My August-2013 blogpost for Stop Street Harassment is now online at http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/2013/08/mumbaitransport/.
I have written about the various forms of street harassment women face while travelling by the different modes of public transport.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Goa: Through My Eyes
A recent chat on Twitter by www.mumbai.burrp.com was on "Goa Beyond Beaches". While a lot of tourists visit Goa primarily for the sun, sand and sea, Goa has a lot more to offer than just its beaches.
I had an opportunity go visit Goa last August and this is what I found:
We stayed at http://www.panjiminn.com/, a cosy, little inn situated in the Romantic Latin Quarter of Panjim, Goa's capital.
Goa has plenty of Hindu temples including, but not limited to, Mangeshi at Ponda and Devaki-Krishna at Marcela. In fact, the latter is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped with his mother Devaki.
When there are temples, can a church be far behind? The Panjim church of Our Lady Of the Immaculate Conception (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_Church,_Goa) is centrally located in the shopping-cum-dining district. The view from above is awesome.
After the religious touring, one can go hike up the Fort Aguada.
All of us take the bus or train to work. How many of us take the boat? Try that in Goa :)
The Kala Academy, Goa (http://kalaacademygoa.org/) is a must-visit for all those interested in culture and arts. One gets to see different types of wall paintings; an instance given below:
And, I know, I said no beaches but no visit to Goa is complete without a photograph of the stunning sunsets :)
I had an opportunity go visit Goa last August and this is what I found:
We stayed at http://www.panjiminn.com/, a cosy, little inn situated in the Romantic Latin Quarter of Panjim, Goa's capital.
Goa has plenty of Hindu temples including, but not limited to, Mangeshi at Ponda and Devaki-Krishna at Marcela. In fact, the latter is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped with his mother Devaki.
When there are temples, can a church be far behind? The Panjim church of Our Lady Of the Immaculate Conception (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_Church,_Goa) is centrally located in the shopping-cum-dining district. The view from above is awesome.
After the religious touring, one can go hike up the Fort Aguada.
All of us take the bus or train to work. How many of us take the boat? Try that in Goa :)
The Kala Academy, Goa (http://kalaacademygoa.org/) is a must-visit for all those interested in culture and arts. One gets to see different types of wall paintings; an instance given below:
And, I know, I said no beaches but no visit to Goa is complete without a photograph of the stunning sunsets :)
Friday, August 09, 2013
As Beautiful As Your Work
When I thought about whom I could write for the topic, “women who make their work beautiful”,
I could think of nobody else other than my maternal aunt.
My mother’s eldest sister – Priyamvada Karande – is a published award-winning author. She has written many books till date, in addition to writing articles for several newspapers and magazines in Marathi. She has won the Maharashtra State Award for her book of children’s short stories.
She primarily writes on the quirks of human behaviour which she observes in her day-to-day interactions. Her stories mostly have a positive theme running through them. Her genuineness and her fascination with people shines through her stories.
What I find extraordinary about her is that she has been doing this for the last 45 years. Since her school and college days, she was interested in literature and writing and used to write plays for her college annual functions. Then, she graduated onto newspaper and magazine articles and finally books.
Her sense of purpose and her energy is tremendous. One hour with her and you get so inspired to go back to your own work with renewed vigour. For her, writing is a form of self-expression; she is most happy when she is seated at her study table with a pen in hand and a blank paper in front of her.
Words come easily to her and she is able to churn our articles and stories based on even the simplest of experiences or incidents. Without a keen eye for detail and a passion to always perform your best, I believe, this would not be possible.
Through her writing, she teaches children about freedom fighters in an easy way; she entertains us with her humane stories; she leaves us wiser for having read her articles.
Even today, in this day and age of technology, she meticulously writes on foolscap paper, takes photo-copies and personally goes to deliver at the required offices. Fame has not affected her in the slightest bit. But, that is not to say she is a stranger to technology. She has her own e-mail id with which she communicates with the world at large; she recently started her own blog (http://manmanasitmajhya.blogspot.in/) and she seems as at ease handling a laptop as she does a pen and paper.
I am very proud of my aunt for being a woman who is able to bring meaning to not only her life but to those hundreds and thousands who read her. Through her sheer dedication, commitment and will to churn out prose or poetry, she embodies for me the spirit of the woman who makes her work beautiful.
I am writing this post for http://mia.tanishq.co.in/ in association with Women’s Web.
I could think of nobody else other than my maternal aunt.
My mother’s eldest sister – Priyamvada Karande – is a published award-winning author. She has written many books till date, in addition to writing articles for several newspapers and magazines in Marathi. She has won the Maharashtra State Award for her book of children’s short stories.
She primarily writes on the quirks of human behaviour which she observes in her day-to-day interactions. Her stories mostly have a positive theme running through them. Her genuineness and her fascination with people shines through her stories.
What I find extraordinary about her is that she has been doing this for the last 45 years. Since her school and college days, she was interested in literature and writing and used to write plays for her college annual functions. Then, she graduated onto newspaper and magazine articles and finally books.
Her sense of purpose and her energy is tremendous. One hour with her and you get so inspired to go back to your own work with renewed vigour. For her, writing is a form of self-expression; she is most happy when she is seated at her study table with a pen in hand and a blank paper in front of her.
Words come easily to her and she is able to churn our articles and stories based on even the simplest of experiences or incidents. Without a keen eye for detail and a passion to always perform your best, I believe, this would not be possible.
Through her writing, she teaches children about freedom fighters in an easy way; she entertains us with her humane stories; she leaves us wiser for having read her articles.
Even today, in this day and age of technology, she meticulously writes on foolscap paper, takes photo-copies and personally goes to deliver at the required offices. Fame has not affected her in the slightest bit. But, that is not to say she is a stranger to technology. She has her own e-mail id with which she communicates with the world at large; she recently started her own blog (http://manmanasitmajhya.blogspot.in/) and she seems as at ease handling a laptop as she does a pen and paper.
I am very proud of my aunt for being a woman who is able to bring meaning to not only her life but to those hundreds and thousands who read her. Through her sheer dedication, commitment and will to churn out prose or poetry, she embodies for me the spirit of the woman who makes her work beautiful.
I am writing this post for http://mia.tanishq.co.in/ in association with Women’s Web.
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Kishore Kumar: Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet Yaad Rakhna
As we celebrate Kishore Kumar’s 84th birth anniversary tomorrow (4th August), I would like to list down five of my favourite Kishore Kumar songs.
Kishore Kumar was one of the well-loved singers of Bollywood; one who was as famous as the hero he sang songs for, which is usually not the case. My only regret: I wish he were alive so that I could have heard him perform live.
So, here goes:
1. Aanewala Pal – Golmaal (1979): This song had all the characteristics of becoming a super-hit song. Gulzar penned down the lyrics, R. D. Burman composed the music, Kishore Kumar sang it; it was picturized on Amol Palekar. Why do I like the song? It tells you the importance of carpe diem – seize the day – so beautifully and so poetically. And Kishore’s voice exhorts us all to enjoy the present moment, if possible, because it will soon get over.
2. Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas – Blackmail (1973): In my honest opinion, this has got to be the best ever romantic song. Dharmendra woos Raakhee with a hand-written letter ably aided by Kishore Kumar’s lilting melody. The perfect voice to tell the person you love that they are close to your heart every single moment. Any other singer and the song would not have sounded half as good or as romantic.
3. Yeh Naina Yeh Kajal – Dil Se Mile Dil (1978): This is not a very popular song of Kishore Kumar since the movie, apparently, did not do so well. I became fascinated with the song after I heard a colleague of mine sing it. Since then, it has become one of my favourite Kishore songs. “Zindagi tum meri, meri tum zindagi” croons Kishore and it is very easy not to get mesmerized by his words.
4. Ruk Jaana Nahi – Imtihaan (1974): I love this song for its inspirational message. Kishore’s voice brings forth the message quite clearly that one should not stop in his journey just because one has failed. Who else, but Kishore, could sing the song such that, each time one listens to it, one gets goosebumps? It is as good as, if not better than, any motivational self-help book.
5. Yeh Jeevan Hain – Piya Ka Ghar (1972): The underlying meaning in Anand Bakshi’s lyrics was so evocatively brought out by Kishore Kumar in this song. This song essentially became the theme song of the movie. Though sung a little sadly, Kishore’s voice tells us everything we need to know about life. This is pretty much what you are going to get – a little bit of happiness, a little bit of sadness – he states quite matter-of-factly.
I now realize that, coincidentally, my favourite songs all belong to movies which were released in the 1970s. And, though Kishore Kumar sang quite a few songs that were picturized on Amitabh Bachchan which went on to become huge hits, none of them figure in my list. Also, none of the songs have the trademark Kishore Kumar yodelling style in them.
Kishore Kumar was one of the well-loved singers of Bollywood; one who was as famous as the hero he sang songs for, which is usually not the case. My only regret: I wish he were alive so that I could have heard him perform live.
So, here goes:
1. Aanewala Pal – Golmaal (1979): This song had all the characteristics of becoming a super-hit song. Gulzar penned down the lyrics, R. D. Burman composed the music, Kishore Kumar sang it; it was picturized on Amol Palekar. Why do I like the song? It tells you the importance of carpe diem – seize the day – so beautifully and so poetically. And Kishore’s voice exhorts us all to enjoy the present moment, if possible, because it will soon get over.
2. Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas – Blackmail (1973): In my honest opinion, this has got to be the best ever romantic song. Dharmendra woos Raakhee with a hand-written letter ably aided by Kishore Kumar’s lilting melody. The perfect voice to tell the person you love that they are close to your heart every single moment. Any other singer and the song would not have sounded half as good or as romantic.
3. Yeh Naina Yeh Kajal – Dil Se Mile Dil (1978): This is not a very popular song of Kishore Kumar since the movie, apparently, did not do so well. I became fascinated with the song after I heard a colleague of mine sing it. Since then, it has become one of my favourite Kishore songs. “Zindagi tum meri, meri tum zindagi” croons Kishore and it is very easy not to get mesmerized by his words.
4. Ruk Jaana Nahi – Imtihaan (1974): I love this song for its inspirational message. Kishore’s voice brings forth the message quite clearly that one should not stop in his journey just because one has failed. Who else, but Kishore, could sing the song such that, each time one listens to it, one gets goosebumps? It is as good as, if not better than, any motivational self-help book.
5. Yeh Jeevan Hain – Piya Ka Ghar (1972): The underlying meaning in Anand Bakshi’s lyrics was so evocatively brought out by Kishore Kumar in this song. This song essentially became the theme song of the movie. Though sung a little sadly, Kishore’s voice tells us everything we need to know about life. This is pretty much what you are going to get – a little bit of happiness, a little bit of sadness – he states quite matter-of-factly.
I now realize that, coincidentally, my favourite songs all belong to movies which were released in the 1970s. And, though Kishore Kumar sang quite a few songs that were picturized on Amitabh Bachchan which went on to become huge hits, none of them figure in my list. Also, none of the songs have the trademark Kishore Kumar yodelling style in them.
The A to Z Challenge
So, I started compiling a list of books from A to Z for http://tsbookclub.wordpress.com/. However, it got delayed at my end and I couldn't send it across. Nevertheless, here is it for posterity. I couldn't manage to find books starting with Q, U and X (without googling, of course :)).
The ones in bold are the books I have re-read and would heartily recommend to one and all.
Read on!!!
1. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
2. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
3. Chanakya’s Chant by Ashwin Sanghi
4. Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus by Dave Barry
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
6. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
7. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
8. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
9. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
10. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik
11. Kitnay Aadmi Thay by Diptakirti Chaudhuri
12. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
13. Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
14. Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody
15. One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
16. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
17. Q
18. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
19. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
20. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
21. U
22. Veronkia Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho
23. Why Men Lie and Women Cry by Allan and Barbara Pease
24. X
25. You Can Win by Shiv Khera
26. Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Sunday, July 21, 2013
I Saw (A Movie), I Learnt (To Do Right)
Actions speak louder than words, they say. And with good reason. Children, or for that matter, adults, might ignore everything you say. But when they see you act in a particular way, they will remember that. And also imbibe it in their daily life. Thus, the need to always be caught “doing right”. After all, as John Wooden put it so beautifully, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
There are certain things I have learned from the movie Deewaar released in 1975. The movie is quite famous for the inter-sibling rivalry and the eternal discussion over “the end justifying the means”. It might thus seem a little strange for me to say that a movie where the protagonist is a gangster actually taught me “right things”. Allow me to illustrate.
1. Jo 25 saalon main nahi hua, woh aaj hoga (What has not happened in 25 years will happen today).
How often do we dismiss a particular option saying that has never happened before either in our personal or professional lives? How does it matter if it has never happened? It is up to us to make it happen if only we do not let the past dictate terms for the future.
2. Main aaj bhi pheke hue paise nahi uthata (I still do not pick up money that is thrown at me).
Even if you are at the lowest point of your life, you should not let it affect your dignity. Once you lose your dignity, you lose everything. Instead, if you hold onto it, others will respect you for it.
3. Kya tumhe lagata hain tum yeh kaam akele kar sakte ho? Ji nahi, main jaanta hoon main yeh kaam akele kar sakta hoon (Do you feel you can do this alone? No, I know I can do this alone).
Many times, we are faced with the clouds of uncertainty about a particular thing. It does not help that people also question us over it. But, if we will not be confident about it, who will? Knowledge that you can do a certain thing will do wonders for your confidence.
4. Maa prasad samajh kar de rahi hain, tum mithai samajh kar kha lena (Mother is giving it as a prasad, you eat it as a sweet).
Why not think through and offer a middle path when two sides to an argument are taking extreme views? It is upto us to point out the particular aspect that appeals to a particular individual and thus creates a win-win situation for both.
5. Kya tum chahati ho main bhi wahan se bhaag aata? (Do you think I, too, should have fled from there?)
As is obvious, whenever faced with an uncomfortable situation, the easiest option is to flee. The majority would do that. However, if we stick around and do our very best, we are sure to be rewarded.
I am sure Salim-Javed never thought of this when they were scripting Deewaar. But the movie taught me the importance of never dismissing an option just because it has never happened before, never losing my dignity no matter what the circumstances, always having the confidence that I can do a particular thing, finding a middle path and not taking the easier route of fleeing from a tricky situation.
I am sharing what 'I Saw and I Learnt' at BlogAdda.com in association with DoRight.in.
Gurudakshina on Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is celebrated in honour of the great sage Vyasa, considered as one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and also a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Shishyas have been known to give a hefty guru-dakshina to their gurus – we all know the story of Eklavya who cut off his right thumb for his guru Drona. Incidentally, Drona was also offered Guru-Gram (known today as Gurgaon) by the Pandavas for teaching them archery.
Since it is Guru Purnima tomorrow and I have neither a gaon (village) to offer nor do I wish to cut off my right thumb, via this blogpost, I would like to pay obeisance to my Gurus – people who have helped me along the way to become what I am today. Henry Adams rightly put it when he said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
The first Guru in every individual’s life is naturally the mother. The mother consciously and unconsciously teaches her child how to behave, how not to behave, and introduces her to a whole new world that is out there waiting. I, too, have learnt a lot from my mother; more through her actions than her words. She has taught me to be an independent woman who is not afraid of anything or anybody. From her, I learned the value of helping those not as fortunate as us.
My school teachers are someone from whom I have obviously learned a lot. My Chemistry teacher Ms. Nagpal made me fall in love with science and the wonderful properties of various chemicals. My Hindi/Marathi teacher Ms. Lavande and my English teacher Ms. Sybil ensured I appreciate the value of literature and have largely contributed to my getting enamoured with the world of books.
In college, my Maths professor Mr. Patil was a strict disciplinarian. When I got 99/100 in 12th Standard Maths and went happily to tell him, he just looked at me and said, “What about the 1 mark?” In retrospect, I realize he wanted to push me into being the best. Mr. Sahuraja, our Economics professor, was a happy-go-lucky fellow who taught us Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy and Adam Smith’s market forces with a lot of passion.
During my CA days, Mr. Haldipur played an important role in shaping me professionally. He always exhorted us to unlearn what we already knew to learn something new and taught us the value of learning how to learn. It is courtesy him that I have a fabulous typing speed without ever joining a typing institute.
My first ever boss in the corporate world – Mr. Swaminathan – told me one thing 10 years back which I still remember, “We can teach anybody the skills you have. But not your attitude.” My second boss, Mr. Shah, believed in me when nobody did. He gave me opportunities to shine at the workplace which enabled me to develop my confidence. In a sense, he was always there for me.
I salute all these fine men and women. It is because of their dedication and commitment towards their tasks that I am today an independent, book-loving, data-crunching freak who holds Bill Gates to be her idol because he developed Microsoft Excel and who, when people say to me, “But, you have an attitude”, actually take it as a compliment!
Since it is Guru Purnima tomorrow and I have neither a gaon (village) to offer nor do I wish to cut off my right thumb, via this blogpost, I would like to pay obeisance to my Gurus – people who have helped me along the way to become what I am today. Henry Adams rightly put it when he said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
The first Guru in every individual’s life is naturally the mother. The mother consciously and unconsciously teaches her child how to behave, how not to behave, and introduces her to a whole new world that is out there waiting. I, too, have learnt a lot from my mother; more through her actions than her words. She has taught me to be an independent woman who is not afraid of anything or anybody. From her, I learned the value of helping those not as fortunate as us.
My school teachers are someone from whom I have obviously learned a lot. My Chemistry teacher Ms. Nagpal made me fall in love with science and the wonderful properties of various chemicals. My Hindi/Marathi teacher Ms. Lavande and my English teacher Ms. Sybil ensured I appreciate the value of literature and have largely contributed to my getting enamoured with the world of books.
In college, my Maths professor Mr. Patil was a strict disciplinarian. When I got 99/100 in 12th Standard Maths and went happily to tell him, he just looked at me and said, “What about the 1 mark?” In retrospect, I realize he wanted to push me into being the best. Mr. Sahuraja, our Economics professor, was a happy-go-lucky fellow who taught us Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy and Adam Smith’s market forces with a lot of passion.
During my CA days, Mr. Haldipur played an important role in shaping me professionally. He always exhorted us to unlearn what we already knew to learn something new and taught us the value of learning how to learn. It is courtesy him that I have a fabulous typing speed without ever joining a typing institute.
My first ever boss in the corporate world – Mr. Swaminathan – told me one thing 10 years back which I still remember, “We can teach anybody the skills you have. But not your attitude.” My second boss, Mr. Shah, believed in me when nobody did. He gave me opportunities to shine at the workplace which enabled me to develop my confidence. In a sense, he was always there for me.
I salute all these fine men and women. It is because of their dedication and commitment towards their tasks that I am today an independent, book-loving, data-crunching freak who holds Bill Gates to be her idol because he developed Microsoft Excel and who, when people say to me, “But, you have an attitude”, actually take it as a compliment!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)