This post was written by my sister
A woman working in a call centre in Bangalore was raped, and then murdered. A few weeks later, I received a forward carrying pictures taken after her death, and the message :
“With due respects to the lady who has been murdered, please take a look at the dress that she had worn(a sleeveless shirt and a pair of jeans) during the macabre incident. This should be an eye opener to all the parents who have some misdirected souls as their daughters and also to all those morons who think that wearing less clothes and being foolishly bold is a measure of modernity...Well, one lady has paid the price...atleast, be careful from now on...”
This made absolutely no sense to me, because the entire event was pre planned. Any six year old could conclude that the assault had nothing to do with what the girl was wearing.
However, the mail represented a deeper issue.
A common belief, I have recently discovered, is that women who don’t dress conservatively are asking for trouble. Therefore, if they get raped, it is their fault to a large extent. It is believed that they are only provoking men(who are naturally unable to control hormonal rages as they still remain barbarians from the stone age) by showing skin.
The truth is, it simply doesn’t matter what women wear. A girl in a salwar still hears leering remarks as she crosses the road, and probably gets harrassed more than a girl in a t shirt, simply because she looks more vulnerable.
When will society learn to punish the perpetrator instead of the victim? Instead of expressing outrage, we send emails blaming the girl. In the name of a conservative culture, we shy away from reality and hide behind walls of half baked opinions with no substance.
Somewhere, we are confusing preservation of our cultural identity with condoning ruthless crime.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tea Time
I've tried tetra pack milk instead of milk powder, eight different kinds of tea bags, and recently have taken to using three tea bags per cup.
My tea still tastes like old dishwashing liquid.
My tea still tastes like old dishwashing liquid.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Everybody's Homesick
It's not just me.
Last week, I was talking about all the things I miss about being at home. Now for those of you who are not engineers, the final year of engineering is, in one word, timepass. All the extra currics are organized by 3rd yr students. The workload is light simply because most students are very busy applying to schools in the US for their post graduate programs. For those of us who are not, its literally 7-8 months of total 'vetti'ness.
I remember endless days spent at Anokhi, Amethyst or the Beach. We'd spend hours just chatting about the most mundane things, throw sand/water at each other on the beach, go for drives, go for CAT class and spend more time at Gangotree across the road etc etc.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who's nostalgic and misses home. So does my friend mahathi
Last week, I was talking about all the things I miss about being at home. Now for those of you who are not engineers, the final year of engineering is, in one word, timepass. All the extra currics are organized by 3rd yr students. The workload is light simply because most students are very busy applying to schools in the US for their post graduate programs. For those of us who are not, its literally 7-8 months of total 'vetti'ness.
I remember endless days spent at Anokhi, Amethyst or the Beach. We'd spend hours just chatting about the most mundane things, throw sand/water at each other on the beach, go for drives, go for CAT class and spend more time at Gangotree across the road etc etc.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who's nostalgic and misses home. So does my friend mahathi
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Sunday Morning
Everything on campus is in slow motion. Dbabble, our internal bulletin board and messaging service seems dead. Usually, boards have a new message every 5 mins. Some every 30 secs. But on Sunday morning, they are all on a break. People usually sleep in till late. Lunch is skipped, to be substituted by a late meal from Cafe Tanstaafl.
My Sunday Morning :
* Set the alarm for 6.30
* Wake up at 8.30
* Snooze for another half hour
* Wake up and brush my teeth
* Move suitcases, put away my shoes, and take out the vacuum cleaner
* Clean my room - It looks so nice now
* Make coffee
* Order toast and juice
* Chat with friends who are winding down after a Saturday night
* Breakfast, watch two episodes of scrubs :-)
* Decide to study
* Blog instead
My Sunday Morning :
* Set the alarm for 6.30
* Wake up at 8.30
* Snooze for another half hour
* Wake up and brush my teeth
* Move suitcases, put away my shoes, and take out the vacuum cleaner
* Clean my room - It looks so nice now
* Make coffee
* Order toast and juice
* Chat with friends who are winding down after a Saturday night
* Breakfast, watch two episodes of scrubs :-)
* Decide to study
* Blog instead
Monday, December 12, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
What If
She was the new girl in the class. She walked in late on the third day after school had started. You saw her standing at the edge of the gang of girls opening their lunch boxes during the break. Nervous and Shy. What if you had smiled at her instead of looking away?
“I’ve had enough - This is over. And this time I’m not joking.” What if at that moment, you didn’t open the door of the car and step out. What if you stayed? What if you looked back?
The proctor announces, “Your time starts now”. You tear open the plastic of the bulletin. Phew! 2 marks, ½ marks. You smile. At the very least, its going to be interesting. What if you had got up then and walked away?
What if you had got over your fear of cats? What if you had a dog? What if you had managed to keep diaries? Or resolutions?
What if you never started a sentence with “I need to tell you something”?
What if you had never heard that song? You borrowed his discman for the bus journey. Your Woman - White Town You remembered a tune from long ago that you had never found. You looked at him and smiled.
What if they had changed their minds? What if they had named you something else? What if you were the first on the roll call instead of 58th?
What if you had never cut your hair? If you were never called “The girl with short hair”? What if you had never discovered Ayn Rand that summer? Or Kundera? What if you had never found a kindred spirit? What if you had believed in the tooth fairy? Or God?
What if you had taken the plunge? Then, when you were young and the spirit was strong, before you became weak and "settled". What if you had kept old love letters?
What if you had cheated in that exam? What if you had just said "No"? What if you had saved those hundred bucks for something else?
What if none of it mattered? What if nothing changed?
What if all those years ago, early morning in a temple, one of them had said “Appa I’m not so sure about this”?
Inspired by The Butterfly Effect. Which is one of the most brilliant movies I've seen recently
“I’ve had enough - This is over. And this time I’m not joking.” What if at that moment, you didn’t open the door of the car and step out. What if you stayed? What if you looked back?
The proctor announces, “Your time starts now”. You tear open the plastic of the bulletin. Phew! 2 marks, ½ marks. You smile. At the very least, its going to be interesting. What if you had got up then and walked away?
What if you had got over your fear of cats? What if you had a dog? What if you had managed to keep diaries? Or resolutions?
What if you never started a sentence with “I need to tell you something”?
What if you had never heard that song? You borrowed his discman for the bus journey. Your Woman - White Town You remembered a tune from long ago that you had never found. You looked at him and smiled.
What if they had changed their minds? What if they had named you something else? What if you were the first on the roll call instead of 58th?
What if you had never cut your hair? If you were never called “The girl with short hair”? What if you had never discovered Ayn Rand that summer? Or Kundera? What if you had never found a kindred spirit? What if you had believed in the tooth fairy? Or God?
What if you had taken the plunge? Then, when you were young and the spirit was strong, before you became weak and "settled". What if you had kept old love letters?
What if you had cheated in that exam? What if you had just said "No"? What if you had saved those hundred bucks for something else?
What if none of it mattered? What if nothing changed?
What if all those years ago, early morning in a temple, one of them had said “Appa I’m not so sure about this”?
It has been said that something as
small as the flutter of a butterfly's
wing can ultimately cause a typhoon
halfway around the world
Inspired by The Butterfly Effect. Which is one of the most brilliant movies I've seen recently
Thursday, December 01, 2005
December's Here
I’ve turned 22, and suddenly am feeling extremely restless. We had a large number of students from foreign schools down on campus for Confluence. By and large, all of them have done so much, experienced so much, I feel naïve in comparison. One of our exchange students has modelled in Paris and Milan, waitressed at restaurants and is now majoring in economics and math. Feeling restless that I’ve never really struck out on my own and explored, or truly lived!
Classes, which somehow seemed magical in term 1, now are losing their sheen. High attendance requirements get us to the classroom, but it takes a great prof to keep us riveted. More often than not, this doesn’t happen. And the system is designed such that there is no time for reflection or learning. You prepare for class, but there is no feedback on that preparation. As such, outside of our group meetings, there is not too much learning. There is no reflection on whether this approach can be tweaked. And somehow, I feel I’m never really getting my hands dirty doing real work. After a few terms of marketing, apart from being able to spew meaningless jargon, I don’t feel I’d have really learnt much.
Tomorrow, in our ISPE class, we are scheduled to have a debate on secularism vs Hindu nationhood. The professor contends that one group believes that we should have one religion and one way of life. The other believes that secularism is the way to go. The prof also gave us the impression that the latter is mostly pseudo secularists. Outside, in discussions we branded them hypocrites. While the former are tentatively branded fundamentalists of sorts.
I don’t know why I feel so uncomfortable in my gut. I don’t want to attend the class (though will have to) and I definitely don’t want to be a part of this debate. People are not allowed to opt out of the debate and have to pick one of two polarized positions. In the profs words “It is time to stand up and be counted”. Fine, grand words indeed. But discussing hindutva scares me. Somehow, people who believe they can impose their way of living on others freaks me out!
This may make me one of the so called pseudo secularists but I truly believe there is not “us” vs “them”. Another source of confusion is where I would belong. I’m hindu by birth, but I believe in God rather than a hindu one. I don’t think the average muslim/christian/sikh/jain/xyz is any different from me. I celebrate valentine’s day and wear jeans. I don’t think anyone has the right to tell me what to wear or how to behave with members of the opposite sex. I don’t think mainstream politics is right. Its extremely marginalized with fighting amongst various factions each claiming superiority due to historic wrongs done to them. I think this is a bad thing. But homogeniety with one hindu way of life is not the answer.
I’m proud of India’s secular nature. As tentative and weak as secularism’s hold remains. Call me a hypocrite, but I prefer this place with its crappy newspapers and loud parliamentary arguments to a religious fundamentalist state like the US or Saudi Arabia. I like that I have the right over my body and constitutionally I have the right to practice whatever I want. I don’t think the state should decree that I can’t eat beef or that Krishna can’t be made fun of in a movie.
Agreed, there are a lot of things wrong with India. And the urban middle class India needs to stand up and be counted. But I don’t want to pick one of two extremist positions and defend myself. And I don’t want to go to class the day after that with someone who believes that Muslim’s should accept the Hindu way of life.. To tell the truth, the very thought of such fundamentalism, scares me!
3 Happy Things
3. I’ve been going for a walk in the evenings for the past few days. About half an hour by myself. And the road. Its an awesome feeling. And for the first time since I’ve been here, I’m getting some exercise.
2. I found an old song I used to listen to when I was a kid. Hawa Hawa, Khusbhoo Luta De. Been listening to nice music lately.
1. My cousin had a baby boy a few days back. That makes me a proud first time aunt. I’ll be the one who takes the kid out for chocolate ice cream and lets him stay up and watch cartoons. Looking forward to seeing the lil bundle in a few weeks.
Classes, which somehow seemed magical in term 1, now are losing their sheen. High attendance requirements get us to the classroom, but it takes a great prof to keep us riveted. More often than not, this doesn’t happen. And the system is designed such that there is no time for reflection or learning. You prepare for class, but there is no feedback on that preparation. As such, outside of our group meetings, there is not too much learning. There is no reflection on whether this approach can be tweaked. And somehow, I feel I’m never really getting my hands dirty doing real work. After a few terms of marketing, apart from being able to spew meaningless jargon, I don’t feel I’d have really learnt much.
Tomorrow, in our ISPE class, we are scheduled to have a debate on secularism vs Hindu nationhood. The professor contends that one group believes that we should have one religion and one way of life. The other believes that secularism is the way to go. The prof also gave us the impression that the latter is mostly pseudo secularists. Outside, in discussions we branded them hypocrites. While the former are tentatively branded fundamentalists of sorts.
I don’t know why I feel so uncomfortable in my gut. I don’t want to attend the class (though will have to) and I definitely don’t want to be a part of this debate. People are not allowed to opt out of the debate and have to pick one of two polarized positions. In the profs words “It is time to stand up and be counted”. Fine, grand words indeed. But discussing hindutva scares me. Somehow, people who believe they can impose their way of living on others freaks me out!
This may make me one of the so called pseudo secularists but I truly believe there is not “us” vs “them”. Another source of confusion is where I would belong. I’m hindu by birth, but I believe in God rather than a hindu one. I don’t think the average muslim/christian/sikh/jain/xyz is any different from me. I celebrate valentine’s day and wear jeans. I don’t think anyone has the right to tell me what to wear or how to behave with members of the opposite sex. I don’t think mainstream politics is right. Its extremely marginalized with fighting amongst various factions each claiming superiority due to historic wrongs done to them. I think this is a bad thing. But homogeniety with one hindu way of life is not the answer.
I’m proud of India’s secular nature. As tentative and weak as secularism’s hold remains. Call me a hypocrite, but I prefer this place with its crappy newspapers and loud parliamentary arguments to a religious fundamentalist state like the US or Saudi Arabia. I like that I have the right over my body and constitutionally I have the right to practice whatever I want. I don’t think the state should decree that I can’t eat beef or that Krishna can’t be made fun of in a movie.
Agreed, there are a lot of things wrong with India. And the urban middle class India needs to stand up and be counted. But I don’t want to pick one of two extremist positions and defend myself. And I don’t want to go to class the day after that with someone who believes that Muslim’s should accept the Hindu way of life.. To tell the truth, the very thought of such fundamentalism, scares me!
3 Happy Things
3. I’ve been going for a walk in the evenings for the past few days. About half an hour by myself. And the road. Its an awesome feeling. And for the first time since I’ve been here, I’m getting some exercise.
2. I found an old song I used to listen to when I was a kid. Hawa Hawa, Khusbhoo Luta De. Been listening to nice music lately.
1. My cousin had a baby boy a few days back. That makes me a proud first time aunt. I’ll be the one who takes the kid out for chocolate ice cream and lets him stay up and watch cartoons. Looking forward to seeing the lil bundle in a few weeks.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Wake up
Few people have the courage to stand up for principles and honesty.
Few people have the integrity to risk their life for the truth.
Those few are often sacrificed.
And forgotten.
The media, has more interesting things to talk about.
An old corrupt politician is finally ousted to be replaced by more of the same. It rains. A match is cancelled. A don is captured. The sensex falls. A new cabinet takes the oath in a neighbouring country. A woman chancellor is sworn in.
A man, died.
He was killed for not succumbing to pressure in a corrupt land.
The mainstream media it seems, has no place for brash management students from IIML who are murdered.
For doing their job.
Manjunathan, Rest in Peace
I hope his death is not in vain
Read the Indian Express City Line Report here
I first read about it at Gaurav's Blog. He has a link to more stories on this.
Few people have the integrity to risk their life for the truth.
Those few are often sacrificed.
And forgotten.
The media, has more interesting things to talk about.
An old corrupt politician is finally ousted to be replaced by more of the same. It rains. A match is cancelled. A don is captured. The sensex falls. A new cabinet takes the oath in a neighbouring country. A woman chancellor is sworn in.
A man, died.
He was killed for not succumbing to pressure in a corrupt land.
The mainstream media it seems, has no place for brash management students from IIML who are murdered.
For doing their job.
Manjunathan, Rest in Peace
I hope his death is not in vain
Read the Indian Express City Line Report here
I first read about it at Gaurav's Blog. He has a link to more stories on this.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Dream a Little Dream
Summers is finally over. The blanket ban is off. We're a batch that has been fully placed by the second slot! Which is a great thing :)
When I started this whole thing, I wasn't really sure where I'd end up. I still am not. I often don't exactly know what I want to do. I have a general idea about what I want from life. I want to work to satisfy intellectual curiosity and make enough money to afford my family's dreams. I want time to pursue things that interest me. I want to travel a lot. And someday I want to write.
How all of this will fit in into a larger five/ten year plan? I'm not sure. After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided that perhaps I don't need one.
Summers itself, was a tiring but nice experience. The day started at 6.50 with a phone call from home and a mad rush to get dressed. After 8 hours of running around in Ahmedabad weather in a suit, it ended with an offer for the summer and dinner sponsored by Merrill Lynch.
When I started this whole thing, I wasn't really sure where I'd end up. I still am not. I often don't exactly know what I want to do. I have a general idea about what I want from life. I want to work to satisfy intellectual curiosity and make enough money to afford my family's dreams. I want time to pursue things that interest me. I want to travel a lot. And someday I want to write.
How all of this will fit in into a larger five/ten year plan? I'm not sure. After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided that perhaps I don't need one.
Summers itself, was a tiring but nice experience. The day started at 6.50 with a phone call from home and a mad rush to get dressed. After 8 hours of running around in Ahmedabad weather in a suit, it ended with an offer for the summer and dinner sponsored by Merrill Lynch.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Random Thoughts
No Surprises Here..
I've very few classes this week. Unlike the usual first year schedule. And the PGP office doesn't schedule quizzes this week. So one of the 'chillest' times on campus. Except that ibank shortlists are coming out and everyone is stressed.
If you don't make it, you're stressed about not making day zero and not getting a job of your choice.
If you do, you're (if possible) more stressed about still not converting it and not getting a job of your choice.
What's Playing..
Have been listening to some of Girish's music yesterday. Amazing Stuff! He and his friends have got real talent!
It's a small world..
I had a phone interview with a firm yesterday, where someone from their London office called for a short chat. Turns out he was Karthik's classmate. It really is a v small world :-)
I've very few classes this week. Unlike the usual first year schedule. And the PGP office doesn't schedule quizzes this week. So one of the 'chillest' times on campus. Except that ibank shortlists are coming out and everyone is stressed.
If you don't make it, you're stressed about not making day zero and not getting a job of your choice.
If you do, you're (if possible) more stressed about still not converting it and not getting a job of your choice.
What's Playing..
Have been listening to some of Girish's music yesterday. Amazing Stuff! He and his friends have got real talent!
It's a small world..
I had a phone interview with a firm yesterday, where someone from their London office called for a short chat. Turns out he was Karthik's classmate. It really is a v small world :-)
Monday, October 31, 2005
Growing up..
I catch a cold every time the season changes. Chennai to Ahmedabad hasn't changed that.
At home, I used to curl up in my bed with hot cocoa, blankets and a nice book. I'd 'intercom' my mom every time I wanted something and spend the week in luxury.
Today, I washed my own handkerchiefs, applied vicks on my face and went to sleep.
If this is what growing up is, then I want no part of it.
I miss my mom..
:-(
At home, I used to curl up in my bed with hot cocoa, blankets and a nice book. I'd 'intercom' my mom every time I wanted something and spend the week in luxury.
Today, I washed my own handkerchiefs, applied vicks on my face and went to sleep.
If this is what growing up is, then I want no part of it.
I miss my mom..
:-(
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Summer's Here
It's that time of the year again. When we all dress up in suits and scarves and pointed painful shoes. We attend twenty odd company presentations every week and fill what seems like a billion forms.
The nervous tension is palpable. Suddenly, all 260 of us want to be i bankers :-) and are praying for shortlists and wondering what to do after they come out.
Which basically means, I have no time to blog. Too much to do.. classes, midterms, placements, mugging..
So I'll be off for a while..
Back on the 17th with hopefully something to celebrate :)
Ta!
The nervous tension is palpable. Suddenly, all 260 of us want to be i bankers :-) and are praying for shortlists and wondering what to do after they come out.
Which basically means, I have no time to blog. Too much to do.. classes, midterms, placements, mugging..
So I'll be off for a while..
Back on the 17th with hopefully something to celebrate :)
Ta!
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Through an Open Window
The trouble with everything is that it starts out so romantically in your head. The idea of lounging endlessly on a beach chair, watching time go by in the company of lime mint coolers and tall palms.
Sitting on the steps of a train compartment at 5 am in the morning. Feeling the wind rush by in rain soaked Kerala. The very notion conjures up images of green fields, swaying coconut palms, backwaters and steaming hot chai.
Yet, in real life, there are always mosquitoes, stinking loos and "Oops! I forgot to pack my toothbrush".
I want to be able to find romance in that. That's right.
In forgotten toothbrushes and mismatched socks.
Sitting on the steps of a train compartment at 5 am in the morning. Feeling the wind rush by in rain soaked Kerala. The very notion conjures up images of green fields, swaying coconut palms, backwaters and steaming hot chai.
Yet, in real life, there are always mosquitoes, stinking loos and "Oops! I forgot to pack my toothbrush".
I want to be able to find romance in that. That's right.
In forgotten toothbrushes and mismatched socks.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Hullaballoo in the Blogosphere
It's just not right.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say its wrong.
And also, Stupid.
What was IIPM thinking? It came out with all guns blazing to silence a 'tiny yellow magazine of no consequence' and met the full fury of the blogging world.
Strong arm tactics, legal (sic!) notices, anonymous commenting and the utter lack of mainstream media coverage (guess who spent crores on advertising in these newspapers over the last quarters?)
Still wondering who Rashmi Bansal, Gaurav Sabnis, IIPM are? Know More
In fact, I'd go so far as to say its wrong.
And also, Stupid.
What was IIPM thinking? It came out with all guns blazing to silence a 'tiny yellow magazine of no consequence' and met the full fury of the blogging world.
Strong arm tactics, legal (sic!) notices, anonymous commenting and the utter lack of mainstream media coverage (guess who spent crores on advertising in these newspapers over the last quarters?)
Still wondering who Rashmi Bansal, Gaurav Sabnis, IIPM are? Know More
Monday, October 10, 2005
I did what the Voices told me
I read in the paper this morning about George Bush's conversations with God. Apparently this is the reason he decided to invade Iraq. I've heard of Indian politicians doing some mighty strange things but stories of George and Tony praying together before launching attacks on Iraq sound somehow, more discomforting.
Maybe I was hoping that a decision to bomb a country back into the stone age would be based on a little more than tiny voices in one's head.
The more important question is, how did Michael Moore not know this??
I'm supposedly busy with a lot of things these days. Classes which are going on. Insight and Confluence which are two important b-school fests of contrasting natures. Summer placements and endless company forms to fill out. But mostly, I'm sitting in my room, reading like a maniac and writing like a mad mad hatter.
More on that, later..
Maybe I was hoping that a decision to bomb a country back into the stone age would be based on a little more than tiny voices in one's head.
The more important question is, how did Michael Moore not know this??
I'm supposedly busy with a lot of things these days. Classes which are going on. Insight and Confluence which are two important b-school fests of contrasting natures. Summer placements and endless company forms to fill out. But mostly, I'm sitting in my room, reading like a maniac and writing like a mad mad hatter.
More on that, later..
Monday, October 03, 2005
This is not a post
It started out as one. It started out as a really long post to make up for a prolonged absence. It started with a bang really. A very nice opening sentence. But then, I couldn't finish that and couldn't really find anything else to say.
It's 6.50 pm now and I have an economics class at 7 pm. So again, as usual I have no time. I'm finding recently that I simply don't have the time for things that are important. All these niggling urgent tasks come in the way of all the important things. So now, since I can't type out a long post, I'll just leave after typing out a short one.
The past few days i've been reading plays. The thing about a play is that its all raw emotion. On the surface. Its real life. There is no show and tell. It's just real people as they are, emotions, conversations, thoughts.
It's complicated and sometimes messy, but often, so is life. And a good play makes me think for a week.
I read Mahesh Dattani's second volume of plays. I've been unfortunate enough to have never seen one in action. But I love them reading them anyway. This set holds no candle to his first volume. These are mostly written for the screen rather than the stage. That said, the detective plays are entertaining and the radio plays are thought provoking. 30 days in September is a play you need to see to understand.
Strangely, I liked Mango Souffle more than a On a Muggy Night in Bombay. (Former is a screenplay based on the latter which was written for the stage). There is no need for a tight space to showcase all of them, scenes can be set across time and space in a movie, which makes for more interesting reading.
I also re-read Badal Sircar's evam indrajeet. It's one of my favorite plays and always gets me thinking. If you haven't seen a performance of the play, you're missing something. A heavy play, you often need a day or two to digest it after reading it, but it is a powerful piece of work that speaks directly to you.
This then, is my heaven. A few minutes stolen for a secret mistress. My accounting text stares down at me, Kotler gives me a disapproving glance, while i sneak off to spend another half an hour with a book. But excuse me now, it's 6.55 pm. And as I said before I have a class at 7 pm.
It's 6.50 pm now and I have an economics class at 7 pm. So again, as usual I have no time. I'm finding recently that I simply don't have the time for things that are important. All these niggling urgent tasks come in the way of all the important things. So now, since I can't type out a long post, I'll just leave after typing out a short one.
The past few days i've been reading plays. The thing about a play is that its all raw emotion. On the surface. Its real life. There is no show and tell. It's just real people as they are, emotions, conversations, thoughts.
It's complicated and sometimes messy, but often, so is life. And a good play makes me think for a week.
I read Mahesh Dattani's second volume of plays. I've been unfortunate enough to have never seen one in action. But I love them reading them anyway. This set holds no candle to his first volume. These are mostly written for the screen rather than the stage. That said, the detective plays are entertaining and the radio plays are thought provoking. 30 days in September is a play you need to see to understand.
Strangely, I liked Mango Souffle more than a On a Muggy Night in Bombay. (Former is a screenplay based on the latter which was written for the stage). There is no need for a tight space to showcase all of them, scenes can be set across time and space in a movie, which makes for more interesting reading.
I also re-read Badal Sircar's evam indrajeet. It's one of my favorite plays and always gets me thinking. If you haven't seen a performance of the play, you're missing something. A heavy play, you often need a day or two to digest it after reading it, but it is a powerful piece of work that speaks directly to you.
This then, is my heaven. A few minutes stolen for a secret mistress. My accounting text stares down at me, Kotler gives me a disapproving glance, while i sneak off to spend another half an hour with a book. But excuse me now, it's 6.55 pm. And as I said before I have a class at 7 pm.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Monday, September 19, 2005
Home Sweet Home
Term 1 ended and we literally ran outta there. Caught a flight to Bombay followed very closely by one to Chennai. God Bless Jet. Every other carrier out of Ahd was delayed by hours for some reason. And finally, after three months of waiting.. Am HOME!! :)
No sudden realizations here, I've known for a while that I miss Chennai. I miss talking to people in tamil. Miss my parents and sister. Miss my friends here. I literally "grew up" here.
And am now back for a week of home food, telling dad about courses, hanging out with friends and catching up on stuff.
Saw Salaam Namaste which is surprisingly good. Also saw Biloxi Blues. Which was fun but ribald.
Thinking about all the things i love about this place. Filter Coffee, grandmom's house, the Beach, Satyam Cinema, friends, always running into people you know, family, veetu sappadu ('home food').
I love Madras..
No sudden realizations here, I've known for a while that I miss Chennai. I miss talking to people in tamil. Miss my parents and sister. Miss my friends here. I literally "grew up" here.
And am now back for a week of home food, telling dad about courses, hanging out with friends and catching up on stuff.
Saw Salaam Namaste which is surprisingly good. Also saw Biloxi Blues. Which was fun but ribald.
Thinking about all the things i love about this place. Filter Coffee, grandmom's house, the Beach, Satyam Cinema, friends, always running into people you know, family, veetu sappadu ('home food').
I love Madras..
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Rant
Anna University now wants to introduce a dress code for female students. I do not understand what the purpose of this is. Somehow in their warped minds, they think this will improve concentration in class and discipline. By outlawing jeans, they think they can also outlaw hormones, chemistry and puberty from college campuses in one shot.
Another grand argument that is forwarded is that this will somehow protect women students. B@#!@s.
The only thing that will protect women students is if every dad teaches his son to respect women. If he respects his wife and every woman he meets and encourages his son to too.
Molest, Rape, Eve Teasing, Sexual Harrasments are not crimes of ardour or passion commited because a girl was in jeans or in a bikini. They are crimes of power perpetrated in a patriarchal society simply because it gives the perpetrator a "kick".
Mr. Jeppiar, why do you laud this retrograde move? Because you can now exercise greater control over students? Are we really trying to say that a person who is 18 years old is not old enough to decide what she wants to wear?
We dont have a dress code on campus. And yet, morals haven't degraded to the point of no return, standards haven't slipped. Women don't get harassed, ogled or teased.
And yet, back in engineering college, where we DID have a salwars only dress code, we got ragged on the bus, commented on, ogled at. There were days when the prospect of getting on the bus was frustrating. When the only thing we could do was to swear under our breath at the ill mannered louts who apparently came from sophisticated urban backgrounds.
Perhaps, chancellors and educated gentlemen, it is my fault. I should have dressed more carefully, worn a burkha perhaps?
Or maybe, just maybe, we should punish perpetrators instead of the victims of a crime? Or is that too foreign a concept for you'll?
Another grand argument that is forwarded is that this will somehow protect women students. B@#!@s.
The only thing that will protect women students is if every dad teaches his son to respect women. If he respects his wife and every woman he meets and encourages his son to too.
Molest, Rape, Eve Teasing, Sexual Harrasments are not crimes of ardour or passion commited because a girl was in jeans or in a bikini. They are crimes of power perpetrated in a patriarchal society simply because it gives the perpetrator a "kick".
Mr. Jeppiar, why do you laud this retrograde move? Because you can now exercise greater control over students? Are we really trying to say that a person who is 18 years old is not old enough to decide what she wants to wear?
We dont have a dress code on campus. And yet, morals haven't degraded to the point of no return, standards haven't slipped. Women don't get harassed, ogled or teased.
And yet, back in engineering college, where we DID have a salwars only dress code, we got ragged on the bus, commented on, ogled at. There were days when the prospect of getting on the bus was frustrating. When the only thing we could do was to swear under our breath at the ill mannered louts who apparently came from sophisticated urban backgrounds.
Perhaps, chancellors and educated gentlemen, it is my fault. I should have dressed more carefully, worn a burkha perhaps?
Or maybe, just maybe, we should punish perpetrators instead of the victims of a crime? Or is that too foreign a concept for you'll?
Trident, Diet Coke and the Power Puff Girls
When i first started living on my own, I thought it would take a week for my room to turn into a disaster zone. Surprisingly, I've lasted the past few months without burning up anything, breaking (wel.. hardly) anything or running out of clean clothes.
The past week however is a different story. Our dorm is one of the few dorms without a pantry. So we stock our rooms with enough stuff to survive a nuclear war. I usually have abundant supplies of chocolate, chips, cola, murukku, thattai, tang, coffee, tea, biscuits et al. (Now you know the secret behind "study group meetings" in D2)
I've now run out of it all. Living on Trident sugarfree chewing gum and endless cans of diet coke. Which as anyone will tell you covers atleast three significant food groups (fats, sugars and uh.. protein?)
Finally did my laundry after a week and it starts raining. So not only am i starving, but i'm starving in a room that smells like mold.
And judging by the underside of my dressing cum pantry table, looks like mold too.
I got so excited about going home that i packed one tiny bag a few days back. If only i could find it under the heaps of clothes, plastic bags, blanket, sheets, and papers that is my room.
And the power puff girls? They're on my pencil box.
The reason behind all of this is of course, the fact that we have exams. 2 per day. In, i hope, decreasing order of intensity. It started off with OM. I managed to build a hundred houses in 28xx days, and then got hit by the last question. Just in Time.
We walked out of there nursing our wounds only to find that the ECO paper was, if possible, even tougher. I enjoyed drawing colored graphs and doing differential calculus. If only I knew a little bit more about wages and minimum rates.
This morning was the mother of all events. MANAC. After about 21 sessions, 6 quizzes, a few odd rems by our friendly neighbourhood CAs, Three AM panic calls "What do i do when the salvage value is positive, do i account for it in depreciation?", four cans of diet coke and six hours of sleep... it finally happened. For the first time in my life, a balance sheet did just that. I nearly fell off the chair :) Its not perfect, it might be wrong, a balancing sheet does not mean a thing... but i'm still thrilled by that one magic moment when the number shone on my Fx 150, matching the ones down on paper. :)
Off to HRM now. 5 exams and 2 flights away from home sweet home.
The past week however is a different story. Our dorm is one of the few dorms without a pantry. So we stock our rooms with enough stuff to survive a nuclear war. I usually have abundant supplies of chocolate, chips, cola, murukku, thattai, tang, coffee, tea, biscuits et al. (Now you know the secret behind "study group meetings" in D2)
I've now run out of it all. Living on Trident sugarfree chewing gum and endless cans of diet coke. Which as anyone will tell you covers atleast three significant food groups (fats, sugars and uh.. protein?)
Finally did my laundry after a week and it starts raining. So not only am i starving, but i'm starving in a room that smells like mold.
And judging by the underside of my dressing cum pantry table, looks like mold too.
I got so excited about going home that i packed one tiny bag a few days back. If only i could find it under the heaps of clothes, plastic bags, blanket, sheets, and papers that is my room.
And the power puff girls? They're on my pencil box.
The reason behind all of this is of course, the fact that we have exams. 2 per day. In, i hope, decreasing order of intensity. It started off with OM. I managed to build a hundred houses in 28xx days, and then got hit by the last question. Just in Time.
We walked out of there nursing our wounds only to find that the ECO paper was, if possible, even tougher. I enjoyed drawing colored graphs and doing differential calculus. If only I knew a little bit more about wages and minimum rates.
This morning was the mother of all events. MANAC. After about 21 sessions, 6 quizzes, a few odd rems by our friendly neighbourhood CAs, Three AM panic calls "What do i do when the salvage value is positive, do i account for it in depreciation?", four cans of diet coke and six hours of sleep... it finally happened. For the first time in my life, a balance sheet did just that. I nearly fell off the chair :) Its not perfect, it might be wrong, a balancing sheet does not mean a thing... but i'm still thrilled by that one magic moment when the number shone on my Fx 150, matching the ones down on paper. :)
Off to HRM now. 5 exams and 2 flights away from home sweet home.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Among Other Things
Monday, September 05, 2005
Term 1 draws to a close
11 days to go
8 exams
4 more days of classes
2 submissions left
1 excited/ exhausted/ enervated/ enthused/ energized/ engaged/ engrossed/ enlightened fachchi
We've almost made it through first term at wimwi. Its like someone suddenly floored the brake pedal, forcing you to stop for about two minutes and reflect on it. Its not enough to gain any sort of perspective, but i know it has been fun. Its been a learning experience. And its been hard at some points of time.
Strangely, for those two minutes, you remember the person you were last year. Preparing for CAT, hanging out with friends, living at home. And you know you've changed permanently in so many small ways. You've done a lot of things you wouldn't have earlier. You've somehow "grown up".
And yet, for all that change, you're still the same lil girl. Who can't wait to go home and hog on mom's cooking, stay up all night talking to the three most important people in your life, and drink hot cocoa before bed.
8 exams
4 more days of classes
2 submissions left
1 excited/ exhausted/ enervated/ enthused/ energized/ engaged/ engrossed/ enlightened fachchi
We've almost made it through first term at wimwi. Its like someone suddenly floored the brake pedal, forcing you to stop for about two minutes and reflect on it. Its not enough to gain any sort of perspective, but i know it has been fun. Its been a learning experience. And its been hard at some points of time.
Strangely, for those two minutes, you remember the person you were last year. Preparing for CAT, hanging out with friends, living at home. And you know you've changed permanently in so many small ways. You've done a lot of things you wouldn't have earlier. You've somehow "grown up".
And yet, for all that change, you're still the same lil girl. Who can't wait to go home and hog on mom's cooking, stay up all night talking to the three most important people in your life, and drink hot cocoa before bed.
Growing old is mandatory, Growing up is an option
-Calvin
Friday, September 02, 2005
Hindi - Garbaa'd
I have this classmate. He's a Tamilian who is learning to speak hindi. Some of the things he does to the language are mighty interesting..
Garbaa'ish
1. Tu bada pathar, bada samay
2. mein ab pad raha hoon. Aadmi - Thandaa ka dabba
3. Akela hilna dhulna (This is dopey's contribution)
And this one takes the cake : Last night, he posts a message on the NB tellin me :
4. Suze, Jaane ka rasta..
I initially thought he was showing me a metaphorical door, when i realise what he actually means is :
1. You're rocking big time
2. I'm studying MAN-AC now
3. Individual Dynamics
4. Suze, Way to go..
Not bad for someone who hadn't spoken too many words of hindi before coming here. Garbaa, tum bilkul bade pathar ho.. utake upar rakho..
Lagey Raho!
Garbaa'ish
1. Tu bada pathar, bada samay
2. mein ab pad raha hoon. Aadmi - Thandaa ka dabba
3. Akela hilna dhulna (This is dopey's contribution)
And this one takes the cake : Last night, he posts a message on the NB tellin me :
4. Suze, Jaane ka rasta..
I initially thought he was showing me a metaphorical door, when i realise what he actually means is :
1. You're rocking big time
2. I'm studying MAN-AC now
3. Individual Dynamics
4. Suze, Way to go..
Not bad for someone who hadn't spoken too many words of hindi before coming here. Garbaa, tum bilkul bade pathar ho.. utake upar rakho..
Lagey Raho!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Biloxi Blues
Evam is doing Biloxi Blues in September. Promises to be fun. Check out more on their website
And most importantly, i'll get to see this. Cos guess what.. I'm going HOME!!
T - 16 days and counting..
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Blog Day
Today is blog day.. so here are the new blogs i've discovered and would like to recommend
Girish is my classmate at Wimwi and is an amazingly talented musician, photgrapher, sleeper in class.
Another new blog that i like is Oka's take on life at WimWi. Entertaining :)
Haven't discovered any other blogs recently, hope blog day corrects that!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Overheard..
We've had a very long and complicated case this week in Manac that's left almost the entire class feeling like we've been hit by a truck. We stumble out of the class dazed by Accounting Standards and Deferred Tax liabilites.
Everything seems to make sense for one magic moment. And then, the moment is gone.
Everything seems to make sense for one magic moment. And then, the moment is gone.
See, Manac is like an onion. You keep peeling it layer by layer. Of course at the end, you'll be left with nothing but a lot of tears.
- Management Accounting professor
Thursday, August 25, 2005
I have some reservations about this one
I don't understand why the Women's bill is being passed. I don't understand why women are pleased about it.
Should we have more women politicians? Why not..
But are reservations the way to go to achieve that? I don't think so. What do you think will happen now? Instead of Laloo we'll have Rabri. What will this achieve? Increased sensitivity towards women in the parliament? Fat chance!
We'll have a bunch of figurehead women with men behind them making the decisions. The fact that we have so few women in politics, business or any other field is not a problem in itself. It is simply a symptom of deeper malaises.
Our social conditioning still limits women from getting involved in politics. You have the rare Brinda Karat or Sheila Dixit. But they are few and far between. At the grass roots level there are few women getting involved in politics. That is a loss to society because women generally tend to seek solutions rather than seeking to expand their power. (this is a general sweeping assumption based largely on Gilligan's arguments against Kohlberg's research - ethics of care etc)
Coming back to the stop gap solution proposed by the govt, i think it is a short sighted move that won't really help anyone at all.
Was having a conversation with a batchmate yesterday about how few women there are on campus. He observed that when he wrote CAT, atleast 40% of the people in the exam center were female. Yet only 40 out of 300 people here are female. What happened?
I refuse intuitively to believe that women are lacking in intellect in any way. I think somehow, through some mechanism of social conditioning, women are gently weaned away from considering further education beyond the age of 21-23.
Take your average 23 yr old girl who has just finished CA. If she's contemplating writing CAT, nine times out of ten her parents will start worrying about when she will ever get married. I've had people who asked my dad "How are you letting her study an MBA.. where will you go for a more qualified husband for her now"..
We face the same inherent biases everywhere we go, even amongst the really polite gentlemen on campus who observe innocently that "you seem more suited for soft stuff like HR.." People who know me would be amazed if i were called anything close to "soft"!! :)
I think it stems from the society we're in and the opportunities we're offered. Those changes will take a while to happen. Long journeys lie ahead. And reservations won't help..
Should we have more women politicians? Why not..
But are reservations the way to go to achieve that? I don't think so. What do you think will happen now? Instead of Laloo we'll have Rabri. What will this achieve? Increased sensitivity towards women in the parliament? Fat chance!
We'll have a bunch of figurehead women with men behind them making the decisions. The fact that we have so few women in politics, business or any other field is not a problem in itself. It is simply a symptom of deeper malaises.
Our social conditioning still limits women from getting involved in politics. You have the rare Brinda Karat or Sheila Dixit. But they are few and far between. At the grass roots level there are few women getting involved in politics. That is a loss to society because women generally tend to seek solutions rather than seeking to expand their power. (this is a general sweeping assumption based largely on Gilligan's arguments against Kohlberg's research - ethics of care etc)
Coming back to the stop gap solution proposed by the govt, i think it is a short sighted move that won't really help anyone at all.
Was having a conversation with a batchmate yesterday about how few women there are on campus. He observed that when he wrote CAT, atleast 40% of the people in the exam center were female. Yet only 40 out of 300 people here are female. What happened?
I refuse intuitively to believe that women are lacking in intellect in any way. I think somehow, through some mechanism of social conditioning, women are gently weaned away from considering further education beyond the age of 21-23.
Take your average 23 yr old girl who has just finished CA. If she's contemplating writing CAT, nine times out of ten her parents will start worrying about when she will ever get married. I've had people who asked my dad "How are you letting her study an MBA.. where will you go for a more qualified husband for her now"..
We face the same inherent biases everywhere we go, even amongst the really polite gentlemen on campus who observe innocently that "you seem more suited for soft stuff like HR.." People who know me would be amazed if i were called anything close to "soft"!! :)
I think it stems from the society we're in and the opportunities we're offered. Those changes will take a while to happen. Long journeys lie ahead. And reservations won't help..
Monday, August 22, 2005
Journeys
I want to take a picture today. And try to remember how perfect this one moment is. Two am. With Ilaiyaraja playing in the background. I’ve got hot water for a sore throat, chocolate, purple post its and a few hours of work left.
And a weeks worth of washing hanging in my room lending it the unique smell of surf excel. (Now you know it’s a good day, when rhyming goes my way).
Life is a learning process. Here you learn to test the limits of what you can do. Balancing your life is rather more difficult that balancing a line. Figuring out priorities and keeping track of it all. Ensuring you don’t lose yourself in passing waves.
Each of us here is on a different journey. An intensely personal and different one..
Three books a month. I need to read to keep myself sane. Talk to mom and dad once a day. Need to keep in touch with what is happening back home. One foot back home in Mylapore and another here on campus…
Everyone around me needs to get a foreign job. Staying up until 4 30 am, 5 30 am... by the time the term ends I’m up until 6 30 in the morning studying. Networking.
Making friends who will last a lifetime. Sipping chai at LKP till 4 am listening to stories and trading secrets by candlelight.
Dorm pizza dinners. Impromptu gathering of people who hate the mess food, ordering pizzas and sitting and watching friends. Promising not to cry at the end of season 10.
Staying awake at 2 am. Sleepy, tired but typing furiously in front of a fluorescent monitor. Promising not to lose touch with one of the few connects left with a past world. Blogging, writing long emails. Chatting on msn. Talking talking talking to keep myself sane.
Three submissions and exams from Monday. Fighting against time, deadlines and sleep to put up a play. Sleeping between acts during rehearsals. Reading HR case mat on stage when I don’t have lines to say. Giving up on fear and sleep and doing things I’ve never done before. Watching people go through thirty cigarettes over three days, to keep one awake.. to keep one buzzing.. For the sound of an audience standing up to applaud.
Four am coffee breaks with an entire exhausted class that has worked all night to create something close to magic. Posters, props, a small car and a very large sunglass made from thermocol. An Uma Thurman fashioned out of 6 meters of yellow cloth and a large shiny plastic knife.
Finishing HP6 on the very first day it released. Watching three movies a week. Every episode of Joey so far. Scrubs, Wonder years. Listening to classical Sudha Raghunath at 4 am and missing my mom so badly. Fighting over the last piece of murruku in a box. Missing home and everything about it.
Pictures up on walls. Struggling against strange schedules to stay together. Ticking off weekends. Ten Nine Eight... I’ll be home in Three. Escalating cell phone bills, arguments over who promised to call and who didn’t, birthdays spent away... and I miss you.
Dorm jijus who visit once a term... and take us all out for ice cream. This year, we have a dorm niece too. Who’s two. On a journey to make my child’s life better.
To be able to afford things I couldn’t earlier. To break out of a system. To go beyond coding. To get away from something. If I weren’t in IIMA I’d be married by now… overheard in a guys dorm.
On a journey to build cv points. Insight, Conflu, Chaos, CCC and Messcomm. To distill myself down to one page of bullet points and hope it exceeds expectations.
On a journey to score! Hand up in every class, trying to catch the Profs eye. To add value to a class discussion. To make my point. To do well... or simply, to survive and stay awake... even more so in a class where there are no points for the same.
On individual, diverse journeys. To make friends, meet someone, get a job, get a life, get somewhere, leave somewhere, be someone, or simply to be..
And a weeks worth of washing hanging in my room lending it the unique smell of surf excel. (Now you know it’s a good day, when rhyming goes my way).
Life is a learning process. Here you learn to test the limits of what you can do. Balancing your life is rather more difficult that balancing a line. Figuring out priorities and keeping track of it all. Ensuring you don’t lose yourself in passing waves.
Each of us here is on a different journey. An intensely personal and different one..
Three books a month. I need to read to keep myself sane. Talk to mom and dad once a day. Need to keep in touch with what is happening back home. One foot back home in Mylapore and another here on campus…
Everyone around me needs to get a foreign job. Staying up until 4 30 am, 5 30 am... by the time the term ends I’m up until 6 30 in the morning studying. Networking.
Making friends who will last a lifetime. Sipping chai at LKP till 4 am listening to stories and trading secrets by candlelight.
Dorm pizza dinners. Impromptu gathering of people who hate the mess food, ordering pizzas and sitting and watching friends. Promising not to cry at the end of season 10.
Staying awake at 2 am. Sleepy, tired but typing furiously in front of a fluorescent monitor. Promising not to lose touch with one of the few connects left with a past world. Blogging, writing long emails. Chatting on msn. Talking talking talking to keep myself sane.
Three submissions and exams from Monday. Fighting against time, deadlines and sleep to put up a play. Sleeping between acts during rehearsals. Reading HR case mat on stage when I don’t have lines to say. Giving up on fear and sleep and doing things I’ve never done before. Watching people go through thirty cigarettes over three days, to keep one awake.. to keep one buzzing.. For the sound of an audience standing up to applaud.
Four am coffee breaks with an entire exhausted class that has worked all night to create something close to magic. Posters, props, a small car and a very large sunglass made from thermocol. An Uma Thurman fashioned out of 6 meters of yellow cloth and a large shiny plastic knife.
Finishing HP6 on the very first day it released. Watching three movies a week. Every episode of Joey so far. Scrubs, Wonder years. Listening to classical Sudha Raghunath at 4 am and missing my mom so badly. Fighting over the last piece of murruku in a box. Missing home and everything about it.
Pictures up on walls. Struggling against strange schedules to stay together. Ticking off weekends. Ten Nine Eight... I’ll be home in Three. Escalating cell phone bills, arguments over who promised to call and who didn’t, birthdays spent away... and I miss you.
Dorm jijus who visit once a term... and take us all out for ice cream. This year, we have a dorm niece too. Who’s two. On a journey to make my child’s life better.
To be able to afford things I couldn’t earlier. To break out of a system. To go beyond coding. To get away from something. If I weren’t in IIMA I’d be married by now… overheard in a guys dorm.
On a journey to build cv points. Insight, Conflu, Chaos, CCC and Messcomm. To distill myself down to one page of bullet points and hope it exceeds expectations.
On a journey to score! Hand up in every class, trying to catch the Profs eye. To add value to a class discussion. To make my point. To do well... or simply, to survive and stay awake... even more so in a class where there are no points for the same.
On individual, diverse journeys. To make friends, meet someone, get a job, get a life, get somewhere, leave somewhere, be someone, or simply to be..
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Lights Camera Action..
We put up "Kamala" over the past two days. I play one of the smaller parts in the play. One long dialogue and a few short ones. But rehearsing for the play and putting it up has been amazing fun. Our tuchchas (seniors) juggled three paper submissions and end terms which start tomorrow, while we made it through four continuous days of tests and rehearsals and v little sleep.. All in all, an amazing time. I guess, to a certain extent i'm proud of doing something that is SO outside my comfort zone. I've never gone on stage before and yet this past one week, i've danced, acted and had a blast!
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Voices..
Jaisingh Jadhav : As journalists, it is our responsibility to bring these atrocities to light.. the abuses, the massacre.. We need to educate the suffering masses and awaken their consciousness.
Kakasaheb : And you plan to do all of this.. by writing.. in English? Sensational journalism? vandhya sambhog..!
Jain : Where will i go now saale, for the next big scoop?
Kamala : Yes master.. Of course master.. I've been bought.. bought by that gentleman.. Yes Master.. No master..
Sarita : In this day an age, a man keeps a slave in central Delhi.. Hear the story of the slave kamala, who was bought for less than the price of a buffalo. Hear the story of the other slave, who was given away for free.
If you're in Amdavad this weekend.. come hear our voices..
Kakasaheb : And you plan to do all of this.. by writing.. in English? Sensational journalism? vandhya sambhog..!
Jain : Where will i go now saale, for the next big scoop?
Kamala : Yes master.. Of course master.. I've been bought.. bought by that gentleman.. Yes Master.. No master..
Sarita : In this day an age, a man keeps a slave in central Delhi.. Hear the story of the slave kamala, who was bought for less than the price of a buffalo. Hear the story of the other slave, who was given away for free.
If you're in Amdavad this weekend.. come hear our voices..
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Sleaze!
Slimes of India does it again. They've taken a childrens story book and converted it into cheap trash.
I read the article, and wondered what the point was. This is a kind of journalism where you first decide on an angle (archies/harry are BAD) and then look for facts. Failing to find them, you twist existing ones to suit your story. Ranjan Yumnam, are you happy that your name is in print? Will you frame this story in your study? Show it to your dad's friends? As an example of investigative journalism?
If i take any passage from the bible, or from a seventh standard maths textbook, i can twist it into sleaze. The point is, was there hidden innuendo? In this case, it is extremely clear that it wasn't. Even out of context, the words sound like subtitles to v. bad vernacular porn. So what then, is the author trying to say? I'm still wondering.
In the sixth standard, boys in our class were on the threshold of puberty. They'd crack silly jokes where the punch line would be a private part. It got so, that we couldn't solve physics problems on momentum without the class going into hysterics. (Think, two balls colliding at speed x).
I'll say now what my physics teacher said then : "Boys, Grow up!"
I read the article, and wondered what the point was. This is a kind of journalism where you first decide on an angle (archies/harry are BAD) and then look for facts. Failing to find them, you twist existing ones to suit your story. Ranjan Yumnam, are you happy that your name is in print? Will you frame this story in your study? Show it to your dad's friends? As an example of investigative journalism?
If i take any passage from the bible, or from a seventh standard maths textbook, i can twist it into sleaze. The point is, was there hidden innuendo? In this case, it is extremely clear that it wasn't. Even out of context, the words sound like subtitles to v. bad vernacular porn. So what then, is the author trying to say? I'm still wondering.
In the sixth standard, boys in our class were on the threshold of puberty. They'd crack silly jokes where the punch line would be a private part. It got so, that we couldn't solve physics problems on momentum without the class going into hysterics. (Think, two balls colliding at speed x).
I'll say now what my physics teacher said then : "Boys, Grow up!"
Sunday, July 24, 2005
20 000 eyes under a blog
I apologize for the v v corny title of the post.. i've had 20k page views. When i started blogging last year, i didnt think i'd stick to it for this long. Over the years, my mom has paid for guitar lessons that lasted a month, bought a "shruthi" box that gathers dust in my loft and patiently cleaned up after my innumerable attempts at crafts (candle making, quilting, cooking, sewing). Low attention span and laziness mean that i usually get bored pretty quickly. And yet i've continued blogging through bad movies and boring months.. often writing without having much to say.
For the benefit of being Mr Kite..
oops.. for those who are thinking of starting a blog : (drum roll please)
Benefits of Blogging
* You get to keep in touch with old friends who're too busy to mail you, but atleast read about what you're upto on the blog
* You get to make new friends (and i've made quite a few)
* You get to voice your own opinion. Even if you think main hoo naa was nice and Zaheer Khan is cute and remixed hindi music is rockin!!
* You get to say "i write" even if you dont manage to get anything printed :)
* People who want to check up on your functional writing skills have a readymade portfolio.
* You get to check your page hits counter three times a day and feel good when it hits any number ending with a zero.
* You usually discover that you are not alone. For some, this is scary.. since we are comforted by our uniqueness. But often, its nice to know that at 4 am there are other souls who can't finish a vikram seth book and enjoy cheesy mainstream hindi movies and are as confused about life as you are.
* No editors
* No deadlines
In other news, Week 4 and another WAC submission are over. Sleep is as elusive. Tiny threads of long forgotten thoughts string together now. Randomly. What was the name of that guy who every girl had a crush on in the 8th standard? The one who wore the coolest adidas sneakers and ran track?
When did i realise i'm addicted to cold water? And when did i fall in love with deep loud rock music that can make any day seem survivable? what would i do without metallica and matchbox 20? Or tang? Why, at 4 am, is remixed punju music STILL blaring outside my door?
When did i figure out that my biggest competition is with myself? The race i'm running is not against anyone other than my expectations. My parents i know, are never disappointed with me. And i couldn't care less what anyone else thinks.. so it boils down to this... what i expect of myself and what i rationalize away to make myself feel better... what i'll put up with... and at the end of the day, the only person i have to answer to is myself.
You'd think this would be a lot easier than explaining your teachers' note on "chalk throwing incidents" to your mom. It isn't.
The problem with dealing with yourself is that you somehow manage to see through all your excuses. :)
This doesn't really go anywhere, this post. It just exists. A random thought. Like me. Work in progress.
For the benefit of being Mr Kite..
oops.. for those who are thinking of starting a blog : (drum roll please)
Benefits of Blogging
* You get to keep in touch with old friends who're too busy to mail you, but atleast read about what you're upto on the blog
* You get to make new friends (and i've made quite a few)
* You get to voice your own opinion. Even if you think main hoo naa was nice and Zaheer Khan is cute and remixed hindi music is rockin!!
* You get to say "i write" even if you dont manage to get anything printed :)
* People who want to check up on your functional writing skills have a readymade portfolio.
* You get to check your page hits counter three times a day and feel good when it hits any number ending with a zero.
* You usually discover that you are not alone. For some, this is scary.. since we are comforted by our uniqueness. But often, its nice to know that at 4 am there are other souls who can't finish a vikram seth book and enjoy cheesy mainstream hindi movies and are as confused about life as you are.
* No editors
* No deadlines
In other news, Week 4 and another WAC submission are over. Sleep is as elusive. Tiny threads of long forgotten thoughts string together now. Randomly. What was the name of that guy who every girl had a crush on in the 8th standard? The one who wore the coolest adidas sneakers and ran track?
When did i realise i'm addicted to cold water? And when did i fall in love with deep loud rock music that can make any day seem survivable? what would i do without metallica and matchbox 20? Or tang? Why, at 4 am, is remixed punju music STILL blaring outside my door?
When did i figure out that my biggest competition is with myself? The race i'm running is not against anyone other than my expectations. My parents i know, are never disappointed with me. And i couldn't care less what anyone else thinks.. so it boils down to this... what i expect of myself and what i rationalize away to make myself feel better... what i'll put up with... and at the end of the day, the only person i have to answer to is myself.
You'd think this would be a lot easier than explaining your teachers' note on "chalk throwing incidents" to your mom. It isn't.
The problem with dealing with yourself is that you somehow manage to see through all your excuses. :)
This doesn't really go anywhere, this post. It just exists. A random thought. Like me. Work in progress.
There are those who live in the boundaries of guilt and fear, in the limits of imagination. One must dance in the moment. Reach down and pull up a song. Spin and chant and forget the sorrow that we are flesh on bone
- Book of Osiris, Egyptian Book of Dead (From Suhas's signature on dBab)
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Harry Potter and the half baked plot
Finished the sixth harry potter book today
or what you might call a book
i thought it was an eight hundred page prequel to book 7
She pulls in all threads from the past 5 books.. sets a hurtling pace.. and then bang.. she .. uhm.. stops...
so there you go.. big things will happen in book 7. this one is just a teaser.
And its got romance, death, revenge, truth, mystique, and a quidditch match
[spoilers follow]
but her heart doesnt seem to have been in it. Romance is cursory - they yell for about eight pages on the pros and cons of snogging and devote two lines to pulsing hearts and thats that. Death is another two words. Perhaps she was too excited by book 7 to devote enough attention to the building up of suspense.. For a major part, the book reads like a log or recording of facts.
She's said elsewhere that this was the first book she wrote.. sure looks like it! the basic plot is there but without too much development. Everything from the dreaded inferii to rosmerta's curse to the felix felicis is dealt with cursorily. With the same tired words reciting these things. The plot has been formulated, but the book has not been written.
She's also tried to squeeze in too much. So unlike the previous books, there are twenty different mini climaxes, fights, matches, deaths, curses, romances put in. but in the end it still sounds more like a grocery list and less like a book.
Potter himself puts it best when he says in the end that he wasn't hurting as much as he did when Sirius died. Neither did we. I remember how heart wrenching it was when Sirius died. I threw aside Book 5 and refused to read it again so that i could go on pretending that Sirius lives.
This is not the same thing..
[spoilers done]
All in all, read if you're a potter addict. If you've just woken up to the phenomenon, then give this a miss (and do tell us which planet you're from btw...)
or what you might call a book
i thought it was an eight hundred page prequel to book 7
She pulls in all threads from the past 5 books.. sets a hurtling pace.. and then bang.. she .. uhm.. stops...
so there you go.. big things will happen in book 7. this one is just a teaser.
And its got romance, death, revenge, truth, mystique, and a quidditch match
[spoilers follow]
but her heart doesnt seem to have been in it. Romance is cursory - they yell for about eight pages on the pros and cons of snogging and devote two lines to pulsing hearts and thats that. Death is another two words. Perhaps she was too excited by book 7 to devote enough attention to the building up of suspense.. For a major part, the book reads like a log or recording of facts.
She's said elsewhere that this was the first book she wrote.. sure looks like it! the basic plot is there but without too much development. Everything from the dreaded inferii to rosmerta's curse to the felix felicis is dealt with cursorily. With the same tired words reciting these things. The plot has been formulated, but the book has not been written.
She's also tried to squeeze in too much. So unlike the previous books, there are twenty different mini climaxes, fights, matches, deaths, curses, romances put in. but in the end it still sounds more like a grocery list and less like a book.
Potter himself puts it best when he says in the end that he wasn't hurting as much as he did when Sirius died. Neither did we. I remember how heart wrenching it was when Sirius died. I threw aside Book 5 and refused to read it again so that i could go on pretending that Sirius lives.
This is not the same thing..
[spoilers done]
All in all, read if you're a potter addict. If you've just woken up to the phenomenon, then give this a miss (and do tell us which planet you're from btw...)
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Week # 3
The days are upside down here.
You sleep in the afternoon and stay awake all night.
I've spent this week watching FRIENDS and batchmates campaigning (Talking about elections more than specifically campaigning - sac c please note) on dbab.. for elections that happen next week.
considering that about 20 ppl in my class are vying for the post of CR (class representative), people like me are in great demand to sign nominations for them :)
I'm acting in a play put up by the drama club here (called, very imaginatively, IIMACTS). We're doing vijay tendulkar's play "Kamala".
Week 3 was good. We had an amazing ops class and three quizzes! I've finally gotten my ibm r52.. which looks tres sexy ;)
elsewhere, mindless terrorism continues. London recovers from the shock without the paranoid anti muslim backlash that characterized previous attacks elsewhere.
My sister just finished HP6 and doesnt want to talk about it. In writing a darker more adult book, perhaps JKR has diluted the original franchise and spoilt a fun story?
Will review it after i read it.. which won't be for a while.. and no, i'm not going to tell you who dies.. though from what i hear, its hardly the point..
You sleep in the afternoon and stay awake all night.
I've spent this week watching FRIENDS and batchmates campaigning (Talking about elections more than specifically campaigning - sac c please note) on dbab.. for elections that happen next week.
considering that about 20 ppl in my class are vying for the post of CR (class representative), people like me are in great demand to sign nominations for them :)
I'm acting in a play put up by the drama club here (called, very imaginatively, IIMACTS). We're doing vijay tendulkar's play "Kamala".
Week 3 was good. We had an amazing ops class and three quizzes! I've finally gotten my ibm r52.. which looks tres sexy ;)
elsewhere, mindless terrorism continues. London recovers from the shock without the paranoid anti muslim backlash that characterized previous attacks elsewhere.
My sister just finished HP6 and doesnt want to talk about it. In writing a darker more adult book, perhaps JKR has diluted the original franchise and spoilt a fun story?
Will review it after i read it.. which won't be for a while.. and no, i'm not going to tell you who dies.. though from what i hear, its hardly the point..
Monday, July 11, 2005
One of my favorite poems
The tree that never had to fight
for sun and sky and air and light,
but stood out in the open plain
and always had it share of rain,
never became a forest king
but lived and died a scrubby thing...
..Good timber does not grow with ease,
the stronger wind, the stronger trees..
- Douglas Malloch
Why this weekend Rocked
1. I submitted my WAC assignment on time.**
2. After that i slept
3. Was too lazy to go out for dinner so ordered pizza along with a few girlfriends
4. Watched Friends season ten on my laptop with aforementioned pizza and aforementioned girlfriends
5. Had a long (well ten minutes.. but long by wimwi standards) shower, finally feeling human :)
6. Went for a "ramp". Which is both a verb and a noun in this place. It is also a place where WAC'd first years meet at ungodly hours to head bang to loud punju and hindi music. Till three AM.
7. I slept till 12 this morning
8. I downloaded about 200 songs from the LAN and have been blasting music all w/end
9. I auditioned for IIMACTS this evening. No CV points, No grade points, No CP marks.. pure fun
10. It's 12 and i have only two hrs of work left.
** WAC is a course we take in terms one and three. Every few weeks we procrastinate endlessly on a case analysis, stay up all night on friday, pray to the Porter (god of competitive strategy), and type out a thousand word analysis of a case.We then print this out on lan printers with great difficulty, change into tracks and run to the classroom to submit the assignment in time for the deadline on saturday afternoon. I made it with half an hour to spare and hopefully the Peerless Starch Company of Blair, Indiana will be saved.
It's been a good day...
2. After that i slept
3. Was too lazy to go out for dinner so ordered pizza along with a few girlfriends
4. Watched Friends season ten on my laptop with aforementioned pizza and aforementioned girlfriends
5. Had a long (well ten minutes.. but long by wimwi standards) shower, finally feeling human :)
6. Went for a "ramp". Which is both a verb and a noun in this place. It is also a place where WAC'd first years meet at ungodly hours to head bang to loud punju and hindi music. Till three AM.
7. I slept till 12 this morning
8. I downloaded about 200 songs from the LAN and have been blasting music all w/end
9. I auditioned for IIMACTS this evening. No CV points, No grade points, No CP marks.. pure fun
10. It's 12 and i have only two hrs of work left.
** WAC is a course we take in terms one and three. Every few weeks we procrastinate endlessly on a case analysis, stay up all night on friday, pray to the Porter (god of competitive strategy), and type out a thousand word analysis of a case.We then print this out on lan printers with great difficulty, change into tracks and run to the classroom to submit the assignment in time for the deadline on saturday afternoon. I made it with half an hour to spare and hopefully the Peerless Starch Company of Blair, Indiana will be saved.
It's been a good day...
..And if you have a problem with all of this, tough luck. Because for those of us in the marketing department you are not our Consumer, you are our Product
- Marketing Prof describing the Marketing core curriculum on induction day
Friday, July 08, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Life or something like it
Its 10 : 30 pm as i post this.
Week 2 is almost over.
A small sigh of relief at having survived so far. :)
This place has a strange way of changing you. Some of us realise whats really important to us. Sometimes it takes a week away from home to decide that you want to work where your family lives. It takes three more days for this place to make you forget all of that and get swept away in the tide of cg's and i banking jobs.
It's very easy to lose yourself. Spend 24 hours a day in a relentless pressure cooker and soon you forget yourself. Other people's goals become your own. It happens so subtly that you often don't notice it. Until suddenly one day you're in the Singapore division of an investment bank and you remember how years earlier you had wanted a marketing career in Delhi.
There is no life outside of this place for us. Not for the next 9.5 months. The outside world ceases to exist. We know of the floods because our laptops won't arrive for another week. We know about the F1 race because some seniors were watching it on our floor. But we *fachchas* have no life for the next 9.5 months. And the ones who struggle the most are the ones who resist that.
Bschool isn't all that bleak. But it is fast paced. You have enough time to prepare for tomorrow. Long term planning is deciding whether to have dinner at CT or in the canteen. There simply isn't enough time to think of anything beyond that. Cases to prepare for. Prayers to say, wishing you dont get cold called.
The classes, though, are amazing. Mindblowing profs. And each class challenges you to think and apply yourself in ways that you've never done before. You end each day amazed at what your classmates do, and even more amazed that you can do it too.
I think i've learnt more in the last two weeks than i did in years. Both inside and outside the classroom. I've learnt i'm far more disciplined than i ever gave myself credit for. And capable of surviving on much less sleep than i'd think possible. :)
Cases on QM and Eco tomorrow morning
So good night all
Week 2 is almost over.
A small sigh of relief at having survived so far. :)
This place has a strange way of changing you. Some of us realise whats really important to us. Sometimes it takes a week away from home to decide that you want to work where your family lives. It takes three more days for this place to make you forget all of that and get swept away in the tide of cg's and i banking jobs.
It's very easy to lose yourself. Spend 24 hours a day in a relentless pressure cooker and soon you forget yourself. Other people's goals become your own. It happens so subtly that you often don't notice it. Until suddenly one day you're in the Singapore division of an investment bank and you remember how years earlier you had wanted a marketing career in Delhi.
There is no life outside of this place for us. Not for the next 9.5 months. The outside world ceases to exist. We know of the floods because our laptops won't arrive for another week. We know about the F1 race because some seniors were watching it on our floor. But we *fachchas* have no life for the next 9.5 months. And the ones who struggle the most are the ones who resist that.
Bschool isn't all that bleak. But it is fast paced. You have enough time to prepare for tomorrow. Long term planning is deciding whether to have dinner at CT or in the canteen. There simply isn't enough time to think of anything beyond that. Cases to prepare for. Prayers to say, wishing you dont get cold called.
The classes, though, are amazing. Mindblowing profs. And each class challenges you to think and apply yourself in ways that you've never done before. You end each day amazed at what your classmates do, and even more amazed that you can do it too.
I think i've learnt more in the last two weeks than i did in years. Both inside and outside the classroom. I've learnt i'm far more disciplined than i ever gave myself credit for. And capable of surviving on much less sleep than i'd think possible. :)
Cases on QM and Eco tomorrow morning
So good night all
Monday, July 04, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
S Sujatha BE
And finally its done.
Got my results last night. And i've passed. With 90% in the final semester. *three cheers* for Sify where i did my project.
Being away from home is difficult. Really can't wait to go back. But 20 months to go. And a little less homesick now. The classes here truly ROCK. I had two Manac sessions over the past two days and its been awesome.
Not having a comp in my room leaves me feeling a little cut off from the world.. Typing this from a seniors comp. But hopefully that'll sort itself out this week. If i can keep in touch with everyone i think the loneliness kinda goes away. And my phone bills will come down. :)
So keep mailing calling etc.
Chennai Rocks.
Check out vinod's post on T Nagar.. :) it's making me all nostalgic about Mylapore
Toodles for now..
(I know.. the blog feels DEAD recently.. will be back with a bang once my comp is up and running)
Got my results last night. And i've passed. With 90% in the final semester. *three cheers* for Sify where i did my project.
Being away from home is difficult. Really can't wait to go back. But 20 months to go. And a little less homesick now. The classes here truly ROCK. I had two Manac sessions over the past two days and its been awesome.
Not having a comp in my room leaves me feeling a little cut off from the world.. Typing this from a seniors comp. But hopefully that'll sort itself out this week. If i can keep in touch with everyone i think the loneliness kinda goes away. And my phone bills will come down. :)
So keep mailing calling etc.
Chennai Rocks.
Check out vinod's post on T Nagar.. :) it's making me all nostalgic about Mylapore
Toodles for now..
(I know.. the blog feels DEAD recently.. will be back with a bang once my comp is up and running)
Friday, June 24, 2005
Live from Ahd
Buwaaaahaha said the voice from beyond..
I post this from my dorm.. rather the next room where a kind senior allows me use of the comp.. my own precious baby (R52 IBM ThinkPad) will be delivered only next week.
But so far so good.
First case tomorrow morning. Annalakshmi restaurant in Singapore. No idea how its going to go.. but this is just to say hi to anyone who kept reading my blog.
More from WIMWI later
I post this from my dorm.. rather the next room where a kind senior allows me use of the comp.. my own precious baby (R52 IBM ThinkPad) will be delivered only next week.
But so far so good.
First case tomorrow morning. Annalakshmi restaurant in Singapore. No idea how its going to go.. but this is just to say hi to anyone who kept reading my blog.
More from WIMWI later
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Packing!!
Got List
Will Pack
Last week here. Am visiting relatives and friends. Cramming as much as possible into a very huge suitcase. Formatting IPod and loading music on it. Spending as much time as possible with mum dad and most importantly sis. And it might be a few weeks before i get a comp, net connection etc up and running.
So for my regular readers (yes both of you) here's not an adieu but an au revoir. In the meantime do mail me :)
Will Pack
Last week here. Am visiting relatives and friends. Cramming as much as possible into a very huge suitcase. Formatting IPod and loading music on it. Spending as much time as possible with mum dad and most importantly sis. And it might be a few weeks before i get a comp, net connection etc up and running.
So for my regular readers (yes both of you) here's not an adieu but an au revoir. In the meantime do mail me :)
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Mars and Venus
This is the difference between men and women
A typical girl's packing list :
A typical guy's packing list
This is purely imaginary. Since a typical guy's packing list is by definition is a conundrum. Just like your typical guy who is both an ox and a moron.
A typical girl's packing list :
- Clothes - 5 pairs of pants, 10 t- shirts, nightclothes, casual wear, formal wear, 2 sarees, party wear, that black spaghetti that makes my butt look small, 300 pairs of innerwear
- Toiletries -toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, post shower leave in conditioner, coconut oil, moisturizing lotion, sunscreen, waterproof sunscreen, makeup, cotton buds, hair brushes (3 kinds) earrings, rings, clips, hairbands
- Money - lots :)
- cd's
- Medicines - Crocin, Coldarin, Nise, Avomin, Domestaal, Pudin Hara, Band Aid, Nebasulf, Soframycin
- Diary
- Stationery - Notebooks, Stapler, Punching machine, pens, pencils, erasers
- Pics of mum and dad and sis and friends
- Cell phone, charger, ipod, accesories, rechargable batteries and charger
A typical guy's packing list
This is purely imaginary. Since a typical guy's packing list is by definition is a conundrum. Just like your typical guy who is both an ox and a moron.
- Clothes - As many pants as can be found, T shirts. Both pairs of innerwear
- Toiletries - Throw in toothbrush into side pouch of bag at last minute
- CD's
- Money - Lots
- Phone + Charger
Tied are the strings. End does the Saga.
I saw Star Wars - Episode 3 a couple of weeks back.I've only seen Episode 4 before but have a general idea about the other four episodes and enjoyed this.
This movie was made to tie all the loose ends and show Anakin becoming Darth Vader. It does. Everything goes as expected with few surprises.
And yet, even though you know the end of the movie before you start, its still worth it. And you leave the theatre with a slightly heavy heart as you realize that a saga that has spanned your entire life, has finally come to an end.
And poetically, it ends bang in the middle.
This movie was made to tie all the loose ends and show Anakin becoming Darth Vader. It does. Everything goes as expected with few surprises.
And yet, even though you know the end of the movie before you start, its still worth it. And you leave the theatre with a slightly heavy heart as you realize that a saga that has spanned your entire life, has finally come to an end.
And poetically, it ends bang in the middle.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
FullStops
There is something eternally transient about life. And that is its defining characteristic. Life wouldn't be as it is unless it ends. And because someday we all must die every moment is invested with eternal drama, intrigue and wonder.
Each day is special and unique. Each experience to be treasured because it may never occur again. Each romance is remembered, each kiss is relived and cherished because it can occur only a finite number of times.
There is a limit to the number of times you will see your girlfriend smile, an upper cutoff to the number of trips home to see your parents, there is an end to all of this magic and that's what makes it worthwhile.
We know this and yet none of us are really prepared for death are we?
A classmate of mine died today. In a road accident with a lorry.
A few weeks back our HoD (Head of Dept) passed away while on a pilgrimage to Kasi.
At our first reunion the class of 2005 is a few people short.
Prof Soundarajan was loved by our class. He knew all of us by our names and took a keen interest in what we were doing and where we were headed. I remember he spoke to me for close to an hour discussing B schools and his son's experience there etc. He will be sorely missed.
As will Vishwant. We moved in different circles in college and I only know him as a good friend of a good friend. But he will be remembered as a rather soft, mildly shy guy who was always a good sport.
May they both rest in peace.
There is a poignant lesson hidden here somewhere about how life is short.
But right now i'm just praying that every one on the road gets back home safely.
And if you're reading this, please drive carefully...
Each day is special and unique. Each experience to be treasured because it may never occur again. Each romance is remembered, each kiss is relived and cherished because it can occur only a finite number of times.
There is a limit to the number of times you will see your girlfriend smile, an upper cutoff to the number of trips home to see your parents, there is an end to all of this magic and that's what makes it worthwhile.
We know this and yet none of us are really prepared for death are we?
A classmate of mine died today. In a road accident with a lorry.
A few weeks back our HoD (Head of Dept) passed away while on a pilgrimage to Kasi.
At our first reunion the class of 2005 is a few people short.
Prof Soundarajan was loved by our class. He knew all of us by our names and took a keen interest in what we were doing and where we were headed. I remember he spoke to me for close to an hour discussing B schools and his son's experience there etc. He will be sorely missed.
As will Vishwant. We moved in different circles in college and I only know him as a good friend of a good friend. But he will be remembered as a rather soft, mildly shy guy who was always a good sport.
May they both rest in peace.
There is a poignant lesson hidden here somewhere about how life is short.
But right now i'm just praying that every one on the road gets back home safely.
And if you're reading this, please drive carefully...
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Standstill Shopping, Spelt Sadly (10,8)
aka Stationery Shopping
I finally got around to shopping and went to Landmark at Spencers for a fun filled morning. Spent a couple of hours picking out fresh notebooks, pads, pens, pencils, shiny new erasers in colorful holders, files, folders. All bright and beautiful.
Yes, dear reader, you've stumbled on the skeleton in my cupboard.. i have a secret love for stationery. I get a kick outta post-its and glue gets me high. It's something about the newness and the immense possibilties. I think i associate it with school and growing up when new books and new samsonite backpacks meant a new school year. And new hopes and ideas and the excitement!
And now i have all new fresh staplers and punching machines and it's finally sinking in that in three weeks time i'm going to be living away from home.
Yet, I hate change. Ever since i can remember the prospect of things changing horrified me more than anything on earth. Even if its a good thing, i still would prefer things just the way they are. The new Hindu for example, did not go down well with moi :)
I hate waking up one morning and discovering they don't make my breakfast cereal no more. And i won't allow them to paint my room a different color. Living away from home for the first time in my life is going to be hard. I'd miss coming home each day and sitting on the kitchen counter (yes i still do that, no it does not break, no you may not make a fatjoke) and telling my mom about my day.
I'd miss talking to my sis for hours. I'd miss the scrabble games and cards. I'd miss my dad's good morning kisses. But, i do hope to have what seniors have promised is "an experience of a lifetime". And with that i'm done with this particular rant.
We had our formal fachcha meet at chennai today. A few hours of intros and getting to know more about the college while our seniors tried to get to know us. Almost everyone plays the guitar and wants a "good" salary at the end of two years. What is good? Almost no one could quantify that. And all the seniors warned us of sleepless nights ahead...
Goodnight from one very sleepy sue
I finally got around to shopping and went to Landmark at Spencers for a fun filled morning. Spent a couple of hours picking out fresh notebooks, pads, pens, pencils, shiny new erasers in colorful holders, files, folders. All bright and beautiful.Yes, dear reader, you've stumbled on the skeleton in my cupboard.. i have a secret love for stationery. I get a kick outta post-its and glue gets me high. It's something about the newness and the immense possibilties. I think i associate it with school and growing up when new books and new samsonite backpacks meant a new school year. And new hopes and ideas and the excitement!
And now i have all new fresh staplers and punching machines and it's finally sinking in that in three weeks time i'm going to be living away from home.
Yet, I hate change. Ever since i can remember the prospect of things changing horrified me more than anything on earth. Even if its a good thing, i still would prefer things just the way they are. The new Hindu for example, did not go down well with moi :)
I hate waking up one morning and discovering they don't make my breakfast cereal no more. And i won't allow them to paint my room a different color. Living away from home for the first time in my life is going to be hard. I'd miss coming home each day and sitting on the kitchen counter (yes i still do that, no it does not break, no you may not make a fatjoke) and telling my mom about my day.
I'd miss talking to my sis for hours. I'd miss the scrabble games and cards. I'd miss my dad's good morning kisses. But, i do hope to have what seniors have promised is "an experience of a lifetime". And with that i'm done with this particular rant.
We had our formal fachcha meet at chennai today. A few hours of intros and getting to know more about the college while our seniors tried to get to know us. Almost everyone plays the guitar and wants a "good" salary at the end of two years. What is good? Almost no one could quantify that. And all the seniors warned us of sleepless nights ahead...
Goodnight from one very sleepy sue
Monday, May 23, 2005
You're Catch-22!
by Joseph Heller
Incredibly witty and funny, you have a taste for irony in all that you
see. It seems that life has put you in perpetually untenable situations, and your sense
of humor is all that gets you through them. These experiences have also made you an
ardent pacifist, though you present your message with tongue sewn into cheek. You
could coin a phrase that replaces the word "paradox" for millions of
people.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Uphill Downhill
I spent the whole of last week at Ooty.
While everyone else was sweating it out in hot hot madras, i was walking the waterfall, boating, mildly trekking and having a blast.
Unfortunately what goes up must come down (ref : Newton's Law of Gravity and Apples) and i came down on Saturday. With a full blown stomach infection. And fever.
And so i've been stuck in bed the whole of this week.
And am recovering.
Slightly..
While everyone else was sweating it out in hot hot madras, i was walking the waterfall, boating, mildly trekking and having a blast.
Unfortunately what goes up must come down (ref : Newton's Law of Gravity and Apples) and i came down on Saturday. With a full blown stomach infection. And fever.
And so i've been stuck in bed the whole of this week.
And am recovering.
Slightly..
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd
I saw Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind a few days back and I have to say its an Amazing movie. Its got rich well fleshed out characters and a reasonably complex plot. Im tired of sugar fluff simple romances where everything points to the oh so obvious ending. The story itself is about the memories we make and the ones we lose. If something you remembered caused you so much pain, would you erase it? What would that entail? Its about the people who enter our lives and become so intertwined that removing them from it, kills a tiny part of it. Its a romance with the Charlie Kauffman touch.
Dont miss it.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
X + Y + Z = Hit!!
X = corny formulaic cliche
eg : guy apparently believes in love. girl apparently doesn't. guy meets girl. *sparks* confusion. clearing confusion. kiss. closing credits
Y = hot women
eg : Eva Mendes
Z = Humor
eg : it ain't over till the fat guy dances
Hitch follows the classic formula faithfully. Almost every scene is predictable. The last 20 minutes drag. This was meant to be a shorter movie. The reconciliation (d..uh.. it happens) takes too long.
Now that that's out the way, the movie is FUN
The inital *dating* scenes between Alex and Sara are refreshingly clumsy. Something that most of us would relate to. We don't live in the fairytale world and more often than not our dates spill ice cream on us and dance strangely. It's endearing to watch the clumsy bumbling romantic fools. and the first 1 hr of the movie is super. After that it drags a bit but still worth a watch.
See this film on a lazy saturday afternoon! :)
eg : guy apparently believes in love. girl apparently doesn't. guy meets girl. *sparks* confusion. clearing confusion. kiss. closing credits
Y = hot women
eg : Eva Mendes
Z = Humor
eg : it ain't over till the fat guy dances
Hitch follows the classic formula faithfully. Almost every scene is predictable. The last 20 minutes drag. This was meant to be a shorter movie. The reconciliation (d..uh.. it happens) takes too long.
Now that that's out the way, the movie is FUN
The inital *dating* scenes between Alex and Sara are refreshingly clumsy. Something that most of us would relate to. We don't live in the fairytale world and more often than not our dates spill ice cream on us and dance strangely. It's endearing to watch the clumsy bumbling romantic fools. and the first 1 hr of the movie is super. After that it drags a bit but still worth a watch.
Life is not about the number of breaths you take, It's about the moments that take your breath away
See this film on a lazy saturday afternoon! :)
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Mumbai Distress
The title is a bad joke. The script of this movie is worse. I expected more out of Kamal - plain and simple. I cried through mahanadhi and laughed through panchathanthiram. I watched ninaithale innikum 8 times. Now that i've established (as harry would say) that i'm a true blue kamal fan, let me proceed to say that this movie sucks.
It has a flimsy plot based on mistake identity and situational gimmickry.. which sustains the tired cast for about 15 minutes. and then starts the pathetic script stretching exercise.. repetitive punch lines drag the climax on way beyond my patience.
in addition to an absent plot, the cinematographer seems to have been missing an eye or two. i've seen home movies that were shot better than this. [as comments would indicate, so have a lot of people] you'd think a big budget kollywood movie would've been shot better than the blair witch project (arbit comment - i haven't seen blair witch project)
My Take :
Story : MIA
Cinematography : Pathetic
Acting : tired, underutilised powerhouses
Soundtrack : was there one?
Nett Nett : waste of time and money
saving up for sachein and chandramukhi in a week.
It has a flimsy plot based on mistake identity and situational gimmickry.. which sustains the tired cast for about 15 minutes. and then starts the pathetic script stretching exercise.. repetitive punch lines drag the climax on way beyond my patience.
in addition to an absent plot, the cinematographer seems to have been missing an eye or two. i've seen home movies that were shot better than this. [as comments would indicate, so have a lot of people] you'd think a big budget kollywood movie would've been shot better than the blair witch project (arbit comment - i haven't seen blair witch project)
My Take :
Story : MIA
Cinematography : Pathetic
Acting : tired, underutilised powerhouses
Soundtrack : was there one?
Nett Nett : waste of time and money
saving up for sachein and chandramukhi in a week.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
New but not necessarily Improved
a k a If the Hindu can do it So can I
I've finally gone in for a redesign. Complete overhaul of the old template which was quite bulky after numerous tweaks and twitches.
This one follows the standard blogger template with some changes. Tell me if you like it.
I've finally gone in for a redesign. Complete overhaul of the old template which was quite bulky after numerous tweaks and twitches.
This one follows the standard blogger template with some changes. Tell me if you like it.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Happy birthday to me
without me realising it, my blog has turned one year old. and as i said before its been a fantastic year :) one that i've enjoyed tremendously. I've finished (almost) engineering. A degree that i took up mostly by default but one that i don't regret now. I even look at hell with fond memories. Sitting on the sports ground talking for hours. Innovative ways to cut class. The endless efforts to leave. Getting outpasses signed by hook or crook. And so many things have happened in my life this year.
CAT. The last minute prep for it. I remember anxiously counting answers at De's house after IMS put them up. Waiting for the call letters. The Interviews.
The entire GD/PI process taught me quite a bit. But that.. is another post. I'll save my CAT experiences for another day.
so here is to my blog.. happy birthday.. and here is to my readers who left comments (and those who didn't.)
a birthday redesign is on the cards. vindy complains that he cannot access my blog so will go for a sleeker slimmer template
*glasses clinking*
*exit stage left*
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Shopping and Tough Decisions
I've spent the last two weeks contemplating the next two years. Having secured admission into the top two management institutes in India I've had the luxury of choice.. and it's hell :) I'm not even going to begin describing the pros and cons of each, but now that i HAVE finally (drum roll please) made a decision, I'm happy.
In the words of Aristotle... (something tuchchas quote at the drop of a hat) A is A.
So now its long shopping lists and incessant queries from mom.. i'm going to miss home i know.. but i hope the next two years are also fun. Which brings me back to the last one year.. which has been fantastic.. Amazing friends, Tons of books, Parties, Coffee, CATPrep (in miniscule doses), Cram sessions on GDP's and deficits galore, writing eighty different statements of purpose and attending 7 interviews.
With a strike rate of 5/7 in interviews and 10/10 in friendships... it's been a gr8 year.. so i dedicate this post to my awesome friends who don't read this blog but who make my life super fun :)
I went to landmark after an age (age = approx six months) and two days later followed it up with a visit to the corner bookshop.. and bought
Rule of Four (Caldwell Thomson)
The book of laughter and forgetting (Milan Kundera)
Queen of my dreams (Chtira Banerjee Divakaruni)
Girl Alone (Rupa Gulab)
The Curious incident of the dog in the night time (idontremember)
and loads of mags as well.. all set for a good few weeks ahead
except that its been three days and i've finished all the magazines and two books.. Now i finally understand what my dad meant when he said "i wish you'd read a lil slower".. Am filling out vindy's meme and will post that tomorrow along with a review of a movie called mumbai xpress
In the words of Aristotle... (something tuchchas quote at the drop of a hat) A is A.
So now its long shopping lists and incessant queries from mom.. i'm going to miss home i know.. but i hope the next two years are also fun. Which brings me back to the last one year.. which has been fantastic.. Amazing friends, Tons of books, Parties, Coffee, CATPrep (in miniscule doses), Cram sessions on GDP's and deficits galore, writing eighty different statements of purpose and attending 7 interviews.
With a strike rate of 5/7 in interviews and 10/10 in friendships... it's been a gr8 year.. so i dedicate this post to my awesome friends who don't read this blog but who make my life super fun :)
I went to landmark after an age (age = approx six months) and two days later followed it up with a visit to the corner bookshop.. and bought
Rule of Four (Caldwell Thomson)
The book of laughter and forgetting (Milan Kundera)
Queen of my dreams (Chtira Banerjee Divakaruni)
Girl Alone (Rupa Gulab)
The Curious incident of the dog in the night time (idontremember)
and loads of mags as well.. all set for a good few weeks ahead
except that its been three days and i've finished all the magazines and two books.. Now i finally understand what my dad meant when he said "i wish you'd read a lil slower".. Am filling out vindy's meme and will post that tomorrow along with a review of a movie called mumbai xpress
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
an A and a B
Finally
The IIM A results are out
I'm in.
want to scream from the roof tops..
that's the A
and i drove my Bike today. this is something i do almost everyday
except today someone else also did (drive a bike that is..) into me..
hence the bike (mine not his) flew in one direction.. while me (not him) flew in another.
I'm fine.. a few scrapes and cuts.. but none worse for the wear. Fainted due to the shock.. (can't believe i did that tho.. so girlish) but took a painkiller and i'm fine..
and happy
and hyper
Yay!
The IIM A results are out
I'm in.
want to scream from the roof tops..
that's the A
and i drove my Bike today. this is something i do almost everyday
except today someone else also did (drive a bike that is..) into me..
hence the bike (mine not his) flew in one direction.. while me (not him) flew in another.
I'm fine.. a few scrapes and cuts.. but none worse for the wear. Fainted due to the shock.. (can't believe i did that tho.. so girlish) but took a painkiller and i'm fine..
and happy
and hyper
Yay!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Nonsense Verse
I've lost my glasses
Can't quite see
Is it four already
Or just half past three
I've looked on the tables
And under the couch
In the cupboards?.. Yes!
and even in the.. *ouch*
Upstairs and downstairs
I've looked all around
Inside and outside
They just won't be found
I get the nagging feeling they
know exactly where they be
And the onlyone who's really lost
Is, in fact, me..
Five out of six interviews are over. Our project is almost done. We need to generate certificates and do a test run. And then finish documentation (100 pages of arbit crap).
Waiting for mica results to come (they're app up, i can't access the site)
*update*
results are out and i didn't get an admit.. :-( well that's that i guess..
*end update*
I'm awfully tanned from all the time spent at the pool. but not burnt black.
And i am reading PGW again.. Blandings this time.
Taking comfort from old familiar worlds and words
Thanks for all the compliments on my tag-board.
Though i must admit i had to wiki Schopenhauer to *get* the inference.
Almost done with one and a half months of selling my dreams and complying with strange requests
write an essay
get xeroxes of marksheets
get attested xeroxes of marksheets
get originals plus attested xeroxes of marksheets
get the records attested by principal registrar or HOD
get three letters of recommendation
write a summary of the GD
write a pre-summary of the GD
write two extempore essays on topics that were common knowledge last week
write three attested xeroxes of your principal registrar or HOD
*phew*
and now one more to go
after which we wait
and pray
and wait
even though i can't pinpoint the exact reason i feel like my life is changing faster than i can digest.
maybe it's cos i travelled on my own for the first time. got off at a strange station and caught an auto.
or maybe its cos i'm trying to convince two or three other people that i'm special unique intelligent.
maybe it comes from reliving my childhood in 40 second snapshots to convince someone of lessons i learnt in the sand box
have you ever noticed how everything looks perfect in 40 second snapshots.. Suze's Law of Compression
everything looks nice in compressed flashbacks.
Remember the horror you felt when you got yelled at in class for the first time? or when that really really cute guy asked you for an intro to your best friend? or how you were so bored and exhausted by every single day in college and couldn't wait to get out?
Yet when you reminisce, it all seems full of jokes in the canteen, sneaking out of college, birthday treats and beach hangouts. :)
Can't quite see
Is it four already
Or just half past three
I've looked on the tables
And under the couch
In the cupboards?.. Yes!
and even in the.. *ouch*
Upstairs and downstairs
I've looked all around
Inside and outside
They just won't be found
I get the nagging feeling they
know exactly where they be
And the onlyone who's really lost
Is, in fact, me..
Five out of six interviews are over. Our project is almost done. We need to generate certificates and do a test run. And then finish documentation (100 pages of arbit crap).
Waiting for mica results to come (they're app up, i can't access the site)
*update*
results are out and i didn't get an admit.. :-( well that's that i guess..
*end update*
I'm awfully tanned from all the time spent at the pool. but not burnt black.
And i am reading PGW again.. Blandings this time.
Taking comfort from old familiar worlds and words
Thanks for all the compliments on my tag-board.
Though i must admit i had to wiki Schopenhauer to *get* the inference.
Almost done with one and a half months of selling my dreams and complying with strange requests
write an essay
get xeroxes of marksheets
get attested xeroxes of marksheets
get originals plus attested xeroxes of marksheets
get the records attested by principal registrar or HOD
get three letters of recommendation
write a summary of the GD
write a pre-summary of the GD
write two extempore essays on topics that were common knowledge last week
write three attested xeroxes of your principal registrar or HOD
*phew*
and now one more to go
after which we wait
and pray
and wait
even though i can't pinpoint the exact reason i feel like my life is changing faster than i can digest.
maybe it's cos i travelled on my own for the first time. got off at a strange station and caught an auto.
or maybe its cos i'm trying to convince two or three other people that i'm special unique intelligent.
maybe it comes from reliving my childhood in 40 second snapshots to convince someone of lessons i learnt in the sand box
have you ever noticed how everything looks perfect in 40 second snapshots.. Suze's Law of Compression
everything looks nice in compressed flashbacks.
Remember the horror you felt when you got yelled at in class for the first time? or when that really really cute guy asked you for an intro to your best friend? or how you were so bored and exhausted by every single day in college and couldn't wait to get out?
Yet when you reminisce, it all seems full of jokes in the canteen, sneaking out of college, birthday treats and beach hangouts. :)
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
arbit globe jargon gyaan
the shoe manufacturer should restructure to focus on core competencies.
joint ventures with MNC's with cross holdings should be explored for viability.
and other mindblowing sentences cropped up the past few days. We had our A and C GD/PI's. The same tight knit group that's had the (mis?) fortune to have the same centre/gd group for three of the last four.. and now two down. Except i never know how i've done at the end of an interview.. never quite know what to feel. but relief i guess.
Absolutely nothing happening in my life to post about.
So i'll refrain.
Working on a piece of fiction.
Will post once i'm tired of it.
but it's just that.. fiction.. so please come back and read it and let me know what you feel
joint ventures with MNC's with cross holdings should be explored for viability.
and other mindblowing sentences cropped up the past few days. We had our A and C GD/PI's. The same tight knit group that's had the (mis?) fortune to have the same centre/gd group for three of the last four.. and now two down. Except i never know how i've done at the end of an interview.. never quite know what to feel. but relief i guess.
Absolutely nothing happening in my life to post about.
So i'll refrain.
Working on a piece of fiction.
Will post once i'm tired of it.
but it's just that.. fiction.. so please come back and read it and let me know what you feel
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
The Home ministry has issued notice to the BCCI to refrain from allowing players to display the tricolor on their helmets and clothes. Karun Chandok and Narain Karthikeyan have also been directed to remove the tricolor from their racing helmets.I don't understand. The flag is owned by us. It is as much mine as it is the home ministers.. How exactly is it an insult to the tricolor if I wear it while attending a cricket match or driving a formula one car or playing Pakistan or opening a factory? Seems bueracratic and silly. I'm up at 1 am because i'm preparing for my review tomorrow. My final year project is supposed to be an opportunity to apply what we've learnt for the past three and a half years to gain practical knowledge. Notice how i said supposed to? In practice it is as disillusioning as the past three and a half years. I've gained nothing much. Apart from some marks, ranks, scores and hopefully two letters to add to my name. In case I've never said this before, our educational system sucks. Everything is about learning by rote, going through the motions and counting the days till you're let out of hell
I've been in bangalore the past week. Enjoying daily trips to Bannerghata and slightly better weather. And surprisingly, free sms. :)
Back to EAP-TLS.. G'nite
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
random notes
Got the bangalore form off finally today.
writing a statement of purpose is tough!!
trying to recollect all my childhood experiences, define and analyze myself.
but on the whole... A lot of fun.
now need to start reading up on stuff for the GD/PI which starts from next tuesday..
(oh lord.. That sounds awfully close)
I know I promised to blog more but don't have access to a comp cos my dad's home now and is on it 24/7.
need to hook my laptop up to the net.
reading india unbound by gurcharan das.
and saw barefoot in the park which everyone else (ravages, kribs, lazygeek) all seemed to love.
I haven't seen the movie.. but thought it was your run of the mill love story about opposites attracting etc...
Everyone seems to be saying they adapted the movie very well. Luckily I get to view it isolated, as simply a play.
And gorgeous sets and efficient stage management aside, it was sweet but fluff.
timepass
fun
and my counter is finally past 10 000
yay!!
*big grin*
writing a statement of purpose is tough!!
trying to recollect all my childhood experiences, define and analyze myself.
but on the whole... A lot of fun.
now need to start reading up on stuff for the GD/PI which starts from next tuesday..
(oh lord.. That sounds awfully close)
I know I promised to blog more but don't have access to a comp cos my dad's home now and is on it 24/7.
need to hook my laptop up to the net.
reading india unbound by gurcharan das.
and saw barefoot in the park which everyone else (ravages, kribs, lazygeek) all seemed to love.
I haven't seen the movie.. but thought it was your run of the mill love story about opposites attracting etc...
Everyone seems to be saying they adapted the movie very well. Luckily I get to view it isolated, as simply a play.
And gorgeous sets and efficient stage management aside, it was sweet but fluff.
timepass
fun
and my counter is finally past 10 000
yay!!
*big grin*
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Among Other Things...
It's really late.
Another night that started out with promise.
And is ending.
With random thoughts typed and saved on my phone.
Tasks left unfinished.
Tired.
For tomorrow morning.
I'm dreaming of drowning in endless cups of strong sweet black coffee.
I'm thinking of friends. Who have come and gone.
Of brownies that were baked in a moment of insufferable optimism.
I'm thinking of my childhood.
Filling up all these essays for forms has led me to introspect a lot.
What is your most significant accomplishment
Well, making a quilt. From start to finish. Finding a piece of cloth with the right pattern. Learning to use the monstrosity that masquerades as a sewing machine. Talking to my mom for hours. Just like she had spent hours talking to her mom while growing up, making beaded purses and conversation.
What are your strengths and weaknesses
My parents who are simply, always there.
Who watch indulgently while i celebrate successes with friends.
Who taught me that when I falter or get lost, I can always come home to find my way.
My baby sister who'll sit up till 12 at night talking about school and books and fight over pillows.
Friends who taught me that family isn't just biological. Who'll remember things about me that I forgot.
These are my strengths.
And my weaknesses? .. Chocolate
I'm trying to remember my childhood.
Memories of books and singing and eating hot fudge sundaes come flooding back.
Eighth grade science fair and fighting with the boy who broke our experiment.
My fifth grade science teacher who taught me to draw the human heart.
Josephine Ma'am who encouraged me to borrow books from the senior library on her account because at ten, i was too young to borrow books from school.
Dressing up in my first grown up gown for our annual day play. And ballroom dancing with a boy who, at age seven was three inches shorter than me.
My first Enid Blyton that i read in KG2
Books covered in brown paper with labels and marked wit my dad's neat print.
S Sujatha
KG I C
Being brought home from the hospital to a black and white house on a black and white lane.
I remember through someone else's words.
A house with a terrace as high as the coconut tree.
Playing with my grandad and watering the plants
In a movie in my head.
With the pictures whirring past.
Black and White
At 16 frames/second.
Do we really remember anything?
Or in the retelling of the story, do the words themselves become the memory.
Another night that started out with promise.
And is ending.
With random thoughts typed and saved on my phone.
Tasks left unfinished.
Tired.
For tomorrow morning.
I'm dreaming of drowning in endless cups of strong sweet black coffee.
I'm thinking of friends. Who have come and gone.
Of brownies that were baked in a moment of insufferable optimism.
I'm thinking of my childhood.
Filling up all these essays for forms has led me to introspect a lot.
What is your most significant accomplishment
Well, making a quilt. From start to finish. Finding a piece of cloth with the right pattern. Learning to use the monstrosity that masquerades as a sewing machine. Talking to my mom for hours. Just like she had spent hours talking to her mom while growing up, making beaded purses and conversation.
What are your strengths and weaknesses
My parents who are simply, always there.
Who watch indulgently while i celebrate successes with friends.
Who taught me that when I falter or get lost, I can always come home to find my way.
My baby sister who'll sit up till 12 at night talking about school and books and fight over pillows.
Friends who taught me that family isn't just biological. Who'll remember things about me that I forgot.
These are my strengths.
And my weaknesses? .. Chocolate
I'm trying to remember my childhood.
Memories of books and singing and eating hot fudge sundaes come flooding back.
Eighth grade science fair and fighting with the boy who broke our experiment.
My fifth grade science teacher who taught me to draw the human heart.
Josephine Ma'am who encouraged me to borrow books from the senior library on her account because at ten, i was too young to borrow books from school.
Dressing up in my first grown up gown for our annual day play. And ballroom dancing with a boy who, at age seven was three inches shorter than me.
My first Enid Blyton that i read in KG2
Books covered in brown paper with labels and marked wit my dad's neat print.
S Sujatha
KG I C
Being brought home from the hospital to a black and white house on a black and white lane.
I remember through someone else's words.
A house with a terrace as high as the coconut tree.
Playing with my grandad and watering the plants
In a movie in my head.
With the pictures whirring past.
Black and White
At 16 frames/second.
Do we really remember anything?
Or in the retelling of the story, do the words themselves become the memory.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Ad Bloggium Ad Nauseum Ad Break
I've not blogged in a really long time
Going by how busy every one is, i'm not sure too many people missed me (cue to flood my comments box)
The truth is, i can't think of anything to say.
and surprisingly for once, that has prevented me from actually saying anything.
I'm sleeping almost fourteen hours a day, for lack of anything else to do.
I'm supposed to be preparing for GD/PI.. but have simply no clue how to go about it..
I'm procrastinating and yawning and looking up recipes for baked corn and spinach in order to avoid the inevitable magazines that are piling up.
I am also apparently setting up a wi-fi network with authentication at the wireless network edge. Did that make sense to you? if so, can you please come help me out? ;)
I wish i were a lot of things.. typical new year resolution depression time.. when i recollect all of last years' resolutions that weren't kept.. Thinner/Taller/Fitter/Smarter/Better.Read/Citius/Altius/Fortius etc..
I want to step outside my comfort zone and do new things.. But am as usual too lazy to do any of the above.
Started out having nothing much to say and am ending almost the same way.
Except for a few words about the Tsunami
Only level one and (to a certain extent) level two of the relief work has been completed. The resettling of displaced communities is as important as the immediate relief. Kinda like first aid versus the actual surgery. We'd do well to remeber that.
Also, this disaster has brought forth a lot of innovation. We have shown ourselves to be a terrifically generous bunch of folks.. Maybe when all this settles down, this generosity could be put to use to eradicate some of our more deeprooted malaises.
I've read about the blogging community coming together forcefully and proactively.. after this is all over.. this direction and energy can be put to use to educate our kids, free our women and empower our poor.
That's something i've been thinking about a lot.
I've also been amazed at how short sighted our administration proves to be (time and time again). Our chief minister now wants to spend 500 Cr to build a coastal protection wall.
*edit* ;)
Madam, are you trying to tell me that your administration which has been digging (ad nauseum) the road outside my house for th past six years (every monsoon season) is going to build a top class coastal protection wall that will withstand storms that private enterprises like the coastal beach resorts cannot construct? The same administration that hasn't been able to provide drinking water or clean up the city?
There are lot more viable solutions :
~ Afforestation - evergreen trees are usually able to withstand cyclones on the coast
~ Building of disaster relief centres every 50km to accomodate the displaced and affected after every coastal disaster - this would cost only some 10 Cr instead of 500
~ Setting in place early warning systems - Joining the Pacific Rim Warning system - this time around, meteorologists in hawaii didn't even have the phone number of someone in India who could have been warned about the impending tragedy
And that's that.
Enough has been said and written online/offline about celebrities and social workers and stories of heroes and miscreants.
I shall stop now.
Thank you and Goodnight
" We will either find a way
or we will make one" - Hannibal
Going by how busy every one is, i'm not sure too many people missed me (cue to flood my comments box)
The truth is, i can't think of anything to say.
and surprisingly for once, that has prevented me from actually saying anything.
I'm sleeping almost fourteen hours a day, for lack of anything else to do.
I'm supposed to be preparing for GD/PI.. but have simply no clue how to go about it..
I'm procrastinating and yawning and looking up recipes for baked corn and spinach in order to avoid the inevitable magazines that are piling up.
I am also apparently setting up a wi-fi network with authentication at the wireless network edge. Did that make sense to you? if so, can you please come help me out? ;)
I wish i were a lot of things.. typical new year resolution depression time.. when i recollect all of last years' resolutions that weren't kept.. Thinner/Taller/Fitter/Smarter/Better.Read/Citius/Altius/Fortius etc..
I want to step outside my comfort zone and do new things.. But am as usual too lazy to do any of the above.
Started out having nothing much to say and am ending almost the same way.
Except for a few words about the Tsunami
Only level one and (to a certain extent) level two of the relief work has been completed. The resettling of displaced communities is as important as the immediate relief. Kinda like first aid versus the actual surgery. We'd do well to remeber that.
Also, this disaster has brought forth a lot of innovation. We have shown ourselves to be a terrifically generous bunch of folks.. Maybe when all this settles down, this generosity could be put to use to eradicate some of our more deeprooted malaises.
I've read about the blogging community coming together forcefully and proactively.. after this is all over.. this direction and energy can be put to use to educate our kids, free our women and empower our poor.
That's something i've been thinking about a lot.
I've also been amazed at how short sighted our administration proves to be (time and time again). Our chief minister now wants to spend 500 Cr to build a coastal protection wall.
*edit* ;)
Madam, are you trying to tell me that your administration which has been digging (ad nauseum) the road outside my house for th past six years (every monsoon season) is going to build a top class coastal protection wall that will withstand storms that private enterprises like the coastal beach resorts cannot construct? The same administration that hasn't been able to provide drinking water or clean up the city?
There are lot more viable solutions :
~ Afforestation - evergreen trees are usually able to withstand cyclones on the coast
~ Building of disaster relief centres every 50km to accomodate the displaced and affected after every coastal disaster - this would cost only some 10 Cr instead of 500
~ Setting in place early warning systems - Joining the Pacific Rim Warning system - this time around, meteorologists in hawaii didn't even have the phone number of someone in India who could have been warned about the impending tragedy
And that's that.
Enough has been said and written online/offline about celebrities and social workers and stories of heroes and miscreants.
I shall stop now.
Thank you and Goodnight
" We will either find a way
or we will make one" - Hannibal
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Cos the love you give, won't mean a thing.. unless you sing, sing sing sing..
It's been a week and a half since the tsunami
and online blogs have helped mobilise a surprising amount of relief for those affected
visit kiruba for a regular roundup of what's happening where
Naveen has satellite pictures of the tsunami and also a list of places where you can contribute
and India Uncuthas daily despatches from Amit Varma who's working in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore with relief organisations
So there you go..
Please contribute your time, effort, money cos every bit counts.
Amen
and online blogs have helped mobilise a surprising amount of relief for those affected
visit kiruba for a regular roundup of what's happening where
Naveen has satellite pictures of the tsunami and also a list of places where you can contribute
and India Uncuthas daily despatches from Amit Varma who's working in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore with relief organisations
So there you go..
Please contribute your time, effort, money cos every bit counts.
Amen
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