Tryst with Terror

Mumbai, the commercial city of India is currently reeling under the after math of history’s worst terror attacks. The city was under siege by gun-toting murderers, well-trained terrorists loaded with arms and ammunition: grenades, pistols, AK 47. 6 with 8 to 9 magazines, explosives etc. Any country’s worst nightmare has come true.

Mumbai has suddenly captured the minds and imagination of the world. It became international news and followed up closely across countries. The world has expressed solidarity with Mumbai and we Indians, grieved along with Mumbai and partook in its moments of grief. I was engaged with my Semester-III exams, had oodles of portion to finish and yet I could not take my eyes off the dramatic footages of the News Channels: NDTV and CNN IBN. Images of people running helter and skelter, cowering and ducking behind walls for protection, lying helplessly on roads, I had seen a man crawling on the road. None of us, or at least I could reconcile myself to this brutal reality staring in my face for sometime. It looked like a Mani Shankar or Ram Gopal Verma’s action movies. It is touted to be India’s 9/11 because of the magnitude of the collateral damage it caused. In this year alone, as far as I can remember, there have been not less than 5 terrorist attacks (bomb blasts) and the country was helpless and hopeless. The smug belief that we are ‘safe’ is finally shattered. Our sense of security appears bleak and the façade is indeed broken! Malls, Parks, Markets and now Five Star Hotels and Restaurants, Residential complexes – none of it is spared! I see the terrorists attacking the Nariman house, a complex housed by Jewish ilk and I’m afraid that tomorrow, the complex that I live in, might be under attack by terrorists or any miscreants, more so because my apartment is on the main road. I couldn’t help but place myself in the situation. If it can happen in Mumbai, it can happen anywhere in India. You go to a restaurant to have dinner, a shopping mall, market and not sure if you will come back home alive.The turbulent time has declared its hegemony over us. I crouch at the thought of waking up to a morning where I have to run for my life. Being gunned by terrorists at a Railway Station is the last thing on every travellers mind. The instance actually manifested on 27 Nov, 08 at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus. I was there, two years ago, boarding a train to Hyderabad from Mumbai. Deserted and vacant roads are the last thing, one will find in Mumbai. The crowd was bursting at seams in the railway station. I loved that hustle bustle, typical of a railway station. Passengers, coolies, channa battani hawkers and everybody going about their business. The empty CST was staring at me stupefied from the TV footage that was playing.

I have seen terror attacks; the ruthless bomb blasts at Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi (twice) and we perhaps have become immune to terror. Every other day, you get to read a bomb blast and it soon became a common phenomenon. But the one that happened in Mumbai, which caused large scale damage, had beaten the breath out of me. My anxiety stems from the fact that Mumbai is one place that is close to my heart. My dalliance with Mumbai can be harked back to Jan 2007, when I had alighted in this HUGE city for a seminar, along with my history mam and one of my close friend’s Joyce. Mumbai evokes happy and proud memories as I was representing my college from Hyderabad at Mumbai. We spent three full days and two nights there. The moment I stepped out of the railway station, the first thing that caught me was the sight of the taxis. A city that I saw till yesterday on the TV had become a reality at that moment. The tangible factor, the very infrastructure corroborates the fact that it is a metropolitan city. Wide roads, tall buildings, huge bill boards greet you. We attended the seminar at Sophia college on Bulabai Desai road and the building just opposite to the to the college fascinated me. It resembled the Empire State Building at New York. It also sometimes referred to as mini New York by few. The sprawling city of Mumbai for me is a symbol of DREAMS and FREEDOM. Joyce and I were far from being nostalgic about Hyderabad. We were so in love with the city that we did not wanted to return when the time for departure had come. I had actually asked my mam to leave us here. But jokes apart, I was smitten by the city. I’m a true Hyderabadi to the core. Having said that, when I was in Bombay, Hyderabad appeared as a small town. Though my brought up was from the main stream city, I felt like a small town girl at Mumbai. We hired taxis to travel from college to shopping and from shopping to the convent. I sat next to the driver in the front seat while mam and Joyce perched at the back seat. I was in awe of the huge buildings as almost all buildings comprised floors that ranged from 15 to 20 on an average. The amusing part was that I began to count the number of the floors, when the taxi halted in the traffic and I got a panoramic view as I was sitting in the front. The driver along with Joyce and mam were in splits. It tickles my funny bone even at this moment as I’m narrating this event. I was very naughty and mam and Joyce had a tough time in keeping pace with my energy levels. My visit to Mumbai is rife with some pleasant experiences. The people were hospitable and so were the taxi drivers. There was not even a hint of deception and an effort made to take us for a ride as we were new. My mam strictly ordered Joyce and me to not to speak in Telugu, our native language. But it was obvious that anyone could figure out that we were new by the way we were moping about places. We visited places like Dhadar, Wadi, Crawford Street, Gandhi mart, Church gate etc. However, we couldn’t cover all places as there was barely any time left and we had pre-booked our tickets. Mumbai will always remain one of my favourite places though its image is now tarnished by terrorists. They might have tarnished the image but it is not irreparable. I always wanted to visit Mumbai again as I had not seen all the places and I will surely visit Mumbai again. Despite all this chaos, confusion, fear of terror, violence and loss, my love for the place will take me to the place. Mumbai will continue to be the happening metropolis and the commercial city of India.

Thus we fall, we rise and life goes on until we are shaken by another attack and this seems like a never ending vicious cycle. We are a population of one billion and I want to see how many will the terrorists suceed in killing? Damage done to property will be repairable but the wounds and trauma of the victims will never heal; it will leave them scarred forever. My deep condolences and commiserations to the sons of the soil: Cops and NGS Commando’s who gave their lives for country’s sake and three cheers to the NGG Commando’s for their painstaking efforts that reaped success in the operations executed against the terrorists.

What men want??

“You are a man-hater”! quipped one of my friends: A, who is a guy. He made this statement after reading one of my posts: Beleaguered Buddies; where I delineated some of the things that bring a bunch of men together. I had put it men bond over “fagging, boozing, watching porn stuff, sharing mms’s, rating figures, sharing their sexual prowess etc”. The very name of the post indicates it’s about friends and of all the statements and pleasant things I wrote about, one statement that left a lasting impression is the one mentioned above. It suffused him to an extent that might smother him. If REALITY smothers you, then you inordinately need a reality check.

I had not made this inadvertent statement out of vacuum, this is a ground reality we all live with and have to acquiesce, whether we like it or not. It’s comprehensible if one acquiesces and rebels in the same breadth but what if one one only wants to rebel without acquiescing the reality. I postulated the statement NOT out of my wishful thinking but out of experience. It is implicit that most of us, working professionals spend an integral part of the day at work. Work definitely teaches us good and bitter lessons in experience.One gets to correspond with people of different cultures, mindsets, background; and there is exchange of knowledge, ideas, thoughts, opinions which are variable; and yes of course you get to study the habits of a person too; at times, it takes a single encounter and sometimes it takes a couple of encounters. For instance, you have just welcomed someone new into your team and on the same day, you go out for a break with your friend and cross paths with the newcomer who is smoking to glory along with some of his friends. There is another instance, where you as a new comer have been seeking the help of a kind senior since few months, and one day you notice him gleaming over pix of some voluptuous actresses in his mobile along with his other male colleagues. I have interacted with men at some seminars, work for the most part, apart from relatives as till my Grads I studied in all girls’ convent school and college. Thus, workplace is where I have seen, observed and made note of some of the fascinations men indulge in. Closer home, Pa doesn’t smoke and drink but yes some of my uncles do smoke and drink occasionally. Such specimens are a part of our life, we cannot dismember as it’s apparent that we do find a few, if not all in our extended families.

I’m both an orthodox and an out-going person. However, more of the former than the latter. Therefore the orthodox side of me looks upon smoking, fagging and such habits with disdain and contempt. I acknowledge that just because a guy smokes or drinks, that doesn’t make him an immoral person. But life is not built on frivolous, needless and material things; life is built on habits and thus on CHARACTER. My friend A and I got into a heated argument over this. Holding a mirror to people (men in this case) and portraying reality as it is, does not imply that I’m a man-hater. When I retorted and bludgeoned his moves by saying that I have seen nude pix of women in one of my male colleagues phone, who is a married man and how do you justify that? He went white in the face for a moment and started defending his stance by saying that I should not have seen his mobile, in the first place. What bilge is he ranting? I was twirling through his contacts for a colleagues contact number, in his mobile, before him and happened to see the wall paper. When I had said that he stated what’s wrong in pursuing such a fascination? Whether it is a fascination to get a high in bed or whether it is good, bad or ugly, it is true that men do have a good time over these fascinations. I also concede that there are a good percentage of men who do not indulge and we women will root for them but for the most part they DO and this is corroborated by men themselves and who else would know it better? Ask them.

This post is definitely not a meaningless vindication of the previous post but a vindication to open minds to reality; for people like my friend. Posts, write-ups, articles are all up there for public dissections and interpretations. But condemning reality is ridiculous! Doing is one thing and denying is another. I seethed over the appalling statement of my friend and the unfairness of it all. And for those, who might be wondering if being a feminist connotes hating men; it’s a misconception to be thrown out of the window.I’m a feminist and a feminist is someone who advocates equal rights for women, to look upon men and women as equals. Having said that, in feminism, there are radical, Marxist, liberal feminists etc. Radical feminism is hating men as my friend has panned me for; these feminists want to do away with men. I’m a liberal feminist who calls for parity among men and women.

PS: Keep your thoughts, ideas, opinions, jibes and comments coming in.

Marriage, Mayhem and Melee

“Marriages are made in heaven” goes a popular statement that resonates with most of us and induces a smug belief of UTOPIA: an ideal institution. It is this perception that busted the bubble! If divorce rates are anything to go by, the magnitude of divorces in India is proliferating by the day.

Conservative India has perpetually been a marriage obsessed society. Despite all the vociferous voices that claim: our society has outgrown the notion of an arranged marriage, arranged marriages however remain the order of the day in the contemporary scenario. 80 out of 100 marriages in India can be pigeon holed as arranged. The prospective bride and groom are mere pawns who are compelled to dance to the directions of their parents; what if either s/he is in love with someone else? Why are the parents not getting him or her married to partners of their own choice? Ostensibly the partner could be from a different caste, class, religion or perhaps not good enough for their parents. The outcome: a compromise not for one but two because the other partner’s expectations are dashed to the ground as s/he becomes a part of someone’s life for who marriage is a compromise. Nevertheless love marriages aren’t a bed of roses either.

Both love and arranged marriages come with its pros and cons. If both sorts of marriages are collapsing, what are the reasons for the decline? One of the reasons for the mayhem of this sacrosanct institution is EXPECTATIONS. Couples plunge into the relationship with expectations and assuming notions. When the partner fails to live up to his/her expectations, hell breaks loose. Few are pushed into wedding when they least expect it and therefore aren’t prepared. What if there are other priorities like higher studies and career for him/her? What if s/he is keen to pursue their priorities? This again tarnishes expectations of the other partner. Gender equation has changed radically over the years. There were times when man was the sole bread winner; today it’s a tantalizing role reversal: women are financially liberated and extremely opinionated. In the modern scenario, it’s the lack of adjustment and ego clashes that propels a divorce in most cases. Divorce lawyers state that 7 out of 10 cases cite grounds of fighting over trivial issues; from sharing responsibilities and chores at home to making a small compromise with career. For instance, in a case, a husband wanted his wife to resign and join him in another state on account of his transfer. However, the wife refused to comply and the rest as we know is reality.

The other reasons for divorce include extra marital relations, domestic violence, an incurable disease and impotency. Impotency is quite a negligent issue in India. Women are afraid to open up and come out with the problem. But getting nervous will not help matters, clear conversation might. My friend’s cousin got married to a guy who was impotent and when asked as to why he did that, he did not have an answer. The girl went into pieces and took a long time to recover. But I’m happy she is divorced. Why are people adamant on shattering some innocent person’s life? Such a person can only be an animal. It is a sound mind, emotions and a heart that differentiates a human from an animal. There are two schools of thought for extra marital affairs. One advocates that if a husband is inflicting violence, there’s nothing wrong if his wife looks for love in another man’s arms. Another advocates that an extra marital affair is an aberration. The latter will attract dissenting views from the former saying that if people are not happy in a marriage, should they continue to suffer in silence? But what about those who are content with their nuptial life and yet take to extra marital affairs? Then I definitely think it is an aberration.

Marriage, a bond that binds two individuals together, till death does them apart, has been reduced to a melee in todays volatile times; but who is making it a convoluted institution? It is US. Have people adopted a zero tolerance attitude that they can’t stand a slight flaw in their spouse? I think Marriage is not about looking for someone who completes you but it’s about someone who shares your completeness. Marriage is a union of two good forgivers!

A Pompous Poem

This is another poem that I ferreted out of the rummage in the book shelf. Some friends are inexorably tied to you and one such friend of mine is Sarah who wrote this poem on me. I know that I make for an irresistible buddy but I never thought even in my wildest dream that someone can write a poem on me. In this world where most of us are self-centered, having friends like Sarah is a blessing. I must say that she is an epitome of altruism- a selfless person. I always admonish her not to be overtly sweet lest people will exploit her. She only nods her head with a smile :-)

There is a girl called Carol and she is my friend
When she laughs, there seems no end

She is very friendly
And she has eyes which are deadly

She has a lovely smile
And she merry all the while

Naughty? You might ask if she is
I bet she is more than anyone else is

About her what should I say?
She is very particular about her bay

She is a very sweet person
Who helps without asking for a reason

I’m glad I found a friend like her
And this poem to her I proudly deliver.

Thanks a ton Sarah for the Wonderful poem! It never fails to amaze me every time I read it. Keep rocking!!

He Satiates Me...

Most of us shy away from writing about God because we are afraid that there will not be any takers for our blog. What if I will be labelled as a maniac? What if people just overlook my Blog? What if my peers don’t acquiesce me? These are some of the questions that run through our minds. Perception of God varies from a person to person.The juvenile Gen X/Youngistan believes that God is for the senile/grey-haired ilk-something you turn to when you retire and when you are relieved of all your responsibilities in life. For some God manifests through rituals; they follow rituals blindly even if that makes no sense. There are some for whom God is confined to Sundays, festivals, hard times, exams and so on. Then there are those who worship God out of fear, they believe that if I don’t follow this (a ritual, a custom), perform a puja, don’t live a good life, I will see God’s wrath.

But what if God wishes to be your friend and thereby becomes your friend? Someone who walks with you in your life, someone who makes wonders and helps you surmount obstacles and blesses you abundantly. Would you not talk about him? I’m a practicing Christian. However Christianity is more of a way of life than as a religion, a doctrine and an ideology. Let me not connote further. Below is a poem that I found in the rummage of my book shelf. I wrote this POEM when in class X, when I was down-in-the-dumps. Read on...

Lying on the couch and gazing
At the black clouds, makes
my predicament more miserable
makes me feel like a poor Lamb.

A Lamb that’s certainly not lost
But a Lamb that feels secluded
Even among a great herd of Lambs
in the deep dark forest

I wonder so often, is life all
a bed of thorns? Happiness
seems to elude me, every time I
try to be and that is the tragedy

A colossal of troubles, catastrophes,
miseries, I have gone through in life
so massive! Like the innumerable
Stars in the sky at night.

The injustice that happened
many a times, the pain and
the hurt my loved ones gave
me, when not anticipating…

This is so pensive, I know…
and the one who reads this
will certainly write me off
as a poor thing but think again!

I’m NOT as there is this
someone who doesn’t let
me fall, eveytime I trip
he never let me went astray

He who holds my fingers and makes
me tread the thorny paths in life
he, who understood me, whose
love is so abundant, so pure…

His love for me is so overflowing
that made me wonder struck
such love never have I found
not even in my parents, my friends…

He who said “I’m there”
his promises ever so true
he, who moulded me,
who was a solace in trying times

How can I forget the wonderful
Lessons of life he taught me,
The risks to take in life, to stand
Up for what I believe is right

I’m not me today without
him, the bold, self-assured
confident person I’m today is
because of him who lives in me

Yes! It’s my great, beloved
Friend: Jesus! The almighty!
And now I wonder what a fool I was
to pity myself as he satiates my life.

People often say that happiness is a state-of-mind. So what makes me happy?I’m happy because I have Jesus in my life.
“To live is Christ and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21

This is just a tip of the iceberg. There are loads to talk about my experiences and relationship with Christ. However that merits a blog of its own: an entity per se.Perhaps I will start one, once I’m done with my MA after April 2009 as I need to plumb into the depths to write and give insights. Having said that Christ is neither complex nor convoluted. Just that I can’t squeeze in time and I don’t want to take up something I can’t do justice to.I want to take time and prepare myself for it.

PS: The intention of this post is not to impose religion on anybody.Everyone is free to choose and follow religion of their choice. Its one of the fundamental rights. I’m only sharing my testimony.

Gender Equality- A myth or a reality??

There is a certain ambiguity in understanding gender equality in the context of today’s woman: bold, smart, independent, chic, steely grit and nerve and the list can be endless. The World boasts of many such women who breached barriers of caste, class, societal norms to carve their own identies. Identities as in those that are not confined to biological roles: a daughter, wife and a mother but those that she defined through her own potential and talent.

This ambiguity is best manifested by the media: Print and electronic; that portrays women who aced in every sphere. It presents a picture of Aishwarya Rai standing tall at Cannes Film Festival; Sunitha Williams flying high in a space shuttle; Indira Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, addressing a press conference; Kiran Desai, plush in the success of a Booker Prize; The gutsy Hillary Clinton in a race for the white house and a countless examples to quote. Having said that, the media is equally rife with dowry deaths, rape cases, sexual abuse/harassment, eve teasing, molestation cases, domestic violence and what not? Does all this evoke gender equality? You just never know that bad news about women exceeds good news about women and perhaps the good news about women fades into insignificance before bad news. If you recall, the media kick started the New Year with molestation cases at Mumbai where two women out of a hotel were molested: pinched, grabbed, touched, felt and squeezed; by a group of drunken men. Then there are dissenting voices of the moral police who say that women ask for it as they wear provoking clothes. What rot? A woman can be provoking in a Salwar too. Just because a girl sports a tee and jeans, she is not a bitch who asks for it. The same holds for rape. What is rape? It is illicit sexual intercourse without the consent of a woman and effected by force, duress, intimidation or deception as to the nature of the act. When a woman is raped, the rapist goes scot free; it is the victim who is traumatized. The society is not kind enough to support her; she is looked down like a piece of dirt and some perverts who say that she asked for it. What about rape in wedlock? Is it rape at all? It’s not an outsider, her own husband who she is wedded to. So where does the question of rape arise? Rape is illicit without the benefit of marriage and if within marriage it’s a breach of promise to embrace and support her in sickness and health. If Eve Teasing is still prevalent, no wonder women are still perceived as objects of desire. If men are subjects, women are objects. God is in heaven and all is right with the stinking world!

There are communities and families where a woman’s place is still confined to home and hearth and she is defined by her man. Imagine having to live in a place where you don’t have a voice. What happens when the woman raises her voice against some norm? She is torn, beaten and battered. That’s domestic violence for you! What if a woman is caught in a marriage seeped in domestic violence that renders her a mental and physical wreck? She should walk out of that marriage and lodge a complaint against the proprietors of the crime. Our government finally woke up to the ill-plight of women and passed an act on 23rd June, 2005 that declares any domestic violence against women, a crime. It’s not just a husband who is deemed but also a relative will be charged with a criminal offence.

However such Laws will be efficacious only if the victims come forward and fight for justice. Most women only suffer than prefer to come and speak out against their family. It is against Indian culture. For heavens sake, Indian culture doesn’t ask you be a silent sufferer and mute spectator to the injustice and pain inflicted on you. Judith Armstrong, a well know critic stated “Adultery is greater when committed by a woman. She’s called a fallen woman and when a man commits adultery he just STRAY’s.” I refuse to buy that bilge. There should be equal punishment meted out to both. From time immemorial society is a male dominated one. A woman’s husband was a pathi parmeshwar or God to her. Though the old veil girl has seen the light of the sun, she is definitely facing a gender bias which is a manifestation of what I had mentioned earlier. Today some old traditions have come in a new garb. We had ‘sathi-pratha’: burning of a widow on her husbands’ pyre; and today we burn the bride and allow the groom to have another.

A much relevant example is Amniocentesis where the pregnant lady undergoes this sex-determination test under the pressure of her in-laws, even though it is an offence. Its disheartening that even today a girl is frowned upon as a yoke or a burden in families and it is appalling to know that the so called ‘affluent’ who are supposedly ‘educated’ are committing this crime. Even the middle income and poor income groups think that the birth of a girl child is a deliberative digging of a big pit because they are afraid of facing challenges regarding her education, huge dowry sums, wedding etc. They all look forward to a son to carry on their lineage or family business and also because a secure future is assured. Let’s face it, even at work, women face sexual harassment. It could be an innocuous remark, an unnecessary look or something more serious. A survey depicts that 49% women have encountered sexual abuse and 53% women don’t have equal opportunities at work. They also say that women are treated unfairly by their supervisor/ co-worker/fellow student.

Even amidst working couples, it is the man who has an edge over the woman. If he is transferred to a different place, the wife‘s interest is not taken into consideration, she is expected to move with him. However it’s ok for her to compromise on little things concerning work. Every man looks for a homely woman who can keep his parents and him happy but what if that homely girl wants to work? What if she is much successful than her husband and earns more than he does? Will the husband, acquiesce and digest this fact? Will his fragile ego not get wounded? The Newspapers do publish stories on Men who accept their trophy wives with ease and are absolutely comfort with the attention they receive. That’s only a smug-belief of a ‘feel-good-factor’. A woman’s life is circumscribed by a man. God has created female and man created a woman. Simone de Beauvoir, a landmark French feminist commented “A woman is not born but made”. All of the above breaks the façade that there is gender equality. It only presents a bleak picture of today’s woman.

If this myth has to become a reality, women should be educated and empowered, social responsibility should increase and boys at home should be taught to respect women. Entrenched prejudices and customs against women should be abolished and various myths, superstitions should be debunked. If Laws have to succeed, complaints should be made more anonymous that will encourage the girl to come forward and complain while scaring the miscreants.

My High:Hyderabad

I’m quite defiant about my roots as most of us are! I believe that no matter what you ace, accomplish, transform and evolve as an individual, one should never forget one’s roots: WHERE YOU COME FROM? I was born in Nizamabad, my Mom’s natal place. She is essentially from that place, but later migrated to the City: Hyderabad, when she joined my Papa in wedlock. It is apparent in India that a pregnant woman is off to her maternal home for delivery. Nevertheless I was brought up in Hyderabad/ హైదరాబాదు.
I have been residing here since 20 years and I still find this place so invigorating… Hyderabad never fell short of giving me the best; be it education, Job contentment, extended families, a string of friends, great infrastructure. You name it…Hyderabad is redolent with a glorious past. The City is feted for its pedigree of remarkable rulers: Qutub Shahi’s and Asif Jahi’s/Nizams; who left an inimitable legacy for its posterity- from Charminar to Hyderabadi Biryani (the iconic dish of Hyderabad).Hyderabad was initially called Bhagyanagar after Mohammed Quli’s beloved Baghmati. Once she moved to the Royal Palace and embraced Islam, she was named Hydermati/mahal. Therefore Hyderabad is a ramification of Hydermati.

Hyderabad emanates a cosmopolitan culture that accommodates and embraces all cultures. This cosmopolitan feature of Hyderabad dates back to Nizams who worked in harmony with the British and often threw parties for each other sans any entrenched prejudices. This facilitated a blend of Muslim and Anglo culture. Hyderabad has a twin: Secunderabad that is sequestered by the Hussain Sagar Lake. This lake, in common parlance, is a signature of Hyderabad, next only to Charminar; it’s a man-made lake that was built during the reign of Qutub Shahi’s in the 16th cen. The Hall mark of this lake is the monolithic Buddha statute that emblazon's it. The lake ,A heart shaped Jewel that keeps the two cities together has become a timeless hit with Hyderabadi’s. Secunderabad was founded as a British cantonment and has a large Army and Air Force presence to this date. Its eponymous too as it takes its name after Sikander Jah, the 3rd Nizam of the Asif Jahi Dynasty.

IT and Infrastructure was at its zenith during the reign of Chandrababu Naidu. He garnered accolades for his concept of an image overhaul of Hyderabad with fly overs and state-of-the-art buildings. Hi-tech City mushroomed in leaps and bounds and thus Hyderabad was put on the World Map as the IT Capital of India, along with Bangalore. There is ostensibly a preponderance of Telugus over the other communities here. Telugu is a must in ¾ th of Schools here. However we Telugu’s are not as rigid as the madrasi’s who cannot accommodate either Hindi or English apart from Tamil on their hoardings. It equates to shutting the door on an outsiders face. Hyderabadi’s are UNDENIABLY warm, friendly and hospitable. They preen over their local, typical, vibrant Hyderabadi language: a mix of Hindi, Urdu and Telugu. Did you know that Hindi and Urdu are dialects of the same language? I always thought they are two different languages until I studied for the linguistics exam :-)

Of late, umpteen Designer Boutiques, Malls, Restaurants and Hotels have sprung up. So you want to sport a Tommy Hilfiger Sweater this winter? Head to Banjara Hills; A seven star Hotel for Corporate Conferences? Novotel at Hitex; A swanky Hotel to accommodate your clients? ITC Sheraton Kakatiya at Begumpet; Luxury of movies in a Multiplex? There’s Prasad’s, IMAX, PVR. An ambience of a restaurant that transports you to a breath-taking place? Exotica at Banjara Hills (I love that place)Women, what about seamless shopping? Abids, Koti, Old City, James Street, Parklane, Begumpet, Banjara Hills etc. Please feel free to add to the list. You will find an Irani Café: Chai, Samosa and Osmania Biscuits on street corners and a theatre within every 500 meters in the City. That’s Hyderabad for you!

Hyderabadi’s- continue exploring the place.
Outsiders- come and see for yourselves. I’m sure it will never fail to amaze you!
There was a time when US of A was considered to be a land of dreams and opportunities. Today perhaps not with all the mayhem in finances and unemployment looming large!Whatever it might be, I just give a damn. It’s Hyderabad- a land of opportunities and dreams for me.

PS: One of my optional in Graduation was History; this dalliance with History began way back in school. Hence it’s been easy for me to give a historic spin to it. Apparently anything on earth will be incomplete sans History.

Get the Balancing Act right!

I must say that Life is sometimes a Conundrum one cannot fathom. It is more so when life becomes perfunctory and mundane. What if you enjoy and thrive on what you do? Will it still become monotonous? Monotony is one thing we all face at some point of time or other albeit you might have the world at your feet.

Though I revel in what I do, sometimes it is reduced to monotony. I feel like a robot and machine when I go about my mechanical chores. Then there are times like this moment which makes me want to ask: will I be able to do the juggling act between college and work? I wake up at 7:30 am, exercise, morning ablutions followed by breakfast and then I scramble off my feet to college.

There’s no denying that I do enjoy college like I had mentioned umpteen times in previous Posts. Having said that, college equally riles me up. Since it’s a significant university, it’s apparently soaked in countless events: Seminars, Book launches, frequent boycotts (mighty relived that now we get to see less of it. Touchwood), Blood donation camps and the icing on the cake is when our best-in-class professors travel to places and countries (9 out of 10 times, US of A), leaving us unattended. Atleast a quarter of the entire syllabus; we are unfortunately left to fend for ourselves. That’s how it works at OU Dude! One irony we all are disgruntled about is when we make it to college, we barely have classes. And when we take a breather, classes ply in full swing! Linguistics is the last class for the day and I excruciatingly attended 3 to 4 classes hitherto since July. It’s a bloody waste of a course and time. How I wish we had a language instead. Perhaps Spanish as I know French already.Komal enrolled herself for Spanish classes outside college. I’m happy for her. I wish I could do it too but my cup is already surfeiting… Or another course like ELT or creative writing would have been great. But destiny had different plans.

I therefore don’t stay for the last class and prefer to leave to work. I morph into a clock again: Travel to work, boot up my Laptop (it takes atleast 5 to 7 min). While it boots up, I quickly rush to freshen up, come back, check my e-mails, chalk out a checklist for the day and I quickly grab a bite for lunch. Nevertheless I ensure that I accomplish ‘things-to-do’ on my checklist before I leave for the day. I wind up by 9:30, take the cab, commute to home, have dinner and sleep.

I preen over the fact that I’ve the Best-of-both World’s; I’m happy and content with this phase of life; I study and pay my own fees and things like that. Having said that, juggling between both worlds is certainly not a walk in the park. I will tell you with experience that it takes tons of patience, perseverance because there are kinks and shackles you face and above all will-power. Both college and work are on par in my priority list. However I do show laxity in college matters. Work is a serious business comparatively because if your work is not done, you are fired! As far as college goes, you can get laidback and get away with it. Tomorrow and day after I have internal assessments: 10 objective type questions. Sounds easy but you should atleast know an inkling of it. I literally didn’t touch my books; how will I when I didn’t buy any of them.

Look at me, I’m so SHAMELESS. I’m blogging instead of studying though I know well that Linguistics is a staggering challenge. More so because I can’t stand it. Will study in some time. Striking a balance is vital as both worlds need undivided attention! Semester I- I was carefree about it and scored 64%. Semester II-I planned well and put in some efforts and it did pay off. Outcome: 70%. One need not freak out but learn to do one thing at a time. Life is a book and we all need to live one chapter at a time. I apply the same formula to college and work. When I’m at college, I put my best foot forward and when at work, I respect deadlines. Thus it is imperative to get the balancing act right or else not one but both worlds will peter out!

PS: I wish I could write and publish some more Posts but I need to hold off on this for now as I have to crack Linguistics paper tomorrow, though I have aversion to it. You see, I’m getting the balancing act right...

Sex Erudition or Exploration??-Part II

A study depicts that one out of three in South Africa are infected with AIDS and 80% of the youth in India is sexually active. There is also an ever rising of young mothers club, might I add unmarried mothers. One most obvious example is U.S where they teach children about Sex and also vending machines are installed in schools for Condoms and Pills. Students in Thailand opposed this saying that this only encourages casual Sex. One cannot afford to put a teen in an adult situation and ask them to make a right choice. One can’t further say, they have precaution because its in their immaturity though loaded with all the information they possibly get, that slip- up does happen! The very fact all precautions are foolproof gives one another a reason as to why Sex education should not be imparted. Thus s/he doesn’t has neither the support, maturity nor economic back-up to treat the circumstances or such an action.

One-for-One I think is the best option in curbing down the high incidence of AIDS. Sex is something done at an age when one is married. Nobody can teach you. Finally imparting Sex education is like arming Bush with information that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons, who in his immaturity went forward to wage a war with Iraq without being sure of it. If this is the plight of a forty five plus, then what about the teenagers??

The last argument that we postulated was a seamless conclusion as it ends in a question. The above piece like I had mentioned is just mine. My friends Niharika and Dwithya had oodles to talk about being against Sex education in educational institutions. We channeled all our energies to work towards one goal: Win the debate competition. So we might be FOR Sex education but had to fight AGAINST as we had no choice. I don’t know what views they hold personally but 4 years down the line today and perennially I advocate AGAINST Sex education in schools and colleges. This is something that should be imparted at home by parents without any inhibitions or second thoughts and also freedom from embarrassment. The prime support system for any student/individual is his parents and family. Parents should take charge and guide their wards instead of hushing/pushing it under the Carpet. If they don’t, it is congenital that the kids will seek for it elsewhere and thereby fall back on unreliable sources that will only cause more harm than good!

PS: I still have my essays/debates written on archaic paper (4 yrs back and older also) that will shred if you hold it hard. I’m glad I have this put up on the Blog so that I needn’t worry incase it shreds into pieces. Thoughts, suggestions, jibes, scorn are more than welcome! People do let me know whats your take on it…

Sex Erudition or Exploration??-Part I

Prescript: I found it expedient to broach this debate as till today the question: Should Sex education be imparted in Schools and Colleges? teeters on the precipice of apprehension. This is my excerpt from one of the topics that was thrown at us for debate, while in college; way back in XII Class in 2004 and currently in 2009, it lingers precariously….My team of 3: Niharika, Dwithya and I had to fight AGAINST Sex education in Schools and colleges. We actually WON. Read on about the welter of arguments we expounded.

Sex education is imparting education about human anatomy, usage of organs and nothing more. Nobody ever tells you where you do it, how you do it and when you do it? But the modern scenario begs to differ. Todays youth fall a prey to the media and are exposed to the precautions of avoiding pregnancy and Aids like Condoms, Diaphragms, Pills, Spermicide and so on through Television, Newspapers, Magazines and the like; which depict Sex as the most pleasurable thing: An ECSTASY.

First I would like to pose a question as to why there is an alarming rise in AIDS? One of the major reasons for the high incidence of AIDS is casual Sex and why is there casual Sex? It is pervasive because teachers impart vague information to the students and thus they heed to casual Sex. Therefore by imparting Sex education, teachers put the students in adult situations which give them an impetus to make adult choices. It’s loading the child with information and depriving them of using it which can be connoted as nothing but giving the child a lollipop and asking them not to eat it! Let’s face it, the Western culture too is looking at the East for means and ways to reinstate morality and ethics back into their ethical system. Conservative India, has always taught its people especially women to be chaste, pure and most of all to be loyal to one partner throughout your life. The teenagers find it comfortable to receive such information from their parents than teachers. One gets to learn about the scientific hogwash but its infact the parents who can put the kids at ease without being embarrassed. Let’s face it; the Teacher gets paid for it!

Infact a recent Survey by Times of India shows that teachers in government schools and colleges are given 5 months training classes to impart Sex education and win over their confidence so that they open up. The Survey also throws light on the fact that they are made to put their questions on the paper. The research says that many students came up with questions like gays, lesbians, masturbation and how many partners one can have Sex with. The Survey clearly states that when the boy asked the last question, the teacher put a straight face and was stupefied. She was unable to impart the apt information: Sex is a vast subject and in the course of imparting basic knowledge, there is a high possibility of mincing matters. This leads to half-baked knowledge which is a dangerous thing and that leads to casual Sex which further results in high incidence of AIDS subsequently. Hence by giving information, one is only pumping their curiosity and making them more inquisitive.

Sights I SEE...

When I rush to open the Door, to leave for College in the Morning; it’s the green Leaves of a branch of a tree that meets me first. It’s soothing to see greenery as you gear up for another grinding day. The sight of it is heart-warming though miniscule as I see it through the Window Sill of my Flat.

I take the elevator to traverse from the fifth to the ground floor. The first thing I notice and hear, once I step out of the lift, is the swoosh of the brooms by Maids. A little further as I pace through the parking lot, my eyes fall upon the scalding coal Iron box that is being pressed against clothes by a dhobi. A dhobi is the Indian version of laundry. As I walk towards the gate, I meet the watchman who greets me for the day; the milkman who almost bumps into me and the Paper boy, on his Cycle, in a haste to deliver the last pile of Newspapers to the juxtaposed Apartment.

Of late, hiring Auto’s and getting the Auto driver to a negotiation is quite a challenge. It is the inflation that is making the world go clockwise and anti-clockwise. One Auto driver amongst many others, who drove past me, agrees to ferry me to the University. As I vroom towards the road, it’s the greenery that embraces me (already spoke dime-a-dozen about the sights and beauty of college in “Best Of Both Worlds” Post!)

The road from College to Work measures two kilometers. As I wade through the smothering traffic, it’s the bleating horns of the Vehicles that bludgeon my ears. The road is dotted with Restaurants, Gym, Bank, Florist, Sweets and a Bus Stop; bumper-to-bumper traffic is one of a kind that you cannot ignore.

'Jest' a sweet Memory!

I remember the moment when I whipped up a Coffee for my ailing Mom who was down with Flu. I was barely ten years and prepared a Coffee when she was snoring loud in a sound sleep.

This was my first ever when I scoured the Utensils in the Kitchen, to find the right bowl for Coffee. I felt like a Stranger in my own home. I had no cue in which boxes was Sugar and Coffee Powder stacked. I put the bowl on the Stove first; I at least knew how to light the Stove as sometimes I observed my Mom and Maid doing it. Next I filled the bowl with a glass of water and a half cup of milk in tow. After a long quest, I poured the coffee Powder and Sugar in the simmering Concoction. I carefully tip-toed to confirm if my Mom was sleeping and voila she was staring in my face and asked what I was doing. Before I could respond, she surmised that I was making Coffee. It’s the strong aroma of Coffee beans that woke her up.

The Coffee was not as bad as anticipated; teaspoon of Coffee and Sugar was not measured proportionately. I took away half teaspoon of Sugar and put an extra amount of Coffee Powder. Thank heavens… I made Coffee and not Tea!

PS: Coffee was not a herculean task as it was similar to mixing milk with milk powder and sugar. Had I made Tea, it could have been awful!

Sense and Sensibility

Preface: Creative writing Workshop knocked the door of my heart at College; and I gave my name sans any second thoughts. This workshop was conducted on September 16 at the sprawling premises of OU Centre for International Programmes (OUCIP). It was addressed by Samantha Mc Craffey who is currently pursuing her Masters in Creative Writing at Queens University, Belfast. We were made to do some stimulating exercises and activities. One such was conjuring up our favourite senses.

To sense is to perceive by means of sense Organs: eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. We all are fascinated by varied sights, sounds, scents, taste and touch. Aesthetics form one of the nuances of writing and one can be responsive to and appreciate beauty through senses only. Hence one can write only when one’s senses are evoked!

William Henry Davis in his poem "Leisure" draws our attention to the very first line:
“What life is this full of care, we have no time to stand and stare…” Standing and staring at something is passé; one thing we don’t empathize with today’s modern scenario. Where on earth do we have time to stand and stare at the azure skies or the birds on the tree? We know that we are goofing up fatally on our health and yet we cannot wean away from our jet-setting and grueling schedules. At work we do say Cheers profusely on every win and accomplishment but how often do we appreciate the beauty around us and exclaim the sight of the sunrise and sunset? Samantha, the facilitator was driving the same point home and emphasized on senses that are indispensable to creative writing. One must have the patience to convince through the senses to write. Only when we were made to do some activities we could recount and recall a host of sights we come across in our daily existence.

Below is the list of my Favourites-

Sounds: Violin, Guitar, Piano, flowing River, Waterfalls, Raindrops, Chopper, rustle of Leaves, Sound of Swing, Cry of a Baby, swoosh of Brooms, Siren of a Train, Buzz at home, college and work.

Scents/Odours: Coffee, wet Mud, Petrol, Kerosene, Nail Polish, Oil Paints, Air Fresheners, Biryani and Armani.

Touch: Lap of my Mother, Hug from a friend, Pat from my Papa, Sand, Chiffon, Georgette, Lycra, Soft Sand (found in Desert).

Taste: Definitely will be what I eat and drink.

Sights: Sunrise, Sunset, Waterfalls, Dams, Scenic/Picturesque beauty, colossal ocean, Greenery, Boulevards, Sky Scrapers, Endless roads and seamless highways.

Any genre of writing especially poetry is often interspersed with the above things that we perceive through our senses. The word sense has many takers for definition. Apart from sense organs, intelligence, common sense, judgment, wisdom and sensibility are the ingredients that form the recipe for writing.

PS: People, do write to me about your favourite lists of Sounds, Scents, Sights, Touch and Taste. I also wrote “Sights I SEE” and “Jest a sweet Memory” in the Workshop.
They should be up in a few moments:-)

A Room Of One's Own

Of all channels of expression, one channel that brings out the best in me is writing! I most certainly articulate myself better when I write. What I can’t say, I do it with ease when I write.

Writing is a writer’s rendition of what he perceives, thinks, feels and believes. It could be poetry, drama, novel, epic, plays, essays, short stories and now might I add blogging also. Francis Bacon, the immortal essayist, in who the idea of an essay found genesis mentioned in one of his prolific essays: “Of Studies” that “Writing makes a man perfect”. This is true though we perhaps overlook it. When we read, we might not absorb; but when we write, it is ingrained in our minds. An example one can most likely relate to is spellings of words. English comes with its own idiosyncrasies of rules and it is fraught with more exceptions than rules. When asked to spell an intricate word, all of us can’t get it right until we do a simulation of writing by groping our fingers on a table or any surface near to us.

What is already written I can refine and edit but it reaches the pinnacle when I witness an event/experience and thereby translate it into words in solitude. Isolation
from the world is must for me and for that matter a writer also. Solitude inspires a poet to write better as s/he locks the World out. Wordsworth meant what he stated in his famous lyrical Ballads:” Poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and emotions recollected in tranquility”.
It is only when one is at peace with the mind; one can do justice to poetry and other genres of writing. In his timeless poem “Daffodils”, Wordsworth concludes
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with daffodils.”
Here it is tacit that the sight of Daffodils flits across in his mind’s eye, when in seclusion from the World.

To satiate the feminist in me, I have to quote Virginia Woolf who postulated a nugget of truth in her prose “A Room of One’s Own” She quips “A woman needs a room of ones own and 500 pound’s a year to write fiction”. This was written way back in the 19th century when women were snubbed behind the four walls of a Kitchen and education was a distant dream. She was one in a thousand women who had access to education because of her educated parents who encouraged education of a girl child.

Even an inkling of sound or commotion can hamper the flow of thought. Writing just doesn’t happen out-of-nowhere. An uninhibited thought process is the key to good writing. I cannot write about things I hold disdain for, yet I can write if my angst for things I dislike merits writing! Now that’s SCHIZOPRHENIA. The other day my Professor was saying that we all have split personalities. Will deliberate that at length sometime later. As s/he grows and hones skills a writer must also fine tune his/her mind to look at things differently. Why should the reader read your Story? They are multitudes who can write. But what sets you apart from the rest? This is the Question a writer should ask oneself!

This Post is getting longer and I can just go on and on…

Do not be surprised at my macabre love for writing as it is this that keeps me alive and going!

Rock on! : Revs up your Spirits...

Prescrap: Oye people,
I had gone to watch this movie for the first time in a Multiplex: Prasad’s; with Komal.She had watched it twice already and replied with a prompt yes, when asked to tug along with me.

Rock on, thankfully is refreshingly assorted from the run-of-the-mill genres of formulaic films. This is one movie that stands true to the contemporary times we are ensconced in. It holds a mirror to our life in its time, age, jet-setting lifestyle, relationships, career and its other facets. This small, independent movie resonates with an audience who can relate to it. I watch movies once in a blue moon. Did you know that a blue moon comes once in 17 years, according to folklore? Since I watch movies sporadically, I prefer to watch good ones with great music and a big star cast. Before watching Rock on, I had compunctions about a star-less movie but once it started, I could immediately connect; I savoured and relished each and every moment of it. There is nothing filmi about it. One can identify and empathize with the characters; be it Saakshi, Aditya, Joe, Debbie, Drummer and Rob.

The plot, treatment, setting and characters are meticulously woven to do justice to the contemporary scenario. The setting moves back and forth between the present and the past. Ego is the order of the day in today’s fickle world of relationships. We have ceased to be tolerant and hence even a slight injury to self-respect cannot be overlooked. It is these ego clashes that catalyze and trigger problems in Aditya and Joe’s lives. One hasty action of Joe leads him to an unsettled life. There’s Debbie, his wife, who by a cruel twist of fate ends up in Fish Business when she passionately yearns to be a Fashion Designer. We come across umpteen people who dream of making a mark in A, B, C career but land in a humdrum career as destiny had different plans. Drummer takes to Jewellery Business while the Pianist follows his heart.

Aditya carves a niche for himself in the Investment and Banking Industry. He’s a pro at it and finds himself at the pinnacle of success but his conjugal life is seeped in monotony. He gets hitched for the heck-of-it and thereby Work is a priority over his Wife. Saakshi, his quintessential wife, makes for a loving and caring wife who struggles to bring life to their lifeless and meaningless nuptial life. Aditya tries hard to run away from the untarnished memories of his past life but cannot. It is at this juncture, we get to see that bold side of Saakshi who confronts Aditya and throws a challenge of a near break-up incase he fails to breath life into their prosaic married life.

On the other hand, there is the other couple: Debbie and Joe who stand like a rock for each other; their love stands the test of times. This movie also looks beyond the teen romances of a happy ending. In real life, love need not culminate into marriage. It might not work if we want to remain rooted in our tradition, family and career. Aditya and his ex break up and 10 years down the line, live happy and fulfilling lives. In Aditya’s life, it’s of course Saakshi who is an eye-opener to his tasteless existence.

Music dances its way into the hearts of the audience. I just couldn’t stop tapping my feet! Farhan Akhtar has done a fantastic job as a singer in his first film as an actor. The movie leaves you with a message that its Passion and Will that makes a world of difference: Two ingredients vital to your success!

PS: Those of you, who hadn’t watched as yet, watch and live it up!

Languid Linguistics

No matter which subjects you pick in Graduation and Post Graduation, some are offered to us on a platter albeit mandatory. We don’t have a choice and therefore give in reluctantly.

At School the only subjects I thrived on was English, Social Studies, Value Education and Physical Training as in Games. At college I loathed Political Science and in P.G Linguistics is an ANATHEMA. Linguistics is the Science of Language, Phonetics, Morphology, Syntax etc. Like I had mentioned earlier, Mass Comm. and Linguistics were introduced as inter-disciplinary courses to increase employability. Mass Comm. is concrete and a ticket to a great career. I have no clue how linguistics will benefit us?? To make matters worse, our linguistics professor is a pain-in-the-neck.

Imagine the plight of a student who cannot comprehend what the professor is teaching about? The very purpose of that teaching is defeated. Our MA Class is a melting pot of not just different languages and religions but nationalities. Our professor has a predisposition to quoting examples in Telugu only. Being a Telugu I can understand. But how can my counterparts who can’t comprehend Telugu, relate to it?? The last straw: His English more often than not sounds like Telugu. Burgundy is pronounced as boor-gun-di. Bwahaha. The entire class broke into raucous laughter. I’m notoriously known for my boisterous laughter and my friends will vouch for that!

The other day, on Thursday, he delineated some 8 points out of which I hold dissenting views on two to three of them.
i.Apparently women make finer distinctions in colours: burgundy, crimson, beige etc.
I agree to disagree. The World has seen a string of Painters who are more of men than women. It is their aesthetic sense that makes them a class apart from the rest.
ii.Men interrupt more than women.
I don’t think on the same lines! Today’s women will put their foot down and say NO to things they can’t take.
iii. A woman’s discourse is more co-operative while a man is competitive. No way! If News is anything to go by, it is women who are giving a run to men’s money in every sphere of life. Gone are the days when women compromised. The new age woman is aberrant to the stereotype of someone who places others interests above hers.

Most of the points made above could perhaps be a consensus taken randomly or just conjectures. I’m reiterating that the gender equation today is not the same. It underwent a tremendous transition!

PS: Linguistics class certainly sucks with its nuances and an old man, might I say sexist also (his examples distinguishing men and women), who is giving us a taste of ennui. Poor us… But do we have an option?

Evolution, Education and Empowerment-Part Two

IT and BPO boom was at its Zenith in Hyderabad, while I was in graduation. Young graduates became a soft target for the Employers and lured just-out-of-college graduates with decent pay packets. Most of my colleagues are either graduate or engineers. Barely a handful can boast of holding a PG. I’m glad that I stuck to my guns, gave my entrance exam and secured a whopping state 28th rank; hitherto I successfully completed one year: Semester I with an average of 64% and Semester II, stood second in class with 70%. 75% is the maximum you can score in English Lit Paper.

OU never fails to surprise us with good packages. Apart from Lit, we have one paper each on Mass Communications and Linguistics. What better could I ask for? This initiative was introduced to increase the employability and we are proud to be the pilot batch. This Mass Comm. paper has enlightened me on the nuances of Comm. And thereby holds me in good stead and comes as a saving grace at work.

Given that experience and wisdom are essential to develop your mental, aesthetic and moral faculties, it is only through Instruction; one can fine tune these faculties.

Let me draw attention to those educated people who are apparently educated on paper only. In everyday life, the education they earned goes out of the window. The most customary are denizens who jump Signals with ease. Though the Hyderabad Traffic Police came up with whacky signs: “Only Bulls run, when they see Red”; it doesn’t seem to make an iota of sense to the senseless civilians. Another classic example is that of a dapper business man who spits pan out of the window from a swanky Sonata. I had no words when I beheld that sight.

With our evolution as Individuals through education and empowerment, come the trappings of pride and vanity. Vanity is one negative trait that grows despite nipping it in the bud. Hence I do frequent checks to rid myself of that. It’s the LAST thing I want on earth!

What can I do to contribute, to improve India’s literacy rate? Would like to tie up with literacy endorsing campaigns like Shiksha. Buy products where one rupee of the total sum of amount is put aside for children’s literacy. I will also encourage every poor child I come across, to pursue studies. I always wanted to sponsor a child’s education, one thing I want to champion ASAP. But will be able to do that on my next promotion as that will equip me with some Moolah to sponsor.

Will leave you with Food-for-Thought on education by two famous literary figures.

Education is not the filling of a pail,
But the lighting of a fire.
William Butler Yeats

Instruction ends in the school-room, but education ends only with life.
Frederick W.Robertson

Evolution, Education and Empowerment- Part One

The above three E’s are an integral part of a student and a working professional’s life, like me for instance. One can evolve and advance in one’s career and life, if we are equipped with education and empowerment to pursue what we want. Tomorrow, Sept 08, 08 as we celebrate World Literacy Day, I want to ponder and introspect as to how much I have made out of the education I received so far.

CIA Worldfact book estimated in 2007 that overall World literacy rate stands at 82%, while India touches 61.0%. Mighty relieved that India’s score is at least average; it could have increased by a minimum 5 to 7%, by now. It is not uncommon to mistake literacy from education. How is literacy different from education? What makes us literate? What makes us educated? Literacy is the ability of an individual to read and write; it empowers an individual with knowledge and thereby makes one competent. Education empowers us to develop mental, aesthetic and moral faculties. However this can be possible only if education makes us think, question, aware, conscious and sensitize us.

How often have we developed cold feet about studying, when in School? L.K.G, U.K.G plus another 10 years looked like an eternity and would shudder at the prospect of another 7 years of education. Since we get things on a platter, we barely value education. There was an Abraham Lincoln, who was not lucky as most of us are and studied under street lights; A Brooker.T.Washington (coal miner) who literally gave his sweat and blood for education. In the course of this road that we traverse for 15 to 17 years of our life, I realized the value of education when I stepped into my XI class at St Francis. This is a turning point in everyone’s life when one is at the crossroads of umpteen options thrown at us: Maths, Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economic, History, Literature, Commerce etc. Things are put into perspective when you take your pick; if you savour and devour your subjects nothing like it and if that empowers and equips you to excel in your career, what better can you ask for? I know the value of education and learning. Hence I had been persistent and adamant to pursue PG.

While studying in Rosary Covent High School, I had an intense ambition to become an IAS Officer, as a tiny tot, adolescent and teenager. Man proposes and God disposes! What I thought? And what I eventually became today? What started as working on a lark, as a part-timer actually became a grave career option. I became more inclined towards writing and honed my skills at various workshops I attended at College. Scales have been in my favour and 50% of my work that I do now is writing, writing and writing. I’m happy and content to have arrived where I always wanted to be.

Are they more C’s to Carol than just Candid?

Prescrap: Randomly noted all the C’s I could possibly conjure up about me; that stand next only to candid.

First comes my name CAROL: a joyous Christmas song. I ve been blessed with a mellifluous voice. Been a part of school and church choir . Now barely have time to join choir. Thanks to my jet-setting schedule.

CONFIDENCE: One of my USP’s. Should be a USP of every person as its one trait that boosts your morale. No confidence, No Company. For the uninitiated, USP is Ultra Selling Point.

COMMUNICATION: I swear by interaction! Love debates, elocutions, negotiations. Won first prize in debate competition at ST Francis, while pursuing my XII.At work, being a communicator is a liability: Drive campaigns, Surveys, articulate the voices of different entities at work, informing and educating everyone about concerned policies, protocols and procedures at work.

CREATIVE: There’s no dearth for creative people and I’m one of them. Love creative spins on things!

CANDID & CANDOUR: Freedom from prejudice and malice.

CHILD: I’m mad to achieve what I want and a child to enjoy what I achieve.

CURIOUS: Curiosity killed the Cat and satisfaction brought it back!

CUTE: My Pic to the left will speak for itself.

CUNNING: You scratch my back and I will surely scratch yours.

CARING: Certainly this brave thing at College and Work but warm at home.

C00L: Resolved never to lose my cool amidst trials/trying times. Losing my cool gives me only splitting headaches.

CHATTER: Was labelled a chatter-box by every other Teacher at School and College. Thankfully at work, I’m a communicator.

COFFEE: Like it whipped: Hot and Cold. Arts college promises a great hot coffee; while prefer Cold at work (Barista only).

COHERENT: Aesthetically ordered and integrated.

CONSISTENT: I don’t go on a wild goose chase. I know what I want, where will I get and how to get it! Clarity and intelligibility is a must to achieve your goals.

CLEAVAGE: A natural asset, never dared to flaunt it though coz I barely party! Its ok to show a hint of it for aesthetic purposes.At college it’s hunky dory but at work it’s a NO, NO.

COMPETITION: Advocate a healthy competition. Not scared of competitions. One should compete against oneself.

COOPERATION: Countries should learn to resolve issues through Cooperation and not Conflict and Competition.

COOKING: Know basics. One dish I’m perfect at is Paneer Korma. Cook only when Mom’s unwell and if she‘s out-of-town.

CHILL: We all love chilling out! Why not??

COG in the wheel: Will never think twice to champion the causes I believe in.

CONUNDRUM: We all occasionally are puzzles/riddles to others and ourselves.

CLEVER: How will I ever survive in a hardcore corporate environment sans this trait?

CORPORATE: Ostensibly its success and growth that becomes the yardstick to test a person’s caliber. I’m more than happy that Integrity is put on a pedestal in the Organization I work with. Work smarter and harder, in tandem.

CHEERS: A shout of applause and encouragement works wonders!

CHUTZPAH: One thing that sets me apart… Have oodles of gall and nerve.

CASH: Shobha De once commented in a talk show that “cash is sexier than sex today.” For me it’s only a TOOL to live life but NOT life.

PS: This is all I can think of, will keep adding, when I come across more C's I can relate to.

Scathing Stereotypes

What is a stereotype? Merriam Webster’s dictionary puts it “something conforming to a fixed or general pattern esp. a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude or uncritical judgment”

Stereotype is therefore is a ‘DISTORTED’ version; a fixed and a commonly held notion.In India, most often if a girl sports casual Jeans and wears Make-up and Lipstick, she is termed to be ‘FAST’. A boy stereotypically loves Gadgets and Widgets. If a Boss’s secretary is an ugly woman, she must be trapped in a harried marriage but if she looks great then she is certainly sleeping with her Boss! There were times when students who opt for MPC and BPC can stay rest assured of a promising Career and reap success; while those who opt for Literature, History and Social sciences will only end up being teachers and lecturers and hence have to live with a not-so great career. Mindsets and such misconceptions have definitely changed for good today!

Two roles that are globally stereotyped: Gender roles. From time immemorial, a Man has to be aggressive, strong, confident, competent, provider and protector. A woman is naturally a homemaker; it’s ok and fair enough to be dumb (her better-half will lend her moral support); submissive, emotional and passive. This conditioning of gender roles takes deep root in an infant’s mind, when the child becomes conscious and aware of the predicament at home. With stereotypes come great expectations. Therefore when a person doesn’t match or fit that prejudiced notion, s/he feels oppressed and smothered.There has been a paradigm shift/switch in gender roles today. Women have not only invaded male bastions but also busted the glass ceiling. You name it and we women have already made a mark in every domain and facets of life. Might I champion the cause of men, do we not have men who are scrawny and lean? Some men who prefer culinary and cooking to snazzy cars and gadgets? Men who carved a niche for themselves as chefs, fashion designers, flight stewards etc.

Back home in India, Parents wish to live and fulfill their dreams through their children. I’m more than happy to have wonderful parents who gave me the freedom to make my choices and follow my heart. What if I had selfish parents who would shove choices down my throat? Then it’s no longer a choice. Life is not about living the rigmarole of earning, making money, bequeathing it to children and making them happy. I believe life is all about living your own dreams and choices, making mistakes and learning from them: you fall, you rise and you dust and get on with life.

Why do we more often than not have preconceived and assumed notions of someone or something? Why the heck are we conditioned to stereotype? And do it unconsciously sometimes? Do we find it hard to accept a person as s/he is? Each person is thereby unique and different: Perceptions, aspirations, attitudes and ethos vary from person to person. So what’s cool? What’s in?

I. Being comfortable in your own skin.
II. Being forthright about what you want.
III.Standing up for what you believe is right.
IV.Living your dreams despite the odds that are stacked against you.

We should no longer be only hearers of the motto “Live and Let Live” and confine it to our friend’s autograph books; we must also be the doers of the motto!

Best Of Both Worlds

Pursuing MA in Arts College, Osmania University(OU) is a dream come TRUE! It’s been a year and a half stint with MA; another 8 months away to finish PG.

Amongst other colleges of OU, Arts college building is the most BEAUTIFUL! This GIGANTIC building is certainly a piece de resistance and an intriguing piece of Art that links to a fascinating past. It’s a two storey building: Ground floor is modelled on British/ English Architecture; 1 st floor on Hindu and 2nd floor on Muslim/Nizam Architecture. OU is a legacy left by the last Nizam of Hyderabad: Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was noted for possessing the largest Wardrobe in the World, in his times. There are many other interesting facts about him. This one memory of him that stands apart from the rest is a ramification of my current obsession with clothes, at this phase of my life.
OU is one of the few places in Hyderabad that swears by greenery. The lush green lawns morph as perfect lounging zones for students, friends, lovers and sundry.

Library is a perfect haven for book-worms and voracious readers like me. It’s HUGE and one can actually get lost in it! But since I have to rush to Work after College, I don’t find ample time to indulge the reader in me . That’s SAD and a Concern for me but to gain something, you have to let go of some things. However Life always replaces what we lose! It asks you to put down something as it prepares you to pick up something greater! A striking aspect of our college is the Classrooms where Benches are structured and built in steps. This only augments our feel-good factor of belonging to this college of a glorious past. Arts college per se is a MAZE. When I went to give my entrance exam for the first time, the pursuit of ferreting out my classroom was like a Treasure Hunt! Now it’s apparently not a herculean task to find my class.

The USP of our college is our PROFESSORS; they are each an Institution per se. I’m privileged to be a part of a college that boasts of the best faculty in India. I was bored to death by lectures, when in St Francis, while pursuing graduation. What brings me to Arts College, apart from its pomp and splendour? It’s the lectures dished out by well read, bred, qualified, learned, wise, prudent, smart and scholarly Professors.

My Classmates are a RIOT. We are a class of 55: 40% comprise the masses from villages and towns; 5% are Firangs from Moscow, Iraq, Riyadh, Dubai and I belong to the 10% from the City. Men from the masses can be mistaken for Thugs. They prefer to walk in amidst on-going classes sans excusing themselves and also wish to walk out vice versa. Does this unruly behaviour emerge out of leniency of pursuing PG? Or because they are from a rustic background? The rest of us don’t do that! We take permission and excuse ourselves before walking in or out. Firangs who make up 5% of our class are a good company. They tell us places in Hyderabad and India we have never been to and therefore know better than us! This holds true to any of us who travel to different Places. My friend Komal (the only confidant at college) and I are the youngest in the class. 10% are girls out of which 3% to 4% are already married. Since we Indians are heterogeneous people, living in a Pluralistic Country; we adapt, adopt, modify and change. Despite our drastic differences, we all have a ball!

Life is a roller coaster ride for me as I shuttle between College and Work. I just love this phase of my life as I’m fortunate to relish the best of both Worlds that leaves me enriched each day, with renewed vigor, energy and enthusiasm.