'Tis the season of celebrations. Starting with Ganesha* and
Onam*, with Navaratri* and Diwali* on their way. But a welcome twist to
the tale too, with the Scottish referendum. The vote for unity has been cast.
The Scottish flag, coming up with a resounding " NO". People world
over, celebrate! Its time for joy, as the people have decided to vote for being
"One " . The one country, the one nation. The United Kingdom. United
it stands again!
The castles of Scotland
I raise a toast this time, a toast to goodwill, and good sense that
prevailed. Diverse we may be, with our castles, bagpipes, whisky et. all,
but together we will stay. May it prevail here too, in the land of
India. Even with her diverse landscape stretching from the desolate, snow clad
peaks of the Himalayas and the barren plains of Rajasthan, to the lush green
backwaters of Kerala and the calm Arabian Sea on the periphery,and her many
cultures, languages and ways -may we all stay and celebrate together as one with her, forever.
Time to raise a Toast to oneness.. a Toast to joy ..Viva Scotland! Time
for celebrating the spirit of togetherness with "Scotch on the Rocks
"!
Regards
Aina Rao,
The amblingindian.
* Ganesha, Onam, Diwali, Navratri - Indian festivals celebrated by
different regions across India.
This is quite a tail really. A long long time ago, we were adopted by a pet. Meaning me and my family. And yes, we didnt adopt a pet, a dog at that, but rather, the dog adopted us. And how could that be?
Thois- he adopted us
It so happened that this dog, who happened to be from Ladakh, a very cold and mountainous place in the North West of India, belonged to my neighbour, Mr. Paul. Mr Paul lived in a huge house with a large garden, and a large terrace that overlooked my garden too. So, our friendly neighbour's dog, who went by the name of Thois, had an unfettered view of almost everything that went around in my house. Especially what time I went for a walk, or got up, or brushed, etc.etc. And, smart fellow that he was, he was ever ready to make use of the information. So, on some cold winter mornings, i would get up to find myself being cuddled by a huge furry ball, in my own bed, that went by the name of Thois. Finding himself quite cold on the bitter wintery day, he had found that my bed was the cosiest, especially since I was sleeping in it, and made himself home. And greeted my shrieks of shock with wide-eyed puzzlement, as if to say" What's all the fuss about?"On some other days, when I went for a walk, Thois just came. He came everywhere, to the temple, to the market, to the garden, he just followed. It seems that he had made up his mind to love and adopt us, as his family. And to use his vantage point on top of Mr Paul's terrace to watch our movements, and make sure he joined in at the right time.
Its a pity Thois didnt live long. One terrible day, he was run over by a truck. Maybe the fact that he came from the mountains- he knew how to survive in the hardest of terrains, but a stray vehicle he could not handle. And that did it for him. And, we were orphaned again, in a doggy way. Whatever it was, Thois taught us something really valuable- that you don't need much to ask for someone to love you, you can love them anyway. And adopt them if you like.
This weekend was one of the nicest ones. An short trip to Pondicherry, a quaint but cute town on the South Coast, beginning and ending with an overnight train journey, always bringing back the many wonderful train journeys of the past, and the time to marvel at the vastness of India- even with a long train journey, barely crossing the southern tip of this vast peninsula. Pondicherry- a little town, home to the French very long ago, with a small French colony still alive within. Queer and quaint, but enjoyable always. The little French colonial houses, the Promenade- reminiscent of the South of France, preserving in so many ways its culture, in such a foreign, yet far away land. Loved every minute of it, soaking in the unseasonal rain, walking by the Promenade, feasting on the local sights and smells.And buying an iron. An iron, of all things? Yes, an iron, or "Istri"as they call it, coincidentally rhyming with "stree", the female gender. Could be something to do with the fact that it can be super hot and scalding at times, and cool and soothing at others, much like a woman. But why an iron?
French streets of Pondicherry
An iron, ostensibly to be used to carry out mundane tasks such as iron clothes, but maybe with the vain hope that it would somehow, magically, iron out all the wrinkles of my life. At least that's what I wish it would do. Smoothen out the creases of existence. The creases of worry that had built up over the last many weeks. Of a daughter leaving home for the first time, to study in what seemed a faraway land now, Pondicherry. A transition point in life, the time when a young one left an enconsced existence, taking flight like a bird, to find a new place in the world. And the pain that came with it, the pain of being left with a half- empty nest, at best.
And so it came to pass. That I shall, hopefully, visit Pondicherry more often, now that part of my nest and heart has moved here. And perhaps spend time again- looking for an iron, and not just looking, but trawling through multitudes of them, studying their shapes and colours too(specifications nothwithstanding, to indulge the senses). This time round, a plain one will just not do, for a fancy pink I hope to find, to bring back the rosy pink colours into life, and banish the blues from the sea of existence.
More about Pondicherry again- i return to it next week!
A really black day. An innocent child let down by her school.. one of the places that we thought could be trusted.. but sadly, not really so...
The city erupts in protest.. parents, children, citizens, bystanders, all aghast at the crime. When? Where? How ? Why? and so many questions.. but no answers..
A long black procession to the HAL police station brings no relief either. The amblingindian waits in the hot sun, part of the anxious, angry crowd, blocking the roads until the police emerge. The police say "Wait, have faith in us". Why wait, sir? Isn't justice delayed, justice denied? Each day lost in this case brings more angst and agony.. Why and how long will people wait for what is right? For criminals to be behind bars, for safety to be a right, for the right to live, to live with dignity and safety?
Last weekend I finally got to see the " Queen". By Queen, i mean, the popular, much touted recent Bollywood movie by Kangna Ranaut. And why so late, one may ask? Well, it so happened that i was almost visiting the Queen***(her Kingdom in fact) when the Queen was released across movie theatres in India, to packed audiences. And having missed it then, i was craving to see it, having heard so much by way of rave reviews.
And what a delight! The movie does live upto its name and reputation. A different kind of a "Queen " this time, on the screens. A young girl, a queen of her home, a to- be queen in her "sasural"( husband's home), badly jilted by her fiance at the last minute. And a transformation, rightly so, thanks to her getting to travel around the world all alone, sans the sour- faced husband to be.
The scenes and the story were really to be revelled in. But amazingly, it brought to light a new truth that is emerging in the India of today. As she waits, on the cusp of tradition and modernity, struggling to find her place, she also realises that not all old is good and not all new is bad. The notion, well preserved and pompously proclaimed by many a wisemen, and older generations for centuries; " Old is gold", " traditions are best", " modernity is the bane of society", " westernisation is the downfall of indian society", all quickly turned to hogwash by a rather clever, but realistic story. The protagonist, Rani* , the " queen" asks her brazen Parisian friend, "What did i do wrong? I listened to everyone, my parents, my teachers, my fiance, but see where it landed me. I was jilted by my fiance at the last minute, just before my wedding day, and charred by the experience" Maybe , o' queen, all you did wrong was assume they all were right. And maybe as a society, it is time to accept that " all is not right" , right here, in Indian society.
What is wrong with a woman enjoying herself, drinking, partying, and generally being a brazen hussy? I would say what is wrong with society who looks askance at the woman who does all this ?
Sad to say, my friend Hyma and I, both modern, liberated women with management degrees to boot, lamely acknowledged that the character in the movie, the simple, sweet, naive and charming Rani wasn't just a figment of imagination on the screen. But that there are a lot of Ranees in real life, even today.Perhaps perpetuated by the fact that even their own parents and own people want them to be this way. Simple, sweet, soft- spoken, waiting and biding the time until marriage, so they can stop listening to their parents then and have to listen to their in- laws instead. But listen they must. And have no life for themselves. Be shy, naive, untainted, as that is virtue. Not have a good time ever...
But it is the movie that proved them all wrong. That it is right to just have a great time, be yourself, be bold, brazen, whatever. live as you like, never mind the invisible norms and traditional shackles around. Readers, do watch the movie if you can**. Great going Rani and all the others out there .. Be a Rani- be a queen on your own terms, live life " Queensize"!
Regards,
Aina Rao ,
The amblingindian.
Rani is an Indian name, meaning a Queen.
**Queen- Bollywood movie featuring Kangna Ranaut as the simpleton, and Lisa Haydon as the smart, sophisticated new- age woman. The amblingindian has no association with the makers,actors, or anyone else involved in the movie.
The Badaun case posted on FB. Shivers are going down my spine. I dont know whether to click " Like". For once, i wish fb would have a button for " Dislike" "Hate", " Abhor", or " Send them to jail NOW". Ghastly and Gruesome.
Read " Men will be boys " from the leader of the state on my facebook page & blog " amblingindian".
If the leader of the state says such things, how can things get any worse?
Alok Gupta, a close friend, recently recounted this story.
A US-educated-now-India-returned man (often referred to as a boy), came to "see " the girl, obviously, to meet her and decide if she was fit to marry, as often happens in "arranged marriages". They met at a posh restaurant in Delhi, the girl accompanied by her brother, and the boy, chaperoned by two septuagenarian ladies, the mother-in- law-to-be and her sister. The food consumed, the conversation turned to hobbies, work and ultimately, the subject for which they had arrived, i.e. the wedding.
And then the ladies turned to the girl, and went-
Ladies: We want to see you after you have washed your face.
Girl, incredulous: What?
Ladies: Go on. Go, wash your face in the cloakroom and come back.
Girl's brother, gobsmacked, to the boy: Do you really want this- her to wash her face ?
Boy,not knowing how not to offend his mother: No , i mean - i don't know
Girl:Lets go home. Walking out with brother ... End of story.
This is the new age face wash, it appears. It did not happen a century, decade, year or even month back. It happened last week. And that too, with a US returned man..
It seems that, Indian society has matured from "Muh - dikhai (face-see)" to "Muh - dhulai( face-wash)". In the good ol'days- the daughter in law came home, all clad in a ghunghat( a viel), and the elders of the house would lift the viel and see her. It was popularly known as "Mukh- dikahi"or "Face - see ".
If it wasn''t bad enough to be the object of abject display post the wedding, things have now turned even better. ""Face - see " has now become "Face - wash"and that too, before the wedding. Must be something to do with the plethora of face-washes hitting the market. "Whitening face wash, brightening face wash, glow-wash, etc etc.. " Maybe a brainwave of the FMCGs (Fast-moving-consumer goods manufacturers, another name for the soap and shampoo makers) this time. Prospective brides need to wash their face before they be seen. What an idea, Sirji? Perhaps we should extend this to the prospective grooms too.. What with male film stars parading the latest facewashes and creams, there is certainly no dearth of face washes, after shaves and stuff to choose from.
So, to the girl in question, a smart suggestion -the next time round, you go to see a prospective groom to match, do ask him to be ready with a stock of with the latest face-washes.. Musk, Vanilla, whitening, hardening etc, and then ask the man to choose and use.. So much for men's lib too, why should they be left behind?
I came into his life but it was he who left without warning,
Like a bolt of lightning it was all over in a flash,
One day he was there and the next day he was gone..
A body that remained bereft of a soul,
turned to dust or ash.
Without a clue..Where did he go..
Why and how?
No one knows.
But one thing is for certain, every day of this life, I shall think about him,
and remember him in my dreams and days..
Every day, miss him so much more..
Wherever he is or in whichever way.
Dear Daddy, wish you a happy father's day, wherever you may be..
You are and will be my father always, so irreplaceable to me.
"A father is someone so irreplaceable in life.Pass this on to all the fathers you know.. Happy father's day from the amblingindian."
It's Bangalore in the news, once again.. Beautiful, blissful Bengaluru. and for all the right reasons this time...
Many many years ago, two people met at IIM Bangalore - he from the North, she from the South of India. Both from IITs, he from IIT Bombay and she from IIT Delhi. And then, they married.. another "2 states" love story... Alok and Aina's story*. A story created with many other IIMB 93 co- conspirators and actors supporting the plot- Hyma, Puneet Gupta, Jyoti- Rupal, Viraj-Neetu, CP Madhu, Rakesh Pandya ( Rocky), Shailu, to name a few... A story now renamed " Many states", with the creative insight of " Jayaram Krishnan- JK" , who, rather cleverly pointed out, that many states were involved in the making of it, not just two.
They moved around states, cities and countries.. Bombay, Delhi, Glasgow, London.. but always, their first love remained Bangalore. And it is here that they returned with their two girls, Giri and Taru, considering themselves so lucky, to be living close to their closest friends from IIM Bangalore, in the heart of Bangalore, yet in the midst of two villages, Challagatta and Nagasandra, rustic and green surrounds ...
And then, some years later, their daughter Girija, did the city proud.. by topping the state Medical, Veterinary, Agricultural and Homeo exams. A determined girl, a runner, bharatanatyam dancer,budding artist, inspired by many, but very much a product of this city.
Alok and Aina consider themselves fortunate to be back here. For Bangalore it is they love. The ever-blossoming flowers, calm lakes and salubrious climate of Bangalore, unbeatable by far. And the city, their first love, inspired Alok to turn marathoner** and Aina to turn writer- even while she works as a techie in the Indian Silicon valley , she writes a blog, as the character "the amblingindian" - the female aam aadmi, ambling around Bangalore, India and the world, keenly observing, loving everything around her, everything that is so special about this place. And writing about it, in her own quirky, funny way. "A shower of flowers" about Tippasandra, "Bangalore monsoons and Bollywood", a flavourful mix of words and videos.. A book, now ready for publishing, the story of India, as written by the amblingindian, and the story of Bangalore, coming up next...
Bangalore it is, and Bangalore it will be always.. the best..
CET Engineering topper Srinidhi Prabhu and CET Medical topper Girija Agarwal celebrate their achievements with their families (Photo: Deccan Chronicle, 28th May 2014) : The amblingindians -Aina, Taru, Alok and Giri from the right.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Dont get fooled , Aina is the new Nagu.A story created with many other IIMB 93 co- conspirators and actors supporting the plot- Hyma, Puneet Gupta, Jyoti- Rupal, Viraj-Neetu, CP Madhu, Rakesh Pandya ( Rocky), Shailu, to name a few..
** he is part of the Runners for Life group, a Bangalore initiative..
The masses have spoken. And cast their unilateral vote. This time for the Lotus, the symbol of beauty in a sea of mud. A sphinx has risen. And so, there's hope once again for the nation. From choosing between a motley mix of partisan politicians, to the one unanimous Narendra Modi, the leader of the BJP, the Indian electorate has come a long way.Perhaps, matured even... Realising perhaps, that , in unity is strength, and in past performance, hope for the future. What else did Modi and the BJP have, in its favour? To get such a resounding victory, 279 seats in all, all at the cost of many incumbents, long standing veterans in their own illakas*, their territories? To beat the opposition so badly that they are limping to form an opposition even? From the ruling party alliance to an alliance for the opposition party, the mango peoples(aam aadmis)** and the nation have come a long way indeed..
At least, this time round, I hope the routing has come home. With a strong message. No more political cries from baby and baba for milk or votes. No more emotional blackmail in the names of the heroes of the past.The blame game starts and gets sillier. Who is to be blamed for the rout of the incumbents ? Not the incumbents themselves, but the winner- Narendra Modi ( Namo ) of course. How could people lose if Namo hadn't won? So blame it all on Namo. Even the the seemingly invincible leader in U.P of the BSP, playing the caste card, has fallen flat. With all of her elephant decorations failing to swing the pendulum even by an inch. So much so, that she did not even open her account this time. Zero seats to her credit! Wow! What an achievement! The elephant, her symbol, laid an egg this time. This must be the first time in history that an elephant laid an egg.. A simple and stronger message from the masses to the ruling classes- so proudly proclaimed by the aam aadmi this time- " Don't ever bank on caste or oratory politics. Simply Perform or Perish. "
One thing though, the BJP and Namo has a lot of catching up to do on. The incumbents, to their credit, had raised the HQ of the country manifold. HQ- humour quotient that is. A flurry of jokes doing the rounds everyday on the trio of mother, son and turbaned slave+ is to be sorely missed. And a lot of catching up to do anyway, on governance, roads, laws, bridges, you name it.. Everything that's been on hold or simply pushed back from the development agenda, to further the self agenda.. there's certainly a lot to catch up on. A nation watches, with bated breath, as does the world. Will the Namo magic work once again, this time for India, and not just for Gujarat? Will he stay clear of the divisive, right- wing agenda of many allies this time round, and just do what's right for the nation? Will India shine, once again?
Regards,
Aina Rao
The Amblingindian.
BJP- Bhartiya Janata Party, the right wing party , who had a landslide win of 279 seats in the recently concluded Indian Election
BSP- Bahujan Samaj Party , a party in Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in Gujrat.
*illaka - a territory
** mango peoples- Common people, a term coined by some privileged politicians to describe the aam aadmi, or the common man.
+Mother, son and slave- Congress leaders( mother and son combination) and the Prime Minister.
