Differences and Similarities

 I was born in 1960, and have been through six decades of life. What are the similarities and differences in each decade, or among various time periods?

Similarities

Family is still an important part of life and life support for most of us.

The middle class still believes in education as a transformational tool.

The politician has not changed much. Promises outpace real change.

Corporates rule the roost-though a different set.

Wars remain, fought for any stupid reason. 

Differences

Technology has enabled Work From Home, Travel (simulated), conversations across the globe, digital photography

Families are getting smaller in size, at least urban families

Agriculture is losing out to Services in contribution to the GDP.

Careers other than engineering have gained traction.

Globally, wars are supplemented by shootings, and more suicides than before.

Tumhari Sulu- Film Review

Vidya Balan is a favourite actress, and pleasure to watch in any role, but this one is especially good, well-written. It has all the sweet and sour taste of a typical middle class family story, with some twists which are convincingly picturised.

At its heart, it's about a married woman and mother trying to break out and work to discover herself. There are the usual obstacles, real and perceived. Her job is at night, and commuting is one of the issues. That is quickly sorted out, with a woman cabbie. But other problems like handling the family and relatives remain and fester.

Some clever touches such as the contrast with the Jet Airways crew who are her neighbours, or the incident with the shopkeeper not providing home delivery, add to the authenticity of the proceedings. The parallels with her hubby losing prominence at his job while Sulu is ascending, also send a message.

Though the first half is a bit slow and could have been edited more tightly, it is a well-knit story with the husband's part well played. The radio station crew led by Neha Dhupia provides a fun foil to Sulu's humdrum life, and is an important support for her in bad times.

Worth a watch, definitely.

Transport Trauma

Now that petrol is quite expensive, I believe we must have a national innovation reality show to replace the current ones which involve dancing, singing, and emotional atyaachar at various levels. This is the likely scenario of the contestants.

The Garib Rath presented by Laloo. Will run on chaara eaten by the horses, and supplied by an un-ending supply appearing out of nowhere on demand.

The Amir rath presented by Mr. Laksmi Mittal or any other billionaire. This will be a Merc which does not use fuel, but will be borne by four or more people like a paalki and will run on voice control. A in, you tell them where to go, and they will.

The middle class rath, which RK Lakshman's Common Man will present, and will combine whatever jugaad these guys can put together after paying all the taxes on their hard-earned money. Maybe it will have an old bull, a goat or a dog pulling a sled. But the problem would be to make it snow, to make this work. Maybe another jugaad can do the needful.

Those who can, will drive a rath. Others will take a walk, and reduce their medical bills. Diabetes, obesity and heart problems will disappear, and doctors will also find time to take a long walk. And Bill Bryson won't be able to make cracks about people not walking any more.