Dinesh Kamath

The first picture is of Dinesh Kamath, the writer of this piece

The second picture is of Sonny Corleone - A Powerful Lover and Warrior

Today, I'll talk about Sonny Corleone who was one of the most important characters in the movie Godfather. This character impresses me for several reasons. I loved his military mind, his love for women and his love for his family. I loved his body language, his style of delivering dialogues, his temperament, his legendary love and his legendary temper. If I had to get a chance to act in films I would love to play Sonny Corleone. That much I love this character.

In the movie his father's role was played by great Marlon Brando. Brando had played the role of Godfather Vito Corleone. Vito Corleone was not happy with Sonny's lifestyle. But he could not help but admit that it was Sonny who made him the number one Godfather. He had to admit that it was Sonny who made his family the number one family among the five mafia families which existed in New York. Sonny, for your information, never got a chance to play the role of Godfather. But he did play the role of Acting Godfather twice. First time he became Acting Godfather, it was when Vito Corleone was shot by someone and he had to be hospitalized. Sonny then became the Acting Godfather and he used this opportunity to take full revenge against the other mafia families. He got the opportunity to display his powerful and legendary military mind. It was he and his henchman Luca Brassi who together created havoc among all the mafia families in New York. It was at this time that he managed to make his father Vito Corleone the number one Godfather in New York. He had also made his family the number one family among all the mafia families in New York. When Vito Corleone was discharged from hospital he took over again as Godfather. But this time, he was number one Godfather, thanks to Sonny and his powerful military mind which helped him to humble all the other mafia families who now feared him, dreaded him and respected him.

Sonny Corleone once again got the opportunity to play the role of Acting Godfather when Vito Corleone was once again shot owing to which he had to be hospitalized. Sonny Corleone once again waged a war of vendetta and he lived up to the reputation of one with a powerful military brain. But unfortunately his legendary temper proved to be his downfall. His enemies banked on this weak point of Sonny and got him trapped and killed in the most brutal manner. Thus Sonny Corleone could not survive to become a Godfather after his father Vito Corleone. It was his younger brother Michael Corleone who became the Godfather and his style of functioning was different from that of Sonny Corleone but he proved to be the most successful Godfather. For your information, the role of Michael Corleone was played by another great actor of Hollywood who was none other than Al Pacino.

The role of Sonny Corleone was played by James Caan. I got all this above information from the novel Godfahter. It is unfortunate that the movie Godfather didn't depict Sonny in a proper light. The movie 'Godfather' didn't depict Sonny's military mind to the extent the novel had depicted. If the movie had shown Sonny's military exploits, the movie would have been much more appreciated by the audiences and also Sonny would have been much more loved and adored by the world audiences. Bye!

Forgiveness can create magic
Here are the words of a Messiah uttered in writer's own words:
“The call to forgiveness and reconciliation is vital for the survival of the human race. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. The cause of many a suffering is the feeling of vengeance, jealousy and greed, yet we have a choice before us, to not succumb to these negative aspects. By forgiving those who wrong us, not only do we create the right environment for harmony and peace, we also promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Miracles happen when two alienated people start all over again. An estranged father holds out his hand to his daughter; those on the brink of divorce suddenly undergo a change of heart; bitter enemies become friends as suspicions get lifted - transforming relationships happen through the melting away of bitterness and animosity.
Forgiveness is an act of love. It has the power to heal. At the heart of love is forgiveness and compassion. Forgiveness creates the possibilities of release from an unfair or unpleasant past. It takes us off the escalator of revenge providing an escape from gradual and total ruin. To forgive is to put down heavy baggage from one's back. It is setting oneself free from bonds of hatred.
Today when terrorism and hatred, suspicion and greed seek to create chaos and uncertainty all over the globe, understanding, atonement and forgiveness need to be propagated and practised more effectively if we are to improve the quality of our lives and evolve on the spiritual path. Forgiveness holds the key. Its give and take will open doors to greater brotherhood and understanding. Forgiving is the sign of civilization.”

Need for electoral reformsThe corruption in government in a big scale proves that there is a need for electoral reforms. This is exactly what social activist Anna Hazare was trying to emphasise and hence he demanded for a tougher Lokpal Bill. The committee which has been formed to draft a better Lokpal Bill should focus on electoral reforms as well.
We need to debate in great length on the drawbacks that lie in present system of election if we want to bring about electoral reforms. An educated poor person who is fit to lead the nation just cannot even dream of winning elections in India. It is the corrupt rich who buy votes with their muscle power and money who stand a chance to get elected. Many a times, due to lack of choice, the electorate is forced to compromise on the quality of election candidates.
In order to ensure integrity and increase choice for voters, it is imperative to enhance the provisions of the 'no vote' option in election rules. The present law gives voters the right to exercise their franchise and yet not vote for any of the candidates on the ballot list. However, not only is awareness regarding the provision low, no-votes do not impact the overall outcome of the election. The law which states that the voters have to declare their intention to the presiding officer of the polling station goes against the very spirit of a secret ballot.
To strengthen the provision the rules could stipulate that in the event the number of no-votes amounted to 50% or more of the total votes cast, election to that particular constituency would be cancelled and fresh elections held with the earlier slate of candidates debarred from contesting. This could make political parties accountable and force them to field candidates with clean records. Another thing is measures should be taken to curb the flow of black money into election campaigns.
Criminal cases against sitting legislators should be expedited through fast-track courts. Empowering the electorate through an option to recall elected representatives is a good idea. The electoral process is the foundation of a democracy. Strengthening it is the key to enhancing the quality of governance.

Replace rote learning by scientific methodOne of the main reasons why our agricultural sector is dwindling is the lack of emphasis or adequate knowledge into the subject. We can bring in innovation in this field and at the same time work towards self-sufficiency. A village boy may understand better about plants and animals, and hence avenues must be provided for him to explore and improve in areas that he can excel in. Converting a whole nation into engineers and doctors won't solve our basic needs, but will only compound the problem.
We have to change our learning system. It is something like developing inquisitiveness.
The progress in our children's comprehensive ability and the subtle and variegated creativity they show in their everyday lives go unappreciated and even under valued. Our children, from very young age, are encouraged by parents and secondarily by teachers, to achieve 'high marks' and to get 'first rank' in their class. No other achievement is valued with higher regard by their elders. Thus getting higher marks than their peers becomes the only valued goal in our kids' lives. Unfortunately the various 'competitive' entrance tests which determine the future of children are also based on achieving higher marks over others. Numerous schools and tutorials help kids achieve this goal, by tutoring them in tricks to achieve higher marks. Thus the whole system is geared to do this. Experimentation, as a method to learn truth, has become outright secondary in this system. Higher value (read marks again) is given to just repeating the facts detected through experiment originally done by some one else (usually outside the country). The general impression is that it is a waste of time and money to realize a known fact through an experiment. Thus rote learning of facts has substituted the role of experimentation. It is our own making that the process of experimentation has failed to become a habit in our children's lives.
Responsibility lies with parents, teachers and the education ministry in changing the basic incentives in education. The education ministry may exploit the bait of high marks to promote original thinking and learning through experimentation.
The text books should encourage the Scientific Method rather than the rote learning. Each student should be expected to carry out an investigation using the scientific processes. The teachers should be not only adept in the content but also be an inspiration for the students for the scientific inquiry. India needs a lot more colleges of Science Education and Mathematics.

Improve the education systemThe perception of the subject called 'Science' should be changed among Indian students. Science should be made “cool and fun.” A fresh approach should be adopted. The best methods of teaching science should be worked out. The rote learning system adopted by most schools in India, even classroom study combined with some laboratory work with pre-defined outcomes, does very little to stimulate curiosity and interest in science.
Scientists from India's space and atomic energy departments and in some other places where serious science is done can lead the way in engaging with school pupils and getting them to do real science. India needs to establish more science and research centers besides good teachers to take the lead. Even after six decades of education Science and Technology education has not reached the students properly. This speaks volumes of our standard of education. It has come down considerably. But for one University, none of the Indian universities have found place in the list of top 200 universities in the world. Standard of science education needs to be made more innovative and practical oriented.
Novel scientific questions should be raised and answered in a scientific way. India should also create creativity among school children. Our education should send some meaning in the minds of the students. In the present education system, marks alone have become a criterion for a job. This trend should change. Education must be made to tap the real talent of the students. Education must be made to create more inventions among the students. The entire education should be changed completely so that education becomes a torch bearer of Science and Technology to the lives of the students.
Teaching community should find ways of imparting the contents in a simpler way. The kind of pressure exerted on the students at the +2 level by school teachers is mind boggling. Students are made to believe that the only way to lead a successful life is through scoring high marks.
The current academic curriculum is job-centric. This style is counter productive to creativity and development in all fields scientifically. Unless an effort is taken to completely overhaul the current education system, in a phased manner, development will be more concentrated in getting white collar jobs.

US attack has embarrassed PakistanOsama bin Laden's killing is an important event in the global struggle against violent extremism propagated by al-Qaida and its ilk. Pakistan warned of catastrophic consequences if any country - read India - were to try to carry out a US-style operation. New Delhi's done well not to respond. Abbottabad indicates that at least a segment of Pakistan's military-ISI combine has been supporting extremists. Abbottabad might be an embarrassment, but it's also an opportunity for course correction. The world is now convinced that the terrorists have found shelter in Pakistan.
Army chief General V K Singh's made a statement that Indian forces can carry out Abbottabad-type operations. Pakistan pounced upon this remark about India's capability to undertake surgical covert operations like the one Americans pulled off in Abbottabad.
Islamabad warned a similar move by India will trigger military retaliation. The generals took serious note of assertions made by the Indian military leadership about conducting similar operations.
"Any misadventure of this kind will be responded to very strongly. There should be no doubt about it," Pakistan warned.
"Any other country that would ever act (similarly) on the assumption that it has the might ... will find it has made a basic miscalculation," Pakistan further warned
"Any such misadventure will result in a major catastrophe. We see a lot of bravado in our region... from the military, air force, which state that this can be repeated," added Pakistan
Abbottabad is leveraged to both persuade Pakistan behind the scenes to clean house as well as to support it in any efforts to do so. That the Americans could enter Abbottabad, home to the Pakistan Military Academy and two regiments, has come as a huge embarrassment to the military-ISI complex which prides itself as the mainstay of Pakistan.
The pressure that Pakistan's military and political leadership has come under, to clarify why it hadn't explained the US action, is too much. Not only has the raid embarrassed the military establishment, it has triggered street protests by Muslim groups that the government fears could further sour the public mood against it.
The best thing is New Delhi had the guts to threaten to hit terrorists holed up in Pakistan cities.