I knew of a young girl once upon a time.
All she wanted was a simple life. She dared to dream of a house in the woods, a lovely river running close by. A tree in front of the house. And lot of nests on the tree. The sunrise would wake up the chicks in the tree and they would merrily chirp. The little girl would wake up to this heavenly music each day. Stroll in the woods collecting rare and fresh flowers on the way. She would share her fruits with the squirrels that were as carefree as she herself was. Ah - her life seemed just so perfect this way.
But alas! That was not to be. Her simple life was always in her dreams. She woke up to the shrill alarm clock each day. Each day was a rush to the school. Each month was a dash to be first in the class. Each class was a stepping stone to the holy grail that is called a sucessful life. She went through the same grind as all others with her. She did her routine "learning", she managed to get into a "company" which was envied by many. There she found everything but precisely THAT - company.
The friends she made told her many a times - you are so not cut out for this. You should be far in the woods, lovely wilderness. With so many secrets of the nature to unveil, you are wasting your time here. She knew it all along too.
But she got stuck more and more in the grind of the life. Then she got married. Her prince came along and took her away from her dreary days. She loved her castle. It kept her safe. But still she needed to go out and face the world each day. A child no longer, she could ill afford the dreams she still dreamt of.
Then came a cub of her own... Looking at her, the woman thought - My baby should get the best of everything. The best education, the best clothes, the best opportunities. Then she caught herself - What about the best mother? The grind of life is taking its toll on you. Today you are afraid to even dream of the freedom that makes you happy. You know you are leading a life that is not for you. You force yourself to a unhealthy tirade and in turn you grow morose, bitter and tired. When you were never true to yourself, your dreams what good can you be to this little little thing in here?
Isn't there a way out for this mother? Is she too late in the pursuit of her dreams. Are the wilds too crowded now? Are the birds not singing in the nests still? Are the flowers, fruits and squirrels not in the wait still?
So what if she couldn't go there alone? So what if her childhood never saw the beauty of the nature? Isn't it better to go there now than not go at all and keep wondering for the rest of her life - What if I had?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Dark ages are a thing of past. Really?
For a progressive nation like India, its a shame that some of our so-called "Community leaders still live and swear by the dark ages. Read about one such great icon here.
Honor killings, social boycotts, sati and God know what else is still being preached, practised and followed in the interior parts of the country. And the wily politicians, astute in the game of vote bank politics, make a blind man look more pro-active. God bless India.
Mera Bharat mahaan.
Honor killings, social boycotts, sati and God know what else is still being preached, practised and followed in the interior parts of the country. And the wily politicians, astute in the game of vote bank politics, make a blind man look more pro-active. God bless India.
Mera Bharat mahaan.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Zara headlines se SaRaK, SRK...
"Uproar after 'King of Bollywood', Shah Rukh Khan, held at US Airport"
"Shah Rukh's name not the cause of detainment"
"Shah Rukh gives a fitting reply to Amar Singh"
"The real reason for Shah Rukh's detention"
yada yada yada...
Is there an end to this mega-byte splashes? I mean, what the hell? When an ex-president of Kalam's stature took a similar episode in his stride, wonder why this episode should command the media frenzy.
But then, there has to be a difference between an intellectually advanced brilliant scientist and a megalomaniacal nautanki, right?
"Shah Rukh's name not the cause of detainment"
"Shah Rukh gives a fitting reply to Amar Singh"
"The real reason for Shah Rukh's detention"
yada yada yada...
Is there an end to this mega-byte splashes? I mean, what the hell? When an ex-president of Kalam's stature took a similar episode in his stride, wonder why this episode should command the media frenzy.
But then, there has to be a difference between an intellectually advanced brilliant scientist and a megalomaniacal nautanki, right?
Friday, June 19, 2009
We are all RACISTS...
Sometime in 2006, one of the ten days of the Ganesh Utsav, I was coming back home from work one night. The temple nearest to my house was filled up with the people who had come for the ganesh aarthi. I was walking nonchalantly towards my home when suddenly I felt a strong stinging "slap" on the back my neck. I winced in pain and God knows which part of my brain told me to duck into the nearest open gate but I did. And as I rushed into safety of God-knows-whose-home, I saw two youths speeding away on a motorbike. I was not sure whether it was an incident of eve teasing or what but as soon as they zoomed past me, I ran for my life into my house barely 50 meters away. Once I told my mom what happened, she, not being in shock that a victim faces, checked the spot where they "hit" me and told me matter-of-factly, It was your gold chain they were after. And true, the sting was that of a blunt blade which left a long thin scar at the nape of my neck. And my chain, well it was broken into two. The only reason why they did not get it was because, it had a ganesh pendant attached to it and as I had just walked past the temple where the aarathi was going on, I had, without realising, clutched the pendant and was humming along the aarathi.
In the same year, one of my colleagues returning from work late at night in a 7-seater auto, was robbed of all her gold ornaments and cash and ATM cards. She was a careful woman who dreaded other heinous crimes and got into such autos only if there was another female co-passenger... That fateful night, there was one. An accomplice. She blew chilli powder in this female's face and then the gang made off with the loot. She, to this day, considers herself lucky that it was just the money they were after.
Many such incidents come to our minds. The ones we have read in newspapers, heard from friends. And what is the first reaction that comes to our mind? Maaaaan, people OUGHT to be so careful while travelling at night. Its an unsafe world out there.
Circa 2009, Sydney - A couple of Indian students in Melbourne were mugged by druggies, junkies whoever. And the media cries "Racism"... Whhhhhaaat! And since then, each of the attacks gets undiluted publicity in the print and the press. Ozland is racist. People here are just so hung about themselves. Why cant the country do something to provide security to international student? Universities want money, they don't bother about the Indian students!!!
This kind of knee jerk reaction takes me by surprise. I am not, for a moment, condoning the attacks. Its bad that students who come here to study should face something like this. But when someone is robbed/raped in India while traveling late at night, its an unfortunate incident which could have been warded off if the victim was a bit more careful. But at the same time when something like this happens in a foreign land, we are all ready to scream at the top of our voices RACISM... What the hell do you mean when you react saying Indian students need security. Are you implying that all those Aussie students and people who got mugged deserved it? Why are you not reporting various mugging and robbery episodes that have seen Aussies, Chinese and other "westerners" hurt or even dead? Is their life of no value or consequence in comparison to an Indian's? Who is a racist here? And who isn't a racist? Just because the robbers in India are of the same skin tone, we are quick to rebuke the victim. And because the attackers here are not desis we cry foul? What kind of parameter is that?
Indian students in Australia are a workforce. Poor kids, my heart goes out to them at times. Working in Seven-11s at nights. Cleaning offices. Working their asses off in grocery stores and malls and all such places. The 20hrs per week work restrictions that student VISA imposes on them is an evil. They like to take their chances and not report all their work hours in fairness. The employers, well aware of this, take advantage of these kids. Again opportunism, not racism. Not unlike the Indian baniya who thinks nothing of employing under aged kids in his shops to lift heavy sacks of rice and wheat knowing too well, he is in too much need of money to complain.
These kids, the Aussie Indian students, work all inhuman hours till 2 or 3 in the nights. And when its time to come back home, the only cheap and economical option in the public transport. trains. Which, at that hour, are bereft of many people. Most of the passengers at this time are tired and overworked students or shady characters. Understandable, isn't it?
Would you consider it safe to ride an APSRTC bus at 3 a.m in Hyderabad? Is Mumbai local a safe ride at 2 am? No? Then why should the Sydney metro be any different? Lets use the thing we all refer to as common sense before making ridiculous assumptions about the country on the whole.
True, racism exists in bits and pieces in any foreign land. I would be one of the first to admit it. As a 9-month pregnant woman, I have had "chapters" of silent snobbery where people did not make way for me in the lifts/crowded trains and I would have to push through them with my big belly. And the very next instant, when a gori pregnant woman came on, there would be smiles and gushes and instant gaps. It used to make my heart cry. But the selected few people who did that, the memories they left have been overwritten by scores of others who made me feel comfortable and special in those trying days. So yeah, racism is present here, but this place is not racist. Yes, their condemnation of the Indian workforce, their contempt for the desis who have taken away "their jobs" is a racist trait. But then, Indian awe of the firangees is a racist thing too, isn't it?
So basically aren't we all the same?
In the same year, one of my colleagues returning from work late at night in a 7-seater auto, was robbed of all her gold ornaments and cash and ATM cards. She was a careful woman who dreaded other heinous crimes and got into such autos only if there was another female co-passenger... That fateful night, there was one. An accomplice. She blew chilli powder in this female's face and then the gang made off with the loot. She, to this day, considers herself lucky that it was just the money they were after.
Many such incidents come to our minds. The ones we have read in newspapers, heard from friends. And what is the first reaction that comes to our mind? Maaaaan, people OUGHT to be so careful while travelling at night. Its an unsafe world out there.
Circa 2009, Sydney - A couple of Indian students in Melbourne were mugged by druggies, junkies whoever. And the media cries "Racism"... Whhhhhaaat! And since then, each of the attacks gets undiluted publicity in the print and the press. Ozland is racist. People here are just so hung about themselves. Why cant the country do something to provide security to international student? Universities want money, they don't bother about the Indian students!!!
This kind of knee jerk reaction takes me by surprise. I am not, for a moment, condoning the attacks. Its bad that students who come here to study should face something like this. But when someone is robbed/raped in India while traveling late at night, its an unfortunate incident which could have been warded off if the victim was a bit more careful. But at the same time when something like this happens in a foreign land, we are all ready to scream at the top of our voices RACISM... What the hell do you mean when you react saying Indian students need security. Are you implying that all those Aussie students and people who got mugged deserved it? Why are you not reporting various mugging and robbery episodes that have seen Aussies, Chinese and other "westerners" hurt or even dead? Is their life of no value or consequence in comparison to an Indian's? Who is a racist here? And who isn't a racist? Just because the robbers in India are of the same skin tone, we are quick to rebuke the victim. And because the attackers here are not desis we cry foul? What kind of parameter is that?
Indian students in Australia are a workforce. Poor kids, my heart goes out to them at times. Working in Seven-11s at nights. Cleaning offices. Working their asses off in grocery stores and malls and all such places. The 20hrs per week work restrictions that student VISA imposes on them is an evil. They like to take their chances and not report all their work hours in fairness. The employers, well aware of this, take advantage of these kids. Again opportunism, not racism. Not unlike the Indian baniya who thinks nothing of employing under aged kids in his shops to lift heavy sacks of rice and wheat knowing too well, he is in too much need of money to complain.
These kids, the Aussie Indian students, work all inhuman hours till 2 or 3 in the nights. And when its time to come back home, the only cheap and economical option in the public transport. trains. Which, at that hour, are bereft of many people. Most of the passengers at this time are tired and overworked students or shady characters. Understandable, isn't it?
Would you consider it safe to ride an APSRTC bus at 3 a.m in Hyderabad? Is Mumbai local a safe ride at 2 am? No? Then why should the Sydney metro be any different? Lets use the thing we all refer to as common sense before making ridiculous assumptions about the country on the whole.
True, racism exists in bits and pieces in any foreign land. I would be one of the first to admit it. As a 9-month pregnant woman, I have had "chapters" of silent snobbery where people did not make way for me in the lifts/crowded trains and I would have to push through them with my big belly. And the very next instant, when a gori pregnant woman came on, there would be smiles and gushes and instant gaps. It used to make my heart cry. But the selected few people who did that, the memories they left have been overwritten by scores of others who made me feel comfortable and special in those trying days. So yeah, racism is present here, but this place is not racist. Yes, their condemnation of the Indian workforce, their contempt for the desis who have taken away "their jobs" is a racist trait. But then, Indian awe of the firangees is a racist thing too, isn't it?
So basically aren't we all the same?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Love, Life, IPL and more...
Where has the promise of all those months gone off? I will be back to the blogging world, I had said... Humph! Did not quite realise the amount of effort that one has to expend in bringing up a small child, quite underestimated the capabilities of the little one to wrap mumma around the tiny finger :)
But back I am. In this while, I have had a ball of time. Went to India with my mom as a new mom. And boy! That was some fun!
And about time to come off maternity leave... (Hand me the napkins someone! Sniff!! Sniff!!) World seems such a ruthless place now. Bringing up a baby outside of my comfort zone in India, without the cushion called "extended family", housework, baby's needs, work pressures, a resolution to not yell or hit her ever! (big promises??!?). Add to it the trauma of leaving her at the day care. Am traumatised for sure, her reactions nonwithstanding. But que sera sera. Shall cross the bridge when it comes to that. God's smiling on me still :)
Been following IPL guys? What a season? More than the matches the blogs are making news. Purpotedly from the KKR camp, news coming in thick and fast... Does anyone believe any of it? Whats your take? And whom are you rooting for this season? I am with deccan chargers all the way... Rock on, deccans.
Sorry if all this seems disconnected. Just wanted to GET ON WITH IT. More later. (Hope its a bit more coherent than this!!!)
But back I am. In this while, I have had a ball of time. Went to India with my mom as a new mom. And boy! That was some fun!
And about time to come off maternity leave... (Hand me the napkins someone! Sniff!! Sniff!!) World seems such a ruthless place now. Bringing up a baby outside of my comfort zone in India, without the cushion called "extended family", housework, baby's needs, work pressures, a resolution to not yell or hit her ever! (big promises??!?). Add to it the trauma of leaving her at the day care. Am traumatised for sure, her reactions nonwithstanding. But que sera sera. Shall cross the bridge when it comes to that. God's smiling on me still :)
Been following IPL guys? What a season? More than the matches the blogs are making news. Purpotedly from the KKR camp, news coming in thick and fast... Does anyone believe any of it? Whats your take? And whom are you rooting for this season? I am with deccan chargers all the way... Rock on, deccans.
Sorry if all this seems disconnected. Just wanted to GET ON WITH IT. More later. (Hope its a bit more coherent than this!!!)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Where have the three decades gone by?!?!?
As I told you a few days before, I am not a mother to a wonderful wonderful kid... Sometimes it all seems like a dream. Am I really married? Is this kid really mine? Have I come so far in life?
It seems like yesterday - I was refusing to walk and was adamant that dad or mom carry me around? Maths and 7 table seemed so tough... Board exams - cramming up all those questions and answers... Engineering - a blur of practicals, papers, thesis, project work. Infosys - a cauldron of projects and deadlines. Did I not just arrive in Australia? Has it really been a year? And am I really twenty seven years of age? Do I really have a family of my own now? A husband who needs me to around to look after him. A daughter whose every waking moment has to have momma in vicinity...
Time flies people... It really does!!!
It seems like yesterday - I was refusing to walk and was adamant that dad or mom carry me around? Maths and 7 table seemed so tough... Board exams - cramming up all those questions and answers... Engineering - a blur of practicals, papers, thesis, project work. Infosys - a cauldron of projects and deadlines. Did I not just arrive in Australia? Has it really been a year? And am I really twenty seven years of age? Do I really have a family of my own now? A husband who needs me to around to look after him. A daughter whose every waking moment has to have momma in vicinity...
Time flies people... It really does!!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
In God we trust!!!
There was a dictum I heard long long ago...
In God we trust, everything else we test!!!
It seemed hilarious at the time. Not so anymore... The news of the multi-million scam in Satyam has left a bad taste in the mouth. Blue Chip company. A star on the Indian IT horizon. Fudging the books, showing assets and deposits where there were none?
I always wondered what would have happened to the lakhs and tonnes of engineers churned out by the Indian education system were it not for the IT companies. No reservations, no quotas, no recommendations, just merit. Indian IT has brought such a major change in the lives of so many people. In my IT career spanning over 6 years, I have seen numerous such examples. "Son of a temple priest is a PM and the whole family now lives in pucca ghar for first time in decades.", "Only son to a widow gets his sister married in aplomb, builds a formidable asset bulk for the mother" etc etc
My naivety - I thought the sector that has done such good for the general aam junta is beyond such dark activities. Bribes, corruption etc was not for IT sector...
One incident and the whole perception crashed. I just wonder what this means to the image of "IT from India" per se!!! As it is, the whole world is moving in to the darkness of economic recession the likes of which have not been seen since the days of "The Great Recession"... For many of us, this is the first financial crunch we would be living through. Things were gray enough without skeletons from the Satyam closet tumbling out...
Who can say what is to come over the next few days!!! Wait and watch and PRAY people!!!
In God we trust, everything else we test!!!
It seemed hilarious at the time. Not so anymore... The news of the multi-million scam in Satyam has left a bad taste in the mouth. Blue Chip company. A star on the Indian IT horizon. Fudging the books, showing assets and deposits where there were none?
I always wondered what would have happened to the lakhs and tonnes of engineers churned out by the Indian education system were it not for the IT companies. No reservations, no quotas, no recommendations, just merit. Indian IT has brought such a major change in the lives of so many people. In my IT career spanning over 6 years, I have seen numerous such examples. "Son of a temple priest is a PM and the whole family now lives in pucca ghar for first time in decades.", "Only son to a widow gets his sister married in aplomb, builds a formidable asset bulk for the mother" etc etc
My naivety - I thought the sector that has done such good for the general aam junta is beyond such dark activities. Bribes, corruption etc was not for IT sector...
One incident and the whole perception crashed. I just wonder what this means to the image of "IT from India" per se!!! As it is, the whole world is moving in to the darkness of economic recession the likes of which have not been seen since the days of "The Great Recession"... For many of us, this is the first financial crunch we would be living through. Things were gray enough without skeletons from the Satyam closet tumbling out...
Who can say what is to come over the next few days!!! Wait and watch and PRAY people!!!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hi to y'all!!!
Hi Folks....
Hasn't it been so long since I wrote... I wonder if any of the regulars still check out this place... Have been meaning to get back for quite sometime now and never did find time... Reason: MOTHERHOOD :))))
And am I loving it?!??! Its such an adorable phase in life... Having a bundle of joy in your arms. Though she is barely over 2 months of age (today happens to be her 2nd month bday in fact) she still has her dad and me nicely wrapped around her little chubby finger. Friends who know me can vouch for my jest in surfing and ORKUTTING... And imagine the same me - I refuse to check the scraps from 5 to 7 in the morning because that's the time she spends giggling and cooing... Wouldn't miss one second of it for anything else in the world. One yell from my mom,"Ishu is smiling" and I leave all I have in hand to rush over and catch her in that mood...
Infants are really tempting... Have always been so for me. But that was so different. That was just fun. I used to think many a times. "Its OK to have neighbor's kids drop in for an afternoon play session. That's so refreshing. But having a kid of your own... Its just such high maintenance affair. Diapers to be changed. Feeds to be given. And then the sleepless nights.."
But know what - Its just the same things that give so much joy now. Having someone else's kid over means you get only the fun part of it. Not the sense of belonging. With Isha here, I feel I have finally gotten home :)
Anyways, motherhood's sinking in and am enjoying it... Now its about time I got back to the other aspects of me, least of which is not writing... Hope to hang in here a bit more than the past few days... Meanwhile drop in to say a hi fellas!
Hasn't it been so long since I wrote... I wonder if any of the regulars still check out this place... Have been meaning to get back for quite sometime now and never did find time... Reason: MOTHERHOOD :))))
And am I loving it?!??! Its such an adorable phase in life... Having a bundle of joy in your arms. Though she is barely over 2 months of age (today happens to be her 2nd month bday in fact) she still has her dad and me nicely wrapped around her little chubby finger. Friends who know me can vouch for my jest in surfing and ORKUTTING... And imagine the same me - I refuse to check the scraps from 5 to 7 in the morning because that's the time she spends giggling and cooing... Wouldn't miss one second of it for anything else in the world. One yell from my mom,"Ishu is smiling" and I leave all I have in hand to rush over and catch her in that mood...
Infants are really tempting... Have always been so for me. But that was so different. That was just fun. I used to think many a times. "Its OK to have neighbor's kids drop in for an afternoon play session. That's so refreshing. But having a kid of your own... Its just such high maintenance affair. Diapers to be changed. Feeds to be given. And then the sleepless nights.."
But know what - Its just the same things that give so much joy now. Having someone else's kid over means you get only the fun part of it. Not the sense of belonging. With Isha here, I feel I have finally gotten home :)
Anyways, motherhood's sinking in and am enjoying it... Now its about time I got back to the other aspects of me, least of which is not writing... Hope to hang in here a bit more than the past few days... Meanwhile drop in to say a hi fellas!
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