Crude Lighting techniques can be Creative!

Had this concept in mind for a long time. Was waiting for some lights, but didnt happen. On the SHOOT day too, me n my friend did a quick hunt for some basic focus lights and couple of stands, but luck turned other-way round. Hence, decided to go ahead with whatever we had!

Here are the pics of the setup used.

I am not saying the lighting used is perfect, but just want to pass on the message that, despite of the crude setup,the results were not that bad .All I used was a yellow light spot focus, and a CFL, tried mixing both the sources, but dint work well. For more correct exposure and to have better control over the light,  focus light with a regulator must be used ( flashes are recommended )
Its just that creative eye needs few photons to expose the talent!

Apart from this, table lamp can be effectively used. For product shoots, portraits etc.Also, a simple light box can me made at home, will be doing that soon. Will share the write-up and the photos soon.

Here are the results of the CRUDE lighting attempt...

Happy Clicking!

BRAND----"Save Tigers"

CATS gaining attention…isn't new…eh? But this time, everyone is 'pretending' to be serious…and thus are very keen on SAVING THE ROYAL CAT…TIGER!!! Various campaigns, banners, and GROUP DISCUSSIONS are the tools (visible for save tiger movement). Celebrities are expressing their concern about the tiger-NATIONAL PRIDE and constantly the magic number is displayed…1411 left..!!!

BEFORE WRITING THIS…I got myself updated and the COUNT SO FAR IS 1215!!!!!!!

Encouraging!

A huge investment by AIRKEL (read between the lines…don’t want to rope in any controversies) for the SAVE TIGER campaign, strong initiative by a renowned TV news channel---NTDV, Super launch of the campaign in presence of BIG 'B', some experts in wildlife (I was really delighted that these people were invited, and were given a chance to speak---atleast on that day). BIG B instantly extended his 'voice' and 'face' for the campaign…(created a BUZZ!), CEO AIRKEL was busy in justifying the company's involvement and was striving hard to catch media's attention. The NTDV hosts were using their ORATORY skills to make the launch look 'concerned'. Emotional intelligence was flooding in that room, and further it was transferred via media, nationally. (Globally too…might attract foreign investors!)

Every effort that was visible had a result- Brand Creation…for the time being, TIGER was left alone in the clips that were played on huge screens, in that hall. Here, I am not being a pessimist but trying to look at this entire effort in a distorted way, so as to understand and convey what I have understood.

Support from politicians, huge corporate contribution, celebrities endorsing the campaign, media channels, everything looks good to start with, but the question is, is it going to help the BIG CAT ?

Who is going to look after their natural homes-forests?

Is anyone keeping a check on the activities taking place in national parks, sanctuaries?

Poaching, selling tiger skins… who is the watchdog???

Are we really concerned on saving this beautiful creature?

When so much money is spent, Government grants are used…why the campaign just limits itself to the ads, concerned messages?? Why can’t the organizers publically disclose the Line of Action (If any...) and how the campaign is going to SAVE TIGERS???

Nature is very strong, I feel tigers will live forever if nature decides so… Homo sapiens sapiens must CLEVERLY use their highly evolved BRAINS and shouldn’t interfere with Natures Law and Order.

The royal beauty is under threat; we must save it from cruel EXTINCTION…as the coming generations then, will see it in FILMS, SNAPS and DOCUMENTARIES!!!

#Note: By writing this I am not 'Branding' my Blog!

Laughing Dove....

(Click on the image, to have an enlarged view)

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP.

The workshop focuses on Basics of Photography. The ONLY REQUIREMENT is – YOU SHOULD HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA. With a simple digital camera, beautiful photographs can be clicked. Workshop aims at developing a PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE, with few technical tips and Setting the CORRECT frames!
Basics of light, aperture, shutter speed etc will be provided as a course material, with an introductory talk. Followed by on-field clicking!
The session will be on Saturday/Sunday, Depending on the group size (Mostly 15).

Location: Taljai Tekdi, Sahakarnagar, Pune. ( Near Main Gate.)
Timings: 7.00 am-9.00 am for morning photography.
5.00pm-7.00pm for evening photography (Sunset covered)
Contact: Soham Sabnis
9028449500.
Email: soham.sabnis@gmail.com.

BIRTH OF LOVE...

Last years dormant seeds have germinated this monsoon. First few showers have set the mood of LOVE and the birth of LOVE begins, rejoiced by every element of nature. New bonds begin to blossom… bond between dry soil and flooded dark clouds via rain drops, new relationships strengthen with various influencers, wind, small insects, and beautiful butterflies. Budding roots embrace the mud tightly, building up a new relationship! Love of frogs for ponds, of larvae for stems, of bees for flowers, of rain for leaves, earth! Birth of love for nature!!!

Streams flow rubbing the rocky mountains, reluctant to part their ways. Grass blades hold tiny droplets with pride, sunrays make them shine, helping nature look so beautiful! Birds are busy building nests, eagerness in their actions can be easily noticed, and their chirping is very pleasant as they are ready to welcome cute little offsprings. Eggs are incubated with utmost vigilance, caring for Birth of love! Newcomers on earth are completely naïve, watchful, eager, and their eyes ooze out fear, opting to hide, but are safe in Mother Natures lap!
Drenched in rain, I witnessed this and began to celebrate BIRTH OF LOVE!

Ordinary Life = Successful

Weekend holiday once in a month, with junk food and coke 24hrs, A.C deluxe rooms to live in! Wow… so gr8! An ideal plan! This goes only when a person takes up a job in a MNC, 5 days a week, handsome salary figures! Woooo… waow! Some very common hobbies, like watching movies, or reading magazines and that’s it. Mediocre level of passion in whatever thing is to be performed. Always behaving in a very polite, sophisticated manner, within the ‘society’s boundary limits’, impressing 2/3 people around. Earnings spent safely, invested properly (minimal risk), nothing outrageous, nothing untidy… everything very perfect! It appears like a very ordinary life, na? but this is WHAT IS LEADING A SUCCESSFUL LIFE…. Cheers to such LIFE… Let’s start living it SUCCESSFULLY!

Pencil, Eraser and Sharpeners...

Last time I wrote an entire page with a pencil was may be in my 4th std. Since then I have left behind pencils in my drawer. I am sure many of you will share the same experience (unless someone is an architect or an artist!). Pencils were so nice, so neat when sharpened! More so, they permit luxury of ‘erasing’ a misspelled word or shabby handwriting. Your page looks clean… oh I miss Pencils today…
Interesting thought just crept in my mind, LIFE IS LIKE A PENCIL and various incidences we face, situations we go through, act like sharpeners. When LIFE moves through these sharpeners, it gets sharpened…Just like a pencil. This ensures neatly written Story OF Life. Also, life shortens each day, so does length of a pencil decreases, Living Life completely.
So where is the ‘Eraser’? … Uhhhmmmm… may be our good deeds are like erasers, they help us erase our bad/evil/anti-social actions, may be not completely, but allows Pencil called Life, to overwrite it, without scribbling on 'Pages of Life’

Evening.. Coffee.. And the Search...

Its was a dull evening.. Looking through my window, I was enjoying “Shadow of the Day”, by Linkin Park. It said.. “And the sun will set for you”. Wow.. I enjoyed this. I decided to step down for a hot cup of coffee. I used staircase today, for a change. Walked away to Tompkins Ave, 341 East Street, to my favorite Ninth street Espresso. It was a busy evening, everyone rushing home. Freshly crushed coffee aroma tickled my nose and pulled me at the counter to order House coffee, traditionally brewed American coffee. The latte art seen at this café is just mind-blowing. With a tiny menu of 7 coffees, it still manages descent crowd throughout the day! Drives me to this place over and over. Some kinda music was climbing my ears, I failed to identify the genre but I enjoyed it, I loved it, in fact! A tall nerd was bang opposite me, trying something on his laptop. A cute lady (OLD) came in with her husband and was looking for a place to sit. Stylo dude, was busy impressing his girl’friend’. House coffee landed on my table, and broke my observations! Wow… lips were eager to sip in the coffee. I took out my notebook and started penning down few ideas, a sip and a new idea! What a fancy idea.. That didn’t happen. But still, I made the most of my coffee.
Hour passed away, people around me changed. I was in love with this “So Very” US culture, independent! So connected yet aloof! I never felt lonely though I was alone. Finding you and looking at Life as LIFE is so easy here. Walked down to my apartment, it was dark when I opened the door. Search began…. I leaned onto my bean bag.. Relaxed.. Watching Manhattan Exquisitely lit up! I enjoyed the evening..

(Photo: by Anonymous)

(This is wat I imagined yesterday evening...)

Panduranga... Panduranga...

Panduranga... Panduranga... was all i could hear... and everyone around me were able to see 'Panduranga', which i dont even think of.. 'Warkaris' as they are called, were so transed in their devotion that, only few registered my lens clicking them.
'Paalkhi' is integral part of Maharashtrian tradition, which symbolizes devotion, persistence and more than that, LOVE for Vitthoba! Centuries together warkaris in large numbers gather at Pandharpur, to seek Darshan on Ashadhi Ekadashi... its a journey from Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur,which is around 220km! The energy, enthusiasm and anxiety to see Vithal-Rukhmini amongst warkaris is worth watching. Its an experience....
Here are some snaps that would make you witness this amazing Waari, Palkhi...
Bola Pundalik warde.... HARI VITTHAL! Shri Dnyandev.... Tukaaraam... Padharinath Maharaj ki JAI!!!!!!

TAKE A STEP FORWARD…

Our table in Wadeshwar was very noisy. Old school friends were meeting after a long time. Subjects kept on changing tracks continuously. Amongst was an ex-NDA Cadet, Prathamesh Apte, who is currently completing his training in IMA-Deheradun. He was narrating his thrilling and unique experiences. We were awestruck! So much of hardship, mental as well as physical stress with extreme discipline. But, he told us, PATRIOTISM gave them the strength to overcome this hectic schedule and pumped ‘josh’ in them. We are proud of our friend and certainly have a real respect for him in our hearts! That evening flew off quickly, and was a memorable one..
At night when I relaxed on bed, my mind kept on asking questions relentlessly. Why Prathamesh stands out amongst us? What’s special in him? He has created a different niche in the society. He is looked upon as role model by school students and their parents. Even in our school he gains a never before appreciation from teachers. WHY??? For few minutes my mind went blank. I couldn’t find any answers..
The next moment I realized that the answers were in my questions! The society around us is striving hard to attain self-security in all respects. People are identifying themselves as separate, isolated souls, and thus want to satisfy their growing needs which aren’t the basic needs (those are greed)! No one wants to heal wounds of others and at the same time wants to remain woundless. Willingness to help poor and needy people is dropping down. Though we realize help is required, helping hand is not being extended, and this help will surely change the situation! Some people keep a very clean approach “others are poor that’s their problem; they are living bad lives due to poverty. As I pay (heavy?) taxes, its not my job to help them. Government is responsible and must take a strong initiative”. This means majority of the society is flowing in a steady streamline aiming materialistic pleasures. Prathamesh has stepped aside this routine streamline and hence is making a different mark! That’s why he is so extraordinary and hence a respectable human being. But just by appreciating his step, or by giving a pat on his back, will the situation change? It’s easy to say that ‘you are doing a great job, keep it up’, for people flowing away from moral values. Why don’t these people work on similar lines? Why do they run to materialistic achievements? Are they lethargic? Are they weak, incapable of doing it? Intolerant? Are they cowards? NO… we lack the approach, outlook and we are resisting change. Its an acquired inertia towards change, which is difficult to break!
It was almost midnight; there was deep silence outside, suggesting answers to my questions-SILENCE! I woke up and went near my window, gazed at the pitch black sky studded with millions of glittering stars. Its so refreshing to see such natural beauty! This remembered me of a song from SWADES ‘ yeh tara who tara ‘, which really stands as an example of how one should change the way to look at things around. One such quote I read few days back. It says… ‘I cursed myself when I desired a new pair of shoes, when I found that the person next to me doesn’t have feet!’ I was shocked…this strengthened my thought process further.
“Sanskar” I uttered suddenly. The moral values inculcated during upbringing of kids. YES! Finally I collapsed on the answer. Molding of wet mud has to be done very carefully in order to shape it into a perfect pot. This is missing today. With growing unit families and both parents working all the day, children aren’t getting good ‘sanskaras’. They on their own decide what is right or wrong landing in wrong directions, keeping money as their prominent and sole aim! This is because their parents run behind money. Being children they are keen observers and quick followers, thus they walk fast on a misguided, wrong path living a self-centered life!
Has everything finished? Can’t we do anything to improve this situation? Is everything running out of hands? Absolutely not! Its responsibility of today’s parents, we – the present youth (future parents) to change this situation by altering ourselves. Take out quality time for children, be with them. Also, set an example for youngsters by working differently for healthy social cause. Along with parents, teachers too have a crucial role. They shouldn’t act as catalyst to drag the students in ‘academic competition’. At the same time just by giving donations you can’t help poor people. More than that, dedication and time is needed at this moment, a huge manpower is much needed to initiate a change. Its said that, ‘Man isn’t intelligent by answering all the questions, but by being open to all the questions’. So let us end our pseudo ignorance, lets be open to all problems, let us take step forward..Together!

TARNI... THE SAILING BOAT!

When one thinks of sea, while eyes wink boat comes to our mind! And then many more things start sailing. Grainy sand, rhythmic waves and the setting sun too! It’s a treat for any photographer to click the evening moments colored in artistic patterns, in varied colors. At the same time though, apart from sea life, another life is closely linked with the sea, ‘Life of a Fisherman’.

3-4Km away from Guhagar, a neatly arranged, small village resides at the shore, ‘Asagoli.’ Placed adjacent to this wonderful seashore, it’s populated with families of fishermen. Day in day out, for years together fishing business is being operated from this place. Me and my friend, Abhijeet (he was my guide too), went to Asagoli, during my trip to Guhagar. I got a chance to look at this different life closely and to capture some of the moments. We went there in the evening, sun geared up to bid Adios to the awesome shore! A small shade caught our attention; fishermen were busy processing the seafood. Sorting, weighing, stocking was done smoothly. None the less, my eyes were glued at the horizon, which was blazing and the silhouettes of number of ships made perfect wallpaper, I always wanted to click this scene.

Just then, a man aged in his 50s came walking to us, grey hair, bare feet, a normal dark colored shirt and a towel around his waist, a typical fisherman! Abhijeet knew him and told me his name, ‘Babya Timsekar’. With a very wide smile he welcomed us and started telling about the fishing methods, the business part, simultaneously pulling out several fish species from the ice packed crates! Yeah… he faced the camera confidently too! We were enjoying his experiences and the info that he was telling us. He was a very simple man. Babya, I thought would be earning enough to satisfy his family basic needs. But, Abhijeet made an effort to prove me wrong. The amount which Babya earns each month is truly HUGE! It’s so enormous that a MBA Graduate can’t think of it even after 10 years of corporate working experience! Yet Babya appears as I have described, if you meet him at the sea. It’s not an easy life though, but isn’t difficult to a person like Babya to wear branded clothes and throw attitude at the workers and towards strangers like me. But he never does it.

Along with Babya we walked towards the sea. A boat was arriving after hours of fishing, the job now was to empty the vessel and process the caught seafood. It’s really interesting to watch these activities, for them it’s a routine but the ease at which they do it is worth appreciating. As this shore doesn’t have a structured port to dock the ships, fishermen are at the task of bringing the craft outside the water. They swim towards the ferry and literally pull it on the sand almost 100m away from water! For the easy movement of the boat on the sand, they place furrowed wooden logs coated with some kind of paint, in a line and then pull out the ferry. It’s a treat to watch these guys working together as they sing along while pulling the boat. Wow!!! Clicking these moments did put a smile on my face, unknowingly!

Apart from this, the shore was full of life. Gulls, Kites were enjoying fishing too! Herons, Sandpipers too made effort to get their dinner as fast as they can. Kids were enjoying cricket judiciously, on the customized wet sand pitches! Screaming and running hard, lads were happy and they had a blast! Meanwhile the boat was unloaded and cutting, sorting, washing started at an amazing pace.

Women had entered the scene now and no doubt, they were highly skilled in above activities. They were as busy as the bees, and very shy to face the camera.
It was glad to notice that every person had a very distinct role to play. So many activities were going on in chorus. For the first time I had neglected a perfect sunset that too on a beach! Darkness took over, my camera lens got slower than a turtle. I packed up and we walked through the village. Small houses were depicting the fisherman’s life! They had walls engraved with fish shapes. Babya was accompanying us; he invited us to his house. On our way home, he collected ‘Thanda’ bottles i.e. cold drinks for us. He offered us thanda at his house, felt very nice and surprised, I had never expected this. We had a long chat on his terrace, I enjoyed observing everything, and I heard some typical songs ‘Koli Geeta’, which were being played in the village.

We had to get back to Guhagar, Babya , with his patent wide smile said bye, and escorted us to the main road. We shook hands, I said thank you, but had something more to tell, which I couldn’t. On our way back, I remembered the ‘Sailing Boats’ in the sea, fighting the waves and wind, these never stopped, Babya too was like a sailing boat…TARNI!

FREE HAPPY MOMENTS!

It is the biggest thing a person desires. We work for it hard, and we live for it. The aim gets fixed and we revolve around it in the entire game of life. Adjustments are made to achieve that ‘aim’. MONEY, you guessed it right. First I was going to say satisfaction, but many say unless your pockets are full, how will you be ‘satisfied?’ Is it?? I mean, are we always satisfied (completely) even when our pockets are overflowing, our bank balances is ‘balanced’ heavily? I won’t answer these questions, as every person has his own answers.
In childhood, I remember, everyone asked – What do you wish to be? In schools to we have written such essays. Doctor, Engineer, Cricketer were the predominant answers. I tto, said something similar. But what am I doing now? May be not the same, what I had said. But surely, I am driving the vehicle to reach the aim ‘money’. Everyone does it, so am I! it has become so important! Deviation from this journey leads you somewhere else, leaving you ‘Alone’! We humans hate this word, no matter if we are accompanied by money only, but we want some company, we can’t live alone at all.
Money is a transactional tool. We pay it for daily activities, for our comforts, for entertainment, travel, luxury and thus we try to be happy. The more you will pay, the happier you would be, is the golden equation. Do we pay for breathing clean air? Do we pay for smiling? Do we pay for true love? Do we spend money for watching the setting sun? For resting in a trees shadow? Or for experiencing star studded sky on no moon day, or for watching a full moon?
All the above things and many more, for which we don’t pay at all, we don’t experience them either. We have moved far away from the FREE HAPPY MOMENTS! May be, we think they aren’t worthy moments as they are free. Because now we decide the worth on the amount of money we spend for sa particular thing. On reading this, go step out and be happy. Go see some splendid things happening around you continuously, which demand you time and not money! Do earn HAPPINESS along with MONEY.

(photo by soham)

Twice A Day..

Me and my friend had been to McDonalds this Monday. We had a burger and Mc Swirl Ice-cream. Wow!! I enjoyed it after a long time; we stepped out and were walking on JM road. A boy came and asked for money, easily I said no. he followed us for a while demanding money, with our tummies full we ignored him, until he said, “Bahot bhuk lagi hai, paise do khan ke liye...” (I am hungry, and have no money to eat). Instantly the burger which I had, started dancing in my stomach... I asked him “kacchi dabeli khaoge?”(Would you have kacchi dabeli?) Without a second thought he said yes!
There was a stall nearby, we went there and ordered one. I asked him his name, “Rohit”, he replied. He was eagerly waiting for his ‘treat’, the first one in how many days??? I don’t know, neither I asked him! Rohit enjoyed every bite, his face became so expressive! I asked whether he would like to have another dabeli, he just nodded, he had no time to speak..
“School jate ho?”, I asked. Rohit said no, and said “ Iskool ke liye paisa nahi hai!” (he had no money for schooling). But when I asked if he wishes to study, his ‘yes’ was a lazy one. Rohit is a representative of all children roaming on streets doing nothing. They don’t understand how important education is, no one told them. All they know is to have food twice a day... they have to work very hard to have it.
Rohits face was glittering as his stomach was full(may be), he had a wide smile on his face, this made me very happy, very satisfied. He thanked me with his smile... we parted ways by waving hands…

STRONG SUPERSTITIONS…

(Stream flowing, which is worshiped)
What’s so incredible about Indian wildlife, or nature? Strong mountain ranges, curvy rivers, streams, channels, brooks, blossoming flowers, chirping birds, noisy cicadas, roaring Bengal tigers!!!! These are the very few things to name, in reality NATURE to understand and more importantly to digest it is so like a horizon to us. In cities we rarely come across nature, and we forget that NATURE is dead for cities! Moving a little away from cities we see green rice fields, age old trees, flowing streams, lively waterfalls. Our journey begins and we think how it is preserved here?
(thick bamboo cover in the forest) TAMHINI- a small village which happily dwells in mountain’s lap is worth visiting! Decent forest covers the small village, and a beautiful, pure, clean stream flows through the forest. It’s a place where our mind experiences divine peace! Biodiversity found here is mind boggling and it’s a treat for naturalists. Rainy season cordially invites number of frog species and thus a food web develops strongly! Photographers enjoy thoroughly and return home satisfied by capturing such a splendid beauty! Why am I talking about this when title is STRONG SUPERSTITIONS? Because superstitions have conserved this nature, they have saved our mother earth from deteriorating! Stunned???? Villagers have a superstition that the stream flowing through the forest is of GOD. They worship this stream, they care for it. Hence, villagers never wash their cattle, clothes, utensils in the stream. Thus, maintaining in its natural form. Neither, they cut any wood from forest. A small deity temple is constructed on a hill and the forest surrounding it is called as DEVRAI. This is preserved in the name of goddess VINZADEVI.

We spontaneously raise eyebrows when heard of superstitions. But never analyze why these are being followed for years together. I thank all those who follow such superstitions. These are contributing immensely in conserving nature. I wish everyone in cities too; believe in such STRONG SUPERSTITIONS… I AM HIGHLY SUPERSTITIOUS!!!
(All photos by SOHAM)

SUNSET.......

It acts as a magnet for me! Witnessing the setting sun is my favorite hobby since couple of years. Some people think sunset means 'win' of DARKNESS. But according to me, it is a healthy goodbye to the ‘day’ and warm welcome to the coming Darkness. Sun slowly creates space for moon to take over the SKY, leaving behind color palate, which fascinates me a lot! Sky moods during sunset are simply amazing! Numerous colors mixed in ‘perfect’ proportions. …

Seen and observed it for days together, I am able to recognize moods of SUN too! Like Sun in hurry, sun with a frown look, sun with tears (seems either me or sun are mad!), lazy sun, shy sun and many more. Sky becomes HIS companion in setting these ‘setting’ moods. It’s the time when I can directly look in HIS (sun) eyes, without blinking, without stressing them…
Apart from the setting Sun and me watching it carefully, there are several other events occurring. Day ends, Dark takes over, Moon takes the centre stage slowly along with millions of stars, plants and flowers start loosing their fresh mood, birds, animals call off the day and return towards their homes, nocturnal world begins with owls, rats, frogs (during rainy season), snakes starting their ‘day’ after a nice sleep. Watching birds flying back to their nests makes me aware of caring nature, aware of eagerness to be at ‘home’!
Light diminishes as I think about the next day’s sunrise… I get up and start ‘returning’ to my house, sun always leaves behind some rays to aid me find the ‘right route’. I turn around and start walking, thanking SUN without words…………

LIFE IN CONCRETE……


Looking through window, I saw some bird busy. Very busy, in fact! Holding something in its beak it relentlessly flew to and fro for countless number of times. There was ‘home’ emerging near my window. Oh… wow! I was going to have a neighbor in a few days of time. Bird was building a nest, which means he would lay eggs in it, and after hatching a NEW LIFE would Begin! A New Life… it made me so excited. Just then, an ant crawled over my hand in a busy mood too! I dint disturb her, may be her kids were hungry. A thought steered in my mind, LIFE IN CONCRETE…!!!! Inspite of our (Human) interference there was life prevalent in cities, where less trees dance along the breeze. The thought had both sides, the good one said LIFE never looses but the second banged in saying WHO GAVE U RIGHTS TO ESTABLISH THE CONCRETE EMPIRE?????? I was left clueless, but then with a positive perspective I started looking @ the LIFE IN CONCRETE!!! Only now, I am able to see the busy birds, crawling insects, colorful butterflies, even the cute kittens, youthful squirrels, running dogs, webby spiders and scary lizards too! Well that’s life.. The way we look at it is more important…
(ALL SNAPS CLICKED BY SOHAM (AUTHOR) - CAMERA Canon S3iS)

आमचं छान चाललय !

माधव आपटे - एक सामान्य माणूस. बॅंकेत चांगल्या पदावर नोकरी, बायको, दोन मुलं, संसार सुखाने करावा, अशी इच्छा मनात, पण तत्त्वं सांभाळताना त्याची कसरत व्हायची... असत्य, लाचलुचपत, रोजच्या जीवनात घडीघडी होणारी फसवणूक या सगळ्याला त्याचा विरोध! .......एक दिवस छोट्याशा कारणावरून त्याच्या भावनांचा उद्रेक होतो अन्‌ "माधव आपटे' जग बदलायला निघतो - संतापतोही! "डोंबिवली फास्ट' पाहताना वाटत होतं आपणही उठावं, जावं, तोडफोड करत फिरावं- सिनेमा संपला आणि लाज वाटली मला. सगळीकडे कौतुक झालं त्या कथानकाचं, अभिनयाचं, त्यात दाखवलेल्या सत्य परिस्थितीतचं - तरीही लाज वाटली, की या विषयावर सिनेमा काढतो आपण. असे विषय सिनेमातून मांडावे लागतायेत, आपल्याच समाजाला नागवं करतोय सर्वांसमोर आणि त्याचंच कौतुक करतोय. यावर कृती सोडाच, विचारही होत नाही, हे त्याहून खेदजनक!तत्त्वे बाळगणारा मूर्ख ठरतो. समाजच त्याला मूर्ख ठरवतो, "लोक' त्याला वेडा ठरवतात, म्हणून ती बाळगायची नाहीत! का? त्याचा लोकांना त्रास होतो. सगळं काही लोकांसाठी! याच लोकांच्यात मिसळायचं. त्यांचं म्हणे ऐकायचं, लोकांशी चांगलं वागायचं, कोणाला दुखवायचं नाही. आयुष्यात याच लोकांपेक्षा "वेगळं' काहीतरी करायचं आणि त्याच वेळी इतर लोकांसारखं वागायचं - लोकांत शोभून दिसेल असं!याच लोकांचा त्रास आपण सहन करायचा, गर्दीत त्यांच्याकडून चेंगरून घ्यायचं, श्‍वास घुसमटला तरी ओरडायचं नाही, तक्रारसुद्धा करायची नाही! याच्या बदल्यात खूप काही मिळतं, मग गर्दीतली घुसमट, पाकीट मारणारे हात, भ्रष्ट पोलिसांचे संरक्षण, आया-बहिणींकडे पाहणारी वखवखती नजर आणि तोंडातून "ब्र' काढताच जिवे मारण्याची धमकी!"दाम' भक्त झाले सगळे! मिळेल तेवढा आणि मिळेल त्या मार्गाने पैसा कमवायचा... लाचारासारखं पुढेपुढे करायचं. सांडलेल्या साखरेपाशी जशी मुंग्यांची रांग लागते, तसे सगळे पैशांमागे धावतात. सारं काही कमावता, पण काय गमावलंय ते लक्षात येत नाही.सगळं पाहतोय पण करता काही येत नाही. मी एकटाच नाही सगळेच पाहताहेत. त्याने घुसमट वाढतीय मनातली. समाज बदलला पाहिजे. आजकाल वाईट दिवस आलेत फार, भविष्य धोक्‍यात आहे या देशाचं, हे विषय गप्पा मारायचे झालेत. एकत्र जमले की दारू ढोसत समाजकल्याणाच्या गोष्टी करायच्या, तावातावात बोलायचं. नशा उतरली, की समाजसेवेची नशाही आपोआपच उतरते. रोजच्या व्यवहारात कोणाशी या विषयावर बोलाल, तर "सोडना रे! कशाला डोकं चालवतो, पैसा कमवायचा! बाकी दुनिया गेली तेल लावत,' असं उत्तर मिळतं. सामान्य माणसांनी या सगळ्यांची इतकी सवय करून घेतली आहे, की हे चक्र नको त्या दिशेने फिरतंय याची त्याला जाणीवच होत नाही! त्यांनी पटवलंय मनाला, की हे जीवन असंच आहे, असंच जगायचंय आता... समाज समाजच राहणार आणि आपण सामान्य मागमूसच! "डोंबिवली फास्ट' सारखा चित्रपट आपण किती "फास्ट' विसरलो! असे अनेक चित्रपट येतील, कौतुक होईल, पुरस्कार मिळतील आणि इतिहासजमा होतील... कोणाला वेळ आहे हे "असलं' लक्षात ठेवायला? एकच सांगावं वाटतंय, मानेवर तलवार ठेवून जगतोय आपण, मान हलवली तर कापली जाईल, हलवली नाही तर अवघडेल - मरेपर्यंत! कापली जाण्यापेक्षा अवघडून मेलेलं पसंत करतायेत सारे... दुसरं का?
- सोहम सबनीस

We are graduates now!

We are focusing at vertical development. Which means the gap between poor and rich people is increasing at a fast pace. Instead we should help to reduce it. For this to happen horizontal development is vital. This will lead to overall development of the society. A very disheartening thing is that very few people think in this way.
What does education mean to people living in cities? May be a Masters degree or something more than that! It is looked upon as a powerful tool to earn money and nothing else. In villages there are schools which lack minimum infrastructure, there are schools having a single teacher, many children have to travel 6-8 km daily for schooling without any mode of transport ( i.e walking!!). The very important learning atmosphere is missing completely!
Recently I went to a village named ‘Khireshwar’ (foot village of Harishchandra fort). I saw the school there. A very simple school..hardly 7-8 classrooms. I do not know much about the staff there nor about the school atmosphere as I went there at night, I left the village on Sunday. But the entire night I thought about education facilities in villages like the one I was staying in! It seemed that we GRADUATES from the CITIES are very selfish! Constantly my mind compared the school I went and the schools in village. There was a huge gap, which is very difficult to span, and with our negligence, the task is going to be more difficult. What is the solution? I am unable to find a very strong solution to this. However, I think if all young graduates, postgraduates come together and visit different villages to help our brothers and sisters in their education; it would be a remarkable thing. I know that for this problem to be solved, a very strong government support is required, but why should we wait for our lethargic government to act on this? Even if we work on Saturday-Sundays, it would be a great achievement. So lets begin the ‘GRAM SHIKSKHA ABHIYAN’.

In Pursuit Of Happiness..

Get admission in a good college, for that you have study hard… so that our parents, friends and YOU feel good; everyone praise you for being brilliant throughout! In the college be obedient, studious and helpful so that you are famous … when with friends; during any kind of debate, or chatting make sure that you don’t remain unnoticed. Wear stylish clothes, accessories so that when u walk around u get noticed!
College days fade off and soon u realize that you failed to make a mark as per your wish. U realize that there are more areas u should be working on so that u make ur mark! And then in search of job u improvise on ur communication skills, ur personality, ur fitness.. one fine day there is an offer letter in your hand , those salary figures live upto ur expectations and now u r the happiest creature on the earth! Ur cell phone rings, a happy voice screams in your ears.. he is ur friend informing u about the job he got, 1.5 times ur salary!!!! And now u become as helpless as never before! for that moment u forget that he is ur friend, you tend to faint (mentally)… yet again have u failed to MAKE A MARK???
U work hard , earn lots of money.. spend it to get noticed! You want to be a gud son, a nice husband, an adorable father and a lovely grandfather! Each time in every role, u make ur mark! Is that volatile? Does anyone really remember THAT mark u have tried to make? Does these things really satisfy u? when ur death bell rings, are u completely satisfied ? do you have regrets, expectations, jealousy????? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You aren’t satisfied at all… in the race of MAKING A MARK u r the biggest looser. What mark have you made? No answer…. Have you contributed substantially to this world…not in terms of money but in terms of moral values? No answer… have u enjoyed ur hobbies? Have you lived a single day as per your wish? Have you ever slept peacefully not because your body was tired but ur mind was relaxed???? No answer….
You never made a point to think about these questions!!!! U developed a skill of being positive throughout ur life but at the end you get all negative answers! Then was that a skill really developed ? U have saved huge amount in the banks but still ur ‘satisfaction pool’ is empty! Then where is ur mark???? It has vanished…rather it wasn’t there at all.. THAT MARK sucked ur energy throughout the race and didn’t fetch u a single penny!!!
You might think I am trying to MAKE A MARK as a writer, so that someone should recognize it, should pat my back..and say “You are gud at penning your views” though I don’t want to make a mark, still that may happen…

ITS REALITY

I went to a corporation school recently, and was helping 5th std students to understand mathematics. Everyone tried hard to get the answer to a very simple problem. Swapnil wasn’t scribbling anything in his notebook, I went and asked his problem..he didn’t have a pencil! i checked in my bag..Even i did not have it. This incident made me think wider...Swapnil had a problem knew the solution but i failed to solve his problem. in my cupboard there are dozens of pencils but what’s the use of those? i failed to solve his problem though i addressed it.. This exactly is the scene around us! We are aware of the loopholes yet we aren’t able to seal them, instead we are widening them ferociously.
When i shared this problem with my friends their instant reply was-"it is for government to look into it!!!After all the elected members are there to do these jobs! Its not our job at all!"..I was shocked and worried at the same time! i remembered our GD sessions in which everyone was talking, debating on issues country is facing like poverty, child labour, illiteracy and many more. each person there spoke with a vision, with a passion and with a virtual motto of 'charity begins at home'...well, that was all for scoring high marks! it was all false care...false care for brothers and sisters who are suffering! it was a selfish act, completely selfish! my brain went numb for few minutes before i concluded that this is the REALITY! not a single person debating was interested in changing the present situation. Why i should do it? whats the big deal as long as i am getting handsome salary? Were the 2QUESTIONS continuously growing in their BRILLIANT MINDS!
i am not writing this to get your brains washed, neither i am going to advise you to do anything. Its your decision to act upon..If u r willing to act! some may think throwing money would simplify this problem, but mind u it will make it more worse. its not ONLY money which is needed , efforts from each of one us, winning hearts of poor people, making them feel comfortable when we work with them, is required the most. Its upon you all how to lead your life and how to help others to lead their lives!!!!!!!!!!!!