pro prostitution Just why can't we legalize prostitution and drop our double standards for a day?
"The only freedom that counts is the freedom to do w ha t ot he r pe opl e t hi nk is w r ong. ” Jo Bindman and Jo Doezema in Redefining Prostitution as Sex Work on the International Agenda, rightly argue that "The designation of prostitution as a special human rights issue, a Violation in itself, emphasises the distinction between prostitution and other forms of female or low-status labour, however exploitative they are. It thus reinforces the marginal, and therefore vulnerable, position of the women and men involved in prostitution. By dismissing the entire sex industry as abusive, it also obscures the particular problems and violations of International norms within the industry which are of concern to sex workers." Thus, anything but legal status for sex workers leads to marginalization and abuses. Prostitutes would not be strained to work in veiled locations, and would have access to the safety and decency of equipped indoor places of work. By legalizing it, the Sex workers would actually be guaranteed access to health facilities, which the government often denied them as a consequence of their occupation. They took it for granted that those who embark on this route would cultivate the virus and hence, there is no point saving people who knowingly push themselves in the fire. What we need to recognize is that Prostitution is a proper profession. Every profession has hazards. And being denizens of a certain country, its government’s imperative to aid them. When we don’t criticize our Lord Krishna for being promiscuous and having 100 partners, why these workers? They might be in actuality more honest and good at heart than most of the people we meet around. Even if they are coerced into the profession through trafficking etc, what we now need to do is save these women from further atrocities. Because the law makers can’t lay down their subjective morals and close down the profession as and when they want. Police will have more time for 'important' crimes. It would also lower a country's crime, healthcare, suicide and divorce rates. Streetwalkers and 'lower-level' prostitutes will not feel abandoned by society. Justice systems will be free of many irritant cases.
Next point in the recognition of Prostitution as a profession is that recent research indicates that over one million women in the United States earn their living by full time prostitution. Statistics go still higher if we keep in mind our Unemployment of millions of women just can’t be condoned with a wave of hand! Also, one would come across many dodgy and unscrupulous people in all walks of life -government, law, journalism, banking, law enforcement, the stock exchange, medicine, the clergy, prostitution, etc. If each vocation was to be criminalized when some of its members broke the law, there would only be a few legally sanctioned professions left on the face of this earth! The law, regardless of which profession they corrupt, should instantaneously deal with unscrupulous people. These people referred here are the ‘Pimps’ and not the poor famished blamed prostitutes! Think once, how are they at fault? Why punish them? It is in their profession to attract men and wear skimpy clothes. They are loud and kinky while dealing with men because it’s their unsecured position which induces this sort of non-feminist attitude in them. We, the society are culpable for it. We are the ones who make Manichean divisions like moral and immoral. And divide the people into strata. And the law makers subconsciously have these divisions in mind while taking decisions on whom to protect well and whom not. Prostitutes face this bias everywhere! Time we take some pity on them instead of loathing them and throwing derogatory epithets at them. Furthermore, considering the actuality that pornography is legal, so is the adult film industry. How can it be that it is flawlessly legal to be an ‘adult film actor/actress' and get remunerated for performing sexual acts and having it videotaped and selling it, but it is illegal to so the same, only excluding the videotape? For one, we need to understand that prostitution cannot be eradicated. Prostitution can curb rapes. Now before you laugh at the apparent paradox in the last statement, focus on the institution of marriage. According to many, Prostitution is a kind of subtle rape, which is illegal. Right? Now, by this conjectural, I ask, where do you channelize the nuptial bond under? Would you call it legalized fornication then? Think about it. -aanchal arora
“paint my walls” says delhi A salute to these wonderful futuristic painters who see Delhi as a riot of colors
How can creativity change the world around you? Take for instance a chai wala selling tea to a grumpy, sleepy person and he sees a wall painting asking him “why so seri ous?” Wouldn’t that simply take away the exasperation? That’s the chai wala near Friendicoes SECA, where the members of THE WALL PROJECT created happiness with shades of sunshine yellow. Moreover, it is dedicated to the welfare of animals. People from Delhi came together on 25th July to the Friendicoes SECA near the Defence Colony flyover market and painted almost all the walls with every possible color one could imagine. The walls were cleared off cobwebs, dust and stains of the pans by the painter. The painters are from various age groups, mother and children alike, although the number of youngsters was much higher. The animals of Friendicoes witnessed the magic - how dirty, ugly walls were transformed into galleries of art. Do visit the place once; the effort is worth a look. -tamanna sharma
and the drugs don’t work “I don't respond well to mellow, you know what I mean, I have a tendency to... if I get too mellow, I ripen and then rot.” Woody Allen rightly said so once but his films made more noise than this quote which was lost somewhere on the latter pages of google search. Drug abuse continues to inflict our youth with pain and so much more that remains unseen; but the implications are felt every moment. It is like an error in judgment and not merely a disease as we may think. It is like jumping out of a racing car, consciously. Here is a story of a man, ruined by drugs. There is always a silver lining but we fail to see it. And so did he. Question: When you say you are addicted to drugs, how badly? Answer: I really need it. I feel empty, weak and out of my senses without drugs. Question:How often do you take it? Answer: Every day. Question: When was the last time you took drugs? Answer: Two Hours ago. Question: Do you want to take some now? Answer: Yes! Question: What drugs did you take? Answer: I smoke marijuana quite a few times a day but I have become addicted to Cocaine. I have done LSD, Hash, Brown sugar and have been treated for them in several rehab centres Question: What made you start doing drugs? Answer: Well I am a musician, and I had a band when I was 19. I was clean at that time and was happy and satisfied with soft drinks and these things were alien to me. After a while a new band member was introduced I remember he was 5 years older than me and an amazing guitarist. When he was not on drugs, he used to f**k up with the song and solos and after getting high he used to play like a legend, I used to ask him several times that why doesn’t he quit and live a normal life. He told me one line which I always remember "Doctors have told me not to quit, because if I do I will die".
Question: Did you ever try to quit on drugs before you were completely in control of them? Answer: Yes! I tried and failed miserably more than a thousand times. But yes I have quit on some of them such as LSD, Heroine. Question: What drug are you high on right now? Answer: I have taken marijuana and some s**t Kurt Cobain used to take. Question: What about your family problems, did your parents take any action? Answer: My parents were also musicians both were from an Indian Classical background. Dad was a vocalist and Mom was a sitar player. They played together. But time was my enemy and ruined my life. I quit every drug – even cigarettes and alcohol - when I was 24, but then my dad got sick with throat cancer and this bad news gave a heart attack to my mother and she died. This was the end of income source of my family. I was young and talented so the responsibility of my father and house was on me. I did get monetary support from my uncle but that did not last for long. Question: You can continue if you want. Answer: I was doing well with my band and that was my only hope as studied only till grade 12t. With my mothers’ death and fathers’ ill health I started drugs again. At first my band mates used to pay for my drugs but then I became a hard core addict and I couldn’t imagine quit ting drugs. Question: Where is your band? Answer: My band is one of the most successful bands in the Indian rock scene and today they deny to even recognize me. They kicked me out when a new band manager was hired. The manager saw my condition and introduced a new player to replace me. The band was started by me, the name chosen by me and 10-12 songs from the first two albums are by me. Question: Did you do anything about it? Answer: Yes! As I was already an addict and financially weak, I did more and more drugs just to keep my mind clean and stress free.
Question: From where did you score (source of drugs)? Answer: There have been many (sources) but for a very long time it has been a place in a Jhuggi(slum), it has been my only source for whatever drug I needed. If it is not available they arrange it for me. In the first few years I used to buy drugs at a very expensive rate but as they saw that I am an addict and a regular buyer they started selling drugs to me at a discounted rate. And I even took advantage of this by further selling them at a higher rate to other school and college kids just to earning some money in order to arrange drugs for myself and not be come a burden to my father. Question:What do you do for you living? Answer: I am working in a studio as a sound man and sometimes help with recording. And I get a d ece nt pay that ca n af f ord f o od an d s he lter for me an d my f a the r. Question: Marriage? Relationship? Answer: Who will marry a druggie? The society doest not accept it. There were a few relationships in the starting but none of them worked out well. Yes I was very close to getting married to a German woman, whom I met in paharganj, but then her ex-fiance stepped in and I was heart broken. Question: Talking about society - have your neighbors or the people around you been a problem? Answer: Yes neighbors have always ****** with my life and they keep on doing that. In my late 20s, I even got arrested couple of times. But now the local police men know that I am an addict and as my doctor has told me not quit them they cannot say anything. Also I get drugs from government as a medicine but frankly speaking, kids don’t know anything about real stuff and I fool them (laughs). Question: Any final word you would like to give be fore signing off? Answer: Well if you are already high don’t roll up yourself, you may over dose (weird laugh)
- As interviewed by achal kaushik
my fair lady the madness about fairness creams is not new. It is just about everywhere, even within us. It is time for a confession. We say with a lot of conceit and self- importance “I am proud to be an Indian” but ironically, “I would have a girlfriend or a wife for that matter, to be fair as a firang”. And why not? A fairer tone will bring beauty and enhance the dull( read : dark) pedigree. Our mind set of linking beauty with fairness of skin is not new. Any typical “wanted groom/bride” classified ad reads something like this: ”Wanted a fair, tall, beautiful, fair, convent educated, fair girl from a respectable backg r o u n d f o r . . s o o n a n d s o f o r t h ” The Indian skin color is varied from wheatish to tan to dark to darker and our craziness for that milky white, snow laden complexion has gone from big to bigger. And this is not some theory of my own. It is the sad truth. Look around you. The advertisements for the fairness creams are full of concrete evidence. You just need to be fair and you will land a job, a decent boyfriend, a loving mother in law who would brag about your “chand sa chehra”; with constant application you will turn fair(er) and become Miss India or some celeb. And all this in just 6 weeks!!Our madness for the paler skin has made the Asian countries the biggest market for fairness creams. The whole idea of tall, dark and handsome is long gone and now you have fairness creams for even men. And in 6 weeks again, you will have girls dancing around you and your popularity quotient will touch the skies. I don’t condemn the fairer tone. It is great if you are lucky enough to have it. What I do not understand is the strange bias we hold in our hearts and minds for our very own Indian color. We do this bias everyday all the time.Just how many boys and girls reading this would want their life partners to be dark skinned. It all boils down to this: appearance does matter. And our criteria of judging a good appearance starts inherently from the skin color.We all have watched “fashion”. Everything is acceptable to the newer bitchy version of Priyanka Chopra but the moment she sleeps with someone who is black she realizes she has committed a sin. We might call Tommy Hilfiger a racist but we are in the same lake if not the same boat. Just because some one is not fair enough to the liking of other people around him/her does not mean that the same person is incompetent, a home wrecker, a non committal girlfriend or an alien. But our society is besieged by the contours of fairness. In the coming times, I don’t see any change in this delu sional wisdom. And it is not just about being dark. You cannot fight the gawking eyes if you have scars or some skin ailment that renders you, in the eyes of the society, as an albino. Even a small pimple or acne gets us on our toes to apply the right concealer, the right make up, a fake band aid and what not. It is good to seek perfection, infact that is a way of life, a better one. But why can’t we just let things be. Why can’t we just accept? Why is it so imperative to be fair, to be spotless, to have a flawless skin, to have a lighter shade of the eye? Even if you accept the color, the scars that you have, the society will push you and shove you around till you dip your face in the fake promises of the fairness creams and the gold and platinum facials just to look better, to look fairer, and to look acceptable. -pragya agarwal
for the love of dogs Just how much can you do for them?
“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honour at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvellous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.” George Bird Evans. Of course we love dogs! They look beyond adorable when they are out for walk with their masters! But what about those that are abandoned or are strays, don’t have a permanent home, and wander around streets day in day out looking for food in bins? What about those that are hit or shooed away or beaten randomly by anyone, sometimes even by their masters? Like any other living being, all they want is affection. This is where FRIENDICOES SECA steps in. It is an organisation that not only sympathises with these animals but has also taken the initiative to make a difference. Friendicoes SECA (Society for the Eradication of Cruelty of Animals) is a registered non-profit charity. It is an associate society of RSPCA, UK and a member Society of World for Protection of Animals, UK. They are recognised by and affiliated to the Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai. They have now com pleted 30 proud years of work since their launch on 23rd April 1979. They organization runs a sanctuary for animals in Gurgaon, 45 km away from Delhi, where they provide a home to all the rescued dogs, cats and other animals that cannot be released back. Within the first week of its operations, the clinic cum shelter found itself with 27 dogs and 12 cats. The animals comprised either abandoned pets or hit & run animals. Undoubtedly they are catering to a deep community need, for people continue to come to them to help the stray animals on their streets. Today they have 4 large rooms, 2 operation theatres, and a fly proof mesh and fibre glass covered corridor that plays home to 150 dogs and cats they are rehabilitated. In 2006 they responded to thousands of distress calls. Once rescued, the animals undergo necessary veterinary care at the city hospital. The stray dogs, which are rescued from residential areas, are released back in the same area once they are medically fit for release
This helps to maintain a healthy population of community pets. Cats and kittens not claimed for adoption become permanent Friendicoes shelter animals. Monkeys and birds, on the other hand are given to their sister concern Wildlife SOS for maintenance, care and rehabilitation. Many times their animal rescue teams find abandoned or lost pets on streets. Some are found in dustbins or on busy roads. Therefore an important part of their rescue mission is to re-unite the lost pet with its owner or to find decent homes for the abandoned pets, since they are not stray or feral and when adopted would fit best into nice loving homes. Thus pet adoption figures high on Friendicoes-SECA’s priority list. This organization is going beyond an excellent effort to reach out and help these poor animals and are undoubtedly doing a tremendous job. They serve the society with passion and hard work. They have a long way to go. They are coming up with various projects to help various animals like their project in Andaman and Nicobar islands where they have taken the initiative to help animals who suffered due to the disastrous Tsunami. They are open to young volunteers who want to help them for such a wonderful cause like Aleeya and Rohit who our CHEEZE team met in order to get this delightful information about the wonders this NGO happens to be doing.
Thumbs up for Friendicoes SECA! You are doing a fabulous job for our society. -sadhavi ashwani
Fashion @CheeZe As promised, we have come up with this superbly stylish fashion shoot for the winners of the models for CheeZe contest.. While we feature the winner in the male category here, the female category winner will be uploaded in the coming issue!! Also featuring a new look for all the fashionistas@CheeZe.. Fashion Photographer : Avin Chhabra Models: Sujit and Nikita Location: Avin's studio@ G. K.
Stylists for Sujit: Ruchi Sharma Stylists for Nikita: Sanya and Divya
Get rid of your inhibitions and go about flaunting your belly if it as smooth as in the picture. The look is inspired by the evergreen tomboy. Just fold up a ganji to your bust line. The vest maybe of any color you like but go for platonic prints and avoid florals on the vest. Team it up with hot pants or boy pants of a bright color which is in sync with the vest. For the hair, simply back comb your wet hair and get the messy look. To attain more curls and waves for your poker straight hair use some mousse and apply hair spray so that the waves stay.. Sujit is donning a warrior look. The one that is bold, intense and super stylish.. The jacket is in felt fabric and is high on the style quotient. You can flaunt this look as a semi formal outfit at your workplace or you can just add a little bling to it and carry it off to a party.
The other look is a casual look with a mafia touch teamed up with a plain, black v neck tee shirt. The metal chain makes him look punk and adventurous as well as sexy and desirable. The hair do is cool and flashy. Just gel your hair and straighten up those spikes starting from the front to the mid scalp. From below the crown region, spike your hair outwardly to get the right look. Use a wet look gel to get the right kind of shine and luster to your hair.
-Pragya Agarwal
About The Photographer: Avin Chhabra Avin Chhabra is a 22 yr old self made photographer who does photography not as a full time profession but because of his passion for it and the thirst for acquiring perfection in the field that he is passionate about. Being tech-savvy since childhood he has been around computers and gadgets all his life and one fine day this obsession with gadgets led him to get his hands on a DSLR which later became his companion. He started off with Landscape, Birds and Nature photography but somehow fashion photography always remained in his mind and thus he expanded his horizon and capabilities by investing in a studio and since then he has been growing day by day and improving his skills and portfolio each time he shoots and because of this never ending passion, today he excels in almost all genres of photography. He is a self taught photographer for many reasons. He believes he can learn at his own pace and develop techniques which appeal and work for him. It also gives him the chance to create a style of his own. Photography is an art form and creative talent does not come from a book, but from within. He did his schooling from Mount St. Mary's, Delhi Cantt and is a 2005 pass out. He later did BBAMBA integrated course from IIPM 2005-2008. He is currently running his family business side by side and managing photography at the same time.He owns a studio in Gk1 (South Delhi) and has already expanded by purchasing another studio in one of the upcoming malls in Gurgaon.
hairstyles anyone? While you ponder over why you have to stick around with the same boring hairdos, we help you out to check out and get these "oh so desirable" hairstyles you have been looking for… Models: Seerat and Samvid Photographer: Avin Chhabra Stylists: Sanya and Divya Location: Avin's studio @ G. K. The Victorian touch This summer girls throw away your dreadful hair straighter and let loose your hair. If you are lucky enough to have lots of curls flaunt it, but that doesn’t mean hours of hair styling. Curls, waves and twists are chic this summer. Seerat does here a la Venetian look with a little hair mousse and wi-fi imagination. The blue bow barrette flinchlessly aggravates the entire effect and the semi head-up with side twists further makes it captivating. Cajole your fingers into hair curls and if your hair is short, side waves and loads of hair accessories will rescue you better. Here’s a little secret for quick curls braid your wet tresses, stronger the braid, better the waves.
Naughty Hottie It’s a known fact how girls adore bad laidback boys, it’s something about them that appeals most of us. Here’s a guide for all you guys out to put on your act together and look unattainably enticing to all the ladies out there. Moreover you can achieve it by doing one thing you all love the most in this world, sleep. Samvid triumphantly pulls off the sleepy look with candy coloured shirts and shorts. A little tinge of bright wayfarers or smart aviators can lure many hearts which seemed impossible at first. Keep your hair swift and messy; being a curly head is not mandatory here at all. We all know how water can act as a savior sometimes, add to it some volumizer coupled with finger maneuvering and behold the magic.
-Sanya Jain
the shoe fetish The right shoe to beat the heat this summer
What is the term 'Fashionable' without the right 'Footwear'. It's like a red carpet invitation without the right couture dress. So, this summer burn the sun before it burns you by picking this season's must have footwear. Pick one for this scorching heat are these metallic gladiator sandals.Go grab a pair now!And give yourself a lift from the boring slippers.Pair them up with a pastel shade dress to make a statement. Pick two on this season's must haves are the most comfortable high heel creations, The Wedges. Buy them in strappy, peep toes or tie-ups. Team them up with denim shorts or denim capris with a casual tee to make heads turn. Either you have Caged Heels or you are fashion-less. Caged heels are pick number three.(Mind you, wear them only during the night because they are a bit loud to be walking around during the day time spree). Team then up with a high waist floral print skirt and a plain and neutral colored top. Trust me every bit if you will scream H.O.T!
Did I hear anyone say 'Nude Patent Peep-Toes'? Yes, they are pick number four on this season's must haves. A statement in themselves, they are perfect to be worn with everything and anything. Last but not the least, pick number five is these ever hot ankle length booties They can transform any garment into 'voila'. Perfect for a casual day look if teamed correctly with ripped denims and gorgeous enough if worn correctly with structured dresses during the late hours. So , girls. Go b lo w some moo lah . Be fashion smart and don’t forget to rock the world with every step that you take.
-Swarnakshi Luhach
the psychedelics of quantum theory -an exclusive interview with gidisnapir Gidi Snapir is a leading Israeli trance activist and a prominent DJ since the beginning of early Israeli trance era. He is the man behind the "Quantum" project and also has "Pay2Play" & "OneNightStand� under his belt. And that’s not it. He's just not an artist and a DJ but also an Ambassador of psy, keeping the flame alive for over a decade. Gidi also hosted the Tel Aviv radio show "Tranceformator" radio show for 6 years. In 1998 Gidi launched "Newzeek", the first and the only real Israeli Electronic Music Magazine. Achal Kaushik from CheeZe caught up with him to have a talk about the man, his music and his life. Sit back, let the trance set you and have a wonderful read.
CheeZe: Tell us about Quantum? GS: Quantum was my first solo music project. In the last 10 years I have released 4 albums and many single tracks around the globe. Quantum represents full on psychedelic music with serious melodies and in some tracks - spiritual vocal. Quantum’s music always tells a psychedelic story. CheeZe: How does it feel to be recognized as an Ambassador of psy-trance? GS: It feels great. I am proud of this music and scene. I like all kinds of music and also make different styles but most people associate me with the psy trance scene, which I have been a part of for almost 20 years now! CheeZe: Tell us what perception people have about trance and what actually it is all about. Give us your definition. GS: I think the perception of people about trance music is changing. In the beginning, as with anything else new, people didn’t know exactly what it was all about. Gradually people started to listen to this music at their homes, in their cars and so on. Eventually, people from different parts of the world started to like it and get used to the psy sound. This music is all about a story, it’s about a journey that someone goes through in his/her mind, in his life. It’s all about feelings & emotions – happy, sad or melancholic - , and it touches each person differently. When people dance to this music together they can feel the depth of emotions and the story of the music in a stronger way. The current psy scene is supposed to be a second chapter of the 60’s way of thinking and feeling; this is how I see it! CheeZe: When and how did music seep into your life? Any inspirations? And how difficult was it to get in? GS: Coming from a family of musicians and listening to many kinds of genres during my school years, music was always a part of my life. I was looking out for new styles of music and for alternative genres and stumbled onto electronic trance music at the beginning of the 90’s. After listening to it for days and attending many events, I started DJ-ing and making it on my own. And still do it to this day!! At the beginning it was a bit hard to make trance music and introduce trance events in my country but now it is popular around the world and it feels great to be a part of it. My inspirations are - life itself, nature, many styles of music and people I met during the years.
CheeZe: Has your music developed a certain ideology or concept? What basic idea does it revolve around? GS: Yes it has. The main concept in my Quantum music is that it makes you move, makes you wanna dance to it! The ideology is that the music tells a story that makes you think of and remember the moment you listened and danced to it. I also try to put some spiritual spice inside my music. It is very important for me to have emotions and a feel in each track! CheeZe: In your view, how strong is the trance scene in India compared to other international locations? GS: The first time I was experienced this scene in India was in 1992 at Goa! At that time it was mostly for foreign travelers’ and not much for the Indian crowd. Over the years it has started to develop thanks to the efforts of Indian organizers, DJ’s and the fans. This year marked my 5th visit to India and I can say that the scene has gone really big in the past few years and is growing in a good direction!! This time I visited 4 places and enjoyed the Indian crowd and events. Each place attracts different groups of people and that’s very good! I think many more people in India are getting to know this music and other electronic music styles, which is great. I think it is natural for a big country like India that also has a great heritage of music, arts and a great spiritual culture. Each International location has its own style. It means different nature and club locations, different people, etc. As for me, I like all styles and love performing around the world, everytime in a different place. Some of the places have bigger or smaller psy scenes. I can say that India is one of the best places to come and perform in the psy scene; it is still fresh and growing bigger!! CheeZe: How has your experience in India and with its people been like? GS: My experience with India has been amazing. I have been to India 5 times and I always look forward to coming again. I love the Indian culture and music, and ofcourse Indian food. In India you get to meet many interesting people and some of the scenic spots are simply breath taking! Every time I come to India, it is a different experience for me -I get to explore something new. So, I always like coming to India. CheeZe: We know your wife Keren is an Indian Classical Musician and features in your latest album "Expose". Has she been an influence in your music and in what way? GS: Yes, I actually met my wife Keren through the music scene and a few years ago we made our first track “Janata Express”, which was featured in my album “Penetration”. After the success of “Janata Express” track we made many more tracks in different styles and performed at many places too.
Keren studied Indian classical music for 7 years in Delhi at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya School and also learnt from Smt.Veena Sahasrabuddhe. Keren also performs with the Sitar and the Tabla and writes her own music. Keren’s vast knowledge of music has had a big influence on my way of composing music and she gives me fresh ideas from her point of view. CheeZe: And how do you feel about Indian Music. GS: As I mentioned, I very much like to listen to Indian classical music, to the different vocalists and to the wide range of special instruments that India has developed over the years. I think the Indian music is special and spiritual, and influences the music around the world. I love hearing Bhajans and mantras and also like some of the modern Indian music composers. CheeZe: The Race! I have heard this song is based on the Bollywood movie of the same name, is it true and if yes, then how did it roll out? GS: Hehe. Yes it is true. Two years ago Keren and I were in India for a month (and performed in Delhi and Bombay) and went to a cinema in Delhi and saw the movie “Race”! I enjoyed it, though it was only in Hindi (maybe because of that…). It was my second bollywood film in my life … So we made a track for this occasion; it has 2 versions, the latest one in my new album “Expose”. I would love to make music for Bollywood movies!! CheeZe: So what’s life like off the stage? GS: Life off the stage means a lot of time in the studio and I love being in the studio. It means time for pure creativity. I try to spend as much time as I can in making new tracks and developing my new progressive house project “One Night Stand”. Keren and me frequent cinemas and music concerts and often like to relax at the beach or some other cool place. This year I am going to be a father and my whole off-stage life will take an amazing turn!! CheeZe: Congratulations for that! Is there something about you that people out there are not generally aware of? GS: Well, I was a professional Table Tennis player till the age of 17 and often think about it, even while DJ-ing in parties - I feel like as if in a game! Another thing is my love for cats. We have a cat named Quicky and she is a part of our family CheeZe: One of your track that you just love to play the most and why? GS: I Love to play all my tracks, every time I have another favorite. I like all my collaborations with different artists. I think, I can say that “Janata Express” is my all time favorite because of the energy it contains and the spiritual mantra that Keren sings. This track means a lot to me personally!
CheeZe: Your favourite artist? GS: I don’t have a favourite artist, it also changes every year, every month… I like to listen and check many artists from all over the world, newcomers or established names. I like when someone makes something new with fresh ideas and good production. I think there are many good artists around. CheeZe: If you were not a DJ, what would you be? GS: It’s hard for me even to think about my life without DJ-ing and performing electronic music. But if not, I would probably be doing something else in the music Industry or be connected to art!! CheeZe: Some words for our readers? GS: Peace to all, Bom Shankar, seeya at the dance floor!
demistifying the greats: Part 4: reflecting the times. I’m sure you’ve heard the word "zeitgeist". It’s German and it means ‘spirit of the times’. Now this particular piece deals primarily with that. They say that art reflects life and vice versa. It is the same with music. Music reflects the times and in the process integrates into the feelings of that generation. Or, if the musicians are really good (the likes of Beatles and R.D.Burman) multiple generations of people. This is especially true for the 20th Century. Up till the mid 1920s, most music was divided into artsy classical music and folksy folk music. The cross cultural and ‘generational’ music that developed after the advent of the more popular forms of blues and jazz did not really exist to the degree that now hear. Music was divided by class, not age. This entire generational music malarkey was possible mainly because of mass communication. Radio, TV and what have you contributed immensely in combining and stratifying music into various subgenres, appealing to people of very diverse cultural backgrounds with a similar message. One needs to look no further than the effect of technology and American music culture on Indian music and culture. It has its benefits, in terms of technology and a range of music to draw from. But it has its drawbacks as well. Like Aatif Aslam or Himesh. Or even the half-ass rapping that some people try to do these days. Ugh. Anyway, the fact that these two musical abominations are so successful points to that fact that, among other things, they must be doing such a thing that appeals to a large part of the young Indian population. It might sound ridiculous, but I think taking your usual soppy love songs and adding a rock image and edge to it seems to be in tune with the fantasies of both your average autowallah and young college-goer. It might be an unfortunate commonness, but oh well.... More socially relevant examples can be seen in the America of the mid to late sixties. The most powerful nation of the world was waging an unpopular war, and the counterculture of peace and drugs was widespread. Musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Joplin etc. took the culture of the times and reflected it in their kinetic, incendiary music. Others, like The Beatles and Dylan were from a slightly earlier age, but adapted to change with the times and came to epitomize the age with Sgt.Pepper. Here, we have two examples, one of a musician being a child of the times and the latter of musicians who absorbed the zeitgeist and famously defined it later on. Art reflecting life and vice versa.
And really, the sixties were the first time musicians were appealing to people all around the world on a mass scale. Since just before (and during) the War, undersea cables had been laid, TV had been invented and radio became a large scale medium, the American sense hedonism spread everywhere. Right around the time Jefferson Airplane were scoring hit after psychedelic hit, Zeenat Aman did ‘Dum Maro Dum’. Less than a decade later, disco fever hit India in the form of the music of Bappi Lahiri (which was often shamelessly ripped off, but what the hell). And who can forget the massive impact the Sex Pistols had on the UK in the 70's, and how their art reflected in the life in London? "Anarchy in the UK"? "God Save the Queen"? You know where you heard it first
And since then, numerous trends, ideas and thoughts have been exchanged between musicians and their global audiences. Remember how the Backstreet Boys had kids in Delhi wearing baggy pants? How Kurt Cobain inspired a whole generation of doped out losers willfully losing? And how recently, A.R.Rahman’s international success has coincided neatly with the increasing Western fascination with Bollywood and Indian culture? Natch. What was the case before this, though? I mean, before all this globalization? I’m afraid it was, as expected, a lot more localized and specialized. Music varied not only from country to country, but city to city and village to village. There is still a big distinction between the Carnatic of Subbulaxmi and the Hindustani of Zakir Hussain. Between New York Jazz and New Orleans Jazz. Samba and Bossa Nova and Reggae. While these localized differences can now be taken into the bigger melting pot, does this spell danger to the traditions? I don’t think so. See, good musicians always revere their roots. And you can hear it in their music. Ravi Shankar got around to expanding the popularity of Indian classical music (and his legendary seed-sowing tendencies) and combining it with Beatles pop and electronica back in the sixties, and yet performs classical sets of the strictest tradition. Same goes for his daughter Anouskha. Despite the Jazz Fusion movement in the US in the 70’s, there has been a recent revival of more traditional forms. So as you can see, no matter how far we come, the roots will always be maintained by the best proponents of traditional music, while still reflecting zeitgeist. It is what informs further development of music. To draw an analogy, the British first staked a claim on India way back in 1600. Yet despite 300 years of Pommie rule, and massive globalization thereafter, the Indian hinterland remains untouched, and the basic values that shaped our grandparents shape you and me. Same is the case with Indian music Yet again, art has reflected life, and vice versa.
the best free software's What more to say?
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-Achal Kaushik
atheism? Agnostic sounds rad. But what is atheism all about..and why is it catching up with the youth? Read more to know more.
God made man in his own image. God is infallible but man is not. The choice given is, to either be yourself (fallible) or to not be yourself (infallible). So do we assume that man was made inherently deficient or was he given the option of free will? Let’s say that Adam and Eve were given Free Will because God didn’t stop them from eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge. But they were punished regarding the same. Why do we call God our ‘Saviour’ then? He had Foreknowledge about it but he did not save his ‘children’ from the fall. So isn’t the option of Free will then eliminated, because Adam and Eve were predetermined to fall. Now, does not it also imply that the children of the sinner parents are also sinners? Are we all sinners? If yes, then why do we have to live in perpetual and imminent apprehension of Hell when there would not be any Heaven gates ever opening for us? Anyway, for those who accept as truth, the authority of Bible, don’t we all somewhere know as to why was The Bible written? Throughout centuries, haven’t we all heard the perpetual efforts by the church to keep its image healthy? Like proven by extensive researches that the tales in Hindu mythology were penned down to consolidate the position of the Brahmins, similarly, to invoke deadly trepidations, the tale of Adam and Eve was presented as a smart warning. Cherry on the cake, the tale is also interpreted as a story of deceit and unscrupulousness by Womenfolk, represented by Eve. And as for Jesus Christ, Zeitgeist and archives of other infinite researchers are excellent foundations of mind boggling revelations Ever tried not condoning the innumerable loopholes in The Bible? Let me present a couple of which bombard by neurons this jiffy. Bible guides, “The reward of sin is Death”. John 1.8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and there’s no truth in us”. But I’ve heard Jesus is merciful. So what parameter guarantees me clemency? I become a Napoleon or a Kasab and ask forgiveness, am I forgiven? Or Would I be pardoned if I kill just a couple of men? Next, Look at the two enemies in the wars. One side a man quotes, “If God be for us, who’d be against us”. Irony is that the person from the enemy camp echoes the verse. Had religion been Logical and non-paradoxical, I would probably have been its greatest espouser. Do we call our controlling power (if any) God, just because we don’t know his mysterious ways of workings? If you can call Bernard Madoff fraud, what’s stopping you to apply the same logic to God?
And none other than Science is being the police here. Here I want to add a note which states that though I am an Agnostic, I haven’t converted to Atheism yet. I am spiritual, not religious. It’s almost like a definite shape provided by the so called God, wherein we are allowed to move inside by exercising our Free will. But as soon as we try to move out, we’re faced by the threat of death. Ouch, now this is what we call Free will, don’t we? Wake up, it’s not more than an example of Control mechanism theory. And those of us who are fatalists, who believe that our lives all pre-written and destined, For them, even if you keep in limits, be honest, see, hear and do no evil, What if you’re predetermined to go to hell? In all, we are taught, by every religion and its scriptures, to not challenge God. I go back to my point of fallibility. God want us to be perfect, to not err, to be infallible like him. But at the same time, has barred us from interrogating his free will, his arbitrary authority. Considers it blasphemous to question the death of millions in calamities, wars, hunger and poverty. Has kept man below himself in hierarchy. Has set staunch limits for man. Has forbidden him to eat the ‘fruit of Knowledge’. Why is the line of Legitimacy, the line of Possibility for humans? Why that Fear? The third idea is of the re-incarnation Theory Of Mukti and the Karma circle. Why don’t we accept that it is the middle path, an easy way designed by the keepers of religion to explain the actions of the Arbitrator? Also, the holy Ganges, one of the most major sources around the world, granting a way out of the Karma circle since ages, is composed of? You fold your hands and take a dip inside. A person standing beside you would piss beside you in the running waters while your head is bowed inside. And then you come out complacent of ‘mukti’ from the karma circle. I have been born and brought up at the banks of the ‘holy city;, Allahabad. And I’ve have witnessed where our sewage pipes open and where the city garbage tanks are dumped . Talk to a carpet industry worker at Kanpur and a Corruption, only the politicians and bureaucrats are the ones to be blamed? Only if the list terminates there. Corruption in the name of God, bribery culture in temples, Millions are spent on organizing extensive Pujas and auspicious ceremonies. Get in touch with a priest and try talking, in a non-superficial manner, about the effectiveness of these acts .Hope that might help in opening the shutter of your mind. When will we realize that it is a business for them! Every sadhu/guru in India expects some cash or things in kind from his/her followers. If things go well by chance, you’re happy. If they don’t, you go with more rewards to your God to please him. Every morning on 100 different channels, we see 100 new episodes that happened in the lives of 36 lakh Gods recognized in India. ‘Hindutva’ ,mass killings and crusades in the name of God are some of the other features. Fake necromancy and Superstitions is holding back Rural and even a major part of Urban India. God is the name given to Hope on which people cling onto. But most of them just leave it on God. They leave it on predestination of God. We can’t afford this By Product of God in India at least. Even if there is a God, people have demeaned and debased his name all the more! Pity. My point is not to offend those who believe in some cosmic energy holding the world, something that they Feel could be the face of God or some supernatural power etc. You might also marvel at the constructions of beautiful tales of the Hindu Mythology but to feel that it the be all end of things. It shows nothing but an ire sponsible, callous behaviour! With this, we end our argument on the note that we don’t have a problem with faith, but having faith in such an arbitrary concocted source is per se, blasphemy . -aanchal arora
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