Television: Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5; The Bells. And the USA Connection to Daenerys Continues

In my last blog post I compared Daenerys Targaryen to the USA because both of them joined other people's war for the greater good of the humanity. At that time I had not watched Episode 5 "The Bells" of Game of Thrones Season 8. I watched it today on TV (Star World) and I feel I stand vindicated and how closer to the truth I was yesterday or have been all along about Daenerys. 

First; the way Daenerys burnt the whole city, killing men, women and children alike; in order to give a message for generations to come; how similarly the USA had dropped Nuclear Bombs over Japan, killing men, women and children alike and also crippling them for future generations. This total devastation looked hellish at that time but it changed the course of history for Japan which turned out to be totally non-violent and focusing on constructive things there onward. I am not justifying it and I still do not think dropping of the Nuclear Bombs was the best option. But it did produce an effect. 

And the way Arya Stark went on a mission to assassinate Cersei looks like the assassination attempts made on Adolf Hitler. There are several movies about that. But since Arya could not kill Cersei in time; total devastation of the city happened. Similarly, had the assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler been successful, may be the world would not have seen a World War. 

The second aspect I was right all along was on my hunch feeling that I did not like Daenerys Targaryen at all. I did not like her from the beginning. I did not like the way she killed people; took decisions or took her revenge. I have written about it in my previous blog posts. The way she destroyed the whole city was total madness and pure lapse of judgement. She may try to prove herself right and to justify what she did, the fact is that there was a moment when she could have chosen to stop (when the bells had rung) and could have gotten Cersei arrested (and later executed). In that way, the goal would have been reached without total devastation. But she chose to do what she did best - burn things. That does not make her any good queen; forget about "leaving the world a better place than we found it". 

Anyways, the way things turned out to be might be regrettable but the way future would judge the past would be totally subjective. And hence there would always be hope. 

- Rahul Tiwary

World: Why Daenerys Must Fight Others' Wars

Recently in Game of Thrones, the world saw how Jon Snow successfully persuaded Daenerys Targaryen to join forces and fight against White Walkers. Jon Snow was King in the North and hence bound to fight the evil White Walkers. But why would Daenerys cross half way the globe to fight against the White Walkers? Why would Jaime Lannister also join his apparent enemies in fighting against the White Walkers? The answer was easy to know but difficult to believe for many - White Walkers were the ultimate threat to the whole human civilization across the globe and the sooner they could be stopped, the better it would be; before it was too late. Therefore, Daenerys came half the world around to fight a war which others said was not "her war" to fight.

Now look at our world today. Our world is facing two big global crises today. One is the threat of the Islamic State. And the second is the threat of China. Both these groups do not believe in the values we want our future to build on. And both are expansionists, violators of human rights and destroyer of the civilized world. 

On one hand, Islamic State aims to establish its kingdom over the entire world, based on rules from the middle ages and enforce its civil code over whole population which were derived from some desert tribes. This is not the future this world deserves. On the other hand, we have China which has been eating up civilizations after the other and spreading its own terror over distant land. In a few years no one would know what Tibet meant for example. China with its protectionist and hideous policies is planning to control the whole world economy. Like ISIS plans to use religion as the basis of gaining control over the world; China plans to take the economic route to achieve the same goal. Both of these are White Walkers and the Night King in their own rights.  

And guess who is playing Daenerys Targaryen today and trying to protect the world from these enemies? It was George W. Bush fighting against Islamic terrorism. And from what is happening now, it seems Donald Trump would be the one to fight against China. 

The United States of America is the single biggest hope our world has today to save it from the enemies of free world. China must be stopped from grabbing neighbors' lands and destroying civilizations by enforcing its own policies. And Islamic State must be stopped from radicalizing Muslims all over the world any further.  

Like Daenerys and Jon Snow succeeded, may the USA succeed in this critical end war too. 

Movie: Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai

I decided to watch this movie because it was a different movie with some interesting story. And this is the first time I have watched a Manav Kaul movie and became his big fan after this. Manav has been splendid. 

Brilliant actor Manav Kaul as Albert Pinto

"Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai" shows the plight of a common man disillusioned with the way society has become and how powerless a common man feels today in front of the big mafia, scammers and corrupt people. But this is not a movie of helplessness. Albert Pinto decides to set things right even in a small way. And the remaining of the story is intensely woven. 

The movie's story switches between past and present and initially there is confusion about the things going on. But after a while it becomes clear and we can relate with the story more. The movie must be watched on big screen to enjoy it thoroughly because it is filed as a travelogue with camera capturing the panoramic view while the main two characters keep traveling from Mumbai to Goa by the road. After a while we become part of their journey and it seems we are also travelling with them. The story is gripping and in between there is humor to keep it intense yet non-exhausting. The best part is the climax - which will shock you. The climax takes this movie apart from the run of the mills. 

Manav Kaul carries the whole movie on his shoulders. And then there is brilliant Sourabh Shukla. Nandita Das has done good work too. I have become a fan of Manav Kaul after this movie.

- Rahul 

Internet: Easy Cancellations by Flipkart

I have been a Flipkart fan since long time. Till the company was an Indian startup I used to admire it a lot. 

After Flipkart's acquisition I started shopping on Snapdeal more; since Snapdeal is another Indian unicorn and an example of a great Indian startup. 

I shopped on Flipkart after a while recently. I ordered two mobile covers. The first one I received was good and hence I thought it would be a good idea to cancel the second one. The order was already shipped. I checked the options on the Flipkart website and could easily read the policy that I could cancel the order even after it was shipped; with the condition that order should not have been delivered. 

I could cancel the order easily with a couple of clicks and Flipkart confirmed that the amount would be refunded to me within 6 business days. I am happy about it. 

At the same time, I noticed that while I had ordered two mobile covers yesterday; one cover was delivered today; i.e. within one day! That was fast! And its fast delivery ensured that I did not cancel the order. Suppose second cover was delivered to me earlier and it was nice, I could have cancelled the first cover. 

Anyways, Flipkart seems to be doing well even after its acquisition.

- Rahul Tiwary

Social: Mom Proud on Son Scoring 60%; Facebook Post Goes Viral

Recently a mother's Facebook post went viral (i.e.  shared indiscreetly by too many) and the news got huge media coverage.

In her post, the mother tells the world that she is 'super proud' that her son has scored 60% in Class 10 board exam. That she knows enough maths to understand that 60 is less than 90 which kids of people from her social status are expected to get but she does not care. Simply because the boy was such a pathetic student that he was almost a quitter (meant he would have reappeared in exam next year with better %) but decided to study well in last 1.5 months to be able to crack it. That she felt her son was like a fish and passing an exam was like asking a fish to climb a tree. And she wished her son good luck in keeping his goodness and wicked sense of humor alive.

Her post got 15K likes, 7K shares and 2K comments. Her Facebook profile tells that she is the founder of two companies, mother of two sons and studied at Hindu College (DU). The cutoff marks for BSc in Hindu College last year was 98%.

Does celebration of her Facebook post really prove that our society has finally learnt to accept people as they are and does not try anymore to fit them into hypothetical molds? Have we already changed into people we should be? I doubt that.

First, mothers being proud of their loser sons is nothing new. History would tell you that Mother India in a movie was an outlier who punished her son for being different (yes, in modern world, that is how you define people like bandits). The truth is that mothers love their sons no matter what they do. Keep wondering if this is their natural instinct or some parental game of soft power (let me be popular while father be the enforcer of law a.k.a. dictator). So there is no surprise if a mother supports her son after he scores bad marks.

Secondly, there have always been all kinds of students. This year around 91% students passed CBSE 10th exam; last year only 87% had passed. There have always been students who celebrated even if they just passed the exam (cutoff is getting min. 33% marks). So why the bravado at this lady's case? Our social behavior tells about an ugly fact - kids of rich people going to expensive schools are not expected to fail. But if you send your kids to expensive schools and spend so much money on them; and they still gets 60% marks; anyone would feel a bit disappointed. But a Facebook post won't let us know that.

The mother would like us to believe that the education system is at fault if her son scored bad marks (as if it asks fish to climb trees). I wonder why no poor kid tells the same. The mother would like us to believe that her son's last 1.5 month's of study was some kind of Rocky moment where heroes rise to the occasion at the climax. We know that to study at the very last moment is a pretty common pattern. The mother would like us to believe that somehow her son's innate cuteness, curiosity and funny bones are things to be rated over some % of marks. We know that all kids are cute, curious and make fun - it does not prove or disapprove anything.

In some ways, the Facebook mother's 'super proud' post tells about a sad sentiment. Rich people think that their kids would get away with scoring less marks because of their parent's money and power. There is no other way to explain a super proud feeling after seeing poor marks. And in a way, the Facebook mother's post tells that mothers support their sons no matter how good or bad they are. And this has done more harm to the world than good. The above two points are my only two takeaways from her Facebook post. Call it an anti-climax.

- Rahul Tiwary

Disclaimer: I do believe exams put much pressure on kids and parents should support them. But at the age of 15, a kid should know how to cope up with it. And I still believe that we should be honest and instead of criticizing the challenges and justifying our failures we should be pushing ourselves to do better.

Photography: A River in Maharashtra

(C) Rahul Tiwary | Pictures taken with Nokia 3.1 

Photography: Some Nature Pictures (Part 5)

- Rahul Tiwary | Pictures Taken with Nokia 3.1

Thought: Should Religion Necessarily Be Private

Someone asked why some people show religious symbols publicly and why could not they keep religious things strictly private. He believed that religion was a personal matter and should never come into play at a public level. And at the same time he has seen some great spiritual people never making a public display of their religion. 

From what I have read - the reason could be that not all souls are on the same stage in their upward "journey". At lowers stages, the symbols, displays and rituals help; and as we go higher those are not needed. But if at lower stages we go and emulate souls of higher stages, it may also not work. For example, a beginner in religion may need to chant mantras aloud or keep fasts and sing bhajans. But a saint who has already attained spiritual heights may not specifically need to sing bhajans or chant names and mantras - he might just close his eyes and do the meditation to get same or better results. But if a beginner in religion behaves like a saint, one may go nowhere. So everything has a purpose and we should respect and let it be that way.

Then on the point of religion being a strictly private matter; I think it is only an idea or an opinion and one should not force it on others. Religion for some people can be a personal matter; for some others it can be public matter. We have freedom of thought and expression. No one can stop others from believing in what they believe otherwise there is no difference between the two sets. So whether religion should be kept private or a public display could be made - is again a personal choice and people are free to believe in whichever way they think is right. 

- Rahul 

Tech: Nokia Smartphone

I have bought a Nokia Smartphone. It is not high-end as I am not much of a gadget freak. But its back panel says, "Made in India". And it is taking amazing pictures; I guess the Gulmohar tree would also agree here:

Do you know that Nokia's parent company HMD Global has announced plans to make complete Nokia phones in India in a phased manner? You can read about it here.

Nokia 3.1 Review:

The best thing I noticed about Nokia 3.1 Smartphone is its low weight. It is a great improvement over other cellphones you would be using currently.

Then Nokia 3.1 has got a beautiful design. I bought its black variant. There is a steel strip on its outer edge which gives it a nice look.

Nokia 3.1 runs on Android One which updates to latest version.

Specifications are below:

• RAM: 3 GB
• ROM: 32 GB
• Back Camera: 13 MP
• Selfie Camera: 8 MP

This is an amazing phone.

- Rahul Tiwary