We fight for women reservation bills; at the same time we fight against gender bias! Feminist thoughts, articles, stories – we have an endless list. But go home, the lady will still stand in the kitchen, perspiring and watching over 4 dishes at a time. Yes, the man chops veggies, helps here and there but predominantly the woman is at work.
I once overheard two women speaking and one was of the view that however intelligent a lady is, what ever height she reaches, at the end of the day, she needs to get home to feed her family, whether it consists of husband and kids or parents. This blog is not about who the ‘stronger sex’ is but whether these debates and fights are really relevant considering what women, educated or uneducated, mentally strong or otherwise, go through on a day-to-day basis.
I have been witness to this dirty act since class 10. First it was shock, then anger, more anger, frustration and finally it reached a stage of getting fed up! It is so disgusting to even pen it, but then it has to be brought to light. My friends and I were waiting to be picked up right opposite the school premises. A construction work was in progress and the mason at work, sitting on a bike was staring at us. We just presumed him to be one of those men who generally pass time looking at girls for I don’t know what pleasure?! Some time later we guessed that something was wrong. He kept looking at his crotch with his hands there!! That’s when we knew what he was up to – masturbating that too in the open! Disgusting as it is even when I write it, as kids we were dumbfounded and actually feared. We decided not to wait anymore and just walked back home!
Not knowing if we should bring it up in the open, we let it be and forgot the incident slowly. Next in college, the same happened on a lonely road, but this time I was alone. The guy stood in a shady place and was at it. The minute I saw him, I sensed trouble. Talk of women being strong – I told myself I am not going to let him deter me and I kept walking. He followed me right till home and that’s when fear crept in again. At 4 in the evening, broad daylight, they have so much experience that no one else notices! This time again, fear took over boldness.
But the next day, some of us went to the nearby police station and lodged a complaint. As usual, the police in duty had all sorts of questions to which we obviously didn’t have precise answers to. Can you recognise him? Precisely at what time is he there? How many of them? Imagine, you looking at that creep’s face, knowing his ‘business’ hours and his partners in crime? You’d just want to leave the place as soon as possible! But the police did help us by patrolling the area for about a week and the nuisance stopped only to our dismay that the same thing was happening in a nearby college now.
If such incidents happen in the open, women have a way of getting out; either by getting out of the place, lodging a complaint or by boldly confronting him. But what if it happens when you are alone with such a person? I have experienced this too in an auto where the driver was at it. Most of us are used to these auto drivers looking at us through his mirror. But this was taking a filthy turn. I yelled asking him to stop the auto and he would not budge. At that moment your brains just fail to work! I sent SMS’s to friends with the guy’s number and where I was heading to, but was just praying he’d drop me wherever I was to go. He did do it after a lot of threatening.
I was once in a bus when I slapped a man. I got the driver to stop the bus. The women around abused him and he was made to get down. This is the maximum I could go. Why don’t women go further? We talk of being equal, yes, agreed. But physically, we still remain the weaker sex. We as women have the most precious gift of becoming a mother, but the same gift is a curse at times. Men do have an upper hand when it comes to this. Many would disagree saying I fall in the category where women aren’t bold enough, but I beg to differ. A woman is questioned about her virginity and it is tested too. But a man? You can check maybe. But does anyone question him? I believe there is an age old tradition which is still followed in many households. When the first night for the newly weds happen, a white cloth is laid on the bed and the next morning, much to the chagrin of the young bride, the cloth is scrutinized by the elders in the family to check her virginity!
Getting back, you go a step ahead and confront him. What if they are a group and manage to sexually abuse you? You go to the police and are asked a several questions. You answer all of them and mange to get the guy jailed. Your friends pat your shoulders, but get home and your parents are sure to find fault because they fear that once the guy gets out, he will manage to avenge his embarrassment.
When I told my parents that I slapped a guy in the bus, the first thing my mom did was to yell! “How could you do this? You travel the same route everyday. What if he kidnaps you? Be bold; I have taught you to be so. But who is to face the repercussions?” she would fume!
Today, women are fighting back to their best but is there an end? There can be innumerable if’s and but’s. However the bottom line is that the physically weaker sex has to battle out the fact that the worse of being physically abused is a possibility and it is not a mere issue of popping a pill and forgetting the incident. It remains a scar for life and no woman would want to experience it.
Molesting is yet another concern. It just goes on… I want to end this blog with a true story.
A girl in her early twenties came to the hospital in the middle of the night. Barely able to stand, she introduced herself and requested to be admitted immediately failing which she would die! The receptionist took quick action and the girl was put in the ICU. She claimed that she was a medical student who went out with her male friends, 9 in number, for a drink, she being the only female. She felt nauseas while drinking and realised that she was drugged. Her own friends raped her one after the other and left her at the gates of the hospital! The scene was unbearable! Till date, the memories are vivid. I spoke with the girl’s mother. I don’t know if she knew the truth or was concealing it but she maintained that her daughter had a pancreas problem. Which mother would tell the world this, especially when the girl’s engagement was due in a week’s time? It seems filmy all right? But being witness to this incident myself, I can never forget the girl begging for water and not a soul reaching out to her. The duty doctor was subjecting her to questions so bad that the girl was traumatised mentally also… Whether a movie or a true story, does it not anger you?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Atop the costliest hill!
Climbing the hill of Tirupathi to see the richest deity of Hinduism; to most, it sounds a Herculean task, I am sure. Trust me, when I was a little one, my mother along with my neighbours decided to climb and I was flabbergasted! More by the fact that I would not be seeing my mother for almost 6 hours! But within four hours, I was in her arms all smiles!
Almost 12 years later, I decided to accomplish this feat. The basics first: You need good company to keep you motivated, or at least speak with you constantly otherwise you will realise you are hitting the tiredness path and will lose out both on time and energy. The above may not hold good to those who love self-company and less talking! For a chatter-box like me, I have made my first do’s clear!
Travel plans for those who wish to climb:
Route: Bangalore to Tirupathi
• Package tours are the easiest bet! Generally they promise to put you in a decent hotel to rest and refresh and take you via a ‘quick’ route for darshan! My family chose this plan a few years ago, though we did not climb. Many young men had darshan arranged for themselves keeping in mind the time they would take to reach on top
• My favourite and mostly used plan: Take a bus from the Kempegowda Bus Stand, night times preferably. There are buses running to Tirupathi post 8 pm
I took a bus at 9:30pm and you will reach Tirupathi anytime between 3 and 3:30am. There is a guest house run by the government there, which is free for all. I cannot obviously vouch for utmost hygiene and cleanliness but you can have a quick bath without having to pay! For those who think otherwise, take a bus straight to Tirumala (the place of worship, atop the hill) and there are many places to stay.
Back to my trip: After refreshing, you take a bus to Alipiri which is hardly about 5 kms from Tirupathi. You begin your climb from here. I started at 5:15 am sharp. The climb up is about 14 kms long and can be divided under 3 stretches:
1. In my mother tongue it’s called, ‘Muzhankaal mudichu’ which means ‘knots in your knee’! Trust me, it is quite tough, this stretch! They are full of steep steps winding up with no stopping. But the good part is, they have well-maintained washrooms and lot of refreshment stalls for drink breaks. Make sure you carry a bottle and a pack of glucose. Do not eat anything because a full tummy may slow your pace down.
2. The next stretch is quite pleasant and easy. It is like a walk on the road with minimal steps and you will be treated to a herd of deer nibbling on grass. At this juncture, you could finish your breakfast as there are many stalls serving hot idlis and the like. Not to mention sinful ‘chilli bhajjis’ at 8 in the morning!
3. The last stretch is similar to the first one, but with less than half the steps! The joy of almost making it will keep you going and it is worthwhile!
As I remember, once you reach Alipiri, you can leave your baggage at the free luggage counter. Make sure you lock your bags otherwise they will not keep your bags. You pay a minimal fee which is refundable. By the time you make it to the top, they will have your luggage transported. So the first thing you do after achieving the feat, is to collect your bags!
Tickets available for Darshan:
1. Before leaving Bangalore, you can buy ‘Sudarshan tickets’ from the counters at Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanams which are across the city. These tickets are priced at 50/-. All you need to do is, stand in the queue for a minimum of 3 hours (!!!) and buy the ticket. The good part is that you get to choose the timings of your darshan, which again falls under 4 categories. The authorities take your finger print and a photograph of yours on the webcam.
2. As you finish your first stretch, there is a counter which gives away free darshan tickets for those who climb. I have never collected the same, so I don’t know how it works, but I have mentioned it as an option.
3. There is another ticket which can be purchased called ‘Anantha Darshan’ (the name may be different, will check again). This is priced at 100/- and the darshan time is early in the morning between 5:30 and 6:30
4. Several other options depending on the amount pay; higher the amount, easier the darshan!
I bought the ‘Sudarshan ticket’ priced at 50/- and you are entitled for 2 free ladoos! I hope I need not explain the value and the taste of the ladoos! The minute you enter the temple, the smell of ghee and dry fruits will take you to a different plane all right! You need to stand in the queue an hour earlier from the mentioned time on the ticket. For ex: A 10 am darshan, requires you to be in the queue at 9 am. In the three times I have climbed, twice I have waited not more than an hour. But the last time I went, it took me 3.5 hours so never time yourself and book your return tickets.
Yes, it is true that once inside the main place of worship, you are pushed and thrown to various directions but I guess it’s worthwhile to see the richest god! Your prayers in front of god will last less than a minute, unless you are among those who have paid a lot more! Following this, you are in yet another ‘delicious’ queue to receive prasadam! I must tell you, it’s a wonderful treat! They have sweet pongal (a dish made from dal, rice and jaggery), spicy pongal (a dish made from dal, rice, spices like pepper and cumin seeds), curd rice, puliyogare (rice spiced with tamarind) and many other mouth-watering stuff.
Next, you get to witness the money counting centre where men are busy counting away thousands and lakhs of notes and coins which contribute to the God’s worldly richness. You contribute to it if needed by offering money in the main Hundi (a huge gold vessel like structure).
Now to collect the famous ladoos; there is yet another queue. However due to many counters, they move quickly.
Note: Make sure you carry a bag; otherwise you have to pay 2/- to get a plastic carry-bag!
For those who want to shop, there are small shops which sell souvenirs where you could while away some time. There on, you take a bus down to Tirupathi. It is a 40 minute drive with some 14 hair-pin bends. Good time to catch up on some sleep. Once down, you must visit the deity’s wife, Alamelumaga!
She has a separate temple for herself which can be reached by another small bus ride. It is said that you must never leave the temple without buying Kum-kum (is a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism). Hawkers will persuade you to buy a lot of other things like bangles, mangoes etc. Once done, you go back to Tirupathi.
Take the night’s bus back to Bangalore; take a bus after 10 so that you reach early in the morning where transport is available back home. I took a bus at 6:30 pm and reached Bangalore at 1 am! The auto drivers are sure to give you unimaginable rates to take you home!
Do not visit Tirupathi during June and July. Temperatures soar up to 45 degree celcius! I once went in January and was welcomed by some pleasant showers which makes your climb pleasant too!
Add on more information if I have missed out on any vitals!
Almost 12 years later, I decided to accomplish this feat. The basics first: You need good company to keep you motivated, or at least speak with you constantly otherwise you will realise you are hitting the tiredness path and will lose out both on time and energy. The above may not hold good to those who love self-company and less talking! For a chatter-box like me, I have made my first do’s clear!
Travel plans for those who wish to climb:
Route: Bangalore to Tirupathi
• Package tours are the easiest bet! Generally they promise to put you in a decent hotel to rest and refresh and take you via a ‘quick’ route for darshan! My family chose this plan a few years ago, though we did not climb. Many young men had darshan arranged for themselves keeping in mind the time they would take to reach on top
• My favourite and mostly used plan: Take a bus from the Kempegowda Bus Stand, night times preferably. There are buses running to Tirupathi post 8 pm
I took a bus at 9:30pm and you will reach Tirupathi anytime between 3 and 3:30am. There is a guest house run by the government there, which is free for all. I cannot obviously vouch for utmost hygiene and cleanliness but you can have a quick bath without having to pay! For those who think otherwise, take a bus straight to Tirumala (the place of worship, atop the hill) and there are many places to stay.
Back to my trip: After refreshing, you take a bus to Alipiri which is hardly about 5 kms from Tirupathi. You begin your climb from here. I started at 5:15 am sharp. The climb up is about 14 kms long and can be divided under 3 stretches:
1. In my mother tongue it’s called, ‘Muzhankaal mudichu’ which means ‘knots in your knee’! Trust me, it is quite tough, this stretch! They are full of steep steps winding up with no stopping. But the good part is, they have well-maintained washrooms and lot of refreshment stalls for drink breaks. Make sure you carry a bottle and a pack of glucose. Do not eat anything because a full tummy may slow your pace down.
2. The next stretch is quite pleasant and easy. It is like a walk on the road with minimal steps and you will be treated to a herd of deer nibbling on grass. At this juncture, you could finish your breakfast as there are many stalls serving hot idlis and the like. Not to mention sinful ‘chilli bhajjis’ at 8 in the morning!
3. The last stretch is similar to the first one, but with less than half the steps! The joy of almost making it will keep you going and it is worthwhile!
As I remember, once you reach Alipiri, you can leave your baggage at the free luggage counter. Make sure you lock your bags otherwise they will not keep your bags. You pay a minimal fee which is refundable. By the time you make it to the top, they will have your luggage transported. So the first thing you do after achieving the feat, is to collect your bags!
Tickets available for Darshan:
1. Before leaving Bangalore, you can buy ‘Sudarshan tickets’ from the counters at Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanams which are across the city. These tickets are priced at 50/-. All you need to do is, stand in the queue for a minimum of 3 hours (!!!) and buy the ticket. The good part is that you get to choose the timings of your darshan, which again falls under 4 categories. The authorities take your finger print and a photograph of yours on the webcam.
2. As you finish your first stretch, there is a counter which gives away free darshan tickets for those who climb. I have never collected the same, so I don’t know how it works, but I have mentioned it as an option.
3. There is another ticket which can be purchased called ‘Anantha Darshan’ (the name may be different, will check again). This is priced at 100/- and the darshan time is early in the morning between 5:30 and 6:30
4. Several other options depending on the amount pay; higher the amount, easier the darshan!
I bought the ‘Sudarshan ticket’ priced at 50/- and you are entitled for 2 free ladoos! I hope I need not explain the value and the taste of the ladoos! The minute you enter the temple, the smell of ghee and dry fruits will take you to a different plane all right! You need to stand in the queue an hour earlier from the mentioned time on the ticket. For ex: A 10 am darshan, requires you to be in the queue at 9 am. In the three times I have climbed, twice I have waited not more than an hour. But the last time I went, it took me 3.5 hours so never time yourself and book your return tickets.
Yes, it is true that once inside the main place of worship, you are pushed and thrown to various directions but I guess it’s worthwhile to see the richest god! Your prayers in front of god will last less than a minute, unless you are among those who have paid a lot more! Following this, you are in yet another ‘delicious’ queue to receive prasadam! I must tell you, it’s a wonderful treat! They have sweet pongal (a dish made from dal, rice and jaggery), spicy pongal (a dish made from dal, rice, spices like pepper and cumin seeds), curd rice, puliyogare (rice spiced with tamarind) and many other mouth-watering stuff.
Next, you get to witness the money counting centre where men are busy counting away thousands and lakhs of notes and coins which contribute to the God’s worldly richness. You contribute to it if needed by offering money in the main Hundi (a huge gold vessel like structure).
Now to collect the famous ladoos; there is yet another queue. However due to many counters, they move quickly.
Note: Make sure you carry a bag; otherwise you have to pay 2/- to get a plastic carry-bag!
For those who want to shop, there are small shops which sell souvenirs where you could while away some time. There on, you take a bus down to Tirupathi. It is a 40 minute drive with some 14 hair-pin bends. Good time to catch up on some sleep. Once down, you must visit the deity’s wife, Alamelumaga!
She has a separate temple for herself which can be reached by another small bus ride. It is said that you must never leave the temple without buying Kum-kum (is a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism). Hawkers will persuade you to buy a lot of other things like bangles, mangoes etc. Once done, you go back to Tirupathi.
Take the night’s bus back to Bangalore; take a bus after 10 so that you reach early in the morning where transport is available back home. I took a bus at 6:30 pm and reached Bangalore at 1 am! The auto drivers are sure to give you unimaginable rates to take you home!
Do not visit Tirupathi during June and July. Temperatures soar up to 45 degree celcius! I once went in January and was welcomed by some pleasant showers which makes your climb pleasant too!
Add on more information if I have missed out on any vitals!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Utterly Sweetly Dangerous!
A visit to the hospital is not a good experience for nearly everyone unless it is for a good cause like donating blood, or even better, a new addition to our family! Otherwise, it can be very depressing. Having been visiting hospitals on a regular basis for over nine years now, I know how it feels. Yes, the person undergoing treatment goes through a lot physically and emotionally, but it also involves utmost commitment from the family members. Financially, it is surely a drain but on the emotional front, a lot of qualities like patience, love and the like are put to test.
I do not intend getting into the emotional aspect as it touches many at the wrong chords which includes me too! This blog, anyway, came to my mind when I overhead the following conversation in the hospital:
Man 1: Hello Sir! Are you waiting for the Doctor?
Man 2: Yes Sir! What ailment do you suffer from?
Man 1: Oh! Nothing serious, I am a diabetic for 20 years now. I have restricted myself from eating sweets and oily food. But what to do, at this age, you tend to break the rules. We live one life after all!
Man 2: Oh no sir! Do not say that. I had the same attitude as yours and here I have landed with a kidney disorder. Most of us think BP, diabetes have all become common like fever and cold or getting a cataract operation, but I have learnt my lesson. Just that it is too late. Please don’t take it lightly sir. Take care!
The mention of BP and kidney disorder jolted me all right! For my family member, it began with a ‘simple’ BP problem. It strangled our necks when the kidney failure was diagnosed for her and since then, it has been just hospital visits galore!
With the growing population, new medical complications are growing giving competition to the former! But blood pressure (high/low) and diabetes are by far the most common ailments seen today and I thought I will not only be aware myself but also educate the readers of this blog. I am keeping it very simple with a few definitions, do’s and don’ts, facts on the diabetic population in India and other simple but important things we must know.
1. What is diabetes?
• According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes is a disorder caused due to insulin deficiency, impaired effectiveness of insulin action, or both
2. What is insulin?
• Insulin is a hormone needed to enable glucose to enter the cells. It is an internal secretion of the pancreas which provides energy
3. What is impaired glucose tolerance?
• IGT is an infection without any symptoms and is defined by high levels of blood glucose. It is also being recognized as a transition stage from normalcy to diabetes
Types of diabetes
1. Type 1: Also known as insulin-dependent. The body’s defence system attacks the insulin-producing cells. It mostly affects children and young adults. The affected will need insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood
Symptoms:
• Abnormal thirst and dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Extreme tiredness
• Constant hunger
• Sudden weight loss
• Slow-healing wounds
• Recurrent infections
• Blurred infection
2. Type II: This type is characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. It occurs after the age of 40 years but could occur earlier, especially in populations with high diabetes prevalence. Type 2 diabetes is asymptomatic.
Symptoms:
• Ethnicity
• Obesity, diet and inactivity
• Insulin resistance
• Family history
• Environment inside the uterus
Note: Type 2 diabetes constitutes about 85 to 95% of all diabetes in developed countries, and accounts for an even higher percentage in developing countries
Important facts
1. Diabetes is the fourth or fifth leading cause of death in most developed countries and there is substantial evidence that it is epidemic in many developing and newly industrialized nations
2. Number of people with diabetes in 2007: 246 million
3. Number of people with diabetes in 2025 (projected): 380 million
4. Diabetic complications account for much of the social and financial burden of diabetes
5. Diabetes is ranked among the leading causes for blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputation
6. Major complications due to diabetes are cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, amputation and retinopathy
7. Some 3.8 million men and women worldwide were estimated to have died from diabetes-related causes in the year 2007
8. This accounts for more than 6% of the total world mortality
9. According to the American Diabetes Association, eating too much sugar does not cause diabetes. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors
10. Eating excessive sweets may cause obesity which may lead to Type 2 diabetes
Facts on India
• According to the Diabetes Atlas published by the International Diabetes Federation, the number of diabetic patients is predicted to rise to almost 70 million people by 2025
• The countries with the largest number of diabetic people will be India, China and USA by 2030
• It is estimated that every fifth person with diabetes will be an Indian
• The economic burden due to diabetes in India is amongst the highest in the world. Indians are predicted to spend 5, 371, 754 US Dollars in 2025
• The risk factors for diabetes in Indians are age, family history, obesity, physical inactivity, urbanization and stress
• According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) the prevalence of diabetes is 16.6% in Hyderabad, followed by Chennai with 13.5%, Bangalore with 12.4%, Delhi with 11.6%, and Mumbai with 9.3%
• According to the International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries, India is termed as the ‘Diabetes Capital of the world’
• The occurrence of death due to diabetes in India is between 6% and 8%
Sources:
• International Diabetes Federation
• Express Healthcare Management
• Hindustan Times
• Health Castle
• American Diabetes Association
Please feel free to let me know if any more important additions need to be made. Will get information on BP next and create a similar awareness article! Hope this helps!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
How young are your young ones?
Last afternoon, our lecturer took us to the college library to show us journals which would help us with our year end projects. Though I claim to be a voracious reader, I would have stepped foot into the library not more than a couple of times for issuing a text book! I walked in with a quite but obvious bored look and went straight to the magazine section. My eyes instantly fell upon last month’s edition of Reader’s Digest. In fact last morning my mother was pushing me to subscribe for the magazine and I was more than willing to. Lovely read the magazine is.
The cover page article spoke of teens and porn, quite a sensitive issue to touch upon. But after reading the entire article it is more a serious issue and definitely not sensitive. It was disgusting to read that kids as young as 7 and 8 years, in the name of playing computer games were actually browsing porn websites and passing on their own pictures to friends of the other gender!
Reading on, kids have become so smart that some term it interest in the human body, some time pass and worse of it all porn becomes the definition of the ‘being cool’! The entire article spoke of the scenario in the USA, so most of us may not care less. It is a known fact that children there are allowed to be independent at a very young age where as in India; we’d be pampered to bits at the same age. Kids there get their cell phones when they are a mere 12 years and sometimes even lesser. I got my first cell phone when I was in class 11, that too after countless times of pleading, fighting and any other tactic I could lay my hands on!
While writing this, I was talking to one of my close friends and he said lot depends on parents and their ways of upbringing. It is silly to say that both parents are working so they have no time; they end up filling their children’s pockets with loads of money and buy them the latest models of phones so that they are in touch with each other. I know of many families where kids are extremely well-behaved in spite of their parents not being around most of the time. I am quite immune to one statement my mother constantly says: “God! Look at how that girl behaves and dresses! I wonder what sort of parents she has. They themselves must be like that!”
My mother on the contrary is extremely broad minded, though there are certain views and values which she stands by, like any one of us. Every time she makes such statements I’d fight back saying it was purely their personal lives and she should not be getting families and parents into it. But after some serious thought I realized some truth in it. When parents are out for almost 12-13 hours they hardly get 4-5 hours with their children and what much can one do in that time? These kids literally live with their friends where they pick up new behaviour, habits etc. If a watchful eye is not kept, you never know what is going on.
Coming back to the fact that the article mentioned above was with respect to USA, I have been witnessing a different sort of happening here. Since I love in Bangalore, I can’t generalize my statement saying it happens all over the country, but after reading this, people may nod heads of similar happenings.
I walk back home from college everyday at a time when most schools close for the day. All the high-end schools flaunt their huge buses dropping their students home. In such buses, the kids are hardly between class 3 and 5, 7 max. So they must be between 8 and 12 years, the same age as mentioned in the US article. When they pass by girls, young women, they pass obscene comments which we women generally hear from ‘Road-Romeos’ or older men! The kids used the four letter word with such ease, I was shell-shocked! See, once we are 17-18, it is quite natural for us to go through this process of learning things in college, watching stuff, friends relating their numerous experiences. Though we are vulnerable at that age too, I think it is a natural process. But at 7 or 12, it is way too young.
I don’t know if these kids picked it up from their browsing, friends but I suspect something else. Cab, van and auto drivers have always been criticized for their misbehaviour and vulgarity of sorts. Not a generalization but mostly this sort of behaviour is rampant today. The drivers are quite young and tend to influence the kids easily with their talks. I have seen many drivers giving access to their phones to the young students. So every time, I experience this sort of ‘harassment’ from the young ones, I try and take a peep at the speeding away driver. Would he teach his own little ones such things?
Day before, I went to watch a movie with my 3 young cousins. One just entering college, one in class 7 and the other 9. There was a scene where the couple was making out and for some strange reason I felt odd with the cousins around. I casually looked at them and they were at total ease, not batting an eyelid. I still remember I happened to watch ‘Titanic’ with my mother in the theatre and I was twisting and turning and looking everywhere else to avoid the scene and mom! Nothing wrong in the scene, but somehow my values would never let me watch stuff like that with my parents and family around.
When I watched those kids, I was feeling a generation apart. I am just 23 but it felt so far off! I am not even close to being a parent but these fears have already taken stride. Parents today, whether at home or are working must surely keep track before things go haywire. I am not a parent, so I would not know the practicalities but then choosing your maids, kid’s help, drivers etc is so important. Yes, you may not be able to constantly tab them but I am sure changing them periodically or getting someone who has been associated with the family for long may work out. These are just a few suggestions.
In another few years girls of my age will surely become mothers and I am dead sure that that generation will be far ahead! Scary?!! Wonder what sort of upbringing will we embark upon? I initially thought ill give those kids a piece of my mind but now I think otherwise. It is not his fault alone. Lot of other factors has contributed to it. The change has to come from somewhere. I am sincerely hoping this blog will be read by parents who can make the immediate change, parents-to-be who have a few years to go but at least introduce the infants and the growing ones to good things.
To conclude, I was reading this to my mom and she said, “That’s why I say kids from a young age must learn to be religious and listen to good things alone, be it any religion and customs they follow.” I smiled at her and welcomed her suggestion. Please feel free to comment or suggest anything regarding this! For those interested in the story I first mentioned, check our May’s edition of Reader’s Digest.
The cover page article spoke of teens and porn, quite a sensitive issue to touch upon. But after reading the entire article it is more a serious issue and definitely not sensitive. It was disgusting to read that kids as young as 7 and 8 years, in the name of playing computer games were actually browsing porn websites and passing on their own pictures to friends of the other gender!
Reading on, kids have become so smart that some term it interest in the human body, some time pass and worse of it all porn becomes the definition of the ‘being cool’! The entire article spoke of the scenario in the USA, so most of us may not care less. It is a known fact that children there are allowed to be independent at a very young age where as in India; we’d be pampered to bits at the same age. Kids there get their cell phones when they are a mere 12 years and sometimes even lesser. I got my first cell phone when I was in class 11, that too after countless times of pleading, fighting and any other tactic I could lay my hands on!
While writing this, I was talking to one of my close friends and he said lot depends on parents and their ways of upbringing. It is silly to say that both parents are working so they have no time; they end up filling their children’s pockets with loads of money and buy them the latest models of phones so that they are in touch with each other. I know of many families where kids are extremely well-behaved in spite of their parents not being around most of the time. I am quite immune to one statement my mother constantly says: “God! Look at how that girl behaves and dresses! I wonder what sort of parents she has. They themselves must be like that!”
My mother on the contrary is extremely broad minded, though there are certain views and values which she stands by, like any one of us. Every time she makes such statements I’d fight back saying it was purely their personal lives and she should not be getting families and parents into it. But after some serious thought I realized some truth in it. When parents are out for almost 12-13 hours they hardly get 4-5 hours with their children and what much can one do in that time? These kids literally live with their friends where they pick up new behaviour, habits etc. If a watchful eye is not kept, you never know what is going on.
Coming back to the fact that the article mentioned above was with respect to USA, I have been witnessing a different sort of happening here. Since I love in Bangalore, I can’t generalize my statement saying it happens all over the country, but after reading this, people may nod heads of similar happenings.
I walk back home from college everyday at a time when most schools close for the day. All the high-end schools flaunt their huge buses dropping their students home. In such buses, the kids are hardly between class 3 and 5, 7 max. So they must be between 8 and 12 years, the same age as mentioned in the US article. When they pass by girls, young women, they pass obscene comments which we women generally hear from ‘Road-Romeos’ or older men! The kids used the four letter word with such ease, I was shell-shocked! See, once we are 17-18, it is quite natural for us to go through this process of learning things in college, watching stuff, friends relating their numerous experiences. Though we are vulnerable at that age too, I think it is a natural process. But at 7 or 12, it is way too young.
I don’t know if these kids picked it up from their browsing, friends but I suspect something else. Cab, van and auto drivers have always been criticized for their misbehaviour and vulgarity of sorts. Not a generalization but mostly this sort of behaviour is rampant today. The drivers are quite young and tend to influence the kids easily with their talks. I have seen many drivers giving access to their phones to the young students. So every time, I experience this sort of ‘harassment’ from the young ones, I try and take a peep at the speeding away driver. Would he teach his own little ones such things?
Day before, I went to watch a movie with my 3 young cousins. One just entering college, one in class 7 and the other 9. There was a scene where the couple was making out and for some strange reason I felt odd with the cousins around. I casually looked at them and they were at total ease, not batting an eyelid. I still remember I happened to watch ‘Titanic’ with my mother in the theatre and I was twisting and turning and looking everywhere else to avoid the scene and mom! Nothing wrong in the scene, but somehow my values would never let me watch stuff like that with my parents and family around.
When I watched those kids, I was feeling a generation apart. I am just 23 but it felt so far off! I am not even close to being a parent but these fears have already taken stride. Parents today, whether at home or are working must surely keep track before things go haywire. I am not a parent, so I would not know the practicalities but then choosing your maids, kid’s help, drivers etc is so important. Yes, you may not be able to constantly tab them but I am sure changing them periodically or getting someone who has been associated with the family for long may work out. These are just a few suggestions.
In another few years girls of my age will surely become mothers and I am dead sure that that generation will be far ahead! Scary?!! Wonder what sort of upbringing will we embark upon? I initially thought ill give those kids a piece of my mind but now I think otherwise. It is not his fault alone. Lot of other factors has contributed to it. The change has to come from somewhere. I am sincerely hoping this blog will be read by parents who can make the immediate change, parents-to-be who have a few years to go but at least introduce the infants and the growing ones to good things.
To conclude, I was reading this to my mom and she said, “That’s why I say kids from a young age must learn to be religious and listen to good things alone, be it any religion and customs they follow.” I smiled at her and welcomed her suggestion. Please feel free to comment or suggest anything regarding this! For those interested in the story I first mentioned, check our May’s edition of Reader’s Digest.
Monday, June 15, 2009
File your returns!
When July 31 nears our country every year, one for sure is witness to huge hoardings and TV advertisements to file in their IT returns. Earlier it would be the most cumbersome activity, one, because we’d fail to understand the innumerable papers to be filled in, two, we generally keep it to the last moment and begin fretting on the last day and worse of it all, complain against the government that they do not give enough time.
Now, with the pleasure of being able to fill IT returns online, it seems much easier and the pros do not end there. www.taxmile.com, in association with an Indian leading newspaper promotes filling IT returns online, that too in an environmental-friendly way. How? The answer is simple. You save consumption of paper and also by doing it online, it saves time and is much simpler.
It is said that each tax assessee, on an average, consumes 8-10 sheets of paper while filing returns manually. And out of 40.5 crore citizens, only 4.5 crore file it online. With all the mathematical calculations done, the amount of paper we use for filling the returns manually will be a monstrous number! Hence the online way will be the outright winner for sure.
How safe an online website is, one would ask. The website claims that there is a provision of issuing digital signatures as well. An instant acknowledgement is sent as soon as the income-tax department receives a completed tax return; the assessee is no longer vulnerable to data and identity theft. By filling it online, there is an extended deadline by seven hours too! Most importantly, one you begin filling your returns, you do not need to finish it all. There is also an option of saving your data and getting back to it later!
Environmental-friendly, simple, quick are adverbs which suit this website. What more? A quick peek into the website shows that it is not all about the serious work but also some fun competitions like winning trips to other countries, memorabilia of sorts and the like. Hopefully, the count from a mere 4.5 crore increases in the years to come.
My favorite line: I am not promoting the website but yes, I definitely want all of us to file our IT returns on time and as part of the ‘youth brigade’ we sure need to change and move ahead!
Now, with the pleasure of being able to fill IT returns online, it seems much easier and the pros do not end there. www.taxmile.com, in association with an Indian leading newspaper promotes filling IT returns online, that too in an environmental-friendly way. How? The answer is simple. You save consumption of paper and also by doing it online, it saves time and is much simpler.
It is said that each tax assessee, on an average, consumes 8-10 sheets of paper while filing returns manually. And out of 40.5 crore citizens, only 4.5 crore file it online. With all the mathematical calculations done, the amount of paper we use for filling the returns manually will be a monstrous number! Hence the online way will be the outright winner for sure.
How safe an online website is, one would ask. The website claims that there is a provision of issuing digital signatures as well. An instant acknowledgement is sent as soon as the income-tax department receives a completed tax return; the assessee is no longer vulnerable to data and identity theft. By filling it online, there is an extended deadline by seven hours too! Most importantly, one you begin filling your returns, you do not need to finish it all. There is also an option of saving your data and getting back to it later!
Environmental-friendly, simple, quick are adverbs which suit this website. What more? A quick peek into the website shows that it is not all about the serious work but also some fun competitions like winning trips to other countries, memorabilia of sorts and the like. Hopefully, the count from a mere 4.5 crore increases in the years to come.
My favorite line: I am not promoting the website but yes, I definitely want all of us to file our IT returns on time and as part of the ‘youth brigade’ we sure need to change and move ahead!
Monday, June 8, 2009
FA (R) TTY ISSUES!
First of all, why is this named fa®tty issues? Don’t ask me; actually I may be able to provide an answer! Oh wait! Before I state the reason, let me introduce to you the characters of this…well…3 day drama?!
1. The Silent Killer (SK) - Rags
2. Behka effect (BE) - PP
3. Adiye Kolludhe(AK) [Can be renamed as AK-47 for reasons only Rags, PP and I will know ;) – Rohit
4. KC! (Me)
So, yes, coming to why the headline? It all began in the wee hours at an underground cottage in Ooty! The sizzling incidents there, which are unmentionable on paper, brought me to this headline! Rags and PP, are you reading this? Can the reason ever be out in public? Ill be gunned down for sure :)
By the time I got off the local BMTC bus, my back was a wreck with one’s hand constantly on her cell phone’s keys, thereby her elbows nudging me, not to mention her piercing ‘give me space’ looks, and the other lady happily transferring all her body mass onto me like I was her pillow! Whew! How I was just waiting to see the big building nestling AXA and much to the anger of the traffic police, I jumped off as the signal turned green and oblivious to the innumerable honks.
AK-47 greets me after making me wait for ten minutes (It’s funny that women have begun waiting for men to arrive on time!!). The other two were comfortable in the car and man! I must say, it was nice to be greeted by the familiar faces again: BE, with his ever-sheepish grin and SK, with his silence!
My stomach was grumbling non-stop and so was I, to stop somewhere for a meal. After out tummies were duly fed, we set out for the long journey ahead. “Three choices”, said AK-47:
1. Ooty – Coimbatore – Palghat
2. Guruvayur – Palghat
3. I can’t remember??!!
We decided on the first choice. We women never agree upon this, but I must confess. Travelling with men is so much easier and convenient. There are no complaints of pain in the abdomen, head et all. No squabbles and petty arguments and men generally tend to forget arguments soon. So here I was, amidst three ‘well-behaved’ men who chose to change clothes in the middle of the road and attend to nature’s call wherever they chose to!!!
Now, mention must be made of a serious issue. The recent toll rates issue really caught our attention after what we went through at various junctions. It really ticked us off. On our way to Ooty, we had to drive via Bandipur and were rightfully stopped at a check post. We were asked to pay a meagre amount of 20/- which we obliged. However, we would have hardly driven 100 yards and we were stopped again. This time AK flared and we weren’t sure which one was the government owned. We were again asked to part away with money and no receipt was issued. This, I am writing amidst some this fun blog so that people are aware of they are being subjected to and with citizens and youth leading from the front against corruption, it might help!
The night drive via Bandipur was a rendezvous with the wild, literally. We bumped into wild elephants feeding themselves and man! Truly majestic! Reminds me of my previous trip there where I ended up thinking a clay elephant was the real one! But then, this time it was for real! It’s hard to explain everything in detail but then I’m just trying to talk of the important things, like a memoir so to say.
I wanted to go to the Mysore road Coffee Day and my wish was fulfilled, nothing very impressive but nevertheless I went! In between all this Rags and I were put through some 'gruelling activity'. PP and Ro wanted some personal space and one takes the wheel and the other sits right behind to ‘motivate’ the other!
Ooty invited us with its 7 something degrees at 4 in the morning! To get a roof over our heads, what stories were invited?!! One was termed a couple and the other two, students! While, here I am - THE REAL STUDENT! But we managed to get a lovely cottage and some sound sleep, ie, snoring from I don’t know which guy?!!
Ooty, known for its many suicide points and brilliant views, we chose to drive some place nearby and had a whale of a time the following morning. My first experience in Ooty as a child was miserable but thanks to the guys, my second trip was utterly lovely :)The butterscotch chocolates, hot chocolate tea was all too nice to describe on paper.
Our next point was Coimbatore. It was a sort of nostalgia for AK-47 as he took us through the roads of the small city, showing us his school, the place where he met his first love, his hangouts and others. We were treated to some amazing food, courtesy ‘Annapoorna Hotel’. Filter Kaapi and Nai (Ghee) Dosa was at its best. South Indian food is such a delicacy I must say!
Our final destination was Palghat and two men, BE and AK-47 were over joyous when they stepped foot in their ‘God’s own country’! The language was flowing after this and SK and I were left at their mercy. Of course! I would never miss an opportunity to belt my amateur Mallu to passers-by asking for directions, much to the chagrin of Ro and Peeps :) My only disappointment was that there was no place with water where I could relax! Kerala has always been a picture of backwaters, coconut trees, long haired gals with the smell of coconut oil and men, with their knee-length lungis!!! I was witness to everything other than the backwaters! Hehe! Palghat is a warm place and can get real hot later in the evening. The temples are real traditional like any other but one thing which stood apart was the playing of the ‘Chande’, a lovely percussion instrument of Kerala. The vibrations it created had a pleasing effect on me.
Satish’s wedding was my first experience with a Mallu style wedding. I have always been witness to an elaborate Brahmin wedding which quite frankly takes forever to finish. Getting up before the sun rises, watching the ladies clad themselves in a 9 yard saree, the innumerable ‘namaskarams’ (falling at one’s feet) by the bride, change of sarees, sitting on the swing with mom and mom-in-law throwing down cooked rice in turmeric and kumkum, the groom getting his last chance to run away in the form a ‘Kashi Yatra’ and finally sitting on your father’s lap while the groom stands and ties the mangal sutra is an extensive affair indeed. The rituals which follow there after is another paragraph long!
A Mallu style wedding is over in no time! Garlands of Tulsi exchanged in front of Lord Krishna early in the morning, by early I mean not before sunlight but a convenient 6am something. This is followed by a very casual meeting in the wedding hall, when it’s almost time for lunch! Ten minute formalities and you’re hooked for life! Yum food filled our tired and hungry stomachs and we were ready to set back to our good old city.
I will not be giving this blog a fitting conclusion if I don’t mention the lovely roads connecting Ooty, Coimbatore and Palghat. Not once did we have a hitch of a break down other than the irritating experience of the pay roll incident. PP got some lovely music and Ghus-Ghus, our beloved car did not let us down at all. All in all, a memorable trip and also a trip, which brought me closer to the guys!
As I conclude, my next blog should be one on men’s psyche from a woman’s perspective :)
1. The Silent Killer (SK) - Rags
2. Behka effect (BE) - PP
3. Adiye Kolludhe(AK) [Can be renamed as AK-47 for reasons only Rags, PP and I will know ;) – Rohit
4. KC! (Me)
So, yes, coming to why the headline? It all began in the wee hours at an underground cottage in Ooty! The sizzling incidents there, which are unmentionable on paper, brought me to this headline! Rags and PP, are you reading this? Can the reason ever be out in public? Ill be gunned down for sure :)
By the time I got off the local BMTC bus, my back was a wreck with one’s hand constantly on her cell phone’s keys, thereby her elbows nudging me, not to mention her piercing ‘give me space’ looks, and the other lady happily transferring all her body mass onto me like I was her pillow! Whew! How I was just waiting to see the big building nestling AXA and much to the anger of the traffic police, I jumped off as the signal turned green and oblivious to the innumerable honks.
AK-47 greets me after making me wait for ten minutes (It’s funny that women have begun waiting for men to arrive on time!!). The other two were comfortable in the car and man! I must say, it was nice to be greeted by the familiar faces again: BE, with his ever-sheepish grin and SK, with his silence!
My stomach was grumbling non-stop and so was I, to stop somewhere for a meal. After out tummies were duly fed, we set out for the long journey ahead. “Three choices”, said AK-47:
1. Ooty – Coimbatore – Palghat
2. Guruvayur – Palghat
3. I can’t remember??!!
We decided on the first choice. We women never agree upon this, but I must confess. Travelling with men is so much easier and convenient. There are no complaints of pain in the abdomen, head et all. No squabbles and petty arguments and men generally tend to forget arguments soon. So here I was, amidst three ‘well-behaved’ men who chose to change clothes in the middle of the road and attend to nature’s call wherever they chose to!!!
Now, mention must be made of a serious issue. The recent toll rates issue really caught our attention after what we went through at various junctions. It really ticked us off. On our way to Ooty, we had to drive via Bandipur and were rightfully stopped at a check post. We were asked to pay a meagre amount of 20/- which we obliged. However, we would have hardly driven 100 yards and we were stopped again. This time AK flared and we weren’t sure which one was the government owned. We were again asked to part away with money and no receipt was issued. This, I am writing amidst some this fun blog so that people are aware of they are being subjected to and with citizens and youth leading from the front against corruption, it might help!
The night drive via Bandipur was a rendezvous with the wild, literally. We bumped into wild elephants feeding themselves and man! Truly majestic! Reminds me of my previous trip there where I ended up thinking a clay elephant was the real one! But then, this time it was for real! It’s hard to explain everything in detail but then I’m just trying to talk of the important things, like a memoir so to say.
I wanted to go to the Mysore road Coffee Day and my wish was fulfilled, nothing very impressive but nevertheless I went! In between all this Rags and I were put through some 'gruelling activity'. PP and Ro wanted some personal space and one takes the wheel and the other sits right behind to ‘motivate’ the other!
Ooty invited us with its 7 something degrees at 4 in the morning! To get a roof over our heads, what stories were invited?!! One was termed a couple and the other two, students! While, here I am - THE REAL STUDENT! But we managed to get a lovely cottage and some sound sleep, ie, snoring from I don’t know which guy?!!
Ooty, known for its many suicide points and brilliant views, we chose to drive some place nearby and had a whale of a time the following morning. My first experience in Ooty as a child was miserable but thanks to the guys, my second trip was utterly lovely :)The butterscotch chocolates, hot chocolate tea was all too nice to describe on paper.
Our next point was Coimbatore. It was a sort of nostalgia for AK-47 as he took us through the roads of the small city, showing us his school, the place where he met his first love, his hangouts and others. We were treated to some amazing food, courtesy ‘Annapoorna Hotel’. Filter Kaapi and Nai (Ghee) Dosa was at its best. South Indian food is such a delicacy I must say!
Our final destination was Palghat and two men, BE and AK-47 were over joyous when they stepped foot in their ‘God’s own country’! The language was flowing after this and SK and I were left at their mercy. Of course! I would never miss an opportunity to belt my amateur Mallu to passers-by asking for directions, much to the chagrin of Ro and Peeps :) My only disappointment was that there was no place with water where I could relax! Kerala has always been a picture of backwaters, coconut trees, long haired gals with the smell of coconut oil and men, with their knee-length lungis!!! I was witness to everything other than the backwaters! Hehe! Palghat is a warm place and can get real hot later in the evening. The temples are real traditional like any other but one thing which stood apart was the playing of the ‘Chande’, a lovely percussion instrument of Kerala. The vibrations it created had a pleasing effect on me.
Satish’s wedding was my first experience with a Mallu style wedding. I have always been witness to an elaborate Brahmin wedding which quite frankly takes forever to finish. Getting up before the sun rises, watching the ladies clad themselves in a 9 yard saree, the innumerable ‘namaskarams’ (falling at one’s feet) by the bride, change of sarees, sitting on the swing with mom and mom-in-law throwing down cooked rice in turmeric and kumkum, the groom getting his last chance to run away in the form a ‘Kashi Yatra’ and finally sitting on your father’s lap while the groom stands and ties the mangal sutra is an extensive affair indeed. The rituals which follow there after is another paragraph long!
A Mallu style wedding is over in no time! Garlands of Tulsi exchanged in front of Lord Krishna early in the morning, by early I mean not before sunlight but a convenient 6am something. This is followed by a very casual meeting in the wedding hall, when it’s almost time for lunch! Ten minute formalities and you’re hooked for life! Yum food filled our tired and hungry stomachs and we were ready to set back to our good old city.
I will not be giving this blog a fitting conclusion if I don’t mention the lovely roads connecting Ooty, Coimbatore and Palghat. Not once did we have a hitch of a break down other than the irritating experience of the pay roll incident. PP got some lovely music and Ghus-Ghus, our beloved car did not let us down at all. All in all, a memorable trip and also a trip, which brought me closer to the guys!
As I conclude, my next blog should be one on men’s psyche from a woman’s perspective :)
WHAT-ITARIAN ARE YOU?
“How can you even manage to watch them cook that thing?” my mother and grandmother would rant as they would watch the famous food show. Being born a vegetarian, I would understand what they felt and would quickly change the channel. Most of my growing days were spent in my friend’s place who was a non-vegetarian and I was quite used to the ‘sights’!
I ended up falling in love with someone whose passion among other things is non-vegetarian food – the root cause for writing this piece! He went out to a ‘pure-vegetarian’ restaurant last night and came up with this blog called ‘Meatless moments at the table’ or something like that! (You can read the copy at www.rohitnambiar.blogspot.com) It’s a personal choice as to what you choose to eat, but when he wrote this piece and said one was far better than the other, I had to hit back!
As I woke up last morning, my mind was preparing what to write and the newspaper became my aide. Sunday Herald (Deccan Herald) carried this brilliant article titled ‘Can vegetarians save the world?’ The following caught my attention:
• It takes three kilograms of cereal to grow one kilogram of meat
• Nearly half the cereal we grow is eaten by animals we presently eat
• Every Indian is a vegetarian. Even if some of us eat meat and fish, we never eat anything close to the global average of 37.5 kilograms of meat per year per person to qualify as carnivores
The article ended on a different note by bringing to notice that Indians can’t portray themselves as ‘pure vegetarians’ with so much cruelty in them in terms of baby slaughters, burning brides, widows etc.
Anyway back to food. Remember the famous dialogue between Big B and Tabu in ‘Cheeni Kum’ where Big B claims that the water level in the sea has increased because of the tears the fish are shedding, seeing their clan dwindle in number due to non-vegetarians? I had this broad smile when I saw that scene.
I have had my share of non-veg tasting with an open mind. Having been to local eateries and the best of restaurants in Bangalore to get a feel of this cuisine, I have concluded that my experience has not been mouth-watering! Yes, we vegetarians might have to suffice with just paneer, gobi and a mélange of vegetables but I think I am content. I think most of us might have had this experience just before we venture into non-veg eating/tasting. Our friends will claim that chicken tastes like potatoes and fish like paneer! Then why eat non-veg when I can eat my potatoes and paneer! Lol!
Oh yes, some non-veggies would not agree with my sentence above, claiming their food has a distinct taste but guys, listen! We suffice with paneer, gobi and ‘boring’ vegetables and you guys with a variety of fish, heart, brain, liver and even privates of those poor animals just have the same spices and batter to fry them in or a bland stir fry of them all!
Being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian is a personal choice. I have seen many vegetarians relish their new found happiness in non-veg food and so be it. Anyway I dint write this piece to promote vegetarianism but it was just a rebuttal of sorts to the blog I read! No offense meant; it is just a way to bring out thoughts when one reads others’ articles! It now sits here pretty as a blog!
I ended up falling in love with someone whose passion among other things is non-vegetarian food – the root cause for writing this piece! He went out to a ‘pure-vegetarian’ restaurant last night and came up with this blog called ‘Meatless moments at the table’ or something like that! (You can read the copy at www.rohitnambiar.blogspot.com) It’s a personal choice as to what you choose to eat, but when he wrote this piece and said one was far better than the other, I had to hit back!
As I woke up last morning, my mind was preparing what to write and the newspaper became my aide. Sunday Herald (Deccan Herald) carried this brilliant article titled ‘Can vegetarians save the world?’ The following caught my attention:
• It takes three kilograms of cereal to grow one kilogram of meat
• Nearly half the cereal we grow is eaten by animals we presently eat
• Every Indian is a vegetarian. Even if some of us eat meat and fish, we never eat anything close to the global average of 37.5 kilograms of meat per year per person to qualify as carnivores
The article ended on a different note by bringing to notice that Indians can’t portray themselves as ‘pure vegetarians’ with so much cruelty in them in terms of baby slaughters, burning brides, widows etc.
Anyway back to food. Remember the famous dialogue between Big B and Tabu in ‘Cheeni Kum’ where Big B claims that the water level in the sea has increased because of the tears the fish are shedding, seeing their clan dwindle in number due to non-vegetarians? I had this broad smile when I saw that scene.
I have had my share of non-veg tasting with an open mind. Having been to local eateries and the best of restaurants in Bangalore to get a feel of this cuisine, I have concluded that my experience has not been mouth-watering! Yes, we vegetarians might have to suffice with just paneer, gobi and a mélange of vegetables but I think I am content. I think most of us might have had this experience just before we venture into non-veg eating/tasting. Our friends will claim that chicken tastes like potatoes and fish like paneer! Then why eat non-veg when I can eat my potatoes and paneer! Lol!
Oh yes, some non-veggies would not agree with my sentence above, claiming their food has a distinct taste but guys, listen! We suffice with paneer, gobi and ‘boring’ vegetables and you guys with a variety of fish, heart, brain, liver and even privates of those poor animals just have the same spices and batter to fry them in or a bland stir fry of them all!
Being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian is a personal choice. I have seen many vegetarians relish their new found happiness in non-veg food and so be it. Anyway I dint write this piece to promote vegetarianism but it was just a rebuttal of sorts to the blog I read! No offense meant; it is just a way to bring out thoughts when one reads others’ articles! It now sits here pretty as a blog!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Woman Power!
It is 7.30 in the morning and you are on the verge of screaming in anger! Kids have to be sent to school, your ‘cool’ husband wants you to search for his lost pair of socks! You are in the kitchen wondering why the idlys are so hard and to make things worse, your maid servant is not there! Imagine a house without a servant these days… the worst plight a working woman could ask for. You may yell at her, reduce her pay for taking unlimited offs, but the bottom line is, she serves you like your right hand! This is what she is worth beginning at the basics.
Go ahead you reach office late due to the above cause, lo! Your boss is at loss because of you! He needs you for doing this and that, he needs you to update you on the day’s appointments etc. It is a man’s world they say! Think again, it sure is not! You need the woman’s help for it to be a man’s world!
These days we see women doing almost everything a man does. But every side has two coins. A woman may not serve as the best soldier in the army but well… she at least does have a position there! A position anywhere cannot be just confined to the physical presence of the person, a lot of emotional presence is important too. Studies reveal that a woman under stress is more relaxed than a man. So when there’s a crisis you can assure yourself the woman will handle it all right. They solve tricky situations with composure which is a huge positive when compared to the ‘stronger sex’.
So what does she get to her workplace which makes her so wanted? Guess it is her confidence and kindness. In a man’s world where people are out there pulling each other down so that one gets a higher position, the cool and composed woman handles it all very well. Says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CEO, Biocon, “The freshness of thought is what the woman carries with her which makes her the preferred lot.”
Being a woman itself is quite an advantage. You get your appointments very easily since you’re a woman and you are also treated with respect which is an added advantage for the work place as well. Virtues such as compassion, kindness, cooperation and sensivity which is born with a woman makes her recognised. Another interesting thing is that when it is a woman what you see is what you get. There is no beating around the bush you are told what is on her mind with nothing to hide. They are more open with their feelings unlike a man who wants it only his way and is not ready to adjust.
Behind every successful man there is a woman so there’s nothing more to say! What a woman gets to her workplace is her beautiful self inside and out and that itself is enough to make her workplace the best!
Go ahead you reach office late due to the above cause, lo! Your boss is at loss because of you! He needs you for doing this and that, he needs you to update you on the day’s appointments etc. It is a man’s world they say! Think again, it sure is not! You need the woman’s help for it to be a man’s world!
These days we see women doing almost everything a man does. But every side has two coins. A woman may not serve as the best soldier in the army but well… she at least does have a position there! A position anywhere cannot be just confined to the physical presence of the person, a lot of emotional presence is important too. Studies reveal that a woman under stress is more relaxed than a man. So when there’s a crisis you can assure yourself the woman will handle it all right. They solve tricky situations with composure which is a huge positive when compared to the ‘stronger sex’.
So what does she get to her workplace which makes her so wanted? Guess it is her confidence and kindness. In a man’s world where people are out there pulling each other down so that one gets a higher position, the cool and composed woman handles it all very well. Says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CEO, Biocon, “The freshness of thought is what the woman carries with her which makes her the preferred lot.”
Being a woman itself is quite an advantage. You get your appointments very easily since you’re a woman and you are also treated with respect which is an added advantage for the work place as well. Virtues such as compassion, kindness, cooperation and sensivity which is born with a woman makes her recognised. Another interesting thing is that when it is a woman what you see is what you get. There is no beating around the bush you are told what is on her mind with nothing to hide. They are more open with their feelings unlike a man who wants it only his way and is not ready to adjust.
Behind every successful man there is a woman so there’s nothing more to say! What a woman gets to her workplace is her beautiful self inside and out and that itself is enough to make her workplace the best!
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