I would like to be an animal-lover…when I say animal-lover I mean one who likes and finds fascinating and beautiful ALL animals. I don’t.
I adore dogs – well established fact, considering I have always had a pet-dog. Let's not forget that I’ve been known to talk to street dogs, pick up fights with people whom I’ve observed mistreating a street dog, go over to strangers’ homes to meet their dogs and walk away without finding out the owner’s name or giving them mine…:-)
I’m OK with cats – I have argued incessantly over the virtues of dogs v/s cats with Amit, but frankly, I find them quite cute…I must admit, though, I’m not too high on the idea of having a cat as a pet…but wild cats are a completely different matter with their feline grace. If it wasn’t dangerous to keep one, I would have loved having a tiger as a pet. With every step that animal takes it inspires in me a feeling of awe at the sheer grace of movement and the power in that muscular body. And to see them hunt – oh yes, definitely awe-inspiring! Still haven’t figured out why the Lion is the king of the jungle – dirty scraggy creature that it is!
Anyways…I find most other domestic and wild animals beautiful. Reptiles are an exception – lizards, snakes, crocodiles – I am really not sure why we must have creatures like them to maintain the ecological balance. Creeps – yes that’s what they give me…absolutely creeps.
Yet another animal I’m not too fond of seeing is the Indian buffalo. Ironic considering I drink buffalo’s milk and prefer it over cow’s milk- even though the latter is healthier, having lower cholesterol quantities. But drinking the milk is one thing, and seeing the animal is another. The sight of a horde of big bulky black buffaloes disgusts me no end – with their fondness of wallowing in dirty waters, and keeping themselves caked in dung…I am most tempted to give up milk when I see where it comes from…and I’m not even talking about the condition of the sheds…
Anyways fate has been perverse, for there are, like, thousands of buffaloes in Pune…over a hundred very close to where I stay – the sight of a huge ugly buffalo sauntering along a busy main road, swaying its dung infested back-side at your windscreen is way too common for my liking. Not to mention the often enough incidences of having to sit in your vehicle for 15-20 minutes in the middle of a street, waiting for the herd to pass…
Nopes…sorry boss but I don’t think I’m that much of an animal lover to find beauty there…buffaloes are good animals. Gentle too (I think much more than the famed “gau-mata” who is known to chase people – I know, I’ve been chased once, but that’s another story!)…and useful as well. But I’d rather they stayed where they should be – in fields and meadows grazing peacefully, or in their sheds, not really gracing the streets of a busy city that is also supposed to be the next IT destination of the nation!
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Monday, August 23, 2004
Saatchya Aat Gharat
Now, this is one movie I would like to see! Alas my comprehension of the language and lack of company shall prevent me from doing so...
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Final Judgements
I used to be quite a television addict at one time – puberty definitely wasn’t easy for me, and television was my refuge…anyways right from the age of 11, it’s been the crime-based shows and legal dramas that held my attention and appealed to my intelligence, atleast what little there is of it! ;-) So apart from my share of Beverly Hills-90210, Doogie Howser, Wonder Years (I can still watch this with the same fascination as I first did) and Remington Steele (this too, just for that hottie Brosnan!) – I devoured a load of legal dramas, to the point that I’d contemplated a career in law at one time. I dropped the idea because of 2 reasons – I knew I’d never be able to memorise the laws and I had serious doubts about my capacity to argue my case with Tom, Dick and Harry and come out the winner.
Anyways as usual I’ve digressed from the main point that I wanted to make (Yep I’d definitely not make a good lawyer!)…over the years I’ve followed L.A.Law, Street Legal, and some others…off late I’ve been following only 2 shows religiously –Law and Order and The Practice . This week’s episode of The Practice was one of their most thought-provoking episodes.
Ellen, one of the leading lawyers in the firm, is fighting the case of a murderer on death-row. The perpetrator was suffering from schizophrenia at the time she murdered 2 young boys. She was diagnosed as mentally sane at the time of trial but later it was discovered that she was schizophrenic, and when given adequate medication she not only reformed, she turned into a role model. The point, thus being, that she was not mentally fit at the time of crime, thus can not be held responsible for her actions and shouldn’t be punished so severely for it. In U.S.A you can not execute an insane person, so Ellen makes her temporarily go off her medication – the judge rules that the State can not “force-medicate” her and that she won’t be executed as long as she is “insane.” Ellen returns with an argument that execution is reserved for the “most” heinous and evil of crimes, and this crime was not one of those. So why the death penalty? She goes on to argue that violence should not be paid back with violence. And that mercy was one of the greatest virtues of mankind – and that is what should be promoted. Everybody, deserves mercy, even murderers.
Do they? Is it really possible to forgive someone who has raped and/or murdered someone you love? Do they deserve to be pardoned for their crimes? Don’t the family members of victims deserve closure of some kind? Or is the desire to see the perpetrator punished/executed an aspect of the blood-thirstiness of mankind? Frankly I couldn’t come up with any satisfactory answers.
The episode ended with the defendant’s death penalty being stayed, on the grounds of mental instability at the time of crime…
On a different note, I saw Yuva last night. An excellent movie, with great acting by each of the leading actors. You note, I say "actors" – the absolute marginalization of actresses and their use as mere decorative objects disappointed me. The movie would have been much more satisfying had even one of the 3 actresses been given centre-stage. It was like saying that the responsibility of turning things around in Indian Politics lies in the hands of the male youth of the country, and all that the women can do, is support their man, provide good food for him when he returns at the end of the day, tired and disgusted with the system, not to mention good sex! Behind every successful man is a woman – and that’s where she is to stay – behind the scenes?
Anyways as usual I’ve digressed from the main point that I wanted to make (Yep I’d definitely not make a good lawyer!)…over the years I’ve followed L.A.Law, Street Legal, and some others…off late I’ve been following only 2 shows religiously –Law and Order and The Practice . This week’s episode of The Practice was one of their most thought-provoking episodes.
Ellen, one of the leading lawyers in the firm, is fighting the case of a murderer on death-row. The perpetrator was suffering from schizophrenia at the time she murdered 2 young boys. She was diagnosed as mentally sane at the time of trial but later it was discovered that she was schizophrenic, and when given adequate medication she not only reformed, she turned into a role model. The point, thus being, that she was not mentally fit at the time of crime, thus can not be held responsible for her actions and shouldn’t be punished so severely for it. In U.S.A you can not execute an insane person, so Ellen makes her temporarily go off her medication – the judge rules that the State can not “force-medicate” her and that she won’t be executed as long as she is “insane.” Ellen returns with an argument that execution is reserved for the “most” heinous and evil of crimes, and this crime was not one of those. So why the death penalty? She goes on to argue that violence should not be paid back with violence. And that mercy was one of the greatest virtues of mankind – and that is what should be promoted. Everybody, deserves mercy, even murderers.
Do they? Is it really possible to forgive someone who has raped and/or murdered someone you love? Do they deserve to be pardoned for their crimes? Don’t the family members of victims deserve closure of some kind? Or is the desire to see the perpetrator punished/executed an aspect of the blood-thirstiness of mankind? Frankly I couldn’t come up with any satisfactory answers.
The episode ended with the defendant’s death penalty being stayed, on the grounds of mental instability at the time of crime…
On a different note, I saw Yuva last night. An excellent movie, with great acting by each of the leading actors. You note, I say "actors" – the absolute marginalization of actresses and their use as mere decorative objects disappointed me. The movie would have been much more satisfying had even one of the 3 actresses been given centre-stage. It was like saying that the responsibility of turning things around in Indian Politics lies in the hands of the male youth of the country, and all that the women can do, is support their man, provide good food for him when he returns at the end of the day, tired and disgusted with the system, not to mention good sex! Behind every successful man is a woman – and that’s where she is to stay – behind the scenes?
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Justifying Murder
On Monday I blogged about the murder of Akku Yadav.
Last night, I saw on NDTV, that apart from the 5 women who have been arrested for murdering him, 400 women of the Kastuba Basti are ready to surrender if the women are convicted for their action.
I couldn't find an article reporting this new development in the TOI - not sensational enough for them, I guess. Anyways I hope the court does have the sense not to convict the women - on one hand it would be like saying it's Ok to murder someone who's oppressing you. Murder shouldn't be justified in anyway - in my opinion doing that would just abet crimes even more. But the women definitely should not be punished for taking the step that the Courts of Law should have - he was, after all, wanted for several cases of rape, dacoit and murder. Hardly reprehensible that the women lost hope in a system, that took over a decade to hang another rapist, and took things into their own hands.
Last night, I saw on NDTV, that apart from the 5 women who have been arrested for murdering him, 400 women of the Kastuba Basti are ready to surrender if the women are convicted for their action.
I couldn't find an article reporting this new development in the TOI - not sensational enough for them, I guess. Anyways I hope the court does have the sense not to convict the women - on one hand it would be like saying it's Ok to murder someone who's oppressing you. Murder shouldn't be justified in anyway - in my opinion doing that would just abet crimes even more. But the women definitely should not be punished for taking the step that the Courts of Law should have - he was, after all, wanted for several cases of rape, dacoit and murder. Hardly reprehensible that the women lost hope in a system, that took over a decade to hang another rapist, and took things into their own hands.
Monday, August 16, 2004
God Help The Students of University of Mumbai...
A friend just gave me this shocker of a news - so I hit the archives of Asian Age and came up with this :
"Kaun banega VC? The game begins - By Shweta Shertukde
Mumbai, Aug. 14: The University of Mumbai is likely to have a new vice-chancellor before August 20. Sources in the university disclosed that it will be a hurried appointment as the university will have to follow the code of conduct implemented by the state for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The race for the post of a new VC, with nearly 30 contenders, has already begun. According to sources, several city-based college principals and vice-chancellors from the neighbouring universities have already started lobbying for the coveted post.
Some of the major players in the race are from the Mumbai university — acting VC Dr Vijay Khole, dean of the arts faculty Dr Abhay Pethe, head of the English department R.G. Bongle, former head of the civics and politics department Nawaz Modi and former registrar Dr A.M. Murudkar. Others in the race are chairman of Principals’ Association Naresh Chandra, principal of Ruia College R.T. Sane, principal of Ruparel College P.M. Sule, VC of SNDT Women’s University Ms Rupa Shah and H.R. College principal, Indu Sahani.Some of these contenders have recently met the Congress party president Mrs Sonia Gandhi in Delhi to lobby for the post, said a source. To meet the August 20 deadline, a five-member team on the selection panel is almost ready.
..."
There's a reason why I've highlighted the name of our ex-HOD, Dr.Bhongle - if he is the next to step into the chair - it won't be unfair to say that the University of Mumbai is going to the dogs! God Save the Students!!!
"Kaun banega VC? The game begins - By Shweta Shertukde
Mumbai, Aug. 14: The University of Mumbai is likely to have a new vice-chancellor before August 20. Sources in the university disclosed that it will be a hurried appointment as the university will have to follow the code of conduct implemented by the state for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The race for the post of a new VC, with nearly 30 contenders, has already begun. According to sources, several city-based college principals and vice-chancellors from the neighbouring universities have already started lobbying for the coveted post.
Some of the major players in the race are from the Mumbai university — acting VC Dr Vijay Khole, dean of the arts faculty Dr Abhay Pethe, head of the English department R.G. Bongle, former head of the civics and politics department Nawaz Modi and former registrar Dr A.M. Murudkar. Others in the race are chairman of Principals’ Association Naresh Chandra, principal of Ruia College R.T. Sane, principal of Ruparel College P.M. Sule, VC of SNDT Women’s University Ms Rupa Shah and H.R. College principal, Indu Sahani.Some of these contenders have recently met the Congress party president Mrs Sonia Gandhi in Delhi to lobby for the post, said a source. To meet the August 20 deadline, a five-member team on the selection panel is almost ready.
..."
There's a reason why I've highlighted the name of our ex-HOD, Dr.Bhongle - if he is the next to step into the chair - it won't be unfair to say that the University of Mumbai is going to the dogs! God Save the Students!!!
"Trust Me, I Know Where This Road Goes.." Ahem...
They say men NEVER accept it when they are lost and almost never ask for directions. They also say that women are TERRIBLE at giving directions and can lead you around in circles. Stereotypes. Balderdash. Bullshit. I can narrate several instances to prove such statements wrong. But I can also narrate these 2 incidents:
Last Saturday we had gone for pizza dinner. On our way back my brother missed the turn that would lead us to our “village” – I was a bit surprised and made some noise from my back-seat, only to be firmly silenced by the men of the house. They knew what they were doing and where they were going. I figured that since they do go out daily with their respective cars, Papa and Bhaiyya might have found a shorter route…
10 minutes later we crossed the Race course and I knew they were DEFINITELY lost! Bhaiyya admitted that – but Papa still felt he knew where we were headed. "Ah well – men are always right," I told myself. "Sit quietly – there is another way we could get home, only it’s definitely not shorter, but almost twice as long as the usual route." So we drove on…and on…and on…I made some more noise and asked some more questions. “Will you please stop acting smart, young lady?” “Ok sir…you are in the driving seat!”
I waited patiently for 20 minutes for a landmark, which falls just outside Pune limits – and then calmly announced that we’d just crossed Manjari Meadows and were on our way to Solapur! “Oh is that so? Well then I guess we missed the turn somewhere!”
Ah - the pleasure it gave me to direct us back home! Muhahaha – I quite relished the experience of hearing them admit they were very lost and that they should have listened to me the first time I made noise!
I guess sometimes, it is true then – that men never accept it when they are lost and almost never ask for directions.
Now that I’ve related that -
I must admit that 75% of the time, my directions could lead you in the completely opposite direction. If I’m sitting next to you, I’ll immediately rectify my mistake, but if the directions were given to you on the phone…hehe God help you, coz I often mix up between right and left. If I’m not looking down at my hands then I’m almost certain to ask you to turn right, when I mean left!
I did this yesterday, telling Papa that he has to turn right at Café Canada to get to Kasba Peth, and getting very annoyed with him when he said there is no right there! So he drew a map for me – much to my embarrassment I’d meant left! Needless to say, that ended up being a source of amusement for my brother and father for the rest of the day!
Touché!
So sometimes it’s also true that women are terrible at giving directions and can lead you around in circles.
;-)
Last Saturday we had gone for pizza dinner. On our way back my brother missed the turn that would lead us to our “village” – I was a bit surprised and made some noise from my back-seat, only to be firmly silenced by the men of the house. They knew what they were doing and where they were going. I figured that since they do go out daily with their respective cars, Papa and Bhaiyya might have found a shorter route…
10 minutes later we crossed the Race course and I knew they were DEFINITELY lost! Bhaiyya admitted that – but Papa still felt he knew where we were headed. "Ah well – men are always right," I told myself. "Sit quietly – there is another way we could get home, only it’s definitely not shorter, but almost twice as long as the usual route." So we drove on…and on…and on…I made some more noise and asked some more questions. “Will you please stop acting smart, young lady?” “Ok sir…you are in the driving seat!”
I waited patiently for 20 minutes for a landmark, which falls just outside Pune limits – and then calmly announced that we’d just crossed Manjari Meadows and were on our way to Solapur! “Oh is that so? Well then I guess we missed the turn somewhere!”
Ah - the pleasure it gave me to direct us back home! Muhahaha – I quite relished the experience of hearing them admit they were very lost and that they should have listened to me the first time I made noise!
I guess sometimes, it is true then – that men never accept it when they are lost and almost never ask for directions.
Now that I’ve related that -
I must admit that 75% of the time, my directions could lead you in the completely opposite direction. If I’m sitting next to you, I’ll immediately rectify my mistake, but if the directions were given to you on the phone…hehe God help you, coz I often mix up between right and left. If I’m not looking down at my hands then I’m almost certain to ask you to turn right, when I mean left!
I did this yesterday, telling Papa that he has to turn right at Café Canada to get to Kasba Peth, and getting very annoyed with him when he said there is no right there! So he drew a map for me – much to my embarrassment I’d meant left! Needless to say, that ended up being a source of amusement for my brother and father for the rest of the day!
Touché!
So sometimes it’s also true that women are terrible at giving directions and can lead you around in circles.
;-)
Eh?
Yesterday was Independance Day - I hate to admit that it was just another day. Just another Sunday when we went house-hunting yet again... and returned home exhausted, having had both meals out ....no flag-hoisting ceremony at all this year, for perhaps the first time in my life. Last time I reached late, but atleast I paid my respects to the tricolour. This year - Na Da :-(
One thing that hit me yesterday was this headline : Women proud of lynching goon in court. Its hardly shocking, keeping in mind all the things we read in the paper these days. Dunno - it just wasn't what I wanted to read about on Independance Day. Call me naive, but I'm horrified each time I read about such demons...to think that millions still live in the fear of such tyranny and we are more bothered about whether India is ready for legal Pornography or not - gimme a break, could we focus on some real issues for a change?
One thing that hit me yesterday was this headline : Women proud of lynching goon in court. Its hardly shocking, keeping in mind all the things we read in the paper these days. Dunno - it just wasn't what I wanted to read about on Independance Day. Call me naive, but I'm horrified each time I read about such demons...to think that millions still live in the fear of such tyranny and we are more bothered about whether India is ready for legal Pornography or not - gimme a break, could we focus on some real issues for a change?
Friday, August 13, 2004
The Infidelity Track
Been meaning to blog on this every since my last blog – actually I had to restrain myself from publishing this last time, because I didn’t want it to seem like a deluge. Ironically I’ve not blogged for days since then – was very phased out and couldn’t get my thoughts organized. Why? Partly the same old bug of loneliness that makes me downright miserable and yearn to turn to clock back to nicer days. Add to that, what seems like viral fever – nursed mind-numbing headaches, weakness and throat-ache, battled against fever, and had sinus and this awful taste in my mouth through-out. With my whole “anti-medicines” attitude I took longer to get back on track – any other person would have popped a few antibiotics and been hopping around in 2 days. Me? Heheh – I prolong the torture by resisting medication! Stubborn mule? Yeps I know I’m one :-)
Anyways as usual I’ve digressed – damn I could give Thomas Hardy a run for his money in the art of digressing – muhahaha!
Earlier this week when I blogged about the whole issue of women being raped/molested, a related subject was burning in my mind. It came up in a conversation and got me thinking –
We were talking in general about friendships between opposite sexes. I’m fortunate enough to share some great friendships like that; infact one of my closest friends is a guy, and I’ve never ever felt remotely uncomfortable in the presence of any of my male friends. Not everybody has that luck, it seems.
Anyways we drifted into a different aspect of male-female relationships. Here’s a hint – it’s a hot favourite with our Hindi soap-operas! The much discussed, dreaded extra-marital affair! Unacceptable, was my take on it. How could you possibly accept infidelity in your partner? Knowing he’s been with another woman even while he has taken the vows to be yours and your alone, not just in this lifetime, but in the next few lifetimes as well. How is it possible to trust that person ever again and continue to love him? For me, the question of straying just doesn’t arise. I know, I can’t even think of another man – I don’t need to be married to him to feel this way. Love is not something that happens with just anyone. When it does happen, it’s for a lifetime. I know some people say that sometimes love dies – well if it does, you should break it off immediately. Why lie and seek love behind your spouse’s back?
The person I was talking to felt that you have to give him a second chance – marriage is for keeps, and she felt that you have to try and fix things that could go wrong. She did – and she used her experience to show how things that look bad can turn around completely. That you can build a relationship again. That weak foundations can be strengthened. That you can’t just give up so easily. If you love the person, you should want to fight for him – what I don’t get is – why should you have to “fight” for him? Shouldn’t he “be” yours? I mean for chrissake, doesn’t the fact that you’ve chosen each other mean something?
God forbid I ever have to face such a situation – knowing me, I’d be devastated. The thought of it sends chill down my spine – *shudder* Give me any amount of travails otherwise, but not infidelity in the man I love. Amen.
Anyways as usual I’ve digressed – damn I could give Thomas Hardy a run for his money in the art of digressing – muhahaha!
Earlier this week when I blogged about the whole issue of women being raped/molested, a related subject was burning in my mind. It came up in a conversation and got me thinking –
We were talking in general about friendships between opposite sexes. I’m fortunate enough to share some great friendships like that; infact one of my closest friends is a guy, and I’ve never ever felt remotely uncomfortable in the presence of any of my male friends. Not everybody has that luck, it seems.
Anyways we drifted into a different aspect of male-female relationships. Here’s a hint – it’s a hot favourite with our Hindi soap-operas! The much discussed, dreaded extra-marital affair! Unacceptable, was my take on it. How could you possibly accept infidelity in your partner? Knowing he’s been with another woman even while he has taken the vows to be yours and your alone, not just in this lifetime, but in the next few lifetimes as well. How is it possible to trust that person ever again and continue to love him? For me, the question of straying just doesn’t arise. I know, I can’t even think of another man – I don’t need to be married to him to feel this way. Love is not something that happens with just anyone. When it does happen, it’s for a lifetime. I know some people say that sometimes love dies – well if it does, you should break it off immediately. Why lie and seek love behind your spouse’s back?
The person I was talking to felt that you have to give him a second chance – marriage is for keeps, and she felt that you have to try and fix things that could go wrong. She did – and she used her experience to show how things that look bad can turn around completely. That you can build a relationship again. That weak foundations can be strengthened. That you can’t just give up so easily. If you love the person, you should want to fight for him – what I don’t get is – why should you have to “fight” for him? Shouldn’t he “be” yours? I mean for chrissake, doesn’t the fact that you’ve chosen each other mean something?
God forbid I ever have to face such a situation – knowing me, I’d be devastated. The thought of it sends chill down my spine – *shudder* Give me any amount of travails otherwise, but not infidelity in the man I love. Amen.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Murky Waters
One can’t avoid the reports on cases of rapes and other types of assaults against women on News channels these days. I seem to have rather mixed feelings on this whole issue. On one hand, I agree with those who say that it’s a heinous crime that simply can not be pardoned and/or excused. (Thank God our President didn’t agree to the mercy plea made by Dhanandjay Chatterjee) This is one trait in men (not all of them, I accept) that I abhor – the need to subjugate those who are inferior to them, weaker than them or unable to fight back. If they do stand up to any mistreatment, they must be “punished” and “reminded who holds the reins” – despicable and beyond pardon. As for cases of sexual violence – I think a person couldn’t get more be more depraved and screwed up to actually get off that kind of an action. No amount of argument that “the woman asked for it” can ever be sufficient to excuse molestation and/or rape.
But then I think of those incredibly credulous (read DUMB) women who blindly walk into a situation that flashes DANGER in red from a mile off. I totally fail to comprehend why so many women willingly allow themselves to be exploited – who gets to decide what level of exploitation is acceptable – and if the level you perceive in your mind as acceptable doesn’t match with the other person, is it really fair to scream “exploitation” later? Why put yourself on a terrain that is not firm and shows signs of turning into a slimy quicksand? God hasn’t blessed us with grey cells and an intuition for nothing – they are meant to be used, not left to rust. And if you argue that we shouldn’t have to look over our shoulder with every step we take, I agree. We shouldn’t. But let’s face it – this isn’t Utopia. We don’t live in Arcadia. If we are sensible and cautious in a jungle where predatory carnivores reside, then why not otherwise? I mean, in a sense, we do live in a vast jungle of sorts, don’t we? We have to be on red alert at work, for there is always someone waiting to pounce on your smallest mistake, and turn it into their advantage – the same rules apply elsewhere.
I’m not acquitting the men from their blame – I whole-heartedly support capital punishment in 9o% of these cases – no point letting those monsters live and that too on government money, which in a sense is our money. All I’m saying is that sometimes things can’t be classified as Black and White. Things aren’t as simple as that. They never are. Think about it.
But then I think of those incredibly credulous (read DUMB) women who blindly walk into a situation that flashes DANGER in red from a mile off. I totally fail to comprehend why so many women willingly allow themselves to be exploited – who gets to decide what level of exploitation is acceptable – and if the level you perceive in your mind as acceptable doesn’t match with the other person, is it really fair to scream “exploitation” later? Why put yourself on a terrain that is not firm and shows signs of turning into a slimy quicksand? God hasn’t blessed us with grey cells and an intuition for nothing – they are meant to be used, not left to rust. And if you argue that we shouldn’t have to look over our shoulder with every step we take, I agree. We shouldn’t. But let’s face it – this isn’t Utopia. We don’t live in Arcadia. If we are sensible and cautious in a jungle where predatory carnivores reside, then why not otherwise? I mean, in a sense, we do live in a vast jungle of sorts, don’t we? We have to be on red alert at work, for there is always someone waiting to pounce on your smallest mistake, and turn it into their advantage – the same rules apply elsewhere.
I’m not acquitting the men from their blame – I whole-heartedly support capital punishment in 9o% of these cases – no point letting those monsters live and that too on government money, which in a sense is our money. All I’m saying is that sometimes things can’t be classified as Black and White. Things aren’t as simple as that. They never are. Think about it.
Friday, August 06, 2004
Henri Cartier Bresson
Wondering why I’ve not blogged for so long – its not like the opportunity didn’t present itself, or there was lack of topic (there never can be with someone like me, who just loves to talk – if there is no interlocutor, then I can even talk to myself - LOL!)...but somehow I never got around to blogging – about Ma’s problem with vertigo…or how that damned aquarium, my bro has got, broke this Tuesday, and how bhabhi and I spent the entire morning mopping up coz half the water had leaked out, under the cupboards and half-way across the room…or how my damned wisdom tooth gave me so much grief this week...or how miserable I was coz of the wretched cold weather in this bloody hamlet!
Ok – I think I have an inkling as to why I didn’t blog – coz I didn’t want to publish a jeremiad of complaints! LOL! Hit the nail on the spot, didn’t you Sherlock?
Well anyways now that I’ve solved that grand mystery in life, I guess I might as well blog about something more substantial and less introspective and/or floozy!
This morning I read about the death of Henri Cartier Bresson (1908-2004), a photojournalist and co-founder of Magnum Photos. Ok gyan time – Magnum Photos is an international photographic co-operative founded by Robert Cappa, David Seymour, William Vandivert, George Rodger and Bresson in Paris, 1947. Basically Cappa, Seymour and Bresson had been friends before the World War II and when they reunited unexpectedly after the war, they came up with this idea of forming an organisation that would be a kind of forum for photographers and a training ground for new talent. They later opened an office in New York (small surprise – the Big Bully definitely was the place to head even back then, especially when you wanted to sell anything!); today they have offices in London and Tokyo as well and around 50 members. A “miniature United Nations” each member of the organization took on responsibility of covering a geographic area.
So coming back to Bresson – he took on India and the Far-east. Reason I got interested in the fellow was because I’d read somewhere (now don’t ask me where and when – I so totally fail to remember!) that he had taken a photograph of Gandhi, as he lay on his death bed. Apparently another photographer, was unsuccessful and ended up having her reel destroyed because of her insensitivity to the situation, while Bresson succeeded by being discrete and subtle and staying behind the scenes. I thought to myself, creativity coupled with a keen sense of sensitivity and intelligence. Great combination! So I went ahead and read up more about him – it helped that he was a French man! ;-) Anyways some of his work that I saw online fascinated me and managed to snag my attention...
Ok – I think I have an inkling as to why I didn’t blog – coz I didn’t want to publish a jeremiad of complaints! LOL! Hit the nail on the spot, didn’t you Sherlock?
Well anyways now that I’ve solved that grand mystery in life, I guess I might as well blog about something more substantial and less introspective and/or floozy!
This morning I read about the death of Henri Cartier Bresson (1908-2004), a photojournalist and co-founder of Magnum Photos. Ok gyan time – Magnum Photos is an international photographic co-operative founded by Robert Cappa, David Seymour, William Vandivert, George Rodger and Bresson in Paris, 1947. Basically Cappa, Seymour and Bresson had been friends before the World War II and when they reunited unexpectedly after the war, they came up with this idea of forming an organisation that would be a kind of forum for photographers and a training ground for new talent. They later opened an office in New York (small surprise – the Big Bully definitely was the place to head even back then, especially when you wanted to sell anything!); today they have offices in London and Tokyo as well and around 50 members. A “miniature United Nations” each member of the organization took on responsibility of covering a geographic area.
So coming back to Bresson – he took on India and the Far-east. Reason I got interested in the fellow was because I’d read somewhere (now don’t ask me where and when – I so totally fail to remember!) that he had taken a photograph of Gandhi, as he lay on his death bed. Apparently another photographer, was unsuccessful and ended up having her reel destroyed because of her insensitivity to the situation, while Bresson succeeded by being discrete and subtle and staying behind the scenes. I thought to myself, creativity coupled with a keen sense of sensitivity and intelligence. Great combination! So I went ahead and read up more about him – it helped that he was a French man! ;-) Anyways some of his work that I saw online fascinated me and managed to snag my attention...
The one below seems to be a favourite, but I lean towards the one above. Something about the old man, surrounded by flowers, absorbed in his solitary activity touched me.
The name stuck in my memory and this morning when I read about his death – I decided I so totally must blog about this. I think I would like to own one of those books he has published. Probably “Decisive Moments” which is touted as his chef d’oeuvre...
Hehe...just went through this and it struck me that the last line stinks of a hint for a gift. Terribly expensive gift, eh? LOL – worry not, there’s no hint there. Just a thought to myself – more like a note for the future. (Read when I have a decent enough salary to be able to afford all those books I harbour a perennial hunger for!)
Linguistic thought for the day :- Often seen and often used “specially” instead of “especially” – wonder how and why this habit came to be?
Specially, adv. 1. In a special manner; particularly.
2. For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned.
Especially, adv. In an especial manner; chiefly; particularly; peculiarly; in an uncommon degree.
Eh? Difference?
Ick – so need to improve that vocabulary of mine. Too mediocre for my satisfaction – double ick. Must bookmark the Online Dictionary and must leaf through my pocket Oxford more often. Bit late for a New Year Resolution...anyways I don’t hold much faith in them that were made as you say good-bye to a dying year and are drunk with happiness welcoming one more catastrophic year that brings you closer to the apocalyptic end...but I guess one can always resolve to improve anytime of the year, eh?
Monday, August 02, 2004
Grumpy Bear
QUESTION FOR THE DAY :-
Why is it that NONE of my friends, apart from Kunaal, have made any attempts to visit me in Pune?
I mean, some of them actually act like it's just me who should get to experience the "wonderfully short drive on the Mumbai-Pune expressway" - the least they could do is stay in touch, which ain't difficult in this day and age of SMS, emails and 952 facility!
ICK!
Why is it that NONE of my friends, apart from Kunaal, have made any attempts to visit me in Pune?
I mean, some of them actually act like it's just me who should get to experience the "wonderfully short drive on the Mumbai-Pune expressway" - the least they could do is stay in touch, which ain't difficult in this day and age of SMS, emails and 952 facility!
ICK!
Saturday, July 31, 2004
A Note of Thanks
Dear God,
Yesterday evening Girish uncle, a family friend, who has had a heart attack and Angioplasty, was admitted to the hospital after feeling some discomfort in the chest. We rushed to the hospital obviously, since they are as close as family and we are practically the only people they know here in Pune - I had little to do, as my parents were with Uncle and Aunty and Bhaiyya was taking care of other stuff. As I sat there in the waiting room, for news, taking in all the details of the Cardiology center, overhearing snippets of conversations doctors/nurses/attendants were having with family members of patients – I got cold inside. Despite the fact that I had on a pullover I felt downright chilly inside – not so much because of the temperatures, as because of the memories it roused.
Circumstances were different yes, but I couldn’t help but remember the fear that had gripped me when my mother had a heart-attack in Jan 2002 . The Angiogram confirmed our worst fears – she had multiple blockages, one going up to 98%. She had a by-pass soon after – and those were some of the most terrifying and trying days of my life. Coming face-to-face with my mother’s mortality shook me deeply. I think I grew up the most in that one month – especially since I dealt with more than my mother’s illness. It was a crucial time for me, with my final year BA exams round the corner, and in those few months I realized who my true friends are… funny how you have to go through some kind of difficulty in order to see through farces and understand who truly is your friend and who’s there only while the good times last!
Luckily for me I do have some really great friends and they’ve seen me through each and every one of those trying phases in life – I hope I’ve been at least half as good a friend to them, as they have been to me. Sitting there in that waiting room last night, I thanked you for all that I’ve been blessed with. Just last week I was complaining of how life sucks – but let’s face it, life hasn’t been a series of hurdles for me. I have a great, supporting family, a fabulous set of friends…hell you have even blessed me with a heart bigger than most people! As for what’s missing, it’s up to me to ensure that the void is filled, right? After all, we make our own destinies, don’t we?
Yesterday evening Girish uncle, a family friend, who has had a heart attack and Angioplasty, was admitted to the hospital after feeling some discomfort in the chest. We rushed to the hospital obviously, since they are as close as family and we are practically the only people they know here in Pune - I had little to do, as my parents were with Uncle and Aunty and Bhaiyya was taking care of other stuff. As I sat there in the waiting room, for news, taking in all the details of the Cardiology center, overhearing snippets of conversations doctors/nurses/attendants were having with family members of patients – I got cold inside. Despite the fact that I had on a pullover I felt downright chilly inside – not so much because of the temperatures, as because of the memories it roused.
Circumstances were different yes, but I couldn’t help but remember the fear that had gripped me when my mother had a heart-attack in Jan 2002 . The Angiogram confirmed our worst fears – she had multiple blockages, one going up to 98%. She had a by-pass soon after – and those were some of the most terrifying and trying days of my life. Coming face-to-face with my mother’s mortality shook me deeply. I think I grew up the most in that one month – especially since I dealt with more than my mother’s illness. It was a crucial time for me, with my final year BA exams round the corner, and in those few months I realized who my true friends are… funny how you have to go through some kind of difficulty in order to see through farces and understand who truly is your friend and who’s there only while the good times last!
Luckily for me I do have some really great friends and they’ve seen me through each and every one of those trying phases in life – I hope I’ve been at least half as good a friend to them, as they have been to me. Sitting there in that waiting room last night, I thanked you for all that I’ve been blessed with. Just last week I was complaining of how life sucks – but let’s face it, life hasn’t been a series of hurdles for me. I have a great, supporting family, a fabulous set of friends…hell you have even blessed me with a heart bigger than most people! As for what’s missing, it’s up to me to ensure that the void is filled, right? After all, we make our own destinies, don’t we?
Yours gratefully,
Geetanjali
P.S Struck with wonder and horror at how some people don’t realize the gravity of a heart-attack – it’s almost like “just” another topic to discuss for them. Hell comparing a by-pass to an appendicitis operation – for Chrissake! People like that truly try my patience!
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Brrrrrrr
It’s cold in Pune! LOL! Ok coming from me you’d think that’s a gross exaggeration and it’s probably just pleasant , but I like to believe that my resistance to the cold has improved a bit after having spent 3 months in Europe during winter and surviving sub-zero temperatures! Anyways I think I detest the cold winds the most – and Pune is VERY windy. Specially where we stay – when we shut our windows they sometimes rattle with the pressure of the wind outside! Up until now it hasn’t rained “properly” here – remember I’m accustomed to Bombay rains (read non-stop rains lashing the streets for days at end, flooded roads, over-flowing sewers, gusty winds, wet clothes, broken umbrellas et al) – but for the past few days it’s rained “a little” – i.e it drizzles all day. Add to this the wind and it gets quite cold. My classmates have actually come to class wearing sweaters and jackets! I resisted till yesterday when I finally pulled out my sleeveless sweater and thick Khadi jacket – cozier once I’m encased in either one of them! It feels funny – roaming around in jackets and sleeping with double covering, hardly ever switching the fan on! Hehe…guess I’ll really get to use my “winter-wear” in this city!
Word of the Day :
e·pis·te·mol·o·gy , n. The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity.
Aslo see Epistmelogy, an Introduction for better understanding!
PS – Friends have expressed concern due to my last blog – just a small note – I’m not as bad as it sounds. It’s a phase that will pass – guess I just need to sort out some issues which will take me time. I might get low and as a result moody and rude at time – hope you’ll will bear with me! Thanks for all the support and offers to beat up the person concerned! :-)
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Ick
Today should go down in the book as one of my worst days possible. I could hardly believe it as I slipped back into the vortex of negativity today. It’s been ages since I had no control over my rage – and today I sure did lose control. Black rage would be putting it mildly. It’s a different matter that once the rage inside me subsided, it was replaced by a melancholic mania of sorts. Thoughts I really don’t want to entertain surfaced to torment me – realizations that I’ve given too much once again and have only myself to blame. Doubts – about myself, my capabilities, what I’m worth. Questions – why don’t I learn to ask for what I want? Why do I stay silent when no one understands what it is that I am asking for? Especially when I ask so rarely? Why I take so much crap and don’t ever open my mouth when I’m being hurt? Not to the person inflicting the pain anyways. Why I swallow all that pain, never letting the person know the effect on me? Why? Why me?
Wallowing in narcissistic despair? Yeah that’s what it feels like – putting myself at the center of everything. But then I’m doing it inside me – or atleast I was till I wrote this blog. Well to hell with it – I need to get atleast some of this angst out…
Am I feeling better? Well not really – but then I know that’s not one thing that will change for the next few months. Been there, Done it once before…
Wallowing in narcissistic despair? Yeah that’s what it feels like – putting myself at the center of everything. But then I’m doing it inside me – or atleast I was till I wrote this blog. Well to hell with it – I need to get atleast some of this angst out…
Am I feeling better? Well not really – but then I know that’s not one thing that will change for the next few months. Been there, Done it once before…
Monday, July 26, 2004
From the Kitchen ;-)
Phew…
Am so exhausted today. And I’ve done nothing much. Being my day-off from class et al, I chilled out all day. Even managed to get an nice long nap in the afternoon. And then…
I entered the kitchen!
LOL! Man oh man, it may have been fun, and the labour definitely paid off, but am I bushed. Started chopping at 4pm and then the cooking – preparing the layers for my “Wholesome Spaghetti” meal, not to mention preparing the salad, soup and dessert. I finished at 7.40pm. Chop chop, mix, add a dash of this and that, taste..re-think, add some more of this, move onto neighbouring bowl, stir…what makes people opt for a career in cooking? It’s so incredibly tiring and back-breaking…bending over that chopping board, and then the stove! Well atleast my labours paid off and the food was totally appreciated. :-)
Need to focus on work again – haven’t been doing much of that in the past few days. Hmm..the wonders of freelancing – no need to sit daily to work! Ah ofcourse you still have to deliver, specially when you’re freelancing for an old acquaintance and can’t lose face! Double-edged sword eh?
Been doing some reading up on one of my favourite subjects – can’t wait to blog about it. LOL – I’m actually excited about a bloody blog! How happening could I get? *Sarcasm dripping from my fangs* Man oh man – am I diverting my energies elsewhere or am I? Ok Geets baby I see through your strategy, but I’m gonna let you follow it up, coz it will keep me sane! ;-)
PS Appu is in B’bay and I couldn’t go meet her…BOOHOO! Why? C’est pas juste!
Am so exhausted today. And I’ve done nothing much. Being my day-off from class et al, I chilled out all day. Even managed to get an nice long nap in the afternoon. And then…
I entered the kitchen!
LOL! Man oh man, it may have been fun, and the labour definitely paid off, but am I bushed. Started chopping at 4pm and then the cooking – preparing the layers for my “Wholesome Spaghetti” meal, not to mention preparing the salad, soup and dessert. I finished at 7.40pm. Chop chop, mix, add a dash of this and that, taste..re-think, add some more of this, move onto neighbouring bowl, stir…what makes people opt for a career in cooking? It’s so incredibly tiring and back-breaking…bending over that chopping board, and then the stove! Well atleast my labours paid off and the food was totally appreciated. :-)
Need to focus on work again – haven’t been doing much of that in the past few days. Hmm..the wonders of freelancing – no need to sit daily to work! Ah ofcourse you still have to deliver, specially when you’re freelancing for an old acquaintance and can’t lose face! Double-edged sword eh?
Been doing some reading up on one of my favourite subjects – can’t wait to blog about it. LOL – I’m actually excited about a bloody blog! How happening could I get? *Sarcasm dripping from my fangs* Man oh man – am I diverting my energies elsewhere or am I? Ok Geets baby I see through your strategy, but I’m gonna let you follow it up, coz it will keep me sane! ;-)
PS Appu is in B’bay and I couldn’t go meet her…BOOHOO! Why? C’est pas juste!
Friday, July 23, 2004
The Republic of Love
Last night my tummy was giving me “major traas” (read: I had a mild tummy ache) – now I’m not used to tummy troubles; normally my stomach is very stable and I rarely have any problems with it. So when I do, I’m perplexed, flummoxed and irritated – and can’t sleep. Since sleep eluded me, I figured I’d finish reading Carol Shield’s The Republic of Love which I’ve been at for around 10 days now. It’s my bus-time reading; I’ve not been devoting “quality-time” to books off-late, much to my dismay, shame, exasperation and frustration! Anyways this was my second Carol Shields novel and I think I quite like her style and content. For one, she is a women author (I’ve realized I tend to finish women’s novels faster and also relate to them more – obviously – and enjoy them more.) plus I like her style. Short chapters. Separate units that tie up neatly at the end of the novel. And she has a way of saying things – you know these things, but she says them for you. I’ve reviewed both novels, that I’ve read, on Literary Mosaic – in addition to that, here are some quotes from that caught my attention and had me marking the pages so I could note them down later:
“Well, I’ve finally figured out that being male is the same thing, more or less, as being born with a personality disorder”
-I salute the lady for this one! Priceless isn’t it?
“He’s never been to Europe; nothing there has ever seemed compelling enough to compensate for what he imagines to be an assault of massive stone monuments and continuous drenching rain. He fears, more than damp feet, the narrow Continental streets full of toxic haze, and unreadable European maps whose rivers, roads, railway lines and national boundaries wrinkle and shrink the eyesight of travelers and strip them clean of volition, of identity. Europe with its sneering face. Europe the mercenary uncle”
-The reason this caught my attention is because, seen in isolation, this paragraph reads very American – and Carol Shields is not American, but Canadian. A tad bit surprising –
1) Canada has had strong links with Europe (reference to their colonial history with Britain and France)
2) Hadn’t realized the Americans had such a strong impact on their psyche.
It’s funny that Europe has been equated to the “mercenary uncle” when Canada is struggling to assert it’s identity against, or rather despite, its muscular neighbour, the Big Bully Uncle Sam!
(Quickly checking her brief biography on the first page, I understand. Born and brought up in Chicago, she has lived in Canada only since 1957. Interesting. I’d love to compare this with other Canadian novelists.)
“They say Love makes angels of the wicked. That people in love are kinder in their ways, stronger in their resolve and lit from within by an incandescence so generous, impulsive, and willing, so mild, too, and almost innocent, that other people, observing them are reminded of young children – the good, stalwart, focused children of fairy tales.
They say love affects the blood-sugar level and that, all other things being equal, lovers will win Olympic medals, score higher on examinations, donate more generously to charities, ward off the most potent flu germs, and kindle the kind of rare happiness that deflects the envy of others.
They say love distorts judgements, so that the most morally robust can drift into evil, and the evil into goodness.
Another thing people say is that love quickens the sensory organs. Fingertips grow more sensitive and more eager. Hearing becomes acute, sometimes painfully so. The olfactory organs crackle and swell and make themselves known. And vision grows more precise, more penetrating…”
-Lets just say that it appealed to my romantic notions.
“It is impossible for us to live outside the culture we’re born into. Our communities claim us from the start, extending a thousand tentacles of possession, and Fay, a reasonable intelligent woman, has long recognised that reverence for individualism is one of the prime perversions of contemporary society. It is illogical and foolish. Oh, yes. We are bound to each other biologically and socially, intellectually and spiritually, and to abrogate our supporting network is to destroy ourselves.”
-What can I say? The lady knows how to say it!
“We’ve got to get back to neighbourliness. We’ve lost it. Saying good morning to each other? Saying how do you do, how are you feeling, how’s the world treating you? Recycling plastic bags is peanuts, ditto with phosphate-free detergent. We’re always hollering these days about the infrastructure of our cities, but love’s got an infrastructure, too. Love your neighbour, let him love you back a little. Love’s the greenest stuff going. Let’s hear it for love.”
-Amen!
“Well, I’ve finally figured out that being male is the same thing, more or less, as being born with a personality disorder”
-I salute the lady for this one! Priceless isn’t it?
“He’s never been to Europe; nothing there has ever seemed compelling enough to compensate for what he imagines to be an assault of massive stone monuments and continuous drenching rain. He fears, more than damp feet, the narrow Continental streets full of toxic haze, and unreadable European maps whose rivers, roads, railway lines and national boundaries wrinkle and shrink the eyesight of travelers and strip them clean of volition, of identity. Europe with its sneering face. Europe the mercenary uncle”
-The reason this caught my attention is because, seen in isolation, this paragraph reads very American – and Carol Shields is not American, but Canadian. A tad bit surprising –
1) Canada has had strong links with Europe (reference to their colonial history with Britain and France)
2) Hadn’t realized the Americans had such a strong impact on their psyche.
It’s funny that Europe has been equated to the “mercenary uncle” when Canada is struggling to assert it’s identity against, or rather despite, its muscular neighbour, the Big Bully Uncle Sam!
(Quickly checking her brief biography on the first page, I understand. Born and brought up in Chicago, she has lived in Canada only since 1957. Interesting. I’d love to compare this with other Canadian novelists.)
“They say Love makes angels of the wicked. That people in love are kinder in their ways, stronger in their resolve and lit from within by an incandescence so generous, impulsive, and willing, so mild, too, and almost innocent, that other people, observing them are reminded of young children – the good, stalwart, focused children of fairy tales.
They say love affects the blood-sugar level and that, all other things being equal, lovers will win Olympic medals, score higher on examinations, donate more generously to charities, ward off the most potent flu germs, and kindle the kind of rare happiness that deflects the envy of others.
They say love distorts judgements, so that the most morally robust can drift into evil, and the evil into goodness.
Another thing people say is that love quickens the sensory organs. Fingertips grow more sensitive and more eager. Hearing becomes acute, sometimes painfully so. The olfactory organs crackle and swell and make themselves known. And vision grows more precise, more penetrating…”
-Lets just say that it appealed to my romantic notions.
“It is impossible for us to live outside the culture we’re born into. Our communities claim us from the start, extending a thousand tentacles of possession, and Fay, a reasonable intelligent woman, has long recognised that reverence for individualism is one of the prime perversions of contemporary society. It is illogical and foolish. Oh, yes. We are bound to each other biologically and socially, intellectually and spiritually, and to abrogate our supporting network is to destroy ourselves.”
-What can I say? The lady knows how to say it!
“We’ve got to get back to neighbourliness. We’ve lost it. Saying good morning to each other? Saying how do you do, how are you feeling, how’s the world treating you? Recycling plastic bags is peanuts, ditto with phosphate-free detergent. We’re always hollering these days about the infrastructure of our cities, but love’s got an infrastructure, too. Love your neighbour, let him love you back a little. Love’s the greenest stuff going. Let’s hear it for love.”
-Amen!
Thursday, July 22, 2004
La France m'appelle?
Today I saw a very nice movie based on the holocaust. Indirectly, but the inspiration was from that and we all know how fascinated I am with that subject. “La Passante du Sans Souci”. Filmed partly in Berlin and partly in France, it deals with the life of Max Baumstein, who murders a politician of Paraguay.
Max Baumstein is a well-known human rights activist and avowed pacifist who, to the shock and puzzlement of many, murders a politician from South America. As Baumstein goes to trial, it is revealed that his victim was in fact a Nazi war criminal who ordered the deaths of thousands of people -- including Baumstein's parents. In flashback, Max recalls the horrors of the Nazi occupation of France, and he remembers Elsa Weiner, a woman who helped save his life and struggled to free her husband Michel from a concentration camp after he was condemned for publishing anti-fascist literature.
Definitely a recommendation – oh did I forget to mention? It’s in French, but well…WATCH IT IF YOU CAN!!!
What else? Ah oui, my friend Patricia, spoke about me to a lady who I met at Dr.Bharucha’s place for dinner in Jan 2003. She trains people to teach French to foreigners and was in BBay with the French Embassy at that time. Anyways Pat meets her regularly and has enquired if I could spend a summer in France to aid my studies and how to go about it. So much so that the lady said she could make a few phone calls too, if I’m interested! Now talk about cool…
Seriously though, this means its time to get serious about all this now…sigh. How I hate planning for the future, things were supposed to just fall into place naturally…but one has to do a lot of thinking and planning, I guess, when one comes to this crossroad of life. Hmmm…
Max Baumstein is a well-known human rights activist and avowed pacifist who, to the shock and puzzlement of many, murders a politician from South America. As Baumstein goes to trial, it is revealed that his victim was in fact a Nazi war criminal who ordered the deaths of thousands of people -- including Baumstein's parents. In flashback, Max recalls the horrors of the Nazi occupation of France, and he remembers Elsa Weiner, a woman who helped save his life and struggled to free her husband Michel from a concentration camp after he was condemned for publishing anti-fascist literature.
Definitely a recommendation – oh did I forget to mention? It’s in French, but well…WATCH IT IF YOU CAN!!!
What else? Ah oui, my friend Patricia, spoke about me to a lady who I met at Dr.Bharucha’s place for dinner in Jan 2003. She trains people to teach French to foreigners and was in BBay with the French Embassy at that time. Anyways Pat meets her regularly and has enquired if I could spend a summer in France to aid my studies and how to go about it. So much so that the lady said she could make a few phone calls too, if I’m interested! Now talk about cool…
Seriously though, this means its time to get serious about all this now…sigh. How I hate planning for the future, things were supposed to just fall into place naturally…but one has to do a lot of thinking and planning, I guess, when one comes to this crossroad of life. Hmmm…
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Un Clou Chasse L'autre...
Haven’t blogged in ages – and have no clue why. I come online, chat, email and leave…hell I’ve even logged into Blogger several times, only to log out in a few minutes…
Ok the changes in Blogger are damn cool - I can now change font size, colour et al without resorting to finding out the appropriate HTML code from more gayni friends! Ah merci Blogger for finally thinking about us non-techie janta, us simple folk! LOL! Ofcourse we could also do with some emoticons!! ;-) Anyways I'm kicked with these new amenities (if I may use that word!) and so I'm going to launch into a loooooong blog!
My mind has been elsewhere these days. Un clou chasse l’autre – Life goes on. And it does. But those tiny niggling thoughts in your head prevent life from running smoothly, n’est ce pas ? Those tiny, annoying little fragments of thought that blow-up into monstrosities and make you act in ways you are later embarrassed about? Huh – I’ve had a fair share of those moments in the past fortnight. Frankly, I’m appalled and quite exasperated at the chain of events. But then what use lamenting now? Milk has been spilt already – time to rectify mistakes and ensure they don’t recur. And ensure that those thoughts do not interfere in my much fought for equilibrium. Balance – yeps that’s important in life. As I recently said, we must strive for a balance in life, coz the world is anyways quite crazily topsy-turvy. It’s upto us to create a balance and make sense of life as it is served to us.
Ha – enough of my contemplation. So I was in Bbay this weekend – finished off my convocation work. And spent time with Mansi – which was more important dunno, so don’t ask. LOL! It’s going to be funny going to Bbay once Mansi is gone – Amit has already gone. So has Appu….ok Kunu baba, I need you find work in Bbay! Do that and I’ll definitely fulfill your demand of finding myself a guy in Bbay! (Not that I need much urging to do that anyways! LOL!)
On the whole the trip was exhausting - I took an early morng bus from Pune and was in Dadar at 11am – after walking to the station, crossing over to the West , I went and sat in a train – a few minutes later I started wondering why the train wouldn’t move! It turned out that signals at Bandra weren’t working, so all trains were terribly slow and even more late…anyways I noticed that fast trains were atleast crawling, so I crossed platforms again and got into a Fast – upto Bandra, from where I switched to a slow upto Scruz. Under normal circumstances the whole journey from Dadar to the Univ shouldn’t have taken me more than 40 minutes - I reached the Univ at 1.15 pm!
Kalina was one big lake of muck…and the office staff had but obviously gone on an extended lunch break! So anyways after waiting impatiently in a queue for nearly an hour I got my convocation form. Met Madhavi and Deepa on my way out - had lunch with Madhavi– I was famished by the time we got our food! Got to Gayatri at 4.30!!! (I had hoped to be there by 1.30 -2 pm) Obviously I didn’t do a thing after that – the only exercise I got after that was that of the tongue. LOL – talked nineteen to a dozen with Mansi.
Caught “Laws of Attraction” on Sunday morng – the 10 am show again! LOL! Not with Hrishit though, this time with Mansi, a fellow Piercey fan! Pierce Brosnan is HOT MAAL. I think for him, I’d happily give up someone else – LOL! After the movie I managed to pick up a collection of short stories by Russian Masters. Then home for lunch…and siesta! In the evening I was at Mocha - Bandra for a rendezvous with Amisha.
The next day I finished my convocation submission – went to meet Jackie to talk about the work I’m doing for him, and back to Gayatri for lunch. And then off to Dadar – call me bizarre but as I crossed the platforms with my rucksack on my back, I got nostalgic and remembered the days I crossed platforms in Europe! LOL – jerked back to reality when I saw a man stare at my chest and then got uncomfortably aware of how my tee-shirt was sticking to me!!! Muhaha – yeah reality sure hits you in the face eh?
Pretty much slept all the way back – sad coz the expressway is beautiful right now. Hardly an inch of ground is uncovered by some kind of foliage. To say it in French, toute est verdante. (Everything is green) – it leaves you spellbound and makes you itch for a camera. Puts all kinds of romantic notions of trekking in your head and generally makes you feel upbeat about life!
Now I’m back here – back to reality. This place has a tendency of making me pensive and depressive. Ick.
*Shudder*
Need some action in life – guess studies and work will have to provide that! Exciting prospect eh?
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Blissfully Unemployed?
One of my bestest buddies got gainfully employed last week. Hell she’s now working at a very impressive place and will draw a good salary. Apart from her, I seem to have an increasing number of friends who have free-lanced or worked their way through studies, not to mention those who’ve taken up jobs after graduation and post-graduation. I seem to be this oddity who’s still utterly vella and dithering between her options. Ick.
Sometimes I don’t think I’m doing any crime by taking my time – I want to be sure of my decision and not blunder my way into a wrong profession. Plus I want to be able to do my best at whatever I take up eventually – with studies I got away with good grades even though I put in just half the effort required – definitely half my capability. But I definitely don’t want to do that when it comes to my career.
As of now Alliance Francaise is my priority and any free-lancing I do would come second. Plus there are other things I want to make sense of, before plunging head-first into the big bad world of work-politics, commitments, responsibilities and taxes!
Someone once told me that being confused doesn’t mean I’m a loser. And then I'm continuously told that I show all signs of succeeding at whatever I take up.
Time shall tell I guess?
Sometimes I don’t think I’m doing any crime by taking my time – I want to be sure of my decision and not blunder my way into a wrong profession. Plus I want to be able to do my best at whatever I take up eventually – with studies I got away with good grades even though I put in just half the effort required – definitely half my capability. But I definitely don’t want to do that when it comes to my career.
As of now Alliance Francaise is my priority and any free-lancing I do would come second. Plus there are other things I want to make sense of, before plunging head-first into the big bad world of work-politics, commitments, responsibilities and taxes!
Someone once told me that being confused doesn’t mean I’m a loser. And then I'm continuously told that I show all signs of succeeding at whatever I take up.
Time shall tell I guess?
Monday, July 05, 2004
Bombay Rocks
Bombay Rocks.
Wish I could leave this blog at that. Coz that’s what I want to say – just that. Bombay Rocks. It’s THE place to be in India. I don’t think I’ll ever question the wide-scale exode to Mumbai ever again.
Was in Bombay this weekend – to meet my firang friends! Aditi, from L.A and Mansi, from Muscat both arrived last weekend. Apart from the fact that I’ve not met them in ages, and one of them is a bum-chum chaddi pal who has been my guardian angel ever since life got complicated, I needed an excuse to go to Bombay. So there I was – reached on Friday afternoon. Spent a fun weekend there – have gone to so many places in one day been up early, slept late, hardly slept – been exhausted to the core and yet been ready for more! The lazy lump I’d become in Pune just vanished into thin air! The city breathes life into me – what can I say? ;-)
Friday was completely spent with Mansi – there were other plans in my mind, but I can’t obviously always have my way. So well they didn’t work out – I was upset, very upset, but then reminded myself the rules of the game and forced myself back into maturity! LOL – yeah I can be mature occasionally. Mansi and I were talking till 2 am – and I got into bed at 3 am – though I hardly slept that night. Yeps – the same old problem of a myriad thoughts cluttering my mind and robbing my sleep. Ick. Gick.
Saturday – met up with Aditi and Amrita (from college) at Mocha. Mocha was divine comme d’hab. The incredible ambience, awesome music, Satay Chicken Panini and a Berry Blast. Divine. Cotton World, Adi’d place and Ashirwaad for softy – compelted my day-out. Evening was with Mansi again – yet another late night. Sat at the window of Suku’s 6th floor flat, where I was staying, and soaked in a rainy night. Nothing like watching the world from up there – looking down on a tree-lined avenue. Rain-drops ceaselessly pattering on the roofs, forcing the heavy branches to droop down further, lending a glossy sheen to the street below – very very nice. Conversation flowed easily and digressed all over, as it always does when I’m with Mansi.
I got several calls on Sat – why don’t people call me when I’m in Pune and not paying roaming charges on incoming? LOL – anyways Hrishit was one of them – and he fixed a Sunday morning date with me. Movie at 10 am – yeps, I asked him if he takes all women out at 10 am. 10 pm is more the time guys would aim for, right? Hahaha…so obviously I was up early on Sunday morning as well. Caught Monster at Fame Adlabs. Great movie. Great performances. Very convincing. Very disturbing. Defi not a movie to watch on a Sunday anoon. Good company. Lotsa obnoxious comments on my behalf. Laughs too.
Followed it up with lunch at Pop Tate’s with Madhavi and a quick visit to Lokhandwala. Next time I’m in Bombay I’m going with permission to shop. I so want to pick up a pair of capris from Cotton Cottage and mayhaps a skirt from Reeth. I’ll try and curtail my urges at that! Muhahahaha! :)
Evening plans with Amisha didn’t work out – but that got me more time with Mansi. Yeps I talked MORE! Walked upto Yari road and back – shit I miss those walks of ours. The crazy conversations, the exasperation when Mansi will ceaselessly shoot questions et al...
Came back today anoon, having caught a bus in the morning. Sigh – am already trying to plan another visit. Couldn’t catch Amit this time. Ick. Gick. Guess I’ll make it up next time, provided those plans of mine fall in place. I need divine intervention here – someone up there hearing me? ;-)
Shall stop now..think I’ve rambled on long enough, haven’t I?
Coming Up – Blog on Monster and Lakshya. Need to post my review on those movies!
Wish I could leave this blog at that. Coz that’s what I want to say – just that. Bombay Rocks. It’s THE place to be in India. I don’t think I’ll ever question the wide-scale exode to Mumbai ever again.
Was in Bombay this weekend – to meet my firang friends! Aditi, from L.A and Mansi, from Muscat both arrived last weekend. Apart from the fact that I’ve not met them in ages, and one of them is a bum-chum chaddi pal who has been my guardian angel ever since life got complicated, I needed an excuse to go to Bombay. So there I was – reached on Friday afternoon. Spent a fun weekend there – have gone to so many places in one day been up early, slept late, hardly slept – been exhausted to the core and yet been ready for more! The lazy lump I’d become in Pune just vanished into thin air! The city breathes life into me – what can I say? ;-)
Friday was completely spent with Mansi – there were other plans in my mind, but I can’t obviously always have my way. So well they didn’t work out – I was upset, very upset, but then reminded myself the rules of the game and forced myself back into maturity! LOL – yeah I can be mature occasionally. Mansi and I were talking till 2 am – and I got into bed at 3 am – though I hardly slept that night. Yeps – the same old problem of a myriad thoughts cluttering my mind and robbing my sleep. Ick. Gick.
Saturday – met up with Aditi and Amrita (from college) at Mocha. Mocha was divine comme d’hab. The incredible ambience, awesome music, Satay Chicken Panini and a Berry Blast. Divine. Cotton World, Adi’d place and Ashirwaad for softy – compelted my day-out. Evening was with Mansi again – yet another late night. Sat at the window of Suku’s 6th floor flat, where I was staying, and soaked in a rainy night. Nothing like watching the world from up there – looking down on a tree-lined avenue. Rain-drops ceaselessly pattering on the roofs, forcing the heavy branches to droop down further, lending a glossy sheen to the street below – very very nice. Conversation flowed easily and digressed all over, as it always does when I’m with Mansi.
I got several calls on Sat – why don’t people call me when I’m in Pune and not paying roaming charges on incoming? LOL – anyways Hrishit was one of them – and he fixed a Sunday morning date with me. Movie at 10 am – yeps, I asked him if he takes all women out at 10 am. 10 pm is more the time guys would aim for, right? Hahaha…so obviously I was up early on Sunday morning as well. Caught Monster at Fame Adlabs. Great movie. Great performances. Very convincing. Very disturbing. Defi not a movie to watch on a Sunday anoon. Good company. Lotsa obnoxious comments on my behalf. Laughs too.
Followed it up with lunch at Pop Tate’s with Madhavi and a quick visit to Lokhandwala. Next time I’m in Bombay I’m going with permission to shop. I so want to pick up a pair of capris from Cotton Cottage and mayhaps a skirt from Reeth. I’ll try and curtail my urges at that! Muhahahaha! :)
Evening plans with Amisha didn’t work out – but that got me more time with Mansi. Yeps I talked MORE! Walked upto Yari road and back – shit I miss those walks of ours. The crazy conversations, the exasperation when Mansi will ceaselessly shoot questions et al...
Came back today anoon, having caught a bus in the morning. Sigh – am already trying to plan another visit. Couldn’t catch Amit this time. Ick. Gick. Guess I’ll make it up next time, provided those plans of mine fall in place. I need divine intervention here – someone up there hearing me? ;-)
Shall stop now..think I’ve rambled on long enough, haven’t I?
Coming Up – Blog on Monster and Lakshya. Need to post my review on those movies!
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