Gayab - An interesting creation by Ram Gopal Verma

Recently saw Gayab by Ram Gopal Verma. It was an interesting experience to say the least.It was a good movie, in which the director rightfully highlights the true values of society, in understanding the ODD ONE OUT, albeit eventually.This is the most desired conclusion that can be arrived at, in trying to understand "special people" - who need more time and patience to be accepted. Alas, if something like this had happened in realilty, countless crimes may have been prevented - we may not have had a Virginia Tech Bloodbath!
However there is one aspect of the movie that I choose to criticize here. The concept of empowering "LIFE'S VICTIMS" is a humane one indeed. When we feel hopeless and going through times of trouble, we reach out to our inner strengths.Sometimes we also hope for DIVINE intervention.This is what was used in the movie to empower our central character, who was nothing more than just a nondescript creature, until then.While I support the principle behind it, I do not stand by the technique used. I am not an atheist, but strongly oppose any sort of magical or irrational belief. God exists and also works in strange ways, but on the whole, rational thinkng and practices should be preached. Gayab shows that Lord Ganesha blesses our FRIEND and renders him invisible.How about the following - out of depression, our friend goes and gives himself up as a human subject for a very risky scientific experiment and ends up becoming invisible! That way you can include an element of science fiction in the storyline.In the 21st century I think science fiction based projections of one's imagination and inner yearning, stands greater validity, than anything based on irrational beliefs. This is ever so relevant in case of Indian audiences.We are conquering every aspect of technological advancement zealously today. So its best to incculcate habits of rational thinking into our daily lives.As we learn to appreciate that,we will also want to see more of it in our motion pictures. I respect spiritual values, but do believe that people should be empowered to think logically.Yes, we have to bear in mind that science has not answered all the riddles of life.Perhaps it never will be able to - Hiesenberg's Uncertainity Principle itself states the impossibility of simultaneous accurate measurements of certain things. I believe, a human being's destiny is something like that - not everything under it can be accounted for;anguish suffering and also joy are all part of it.But for the most parts, we should look at life rationally and logically.
So on an concluding note, the theme behind the movie was really noble,but the director ended up making it more surreal than real,at a very crucial part of the plot.

Virginia Tech Bloodshed - A view inside the "SICK MIND"

What goes in the making of a mad killer?Many things I believe.One that stands out in my mind,is repressed rage.Last but not the least,easy access to guns - just as you would not want terror merchants to be sitting on a nuke, similarly you do not want a sick and angry mind, to gain access to a gun. In some ways, killing others and taking your own life, are the same thing - both are destructive acts arising out of a common inner cause - anxiety and repressed rage. There comes a time in every one of our lives, when we feel we have been taken over the hill and need to do something about it. When a sick mind reaches such a conclusion, what can follow is the VT massacre. It could still have been prevented, if the killer had to go about looking for an illegal arm.
However, it could have also been prevented at a much more fundamental level - if we could prevent someone's brain to get THIS sick.I am not empathising with the killer nor endorsing his act,as a way of "getting over the hill".Even if one is beyond his/her threshold, killing anyone is not an acceptable way out.However, it needs investigation into the killer's life and look for possible causes of this supressed anger.For people who are not assertive, a small insult, an unfortunate event or a deliberate misdeed, gets accrued upon. These people I believe need more understanding and support.In order to grow as individuals, we have to first understand and recognise our rights and then realise the world around us. Not everyone can do that to the desired extent very easily.That is controlled by environment,upbringing and a myriad of different factors. Life needs to be paced differently for these people. Eventually, when they grow as mature individuals, most of their frustrations get evened out- things make a hell lot more sense.One can recognise one's rights, defend them when needed and MOVE ON! Also one learns to accept the world better.Also we should teach ourselves, to acknowledge destiny as having a defining role in our lives.We all hope to get the best in our lives.Even if we dont get ALL of it,it is worth defining sucess and happiness within what we have got.
So on a concluding note , we should look out for people who need more help with their lives - in terms of understanding themselves and others.An honest effort should be made to reach out to them and monitor their psychological graduation.

The nature of the looking glass.

Experiences shape feelings and feelings shape emotions and or reactions.In between the external stimuli and our external reaction though, there is almost always our internal reflections.True indeed that its momentary or just a bit more,but it transmits experiences and transforms those into our unique reactions.So what governs the reflections - something that I would refer to as OUR LOOKING GLASS. A lot of times,what we see is primarily what we want to see.That has been programmed into our system by the nature of this looking glass. This abstract part of us is our view of life - which is threefold.

The inside out view - where you are what you believe you are, your individual perception is more than just as such; that's in practice your RELIGION - A very thick looking glass indeed!

The outside in view - where you are what the world thinks you are, your identity is shaped by a direct transmission of external thoughts - A very thin looking glass for sure!

The stand aside view - where you have managed to clone yourself into two; one that lives and one that oversees. This a special looking glass - its not a VIEW, it is ONESELF detached from the INVOLVED. One gets to see almost the whole picture - inner as well as the outer,but then does that get one very far? This particular looking glass shows one perhaps a little too much - far greater than what one needs to see. While it enlightens,it does not necessarily empower!

So what is the optimum LOOKING GLASS for us? - A combination of all three types in the correct proportions.That will help one to be confident yet receptive and decisive yet subjective.
Much of life can start to make a hell lot more sense, if this combination approach is used. Each looking glass in itself is empowering and weakening to a certain extent, hence when used together, can truly serve our interests.