He is a first media stalwart who carried his vision in this naughty world of powerbrokers. His dareness to dream and to bare the truth allowed him to challenge the physical world despite being physically challenged.

Meet the man Natar Ravi Subbaiah, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Navi Mumbai Television (NMTV) Pvt. Ltd, who got inflicted from polio at the very early age with the soul remaining unaffected. He turned adversity into opportunity and entered into cable and news business which was primarily a domain of powerful well networked people He is a teacher, a guardian, an inspiration, a motivation.
His principle in life is ‘Be slaves to nothing but duty and friends to nothing but merit.’

Die hard optimist
Black Friday is observed as an inauspicious day but Ravi was born on black Friday on 13th Janrurary 1969. He was born to a poor South Indian family living in Dharavi slums in Mumbai. Initial happiness that brought fate to a family when his father got a permanent job turned into sorrow and pain when he got severe polio attack and resulted in the temporary loss of speech and hearing and permanent disability of both the lower limbs for the boy. But destiny decided against the fate and he was the only survivor of the 25 polio victims who were admitted to the Orthopaedic Hospital at Haji Ali, Mumbai. The Darwin’s theory of fittest survival proves here again
Ravi braved the ignorance, insults and embarrassments and realised the harsh realities of life, But these realisation turned him into hardcore optimist and he vowed to take on the realities with education and perseverance and it proved to be the key of success for him For consistent income for the family he started giving tuitions in early student life and later started Kaizen Engineering Classes.. He lost his childhood in struggle for his existence.

Fighting odds
Ravi ji’s education was itself a great challenge He passed Std. 12th brilliantly and opted for the stream of science. But again here he had to face the hard and harsh realities of his life and being told that his physical state would not suit the long hours of standing and working in the laboratories. With no choice, he then opted for the stream of commerce at Rayat Shikshan Sanstha’s Modern College situated at Vashi, Navi Mumbai and got first class degree in 1990.But the years of struggle and the passage of time had turned him into a young self-motivated man. He turned from a dependent kid to an independent young warrior.

Enterprising soul
The fight to survive and to carve out his own niche, Ravi chooses to be an entrepreneur and create job for needy and deprived. It is a great question one may ask that being physically challenged what motivates him to keep on moving. He nonchalantly said, “Early struggles in life due to my disability has helped me see the real meaning of life. I strongly believe that nothing is impossible and that I am as able as anyone else” Still under pressure from his family, once he went for an interview to get a job in NOCIL. But there he bluntly told his interviewer that he was not interested in doing job but to be a self employed person.
When asked how he came in cable business in the world of many other business options, Ravi said, “I am an ardent cricket fan. In 1987 I went to get a cable connection to watch India Australia match. But all the cable owners asked for exorbitant price and refused me to get connection. Here I took the challenge of being a cable operator.”

Cable TV business is one the most unorganised sectors to work in. Even for the striving man, it meant underworld threats, political pressure and all sorts of coercions from many to discontinue. But the young man believed that being an Indian he had every right to work and earn on this land’s soil and that too in accord of his choice of business. With the same grit, determination, courage, God’s grace and this time support from not only family but also friends and well-wishers, he progressed and his business flourished. Today Ravi is the Founder and Director of SSV Cable Pvt. Ltd., the largest cable TV network of Navi Mumbai.

Redefining News
After leaving his footprint in cable business he thought to be voice of people. His penchant to serve the society witnessed the birth of NMTV. So what motivated Ravi to join media industry? “Being a person with disability, hailing from an economically weak background, since childhood I have seen the real issues of people up, close and personal. That is, I always wanted to do something for the people. So when I got an opportunity I joined the media industry.” He replied.

Initially he started a half an hour a day video news magazine And today NMTV became the most popular and trusted 24 hrs local cable news station. He claims that his channel is different from other news channel. He quipped, “NMTV is a news channel for solution, not for sensation. We strive to be the most trusted and reliable platform for the masses. The channel believes in the ideology of awakening & enlightening people with human values besides being informative and educative.” He wishes to make NMTV a satellite channel with local content. This wish with conviction comes from the fact that he believes that today media industry has become dangerous, disturbing, immoral, irresponsible and hypocrite.

Today NMTV’s ‘Navi Mumbai News’ in English, Hindi & Marathi bring all the problems that is the plague of the society. The apathy of authorities, the corrupt action of governing bodies and the ignorance that prevails in people which does not allow flourishing a healthy ambiance for people to live in, is content mantra of NMTV. ‘Navi Mumbai News’ detect such problems awakening the mass with knowledge and resulting corrective actions, that their stains can be washed from the existing social fabric.. Under Ravi’s dynamic leadership, Navi Mumbai Television is the 1st cable News channel in India to have been awarded the state’s accreditation. NMTV is accredited news channel by the Govt. of Maharashtra for viewership and quality programming.

Cooperative Missionary

Ravi ji’s soul lies in people and working for deprived and downtrodden is his passion. He leaves no stone unturned to bring out a positive and visible change in life of a deprived person. To convert his passion into reality he started “Handicapped Welfare Association”, the purpose of which was to provide support to these special people that they did not get prior to this. Handicapped Welfare Association is a Non-Government Organization working for ‘Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation for Disabled’ in Navi Mumbai and to bring immediate and effective solutions for the cause of the handicapped.

Awards and Accolades
Despite facing a hostile world Ravi turned his dreams into reality. Now he is getting his due from the society .The Indian Merchants Chambers has conferred the “Jewel of Navi Mumbai” award to Ravi Subbaiah for his contributions as a media person in making a beautiful Navi Mumbai. Apart from that Ravi Subbaiah was also awarded the International Galilean Award 2008 for community service from the platform of NMTV. For his work and research in the field of media, he has been honoured with an honorary Doctorate from the University of Jerusalem this year.

Hardcore humanist
Ravi believes in the religion of humanism. May be his encounter with life in early phases have bestowed this unique gift of humanism in him. He never distinguishes between two persons on the ground of caste creed and religion. “After the polio attack and the resulting handicap, the moments of desperation in my family intensified to such heights that the family members were ready to lose hope and take drastic measures to abandon me. At a time like this, an Evangelist entered our lives and for the family, played the role of a God sent. He caressed my legs and I started improving. He gave the support that was never there in our lives. So I developed love and faith in Jesus and respect for humanity,” emphasizes Ravi with starry eyes.

Lady Luck
Married with his soul mate Deepika Rani-, he is blessed with two daughters Marilyn and Carolyn. When asked how lady luck smiled on him he said, “Deepika is again God sent who gave me love and care after my mother. Despite facing hostile in-laws we got married. After my mother, my wife stood by me at all times. And today she has given me what I call ‘the most precious gifts of life’-two lovely daughters Marilyn and Carolyn.”

Inspiration and Ideas
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, Ravi thinks that India is in the infant stage to join as a world media giant. “There is more than what catches the eye. We are big copy cats copying the western media. Real issues are neglected, ignored and hidden.” He said. He finds present state of political affairs to be pathetic and a dynastic political system with the rich & mighty becoming more richer and more powerful while the poor, more poorer and weak.

Simplicity Personified

Ravi is a person of simple taste and high ideals. He loves reading Bible and watching discovery channel related to wild life during his leisure activity. His favourite dish is Rice with Sambhar with Pomfret or Prawns fry and favourite actor and actress are Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta.
Being the Editor-in-Chief of NMTV and editing the real burning issues of the common helpless man is his most challenging job everyday. His idea of happiness is being satisfied with what we has and making the best use of it for others. He loves his special car most with the clutch & brakes, everything in his two hands. The car gives him the mobility and he is able to conduct so many of his VIP meetings in that instead of crawling upstairs.
Professionalism is most overrated virtue for him and he dislikes corporate virtues in others. He admires Nelson Mandela as a living legend but if he has to a take rebirth then he would like to be reborn as Ravi Subbaiah only.

Ravi has achieved which he dared to dream. Now he wants to give back to society what he has achieved. He is definitely a jewel and ambassador of compassionate humanism. He is a model which taught to the world that adversity is a challenge and at the same time an opportunity. He is an ignited soul who ignites dreams in other deserving soul. Helping others is his idea of happiness and preserving the fabric and harmony of society is his mission. Carry on Ravi the whole world is watching you to get an inspiration

A recent act of Jernail Singh become a hot topic to debate. And even the media community is not supporting him in the name of integrity and probity in public life. May be we expect others to follow us. But situation of media is itself debatable as media itself needs a watch dog to watch.

But I am not supporting Jernail Singh’s act. Act is shameful and disgusting. But we have to take a larger perspective of all this issue and then we have to judge his act.

I think it is a agony of Jernail Singh about 1984 riots against Sikhs in aftermath of Indiara Gandhi assassination, which turns into frustration that he behaved in a very disgusting manner. I think the idea of journalism is itself a failed concept. The so called institution which is perceived as a watch dog of the nation is itself controlled by the people to whom job of the media is to keep watch. So is it possible to act like a watch dog in this situation.

My next point is may be Jernail Singh was there as a journalist and he has to behave like a professional journalists (on the verge of extinction) there only. But the real journalist came out of him and just as matter of protest he thrown shoe at Honorable CONGRESS minister. He should have behaved in a professional manner. But… even Bhagat Singh has to throw a bomb into assembly to let hear his voice to deaf ears. His bomb was a nonviolent weapon otherwise he would have thrown the bomb in middle of the assembly not in the corner. Any way …

My last point is that Media is perceived as a fourth state. Over a period we are witnessing a constant degeneration of all the three pillars of democracy, Whether it is judiciary, executive or legislature. Isn’t Jeranil Singh action reflect the degenartion of all the three pillars which also reflects Jernail singh journalist in a degenerated manner.

Unfortunately, He is a journalist and working in a system where people preach something and acts completely in bizarre way. Journalism has become a tool to dole out favors to high and mighty and today no professional journalists have a courage to speak out their mind. They are taking journalism as just another profession They have to follow the so called mission and vision statement of the media patrons.

So sir, I personally believe that you have the guts and means to bring out the change which you have written. Ideally Jernail singh should not have to act like this. But what a person should do if he has to live in this system where everything is personal connection.

Please media owners, take journalism forward, otherwise a day will come when we have to preserve and conserve journalists as we conserve and preserve tiger with project Tiger.

So I ask capitalists and media barons to come forward and take an initiative to ‘Start Project Journalists’ so that we should be able to preserve and conserve professional journalists .

Sudden escalation of Varun Gandhi in his political stature through media by his infamous (may be or may not be) or famous speech forces me to put the things in right perspective. No one can deny this fact that Varun and Rahul are cousins and Rajiv and Sanjay were brothers and son of Indira Gandhi. Both share common political blood. Varun use to meet his uncle and aunt and cousins regularly and even Varun can not deny this fact.

There is no apparent feud between Sonia and Maneka. Trouble was between Indira Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi over some personal issues. I do not deliberately want to go into the nature of personal feud. But everyone knows this fact and Sanjay Gandhi was very close to her mother. Even today’s many congress political stalwarts were friend to Sanjay Gandhi. This may be the reason that till today congress does not strongly condemn Varun Gandhi.

Varun has said that I am Hindu and an Indian. This statement is not wrong. Everybody has freedom to profess his faith and religion and it is our constitutional right. What Vaun has done that his tone of the speech suggests that he is anti Muslim. You cannot brand anyone communal on this ground.

Varun is also not a natural ally of BJP. Initially BJP condemns his speech and now all are clubbing together to fight for Varun. Why this sudden change of heart? BJP is confused today. Everyday they are trying to do different things to capture popular votes. Varun also has become part of this temporary strategy. Suddenly Varun speech has galvanized BJP Hindutva plank. BJP leaders have started believing that Varun speech may turn out to be critical in UP. I do not want to guess who will win how many seats. But matter of the fact is that BJP has got ‘Sajinvini Booti’ in UP through Varun.

But if you look at Varun speech at different platform he never attacked his brother Rahul or aunti Sonia. Varun was part of the BJP strategy to put Varun against Rahul . But Varun never done this except speaking once that Sonia ji is not a leader she is Reader that too when he was forced to speak.

Now in lighter vein suppose Congress accepts Varun to join congress. It can be possible in Indian politics. Because politics is a game of numerous possibilities. Recently BJP MPs who voted in favour of congress during trust vote on nuclear issue have got congress ticket to fight election. Hero of Ayodhyaya Ram temple movement Kalyan Singh joined SP.
So what will be the scenario when scion of Indira Gandhi and congress legacy both Rahul and Varun join hands.!!!

A great Indian election bazaar is on display. The world is reeling under severe recession but if we look at Indian political parties it seems that there is no recession. Every party is geared up to woo the votes with 360 degree advertisement campaign. It is estimated at the great Indian election bazaar is worth 10,000 crore. But what is the use of spending 10,000 crore if people do not know till the government is formed that who is going to take ‘Young India’ to next level.

It seems that no party is going to have a clear majority in Lok Sabha. Then what should be the likely situation. BJP is fighting its battle and Mr. LK Advani is leaving no stone unturned to be a prime minister of the country at the age of 82. But BJP seems to loose its steam at the end. There is lot of permutation and combination going on in NDA and most of its trusted allies are deserting BJP. Advani even andhi to evoke Hindutva to garner the popular Hindu votes but today voters are more practical than emotional. That is the reason that BJP come back in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatishgarh. It was the developmental plank that led BJP to victory even in the state of Gujrat not the emotional issue of Ram Mandir or fixing every Muslims as terrorists. BJP lost Delhi because again they tried the same formula.

Despite knowing these facts that developmental issues works for parties BJP is again trying to garner popular support with the emotional issues. This is the reason that Biju janta Dal left NDA. And according to our trusted sources even Nitish Kumar Janta Dal(united) is preparing to leave NDA and join UPA after election.Another reason is that congress wants to teach lesson to maverick of Indian politics the great Lau Prasad Yadav who ruined Bihar but turned the railways into revenue generating unit. Congress wants to get rid of antics of this Bihari string Man.
This is the reason that Congress is fighting elections in Bihar. Congress is the only national party despite very limited Lok Sabha presence in Lok Sabha. BJP is present only in Hindi heartland and Karnataka. Other wise every where is a party which claims to be part of third front and of which every leader is aspiring to be PM.

So the Big question is who will be the next prime minister of India? I will let you know in next part of this series of ‘great Indian election tamasa or bazaar’.

Again Musharraf is back in news. This time not directly but indirectly. Present civilian unrest in Pakistan echoes the same sentiment as it was seen before during Musharraf regime. But this time there is a surgical difference. This is Pakistan under so called civilian rule. May be terrorist are ruling under the guise of civilian mask.

Pakistan has a checkered history right from its inauguration in 1947, the year of heart divide. Pakistan started its journey with violence. The root of Pakistan was built under the theory of conspiracy and still there are so many theories about formation of Pakistan.

The father of Pakistan Md. Jinnah even once said that dream of Pakistan is eyewash. Before independence Muslims and Hindus always lived in peace and harmony and even both shared a common cultural heritage. Even so many rituals are same in both the communities. It is the conspiracy theory and suspicion on which Pakistan was made still rules the country. Executive judiciary and military are often at loggerheads with each other. Why? This is a matter of debate for the concerned people.

But Musharraf was one person who was trying its best to establish Pakistan. At the one hand he was negotiating with USA and at the other he has opened its door of communication for Jihadist. In between he was very close to solve the Kashmir issue and there was relative peace with India during his regime. But suddenly what happened that after exit of Musharraf Pakistan is on boil and lets; Taliban and Al Queda started calling shots and almost captured half of Pakistan.

It means Musharraf was able to contain Jehadi element and present government in Pakistan is not capable of handling the internal affairs of Pakistan. Or is there again a conspiracy theory hatched by Americans to de-establish Pakistan and contain both India and china. We can read this script by watching Obama who is continuously ignoring India.

I am not advocating Musharraf. One has to pick among available choices. And the choices are Nawaz sarif , Zardari, Kayani and Musharraf. And Musharraf is best among the worst. So Pakistan has to make a choice. Whether they want to go again into the hands of Kayani (ARMY) or continuously face the instability doled them out by civilian governments. I think Pakistani has to give Musharraf another chance which he deserves in this time of anarchy.

The recent bomb blasts in Lahore has raised a new concern in India and in the world .Why Pakistan is continuously bowing down to Jehadis with different nomenclature who are spreading its wings in Pakistan. Is there any method to this madness? Or simply our globe’s headmaster USA has some larger game plan in Pakistan as it is not hidden to anyone that America has fueled these groups in cold war era.

Is it a diplomatic endeavor of USA to let Pakistan fall as a nation first, then they will establish there puppet government like Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of fighting against terror. And terror will never stop as long as terrorism will be used as a political tool to meet the end goal of hegemony and imperialistic pursuits. This strategy may be adopted even to contain the growing might of China who is still relatively unaffected by financial Tsunami of the world.

In early days British was the only power in which sun never sets and even present sole super power got its independence from British. But there was a great difference between British imperialistic pursuits and American hegemonic approach. British always believe in building a system and institution.

In India still there are more than 100 laws which are effective even today enacted by British. Most of our Indian Institutions are built by British and we holistically follows it. Even our constitution is based on Government of India act 1935.

So what made people to antagonize Americans? I am dead against terrorism and terrorism is a frustrated attempt by ‘have-nots’ to ask for their due. Most of the terrorist organization get their bread and butter from exploiting poverty in the region.

If we want to answer this vexed question of international terrorism we have to follow the carrot and stick policy. We have to show our strength so that it will act like a deterrent for terrorists against their barbaric and inhuman act. Simultaneously we have to close the breeding ground by answering the basic question of non sharing of national cake among the different stake holders in a equitable way.

We have to understand the genesis of the problem and look at it as a socio-politico economic problem. Constantly our society is targeting Muslims as a terrorists and our political masters always help those groups which fits into their scheme of politics.

The biggest threat to any society is lack of equal opportunity to different set of people or we may call it different religions. If we deeply try to understand the global problem of terrorism, we must see one clear trend that those group which have been denied their share of national cake have taken the gun and started fighting for their cause.

Right from our immediate neighborhood in Pakistan where Taliban and north west frontier people are fighting for their cause, they all are Muslims. Visit Nepal, their Maoists taken the gun against their same religion people. Go to Srilanka, LTTE is fighting such a war. Now take a root to Myanmar, to Isarel to Iraq to Somalia. Every where their is one trend that they have been denied their due.

Even in South Africa black were fighting against white and still in a mild manner even this fight is going on. Now come to our mighty America there is a feud between black and white So what ever name you can give or color one can give it is non sharing of national cake that give birth to one of the greatest threat to human society that is terrorism.

It does not mean i am supporting terrorism. It means our leaders have to understand that we have to address the basic need of the people and we should not give it religious over tunes.

Some vested group of people enter into the fight of innocent people and give the fight a cruel turn and once it is out of hand we are not able to control it.

So our global leaders come forward and before embarking on another level of development , should join hands and answer the problem of poverty and lack of equal opportunity. In the short run we have to act tough and show our character to fight terrorism.

Simultaneously, we have to develop a long term plan of seriously addressing real issues on ground for the deprived people. With this carrot and stick policy slowly the demon of terrorists will die and we will have a peaceful coherent and harmonious society.

UNIVERSE- means UNI plus VERSE that is the whole universe is one song. Please terrorists and policy makers do not interrupt the song! Please America help us to build a harmonious society with the might of your capital and knowledge!

After the euphoric win at Oscar night in Kodak studio in Los Angles , Indian entertainment industry went on the berserk to enjoy the cacophony of SLUM DOG eight Oscars. It is no mean a less achievement that too for a country like India where all kind of dualistic structure prevails in each and every sphere of people’s life.

A R Rehman is a child prodigy in music like Sachin is in Cricket. Right from his inauguration in Indian film Industry he doled out his genius to the industry and always produced path breaking music which has always set a new benchmark for others to follow .

But what is so special about SLUM DOG that suddenly it won eight Oscars. we may recall that when India was on the path of globalization and liberalization world bodies have bestowed Mis Universe Award and Miss World award to our country so that we will be able to change our country’s perception among the western countries. Our country was known as a land of snake charmers , cow dung and malnourished kids . Suddenly these beauty peasants has changed that perception.

Can we not smell such kind of management in winning oscars where again our poverty was celebrated and bestowed towards the world as a land of opportunity where poverty can be cashed in a recession ridden world .

We are in the phase of financial Tsunami where Tsunami started from land of dreams — United start of America. Obama came as a fresh hope for the world where he eschewed inclusive growth for the third world countries. But if any one has followed American Presidency whether he is Republican or Democrat- he is compelled to follow the older regime’s international policy. It may be old wine in new bottle.

Oscars to Indian screenplay played by British is a great eyewash. Beware of this new kind of imperialistic corporate propaganda. due regards to Rehman and team for commendable work. But we have to look at the larger design where Adam Smith’s INVISIBLE HAND has always a role to play!

Is it a SLUM DOG or Now SLUM is GOD - only GOD can answer!