We Are Just Like That

Hum to bhaiyya aise hee hain !

From putting someone on a pedestal one day, to pulling the carpet from under his feet the very next day, we are a nation of billion hyperactive & hyperbolic souls. Passionate and provocative we give vent to our emotions in high decibels. It has a purgative effect on us. We celebrate,we bemoan, we mourn everything --together. Nothing in private or isolation. Indians are by nature vocal and expressive. Not the stiff upper lip for us. Cricket and bollywood are sacred to us and we go ballistic at the highs and lows concerning these two. India's loss in world cup semi final can not be expected to be digested coolly n sophisticatedly. While blaming extraneous diversions for a top batsman's dismal performance is crude and unfair but then gossip was never meant to be refined. With angry birds and crows dissecting ad nauseum the merit and otherwise of AIB roast, BBC  documentary or trolls on Anushka Sharma, things are getting uptight. The conservatives are heating up the tirade against the 'bindaas junta' hellbent upon stirring a hornet's nest by its shenanigans. Puritans take a chill pill..! ITS all baseless and harmless... A few days and all will be forgotten. Wiped away from the fickle public memory. Better stuff awaits your precious time and attention. Give it there! 

Written by a bemused spectator.

PAINFUL POURINGS

MEMORIES..... 

They are always alive,

They live in my heart forever,

They take care of me all the time,

They approve my good deeds,

They chastise my every wrong,

They guide me at every step,

Their warmth radiates my life,

Their laughter reveberates in my head,

Their quirkiness, idiosyncrasies, uniqueness......pinch acutely,

Their affection, their bantering, their arguments n counter arguments....hit the mind hard,

Their wholesome personalities, their strength of character, their no-nonsense approach. ..#respect.

Their generosity of heart, giving n loving nature......made the heart smile,

 They wore their simplicity as an inherent style ....evoking awe n envy, 

Their tenacity and endurance ...inspired many,

 They were one of a kind...

 My Father and Mother 

Two individuals 

One soul 

RIP

Review of Book : 'Benares- a journey within' by Roli Jindal

Review of Book : 'Benares- a journey within' by Roli Jindal

FOR THE LOVE OF MY CITY-

'Benares- a journey within' by Roli Jindal, is a multi-hued compilation of recollections and celebrations, of memories and experiences, and of facts and interpretations tinged with the writer's surplus love and reverence for her hometown. The book's nonlinear narrative is free flowing, humorous and engaging. Every page tells a story in itself...complete and insightful. From the world famous benarsi sari, delectable sweets and 'chaat', the drool worthy 'paan', the renowned temples, the mighty river Ganga and its majestic ghats, the quartet of universities and home to the famous Benares Hindu University ( B.H.U.), Benares has been unfolded vividly and glowingly by the writer. To give her credit, she also mentions the sore points plaguing the city like river pollution, staggering traffic jams, messy and chaotic infrastructure and deplorable power supply but none of which diminish the city's inherent charm in any manner. 

The essence and ethos of a vibrant and pulsating city like Benares, with all its glory and glitches, has been captured adroitly via personal anecdotes, hear-says and the vast sea of information and perspective provided by family members living in here for generations. Unlike other celebrated books on Benares this one focuses more on the daily routine, mores, beliefs and practices of an average Benarsi and less on the mythical and abstract aspects, probably because it's under the scanner of a true blue benarsi and not some random foreigner donning quixotic glares. This is exactly where the book scores; an insider's view and perspective as opposed to an outsider's jaundiced viewpoint is almost always more authentic and appealing.

 As a fellow native, I thoroughly relished this kaleidoscopic tour of Kashi and I am hopeful that every reader will follow suit. It's a journey into the heart of a city which is an embodiment of Hindu tradition and culture. Trust me, it'll be a fascinating ride, one you won't regret taking.

STOP--- RIGHT NOW !!

The BBC documentary on Nirbhaya is heartrending, hard-hitting and blood curdling in its depiction and presentation of facts like never before. We, who pride ourselves to be amongst the educated and enlightened lot were jolted out of our complacency and reverie with a thump.That human values have reached their nadir is apparent when the most horrific of all horrifying crimes is defended with a straight face showing no signs of distress, remorse or an iota of guilt. This defiant attitude of the convicts is greatly disturbing, revealing a deeper malaise in the lower class of the society whose aspirations are not being matched by the opportunities available. Lack of education and abysmal social surroundings coupled with weak family ties are producing youth with criminal intents and misplaced justification for their acts. The potential rapists (ones lurking around like predators, waiting to pounce whenever they get a chance) outnumber the actual ones who get caught. 

 The massive hue and cry against BBC is uncalled for. India's honour is not besmirched by a documentary made by a foreigner. If anything it has only facilitated in shifting the discussion from drawing rooms and virtual world brouhaha to having an internal dialogue with self. It sets you pondering and wondering over the gender biases which have seeped deep into Indian psyche over centuries. Before chastising a foreign media for its supposed sensationalism of a sensitive matter, let's not forget that India's best movie on the father of the nation was made by a Britisher and has been worn like a badge of honour by India for over 4 decades. If we fall short of compiling and projecting succinctly the things we pride upon or feel ashamed of...it is our collective failure. This ostrich like tendency of burying our heads in sand and wishing to ignore perturbing issues is another public lacuna which needs to be addressed asap. The moot point is not who told it first or how it was told but what to do so that there are no such stories to be told ever. A utopian society is a wishful thinking but let's examine our collective consciousness and work towards grafting enough deterrants either in legal system or in the social milieu so that rather than their exploitation, women are welcomed at birth, saluted in lifetime and revered after death. 

DEDICATED TO ALL THE DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, WIVES AND MOTHERS ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 

STOP --anguished cry of a girl child in India

I want to grow,

 I want to live,

Stop killing me. 

 I want to speak,

I want to laugh, 

Stop gagging me.

I want to see,

I want to admire,

Stop blinding me. 

 I want to relax,

I want to enjoy,

Stop censuring me. 

 I want to explore,

I want to discover,

Stop confining me. 

 I want to stretch,

I want to unwind,

Stop stifling me.

 I want to think,

 I want to imagine,

Stop suffocating me. 

 I want to love,

 I want to be loved,

Stop hating me.

HIS MASTER'S VOICE--SHAMITABH

As if Amitabh Bachchan ever needed to prove he has a voice that's unparalleled and inimitable. In Shamitabh, his rich baritone resonates with an awe-inspiring mix of arrogance, repressed anger and pathos topped with a dollop of dry humour, bringing two distinct characters alive on screen. His larger than life persona is downplayed to highlight the face (Dhanush with a finely nuanced and earnest performance)bearing the voice.. The movie never meanders, keeping its focus on the tussle between the two egos, their grudging respect for one another and their heart-warming bantering. Amitabh's soliloquies are reminiscent of those by Shakespeare's tragic heroes. It differs though in its ability to infuse wry humour in the most poignant of scenes. Shamitabh is a tribute to the ingenuity of director Balki, genuineness of Dhanush and the genius that is Amitabh.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF RAHUL GANDHI

The nation wants to know ,"Where is Rahul Gandhi?" As Arnab Goswami's infamous tagline goes, this is the question driving the media crazy and stirring up undue frenzy all around. Speculations are streaming galore and conjectures being connived rapidly, ranging from the plausible to the ridiculous. For a country battling with a plethora of problems and contentious contemporary issues, this extreme curiosity for the whereabouts of a reluctant and arguably incompetent politician brings forth the remnants of a colonial hangover. It's time to break free from this commoner mentality of always wanting to know what the privileged ones are upto. Lets give the guy a breather. The prodigal always returns. The pertinent question is should we even bother if he does or not ?

OBSESSION WITH OBAMA

He came, He saw, He conquered. Its another story that he didn't have to try hard. India is easily pleased by all things American. From Mcdonald to Madonna, we have always been star struck. Unsurprisingly thus, the visit of POTUS to our humble abode held the nation enthralled and spell bound. Riding high at the back of a strong, popular leader at the helm, India welcomed President Obama gushingly. The 3 day extravaganza provided a nonstop fodder for media and general public consumption.  We are a nation always in self denial about our obsession with the west and esp America. We grovel to please and any pat on our back from the big daddy of the world gives us the ultimate high. That he knows our badshah of bollywood is front page news all day long ! Also the fact that the First Lady wore an Indian designers outfit gave an automatic stamp of approval to Indian fashion industry's coming of age. It is all too charming n tad too perfect.. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a major Hollywood studio knocking down at Mannat in near future. 

If only life were as picture perfect as portrayed by the two leaders, one at the twilight of his supreme post and another bursting with unabashed confidence after his meteoric rise to the top. Jokes, satire, debates, discussions n dissections will continue for some more days. India will catch its breath after a while. Life will go on. Till another superstar from a superpower arrives to capture our imagination. And we go into raptures. Adios till then.

THE GREAT INDIAN VALENTINE DAY TAMASHA

In February, St. Valentine, the third century Roman poet is the most revered deity in this part of the world. That he was little known till about two decades ago is a non-issue. In recent times, he has developed a mammoth fan following of ardent devotees. The youth of the nation is bewitched by the spell of Valentine’s day. It's all too imposing and intrusive. Every product being sold these days is seeking an allegiance to the impending Valentine’s day. The days of greeting cards, chocolates, soft toys and keyrings are passé. The stakes are higher this time. It has got to be bigger and bolder. After all, fervour of love should be matched by loosening of purse strings. Generosity of heart has a stiff competitor in a loaded wallet. It’s impossible to remain immune in this emotionally surcharged atmosphere. Anyone who is not partaking in the jamboree is an odd nut case. 

After being inundated with mushy romantic quotes, inspirational offers in media and a thorough Whatsapp assault awakening my snoozing romantic side, I suggested falteringly to my worse half (by virtue of logical reasoning since I happen to be his better half) to do something special this Valentine. He gave me a look as if I have lost it…!! I persisted though and made all plans meticulously.

 Yesterday evening my washerman,a self styled Salman Khan fan, with an outlandish dress sense asked for two days leave and an advance for personal reasons. On being probed further he revealed it was for the Balentine day ! I was stumped. Not that there is anything wrong in a man,regardless of his social ranking, taking his wife out for some fun but the level of priority and significance being attached to such a banal event is like overdoing the act. It also reveals that the hold of advertising gimmicks and media hype over the psyche of the people is effective and absolute.

Banning and censuring by the moral police doesn't really help the cause. Love is after all a very volatile emotion. Boycott the sellers of love who make a mockery (Tamasha) of it. 

P.s. My plans for 14 feb stands cancelled as all the hotels are overcharging and my love for hard earned moolah supercedes any love for Reverend St. Valentine. God bless his soul..!