So Shilpa Shetty was racially abused in the reality TV show Big Brother. We, been a democracy have a right to be feel outraged, unhappy, angry, debate, discuss the issue. And maybe compare it to other instances of racial abuse. And introspect.
But asking the Government of India to step in and take some action when the actress herself hasn’t asked for it, is wise?
I was unnerved when the Information Broadcasting Minister called a press briefing, telling that Ministry of External Affairs will deal with the British Government on the issue and investigate the matter.
The knee jerk reaction of the Government machinery lead me to think how it is frittering resources for a TV show which has gained popularity because of ‘bitchiness’ of the participants. That’s the prime requirement to be a contestant on the show. If one goes in thinking, he is going to be a part of the Brady bunch family, with a couple of hugs thrown in, then the contestant is in the wrong show.
Before you accuse me of being insensitive for not getting angry to the remarks Shilpa has to endure, I would like to point out two things.
One - Where was the Government when certain Muslim businessmen where locked in a Holland jail as their racial profile was suspicious. The GoI didn’t spring into action so fast then.
Neither it has been in other cases, where it was required to show its spine.
Two - It is a well documented fact that brown skinned people have been subject to racial discrimination in the west.
I have realized half the problem lies with us not been proud of our colour (wanting to be fair – look at the fairness cream ads, demand for fair models, air brushed pictures, layers of foundation) and sending out a signal through our actions that ‘they’ are in some way racially superior to ‘us’. The other half of the problem arises from there, with ‘them’ thinking we were meant to be ruled over.
Coming back to the reality show, it seems the actress has been giving back to them as good as she is getting. Till then, hope the Governments of both countries, the media and the people stop over reacting and trivializing the issue.
Because a deep rooted problem like does not need a knee jerk reaction, it needs strong biases, from all sides, to dissolve. And that will take a long time.
Originally posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 6:08 PM
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Its Not Really A Writers Block.
It is ironic that after the last post, I am writing this.
I have been meaning to write but since the past few weeks or so, I just couldn’t get down to it. Write about Nithari? Saddam’s hanging? A feel good post on the New Year? Analyze the Indo- US Nuke deal? Homeless people and winters? Fiction? More Poetry?
Words formed in my head. Then turned into sentences. And then into thoughts. I shook my head. Did not feel like blogging. I wondered what was wrong with me.
Maybe my honeymoon with blogging was over. Its like dragging a dead weight with me. A relationship which seemed exciting once was ending into a bitter divorce now. I blog-hopped but rarely left a comment somewhere. Even on my post, I languidly replied to comments.
I still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with me. And I have no idea why I am writing this post. Maybe just to change the wallpaper.
Au Revoir. Till I come out of this state of stupor.
Or maybe it is a writers' block.
P.S: Why doesn't O3 allow use of apostrophe in headings? Its irritating.
--------
Update - Jan 18
Looks like I came out of the stupor. Just posted a new one, out of the blue!!
Originally posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 3:06 PM
I have been meaning to write but since the past few weeks or so, I just couldn’t get down to it. Write about Nithari? Saddam’s hanging? A feel good post on the New Year? Analyze the Indo- US Nuke deal? Homeless people and winters? Fiction? More Poetry?
Words formed in my head. Then turned into sentences. And then into thoughts. I shook my head. Did not feel like blogging. I wondered what was wrong with me.
Maybe my honeymoon with blogging was over. Its like dragging a dead weight with me. A relationship which seemed exciting once was ending into a bitter divorce now. I blog-hopped but rarely left a comment somewhere. Even on my post, I languidly replied to comments.
I still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with me. And I have no idea why I am writing this post. Maybe just to change the wallpaper.
Au Revoir. Till I come out of this state of stupor.
Or maybe it is a writers' block.
P.S: Why doesn't O3 allow use of apostrophe in headings? Its irritating.
--------
Update - Jan 18
Looks like I came out of the stupor. Just posted a new one, out of the blue!!
Originally posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 3:06 PM
Let Us Dissect Blogging
That seems to be the new mantra for the main stream media which is left with its mouth gaping, wondering how this alternative form of media is giving it some competition.
From analyzing why people write their own stories online for everyone to read to why blog tags are so famous, to Time magazine dedicating its Person of the year to ‘you’ (meaning us) who sit staring at our computer monitors, typing away in this virtual world, to mainstream media websites having a mandatory blog section (From BBC, Washington Post to our very own CNN-IBN, Times of India), blogging is becoming quite popular.
From technologists to sociologists, all are trying to understand this booming new virtual world which started with websites, emails, chatrooms, forums, e-commerce and e-education. Each development was hailed as the ‘next big thing’. In that line, christened as Web 2.0, this new wave called blogging has become the latest craze.
As more and more people bridge the technological divide, the blogosphere is set to grow. A case in point is our very own O3, where so many bloggers have joined in the last year or so.
As the rule goes, everything which goes up, has to come down, so will the enthusiasm about blogging. But its too soon to ask the question-when? Till then we can all blog away to glory.
Originally posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 2:07 PM
From analyzing why people write their own stories online for everyone to read to why blog tags are so famous, to Time magazine dedicating its Person of the year to ‘you’ (meaning us) who sit staring at our computer monitors, typing away in this virtual world, to mainstream media websites having a mandatory blog section (From BBC, Washington Post to our very own CNN-IBN, Times of India), blogging is becoming quite popular.
From technologists to sociologists, all are trying to understand this booming new virtual world which started with websites, emails, chatrooms, forums, e-commerce and e-education. Each development was hailed as the ‘next big thing’. In that line, christened as Web 2.0, this new wave called blogging has become the latest craze.
As more and more people bridge the technological divide, the blogosphere is set to grow. A case in point is our very own O3, where so many bloggers have joined in the last year or so.
As the rule goes, everything which goes up, has to come down, so will the enthusiasm about blogging. But its too soon to ask the question-when? Till then we can all blog away to glory.
Originally posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 2:07 PM
Wondering...
As one completed the others’ sentences, and yet could not become one
One claimed to be the other half and the other claimed the same
And as one said you are same as me, the other smiled
Because the one thought it was true, as did the other
It was not just a piece of soul which both bartered
It is a part of life which neither will forget
Vivid memories only to become sepia
And one proudly wore the other's scent, and felt so close
They owned each other like none could possess
The purity of amore, which can’t be described in words, enveloped them
Entwined as they were together, destiny they did not know
Like the water of life, they swam in the ocean
As they realized, against the tide they shall have to go
Trying to outwit the pain, they played along
Neither knows where the waves will take them
A ship to rescue or a shore awaits them
Only time can tell what is written
A rope which holds them, will it break away
If it does, then their souls will be pierced
Like shards of broken glass, falling from the sky
Red rivers will flow, and drown they shall, in the ocean of life
Wondering if twain shall meet again
And if the pain was worth it, even though a part of them died
And what if they hadn't met each other
Would they trade the bitter sweet for something else
----------
P.S: Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
Originally posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 12:30 PM
One claimed to be the other half and the other claimed the same
And as one said you are same as me, the other smiled
Because the one thought it was true, as did the other
It was not just a piece of soul which both bartered
It is a part of life which neither will forget
Vivid memories only to become sepia
And one proudly wore the other's scent, and felt so close
They owned each other like none could possess
The purity of amore, which can’t be described in words, enveloped them
Entwined as they were together, destiny they did not know
Like the water of life, they swam in the ocean
As they realized, against the tide they shall have to go
Trying to outwit the pain, they played along
Neither knows where the waves will take them
A ship to rescue or a shore awaits them
Only time can tell what is written
A rope which holds them, will it break away
If it does, then their souls will be pierced
Like shards of broken glass, falling from the sky
Red rivers will flow, and drown they shall, in the ocean of life
Wondering if twain shall meet again
And if the pain was worth it, even though a part of them died
And what if they hadn't met each other
Would they trade the bitter sweet for something else
----------
P.S: Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
Originally posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 12:30 PM
My Ode To Winters
In sepia tones I can see my city enveloped
A cold gloomy day, adorned with a mystical white fog
As the sun tires to shine behind the clouds
And the eagles soar above my window
As I look outside, as far as my gaze allows
I know the winter has arrived
For it creates an illusion, of everything swath in rime
Originally posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 1:48 PM
A cold gloomy day, adorned with a mystical white fog
As the sun tires to shine behind the clouds
And the eagles soar above my window
As I look outside, as far as my gaze allows
I know the winter has arrived
For it creates an illusion, of everything swath in rime
Originally posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 1:48 PM
An Old Man And His Tales
Getting late on a Monday morning is a no-no for me. As I reached the auto stand, there was no auto in sight and then I saw one coming slowly. Frantically, I waved my hand and I flagged it down.
I haggled with the driver, an old man with long curly salt and pepper bread, and kindly eyes. After fixing the price, I plonked on the auto seat, took out my newspaper, began munching on dry fruits and started reading.
But the old man had other ideas!
He was a talkative person who told me how the situation was in 1980s and 1990s and how much the fare was, where people liked to travel and how South Delhi was just till Hauz Khas and Green Park.
He constantly kept talking somehow reminding me of old people who keep muttering to themselves. I politely nodded a few times, which I hoped would give him some hint that I wasn’t interested in make a conversation.
But he wasn’t the kind to take hints. On top of it he was driving at a speed of 35 km/hr, jumping out of his seat every time a bus came too close by.
I looked at my watch almost getting resigned to the fact that I could be late today.
Meanwhile Shamshauddin (he looked like his name would be this) kept going down the memory lane.
Half way though my journey, I realized that – 1. I would definitely be late 2. Shamshauddin would not stop talking.
We people living in the metros rush though our life so much, in a hurry to get from one place to another that we don’t even stop to greet our neighbour or have a conversation with people.
I folded my newspaper, proceeded to talk with him and had a pleasant morning till I reached my destination. Not because I had no other option but his tales were quite interesting too.
The old man reminded me something which I and my young counterparts have forgotten - virtues of an unhurried life!
Originally posted on Monday, November 27, 2006 5:44 PM
I haggled with the driver, an old man with long curly salt and pepper bread, and kindly eyes. After fixing the price, I plonked on the auto seat, took out my newspaper, began munching on dry fruits and started reading.
But the old man had other ideas!
He was a talkative person who told me how the situation was in 1980s and 1990s and how much the fare was, where people liked to travel and how South Delhi was just till Hauz Khas and Green Park.
He constantly kept talking somehow reminding me of old people who keep muttering to themselves. I politely nodded a few times, which I hoped would give him some hint that I wasn’t interested in make a conversation.
But he wasn’t the kind to take hints. On top of it he was driving at a speed of 35 km/hr, jumping out of his seat every time a bus came too close by.
I looked at my watch almost getting resigned to the fact that I could be late today.
Meanwhile Shamshauddin (he looked like his name would be this) kept going down the memory lane.
Half way though my journey, I realized that – 1. I would definitely be late 2. Shamshauddin would not stop talking.
We people living in the metros rush though our life so much, in a hurry to get from one place to another that we don’t even stop to greet our neighbour or have a conversation with people.
I folded my newspaper, proceeded to talk with him and had a pleasant morning till I reached my destination. Not because I had no other option but his tales were quite interesting too.
The old man reminded me something which I and my young counterparts have forgotten - virtues of an unhurried life!
Originally posted on Monday, November 27, 2006 5:44 PM
How Would You Like To Travel?
We have all heard 'When in Rome do as the Romans'. But to give it a twist in the modern era, we can change it to ‘When in Britain do as Indians do’.
After exporting chicken tikka masala, bollywood, Indian fashion our latest exports seem to be Indian modes of transport.
First were the auto rickshaws which became hugely popular in Brighton and a sleeker version in London. Popularly known as ‘tuc tucs’ they seem to have become the latest rage.
Then came th majestic looking Ambassadors, a British version of them will be launched soon.
And now Scottish students are discovering the ‘virtues of sustainable travel’ in a cycle rickshaw.
I am wondering - what next? Maybe bullock carts? J
Originally posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 3:33 PM
Originally posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 3:33 PM
On A Deserted Island
Tagged by the shadiest person on O3, here goes my list of things I would need to survive on the island -
# A laptop with wireless internet connection and solar charger, so I can call up everyone, listen to music, watch movies (already stored on the lappy), check email, read newspapers and books, chat, update my blog etc.
# A rucksack containing inflatable tent, sleeping bag, tool kit, matches, tin opener, toothbrush etc.
# A huge box of tinned food
# A bag full of clothes
# Light flares to grab attention of rescue helicopter/ship coz after a while I’ll get bored there
# AND Bryan Adams – the man with a voice like honey and pepper, who will sing to me from time to time J
I tag Sanjeev, Konfi, MV, Maya, Nysa now....
Originally posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 1:58 PM
# A laptop with wireless internet connection and solar charger, so I can call up everyone, listen to music, watch movies (already stored on the lappy), check email, read newspapers and books, chat, update my blog etc.
# A rucksack containing inflatable tent, sleeping bag, tool kit, matches, tin opener, toothbrush etc.
# A huge box of tinned food
# A bag full of clothes
# Light flares to grab attention of rescue helicopter/ship coz after a while I’ll get bored there
# AND Bryan Adams – the man with a voice like honey and pepper, who will sing to me from time to time J
I tag Sanjeev, Konfi, MV, Maya, Nysa now....
Originally posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 1:58 PM
Rucksack Tales
A lot has been said about my rucksack, the first inanimate object to become a mini celeb on O3 :D
My rucksacks have been with me on each step of my life. I take this opportunity to recount my rucksack tales here.
My memories of a rucksack go back to my childhood, when I was in school. Infact, I can still remember my 1st ever school bag in nursery class– an olive green canvas one in which I hid my paranthas which I did not eat for lunch at school.
Four days later my mom realized that foul smell was coming from the front pocket of the bag only to discover fungus clad food.
Another incident etched in my mind about a rucksack happened eons ago when I was in class 4 or 5. I had a hard time juggling my school bag and water bottle. So the class teacher appointed each boy in the class (by rotation) to carry my bag to the school bus every afternoon. The poor kid had to carry his bag, his bottle and my bag everyday. Oh and another kid used to carry my water bottle.
Like a royal princess with two bodyguards lugging my stuff, I used to go hopping to my school bus. :D
Rucksacks have seen me through school and college. They were like my armour when people brushed past me ‘accidentally’. And certain times, the bag was used as a weapon to ‘accidentally’ hurt these people too.
Coming to the present, I don’t carry girlie purses to office because everything can’t fit into it and I like my hands to be free. I don’t like carrying anything extra in my hands except for a newspaper.
I carry my beloved rucksack to work everyday. Infact it sometimes goes with me when I am shopping too!
It has led my family members to think about my obsession with my bag and if I would be happier if it was surgically attached to my body.
There has been a lot of speculation on O3 what exactly I carry in my one-ton-bag (term coined by Shady). I carry my notebooks (no I am not in school anymore), pens, phone dairy, papers, toothbrush, scarf, breakfast, lunch, apple, books, pepper spray,wallet and other assorted things in my bag.
Since I look school girlish, especially with my bag and after much chiding from everyone, I had to recently move from a college like rucksack to a professional looking bag.
If you think I have chucked my rucksack, you are wrong. Now I have a classy leather one!
P.S: A photo of the bag coming soon!
P.P.S: It would be interesting to read rucksack/bag tales of o3ites. Do share them here...
Originally posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:31 PM
My rucksacks have been with me on each step of my life. I take this opportunity to recount my rucksack tales here.
My memories of a rucksack go back to my childhood, when I was in school. Infact, I can still remember my 1st ever school bag in nursery class– an olive green canvas one in which I hid my paranthas which I did not eat for lunch at school.
Four days later my mom realized that foul smell was coming from the front pocket of the bag only to discover fungus clad food.
Another incident etched in my mind about a rucksack happened eons ago when I was in class 4 or 5. I had a hard time juggling my school bag and water bottle. So the class teacher appointed each boy in the class (by rotation) to carry my bag to the school bus every afternoon. The poor kid had to carry his bag, his bottle and my bag everyday. Oh and another kid used to carry my water bottle.
Like a royal princess with two bodyguards lugging my stuff, I used to go hopping to my school bus. :D
Rucksacks have seen me through school and college. They were like my armour when people brushed past me ‘accidentally’. And certain times, the bag was used as a weapon to ‘accidentally’ hurt these people too.
Coming to the present, I don’t carry girlie purses to office because everything can’t fit into it and I like my hands to be free. I don’t like carrying anything extra in my hands except for a newspaper.
I carry my beloved rucksack to work everyday. Infact it sometimes goes with me when I am shopping too!
It has led my family members to think about my obsession with my bag and if I would be happier if it was surgically attached to my body.
There has been a lot of speculation on O3 what exactly I carry in my one-ton-bag (term coined by Shady). I carry my notebooks (no I am not in school anymore), pens, phone dairy, papers, toothbrush, scarf, breakfast, lunch, apple, books, pepper spray,wallet and other assorted things in my bag.
Since I look school girlish, especially with my bag and after much chiding from everyone, I had to recently move from a college like rucksack to a professional looking bag.
If you think I have chucked my rucksack, you are wrong. Now I have a classy leather one!
P.S: A photo of the bag coming soon!
P.P.S: It would be interesting to read rucksack/bag tales of o3ites. Do share them here...
Originally posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:31 PM
A Social Activism Paradise
The mood is electric as I enter the Jawahar Lal Stadium grounds.
Some people from Tibet are starting their protests, in another corner a dalit group from Jharkand is discussing its issues, further ahead a women’s group from Karnataka is selling its wares, a traditional craft, slowly losing out to globalization, further ahead Agsar Ali passionately tells Muslim women to change the shariat.
I listen to issues related to NREGA and then I see a poster screaming out “World’s Number One Terrorist”. Someone is blocking my way and I cant see the picture, I assume its Osama Bin Laden. Well I am wrong. A leftist heaven, the picture is of George W Bush.
And I realize that Indian Social Forum is the biggest mela for all kinds of social activism. I am amazed that there are so many people who care about such a vast array of issues.
Thousands of people from all walks of life, all across the world are here to talk about things which affect them directly or indirectly.
The venue is next to a slum and I see people’s reaction as they pass by it. They squirm, some putting a cloth over their faces, some ignore it and then I wonder if there are double standards too.
What uplifts my spirit is the involvement of young people in the event. Atleast some people don’t have a chalta hai attitude.
All in all – I have a mixed day. I am happy to see that the voiceless are give a voice, a platform but on the other hand one understands that globalization is the way forward. A closed society and economy can never grow.
Do check out their website here.
Any one in Delhi concerned about any social issue ranging from farmers plight to nuclear proliferation, don’t give this event a miss. It will go on till November 13!
Originally posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 1:20 PM
Some people from Tibet are starting their protests, in another corner a dalit group from Jharkand is discussing its issues, further ahead a women’s group from Karnataka is selling its wares, a traditional craft, slowly losing out to globalization, further ahead Agsar Ali passionately tells Muslim women to change the shariat.
I listen to issues related to NREGA and then I see a poster screaming out “World’s Number One Terrorist”. Someone is blocking my way and I cant see the picture, I assume its Osama Bin Laden. Well I am wrong. A leftist heaven, the picture is of George W Bush.
And I realize that Indian Social Forum is the biggest mela for all kinds of social activism. I am amazed that there are so many people who care about such a vast array of issues.
Thousands of people from all walks of life, all across the world are here to talk about things which affect them directly or indirectly.
The venue is next to a slum and I see people’s reaction as they pass by it. They squirm, some putting a cloth over their faces, some ignore it and then I wonder if there are double standards too.
What uplifts my spirit is the involvement of young people in the event. Atleast some people don’t have a chalta hai attitude.
All in all – I have a mixed day. I am happy to see that the voiceless are give a voice, a platform but on the other hand one understands that globalization is the way forward. A closed society and economy can never grow.
Do check out their website here.
Any one in Delhi concerned about any social issue ranging from farmers plight to nuclear proliferation, don’t give this event a miss. It will go on till November 13!
Originally posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 1:20 PM
When Lines Blur
Some people are lonely, some are frustrated, some unhappy and some have psychological disorders like seeking attention.
When such people get a platform where they can be anonymous, they abuse it.
They lie, they cheat others into believing something. Probably an image of themselves which they want to create in their real life and they can’t.
It can be very difficult to keep up that image because sometimes people do slip up, leave clues unknowingly. They think other can’t see, but they can.
Some pretend to be younger, some pretend to belong to the opposite sex.
And yet others, they outright pretend to be some one else, taking on an identity and trying to fool others.
Twice on this blog forum, such incidents have happened, where these self confidence lacking individuals have been caught and have tendered apology.
For some it is a game about identity deception, albeit one that is played without the consent of most of the players. The person attempts to pass as a legitimate participant, sharing the group's common interests and concerns.
But the success rate is not considered to be high in such cases as identity cues give away their game.
Obviously they should seek some kind of professional help.
An MIT Media Lab research adds- compared to the physical world, it is relatively easy to pass as someone else online since there are relatively few identity cues.
It further goes on to add that its even more surprising how unsuccessful such crude imitations can be.
In a ToI article, sociologist Neha Khanna says people are not only taking up online identities, they are changing their real ones too.
She further says, "This is the age where everybody wants to be a star, be saleable. If others react favourably online to a certain trait, they change their identity at a moment's notice.
The 'real you' is lost in the race to be 'popular you'. But this doesn't happen in real life interaction. So, is it time to press the alarm bells? "
Definitely. Normality is the ability to deal with all aspects of real life. Not choosing your space and blanking out the real," adds psychologist Samir Parikh.
Is anyone paying heed?
P.S : This post is inspired by SS ki current post.
Originally posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 6:09 PM
When such people get a platform where they can be anonymous, they abuse it.
They lie, they cheat others into believing something. Probably an image of themselves which they want to create in their real life and they can’t.
It can be very difficult to keep up that image because sometimes people do slip up, leave clues unknowingly. They think other can’t see, but they can.
Some pretend to be younger, some pretend to belong to the opposite sex.
And yet others, they outright pretend to be some one else, taking on an identity and trying to fool others.
Twice on this blog forum, such incidents have happened, where these self confidence lacking individuals have been caught and have tendered apology.
For some it is a game about identity deception, albeit one that is played without the consent of most of the players. The person attempts to pass as a legitimate participant, sharing the group's common interests and concerns.
But the success rate is not considered to be high in such cases as identity cues give away their game.
Obviously they should seek some kind of professional help.
An MIT Media Lab research adds- compared to the physical world, it is relatively easy to pass as someone else online since there are relatively few identity cues.
It further goes on to add that its even more surprising how unsuccessful such crude imitations can be.
In a ToI article, sociologist Neha Khanna says people are not only taking up online identities, they are changing their real ones too.
She further says, "This is the age where everybody wants to be a star, be saleable. If others react favourably online to a certain trait, they change their identity at a moment's notice.
The 'real you' is lost in the race to be 'popular you'. But this doesn't happen in real life interaction. So, is it time to press the alarm bells? "
Definitely. Normality is the ability to deal with all aspects of real life. Not choosing your space and blanking out the real," adds psychologist Samir Parikh.
Is anyone paying heed?
P.S : This post is inspired by SS ki current post.
Originally posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 6:09 PM
Dial M For Media
Amidst the criticism which the Indian media faces for reducing news to infotainment, it still hasn’t lost touch with the real issues, the issues which affect the common man.
When Priyadarshi Mattoo case was forgotten, media played a commendable role to bring it to the forefront.
Though it cannot take all credit for the judgment, it has again brought to the front the two P’s of media – power and pressure.
Finally after watching prince-rescued-drama, snake-after-man-drama, driverless-car-drama, matuknath-love story-drama, girls-getting-into- Prime Minister’s-residence drama and almost losing hope that I would never be subjected to some kind of intellectual stimulation or issue based news, this comes like a breath of fresh air.
Though broadcast journalism has come into the limelight for all the wrong reasons – sensationalizing of unimportant ‘news’, magnifying issues which didn’t need to be in the spotlight. This form of media is quite new in India, not taking into account doordarshan, the sarkari channel which has been there since 1959, where news anchors drone about lifelessly, looking almost bored.
The private players still have teething troubles as their foray into the industry is about a decade old.
When compared to the biggies in the west, they don’t quite match up. But given the experience and the fact that western broadcast media had started to establish in first half of 1900s, we still have some catching up to do.
Another dynamics which are peculiar to India are the ‘target audience’. There is a distinction between urban and rural audience and the news channels cater to especially to them.
With time, I hope the broadcast media evolves and instead of dumbing down the audience, it sensitizes them. And inspite of being commercialized, continues to raise important issues and as they call it ‘fight for the underdog’.
Originally posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:28 PM
When Priyadarshi Mattoo case was forgotten, media played a commendable role to bring it to the forefront.
Though it cannot take all credit for the judgment, it has again brought to the front the two P’s of media – power and pressure.
Finally after watching prince-rescued-drama, snake-after-man-drama, driverless-car-drama, matuknath-love story-drama, girls-getting-into- Prime Minister’s-residence drama and almost losing hope that I would never be subjected to some kind of intellectual stimulation or issue based news, this comes like a breath of fresh air.
Though broadcast journalism has come into the limelight for all the wrong reasons – sensationalizing of unimportant ‘news’, magnifying issues which didn’t need to be in the spotlight. This form of media is quite new in India, not taking into account doordarshan, the sarkari channel which has been there since 1959, where news anchors drone about lifelessly, looking almost bored.
The private players still have teething troubles as their foray into the industry is about a decade old.
When compared to the biggies in the west, they don’t quite match up. But given the experience and the fact that western broadcast media had started to establish in first half of 1900s, we still have some catching up to do.
Another dynamics which are peculiar to India are the ‘target audience’. There is a distinction between urban and rural audience and the news channels cater to especially to them.
With time, I hope the broadcast media evolves and instead of dumbing down the audience, it sensitizes them. And inspite of being commercialized, continues to raise important issues and as they call it ‘fight for the underdog’.
Originally posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:28 PM
Friday, August 22, 2008
Geometry of The Delhi Bloggers Meet
Update below
Before reading this, check out Savy's and Abyb's version of the meet coz I have left out some details as I didn't want to be repetitive-
First of all, we did not come fashionably late to the meet, we were all working/ stuck in traffic and that’s why it took some time to reach there.
As I entered the meet venue, I saw Shady, Taira and a lady sitting in a corner. I instantly recognized her as Savy :)
I ordered the same drink as Savy and was served in a different glass. It seems nobody was happy with the glasses and hence a different glass for me (incase I kicked up a fuss). A while later Kamesh also ordered the same drink and was served in a yet another glass!
As Maddy told us about her Mumbai experiences and how supportive the Mumbai bloggers were, the difficulty she had in getting a house there and how she described me to the Mumbai gang, we were ROFL.
After a general chitchat, Kamesh joined us. And then began lots of geometry and chemistry at the meet
First we could see anticipation in Kamesh’s eyes as he expected Abyb to join us. With a wistful expression Kamesh talked about how he and Abyb hit off at the last meet and how they go on frequent dates now and how they talk to each other on the phone and how eagerly he was waiting for Abyb to join us for the meet.
After not receiving any call from him, Kamesh himself called and asked how long it would take Abyb to reach. And after he reached, you could see a smile on Kamesh’s face.
Meanwhile Maddy became upset that Abyb being her neigbour was seeing Kamesh more than her.
Here began the triangle.
Meanwhile Shady rubbed his hands in glee because he started getting shady thoughts about the triangle.
Shady, Savy and Maddy started talking about finding a girlfriend for Shady and his 7-and-half funda and experienced women.
Taira talked about the hot doctor at Max health care who Maddy knew pretty well. I think I should take Dad there for his next checkup :D
As Oceanic and Abyb made an entrance at 8.00 P.M for a meet scheduled at 6.00 P.M and Oceanic left before we could all say Hi, she said to Abyb, something to the effect of - I hope you don’t mind/feel bad.
This led to a complicated rectangle.
There are talks of a pentagon when I was leaving and gently chided Abyb to atleast try and come on time for the next meet :D
Taira had to leave and after sometime Savy and I also decided to leave. Savy was very sweet and made me meet her kids who where in CP but had not joined us for a meet.
P.S: I am ROFL @ everyone talking about my rucksack. It’s not that big or heavy. And it’s a handy tool when I want to hit somebody.
Update: Check out the official version of the meet at Kamesh's blog
Before reading this, check out Savy's and Abyb's version of the meet coz I have left out some details as I didn't want to be repetitive-
First of all, we did not come fashionably late to the meet, we were all working/ stuck in traffic and that’s why it took some time to reach there.
As I entered the meet venue, I saw Shady, Taira and a lady sitting in a corner. I instantly recognized her as Savy :)
I ordered the same drink as Savy and was served in a different glass. It seems nobody was happy with the glasses and hence a different glass for me (incase I kicked up a fuss). A while later Kamesh also ordered the same drink and was served in a yet another glass!
As Maddy told us about her Mumbai experiences and how supportive the Mumbai bloggers were, the difficulty she had in getting a house there and how she described me to the Mumbai gang, we were ROFL.
After a general chitchat, Kamesh joined us. And then began lots of geometry and chemistry at the meet
First we could see anticipation in Kamesh’s eyes as he expected Abyb to join us. With a wistful expression Kamesh talked about how he and Abyb hit off at the last meet and how they go on frequent dates now and how they talk to each other on the phone and how eagerly he was waiting for Abyb to join us for the meet.
After not receiving any call from him, Kamesh himself called and asked how long it would take Abyb to reach. And after he reached, you could see a smile on Kamesh’s face.
Meanwhile Maddy became upset that Abyb being her neigbour was seeing Kamesh more than her.
Here began the triangle.
Meanwhile Shady rubbed his hands in glee because he started getting shady thoughts about the triangle.
Shady, Savy and Maddy started talking about finding a girlfriend for Shady and his 7-and-half funda and experienced women.
Taira talked about the hot doctor at Max health care who Maddy knew pretty well. I think I should take Dad there for his next checkup :D
As Oceanic and Abyb made an entrance at 8.00 P.M for a meet scheduled at 6.00 P.M and Oceanic left before we could all say Hi, she said to Abyb, something to the effect of - I hope you don’t mind/feel bad.
This led to a complicated rectangle.
There are talks of a pentagon when I was leaving and gently chided Abyb to atleast try and come on time for the next meet :D
Taira had to leave and after sometime Savy and I also decided to leave. Savy was very sweet and made me meet her kids who where in CP but had not joined us for a meet.
P.S: I am ROFL @ everyone talking about my rucksack. It’s not that big or heavy. And it’s a handy tool when I want to hit somebody.
Update: Check out the official version of the meet at Kamesh's blog
For The Spammers On O3
Dear Mike, Dough, Smith, Oscar, Jimmie, Greg, Aldo and others,
I am not having a nervous breakdown and I don't need Valium. I definitely don't need to reduce my weight so advertising phentermine on my blog post is an utter waste of bandwidth and my time.
I also don't need a car insurance as I don't drive to work. Also I don’t need insurance for anything else you may want to sell me in the future.
I am not Italian, so those Italian sounding websites are completely useless for me.
Neither do I visit those X-rated websites.
I don’t shop online for shoes, clothes, music, camera, TV, phone and everything else which is on your list.
Also I don't gamble online and I don't have bad credit, so I don't need a loan.
For those of you who like 'my style of writing' and want me to chill, I am not fishing for compliments I don't want to chill.
I will mercilessly delete all your crappy, #$%&* spam comments. If you want to wage a battle with me, I can assure you that you will fail.
(Never) Yours
Zephie
P.S: Fellow bloggers, I may have unintentionally left some spammers/ spam comments. Just drop a line in my comments section, I shall duly update the ever growing list!
Originally posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 1:25 PM
I am not having a nervous breakdown and I don't need Valium. I definitely don't need to reduce my weight so advertising phentermine on my blog post is an utter waste of bandwidth and my time.
I also don't need a car insurance as I don't drive to work. Also I don’t need insurance for anything else you may want to sell me in the future.
I am not Italian, so those Italian sounding websites are completely useless for me.
Neither do I visit those X-rated websites.
I don’t shop online for shoes, clothes, music, camera, TV, phone and everything else which is on your list.
Also I don't gamble online and I don't have bad credit, so I don't need a loan.
For those of you who like 'my style of writing' and want me to chill, I am not fishing for compliments I don't want to chill.
I will mercilessly delete all your crappy, #$%&* spam comments. If you want to wage a battle with me, I can assure you that you will fail.
(Never) Yours
Zephie
P.S: Fellow bloggers, I may have unintentionally left some spammers/ spam comments. Just drop a line in my comments section, I shall duly update the ever growing list!
Originally posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 1:25 PM
The Life We Live And The Death We Choose
* Scroll down for updates
“Veronika was almost certain that everything ended with death. That is why she had chosen suicide: freedom at last. Eternal ovlivion.
She was not killing herself because she was a sad, embitted woman, constantly depressed.
She believed herself to be completely normal. Two very simple reasons lay behind her decision to die, and she was sure that, were she to leave a note explaining, many people would agree with her.
The first reason: everything in her life was the same and once her youth was gone, it would be downhill all the way... The second reason was more philosophical... She was aware of what was going on in the world. Everything was wrong, and she had no way of putting things right- that gave her a sense of complete powerlessness.“
- Paulo Coehlo, Veronika Decides To Die
And so a 24 year old woman, who had everything in life, decided to die.
What she did not understand was when you forget to live, you die. Even if it's not a physical death, its a death of one's soul. It's not a decision you make, its the complacency you accept. The fear of living your life on your terms and acceptance by the others.
To see beauty in leaves which dance as zephyr passes through them. To be captivated by an innocent smile of a child or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of everyday life. To live with the understanding that a healthy mix of idealism and practicality is important. The desire to take on anything and have faith. And to understand that life is precious. That’s what it is all about.
I could go on and on. But the reason for writing this post was not just to analyze a brilliant piece of writing by Coelho but also understand its relevance in our society, our lives.
What alarms me is the number of suicides going up steadily in Urban India. WHO says :
With a rate of 11 per 1,00,000 suicides per year, an increase from 6 per 1,00,000 during the 1980s, India occupies the second highest rate of suicides in South East Asia. When corrected for underreporting, these rates are likely to be much higher.
While 89,000 persons committed suicide in 1995, the number increased to 96,000 in 1997 and to 1,04,000 in 1998, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. During 1988-1998, suicides increased by a staggering 33.7%.
Among the cities, Bangalore (17%), Mumbai (14%), Chennai (11%) and Delhi (7.5%) accounted for nearly 50% of the total suicides in the country.
Though in the novel Veronika's suicide attempt wasn't successful, that is not always the case in real life.
Update 1 on 11th Oct '06: Just realized that today I have completed one year of blogging :O
I didn't think this obsession would last this long!!!!
-----------------
Update 2: Wishing everyone a Shubh Deepawali and Eid Mubarak
Originally posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 7:31 PM
“Veronika was almost certain that everything ended with death. That is why she had chosen suicide: freedom at last. Eternal ovlivion.
She was not killing herself because she was a sad, embitted woman, constantly depressed.
She believed herself to be completely normal. Two very simple reasons lay behind her decision to die, and she was sure that, were she to leave a note explaining, many people would agree with her.
The first reason: everything in her life was the same and once her youth was gone, it would be downhill all the way... The second reason was more philosophical... She was aware of what was going on in the world. Everything was wrong, and she had no way of putting things right- that gave her a sense of complete powerlessness.“
- Paulo Coehlo, Veronika Decides To Die
And so a 24 year old woman, who had everything in life, decided to die.
What she did not understand was when you forget to live, you die. Even if it's not a physical death, its a death of one's soul. It's not a decision you make, its the complacency you accept. The fear of living your life on your terms and acceptance by the others.
To see beauty in leaves which dance as zephyr passes through them. To be captivated by an innocent smile of a child or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of everyday life. To live with the understanding that a healthy mix of idealism and practicality is important. The desire to take on anything and have faith. And to understand that life is precious. That’s what it is all about.
I could go on and on. But the reason for writing this post was not just to analyze a brilliant piece of writing by Coelho but also understand its relevance in our society, our lives.
What alarms me is the number of suicides going up steadily in Urban India. WHO says :
With a rate of 11 per 1,00,000 suicides per year, an increase from 6 per 1,00,000 during the 1980s, India occupies the second highest rate of suicides in South East Asia. When corrected for underreporting, these rates are likely to be much higher.
While 89,000 persons committed suicide in 1995, the number increased to 96,000 in 1997 and to 1,04,000 in 1998, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. During 1988-1998, suicides increased by a staggering 33.7%.
Among the cities, Bangalore (17%), Mumbai (14%), Chennai (11%) and Delhi (7.5%) accounted for nearly 50% of the total suicides in the country.
Though in the novel Veronika's suicide attempt wasn't successful, that is not always the case in real life.
Update 1 on 11th Oct '06: Just realized that today I have completed one year of blogging :O
I didn't think this obsession would last this long!!!!
-----------------
Update 2: Wishing everyone a Shubh Deepawali and Eid Mubarak
Originally posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 7:31 PM
Fate And Faith: Dealing With The Cards
“Yeh didi tumse baat karna chahti hai,” said A to a boy named R. R was scurrying about, carrying a crate full of dirty, empty teacups. As soon as he looked at me, he flashed the most amazing smile I had ever seen. A smile from the heart, which lit up his face.
He nodded, lifted up his hands as his eyes communicated to me that he will come in a moment after stacking up the crate which he has to wash in a few minutes. I stood in a corner, waiting for him.
15 year old R works day and night because he has to fill his stomach. Sometimes he wishes to go back to his home, thousands of kilometers away. But the thought of poverty stops him.
I ask him questions, as first he falters but soon we build a rapport and continue talking. At times his answers are so mature, at times child like craving for attention and affection.
At the end of our conversation, I sincerely wish that now onwards life doles out better cards to him, that he becomes a successful man. But I wonder if the boy with the sunny smile can just live on hope and hard work.
The goodbye is awkward but he just gives me a ‘thumbs up’ sign and flashes his million watt smile. I smile too while returning his gesture.
In olden times, thumbs up actually meant an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his vanquished foe rather than a vote to allow the defeated to remain alive.
I just hope that this gladiator can come out victorius because it would be a pity if his spirit was to die.
Originally posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 5:40 PM
He nodded, lifted up his hands as his eyes communicated to me that he will come in a moment after stacking up the crate which he has to wash in a few minutes. I stood in a corner, waiting for him.
15 year old R works day and night because he has to fill his stomach. Sometimes he wishes to go back to his home, thousands of kilometers away. But the thought of poverty stops him.
I ask him questions, as first he falters but soon we build a rapport and continue talking. At times his answers are so mature, at times child like craving for attention and affection.
At the end of our conversation, I sincerely wish that now onwards life doles out better cards to him, that he becomes a successful man. But I wonder if the boy with the sunny smile can just live on hope and hard work.
The goodbye is awkward but he just gives me a ‘thumbs up’ sign and flashes his million watt smile. I smile too while returning his gesture.
In olden times, thumbs up actually meant an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his vanquished foe rather than a vote to allow the defeated to remain alive.
I just hope that this gladiator can come out victorius because it would be a pity if his spirit was to die.
Originally posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 5:40 PM
Random. Jumbled. Chaotic. My Thoughts And This Post
* New Updates
It humbles you when you do a story on street children and realize that there are millions of children struggling on the streets trying to survive, getting into drugs, messing up their lives, getting tortured and some selfless people trying to help them out.
And then you do a story where small kids are going to fancy pre-schools and schools so they have a better future. They have access to the best food, clothing, education, life.
Fate. This is the word which decides the have and have-nots. It decides if you will be born in a farmer’s family and who will eventually commit suicide because he can’t pay the debt. Or you are born in a family which didn’t have to struggle like this.
Obviously there are some who change their fate but most become resigned to it.
After a while you become immune to all this and accept it as part of your life. The beggar child on the streets, you sitting in a car with a filled stomach and shooing them away, your child sitting beside you eating that chocolate while the child on the street wistfully stares at you. The light turns green and you speed away.
Its a piece of a jigsaw puzzle which fits together to create a mosaic, an image of this country, of this disparity.
And that’s when we start to lose the battle. Because we accept everything passively, without trying to change it.
Also check out Savy's take on the issue by clicking here
-----------
-----------
SS - As of now I am not taking up the tag. It is too much on a strain on my poor brain to come up with answers to inane questions while I in a state of limbo, grapple with the questions regarding the bigger picture.
-----------
A question:
I want an opinion from both men and women on this -
Do you think that women dress up for men and vice versa? And why?
-----------
Another random thought:
I am reading Shantaram these days. It's an awesome book. I hope the movie version of the story does justice to the book.
-----------
* Updated my photo blog. You can check it out here
-----------
* For people living in Delhi, and especially women who are fedup of eve teasing, do something about it here
Originally posted on Monday, September 18, 2006 2:08 PM
It humbles you when you do a story on street children and realize that there are millions of children struggling on the streets trying to survive, getting into drugs, messing up their lives, getting tortured and some selfless people trying to help them out.
And then you do a story where small kids are going to fancy pre-schools and schools so they have a better future. They have access to the best food, clothing, education, life.
Fate. This is the word which decides the have and have-nots. It decides if you will be born in a farmer’s family and who will eventually commit suicide because he can’t pay the debt. Or you are born in a family which didn’t have to struggle like this.
Obviously there are some who change their fate but most become resigned to it.
After a while you become immune to all this and accept it as part of your life. The beggar child on the streets, you sitting in a car with a filled stomach and shooing them away, your child sitting beside you eating that chocolate while the child on the street wistfully stares at you. The light turns green and you speed away.
Its a piece of a jigsaw puzzle which fits together to create a mosaic, an image of this country, of this disparity.
And that’s when we start to lose the battle. Because we accept everything passively, without trying to change it.
Also check out Savy's take on the issue by clicking here
-----------
-----------
SS - As of now I am not taking up the tag. It is too much on a strain on my poor brain to come up with answers to inane questions while I in a state of limbo, grapple with the questions regarding the bigger picture.
-----------
A question:
I want an opinion from both men and women on this -
Do you think that women dress up for men and vice versa? And why?
-----------
Another random thought:
I am reading Shantaram these days. It's an awesome book. I hope the movie version of the story does justice to the book.
-----------
* Updated my photo blog. You can check it out here
-----------
* For people living in Delhi, and especially women who are fedup of eve teasing, do something about it here
Originally posted on Monday, September 18, 2006 2:08 PM
Laugh It Away!
Time For A Rant
Too much work pressure can lead you to making some mistakes. What I really mean is you are mentally fatigued and you overlook a certain thing and the next thing you know is you have made a serious blunder and the project has suffered because of that. Sometimes the only way to rectify it is to make sure you don't make the same mistake again. Other times there is hope that damage control will be able to salvage the project.
After panicking and chiding myself and calling myself all kinds of names and putting myself though mental agony and calling up ‘always there friend (atf)’ and telling that I am no good and atf telling me that’s its okay and we all make mistakes and anyway its not a very big blunder and after feeling very low I decided to get back to work.
Um… all is not lost (some thing to do with baby faced people getting away with mistakes?) because a brain storming session later, the project is back on track. Keeping my fingers crossed, and having already faced a few hiccups, hope things will sail smoothly from here and Mr. Murphy will find someone else to torture.
Update: Just came to know that it wasn't a really big goof up and I wasn't completely wrong. And I put myself through mental agony for all that... grr @ me....
Update 2: Updated my photo blog
Originally posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 5:36 PM
After panicking and chiding myself and calling myself all kinds of names and putting myself though mental agony and calling up ‘always there friend (atf)’ and telling that I am no good and atf telling me that’s its okay and we all make mistakes and anyway its not a very big blunder and after feeling very low I decided to get back to work.
Um… all is not lost (some thing to do with baby faced people getting away with mistakes?) because a brain storming session later, the project is back on track. Keeping my fingers crossed, and having already faced a few hiccups, hope things will sail smoothly from here and Mr. Murphy will find someone else to torture.
Update: Just came to know that it wasn't a really big goof up and I wasn't completely wrong. And I put myself through mental agony for all that... grr @ me....
Update 2: Updated my photo blog
Originally posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 5:36 PM
Monday, June 16, 2008
Delhi Bloggers Meet - Version Two
After the shady details of the meet, here's more stuff dished up for you guys.
On 15th I spoke to Maddy and confirmed that the meet was happening on 16th. We talked about how we will recognize each other. Thankfully neither decided to bring a 'red rose in the hand'. Just a lost expression on face would suffice us to recognize each other.
On the day of the meet, I was the first to reach the venue. I went and sat down near a music store looking at people wondering if someone is an O3 blogger. One guy in blue t-shirt walked past me quite a few times, looking for someone. I thought maybe he's a fellow blogger. But it was false alarm. And its never a good idea to stare at men especially if you are a girl sitting alone.
I called up Maddy, who told me that Shady had reached and was parking his car. I told Maddy what I was wearing and so Shady was able to spot me. Meanwhile I thought maybe I should have got some kind of a placard saying 'O3 Blogger'. On second thoughts, it would have got some unwanted attention. Shady recognized me and made me talk to Maddy and so I knew it was the right guy :) First round of introductions happened and while we were talking, his phone rang.
We saw a guy in brown shirt a few meters in front of us, talking on the phone and searching for people. As Shady asked him to raise his hand, we knew it was Abyb. As he joined us, the second round of introductions happened.
As all three of us were talking, Shady's phone rang again. This time it was Maddy. She joined and the third round of introductions happened.
We proceeded to go and sit inside Buzz.
Obviously no one could believe how old was I and I told them I had identification to prove my age and they all said this to me- This is Delhi, yahan nakli identification bhi banti hai :) Oh and Abyb actually thought I was 'elderly'. Now this is one statement I would have gladly recorded because no one in my entire life has called me anything more than a teenager.
After the usual chit chat, Taira joined us and the next round of introductions happened. Now the seating arrangement was such – Maddy, next to her was Abyb and next to him was Taira. On the opposite side, I was sitting in the corner, Shady next to me and a khali seat (where Kamesh eventually sat).
Taira asked me if I would like to have some cocktail and proceeded to tell me names of some interesting ones but I decided to stick to my Shirley Temple mocktail while Maddy proceeded to tell about the toothpaste cocktail which she had created once with secret ingredients (which even the expert mixologists/top intelligence agency/scientists in the world will not be able to replicate).
As Kamesh joined us, the final round of introductions happened. Phew! Next time we should have some kind of stickers on our foreheads so it’s easy to recognize people.
We ordered some food and everyone passed it to me first. Maybe everyone thought I could magically grow (?) if I was fed well.
As Taira began her tirade against men with Maddy joining in, I wonder what was going though Abyb’s head, sitting in the middle of man-eaters :D The man with body parts from different states (Kamesh) was quiet and Shady- well he could only nod in agreement.
I spoke a little but observed a lot (wink). Someone suggested I should sit in the middle and Shady offered to swap places with me which I refused. I didn’t want them to look like bodyguards sitting on my either side.
Abyb did mention about a shady place called national cinema hall behind the national stadium. Hearing about someplace shady our Shady Man’s ears perked up. And he told us somethings about his shady past in college daysJ As SBH messaged him, we all decided to break the party. I was imparted some gyan by the people that I should definitely visit Goa (without folks in tow and with friends in tow).
Dividing the bill was a very difficult task and Kamesh took up the challenge to divide it between us while Shady started to sweat – don’t know if it was the complex calculation or the phone call to his better half :P
After insisting that I could go alone, I was dropped by a fellow blogger.
Here's hoping the next meets happens soon!!!
P.S: I have left out some details because they are already there at Shady’s post and I didn’t want this to be repetitive
Originally posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:05 PM
On 15th I spoke to Maddy and confirmed that the meet was happening on 16th. We talked about how we will recognize each other. Thankfully neither decided to bring a 'red rose in the hand'. Just a lost expression on face would suffice us to recognize each other.
On the day of the meet, I was the first to reach the venue. I went and sat down near a music store looking at people wondering if someone is an O3 blogger. One guy in blue t-shirt walked past me quite a few times, looking for someone. I thought maybe he's a fellow blogger. But it was false alarm. And its never a good idea to stare at men especially if you are a girl sitting alone.
I called up Maddy, who told me that Shady had reached and was parking his car. I told Maddy what I was wearing and so Shady was able to spot me. Meanwhile I thought maybe I should have got some kind of a placard saying 'O3 Blogger'. On second thoughts, it would have got some unwanted attention. Shady recognized me and made me talk to Maddy and so I knew it was the right guy :) First round of introductions happened and while we were talking, his phone rang.
We saw a guy in brown shirt a few meters in front of us, talking on the phone and searching for people. As Shady asked him to raise his hand, we knew it was Abyb. As he joined us, the second round of introductions happened.
As all three of us were talking, Shady's phone rang again. This time it was Maddy. She joined and the third round of introductions happened.
We proceeded to go and sit inside Buzz.
Obviously no one could believe how old was I and I told them I had identification to prove my age and they all said this to me- This is Delhi, yahan nakli identification bhi banti hai :) Oh and Abyb actually thought I was 'elderly'. Now this is one statement I would have gladly recorded because no one in my entire life has called me anything more than a teenager.
After the usual chit chat, Taira joined us and the next round of introductions happened. Now the seating arrangement was such – Maddy, next to her was Abyb and next to him was Taira. On the opposite side, I was sitting in the corner, Shady next to me and a khali seat (where Kamesh eventually sat).
Taira asked me if I would like to have some cocktail and proceeded to tell me names of some interesting ones but I decided to stick to my Shirley Temple mocktail while Maddy proceeded to tell about the toothpaste cocktail which she had created once with secret ingredients (which even the expert mixologists/top intelligence agency/scientists in the world will not be able to replicate).
As Kamesh joined us, the final round of introductions happened. Phew! Next time we should have some kind of stickers on our foreheads so it’s easy to recognize people.
We ordered some food and everyone passed it to me first. Maybe everyone thought I could magically grow (?) if I was fed well.
As Taira began her tirade against men with Maddy joining in, I wonder what was going though Abyb’s head, sitting in the middle of man-eaters :D The man with body parts from different states (Kamesh) was quiet and Shady- well he could only nod in agreement.
I spoke a little but observed a lot (wink). Someone suggested I should sit in the middle and Shady offered to swap places with me which I refused. I didn’t want them to look like bodyguards sitting on my either side.
Abyb did mention about a shady place called national cinema hall behind the national stadium. Hearing about someplace shady our Shady Man’s ears perked up. And he told us somethings about his shady past in college daysJ As SBH messaged him, we all decided to break the party. I was imparted some gyan by the people that I should definitely visit Goa (without folks in tow and with friends in tow).
Dividing the bill was a very difficult task and Kamesh took up the challenge to divide it between us while Shady started to sweat – don’t know if it was the complex calculation or the phone call to his better half :P
After insisting that I could go alone, I was dropped by a fellow blogger.
Here's hoping the next meets happens soon!!!
P.S: I have left out some details because they are already there at Shady’s post and I didn’t want this to be repetitive
Originally posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:05 PM
Independence And Freedom
As I left for work today morning at 6.30 AM (now don't ask what I do), I saw police everywhere.
With the terror threat that we are under, I would say that the security was unprecedented. After every kilometer or so, there were police check posts. They stopped all cars, checked inside the car as well as the baggage, asked a few questions and then let the people go. For the ten kilometers or so which I travelled, I had never seen so many police personnel on the route.
It just got me thinking that even if we are free from colonial rule, we are living in the shadow of terrorism. Which brings me to the question - Is freedom ever absolute?
--------------
And on a completely different note, you all can check out my new photo blog
--------------
Also, check out the shady version of delhi bloggers meet
Originally posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 8:52 AM
With the terror threat that we are under, I would say that the security was unprecedented. After every kilometer or so, there were police check posts. They stopped all cars, checked inside the car as well as the baggage, asked a few questions and then let the people go. For the ten kilometers or so which I travelled, I had never seen so many police personnel on the route.
It just got me thinking that even if we are free from colonial rule, we are living in the shadow of terrorism. Which brings me to the question - Is freedom ever absolute?
--------------
And on a completely different note, you all can check out my new photo blog
--------------
Also, check out the shady version of delhi bloggers meet
Originally posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 8:52 AM
Changing Profile Of Terror In India
Islamic Terrorism in India at one point of time was just confined to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The terror spreading elements were from the other side of the border and some who were locals either helped under pressure or were lured to work for the terror groups.
But slowly terror started spreading to different parts of the country. This happened because many radical/fundamentalist Islamic organizations and Islamic educational institutes not just imparted education but also started taking a political flavour.
They talked about the atrocities on Muslims not only in India but also in other parts of the world. Young impressionable men were told to fight for the rights of the Muslims, to avenge what they were told was ‘religion under siege’. Thus terror started taking a new shape as pan Islamic issues emerged.
Local sympathizers and support for the terrorists came about. The number of such people is still little as compared to the entire Muslim population but their actions are what the Indian Muslims paying for.
The question I ask is how do we stop this changing profile of terrorism? Because if it is not curbed now, it could prove to be harmful and deadly in the long run. National policies have to be put in place to deal with this relatively newer shape of terrorism.
Before I start the rhetoric that the middle and lower middle class Muslims needs to be integrated into the main stream, we need to focus on the issue of educating them. One sided education (brainwashing in simpler terms) cannot allow a person to make an informed choice or decision. Education is also a stepping stone into the ‘integration process’.
Long term plans have to be drawn at both Central and State level such that the Indian Muslims feel part of this country without the burden of them proving their loyalty and changing their mindset that they are been ‘victimized’. But how do we bring about these changes? And whether they will be effective and if not then what else can be done.
As Islamophobia is seeping into the Indian psyche and creating a divide between communities, polarization of society and statements and actions of religion based political parties are making sure the gap widens.
Making the chasm smaller will leave us less vulnerable to terror attacks and hopefully this changed profile will be substituted with peace and safety again.
Also read this
Update: Can the commentators please discuss the issue at hand instead of trashing one religion or the other. Please don't force me to delete comments which go completely off track
Originally posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 2:03 PM
But slowly terror started spreading to different parts of the country. This happened because many radical/fundamentalist Islamic organizations and Islamic educational institutes not just imparted education but also started taking a political flavour.
They talked about the atrocities on Muslims not only in India but also in other parts of the world. Young impressionable men were told to fight for the rights of the Muslims, to avenge what they were told was ‘religion under siege’. Thus terror started taking a new shape as pan Islamic issues emerged.
Local sympathizers and support for the terrorists came about. The number of such people is still little as compared to the entire Muslim population but their actions are what the Indian Muslims paying for.
The question I ask is how do we stop this changing profile of terrorism? Because if it is not curbed now, it could prove to be harmful and deadly in the long run. National policies have to be put in place to deal with this relatively newer shape of terrorism.
Before I start the rhetoric that the middle and lower middle class Muslims needs to be integrated into the main stream, we need to focus on the issue of educating them. One sided education (brainwashing in simpler terms) cannot allow a person to make an informed choice or decision. Education is also a stepping stone into the ‘integration process’.
Long term plans have to be drawn at both Central and State level such that the Indian Muslims feel part of this country without the burden of them proving their loyalty and changing their mindset that they are been ‘victimized’. But how do we bring about these changes? And whether they will be effective and if not then what else can be done.
As Islamophobia is seeping into the Indian psyche and creating a divide between communities, polarization of society and statements and actions of religion based political parties are making sure the gap widens.
Making the chasm smaller will leave us less vulnerable to terror attacks and hopefully this changed profile will be substituted with peace and safety again.
Also read this
Update: Can the commentators please discuss the issue at hand instead of trashing one religion or the other. Please don't force me to delete comments which go completely off track
Originally posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 2:03 PM
Scotland Diaries
This is the final part of the Travel Series where I visited the Braveheart's country.
I saw a cloud making factory while I was traversing through the English countryside on my way to Scotland. Yeah you read that right- a cloud factory. There was smoke coming out of a factory which was the same colour as clouds above. As the two met with each other, it looked like clouds were made here!
I reached the city of Edinburgh only to find a cow parade happening there. The only difference being these weren’t real cows like India. The parade has traveled across many countries and the cows are sold for charity proposes.
And what is Scotland without men in tartan and Scottish pipe music. What I learnt was that there are different Scottish clans and all have distinctly woven different tartans. A Douglas would wear a different kilt from a McIntyre.
As I visited the Edinburgh castle, members of the royal family were gathered there because it was birthday of someone royal. A twenty one canon salute was sounded while all the tourists stood and watched.
Other places I visited included a small Scottish village tucked away in Southern Scotland and Leith to see the Firth of Forth.
What I didn’t expect was to find all kinds of cuisines from India to North Africa in this culturally vibrant city of Edinburgh. I couldn’t visit all the museums but I did walk down the Royal Mile, trekked up the Arthur’s Seat and shop at Princes street and did all the touristy things. And if anyone is going to this city please visit ‘The Pie Shop’ at Nicolson Street. The smell of freshly baked pie will be irresistible and while you are at it please get some for me.
On my list of places to visit in Scotland and I couldn’t this time around were Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow. As I always say – there will be a next time!
Originally posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 2:45 PM
I saw a cloud making factory while I was traversing through the English countryside on my way to Scotland. Yeah you read that right- a cloud factory. There was smoke coming out of a factory which was the same colour as clouds above. As the two met with each other, it looked like clouds were made here!
I reached the city of Edinburgh only to find a cow parade happening there. The only difference being these weren’t real cows like India. The parade has traveled across many countries and the cows are sold for charity proposes.
And what is Scotland without men in tartan and Scottish pipe music. What I learnt was that there are different Scottish clans and all have distinctly woven different tartans. A Douglas would wear a different kilt from a McIntyre.
As I visited the Edinburgh castle, members of the royal family were gathered there because it was birthday of someone royal. A twenty one canon salute was sounded while all the tourists stood and watched.
Other places I visited included a small Scottish village tucked away in Southern Scotland and Leith to see the Firth of Forth.
What I didn’t expect was to find all kinds of cuisines from India to North Africa in this culturally vibrant city of Edinburgh. I couldn’t visit all the museums but I did walk down the Royal Mile, trekked up the Arthur’s Seat and shop at Princes street and did all the touristy things. And if anyone is going to this city please visit ‘The Pie Shop’ at Nicolson Street. The smell of freshly baked pie will be irresistible and while you are at it please get some for me.
On my list of places to visit in Scotland and I couldn’t this time around were Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow. As I always say – there will be a next time!
Originally posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 2:45 PM
England Diaries
Well this post is much delayed because I didn’t have the photos with me and didn’t want to put up a post without photos. So here goes –
One fine evening my sister asked me if I wanted to visit Brighton. I, having read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ obviously jumped on the chance. But the trip didn’t happen. I wonder if my sister thought I was going to run away with someone :P
But I did visit Windsor. The castle is really beautiful from inside. Gilt edged furniture and wall carvings, ceiling painting a la Leonardo Da Vinci’s work in the Vatican, Persian rugs, Indian swords, the works. You really feel like you have stepped into something very royal. The only thing troubling my mind was that some of the wealth came form our country when they plundered us.
On my way to Windsor, I saw horse drawn carriages with Ladies in gowns and pretty dressed and Gentlemen in shirt tails been driven away. I was transported to previous century until someone told me that members of the royal family were headed to the Royal Ascot races.
I passed through Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed. I enjoyed the English countryside with hills which looked like patchwork quilts of different shades of green interspersed with fields of white,red and yellow wildflowers and towns and village which looked untouched by the modern world.
Then I decided to head over to Stonehenge. I have this fascination for druids and occult courtesy my weekly diet of a TV show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer which I used to love watching in my teenage years. :D
The day I chose to visit this historical monument was the day of solstice, June 21. I was informed that the Druids would be performing their ceremonies and we wouldn’t be let inside. I was totally disappointed. This was supposed to be the highlight of my trip and I couldn’t go inside!
But the tour operator made it upto us by providing us a free lunch at a 14th century Inn. It was a quaint little place, tucked in a little village off the highway and has a proper hatched roof and a wooden ceiling. It sort of made up for the disappointment of not going inside the Stonehenge.
Then I headed for the beautiful city of Bath where the Roman Baths were discovered a few centuries ago. As my tour group walked inside the Roman Baths we were served complimentary Champagne and Elderberry Flower Juice for young people in the group. The Gentleman serving us didn’t believe I was legally old enough to drink (18 years is the limit in UK) and was thus served the juice.
This was my whirlwind tour of southern England.
Places I wanted to visit but I couldn’t in this trip - Stratford Upon Avon (The Bard’s home), Lake District and Cornwall. There will be another time for this.
P.S: Photos in the London dairies post have been updated.
Coming up next: Scotland dairies
Originally posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 12:06 PM
One fine evening my sister asked me if I wanted to visit Brighton. I, having read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ obviously jumped on the chance. But the trip didn’t happen. I wonder if my sister thought I was going to run away with someone :P
But I did visit Windsor. The castle is really beautiful from inside. Gilt edged furniture and wall carvings, ceiling painting a la Leonardo Da Vinci’s work in the Vatican, Persian rugs, Indian swords, the works. You really feel like you have stepped into something very royal. The only thing troubling my mind was that some of the wealth came form our country when they plundered us.
On my way to Windsor, I saw horse drawn carriages with Ladies in gowns and pretty dressed and Gentlemen in shirt tails been driven away. I was transported to previous century until someone told me that members of the royal family were headed to the Royal Ascot races.
I passed through Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed. I enjoyed the English countryside with hills which looked like patchwork quilts of different shades of green interspersed with fields of white,red and yellow wildflowers and towns and village which looked untouched by the modern world.
Then I decided to head over to Stonehenge. I have this fascination for druids and occult courtesy my weekly diet of a TV show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer which I used to love watching in my teenage years. :D
The day I chose to visit this historical monument was the day of solstice, June 21. I was informed that the Druids would be performing their ceremonies and we wouldn’t be let inside. I was totally disappointed. This was supposed to be the highlight of my trip and I couldn’t go inside!
But the tour operator made it upto us by providing us a free lunch at a 14th century Inn. It was a quaint little place, tucked in a little village off the highway and has a proper hatched roof and a wooden ceiling. It sort of made up for the disappointment of not going inside the Stonehenge.
Then I headed for the beautiful city of Bath where the Roman Baths were discovered a few centuries ago. As my tour group walked inside the Roman Baths we were served complimentary Champagne and Elderberry Flower Juice for young people in the group. The Gentleman serving us didn’t believe I was legally old enough to drink (18 years is the limit in UK) and was thus served the juice.
This was my whirlwind tour of southern England.
Places I wanted to visit but I couldn’t in this trip - Stratford Upon Avon (The Bard’s home), Lake District and Cornwall. There will be another time for this.
P.S: Photos in the London dairies post have been updated.
Coming up next: Scotland dairies
Originally posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 12:06 PM
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Drops of Romance
Bedraggled. Cold. Wet. But I still love rains.
Armed with the weapons of keeping myself dry (WKMD) - raincoat and umbrella, I still ended up getting soaked, making my colleagues wonder if I jumped into every single puddle on the way to the office. I lost the battle to the rain in the time I stepped out of the home to the time I got into an auto. But I am not complaining.
I remember my childhood days when I deliberately jumped into all the puddles while singing the song - Raindrops on roses... Rains have inspired poets and love songs and I wonder how in the world could Anu Malik come out with a song like - Its raining, dekho baarish ho rahi hai... It is the most pathetic rain inspired song I have ever heard in my entire life.
Originally posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:48 AM
Armed with the weapons of keeping myself dry (WKMD) - raincoat and umbrella, I still ended up getting soaked, making my colleagues wonder if I jumped into every single puddle on the way to the office. I lost the battle to the rain in the time I stepped out of the home to the time I got into an auto. But I am not complaining.
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I remember my childhood days when I deliberately jumped into all the puddles while singing the song - Raindrops on roses... Rains have inspired poets and love songs and I wonder how in the world could Anu Malik come out with a song like - Its raining, dekho baarish ho rahi hai... It is the most pathetic rain inspired song I have ever heard in my entire life.
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And as I look outside the window I see overcast skies, green trees and a hear a thunderstorm or two. Inside the office I can hear a news report about Lebanon. Which reminds me its time to stop dreaming and get back to work.
Post will be updated if I feel like adding something more.
Originally posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:48 AM
Being A Woman
This evening as I left work, I was in a good mood. It was drizzling slightly and I simply love the rains. I usually take an auto back home but I saw the bus approaching which goes to my home, I decided to hop in. Happy that it was mostly empty, I got a window seat in the left aisle and sat down.
Sitting behind me were two men, one who seemed half asleep and the other just sitting nonchalantly. As soon as I kept my rucksack (yes I carry a rucksack to work!) on my lap, I felt a hand move, trying to touch my back. Now living in a city like Delhi, you always feel that you are about to be groped, especially in a bus. I got a little wary though giving benifit of doubt to the men behind me. I mentally chided myself for imagining things as I continued to enjoy the scenery outside, lush green trees and a beautiful evening sky. Suddenly I felt a hand groping my back. Not a hand carelessly brushing past my back, a hand which purposely touched me. I turned back to address the culprit. One man was sitting with his hands folded and the other was asleep. I couldn't figure out who did that to me.
I turned towards my right now, almost facing the right aisle and in the corner of my eye I could see the movement of hands of both men. I was fuming from inside, feeling humiliated and treated like an object of someone's pleasure. Ten minutes later, the supposedly sleeping man did the same thing again.
Unable to control my fury, I got and up pulled his hair, so he could face me and slapped him. I told him to keep his hands to himself and after his protest that he was not doing anything wrong, I slapped him again. Everyone in the bus was looking at me, this was like a free ka tamasha for all and not a single person stood up to support me. Not that I expected anyone to.
After the fury subsided, I felt scared. What if he would have whipped out a knife or a pistol? What he comes tomorrow with four other men and tries to take 'revenge'? My pepper spray or karate moves will be of no help at all. Police inaction is well known too. It is this fear that mostly stops women from speaking out.
And even though incidents like this cannot break my spirit, as a woman living in this country I wonder how many will I feel violated and agonized? How many times will I retaliate and how many times will I fight? How many times will I keep quiet? Will I ever be able to use the public transport without feeling wary, without being on guard? Will I be able to walk on the streets without prying eyes looking at me? Will I ever be free?
P.S : I hope he learnt his lesson well and will never try to grope another woman ever. If he hasn't... there is no hope for this country.
You all can check out fellow blogger Blog C's post which is an offshoot of this post.
This post is part of Blank Noise's initiative for the International Women's Day 2007. For more check out their blog.
Originally posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 9:06 PM
Sitting behind me were two men, one who seemed half asleep and the other just sitting nonchalantly. As soon as I kept my rucksack (yes I carry a rucksack to work!) on my lap, I felt a hand move, trying to touch my back. Now living in a city like Delhi, you always feel that you are about to be groped, especially in a bus. I got a little wary though giving benifit of doubt to the men behind me. I mentally chided myself for imagining things as I continued to enjoy the scenery outside, lush green trees and a beautiful evening sky. Suddenly I felt a hand groping my back. Not a hand carelessly brushing past my back, a hand which purposely touched me. I turned back to address the culprit. One man was sitting with his hands folded and the other was asleep. I couldn't figure out who did that to me.
I turned towards my right now, almost facing the right aisle and in the corner of my eye I could see the movement of hands of both men. I was fuming from inside, feeling humiliated and treated like an object of someone's pleasure. Ten minutes later, the supposedly sleeping man did the same thing again.
Unable to control my fury, I got and up pulled his hair, so he could face me and slapped him. I told him to keep his hands to himself and after his protest that he was not doing anything wrong, I slapped him again. Everyone in the bus was looking at me, this was like a free ka tamasha for all and not a single person stood up to support me. Not that I expected anyone to.
After the fury subsided, I felt scared. What if he would have whipped out a knife or a pistol? What he comes tomorrow with four other men and tries to take 'revenge'? My pepper spray or karate moves will be of no help at all. Police inaction is well known too. It is this fear that mostly stops women from speaking out.
And even though incidents like this cannot break my spirit, as a woman living in this country I wonder how many will I feel violated and agonized? How many times will I retaliate and how many times will I fight? How many times will I keep quiet? Will I ever be able to use the public transport without feeling wary, without being on guard? Will I be able to walk on the streets without prying eyes looking at me? Will I ever be free?
P.S : I hope he learnt his lesson well and will never try to grope another woman ever. If he hasn't... there is no hope for this country.
You all can check out fellow blogger Blog C's post which is an offshoot of this post.
This post is part of Blank Noise's initiative for the International Women's Day 2007. For more check out their blog.
Originally posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 9:06 PM
Angered Again
Scroll down for the updates
Anger. This is the emotion which I experience as I write this. The death toll increases every few minutes as I hear of one blast after the another. About five hours after the last blast, the death toll just keeps increasing. I ask for updates every fifteen minutes, praying the figure has stabilized. I am afraid its not.
Enough is enough. Taking a soft stand on the terror issue is unacceptable. During the tenure of the current Prime Minister we have seen Ayodhya attack, Delhi Blasts, IISc attack, numerous attacks in Srinagar and now Mumbai blasts.
Tomorrow morning we will hear of Mumbai’s resilience as it will get back on its feet. But the damage cannot be undone. The fear in the minds of people cannot be undone.This incident will make sure that the religious line on which people are divided will make the chasm wider. The forces working to create a discord in communal harmony are working with zeal. I wonder when will the Government and the Intelligence.
Every single time we have heard the Centre condemning the blasts/attacks with the Prime Minister and his coterie’s heart reaching out and grieving for all those affected. A promise of firm resolution in working to defeat the evil designs of terrorists and not allowing them to succeed (after they have succeeded?). Mr. Prime Minister, how long are we going to hear this?
Update: Am still in no state of replying to comments. I have no idea why. Will reply to comments in some time, till then let the comments flow in...
Update 2 (July 13): Is This and the other side making us confused in terms of our reaction? How does one deal with the 'actual' problem? It gives mixed signals. What should one believe and how much can one trust? Questions keep popping up in my head. I am not sure if I make any sense at all.
Originally posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 10:52 PM
Airport Tales: Happens Only In India?
The other day I was at the Airport waiting to pick up someone. Here's something interesting I noticed.
Why do some people dress up like they are going to marriage when they fly? I saw women in chamki gaudy saris, insanely high heels and wearing a hell lot of makeup. Then I saw some kids dressed up like they were going to a marriage too. It is mandatory to look like this because you are flying-shying in an aeroplane?
What are the weirdest things people bring with them? While I was checking out both the people(wink) and the trolleys, I spotted hoola hoops and a huge ladle.
And why do some people stop in the middle of the way to greet someone causing the trolley to find a life of its own and either crashing into other people or effectively blocking the traffic.
Then there are some who are eagerly waiting to pick up someone. This variety will stand bang in the middle of the path again blocking the way, behaving like traffic policemen and hindering movement of people and trolleys as they veer either sides.
Then there are some who are so confused when they come out of the arrival lounge that after making sure that they leave the baggage in the most busy and obstructive spot, they will proceed to fish out there mobile phones and speak loudly.
Then I saw this woman checking out another woman, while I was busy checking out the expression on her face which told me what she was thinking. Achhaa usney aisey design ki sari pehni hai. May bhi kharidungi. This woman continued to stare at that woman's sari for a full
minute, turning 180 degrees when the sari woman walked past her!
Waiting to hear bloggers airport experiences J
Originally posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:41 PM
Why do some people dress up like they are going to marriage when they fly? I saw women in chamki gaudy saris, insanely high heels and wearing a hell lot of makeup. Then I saw some kids dressed up like they were going to a marriage too. It is mandatory to look like this because you are flying-shying in an aeroplane?
What are the weirdest things people bring with them? While I was checking out both the people(wink) and the trolleys, I spotted hoola hoops and a huge ladle.
And why do some people stop in the middle of the way to greet someone causing the trolley to find a life of its own and either crashing into other people or effectively blocking the traffic.
Then there are some who are eagerly waiting to pick up someone. This variety will stand bang in the middle of the path again blocking the way, behaving like traffic policemen and hindering movement of people and trolleys as they veer either sides.
Then there are some who are so confused when they come out of the arrival lounge that after making sure that they leave the baggage in the most busy and obstructive spot, they will proceed to fish out there mobile phones and speak loudly.
Then I saw this woman checking out another woman, while I was busy checking out the expression on her face which told me what she was thinking. Achhaa usney aisey design ki sari pehni hai. May bhi kharidungi. This woman continued to stare at that woman's sari for a full
minute, turning 180 degrees when the sari woman walked past her!
Waiting to hear bloggers airport experiences J
Originally posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:41 PM
Thursday, March 20, 2008
London Diaries-II
Warning: This is long post. It is the concluding series of London diaries. These are some snippets of my trip :)
Always curious. That’s me. So I decide to walk from Blackfriars Pier to Tower Bridge. Along river Thames I start my journey. Near the Tate Modern Art Gallery, I take a wrong turn and the river side disappears. Since I know I am walking in the direction of the destination, I don’t panic. Modern architecture gives way to narrow lanes with cobbled pathways and stone archways. It is a treat to discover something old and quaint preserved right in the centre of the city.
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And on a windy day I decide to go to Greenwich. To stand on the line where time begins is an amazing feeling. Around the line are names of all the capital cities and the time difference in all. I search for Delhi and I can’t find it there! I mean those %^&(* Britishers don’t have the capital city of India in the list. I do manage to spot Mumbai in the list.
And on a windy day I decide to go to Greenwich. To stand on the line where time begins is an amazing feeling. Around the line are names of all the capital cities and the time difference in all. I search for Delhi and I can’t find it there! I mean those %^&(* Britishers don’t have the capital city of India in the list. I do manage to spot Mumbai in the list.
While coming down from the Royal Observatory, I am busy taking photos. I miss a step and tumble down. The stone pathway is merciless as blood trickles down. After first aid and injured knee I return home limping.
That’s when I see people scurrying home. And some carrying England flags, rushing towards pubs. I watch the England vs Sweden match with a few British friends who tell me that the world mania is such that their respective offices recently held inter departmental mini world cup. A friend works in a museum. She tells me that the paleontologists lost to the finance department (and somehow it reminds me of Ross in Friends).
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And this one time, I am buying souvenirs when I meet a girl from Ghana. She moans about the fact that she would like to eat homemade spicy Indian curry and I moan that I have to eat it every single day of my life! She promises to look me up when she comes to India. Lets see if that happens.
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In between shopping and sight seeing I manage to squeeze in a lazy afternoon at Hyde Park. As the sun plays with the clouds, I sit and have my lunch. A rock concert is going on there. A beautiful afternoon is spent taking in the green grass and the blue skies as the music fills up my soul. A mandatory visit to the serpentine and watching the ducks in the water, the afternoon turns into evening and its time to leave.
That’s when I see people scurrying home. And some carrying England flags, rushing towards pubs. I watch the England vs Sweden match with a few British friends who tell me that the world mania is such that their respective offices recently held inter departmental mini world cup. A friend works in a museum. She tells me that the paleontologists lost to the finance department (and somehow it reminds me of Ross in Friends).
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And this one time, I am buying souvenirs when I meet a girl from Ghana. She moans about the fact that she would like to eat homemade spicy Indian curry and I moan that I have to eat it every single day of my life! She promises to look me up when she comes to India. Lets see if that happens.
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In between shopping and sight seeing I manage to squeeze in a lazy afternoon at Hyde Park. As the sun plays with the clouds, I sit and have my lunch. A rock concert is going on there. A beautiful afternoon is spent taking in the green grass and the blue skies as the music fills up my soul. A mandatory visit to the serpentine and watching the ducks in the water, the afternoon turns into evening and its time to leave.
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When good girls pretend go bad, they go to Camden Town. Yes, I am Guilty. I have never seen Goths in my entire life and I wanted to go to Camden Town to ‘see’ them. Tattoos, pieced body parts, black leather clothes, silver chains, mohawks, black makeup, tough looking.
When an almost thirty something elder sister says she wants to buy leather trousers for herself, I jump at the chance and decide to shop around Camden.
When an almost thirty something elder sister says she wants to buy leather trousers for herself, I jump at the chance and decide to shop around Camden.
We were the only Asian girls walking down the street. After doing a bit of window shopping and people staring, we got down to the agenda of buying leather trousers. Shop no. 1 - a fast talking Italian tries to sell us trousers for £100. Hasty exit. Shop no. 2 – can’t find the right size, the salesman offers to custom make it for us. On asking how much is that going to cost he says £600. We are about to beat a hasty retreat and he starts to laugh. Then he says he was just kidding. He’s trying to flirt with us. Turns out, he’s an Indian from Gujju Land (All cheesy ones belong to this place?). On establishing an Indian connection and icy response from us, we decide to check out other shops. There’s another we go to. The shop owner has a Russian accent and the trouser costs a bomb. Anyway I guess it cheaper to buy the trousers from India, so we drop the idea and just browse around.
Sticking out like sore thumbs (read: not in the Goth dress code) and getting some weird glances, we decide to leave Camden town.
Sticking out like sore thumbs (read: not in the Goth dress code) and getting some weird glances, we decide to leave Camden town.
And then when I walk down Knightsbridge and Oxford street later on, the contrast is there to see. Women who look like they have stepped off the ramp on to the streets walk about as nonchalantly as Goths would in Camden Town.
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I realize that I have used all possible means of transport in the city as I travel in a tube, bus, train, tram, car and on foot. The only transportation I don't take there is an autorickshaw, an image of which I can see displayed in a shop window at Oxford Street.
When I decide to eat Turkish food, I am told Marble Arch is the place to visit. Every second restaurant there is called 'Maroush' just like every second Indian restuarant has the word 'Elephant' in it.
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On the last day of my stay there I indulge myself – buying shoes, accessories and clothes from the high street like its my last day alive J
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As all good things come to an end, so does this except while going to the airport, I cry buckets. I just don’t want to come back to India. There is so much more to see and discover. Obviously I have to come here again.
Originally posted on Tuesday, July 04, 2006 2:05 PM
London Diaries- I
The below are some observations made by me. Here's my list of ‘You know you are in London when :)
- You spend an evening with your friends in a pub. Incidentally they are from China, Austria, Spain, India, Chile and oh England too
- When you are walking down the street and you can identify people speaking in languages ranging from Russian to Greek
- You can have any cuisine from Moroccon to Italian
- Women will wear summer clothes in what I call a winter like temperature, 4 inch stilettos and walk on cobbled streets. It is called the fashion capital for a reason!
- The weather forecasters call 23 degrees as a warm day
- An umbrella is a daily fixture in your bag
- At any time of the day you will find people jogging along the South Bank
- Everyone’s reading a newspaper or a book in the tube
- Every fifth person in Marks and Spencer is an Asian
- The phone booth is red in colour
Maddy adds:
- Every 3rd cab one takes, it has either an Indian or a Pakistani driver
TiM adds:
- When u look around the high street and dont exactly get to see a Bad Looking person
- When its supposedly raining hard and us indians still manage w/o an umbrella because its a very soft kind of rain here
- When you see the pubs heavily crowded on a Wednesday and on a Friday
- When for every chota sa touch/push people say sorry and excuse me and
- When you see everyone carrying an oyster card
Any more to add on?
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Travel series continues :)
Is anyone else also having a problem with 'web vies' counter? Mine show's 0 everytime I post something new.
Update on the web views counter - Seems it is working today :D
Originally posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 3:59 PM
London Changed!
I visited this city after three long years. The moment I landed to the moment I boarded the flight back, I could feel an invisible eye following me all around. I don't know if it is a direct after effect of the 7/7 attack or the city has started to live on an edge but there were CCTV cameras everywhere.
Wherever I looked there was a camera peeking about. In stores, on the streets, in the tube, buses, trains, trams, stations, museums, art galleries, loos (yes...even that!) not in cubicles but near the wash basins.
On an average it is very easy for the officials to track where I went, how I went, what I did, what I shopped, what and where I ate, how much time I spent in one place. The cameras followed me and tracked me everywhere.
Someone practically know how I spent my entire day!
It is definitely unnerving when you know that the only place you are not been watched is inside your home. But there are talks of neighbourhood CCTVs as well.
And as a londoner told me that you get used to the cameras after a while, I wondered if it is acceptable to compromise the lack of privacy for the safety of the people.
----------------
Post on the actual vacation coming soon
Originally posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:48 AM
Wherever I looked there was a camera peeking about. In stores, on the streets, in the tube, buses, trains, trams, stations, museums, art galleries, loos (yes...even that!) not in cubicles but near the wash basins.
On an average it is very easy for the officials to track where I went, how I went, what I did, what I shopped, what and where I ate, how much time I spent in one place. The cameras followed me and tracked me everywhere.
Someone practically know how I spent my entire day!
It is definitely unnerving when you know that the only place you are not been watched is inside your home. But there are talks of neighbourhood CCTVs as well.
And as a londoner told me that you get used to the cameras after a while, I wondered if it is acceptable to compromise the lack of privacy for the safety of the people.
----------------
Post on the actual vacation coming soon
Originally posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:48 AM
Crib Time
Date: 07/06/06
This post is written soley to crib.
Why does Murphy loves me so much? Why is everything going wrong? I mean it was just a bloody fever and sore throat and now I have a horrible allergic reaction to the medicine. And I am in the office.
And I am going on a holiday this weekend and I can't afford to be unwell. I haven't done my packing as yet. This sucks big time.
Date: 08/06/06 - An Update
Crib Time: Almost Over
Update- I am feeling better today. The allergy is almost gone. There is no sign of the fever *touchwood*. I did half of the packing yesterday. There is a song on my lips. Now it feels like I am going on a holiday. I am leaving on a jet plane.....
This list will get me in my spirits. So here goes, in no particular order, the things I am looking forward to-
This post is written soley to crib.
Why does Murphy loves me so much? Why is everything going wrong? I mean it was just a bloody fever and sore throat and now I have a horrible allergic reaction to the medicine. And I am in the office.
And I am going on a holiday this weekend and I can't afford to be unwell. I haven't done my packing as yet. This sucks big time.
Date: 08/06/06 - An Update
Crib Time: Almost Over
Update- I am feeling better today. The allergy is almost gone. There is no sign of the fever *touchwood*. I did half of the packing yesterday. There is a song on my lips. Now it feels like I am going on a holiday. I am leaving on a jet plane.....
This list will get me in my spirits. So here goes, in no particular order, the things I am looking forward to-
- Gorging on Muller's Yogurt (Actually salivating at the thought), Chocolate Muffins, Cakes (Advantages of been slim)
- Turkish, Italian, Any Interesting Food
- Window shopping on Oxford Street, High Street Kensington
- Buying trinkets at Portobello Road, Camden Town
- Sitting at Covent Garden, Hyde Park, South Bank
- Visiting all the museums and art galleries yet again
- Catching a play or a musical
Date: 09/06/06 - Another Update
Crib Time: OVER!!!
I am feeling fine *touchwood* . And all set to go. A little apprehensive because a new boss is coming in the time I am on my leave. I planned my leave in such a way that it would not happen but with Mr. Murphy's presence, these things are bound to happen. So there will be some changes when I will not be around. I am hoping that things remain under control because there is no dearth of back stabbing colleagues.
Anyway, my schedule is totally packed today. After office I have to meet a few close friends who I will not see for two weeks and who will kill me because it will be a flying visit from your's truly. Then I have to go for dinner at a relative's place and then do my packing. Yes procastination rules. Yes, I haven't packed completely and I leave tomorrow morning. So many things to do, so little time. I need a clone today!!! :D :D
10/06/06
Finally... I am leaving. Yippeee!!!!! Take care everyone. Love and hugs to all. See you all after a break :)
Originally posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 10:22 AM
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Subconsciously Conscious
Palak looked around. Her father was rushing out of the home. Her mother hurriedly put the breakfast on the table. In the meanwhile she stood there waiting patiently for her sister to help her wear the pinafore. After all she was just three years old and had recently started going to the nursery school. She needed some help getting dressed up.
When she came back to the home in the afternoon, the nanny was standing at the door of the home. She took her bag, helped her get out of the school uniform and change into a pink t-shirt with teddy bear print and a striped pink and white skirt. Palak waited for her sister to return from school so that they could have lunch together. In the meanwhile, her best friend, Tanmay came back from school as well.
He was the same age as her and also went to a nursery school though a different one. They both skipped along. He lived in the same block of flats and in fact lived one floor above her.
“Hey, let’s plays skip the steps. You jump from the stair to the next one. Let’s see who is faster. Than one wins,” he said to her. Excitedly she laughed and told him, “I am going to win this one.” They played a game which kept them running up and down the stairs. Without a care, they were lost in their world. They were at the top of the stairs when the reverie broke. Tanmay’s mother was calling him for lunch. He went home running. She had nobody to play with now. And she had won the game.
At the door of his house, he yelled, “I will see you in the evening then we can play hide-n-seek”. She yelled back, “okay.” She turned to go but the next instant started falling down. Instead of the stairs there was a black long hole about 40 feet deep. There was nothing to hold on to, only slippery vines and she was plunging into darkness. Fast. No sound came out of her throat. She tried to scream but it got stuck somewhere inside.
Suddenly Palak woke up in a sweat. The same dream again. How strange was that. She looked to her left. Her husband was sleeping next to her, blissfully unaware that she had woken up and was shaking. She thought of waking him up but then saw his peacefully asleep face and thought the better of it.
On the bed stand was a bottle of water which she grabbed and gulped down some of it. Her nerves much calmer now, she snuggled upto her husband and went off to sleep again.
The next morning Palak, lost in her thoughts, kept thinking about the dream. She knew it had a deeper meaning. There was something calling out to her. But she could not put her finger to it.
Trying to shake off a feeling of impending doom, she decided to go to the local library to take her mind off disturbing thoughts.
Wearing a beautiful flowing blue skirt and a white t-shirt, she picked up the house keys and the library card. While climbing down the stairs, the skirt caught in the heel of her shoe and she went tumbling down the stairs.
Lying bruised at the bottom of the stairs, instinctively her hand flew to her stomach. An agonizing animal cry escaped her throat. The life growing inside her was suddenly ebbing away.
---------
The above is a work of fiction by yours truly.
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:34 PM
When she came back to the home in the afternoon, the nanny was standing at the door of the home. She took her bag, helped her get out of the school uniform and change into a pink t-shirt with teddy bear print and a striped pink and white skirt. Palak waited for her sister to return from school so that they could have lunch together. In the meanwhile, her best friend, Tanmay came back from school as well.
He was the same age as her and also went to a nursery school though a different one. They both skipped along. He lived in the same block of flats and in fact lived one floor above her.
“Hey, let’s plays skip the steps. You jump from the stair to the next one. Let’s see who is faster. Than one wins,” he said to her. Excitedly she laughed and told him, “I am going to win this one.” They played a game which kept them running up and down the stairs. Without a care, they were lost in their world. They were at the top of the stairs when the reverie broke. Tanmay’s mother was calling him for lunch. He went home running. She had nobody to play with now. And she had won the game.
At the door of his house, he yelled, “I will see you in the evening then we can play hide-n-seek”. She yelled back, “okay.” She turned to go but the next instant started falling down. Instead of the stairs there was a black long hole about 40 feet deep. There was nothing to hold on to, only slippery vines and she was plunging into darkness. Fast. No sound came out of her throat. She tried to scream but it got stuck somewhere inside.
Suddenly Palak woke up in a sweat. The same dream again. How strange was that. She looked to her left. Her husband was sleeping next to her, blissfully unaware that she had woken up and was shaking. She thought of waking him up but then saw his peacefully asleep face and thought the better of it.
On the bed stand was a bottle of water which she grabbed and gulped down some of it. Her nerves much calmer now, she snuggled upto her husband and went off to sleep again.
The next morning Palak, lost in her thoughts, kept thinking about the dream. She knew it had a deeper meaning. There was something calling out to her. But she could not put her finger to it.
Trying to shake off a feeling of impending doom, she decided to go to the local library to take her mind off disturbing thoughts.
Wearing a beautiful flowing blue skirt and a white t-shirt, she picked up the house keys and the library card. While climbing down the stairs, the skirt caught in the heel of her shoe and she went tumbling down the stairs.
Lying bruised at the bottom of the stairs, instinctively her hand flew to her stomach. An agonizing animal cry escaped her throat. The life growing inside her was suddenly ebbing away.
---------
The above is a work of fiction by yours truly.
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:34 PM
Subconsciously Conscious
Palak looked around. Her father was rushing out of the home. Her mother hurriedly put the breakfast on the table. In the meanwhile she stood there waiting patiently for her sister to help her wear the pinafore. After all she was just three years old and had recently started going to the nursery school. She needed some help getting dressed up.
When she came back to the home in the afternoon, the nanny was standing at the door of the home. She took her bag, helped her get out of the school uniform and change into a pink t-shirt with teddy bear print and a striped pink and white skirt. Palak waited for her sister to return from school so that they could have lunch together. In the meanwhile, her best friend, Tanmay came back from school as well.
He was the same age as her and also went to a nursery school though a different one. They both skipped along. He lived in the same block of flats and in fact lived one floor above her.
“Hey, let’s plays skip the steps. You jump from the stair to the next one. Let’s see who is faster. Than one wins,” he said to her. Excitedly she laughed and told him, “I am going to win this one.” They played a game which kept them running up and down the stairs. Without a care, they were lost in their world. They were at the top of the stairs when the reverie broke. Tanmay’s mother was calling him for lunch. He went home running. She had nobody to play with now. And she had won the game.
At the door of his house, he yelled, “I will see you in the evening then we can play hide-n-seek”. She yelled back, “okay.” She turned to go but the next instant started falling down. Instead of the stairs there was a black long hole about 40 feet deep. There was nothing to hold on to, only slippery vines and she was plunging into darkness. Fast. No sound came out of her throat. She tried to scream but it got stuck somewhere inside.
Suddenly Palak woke up in a sweat. The same dream again. How strange was that. She looked to her left. Her husband was sleeping next to her, blissfully unaware that she had woken up and was shaking. She thought of waking him up but then saw his peacefully asleep face and thought the better of it.
On the bed stand was a bottle of water which she grabbed and gulped down some of it. Her nerves much calmer now, she snuggled upto her husband and went off to sleep again.
The next morning Palak, lost in her thoughts, kept thinking about the dream. She knew it had a deeper meaning. There was something calling out to her. But she could not put her finger to it.
Trying to shake off a feeling of impending doom, she decided to go to the local library to take her mind off disturbing thoughts.
Wearing a beautiful flowing blue skirt and a white t-shirt, she picked up the house keys and the library card. While climbing down the stairs, the skirt caught in the heel of her shoe and she went tumbling down the stairs.
Lying bruised at the bottom of the stairs, instinctively her hand flew to her stomach. An agonizing animal cry escaped her throat. The life growing inside her was suddenly ebbing away.
---------
The above is a work of fiction by yours truly.
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:34 PM
When she came back to the home in the afternoon, the nanny was standing at the door of the home. She took her bag, helped her get out of the school uniform and change into a pink t-shirt with teddy bear print and a striped pink and white skirt. Palak waited for her sister to return from school so that they could have lunch together. In the meanwhile, her best friend, Tanmay came back from school as well.
He was the same age as her and also went to a nursery school though a different one. They both skipped along. He lived in the same block of flats and in fact lived one floor above her.
“Hey, let’s plays skip the steps. You jump from the stair to the next one. Let’s see who is faster. Than one wins,” he said to her. Excitedly she laughed and told him, “I am going to win this one.” They played a game which kept them running up and down the stairs. Without a care, they were lost in their world. They were at the top of the stairs when the reverie broke. Tanmay’s mother was calling him for lunch. He went home running. She had nobody to play with now. And she had won the game.
At the door of his house, he yelled, “I will see you in the evening then we can play hide-n-seek”. She yelled back, “okay.” She turned to go but the next instant started falling down. Instead of the stairs there was a black long hole about 40 feet deep. There was nothing to hold on to, only slippery vines and she was plunging into darkness. Fast. No sound came out of her throat. She tried to scream but it got stuck somewhere inside.
Suddenly Palak woke up in a sweat. The same dream again. How strange was that. She looked to her left. Her husband was sleeping next to her, blissfully unaware that she had woken up and was shaking. She thought of waking him up but then saw his peacefully asleep face and thought the better of it.
On the bed stand was a bottle of water which she grabbed and gulped down some of it. Her nerves much calmer now, she snuggled upto her husband and went off to sleep again.
The next morning Palak, lost in her thoughts, kept thinking about the dream. She knew it had a deeper meaning. There was something calling out to her. But she could not put her finger to it.
Trying to shake off a feeling of impending doom, she decided to go to the local library to take her mind off disturbing thoughts.
Wearing a beautiful flowing blue skirt and a white t-shirt, she picked up the house keys and the library card. While climbing down the stairs, the skirt caught in the heel of her shoe and she went tumbling down the stairs.
Lying bruised at the bottom of the stairs, instinctively her hand flew to her stomach. An agonizing animal cry escaped her throat. The life growing inside her was suddenly ebbing away.
---------
The above is a work of fiction by yours truly.
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:34 PM
Confused Or Liberated?
The rules of growing up are changing.
When Britney croons ‘I am not that innocent’ and gyrates to it or there is a constant bombardment of sexual images on our TV screens, these people tend to become role model for teens. With overt display of sexuality, is this generation losing childhood and innocence sooner?
And this question is not just for Indian teenagers but also in the west. The oh-so-forward-looking America which we see in ‘Sex and the City’ or any such show does not reflect the true middle class America which is quite conservative. And has equally worried parents. Read this.
Leaving aside morals for the moment, because morals are different for different people, I wonder what is the psycological impact on teenagers as they are growing up so fast. What about confused and conflicting ideals? Are we aping the 'west' without realizing the problems teens there are grappling with?
I am not here to talk about what is right and what is wrong. Because right and wrong cannot be defined by one and accepted by others. Neither do I take a moralistic stand as I believe in the adage 'to each his own'. But I still want to ask- are todays's teens liberated or confused?
I leave this open to debate.
Update: Bloggers take on the issue
Amar Says
I think its tendancy of grown ups to think that new generation is going wrong way and they have lost values. I agree that things have changed, I agree that they are exposed more to sexuality but at the same time we must accept that they are more focused about what they want. There is one section in each generation who are hard working and achievers. Maturity brings wisdom and trusting the child is important.
Maddy Says
I think the teens are ‘all there’ and know how to get what they want – little to early in their lives for anyone’s comfort and least of all their own. The reasons can be many – aping the ‘west’ / USA - which have no culture of its own, too much exposure at an early age, peer pressure, lack of proper guidance, etc. Reasons for ‘confusion’ are many but still the teens would like to call themselves ‘liberated’! Why? Guess maybe because being ‘liberated’ means to be seen doing all the IN things – following latest fashion trends, brand names, being seen at the correct places with the correct people, sex, alcohol, drugs, etc…
Raghav Says
I think if each of us learns to take responsibility for our actions, then there should'nt be any problem. But the reality is we dont take the resposnibility for our actions often blaming parents, friends, relatives etc. We have to understand that Life gives us choices. We only have the freedom of choice. But we dont have control over the consequenses. So if a 13 year old wants to experiment with sex, then so be it as long as she or he takes responsibility for her/his actions. If a model wants to throw off her clothes in a song sequence, it's her choice to show off. It's the media's choice whether to show it to public or not and ultimately its our choice whether to see it or not. Whether you like it or not, its a natural evolution of human being that you move from a controlled environment to an environment where you need freedom. Parents need to accept the reality.
Harshal Says
We are liberated and thus a bit confused since we wanted to do everything ourselves sometimes we get lost. True, the crap shown on TV these days does make the child lose its innocence fast. Hopefully they will realise it quickly. As far as the west being an influence, I say east meets west and all hell breaks lose. Why are we so hell bent in copying everything they do when they are trying to copy us? I prefer an american attitude with indian traditions.
Lostpatrol53 Says
The young today have greater pressures than their parents. Not to belittle the parent generation, who had their own struggles and chose to generally live in the future and foregoing personal bliss. This was easier in the absence of overt exrternal titillations. Today, coping with with the inernal demons is a lot tougher.
Bhushan Says
There's is no doubt that today children tend tend to lose their innocence much too early. I will attribute this to our wildly aping the US - I repeat the US and not he west. US has no history from which a culture arises unlike any other country. And it is observed that any culture which can balance itself beween traditions and modernism progress a lot. Instilling traditional values in new generation from begining will impart them an identity which they lack at present which creates confusion and they will be able to choose between right and wrong.
Nysa Says
When I was passing thru this age, I was told by my parents that everything is neither good nor bad - its upto you to decide what is good for u n bad for you. Ofcourse the media exposure was also less. About casual sex - it is statistically proved that today 11-14 yrs of children are no more bacchas. They want to experiment everything they come across, unaware of the consequences. Its quite alarming that todays teens are much more grown up mentally than us, aware of things, possess just half the knowledge , which makes them curious and later on regret.
Godolphin Says
These young adults cannot be termed exactly as confused..they know about everything and also dont value morality as much as we do.
Saumya Says
Not confused not clueless plain dumb is what I would say. In west, the parents are too bewildered or bored or on drugs and cant be bothered two hoots about their kids. As far as they are concerned rude kids, teenage pregnancies, teenage crime is all the governments fault – but IDIOT indians do not see that. Kids who are now over exposed to the western world only see the freedom an average teenager has but the opp side is not visible to them.
Rajesh (Kachra king) Says
Since the cost of living has increased, celebrities have started wearing less and eating less (being socially conscious), the people should follow them :D
Karan Says
I agree that teenagers and even pre-teens are losing their 'innocence' much too early with the rapid bombardment of pictures, shows and teen 'idols' thrown on them from the west. Closer home while the likes of Mallika Sherawat may not be an idol, her provocative behaviour, item numbers, do leave a wrong message in impressionable minds. The difference is our strong family and cultural values. It is these very qualities that make us the best but this 'MTVisation' of Indian kids will make us lose that critical advatage.
Chin Says
Well! I think now a days teenagers assume that sex is "the" right thing to do! Doesn't matter with whom they sleep with and how many times. I wonder why only sex,alcohal,money are associated with hip attitude? Cashing on the liberty being given they keep experimenting with life and hence fall pray to stuff like mms scandal! Its fine to have sex as its a personal choice however there are other things out there to experiment like one can concentrate on sports,politics,news and many other fruitful things. I don't really know what would be the "right" way to nourish and educate teenagers!
Samy Says
I'd say they are confused and don't really know the true meaning of liberated. With the focus shone on sexuality in physical terms....young adults dont value their bodies or minds as much.
Max Says
Its wrong to be exposed to such influences at such an early eage when kids are easily impressionable, have lack of wisdom to decide whats right and whats wrong. The Role Models are are merely acting in the advertisement for money. What is shown on TV these days is porn and has an adverse impact on kids minds. Saying that morality and decency are subjective doesnt mean we take leave of our senses because kids are being influenced by the media. They are confused not liberated.
Rpramod Says
CONFUSED is my verdict. This is because the advent of western values require that things be looked at from better perspective and teens at their age are not mature enough to have the right perspective. As a result they end up doing too many things too early, thus reducing their childhood years and early burnout. The realisations dont come in time to remedy the flaws. Parents should fill in the gap by providing that much needed perspective through which their kids can decide.
Vrij Says
The result is 13-15 yr olds who are members of the following groups:
* Can u believe I never had a GF/BF ?
* Can u believe I never kissed?
* Can u believe I never had sex?
Tejbir Says
Sexuality was always there it was just that older generation was not open enough and they suppressed their thoughts and views, now its not suppressed and kids before maturity seem to be talking abt it which i think is being mature and will clear many misconceptions at an early stage but yes a wrong portrayal of the same is what is worrying! There is a difference between educating and tittilating
Skj Says
It is necessary to write and debate on these kinda important stuffs. Well, as per India's decades old policies - follow the mid-path.
Potato Says
Yes. We all have passed through our early vulnerable years and I often wonder what youngsters at the age of 13 or 14 think when they see so much on tv, read in newspapers, mags etc etc.. Many can be easily decieved into thinking that that sort of life is much more happier to live in..
Puneet Singh Says
I guess a bit of both. They are liberated because they are given a lot more freedom than their parents were, they now are no longer afraid to step outside their safe homes and match their wits against the best around the world. Confused - because when they meet other cultures, they want to embrace it as their own and then in the strain of maintaining decorum they are not sure to the extent of the embrace. It depends on an individuals preference and maturity level.
Frenchita Says
Everybody is learning from everybody ..west from east ..east from west. And cant keep down good comedy like " sex and...." down for long
Priya Says
Singers/actors will do nething to get publicity, n they have to keep "fresh" by changing their "image" from time to time (i.e. Britney going from being a doll to a sex kitten). Key is to teach the gurls to be able to differentiate between whats ok on TV is not really ok in real life. Magazines with airbrushed models have the same problem.
Savy the Supermom Says
I think they think they are cool only because of if "care a damn attitude"..it reeks all over. but more than them..the issues to be addressed are with the parents who have actually found their feet in two boats and are actually in the juggling act.. otherwise..i think the focus is there in the kids but priority given to personal needs to be addressed with them.
Sharad Says
They are partially liberated thats why they are confused.
Wise Donkey Says
I think kids today are just puppets whose strings are pulled by marketing giants. The role models are decided by cola companies. They have to be "cool" and cool is defined by what you eat, say and wear and not who you are. Kids are a reflection of the parents own insecurity. USA has become a symbol of what one should aspire to be, but the problems are not shown. If the Indian kids compare themselves with their western counterparts for freedom then they shud take responsibility and not expect their parents to sponsor their lifestyle and studies.
Bharati Says
I guess its "confused liberty" both from the from the parents perspective and from teh teenagers perspective. From parents perspective because they are confused abt the amount of liberty that is to be given and from teenagers perspective because they dont know how to make use of the partial liberty!!
Malini Says
Confused and clueless, and why only teens, its us too..guess in this "instant" age of changing ideals, what is true today will be a passe tomorrow...so we turn on to some other thing..endless quest for illusive goals.
Ghalib Fan Says
Todays the youth are blindly following the west....and a very much confused.. we should not forget our culture,whcih is far superior to them...... we should adopt their technologies but not their culture.......we should draw a line somwhere....
Originally posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 1:34 PM
When Britney croons ‘I am not that innocent’ and gyrates to it or there is a constant bombardment of sexual images on our TV screens, these people tend to become role model for teens. With overt display of sexuality, is this generation losing childhood and innocence sooner?
And this question is not just for Indian teenagers but also in the west. The oh-so-forward-looking America which we see in ‘Sex and the City’ or any such show does not reflect the true middle class America which is quite conservative. And has equally worried parents. Read this.
Leaving aside morals for the moment, because morals are different for different people, I wonder what is the psycological impact on teenagers as they are growing up so fast. What about confused and conflicting ideals? Are we aping the 'west' without realizing the problems teens there are grappling with?
I am not here to talk about what is right and what is wrong. Because right and wrong cannot be defined by one and accepted by others. Neither do I take a moralistic stand as I believe in the adage 'to each his own'. But I still want to ask- are todays's teens liberated or confused?
I leave this open to debate.
Update: Bloggers take on the issue
Amar Says
I think its tendancy of grown ups to think that new generation is going wrong way and they have lost values. I agree that things have changed, I agree that they are exposed more to sexuality but at the same time we must accept that they are more focused about what they want. There is one section in each generation who are hard working and achievers. Maturity brings wisdom and trusting the child is important.
Maddy Says
I think the teens are ‘all there’ and know how to get what they want – little to early in their lives for anyone’s comfort and least of all their own. The reasons can be many – aping the ‘west’ / USA - which have no culture of its own, too much exposure at an early age, peer pressure, lack of proper guidance, etc. Reasons for ‘confusion’ are many but still the teens would like to call themselves ‘liberated’! Why? Guess maybe because being ‘liberated’ means to be seen doing all the IN things – following latest fashion trends, brand names, being seen at the correct places with the correct people, sex, alcohol, drugs, etc…
Raghav Says
I think if each of us learns to take responsibility for our actions, then there should'nt be any problem. But the reality is we dont take the resposnibility for our actions often blaming parents, friends, relatives etc. We have to understand that Life gives us choices. We only have the freedom of choice. But we dont have control over the consequenses. So if a 13 year old wants to experiment with sex, then so be it as long as she or he takes responsibility for her/his actions. If a model wants to throw off her clothes in a song sequence, it's her choice to show off. It's the media's choice whether to show it to public or not and ultimately its our choice whether to see it or not. Whether you like it or not, its a natural evolution of human being that you move from a controlled environment to an environment where you need freedom. Parents need to accept the reality.
Harshal Says
We are liberated and thus a bit confused since we wanted to do everything ourselves sometimes we get lost. True, the crap shown on TV these days does make the child lose its innocence fast. Hopefully they will realise it quickly. As far as the west being an influence, I say east meets west and all hell breaks lose. Why are we so hell bent in copying everything they do when they are trying to copy us? I prefer an american attitude with indian traditions.
Lostpatrol53 Says
The young today have greater pressures than their parents. Not to belittle the parent generation, who had their own struggles and chose to generally live in the future and foregoing personal bliss. This was easier in the absence of overt exrternal titillations. Today, coping with with the inernal demons is a lot tougher.
Bhushan Says
There's is no doubt that today children tend tend to lose their innocence much too early. I will attribute this to our wildly aping the US - I repeat the US and not he west. US has no history from which a culture arises unlike any other country. And it is observed that any culture which can balance itself beween traditions and modernism progress a lot. Instilling traditional values in new generation from begining will impart them an identity which they lack at present which creates confusion and they will be able to choose between right and wrong.
Nysa Says
When I was passing thru this age, I was told by my parents that everything is neither good nor bad - its upto you to decide what is good for u n bad for you. Ofcourse the media exposure was also less. About casual sex - it is statistically proved that today 11-14 yrs of children are no more bacchas. They want to experiment everything they come across, unaware of the consequences. Its quite alarming that todays teens are much more grown up mentally than us, aware of things, possess just half the knowledge , which makes them curious and later on regret.
Godolphin Says
These young adults cannot be termed exactly as confused..they know about everything and also dont value morality as much as we do.
Saumya Says
Not confused not clueless plain dumb is what I would say. In west, the parents are too bewildered or bored or on drugs and cant be bothered two hoots about their kids. As far as they are concerned rude kids, teenage pregnancies, teenage crime is all the governments fault – but IDIOT indians do not see that. Kids who are now over exposed to the western world only see the freedom an average teenager has but the opp side is not visible to them.
Rajesh (Kachra king) Says
Since the cost of living has increased, celebrities have started wearing less and eating less (being socially conscious), the people should follow them :D
Karan Says
I agree that teenagers and even pre-teens are losing their 'innocence' much too early with the rapid bombardment of pictures, shows and teen 'idols' thrown on them from the west. Closer home while the likes of Mallika Sherawat may not be an idol, her provocative behaviour, item numbers, do leave a wrong message in impressionable minds. The difference is our strong family and cultural values. It is these very qualities that make us the best but this 'MTVisation' of Indian kids will make us lose that critical advatage.
Chin Says
Well! I think now a days teenagers assume that sex is "the" right thing to do! Doesn't matter with whom they sleep with and how many times. I wonder why only sex,alcohal,money are associated with hip attitude? Cashing on the liberty being given they keep experimenting with life and hence fall pray to stuff like mms scandal! Its fine to have sex as its a personal choice however there are other things out there to experiment like one can concentrate on sports,politics,news and many other fruitful things. I don't really know what would be the "right" way to nourish and educate teenagers!
Samy Says
I'd say they are confused and don't really know the true meaning of liberated. With the focus shone on sexuality in physical terms....young adults dont value their bodies or minds as much.
Max Says
Its wrong to be exposed to such influences at such an early eage when kids are easily impressionable, have lack of wisdom to decide whats right and whats wrong. The Role Models are are merely acting in the advertisement for money. What is shown on TV these days is porn and has an adverse impact on kids minds. Saying that morality and decency are subjective doesnt mean we take leave of our senses because kids are being influenced by the media. They are confused not liberated.
Rpramod Says
CONFUSED is my verdict. This is because the advent of western values require that things be looked at from better perspective and teens at their age are not mature enough to have the right perspective. As a result they end up doing too many things too early, thus reducing their childhood years and early burnout. The realisations dont come in time to remedy the flaws. Parents should fill in the gap by providing that much needed perspective through which their kids can decide.
Vrij Says
The result is 13-15 yr olds who are members of the following groups:
* Can u believe I never had a GF/BF ?
* Can u believe I never kissed?
* Can u believe I never had sex?
Tejbir Says
Sexuality was always there it was just that older generation was not open enough and they suppressed their thoughts and views, now its not suppressed and kids before maturity seem to be talking abt it which i think is being mature and will clear many misconceptions at an early stage but yes a wrong portrayal of the same is what is worrying! There is a difference between educating and tittilating
Skj Says
It is necessary to write and debate on these kinda important stuffs. Well, as per India's decades old policies - follow the mid-path.
Potato Says
Yes. We all have passed through our early vulnerable years and I often wonder what youngsters at the age of 13 or 14 think when they see so much on tv, read in newspapers, mags etc etc.. Many can be easily decieved into thinking that that sort of life is much more happier to live in..
Puneet Singh Says
I guess a bit of both. They are liberated because they are given a lot more freedom than their parents were, they now are no longer afraid to step outside their safe homes and match their wits against the best around the world. Confused - because when they meet other cultures, they want to embrace it as their own and then in the strain of maintaining decorum they are not sure to the extent of the embrace. It depends on an individuals preference and maturity level.
Frenchita Says
Everybody is learning from everybody ..west from east ..east from west. And cant keep down good comedy like " sex and...." down for long
Priya Says
Singers/actors will do nething to get publicity, n they have to keep "fresh" by changing their "image" from time to time (i.e. Britney going from being a doll to a sex kitten). Key is to teach the gurls to be able to differentiate between whats ok on TV is not really ok in real life. Magazines with airbrushed models have the same problem.
Savy the Supermom Says
I think they think they are cool only because of if "care a damn attitude"..it reeks all over. but more than them..the issues to be addressed are with the parents who have actually found their feet in two boats and are actually in the juggling act.. otherwise..i think the focus is there in the kids but priority given to personal needs to be addressed with them.
Sharad Says
They are partially liberated thats why they are confused.
Wise Donkey Says
I think kids today are just puppets whose strings are pulled by marketing giants. The role models are decided by cola companies. They have to be "cool" and cool is defined by what you eat, say and wear and not who you are. Kids are a reflection of the parents own insecurity. USA has become a symbol of what one should aspire to be, but the problems are not shown. If the Indian kids compare themselves with their western counterparts for freedom then they shud take responsibility and not expect their parents to sponsor their lifestyle and studies.
Bharati Says
I guess its "confused liberty" both from the from the parents perspective and from teh teenagers perspective. From parents perspective because they are confused abt the amount of liberty that is to be given and from teenagers perspective because they dont know how to make use of the partial liberty!!
Malini Says
Confused and clueless, and why only teens, its us too..guess in this "instant" age of changing ideals, what is true today will be a passe tomorrow...so we turn on to some other thing..endless quest for illusive goals.
Ghalib Fan Says
Todays the youth are blindly following the west....and a very much confused.. we should not forget our culture,whcih is far superior to them...... we should adopt their technologies but not their culture.......we should draw a line somwhere....
Originally posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 1:34 PM
Didnt Think I Would. But I Did.
Fifty Posts. Eight Months. I didn’t think I would last this long.
When I started to write, I didn’t know what shape my blog would take. Will it be my personal diary or will it be an amalgamation of thoughts. I never though I would comment on political or social issues. But then I never thought I would be sharing my disjoint thoughts with people I had never met and with whom I have a connection!
This fiftieth post is turning into a personal journey which I didn’t think it would. I was going to write something political. Well that’s reserved for some other time.
I don’t know if 50 is a milestone. But when I read my older posts, I feel that I have grown so much as a person (figuratively and not physically :D). And at times I wonder if I really wrote what I wrote! And whether it would be a pleasant surprise or shock if people in my real life ever come across my blog.
Well the journey continues as this zephyr quietly breezes across O3!
On a parting note, I have been asked about my pseudo name many times. Here's a little poem to explain it.
Feel me caress your cheeks
Or as I play with your hair
Let my warmth envelope you
Try not to control me
As not in a bottle can I be held
Neither in the fist of your palm
Let not this zephyr become a storm untamed
An elusive enigma let me remain
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 4:32 PM
When I started to write, I didn’t know what shape my blog would take. Will it be my personal diary or will it be an amalgamation of thoughts. I never though I would comment on political or social issues. But then I never thought I would be sharing my disjoint thoughts with people I had never met and with whom I have a connection!
This fiftieth post is turning into a personal journey which I didn’t think it would. I was going to write something political. Well that’s reserved for some other time.
I don’t know if 50 is a milestone. But when I read my older posts, I feel that I have grown so much as a person (figuratively and not physically :D). And at times I wonder if I really wrote what I wrote! And whether it would be a pleasant surprise or shock if people in my real life ever come across my blog.
Well the journey continues as this zephyr quietly breezes across O3!
On a parting note, I have been asked about my pseudo name many times. Here's a little poem to explain it.
Feel me caress your cheeks
Or as I play with your hair
Let my warmth envelope you
Try not to control me
As not in a bottle can I be held
Neither in the fist of your palm
Let not this zephyr become a storm untamed
An elusive enigma let me remain
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 4:32 PM
Pigeon Factory, A Maternity Ward And A Song
There’s a pigeon factory in my home! Now now… it doesn’t mean that I make pigeons. It means that many pigeon couples live in my balcony. After been evicted many times, they have unfailingly returned here. Just like the encroachment on Delhi streets. May be I need a Supreme Court stay order or will it be a fly order?
And these pigeons reproduce @ speed of light! I think they compete with other couples who will produce more kids. Hence the pigeon population keeps increasing. Is it an Indian phenomenon which has trickled down to pigeons or does it happen everywhere? The ‘maternity ward’ as called by my family, is doing brisk business these days.
Oh the babies are actually adorable. They are yellow in colour and look like chicks (and chicks here doesn’t mean hot looking women). One little chick got my attention. So I sang Nelly Furtado’s ‘I am like a bird’ to it everyday. A few days later the baby died and I was heart broken. I hope I didn’t kill it with my singing. I just wanted to motivate it to fly.
And here’s one couple who has made a home at my window sill. If in the night I switch on the light, they think that morning has arrived. Invariably they start flying and end up crashing on the grill. Bird brain, they are!
Alright, enough of pigeon tales for now. Gotta go and pretend to work now!
Originally posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 1:31 PM
And these pigeons reproduce @ speed of light! I think they compete with other couples who will produce more kids. Hence the pigeon population keeps increasing. Is it an Indian phenomenon which has trickled down to pigeons or does it happen everywhere? The ‘maternity ward’ as called by my family, is doing brisk business these days.
Oh the babies are actually adorable. They are yellow in colour and look like chicks (and chicks here doesn’t mean hot looking women). One little chick got my attention. So I sang Nelly Furtado’s ‘I am like a bird’ to it everyday. A few days later the baby died and I was heart broken. I hope I didn’t kill it with my singing. I just wanted to motivate it to fly.
And here’s one couple who has made a home at my window sill. If in the night I switch on the light, they think that morning has arrived. Invariably they start flying and end up crashing on the grill. Bird brain, they are!
Alright, enough of pigeon tales for now. Gotta go and pretend to work now!
Originally posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 1:31 PM
Forest Gump: Reel to Real
As I heard that four and a half year old boy called Budhia had created a world record I suddenly remembered Forest Gump.
This kid was discovered when he was told to run around a ground as a form of punishment. The punisher forgot all about it and when he came five hours later, this little boy was still running around the ground!
I wonder what made him run so much?
After that, he was trained by a coach for about an year. And now after running 65 km in 7.2 hours, he gets to be in the limca book of records.
Read the news story here
Update: Oh.. and here is an interesting counter view
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:40 PM
This kid was discovered when he was told to run around a ground as a form of punishment. The punisher forgot all about it and when he came five hours later, this little boy was still running around the ground!
I wonder what made him run so much?
After that, he was trained by a coach for about an year. And now after running 65 km in 7.2 hours, he gets to be in the limca book of records.
Read the news story here
Update: Oh.. and here is an interesting counter view
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:40 PM
Forest Gump: Reel to Real
As I heard that four and a half year old boy called Budhia had created a world record I suddenly remembered Forest Gump.
This kid was discovered when he was told to run around a ground as a form of punishment. The punisher forgot all about it and when he came five hours later, this little boy was still running around the ground!
I wonder what made him run so much?
After that, he was trained by a coach for about an year. And now after running 65 km in 7.2 hours, he gets to be in the limca book of records.
Read the news story here
Update: Oh.. and here is an interesting counter view
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:40 PM
This kid was discovered when he was told to run around a ground as a form of punishment. The punisher forgot all about it and when he came five hours later, this little boy was still running around the ground!
I wonder what made him run so much?
After that, he was trained by a coach for about an year. And now after running 65 km in 7.2 hours, he gets to be in the limca book of records.
Read the news story here
Update: Oh.. and here is an interesting counter view
Originally posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:40 PM
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