Awareness reaches your doorstep

I had written this one long time back and forgot to post it. Just when I was going through my blog folder I stumbled upon this one.

As we are progressing towards a better future as a nation, there are a lot of issues pulling us down, majority of them concerning women in India. We are a nation of more than a billion but the sorry state of our sex ratio spells it all out. Increasing female infanticide, domestic violence, rise in crime against women show that the progress will be rendered meaningless because of this large disparity amongst the two genders.

Warning signs
Off late issues concerning women are making the headlines. May it be the recent ringthebell.com campaign or television serials like Balika Vadhu, awareness about women’s issues has reached the bedrooms of every household. Launched by human rights organisation Breakthrough India, the Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell) campaign urges people to ring the door bell when they hear about domestic violence in a house. Their impressive ad campaigns with Boman Irani as the ambassador may not have garnered enough eyeballs but have definitely penetrated into a few layers of the society. The world statistics of domestic violence translates into 960,000 reported incidences of violence, against current or former partners every year. Three million women are abused every year by their husbands or boy friends.

Domestic violence doesn’t just occur in lower middle class or poor households but can happen to anyone. Just few days back singer and composer; Adnan Sami’s wife filed a complaint against him for domestic violence. Such news makes us think as to where be we leading as a society. Despite the Indian government enforcing The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in 2005, crimes against women are reported everyday. Indian women have always been subjected to such atrocities, may it be at workplace, at home or even on the roads. Right from her birth to her death, a woman goes through million experiences that may have harmful effects on her. It is quite worrying that nothing much on policy level is being achieved to curb it.

Losing the Ys
Colors channel of the TV18 network has a new offering, ‘Is desh na aana ladoo’ focuses on female infanticide. The gory visuals used as promos are stark enough to get attention for the cause. The sex ratio is falling at an alarming rate, as more and more people are going in for sex determinations. In rural areas where a lot of people do not have access to sex determination facilities, female infanticide is shockingly common. The parents wait until the mother gives birth, and when they find out that a daughter is born, they go ahead and kill the baby by adopting various means such as strangling the baby, giving her poison, dumping her in a garbage bin, drowning her, burying her alive, starving her, stuffing her mouth with salt, or leaving her outdoors overnight so she dies of exposure. This practice is rampant in parts of Rajasthan, where the baby is put into a huge bowl of milk and killed.


Media watch
Balika Vadhu comments on most social issues against women like dowry, child marriage, infanticide and is highly popular amongst all classes. In India there is a crime against women in every three minutes, one rape every twenty nine minutes and one recorded case of dowry death in every seventy seven minutes. Cases of cruelty meted out by husbands and in laws are seen in every nine minutes. Idea cellular service’s new advertisement has a girl giving it back to eve teasers in truly commando style. For that matter even the viewership of K serials in diminishing as more and more women are hooked onto serials with social messages. As we wake to the problems facing women in India, one does really wonder many more lives do we have to sacrifice till we learn to respect women.

A page from my diary

I thought a lot before posting this one, but had to because I have promised to keep this blog as open and true as I can. This blog started out three years back with the purpose of being a friend, who is always listening, but like any relationship we went through our ups and downs. But now we are back with a bang like many other relationships in my life.

The state that am in right now whether happy or sad is because of certain things that I have seen, felt and heard.

Here is a page from my diary:

“I want to be your everything” he texted, I stopped midway while crossing a busy street, thankfully dint get run over. Read and read it again, my eyes welled up a bit. I looked around and smiled to myself and walked away. I thought about my reply to him for quite some time, couldn’t find the right one, but at the same time did not want to just let the moment go. Days passed, we got closer, and we spoke more. I was still looking for an appropriate answer.
I suppose my heart always knew the reply, I just did not have the courage to accept it. I was scared of being hurt, though I have never tasted the feeling but I had heard horrible stories for sure. Today I know what I want. I want YOU!
I have never been happier, friends have never seen me this way before. What have you done to me? I never wanted to fall for you, but couldn’t stop myself anymore. Yes I have fallen for you, “head over feet” . I hope none of this ever changes.
Can you hear me calling
Out your name
You know that am falling
And I don’t know what to say

7th December 4.30 pm:- found my answer, I said it, “I LOVE YOU”. He was quiet for a few seconds and a million questions rose in my mind. I waited for him to say something, and he hugged me, I got my answer. I think I have never felt this way before. I am in love and it feels like heaven. All wrong seem right, there is an undying faith that keeps me from feeling downbeat about anything.
There are certain things in life that you have to do to be happy. You may think of me as a selfish person, but being happy shouldn’t be called selfish. I want to live for myself. You have taught me to love, but now I want to share this love with someone I think deserves it, I want to love him with all my heart. I will always be thankful to you for everything, for loving me so unconditionally, for making me feel special, for being there whenever I need. I know am going to hell for hurting you but I want to live happy at least till I die and go to hell. I have lied to myself several times, but the truth is I got to stop this. You may be perfect for me, but I am not. I am not the one for you. And I had to do this for you as well, I don’t want to continue being with you and put you through this lie, because at the end of the day its just pretence. You know me, I can’t pretend, I can’t pretend to be in love when I am not.
My heart is aching thinking about what you are going through at this point. I know you will get over me soon. I hope you do….. Will never forget you!

For Mr. Anon- You and I

On special request this post is back. More than anything because I want it to remain on this blog...

You and I

You have turned my world upside down. Yes you! Mister, I know you’d be reading this and smiling to yourself. But trust me I love my upside down life more. Everything around me seems happy; I smile a lot and cry only out of joy. I blush, I write poems, I dance and sing out loud. Though you are not around right now I know I am gonna meet you soon very soon.
Every time my phone rings, my heart beats faster, every time I hear your voice, butterflies flutter in my tummy  . I dream and go into weird trance thinking about you.
Flashes of that perfect evening keep coming back to me. The sea, the starry night, the walk on the ramp, the wind blowing past us, the candle light making imperfections fade away bringing out only love. I wish I could capture it like a film on my camera and play it again and again, I wish I could write it all down and read it like a book.
You are my magician, my happy pill, my everything :)

Why

I get very helpless with this situation of mine. Even my friends cannot understand what is it be done of me? It is annoying I know but I need your help to get over it. Will you?

She said, "You should be the last person to get into this mode of self pity, jealousy and insecurity." She is right.


You said, "I love you". Why do I still doubt it, more so when pages from past fall on me like autumn leaves. I don't know whether you understand my problem, but am looking for a solution from you.

I don't want me to make any mistakes...

My First

I did something I have been wanting to do for a very long time. I got my first tattoo. Frankly I did not have to think too much about what I wanted, I had visions of it in mind.

A fish!

Thats me! Its so me!

Now the story goes way back in 1988, November 06 the day I was born. My mum noticed something very peculiar as the doctor gave me in her arms, though she was checking to make sure that her baby had all limbs and senses in place, she noticed a thing that he li'l daughter was born with, two tiny holes (read: gills) on either side of her face above the ears. She did not freak out, she smiled to herself and asked the doctor what exactly was that.

Tiring as my journey was I pretty much slept through that conversation between mother and the doctor.


Fast forward to the year 2000 when it all began. Excruciating, unbearable pain, what I though was a sign of difference turned out to be such a bane.

I had to get my gills closed.

Fast Forward to year 2007, I missed them and thats when i thought I will get a tattoo . A fish. It all made sense. My name in Sanskrit if broken down as a Sandhi means Meen (Fish) + aakshi (eyes) i.e. eyes that are of the shape of a fish...which is true by the way. I love my eyes. And I love my dad for being so thoughtful.

I always felt like a fish- loved water (though I cant swim), aquariums are my favourite hangout places...dont know how many times I might have entered the Taraporewala one on Marine drive. It all fell in place...

And there you go, my first one, in memory of my gills , will always miss them...

New love

When the lights go out
I float like a cloud
Looking for you
Through darkness and sky

When the lights go out
I yearn for you
Tossing in my bed
All I want is you

When the lights go out
I die
Thinking about you
I come alive

Sacred whore

For years she lay silently
Under cotton sheets
With guilt and claustrophobia
As her only mates

Her masters never looked at her,
Neither did they touch her right
Her selfish lovers never quenched her thirst
She was just a mercy pie

They kissed her hard
And robbed her bad
Her innocence and her sacred desire
Never a moment of truth and fire

Today she met him, her prince
He touched her where none ever did
She cried and kicked in joy
Her demons of guilt and cry

As she lay silently with a smile
Her prince and lover by her side
Her lips parted to make a noise
Of pleasure and delight

Inside out

I have a war zone within
I am not alone
I have a life to live
As the gold and silver shone

I have million sun rising
Buds and beds alike
I have the moon with me
Beads of silk and light

I am near the stars
I am around the trees
I am looking through your eyes
Little humming bees

'You’ve got to see two things in Bombay, the Bombay rains and the Bombay girls.'

Debutant author Anirban Bose, in his semi-autobiographical work of fiction, ‘Bombay rains and Bombay girls’ looks at the city from an outsider’s perspective. Though in many ways the book is not about Bombay but about the people and experiences of the city. Like the central character of the story even Bose who hails from a small town came to Bombay to study medicine. A doctor by profession and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, Bose's story revolves around a small town boy who comes to the metropolis to pursue studies in medicine.

Adityaman, an eighteen year old from a small town lands in Bombay to study medicine and the turn of events in his life teach him a lesson or two about growing up and life itself. Adi is not only infested with inferiority complex but also a great need to be the good guy amongst his peers which often leaves him making a choice between the devil and the deep sea. Lost for choices, he deals with his life single-handedly, making new friends, sending out roses to girls and garnering a dream of becoming the CR (Class representative), a goal he sees as a stepping stone for popularity.

Adi’s friends Pheru, Sam, Rajiv, Harsha and Toshi make this journey interesting with their distinct way of looking at life. Right from being ragged by a bunch of scary seniors to regionalism in college elections to giving him dating tips, they support him in every way by offering their valued advice. As a matter of fact, the author very poignantly touches upon issues like regionalism which has given birth to the “we and “they” feeling among migrants in the city after the recent string of attacks launched on outsiders by a certain political party. The book takes a ghastly turn as one of Adi’s hostel mates; Toshi dies in a plane crash. As Adi and his friends leave on a journey to Arunachal Pradesh, Toshi’s hometown, to visit his parents in a pursuit to bring their friendship to a closure, a series of unplanned experiences followed by a murder mystery leaves Adi and his friends bewildered.

It takes a student’s union strike and Adi’s unconditional attraction towards a classmate to create a rift in their friendship. Will he stand by his friends or offer his services to the ill-staffed obstetrics department at the coercion of his new found love? Will Adi complete his journey towards the far-east to meet Toshi’s parents? As one proceeds through the thirty odd chapters in the book, it gives one a sense of relatedness. As the plot thickens it leaves the readers wanting for more not out of curiosity but out of pity for the protagonist, at certain point even making the reader cringe because of repeated twists and turns in this campus novel. Bose’s narrative style of writing reflects on his choice of words which are over dramatic and sometimes over the top. As the story’s hero heals from his Achilles heel, his journey reminds us of similar experiences that we might have shared leaving us feeling sympathetic towards the hero in the end. The book is titled so because every newcomer in this city often ends up admiring the Bombay Rains and the Bombay Girls.

The journey that Adi embarks upon leaves the reader wanting to know more not out of curiosity but out of pity for the character. The book takes the readers through unexpected twists and turns like a typical Bollywood pot-boiler.


P.S. -Perfect for reads during tedious train journeys. But if you are thinking of buying it, wait till it reaches the local raddiwalah. Not worth spending on a first copy.

Available at all leading bookstores
Price- 195/-

done...sealed...sent

Decision has been taken, whether I like it or no my dad is sure happy about it. Packing will begin soon and I will be sent off to a mountain far away from the slightest trace of civilization. Where birds chirp, trees sway, bullocks roam freely lazily grazing in the pastures where children dope and express themselves freely, where booze flows and sanity ends.

In love..with my new doctor

He doesn't make me wait for my turn, but attends to my woes the moment he sees me, unlike the ex..i mean ex doctor who was a racist and gave priority to the white skinned people who often visited his clinic. He makes sure he calls me everyday to find out how I am doing, if not him his secretary does, unlike the ex who doesnt even remember my name.

So yes I like the new doctor.

Now why did i visit a doctor? Thanks to the pathetic food I had in Kerala i am down with a terrible bout of Colitis (tummy disorder aka some infection). I missed college for almost one week, ate nothing but curd and rice, soups and silly salads my mum's experiments with recipes.

Kerala was good. This was my second visit, but a very different and a non-touristy one. I was in a place called Pathanamtitta for most of trip for a documentary. In the sixth semester of my course we have a subject called Contemporary issues and as part of a 50 marks project we are supposed to make a documentary on a contemporary, socially relevant topic. More details in the next one..

Till then hopefully i recover from this stupid illness. (Hate stomach diseases....)

My words are failing me today

Mumbai has seen its darkest day in history. The last 48 hours have defined how helpless and vulnerable we as citizens. The metropolis has suffered again, suffered big time.

Numerous people are pouring news channels with comments, feedback, bloggers all over India writing in, asking questions, but is that all we are reduced to? How many more blasts, deaths do we have to witness till we actually live peacefully in our own country?

See again, all I am doing is question. Sitting in my room, in front of the television behind closed doors, what else can I do?

This is more than just security lapse; this catastrophe suggests that our own people are involved. My heart goes out to these brave army men, NSG commandoes and police. Brave men who lost their lives, no matter what rank they served, which caste or creed they belonged to. Where is Raj Thackeray today when as a self proclaimed leader of Mumbai he is supposed to be visiting victims?

I salute the army, NSG commandoes who without fearing for their lives fought relentlessly. My words are failing me today..

Its all okay

Its all okay...I can handle this

STUTI: u think its ok? then its ok..thank you so much for that..and yes that's the only solace.

I don't know should I feel good or bad but yeah I am definitely in better control of myself this time.

And as usual, close ones not around to help me, never mind, getting used to it now...
At the same time i feel the need to apologise to someone...I am sorry!! I can act really stupid at times! I am very very sorry...will try not to repeat the mistake again..mwaah!

Thats about it...feels good now!

?

Its really not a great time to post, but what the heck just one more exam to go. For me today is one of those days that I wanna jump and break into a dance, shout out loud, pass a nasty remark at someone or maybe just climb a mountain. I am energetic but dont know how to channelise this excess????????????

Actually no I am blogging just for the heck of it. Nothing to share, nothing to crib about....just a random post.. Yeah am bored.....I dont wanna give this idotic exam. !!!!!!guess i should have bored in my labels toooo

Two faces

America 1970:- “I am proud of my GAY son,” proclaimed a mother marching with her son during a peaceful Gay Pride parade.

India 2008:- “Centre against legalising homosexuality,” reads the headline of one of countries leading newspapers.

My first target is ARTICLE 377. The centre has once again opposed a petition filed by gay right activists claiming that gay sex between two consenting adults amounts to crime under section 377. It is defined as unnatural. What is unnatural? Curbing fundamental rights of an individual in unnatural, his/her right to express is unnatural and most importantly curbing the right to live freely is unnatural. India never fails to sing praises of its democratic approach but aren’t we discriminating against a population of people who have been robbed off their freedom of being themselves? Besides nobody has been given the authority to decide what is natural and unnatural. My only problem with this is how can one be differentiated on the grounds of sex?

My second target is Karran (Don’t really care about your smartass spelling) Joharrrrr. Agreed he was looking for a window to vent out his angst and feelings but he should have been a little sensitive while doing so. God save us from his next venture Dostana (let’s plan a nationwide ban). Popular cinema has been mean and bitchy against homosexuals and in my opinion all these directors should be sued. It surprises me how could we even tolerate such nonsense on screen. The only sane portrayal of a gay character in a Hindi film was by Onir in My Brother Nikhil.

Gone are the days when homosexuals in our country had to live an alternate life, a claustrophobic life, a life that could never satisfy them. I see more and more people coming out of the closet and more importantly taking pride in their identity. It’s a difficult to be someone else on the inside and put up an act for the world. This existence of pretence and shame may even result in dangerous consequences. For instance the Kandivili boy who hanged himself from a ceiling fan and left behind a note saying he was ashamed of being gay.

In spite of two successful Gay Parades in Delhi and Mumbai, a very large section of the society is still unaware of this issue; it needs rigorous media coverage to initiate a nationwide debate. A few years’ back media strongly supported prevention of AIDS and the same amount of awareness needs to be generated about gay rights. Conservatives need to be gagged and a rational outlook towards this sensitive issue needs to be developed.

Cowardice at its best

Just finished watching 'We the People' and realized how opportunist the media has become. Probably they are even thanking their stars that the Delhi blasts occured on a weekend giving them more to talk about, debate about and run their frigging 24 hour channel. Surprisingly the show was called Delhi blasts: All talk no action, I find a paradox in this statement, if the news channel was so intent on action why couldnt they do a show on how action can be guaranteed rather than presenting a doctored show with only "talk" and no action. Why couldnt better governance, citizen safety be discussed for the benefit of all citizens.
Just a day after the blast, India TV seems to have claimed that Mumbai is the next target....the cycle will continue till some action is taken. Just having stringent anti terror laws in the country and debating it to the effect that nothing comes out of it is not a solution, to follow it and make sure that it minimises terrorist activites is important.

I strongly feel that SIMI or IM (Indian Mujahideen) whoever is responsible for these ghastly acts should be strictly dealt with, the government should be held accountable to the public and the opposition should stop making provoative speeches and help the government is possible and if thats beyond their understanding then they should just keep quiet.

Stuff I love!

Whats up with me?

Well a lot is up...project submissions got over and that called for a night out with my girls. It followed with some more fun here and there and finally when I sat down with my books to study I get a call from Mr. X!
Who is Mr. X?
I met Mr.X more than three years ago and since then we have been good friends. We had our share of silences but nothing changed and I guess nothing will ever change. We share a comfortable, "convenient" and a fun relationship as friends which goes beyond the norms of being just friends. Simply put, we like each other's company. We talk and talk and talk more which happens once in a while and probably thats the reason we enjoy it. Mr.X is one person I know I can count on all the time.

Moving on from Mr.X to my book shelf!
Yes I am in love with my new bookshelf, though I demanded a bigger one, flats in Bombay will never permit me that luxury, unless I marry someone from Altamount road. So as I was arranging my treasure trove I realised I need to fit in 50 other books somewhere.

I am seriously waiting for my birthday. I have big plans this time. I am going to turn 20 and as I will get ready to blow those 20 candles on my cake I have 20 new things to do.

MENTAL CONSTIPATION

It is getting increasingly difficult with each passing day. The more I try to fight, the more I see myself losing. Never in my wildest dream did I think that I will turn into an escapist, but that identity seems to be creeping in. I am thoroughly conscious of this gradual change but helpless to do anything about it. Escaping seems the ultimate, the only solution.
Sometimes I feel miserable for being such a fool, for choosing such an easy way out. But when not a single soul stands by you and you feel as if you are hanging by a twig of a tree from a cliff, all you have to do is fall down, break your limbs or even die. Why I am not entitled to a little happiness? Something that I would want to do, something that would make me jump with joy. Every day brings in the same amount of pressure in college, pressure to perform...pressure to excel, live up to expectations, behave your best when in front of strangers. Behave like a grown up with your loved ones; behave like a mature person with your friends…so when do I get to be myself? Why am I supposed to understand everything? Why can’t I be a little cranky, demanding? Why do I have to always give in to your dumbass excuses? Why why why????
It’s so stupid…today I have to talk to this fucking inanimate blog about my complains? When will all the humans around me clean the wax from their ears and open their eyes? God, please send me one of your trusting angels…please. I need one here very badly! In fact I just realized that my posts have all been very depressing. Aaarrrggghhhhh!!!!

#%$^&%^*^&$#

It took hardly 24 hours for anti social elements in the country to strike again. Yesterday Bangalore was targeted and today Ahmedabad was victimized. As a pattern mostly smaller centers have been targeted time and again. After Varanasi, Jaipur, Hyderabad it has turned to other cities.
In Ahmedabad all BJP majority areas have been targeted and our dear politicians have already started playing the blame game. It’s apathetic to stoop down to such a level where our leaders see election as an agenda rather than trying to help their countrymen. All these blasts are low intensity which indicates that the only aim is to spread panic than cause loss of life and property.
Media also plays a major role in politicizing the issue. Usually in such cases they often dial up the opposition for their strong views on the issue, which further fans the fire. And we as people who sit in front of our idiot boxes are left with the option of wither cursing such anti social elements or of sending smses to television channels increasing their revenue.
It pains me to see how as a part of this system and media I can only blog or debate to vent out my anger.

A shot!!

It’s been quite a while since I have actually poured my heart out. I have a certain problem with explaining people certain things, may be am too blunt, or I don’t make sense, or people just don’t get it. Lot of times I end up getting frustrated putting across a certain point which ultimately drives me to the extent that I feel like jumping off my building or hang myself to the ceiling fan. But it’s quite strange how few people just have this knack of understanding every bit you say without asking for any further explanations. My Devil, yeah that’s you...My all time favourite agony uncle! Love you so much for being there. I know I exploit our association and take you for granted but am sure you won’t complain. Yes it is quite a relief to know that someone has brains to understand what the fuck you are talking about.
In spite of having hundreds of friends, one feels lonely. There have been times when my parents have irritated me or people close to me have hurt me and at such times I have felt highly remorseful. Even to share a bit of that anger I haven’t been able to find a single genuine good listener. I felt as if I was going to burden a person by telling him/her about my feelings more importantly my sadness. So I chose not to let anyone know and tried to be happy. I am a kind of person who wouldn’t make a huge hue and cry about something and even if I do it will always wear off within minutes. Not that I don’t enjoy sharing but the only problem is that people tend to misinterpret my perception of my own problem which later on becomes problematic during the course of the discussion. For example like yesterday I was telling a friend how I seem to have lost few goals that I had set for myself, few short term goals. And he thought I was suggesting him through my example that he is a loser. These are the times when I feel like an idiot for having initiated a conversation.
I think it’s high time I make a list of things I am often accused of:-
“1) You are hyper and very impulsive.
2 You take things on its face value
3) You complain a lot.
4) You think a lot.
5) You need to loosen up a little.”
This is generally what people around me most of the time tell me. I accept everything and I also try to make a conscious effort of avoiding these instincts.

This post was just a random shot. So I wrote about a host of things. Right from relationships, to human behaviour, to things that I observe and the list might just continue till I feel I am drained out. Till the next one…

Cheers

Money minter in the pack :)

There are times when I pick a book not so much for the content but for it's colorful coverpage. Hence at the bookstore when I spotted a Violet-orange book which had comething to do with the IIMs , I decided to buy it. Joker in the pack is one such average book. Two bored IIM grads get together and pen down their experience through the eyes of a middle class boy, Shekhar Verma.
The book did manage to hold me till the end, (Yeah, I was looking for reasons to quit thinking about doing an MBA). And I was successful too. As the book proceeds into the life of Shekhar Verma from Delhi, it talks about cricket, bollywood, the effervescent campus life in a shady college in DU. Then comes into picture his girlfriend who makes it to the IIT and he ends up in IIM-Bangalore.
The book slowly tells the tale of his struggles on campus, may it be to survive a hell week planned by his seniors to rag him or managing to score good GPAs all seems to be an extravagant description of a campus life. Thankfully the authors, Ritesh Sharma and Neeraj Pahaljani, did not rant about Shekhar's break up with his girlfriend of three years, otherwise it would have taken away the little charm that the book tries to spell with its youthful approach
As you read the book soon you realize that it has a few elements that any college going kid would relate with.
So if you have a day to spare, do read this one, not so much for the language but just to flashback in your old times.

Favourite stories

These are two stories I loved working on and which eventually added a lot to my life..
Child's play..

For tourists who like to experience the local flavour with local transport and local food, these enthusiastic kids play the perfect guides on the Mumbai Magic Tour
Hello and welcome to Mumbai Magic Tour. My name is Priyanka and I am your guide for today,” says a perky Priyanka Parit (16), one of the five youngsters from non-governmental organization Akanksha as we start a four-hour journey through the architectural and cultural heritage of Mumbai city. We accompany Michael Corwin, a tourist from New York, as we discover the many facets of the island city before returning impressed.

Meet five teenagers from varying difficult backgrounds, Priyanka, Shirajul Khan, Parveen Ansari, Kavita Pawar and Sana, who have been trained by Deepa Krishnan of Mumbai Magic Tours to work as guides for foreign tourists. Among the other personalized tours is ‘Mumbai Local’, Krishnan’s brainchild that sees these children taking foreigners around the city to experience Mumbai’s unique culture in all its forms.

“I was super-excited when our Didi at Akanksha told us that a tour operating company was going to interview us to be tour guides. Plus we were promised a good amount of money — around Rs 500-Rs 750 per tour,” says Parveen (16), a gleam in her eyes. Parveen says she loves to shop for clothes and accessories but also understands that she needs to support her family as well.

“I always used to donate some amount of my profit to Akanksha but I thought that was not enough. That’s when I got the idea to involve these kids from Akanksha in my project. I interviewed 15 children and selected five of them,” says Krishnan. These five children were trained for three months, during which they received training in diction, language and were also made to learn scripts to be brought into play during the guided tour.

For the tourists, it’s a chance to experience the local flavour of the city along with local modes of transport and local food, with bright and enthusiastic kids playing guides. As Krishnan fondly says: “Mumbai Local through the eyes of local people.”

The voyage begins from the Gateway of India and includes spots like Mumbai University, Mani Bhavan, a scrumptious treat at Swati Snacks, a walk through Bhaji Galli in Grant Road and finally, a peek into Dhobi Ghat.

It’s all about learning for the children. Every tour teaches them to handle tricky situations, at times cater to nasty tourists and learn from their mistakes. Shiraj (19), a first year commerce student, says: “On my first tour I forgot to carry the handouts and script. But thankfully because the tourists were not aware of it I managed my show well.” In tight situations, of course, Deepa ‘Di’ is only a phone call away and always eager to help them.

Narrating another incident, Priyanka says cheekily: “While on a similar tour I had to put up with very demanding clients. They wanted to visit Chor Bazaar and Haji Ali that were not part of the itinerary. They were also adamant about buying mangoes in the off season.” These children are not only talented but are also academically inclined. Akanksha has identified their skills and have channelised them into social work and social leadership.

“I must congratulate Deepa for this concept which is so novel and impressive. I was very excited about it,” says Michael who loves to meet local people of the places he visits. He adds: “It’s good to see that these children are doing such a wonderful job.” At the end of the tour, one comes away remembering what Krishnan said: “After all, everybody in the game must get something out of it.”


A soldier for society..

At the age of 80, this man wants the Indian Development Foundation to continue bringing change through an army of volunteers, not fundraising
A soft-spoken man dressed in a humble white veshti and kurta greets visitors with a childlike smile at his office-cum-residence in Jogeshwari. Quite proudly, he says: “I gave up ties and coats a long time back. I can connect better with the average poor man dressed this way.”

Meet Dr Ananthan Ramakrishna Pillai, president and founder of Indian Development Foundation (IDF), formerly known as Indian Leprosy Foundation. As the organization turns 25, the octogenarian ARK Pillai is readying to launch ‘Project Goodness’, an initiative to make available basic education, health and development facilities to all, through the establishment of additional IDF gurukuls, bridge schools for rag-pickers and street children, arranging health camps and blood camps, honouring leprosy cured persons and networking with other NGOs to achieve the mission.

Having joined Central Railway as a junior assistant at the age of 20, Pillai quit despite successive promotions. “I found a government job to be very rigid and binding. I was over qualified, so I quit the railways and joined Clarion McCann,” he says, simultaneously replying to an email and chatting online with a volunteer. “One makes a lot of money in advertising but when I saw acute poverty around me I felt the need to do something for the underprivileged.”

Born in Malvelikari near Allepey, Kerala, Pillai belongs to a deeply religious family and has an array of degrees, ranging from a Masters in Sociology to a Diploma in Advertising and Journalism. He successfully completed his LLB degree from Government Law College and also finished a management course from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.

At age 44, he resigned from his high-paying job and gave up that lifestyle to be able to serve those suffering from leprosy ¿ and the consequent stigma — in India. According to him there were around 4 million leprosy cases in India before 1980. “Due to the social stigma attached to this disease, people used to fear doctors and hence the figures were on a rise,” he says.

Then, in 1984, he and his wife Shyama started IDF. With its meager resources and sheer hard work, it became one of the few organizations working for leprosy eradication. “My family had declared me insane. No one could believe that I had given up my career for a cause that was at such a nascent stage in those days,” Pillai says.

He adds: “Indira Gandhi had given a statement in the United Nations that India will be a leprosy-free nation by the year 2000. That’s when she urged citizens to work towards this goal.” Around the same time, Pillai happened to visit Germany and Switzerland as an honorary member of international NGOs like the German Leprosy Relief Association and Leprosy Work Emmaus in Switzerland. He is still a member of these organizations and has been advising them on various social projects.

“During one such visit, while collecting funds for the India project, I was questioned by a young German on why India cannot generate funds independently. I had no answer,” he says.

That’s how the self-reliance principle of IDF was born. Without taking any monetary support either from the government or corporates, Pillai raised an army of volunteers instead, a network of lakhs of them. After deep research, having concluded that nothing much had changed despite the Government of India and a number of doctors being involved with the cause, Pillai had made up his mind that awareness and advocacy were the key to satisfactory results.

“Dr Pillai is a media man,” says Dr Narayan Iyer, national co-ordinator of IDF. “He has always used mass communication and various media channels to spread the word about the issue. Through street plays and slide shows he attempted to attract the attention of a lot of youngsters from various schools and colleges in Mumbai.”

Pillai also wanted to put to use his area of expertise — management. Today, IDF has more than 15 schools operational in different states and tribal areas and 10 more in the pipeline. “I wish that my young volunteers take forward the initiative I started 25 years ago and continue with their good work,” Pillai signs off, optimistic as ever.

Far away...

Guess this is a season of parting, moving out, going away and distancing. I have been distanced from my blog for quite some time, blame my work! I no longer feel the belonging here anymore, neither do I feel the need to work on it again. But I dont really want to stop blogging. Work has drained a lot of things out of me....few days of rest and I will be back with the same zeal and zest (I hope, I sincerely do).

Life is going to change big time for me. I cant disclose the reason but I am getting worried as and as the day I am dreading is getting closer. I am confused, irritated, unwillingly accepting the situation so that I dont end up hurting people close to me.

C'est la vie as they say in french! That reminds me someone was supposed to get some great French wine for me!! When are you doing that Mister?

Cheers nonetheless...

IRONY!!

A man looks at his devastated home and unwillingly poses for the cameras waiting to catch the right moment. A woman who has just undergone a painful pregnancy in a cab is tired of the shutterbugs. She is so sick of it that she violently shuts everyone out of her room. The poor baby in her father's arms is being tossed from right to left to get that perfect angle, the perfect shot, the perfect light. Its IRONIC to see how the savior of the distressed suddenly becomes this selfish photographer with just one motive- getting the best images for the next day's newsprint.

Its really a very sorry sight. Though I am not blaming our photographers, afterall they are doing thier job. But some amount of sensitivity is required. We journalists claim to reach out to people and bridge the gap between those who suffer and those who provide them the necessary respite, but all of this for more readership, attractive, eye catching pictures.

In fact it will be very unfair to blame the photographers alone. My fellow journalists, may it be print or electronic or even web for that matter, are all running a race. All of them aspire to finish first. All of them want the juiciest information for their newspapers, magazines , channel!

I really dont know how many people will agree with the text above and how many would disagree, but certainly am not too happy being associated with such a state of affair. I might not make a good journalist, considering the views I hold but I will definitely move towards becoming a responsible journalist! I might not get stories brimming with thousand scoops and scandals but am sure I wont earn the wrath of a troubled soul!

SNOWMAN

i MaDe thIs sNOwMan.............:-)

STOP!!!!

We are tired of this constant scrutiny, constant fear of being laughed at, ridiculed and reduced to nothing but a mere toy. Just this morning when I was on my way to college, an asshole passed a comment. I decided to ignore it because I had a 9.16 train to catch. As I reached Churchgate, another jackass passed a comment and this time I was determined to give it back to him. I realised what he said right in my ears after 2 seconds and chased him as soon as i registered those horrible words. He looked behind and saw me coming. He ran and I ran after him, asked for a little help from a passerby but all he did was look at me like a fool. Though I couldn't get hold of him but I was hell bent on doing something about it and hence this post. I thought of calling on 103- the helpline started by Mumbai Police for women and elderly people in city. But it wouldn't help unless I have some proof of the incident.
We have had enough of such nonsense. I am sure many girls and women go through such occurances every day. The ladies compartment in the suburban locals are full of indecent illustrations of nude women drawn on the walls with unwanted graffiti and derogatory remarks. Dont we deserve to live with respect and a little peace of mind?
I urge all men reading this to help women if ever you spot a woman in any of such situation and I urge women to be strong and fight against it.

I DREAD LOOKING BEAUTIFUL,
I HATE THE SIGHT OF MIRROR,
AM HAPPY UGLY, AM HAPPY UNATTRACTIVE.

AM NOT YOUR SLAVE,
AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY IDENTITY, MY GENDER.
AM HIDEOUS AND STRONG.

I WONT BEG TO BE LEFT ALONE,
IT'S MY RIGHT TO BREATHE FREE,
I AM PROUD TO BE A WOMAN..

An urgent Post...

Well I term this as an urgent post because for the first time I am writing about something that I just thought of in fact something that I just saw. It was " Taare Zameen par". First of all a round of applause for Aamir Khan for conceptualising, directing and acting in such a wonderful movie. An excellent film which surely moves you to the core.
It has no usual larger than life effects to it, but on the contrary it showcases the life of a normal middle class couple and their dyslexic kid, Ishaan. It has all the elements of a good movie, which keeps the viewer interested till the end.
There were a lot of natural shots like the everyday routine of a family in a metropolitan, a frustrated kid throwing tantrums and so on. Though the best scene was when Ishaan sees his own painting created by his art teacher and starts crying..The music is also quite peppy and meaningful at the same time. Lyrics by Prasoon Joshi make quite an impact.
It is a must watch for every parent trying to fulfill his/her ambition through their children. Even teachers who think there only job is to discipline kids. This movie is highly recommended by me!!

Beyond words!!

My recent escapade was to Jammu and Kashmir. In spite of repeated warnings from friends and family, in the middle of stark winter I and my folks set out on our voyage. We started from Bombay early morning and by noon we were in Srinagar. It was quite strange to experience two extreme climates on the same day. Thirty degrees in Bombay and almost six degrees in Srinagar. Even the stop over at Delhi was quite pleasant, considering the fact that I loathe the city and especially its people and now the airport too. The center seriously needs to look in. I better get back to writing the travelogue than criticizing the government, something I usually do, of course for the right reasons.
Our driver and our house keeper at the houseboat came to pick us up at the airport. People in Jammu Kashmir are very warm and I could actually feel it in the way they greeted us and spoke to us. Or maybe it is a necessity to polite, considering tourism is their only livelihood. Whatever the reasons are, I enjoyed all the attention I received. We comfortably reached our houseboat which was amidst the beautiful and the vast Dal Lake. It was one of the most striking and serene places I have ever stayed. And we ended our day with a long ride in the Shikara (boats used inside the lake) and just soaking in as much as we could.
The next day we decided to explore beyond the lake and thought of taking the road. It had snowed just a week ago and the chillness made it more evident. So we headed straight to Sonmarg, a quiet and quintessential valley two hours away from Srinagar. We experienced snow covered peaks and the deadly cold for the first time in the journey. The warm clothing we were carrying weren’t enough and we had to hire a couple of coats for each one of us. I seriously wonder how people survive such an extreme climate. Even the soldiers who stand incessantly along the roads, on mountains and valleys to guard the beautiful land are to be pitied about. Yet somehow we forget our duties towards our nation. It just makes me all the more sad. And yes, the security reminds me of how careful one has to be in such a sensitive area. We had to get ourselves checked at every check point on every corner of the town, near every monument. But despite so many efforts these innocent people are not spared by the culprits and die at the hands of terror. Every little town I passed reminded me of something I had read or seen about the place being torn apart with hand grenades and bombs. Areas like Baramullah, Kupwara are often the soft targets for such activities.
The following day was one of the best days. It was filled with a plethora of activities, vivid beautiful spots and lots more. Gulmarg is one of the most visited places in Jammu and Kashmir. Its truly heaven on earth. Serene mountains, tall standing pine and deodar trees welcoming us, it was the most unique and unforgettable experiences we ever had. From skiing to sledging to horse riding we did everything, aah not to forget the Cable car ride. The best part was actually making my first snow man. Something I always wanted to do. It wasn’t a very perfect one though I managed to do a good job. We returned in the evening tired but filled with great awe for God’s creation. Like everyday our cook at the houseboat had made an amazing meal for us, Kashmiri pulao, Dum aalo and maaki dal! In the mornings we often had Kulchas, Paranthaas and ‘Kahwa’ ( tea made with Kesar, Ginger, sugar and water). The following day was spent sight seeing around Srinagar. We saw places like Hazratbul Durgah, Mughal Gardens, Shankaracharya temple, a 14th century structure.



After four days of sojourn in Srinagar, we checked out and left for Pehelgam, ( shephards village). It’s a beautiful valley where temperatures can go down as low as -14 degrees. We had a nice quite time at Liddar valley ( unofficial name). most of the movies shot in the 60s were made in this area. It is nothing less to Switzerland or any land. We just need to break our myths and beliefs about the place and explore it.
Jammu was our next stop and we visited the Vaishnodevi shrine, quite an adventurous trek. And the next day I was back in the hustle and bustle of my not so dear city life. Trust me, there’s so much more I can write and talk about Jammu and Kashmir but everytime I make an effort I fail miserably. You just cannot condense the experience in words. Visit this beautiful dreamland to believe me.
Cheers!

P.S visit the following site for more pictures by me..:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loving_the_camera/

ACHIEVED!!! HURAAAAHHH

Turning nineteen wasnt all that exciting as I had imagined it to be. I though there'd be a pool of beer outside my house, I though I would be able to puff packs and packs of ciggies, I though I would be able to do whatever I wanted, I thought I could race my car on Carter road at night, I though I could get drunk and not come
back home at all. Ahhhh. But nothing of that sort happened. All I did was, get up early morning to receive calls from friends and relatives and spent the entire day doing just that. Yeah, not to forget a quiet lunch with friends and a great dinner with my folks. I dont know why I am blogging about my birthday which happened almost like ages ago, but suddenly today I feel like a grown up. More like those magical lightening kind of realizations shown in sci-fi!
Today I feel a heavy responsibility of a grown up, I feel mature and liable. After an year of becoming an adult, I finally feel like one. There is a sense of urgency to do things as if the world is going to end tomorrow. Claustrophobia coupled with excitment and a lot of other things are turning me upside down or downside up or
something like that, something that I am not able to make enough sense of. I feel tormented, frustrated and harrowed to the extent of running somehwere deep inside
woods. Many times I feel the adrenaline rush of sitting on a huge giant wheel awaiting an unexpected rush, a sudden jerk and then a smooth ride. Life has never been so uncertain, trust me. I am sure I am not going to read this blog entry after posting it because it will remind me of all these emotions that I am trying to keep away from. It will remind me of how unsure my thought flow is at this point that there is no distinct connection between how I started off writing and where I am going to end this. But for a change I am not feeling bound, am not feeling ruled. I am typing words and leaving the rest to make some sense on its own. I know I have failed miserably to channelise my thoughts but I am liking this failure. It is more like doing things in the moment, wow!!!! am finally in the present. After 100-150 odd desperate words, I am in the PRESENT.

Cheers!
xx

Moon-kissed beaches!

Now its official, I have a penchant for impromptu holidays and the latest was Kihim and Kashid in Konkan. Just a three hour drive from Bombay and you discover the amazing Konkan coastline. White sand, crystal clear water, hammocks and shacks welcome you as you get closer. Huge coconut trees stand still as you wonder if all of this is for real. I had always fantacized about walking unshod on a beach on a full moon day, and this time I actually did that. I spent almost three hours just gazing at the night sky and listening to the mellow sound of the water lashing on the shore. The silvery beach and the moonlit sky was a perfect location for that perfect kiss that every girl would have dreamt of. Alas! I was all alone :(...


The best of the surprises was the Culaba fort ( dont mistake it for our friendly area Colaba). This is an ancient fort built by Shivaji Maharaj and situated around 500 meters in the sea. So technically you have to wade through waist high water to get there. It is a very tiring task but fun at the same time.

Konkan also gets me excited because of the mouth-watering Konkani food. Right from Sol Kadi ( Kokam buttermilk) to rice rotis to Kothimbir wadi ( coriander patties). After two days of relaxation and laziness, i returned to the humdrum of the city life, something I just want to keep running away from, and am sure I am quiet successful at times!!

cheers

MY CHOW CHOW

A free ride or a free Pizza, nothing can equal the joy that I find in being with you. Its been almost eight months and I dont regret a single day, a single minute spent with you! Like an underdog from nowhere or a conquerer with a sharp motive, you have taken over me entirely, by the way you have a right to do that!
With each passing day I seem to love you more. I have started looking at things differently, probably I have started growing up with you. Life looks easy even with a plethora of irritating issues that we face on and off. Nothing seems impossible though there may come a lot of unimaginable consequences to our union. There were times when I was a little harsh on you, a little insecure, a little jealous , a little of this and that but you have never let me down. The best thing about you is your understanding nature. You are just that perfect Chow chow that any girl would dream of having around. You affectionate eyes and those comforting hands are the best remedy to any of my problems. Trust me this lifetime is too less a time for me to experience your presence in my life! " Tumhare liye machchar toh kya, magarmach ke moonh mien bhi jaaane ko taiyyaar hooon, ........achcha tha na?" LOL!!





P.S:- AAAhhhh it feels great to blog after a long time!

Sundance!! aink!! LOL

The travel bug has bitten me hard and good!! After hibernating for around a week am back from my vacation in Bengaluroo and Coorg, am right here sitting in front of my laptop waiting to share all the hiccups and burps we shared together.
Three madcaps, a destination so divine and one aim- " to find cute guys" LOL...kidding. One aim - " to have fun to the fullest".
Bengaluroo was a pleasant experience thanks to the amazing weather which was almost as if rain and sunshine were playing some kinda peek-a-boo. After spending a day there we set out to another exotic destination- COORG! Its a small province nestled amidst vales and clouds. Surrounded by impeccable beauty, wonderful and warm people I was in total awe of the rightly called Scotland of India.
Bengaluroo came as a sure surprise to us. The way commercialization has engulfed the old 'Garden City' is something to be marvelled at and also a little deplorable. It has got many a connotations and denotations like the 'IT' Hub, educational capital and all that jazz, but it has truly stood worthy of it. After cruising around the town for a whole day, checking out cute , nerdy guys and hanging out like crazy weirdos we came home tired and sloshed out. But it surely was a great start to an amazing holiday.
Next day sharp 6 am we were heading towards the bus depot to take a bus to Medikeri also called as Mercera considered to be the capital of the province of Coorg! I have taken the liberty to call it a province because of the racial exclusivity that this part of the country enjoys. They are the decendents of the Alexander's armymen who probably might have had a sojourn while on their mission to conquer the world. Their sharp features and athletic build surely make this legend a reality.

We were welcomed in the small town by a great weather which almost felt like monsoon in the middle of a wintry month. The fog and mist played around with clouds ready to pour down on us. After checking in to a hotel we thought of exloring the town further. Medikeri is a very small town with a few places worth visiting like , " the Raja's seat, Raja's tomb, Abbey falls and a few temples which we conveniently skipped heehee. After a couple of drinks down we hit the bed instantly gearing up for the next day's journey outside Medikeri. The POA was to cover the northern Coorg which included Bhagamandala temple, Iruppu falls, Talakaveri and Nagarhole ( Rajiv Gandhi National park).
Bhagamandala situated around 30 kms from Medikeri is a quiet , little temple which houses the shrine of Shiva, Vishnu. It has a peculiar look with snake faced curves made all around the rooftop. The next stop was Talakaveri, the origin of river Kaveri. The breathtaking view from the point near the pond was heavenly. We were almost amidst the clouds. After this we proceeded towards Iruppu falls situated around a Km in the woods. The last stop was the Nagarhole national park known for its deer population and a few elephants. Most of us thought it was a waste of time and a total rip off!!! After an eventful day we had no strength left , not even for a drink!
The next day was spent peacefully and we started our journey back to Bengaluru. Thus ended our little vacation, away from the maddening crowd and unwanted stress. It was a great relief after the hectic examinations. Lets hope the next destination is as enchanting and as exotic as this!!!
cheers

Very few happy moments in my kitty..

Its been a long time since I last did something that made me happy. Guess life has become very hectic and I have lost count of the few happy moments I have spent during the past few months. The last time I was satisfied with my existence was when me and my friends spent some time with a couple of kids on the road.
This happened during one of our casual walks towards Marine drive. The three of us have the habit of hanging around after college hours, because we detest leaving each other and going home. Even if one of us is missing, the day seems so incomplete. Gosh, life would have been so scary without you guys!! MUUAAH!!. Yeah coming back to that day's escapade. The three of us spotted four kids of different sizes sitting on a pavement. They were untidy but cheerful. One look at them and the three of us knew what we wanted to do next. After talking to them for some time we realized that they were waiting for someone to feed them a few morsels of that blessed grain. They were hungry.
We bought them some Mishti Doi ( thats what they preferred, Talk about being choosy). And enquired about their parents. A small boy pointed towards a lady sitting under a tree with bunch of red, white and pink roses. I guess she was his mother. I went ahead and spoke to her, to my surpirse she handed me a red rose and my day was made. I seldom forget such gestures by unknown strangers who sometimes appear to be angels in disguise. There are times when your own boyfriend or girlfriend, mother or father, brother or sister are ready to just fuck your mind any moment people like her are there to balance it out!!
CHEERS!

Poems by Russell!

Russell a friend of mine has written a few good poems. I would like to share it with all of you. I keep sharing peices of work written by my friends under the label ' Guest writers'

Woodchop- Russell Mascarenhas


The rising sun over the snowy hills,
Mixed gracefully with the winter chills,
Gives every person to stare at awe,
At the wonderful things made by God.

Far from my house are these Red Wood trees,
Where furry creatures in the moonlight sleep,
Where lovers come and carve their names.
It reminds me of the good old days.

Like a peaceful haven on the mountain top,
The sparrows chirp and the ground is warmth.
My children at the moon doth stare.
In the shelter of the trees so bare

But alas, I am a woodcutter,
And I destroy gods beautiful things,
To feed my children and my wife,
Against getting heavenly wings.

A Grave Tale
- Russell Mascarenhas


With crumbled leaves underneath my feet,
I approach the house where the dead don’t sleep.
The hooting owl and the creaking gate,
may be the last sounds before my fate.

Lost in an illusion with haunting sounds,
Suddenly a hand emerges from the ground.
In my horror I turned and saw,
millions of zombies all around.

The mind tends to play funny tricks,
but this was worse than a horror flick,
a living nightmare I must say,
I must escape some other way.

Armed with guts and an axe in my hand
I cleared away the scum from this land.
Marching forward and taking swings,
I skillfully killed those horrid things.

And as they fell I took a bow,
and received applause from the crowd,
I smile to myself as I’ve done my duty,
the curtain closes, end of story.

City of joys and sorrows.....

Taking a break has become an alien activity for the people of Mumbai. Life is cenetered around a monotonous and never ending cycle of chores that leaves one with very little time to spend with ourselves. Life certainly is not a cake walk but yet things look very easy to achieve and acquire here. Probably that is the because of the 'never say never' attitude that people. Love, hate, betrayal, complassion, jealousy or any other emotion can be experienced in the span of a single day.

Our day starts with abusing the newspaper vendor for ringing the door bell too loud to abusing the errant kids in the building who make your life hell in the evening when all you want is a space with pin drop silence. Hurling abuses and walking ahead is the mantra that all of us seem to have understood very well. We have become workoholic sparrows, home to work and work to home. Life, though doesn't really look complicated but nonetheless it sometimes becomes like a living hell.

One has to fight for everything, right from a window seat to getting a passport made. No wonder we talk about Mumbai's fighting spirit, ( pun intended). I am not trying to demean the place I call my home but just reminding you of the changing times. I totally agree that I have bever seen a city as vibrant and colourful as Mumbai, yet there are time when I long to get away, without a doubt I long to get back as soon as possible. This city is like a sweet bitter truth. One cannot ignore the goodness of it but at the same time one cannot move away from adversities.

RUNAWAY!

I looked at the clock twice, it was some kind of reassurance of the fact that its was the right time. It was twelve and I very well knew Mom was snoring away to glory in the adjacent room. My bags were packed because I was preparing myself for the past three days. Two failed attempts per day , that makes it six...ummm not bad, will help me write a manual on running away from home.

I am tired of the scrutiny and nagging that happens around me all the time. I am 21, a successful media executive, travelled almost half the world, but I am still treated like a kid at home. I need ma own space and my own rules. I know I am giving all these explanations to move away from this shithole.

I feel flustered and claustrophobic. The house I grew up in suddenly seems to eating me up. I see horrible images moving around, maybe because I have developed a particular kind of hate for this place. The people living here make me all the more depressed and that includes my mother and her Lesbian partner, who are up on my ass everyday.

Jane moved in right after my father ran away with our maid. I know sounds like a scene straight out of a movie. My mother seems to have taken settling down with Jane a bit too seriously. I have no qualms about her sexual orientation, but she can definitly find a better woman to spend her life with. Jane is a bitch.......

How does that matter anyway?....Its almost 12.30 now...guess Geroge should be well on his way...WHOOOOSSSHHHHH!

noone to see
noone to believe.
life is like an empty circus
the merry go round
with all the colours around
whirls against the hollow air.....
Up you see the smoke rise,
my dead ashes in the air.

THE LAST LOOK AT THE MIRROR.......

I look at the mirror
dazed and unfazed
my eyes speak a million
the marathon that never ends

I see the unnoticed truth
kept under wraps away from the sun.
Failing to acknowledge,
I stare with a sudden jerk

" Its in pieces..." I cry with a shout
the amber behind houls out loud.
putting an end to the fantasy..
putting an end to life!

sleep like a baby

sleep like a baby,
sleep like a baby, the wind will sing you a song
sleep like a baby....the leaves will calm you down
sleep in the silence, the peace that you need
rest in my arms, I will drive you to the moon
our house rests there on the snowey peak...
will drive away the cold,
coz u in my embrace, light the fire of my love
for u to feel warm
the night will guard us,
when we make love.
Our union was destined...
sanctity along
now sleep like a baby...
as u rest in ma arms!

Not for me!

Love is not for me,
going around the same ol' mulberry...
Speaks to millions on the way...
but has not ever woken me again.

Looking thorugh the windows of hope
I saw it rushing like a cold wind blown..
dark leaves and the browns fade away,
resting in peace like they always stay.

He borrowed the joys my heart had stored
leaving behind an empty room..
locked away in the chest of the old house
like a wine that lives alone..

I thought i'd age with you..
made me imagine my hands tremble with yours
am a ripe fruit yet...
forgotten before the prime could begin!

one year!!!

YIIPPPEEEEE!!! MA BLOG HAS COMPLETED AN YEAR NOW....IT WAS FUN WITH YOU SWEETHEART! MY FRIEND!!
LOVE!

"Where the fuck is my punching bag??"

For the first time I'd be using my blog to vent out my anger. "I don't want to live, I am good for nothing, I am just a piece of shit!!!!! " These thoughts cross our minds a lot of times but most of us sail through it because of our strong support system, like friends, peers sometimes surprisingly even parents. Many say its just one of those teenage growing up negative thoughts or some blaah shit like that. Whatever the fucking reason is, I hate it when I feel like giving up. I hate it when i find the entire world against me as if they are conspiring to make my life hell!

And in these times, trust me, boyfriends are the people you should never ask help from. They say they understand, but actually have no clue of what crap you are talking, for that matter even you wouldnt know!! So what do you do? Talk to friends? who are busy with their own confused teenaged lives? or talk to parents who would defintely tell you everything but calm you down!

AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!! I feel like standing on my terrace and shout " FUCK OFFF"!!!!
Guess i should just grab a quick bite of some sinful Chocolate Mousse.............................." Where the fuck is my punching back?"

My mind is a crazy wanderer!!

Life is a joruney.....long, never ending yet exciting. And my mind misses no chance to go on a joy ride on his own. My mind is personified and is free to make his choices. My minds knows every corner of my life like he has been riding the thought bike for ages now. He certainly is smarter than me with the twists and turns.
I have been a constant companion but he is the boss- THE GUIDE. There are times I feel like telling him that it isn't fair for him to rule over me, but he seldom listens to me. I have a dominating mind....constantly scruitinising and on the go! There have been times when he has given me wrong instructions but at the same time I cannot ignore the fact that most of the times he has given me accurate and precise orders.
Long live my not so sane mind! You help me be practical and non-judgemental. You help me think and give me the ability to reason. Thanks for being around. And yeah do not forget about the CAT preparation we are doing together. Dude, you gotta help me here.....LOL.

Russell Peters: “why don’t you see many Indian athletes? Because they are not hardworking”.

Stereotypes are as old as human culture itself. They reflect ideas that groups of people hold about others who are different from them. Stereotypes can be either positive ("black men are good at basketball") or negative ("women are bad drivers"). But most stereotypes tend to make us feel superior in some way to the person or group being stereotyped. Stereotypes ignore the uniqueness of individuals by painting all members of a group with the same brush.
Media has given way to many such stereotypical thoughts like, “All bearded Muslims are terrorists”, portrayal of homosexuals in media or youngsters are restless and impulsive etc. These ideas generate from an event which is later turned into a mass thought process. In the case of stereotypes the mass society theories of media are often discussed because of its impact on people.
Stereotypes of a group of people can affect the way society views them, and change society's expectations of them. With enough exposure to a stereotype, society may come to view it as a reality rather than a chosen representation. The media can be a powerful tool in creating or reinforcing stereotypes. For example people look at India as a country full of snake charmers and elephants walking on the road, which is a general perception. This impression has been largely created by media.
Russell Peters broadly talks about various racial stereotypes focusing mainly on his Indian roots and also South Asian culture. In one of his acts he mentioned why not many Indian athletes are seen on international arena which a few years back was a fact but is no more a reality. Though he clearly once said that he doesn’t create stereotypes he just talks about the already existing ones but what he definitely does is reinforce these stereotypes in the minds of people. His comedy acts belong to the unconventional form of media whose effect might not be far reaching but the message stays with the audiences because the action is happening right in front of their eyes.


Unlike television he makes sure that his message is understood through feedback and interaction. Though he is very carefully while selecting his use of words so as to not get into any kind of controversy. Like once a white guy came up to him and said, “I really like it when you crack those Paki jokes.” And he replied, “'I will knock your f****** teeth out if you ever say that word to me. Have you ever heard me say 'Paki' in my act? No. Then don't f*** with it and twist it.” Here we are introduced to yet another topic about social responsibility and media.
Knowingly or unknowingly a lot of wrong messages are communicated to the people and this also gives rise to stereotypes. It generates through biases and opinionated approach towards a particular community. Russell Peters has often been accused of doing so but all is fine when it comes to fun. Guess taking it with a pinch of salt is his advice to his critics.
Most of Peter’s acts revolve around his upbringing in a white neighbourhood. He has witnessed a lot of prejudices and biases and hence his material is based on these fine lines that make people hate people from other community. Through his comedy acts and wide travelling experiences he has tried to explore this difference. His topics range from India culture, arranged marriages in India, the great Indo-Chinese friendship, perceptions that whites have about Asians. He has also dealt with issues like racial slurs and he claims to call it like he sees it.


Let us critically analyse the content that makes his show so popular with the audience and leaves a few sour.
“If you have a tensed situation, just pop in the Indian accent”, says Peters. He heavily emphasises on how funny English sounds in an Indian accent. Quoting his father and his way of talking, he often has the house laughing their hearts out. But he also cleverly makes it a point to make his fellow Indians feel good by doling out some nice and not so nasty jokes.
He says, “Vietnamese talk English so fast that it almost sounds like Vietnamese again”, “when Koreans speak English it looks like they have had a breathe”. He further adds, “When Chinese speak English it feels like they are chopping words like vegetables.” Traditionally certain accents carry more prestige in the society for example the American accent is considered to be the elitist. The UK accent is considered to be sophisticated while Indian accent is often laughed at abroad. Many Indians settled abroad make it a point to adapt to the local accent so that they do not feel left out or out of place.
He calls china and India as the two largest populations and finishes it with saying, “sooner or later we gonna h*** you”.
In another act he talks about how different cultures are mixing and comes up with really funny terms for mixed breed offspring of such couples. For example, Jewish and Indian can have a Hinjew kid, Cuban and Iceland will have little ice cubes. The funniest is French and Greek together will give birth to Freaks!!!
In his DVD called Outsourced he talks about how Chinese and Indians cannot do business together. Because Indians cannot live without a bargain and Chinese will never let you have one. These stereotypes make an impression in the minds of the audiences that Indians are thrifty and money minded. Moving from business he goes to employment in the US. “Today I saw a very funny thing. A white guy driving a car. This is not right, you cannot steal our jobs.” This statement gives a notion that Indians abroad only drive taxis. But the reality is totally different; many Indians are working in IT sector, research and development. He has promised his fans of a new material in the coming shows about Indian call centres.
“All Asians are Chinese”. This statement can be counted as being a positive stereotype because here he tries to say that all Asians are not Chinese but you have other groups like the Indians, Pakistanis, and Srilankans etc.

Forbidden truth........

I have been left wondering often about the credibility of everything that is true, everything that is untold and kept away from us. The reason things lie in the closet is because either it is untrue or people dont treat it as being factual. There are times when people are not ready for the truth and many times they just want to ignore it. This is what I term as forbidden truth. And am sure we wont fall short of examples if it comes to explaining it........
We fall pray to all kinds of experiences- good, bad, ugly, nasty but truth surpasses all these parameters. It is something that create ripples of unknown emotions and more than anything a sense of neglect. All this while I was talking about the truth the pinches and pricks, truth that becomes unwary of any further explanations.

This time its not me, but a friend who would like to share something......and am more than happy to give her the space...Nikita, keep writing...


YEH DHUAN.....



Have you ever watched someone smoke?
Ever observed the eager fingers flick a match and light up?
The slow, deep breath of restoring nicotine. Drawn in as though inhaling, trying to fill up the whole being with smoke.
Insubstantial. Bearing only vestiges of life. Incipient hope. Reassuring consolation.
A quick look of pained defiance.
And now back to floating in moribund heights of ostensible freedom…

Before I say anything else, I would just like to make it clear that I do not believe that smoking makes people “bad company”. One is not in danger while hanging out with a smoker. Why? Because it’s just isn’t about them!
Smoking is an extremely complex, personal and difficult thing to understand. I still don’t perfectly get it. But I do know enough to make my decision against it. The same goes for drugs and alcohol. I choose not to “indulge” in any of them. Not even try. Not once. And no, that doesn’t make me a dork, just shows how well I know myself. I know very well that even if I just try there’s a really good chance that I’ll be addicted. Many people overestimate themselves and think that it won’t happen. But it does- it’s happened to a friend of min, I’m sure it’s happened to a friend of yours! So what makes you the exception?
The way I see it, the best way to win this battle is to fight before it starts. When the vision is not obscured by towers of smoke, it is easier to look at one’s reflection. And decide…
The worst thing about smoking, to me, is the dependency. The mental hazards are far more debilitating than the physical ones. To know that every day, to get some relief, or to find oneself, one needs that little inflammable wrapped-up object. And quite ironically, smokers are believed to be the most independent and individualistic people.
All in all, it’s not about right or wrong, this issue is a subtle shade of the very same smokey gray. Everyone needs to deal with it in his or her own way. But the important thing is to make sure that we do! And soon…

I am proud of you!!:)

I was really happy to see him after a long time. " Aye!", I called him out and he tried his best to hide away. I went a little ahead to catch a glimpse of his face and for once I knew he was the same little devil, Yuvraj.
I had met him or I would rather say chased him at the same place a few months back. It was a hot afternoon and I was dancing around holding a huge chocolate I had just got from a dear friend. Like a wind he came and snatched away the chocolate and looked back so that I can see the naughty grin.
I ran behind him not for the chocolate but to give him a good lesson. But unfortunately he was faster than me and in no time he was lost in the crowd of millions walking on the road. Determined I stood there for a long time chatting with his friends about his family and discovered the realities of their life something so true and dramatic that even a bollywood director might get inspired to make a movie on.
It was more than an hour but I somehow knew that he would return to his friends and as soon as I spotted him i quickly caught hold of Yuvraj. Scared to even open him mouth he silently said, " Didi , Bhook laga tha" ( I was hungry). After a few rounds of questions he finally told me who taught him to steal. Me and my friends tried our best to make him understand that stealing from someone is really not helpful but somewhere down the line I thought he would do the same thing again.....We took them out for a Vada paav each and returned home with a hope that Yuvraj might just listen to our sermon.
When I saw him today selling those roses I knew he had changed. But the doubtful mind of mine forced me to ask him whether he has stopped stealing and pop came the answer, " Kasam se...abhi nahi churata". ( I swear I do not steal anymore).

Rains wash me away!

RAINS ARE HERE, SWAYING TO THE GOD'S TUNE....
MAKE ME LAUGH AND CRY OUT IN JOY,
LIKE A LI'L CHILD IN THE CRADLE OF LIFE..
SMILING THROUGH THE DRENCHED LEAVES...
LIKE A CUCKOO SITTING ON THE DISTANT NEST....
MOVING AWAY FROM THE DUST THAT SETTLED LONG AGO,
I SEE YOU COMING DOWN IN A RUSH TO CALM OUR LIVES.....
LET ME MAKE THE MOST OF IT,
BECAUSE I WILL MISS YOU FOR ANOTHER SEASON...
WHEN YOU WILL REST.

A man should always keep a track of all the happy moments that maketh his life! says who? Says me...... :)

These days nothing seems to make me sad except for a few incidents that are to be forgotten with passing time. But overall it has been a great period of life.

Work keeps me busy, friends keep me happy and a secret infatuation keeps me giggling. It is nothing but just a feel good factor, a passing though amidst the mundane cycle of my hectic schedule. Even when I lay in sickness all I do is smile in between the regular bouts of coughs and sneeze out virus every second minute.

So as i take out some time and move off my bed, I see the world waiting to embrace me and I stand in ecstacy to reciprocate. Hope this phase stays on and never fades away...

A rendezvous with Goa

When in Goa do as the Goans do- eat, drink and be merry!! Lazy, lethargic and a jolly survival define the lifestyle of this place. I have visited Goa before, but this time I was there with a mission, to explore the unexplored and to travel the less traveled. Blessed with lush green landscape, swaying coconut trees and deep blue sea is the small state of Goa.
One will agree that Goa has been rendered with all the bounties of nature, rich tradition and a vast cultural history. Glimpses of Portuguese architecture mixed in a true Konkani atmosphere provides us the perfect blend of the oriental and the occidental combo.
Armed with a camera, a notepad and a pen I started off from the ancient Church in Old Goa.


1) Tower of the church of Saint Augustine: - This is a forty meter high colossal four storied, arched, belfry tower built by Laterite stone. An abandoned church now, it was once a convent and a church bustling with devotees. What remain now are ruins and the high walls of the church building. It had eight chapels, four altars and an extensive convent with numerous cells. The church was built in 1602 by the Saint Augustine Friars.
In 1835 this complex was abandoned due to the expulsion of the religious orders from Goa and the Portuguese Government ordered the demolition.












2) The Basilica of Bom Jesus: - Bom Jesus means “good” or “infant” Jesus. It was started in 1594 and consecrated in 1605. The holy body of Francis Xavier is kept in this church. Situated in old Goa this is a world heritage monument now.

3) Shanta Durga Temple: - This is one of the most prominent temples in Goa. It is also considered to be the sacred abode by the Goans. It draws devotees from all the corners of the world. A powerful deity Shanta Durga is believed to make all wishes come true.

It has a very old structure, something that is typical in all the temples lined along the Konkan strip. A very common sight outside every temple is the very artistically made “Deepastambh”, literal meaning being, “the pillar of lights”.

4) Big foot Museum of Loutolim: - A part of the ancestral Goa, the big foot has the relics of ancient Goa and the Portuguese style of living in prominent. Big foot has been built along the legend of an ancient folk tale. The local legend goes that, a wealthy landowner by the name of Mahadar blessed with a deep sense of duty and unending goodness, helped the local poor. Greedy neighbors wishing to take advantage of his naiveté kept on asking him for help till one day fleeced all his possessions and destitute with the loss of his wife, he was left alone. The Gods pleased with his devotion granted him immortality only if he paid penance by standing on one foot atop a rock. This done Mahadar was taken to heaven whereupon, the footprint he left behind promised luck to whosoever stood on it with a heart free from greed and malice.
The auspicious footprint still exists and is believed to grant all the wishes one asks for there.

5) Fort Aguada: - The fort Aguada was built in 1612 and it comprises of a lower fort with Bastions all around and an upper fort. It skirts the sea shore and ascends the summit of the bare rock, uplands called the Aguada point. The upper fort was built as avantage point to serve as a fort and a watering station to the ships. It comprises of a Moat, an underground water storage chamber, a light house, gun powder room and Bastions. It also has a secret escape passage to use during the time of emergency.

The word Aguada means “watering place” in Portuguese. The storage capacity of the water tank is 23, 76,000 gallons. It has five divisions with a support of 16 huge columns and a staircase to ascend.A light house at initial stage used to emit light once in seven minutes. In 1834, it was updated to emit light creating an eclipse every 30 seconds. However this old light house was abandoned in 1976.

Doodh Sagar Waterfalls: - Doodh Sagar literally means “ocean of milk”. This waterfall got its name because of the white cascading water that falls from a height of 300 meters in two segments. An aqueduct of the South Central railway passes through the waterfalls.

This waterfall is situated in the core of Mollem national park and is spread across an area of 107 sq.km The River Doodh Sagar is a source of a major drinking water in Goa.
The forest department has special arrangements to take you inside the dense forest. The falls are hidden almost 12 kms inside the forest.
A rumbling noise of some animal might just scare you, but without an adventurous jerk, there lies no fun in your picnic.

By now you must have realized that Goa, in spite of being a small state has an excellent potential to lure the travel and tourism industry. A little initiative from the Goa Tourism can fend them excellent results.

Thus my small and wonderful voyage came to an end but now as I write nostalgia sets in and I am automatically taken back to that heavenly abode.

As I walk across the wonderful sight,

I am lost in a trance and blinded by the beauty and bold,

of those hills and trees, that stood strong through

the sun, winds and cold.

May change never creep in, because nothing can

ever match the serene abode.

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