e-Nagar

Among the latest commercials, my favourite is the ‘Pond’s age miracle’ one.

Its simple and catchy and brings out the message with its attractive presentation.

Google took me to its site and it looks like various versions of the same advertisement has been telecasted periodically but with the same message.

The present one is loaded with romantic feel good scenes , where a oh so handsome (hmm..that’s the best part ) guy wearing a chef’s cap seats an impeccably dressed woman and asks her if she is expecting anyone …. she says “hopefully” with mischief twinkling in her eyes. She enquires what the chef’s special is and he bends down to her ears and whispers ‘you’ in a caressing tone. The stage is all set now.

After which the product promotion portrays the lady using the ‘miracle’ and becomes perfecto in seven days flat and the guy falls in love with her all over agai (ok ok…I agree its a bit too much to take…but , u know…).

The last scene has the happy wife twiddling her pearl strings and dreamily asking him ‘do u accept cards’ and the awesome handsome hubby dear says ‘only if it says….I love you’ .
Oh..it is so impressive.

Coming to the main point here. Now lets see what the message says….
“you want to be noticed by your man…use ponds miracle”.

Its not like its their initial days of courting…she is rekindling interest here. I wonder why he had lost interest in her in the first place.

Is it because she looks ‘aged’ ? What about her other virtues ? Is’nt beauty just skin deep or even less than that ?

I somehow like the commercial that portrays a women feeling elated when she is admired for her flawless skin by all .

As for messages , I like the ad where a woman is mistaken for a college student and just then a little girl comes running calling her ‘mummy’ and hugs her. The mother takes all the surprised glances in her stride and flashes a confident smile.

C’mon Ponds , Shiseido , L’oreal and the likes….high time you introduced a ‘miracle’ that drives sense into men who ignore their girls because she is ‘ageing’ !

 In an interesting decision given by the Privy council a century ago (1903) , the interpretation of the word ‘Hindu’ throws light on how liberal ‘Hinduism’ is in encompassing variety of pracitces and sections of people from the society and yet remain unique and unadulterated.
      The Privy council in Bhagwan Koer Vs. J.C. Bose and Ors., Calcutta observed :
  
     “We shall not attempt to lay down definition of what is meant by the term ‘Hindu’,
- to make it accurate and at the same time sufficiently comprehensive as well as distinctive is extremely difficult.

  The Hindu religion is marvelously Catholic and elastic. Its theology is marked by eclectricism and tolerance and almost unlimited freedom of private worship.

 Its social code is much more stringent, but amongst its different castes and sections exhibits wide diversity of practice.

 No trait is more marked of Hindu society in general than its horror of using the meat of the cow. Yet the Chamaras (Scheduled castes)  who profess Hinduism , but who eat beef and the flesh of dead animals , are however low in the scale included within its pale.

  Its easier to say who are not Hindus , and seperation if Hindus from the Non-Hindus is not a matter of so much difficulty.

 The people know the differences well and can easily tell who are Hindus and who are not “

Now…I am wondering what differences have we brought about after one hundred years !
 

The strength of a man isn’t in the deep tone of his voice.
It’s in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn’t how many buddies he has.
It’s how good of buddies he is with his children.
The strength of a man isn’t in how respected he is at work.
It’s in how respected he is at home.
The strength of a man isn’t in how hard he hits.
It’s in how tender he touches.
The strength in a man isn’t in the hair on his chest.
It’s in his Heart . . . that lies within his chest.
The strength of a man isn’t in the weight he can lift.
It’s in the burdens he can carry.

–Sermon Fodder

The most lucrative business in India today would either be producing a TV serial or to become a ‘Godman’ with a bunch of trusted buddies posing as devoted disciples. In the first all that the producer, usually an ex-actor needs is some money and contacts with popular channels. The rest of the work is simple; catch hold of some actors who are not in demand and make them weep to their hearts content and let the camera roll.

While in the latter the added advantage is , it requires zero investment. The ‘Saadhu’ just needs outlandish garbs, a deceptive smile and repulsive looks with a hairdo that would put Medusa to shame.
If P.C.Sorkar had used his skills in magic to produce a ‘crystal lingam’ or ‘silver efigy’ from air, he could have done away with advertisements for his magic show and his ‘ashram’ ( an inevitable byproduct of having mad disciples) would be a sought after one.
Most of the Godmen are nothing but soothsayers who cash in on the vulnerability of the people seeking solace.
Some claim to be able to perform miracles and solve just about any problem under the sun — from helping jilted lovers and solving marriage problems, to comforting those with job worries and healing the sick.The list is endless and the main target of these people are the ones from the movie world. They gain the confidence of the famous and slowly spread their influence with the powerful but superstitious politicians. And the atrocities they commit after that , is anyone’s guess.
These public figures are hardly alone in seeking answers from the stars and soothsayers; the persistence and popularity of such beliefs attracts even laymen to these characters like moth to fire. When one has lost all hopes or is not able to draw sympathy from close ones , he/she feels these pseudosciences can help. As for celebrities they are fueled by greed .
Even psychologists agree that all belief systems–astrology, Objectivism, religion–ease anxiety about the human condition, and provide the illusion of security, predictability, control, and hope in an otherwise chaotic world.
As long as fear exists among people such godmen will thrive and as long as there is ignorance , there would be cheats.