The Pakistani Spectator

I am Som Dutta, at present doing some obscure research at one of India’s premiere engineering institute. I am passionate about music, football, food, arts and off course girls. Blogging is my latest hobby in the never ending list of hobbies. At times I feel my life itself is a hobby.

My Blogs:

LIFE: http://soms-world.blogspot.com/

Limit is Limitless: http://soms-blog.blogspot.com/

Q: Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I maintain two blogs, LIFE and Limit is Limitless. The blogs are the windows to express myself to the world. First blog LIFE is the older of the two and presently deals only with poetry. As a youngster LIFE was very jovial but with age LIFE grew more serious so I needed a new child thus Limit is Limitless was conceived. I want my second off spring to be funny (unlike my LIFE!!) and make me proud, but who knows he may also end up disappointing me as I have done my parents. My parents wanted me to be funny, outlandishly liberal and peaceful but somehow I have turned out to be a fundamentalist whose only goal is to see people stoned. J

Q: Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

Lot of things stop growing after an age and something never grows longer how much you exercise; So, Yes at least I will love to keep growing as a writer. To grow you just not need to write more but read more too; it helps in getting new ideas (read plagiarizing!!).  It is important for me to write because I love to mislead people but unfortunately I can’t lie keeping a volt face. So, I try to do it through my writing.

Q: I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Only recently have I started to take my blogs seriously so in this short time it was heart warming to see the response to the ‘Women’s Day’ post.  More so as they all had good things to say.

Q: What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I regularly spend time reading other blogs and commenting; and not just commenting but commenting in a positive way even if the post doesn’t deserve it. You see, one has to follow the golden adage ‘live and let live’ in order to grow.

Q: What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I don’t follow politics much so from whatever I have over heard; Obama did a great job and India’s L.K. Advani is also following suit. But the most innovative has to be the sting operations; they are truly tech savvy and covert like operations carried out by CIA. J

Q: Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

In places like US of A it may work out but in the developing world like ours it is not very effective. But yes it is at least the tech savvy youth to stand up and take notice. But some people think technology can really make people highly responsive, albeit our good friend China who keeps tab on whatever is shown through Google.

Q: What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

At this moment it is hard to answer as my second child is very young but for LIFE, I think the thought provoking emotions I TRY to portray.

Q: If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

My public relations, it was so bad that I was left with no friends in college.  So had time to figure out what I wanted in life.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Happiest was when I had dinner with the Governor in honor of representing my state in a geeky mathematics competition; my photograph sitting next to him also came out in the newspaper next day. J Gloomiest was when I found that none of the girls of my class were impressed by that. L

Q: If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

1. SWAT valley Pakistan (only if I am assured that I won’t be kidnapped!!) – I always fancied the Wild Wild West but Alas!! It doesn’t exist anymore. So the nearest thing to it is SWAT. J
2. Paris – The artist inside me is incomplete without a visit to Paris.
3. Antarctica – I want to be the first blogger to go to Antarctica.

Q: What is your favorite book and why?

The book I enjoyed the most was Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I loved the book just not because it is fast paced and is based on Roberts’ adventures and misadventures in India but also due its subtle take on the philosophy behind love and relationships. Another of my firm favorite is P.G.Wodehouse, I love the character of Bingo Little in his works as I can totally relate to him. J

Q: What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

I look into the eyes of the person, as I am a sucker for beautiful eyes. I also notice their accent.

Q: Is there anyone from your past that once told you, you couldn’t write?

In standard 4^th I wrote a very elaborate answer for a question given to me for a Hindi language test. As I recall, I tried to be as creative as possible but somehow the teacher didn’t like it. She felt so offended by the answer that my Mother was summoned to the school. What went in the meeting I don’t know but after that even my ultra tolerant mom became a fascist!! So I can say my first attempt at creative writing was nipped at the bud. L

Q: How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I have heard people make a neat sum but till date I haven’t made a penny.

Q: Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

True, one has to invest quite a bit of time initially but once you are an established blogger and have a bit of a following then it should become easier.

Q: What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world friendlier and less hostile?

Main reason for any discord is clash of ideologies, so the bloggers can go a long way to reduce. They should avoid ‘Holier than thou’ posts and also avoid overtly controversial issues.  Also through blogging one comes across people from other countries and communities which increase the people to people contact, thus increasing tolerance.

Q: Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

It is hard for me and also harsh on my fellow bloggers if I have to choose five, as there are lots of fledgling bloggers who have just started to learn the tricks of the trade. At this moment my favorites are:

1. Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind: http://greatbong.net/
2. Chronic writer – Funny humorous Nutty Blog: http://www.chronicwriter.com/
3. Pink Orchid: http://lifeofthepinkorchid.blogspot.com/
4. Americanising Desi: http://eternitycallsus.blogspot.com/

Q: There are others too whom I follow regularly but none of them stand out.

Q: Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

I won’t say powerful but my post Women … (http://soms-world.blogspot.com/2009/03/women.html) certainly got a pretty positive response.

Q: What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

Pakistan has few sane and sensible people and few utter nincompoops (it’s the same with India) who are ruining a beautiful country. I just hope things don’t go out of hand in Pakistan and the sensible ones take over.

Q: Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Great Bong’s Blog ‘Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind’ is a very unique. The humor is always great, the opinions balanced and above all you need to take it all with a pinch of salt.

Q: What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

In a subjective way it is the level of corruption; which is inversely proportional to the amount of development. In an objective way, the state of the police force of the country.

Q: What is the future of blogging?

With the advent of high speed internet Video Blogging (Vlogging) and increased use of video references has caught up.  Also more new tools are coming up to facilitate and expedite blogging. So the future of blogging looks bright, off course unless China or Taliban takes over the world.

Q: You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I don’t have much of a personal life as I stay alone so it doesn’t get affected but yes my professional (scientific research) life has certainly taken a hit with my advisor complaining that my productivity has become negative. L

Q: What are your future plans?

I plan to nurture my second child ‘Limit is Limitless …’ so that it becomes popular unlike the outcast LIFE. If my following really grows then I would like to have an independent domain.

Q: Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Believe in a Politician but never believe in a poet. J I hope you enjoyed the interview and keep following my blogs; LIFE and Limit is Limitless.