'G' Spot and 'S' Connect.....

G-Spot……. I can already see various hues of reactions among readers…..

Some are excited…

Some shy are searching a place to hide…

Some inquisitive are pretending to not read, but are all ears to what’s being said or written.....

Some, especially women, are ruing the fact that they do not possess it; whereas as the ‘lucky’ one are blushing.....

But hey folks…rein in those wavering thoughts…for while you guys are headed south…I am headed north!!!! This is neither salacious nor a prurient post.

I am not talking about the carnal ‘G Spot’ or the most Googled or most talked/written about ‘S’ word, I am talking about completely different G-Spot....

This is called as ‘God Spot’…Isn’t it in vogue to name everything after God, first we had God Particle now we have ‘God Spot’; soon we could have ‘God Cola’ or ‘God Chips’

Not digressing any further, scientists have speculated that the human brain features a “God spot,” one distinct area of the brain responsible for spirituality. Now, University of Missouri researchers have completed research that indicates spirituality is a complex phenomenon, and multiple areas of the brain are responsible for the many aspects of spiritual experiences.

Brain Mapping showing 'Enlightened' areas
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133032/There-God-spot-new-research-claims-instead-spirituality-exists-brain.html

“We have found a neuropsychological basis for spirituality, but it’s not isolated to one specific area of the brain,” said Brick Johnstone, professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions. “Spirituality is a much more dynamic concept that uses many parts of the brain. Certain parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work together to facilitate individuals’ spiritual experiences.” 

In the most recent study, Johnstone studied 20 people with traumatic brain injuries affecting the right parietal lobe, the area of the brain situated a few inches above the right ear. He surveyed participants on characteristics of spirituality, such as how close they felt to a higher power and if they felt their lives were part of a divine plan. He found that the participants with more significant injury to their right parietal lobe showed an increased feeling of closeness to a higher power.

“Neuropsychology researchers consistently have shown that impairment on the right side of the brain decreases one’s focus on the self,” Johnstone said. “Since our research shows that people with this impairment are more spiritual, this suggests spiritual experiences are associated with a decreased focus on the self. This is consistent with many religious texts that suggest people should concentrate on the well-being of others rather than on themselves.”

He says the right side of the brain is associated with self-orientation, whereas the left side is associated with how individuals relate to others. Although Johnstone studied people with brain injury, previous studies of Buddhist meditators and Franciscan nuns with normal brain function have shown that people can learn to minimize the functioning of the right side of their brains to increase their spiritual connections during meditation and prayer.

Professor makes the comparison to other kinds of disciplines; "It is like playing the piano, the more you train your brain, the more the brain becomes predisposed to piano playing. Practice makes perfect."

While researchers have been focused on finding a 'God spot' in the brain, the new research suggests that it might be better to focus on the neuropsychological questions of self focus vs selfless focus. As Prof. Johnstone explains: "when the brain focuses less on the self (by decreased activity in the right lobe) it is by definition a moment of self-transcendence and can be understood as being connected to God or Nirvana. It is the sensation of feeling like you are part of a bigger thing."

Those who are spiritually inclined are already aware that such claims are not new, as ‘Sahasrara Chakra’, one of seven primary chakras of Hindu religion is all about that ultimate enlightenment.

This seventh chakra also called as "the crown chakra" is located at the top of the head and is related to Spiritual Connect to the universe or the ‘S Connect’ that I am talking about.

Sahasrara chakra symbolizes detachment from illusion; an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one.

Sahasrara, meaning thousand, is the "Lotus of the Thousand Petals" located four finger- breadths above the crown of the head.

Sahasrara Chakra
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahasrara 

Sahasrara is described with 1,000 multi-coloured petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals. The pericarp is golden, and inside of it is a circular moon region, inside of which is a downward pointing triangle. 

Source: http://www.adishakti.org/subtle_system/sahasrara_chakra.htm

This lotus, which represents the plane of truth and reality, is like an umbrella of petals with all the colors of the rainbow. The yogi identifies ‘Self’ as the guru within, when the Kundalini is raised up to Sahasrara Chakra and when the illusion of "individual self" is dissolved….yogi establishes that ‘S Connect’.

Isn't this new scientific revelation; which vindicates all that our ancient yogis, sages had already postulated, is just a case of ‘Old wine in new bottle?’   

His name is Khan, Maverick Khan

While, one Khan proclaimed that he is not a ‘terrorist’ and other was roaring like a ‘Tiger’ at the box office, this Khan, claimed his place on the pedestal by quietly telling the world ‘Satyamev Jayate’. Yes folks, Aamir proved once again to one and all that he is indeed a maverick and he is cut above all other stars.

The accolades for this show and this great effort are still pouring in. While, ‘Times’ has featured Aamir on front page, Tom Hanks is singing paeans about Aamir’s show.

When most of the other actors are busy minting money by promoting some game shows, quiz shows, reality shows or even promoting hair oils, innerwares on small screens, this ‘star’ chose to enter the tele-world with a show dedicated to a social cause. With issues like female foeticide, child sexual abuse, dowry, inequalities in caste system, Generic drugs, he connected with the peoples of India. Very few stars would have gone this difficult way to connect with people!!

With this show, Aamir proved once again why moniker ‘Marketing Guru of Bollywood’ rests with him. Right from timeslot to air the show to creating post episode ‘Impact’ every aspect was well thought of and well executed.  With one masterstroke of slotting the show on Sunday 11.00 am, he killed the competition. He also managed to pull off a coup of sorts by ensuring the ‘simulcast’ of the show on various channels (Star Group channels, ETV channels in south and Doordarshan). The production team also ensured that each episode was translated in regional languages to enhance the reach. The master strategist, did not stop at just this, he also used Vividh Bharati i.e. Radio to air the show, covering areas which television could not!!!!.

In my opinion, the real reason why people were so inquisitive and anxious to watch this show was Brand Aamir, which was carefully managed, nurtured and grown since long. Aamir was always a hermit and kept himself away from media glamour, thus every project that he was associated with, be it his movies or this show, generated enough curiosity among his fans and competitors alike.  In order to make this show a hit, perfectionist and master strategist Aamir went to the extent of ensuring that while promos of his shows were ‘on-air’, all other advertisements featuring Aamir were pulled off air so as to ensure that there is no overdose of Aamir on television and help maintain the curiosity and focus on the upcoming show rather than the creator (Case in contrast could be Ra.One promotions or should I say Shah Rukh Khan promotion!!!). With the use of technology this team also attempted an arduous task of analyzing messages generated from social media. The marketing strategy of the show was absolutely bang-on. I will not be surprised if the great marketing and brand positioning connoisseurs like Jack Trout, Al Ries, Philip Kotler take cognizance of this marketing strategy and mention this case in their books, for it is comparatively easy to sell a product than to sell such a show with social responsibility.

I am sure such a show would not have been possible without Aamir, as he lent honesty and dignity to this show and because of the man associated with such program, each episode created positive impact on the society. Phone lines of Alcoholic Anonymous crashed within few minutes after the helpline number was flashed during the episode, website of Satyamev Jayate also crashed with comments pouring in from all corners for the world. Forget that few state governments (!!!) agreed to distribute generic drugs in state government run hospitals!!! What many a movements could not have achieved was achieved by this one show!!

Haven’t we heard Thomas Grey’s ‘An Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard’

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”

  

If not for this show and the extensive research and surveys conducted by the research team, the sufferings of many people; the path breakers who were doing their bit to improve the situation or fighting against a particular issue would never have been known to us and would really have been the perfect examples of flowers wasting their fragrance in desert land.

This is a perfect example of how stardom can be utilized to make an impact on the society. The other major examples that I can think of, as far as Indian context is concerned, are Anti-Polio campaign supported by Amitabh Bachhan with a catchy tagline of ‘Do Boond Jindagi Ki (2 drops of Life)’ and Aishwarya Rai’s campaign for eye donation. 

Just the way we have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for businesses, in my opinion, we should also have Stardom Social Responsibility (SSR) drilled into Bollywood/ Sports, which would help spread awareness about many such social issues, stigmas.

Critics would say that Aamir did not host this show for free and has made tons of money through this show. While nobody can deny that fact that he has made money, but what we can say that he has at least, helped many institutes to garner money (through SMSs from viewers and philanthropic efforts of Reliance Foundation), who otherwise were working tirelessly in oblivion and with very less resources at their disposal.

When applause dies, achievements are forgotten, the real task for Aamir and Satyamev Jayate begins. As a reaction to this show, many initiatives have been taken, be it at a Government Level or in individual capacity, but if the makers of the show are really serious to bring about the change in the society, they would have to adopt corporate style and take a stock of these initiatives and check the progress of these initiatives one year from now. Such a step would really separate initiatives taken as a knee jerk reaction to the public uproar, from those started in all earnestness.

Mahatma Gandhi proclaimed, ‘Be the change you want to see’ and Aamir followed that sincerely. He really showed that he wants the society to change and he made all the efforts in his capacity to kick start such a change. Aamir Maverick Khan, take a bow sir, for starting such a campaign.

P.S.

As I rightly said, the real test of the show as pathbreaking initiative begins now. The recent news of 3 month old baby with battered skull being admitted to KEM Hospital is an indication of how callous we are (Hospital authorities are suspecting that it could be a case of child-battering, since the parents have failed to give an alibi for such grave injuries). 

The tagline of promos was “Jab dil ko lagegi, tabhi baat banegi”, but seems that we all are a severe case of cardiomyopathy and it would take some effort for our ‘dils’  to be hurt…