I have heard about our glorious past, but I find it too full of coups d'etat, bickering, violence, ignorance, intolerance, cruelty, divides and discrimination.
I am happy I am born today, not then.
We are told those were perfect times, but I know even in the best of those times women have had it tough.
I prefer India, and the world TODAY. Terrorism notwithstanding.
Whatever else the British did, they united our bickering Princely States, Jagirs and Presidencies - in a single Nation (three actually).
They also left us a unifying Language and some modern (Western!) concepts, both much hated, much debated, but embraced with pride by most Indians.
Our Democracy, takes our hypocrisy in it's stride ;)
I was proud when this powerful Democracy turned up in huge numbers in Kashmir, ignoring the boycott called by the separatist movement ... A 60.5% voter turnout!
I am proud of the fact that we can vote for a Dynasty IF we so choose.
And we can vote back fundamentalists with blood on their hands, IF we choose.
We can also vote out corruption when we've had enough.
I love it that we have it in our hands to do that!
We can openly wish our politicians dead, and we can burn their effigies and if they go too far, we can take them to court. We can make caricatures of them and we can discuss their misconduct in our blogs.
For the first time in Indian History we, the aam aadmi, matter.
Never before in History have we been declared EQUAL in the eyes of the law, until this Constitution I am so proud of was drafted.
So I am not going to look back longingly, and wish for those good (?) old, glorious (?) days, I will look ahead and be proud of what India is today.
Yes we have problems, but we are empowered, for the first time in human history, to choose who solves them for us.
True we might make wrong choices, but we have the power to correct ourselves too!
As the year 2008 comes to an end in a few hours, I know more than anything, this year has proved (once again) that slowly (very slowly) we are all learning not to take our freedom for granted ...
I know every little drop counts and my contribution is to be a more vigilant citizen. I will Vote. I will talk about Peace and I will speak against Violence.
Does it count?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
What is Patriotism?
If you love your country must you wake every morning and sing the National Anthem?
Is it Patriotic to claim to be blind to anything wrong with your Country?
Is it unpatriotic to talk of Peace with your neighbours?
Is it unpatriotic to be realistic enough to see that peace within your nation is unlikely unless peace is found with the neighbours?
Is it patriotic to cry for War, even if it might lead to a Nuclear War or an eventual face saving pull back? Can't we see ... "The moment India secures a military advantage, Washington will be told by Islamabad that there is huge internal pressure from within Pakistan’s establishment to go in for a nuclear strike. That ensures that there is suddenly tremendous pressure on India – from all quarters – to exercise restraint, and pull back with some face-saving measures. Simultaneously with India’s upper-hand in the conflict becoming evident, China will suddenly decide to hold some exercises on their side of the border with India"???
Can hating some of our fellow citizens be called Patriotism?
Is it Patriotic to claim to be blind to anything wrong with your Country?
Is it unpatriotic to talk of Peace with your neighbours?
Is it unpatriotic to be realistic enough to see that peace within your nation is unlikely unless peace is found with the neighbours?
Is it patriotic to cry for War, even if it might lead to a Nuclear War or an eventual face saving pull back? Can't we see ... "The moment India secures a military advantage, Washington will be told by Islamabad that there is huge internal pressure from within Pakistan’s establishment to go in for a nuclear strike. That ensures that there is suddenly tremendous pressure on India – from all quarters – to exercise restraint, and pull back with some face-saving measures. Simultaneously with India’s upper-hand in the conflict becoming evident, China will suddenly decide to hold some exercises on their side of the border with India"???
Can hating some of our fellow citizens be called Patriotism?
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Whose Earth Is It Anyway?
Some of us think it is okay to kill animals for fun.
I remember a Bishnoi witness on the TV explaining how Salman Khan's (and his friends) idea of fun was to chase a Black Buck to total exhaustion, before killing him. What kind of people would enjoy such cruelty? The Bishnois are a people who respect nature and treat all animals kindly. They can't be bribed with celebrity status or cash.
Mitali Mukherjee (on CNBC TV18) was giggling and wondering why such a big deal was being made of animal killing when so many people were dying everyday.
So do we wait till all human killing has stopped before we start fighting against animals cruelty? Or is cruelty to animals a proof of our love for the human race? I think generally those who do care, care for all life forms.
Prince Charles and Wife Camilla hunt fox by engaging in practice of setting a pack of hounds on a wild animal for fun.
Enid Blyton, in The Children of Cherry Tree farm, describes a breathless, panting fox running into a cave and collapsing at the feet of Tammylan (the wild man) who lives in the jungle.
Sarah Palin is a bully who never saw an animal she didn't want to kill. She thinks it's okay to gun down wolves. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for all their outrageous and frivolous ad campaigns is doing a great job.
Here's their new game in the News recently, because it lets you pelt the Alaska Governor with snow balls. Play it, it's fun :)
I remember a Bishnoi witness on the TV explaining how Salman Khan's (and his friends) idea of fun was to chase a Black Buck to total exhaustion, before killing him. What kind of people would enjoy such cruelty? The Bishnois are a people who respect nature and treat all animals kindly. They can't be bribed with celebrity status or cash.
Mitali Mukherjee (on CNBC TV18) was giggling and wondering why such a big deal was being made of animal killing when so many people were dying everyday.
So do we wait till all human killing has stopped before we start fighting against animals cruelty? Or is cruelty to animals a proof of our love for the human race? I think generally those who do care, care for all life forms.
Prince Charles and Wife Camilla hunt fox by engaging in practice of setting a pack of hounds on a wild animal for fun.
Enid Blyton, in The Children of Cherry Tree farm, describes a breathless, panting fox running into a cave and collapsing at the feet of Tammylan (the wild man) who lives in the jungle.
Sarah Palin is a bully who never saw an animal she didn't want to kill. She thinks it's okay to gun down wolves. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for all their outrageous and frivolous ad campaigns is doing a great job.
Here's their new game in the News recently, because it lets you pelt the Alaska Governor with snow balls. Play it, it's fun :)
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO PLAY THIS GAME
Bikini, fur coat-clad Sarah Palin appears in PETA's online game
Bikini, fur coat-clad Sarah Palin appears in PETA's online game
Divide The World Into Twelve Astrological Stereotypes?
Once in a fete we set up a Gypsy Tent and made predictions looking at a Crystal Ball - an empty fish bowl filled with silver foil and glitter. A very reluctant friend was persuaded to pretend to be a 'Face Reader'. She was horrified at first but agreed, when we advised her to "Say anything, look solemn."
Nobody doubted what she told them. We were, err ... she was a huge hit. Next morning she called and declared that she had discovered that she could indeed read faces! She had to be reminded very firmly that until the evening before she did not even know something like Face Reading even existed. [Does it?]
Astrology can make us dream of fool proof short cuts. Remember the last scene of Lage Raho Munnabhai?
Success comes from hard work not astrological short cuts, just like relationships are made with a lot of love, tolerance and commitment, not perfectly matched horoscopes. Astrology made nobody rich, successful or happy, except perhaps the Astrologer and their agents :)
Any computer can tell you where your planets are placed, the tough part is analysing what the placement means. You can go through famous charts (like Gandhi's) and yes it is a lot of fun, but it would be seriously irresponsible to lead someone to believe you can make any reliable predictions.
Astrology is not about Fortune Telling.
Then why do I bother spending so much time studying it?
Curiosity. And some pleasant surprises. No more.
Also a Pisces love for Astrology. Scorpio and Sagittarius can also make you keenly interested in studying Astrology. So long as you don't base important decisions based on it, Astrology is fine :)
Nobody doubted what she told them. We were, err ... she was a huge hit. Next morning she called and declared that she had discovered that she could indeed read faces! She had to be reminded very firmly that until the evening before she did not even know something like Face Reading even existed. [Does it?]
Astrology can make us dream of fool proof short cuts. Remember the last scene of Lage Raho Munnabhai?
Success comes from hard work not astrological short cuts, just like relationships are made with a lot of love, tolerance and commitment, not perfectly matched horoscopes. Astrology made nobody rich, successful or happy, except perhaps the Astrologer and their agents :)
Any computer can tell you where your planets are placed, the tough part is analysing what the placement means. You can go through famous charts (like Gandhi's) and yes it is a lot of fun, but it would be seriously irresponsible to lead someone to believe you can make any reliable predictions.
Astrology is not about Fortune Telling.
Then why do I bother spending so much time studying it?
Curiosity. And some pleasant surprises. No more.
Also a Pisces love for Astrology. Scorpio and Sagittarius can also make you keenly interested in studying Astrology. So long as you don't base important decisions based on it, Astrology is fine :)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Zodiac Signs and Blogging styles.
If you have displayed your birthday in your profile, chances are your Sun Sign has been noted :)
Some people ask your Caste , some ask your Sun Sign. If they can politely and unobtrusively ask your time and place of birth, they will. Be vary. You will be judged :) Condemned forever for having an incompatible Mars or Moon.
Your year of birth gives away your Moon. That's far more dangerous than giving away your age. (I can sense disapproving looks here.)Your moon sign is how you feel, and also how you behave when you are angry, sad, jealous or generally emotional. You see a lot of Moon Signs being revealed on Blog forums where heated arguments are going on.
The time of Birth betrays the Rising Sign. Our Rising sign is how people see us. (Also called Personality Sign or Lagna Rashi). If you have a shy Sun Sign and a confident Rising Sign, you might confuse yourself and a lot of others, with you seeing yourself as shy while everybody else thinks you are confident. Or you think you are tactful and the world calls you foot-in-the-mouth-diva?
That is why all Aries, Aquarius or Sagittarius are not alike. If you are always being told, you don't look or act like your Sun Sign, do check your Rising Sign. In fact knowing just the Sun Sign is like reading just only half a post and deciding the blog is Right Wing.
Rising Signs are very important. In Julius Caesar's time the Rising Sign was the only one consulted. Julius Ceasar was a Leo. He must have had a strong chin :)
The most amazing thing is that these signs just like genes, are repeated in families. When they look alike maybe they share the sign that influences their looks the most, the Rising Sign. Nehru and Indira Gandhi were both Scorpio Sun Signs. Advani is Scorpio too. Scorpio Bloggers might enjoy politics.
Scorpios and Pisces are also the most likely to get addicted to blogging.
Gandhi a Libran, with a Leo Moon, fought for Justice and Equality. You see many Libran bloggers trying hard to stay objective, balanced and unbiased. Librans are also likely to have Venus or Mercury in Scorpio (Gandhi did) which can make for passionate writing.
No Aries blogger will ignore a Naqwi. Taurus bloggers (Sun, Moon or Rising) are most likely to blog about Food and arts, and they might play some music on their blogs. I know a few who do :)
Moon is the sign your Indian Janampatri gives you. In Indian astrology the Moon is considered the most important, because it rules your emotions. Our blog is one place where many of us are quite likely to act more like our Moon sign. Sign you got the first letter of your name from. Like A if your moon is in Mesh, N in Scorpio/Vrishchik, S - Aquarius/Kumbh and Mohandaas Karam Chand Gandhi's M for moon in the Leo. Obama's Sun sign is Leo. We seem to get along very well with people who have our Sun Sign somewhere prominent in their Horoscopes.
Leo bloggers are likely have attractive headers and side bars. Aries Bloggers have strong views and stronger emotions. And when you see a Scorpio blogger showing no passion, read carefully. Or check her Moon and Rising. Aquarians aught to remind us of Abraham Lincoln but exactly the opposite also might happen.
A Cancer Mommy blogger is the easiest to imagine, though an Aries or Scorpio would be passionate about everything related to the child too. Virgo moms would blog about baby's health. Leo Mommy bloggers would share the baby pics most proudly :) Aries Mom will record every change, Pisces mom would worry about the the violent world - but then I suppose all mothers will. A Sagittarius mom will have other interests also, and Virgo mommy blogger will most probably not be an SAHM.
A Capricorn blogger is least likely to find anything wrong with her Mother in law, because tradition is seldom wrong with her, and she loves anyone who can be called family. A Pisces blogger might blog about peace, tolerance and compassion.
But imagine a Capricorn born just before Sun rise, with Sagittarius rising. This will be a Capricorn who won't understand why nobody understand s her :)
There is always a strong chance of some presence of the next sign in us. Aries and Gemini may have Taurus love of music and food. Pisces bloggers may stay away from controversial issues, but they are Aries neighbours so .... Virgo bloggers may have a narcissistic and dramatically beautiful blog, like Leo bloggers :)
Controversy would be a Leo, Sagittarius, Aries or Scorpio domain. A Gemini's delight, or a Cancer sense of humour. An Aquarius or Gemini might criticize Obama or Shah Rukh Khan just to annoy their fans. Sagittarius Sun Sign are the Crusading bloggers with causes to champion. Sagittarius Moon and Rising will have the same zeal, and if we do not know their Rising and Moon signs we won't understand why.
Much blogged about Fundamentalist- who are basically just misguided reformers, could have strong Sagittarius in them too. Gemini make great sales people and orators? Raj Thakre is Gemini. Geminis should make very interesting blogs - sticking to no genre. Maybe family stories today, biographical post the next day and a post on food allergies the next day.
Photoblogs should be a Cancer joy, but not restricted to them. Humour too. One would assume that a Virgo blogger would be disciplined and methodical?
Some bloggers write about themselves, we know all about them. Some only discuss politics. Some display their photographs some display err.. photograph from a bad hair day. Whatever else you do bloggers, IMHO it should be compulsory to at least display your Birthdays. Preferably with time and place.
Some people ask your Caste , some ask your Sun Sign. If they can politely and unobtrusively ask your time and place of birth, they will. Be vary. You will be judged :) Condemned forever for having an incompatible Mars or Moon.
Your year of birth gives away your Moon. That's far more dangerous than giving away your age. (I can sense disapproving looks here.)Your moon sign is how you feel, and also how you behave when you are angry, sad, jealous or generally emotional. You see a lot of Moon Signs being revealed on Blog forums where heated arguments are going on.
The time of Birth betrays the Rising Sign. Our Rising sign is how people see us. (Also called Personality Sign or Lagna Rashi). If you have a shy Sun Sign and a confident Rising Sign, you might confuse yourself and a lot of others, with you seeing yourself as shy while everybody else thinks you are confident. Or you think you are tactful and the world calls you foot-in-the-mouth-diva?
That is why all Aries, Aquarius or Sagittarius are not alike. If you are always being told, you don't look or act like your Sun Sign, do check your Rising Sign. In fact knowing just the Sun Sign is like reading just only half a post and deciding the blog is Right Wing.
Rising Signs are very important. In Julius Caesar's time the Rising Sign was the only one consulted. Julius Ceasar was a Leo. He must have had a strong chin :)
The most amazing thing is that these signs just like genes, are repeated in families. When they look alike maybe they share the sign that influences their looks the most, the Rising Sign. Nehru and Indira Gandhi were both Scorpio Sun Signs. Advani is Scorpio too. Scorpio Bloggers might enjoy politics.
Scorpios and Pisces are also the most likely to get addicted to blogging.
Gandhi a Libran, with a Leo Moon, fought for Justice and Equality. You see many Libran bloggers trying hard to stay objective, balanced and unbiased. Librans are also likely to have Venus or Mercury in Scorpio (Gandhi did) which can make for passionate writing.
No Aries blogger will ignore a Naqwi. Taurus bloggers (Sun, Moon or Rising) are most likely to blog about Food and arts, and they might play some music on their blogs. I know a few who do :)
Moon is the sign your Indian Janampatri gives you. In Indian astrology the Moon is considered the most important, because it rules your emotions. Our blog is one place where many of us are quite likely to act more like our Moon sign. Sign you got the first letter of your name from. Like A if your moon is in Mesh, N in Scorpio/Vrishchik, S - Aquarius/Kumbh and Mohandaas Karam Chand Gandhi's M for moon in the Leo. Obama's Sun sign is Leo. We seem to get along very well with people who have our Sun Sign somewhere prominent in their Horoscopes.
Leo bloggers are likely have attractive headers and side bars. Aries Bloggers have strong views and stronger emotions. And when you see a Scorpio blogger showing no passion, read carefully. Or check her Moon and Rising. Aquarians aught to remind us of Abraham Lincoln but exactly the opposite also might happen.
A Cancer Mommy blogger is the easiest to imagine, though an Aries or Scorpio would be passionate about everything related to the child too. Virgo moms would blog about baby's health. Leo Mommy bloggers would share the baby pics most proudly :) Aries Mom will record every change, Pisces mom would worry about the the violent world - but then I suppose all mothers will. A Sagittarius mom will have other interests also, and Virgo mommy blogger will most probably not be an SAHM.
A Capricorn blogger is least likely to find anything wrong with her Mother in law, because tradition is seldom wrong with her, and she loves anyone who can be called family. A Pisces blogger might blog about peace, tolerance and compassion.
But imagine a Capricorn born just before Sun rise, with Sagittarius rising. This will be a Capricorn who won't understand why nobody understand s her :)
There is always a strong chance of some presence of the next sign in us. Aries and Gemini may have Taurus love of music and food. Pisces bloggers may stay away from controversial issues, but they are Aries neighbours so .... Virgo bloggers may have a narcissistic and dramatically beautiful blog, like Leo bloggers :)
Controversy would be a Leo, Sagittarius, Aries or Scorpio domain. A Gemini's delight, or a Cancer sense of humour. An Aquarius or Gemini might criticize Obama or Shah Rukh Khan just to annoy their fans. Sagittarius Sun Sign are the Crusading bloggers with causes to champion. Sagittarius Moon and Rising will have the same zeal, and if we do not know their Rising and Moon signs we won't understand why.
Much blogged about Fundamentalist- who are basically just misguided reformers, could have strong Sagittarius in them too. Gemini make great sales people and orators? Raj Thakre is Gemini. Geminis should make very interesting blogs - sticking to no genre. Maybe family stories today, biographical post the next day and a post on food allergies the next day.
Photoblogs should be a Cancer joy, but not restricted to them. Humour too. One would assume that a Virgo blogger would be disciplined and methodical?
Some bloggers write about themselves, we know all about them. Some only discuss politics. Some display their photographs some display err.. photograph from a bad hair day. Whatever else you do bloggers, IMHO it should be compulsory to at least display your Birthdays. Preferably with time and place.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Why Santa needs her Beard!
When my kids were young we wanted to see their mouths open in speechless wonder, at the sight of a red clad fat man stuffing red pillow cases and stockings with goodies.
When Husband came home, always only after Santa had left, he was given breathless, wide eyed accounts. Son always claimed he saw reindeer flying outside the windows. Over-imaginative liars! They never noticed specks of white cotton on their Dad's cheeks.
The kids and I were alone one December. After they were asleep, I took out our crudely stitched but precious red and white cotton costume stored next to the red wedding lehenga. A friend and I had promised to be Santas for each others kids.
The disguise was crude. Bollywood style cushion for Santa's paunch, and cotton glued on the cheeks for beard. Who would step out looking like this?
The gifts including those for the maid's three daughters could be given the next day, but the friend was pacing the floor in the next building. And if one does not make eye contact, there is no nervousness. Santa stepped out of the flat and into the lift.
The lift man stared in astonishment. Santa looked straight ahead.
A late night dog walking friend halted in his walk, the dogs looked excited. Santa wanted to say, "You are smarter than your human!" but had to scurry away into the lift of the next building.
It was worth the dazed delight in two pairs of sleepy eyes. I was mighty proud. And since the maid had no idea, she was too shocked to react. Some hohoho, and hand the shiny packets to her little girls - and literally, gratefully escape into our flat.
Almost immediately while I was peeling off the beard, the door bell rang. "Memsaaabjeee, memsaabjee, woh Santajee!! ... hamare ghar Santajee aye!"
(Mr Santa came to our house!)
"Aap the?!" (It was you!?) I wish she'd given me some time to change :(
Today two harassed sounding friends organizing a Christmas Carnival called. Please, please, could Son please be their Santa? Son gave a look that said, "Don't even think about it." Daughter is away at a camp.
They had Gifts, Guests, Games, Music, Stalls, Circulars, Announcements and now at the last moment their Santa can't come. It was a real emergency. If I wasn't so sleepy when they called I know I would never have volunteered.
When Husband came home, always only after Santa had left, he was given breathless, wide eyed accounts. Son always claimed he saw reindeer flying outside the windows. Over-imaginative liars! They never noticed specks of white cotton on their Dad's cheeks.
The kids and I were alone one December. After they were asleep, I took out our crudely stitched but precious red and white cotton costume stored next to the red wedding lehenga. A friend and I had promised to be Santas for each others kids.
The disguise was crude. Bollywood style cushion for Santa's paunch, and cotton glued on the cheeks for beard. Who would step out looking like this?
The gifts including those for the maid's three daughters could be given the next day, but the friend was pacing the floor in the next building. And if one does not make eye contact, there is no nervousness. Santa stepped out of the flat and into the lift.
The lift man stared in astonishment. Santa looked straight ahead.
A late night dog walking friend halted in his walk, the dogs looked excited. Santa wanted to say, "You are smarter than your human!" but had to scurry away into the lift of the next building.
It was worth the dazed delight in two pairs of sleepy eyes. I was mighty proud. And since the maid had no idea, she was too shocked to react. Some hohoho, and hand the shiny packets to her little girls - and literally, gratefully escape into our flat.
Almost immediately while I was peeling off the beard, the door bell rang. "Memsaaabjeee, memsaabjee, woh Santajee!! ... hamare ghar Santajee aye!"
(Mr Santa came to our house!)
"Aap the?!" (It was you!?) I wish she'd given me some time to change :(
Today two harassed sounding friends organizing a Christmas Carnival called. Please, please, could Son please be their Santa? Son gave a look that said, "Don't even think about it." Daughter is away at a camp.
They had Gifts, Guests, Games, Music, Stalls, Circulars, Announcements and now at the last moment their Santa can't come. It was a real emergency. If I wasn't so sleepy when they called I know I would never have volunteered.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
What's in a Blog Name?
I chose to call myself an Indian Home Maker, because that's what I am. Now does the Quirky Indian believe that blog, the blogger or the Indian is quirky :)
The Angry Indian is angry.
India Uncut?
The State of India is not as pathetic as we claim.
Indyana Diaries are just that.
India:Thoughts from an ordinary guy are not very ordinary at all :)
A Wide Angle View of India is truly a wide view.
The Naive Indian believes the Indian citizen is really naive?
An Academic view of India is an academic view.
... any other Blogs with INDIA in the name?
What makes us call our blogs what we call them? Some Blog Names are really interesting, some are very matter of fact, and some others are a little (a little?!) insane :)
As a new blogger I remember noticing and reading blogs with interesting names like Three Drinks Ahead, Thirty Six and Counting, Bohemian Rhapsody, Churning the Word Mill, Known Turf and Opinionated.
I once read a comment from someone called Contentious! Devil Incarnate is also most interesting :) Itching to Write, Jottings and Musings, Tears and Dreams, Gopinath's Artickles are self explanatory.
Random, My, Thoughts, Life, Ramblings are the five most common of words in blog names.
We have Blogs names with LIFE called
Life Rules,
Life goes on,
Life books, movies, books etc,
The Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker,
Life or Something Like That,
Simple Life,
Life and other thoughts
Pinku-Enchanted Life
Life of our Darling Prince
In my blog roll, there are four blogs called Random Thoughts. Two are just plain Random Thoughts, then there are Random Thoughts of a Demented mind and Random thoughts of a Rambunctious mind :) We sure love to blog about Random Thoughts! And then there is Random Ruminations.
Nearly all Mommy bloggers name their blogs after their brats, so you have The Brat, the Bean and the Bedlam, Imp's Mom, Mommy of lil CubbyR, Life of our darling Prince ...
Some blog names are really long, one is mine, other long names I know are
What we obtain too cheap, We esteem too lightly (she believes that)
A load of crap from an Idle Mind (there's nothing crappy about this blog!)
I know Bloggers called D and N, but I wonder what's the smallest Blog name!
A blogging friend was wondering if a reader would visit a blog just because the name was interesting. I know I did.
But an interesting name for one reader could be a boring name for another. A second or third visit to a blog would depend on the reader's interest and the blog of course.
What would bore you on a blog, despite an interesting name?
Too many links are boring another blogging friend says. How often are the links we provide really clicked on? I know I only read a link either if the implication is that the poor author of the link has been very irreverent (like Arundhati Roy of late) and I wish to find out for myself or if ... or hardly ever otherwise.
I guess not finding what the name suggested can be disappointing? If somebody comes to an Indian Homemaker's blog they can't be blamed for expecting house keeping tips.
The Angry Indian is angry.
India Uncut?
The State of India is not as pathetic as we claim.
Indyana Diaries are just that.
India:Thoughts from an ordinary guy are not very ordinary at all :)
A Wide Angle View of India is truly a wide view.
The Naive Indian believes the Indian citizen is really naive?
An Academic view of India is an academic view.
... any other Blogs with INDIA in the name?
What makes us call our blogs what we call them? Some Blog Names are really interesting, some are very matter of fact, and some others are a little (a little?!) insane :)
As a new blogger I remember noticing and reading blogs with interesting names like Three Drinks Ahead, Thirty Six and Counting, Bohemian Rhapsody, Churning the Word Mill, Known Turf and Opinionated.
I once read a comment from someone called Contentious! Devil Incarnate is also most interesting :) Itching to Write, Jottings and Musings, Tears and Dreams, Gopinath's Artickles are self explanatory.
Random, My, Thoughts, Life, Ramblings are the five most common of words in blog names.
We have Blogs names with LIFE called
Life Rules,
Life goes on,
Life books, movies, books etc,
The Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker,
Life or Something Like That,
Simple Life,
Life and other thoughts
Pinku-Enchanted Life
Life of our Darling Prince
In my blog roll, there are four blogs called Random Thoughts. Two are just plain Random Thoughts, then there are Random Thoughts of a Demented mind and Random thoughts of a Rambunctious mind :) We sure love to blog about Random Thoughts! And then there is Random Ruminations.
Nearly all Mommy bloggers name their blogs after their brats, so you have The Brat, the Bean and the Bedlam, Imp's Mom, Mommy of lil CubbyR, Life of our darling Prince ...
Some blog names are really long, one is mine, other long names I know are
What we obtain too cheap, We esteem too lightly (she believes that)
A load of crap from an Idle Mind (there's nothing crappy about this blog!)
I know Bloggers called D and N, but I wonder what's the smallest Blog name!
A blogging friend was wondering if a reader would visit a blog just because the name was interesting. I know I did.
But an interesting name for one reader could be a boring name for another. A second or third visit to a blog would depend on the reader's interest and the blog of course.
What would bore you on a blog, despite an interesting name?
Too many links are boring another blogging friend says. How often are the links we provide really clicked on? I know I only read a link either if the implication is that the poor author of the link has been very irreverent (like Arundhati Roy of late) and I wish to find out for myself or if ... or hardly ever otherwise.
I guess not finding what the name suggested can be disappointing? If somebody comes to an Indian Homemaker's blog they can't be blamed for expecting house keeping tips.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Regrets.
I saw my brother’s daughter when she was born, then moved to another place and saw only her videos and pictures, and heard her voice singing rhymes taught in school for the next EIGHT years. Occasionally I’d tell her stories of our dogs and our childhood. Plans were made to meet but something more important would always come up.
Nothing prepared me for the real meeting when it did happen. This March, I was sitting in a white covered ‘rajai’ at my mom’s place and my- daughter- at- eight entered the room, swinging a pink Barbie bag full of travelling pass times. Same pretty curls, saucer eyes and a huge smile. Did God run short of faces!?
“Do you know who I am?” I ask.
“I knowwww!” Twisting and tangling her skinny arms. She hopped on the bed, shoes and all, and snuggled onto my lap, curling into a tiniest baby-monkey. I hugged her tight, thinking I should have been able to see her at three, four, six, seven - this little lookalike of my daughter.
“I know you are not crying. These are happy tears.”
“Yes, these are happy tears, do you know I love you very much?”
“I know. Soooo much.” Arms spreading wide, wide, wider, “Daddy told me.”
We have good Dads in this family. Only a good dad could raise this eight year old angel snuggled comfortably in the lap of a Bua she had never seen.
Another wonderful Dad never saw this moment he tried so hard to plan. He would have been 75 today. And his daughter met this granddaughter only on the day he died.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Girls!
Two pretty, silly girls are giggling in the back seat. Son, sitting in front, is wearing a dignified, disdainful look. I am driving and trying not to hear a (not so) private, whispered conversation.
(Giggle giggle) “It’s him!” (A loud whisper)
“No it isn’t him.” (Whisper, giggle, giggle)
“It’s his car.” ( giggle, whisper)
“It’s turning inside, I told you it’s him.” (Whisper)
(A sudden burst of delighted giggles) “That’s where he stays!” (giggle)
“I told you!” (Giggle)
“He’s so skinny….” Whisper and giggle, more whispering, more giggles.
Some things never change.
(Giggle giggle) “It’s him!” (A loud whisper)
“No it isn’t him.” (Whisper, giggle, giggle)
“It’s his car.” ( giggle, whisper)
“It’s turning inside, I told you it’s him.” (Whisper)
(A sudden burst of delighted giggles) “That’s where he stays!” (giggle)
“I told you!” (Giggle)
“He’s so skinny….” Whisper and giggle, more whispering, more giggles.
Some things never change.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Guru Shishya Parampara
This post started as a comment on Manju's post called 'Lost Childhood.'
A large number of poor children in India drop out of schools because they are afraid of being beaten by school teachers. All concerned assume some thrashing, and mental abuse are a normal part of school life.
I loved Tare Zameen Par because it trashed the ridiculous Indian belief that Corporal Punishments could create Einsteins. We should also translate Roald Dahl's BOY for all those who think it's okay to treat children so cruelly, 'for their own good'.
Once a friend and I took a maid's daughter for admission in a Municipal School in Bombay (1995).
The experience was an eye opener. There were some kids running, playing, falling and fighting unsupervised and some classes were going on.
In one class the moment the teacher saw us pass by, he swung a stick and shouted at the kids to open their books. He had his feet on his table and was reading some newspaper till then.
The Principal was the perfect Role Model as a figure of responsibility and authority. First he was not there.
We waited.
Two older boys grabbed a young boy and started rolling with him, on the floor. The younger kid was screaming. No teacher came. My friend nudged that we shouldn't be interfering, but we got them to leave him. Then a short, fat man in dirty clothes came and entered the Principal's room. We quickly rushed after him and said we'd come to meet the Principal. No response. He just opened the cupboard and took out some, believe it or not, some sort of perfume and sprayed on his wrists and armpits etc. (he looked like Q.Q.Quraishi of Bunty aur Babli). We looked at each other, wondering if he was deaf. Again I asked if we could speak to the Principal please. No reply.
If he behaved like this with us, I can't imagine what the parents are subjected to. He is supposed to run that school, and we all pay taxes for it.
He organised the same cupboard, some chalk and registers. Then as we stood wondering if we should ask someone else he sat down and very reluctantly looked at us, standing right in front of him. We explained the girl's problem - No Birth Certificate (Janam Dakhila) - but we'll get it as soon as possible,
"In the meantime could she please start attending classes ..? "
"NO."
(This girl's mother was a Christian maid servant married to a Hindu man, she later got her admitted into a Christian School. I wonder if Bajrang Dal will ever find time from it's terrorists activities and raping of nuns to start running some schools or at least leave the Christian Missionaries alone to run their Schools and Orphanages.)
Why do we not allow children (in junior classes at least), to just walk into any Government School after just some minimum filling of forms? Is it worth the lives of thousands who waste years waiting for their parents to find lost or misplaced birth/transfer/certificates? Parents who don't know where their next meal is coming from are supposed to take care of certificates? Maybe they should. But they can't so should their kids play cricket by the roadside all day?
How can we talk about compulsory education when a lost proof of birth can ruin a child's life?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Lipstick or No Lipstick I am an Indian.
A commenter says I am not being a true Indian because I seem to be impressed by western culture and values, and Obama. Naqwi will whole heartedly agree with him because I also use lipstick. It runs in the family, my mom won’t step out of the house without her lipstick either. But I am every bit as Indian, as the mother of little girl who lives in a leaking house on the way to Mulshi. Lipstick or no lipstick.
Many of us believe we will never change, this country will go nowhere, this political system will never change etc. I just can’t live with that sort of belief.
If I were to truly believe today that Indian politicians (and suddenly it’s become not-so- cool to say they are useless, like when did we ever say they are good?!!) cannot be taught to behave responsibly and do their job....
That kind of apathy or indifference or pessimism is not something I can ever accept. And that is the thinking that makes us bribe and find loopholes in Laws made for civilised living.
Can you wake up you every morning believing you couldn’t get up?
Will our kids work hard in school if they believed they would never succeed?
Would Abhinav Bindra have worked so hard if he believed he could never win?
I think this sort of brain washing is the talk of POLITICIANS. It suits them to keep us hopeless and demoralised.
I have (maybe it’s an escape?) brain washed myself into believing, most successfully, that we can achieve anything we set our heart to.
It has worked for me. I think it works for everybody. You believe you can, You will; You believe there’s no hope, you will never succeed.
And I am convinced that we are going to see better days in Indian Politics, without which any progress is an uphill task. The so called elite and the upper middle class have set a trend and maybe, if the candles continue to be lit, gradually even the darkest corners of rural India will light up too. It isn’t as if they worship the politicians.
I meet people and everybody is determined to vote. That is the first step. And they are all hoping to vote for someone NEW that’s already the second step.
And this shows we are more awake than ever before.
So I am going to continue to Hope and sign Petitions, join Peace Protests and light candles.
But that will not stop me from dancing to western music, wearing sleeveless (why just sleeveless, backless also) western clothes and expensive, shiny, glittery lipsticks.
These are my values. My Indian values.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures
A Friend : You have a blog!!? What do you write about? Petitions?
IHM: Err ... Generally ... this and that. You come and sign.
A Friend: What this and that?
IHM: Err ... actually ... general stuff ... about everyday life ... family, friends and yeah how to get better governance.
A Friend: Whoa! Friends also?
IHM: Only sometimes.
A Friend: Have you written about me?
IHM: Well yes, but you won’t know it’s ...
A Friend: What? I am on the internet :) I am famous and I don't even know it!
IHM: Actually nobody would guess it's you; I shifted your mole from the right to the left cheek.
A Friend: What luck! I was so close to being famous!
Next day.
A Friend: I used to think internet is only good for downloading music. IHM you have to teach me how to blog.
IHM: Really? You are interested!! What are you going to call your blog?
A Friend: ... and I am going to write all about my separation drama and about these terror attacks.
IHM: Write about anything...
A Friend: And about why these terrorists did not blow the Taj. Tell me why didn't they?
IHM: They didn't have enough explosives?
A Friend: They had more than enough explosives! The plan was to DISTRACT while they infiltrate, now you watch. They are all over the country.
IHM: This was in the news?
A Friend: I AM TELLING YOU!
IHM Your telling is enough. Now kindly write your name and email address here, if you really care for your country.
A Friend: Only 69 people have signed this petition?
IHM: They don’t know about your infiltration theory.
A Friend: Yeah, let' demand these ELECTORAL REFORMS - this is not about the unnecessarily-being-confused- 49-O - but reforms proposed by the Election Commission to be implemented.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Back to Peaceful Protests Gandhi style :)
Thanks to Philip I was watching the Peaceful Protestors at Gateway of India, one week after the Terror Attacks, India is telling her divisive, hate breeding politicians that Divided we fell, United we stand again!
I am happy today and oh so hopeful. I am confident that we will see change. A man is dressed as Gandhi in a street play, and everybody is talking about peaceful protests. Posters, Cartoons, Placards, Tricolour, some grim determination, some anger, some demanding action, some agitated, some saying, 'Nation of Lions Lead by Donkeys' but all are talking about Peace and Harmony.
Finally we believe in peace again!!!
You can see Hindus and Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs, North Indians and South Indians, Marathi Manoos and Biharis - all together they stand as ONE INDIA :)
This day is a day of new beginnings, and this could ONLY HAPPEN IN INDIA :)
Demands for much needed Electoral reforms, including and the Right to vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE .
Isn't this India's answer to the terrorists?
This could be the birth of PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY?
I am watching angry women protesting against Naqvi's comments on their lipsticks and powder, they also want Deshmukh to resign, and they want to stop paying for the politicians' security. They want all the security to be given to the NSG Commandos :)
I agree, let them make India as safe for themselves as they have made for the rest of the Indians.
Questions to Sonia Gandhi, "Has Madam forgotten how she lost her husband to terrorists?"
Somebody's saying 'Dogs are allowed, but Achutanandan is not'. (This guy should be kicked out of politics for good).
There's flag that says, 'Yes we can!'
And yet we are not naive, a Peaceful Protestor reminds us, 'Don't ever forget'.
If there is a little fear that we might forget again, I decide, the rest of us will remind them again. Oh yes we can :)
I am happy today and oh so hopeful. I am confident that we will see change. A man is dressed as Gandhi in a street play, and everybody is talking about peaceful protests. Posters, Cartoons, Placards, Tricolour, some grim determination, some anger, some demanding action, some agitated, some saying, 'Nation of Lions Lead by Donkeys' but all are talking about Peace and Harmony.
Finally we believe in peace again!!!
You can see Hindus and Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs, North Indians and South Indians, Marathi Manoos and Biharis - all together they stand as ONE INDIA :)
This day is a day of new beginnings, and this could ONLY HAPPEN IN INDIA :)
Demands for much needed Electoral reforms, including and the Right to vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE .
Isn't this India's answer to the terrorists?
This could be the birth of PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY?
I am watching angry women protesting against Naqvi's comments on their lipsticks and powder, they also want Deshmukh to resign, and they want to stop paying for the politicians' security. They want all the security to be given to the NSG Commandos :)
I agree, let them make India as safe for themselves as they have made for the rest of the Indians.
Questions to Sonia Gandhi, "Has Madam forgotten how she lost her husband to terrorists?"
Somebody's saying 'Dogs are allowed, but Achutanandan is not'. (This guy should be kicked out of politics for good).
There's flag that says, 'Yes we can!'
And yet we are not naive, a Peaceful Protestor reminds us, 'Don't ever forget'.
If there is a little fear that we might forget again, I decide, the rest of us will remind them again. Oh yes we can :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Would We Rather Have Doordarshan?
Last week my maid asked why all the "madam log were not eating properly, or sleeping properly, why they were all only staring at the TV all day and all night?"
I try to explain, but she didn't understand why this attack was so upsetting. "Is some one close to you over there?"
I tell her what happened, and how many died at VT, the Policemen killed, and their jeep driven away by shooting terrorists, her eyes grow wide. "You saw it all on TV! Same time it happened (LIVE) ... All night! .... (laughing nervously) but didn't they shoot at the TV people, weren't they scared!?"
"I guess our TV people are brave ... you also must watch the News, not just serials ..."
"We only get Doordarshan didi, they showed us the complete funeral ceremony of Police walla bara sahab, on TV yesterday ... only that, and earlier the News at fixed hours, after it has all happened."
She does not even know the name of the ATS Chief, how brave he was, how he died, what it means ... Doordarshan is doing a great job!
And I realise how we have been taking the media so much for granted! I want to know what's happening, the uncensored truth and preferably as soon as possible.
I remember the night I had switched on the TV after an Earth Quake. It was a frightening experience to be vigorously shaken awake, and seeing it mentioned on CNN IBN had been reassuring.
I am thankful our brave and free media is out there, I am happy Barkha Dutt, Arnav Goswami, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vikram Chandra, Shireen Bhan ... and the rest of them were there, even if sometimes they did ask very insensitive questions. They let us see our Politicians for what they truly are - maybe sometimes, tinged with their own biases. But I am glad they are there, unafraid and free.
The Politicians HATE the media when it doesn't help them get votes. Like now.
They do not believe in, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your RIGHT to say it."
But I am very proud of our Fourth Pillar of Democracy.
Edited to add: It is very easy for DD to become the voice of the ruling government. DD can never be free media.
I try to explain, but she didn't understand why this attack was so upsetting. "Is some one close to you over there?"
I tell her what happened, and how many died at VT, the Policemen killed, and their jeep driven away by shooting terrorists, her eyes grow wide. "You saw it all on TV! Same time it happened (LIVE) ... All night! .... (laughing nervously) but didn't they shoot at the TV people, weren't they scared!?"
"I guess our TV people are brave ... you also must watch the News, not just serials ..."
"We only get Doordarshan didi, they showed us the complete funeral ceremony of Police walla bara sahab, on TV yesterday ... only that, and earlier the News at fixed hours, after it has all happened."
She does not even know the name of the ATS Chief, how brave he was, how he died, what it means ... Doordarshan is doing a great job!
And I realise how we have been taking the media so much for granted! I want to know what's happening, the uncensored truth and preferably as soon as possible.
I remember the night I had switched on the TV after an Earth Quake. It was a frightening experience to be vigorously shaken awake, and seeing it mentioned on CNN IBN had been reassuring.
I am thankful our brave and free media is out there, I am happy Barkha Dutt, Arnav Goswami, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vikram Chandra, Shireen Bhan ... and the rest of them were there, even if sometimes they did ask very insensitive questions. They let us see our Politicians for what they truly are - maybe sometimes, tinged with their own biases. But I am glad they are there, unafraid and free.
The Politicians HATE the media when it doesn't help them get votes. Like now.
They do not believe in, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your RIGHT to say it."
But I am very proud of our Fourth Pillar of Democracy.
Edited to add: It is very easy for DD to become the voice of the ruling government. DD can never be free media.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wipe your lipstick before you condemn a politician.
When you were crying hoarse, breaking inside, mourning the dead, questioning the government, demanding a change, worrying about the future your children .... HE WAS LOOKING AT YOUR LIPSTICK, JEANS AND WESTERN VALUES. These are the fools we allow to take decisions for us.
I am in a real rush, but have to leave this here, I saw this guy on NDTV24X7 just now.
BJP General Secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objects to women wearing jeans and lipstick, and to their following 'western values', when they light candles and criticize the politicians!
"Who is instigating these women groups to hold such protests? Why do some lipstick-cladded women, wearing jeans are protesting against the politicians on the streets of Mumbai', asked Naqvi. "There is a clear attempt to divide the country and break the trust of people in India's democratic fabrics. That's why such protests against politicians are taking place", he further added."
Edited to add: Read Reema's angry and informative response to Mr Nakli, err Mr Naqwi, here.
I am in a real rush, but have to leave this here, I saw this guy on NDTV24X7 just now.
BJP General Secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objects to women wearing jeans and lipstick, and to their following 'western values', when they light candles and criticize the politicians!
"Who is instigating these women groups to hold such protests? Why do some lipstick-cladded women, wearing jeans are protesting against the politicians on the streets of Mumbai', asked Naqvi. "There is a clear attempt to divide the country and break the trust of people in India's democratic fabrics. That's why such protests against politicians are taking place", he further added."
Edited to add: Read Reema's angry and informative response to Mr Nakli, err Mr Naqwi, here.
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