Saturday, December 12, 2009

State Of The Art

[ This post is written in the light of the domino effect of  the proposed Andhra Pradesh split. ]

It’s 2012. The earth doesn’t seem to be ending any soon. Sameer is watching KBC which is being hosted by Abhishek Bachchan. On the hot seat is Rita. Abhishek is asking her the next question:

Which is the largest state of India?

A. Bhowanipur
B. Khairatabad
C. C V Raman Nagar
D. Goa

Rita, after a lot of considerations, says – D. Goa. Abhishek Bachchan asks if he could lock that answer. Rita confirms. Just then, Abhishek breaks for commercial ads.

First Commercial Ad: It shows a mother worried about her child’s poor memory. He couldn’t answer the only question in the Geography test – Name the states of India. The teacher then recommends drinking GarLicks, a malt drink. After drinking it, the memory of the boy improved. On the first day itself he could answer question like – name the neighboring states of T-Nagar, which was in Chennai once upon a time. And after drinking the health drink for 100 days, he could remember the names of 50% of the states.

Sameer thinks that the time allocated to ads is unreasonably high. He uses this time to send reminder STD texts to his classmates for the inter-state cricket match they will have on the next day in their school compound after the class. Thankfully, all mobile phone operators have made the STD and local rates equal for both voice call and SMS.

Sameer, then, turns to his computer and reads a blog on Mundane Journey on the increase in the percentage of GDP spent on the government employees and ministers in the last three years. Just then he heard noise on the National Highway passing adjacent to his house. There were two groups of people fighting for the ownership of the water from the tube-well which supposedly fell at the boarder of the two newly formed states.

Sameer’s father asks him about the noise on the road. Sameer tells him the story. His father, who was once the Durga Puja committee president and now the chief minister of the state, gets worried and goes down to look into the matter.

Sameer’s attention is drawn to the television set again.

Next Commercial ad: The ad is of a product called Slays. It’s is a special snack which can be had during fasts. The catch line of the product is – Slays. So that you can become CM without pain.


KBC resumes. Abhishek welcomes the audience back. He recapitulates the question and the answer Rita gave. The background music adds to the suspense. He, then, says:

Sahi Jawab!

25 comments:

Mustaf December 12, 2009 at 8:25 PM  

This is awesome :) just too good....not getting time nowadays to read & write blogs...just came here by chance...awesome reading :)

Shady West Side December 13, 2009 at 6:15 PM  

brilliant......especially in todays times

Biswajit Biswas December 14, 2009 at 11:12 AM  

I have become a fan of yours, I think you hit the right chord everytime, you always write on the issues which always I thought to throw some light (I do not write anymore though). One word for this one Brillant!!! even my brother has become a fan of yours ( although he do not read blogs)

Sheetal Kamat December 14, 2009 at 11:41 AM  

This is one of the most brilliant post you have ever written.. The tone, the points you made across - all real and cant help but notice that even though today this looks like sarcassam, over the board imagination but might be the truth seeing the way current affairs are.

Sheetal Kamat December 14, 2009 at 11:41 AM  

This is one of the most brilliant post you have ever written.. The tone, the points you made across - all real and cant help but notice that even though today this looks like sarcassam, over the board imagination but might be the truth seeing the way current affairs are.

Unknown December 14, 2009 at 12:47 PM  

boss!! You rock...

Anuraag December 14, 2009 at 4:40 PM  

Very unfortunate situation we are all in. I hope more and more people read your blog and understand the consequences. Your style of writing may influence in the right way to the people, though educated and have the capability to understand but are failing to understand. Good job on the blog!!!

Lavanya December 14, 2009 at 4:58 PM  

Brilliant!
I loved your blog.Keep posting :)

Garlicks!!!! :D LOL!

pallav December 14, 2009 at 6:11 PM  

that's a very well written post, talking about the issue from a variety of angles, comic and thought provoking at the same time. awesome :)

Prashant Mehta December 14, 2009 at 6:25 PM  

Mustaf ji
Thanks! Yeah, i didn't see any post from you. Awaiting your next musings!

Shahid Mukadam ji
Thanks!

Biswajit Biswas ji
I am honored! I wish you re-start writing sooner that later

Sheetal Kamat ji
Thanks!

Viswanath ji
Thanks!

Anuraag ji
Thanks! Hope the division of states saga end soon.

Lavanya ji
Thanks! When are you coming with your next post? As in a blog post :-p

pallav ji
Thanks!

Maliha Mariyam December 14, 2009 at 8:18 PM  

very original and fun, makes reading more fun !
loved the 'Slays. So that you can become CM without pain'. too good.. how did u come up with slays? :-D

Avik December 14, 2009 at 8:26 PM  

was it written brilliantly, is it this blog that will make people aware of the ongoing unscrupullus situation-its hard to say but I would like to say that this write up was well blended and presented with the few situations taken together.

Leon December 14, 2009 at 9:29 PM  

I dont understand the 'Slays. So that you can become CM without pain' part..just seems random ..

Prashant Mehta December 14, 2009 at 9:57 PM  

caneo ji

Thanks! As for Slays, which brand name comes to your mind when i say 'snack'? :)

Avik ji

I didn't claim anything. Thanks for liking it

Leon ji

Well, let's put it this way. There are a number of supposedly 'wannabe CMs' who are fasting for a separate state. If this continues, some company will definitely come up with a snack which it will try to position as a product that can be eaten during a fast, though it goes against the definition of fast. Or perhaps it doesn't.

deicider December 14, 2009 at 11:04 PM  

Unity in diversity----the most common essay topic you would get to write on in school.
Your blog reminds me of all such essyas!
Brilliant!

Prashant Mehta December 15, 2009 at 8:56 PM  

deicider ji

Not sure if i got the connection between this post and 'those' essays. Thanks, anyway!

Unknown December 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM  

Smart one! Nice mockery of the state of affairs! Keep posting!While reading this I had the below thoughts in my mind...
State hood:
Its an Employment for few politicians & vote bank for few others,
Its an Emotion for Students - one immolates, one slits..,
Its a polity for the center,
Its business for some and development for few others,
Its a blog for one and comment for the other,
What is it for a anyone striving for basic needs..,
one state or hundred states does it really matter to him?

Prashant Mehta December 18, 2009 at 10:40 PM  

Sridhar ji

I agree. Everyone wants to use the condition to their advantage. The condition is created to be taken advantage of :)

Its a blog for one and comment for the other,

LOL. Yet, so true :)

subu.ps December 30, 2009 at 4:09 PM  

very neatly written. I liked the way you presented the subject. Wondering how the current crisis in AP will end.
I came to your blog from adsense forum.
Is your blog approved by adsense now?

nidhesh January 6, 2010 at 1:36 AM  

Hi Prashant,
How r u these days.
I have waiting for new post for a long time time.
I guess, you are busy or is it the internet trouble again.

Prashant Mehta January 6, 2010 at 3:25 PM  

subu.ps ji

Thanks!

No, i didn't reapply for adsense.

nidhesh ji

I don't know how to describe my current state. I am currently going through a very different kind of a journey. Though, physically, I'll be back to home next week. I am not sure if i;kk be back to the same state. Stay tuned till i sync in and synthesize my thoughts in a blog post.

alpesh January 25, 2010 at 2:00 AM  

Fabulous,mind boggling... for me, it's one of the best blog written by u buddy..must say..u have made it very succinct and clear..rite bang on the target...

Walker and Gazer..!! March 17, 2011 at 12:04 AM  

An Excellent Way of presenting the fact and sending the message.
Kewl One :)

Prashant Mehta March 18, 2011 at 12:18 AM  

alpesh ji and Walker and Gazer..!! ji
Thanks!

Anonymous March 16, 2013 at 2:49 PM  

Woah!!!..) it s great...

  © Blogger template 'A Click Apart' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP