INNOCENTO!


22 December, 1988.

This date is to reckon with, for it brought me into the arms of my mother, recuperating in a now forlorn Mishra Nursing home, Kalimpong. The life outside was chaotic, for an ongoing agitation had made living a compulsion and death not a sudden happening, but an event penned down by the brutal hands of murderers and protesters. Yes, I had arrived into a small little hamlet, that still holds its position in being my faithful home-town.

Having led almost 22 years of my life here, there are some quirky and fun facts I'd like to share about this picturesque town.

1) There is a single cinema hall here ironically named NOVELTY. Ironic for it specialises in screening movies that are bygones. But the best part is that rich poor, haughty humble, all gather to see the same film, seated on similar seats, repeating the same dialogue when the electricity buzzes of mid-way!
 2) A social cause may not gather as much crowd as a small road side fight does. And trust me its immaterial knowing the reason for the same. Larger the crowd, more the adrenalin rush!!
3)A Josephite ( students from St Joseph's Convent) should categorically fall for a Sasonian ( St Augustine's School). A Girl's high school pass out should fall for a passout from S.U.M.I and the rest, well what's co-ed institutions for???
4) Before you even get to know that there is a love affair brewing in your family, the neighbours have already spiced up fabricated tales about the couple eloping, the girl having multiple affairs before finally settling for  most of the time a non existent fellow.
5)An ATM here is the best fictitious employee of the year! Yes, who follows office timings more ardently than the ATM's here??? ;)
6) A fake Nike or a fake Reebok, gives you as much pleasure as a real one would have done! Yes, humility reigns supreme.
7)Its guaranteed that a shopping spree across the main road, is bound to make you encounter the same friend/stranger/cousin you met a while back in 10th mile and yes trust me you're gonna meet the same person again in lower 10th mile.
8) Hungry and got a meagre Rs 20 in your pocket? Worry not, with local noodles as cheap as Rs 5 a plate, to momos as expensive ( marred by recession and with lots of pun) as Rs 10 a plate, atleast 80% of your hunger is bound to satiate.
9)Every family barring the non nepalese and non bhutanese has an avid singer who can melt your heart by strumming the strings of his/her guitar which is a compulsory articraft adorning the house.
10) A free electricity supply, backed by never ending water crisis, zillion shops selling the same clothes backed by dearth of a branded store, never ending momo stalls/restaurants backed by the easily avoidable absence of a single branded eatery, you have arrived here. 'Here' we people chose to carry our hearts on our sleeves and greet you with a smile that can go a long way in making your otherwise dull day, a day well spent :)

Cheerio

Escaping Reality

After what seems to be aeons, I choose to write again! Words don't flow easily as they used to. Nevertheless what really surpassed the passing months was a hardcore reality check! From heartbreaks to health breakdown to attempting to carve a  niche in the new place I am in to discovering the real me.. boy! it was a ride! The best part however, was not to get caught up in the loop or else, would have been lost in the sands of time! In despair, I found a new hope. And the hope came from nowhere else but within! They say when reality hits you, it hits you hard! I say, when reality hits you, it makes you tolerant. No one would like standing in the starting line and watching the fellow participants finish the race in a jiffy! Run the race, even if it tantamounts to a lot of consumption of inner will and motivation. Learn to love yourself for what you are. You may not be as perfect as the other, but then the other too is also looking out for a perfect idol.This yearning never ends but then should we waste our time trying to be perfect or being imperfect and living life perfectly!
Good times, bad times are a part and parcel of life. When a bad phase is unbundled, it only ends up leading to the start of a good phase.
There is no escaping reality, for there is no easy way out.

Just the other day, I had a discussion with a friend whether there is a blockage in me, for I cannot take in someone else's philosophy. Was glad to know that I'm not the lone person around.If philosophy teaches you how to live a life, reality compels you to live your life.
The choice is yours!

Cheerio :)

torture an amusement

“Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.”
Before I set on to start pouring in my thoughts,I’d like to highlight words handpicked from the afore mentioned saying. : “ Man”, “torture”,” fellow creatures”,” amusing”.

Has India come a long way ? Economically yes, but can we say the same to the ongoing instances of human torture? More so,to those inflicted upon the so called “JUNIORS” by the very big-headed “SENIORS”?I am afraid but its a big “NO”.

Years of hardwork, commitment and an urge to fulfill one’s dreams paves way for a student to set on to the journey of making something out of himself. A College or an institution moulds these aspirations. The so called “seniors” are supposed to role-play our family, our mentors and our benefactors. It is really very saddening to see inhuman behaviour, negligence and haplessness reigning supreme in various colleges owing to what we commonly hear as “RAGGING”.

As freshers step into colleges they are filled with hope,which is overshadowed by a fear of being subjected to the whims and atrocities at the hands of their seniors. In the name of ragging one is made to do acts such as stripping, drinking, breaking rules, physical torture,addressing seniors as “SIRS/MADAM’S”,no counter questioning..

Such heinous acts are justified as “its a way of opening up,knowing the seniors,being familiar with the institution”.Why justify an act which instils insecurity, fear, dejection in the mind of a hopeful newcomer. Many also defend it by saying “ as long as its not sexually exploitive it’s okay!”. I fail to understand as to how can we set limits for it? To me the matter of concern is not the categorisation but the existence!. Just because you are in the college a year or so before me, in no way gives you the right to“torture” me for your “amusement’ and proving your seniority! The seniors too were juniors once.

Many such raggers come from well to do families so should we doubt their upbringing? Even top notch institutions are not new to this menace.

Many institutions claim to have strong anti-ragging laws and very few actually succeed in implementing the same. The doers are set free after minor punishment. Money can buy anything, even the integrity of the administration who cannot expel the accused for they bring in donations. How many “Aman Kachroo” will we sacrifice? Even if he would have had survived the gruesome atrocity,who would have had guaranteed him a peaceful afterlife, caressed his wounds? Cases of raggings are very common in medical colleges.The preparators are our future doctors. How can we trust our lives with them? Even if they might have escaped social boycott or personal remorse they cannot escape being called as “disgraceful humans”.

What we need today is a strict enforcement of laws and awareness about the aftermath of such acts.It should  be banned not only because its inhuman but because you and me have a single life to live, so why not live it in harmony?

 The Dr. Raghavan Committee, headed by Dr. R.K.Raghavan (former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation) was construed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, on the orders of the hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The committee has made several valuable recommendations to curb the menace of ragging, including that the “… civil society should be included in this exercise”. Many online groups like Coalition to Uproot Ragging from India (CURE), Stopragging, , India's first and only registered Anti Ragging NGO, Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) have supported the anti ragging cause.

Let us not make torture a sport. Let us stand for the cause for as much as its easy to sit here and read about such instances its equally difficult and harassing to face the same. You do not want to be ragged,nor do I,nor did ‘Aman Kachroo” and the various other victims, some of those whose grievances have been brought to light and some who’s pains simply died a silent death.



Lets make this a reality.

Let's be humans first.

Just, when you think you've smiled enough :)

These are the list of ten most simplest and silliest stuffs that do manage to bring a satisfactory grin og my ever so expressive face :)

1) Finding money in your pocket when you have officially affirmed that you are  broke! Little did I know that even a forlorn 5 rupee coiner could make me so happy!!

2)Just when You have been invited to a party/event which you so want to turn down but can't do so,some unexpected guests drop in by at your place and voila!you have a reason solid enough to let go that offer.(Yes,your mom may not digest this sudden "oh I'll help you mom" insistence but who cares? :D)

3)During your term paper,when you are loaded with like zillion chapters, one of your subject teacher acts as a messiah and cancels out on say half a chapter (yes a 17.5 chapter/18 is wayyyyyyyyyyy better than an 18/18 even though it hardly makes a difference)

4)Finding that over the years you still manage to fit in that favourite pair of jean,despite the ugly muffin top that graces your body.

5)Your lecturer leaves you 5 minutes before the scheduled time [ A five minute waiver sure comes as a relief than a five minute overstretched lecture]

6)While watching a movie,the events unfold just like how you predicted!! (See I told you she would pick that dress up,didn;t she?? I told ya ermmmm anyone listening??? )

7)When the rain gods have mercy upon you and keep the heaven's door shut and allow the sun to shine mightily during the an outdoor event :)

8)Your bestie plans to surprise you and gift you  that same t-shirt you didn't buy cause of superseding your monthly allowance! Oh how I love surprises... :)

9)A call from a friend/relative when you least expect it :) 

10)Lastly when you are running on extremely low balance and your dad re-fills in the same without you even telling him to do so :)

These are some of the things I can recall.Would love toy know about your's as well :)

Where staring is an understatment.

India is a nation where mildest of meanings are misconstrued and abused to a great extent. Staring is one such natural but seemingly nastiest phenomenon here. In case you are a part of the fairer sex then you know what I mean to convey. Here a fully clad woman is not spared from the ever so scanning x-ray machines a.k.a eyes of twits that saunter around, let the topic of those less clad be wholly avoided.

 Just as how a dog gapes at a fresh piece of meat hanging in an abattoir,we  go through nothing less than the same.

Infinite stares ranging from head to toe,toe to head. From one dumb wit to the other, we need to go through the torture every time we step out on to the streets. Looks no bar, age no bar and most importantly location no bar!!! Be it a remote town or a hot shot metropolitan city,a busy street or a forlorn street , we are spared nowhere!. I often fake being on a phone call to avoid such intense looks.And I know most of you do as well. Any verbal retort on our part adds on to the trouble. How do we escape such uncomfortable situations? Yes, the ever so ready answer: “You should have given the fellow a piece of mind/you shouldn’t have chosen that lane/ you shouldn’t have worn such clothes and some more of you shouldn’t haves. But sorry my dear such advices don’t really work here.

I recently saw my friends facebook profile. She had posted pictures of her in some really pretty dresses which incidentally I had never seen her wear. I causally asked if she had borrowed them from someone. I was amazed to learn that she owned each and every of those pretty dresses but was afraid to wear them cause of these afore mentioned stares she might have to go through!

Remember they rape you through their eyes/ankhon se balatkaar!!! I wish, I/We can muster courage and relentlessly face such unwanted people in Dabbang style and let it roll off my/our shoulder.

when silence has a voice

Lately, its been quite a ride for me! Quite a lot of issues to handle,some that have been sorted and some that have made me strong and given a voice to my silence.
Coming back to the post,I hope this finds a connect with those who share the same label with me "Reclusive". Why is it that my silence speaks out only in case of fury,utter excitement or situations where it is most needed. Where does it hibernate otherwise? My mind seems to be echoing words that need an escape through my vocal chord but why is it blocked mid-way?
Since an early age I always spoke my heart out to my diary,that patiently listened and preserved my little (not -so-dirty)secrets, my daily escapades, my crushes( yes! I am normal :P), wishes and best of all my pain. I hardly mustered the guts to voice out the same to a living body. Much as I wanted to share and be a part of interesting conversations, I mostly ended up being the most consistent "listener". Slowly it turned into a habit and when asked by friends if I had anything to add on to any  ongoing conversation( which I did) I'd come with my own hackneyed sentence: "No no,you carry on,I am listening". Back home I would rush in and open my diary and pen down my feelings and then have  a satisfactory grin on my face.
But over the years I have realised that we do need to express ourselves not only through written  but through spoken words as well.What if we may be ridiculed or ignored,atleast we have given our silence the much needed space to breath free. It takes time to break out of the shell but I suppose it's worth the wait. I am enjoying this new found confidence of socialising but it is still a looooooooongggg way to go.Although I still do rely on venting my heart out to my diary/notes yet, I have great friends who listen to me and help nurturing the newbie voice of my silence :)

Till then do give a listen to the following track:

Thirteen Senses- Into the fire.

p.s: This post comes after deleting countless posts in between. Do you constantly write and delete your posts as well? ;)

Is Indian Nationalism overrated?

We Indians are still basking under the glory of the historic World Cup 2011 win.YES!! the team did it, the prayers were answered,the ranting of "Come on Indiaaaaaa" managed to create a buzz that is still echoing in our hearts.But the question is, did we overdo it??? Do we really love cricket for the sport it is, or do we love being Indians first and seeing our nation's flag furl high up in the air?
 I,was travelling in the train when our team was busy re-writing the 28 year old chapter of historic win. (okay,now please don't make me feel bad about mising the same!! )The moment the news came in that we had won,the passengers went berserk! They screamed and howled like maniacs,so much so that they were almost going to pull the chain down  and halt the train so that they could go out and celebrate.
Next morning, I could see what fervour this win had managed to create.There were rallies being held, holidays being declared, crackers being burst, and the Hindi news channels flooded with news only related to the match and how it manged to stir a new wave of nationalism within us. I often wonder,how would we have responded if we wouldn't have been able to win this coveted trophy. Most of us know the answers- Burn down the effigies of  the cricketers, pelt stones at their homes, chant slogans against them and most obviously mourn as if the loss has cost them a precious life. The fact that the team managed to be in the finals fighting all odds wouldn't even be a reason to extract a drop of sympathy from the junta. Many people I know, put up status's regarding the win,but didn't know anything about the tactics of the game! A single win made them hardcore cricket fans! Yes that's true, I was super excited that the cup is ours after 28 long years of wait and believe me I follow the game as well. Its not an overnight grown affinity towards the game.
 All I want is that the same enthusiasm should be saved for when we win other sports as well!! When asked which is our national sport,one of the most prominent answer after Hockey( yes the national pride which never got its due) is KABBADI!!!!!(* ignorance exemplified*) Let is not be ignorant and bias Indians, but those zealots who respect a sport for its existence and do not discriminate a game on the basis of nationality!!

Let the Game begin!! :)