Opinionated

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr………………

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:39:31 +0000

Man its cold… even while i’m saying this i realize i’m actually better off in B’lore … where so far we are at 10 -12 degrees.. But i’m originally from M’lore … and we only have 2 seasons back home, Summer & monsoon. Winter for us has always been pleasant .. a toned down version of summer .. still hot .. but phases of cool winds & maybe the necessity of a light blanket on odd nights .. few & far between. My skins crying out for help and my tonsils are making me feel the pain they are experiencing. I’m leaving to a long awaited holiday tomo morn… and really dont wan to end up unwell at this point… All my cribbings aside … I do prefer the cold to the Hot.. and dont mind the occasional attack of the sniffles. … thats a seasonal hazzard … do wish the timing woulda been better though … was so looking fwd to this break .:(

The weaker sex !

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:51:16 +0000

At a time when so much is said about women progressing towards a society where men and women stand on par & the modern woman is portrayed as a power house, every now and then we face incidents that remind us that in a male dominated society thats largely orthodox(?!?) in its thinking … the whole image of equality is jus a facade thats created to patronize gullible women who buy that crap. And we dont just have some men to blame for our situation in the world today – The Slut walk for example… has even women speaking out on the world wide web in utter senseless fashion. People think the whole movement is about promoting sexy attires .. and its not women of an older generation who may have been bought up with the mindset that women are just meant to serve the men in their life and should accept any ill treatment as something they deserve. Them one can forgive as when something is ingrained in your mind from birth then its hard to think outside those boundaries. Its when the generation of today … that speaks without knowing what they are talking about … like here -

http://www.slutwalk.in/

Its when one reads stuff like this that one is disgusted to the core. What are people ‘liking’ in this conversation. Its just become a trend to speak randomly and have your friends ‘like’ that comment. Sometimes we women are our own enemies. Its a pity that the slut walk was stopped .. maybe we should be sensitive to the mindset of the people in our country and not really call the movement ‘the slut walk’ . For some its all about the name. they draw whatever inference they want from the perceived image rather than find out what it really is all about.

For those who dont already know – The whole movement originated in April this year in toronto when a Police officer, suggested that to remain safe, “women should avoid dressing like sluts.” How ever a woman dresses does not mean shes asking to be raped or abused. Just like a man has the right to dress the way he wants a woman too should be able to do the same. She shouldnt have to live in fear of getting abused just coz her skirt is a little short. Girls get molested / raped even when they are covered from head to toe…We are human beings too and shouldnt have to fight to be treated as ones.I may not dress in a skimpy attire and do the walk – but i support the movement just as strongly.

In light of the Movement being stopped & the teacher in Punjab being so harshly slapped and mauled by a Sarpanch ( a man who protects the law) one again cant stop but think… a thought that each such incident provokes … are we doomed to remain the weaker sex ? when will the struggle end if at all… its disheartening…

The Shiva Triology – Book II

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:34:19 +0000

Just finished reading the 2nd volume of Amish Tripatis Shiva Triology – The Secret of the Nagas. I must admit Amish makes 1 hell of a story teller – I luved The Immortals of the Melluah. Hes retold Shivas story beautifully with fact meeting fiction seamlessly. Hindu Mythology has always fascinated me and Amish does give it an interesting twist. The secret of the Nagas while a good read – just falls short of measuring up to the I volume. While he says one could read this book individually – there are quite a few references to characters & incidences from book 1 without any background explanations. The Language as before is very simple & with some current newage lingos thrown in for good measure . While the story line is intriguing some how at places Amish falls short of spinning a imaginative world beyond reality. There was ample scope to take us to a world akin to how a JK Rowling takes us with her imagination on Harry potters adventures. Thats the thing about imagination isnt it … when conjuring up a make believe world one can elevate things beyond limits …. so while Amish has a lovely story to tell … maybe he could have had some one help him write it / edit it better. The story line definitely does not disappoint .. its compelling enough with the various twists & turns to keep you turning pages till the end.. just that this book has the material for something amazing … which … unfortunately it does not deliver…… I’m looking forward to reading Volume III to see how the story turns … but do hope in that at least … Amish gives us the magical world this story is yelling out for !!!

New Beginning…

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:30:13 +0000

The Day finaly arrived … to put into words all that we experienced is near impossible for me. For 2 days it was like the world revolved around us. To have all our family membs under 1 roof, inspite of the chaos, has been amonst the happiest 2 days of my life. Most every one goes through this in their lifetime. Each ones experience unique and a lil similar at the same time. I rem reading chethan baghats Twin states & relating to lil bits of it abelit the Humour .. coz well … when ur going thro it you fail to see the funny side of things…. later of course when ur retelling the story u can laugh at it … but at that moment one is so tense tryin to make the best of a situation that … its hard to find anything hilarious. Our wedding was the coming together of 2 cultures … nonetheless.. admist all the confusion .. we did manage to bring together our families & friends on our special day. we had a Brahmin style wedding .. so saying we had a lot of rituals is a bit of an understatement. It was all new & we floundered through mos of it not quite knowing what to do next … But the end result was really worth it . A dream coming true for Vik & me….. a day we’ll cherish through life … I knw I’m probably looking at everything through rose tinted glasses & the reality of mundane everyday life has yet to seep into my outlook as things are still fresh & beautiful. But I’m going to push that cynical thought aside … when that day arrives… and my thoughts are not so flowery … I’m going to look back at this day that bought us so much joy & I’m sure It’ll bring back a tinge of the rose tints …

Speed of Light ?

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:32:27 +0000

Heres a term I’ve heard a lot during my Engineerin yrs … The speed of light – which is the max:m speed at which all energy, matter, and info in the universe can travel. I think I finally understand what this means. It true isnt it .. when one is down … or bored … or jus lethargic.. time too just seems to drag by … where every sec seems an hr or more… but at others its like times whizzing by. I normally live from one weekend to the next n sometimes wonder at people who work through their weekends … what do they look fwd to…? Acha now I do realize that just bcause work is not the meaning of my life it doesn have to be so for all. But still … one needs a breather rt … i dont realise hw the weekends come n go or the days pass.. look back sometimes n feel so much has gone by …so much is happening … its almos as if I’m in the middle of a whirlwind but moving in slow motion …I look fwd to taking a trip home … or an outing with my friends .. a weekend with my fiancée …or even just a lazy afternoon wit a book or watching a movie…. but feel as if before i knw it ….in a blink of the proverbial eye the moments here n gone…. I luv the fast pace … but mis the leisure…

The place that will always remain a Home to me..

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:38:44 +0000

I’ve lived away from home for close to 8 yrs now… u knw how ppl always say you have to lose something to realize its value. I dont think that holds true here. I’ve always luved my native place… the small town …. the place in itself… the beaches … my granparents houses … bumping into people u knw the min u step out of the house..the familiarity of the languages spoken there…no place that would feel new and strange….. The weather sucked during summers of course … But the rains are just simply beautiful… the country side gets even more lovely during that time. Something about it all makes me feel at home. The only thing that really bothered me about the place and made me want to move was that people tend to be really nosy and mean. Small towns are full of busy bodies who think its their right to know and interfere in everyone elses business. But thats how it is isnt it …. everything has a bright side and a dark one…. I’m going home tomo for a small holiday and just the thought of it is making me feel light … I’ll get married soon and settle here for good… yrs frm now … i knw that feeling that I’d experience during the times i visit back home… i’ll probably never experience that feeling here … the place where i grewup… and spent some of the best yrs of my life… will always remain my home… even if i make another home here ..and yrs from now have no one to go back to there …….. it’ll still hold a special place in my heart…

Anna Hazares Crusade against Corruption !

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:10:44 +0000

Its refreshing to see Anna Hazzares step towards curbing corruption. I am more of a cynic, In a country where democracy is more a facade I find it hard to hope that we can have an anti corruption bill working as it says it will. Some times it still feels as if we are in the era of the Rajas and Maharajas were laws, taxes & punishments are just meant for the average man and every wrong doing of a politician is overlooked. Indias so cald first family started the trend of having the country handed over to them for governance generation after generation…. almost as if it was their inheritance, Who can forget the emergency period. Today that trends spread to other politicians as well – whos names dont necessarily end with a Gandhi. Its now common for a politicians wife / son /relative to step into his shoes to govern our people. How that persons is qualified for that role is beyond me. We have the Babus talking in support of Anna Hazzare in the media… MPs… MLAs.. Ministers… so many of them have so recently been in the news because of their corrupt ways. Nepotism , properties that are not accounted for, assets that have no source, criminal cases (long pending – not action-ed and probably never will be because of their clout), illegal activities what not… this has been the case for as long as I can remember, so yes… I have turned cynical. During elections although it is my right to vote. I still feel dejected. How does one exercise that rt…. when you have no faith in any of the parties. Its like picking the lesser of the evils as per ones perception. But to my cynical mind its like a breath of fresh air to see and hear of Anna Hazares crusade. I Salute him. For trying to reform things. To see all the support hes had shows that there is hope In the Aam Admi of this Country still. that there are people bursting with a desire to set things on the right path. We need more people like Him. A Ray of light … I hope his efforts are not in vain. Although the bills been passed and the committee will now have civilians too, Corruption is Dark horse that raises it head every where…

Gen next Auto

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:10:13 +0000

This monday caught up with my friends for lunch. Post which we piled into an auto to get to a shopping mall. The auto had this really ancient TV set. Almost prehistoric. Or was it a new device. I do remember seeing old black n White English movies that had radios and TVs like this one. So not sure if this autowala was attempting to walk ahead of times or refusing to let go of a invention that though evolved into a much advanced technology after having undergone much innovation still retained a certain charm in its original form. So here we had a simple autowala attempting to give his customers an airline feel for the short duration of their journey in his auto…. which is such a refreshing change from the usual stereotype who refuses to go where you want ,over charges you and looks for the smallest opty to pick a fight.

My special Day …..

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:54:38 +0000

Its been an amazing week … my fiancée’ and me share our B’day date…. and we got engaged the day after our B’day … its days like these when it hits u …. how great it is to have friends and family around on ur special days …. I’m a Mangalorean Bunt … and am marrying a kannadiga Brahmin from Bangalore…. the customs , language and ways of our families are very different … yet when they all came together it was a novel experience. we had a really small gathering of about 70 odd ppl … jus our immediate families .. so we didn’t have any of those nasty gossipy type characters who one is obliged to invite coz they are part of the extended family. Marriage is a scary concept, to suddenly embrace this huge change , a new family that one has to be a part of ….. all this is so much more easier when you know the person your marrying, when your sure that at every bump in your path he will be there to hold your hand and guide you. Taking this step with a man I love and trust …. wit the support of both our families…. means the world to me . I dont really care for the larger society as they are not the ppl i share my joys n sorrows wit. … But families are imp… its only when they are happy can you be truly happy …. at least in our case that holds true….

My Cups Briming Over …

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:11:02 +0000

To say its a busy time in my life would be putting it mildly….. I’m attempting a new job role & my engagement parallel y. Its been abt a month now in this role…. and am slowly getting the hang of it. It doesnt intimidate me as much now , I have a lot of backlog to clear from my predecessor, post which I’m hoping I can do this at a normal … breathing pace. I’m getting engaged in 3 days and I can feel the energy and excitement tingling through me all day long. The Adrenalin is probably what keeps me going so effortlessly through all the work involved. I like to pretend I’m wonder woman – so i’ll stretch myself as far as i can…. I’ll run around for all the errands in the evening …. cook….sit on work again post dinner ( coz thats jus never ending )…. surf the net to fig out the hairstyle i wan … update my folks on the arrangements for hrs on end … speak to my friends on options regarding various things ( again this talk goes on for hrs at a stretch )….blog a few lines … like now … when i’m on a training call…… Spend a lil time on weekends with my fiance’……………… manage to read a couple of pages each nite however tired…. There are times when i feel spent at the end of the day when i drag myself to bed way past midnight. But even then I have so many thoughts in my head – whats pending / how will things go / how will v look / how will ppl react / anxiety – worrying that nothings goes wrong / happiness that v actually managed to come together with our families … Feel like these are moments I will count yrs from now among the best phases of my life…. sometimes wish … I had more time to cherish every lil bit of it ….