Mindprint

What do you do, my lovely?

2010-07-26T20:25:00.001+05:30

So, today someone asked me - what do you do when you get back home from work? I was like...huh!! what do i do? hmmm...donno...nothing...something! Gosh! never really thought about that!
The girl who asked me was quite surprised at how wasted I was!!

Now, what does everybody/anybody do at home back from work?
When I get back I dump my stuff on the sofa, change clothes, switch on my lappie/TV and get back to mails, left over work, social networking, blogs, TV shows, news, etc. And, of course keep calling (read pestering) T to check when he gets back...and this goes on till T is back and we feel hungry. And, then I make myself really really super useful :) I heat the food that the cook made and I serve us :) That done, we both are back to our lappies, reading, watching, and yapping each other, till its time for us to go to bed... EOD...yaaawwwnnn

But, we don't really get bored. We talk, pull each other's leg, watch movies/shows, argue, have fun...but it seems one should be doing 'something' man! hmm...

I mean what do you guys do when you get back from work? Some people sound really busy and caught up and happening at home! Im curious to know what it is that people really do at home..except relax, eat, and sleep!!!

My sins against gender stereotypes

2010-07-08T09:43:00.015+05:30

Masood tagged me here and i need to list my sins against gender stereotypes.

1) My favorite color is black/blue/red. Not pink. Please spare me pink. I do not like that color. Not for dresses, not for shirts, not for dupattas, not for my bedcovers, not for my curtains...nothing. Period.
2) My favorite games, which I have played a lot are rugby and baseball.

3) My favorite shows are Gadget Guru, Auto Show, Cell Guru, Tech Toyz, We the People, CSI, Seinfeld, Friends, Man vs Wild. But, yes I must admit I love sex and the city and can watch it forever...and i can chew all of you who mock at sex and the city!

4) The RSS subscriptions on my phone & favourites on my laptop are engadget, mashable, digital inspiration, gizmodo, discovery and news channels. I read and research on new tech stuff a lot and pass on the gyaan to hubby and friends/family when they need help buying/researching. But to keep the so called girlie spirit alive, I have a Cosmopolitan susbcription too. More than fashion, they have articles that I find so bloody hilarious :-p

5) I research and make all my investements myself in stocks/funds/real estate for the last several years.

6) Im not very fond of dressing up and putting on elaborate makeup. I have no nail polish on my nails ever and my makeup is limited to a kajal and gloss for most occasion. I've always watched in awe at the girls who spend hours on selecting and wearing those shiny clothes and putting on heavy makeup. I mean they look nice and all, but somehow I couldn't manage all that so well. Ive tried few times on my mom's /friends insistence, but have failed gladly :)

7) I can live and die in my jeans. Mom gave me 4-5 suitcases full of expensive sarees/suits for my big fat wedding, which are even now lying wrapped in the packing they came in. Haven't opened those 61 dresses in the last 4 years! With the lakhs mom spent on those clothes, I could have bought a bigger macbook than my present 13 inch or a new LED TV :(

8) My trips to the parlor are limited to 2-3 in a whole year that too when im dragged by friends/family. Just don't have the bloody patience to sit for a facial/manicure/pedicure for 3-4 hours...grrrr...boringgg...I could have chatted with T or played with my phone a bit more in that time! Android has such awesome apps for their phones :-D

9) When T and I go out together, I always end up driving, he just sits next to me like a showpiece checking mail on his blackberry, changing music, humming and generally trying to be a stud!! Men! i tell you....grrr
10) I love fixing and figuring out things. Just crash the comp or give me stuff to install or configure machines/TVs, etc...i will be lost in that for hours.
11)Im very frank/outspoken and have never really shied away from voicing my opinions and thoughts, taking my own decisions, whether somebody likes it or not. Neighbors/family would always say I am my dad's son! Dad/mom consult me/discuss things with me before they take big decisions. My brother lives with them, but my folks still discuss things with me when and where it matters for my opinion.

12) Ok, this one is funny. I eat more than many guys...Lolll...No, seriously guys in office/other friends have told me: "Maria, you have quite an appetite." In the office canteen when I order my food, the guys standing in the queue find it very amusing...sandwich, chapati/rice sabzi,/chicken, dal, juice, sometimes sweet dish/ice cream! A few days back i was out with hubby and another guy for dinner and these 2 men had finished their main course and i was just about getting done with my tandoori prawns, salad, an soup...main course still far away! Can you imagine how much they teased me! Just FYI im not obese yet- in kgs...late 50s, but getting heavy on the scale every month :-(

13) Ok, final one, I dont know how to cook. I try off and on...sometimes its yum, other times not so great! But, I really do miss my mom's cooking and want to learn some of her recipies. Ive already started my recipe book, so probably this point should soon fall out of this list :)

After all these, I hope ive not been ticked off the list of women. I do love being a woman. I do love shopping endlessly for clothes and shoes and bags. I do love gossiping with my girl friends ,the outings with girls, those giggling sessions and late night chat with dosts and cousins. And of course i love diamonds :)

Now, if you like the tag, please take it up and let me know, so I can hop over and read your sins.

One Bedroom Apartment

2010-07-07T09:38:00.007+05:30

I found this in my mail today morning, and thought it was worth sharing. Food for thought for all of us in this mad materialistic cut throat world. When you have a few minutes...

A Bitter Reality

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in

Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the

land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it

was as if a dream had come true.

Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I

would be staying in this country for about 5 years in which

time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement,

the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom apt.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling

homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and

speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone

cards. Two years passed, two years of fast food at McDonald's and

pizzas and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting
happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have

only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within

these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight.

Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for

all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be

talks.

After reaching home I spent home one week going through

all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting

shorter I was forced to select one candidate and get
married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays.

After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some

money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after

them, we returned to USA..

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she

started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased
to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week.
Our savings started diminishing.

After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids,
a boy and a girl. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked

me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India... But part work part

monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting

India was a distant dream.

Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents
were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any
holidays and thus could not go to India ...
The next message I got was my parents had
passed away and as there was no one to do t
he last rights the society members had done
whatever they could.
I was depressed. My parents had passed
away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's

dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down.

I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my

savings were short and the property prices had gone up during

all these years. I had to return to the USA...

My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to

stay in India... My 2 children and I returned to USA after

promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an

American and my son was happy living in USA... I decided that

had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India... I

had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom APT in a

well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the APT is

for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife

has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes...

I wonder was it worth all this?

My father, even after staying in India,

Had a house to his name and I too have

the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing.

This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these

children are losing their values and culture because of it. I

get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well

at least they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will

be performing my last rights, God Bless them.

But the question

still remains 'was all this worth it?'

I am still searching for an answer.................!!!

START THINKING

IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???

LIFE IS BEYOND THIS ....DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE

START LIVING IT .........

LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE .......

If we didn't make money, would we still be valued? -Updated

2010-05-16T20:09:00.007+05:30

A very bright, well qualified and experienced colleague quit her job and while leaving she said, "I hope my husband supports me in every way and takes care of me". Her words really rang a bell and all of us women were suddenly plagued by that thought. What if we quit our job and made no money, will we still lead the life we lead now? Will the quality of our lifestyle suffer? Will we be treated any differently or looked at in a different way?As women these are important thoughts/fears for us...and of course none of us girls had any definite answers!

Thanks to our good education, we have cushy jobs and make good money. We can buy almost anything within our reach and catches our fancy. Most of us do not depend on our husbands to finance our needs. We are independent women, taking several decisions. We are equal providers and care takers in the house and family. Today working women are on an equal footing in terms of finance with the husbands...But what if tomorrow the equation gets lop sided?

Today, I pay hefty EMIs for the house and my car. I buy new clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics whenever I want to. I make my own investments. I buy my own tickets to fly back to my mom's place as and when I wish to. I can buy expensive gifts for my husband on special occasions. I can help my family if the need arise. Basically, the possibilities that come with financial freedom are many and to think if all this came to end one day, where would that leave us?

Would our husbands feel the pinch and crib about it? Will they start shouldering all the responsibilities that we earlier shared? Would they happily take over our EMIs? Would we still be able to shop and will all our needs be taken care of happily? Will we still get the same security, love, and affection without any nagging and arguing? Above all, will we be respected and valued as partners. Again, the questions are many and most of us just wonder what it would be like to be on the other side and how we would make that transition.

I believe that a good education, career, and financial freedom should be prime for all women. Believe me, marriage and family can wait! There are too many sad stories out there where women are mistreated by husbands and in laws and such women have nothing to fall back on and often end up at the mercy of the husband and his family. (TBG shared some real life stories of women who are going through very difficult times- 1 and 2).

Girls, all of us need jobs and need to be financially independent and save for any calamity. Life is unpredictable and the best placed people can face severe odds. We all need to be respected and valued for who we are. Sadly, money has become the most important factor based on which society values and gives importance to people. But, so be it...we have to beat the system and come out with our heads held high up!

What is the national language of India?

2010-04-20T21:25:00.004+05:30

GK question: What is the national language of India?

Cmon, you know this one...every kid knows it.

So, what is it? Did you just say Hindi?

You are so wrong my darlings. In fact, India has no national language. Neither the Constitution of India nor the Indian law specifies a National language.The constitution merely states that Hindi is the official language along with English. See - http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php and http://india.gov.in/outerwin.php?id=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in.

Surprised? me too! I've always accorded the national language status to Hindi. Dam! how come I didn't know this!

I think for most of us, especially the North Indians, Hindi is the Rashtrabhasha..and we don't care and accept any other argument contrary to this! I don't know who put this in my mind, but, i think its our schooling system, where we learn that Hindi is our national language and after that we have regional languages...but Hindi is what every Indian should know. Books too mention the same. I bet many school teachers also live in the belief that Hindi is the national language.

I've had the language debate with many people several times, especially with my husband - T, who is a kannadiga. I've always argued and wanted to know why people in the south of the country are so uptight about using Hindi...after all its our national language and they mighty well know it...and even when they know it, they ignore when somebody talks in Hindi! And now, after so many years, I get to know, that we don't have a national language at all! And the majority Hindi speaking class wants to force it on everybody. No wonder we have people like Raj Thackeray and the anti hindi mentality/protestors in South India rearing their head and fighting for their space.

But, all said and done, inspite of all the diversity, I do think we should have a national language. Something common that should have been similar all over the country. Language is to aid communication, so a common language that would be spoken and understood from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Today when I go to Chennai, i have problems communicating and asking for simple things like directions/negotiating with a rick guy. There is just too much non cooperation when I speak Hindi. Although, English seems fine to some of them!

Hmmm, but then another thought...the national sport is Hockey...no IPL for it, the national bird is the peacock...nobody cares for that, the national animal is the Tiger...only 1411 left, the national song, Vande Mataram...hardly unites people today! So, maybe branding something national really doesnt help! What say you?

Guilt vs innocence - tag from Chanz

2010-04-11T18:14:00.005+05:30

Got this tag from Chanz. I've been tagged a few times before, but never really got down to doing them. This one looks simple and fun...so my first go :)

RULE 1- You can only say Guilty or Innocent.

RULE 2- You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!

RULE 3- Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag to your friends to answer this.

Asked someone to marry you? Guilty

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent

Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent

Ever told a lie? Guilty

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Innocent

Kissed a picture? Guilty

Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty

Held a snake? Innocent

Been suspended from school? Guilty

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent

Stolen from a store? Innocent

Been fired from a job? Innocent

Done something you regret? Guilty

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent

Kissed in the rain? Guilty

Sat on a roof top? Guilty

Kissed someone you shouldn't? Guilty

Sang in the shower? Guilty

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent

Shaved your head? Innocent

Had a boxing membership? Innocent

Made a boyfriend cry? Guilty

Been in a band? Innocent

Shot a gun? Innocent

Donated Blood? Innocent

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty

Still love someone you shouldn’t? Innocent

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Innocent

Been too honest? Guilty

Ruined a surprise? Innocent

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterward? Guilty

Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Guilty

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty

Had communication with your ex? Innocent

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty

This was fun, simple and really fast. Felt like some type of Karan Johar show ;-D

Folks, take up the tag if you would like to. Consider yourself tagged :)

The unique desi gene

2010-04-09T17:53:00.008+05:30

The Indian gene is unique, colorful, loving, and spirited. Our common traits bring us together and help us identify with each other. We can spot a desi in any corner of the world, thanks to our unique traits and some things like these -

The IST (Indian Standard Time) - Seen any self respecting Indian come at the time printed on the card? What a looser, if you do! Also, this is how Chief Guests feel important. Reaching time pe is such a waste man! and tongues will be wagging - kuch kaam nahi hai kya isko? So, for your own izzat please at least a 2 hour delay will keep you in high esteem and your precious izzat and pride intact.

Overtaking from the wrong side on the road hurling some maa behen expletives - Oh! cmon road hai yaar! I pay tax and i will drive left, right, center, obtuse angle, whatever...depends on my frame of mind and the music/beats playing in my car...i need to match that too na boss! And for you - bach sako to bacho..hum toh aise hain bhaiya!

Spitting and peeing on/by the roadside - I mean what do you expect? Bladder was bursting! Let it burst and kill myself, huh? Of course I let the Ganga flow...and all those stupid anti peeing slogans on the dividers are not gonna stop me, you stupid pseudo intellectuals! And, why bother about spitting...im not spoiling your new dress madam! The pan i had was very bad! Huh! get out of my way, else...!

Belching and picking nose in public - Now, c'mon belching se ki farak painda hai? Hain?? Its the body saying had a good meal, thank you! You cant stop nature, can you? If no belching, then farting...so better belch...ab farting and belching both not allowed - i will by god ki kasam explode!
And haan picking nose and plastering that on the wall is bad, very bad! Primary school teachers said so...ab its been so long...forgot na..sorry madam! Next year se will make a resolution not to do...abhi sab changa?

Licking your fingers - Another tell tale sign that i had yummy kukkad and dal makhni. Appreciate kar rahe hain ji. Being a chatora is a joy in itself. Ok, all of us indulge in this :) lets leave this one here :)

Fighting for 2 bucks with the veggie vendor is our birth right - Oye! ki keh rahe ho? Those 2 bucks are gonna get me my next diamond ring for god sake! And i want that free dhania patti too! Boond boond se hi sagar banta hai...samjhe khote de puttar!

Counting the jewelery pieces on the bride - Arey! for what did we come to shaadi for? Ab itna toh size up karna hi padega na. Next week kitty party, I have to give an update also! And what if Gupta jee is not giving his daughter, Pinky 10 kgs of gold! haww! This is so shameful! Community mein kya muh dikhayenge? Izzat ka toh faluda ban jayega na!

Being a nosy parker - again a birth right - Beti, aajkal bahut late night you come back home, boy friends shoy friends..hain (wink wink). And aajkal many friends are coming home? kuch/koi khaas? batao batao (nudge nudge). Ab poochna and taking care toh neighbors ka right hai na. And, ye dress na thodi si revealing hai puttar, shawl le le..hain na?

Flaunting brands - Its from Tommy dude! And the watch from Tag! My last trip to NY man! Holy Shit! watch your step! you're stepping on my manolos us ass! Oooohhh aaaahhhh the lace and clips too are branded...don't even get near me you loosers, my body has been rented by the brands! I am the brand diva, bow down.

Ok, now i realise this list can go on and on. We are such interesting people, nobody gets near us :)
I saw this nice video on being an Indian. Check it out, you'll like it.

Begaani shaadi mein abdullah deewana

2010-04-01T20:26:00.011+05:30

The shaadi of the season - Sania Mirza

This seems to be the hottest and most controversial topic in the last few days. I fail to understand why. Kisi ki shaadi and hum sab ki pareshani! Completely baffles me...anyway read on.

Shiv Sena says they have major objections to this marriage (Me: yea? why? who are you? Are we supposed to bother about what you think? This moral brigade should anyway be banned! They terrorize me no end)

A Hyderabad MP says he is not going to allow this marriage and will not give the Hyderabad ki beti to Pakistan (Me: Who do you think you are? Do you know this is a free country? Are we even supposed to ask you before we go to pee)

News Channels are busy gossiping about Sania's and Shoaib's past! (Me: Are you guys even serious about journalism? Do you even know what it is? Let the poor girl marry or not marry whoever! Get a life and stop repeating Sania ki 5 sautaney wala program)

Read some of these comments posted on message boards:

Marriage to a Paki means betraying INDIA. (Me: And marrying an American, a Brit, and Australian? What does nationality have to do with love? My friend, when it comes to love, it does not see religion, region, country, skin color, language...And why should anybody give up their love or well thought out life for your whims and fancies?)

She is marrying a person from a terrorist land. There are so many Muslims in India too, she could have chosen them. (Me: Why only Indian Muslim? She could have married anybody? It is her choice! This is a free country and does not work on your fancies and morals.)

Sania, why the hell you have to marry that Paki Punjabi Langoor? I am sure there are enough qualified Indian young man suitable for you. (Me: Well she likes Langoor...you have a problem with that? and what do you do? Run a marriage bureau?)

Indians should realize these type of Muslims are agents for Pakistan. Many muslims like Sania mirza family are having soft corner for pak. (Me: Muslims are as Indian as you or anybody else in this country. They are not going to prove their love and loyalty for the country to you! And marrying somebody does not mean you have a soft corner for his/her country/region/caste/religion..whatever. And by the way, whose agent are you?)

If an educated Muslim girl from India is ready to go into the arms of a Pakistani...it shows that she loves her religion...and does not care about India. It is a huge security risk for India.We can imagine the mind set of millions of uneducated Muslims in India. (Me: 1. She isn't going into the arms of Pakistan..only Shoaib's...why is your ass burning? 2. There is nothing wrong in loving ones religion. We are a secular country ! 3. Thank god, such useless people like you are not defining/guiding Indian security. 4. And since Education is a fundamental right from today - Its the right time you get yourself some education!)

I am really surprised at this kind of sentiment and mentality. I mean we are a free secular country. Why is there such an uproar. Is there a law that says an Indian cannot marry a national of a country with which India doesn't have good political relations with? I just dont get it? What if Shoaib Malik was an Australian, American, Chinese, XYZ? Who she marries, this guy or another, or doesn't marry at all or divorces 5 times...it is her business and life. Who cares man!

I am concerned about the growing strength and influence of the moral brigade in this country. It is impinging on our rights. And more often than not women are in their shooting range! Today it is Sania, tomorrow it will be you and me who will be questioned on our moves and every decision.

Who we marry, love, live with or what we wear is only our business! Meri marzi, meri life....will do what i have to and want to! Go jump in a well if you don't like it!

What's this country coming to?

2010-03-16T21:33:00.009+05:30

Seriously, what's happening? I know crime and politics and all that stuff is all over...but these 2 people in news today:

Mayawati:

Spends 200 cr on celebrations yesterday (yes, in all probability it's our hard earned money) Gets a garland made of notes ...about 5cr is what i hear (in the pic)!

Gets bitten by bees and orders the DIG to probe how dare the bees reach her!! Im serious! She actually has ordered a probe! So, the DIG (who has no other work) will interrogate the bees and jail them? where?!!! This is insane that we are even discussing such things!

This is not even funny anymore! Even the bees are now hostile to Maya behenji (the DAULAT ki beti -Digvijay Singh gave her this new name). This woman is beyond me! She is shameless with a dead conscious, and no respect for democracy and power!
Such people need to be stripped of their power! UP ki Dalit junta jaago!

Reference: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100315/818/tnl-rs-5-crore-garland-for-mayawati.html

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/bees-at-mayawati-rally-police-to-investigate-17847.php

Baba Ramdev

Baba Ramdev plans on entering politics. Wants to launch his own party. Plans to put up 532 candidates in the next elections. Starts a nation wide search ! He says the nation needs him.

Whhhaaaat!!! who needs him? we?? people u really need him to run this country? Imagine what his election symbol will be? His churning tummy image/yogic positions??

Maybe his haddis are giving up on him now and yoga is tiring him out and probably also figured out sex is dangerous for swamis these days! Whats left - Politics! Dilli chalo!

Reference: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/88597/India/Ramdev+to+begin+Bharat+Swabhiman+campaign.html)
Note: image - courtesy google. If the image belongs to you, please let me know. I will remove it.

And by the way both of these 2 specimens are hitting out against each other on news right now! Hah!

I mean WTF!!

This is us!

2010-03-03T17:50:00.001+05:30

This is exactly the scene at my place. T is soooo like this, doesn't believe in moving a muscle for anything...This is so our story any time of the day!

Sex, lies, and godmen!

2010-02-27T00:59:00.009+05:30

So, first we had the Visa god and thanks to TBG we found out the real purpose the place served.
Next, in line misusing God's name to mint money is Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale! (Gosh! u believe that name??!!)

God and sex sure sells the most and if both get together under some garb - boy! that's double whammy!!
So, the godman in question has been caught by Delhi Police for carrying out a prostitution racket for the last 10 years. (Prostitution?? Yes! Yes!) The Swami serviced very high profile shareef citizens of Dilli inside a temple he had built! (Inside the temple?? Yes! Yes!). His network is believed to consist of dozens of girls...including models, college going girls, and air hostesses. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Godman-nabbed-with-six-women-sex-racket-busted/articleshow/5622097.cms)

On the other hand the Swami was a revered godman and had many many followers. The police say they had a tip about him for the last many years, but because he was a godman and had high profile clients and contacts it was very difficult to nab him. And then the fear of backlash from his followers. Very well done cops, you finally got the spine to act!

Religion is the opium of the masses and this is the reason that people like this swami and many others misuse God's name and mint money. They establish a clean reputation for themselves and carry on all sorts of business and earn money by hook or crook. The veil of god is too clean and pure for common people to even doubt what goes on behind.

It is sad and very unfortunate that God's name is used the most by people who have to hide things, carry on illegal activities, crime, or create divisions in society. Look at terrorists, godmen like this swami, politicians - all are masters at misusing God's name for their own good and misguiding people.

If you are interested, these are some more links i found about godmen:

Lot of speculation about Sri Satya Sai Baba and sexual abuse. BBC does a piece on this. The internet is full of stories on this.

Godman arrested for trampling on infants to cure them. The image in there is very disturbing.

The famous Chandraswami

Swami Amrita Chaitanya held for rape, making pornography, and duping a woman of 50 lacs.

Godman held for keeping 3 young sex slaves

Godman Srikumar arrested on rape charge

Srikumar also held for posessing tiger skin!

Godman Ahsok Jadeja arrested for 1800crore fraud!

Godman Tararchand held for rape

Mohammed Maodood Ahmed Khan who calls himself god is arrested for duping people of lakhs

A report - http://ibnlive.in.com/news/godmen-turn-conmen-taxman-red/39860-3.html

A report - http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2002/0926/fe20-1.html

Baba Piara Singh who claimed to be an incarnation of God

Of sundar kanyas and old haggard men

2010-02-18T20:35:00.010+05:30

Overheard in office - a group of guys chatting over coffee:
Guy 1: Yaar, what cream do you use?
Guy 2: Koi nahi, any moisturizer.
Guy 3: I steal some from my wife. She uses ponds mosturiser and raat mein anti ageing cream lagati hai
Guy 1: Abey! wo ladkiyon ki cream hai.
Guy 3: Who cares! Nobody makes anything for us poor men!
Guy 2: Haan yaar, ki farak painda hai...humko bhi to young dikhna hai.

(I was almost bursting by this time...trying really hard not to make it obvious. I walked away trying to hide my amusement.)

In the night I was telling T about this and he said - you know, come to think of it...those guys were correct. Nobody thinks about us 'bechara' men. Anti ageing creams are all targeted for women, the fairness creams are again being sold to women. All the masks and peels in the stores are all for women. And then declared - Maria im using all your stuff from now on. And i was like - What the heck!! And was staring at him - ye bhi shuru!! Allah hi reham, maula hi reham :)

And he was correct...going by the ads on TV - Oil of Olay is targeted for women who can't ever stop talking about the deadly 7 signs...as if without that cream we would be the ugliest walking talking ducks around and people would die of heart attacks seeing us. Ponds age miracle talks about how the husband falls in love with his wife coz she is using the damn cream (huh! only if love was so easy). Fair and lovely makes the girl a beauty queen and a winner (damn these fairness creams)! The industry hasn't even speared the soap - Dove - scores of women how good it is and how feminine it makes them feel using Dove!! (Whaaatt!! Huh!!! feminine? Guys, this one is seriously not for you..don't even try)

Actually, if you have observed when you enter a store - lets say Westside or Shoppers Stop. What do you see first? 9 out of 10 times, its gonna be women clothing and accessories, make up, perfumes, and jewelery. Its like the grand store is just for us :) and the men's section is tucked away in some dark small corner or on the 1st floor of the store.Its like an after thought..and they have fewer trial rooms too :) (Guys, yes im poking fun at you!). Similary, beauty salons - the bigger ones do cater to men...but again in a much more limited way. Guys you are still away from the more fancy treatments, facials, and manicures. We rule here too!

So what we learnt today - Women are the ones who need to be the gori sundaris and the men can sit on that couch and stink and fart while watching TV ;-D

OK, I received this in mail...it is education and important. Open it up and read it.

And guys, don't loose heart, this one product is especially for you...take it away..all yours :)

Kitna badal gaya insaan!

2010-02-15T16:57:00.007+05:30

Video of the day...food for thought!
Just found this browsing you tube today...some visuals may be disturbing and some images towards the middle seem misplaced/not in the best spirit. Somebody could have done a better job by being more careful in selecting the pics and campaigning for world peace.

But you get the big picture and the message.

The 'ex' syndrome

2010-02-13T19:35:00.006+05:30

So, yet again its the big day world over - Valentine's day. Hearts are popping out from anywhere and everywhere. Turn the TV or radio on and you have mushy movies and songs playing. Go to a restaurant and they have a special V day spread. Go to a cafe, and they have special V Day coffee and muffins...Gaaahhhh..pink pigs are flying out from everywhere and being single is almost a crime!

Ok, so we all are surrounded and hounded by the V day posters and the red hearts. So, im not gonna talk about this at all! V day brings me to another topic...yea not V day specific...but for some reason it comes to mind!

Whats with people wanting to be friends with their ex(s). I’ve never really understood this. Whats the logic behind this? Ok, so you broke up with your boy/girlfriend and moved on in life...got yourself another arm candy/ wife/hubby and then you still think of keeping in touch with your ex, befriend them on social networking sites, see their pics, exchange messages, calls, and meetup.

What do the spouses think of this? Is it something they don't mind or digest with great difficulty or does it wreck them up completely. How many spouses..if any, actually accept this relationship? What would be the thought behind comfortably accepting it..I would like to meet one such person..who has absolutely no problem with their partner being pals with their ex.

Knowing that your man/girl was into a relationship with this person would it be wise or even practical for the spouse to be in touch regularly? Also would it not remind constantly of the good and bad times you have shared with that person. Would that not affect your relationship with your current partner? Wouldn’t it be easier for you to start relying on your ex more easily or falling back on them? Is it like convenient way to carry on the relationship without any expectations, strings..and the comfort of knowing that the person is still around, while you have another new person.

I know none of my girlfriends would fall for this crap if their husbands had to offer this option. There would be absolute chaos and married lives would turn upside down. Come to think of it, he/she was your boy/girlfriend, you shared a mental, emotion, and physical relationship with him/her and now you share that relationship with your current partner and you think that your current one can accept the old one happily in her /his life?

I am firm believer that your past and present should not be mixed up. What is past is gone and a new life is what you have today. So do not complicate. I have seen some relationships gone sour becasue people tried putting both of them together in one collage.

Call me judgmental, narrow minded, old fashioned, etc if you may...but its something I cannot understand too well...just my opinion.

Else, there will be no Sher Khan

2010-02-05T11:37:00.002+05:30

You leave your 2 month old baby at home and go to work

And you are shot and killed...never to return home to your baby, your family, your world

Your 2 month old baby...keeps waiting- hungry, lonely, scared, and vulnerable...

Watch this clip and have a heart. A life is a life...human or animal...just the same.

Save our tigers...1411 left and probably going down fast.

Lets get together and save our Sher Khans, else our children will never know who Sher Khan was or never see or hear the roaring shers!

Click here and here to see what you can do.
Click here to read what i wrote about Sher Khan on my other blog.

Tips for a DIY holiday

2010-02-04T11:19:00.001+05:30

I've had enough with travel companies cooking itineraries for me, offering me packages, and planning my trip. So, this time when we decided on Egypt, I decided to do it all by myself...and it's been the best trip ever...in all ways...we had the *mostest* fun and the logistics and finances were better than the best.

So, these are my tips, if you are planning a holiday on your own.

1. Planning - Research, research, and research. You are gonna thank yourself for this. Once you decide on your destination, find about these things:

Places to visit/see - Make a list of the must see and must dos. Check costs - entrance tickets of places, costs of excursions you may want to take with local agencies there. Decide on the number of days this would take you.
Travel - Mode of transport available (cabs, metros, buses). Are there cabs available on call or you can hail them on the streets. Are there tourist buses? Do they have a specific point to point service?
Where you would like to stay...right in the center of the city or a little away. It makes sense to stay near to locations you would like to spend time at. But, keep in mind that city center/downtown accommodation would be more expensive then hotels a little bit away.
Find out the good places to eat/party/shop.

2. Getting there - Once you have finalized your dates, get around looking for airfare. I suggest looking up several websites. Check the airline websites and compare the fare with travel company websites. You may get discounted airfare on sites like yatra.com, makemytrip.com. Booking online maybe cheaper and more hassle free.
For your visa, i recommend that you still take the help of your travel company. They will take their fee and take care of the running aorund to the consulate.

3. Staying there - Look up the hotel sections on websites like - yatra.com, makemytrip.com, thomascook.co.in. You can search by the city and you will be surprised at the cheap tariffs you can get for the best of 5* resorts and hotels. Again, compare the tariff with the hotel website. Specially, if you are traveling abroad...the tariff available for hotels to Indian travel companies are pretty low.
Also, very important - go and read real tourist reviews of the hotels you shortlist on websites like - tripadvisor.com and virtualtourist.com.These are extremely helpful website and give you a very real picture of things to do, tourists traps, where to shop, eat, and stay. You can ask your questions to travelers and get fast replies based on their experience. I swear by these sites.

4. Get your travel insurance. Again, go online, check the premium, and buy a policy...It's that easy. If you want to compare policy quotations/premiums...i found this quite useful - policybazaar.com. I compared the premiums and found what suits me and then went to that insurers website and bought my policy online.

5. Reconfirm - Once you have got your tickets, hotel vouchers, insurance policy...call up the airline and hotel and check/confirm your reservation. Place any special requests you may have with the airline or hotel.

With all these basics covered, you should be packing you bags and be good to go. Also, it would be good if you got yourself a handy map and a travel book, or betters till you can download information from the internet about the places you wanna visit.

Our DIY trip this time was awesome and everything went as planned and very smooth. We took our holiday at our pace and time and did not have to rush through or visit places we did not want to go to. We stayed at the best of places, which the travel company was not offering us in the package deal. We ate, made merry, slept, lazed, danced, shopped...everything we wanted to do! We had lots of fun and got a chance to meet locals and see their life.

And you will be surprised, in terms of finance we saved between 50% - 60% on the total cost that the travel companies gave us for a package tour. We had got package quotes from 4 travel companies and they were all too inflated. Im happy we did it our way and could spend that extra cash on shopping :)

This makes me wanna plan another trip soon :)

Midnight romance

2010-02-03T00:35:00.001+05:30

Me and T trying to sleep...T very tired n sleepy and me chirpy like a bird.

Me: Today in office...blah blah blah

T: Hmmm

Me: At lunch...blah blah blah

he and she resigned...blah blah blah

(silence...no reply...i check..dude u awake na?)

T: Hmmm..ya babe

Me: TV shows hav gone nuts man!....blah blah blah

In the movie...guess who was the killer...blah blah blah

T: Babe lets sleep...need to get to office early tomorrow again

Me: No yaa..pls...suno na..u never listen to me...u never have time for me

T: Will lsiten to it tomorrow...pucca promise...abhi plsss sleepy time

Me: Ok, let you sleep...first sing me a nice romantic song

T: Now?

Me: What then if not now...ya cmon na...of course now...waitin

T: Meri bhains ko danda kyon maara..wo apne khet mein charti thi

Me: Arrrrghh...u ass...u half witted man...some more expletives...(not for public consumption)

(Totally pissed, I huff puff and move my pillow away from him and turn the other way)

[10 minutes of silence follow...i think i heard some slight snoring also]

After some time...my ear is sort of ticklish

T: Chandan sa badan

Chanchal chitwan

Dheere se tera wo muskana

Mujhe dosh na dena jag walon

Ho jaoon agar mein deewana...

Me: :) :) :)

Good night world :)

Bouncing around my head

2010-02-02T14:02:00.008+05:30

Too much running through my mind...garbled thoughts

Im in office and when do i start working? Holiday hangover i guess....
Are these really ergonomic chairs? I mean my shoulder and neck aches everyday, when i sit on the chair in my cube...nah! i need a change...talk to boss
Why don't i dream as often when i sleep. Daydreaming is all i do...duh!
Whats the best pillow in the market? Like the ones which are comfy and good for people like me with spondylitis! From where do the hotels get such comfy beds and pillows...i always wonder...the last hotel had something called 'featherfree' i think...it was awesome!
What crap she made for dinner today!! Who the hell ever has aalo gobhi for dinner on tuesday night!!
When will i find a good cook...who can make yummy non veg stuff...and no maharashtrian khana plsss
OK...stop eating...hogging...stop! stop!!
Get a doc appointment for T. Drag him for an endoscopy (tough job...he cries like a baby..awww)
I need to go to Central and ask for my free wrist watch....I had to get it free with the sun glasses i bought from there last week...Yea, I need that free wrist watch
Fix the car servicing appointment.
Update status on FB and plough my farm...Farmville is my food
What time does he get back today?? Call! Call! Call!!
Call HDFC car insurance guys and ask for my premium refund...You believe it, they sent me a torn cheque 2 weeks back! I sent it back and need a fresh cheque! Call, call, call!
Call mom...to ask if they all saw the cat's pics i posted!
Ned to drink water! yea...i hardly take in 2 glasses in day...
Rann has released..mayb go and watch it...yea on Wed you buy 1 and get the other ticket free on bookmyshow (for citibank cards)...see a great tip :)
How will the papyrus painitng look when its framed. Need to get that from the framer on Sat! Remind me!
Patao T in the evening so he can give me a good shoulder and neck massage! Very very important for my well being...TOP PRIORITY today!!
Sync my ipod.
Sync phone
Dig out some old pics
Go get a tropicana from the cafeteria.
Restart gyming...get the gym bag out!
Shortlist good pension plan for T. HDFC pension plan inching close. Anybody, any reco? (but seriously will v live that long?)

Getting too much now...still running through...

Egypt, my love!

2010-02-01T18:13:00.008+05:30

I have visited quite a few places in Europe, South East Asia, America...but what Egypt did nothing did it ever! The beauty, mystery, culture, food of that country haunts me now. If there is a place i would want to be now...it would be on one of the Red Sea beaches...aaaahhhh....blissss

To start with let me do away with some myths...Egypt is an Islamic country but do not get any negative ideas about it.

The country and people are very very open towards tourists and very welcoming.
Cairo is a very modern city and you can find the best of international chain of hotels, restaurants, night clubs, discos, brands...just about anything you want.

The night life is magical and amazing and you can spend the night singing and dancing away...or shopping...the malls, bazaars, and cafes are open till 2am at least. yes, 2 am...clubs are open till about 3 am or even later...The city swings man! it swings!

Liquor is freely available at hotels and restaurants. Heineken is all over and many shops too where you can buy your bottle. The city is safe and you can find cabs at any time in the night and the city is alive!

Let me add a line about their infrastructure. The roads are wide, smooth, clean, and without any bumps...Indian roads...shame shame!! Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh (beachtown on the Red Sea coast) had wireless internet almost everywhere..and let me add its 3G or 3.5G if i read correctly.Its a shame we are still struggling with downloads in kb. Duh!! C'mon India, auction that 3G !!

The Red Sea area is blooming with the best resorts and full of European tourists. Red sea is breathtaking and you want to be there forever. The beaches are awesome, corals and fishes plenty. It is one of the best sites in the world for snorkeling and diving. Its just beautiful.

For clothing, you can wear what you want...there are no restrictions and locals do not say or comment on anything. So, you have bikini clad women all over the place. Well, even some nude sun bathing at our resort!! Yea, men...you may like that!

But apart from that it would be wise to dress modestly if one was visiting the churches or mosques. The Egyptians are extremely nice people and if you respect them and their ways, they do the same and do not object or cause you any problems.

So, once you have removed any misconceptions or negative ideas about the country...enjoy the place, weather, people, history, mystery, food, belly dance...

The Pyramids and the Sphinx, have to be seen to be believed. They are grand, imposing and hauntingly beautiful. To think that they were made 5000yrs ago and still stand tall and awe you....is amazing...I mean you just have to experience them.

There is also an amazing sound and light show at the Pyramids in the night. Do not miss it!

Enjoy a cruise on the Nile in the night. The magical Nile will leave you wanting more. The Marriott and Oberoi do very good cruises. We took the Oberoi and loved it.

As lucky as we could get, in Sharm El Sheikh, we were upgraded for free to a sea facing suite on check in...yea you get lucky sometimes...yayy! And the view from the balconies were to die for. It was like I had died and gone to heaven...

One had to just get a few feet on the water to see the corals...it was a jungle out there...beautiful. We had the most beautiful and colorful fishes swim up to us at the beach and kiss our feet :)

Ok, enough said, writing does not do justice to that experience. I should plan for another trip soon:). Will leave you with a few pictures...soak in...

And and and...what did i get from there - Papyrus painting, Egyptian perfume :) in love with them :) :)

What im tripping on right now...

2010-01-13T11:28:00.001+05:30

After Aaj Din Chadeya from Love Aajkal, Shukran Allah from Kurban, and Give me some sunshine, give me some rain...from 3 idiots...this song is playing in a loop in my mind...love the music, tempo, rhythms, lyrics...forget SRK if u don't like him...the song is nice :)

Im being nice by posting the lyrics also here :)

Rom rom tera naam pukaare
Ek hue din ren hamare
Hum se hum hi chhin gaye hai
Jab se dekhe nain tihaare

Sajda ….[hoook]

Teri kaali ankhiyon se jind meri jaage
Dhadkan se tej daudun, sapno se aagey
Ab jaan lutt jaaye, ye jahaan chhut jaaye
Sang pyaar rahe, main rahun na rahun

Sajda tera sajda, Din ren karu..naa hi chen karu
Sajda tera sajda,lakh vaar karu meri jaan karu

Ab jaan lutt jaaye, ye jahaan chhut jaaye
Sang pyaar rahe, main rahun na rahun
Sajda tera sajda, Din ren karu..naa hi chen karu
Sajda tera sajda,lakh vaar karu meri jaan karu

Ranjhna.. naino ke teer chal gaye..
Saajna.. saanson se dil sil gaye…
Palkon mein chupa loon, tera sajda karoon
Seenay mein samaa loon, din ren karoon
Palkon mein chupa loon, seenay mein samaa loon
Tere ang ang rang mera bole
Ab jaan lutt jaaye, ye jahaan chhut jaaye
Sang pyaar rahe, main rahun na rahun
Sajda tera sajda, Din ren karu..naa hi chen karu
Sajda tera sajda,lakh vaar karu meri jaan karu

beliyaa…kya hua jo dil kho gya
mahiya.. ishq me khuda mil gya
jara akh se pila de..tera sajda karu
jara khwaab saja de..din ren kru
Ab jaan lutt jaaye, ye jahaan chhut jaaye
Sang pyaar rahe, main rahun na rahun
Sajda tera sajda, Din ren karu..naa hi chen karu
Sajda tera sajda,lakh vaar karu meri jaan karu

Teri kaali ankhiyon se jind meri jaage
Dhadkan se tej daudun, sapno se aagey
Ab jaan lutt jaaye, ye jahaan chhut jaaye
Sang pyaar rahe, main rahun na rahun
Sajda tera sajda, Din ren karu..naa hi chen karu
Sajda tera sajda,lakh vaar karu meri jaan karu

sajdaaaaaaaaaaa………

Bumblebees! Help help!

2010-01-11T21:55:00.003+05:30

Ever had bumble bees after your bum? Ive had and that's how i feel when I enter some stores and the sales guys start following like bees after your bum.

They hound you, pounce on you...yes, mam what are you looking for? how can i help you? what do you want? tell me madam? Their dam voice irritates me! I always turn around and say - thanks I will look around...and then i walk around to check out stuff.. and of course one of the sales guy is after my bum trailing me and my every move. I wanna kill!!!!

Man! every time I pick up dress, t shirt, pants...anything and put it on me just to see if the color will suit....the dam guy is staring away at all the right places and to top it some of them are ready with feedback too!! You walk away to another stand, and the saviour has followed you there too and is giving advice or pointing you to the ugliest of dresses!

Gosh! will these big stores ever teach these jerks to stay in their place! I mean i can read the price tags and i know my big fat size, i know the colors which suit me, i can distinguish between brands, i know what levis sells and what Biba sells!!

God! grant me enough patience to tolerate these over enthusiastic and dedicated chaps! The guys at Shoppers Stop today...I hate you with all heart, lungs, liver, and every other dam organ!

Way to go! Good I say!

2010-01-09T22:46:00.001+05:30

So, hope your year ended well... mine ended pretty well with a BBQ with my folks in dilli ki sardi...and this year has started quite well...and like every year I have no resolutions or promises to keep or break...he he he. Never really thought i should burden myself with some silly resolutions...which i would give up or lose focus of within days :)

Ok, so my Santa (hubby dear) got me a new MacBook...yiippeeee....and i am ziiimpppllyyy loving it. 2009 was bye bye windows and 2010 was hello Mac...and its going awesome. Hubby is a big Apple fan. He got me the Ipod touch the day it was launched. Love u babe for standing in the queue to lay your hands on one...muuuaahhhh

The big news - Hubby dear has planned for a holiday this month. So we hav plans for one of my fav destination- Egypt in a few days...and im super excited. All i talk, walk, think, these days is Egypt...do I need to say how super excited I am! Love u again babe.

Oh! yes, did i mention, I get a raise at work and maybe if the boss is kind enough a bonus too this month! Yippeeee...after the salary freeze, we are finally going to see some more moolah after a year and a half! 2009 wasn't kind and I saw friends taking paycuts and loosing jobs. 20101 pls pls be kind and nice and get back on your feet...v r all set for the bye bye recession party.

And im not paying that extra tax anymore in March...figured out a way to save that money...yeah im not giving it away for nothing...the road outside my house is still in bad shape!!

So, thumbs up to the days ahead and have fun. This year too shall pass away real fast...so live it up!

Things to do when Hubby is out of town!

2009-12-12T13:17:00.001+05:30

I hate it when T goes out of town for work and im left alone at home. I just dont like being alone :( but on the other hand I dont like being with many people in the home...anyways thats a different story.

Well, this time it wasnt so bad. I realized there are things that I could do when T is not in town.

1. Visit the spa! Yea...the relaxing massage, the candles, the aroma and my shoulder and feet being worked on...There are only a few things that can come close to that feeling.
2. Go window (or maybe real shopping). T doesn't enjoy shopping much (except when v r shopping for electronics or home stuff). So, this was a wonderful time to go wander in all the malls, bookshops, cosmetic stores. Right time to visit those store, whose mannequins always used to call me every time i passed by. Those lovely footwear stores...ok u get the drift :)
3. Rent my type of DVDs. With T i have learnt to tolerate war movies and action thrillers to some extent. But, without him around I was happy to get back to Sex and the city, Monster in law, Cleopatra, some mushy ones and some Sallu bhai flicks! Also caught some episodes of Desperate Housewives on TV.
4. My sunday aftrenoon siesta. I just love dozing off on Sunday afternoons and I could do that all these 3 weekends. With T around, this is usually not possible with him asking me something every 15 minutes or waiting for me to get up!
5. Laze around to my heart's content without a care in the world!
6. Peacefully talk to my friends for hours with no disturbance and hurry! I gossiped and bitched endlessly and ahh! was so happy and contented :) (i know how sick!...but so what..i loved it). With T around, I would be busy chatting with him or something...and couldn't afford that time for those long conversations on the phone.

So, basically I took it easy and at times let the natural slob take over.

T dear, inspite of all this, I did miss you dearly. I missed our evening conversations, cozying up, watching TV. I missed us calling each other those silly names. I did talk a lot to the walls this time thinking its you. I missed our morning chit chat in bed. I missed guiding you to your clean socks and undies and helping you choose your clothes for the day. I missed you when I fell sick for 2 days. I missed your comforting touch and massage when spondylitis pain was killing my back and shoulders and carpel tunnel was causing me hand problems.

But, im happy that T is gonna be back in 3 more days. He's getting a bagful of goodies for me :) and im super super excited. Me and T will spend just a day together, because I will be traveling next for 10 days and then he joins me. I'm looking forward for him to be back and we can spend some time. Life will be back to normal and rocking as ever! Amen!

I'm a big girl...I can change tyres!

2009-11-11T19:47:00.002+05:30

Yes, yes, yes! I can change tyres. Thanks to my 2 buddies from work, I finally learnt to do that job (Guys, that lunch i promised is soon coming your way). Im so kicked, not many women know how to do that stuff...im so proud!! I can now picture myself changing a flat tyre next time im stuck on the road. Cool na!
This has to be the single achievement I made in the last many many weeks...im not going anywhere at work, so good for me this came along :)

I had a flat tyre and somehow I just didnt realise and i had been driving around with that flat tyre for the last 2 days! yea, imagine! The security guard at the office parking lot told me, madam aapka do din se tyre phissss hai...and i was like - really!!?? The drivers standing there had a good laugh...they too had been watchign me for the last 2 days...flat tyre wali madam aa gayi!!! Duh! how stupid! I felt like an ass, standing there, staring unbelievably at the flat tyre!! how could I not notice it! I will think mayb tubeless tyres makes life easy. Who knows.

Anyway, P & R from office helped unscrew, fix the jack, put the bolts in place...and all the good stuff...and i followed them carefully and tried my hand at the job. Boy! I hadn't given that much attention to anything...yea Ranbir Kapoor is a different story..that guy is going places i tell you. Ok, thats a different story...forget that bit!

Ok, so im gonna brag about this endlessly with all details to any and every ear that comes in my line of sight! Consider yourself warned friends!

This pic from world war 2 is so cool!

C'mon boys, grow up!

2009-11-09T00:52:00.003+05:30

There is this reality show on Star - Perfect Bride, where eligible bachelors along with their moms are on the show choosing the perfect bride for themselves. I just happened to see 2 episodes and what a shame!

We have the mama's boys with their dominating moms who are the ones deciding their bahus and the qualities that their bahu should have...and of course our so eligible hot bachelors are all like - mumma ki pasand meri pasand...mumma ne bola hai toh wahi mera bhi kehna! Gosh! when are our Indian boys gonna grow up! Dude! wake up!! You are the one who has to marry...your moms have had their days. Get yourself a life and a spine to start with! And come to think of it, you must be such loosers that you ended up on a TV show to catch a bride for yourself, all certified and stamped by your moms! Anyway..good luck! (Many of us, specially the men may say- whats wrong with that! I say Ok, nothing...go ahead :)

Now, im so confused, what exactly is the Indian male looking for in a girl today? (well, not all of you out there..but there are quite a few specimens). I can understand the guys, who are clear in their head- all they want is only a perfect housekeeper to help their moms at home and raise kids. Nothing more...great! good for you and pity the girl, unless of course this is her choice also and this what she wanted.

But, surprisingly a lot of educated young men say they want an educated, professional, independent, beautiful, homely, adjusting, and caring girl! (Did i also hear convent educated?..Duh!) Now, these are the guys who seriously leave me confused, really confused! So, what creature are these guys looking for? Homosapien? Woman? Superwoman? Jadoo? Hmm..escapes me...

At the end of the day this variety of men are looking girls who will listen to their moms and say haanjee mummmyji, raise the kids, look after the home, cook delicious food, adjust with every tom, dick, and harry, and work outside, and be selfless, and give in to him and his family! Dude!! what are you thinking?? Did you ever think, that women might have a mind and a heart of their own and may not give in to you and your families way of life and thoughts and demands? Did you ever think she might not be interested in the kitchen or socialising with your relatives, because she might be too tired after her long day at work? Did you realise she was human like you? Did you ever think you might be killing her dreams and desires by burdening her with your and your families expectations? Did you ever think you are expecting too much?

Today, many of us teach our daughters to be strong, independent, and make their own choices and decisions in life. So, isn't it natural that when she gets married she will want to have her own seperate home with her husband, run it the way she wants to, live life how she has desired to, take small and big decisions for her home? Why do we forget that women might not like to be burdened with expectations, or might not like joint families, which is already disintegrating very fast. Many free thinking women who chart their own lives, set up nuclear households, take their own decisions, sometimes face family issues and criticism. Now, how sad is that. Isn't this opposite of what we taught them- to be independent? Are we not killing their dreams and right to live happily.

All that women are looking for is just a chance to live their lives and dreams in their own way...to live in peace and love and be loved. Let us not forget there is nothing wrong in a woman demanding the right to lead her life the way she wants to and decide what she wants to do. Indian men, its you turn to wake up and smell the coffee. Women are going way ahead and you need to do some catching up. Get real and decide on what you really want. Usually you can get this or that type or some bit of this and some bit of that...but you cant have it all. Looking for a perfect bride, then just leave it to your mom :) but, if little imperfect would do, that might just make your life happier and complete, then go out and find one for yourself. You will not regret it :)

Got this in my email :)

Life lessons from Dadajaan

2009-11-02T20:36:00.003+05:30

I lost my granpa a few months ago. He left me with many memories, which will stay with me forever. Of all the things I have learnt from him, these are special and it is important to me that I document them.

1) I learnt that we must touch each others lives in such a way that we are remembered for it.
Dadajaan, always said, - beta do some small thing for us when you come visiting us, so that when you go away we remember you everyday and say - When Maria was here, she used to do this for us. The small jobs he would entrust me would be giving dadijaan her medicines every night, or giving them a glass of water in the night while going to sleep, or just switching off the light when they have gone to bed.
Sometimes I have done these things, other times I have brushed these jobs away...but now I realize how important these small things were and how much they matter. I really did learn it is important to touch lives and leave a mark. I did learn how small things bring people closer to each other, bind us, and how they help us relate to each other and care for each other.

2) I learnt, it is important to call our special ones lovingly.
Granpa was a polite person and always stressed on using a loving salutation. He introduced me to using the word jaan. So he was Dadajaan for me. So, there was dadijaan, nanajaan, and nanijaan too. Their faces would light up with happiness when we would call them that way :) It would be a special moment to see them happy and smile.
I learnt that it makes a world of difference when we call our special people lovingly. These words effortlessly convey such a warm feeling of love and care. I learnt that words bind us all and the words we use grow on us and shape our feelings and us. Kind words evoke a feeling of love and kindness and help us reciprocate in a similar fashion. How important that is today!

3) I learnt that it is important to express oneself.
Every summer when I would visit them, Dadajaan, would say - beta everyday write a bit on what you did and how you felt. He said it was an enriching experience to express ourself and document our life, thoughts, and feelings and revisit them if we wanted to. So, when I would be there I would write a bit each day in my diary. He would read it with a big smile and talk to me about all that i had written. Sometimes, we would laugh, sometimes we would discuss and I would see reason.
Yes, he taught me that it was important to document our life and thoughts in some way. It was important to revisit them sometimes and see how we think and how far we have gone ahead in life. It helps us to stay rooted and see and analyze life in all its shades. This also made me see the importance of leaving behind a real story for the future generation to simple read or learn from. After dadajaan passed away, I read a few of his diaries that has his life documented in such a rich way. It really is a treasure to cherish that tells the story of a man, his life and times.

I think, sometimes, we just do not realize what we have till it is taken away from us. But, I guess as long as we realize and learn its all worthwhile. He taught me some important life lessons effortlessly by telling me simple things. His words were nothing out of the ordinary, but carried a great message for me.
Thank you for everything dadajaan. A bit of you, lives in me.

Must love dogs!

2009-10-24T18:43:00.001+05:30

If there is a dog around, Im at least a mile away for sure. No second thoughts, no love lost...me and dogs are allergic to each other, do not like each other, and shooo each other away instantly! Simple. No dogging around!!

On the other hand, my hubby - T is a strange man! He can almost smell a dog from a mile and in matter of seconds the dog and T are running towards each making those lovey dovey sounds....Gosh! this amazes me no end and i cringe so often. The dog is struggling to get away from his owner's leash towards T and T is reciprocating it equally fast and in a matter of seconds is cuddling the dog, petting him, shaking hands or paws (whatever they have) with the dog!

From the very first day, our neigbour's dog, looks at me and barks/growls and looks at T and goes all cuuddllyyy wuuddlllyyy woooshhhh with tail wagging and licking and all those gestures. I mean how weird is that. ya, ok i must have been mean, paid no attention to that dog on the first day, or made a real bad face at him. But, how do animals sense that we like or dislike them, and they reciprocate those feelings in equal measure. Also, do you know if animals can understand our language? T speaks to the neighbors dog in English, and he seems to respond pretty well and the maid who works at the neighbors house, speaks to the dog in marathi and the dog responds to her too!! So, is this an exceptionally skilled multi lingual dog or all animals are like this? This is so beyond me!

Once at a friends place, their 4 big huge alsatians surrounded hubby and his dad and attacked. Well, they almost tore my FIL's clothes and bit/scratched him at a few places, but didnt even touch T. In fact T and the dogs were civil to each other and they sniffed and licked T. That really amazed everybody, even the guy who had these 4 dogs was astonished, as the dogs were not known for being nice to their visitors.

Even on the streets, dogs like T and follow him. (Already have had 3 dogs that followed T home!). They start wagging their tails and make such a puppy face and T is so so proud of this and one day announced, I must have been a dog in my pichla janam. And I added, yes its more than obvious even in this janam sweetheart :) Nice guy that T is, he smiled and accepted the compliment whole heartedly :)

What's with the weather yaar?

2009-10-19T12:57:00.003+05:30

Seriously, whats up with the weather. Today morning its suddenly so dry...has winter set in already or just too much of pollution and heat in the last 2-3 days? It is so dam dry. Im flaking...my plants are not too happy either :( But, I can still hear crackers bursting...cmon people its the 3rd day after Diwali... and its almost 1 in the afternoon. Thoda respite do ab please.

Hubby has already complained that im hard of hearing after these 2 days. Cant help it! the loud noise was just too much for me...Did you see the streets? Gosh! happy diwali to all...but now how about picking up the broom and cleaning the streets. The roads in the society too are strewn with burst crackers. My balcony caught some flying remains of the patakhas and that too is littered...eeewwwww..that so pissed me off!

Junta, a safai abhiyaan is needed - Saathi haath badhana...

How mismatched are you?

2009-10-15T01:57:00.003+05:30

They say opposites attract. But, I have never been able to decide or judge this one. Im not sure whether two very different people attract each other or two like people attract each other or if such things do not matter at all!

At one level I would say why should opposites attract at all? Two people with entirely different set of interests and outlook in life...might not have much in common to get attracted to each other...isnt it? After all life is not all physics. On the other hand I can argue and say two people with like interests might not have much to offer to each other and might bore each other out faster...Strange and confusing...hmmmm.

So, how do we decide what works best for us? I know for example that my hubby and me are different in many many ways, but we are also similar in some ways. So, what does that make out of us? Attracted to each other or not?

Hubby and me have different ways of handling everyday issues and situations, but in the end we both want the same results. He may want to eat chinese and me Italian, but still we both want to have khaana bahar. He watches news and me Bigg Boss, but we still fill up each other on the stories/episodes we saw. He loves electronics and gadget shopping and me clothes, shoes, and ghar ka stuff...but in the end we both love shopping for our home. We have our share of dog and cat fights, but we also love each other. We argue and crib, but we also pamper and spoil each other.We love to disagree with each other, but sometimes we also agree and compromise in between.So, where do we stand? Matched or mismatched?

Maybe the laws of attraction are too simplistic...with 2 polar ends - one saying opposites attract and the other saying like attracts like. Maybe, what works is somewhere in between and depends on many factors- emotions, values, attitudes, beliefs, similarity, differences....

I leave you with this perfect song (lyrics and video) - Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul.
See the video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbknGnZXHUk

Baby seems we never ever agree
You like the movies
And I like T.V.
I take things serious
And you take 'em light
I go to bed early
And I party all night
Our friends are sayin'
We ain't gonna last

Cuz I move slowly
And baby I'm fast
I like it quiet
And I love to shout
But when we get together
It just all work out

I take-2 steps forward
I take-2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know-it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract

Who'd a thought we could be lovers
She makes the bed
And steals the covers
She likes it neat
And he makes a mess
I take it easy
Baby I get obsessed

She's got the money
And he's always broke
I don't like cigarettes
And I like to smoke
Things in common
Just ain't a one
But when we get together
We have nothin' but fun

I take-2 steps forward
I take-2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know-it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract

Baby ain't it somethin'
How we lasted this long
You and me
Provin' everyone wrong
Don't think we'll ever
Get our differences patched
Don't really matter
Cuz we're perfectly matched

We've come a long way...

2009-10-07T01:47:00.000+05:30

A few days back I was unpacking a suitcase from a recent trip. As I was taking clothes out, I realised this was the same bag that hubby had got from his hometown when we shifted to this new city (where we currently live).

Flashback: Hubby and me shifted to this city about 3+ years back and were just married. We were two lost people who decided to relocate, found jobs for ourselves in this city and arrived here. Hubby landed here with that one suitcase, which had some clothes and shoes. Well, me being a woman had more stuff (men out there don't even try reasoning this out...we women just NEED more things. OK. QED!)

3 + yrs down the line, his suitcase bought back so many memories and how we started our new life with just his 1 bag and some of my stuff. How we went house hunting, from one broker to another to find that one cosy place which we could call home. How we spent our evenings roaming the neighbourhood to see shops and what is available where. We knew absolutely nobody, not a single soul in this city, so things were tough.We googled like crazy to find each and everything we wanted to know about the city and what to buy from where. Our weekends were packed with exploring the city, shops, supermarkets. But, there was so much excitement back then, we were tired each day but we were always still looking forward to the next day and planned for it.

Setting up a house is fun but wears you out. I did things I had never dreamed of. Kitchen was a rather unfamilar territory for me till then. I tried my best to look up recipes to fix some grub. We could not get a gas connection for more than a month, so we had a tough tough time. Aate daal ka bhav pata lag gaya! Gosh! how true is that saying!! Life really makes us do things we never imagined we would! Never in my dreams i thought I would be haggling for aloo and pyaaz and free dhaniya patti. Cmon man! i used to hate those things. If mom ever asked me to get it for her, I would run miles...

Each passing day we realised we needed more things to live comfortably ...the furniture, the electronics, furnishings, kitchen stuff....you name it and we've done it! Its human...we just never stop. One thing leads to the next and so on...our wishes grew, we bought our own cars and our own house.

Today: when I look around, I see a whole big functioning, kicking home that we both have built for ourself. Our needs and fancies and nakhras kept growing each day. Now, we have people who help us run our home. The cook, the maid, the car wash guy, newspaperwallah, doodhwalah...everybody does their bit to make our home functional. We both are doing our bit. We come home to each other tired in the evenings and still talk about whats the next plan. Hubby makes sure im always on my toes. He is a spontaneous guy so that keeps the spark glowing and the mind ticking each day. Else, I would have had a numb mind after all the circus in the last 3 years!

In 3 years our life has completely changed! But, I wouldnt want it any other way! It would be too boring and bland. Setting up each and everything yourself and taking all your decisions yourself is such a high and a great life changing experience.

Today that one suitcase has grown so much, i couldnt have ever imagined. For us our home is the center of our lives right now. It is our action packed world. Who could have ever imagned what one suitcase can lead you to in life. But, we still have miles to go before we sleep....

In the fast lane...

2009-09-18T20:15:00.000+05:30

So, which lane do you drive in?
Right most...the fast lane? Is there anybody, anybody at all who uses another lane? Like the middle or the left lane?
No, we all love life in the fast lane and you may be on cycle, bus, car, bike, rick...any dam thing...9 out of 10 times you are in the right lane.

My sore point are the 2 wheeler guys in this city. All of them, just all... are driving in the right lane at maybe 30 or in the middle of the road, and you honk once and it has absolutely no effect on them. Not a muscle moves. And their special trait is you honk once dheere se requesting them---bhai sahab side de do...but that man is not moving and when you somehow dodge other vehicles and overtake from the wrong side, the 2 wheeler guy will scorn, give you the dirtiest look...and i just wonder...excuse me? weren't you supposed to move when i honked! why the hell are you even looking at me now! Oh! they force me to hurl the choicest of abuses.

These days im loosing it more and more while driving. Can we have citizen policing? Like I could report all trouble makers on the road breaking traffic rules or better still beat them up? Maybe at least show a fist to the pedestrians who prefer to walk in the middle of the road with their cellphones stuck to their ear. For god sake, you are on the road, and one of us is going to run over you! If not about yourself think abut the trouble I would have to go through for knocking you out!

Oh! as you can sense im so exasperated...and don't even make me get started about women driving 2 wheelers...they are the worst.

Happy 50th bday Doordarshan!

2009-09-15T20:27:00.000+05:30

Good ol Doordarshan turns 50 today...its been a long long run for it...and when I look back it makes me smile. DD holds a special place in my heart and my childhood memories are full of my fav DD shows.

Flashback: The GEMS OF DD
Remember when we used to get up on Sundays at 9am to watch Ramayan and Mahabharat...The entire neighborhood would be silent, everybody would be huddled up in their or their neighbours houses watching the epic. Sundays would also not be complete without Rangoli. We would wait and hope yaar aaj electricity nahi jaaye please god.

I never wanted to miss jungle book - jungle jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai, chaddhi pahan ke phool khila hai-phool khila hai... The popularity of this song is sooo sooo much that even today so many of us remember or hum it off and on. I even call one of my cats Mowgli.

My favourite ek chidiya anek chidiya and mile sur mera tumhara toh sur bane hamara. This was one video which always had me glued to the TV.

And of course Malgudi Days...Tana na tana na re...what music...and such simple stories but what an impact. What a following it enjoyed. The episodes took us right to the heart of South India.

Arey haan and Karamchandddd..with "sir your a genius" and "shut up kitty" and that gajar :) Do you remember how eagerly we used to wait for ' Vikram Vikram Vikram Vetal Vetal Vetal' with Arun Govil as Vikram & Liliput as Vetal. (Just last month I spoted a 10 CD pack of Vikram Betal at Crossword and quickly picked it up) And not to forget DD ka fav programme, which could be on anytime for however long - Rukawat ke liye khed hai :)

For us Indians some of the first soaps - Hum Log, Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, Buniyaad..nanhe, chutki, haveli ram. Those charaters will stay a lifetime with us. Then we had some memorable and historic serials like Tamas, Chanakya, Bharat Ek Khoj. Can any of us ever forget them? They dont make stuff like that anymore...what a pity!

And are you one of those who lost their heart to Salma Sultan? One of the first female news readers. That pretty face gave lots of viewers to News.

And i remember as a kid when DD went color...i think it was after/during the Asiad games...i remember watching it with a few neighbours and we all went waaahhh...color...and all we saw while tuning it were the color bands and we were so excited. And then there would be somebody on the terrace adjusting the antenna and we kids shouting from the drawing room....haan ho gaya...nahi thoda aur ghumao...haan abhi picture aa gayi :)

Gosh! its been a long long time...and in the last 30 yrs of my existence lots has changed...but that old world charm of DD still remains...Even today I would rush to hear/see - mile sur mera tumahara! DD thanks for entertaining a nation when there was nothing else to entertain us. Thanks DD for those evergreen gems you came up with. Thanks for giving me so many memories to lookback. DD you are the bestest ever and we love you. Tum jiyo hazaaron saal.

What you do with your money is only your business

2009-09-13T21:58:00.000+05:30

Austerity is the buzz word these days...Why is there such a big debate if 2 of our rich ministers were staying in 5 star hotels for the last 3 months and footing the bills themselves, out of their own pockets. So what? they have the money, they are rich and they want to live the life they like or are used to. They have the right to splurge their own money. Why should I, you, or any Tom, Dick, or Harry be bothered? Don't we all have a right to earn and spend our own money.

If we have to be bothered, we should be bothered about how and where the tax payers money is being spent. Is a 350 crore Shivaji statue really needed? Should we give away public funds to Mayawati to build her statues? Do we really have to pay for netas Z category security? Isn't your and my life as important as theirs? I am concerned why the exchequer has to pay for our netas and their families holidaying abroad.
Also, check out this post on how tax payers money is being abused.

If there has to be a debate, they should focus on issues that really concern the junta and how and where public funds are being spent. Citizens should have the right to ask and question any misuse of tax payers money. We give our money to the govt for the greater good of the nation. For better roads, educational institutes, infrastructure, border security. And we should be empowered to monitor all such initiatives.

But in our personal lives, what we do with our own money, where we eat, live, study, party out of our own money is our choice and our business...may it be you, me, a politician, a bollywood star...whoever.

I believe - have money...will spend :)

What the american said...

2009-09-08T23:56:00.000+05:30

This happened quite some time back, but its been stuck in my head forever.
My 60 year old american boss was in India for his annual official trip. The office always put him up at Le Meridian and gave him a chauffeured car to drive him to and back from work.

One day at lunch, the inquisitive american got talking about how people travel to work. Some of us get our cars and some use the office bus or public transport. And one smart alec suggested that he should try the bus one day...just for the 'fun of it'!! (I was thinking...bus and fun?? Ah! this firang is not going to like this.)

So, our white excited boss joins the gang who travel by bus for his 'India adventure'. He heads to the bus stop chirping away happily with the gang. But, as soon as he spots the bus he says- "But, this is for cattle". And everybody was dumbstruck...Ah! excuse me!! cattle? we cattle? oh yeah! Well, they all laughed it off, but, it has just remained in our heads every since.

I had really never heard that before - That is for cattle!!! Really to think of it, it sure is! But, in this country we really don't pay too much attention to how the general junta travels. Who cares how rita, nita, raju, xyz travels. Its considered enough that the state provides some form of cheap public transport, however lame it is. We really don't protest or demand for better public infrastruture or facilities. Millions of people travel in small, smelly, cramped, unhygenic, bumpy vehicles everyday. And we just dont think much about it. Its just too low down in our list of things to ask/demand for.
And it really took a firang to say those words and nail that in my head that we are cattle.

We the cheap lives.

2009-09-04T20:38:00.000+05:30

The huge media frenzy generated for YSR shook the entire nation. Everybody knows YSR overnight, inlcuding the so ignorant me! But, I was wondering why such a big hungama was generated. There have been several chopper crashes in the past and so may pilots have lost their lives....so what was new?

Stupid stupid me, of course I should know he was a politician and that makes him a mini god in this country and you and me are second rate citizens in our own country. So, in the last 3 days all we heard and saw on each and every channel and newspaper was just about YSR getting lost, YSR search operation, YSR's death, YSR's family, wife, power hungry son, and the succession struggle. Did you even hear about the other 4 brave people on board who also went down with YSR? Were their lives not as important and worthy enough? Do those 4 people have no families? Have they not done anything worth remembering in their personal and professional lives? Do we even know their names? Just because they were ordinary citizens like you and me, so their life or death doesnt deserve any airspace?

Sonia ji calls up and visits YSR's family, declares 7 day mourning, gives a state funeral. All the journos are counting the good deeds of YSR and making a bigger than life hero out of him and nobody even dedicating 2 kind words for those other 4 people. (On another note, the hero image of YSR sounds very strange considering the warlord backgrouod he and his dad enjoyed. Read this old TOI article (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/782107.cms).

No doubt, we lost a life, but we didnt loose 1 life, we lost 5 human lives and we need to get to the root of what happended and why? I dont care for a politician loosing his life. I care that 5 humans lost their lives in very sad and terrible way! It hurts to see why 1 person is glorified and the other 4 lives are not even talked or acknowledged by the media. Shame on the media!

The government defends itself and says that the chopper had technical flaws earlier and thats why it was always used to trains pilots. Excuse me!!! does that mean that pilots lives are cheap and their lives could be played around with? If it would have crashed with trainee pilots, it would have been dismissed as just another petty case like the scores that have happened before! My sympathies lie with the pilots who were forced to fly to their deaths. Can you ever imagine ISRO, sukois, US satellites searching for a chopper with some XYZ trainee pilot in it?

Where are we as a nation heading? It is pathetic the way lives are treated in this country (unless its a politican's life). How can we differentiate among people's death? After all death is death..its the same for you and me or some YSR! How can we glorfy the lives and death of certain people and ignore the rest. Everybody has a life and a family and they mean the world to them. But, class, status, and how famous you are dictate the kind of respect you earn not only in your lifetime, but also when you die.

Sadly, yours, mine, and the scores of pilots who have died training in those technically faulty choppers lives come cheap. Yes, we are India, we are the cheap cheap lives and people of this country.
RIP all the 5 people who lost their lives serving the nation.

Such people do exist!

2009-08-29T11:11:00.000+05:30

This one is another anecdote from my trip to Mysore last month.
I met this 50 something gentleman who teaches in the engineering college in Mysore. Nothing out of the ordinary right? A professor earning his living in the sleepy town of Mysore...now what really took me away was, when I asked him his background and where he had studied from. His reply really surprised me, coz we don't really meet people like him anymore these days...at least not in our generation.

This gentleman had done his engineering from the prestigious IIT and had even earned his PHD from IIT and had done some commendable research in his subject area. Guys, this chap was pure unadulterated brain! And after all this all he wanted to do was live in sleepy Mysore with his wife, and share his knowledge with young enthusiastic minds. For some of us, this may seem very illogical or impractical, or just not being in step with the world and times. But for him this was life and that too the kind he wanted! Simple. Who are we to judge?

But, as soon as we got out of that place, I turned to my husband and said - what the heck is he doing here? I mean the world is out there for him! I wondered what really fascinated him about his middle class life, a nagging wife, a sleepy town, his lifestyle, his struggle to build a house, everyday challenges of commuting on public transport?? I mean aren't those the very things that all of us want to escape and so we go for 'bigger' and 'better' things in life?

That set me thinking...really how many of us today, would choose a relatively unknown, quiet, sober life for ourself, when we could have the world at our feet. When armed with the best qualifications and brain we could have the best opportunites for us anywhere in the world, then why would you or me ever choose to leave the worldy things and live a quiet life in a sleepy little town? How many of us would leave a good flashy, globe trotting lifestyle, money making opportunites and choose a mundane life full of struggle?

Well, maybe a lot needs to be said about the younger generation and their aspirations. Maybe we need to revisit our whole value system today and ask what drives us and why? At what point did we take a different direction form our predecessors? Yes, the world is a different place today than it was a few years ago, but our basics are still the same. But, still such people as the professor exist and proudly chose the life they want and like.

Jaago press jaago!

2009-08-26T19:34:00.000+05:30

Is there nothing happening in the country, in the world today? Nothing worth talking or reporting about? The only thing splashed on every news channel is - Salman Khan jumping onto the IPL bandwagon!

Hello! give me a break!! What the hell is happening to journalism? I can imagine an India TV or Aajtak running this news for the next 4 days...but no! each and every news channel only has Sallu bhai, Hamare pyar salman khan...and in how many movies hes played cricket or even looked at a bat and ball!! No wonder, nowdays people view news channels for entertainment! I hear this so often now -Kahin kuch accha nahi aa raha toh news channel laga lo...ample entertainment!

NDTV and IBNs of the world I want to know:
the latest on the Mayawati statue issue...there is supposed to be some more activity on that
details on the dossier India sent to Pakistan and what happened
the reality behind Karkare's killing
when is the juduciary thinking of hanging Kasab. I cannot pay tax to feed him anymore.
the proofs and reasoning that the cops have against people picked and labelled terrorists.
the latest on the education reforms.
how the government is going to deal with the muthalik's of this country.
what happend to the Shiney Ahuja case. I want to see him hanged if he is proved guilty.
how well the government is equipped to tackle the swine flu and other virus/health hazards.
what the economists are saying about achieving 9% growth.
if the economists are hinting that the recession is over.
about the latest technologies that can benefit me and make my life better.
more on farmer loans and how the govt is helping their families and preventing suicides.
why its not being made mandatory for judges to reveal their assets.

Believe me the list is endless, I havent even gone anywhere near the international scene! . Today every citizen of this country wants to know the truth, the details of everything. Press is the fourth pillar of democracy and sad to see how they play around with their duty and make a joke out of it! What a shame!

**Gosh! in the ad break I just saw movie trailers being played on 2 news channels!** I can't take this anymore, maybe saas bahu saga is more bearable! Switch to colors or something!

Birthday cheer around the house

2009-08-22T22:58:00.000+05:30

I had another birthday last week...got another year older...friends reassured me...ur only as old as you think and stuff like that...but getting on to the other side of 30 is actually great! Im loving it...im more free, more confident, more experienced, more grounded, more happy, more ME...yeah :) Its good people, its dam good!

This year hubby surprised me! He's not the romantic/ mushy types who would say sweet nothings, come up with thoughtful gifts, surprises, or shower me with compliments, but this time he started the birthday celeb a day ahead. When I came back home from work in the evening...i was just standing in my room with my mouth and eyes both wide open....this is what I saw on the bed and my hubby jumped out from behind the curtains to surprise me with a song.

Awww..I was so touched...and then laughed like crazy to see him do such acts...i never imagined him to do such things! he knows i like flowers and this brightened my evening. I still have this in one corner...but shall have to do away with it tomorrow..they are so wilted now :(

Absolute bliss..and then retail therapy followed...aaah! who am i to complain..the shops and shopping was great, everything was perfect! How could we forget the cake! hubby had ordered my favourite choco walnut cake on the D day. I even got a musical candle (made in china...im quite wary of made in china things!) nevertheless I had fun blowing that too. Guys! but that dam music doesn't stop till you cut a wire in it...yea it can get embarrassing/irritating after a while

To top it, the strangest birthday gift ever arrived...Although, I loved it...but just did not expect it for a birthday. The new dining arrived nicely packed and the store guys fixed it.

It goes very well with the decor and now i have a big big task-to dispose off the old dining table and the chairs! But, i love this one and complimented hubby on his choice. Hes improved a lot being with me :) There was a time when I was so afraid when he wanted to do some home improvement...guess now I can take his suggestions!

The flower vase is also a gift from a friend.

We also added some light to one corner in the living to make it more warm and cozy. The green vase, the flowers were all chosen and arranged by hubby. My next post shall be written from there. Oh! I am so loving it!

We finished the day with some good dinner and music!

Hey! wait...i just remembered I didn't get one of those big Archies greeting cards... the really big ones, which compete with my 5 feet tall frame...hmmm..i have a reason to complain..and i shall lodge it pronto with hubby dear.

Mr Prasad, is you daughter cattle?

2009-08-20T12:33:00.000+05:30

On a recent trip to Mysore, I met Mr Prasad at a relative's place. Mr. Prasad is sort of a local influential person out there, or at least he said so. (I would say he was the local moral police). The kind of guy who would tell people what is wrong and right, sort out petty domestic issues, get the neighbourhood kids admitted to engineering colleges with lesser donation, etc, So, you basically get the drift about the kind of person he is (hes the kind im allergic to!!)...okay read on then...

Well, he boasted about himself endlessly...later about his family - his wife (homemaker), his son (engineer in the making), and his daughter( sitting @ home after completing her MBA). He added his son is studying electrical engineering...and quickly asked which stream of engineering I had done...to which i said - none. I'm not an engineer, I had a masters in sociology. He looked disappointed to hear that and quipped what was sociology and what could I do with it. He was also surprised how I had found a job in an big IT company...maybe my dad's influence...hmmm and then said - aap dilliwalon ki baat hi kuch aur hai!! (Wow! what was i supposed to make out of that??) anyway im confused, i smile ...i move on.

I asked him about his daughter. This is what he had to say:
She is a good and pretty girl.
She has completed her MBA and now at home.
She is waiting to get married.
We are searching for a good engineer match for her.
We are collecting a good dower for her.
She is learning how to run a home under her mom's supervision right now.
She has mastered cooking.
She goes to the temple regularly with her mom.

Well so much for who his daughter was...I asked why she was @ home and not working in Mysore or nearby Bangalore, where most young boys and girls have moved to for work. He added...I have educated her...that was my duty and now it is the time for her to learn household jobs and keep herself ready for marriage. Sending her to work will corrupt her and she will meet all sorts of people which might not be good for her (ladki barbaad ho jayegi). Moreover, sending an unmarried girl away to Bangalore is a no no...city girls these days are too much. We read about them in the papers..to which I wanted to say quite a few things to him about his sense of morality and right and wrong...well, i did not. My husband was giving me very uncomfortable looks and praying I don't start off...and since it was his relative's place i shut up so that i don't embarrass them!

He said as soon as he finds a good match he will marry her off and be relieved...u know the types who would say beti ki shaadi kar ke ganga nahaunga...just that Ganga doesnt flow in Karnataka...thank god for that! (gosh! is she after his life right now...that she must be thrown out asap!!...I was getting so mad at him). He added when she gets married it is up to her husband and in laws to decide what has to be done with her...if they want her to work she will work and if they want her to run the house she will do that. He was very clear that as soon as she gets married she will be settled in life and its none of his business anymore and she is her husband's property and he will dictate what has to be done with her!

By this time I had lost it! I mean did he think his daughter was cattle to be given away loaded with jewellery, lots of cash, TV, AC, utensils and what not...when she is out of his shed in somebody else's shed, she becomes his property and then he doesnt give a dam! She was like a puppet who would dance to her new family's tune. For him his daughter settling down in life was she getting married, preparing idli dosa, having 4 children!

There are so so many such people in this country, who still have well defined places for women and make them abide their rules and stay within boundaries. Scores of Mr. Prasads all over this country have laid out the rules in their homes, communities, and neighbourhoods. Lakhs of women in this country have been forced or conditioned to believe and accept the roles that their 'masters' have carved out for them. The whole concept of getting settled in life differs for men and women. Men are settlled when they get a good job and start getting good cash home. Women are settled when they find a good husband and get married. Till then Mr. Prasad rules and then another Mr. Prasad in the form of the husband takes over! It is a vicious cycle, which produces more and more Mr. Prasads who trade in cattle each day!

Sometimes u gotta stand up & do what is right

2009-08-18T23:40:00.000+05:30

So, what right did i do today? hmmm...ive got thinking to do on that one...as simple a question it may seem, it might be a difficult one for some of us.

There is a brave and coward inside each one of us. And there is a constant dialogue that goes on between them and one wins. So when does the brave me win and muster up enough courage to do the right thing at the right time? Maybe some of these are truly brave-

The person who is determined to stand up for what he/she thinks is right and can speak his/her mind out.
The person who starts life from scratch, when all is lost. Think of all the war widows and how they put together their torn lives.
The person fighting cancer and not letting the pain and agony show up on his/her face and carry on with life like any other day. Read what being brave and will power can do http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/08/10/brave-cancer-sufferer-to-raise-cash-for-charity-72703-24361469/
A journalist reporting from war torn Iraq beacuse he/she believes in the power of truth and making people aware of reality.
What about women in Afghanistan and Iran..aren't they brave enough to bear what they are today bearing or are they cowards to bear what they are bearing. (read this interesting bit - http://www.global-sisterhood-network.org/content/view/2191/59/).
The NYC Firemen who were going up the WTC stairs to save lives while everybody else was rushing down. Well, back home our NSG commandos, who did an incrediable job during the Mumbai Taj attack. Now, they are all truly men of honor.
The soldiers who bid goodbye to their wives and children and go to the border, knowing they might never see their families again.
The girl who says no to a marriage in exchange of a fat dowry, specially relevant to our Indian social system where marrige is the cornerstone of a girl's life. I salute all those women who have raised their voice aginst this evil system and have gone against the stiff social norms and rules.
The spouse who stands up against his/her abusive partner and fights the system with or without help.
All rape victims who to start with come forward to lodge police complaints and fight for their dignity and honor.
Or maybe something as simple as to speak the truth.

Yes, we all need to get up each day and do the right thing and be brave coz one who is brave is truly free!

Court ruling: Maybe we need to learn something

2009-08-17T14:03:00.000+05:30

Remember the guy who got on a plane in the US with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Although, I do not entirely agree with the foreign policy of US and the way they deal with terrorism on many ocassions. But there is lots we need to learn from that country. This is one such instance that should wake up our judicial system...Jaago!!! Read below for the verdict.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for therecord, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below: January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.Judge Young:
'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you..On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Courtimposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 toAmerican Airlines.The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the lawrequires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.'You are no big deal.What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say.

Only, what I am not is an Indian

2009-08-16T14:58:00.000+05:30

I was born in India, grew up here, stayed all my life here, but who am I?

I keep quiet when I see crime against women and children.
I keep quiet when I see rampant corruption and politicians manipulating the system.
I still look for quotas or some reservation to take me forward in life.
I give away my hard earned money to a certain behenji to erect her statues all over the country.
I hate the system, but do not vote, coz it is too hot to stand in the queue outside the polling booth.
I love to criticise the government machinery, but never want to become a part of it.
I stay indoors when there is a natural disaster and people need a helping hand.
I pay bribes to the traffic cop to let me go when I jump a light.
I hate standing in lines at the passport and RTO offices, so catch hold of agents and grease all the palms in the food chain.
I keep quiet when hindus kill muslims and muslims kill hindus.
I keep quiet when churches are burnt and mosques pulled down.
I get scared of fanatic groups on Valentines Day and stay away.
I keep quiet when I see the 16 year old maid's daughter being married off.
I do not want to rent out my house to people belonging to certain religious groups.
I make a face at the mannerisms, culture, food of people from the other parts of the country.
I have nicknames for people coming from other regions and I harden the regional lines.
I buy international brand products more than i buy a tata or a bajaj.
I quietly see our education system being played with by politicians who are far away from the pulse of the people.
I can but don't opt for programmes like each one teach one that can benefit the society, coz my weekends are for the mall, clubs, parties, movies.
I keep quiet when I see environemt being raped in the name of development.

62 years of independence and still grappling with basic questions...

I am everything Hindu, Muslim, Christian, SC, ST, OBC, tribal, north indian, south indian, maharastrian... Only what I am not is an Indian. Are you any different?

Oh! to be a child again...

2009-08-14T18:41:00.000+05:30

If you have grown up in India, you know this one by heart -
Jab mein chota baccha tha, badi shararat karta tha,
meri chori pakdi jaati.....

Childhood is the most special time of our lives....What do you think when you think of your childhood? what images, thoughts come to your mind? Many many many...everyone is flooded with different childhood memories, but yet they are all so alike...Some of my favourite ones-

Hating to get up in the morning to go to school...Result being dragged out after all the loving polite reminders.

Dozing off in the loo, only to be woken up every time when mom would bang on the door. I was deaf to knocking...sorry could never hear it!

Running after the school bus..(see i told you sleeping in the loo can be bad)
School bags, homework, the favourite and hated teacher (hated the arithmetic teacher forvere and always!). Oh! how did i forget my favourite water bottle, fancy pencils, pencil boxes, the smell of new books and copies...aaah! i just loved it :)

Coming back to yummy home made food..sluurrrpppp
Play time in the evenings, cycling, board games...there really were no video games at my time...thank god for that!

Fights with my younger brother and my parents trying to calm us down and the ocassional spankings that we both got..he he..so much fun now to think of it...although we hated and howled about it then! Wow! time has a great way of changing at how we look at things!
Ya, of course the international bookfairs that papa took us to! he got me lot n lots of wonderful books always...no wonder he is an educationist. And of course the picnics...zoo, museums, parks, fairs...oh! i loved them all!

Hey! yes the birthday parties, when we wore our best new dresses, cut the cake, and waited for the gifts...aahhh...those days! couldnt wait to open the gifts...and hoped people would go back home soon, so I could have my time with MY gifts...Mom, dad you should have let me open the gifts as soon as somebody gave them to me...that way I would have never waited for the guests to leave ASAP!!

My summer vacations, the most eagerly awaited 2 months of the year. Last day before vacations, when we happily wished everyone Happy Holidays (polite way of saying good riddance to you for 2 months, dont show me your face again!) My summer vacations are flooded with memories of boarding a train and visiting my granparents place, farms, climbing trees and scraping knees, mangoes, litchis, playing with cousins, making friends with farm animals, roaming the fields, fishing, fetching water from the village well, taking a dip in the lake, counting stars lying on the open terrace with cool breeze touching my face, my granpa's clinic, his garden which he used to take great care of, my granma's stories.
Those were the days my friends...thought they would never end...aaahhh this is endless... I dearly miss those days!

Wow! this turned to be a good exercise...i feel like yesterday once again with a song on my lips and a lighter fluffier child ike heart :)

But what about men?

2009-08-12T18:14:00.000+05:30

I was watching Sach ka Saamna - our Indian version of Moment of Truth on TV last night where this big fat lady probably in her early 50s, on the hot seat confessed that she beats up her husband (a thin short fellow)...her reason was that his sarcasm irritates her...so she beats him up!!! Well, she didn't seem to have any remorse or guilt or apologies ...she was right there saying it on national TV for some moolah - yes i do beat him coz his attitude bugs me!!! And all the husband had to say - she can do what she wants, I have never touched her! Wow!! i mean what an arrangement! Why the heck is that frail guy taking all this shit!

Husband bashing is a reality...men may shy away, protect their honor, egos...but men ARE being increasingly bashed up in homes, more so in Indian homes. I have read about such incidents, but seeing a woman confess it on TV yesterday really set my mind thinking. Women are becoming aggressive and venting it out. There are more and more reports these days of wives taking the iron rod in their hands. Gone are the days when we only heard of wives being beaten or tortured. Should we say now women are the power centers in homes...some would say they always have been :)

Related to this, I read an article last week in the newspaper...a social organization, maybe it was some NGO, of married men who are holding a meet in Shimla on 15th August (India's independence day) to declare independence from their wives and to think and discuss what makes wives into vampires within 6 months of marriage!!! Are you laughing reading this bit...i too did initially...I read this bit out to my hubby, who stared at me and asked me whether this was a joke..and i was no...this is serious buddy!

Times are changing and men are raising their voice against lop sided rules and laws. Making their scars visible and forming associations, running helplines, seeking help. We are living in a violent aggressive world and the reasons are plenty...the home is the battleground of the sexes and the fight is on...

When was the last time you played Monopoly?

2009-08-09T20:46:00.000+05:30

Gosh! it was ages ago for me...and i was so so super delighted when we went window shopping today and ended up buying Monopoly from a bookstore. My hubby was a bit taken back why I couldn't stop talking about it and I was in a hurry to get back home...I just kept telling him..babe you have to play this...I just cant wait to unwrap and get my hands on it...I was happy like a kid who got her fav game on her bday as a present :)

We played for 2 hours and finally had to quit it midway, as it was past dinner time and hubby's tummy was growling! and of course who else, but yours truly won :) yayyy!! yayyy! yayyy! yayyy!
oh! i can sleep like a happy contented child today!
A well spent Sunday and Goodnitie everyone!

Sunday morning...

2009-08-09T14:41:00.001+05:30

Sunday mornings are special. We have ample time to prepare some good breakfast! yippeeee!!! The weekdays are a rush rush with cornflakes, bread, buns and the like...sunday is pancake, yummy stuffed omlettes, baked beans, baked cheeze sandwiches, parathas...aaah!! life is so good on Sundays :)
To top it...its a lovely day outside today. See, what bloomed in one of the pots today...just added more color to the day. I told you Sundays are good...