Duwa

Kashmir I write a rhyme for you

Because it may lessen the grind for you.

Because you might have forgotten of joy,

I will talk of dreams, for you

I heard stories of prosperity and days of peace,

So I will sit and recount it for you.

I pray for your lost beauty not captured by age,

As a member of the race deranged.

The valleys, the flowers and sights of thine,

Have been ravaged and raped by brothers of mine.

If every glowing word was an ode to you

I’d revive it in my own blood for you.

Across the nation, when a billion hearts pray to the heavens

One heart will plead for peace to you.

In the ocean of letters dedicated to you

Shah’s duwa will swim for you. 

Anemia and Mumbai- Maximum City, Minimum Nutrition.

     Youngsters in the city are becoming increasingly prone to developing anemia, a deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood, as they get busier with college, tuitions and jobs. In their defence, they say they are way too pressed for time to pay attention to what’s on the platter. A cup of coffee in the morning, a burger for lunch and half a pizza for dinner seems just fine to these busy adolescents. This could have serious consequences, because although anemia has many causes, the leading cause in Mumbai, especially amongst those within the 16 to 30 age bracket, is an improper diet. Around 60-70 per cent are anemic owing to an improper diet, junk food consumption and badly-timed, low-nutrition meals. Youngsters are not healthy as far as haemoglobin is concerned and their hectic schedules come with a high price. Most of them skip meals, eat too much junk and don’t consume nutrients at all. A deficiency of Vitamin B-12 and iron is the leading cause for anemia in Mumbai. These shocking facts spell out the prevalence of anemia amongst city youth and to make things worse, there are a lot of myths associated with it. A common misconception about anemia is that it is genetic. The fact is, although there are types of anemia that can be genetically passed on, they are rare. Most of the young anemic patients develope this problem due to a dangerously low intake of essentials like iron and vitamins. Another section of society severely affected by Anemia are pregnant mothers. Anaemia is one of the main reasons for increasing maternal deaths in the city, according to findings of the newly constituted maternal death committee. The committee is investigating the causes of women dying during pregnancy and delivery, which most of the time goes unreported. It is rather appalling that such important sections of society, that hold the key to the future of India are left in dire states.

Anemia is a form of malnutrition in which is a decrease in number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of haemoglobin in the blood. The typical symptoms are feeling of weakness, or fatigue and poor concentration. They may also experience shortness of breath when tired. In very severe anemia, the body may compensate for the lack of oxygen-carrying capability of the blood by increasing cardiac activity leading to perspiration, involuntary muscle movements. 

There are however different types of Anemia:

Iron Deficiency and Vitamin Deficiency Anemia:

Our body needs iron to produce the hemoglobin, necessary for red blood cell production. In general, most people need just 1 milligram of iron daily. Menstruating women need double that dose. If you diet lacks necessary amount of iron, it would lead to Iron deficiency anemia.
Vitamin B-12 and Folic acid are also essential components in hemoglobin production. Normally, our body absorbs the vitamins, but if there’s any imbalance in the hormones, the vitamins might not get readily absorbed. The result is Vitamin deficiency anemia. Because the symptoms develop gradually this condition may not be immediately recognized. Those with thyroid disease or diabetes are at increased risk for this type of anemia. Folic acid deficiency is a particular problem for alcoholics.

Haemolytic Anemia:

Anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells is known as Haemolytic anemia. In this type of anemia, antibodies produced by the immune system, in the event of a virus attack, damage red blood cells. Toxic materials such as lead, copper, and benzene can also cause the destruction of red blood cells. Blood transfusions may be necessary for some people with this kind of anemia. Haemolytic anemia can be acquired or inherited. Sickle cell disease and Thalassemia are both inherited types of Haemolytic anemia.

Sickle Cell Anemia/Thalassemia:

Sickle cell anemia is also known as Haemoglobin S disease. This is a serious, life-threatening inherited form of anemia, where people with this disease have sickle-shaped red blood cells that are stiff and unable to squeeze through blood vessels. A patient with this disease often suffers from pain in the joints and bones. Infections and heart failure can also occur. Thalassemia is caused by defect in genes producing haemoglobin. It is most common in people of Mediterranean descent.

Aplastic Anemia:

This is one of the deadliest and most rare forms of anemia. Only 2-6 people per million have this type of anemia. The condition results from an unexplained failure of the bone marrow to produce all types of blood cells. Instead, fat cells replace bone marrow. Aplastic anemia is usually found in adolescents and young adults. Symptoms can include bleeding in the mucous membranes. Chemicals such as benzene and certain pesticides can also cause this type of anemia.

     It is amazing how Anemia affects us, without really making us aware of the illness. This is my personal account how Anemia was affecting me for almost year and how making little changes in my daily habits has helped me a lot!I am a student of Mass Media form Mumbai University. Our course work is extremely practical, the only time we study is the night before exams. The rest of the time is running around organising events, making movies, making photographs and of course eating, drinking and having fun.

    My day started at 7.30am going right up to 6pm, now you can't just go home so early without grabbing a bite with your team, a gastronomic pat on your back for the day's hard work. In all of this, we all would skip breakfast, have a shoddy lunch. This was my routine for almost a year. Then there was the Annual Blood Donation Drive in college, and as an enthusiastic blood donor I stepped up! Blood Pressure normal. The last check point, haemoglobin count! Surprise! I was below the 12 mg count. I couldn't donate blood. I was very disappointed. Sharing this with my family doctor, I was thankfully enlightened about my anemic state. Since that day made time for breakfast, lunch and an hour for exercise. There has been a significant improvement in my health. I do feel a lot fitter, fresher and can read for longer durations.

Many individuals like me are prone to Anemia. It is essential that people are made aware of this curable illness as it affects the performance greatly in various spheres of life. In a nation that aims to be a super power in the near future it is very important that it's mothers and children are healthy!

Youtube Sensations

       The internet has brought in a lot of jobs, a lot of money and a lot of entertainment to our disposal. It has been more than anything, a platform for the common man to showcase tallent. Now that may be your singing talent, your cooking prowess or anything that has value in terms of entertainment. This post tries to look at the wonders on Youtube who managed to capture our attention!

   The first one the list is Justin Beiber. Rising up from the Youtube channel star to became a prodigy of sorts in the media eye. Though he is highly criticized for his voice, it's interesting to see how, he has managed to become a popular among the kids around the world. Yes, he has also managed to release an ALBUM!


    Everybody has a friend, who is just brilliant at cracking people up. It's these sort of guys who can add new dimensions to entertainment, in ways never thought before. The second on the list is an office favourite at Leo Burnett Mumbai, where I worked as an Account Management Intern.

    The Annoying Orange, elevated "Wassssaaaaa" into a higher decibel. PUNs. PUNs and simply annoying. When I first saw the Annoying Orange video, I couldn't stop laughing for a whole 10 minutes. Being a Hindi film fan, I always like to have a sense of the ending, even before I get there, so the Annoying Orange, meets my fit.


    Now, they say everybody has got a talent, everybody is unique. I didn't believe all that until I saw the next person on my list of Youtube Sensation.

    50 Cent, David Guetta, Kathy Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Usher and many more, do I have to say more? Why even Britney Spears did a video with the Youtube Star Keenan Cahil. Lip-syncing his way up the charts Keenan can claims enough popularity  to be along side all the stalwarts of  the American music industry.


    The last on the list is a VIRAL, in it's true sense. Now everybody wants a video that goes VIRAL in their Marketing campaign, but the fact is that few really make it. I love this video, because it is hilarious, not to mention I did dig deep into the whole promotion aspect of the video to use as a case study for my exams.

134,151,095 views when I posted this.


  All these many views in just FIVE MONTHS ! Kathy Perry's Last Friday Night was a huge success and was backed by a complete set up of the character of Kathy Beth Terry, that Kathy Perry plays.
It is amazing how the Internet and Youtube has allowed, and made possible for so many people to have access to information and share it.


    Not forgetting to mention the Parody genre that has really caught up. The video also features Rebbeca Black, who was a one hit wonder with the song "Friday", again I am not sure if it was a parody, or a serious music attempt.


I stare at possibilities in wonderment.




(No copyrights intended on the videos embedded in the post.)

Before The End

This a a short story I wrote as an assignment in college. I hope you like it. Critiques are welcome.Please do comment on the blog or email me on chaitanya1317@gmail.com

Before The End: Chapter1: Dusky End

1. Dusky End

July 18 2055, the sun slowly sets over the horizon and dusk fills in on the sky. Life in the Big Apple as always, a nonstop hum-drum of activity but for Jack Milford, life stopped and everything around him. His mind in turmoil seemed the only thing that seemed to move. Loss of life, in the nano age is something that happens to oldies beyond the age of 100 not to young boil bloods like Anna, his girlfriend. Jack’s eyes were swollen with tears, he was “Jack” ass, and Anna always said so. The pizza was a bad idea.

Sunday afternoons were boring and cooking food, not even a distant thought. The usual pizza had gotten to Anna and she was dying to have Falafel, quite literally she did. A flurry of flashbacks flooded his mind; he shared an ocean of memories with Anna. Just then he heard a knock on the door and stirred out of the timeless memories and moments of the past, from the day he proposed to her; the day they moved into their apartment, all dissolved and out into reality, Jack was dazed. He moved to open to door, to see a police search team.

“Mr. Milford?” asked, Chief Harris a tall, well built, blonde haired and grey eyed officer. Jack nodded and opened the door.

“Mr. Milford we have come here to have a look around your apartment, we do have a search warrant and I need to interrogate you.” Harris said looking at Jack.

“Sure, anything you want” Jack said still a bit dazed. “Could we sit in the living room while my team does its work?” Harris. “Yes, not a problem”

“So Mr. Milford, or could I call you Jack?”

“Yes please do.”

“Alright, so tell me Jack what exactly happened?”

“Well, I was having a bath, when the pizza we had ordered arrived. I heard her opening the door, paying the pizza guy. Then silence. I yelled out to Anna to close the door properly but I didn’t get a reply. Worried, I quickly finished my bath and came out.” A tear rolled down his face.

“Go on then.”

“I saw her, fallen at the door, I rushed to her and saw her heart beating like crazy and her breath was heavy, there was only a small cut on her palm. I rushed her to the hospital down the block.”

“You did not see the pizza boy did you, not even a glance?”

“Not at all”

Tears of anger, frustration and grief rolled down his face and for the first time he had no one with him in this helplessness. The search team, was done with the job, and reported clean. Harris figured he’ll be on a long day.

“All right Jack, the apartment is clean; I’ll be off to the hospital and find some lead in the case. I’ll get right back to you as soon as I find something.”

“Sure sir.”

Chief Harris was a full blooded skeptic, bred on murder novels and stories. He doubted Jack even though it was out-stretched. He planned to have Jack’s back watched all through.

The walk to the hospital wasn’t very long. Harris met up with Dr.Wong, who treated Anna. Dr.Wong was a short man, with a stark white shirt, well combed hair. He had the really very intellectual kind look. Harris approached him.

“Dr.Wong? Hello I am Chief Harris.”

“Hello Mr. Harris, I was expecting you.”

“Yes, could you tell me about how Anna Sharden actually died?”

“Well Mr. Harris, it’s the weirdest case I have ever seen. She had high pulse rate, heavy breathing and a small cut on her palm, which by the way would not stop bleeding. It is confirmed that she did not have hemophilia.”

“So what killed her?”

“We tried to initiate clotting on her cut, but the moment we applied medicine she had something like an allergic reaction. It didn’t take long for her condition to deteriorate and within 5 minutes she passed out.”

“Do you have any idea about what happened to her? I’d like to have an autopsy report sent to me any ways. I’ll get back to you soon. Thank you.”

“Welcome, Mr. Harris”.

The day just got queerer! Harris’s sad smiled explained it all to his team, boss ain’t that happy and head home quietly.

Harris left a text message to Jack about the meeting with Dr.Wong and said he’d tell Jack if something new comes up.

It was his daughter’s birthday; the little princess had turned 5! The night glow of his watched showed 9pm and then went off, black, as the dark New York sky.

Before The End: Chapter2: Spread

2. Spread

Jack was getting on well. Life had changed and so he became a changed man. Trying his best to move on, he moved into a new apartment; got a promotion so bought a new car, life was more comfortable but sorely incomplete. It had been 3 months to Anna’s death but Harris and his team couldn’t yet find the pizza boy or the reason of her death. It really didn’t matter to Jack now. It was something that he had buried in the depths of his memory.

Harris on the other hand was fumed. Over the past 3 months there were about 100 such cases were people have died after receiving simple medical aid like anti-septic cream to the wound and if left untouched, would develop internal hemorrhage and die. The police and the doctors of New York were at their lowest point in their careers. No solution. At all!

People in the city develop a high level of paranoia. Trust among people is tanking down and even the slightest illnesses cause people to rush to the hospitals. The issue bloated enough for the Mayor to step in and have a look.

Robert Stanley, the Mayor of New York was a very proactive man. The city had risen to be in the top three business cities of the world under his auspices. He came to know of the incident when his Secretary’s neighbour died, which was then a freak death. As the Mayor he called upon the leading Doctors and the Chief of Police staff of New York with detailed reports on the new problem that the city faces.

“Dr.Wong, can you tell me what this disease is about? Can you define it for me? “

“Unfortunately sir, I cannot. This is not a disease and cannot be defined because the cause of death and the reason of the death are always different in each case.”

“All right, Ronald? What do the police and investigation team have to offer?”

“Nothing at all sir, all these cases of deaths aren’t murders. Verified.”

“Then what the hell is this!?” It was probably the first time Robert Stanley ever was seen to loose his temper. Banging his fist hard on the table, it rattled the pen holder. Behind the two men, outside the window, the weather became overcast almost as to depict a real life climax situation.

“What do I say to the people who stay here, the companies that have set up offices the locals and to the government? Two people, who should be aware and able enough to take control, tell me they don’t know what to do.”

“Sir, please try and understand our situation, the people who have died were found at burger places, malls, theatres or homes. The places were public in each case. We have no suspects from any of the cases except the first one, Anna Sharden. Even though we have a suspect, medical reports clearly state her death to be due to a reaction to the anti-septic medicine.” Said Dr.Wong

“Yes, yes I read about that, but I need to address the people of the city soon. What will I say?”

“Give the people hope. As far as the police are concerned, there is nothing in it for us.”

“Fine. You may go. Dr.Wong, give me a solution A.S.A.P”

“I will try my level best sir.”

The next day Mayor Stanley addressed the city and assured the masses that a team of top medical professionals are looking into the matter and will come out with a solution soon. Politicians are real life actors for sure. On screen his face glowed with radiant confidence topped with the most charming smile a man could ever put on! Hearts within hearts, he was scared and petrified.

“New York City! We are in very trying times. A strange disease has gripped the city. We all are scared, but it is at such moments that we need to pull ourselves together into one community, one city.

The council will be dispatching an email regarding health care measures to be taken along with other important guidelines for your safety. Let us all pray for our safety and peace for those who died.”

A perfect speech. Short, concise and to the point. Delivered with superb action and emotions. Robert just hated the public speeches, he’d rather go and talk to the masses face to face and express himself. Just then, his tab¹ buzzed. It was Dr.Wong.

“Hello!”

“Sir! I need to see you over a secure line or meet you personally as soon as possible.”

“Yes, meet me in my office in two hours.”

“Sure.”

“Disconnect line.”

Sliding his tab in, Robert was praying that Dr.Wong found a quick solution to the problem. The series of 4 half hour meetings with various stake holders of the city seemed to be a real waste of time and verbal red tape.

3pm. And in came Dr. Wong, with a rather worried face.

“Mr. Stanley, I have an important point to make and I feel that it will be closely associated to these strange deaths.”

“Shoot”

“Well Mr. Stanley about 40 years ago, a scientist called Mona Pe a very clever Bio-Tech scientist invented the first self mutating living cell in human history. The application of that invention is seen in the body part replacement market. The new body parts are made by self reproducing artificial cells. These cells are the derivatives of the self mutating cells. Back then, there was a huge fiasco over mishandling and misplacement of one of batches of self mutating cells. What I am saying is that maybe, just may be one of those cells might have found its way into a human body and is spreading through contact between individuals who are affected and individuals who aren’t affected. The government back then covered the matter by issuing a false report saying that this incident is harmless as the cell can survive only in lab condition.

“What about Mona Pe? Where is she? Could we contact her and seek her help in this matter?”

“Sir, she killed herself after this incidence, even though the official report says she has retired.”

“Oh, I see. Well then work on it, use any resources of the City, that you may require, but give me a solution.”

“I will start work immediately sir.”

“Thank you”

Dr.Wong left the chamber and Robert Stanley the face of New York, the youngest Mayor of New York, sat in a pensive mood. The idea of a reaction from the Mona Pe fiasco seemed farfetched, yet the situation he was in, he thought of giving that angle a shot. He silently regretted the fact that legislation had made it mandatory for all top positions in the government to be taken up by people who were below the age of 35. Robert Stanley was alone with a pool of resources he dint know how to utilize.

Before The End: Chapter3: Mona Pe

40 Years Back……

3. Mona Pe

Mona Pe was a naturalized American. She belonged to the city of New Mexico, Mexico. Mona was a brilliant student all throughout her academics. At age 15 she moved to USA, with the hope of getting a good Graduate degree in her favorite field, biology. What she ended up with was a Bio-tech degree and a host of corporate companies offering her huge pay packets right off Grad school, but she had other plans. She went on with her Masters and her PhD. One of her thesis for the PhD was on a self mutating cell that would be created artificially my man. Everyone thought of it as being a very ambitious project, but some people in the government thought otherwise. Just after getting her PhD, she was offered American citizenship and a job offer to work on her Mutating cell thesis. It was an offer that could not be denied.

Over the next 7 years Mona was engrossed in work, her sole purpose to create a self mutating cell! And she did succeed. 13^th April 2015. History was created. Mankind created the first artificial self mutating cell. Oh and it was all over the media. Mona Pe was a world celebrity. She was said to the equivalent of two Einsteins put together. It was a great feat to have achieved successful results in just 7 years of a project, while some people still stuck with the same project for over 15 years.

However as they say, what goes up has to come down someday. Mona’s sudden shot to fame ended soon. At one of the press meetings, Mona accidentally dropped the container and it was a spill. The contents evaporated as soon as they container cracked. This incident was caught on camera. The media ran a riot. Little was known about the self mutating cells and each media house had their own version on what will happen to the world. One thing all of them had in common, death of the human race. The media houses were notoriously famous for running such stories, but this story seemed very very believable. Mona Pe was demonized. There was complete pandemonium and the US economy suffered largely due to this.

The government had to intervene. They issued detailed report that explain how the self mutating cell would not survive in normal environments and need lab conditions to survive. The government ensured that the panic and chaos was settled and normalcy returned.

The truth is the report was faked. The scientists were still finding out ways in which they could tract and destroy the cell that escaped. Sadly nothing was known about the properties of the cell, making the job even more difficult. Mona Pe committed suicide. The government had covered up by saying she opted to retire. Making enough noise so as to divert the attention of the media and the public, the government managed to bury the issue.