Glorious Eighty Years Young

The euphoria of the victory of the so-called common man, and the jubilation with which we have greeted the formation of the new team, has made me pause and think about the implications of this whole process. Will we really achieve a great deal with this Lokpal Bill, if it ever comes into existence?  Can corruption levels really be brought down just by the passing of a new law or regulation? And above all, if a new bill does come into effect are we not concentrating too much power in the hands of a few people? What if they turn out to be corrupt? Who will bring them under control? Corruption is so much a part of our lives that we have ceased to raise an eyebrow or even utter a protest if someone asks us to pay them extra for just doing something that is a part of their job. If they do not ask us for any money we are surprised; if we want them to do our jobs faster and more efficiently then we automatically offer them money; and we try to wriggle out of difficult situations by...

Do Rituals and Ceremonies really matter? Do they signify anything? Or are their origins lost in the annals of time and we just follow them religiously or as tradition demands without understanding the whys and the wherefores?  While attending a "kriya" ceremony for a cousin's husband, I was wondering about the reasons behind these ancient rituals and whether the next generation or the one after them will slowly let them just die a natural death. Here are some of the ones which I can understand and which to me are important and significant: Rakhi & Tikka - It is much more than the tying of a band and giving and receiving a gift. At my daughter's wedding when she asked the priest why "mamas"- (my brothers) were such an important part of the ceremonies, then he told her that this was an extension of the promise they make to their sisters during Rakhi and Tikka. They tell their nieces and nephews that as we have promised to take care of your mother, ...

शायद ज़िंदगी बदल रही है!! जब मैं छोटा था , शायद दुनिया   बहुत बड़ी हुआ करती थी .. मुझे याद है मेरे घर से " स्कूल " तक     का वो रास्ता , क्या क्या नहीं था वहां , चाट के ठेले , जलेबी की दुकान , बर्फ के गोले , सब कुछ , अब वहां " मोबाइल शॉप ", " विडियो पार्लर " हैं , फिर भी सब सूना है .. शायद अब दुनिया सिमट रही है ... ... जब मैं छोटा था , शायद शामें बहुत लम्बी हुआ करती थीं ... मैं हाथ में पतंग की डोर पकड़े , घंटों उड़ा करता था , वो लम्बी " साइकिल रेस ", वो बचपन के खेल , वो हर शाम थक के चूर हो जाना , अब शाम नहीं होती , दिन ढलता है   और सीधे रात हो जाती है . शायद वक्त सिमट रहा है .. जब मैं छोटा था , शायद दोस्ती   बहुत गहरी हुआ करती थी , दिन भर वो हुजूम बनाकर खेलना , वो दोस्तों के घर का खाना , वो लड़कियों की बातें , वो साथ रोना ...  अब भी मेरे कई दोस्त हैं , पर दोस्ती ज...

What do you do?  How often I have been asked this question by people who I have met for the first time. It encompasses so many answers within it that often I am left wondering about how to answer it. All of us have encountered a question like this, specially the older women - people generally just assume that that younger ones have a job somewhere - they are asked : "Are you working somewhere? " Personally I feel that there really  is no straight forward answer to this question.  At any given time of the day, like so many of my friends we play different roles.  Early in the morning, I am the relaxed housewife, having a cup of tea with Pran in the verandeh, enjoying the weather and the garden.  A little later I am the cook and the home manager, sorting out the day's schedule.  A little later I am the content provider writing my assignments, doing the projects assigned to me.  By afternoon time I am the grandmother indulging my grand...

I do not know who wrote this - someone just sent it in my email. But it is beautifully and simply written. ( If anyone knows the name of the author, please do let me know. Thanks) Too many women in too many countries speak the same language of silence. My grandmother was always silent, always aggrieved Only her husband had the cosmic right (or so it was said) to speak and be heard. They say it is different now. (After all, I am always vocal and my grandmother thinks I talk too much) But sometimes I wonder. When a woman shares her thoughts, as some women do, graciously, it is allowed. When a woman fights for power, as all women would like to, quietly or loudly, it is questioned. And yet, there must be freedom - if we are to speak And yes, there must be power -  if we are to be heard. And when we have both (freedom and power) let us now be understood. We seek only to give words to those who cannot speak (too many women in too many countries) ...

Care-givers are people who spend their time taking care of others - and care-takers in this context are individuals who are recipients of the concern and care from others. A bit different from the normal connotations of these words, but this does make more sense doesn't it?   They took care of us - and today we miss that care and concern As we get older our responsibilities seem to increase. When the children are young, we keep waiting for them to grow up so that we no longer feel responsible for every action of theirs. But as we and they grow older we realize that worrying about them and thinking that all their problems have to be solved by us has just become a habit. We constantly think of ourselves as care givers - giving care, taking care of children and grandchildren and parents and everyone else around us. Is this just a habit? For me this is definitely true - I am just one of those people who loves to organise everyone's lives. Do this, do it this wa...

The Beach at Langkawi Holidays give you so much to cheer about. There is a change of surrounding, a relaxed time to spend with friends and an ability to do what we want and when we want. There is so much joy in them, that even a 15 day bug cannot take away from good memories and happy times.  Thank heavens for friends and for the gift of being able to go away when we want to and where we want to. We are truly blessed. Kuala Lumpur or Langkawi or Colombo - where did we pick up the bug from? Did it travel in our suitcase or in our wallets or was it just something which decided to come and give all of us some painful and tiring memories. Eagle Point at Langkawi An explanation is needed. We traveled for nine days in a group of eight to Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi and Colombo. The holiday was very nice - KL was more of a shopping expedition than anything else! A day spent in Genting Highlands was interesting - we played roulette and won en...