No Matter What

I'm blogging after a year. The last two years were tough. What I started in 2020 September failed to continue in 2021. But this year, I'm committed to posting at least ten blogs per month. We have reached the end of January. And I've only eleven months left to blog. So I should at least write 110 blogs this year.
 
The above lines can't be a topic of a blog post. But I have to share my plans with you guys. I don't know from where I will get new blog ideas. But I will still write. 

My Favourite Podcasts

I  found a podcast- Rumble w/ Michael Moore. It is a stupendously good podcast in which Michael Moore, the filmmaker, talks about many pertinent issues. He is a critic of American imperialism and voiced his opinion about America's longest war- Afghanistan War. He handpicks his guests.  He invited Chris Hedges, a journalist, who lost his job because he criticized America's policy to invade Afghanistan. Michael is not afraid of voicing his politics. 

Another podcast that I enjoy listening to is Mihir Bose's podcast. Mihir Bose talks about many issues. Politics, sports, life, racism, and many more. He invites two other journalists in his podcast to talk about many important issues. He also discussed the Afghan situation. One of the points that he raised in that episode is that how UK's intelligentsia failed to comprehend the situation. 

There are many other podcasts I listen to but I don't miss this two for sure. 

The Spy - Netflix Originals

Yesterday, after a long time, I binge-watched Netflix's Original series - The Spy. Based on the life story of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, this series is a precursor to what is happening in the Arab world.  I like to clear it first that this is not a review of The Spy. I'm rather amused with the life that Mr. Cohen lived. I still can't fathom how seamlessly he fooled Syria's top-level officials and military personnel.

 There should not be a doubt about his grasp of linguistic. He spoke so many languages with such ease is still enviable. He was a master actor. He knew how rich live their lives. He maintained that suave for years. I later found out that his work helped Israel to win the six-day war in 1967. 

Because of his PR skills, the PM of Syria asked him to become the Defense Minister of Syria. Just imagine how good he was. He loved his country no matter what although he didn't want to return for Syria. 

Of course, the series dramatized few events, but people will remember him as one of the greatest spies in history. 

A Limerick on West Bengal Economy

First Blue, then red, and now the sky

No matter what, money says bye-bye

Education is for children to train

We are proud of our brain drain

Bengalis are predominantly money shy

I'm Joining The Stock Market

I'm planning to join the stock market. There should not be any doubt that I failed as a copywriter. I'm also not getting offers to work as a Copywriter. I should have become a creative director by now. But I'm not. However, the flow of money is necessary. So I'm planning to join the stock market. I'm gearing up to pursue a course. I'm also learning blockchain technology. I will continue this blog. But my association with advertising seems over. 

Why did the Berlin Wall fall?

The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of the most important events of the last century. It changed the course of history. There are multiple arguments and counter-arguments behind the reasons for the fall of the wall. But I think it was purely psychological. I can say this because I grew up in a Communist Bengal.

People in Bengal were more fascinated with the happenings of non-communist states. East Germans were in search of a promised land. And for them, West Germany was the land of hope. People in East Germany wanted to taste the life of a free, liberated world. Previously, many East Germans tried to escape the Iron Curtain. A few were successful, but most of them failed. 

When they broke down the wall, the east germans didn't know what was waiting for them. They were aware of it, but still, they went for the demolition. More than fed up with their communist government,  they were interested in what was happening in the western part of Germany.  

Did they want freedom? But freedom doesn't buy your dinner. You have to spend 10 hours in a factory or an office to earn your living. Weren't they aware of it? Yes, they were, but still, they went to break down the wall. Of course, German nationalism played an important role in uniting the two nations. But the primary reason- they were in search of a promised land. Aren't we all are in search of a promised land. 

For this, people migrate from one place to another. People seek something new. They want to start fresh. 

                                                              (Photo Source: Time)

Afghan Crisis & India's Partition

On 15th August 2021, Kabul fell under the hands of the Taliban. After two decades. We have seen the plight of ordinary Afghan men, women, and children to leave Afghanistan. It was hard for the rest of the world to understand what they were going through at that moment. The looming uncertainty of the ordinary Afghans was unprecedented. The entire incident took me 74 years ago - 15th August 1947, the day India gained its freedom with the cost of partition of the Indian sub-continent.

I was trying to understand what Indians felt on the morning of 15th August 1947, especially the displaced ones. They were free from British rule but lost everything. The world witnessed a mass migration on an epic scale. Did the morning of 15th August (1947) bring any hope to the displaced ones? Were they felt liberated? Many of them lived in abject poverty. The pains of partition are still present among many. 

In Afghanistan's case, it is Americans. And in India's case, it was British. Western allies don't understand third-world countries. British hastily left India and now America did this with Afghans. 

One Away From Hundred

I have a dedication problem. If I have been dedicated, then I would have blogged for 365 days. I should have found out ways to write a blog every day. 

I started this blog on 1st September 2020. On 31st August, I will reach the mark of 100 blogs. So, 1 year- 100 blogs. My next target is to write 200 blogs in a year. But I have to make sure that those blogs help people. Not a shitpost, like this. 

Kafka's Diary

I have nothing to say today. I'm suffering from writer's block. The idea of this piece is present in Kafka's diary. Nothing is original. The idea is stolen, not copied. But if you open Kafka's diary, you won't find this piece. That's the beauty. 

But the main reason I'm writing this is to achieve my target of writing 100 blog posts in a year. This blog post will touch the 98th mark. I have just two more days left to complete one year.

Radio Gaga

Last night, I was listening to the radio. More than songs, I am interested in what the radio jockeys say. The private radio channels are around two decades old. Before, it was only government channels. 

I come from a lower-middle-class family. Private radio channels opened a new door to me. The kind of shows that were airing was cool by my standards. The more conversational radio jockeying was more approachable to the new-age audience. 

I heard the first jingle, radio ads during that time. I used to listen to the radio for around 10-12 hours a day. However, one thing that caught my attention at that time is the Friday night shows. Few channels air club music on Fridays. It started that time. I was around 16-17 and had never been to a club. The mixed songs were new to me. I got hooked on it. I was unable to pay for visiting a club, but those songs helped me not to feel bad about it.

I still listen to Friday night's non-stop mix songs to get the feeling that I'm inside a club.