tell me this...(might be a stoopid question...) why, why , Oh why, when anyone from the Indian subcontinent is asked "what's your favourite book?" - they invariably answer "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand....????

Don't you guys read ANYTHING else ??? - what the hell is so great about THAT book anyway ?? - sure its a masterpiece of literature (Duh...yeah...)...but it's,like, the stock answer...and it's becoming boring...and smacks of a herd mentality and lazy mindedness...read something else for gods sake...

And don't tell me its about someone from nowhere making it big in the world - I know this is the chief obsession of materialist Indians - there's more to life than making money..innit...isn't that what this forum is about...or have I got it all wrong...??

Hey Rahul,
You said what i have truly experienced the same.
You know there was the term we frequently would use 'generation gap'.....my time i would say 20 years...then it went down to 10 , 5 and now even i dont know!?
I too feel the same when spending time with my neice and nephews. I enjoy being with them and so do they with me, but my hours spent with them lingers with joy over a period of time but they switch off and get to on with their lives so fast and so easily. Whereas we as adults experience a hangover.

I think kids experience time differently from adults. When I was akid, one day seemed like a long time, and yesterday seemed long gone.

Now the weeks whizz by and I often don't even know what day it is with out checking my cell or computer.

I remember my Dad saying exactly what you have said here. That everything is moving faster for kids and he wished we had a simpler childhood like his.

Nowadays, I am not certain whether the kids are going faster, or whether we adults are just slowing down as we age.

It's good that kids expect the bar to be higher. That way they will accomplish things we never dreamed of, just as we broke through barriers our parents never dreamed of.

That is how it is supposed to be.

Today's kids don't need Rocky.

They'll find their own inspirational icons.

I mean, like, Rocky is soooo 20th century, you know?

C'mon Pops, get with it!

Of course I should talk - I'm probably 20 years older (slower) than you.

Now what day is it anyway? Time for my meds and bedtime, Sonny!

Everyday I wake up and somethings not stiff or hurting is a good day!

Nice piece of observation w.r.t. the changing behaviour of children , but aren't we all changing, there used to be a time when any mishap like a terror attack used to be accepted with lot of grief and awe, but now ur period of grieving too has shrunk , not only we recover quickly from such instances it seems we don't react till it has an impact on us directly. So children the most delicate entity of the human society too are bound to be effected, I just hope , if we could undo a bit of our mechanised lives and sit back and let life progress at not such supersonic speed vis-a-vis all it's aspects.

Oh yes pyar ke side effects is a gr8 movie

Dear Rahul, you've done it again! You've mastered a wonderful piece about cinematic prowess of old! I remember well, the many lazy, hot-hazy saturday afternoons with my sister and friends, at "the show" as we called it here.

How well, the magic influenced my innocent imaginations, and how profoundly, the moral of the story, would find it's place in my mind, transplanted... for all time.

I remember too, the aggressive impact-desire for directors and producers, to introduce more, and more less-desirable factors of the years, like seduction, violence, degradations of the moral human; where now, our "children" are introduced to "soft porn" at very young ages--too young in fact, to determine for themselve's lines of decency and morality.

We saw this occur in the 70-present times, with teen pregnancy's and male-unemployments. That is the generations, being raised on current tv and movie/cinema of the past 30 years.

Prior to the escalation of violence, and now-acceptable soft-porn--society seemed a more peaceful "place."

DO we compromise our children--to the degree, we exploit them?

Whatever happened to the goodness's of influence?

with loving kindness,
North

I've noticed this too, among my friends. I'm only 19 so i can't compare it to another time, but i compare my friends to myself - and it makes me feel extremely sensitive and obsessed with how into the films I get. I've always blamed it on the fact i'm an actor so i just am particularly open to that sort of thing, but you make some goode points and hearing that it used to be different i can definately see how their dissaffectedness could just be a sign of the times, and the generation..

Yeah-you know I agree with Ravi Swami, everyone in India (well, not everyone), always quotes ‘The Fountainhead’ as their favourite novel….mmmmmmm, I to thought it was o.kish…but not a masterpiece…Then again, everybody in the West always quotes ‘The Alchemist’ as their favourite novel now!

You know its funny, sometimes, my friends and I (approx around 38 years old now), always talk about the TV and the movies and the media stuff that kids are exposed to today. It was nothing like when we were growing up…for those who grew up in the UK, you would remember the classic kiddies programmes, like Bagpuss, Rhubarb and Custard etc etc…..However, there were also the great classics that always seem to have a sexual undertone, which of course at 5 you would not be aware of. there was a cartoon called captain Pugwash, who was basically touring a ship through the seas..and the adventures that were experienced was essentially the crux of the cartoon. Now of course, at the tie we didn’t realise that the characters such as Master Bates, Seaman Stains…had sexual connotations…very weird actually. Then there was The Magic Roundabout, a cartoon script with a stoned hare, called Dylan, who just sat under the tree constantly playing his guitar; Zebedee who was on speed and just bounced around, saying ‘yipee’…Ementrude, the cow, who was chewing a flower all the time. Apparently, the creator of The Magic Roundabout (Emma Thompson’s father’ was very aware of what he was saying when he created the characters, but to 5 year olds, you wouldn’t know what being stoned was or being on Class A drugs would do to you…lol..

Now, when I see kids stuff on TV, I’m amazed at the lack of imagination; Robot wars, four bizarre looking blobs, that don’t speak but make odd noises as a form of communication….cartoon scripts with very well endowed heroines, perfect figures etc..mmmm……..very educational for 10-12 year olds.

However, it’s what you are exposed to from an early age. My nieces and nephews, read voraciously, take music lesson, are members of guides, partake in extra curricula activities in sport etc…their ages ranging from 10-15 (one is three). They are very much doing what we did at out age. They grow up fast though, mobile phones, text messaging, wearing make-up. When I was 11 I went to youth club…the fastest runner in the school had a crush on me and vice versa. I was a hockey player, he was a sprinter-and he always picked me for his team  Once, I was invited to one of innocent 11 year olds parties because the guy (Speedy was his nick name), liked me, and wanted me to go to the party. Of course when I asked my mum, she expressly told me there was plenty of time to interact with boys and homework was more important. So I never got my ‘date’ with speedy…I think he became a marine. The most wild thing we did was going to the roller disco. We would go out on our bikes, explore and play knock down ginger etc; we were kids. However, living here in India, I have observed this treatment of kids as adults. Taking their babies to the midnight show at the cinema, parties until 3 a.m. where do they play, where are the parents? Kids need to sleep; they need to be kids etc.

I was flying back form the UK once and sat next to this young girl. She exuded confidence and I presumed she was at University. She was 13, flying back to India by herself. When I asked her where her parents where, she told me that they were in the UK with her brother and she going back to India, because she had school. At this point, I asked who was picking her up from the airport (her driver), when were her parents coming back (she didn’t know)…who was in the house (the maid). She said she liked being by herself, was used to it. To my mind, I thought if she was in the UK and left to her own devices, she would be hauled off to social services and her parents imprisoned. She was a little adult, not a kid in the minds of her parents.

The thing is children absorb knowledge, they are extremely perceptive of their environment and they understand everything. When I broke up with my ex-fiancé, my four year old niece came to me and said, you broke up with X? I replied yes that w had, and what did she think about it-as I actually valued her observation. ‘Well, you need to find someone who wants to get married and anyway, he never says hello and doesn’t play!’. I though it was such an astute observation, which was entirely hers, not my bro's or my sis in law's conversation influencing her in anyway. Of course my friend said ‘Kamini, what does it tell you, if your four year old niece can see the problems in your relationship at 32 you should be able too as well; get on with it-ha,ha!!!.

Children need to be children. Why does society want them to grow up so fast? Many of the world’s children have had to grow up fast and even start working and earning money for their families. When I see the street children in India, so small, so adept, it breaks my heart that they have to some extent lost that period of innocence which is their right. When I see the idle class kids, without ay parental supervision, or any exposure to being able to play, make a mess, run around, etc it makes me sad.

In terms of literature, when I was 8 my favourite book was ‘Green eggs and Ham’, the Mr. Men books etc; now of course I’m older, it's To kill a Mockingbird’. Perhaps because we all try and retain the child in us. We all seek to go back to that time where we felt protected, and when all the mundane bullshit gets to us from time to time we need that escapism. Maybe that’s why the Harry Potter novels became so popular amongst adults (even more so than children initially). That lost period of life….we all want it back from time to time; let’s not devoid our children of their childhood.

No, Kamini...everyone's nuts about Harry Potter -equally boring...what's all the fuss about ?? - read John Masefields "Box of Delights" / "Midnight Folk" - years ahead of it's time with flying cars, pirates and what not...

But I agree about childhood - it's us Gen "X" ers who seem to be defining pop culture for kids based on our own nostalgia - in the meantime there has been this rush, provoked by MTV, to fast forward evolution - the end result being a mutant hybrid called a "kidult" - trying to produce a mutant offspring from the coming together of Moomin and Marilyn Manson on "E"...

Hi Rahul,

Great piece and great observations.

Not to worry though. That fire the "Rocky" excited within you still exists within each child (although I lived thousands of miles away from you, I too was running in the morning whilst vomiting up raw eggs :). Joseph Campbell described your "Rocky" story (or the Hobbit, Jason and the Argonauts, etc.) as the "Heroes Journey"; it's archetypal and lives within us as do all of the stories that trigger the human drive toward change. The stories may all have different characters with different names, the land may be the United States, Greece, Russia or India, but at the heart of them the story is the same. Certain movies or plays or books trigger this genetic/spiritual memory within us, this desire to transcend our current world and catapult us into a new state of being. The stories touch us and fundimentally shift the course of our lives and change us. Not so long ago these stories were told around a fire and passed from one generation to the next. Our world has changed since that time, but essentially the stories and archetypes still live within the children of today just as much as they lived within the children of yesterday. The mode of storytelling that once tripped our trigger may not be the ones that do it for this generation. Maybe it's even a video game that does it for our children, but the archetype and the excitement that it stirs when awakened is still there.

Look at the story of Harry Potter. It's really a simple story, but at it's heart it speaks to that child within that feels different...that doesn't quite fit in. We all feel that way at times. But it also reminds us that within there is something special: a great wizard, a warrior, a messiah that dispels darkness all wrapped up in one little boy or little girl. It is a message of hope and a hint at the greatness that everyone is capable of.

It's my belief that children will find their "Rocky", it just might be in a different place than you and I found ours.

Peace,
Scott.

Well Ravi Swami, my mum bought Harry Potter before any of us did!!!! Personally, I think Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Terry Pratchett are both must reads.

MTV, mmmmmm, the bane of all civilised, intellectual existence...lol!! Anyway, the world is run by mice...cute little furry white ones...who are experimenting on us, not the other way round...:-)

P.s. I love the moomin's. Not sure if you know the Clangers.....they were so brilliant, and the soup dragon....must stop now, getting a bit sentimental..

What did you think of the film version of Hitch Hiker ? - few people outside the UK would understand that brilliant bit where they briefly become knitted characters as per "Clangers" - that was the high point (for me...) in a rather disappointing film overall...

One thing that strikes me about these old shows is their "glue and cardboard" charm - but that may just be a British thing of make do with what you have and see what happens - it's distinctly lacking in animation from India, which seems to be falling over itself to make an impression and "go large" - ie the charm factor - it's not always about big bucks - true there are film makers working on the fringes there doing some terrific stuff - but how many will be able to say their work has lasted as long as Clangers ??

But then that's India - if they did anything differently, it would'nt be India, I guess - so let's see what happens...

Moomin could only have been written by someone who spent most of her life on a little island - it's such a perfectly realised fantasy world that you just wish might exist somewhere in a parallel dimension - that's the power of books..

Your post reminded me - by some strange coincidence of thought - of the letter that Chief Seattle apparently wrote to the then American President, about "the end of living and the beginning of survival". I guess kids today grow up faster than we did - and I don't know if this premature loss of innocence is a good thing or bad: after all, the world IS getting to be a tougher place to live in. But were it not for magic, there would be no Santa Claus, no Harry Potter, no Peter Pan. But trust me, some people still believe in magic. In angels. And in shooting stars. There is hope!

I actually wasn't very enamoured by the film of HH. For the life of me can't remember the actor who played Zaphod? Can you? Nah, wasn't great...but then again films of books never are-are they?

You are very judgemental my dear...Moomin's 'written by someone who spent most of her life on a little island'..mmmmmmm, what do you think about Ursula K. Le Guin then?

I always loved the Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle? Of course, in terms of animated films-The Dark Crystal..what a classic. Infact, since I’m starting to get more in touch with my inner child (after a highly stressful day at work), I think I’ll be off for my own elixir!!! IF you know the Dark Crystal, you’ll get the joke!

Later K

By the way, there's a woman in the UK who makes 'Clangers'........:-)

Kamini...you've got me wrong there, maybe it's just the way I phrase things - Tove Janssen did actually spend most of her life on an island and I suggested that this is why she was able to create Moomin - as for Ursula Le Guin - did she live on an island ??

I read maybe "Wizard of Earthsea" when I did actually still read books - & enjoyed it - as an animator I get a head rush of too many ideas if I read (sounds odd, I know...) - and with her books the world is so well realised that you can almost see it / smell it..

...sorry if I "dropped a Clanger" there ...:)

Hi there! Oh no...its my sarcastic banter....I know you're not judgemental. O.k. I'm away as the flea said to the cat! a domani, will come back to you on more kiddie stuff...:-)K

Very nice blog indeed Rahul, let me tell you this generation kids are different than us. These kids have all the facilities/aminities, which we didn't have at our time as far as technology, innovations of science instruments etc. These kids know exactly what they want in terms of entertainment and media is also targeting these kids by making such revealing stories, magics, cartoon whatever..wherever u see there is new revolution, be it harry potter, shaktiman, superman. The children's mind is not as innocent as it used to be at our time. In our time children used to imagine a character by a picture, but now animation creates such environment that they see through it. DEFINITELY TIME HAS CHANGED FOR THESE KIDS. IT is 21 century and we must admit that we were the kids of 20th century..slow, poky but thoughtful that is why Rahul these kids (gen.next)don't remember anything after effect has no effect after watching any movie. Lets hope for the best!

it's all psycology rahul. it depends what kid is going through and how? i have 3 year old niece. she is really crazy about them cartoon characters. it pretty much explains why she is"dora" fan and wants to dress like her, act like her, talk to her and her every single thing has dora on it.this is something she always gonna remember.u were fan of "rocky". that's why u still remember"rocky" and always wanted to be like him.

Hi Rahul,

Good piece of work & excellent observation. must say that you have been gifted by god with such a great talent.

Today i read about your new NGO "Th Foundation" my main intention of writing this to you is that i m a social worker and also a vice president of ruling party of youth. i am 26 years old. I m not satisfy with what i am doing curretnly. i want to do some thing big & more meaningful to my society.

you can reach me at 9892814424 or email me at luckyimsh@gmail.com

Thanx & regards
Imran

i wanna be part of your organisation, if i can help my society & needy in anyways the i ll be most happiest person.

please do reply me back as i m waiting for your reply.

imran

Hi Rahul,
Its so nice to see your blog here. Congratulations on your new achievement'Foundation'. haven't really read whats there in the newspaper abt your organisation, was actually prompted by my guardian- my bua to do search on the net.Surprisingly! i got this link to your blog! and here i am! Just wanted to know..whether i can be a part of your social cause, don't want to sound like making an approach or something but just because i'd like to be part of it - being a student of human rights.

You can read my blog here ~>

www.karunaa.blogspot.com

Am going to add you to my blogroll definetly...so that i easily get connected to your intentblog.

Much Respect..

Karuna

New Delhi.

Hi Rahul,
Today’s kid knows that he/she doesn’t need egg to grow , there are plenty of other things (Thanks to media again..J)

I believe today’s children has a notion that the world is at their fingertip and they have become so mechanical and passive. I am sure research in this field will show a very small percentage of children using their gray cells at an optimum level.

They are exposed to so much of information that they are unable to reflect, dream or even filter information, which again leads to anxious and confused teens. They know so much at a superficial level; even parents don’t have time to explain.

I don’t see innocence anymore. But I don’t blame the kids.

How many Rahul took his niece for a movie? Even if you did.. How many times did your cell ring in between your conversation?

Well as far as Ravi’s opinion about fountainhead… I beg to differ … It’s not about someone making it big ..it’s about man’s belief in his convictions, about what he wants….A man having to hell with the world … kind of an Attitude.

And I believe that if Indians like it (I loved it too and one of my favorites inspite of having read few French literatures) .It also has cultural connotations…. If we see our generation (I am 31), we have always lived according to the norms of our society or some kind of binding…or obligations …. Ex. mom did so much for me so I can’t hurt her .

I am sure majority subconsciously wanted to be this man .

Hi Rahul: Just wondering what sort of impact the absence of time and head-space that you point out amongst today's kids would have when they grow up?

I shudder to think of future generations of decision makers who'd decide on the spur of the moment and repent at leisure! What would happen to the concept of generating ideas? Would anyone ever listen? Would they ever stop talking and care to listen?

Wouldn't this phenomenon of head-space plus time constraint hit knowledge transfer - for I believe schools have become a center of KT than character building. And this being the case, what would happen in boardrooms? Imagine the state of our Parliament, which anyway does not boast of too many meaningful discussions!

Where are we going to find our future Narayana Moorthy's, Ratan Tatas of business or our Rahul Boses and Rahul Dravids of sports & entertainment? Would human heads be ever able to think clearly? I know babies have the attention spans of a moth, now you tell us that kids are becoming the same. Imagine if teenagers catch this ailment and pass it on to adults too... the effects are nerve shattering!

I hope we return to our "days of innocence" - of watching Stallone's Rocky and dreaming about Fountain Head!

i ve seen movies and read books.. some have been close and others just a mere way of soendin time.. but after i ve read this, u ve put me to serious thinkin..

I am really glad that such an article or rather blog has touched my life..

thanks a lot rahul...

cheers,
Hamsa

HI WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE SOCIAL CAUSES YOU FIGHT FOR OR ANY OF YOUR FILMS

VISHNUSAMANT@HOTMAIL.COM
9819874174

Hi Rahul
Yesterday was the Marathon juz thought dat i wud see u there,as was also there?bt my luck
newayz i hd a blast dat day at wtc dat finally hv ur autograph and a perfect picture, wid me now-Thanx for dat
Newayz i luv each and every thing u hv done till nw right frm the Movies,social acts,reading that u ve been doing,the person u are,ur thinking process, Man i m mad behind u
especially in those aviators u look stunning man.......
I m a gr8 fan of urs and never want to miss out on nething dat has a presence of urs
i truly appreciate and admire u as a whole being.
keep working for ur NGO"The Foundation"and Keep Rocking
Byee
Tk CR
Niti

I think this is an ADD afflicted generation, nothing sticks for too long and yes, there's a lot out there filling up the headspace. Too many cool things vying for the interest of a child (or any individual for that matter). However, I still believe if the content is compelling enough ( a movie, TV show or a book, doesn't matter)the magic you speak of will be there and kids watching will be influenced enough to want to eat four raw eggs in the morning and run through the streets of Philadelphia.

Hi Rahul,

The best way to take childrens to the place / timespace when thing are fewer, follow the following method.

Always educate a child as per her / his local environment. For example in India, follow Indian local gurukul system.

I will give you example of poor people.
They educate thier child, make them graduate. These graduates don't know anything. They don't know how to work and earn money. They have one qualification that they are graduates. What is this system of education?

An individual who learns how to make variety of tea, that is also an education.

But the society discards that individual as having no knowledge.

That individual is getting herself / himself educated in subject of making tea, whats wrong in it.

This is just an example.

If i say an individual is learning keyboard, that society would say see this individual is learning, what are you doing.

Education system should be upgraded. There should not be forced education.

What should be forced is forgiveness, non-violence, justice to innocent, child care, ....

Thanks a lot
With lots of love
Rajesh Sharma

hey Rahul...

Im so glad I can finally access your blog!u shud get one on blogger as well...

Words wont explain how much I admire your movies.Or your enthusiasm for life.or the fact that inspite of being a celebrity,you come across as normal a person as any other.And I like that.

The Fountainhead is CURRENTLY(and it has been so for 2 years) my fav book.And as an answer to all those who say the book isnt that great-well, I cant say anything except that u guys are disregarding one of the most honest attempts at explaining mankind.It is NOT hyped.If it is, then it is COMPLETELY worth it.

Rahul,Im 17.when did u grow out of the Fountainhead?Did u ever?i dont wish to.not ever.

Go on, now, update ur blog!!

hi rahul!!
i completely agree wid u on this issue.
nowadays there r various modes of entertainment available like tv,animated movies,video games and what not
Being a student of psychology i relate it 2 one of the theories and conclude that modes of entertainment are waiting in a que to gain attention.These compete wid one another to gain attention and once attended to the other one is already waiting.eg: a child has just seen a movie and then immediately watches tv series.

As a result the child's mind is continuously occupied and he/she doesn't have time to even think abt what they have recieved from the movie and causes retaining failure.

i know that it's a little boring but at the same time it's quite interesting so spare some time from ur extremely busy schedule and give a thought to it!
i would also like to inform u that i'm a die-hearting fan of urs and neverwould like to miss an event which has ur presence.

Perhaps its a lack of thought provoking movies for kids today...a good movie is one that has cool special effects.Never mind that it has crappy story line and really no message to be learnt in terms of good morale values etc, as long as it has cool special effects its all good.That's entertainment for you! although it seems that youngsters today have certainly more options than I did when I was a kid.There's Playstation 2, Xbox, Nintendo Wii and those virtual pet things etc.Too many choices and all the major companies like Microsoft, Sony and so forth trying to outdo each other. I used to read when I was a kid. You hardly see kids today read!They are too busy playing with their gadgets.But then movies are a way to escape anyway.

For a few hours you forget about things and get caught up in the magical world that is there on the big screen. As an adult I am guilty of doing it too.After a day's work of dealing with corporate bureaucratic bullshit, when I come home I just want to sit infront of the box and watch some mind numbing tv. Something where I don't have to think and can escape even if it is for a few hours.Not to say that I don't like though provoking things anymore.I am still an avid reader and like serious kind of movies once in a while.But more than often I have enough dramas going in my life to want to see something that hits so close to home.children somehow or the other grow up too fast these days.

The other day I saw bras in K-Mart for 8 year olds in the Olsen Twins collection.What the..?Kids are more aware of violence not only first hand through school bullies but also in terms of games,movies and songs.They are a lot more mature than I was as a kid. They know about sex, kissing and what not.A recent ad for Ingham Chicken Nuggets with these two 7 or 8 year old's trying to steal a kiss whilst mom was out of the room baking nuggets was shocking to me!

With the rise in violence,increase in divorces(I remember those days when divorce was taboo and now every other person has either had one or going through one), being sexually active oh at such a tender age, and drugs of course,kids today have a whole new level of complexities. And movies and games are an escape..after the movie is over, they leave it behind to face real life issues that they live with in today's society.

Rahul,

If Fountainhead was the Bible for college-goers (not for me though, but for most of my friends), let me point you to the Bible for the thinking adult: 'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle.

If you believe that the reason for living is the evolution of the soul (not in an esoteric sense but in a practical, every-day kind of way) and that the only way to live is to achieve inner happiness and spread this happiness around, then you will find this book truly amazing.

BTW, I would be interested to know whether you did find the book commendable. I would appreciate it if you dropped a line to 'net.storage@yahoo.com'. So far each and everyone that I have recommended this book to has been overwhelmed by its simplicity and wisdom.

To everyone else reading this post and interested in increasing their spiritual consciousness, this book is a must-read!

The "Fountainhead" was certainly a book that hooked me in, but the very first work of Rand that I have read, which I highly recommend to others is "Anthem". It's a very short story by Rand and it's phenomenal.

In addition, it is also important to see how life for kids is continuously changing in aspects other than the movies. Even the standards of academic achievements that children are being held responsible for are getting higher.

I recently read an article in the New York Times which illustrates this point pretty well: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/29Rparenting.html?ex=1180670400&en=6ea9936327c104a7&ei=5070

As I madly apply for universities, sometimes...I just don't understand why life can't be simpler. I think everyone should slow down and read a book , plant some flowers and spend more time with their family.

Hi...
Rahul, I feel like communicating on this issue. I have grown up hearing that "today's generation is irresponsible / aaj kaal kar bachcha der kono kandoggyan nei/ the generation is going into rots......." etc. I don't know why people keep blaming the generation for every issue coming up. It seems every Indian problem has the same, most favorite solution....Government and Generation!!!

We feel for everything in the same way our parents felt. Only difference is, our patience is going a little low. But then we make up to it by being rather expressive and through better communication.

It is not deconstruction. The generation next to ours has to accept the data-overflow. Things have changed from the times when people retained quality data into their brains. Today kids have to accomodate quantity along with quality!

I blame myself when I see my cousins. It was my fault that I had not introduced them to our roots. I should have motivated them to read the collections of Sukumar Roy (I asume that Rabindranath Tagore might be too intelectual for some) or Narayan Gangopadhay. They do not have the access to our basic literature, the subtle humour that the writers potrayed in those days (then, communication and language had to go through the strict and critical sensors of the society), the demographics and lifestyle of our yester-years.

Life is getting so protected with every passing day, that kids don't understand what it is to face hardships. The lack of patience I was talking about comes from here.

I remember a comment by SRK..." I want my kids to watch Harry Potter because Arabian Nights is extinct"! And yet another interview of Mr. Javed Akhtar (with Karan Thappar) where the former was asked What would be your advise to a teen ager, and he replied "Learn to Dream"!!!
My Dreams came through Satyajit Roy's "Gupi Gayne Baghs Bayne", in the same way it came to you through "Rocky". And I think both the films did the same wonders to us....it gave us a drive to aim towards impossibles! You have achieved in your way, I have achieved in mine. But the poor kid today is inspired to AIM right from the beginning, and he has to take a backward journey towards dreams!

Hi...
Rahul, I feel like communicating on this issue. I have grown up hearing that "today's generation is irresponsible / aaj kaal kar bachcha der kono kandoggyan nei/ the generation is going into rots......." etc. I don't know why people keep blaming the generation for every issue coming up. It seems every Indian problem has the same, most favorite solution....Government and Generation!!!

We feel for everything in the same way our parents felt. Only difference is, our patience is going a little low. But then we make up to it by being rather expressive and through better communication.

It is not deconstruction. The generation next to ours has to accept the data-overflow. Things have changed from the times when people retained quality data into their brains. Today kids have to accomodate quantity along with quality!

I blame myself when I see my cousins. It was my fault that I had not introduced them to our roots. I should have motivated them to read the collections of Sukumar Roy (I asume that Rabindranath Tagore might be too intelectual for some) or Narayan Gangopadhay. They do not have the access to our basic literature, the subtle humour that the writers potrayed in those days (then, communication and language had to go through the strict and critical sensors of the society), the demographics and lifestyle of our yester-years.

Life is getting so protected with every passing day, that kids don't understand what it is to face hardships. The lack of patience I was talking about comes from here.

I remember a comment by SRK..." I want my kids to watch Harry Potter because Arabian Nights is extinct"! And yet another interview of Mr. Javed Akhtar (with Karan Thappar) where the former was asked What would be your advise to a teen ager, and he replied "Learn to Dream"!!!
My Dreams came through Satyajit Roy's "Gupi Gayne Baghs Bayne", in the same way it came to you through "Rocky". And I think both the films did the same wonders to us....it gave us a drive to aim towards impossibles! You have achieved in your way, I have achieved in mine. But the poor kid today is inspired to AIM right from the beginning, and he has to take a backward journey towards dreams!

Rahul seems to have deserted intentblog....

Dear Rahul,
I know exactly what you mean. I was born the same year as you, in a completely different country, and I'm seeing the same effects. Seems like children are consuming instead of dreaming. I'm raising 5 children; I love them all dearly, and I fight against the consuming issue every day. We have a ban on (non-educational) computer games in our house, because we want to encourage reading. Do you have any idea how hard this is nowadays? Peer pressure is on, bigtime. Kids are being pressurized by their friends to try this or that game, to see this or that television show. You don't watch this Manga cartoon, you're not cool. I really try to counter this. It's an uphill battle. So far, I'm succeeding, question is, for how long?
See, my special movie back then was "Flashdance". Remember that one? Because as much as you where running and eating raw eggs (god, how did you get them down???), I was dancing, dancing, dancing. I was 16, everything seemed possible and the world was just waiting for me!!!
Sometimes I have the feeling, today's children are just asking for more, more, more! It's not just that there is so much more for the taking, the world has gotten so much faster. The pressures on today's kids are much greater than on us (at least over here in Europe). Nowadays, children are required to be into sports, learn a musical instrument or foreign language, otherwise - and they know that from early childhood - they will not get into that great school later on. I don't remember having that kind of pressure. There is a great passage in Erich Maria Remarque's "Im Westen nichts Neues", a novel which deals with the last days of a young soldier in WWI. It goes appr. like this: "The youth of a time is only as bad as the time they live in". In these hectic times, kids are bound to be hectic, no matter how much parents fight it. We can always try to counter it - and we do - but we can't stop the world from turning faster and faster. Thanks for your post, Rahul, it got me thinking. Take care.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Many returns of the day =)

Happy 40th, Rahul! Take good care of yourself, and please keep doing your thing. We love you!

I think the kiddos are better off...they could have lost a sense of wonder but are by far more informed and shoudl i say 'intelligent' than we were at their age...

On the other hand my generation is possibly confused and struggling as we were brought up to 'wonder' but now find ourselves trying to cope with an environment that has little patience for it...

so whn do we get to read the next post? :)

I fail to understand the way this blogsite work. I just came by when i saw an actual Rahul bose Blog. I am an admirer...
About the post above, I think its not abt this time and our time...its about how we remember the nice things of life...memories that linger for years and years. Alya will tell the same story one day to her grandchildren how she loved to watch harry potter with her uncle Rahul. Do you think the way you felt about the film in your childhood you actually shared the feelings with someone...or u just played with the fantasy in your head sitting alone in or when in bed...WHats goes on in ones head, specially a child's is not likely what we see....maybe alya's grand daughter will tell us one day

hello will be coming to bombay on september 24th will go to bombay gymkhana on the 25th at 5:00pm hoping to get a glimpse of you...if I could watch your game would be awesome....just incase you would care will be carrying a super orange bag!!Travelling about 8000 miles m excited!

dear Rahul im a big fan of you.Although i watch selected movies im pretty impressed by your work/movies because your performance/action is very natural (without any artificiality).I'v watched Jhankaar beats,Chameli and Pyar ke side effects and my favourite is Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, and im waiting for you next realease "Shaurya" .Im gald to reach your blog finally. Good luck and God bless you.

Rahul, I see its been a trend to blog now a days (tho' u've seem to have been in this routing for quite some time now), and I could not resist myself. And as I started blogging, I developed interest in some of the other good blogs that are out there, good and bad ofcourse, are personal perceptions.
I read Mr. Bachchan's blog everyday, and I read your blog almost everyday ( I am yet to finish fully reading all your articles). Its a sense of humbleness that I find here, and I can very much relate to the stuff that you write... like a common man... I bet u have a lot of fans, and I am not saying I am special. But everyone has the right to think that they are the best, and so do I... best in being your fan :)
I just finished watching Chameli as it was playing on one of the channels, and I felt this sudden urge of writing to you. You are a great actor, and I wont even compare you to anyone else. Superior acting and superior performances, yet your blog and writings so subtle and so personable!

Visit my blog sometime if you feel like or if u have the time to do so, I am not a writer, but I try to give my thoughts a physical form... Thru' Chameli, I felt it reflected a lot of your real personality, as sober and as kind a person, as your character was. (Tho' I may be wrong :) )

Anyways, enough reading for u I guess, from a single comment- Be Good and take it ez... Take Care!

And yesterday again, I saw Anuranan... All I want to say that it touched me... touched me deep... there were some unresolved aspects shown in the movie, and yet it covered the answers as well... and once again, it added an impetus in me... and impetus that lead me to admire your talent even more!

Be Inspiring, like you always are...

Take it ez =)
Shiwani

ahem can you write me a single line, a hello at bolderboulder@live.com?Just to make my search a little easier!Will trade for a funny story