THE ENIGMA CALLED MJ

“Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight,
Here one day, gone one night;
Like a sunset,
Dying with the rising of the moon;
Gone too soon…”

The Rise

How poignantly these lyrics describe the rise and fall of the departed King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson. Little could anyone have predicted that this hugely talented boy from Gary, Indiana., would one day take the music world by storm.
Starting his career as the lead vocalist in the Jackson 5 along with his brothers, Michael, came into his own in 1982 when he stunned music fans across nations with his pathbreaking album ‘Thriller’.

For those of us born in the late 70s and early 80s Michael Jackson was a staple diet on the music front. His “hoo, hoo!” “Aowwww!’ and vocal hiccup were imitated by almost everyone I knew – not to mention poor attempts at trying a hand at his impossible dance moves!
His songs have become a major part of the soundtrack of our lives. “Thriller”, “Man In The Mirror,” “Black Or White,” “Billie Jean,” “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “The Way You Make Me Feel”. The list is endless!

Michael Jackson was the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. In fact, he was the first coloured artist to be featured in an MTV video (Billie Jean).

Michael was larger than life and yet appeared unassuming at awards functions, interviews and performances, such as the Grammy’s, which we got to see, courtesy Doordarshan. Those were times when the world hadn’t woken up to the wonders of internet technology, so whosoever was lucky enough to own a television set would invite their neighbours and relatives to watch late night programmes of the master weaving his magic on stage. Michael mania was all around.
Every song that Michael sang raced to the top of the charts in America and elsewhere. This coupled with his phenomenal dancing prowess steadily earned him fans from as far away as Japan.

At about this time, Michael co-wrote the charity single “We are the World” with Lionel Ritchie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief. In 2000, Jackson was listed in the book of Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer or personality.

The early 90s saw a different Michael… his facial features and skin colour had changed, making him look almost effeminate. Naturally, people speculated on this and arrived at the conclusion that the pop star was bleaching his skin a lot and that he went under the surgeon’s knife in a bid to change his looks. While the latter was true, Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey in February 1993 during which he explained that his pallor was due to a skin condition known as Vitiligo. Fans sympathised. But with Michael one couldn’t be too sure. After all, he’d claimed in the mid-80s that he slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow down the aging process. And what can you make of a person who shared his bed and bathroom with a Chimpanzee?

Despite being the superstar who commanded worldwide attention and respect, Michael Jackson was a loner at heart with severe traits of eccentricity, which nobody could quite comprehend. He recounted in an interview about his troubled childhood and adolescence. The confusions and depressive things he had to endure when those of his age were living a carefree life. Images of his brutal father who thrashed him senseless for the smallest of mistakes, haunted him even years later.

Thus, Michael chose to live in the secure confines of the fictitious world of Peter Pan… a place where boys never aged nor shed their innocence. He even named his 2,500 acre ranch Neverland in honour of the author of the book J M Barrie. This vast place with its train rides, zoos and giant wheels would prove to become a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses.

The Fall

Neverland welcomed one and all; in particular, children. Michael took personal interest in catering to the needs of the (often unfortunate) kids who visited his ranch. It seemed that the super singer who donned the role of Peter Pan took care of the boys with kindness and immense love. He organised “sleepovers” and entertained droves of kids who flocked to his gates to savour the magical world called Neverland. But the supposed dark and seamier side of the place got exposed in 1993 when Michael was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler, who was a regular at Michael’s home.
The press tainted the image of the pop icon by likening him to a lecherous predator, who exploited the vulnerability of visiting children… a paedophile. These stories inspired the pejorative nickname “Wacko Jacko”. The tabloids in particular were ruthless in their reportage. The “revelations” shattered Michael a great deal. So much so that he began taking prescription medication in large quantities. His health deteriorated to the extent that he cancelled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation for a few months.
However, in 1994 a 22 million dollar out of court settlement meant that no criminal charges were brought against the singer. The question arises – If Michael Jackson had been sexually exploiting Chandler for a period of time wouldn’t his parents have been in the know of it, and wouldn’t the boy have protested the first time Michael (allegedly) laid his hands on him? Whether it was a strategy to finish Michael financially and professionally no one can say. It seems to me, it was. Stranger still is the fact that the boy’s mother vehemently denied that Michael had ever behaved inappropriately with her son. You be the judge.

In May of 1994, Michael married singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of King of Rock n’ Roll Elvis Presley. Their marriage (of convenience, as the newspapers dubbed it) ended less than two years later. Amid all the controversy in 1995 Michael released the “HIStory” album. During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married dermatologist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Michael.

The “moonwalker” performed a gig in India at the insistence of the Shiv Sena in 1996. When he left he wrote the following message on his pillow cover: "India, all my life I have longed to see your face. I met you and your people and fell in love with you. Now my heart is filled with sorrow and despair for I have to leave, but I promise I shall return to love you and caress you again.
"Your kindness has overwhelmed me, your spiritual awareness has moved me, and your children have truly touched my heart. They are the face of God. I truly love and adore you India. Forever, continue to love, heal and educate the children, the future shines on them. You are my special love, India. Forever, may God always bless you."

Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) was born in 2002 to a surrogate mother.

In 2003 in a Granada Television documentary titled ‘Living with Michael Jackson’ the singer was seen holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Gavin Arvizo, who would later accuse him of child sexual abuse. It seemed like someone, somewhere was out to get Michael and his millions, but who and why remains a mystery. The trial lasted five months, until the end of May 2005, he was acquitted on all counts. Jackson then relocated to Bahrain as a guest of the ruler’s son, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Reports are now emerging that resorted to doing one-night gigs for private parties for Arab sheikhs and Russians in London. These gigs apparently commanded up to 2.5 million dollars for an hour performance. Oh what a mighty fall the King of Pop had suffered!

Upon his return to the United States, Michael announced a series of 50 concerts in London in a comeback tour ironically titled “This is It”. He worked hard every day to make sure the shows, which were to begin from July 13 this year, were a success.

However, on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, and died shortly thereafter leaving a void that nobody can ever fill.His funeral is scheduled to be held on July 7.

@A tribute to MJ by Anand Balaji (First time online after his "greatunknown" blog shut down).
Anand Balaji, had been a Journalist with leading English newspapers in Bangalore, and later worked as a senior copywriter in an ad firm. He was a successful blogger in 2007. He quit his profession to pursue work as a freelance writer. Backbencher wishes him the best in all his endeavours.

Adieu Jumbo, Dada!

Two legends of our times chose to end their illustrious cricketing careers this month, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly.

Anil Kumble, older of the two and the most hardworking chap the Indian cricketing field has ever produced, bid adieu in a dramatic way on November 2nd. His passion for the game was awe inspiring, and a motivation for the whole of a generation. He would be remembered always for his Commitment, Grit, Passion, never-give-up kind of attitude. Personally he was a soft and gentle person, but on field, a “Jumbo”, a terror! I share a special bond with this fellow, yes; I went to the same college as Anil Kumble, though much later in times. That way, I will be very much proud of him, my senior in college!

His performances for the country….just tremendous! He is arguably the best bowler India has every produced. He has won more test matches than any other bowler in our times. When I started watching cricket, he had started his career. And went on inspiring the nation even to today… Today, he has ended his career as one of the games’ legends, the only one who shared the stage with the legendary likes of Shane Warne and Muralidharan! He spearheaded the Indian bowling attack for over 16 years, invented new ways to bowl, delivered occasional quicker flickers, the googlies, feasting the opposition batsmen for lunch tea and dinner. He was insatiable throughout. The fact that he once ran over all the ten batsmen of Pakistan stands as a testimony to that statement.

Sourav Ganguly, aggression personified; a brilliant off-side player, and a gritty captain, has called his day today. He was a champion, named fondly and rightly by fans as the Prince of Kolkata! He had that royal spine which crafted the Indian team to be a superpower in the sport. His constant encouragement saw the advent of younger players into the team, and his aggression on field saw records being fumbled and created for India on home turf, and foreign land alike. He took the Indian team from a mediocre 7th position on ODI charts to too close to the world cup in 2003. For being the most favourite and most successful Indian captain, he was fondly called “Dada” (Elder Brother) of Indian cricket.

I’d tribute with my “Hats off” to these legends at our most depressive cricketing moment; Depressive because, we wanted them for more time, but as they say… all good things come to an end, and Yes.

To see both going away from International arena at the same time is something cricket lovers of India can not digest easily. Yet, it is our duty to thank them for every single joy they gave us, for every moment they made us proud, for every smile they created on all the faces of this lovely country.

We say Good Bye with our utmost heartfelt contention. Wish you luck and glory in your life after cricket. Thanks for all the glorious moments; those were enough for this lifetime!

Great quotes on these two legends:

"To become another Anil Kumble one will have to work really, really hard," - Sachin Tendulkar

“On the off side, first there is God and then Saurav Ganguly." - Rahul Dravid.

@To be aired shortly: Wait for a series of articles, writeups on my favourite test and one day moments from the era gone by, here on the backbencher's page!

Birth Centenary of a legend

One evening a boy of three was out for a walk with his father.

There was also an elderly man with the father. Chatting they walked on and went beyond the village. Green crop delighted the eyes. The elders were walking along the edge of a field. Not hearing the footsteps of the boy, the father looked back.

The boy was sitting on the ground and seemed to be planting some thing. The father became curious."What are you doing?" said he."Look, father, I shall grow guns all over the field" was the innocent reply of the boy.

His eyes shone with the strong faith that guns would grow in the field. Both the elders were struck with wonder at the little boy's words.

The boy was Bhagat Singh who later fought like a hero for India's freedom and sacrificed his life.

BORN: Sept. 28, 1907, Punjab, India

1930: Threw bombs in Central Assembly Hall, protesting on imposing severe measures like the Trades Disputes Bill by the Britishers.

1930: Went on hunger strike to protest the inhuman treatment of fellow-political prisoners by jail authorities.

1930: Sukh Dev and Raj Guru, he was awarded the death sentence.

Died: Hanged in the early hours of March 23, 1931.

Cremated at: Ferozepur, Punjab.

Dr. Yallapragada Subbarow

by Dr. Rajan


Manhunt for a TB patient! It sounds like they are searching for an undetected suicide bomber.
Extremely resistant or multidrug-resistant pulmonary TB (MDR-TB) is not uncommon in the world. We should always keep in mind that communicable infections donot respect political or geographic borders any more. It is like trying to convince people that if a part of the fruit is rotten, it is not harmful if you eat the rest of it. The CDC knows very well that MDR_TB is in plenty out side USA. They should have taken steps at war speed when they came to know the ememrgence of MDR_TB decades ago. The CDC can not sleep over it for such a long time and suddenly try to seek measures to legally restrict movements of one patient labelled as 'extremely durg resistant'. The attitude that you can be happy and be safe and secure as long as the deadly bug does not come into USA, is by itself unprofessional and unsafe for everybody. It is obviously descriminative to do "manhunt" only if he is some body inside USA. If some one tries to tell us that CDC is meant only for USA, the things are different!

Another aspect of looking at the matters in connection with how things are working in the field of safegaurding the people of the globe is not at all encouraging.The descrimination meted out to peolple dedicated to this life saving field is clearly unhealthy. This has generated an atmosphere of doing research only " for a gain".There are some masterly examples where the highest hounours ( not to be mistaken for money in them!) have eluded the really worthy people and favoured only the others. Important theme of this communication is that we should not send wrong message by not honouring the right person and hounougring his junoior or the wrong person for some unspeakable reasons.

In the first quarter of this century there were persons and groups of people who had devotion for research. For just the asking, they gave out life-saving molecules like vitamins, anticancer drugs, antifilarial and antihelminthics, antibiotics both oridnary and broad-spectrum, and saved the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians and paveved the way for whole lot of reserach which has brought solace to the whole world. If you claim that biotechnology, genomics, bio-energetics and nano-bio-tehnology is all modern and recent, you are thorougly mistaken.
The story actually started way back in late 1920s.



To cut a long story short, there was a man called Dr. Yallapragada Subbarow, who came to the USA in 1925 and lead the reaserch for discoveery of ATP (1929), the very primordial molecule in energy transduction from sun to our biosphere. He laid the very foundation for bilogical reaserach wonders of today! There was a time when, when ever there was a need for some new drug molecuele or mass produce a drug, the clinicians, pathologists and even the government of USA used to send requests and prevail upon him to synthesize them or manufacture and pass it on to them. That was the confidence they had in him. Rational clinical trials took place using those molecules and brought out success for the first time in the history of modern medicine in treating intractable infections, stubborn anemias and incurable deadly cancer. These days one has to use an electron-microscope to find a person like him.
Although he lead the teams, the honours went to the other persons in the same team.

The folates that he and his teammates gave are so commonplace today that you see them being present in the beverages you consume, the toothepaste that you use and see them being medically administered to every un-born and the new-born and the adults all over the world, be it in a city or a hill tribe. Many other molecules which make up the B-complex vitamins were synthesized by him and his team. He was the Director of Research in Lederley Laboratories and the Chief of Biological chemistry in Harvard Medical School, Boston, when he synthesized the first ever anti-cancer molecule, Aminopterin (1947), and on the request from a pathologist in Boston passed it on to him for rational clinical trials in acute leukemia in children. Very soon after succeessful trial report, which of course never gave him the deserved recognition, inspired his team members to synthesize more safer Methotrexate, which is a mainstay in cancer chemotheray today. Methotrexate has many other non-cancer clinical applications. For this discovery of a firstever cancedr cure, one of his team members got the Nobel Prize and he did not even get a share of it.

In fact one of his life time missions, according to his own statement, was to generate some more molecules to the benifit of mankind before his early death in August 1948. If he were to be alive today the panic created by this drug-resistant fugutive would have been, probably not arisen at all. His soul may be looking out for some body on dear-earth to take his guidance and bring out some molecules to contain the uncontainable diseases.

He was in a gubernacular position in Lederely labs of American Cyanamid Company and mass manufactured millions of doses of Penicillin. for the sake of suffering soldiers of WW-II and the public. He gave the first ever broad spectrum antiobiotic, Tetracyline (1948), which has saved millions since then, but the world came to know that it was his gift only when there was an epidemic of Plague in 1994, in India. In 1994-5 America celebrated his Centenary in a big way. Only then some of his countrymen heard his name. His research gave the first and the only effective antifilarial drug, Diethyl Carbamazine. As he was a Gandhian the accolade was given to some other person. The foundation he laid has given rise to both curative as well as preventive mendicine of today. Public liffe in both the hemispheres, is so very like a sojourn today compared to the dark days of poor medical faicilities. His name is found in connection with many drugs and other related molecules, in many science and biological discovery Timelines along with Aristotle, Newton, William Harvey, Alexander Fleming. He is one of the most quoted persons in the history of Science. He is acknowledged rightly in many Nobel lectures, but unfortunately missing in Nobel winner's list.

Government of India has brought out his commemoration stamp and instiuted a National oration in his name. But still his countrymen donot think that it is their duty and a proud previlege to honour him. It is strange but true un-indian attitude to ge so ungrateful and escape from the duty in the name of being modest. It was so strange to see that a scolarly bok on Biochemistry of medical students written in 2005 failed to mention his name. In fact there may be some thing more than we discern, hidden behind this mystery of missing Nobels!

Indeed, his devotion and love for mankind was undoubtedly a mesaiah's work, which clearly puts it beyond the scope of the Nobel prize. The world is still awaiting for one more sermon on the Mount or some more Commandments or some more Geethopadeshas to get an attitude of justful distribution of honours. I have been looking forward to a day when the First Government, thinks of thanks-giving by respecting him with the highest civilian honour of this globe. Probably this will be the right message to the scienttific world that work with right spirit will always be commemorated and never forgotten. His birth day is January 12th 1895, and his 60th death anniversary will be on Aug 28th 2007.

Please visit: ysubbarow.com , cdc.gov for details.

Please interact: drtknag@yahoo.com.

Dated: May 31st, 2007. Novi. MI.

Remembering a legend

Fans garlanding the photograph of legendary Kannada thespian and a model Kannada activist, Dr. Rajkumar on the eve of his first death anniversary in Bangalore.

Rajkumar has been a synonym for Kannada film industry for about five decades now.
His memory will forever be etched in all the Kannada minds. I salute this great man today.

Synonym to knowledge, religion, sacrifice, courage and patriotism...Lets remember the great soul!!

I cannot write about Vivekananda without going into raptures. Few indeed could comprehend or fathom him even among those who had the privilege of becoming intimate with him. His personality was rich, profound and complex... Reckless in his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and versatile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks but yet simple as a child, he was a rare personality in this world of ours... Subhash Chandra Bose

He was that great a man. An inspiration to billions throught the world, even after a century of demise. This fact itself speaks volumes about him.

Lets remember him on the day of his birth anniversary.

Incedentally this day is being celebrated by the Indian Govt as National Youth Day. And rightly so. He has been an inspiration and a great motivating factor for country's youth for the last century and will remain so for many centuries to come.

Following is an absorbing account about this great Patriotic saint India has found in the modern times.


For those who can not read Kannada, here I'm typing it in English.

Vivekananda..
Whole world is still not able to figure out this personality. Even today he is a mystery.
He wandered across the world like an emeror, conquered hearts and minds of people all thru the globe, commended respect from even the powerful.
He attained all the knowledge available. There was nothing in the world that was not reachable to him.
Eastern, western philosophies, musics, scientific invensions, vedic mannerisms, complete proficiency in Sanskrit, English, Latin, French languages and literature,
thoughts from Ravivarma, Spencer, Hegel, pre-inscriptions about the contemporary invensions....what not!!

He was all these when he was a student. Professors amazed "We don't get to see such brilliant pupil even in German Universities."

Porabandar's Deewan Panduranga Swamiji, a scholar who was translating Atharvana veda in to English exclaimed "A 30 minutes disucssion with you is like reading 10 books at once."

He was denied permission to take part in the world religion conference. At that moment he was traveling to Boston from Chicago in search of a support. Some Miss Catherine asked him to stay with her family for some time and enlighten them with his knowledge. For one of the discourses, she invited her neighbour, a Harward professor, Henrilite. Impressed with the abode of supreme knowledge in front of him, he asked Swamiji why didn't he attend the Conference of world religions. For which Swamiji replied by saying that he didnt have a reference.
He was surprised and said "You dont need a reference Swamiji!! If they ask you for reference, its as stupid as asking Sun why does he shone." Professor also wrote a reference note to the organisers which had these words "Here is a monk from India who is more learned than all American professors put together." Rest is history.

Gandhi, Nehru, Netaji, Rajaji, Radhakrishnan, Jemshedji Tata...everyone got their inspiration from this great soul. They also followed his righteous path.
Unfortunately post-independence, we are looking at American, English and Russian professors for guidance.

As Professor Henrilite said, Sun alone is comparable to Swamiji. Swamiji with his positive thoughts, just like Sun, is an ocean of energy.
- Swami Nirbhayananda Saraswati.


Beware of everything that is untrue. Stick to truth and we shall succeed.
Fifty centuries are looking on you, the future of India depends on you. Work on.."
- Swami Vivekananda

WHO AM I

Here I am. Take a guess and find me out!!
I here give you three clues :
1. I am a Sardar.
2. Today(27/09) is my birthday.
3. Above pic was taken when I was 17 years old, I was at Amritsar, and I was the editor of two dailies, one in Punjabi and another in Urdu.

Now tell me WHO I AM, before wishing me a happy birthday!!!!!

Ustad for all seasons, all religions and for all minds.

Copied from RK's page :
My friend’s father had the honour of meeting the Ustad. He shares his experience thus:

One morning in the late 1980s, I had the rare honour to meet the maestro in Mumbai. He shared his approach to music thus. “I do not know where the concert is, because, for me every dais in the world is the same, because my job is only to play the Shehnai.”

“Don’t think that the Surs (notes) are mere keys or points on instruments. Each Sur is a living entity. So, the first musical note Sa has its own home. Enter that home, stay there for a few years, understand it and then open a window of the house and look out. You will notice that the second note Re has its house just next door. Observe Re while still living inside Sa for a few years and then move out to stay in Re for a few years, closed doors. After you have assimilated Re’s essence, open windows on both sides of Re’s house. You will see that the third note Ga has built a house for itself just next to the house of the note Re. From Re’s home, relate to Sa on one side and Ga on the other side and so on.. Get into this dialogue, and drink in the elixir. My dear son, that’s music and it is surely not a mission to be completed in one birth.”

His Shehnai made us realise the divinity in music. A man of all religions, he was indeed a divine soul ,yet again incarnated in India to show us that beyond all religions there are subtle and sublime things in life which can bind us together. Though he was born as a muslim, his music was apt for all religous functions of all religions.He was the Kohinoor amongst musicians and his loss is beyond descriptions by words.He has returned back to his celestial world but his music will linger for ever in our hearts.


Yes, In deed, a great gem is lost today. Its lost to some place from where we can not recover it. Well.. friends, we are talking about Ustad Bismillah Khan. His demise is a great loss to the country in particular the Indian music. Any person who enjoys music should always be greatful to the Ustad. His music is apt for every mind, every season and on every occasion.

This is a small homage to a great saint of Shehnai. Hope his soul rests in peace!!

100 Years of a heritage…….

This is the centinary year of Rasipuram Krishnaswami Ayyar Naranayanaswami, to be specific, R. K. Narayan.


R. K. Narayan is the most widely read and cherished Indian novelist in English.
He was a master story teller, who made stories out of ordinary instances. All of his stories were characterised by simplicity and gentle humor. Only few writers can bring the fiction to reality and R.K.Narayan is definitely the one.

He is unusual among Indian authors writing in English in that he has stayed contentedly in India, venturing abroad only rarely. He rarely addresses political issues or tries to explore the cutting edge of fiction. He is a traditional teller of tales, a creator of realist fiction which is often gentle, humorous, and warm rather than hard-hitting or profound. Almost all of his writings are set in the fictional city of Malgudi, and are narrowly focused on the lives of relatively humble individuals, neither extremely poor nor very rich.

Narayan lived till ninety-five, writing for more than fifty years, and publishing till he was eighty seven. He wrote fifteen novels, five volumes of short stories, a number of travelogues and collections of non-fiction, an English translation of Indian epics, and the memoir My Days.

A town called Malgudi
A railway station serves as the main entry point for the town called malgudi. It's here you could find Raju, a guide who helps you to explore this hamlet. On the way through Lawley's extension, you'll find Ananda Bhavan where you can have a sip of coffee and continue your journey. During your journey to malgudi (which in fact even God doesn't have the capability to create such an exquisite village), you'll come across the talkative man (who keeps gossiping about anything and everything), the financial expert (who earns money by providing loan and financial advice to villagers), Mr. Sampath (the owner of truth press), the English teacher and list goes endless. As you explore further, you can come across this small creature called Swami. And further, most certainly you’ll see yourself some where there.

Centenary year.
This is the centenary year of RKN’s birth. Its still not known about how the Governament plans to observe this memorable occasion. But as an admirer of RKN’s works, Mr. Chaturvedi, the Hon. Governor of Karnataka, has suggested the Railways ministry to name the Chennai-Mysore express as “Malgudi express” to honour the legend on this occasion.

As a lover of Narayan’s works, myself plan to buy all of his books this year J Yes, I really mean it. Though I’ve read most of the works of the master, I’ve read most of them by borrowing from someone/library. So, this year, as my personal homage to this legend, I’ll buy his books and read them all again(;)).
Let me also wait for Govt to declare some sort of respect to this legend of Malgudi.