PURANI BAATEIN, WOH SAARI BAATEIN
JOH YAAD AATI HAIN, PASSING OUT KE BAAD
WOH NTS MEIN GUZAARE LAMHEY
WOH MEETHEEN YAADEIN, WOH KHATTEY KHAYAAL
WOH KISSE AKSAR JOH YAAD AATE HAIN
AUR KAR JAATE HAIN HAMEIN BEKARAAR.
WOH CLASSES MEIN MUSHKIL SE JAAGNA
WOH AIRNAV, ASTRO AUR MAPS AND CHARTS
WOH ACP KE FUNDE SAMAJHNA
AVIONICS KE SHOCKS JORDAAR
WOH DLTPO BOARD PE LIKHNA
WOH SOCHNA BAATEIN FUTURE KI YAAR.
BUS YAADEIN YAADEIN ..YAADEIN REH JAATI HAIN
KUCH CHOTI CHOTI BAATIEN REH JAATI HAIN
BUS YAADEIN………
WOH RAATON KO JAAGNA
WOH KARNA COMPLETE APNA MAPS AND CHARTS
WOH BRIEFING HALL MEIN BOARD BANANA
WOH CHALK GHIS KAR KARNA TIMEPASS
KADAKTI SARDI MEIN ATC JAANA
AANKHON KA MILNA AIRHOSTESS KE SAATH
WOH UNKI BEAUTY DOOR SE DEKHNA
PAHUNCHNA BRIEFING HALL, BRIEFING KE BAAD
WOH KARNA FLYING JOSH SE BHAR KAR
LAGAA KAR DIL…LAGAA KAR JAAN….
BUS YAADEIN YAADEIN ..YAADEIN REH JAATI HAIN
KUCH CHOTI CHOTI BAATIEN REH JAATI HAIN
BUS YAADEIN………
WOH KARNA PLANNING DIN DHALNE PAR
WOH SOCHNA LAMBA MEIN LAGI KYA HAI AAJ
WOH UNIVERSAL KA BADA SA BURGER
PERSIS KI BIRYANI, GOKUL KI CHAAT
WOH PICTURE DEKHNE VIMAL MEIN JAANA
SEETEE BAJAANA, ZOR SE YAAR
WOH AGLI SEAT PAR CNI KA HONA
WOH GIRTE PADTE DILLI DARBAAR
WOH FCM MEIN YAARON KI MASTI
WOH CHUP CHUP KE CIGERETTE AUR BAR
BUS YAADEIN YAADEIN ..YAADEIN REH JAATI HAIN
KUCH CHOTI CHOTI BAATIEN REH JAATI HAIN
BUS YAADEIN………
AISA YAADON KA AAJ SAMAA HAIN
INKI KHAATIR HUM JOH YAHAAN HAIN
KAHAAN WOH CLASSES
KAHAAN WOH YAAR
WOH MASTI KE DIN
AUR WOH PYAAR
WOH FCM MEIN GUZAARE LAMHEY
WOH MEETHEEN YAADEIN
WOH KHATTEY KHAYAAL
BUS YAADEIN YAADEIN ..YAADEIN REH JAATI HAIN
KUCH CHOTI CHOTI BAATIEN REH JAATI HAIN
BUS YAADEIN………
WRITTEN BY
SQN LDR SUMIT KAPOOR
SQN LDR VIVEK TRIPATHI
SINGERS
SQN LDR PRATEEK GODIYAL
SQN LDR SUMIT KAPOOR
SQN LDR VIVEK TRIPATHI
ENACTED BY
SQN LDR TUSHAR PANT
SQN LDR ANKUSH SAHAY
FLT LT HARI OM DUBEY
FG OFFR NIKHIL NIRANJAN
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
SLUM DOG OR GLUM DOG??
The coveted and prestigious Golden Globe Award 2009 to ‘Slum dog Millionaire’ heralded the arrival of an all Indian star cast in the global arena. The weeks preceding the award ceremony saw most of the International broadcasters and towards the end, even Indian news channels play up the nomination of Danny Boyle directed film as the front runner at this year’s award. To an average Indian, this came as no big surprise with the country doing well on most fronts, this was almost along expected lines. The declaration of the award only enthused millions of Indians across the country to watch the film either on release on 23rd Jan 2009 or download it from the internet / commercial DVDs.
The exhilaration and pride of watching Indian stars led by the distinguished, noted, established film star and director Anil Kapoor lasted just until one saw the movie. Alas, the shame and disgrace projected of this great nation with its rich culture and heritage would put any sane educated Indian citizen to run for cover. For one who has operated for two decades in the Mumbai International Airport, both as crew and as passenger, it was horrendous feeling deep within to see it being portrayed as an airfield that has kids playing cricket besides the runway with aircraft taking off !! Which airfield in the world does this happen at? Forget human beings, even animal and birds straying on the airstrip are prevented at great costs. Mumbai airport is one of the oldest International airport and has always maintained amongst the highest standards required by world civil aviation agencies. Worse still, the area is shown to have ‘makeshift’ toilets with early morning queue by slum dwellers. All airfields are ‘prohibited areas’ and portraying something that is untrue is not only unethical but in poor taste. The icing on the cake is surely the poor slum dweller who finds himself latched inside the ‘makeshift’ toilet and has to dive into the very pit he was defecating and swim through the sewer lines, melee through the crowd dripping in “muk” to meet his favourite filmstar and idol………only for an autograph that is subsequently pawned by a friend of his for five cents!!! One wonders as to when did the famous ‘dhobi talao’ in Mumbai become a tourist destination? Who are these tourists that are guided by touts to such places only to have their vehicle ‘jacked up’ and wheels stolen? Which world are we living in? Is this true of India? Which educated Indian would today come to the fore and bear witness to this fact. Or is it to tickle the fancies of the lil’ Nancy’s in the jury at International awards?
This can only be thought of by people who have never had it bad in life, who do not have to struggle to make ends meet and have a problem of plenty. Is there any sanity in such portrayal or betrayal? The very story concept is bereft of any real substance. The way the game show, around which the entire movie hinges or has been shown to be conducted would convey to the world at large that Indian game shows with the highest TRP rating and emotions is ‘rigged’ at every stage. In which respected game show do you find the host or anchor conniving with the contestant and aiming to mislead him? Worse still at a urinal….. speaks of a very poor mindset. The climax was the unraveling of the story in a police station with scant regard to the language used and the ‘excesses’ by the police……..electric shock to an underage detainee? One cannot deny police atrocities to the downtrodden, but the scale and reasons are simply bewildering for anyone who has grown up in this country and in an age where nothing of this nature would escape the media glare…… especially of a reputed game show as the one portrayed. Obviously, it was an attempt at the poor human rights record often projected of third world countries. Well, we have to hand it to Mr Danny Boyle for the depiction that won him accolades world over and even his success at the nomination of the movie for the forthcoming Oscar Awards. The first reaction by the eminent film star Amitabh Bacchan on the movie did give a notion of ‘grapes are sour’ but in retrospect after watching the movie, one cannot but agree with him in totality.
When viewed holistically, the concept and storyline is perverse figment of imagination to savor the salivating palette of the rich in the advanced countries. It is a one stop shop for all one can imagine in this day and age……..poor condition of schools, living conditions, lack of basic amenities, communal riots, forced mutilation of body to earn sympathy and begging as a racket etc. All these are often heard of and portrayed to earn ‘big bucks’ from sponsors abroad who imagine that they would fulfill their moral obligation by subscribing to these through such ‘rogues’ who wouldn’t mind selling their country to fill their own coffers.
The exhilaration and pride of watching Indian stars led by the distinguished, noted, established film star and director Anil Kapoor lasted just until one saw the movie. Alas, the shame and disgrace projected of this great nation with its rich culture and heritage would put any sane educated Indian citizen to run for cover. For one who has operated for two decades in the Mumbai International Airport, both as crew and as passenger, it was horrendous feeling deep within to see it being portrayed as an airfield that has kids playing cricket besides the runway with aircraft taking off !! Which airfield in the world does this happen at? Forget human beings, even animal and birds straying on the airstrip are prevented at great costs. Mumbai airport is one of the oldest International airport and has always maintained amongst the highest standards required by world civil aviation agencies. Worse still, the area is shown to have ‘makeshift’ toilets with early morning queue by slum dwellers. All airfields are ‘prohibited areas’ and portraying something that is untrue is not only unethical but in poor taste. The icing on the cake is surely the poor slum dweller who finds himself latched inside the ‘makeshift’ toilet and has to dive into the very pit he was defecating and swim through the sewer lines, melee through the crowd dripping in “muk” to meet his favourite filmstar and idol………only for an autograph that is subsequently pawned by a friend of his for five cents!!! One wonders as to when did the famous ‘dhobi talao’ in Mumbai become a tourist destination? Who are these tourists that are guided by touts to such places only to have their vehicle ‘jacked up’ and wheels stolen? Which world are we living in? Is this true of India? Which educated Indian would today come to the fore and bear witness to this fact. Or is it to tickle the fancies of the lil’ Nancy’s in the jury at International awards?
This can only be thought of by people who have never had it bad in life, who do not have to struggle to make ends meet and have a problem of plenty. Is there any sanity in such portrayal or betrayal? The very story concept is bereft of any real substance. The way the game show, around which the entire movie hinges or has been shown to be conducted would convey to the world at large that Indian game shows with the highest TRP rating and emotions is ‘rigged’ at every stage. In which respected game show do you find the host or anchor conniving with the contestant and aiming to mislead him? Worse still at a urinal….. speaks of a very poor mindset. The climax was the unraveling of the story in a police station with scant regard to the language used and the ‘excesses’ by the police……..electric shock to an underage detainee? One cannot deny police atrocities to the downtrodden, but the scale and reasons are simply bewildering for anyone who has grown up in this country and in an age where nothing of this nature would escape the media glare…… especially of a reputed game show as the one portrayed. Obviously, it was an attempt at the poor human rights record often projected of third world countries. Well, we have to hand it to Mr Danny Boyle for the depiction that won him accolades world over and even his success at the nomination of the movie for the forthcoming Oscar Awards. The first reaction by the eminent film star Amitabh Bacchan on the movie did give a notion of ‘grapes are sour’ but in retrospect after watching the movie, one cannot but agree with him in totality.
When viewed holistically, the concept and storyline is perverse figment of imagination to savor the salivating palette of the rich in the advanced countries. It is a one stop shop for all one can imagine in this day and age……..poor condition of schools, living conditions, lack of basic amenities, communal riots, forced mutilation of body to earn sympathy and begging as a racket etc. All these are often heard of and portrayed to earn ‘big bucks’ from sponsors abroad who imagine that they would fulfill their moral obligation by subscribing to these through such ‘rogues’ who wouldn’t mind selling their country to fill their own coffers.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
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Air-crew Room : An Institution
Air-crew Room : An Institution
Wg Cdr S M Shukla ( Rtd )
I served with the Indian Air Force in the flying branch for over 27 years and majority of my tenure was with flying squadrons ; thankfully very little of chair-borne job . When I look back nostalgically; now that I am a senior citizen, I have all the right to indulge in nostalgia. I am reminded of my crew-room ( Air-crew room ) days . Rather I miss my crew-room days .
An Air-crew room ( Crew-room , as it is commonly known ) is an essential part of a flying unit, it’s a rest-room for the flying crew , waiting their turn to go for an air-sortie. Every flying branch officer; including all the senior officers of the Air Force, even the grand old-man of the Air Force, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh has had their crew-room days . A flying branch officer for that matter gets baptised in the crew-room .
My first crew-room was in a BASHA ( a bamboo hut ) in Assam , whilst I was with a Dakota Squadron in late sixties . Every crew-room has minimum furniture for the crew to relax and also to keep their flying gear . Further addition to these is left to the imaginations of the officers of the squadron . Crew-rooms of our days were decorated with nice pin-ups ( I still remember the first ever pin-up of an Indian heroin – Sharmila Tagore ) . I wonder how the things are with induction of the fair-sex in the flying branch .Incidentally the crew-room was cleaned up and made sterile for inspections of senior officers and annual visit of the unit families . However, some times some senior officers, with a twinkle in their eyes, did wonder where all the pin-ups had disappeared .
An essential part of crew-room in our days was a small canteen – which regularly fed tea, coffee, snacks etc to the crew. With introduction of pre-flight meals in early eighties, each crew-room now has a full-fledged cafeteria.
A crew-room also has a number of in-door games to keep the crew busy like chess , carom , spell-o-fun etc ( cards strictly no ) . These days the crew-rooms are air-conditioned, but in our days even dessert-coolers were introduced much later ( at times these were provided from squadron funds ) . Then there is a library having professional and general reading material .
However , what makes the crew-rooms an institution is the general environment prevailing there . The environment is best described as bohemian, a club-house kind of environment . The crew-rooms are alive with humour- no holds barred kind of humour , to which no body takes offence despite of rank difference . Most of it is what these days is called HIGH-CAL humour ; once again with induction of the fair-sex in the flying
branch I do not know how things are these days . No offence was taken to any joke on account of seniority , caste , creed , religion etc .
The crew-room is also a place for junior officers to grow professionally, personally, and also socially. In our days seniors took pains to groom the juniors in the crew-room by giving them tips, pieces of advise and even sermons both on the professional and also social front . It was a place to share anxieties , sorrows and also joy . It was like a big joint-family affair .
Crew-rooms are also famous for “ crew-room gupshup “ ( gossip ) . In certain ways it would compete with Ladies-club in the matter of gossip .
The grape-vine of the crew-room is active both on official and social front . It was always wondered whether the grape-vine of the crew-room is faster and more active than the one of the Ladies-club.
During war-time (and also after a fatal accident) the environment in the crew-room does tend to get tensed up. But the seniors and matured persons of the unit do their best to ensure that the moral of the unit does not go down. With this the flying crew are able to control their grief and undertake their mission sorties with full “josh” to defend the motherland. The show must go on; regardless of what has happened.
Incidentally, I had an opportunity to be in the crew-room of No 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force in United Kingdom. We were there for one month for some training. Their crew-rooms are in no way different than our crew-rooms, same bohemian environment prevails there also.
Crew-room matures you both professionally and socially. The bonds created there are life long. It teaches you to relax even in tensed moments and prepare for the forthcoming mission with a cool and calculated mind.
I learnt a lot from my crew-room days, specially whilst dealing with the juniors; a strong lesson in man-management.
Crew-room is unique to the Air Force (also to the Navy’s and Army’s Aviation Wing. In any case these officers do get their initial training with the Air Force ) . Commercial Airlines do not have the concept of a crew-room . Crew-room of the Air Force is a unique institution and in my next birth I shall definitely like to go through the crew-room experience once again. In the mean-while I hope Air Force guys reading this article invite me ( often ) to visit their crew-room and indulge in nostalgia.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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