history had happened. I would not miss it for the world!
Toe and hand warmers in place, heavily booted, a few layers of clothes, map in back pocket, energy bars in one of the front pocket, a bottle of water on the other, some cash, driver's license, a camera and a video cam strung over the neck, I was ready. Nivvi and I were dropped off at the local Metro station at pretty much the same temperature we woke up to. It then took us about 40 minutes to be able to get through the turnstiles using the commemorative daily pass that my sis-in-law had so thoughtfully bought for us the previous day.
There were smiling faces all around, making way for more of those on the platform to come aboard. No need for Japan’s Shinkansen locomotive-style people-packing help. Pretty soon we realized how planning could be so different from what actually happens. At 8:40 am, we were still riding the Metro watching in dismay as the train rode past L’Enfant station without stopping. There goes my carefully architected plan to be strategically situated midway between the Monument and the Capitol! Anyway, at least I will still be able to make it to the south side of the National Mall (the open 1.9 mile strip between the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial) so that the sun will be on my back to enable me to take good pictures.
Waterfront station was crowded when we got off. Walking towards the Mall, the crowd started getting thicker with people walking in all directions until finally on 14th street, one could only face West and attempt to move a foot at a time, towards what destination, no one knew. The smiles around us persisted and very soon all we could see was the skies above us and government buildings floating by passively. It was fascinating to watch the lone city-jet high above us trying to make “O” with his smoke flume. At about 10:00am, we caught a glimpse of the Monument, but still did not have a clue as to what lay ahead. A few hundred yards later, a spectacular sight sprung into view as the crowd began to descend on a slope towards the obelisk, giving us a perfect view of where we could have been if we were here at 4:00am! Thousands of human beings in bright colors, all looking in one direction. Only this time, they were all looking towards the Capitol where Dr. King’s dream of his children not being judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, will come to pass at exactly noon Eastern Standard Time.
We finally moved en masse towards one end of the slope facing the Monument from the East and what a treat it was to take pictures. One could not go wrong any which way you aimed your camera. The Jumbotron screen was far away, but the video cam came in handy. All I had to do was lift it high above my head, zoom in, tilt the view finder screen and watch. Four others craned their necks to watch the events on this small screen. We were not alone with this bit of creativity. Kids were hoisted by their dads to afford them a glimpse and teens took turns climbing on each others’ shoulders. Tears, smiles, pride, Obama caps, Obama buttons, twinkle in the eye – everyone was wearing one or more of these. People swapped tales of how they never thought that this would happen. Of how real this was. Happy people everywhere for whom all the world’s economic crisis meant nothing at this time. What mattered was that they were there.
Aretha Franklin’s rousing performance was lost to the enormous bow she wore. Pastor Rick Warren’s words were lost on the bowed heads of people who said their own thanks and prayers. Elizabeth’s poetry was lost to the anticipation of what was to follow. Reverend Lowery’s rhyming benediction was lost to the chuckles of all who thought that he was the better poet on stage. Justice Roberts’ fumbling of the Presidential oath was lost to the charming smile of the new President we could see on the screen. The soft cold breeze at minus 8 degrees C was totally lost to all of us as the crowd cheered in unison for Barak Hussein Obama while he accepted his responsibility to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States of America on this sunny day, January 20, 2009.
What a country !!
Check out my album à http://picasaweb.google.com/manick/Inauguration09?authkey=8TbXLWCoemQ&feat=directlink
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Spiritual power?
I woke up early in the morning on Friday, April 9, curious to see what hundreds of years of tradition would do to modern man. I was not disappointed. What a powerful day it turned out to be. A funeral mass of applauses for Pope John Paul II.
Pare out the rituals, the pomp, the splendor and the hours long coverage. Leave aside their political and religious implications. What one then saw was a celebration of life. One saw the world's leaders, the powerful and the disadvantaged, the strong and the weak, the religious and the spiritual and those that have expressed their extreme positions on issues - in fact, leaders who would be the absolute example of a Babel of voices.
Two hundred of the world's leaders were together in broad daylight, in full view of the world, shoulder to shoulder. Each acknowledging the others' presence and everyone's right to be there. Then there were the common folks, the young and the old, the impressionable and the ardent believer, the able-bodied and the strong at heart. All sharing
the same breathing space, unawed, unimpressed but respectful.
Technology and the media did not have to go too far and wide, to place the leaders and the common man side by side on TV. Sophisticated cameras were doing their work within less than a third of a square mile and beaming the vivid images of humans to all parts of the world.
As the Holy Mass proceeded, we heard the Prayers of the faithful in different languages. We did not need to be told which specific languages they were. We saw during the Offertory Procession, people from different nations bringing in bread and wine to celebrate the Last Supper. We did not need to be told what nationality they were. There was no need for labeling any aspect of the proceedings.
After the Lord's Prayer, when asked to exchange the sign of peace, none of the leaders needed any coaching or indoctrination. They just smiled, shook hands, hugged - even well after the Cardinal proceeded with the rest of the mass.
The crowd cheered this man on his exit. He was a revolutionary by apologizing for the Church's actions and inactions at various times during its history - from the case against Galileo to the Crusades to the Holocaust. Tears were being shed but not with feelings of hopelessness. Obligatory attendance was not the case. People were there to applaud a great man at his funeral. It seemed like that all we needed was a reason, and even our leaders come together for shared moments in life. It was not about religion or politics. It was the spirit of Man that was being celebrated.
People were not there to help with a disaster situation. They were not there to declare war. They were simply there. Just as hordes of people were there when the Berlin wall came down, and when the system of Apartheid was dismantled.
We have, in our lifetimes, witnessed the narrowing of boundaries. Perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind we saw a glimpse of leadership sharing the common man's vision. Perhaps leaders will learn to not to look at others in disdain or anger. Maybe they will even collaborate? Could this be the beginning of an enlightened era?
One can always hope!
Manick Rajendran
Pare out the rituals, the pomp, the splendor and the hours long coverage. Leave aside their political and religious implications. What one then saw was a celebration of life. One saw the world's leaders, the powerful and the disadvantaged, the strong and the weak, the religious and the spiritual and those that have expressed their extreme positions on issues - in fact, leaders who would be the absolute example of a Babel of voices.
Two hundred of the world's leaders were together in broad daylight, in full view of the world, shoulder to shoulder. Each acknowledging the others' presence and everyone's right to be there. Then there were the common folks, the young and the old, the impressionable and the ardent believer, the able-bodied and the strong at heart. All sharing
the same breathing space, unawed, unimpressed but respectful.
Technology and the media did not have to go too far and wide, to place the leaders and the common man side by side on TV. Sophisticated cameras were doing their work within less than a third of a square mile and beaming the vivid images of humans to all parts of the world.
As the Holy Mass proceeded, we heard the Prayers of the faithful in different languages. We did not need to be told which specific languages they were. We saw during the Offertory Procession, people from different nations bringing in bread and wine to celebrate the Last Supper. We did not need to be told what nationality they were. There was no need for labeling any aspect of the proceedings.
After the Lord's Prayer, when asked to exchange the sign of peace, none of the leaders needed any coaching or indoctrination. They just smiled, shook hands, hugged - even well after the Cardinal proceeded with the rest of the mass.
The crowd cheered this man on his exit. He was a revolutionary by apologizing for the Church's actions and inactions at various times during its history - from the case against Galileo to the Crusades to the Holocaust. Tears were being shed but not with feelings of hopelessness. Obligatory attendance was not the case. People were there to applaud a great man at his funeral. It seemed like that all we needed was a reason, and even our leaders come together for shared moments in life. It was not about religion or politics. It was the spirit of Man that was being celebrated.
People were not there to help with a disaster situation. They were not there to declare war. They were simply there. Just as hordes of people were there when the Berlin wall came down, and when the system of Apartheid was dismantled.
We have, in our lifetimes, witnessed the narrowing of boundaries. Perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind we saw a glimpse of leadership sharing the common man's vision. Perhaps leaders will learn to not to look at others in disdain or anger. Maybe they will even collaborate? Could this be the beginning of an enlightened era?
One can always hope!
Manick Rajendran
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