10 tips on “How to survive a long distance relationship”

Being in a long distance relationship is as good as being single without availing the advantages of being single. So what does one do, when you are in one?




1. Communicate- In a long distance relationship, it is important you communicate with your boyfriend/girlfriend as often as possible. Keep them updated about your activities, make them feel a part of it. But also remember do not over-communicate. With the perks of web 2.0, social networking, instant messaging can be done at the click of a tab, but remember having someone popping up every now and then may not be always surprising.


2. Make plans together- It is given that you as a couple do not meet often. So make plans for the time you would be together like watch films, play scrabble, cook a meal. There can be a million things that you could do together. This would keep you going till the time you guys are actually with each other. Whether the plans work or no is a different thing, but the wait is made more fun.


3. Spell it out- In a long distance relationship it is not possible for your girlfriend or boyfriend to predict your mood swings, highs and lows. Sometimes coincidences happen, but not always. Express yourself, tell your boyfriend/girlfriend about things that may be bothering you, emote, talk, and seek advice.


4. Give surprises- It is always nice to receive a bunch of flowers or a CD of your favourite artist as a gift. Do small little things to make each other feel special. Even if it is just writing a letter or sending a postcard.


5. Be consistent- The initial few months of a relationship are the best and are sure meant to be treasured. But why not make every moment special? It is obvious that on certain days you would be busy, you might not give each other enough time, but try and compensate for it.


6. Appreciate- If your partner is going out of his/her way to make an effort, appreciate it and most importantly reciprocate. There is nothing worse than no acknowledgement. All of us need a little motivation, it could be this.


7. Listen and not just hear- It is important that when your boyfriend/girlfriend is expressing something, you listen with utmost concentration. You wouldn’t want your girlfriend to go, “Are you even listening to me?”, while your mind is on the Pizza Hut menu card or a football match. Understand what your boyfriend/girlfriend is trying to convey. Do not make stupid remarks, it could be very irritating.


8. Sex talk- This is the most important. It is important you keep the anticipation heightened for the time you are together. Talk about things you want to do, discuss your fantasies (about each other), appreciate each other’s qualities in bed.


9. Enjoy when together- Forget all worries, live in the moment, go with the flow. When you are together, enjoy each other’s company, make the most of the time you have. Those two days away from the routine and being together will never come back. Make it special, worth remembering, till the time you see each other again.


10. Accept the situation- You cannot dismiss the fact that you are in a long distance relationship. Do not regret, do not let your partner feel it is their fault. Stay away from going on a guilt trip, start accepting the situation. The sooner, the better. It sucks, we all know that. But stop cribbing and start acting on the 9 tips above.


PS: PMSing sometimes makes me think better, now that’s something like a self discovery.


(A stupid thought at 4 am in the morning led to this post.)

Leaving Home: a journey closer home

Gone are the days when making a film required a fat producer, extravagant sets , a superstar. It is all boiling down to low budget, real people, real settings, its time for Cinema Verite to go commercial. And the best part is, movie makers are taking the risk, diving straight into the hearts of their audiences and making some pocket money as well.




This Friday (2nd April) releases, Leaving Home: The Life and Music of Indian Ocean. The two hour rockumentary is about this ageing band’s journey that began more than a decade ago. Indian Ocean, rooted deep in Sufi, Indian classical and folk music, saw success with Bandeh. This Hindi rock song, featured in Black Friday and catapulted the band to commercial hit. Youngsters loved them and thus slowly they built a huge fan following by performing across Indian, frequent tours to the US and an album that released more than four years ago.


The film is rightly timed, considering the band is contemplating their next album release soon. After losing Asheem Da, their lead man, Indian Ocean did not waiver or fall apart * Touchwood*. People die, but they leave behind music that keeps resonating for years to come. I am looking forward to the film and hoping that this trend just doesn’t stop here. This may be the moment, for documentary films to make a mark, turn the tables and the talent to get noticed.

Some really old ones

I had to dig through two box full of pictures to find my favourites. Putting some of them here. These are of people I love a lot.



My Dad, my hero


My mum, my best friend, my confidant and the most beautiful woman I know
I don't mention her to many people, because when it comes to her am always short of words.
She is the best thing to have happened to me and I love her a lot

My grandparents (Thatha and Paati)
I have heard stories about him from her, about how brave he was during the wars, about how they survived in Kashmir for years, about how every journey with him was an adventure for her.
My grandma, is from a royal family, but she chose to marry grandpa and live a humble life. She taught kids in school, raised five children and put up with my grandpa's annoying habits. She is a brave woman and even today lives a happy satisfied life. Even if I achieve half of what she has in her life, I would consider it big. Paati, I love you a lot and can't wait to get you home...:)

365

Its been a year already. It feels like yesterday and I have already served a year. Am a year older, a year smarter.     

So much has happened, that there is no vivid memory of a beginning or an end. Its hazy, may be I let it go too soon. 

The best part is I have already predicted the next year, the same rigamarole, the same gossips, the same people, the same senseless, meaningless existence that I have already come to terms with. 

Its like a whirling cyclone that keeps building, to the point that you become an insignificant being stuck in it. I have lost my anchor, and I have my house in the cyclone. 

Will I ever return? Will I get used to the twists and turns, the churning day in and day out, that I will forget my world, the world where I used to belong. 

Post it

Lets not put too many walls around us.

Lets not push people away because they are too close.

Lets not make inhibitions our garb.

Lets not ignore what our heart says,

Lets not obey the mind mindlessly.

Lets not know the destination all the time,

lets not think twice before taking the plunge.

Lets not just survive but breathe.

lets not have judgements, not even one bit

Today, lets just be who we are and love thyself.....

A drunk ode

  

   Dear Beer,

  when I have you near,

  I have no fear 

  Everything is not so clear       

  yet i wanna cheer

(Photo courtesy: Denny L. Laloo)

And the post below led to this...

How do you keep the music playing?
How do you make it last?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you lose yourself to someone?
And never lose your ways
How do you not run out of new things to say?
And since we're always changing
How can it be the same?
And tell me how, year after year
You're sure your heart will fall apart
Each time you hear his name
I know the way i feel for you. it's now or never
The more i love, the more that i'm afraid
That in your eyes i may not see forever, forever
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows
With any luck, then i suppose, the music never ends
I know the way i feel for you it's now or never!
(how do you keep the music playing?)
The more i love. the more that i'm afraid
(how do you make it last)
That in your eyes i may not see forever, forever
(how do you keep the song from fading, keep the song from fading too fast)
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows
With any luck. then i suppose the music never ends

- James Ingram

Radio killed the video star

When 50 girls are fighting over one remote control. When even the wonders of youtube become boring. When all the films on your hard drive have been watched by you a million times, you are even condition to emote by just listening to the sounds (Too much of Pavlov off late).


Comes to my rescue Myopusradio


Though I always keep hoping for faster internet speed. And I am a satisfied girl




R.I.P Gina . You will always be remembered

Newbies

New obsession- Keeping everything around me super clean. Vacuum out every single particle of dust. My body has reached that point, it cannot take dust anymore.

Next purchase- New shoes (Tresmode). Daddy I hope you are reading this :P

New song stuck on my lips- Yeh mera deewanapan hai ....by Susheela Raman (Original by Mukesh)

Next tattoo- on my left foot


New favorite author- Mark Haddon


Next must watch- Inception


New thing on the "to buy when I have a real job" list- Chanel rubber effect Python tote

Loss

Rhythm and music, sounds and sights have always dominated my growing up years. I was put in a music school when I was barely three, I would literally go there every day only to sleep, because every song would be like a lullaby to me. Grandma is a Carnatic classical vocalist. Even at 82 she has a voice that could send you in a deep trance. My mom is a walking talking juke box; forget dad he cannot sing, the reason why I hated nursery rhymes. (I could recite rhymes when I was one and a half year old ;))
In spite of starting my training that early I haven’t been able to learn all that I was supposed to. Blame it on my laidback attitude and lack of patience to learn the craft. Granma thought I could be a good singer, but I never gave myself a chance and it’s turned into a big repentance today.
My fate with classical dance form ended the same way. After spending 11 years matching my steps to the beats, I had to quit mid-way. Even today when I see someone perform on stage, tears roll down my eyes. It reminds me of my failure and how I would never wear that beautiful Saree and the gracious ornaments, how I would never have my palms smeared with Alta and tie those Ghungroos... or wait. May be its still not too late!

Road, Movie- on the move

A filmmakers take on the grandeur of cinema is always a pleasurable watch even if its on those strainingly uncomfortable front row seats. Road, Movie is one such film that you would want to watch in spite of that pain in your neck. The film is not so much about the four main characters but about the art of filmmaking. The most memorable scene remains when Satish Kaushik physically scissors out a scene because he thinks it to be too boring for his local audiences i.e. Benegal's take on editing.

It may be a little slow for Indian sensbilities, we are yet to develop that eye for cinema. It is kind of shameful because even a film like Shree 420 made decades ago tried to put in some logic into our heads. May be it is the thought of looking at films as entertainment that overshadows the real meaning behind it, we call it Popcorn entertainment.

Abhay deol after his portrayal of a jilted lover in Dev D, doesnt deliver much, shoddy dialogues and certain amount of hesitance engulfs his performance. Satish Kaushik is his usual self and new comer Tanishta as a gypsy woman is convincing, its more got to do with her look than her skills.

But in my opinion lets not watch Road, Movie expecting stellar performaces, watch it to be just grateful that we have cinema, the art that touches all of us in some way or the other.

Move on

Curvy is in, lean is out
"at least now he has things to look at"

Why so random?

Its funny how some people think they sound smart by thinking random.. why? The only person you make sense to is you. Get that?

Lets decode randomness

1) People think and write random because they want to make an incognito point
2) Lash out at people they hate
3) Too scared to face reality, thus take the help of fantasy
4) Prove a point without having to go through the pain of being upfront
5) Make someones life miserable because theirs sucks anyways
6) Try to be "know-it-all" whereas the reality is far from this
7) Pretend to be too cool for poor earthlings with little more brains than them
8) Like what he/she likes. Why? Because they need acceptance

so.. this is how it looks

Oh quite an eventful day it has been and continues to be!

Broke a few bones (mine), had a random conversation with a stranger, went to shoot and got shot, heard more rant about self. Wish people grow up and stop acting silly, atleast around me... if I remember right my first post on the blog some four years ago was something to do with jealousy...and it still holds true! Wow, Girls don't like me much.. especially those who think they are too smart for the world to figure but end up like fools more often.

A happy Hundredth (100) to me! Woohoo

Voices in my head screaming out loud, jumping, jumping more!!

ouch!!! The broken hip bone hurts...but what the heck!! I am 100 ! Woohooo





(Since you din't I had to)

Virtual Bytes

I was watching the latest episode of Tech Toyz, the single people Valentine’s special, and it suddenly occurred to me how technology has become unstoppable, all encompassing, powerful and dominating. Simply put, in a way, it rules you.
The episode was about Dos’ and Donts of online dating. “How soon should you convert the virtual date into a real one? Should you continue online interactions even after meeting in person? What should be the frequency of your pokes and super pokes?” Now do you get what I am referring to when I say powerful and dominating? If you think about it, it is kinda scary.

Case study 1: Facebook
1) Facebook suggests you say hello to “blaah blaah”. Do I need suggestions from Facebook who I should or I should not stay in touch?
2) “What’s on your mind” it’s such a compelling statement. I remember this conversation, so well that I even made it my entry point into a research assignment- Real VS virtual

J: I didn’t know what to put as my status update, I dint want it to sound stupid.
A: Why don’t you quote someone?
J: No, I want it to be more personal. Something like “I don’t know what to put as my status update. Please help.”
A: wow, that sounds cool

Have you ever seen bad pictures of you and your friends on Facebook? Not often, because this virtual life lets you edit, remove things you wouldn’t want others to see, create a person who is like you but a much better version, with better taste, good experiences and stories to boast about.
You flaunt, you attract more profile views, you create a “YOU” that you always wanted to be.
Case study 2: Buzz
This one’s a new entrant and has many users already. It’s more like Twitter’s close cousin, but less complicated and less intimidating.
It’s a few days old, let’s see how it fares, wouldn’t be too long

So the point I am trying to make here is “where is the real you”?
I’d still like to meet friends over coffee than having online conversations below our favourite picture clicked ages ago. I still would like to give real gifts than virtual ones.
Guess that’s the future of technology, we sit in our cubicles, stuck in real jobs, have many virtual personalities and juggle between them whenever time permits. I wish for more time.. to enjoy who I am, to enjoy who others are and to enjoy the real life.

Where to go?

Its been a while since I have traveled somewhere, switched off my cell phone and locked my laptop in.

Made photographs of everything I saw. Where next? When next?

Pondicherry?
Andamans?
Leh?
Shillong?
Goa again?

YOU

I THINK I MISS YOU A LOT..COME BACK WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT

Revisited Williams, revisited Her

Its silly, you seek things that are so far away and in the grind forget to appreciate whats closer to you- Me



I heard Don Williams after ages today,i cursed myself for not doing so often. Though I have always been a bigger fan of Kenny Rogers, my music teacher had all his hits, that ultimate something CD I once found in her treasure trove.

I miss her a lot. She would sing on all my birthdays, songs she thought I would like.She wasn't as much a teacher but more of a friend. She knew all my moods, she knew which Raaga would liven me, Malkauns it is!She knew how her besan laddooa were my all time favourite feel good food.

She knew all the guys I had a crush on, she knew how much I hated the sight of Bruno being sick. I remember our numerous trip to the vet with him, her cooking lessons and most importantly her smiling face...

Black and white memories in colour

“She is a dark baby, but looks like a beautiful angel to me”, were his words in a letter written to my aunt. I lost him when I was three. It was a scary evening, but all I remember of that incident is my grandmother’s silent tears on our terrace. It’s strange my mother says, in spite of the fact that I was pretty much on the non impressionable side of my memory, I have vivid visuals of our times together. I remember his bottle of Old Monk, I remember him taking me to a nearby Tapri and smoking his lungs out, often under the pretext of walking me to the park, which never happened. I remember him lying on the armchair, with at least four books by his side. His collections of readers digest, now passed on to me just like other books he loved keeping. I still have the glasses he used to read with.
Him humming old classics while holding me in his arms. He used to call me a scarecrow, considering I was a puny baby, though no one can say that about me now. I remember how he used to stay up nights whenever I lay sick. I have heard many a stories about him, both good and bad. He was a handsome army man with a tinge of humor and oodles of intelligence. He was quite a ladies man grandma used to say. Though short-lived am glad I had him. He inspires me to be brave, to stand my ground, to be who I am without any fears. I love you a lot Tatha and will always miss you.

Karma scare

I am scared this time
Will I get back what I did to you?
Your tiny heart with a sewn hole
and your eyes piercing me through your glasses.
I can take it no more.
Do not curse, do not wish ill..
You know I did us good!

Its unfair I always knew,
but not worth a single drop of tear from my eye
I am returning back from my guilt trip
to colours and flowers, to the sun and the moon.

Do we hear it?

Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock" failed to create the magic. In spite of a perfect recreation, the music failed him. People expect music and nothing else when they read Woodstock, but the film is more of a coming off age tale.

Young Elliot, loves his parents and is trying to get the dilapidated El Monaco Motel running. The sleepy town of Bethel suddenly wakes up to the news of a music festival being organised in dairy farms of Greenwich Village and thus Elliot embarks on a journey to witness the biggest and a life turning event of his life.

Woodstock offers a good backdrop to the film, but beyond that there is no much purpose, which I felt was equal to trivializing it. Elliot sees a whole different world through the eyes of many different people he comes across in the end coming out of closet and accepting who he is.

The film has beautiful visuals, but an incomplete feeling still lingers on.

Watch it for the amazing recreation brought on screen by Lee..

Wisdom tooth

A random conversation lead to a vital realization. I still have 28 teeth and am waiting for the other four. Wisdom come to me soon, need you real bad. Ha Ha... and The Boyfriend would agree with this.

M- I still dont have them
H- Get X ray
M- Haaaaa?
H- They might hide inside the gums

Do you fake it?
Yes.
Why?
Because I love her????
WOW

Are you sure?
No
When
Dunno

Questions

Why cant our minds be like slates? When you don't like something just erase it off, without a trace to remind you of what was written or what was forgotten. If only we could Ctrl+Alt+Del troubled moments, life would have been much simpler. Why do we seek honesty when we cant bear it? Why arent there pills to make our brains stop thinking about things that are not important. Why does life have to be black or white. Why dont we ever mean what we say and say what we mean? Why does it always have to be me?

Stu

I miss you when there is no one to understand my silence
I miss you when I look pretty
I miss you when images in my head speak
And it’s only you who can take a peek

I miss you when I have no one to take long walks with
I miss you when all I need is just a hug
I miss you when the little girl in me is scared
And it’s only you who can calm me down

I miss you when I have no one to hold my hand
I miss you when I am at crossroads,
I miss you when I long for those conversations
And it’s only you who can turn my brain on

BFF

Dollu, I love you

We have been through our ups and downs and I am glad we are still together. We might not talk to each other for hours, but after a stressful day I am glad I come back to my room and you are there. You stand by me when I need you the most. You bear all my stupidities, you put sense into me and get my brains straight. There to cheer me up with your silly antics and those fun gossips (Wonder how do you get to know so much, you are hardly here :P).
I love you my doll, please get well soon and come back, I miss you!
Xoxo

Huacho

Another piece for the bulletin..

“Message is the medium”, famous words by Marshal McLuhan came alive on screen in Huacho by Alejandro Fernandez. This film tries to capture the life of local Chilean peasants who make a living out of small jobs like making cheese and fencing etc.
The camera follows four characters, each a member of the same family with the determination of bringing them closer to the audience. “I used handheld camera and kept the subject close to the camera to make it appear real,” said Alejandro. He added, “The film is not about the countryside it is about the people living there, thus I focussed more on the people and used lot of indoor shots.” Use of dark lighting and jump cuts provide a sense of claustrophobia to the film.
His effort of breaking the stereotype of Chilean countryside is achieved not only through the script but also through his direction. “I wanted to stand up against the capitalistic attitude lurking in the cities. They are often misrepresented in bigger ventures, creating a mockery out of their lives. ” Alejandro believes that cinema should bring out the stories of the poor and oppressed.
Alejandro hails from Chillen and his upbringing in the countryside provided him with valuable insight for the script. “I interviewed a lot of people and would often follow these four characters with a small camera, he said.
Talking about his experience working with non-actors he said, “It was difficult explaining them certain scenes, but the fact that we didn’t script their dialogues helped us.” Alejandro further explains, “People who watched the film from these villages could relate to it, I felt I have succeeded as a filmmaker when one of them told me, ‘It’s a piece from my life’.”
According to him Chilean audience is still not open to offbeat themes. Even watching a movie is quite an expensive affair. Finding funds to make films based on unusual storyline can be quite tedious. But Alejandro’s luck favoured him and he found financers for his venture. “This film is close to my heart and am very happy with the response I have received so far,” he said.
Illustrious directors like Abbas Kiriostami and Maurice Pialat have been his inspiration. Having no formal training in filmmaking Alejandro has learnt his skills by watching and reading about cinema. Being a full time journalist in New York also helped him to save some money for his dream.
A comment by his friend on his Facebook page sums it, “This is a day in the life of a Chilean family after 25 years of capitalism."

By the way, this Chilean director was a delight to talk to. Its very rare for me to enjoy conversations with strangers, with him, coffee and cinema was the perfect combination.


Alejandro

Of love and madness

Recently I was a part of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), watched many films, met many interesting people. Will post reviews of films that touched me..starting with ......

The Man Beyond The Bridge (Paltadacho Munis) is a 96 minute Konkani film set in Quepem, a village in Western Ghats of Goa. Vinayak, a widowed forest ranger lives on the other side of the bridge that connects his world to the village. He is attracted a mentally disturbed woman who visits his house every night for food and shelter. Vinayak decides to marry her in spite of the fear of being ostracized by the villagers who outcast anyone with a mental illness.
Laxmikant Shetgaonkar tells this love story weaving it beautifully with the culture of the region. The film based on a short story by Konkani writer, Mahabaleshwar Sail, explores the dilemma of a sensible man against the social taboos that still engulf our society.
A message subplot introduces a village headman who builds a temple on forest land. It is Vinayak’s duty as a forest ranger to oppose this development risking his new love interest. The Man Beyond The Bridge takes audiences beyond the huge crowded cities and gives us a glimpse of rural India. Stuck between the dilemma of humanity and social ethos, Vinayak chooses to go where his heart leads him.
Shetgaonkar does justice to the narrative by keeping it simple yet visually appealing. Shades of realism reflect throughout the texture and bring the audiences closer to the characters. Chitranjan Giri as Vinayak brings out a perceptive portrayal of the character making it an endearing performance.
The film has recently been added to the “Films 101” database for the year 2009. It has also won an award in the "Discovery" category of the Toronto International Film Festival recently. It been screened at other festivals like the IFFI and Cairo International film festival. Not to mention, it is rare that an Indian film competes in the "World Competition" section at PIFF and The Man Beyond The Bridge has achieved that honour too.
It was surprising to know that the Goa state had rejected funding to this film four years back, but today it has brought international fame to the state. This film is Shetgaonkar’s second directorial venture and is produced by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). It is commendable that he could represent India in international platforms, creating a hopeful picture for many. The film proves that there is a lot of potential beyond the tinsel town which needs to be tapped.

coincidental

What is it that we have
I begin and you end
you feel and I express
I think about you and it beeps

Its our dona paula magic you say
its what we call magic
its our love

Is it you or me?

(warning: This post is going to be too disparate to understand, just like my brain)

At a time when I am supposed to be writing about (German Expressionism- a pretty cool concept btw), I have been sitting and staring at my blog and hers. I compare. I check. I read and I put the jigsaw puzzle together. Is this an obsession or just my way of messing things up for us.

Narcissist that I am, I had two mirrors in my old house, Mum has promised me she will buy me a vintage piece.

I go over it again and again, trying to figure where did I mess up? Why do I feel like an old junk, why do I feel as if I am a mid-stop, a station that comes and passes without anyone realising it existed.

Should I take a shower or wait for you to clear my head? Is losing coupla Kilograms over it really worth the effort? What has beauty got to do with it, my eyes speak so does my tongue.

Should I quote you here? but wait, am I so shallow and dumb that I need your help? oh hell these lines on my laptop screen need to be removed.

We conclude- its not me.

this is where it started.
below
expressionism

Me a Fairy?

Turn me into a fairy,
with a little white dress
washed wings over my shoulders,
and a love wand of stars

"Do I look pretty in this new garb?"
I ask my mother with ever curious eyes
"you are my angel, my sunshine" she says
Her lips blow a kiss and I smile

She knows her beautiful girl inside out
her soft hand clutching my palms
we walk away we walk far
None know where we are?

Aunts and uncles who always know it all
"green eyed monsters", I wish I could call
they bark and they scratch
they look and they stare

Me the little fairy with broken wings
me the prey to the monster's grin
"Save me mama" I cry

Hiroshima Mon Amour- a paradox on celluloid

Overwhelmingly passionate, true Resnais style, HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR is the story of a French actress and a Japanese architect interspersed with the place as a background. Hiroshima acts as a solid base for the story, leading to a tale of tragedy, longing and tries to ask a philosophical justification to the bombings that we witnessed in history.



Elle and Lui though happily married with their respective partners, but this chance encounter leads Elle down the memory lane drawing parallels between her first lover and Lui. In the passionate encounter as Elle narrates her story of having seen the bombing, Lui tries his best to nullify her claim.

The film throws many questions like whether it is best to have loved that to not have presented oneself the opportunity of being loved? Whether what one thinks is the reality may be negated to being just a figment of imagination. Based on Marguerite Duras novel, Hiroshima Mon Amour (Hiroshima My love) is a paradoxical journey through Resnais lens.

The Director:

Alain Resnais was born on June 3, 1922 in the town of Vannes, on the western coast of France. His career as a filmmaker began when he made his first amateur film at age 14. He studied his craft at the Institut des Hautes ètudes Cinémato-graphiques in Paris, and began his professional career with a series of short films, many of which focus on art and the life of artists, including Guernica, Gaugin, and Van Gogh, which won him an Academy Award in 1948 at the young age of 26. His documentary Night and Fog is regarded by many as the most important Holocaust film ever made.

Hiroshima, Mon Amour, his first 35mm film, won the Cannes Film Festival International Critics Prize in 1959. His later films include Last Year at Marienbad (1961), Muriel (1963), La Guerre est finie (1966), Stavisky (1974), Providence (1977), Mon oncle d'Amerique (1980), Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983), L'Amour ê Mort (1984), Melo (1986), I Want to Go Home (1989), Smoking and No Smoking (1993).

R.I.P. my favourite denims :(

It was the best pair I ever owned, with little swarovski right at the place where they were needed. It could read my mind and gauge my mood, it acted the way I wanted it to. I can even call it my lucky pants, because I always got lucky with it on ;)

Till last night I thought there was still some chance of getting it back, but after the tailor refused to even acknowledge the fact that something can be done, I had to give up hope.

I can never get a pair like that ever again. Will always miss it.

<3

Honest truth

I may not have profound things to talk about, I may not be random enough for your taste, but whatever I do I have always been true to us. I write truth and I breathe truth.

I may not have painted the world, but I am a connoisseur of colours. I take the brush and I paint a stroke of truth.

I may not have it all sorted out, but I know am going to be good, good enough to make you happy, good enough to be true

I may not be beautiful, but I wont hide my flaws either, because that is again the truth and I will never run away from my scars

I may have not known a million things, but am always eager to learn more. I am always a true student.

I may not be the best lover, but all I know is that my love is true, that my tears are true and my joys are true.....

My Christmas tree

Wish you were around....

Things to do...before i die

I have a list...keeps extending as i grow, learn, unlearn, experience, talk, sing...

1. Visit Venice
2. Learn to play Violin
3. Speak fluent French
4. Open a small cafe in some small town
5. Have roomful of books
6. Find my talent
7. Buy the "real" Volkswagen Beetle
8. Create something with you (now this one's a little vague because I don't know what I want to make)
9. ...................

Most favourite place on Earth

It was perfect
You and I
like an early morning dream
that never dies

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...