" Oh Arundhati"

I read now a days a lot about Arundhati Roy, not for another booker prize this time. I read she has become a separatist and blindly supporting Kashmir cut off.

A lot of chaos over her arrest, punishment etc etc….

Well, I am really not very happy to see all these happening to a writer. But again I don’t really agree to her statements about Kashmir either.

In the speech delivered, Arundhati Roy mentioned that Kashmiris have to decide whether they want to be with or get separated from “bhookhe-nange Hindustan where more than 830 million people live on Rs 20 per day only” and then made much of them.

I see two angles of this statement.

• . Its high time that the decision have to be taken about Kashmir . Do or Die. All chaos happening in the beautiful valley these days should come to an end and the decision should be based on “what majority of Kashimiris want.”
• . Arundhati blindly follows the separatists and differ with Hindustan.

But these two angles do not suffice the fact that India should let Kashmir free and independent. Secondly, When Kashmir can not survive as an independent state and either has to be merged with Pakistan or remain with India I don’t think Pakistan is a in any way better state than bhookha- nanga Hindustan.

Arundhati says, as per history Kashmir was never a part of India. Well, Kashmir was never a part of Pakistan either. India holds that the Instrument of Accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India, signed by the Maharaja Hari Singh (erstwhile ruler of the State) on 26 October 1947, was completely valid in terms of the Government of India Act (1935), Indian Independence Act (1947) and international law and was total and irrevocable.

1972 Simla Agreement between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan, it was agreed that neither country would seek to alter the cease-fire line in Kashmir, which was renamed as the Line of Control".

Numerous violations of the Line of Control have occurred, including the infamous incursions by insurgents and Pakistani armed forces at Kargil leading to the Kargil war.

A country, which can not respect the law, the pact, the faith, and the country which stands over the 50 crore donation by India during partition (history tells), now cries foul over kashmiris. Funny…is not it!

Now, lets come to what Kashmiris want??

Before that, with reference to History, who are the true kashmiris?

And even before that what is Kashmir?

The very name Kashmir is said to be derived from Kashyapa, one of the seven Rishis in Hindu mythology (See Etymology of Kashmir.). Kashmir's association with Hinduism is very old. Most Kashmiris are devout Shaivites, however many Kashmiri families who had migrated into other Indian territories have been ardent Vaishnavites as well. Kashmir is home to some of the holiest shrines in Hinduism like Amarnath, Kheer Bhawani, Shrine of Sharada, Shankaracharya Mandir, Hari Parbat, and Zeethyar.

Before Persecution by Islamic Rulers the kashmiri pundits were the native of the said land. A large number of persecuted Kashmiri Pandit families were forced to migrate to the plains in the early fifteenth century during the reign of Sikandar Butshikan, and in the late sixteenth century during the reign of Aurangzeb.

Then the muslims became dominant in that part of India.

400,000 Kashmiri Pandits, constituting 99% of the total population of Hindus living in Muslim majority area of the Kashmir Valley, were forcibly pushed out of the Valley by Muslim terrorists, trained in Pakistan, since the end of 1989. They have been forced to live the life of exiles in their own country, outside their homeland, by unleashing a systematic campaign of terror, murder, loot and arson.

Now the few people left in the beautiful valley, fuelled by the extremists shout over separation of Kashmir. Thanks to Geelanis and Roys.

Pakistan was created in 1947. As per History again, the now Pakistan stands on the 50 crores donated by Indian Govt after separation cries foul over Kashmir.

The Indian constitution which gives Arundhati the right to express has given a special status to J&K also just to minimize the chaos and let the peace prevail. It has been treating the citizens same way as the other citizens of the country.

Shah Faesal, this years IAS topper is a Kashmiri who will be working as a part of the main stream of Indian Government.

A majority of Kashmiris across country are well educated, well placed and are in the main-stream. Even in my workplace I have some Kashmiri colleagues, well mannered and good performers. They too respectfully salute the Indian flag on 15^th of August every year.

The few I know don’t seem to complain being called an Indian.

After few long years there was a fair election in the state. NC won and formed govt as any other states of the country.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, could not stand the feel of forthcoming peace in the air and fuelled violence and anti India protest.

Few more deaths? Few more political dramas?

Well, we all know that Kashmir is controversial. By seeing the Pakistani attitude it seems no peace in the valley atleast for next few decades. But giving Kashmir to Pakistan will be like giving your own child to someone really undeserving.

So, my dear Arundhati, I know you have the right to express your mind but please be bit more responsible while talking about the most sensitive issue of your own beautiful country. The country, where you are born, which has given you your education, bread and butter, recognition and moreover the right to speak your so called mind in public and even to the chance to defend the rubbish.

I am more than sure you will never migrate to Pakistan even if you strongly believe that this bhooka- nanga Hindustan is not the right place for you and you deserve a better country like Pakistan to live in.

So, please stop non sense and use your rights in a right way!

Inception..!

Applauds…

A wonderful concept, great visuals and a great movie.

A dream thief, an idea implantation, dream within a dream, locked memories and thus all combined its INCEPTION.

I had entered the cinema with a lil expectation of extraordinary. But I fell in love with the movie, the concept and the experience.

My hubby, a man who least understands movies and lacks interest in the whole terminology called cinema, was too glued to INCEPTION….miracle simply!

Suspense, romance, bit humor and great visuals as any other best running commercial movie, but the whole stealing did the ultra fresh concept and great screen play.

The parallel story of the dead wife of Cobb and her occupancy of maximum of Cobb’s subconscious is just adds to the beauty and thrill of the story beautifully.

The revelations are also well timed and make the audience glued so much that there was a pin drop silence in the auditorium.

A bit complicated movie for a part of audience especially in India, but once a man starts understanding it cannot leave the seat till the end.

A movie worth watching twice…

My Rating: * * * * *

Byomkesh Bakshi..!!

Saw a movie!!

Nah…seeing a movie is not the news!

But the specialty was it being a BENGALI MOVIE…

Yes…I saw a Bengali movie in a jam packed multiplex for the first time and I found that I quite understand the language now a days being so much non familiar to it.(thanks to my Kolkata stay).

Accompanied by hubby whose understanding of the language is as remote as a bengali’s understanding of Tamil or Arabic. (had to give him a brief about the happenings every quarter).

Still we opted for it becoz the name was magnetic….BYOMKESH BAKSHI!!

Remember the DD 1 block buster in nineties ….protagonist being played by Rajit Kapoor!! Was no it your favorite too…!!

Kolkata has decent number of multiplexes and theaters and its quite enough for Bengali movie goers….but surprisingly every time I tried to book the tickets for this particular movie I was offered the front row seats which prolonged my wait to watch the movie. Movie was a HIT.

Finally…on Monday I got the tickets in the last moment and watched.

The movie starts with a scene of riots betwn Hindus and Muslims in Kolkata city in early sixties.

Post independence after-shocks.

A lady approaches Byomkesh with apprehensions about his adopted son’s safety and later a murder mystery, cool revelations throughout and finally a solved case. (Won’t reveal much…pls watch the movie to experience the mystery)
A new Byomkesh (Abir) handsome and cool enough to match the character, Ajit (Saswata) was good too as a companion and narrator.

Other characters did decent jobs and most important part of the movie is the ability to make the audience glued till the end. The look of the movie was matching the look of sixties. The riot angle was rightly put to give the movie a serious and thought provoking base.

Not too many fussy characters, unnecessary songs, drama or non-effective suspense makes the movie clean, simple and effective.

At the end the movie seemed a bit predictable (may be just that I guessed the end rightly), Nonibala’s sleeveless blouses were a bit out of place, Satyabati’s ( Byomkesh’s wife) character could have been used in a better way in the movie, with all these little drawbacks it was quite a treat for the audience.
The movie has a balanced story line, proper proportion of suspense, damp of humour, good acting, and an overall FRESHNESS!

After Santosh Sivan’s “Before the Rains” I was for the first time felt satisfied with a movie…..the movies in between were simply chaos!!

Good Work Anjan Dutta Ji…..We don’t mind expecting a Byomkesh Bakshi-Dwitiya!!

The Bliss...!!

Huh..!!

Crazy days…..

Yes, I am talking about my post marriage days...

They say it turns you to be more responsible and mature becoz u start a family altogether being the heart and soul of it. May be its true. But responsibility brings chaotic schedules too. Days begin at 6AM with a healthy morning walk and goes on with so many activities. Breakfast, office, lunch box, subzi mandi, cooking a bit, maid management and of course adapting new people in the day to day activities. New people includes people, of course other than the husband ;-)

Marriage brings change….lots of them!!

A late riser like me wakes up at 6, a hardcore non veggie like me munches on veggies almost four days a week, a tomboy like me who hates ornaments, now a days wears bangles (may be slick single ones) and mangalsutra and like wise so many….

No, I am not writing about my own changes in life style, but trying to look at it from a wider prospect.

Marriage, especially in India changes a girl’s life so much. May be for me its just about little things but in many cases it’s a complete transformation. A girl who leaves the very known and well adapted environment of 23-24 years has to adapt to a completely new environment where she has least amount of comfort level.

May be few are lucky like me to have a supporting husband and not too demanding in laws, and thanks to my never say die attitude and adaptive nature I am now not too alien to the environment only after 2 and half months of marriage. But there are many girls who are not as lucky as the few.

Here, I remember few instances where one of my cousins died in mysterious circumstances only after few months of marriage at her in law’s house (it was a love marriage and courtship period was of 2 years), a girl in neighbourhood was thrown away by her in laws after 6 months of marriage just becoz they did not like her (though the engagement period was of 1 year), the girl complained attempt of murders in disguises many a times by her in laws. Another girl got divorced by her IT engg husband just becoz he caught her talking over phone at 11.30 in night (he did not even enquire who she was talking to).

It takes few hours to get married with a day of social celebration. But It changes the lives of the girls for ever. What will happen to the girls I have cited above?? Can they ever lead a normal life?? Can they ever face the world outside, stand and say ‘IAM JUST ME, I HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS TO LOOK UP AND WALK”. May be never….
For what?? Just becoz someone else decided about their lives and said u r of no use so u should be treated like a garbage…..u can never have self esteem, self confidence and u can never be a part of this normal society….

I understand it more when I myself went through the transformation…

What about the mental trauma, the disghust, the fear??

When I bump into such shocking instances specially about near and known ones, I am forced to think that “Aisa mere sath hota toh kya hota”, I look at my husband and think “yeh mere sath aisa karte toh kya hota” . Being married in a different state and different culture I think even more….

Marriage is a bond, a beautifully crafted social institution to make life more meaningful. Why people relate it with dowry, honour, ego and what they get by ending up in doing such nasty deeds?

Wake up girls….
Bbefore landing up into the most precious and important decision of your life, think a thousand times and enter into the married life to live life more beautifully, not to end it brutally.

I am happy that I am back to my most favorite activity i.e. books and blogging almost after 4 months. (Thanks to my husband, who understands the need of these mental foods to keep me going, thus makes space and supports for it). Its such a stressbuster……..

It feels great being the self even after so many changes around!!

I wish life to be as beautiful as it is today and to be more beautiful for the girls who are not blessed enough with this bliss!!

I wish the souls to rest in peace whose life has brutally been ended up with this beautiful transition of life…

I wish, not a single girl should miss the bliss and not a single soul should fall prey of this.

Be happiness prevail EVERYWHERE!!

AMEN….!!

My Wedding Invitation (23.05.2010)

A serene and beautiful moment where life stands still and celebrates the “MOMENT OF TOGETHERNESS”

….that is “MARRIAGE”!!

I am happy to announce the arrival of that blessed moment in my life and take the immense pleasure of inviting you to the blessed occasion of my Marriage Ceremony on 23.05.2010 (Sunday).

Please bless us with your kind presence at the following venue.

Your presence, trust me, will make us immensely happy!!

Venue:
Flourish India Farmhouse
On Bramhagiri Road
Puri, Orissa

Awaiting You..
Debashreeta (Shree)

My third visit to “MAA”

In continuation of the very first visit to Maa (written already abt it) the third visit was too successfully completed. Skipped writing about the second one coz that was a kind of thanks giving trip for a successful completion of one of my very much worldly desires!! (a mere mortal human still I am)

The place was quiet as always. Maa was on the cement throne in discussion with various devotees, wiping away the pain and worries. The big tree (still don’t know its kind) was efficient enough to give all hundreds of devotees the shelter and shield from the hot and roaring sun.

Few people from remote areas had come that day, mostly adivasis including a 24 years old young man, mentally unbalanced, violent and unpredictable…few people ill physically and one sophisticated family from Delhi.

I had a talk with the group from Delhi. As per them the marriage of their daughter had been finalized in a miraculous way as predicted by Maa. The enchanted father did thank Maa with his tears.

A simple meal of plain red rice, plain daal and vegetable curry was offered to all of us. All sat under the tree in a same line with leaf plates and had the mid day meal.

All went well….

We all went to a hall type room with cement flooring and ashramites put some bed sheets on the floor and all of us made sit/ sleep there.

All were simple and serene….no discrimination on basis of caste, class, creed, no dikhawa of money, power or spirituality….any one is welcome there!!

A great experience altogether and the day long hectic visit to the great lady is worth !!

APARTMENT…

Slow paced, predictable story, nil suspense, (not a single sequence could make the audience bite nails) made the movie just watch able. Poor duplication of any Hollywood movie cannot always successfully be indianised and presented.

Tanushree was just ok so as Rohit and Anupam Kher. Neetu Chnadra did a decent job… Movie may get a good response in the first week, as there is no such movie released in competition and second reason being the Jag Mundra tag. People will be going expecting thrill…

The look of the movie can be confused to be a supernatural one and pull a horror freak audience.

Over all a time pass movie!!

After long I am back to blogging!! Days had been hectic and somewhat lazy too….

No access to Internet had been a boon in some senses but I missed it in many senses too. Being Internet savvy makes you addicted to certain mental food, non-compliance to those leads to hunger that generally appeases once I get the google page open in front of me and my fingers dancing on the key board producing a musical tak-tak.

My first introduction to the world of INTERNET is not much older. I got to be attached with it only about 10 years back…but now it is ruling over almost 10 hours a day of mine. I wonder how people managed in the non-internet era…huh!!

I was reading a book of Manoj Das (the one n only) last week in a lazy afternoon. He had cited few instances of his childhood, i.e. in 1930 ‘s when they used to walk for the whole day to reach few miles and few people had access to monthly/ weekly news paper and the post man used to be the highly respected and most wanted man.

Kolkata, used to be the dreamland for many.

Even my maternal grandfather who was a jamindaar (landlord) of his time got the most precious and grand things as gifts from his father in law at the time of marriage with my granny. Those were : a bi-cycle, gold buttons, a torch light, a radio and a wrist watch…huhhh!!!

Can we imagine now a days???

But yes, the serenity of the life of people of that time used to be exclusively beautiful. The love, respect, togetherness, bonding, happiness over little things and the crystal clear heart of people were priceless. The soft breeze, mango trees, ponds…………

Alas….I can not rewind time!!

I am now back to my internet world with a handy mobile switched on day and night, still when I think about the Manoj Das Stories, when I think about my Nana ji and when I think about my village I miss something badly…I MISS LIFE!!!

Clash of the Titans: Clash of views, reviews (i liked it though)

Medusa, I used to fantasize and afraid of as a kid, used to be afraid of being turned into stone and used to imagine Persius coming for my rescue!!

“Clash of the titans” hence was a treat for my childhood memories. I loved the visual effects...thanks to 3D technology. Similar to many mythological or fantasy bollywood movies it too was full of action and mystery.

Sorry can not put many good words as the script for a common man seemed confusing and monotonous. Some twists and turns could have make the movie more exciting and a pinch of romance was missing.

Only good thing that attracted the audience was the visual effects.

I don’t blame the low attendance in the auditorium.

Hunted by the ghost of boredom- Hum tum aur ghost!!

A sheer boredom throughout.

Neither it was funny nor scary not even love story types…not an emotional drama too.

Kabeer has tried to put them altogether, and hence the real taste is missing. The storyline lost continuity, so as the humor. The movie starts with a bad note itself.

Seeinng ghosts, being in love with Dia, Sandhya (as a friend), problems of Kapoor, Ali and Carole (the ghosts), the psychiatrist and the nun who gave an angel to Warsi at the end are not able to be linked together to form an understandable storyline.

Sandhya Mridul has been totally wasted in the movie (I wonder why such an actor agreed to do the movie?), Boman is partially wasted (Though one can see his serious attempts to make the movie lively).

Poor songs and poor romance too….

The ghosts are neither funny nor scary and it can not be called a psychological drama either.

Why Arshad why??? Why did u waste so much of money, time, energy and talent?? U deserved a much better script and much better compliments dear….

Well Done Benegal..

A nice neat movie finally in cinemas…

Yes, talking about “Well done abba”

The name Shyam Benegal, makes audience expect much more from the movie and he has not disappointed at all.

The simple and neat storyline, evergreen Boman Irani and Benegal on director’s seat altogether have given Indian cinema quite a nice output.

To some, the movie may seem as any serial of Doordarshan, in nineties…but, I bet almost all of us will agree with the serenity of those serials and those were no doubt beautiful.

In the midst of action, horror, torture, boredom love, sex and dhokha a drop of dew is “Well done Abba”.

Movie touches many aspects of society, system and simplicity with a touch of humor. The system can be questioned effectively in a humorous way too, without aggression.

Minisha has done a decent job. Boman as usual is the heart of the movie.
Movie with a message, A MUST WATCH!!

A fresh book and a freshh writer: Pathik's 7 Love Stories

A fresh book on the counters…

“7 love stories in the prime of life”- by Awaneesh Jha popularly known as “Pathik”.

It is compilation of 7 fresh and different love stories. The writer being young deserves a pat on his shoulders for publishing seven books, most of them being critically acclaimed and thoroughly philosophical, at this tender age.

The new one seems a bit lighter in content as well as in expression. It will attract mostly youngsters. The reader would like the simplicity in language and expression.

All the stories in the book are different from each other yet connected through one string i; e. LOVE! That is the beauty of the book.

I am personally very happy with the circulation and response of the book and I wish all the very best to Pathik for his future endeavours.

chalte raho pathik...!!!

We all have/had a love story: Ravin too had!!

Love, the very word conquers the world.

For People who don’t believe in love and for people who thoroughly believe in love, some way or other, love becomes the vital and only center of existence by DEFAULT!!.

Ravin (the protagonist) never longed for love; he only wanted to get married. Typically, he registered himself in matrimony site. But, ironically, love happened to him and he was so beautifully indulged to the deepest of his heart with KHUSHI, the newfound damp of happiness in his life.

Love happened this way and marriage was on cards.

But…

Life gives unexpected blows at times, especially when u r at the top of anything. Same happened and on that fateful day Khushi left Ravin for ever in a road accident.

The obviously broken and shattered Ravin, finally paid the tribute to his love though the book, the beautiful outcome.

The very reason behind the birth of the book leaves an emotional impact on the reader even before he starts reading the book. That is the deserving boon for the book’s selling.

Simple language and serene expressions glues the reader with the book and Ravinder has been very honest with his narration with the course of incidents.

The book has got a huge fan following, mostly the youngsters who somehow identify themselves with the character, incidents and cute-cozy love story.

On the other side, the narrations and languages could have been lil mature. The story seemed predictable at the end. But being the very first creation of Ravinder, this book deserves applauses and of course a queue of readers awaiting the next one, the sequel…
Of course all wants to know what happened to Ravin after that………..!!??

Married but Available: A review (अधूरी बातें...;-) )

“Say it when u r in love- or else life can give u a reason to repent”- this is the first thing came to my mind after reading “Married but available” by Abhijit. Am bit biased for the book, but am honestly trying to be honest with my observations and comments.

The observations would have been different other wise as am yet to read the first one of the series “Mediocre but arrogant”. (Would write another piece once m done with the 1st one)

A good work with expressions. Abbey (the Bengali simple middle class) Ayesha (the ultra rich ultra modern Punjabi gal), Abbey (the much satisfied employee of Balwanpur Industries) Ayesha (the ambititous one). Abbey (the second hand maruti car) Ayesha (the Mercedez benz ). Negatives attract but not necessarily that they should stick together forever. That’s how I would explain Abbey-Ayesha relationship. The dilemma of Abbey, an attachment of a middle class boy towards his family & the middle class values he possesses and the struggle to survive a marriage with a ultra rich girl with so much of cultural differences. Ultimately best possible thing happens. They depart.

HR, somehow has been integral part of the book. Abbey’s first job, first difficulties in job, first exposure to ground level work away from books and lectures, management-worker relationship and the role of HR in-between. Dilemmas of workers after the takeover. All well said. You can walk along the characters and feel the ups and downs of their emotions. That makes the reader live the book, not just read the book.Here lies the success of the writer to connect with the reader . Credit all urs Aby..JJ

Abbey’s personal dilemmas, professional dilemmas, asking help from Rascal Rusty, his own fears of loosing the job, comparisons with friends, obsession with designation, putting all together we can actually relate to ourselves. We all go through it, some how or other, some day or other.It symbolises the struggle of a modern youth of INDIA.

Characters like Capt. Sobti, Balwan Singhwe we can see in our life. Just that they can not be loved, can not be hated, just have to be tolerated. Nasha, of course deserves some sympathy.

Finally Keya,
Keya, the unpredictable, is ofcourse my another reason of biasness towards the book. She resembles a self that’s the closest to mine. The character has lots of shades. The lovely Keya, the lover Keya, the loved Keya, the ultra romatic Keya, the mad Keya, the jealous Keya, the strong Keya and finally the enlightened Keya. Her charm, madness, poetry, expression of feelings, confidence, taj in moon light, makes the reader fall in love with her again and again. She has always been the strength for Abbey. Lucky Abbey JJJ. She left Abbey, for the search within…it did not leave Abbey angry, unhappy or devastated, but just that he decided to wait…may be just coz he loved her, he respected her and moreover he understood her.

To make the already long note short, I say a simple way of writing without much of heaviness, yet meaningful…reader’s delight as most of the readers can relate themselves to the protagonist or any of the characters.…A good book for youths…nice work overall!!!!

KEEP IT UP ABY…!!!

An Experience

The saying goes like this “ Experience makes a man perfect”

My little modification in the saying is : Experience makes a man believe”

A simple lady in a remote village in Orissa, illiterate, unsophisticated and may not be an eye candy for many. People worship her. Worship her as GODESS!!

I heard about her from my brother’s friend whose family was a great devotee. The educated and well-placed family calls her “Maa” and spends almost all of their time, money and energy for her. For a logical man it may sound ridiculous. For them it’s the life giving potion.

I never believed it. But I did not disbelieve too.

Being born and brought up in a god beliving, hindu family and a spiritual atmosphere and having a natural appetite for spiritualism, I had a patient ear towards the words spoken about “Maa” but the logical mind of mine always restricted to have faith…or complete surrender to that particular form.

How can GOD reside in a human body?

That was the simple logical question…..

Time, time and again gave me opportunities to meet her, talk to her and feel her.

I saw nothing special except a simple warm and welcoming smile sprinkled with lots of affection and something special and rare about her EYES. The eyes were very special and I was forced to look at them time and again….she talked normal and told few things about me and others. They were generalist but correct. It did not make me surprised much but I felt good about everything.

Last week got a chance to visit her peeth (I tried going there before but could never make it in the last moment). This time I made sure I must visit Orissa exclusively for her and surprisingly this time i made it very smoothly. I was new to that area and had decided to travel by public bus and felt that a car travel would not have been better in any case.

It was almost evening when me with my lil brother reached there. She greeted us as if she was waiting for us. She made us comfortable and made all arrangement for us to stay there that night. I wanted to speak to her alone and she was surrounded with lots of people. After two hours when I finally decided to start speaking she told me to wait in the room so that we can speak in isolation. It seemed as if she could read my mind even without telling. (She hardly speaks to her bhakts in isolation)

She spoke to me for atleast for half an hour and the conversation forced me to think about her on a serious note.

She may not be GOD, but she is far above than a normal human being….this line was established in my heart and mind at the end.

Two hundred orphans stay at her ashram and there fooding, lodging and education are borne by Maa…How? No one knows…..becoz she does not have any potential source of income. But all activities at the ashram run quite smoothly.

We spent the night and in morning after having breakfast and being blessed by Maa, started for Bhubaneswar.

On the return journey I was thinking what to believe and what not to. Believing in Maa needed complete surrender and shradha, which sai baba also has told. Mind as usual always questions the validity…

Undecided, I bowed my head to almighty and prayed for the proper direction for my faith…. :-)

Hope, Maa wil bless me someday to understand the fact beyond my mortal understanding!! OM.. :-)

Its 10.30 pm....

Not sleepy...

The pizza for dinner at Domino's dissatisfied me and the newly introduced pasta was a disaster. The one litre pack of pulpy orange was the only consolation (many dont like it though)...finally the orange cake and some tea made my stomach filled for the night. Felt like writing some lines and could not find any other topic than the pizza (which is controlling my thoughts right now), so here i am penning down my things about experience and encounter with Pizza, the foeigner dish in Indian yard.

Food, the very name makes my salivary glands activated at once and my body happily gets ready for accepting few more pounds. The street foods have always been the prime obsession...chicken roll in Bhubaneswar, aloo tikki chat, paneer tikka, mushroom tikka in delhi, puchkas in kolkata, or bada pav in Mumbai...idli, dosa n all udupi restaurants, samosas, dhoklas and the sindhi special dal pakwan (thanks goes to my sindhi friend)....slurp...slurp!!

I have seen my friends being mad for Pizzas and some of them even make it at home and try different experiments with it. The newly introduced delicacy at a Pizza serving outlet have the Indian flavor and doing well in indian market.

But surprisingly, Pizza has never been in the list of my saliva stimulators.

It has always been the last minute option for home delivery when all other options for the world is closed.

300 bugz for a round shaped pav with pinches of some veggies or so, never seemed to be a wise deal for me. The typical indian road side foddie in me have always been advocating the so called unhealthy street foods and i have always been relishing them to my heart's content without worrying much about the health my stomach. Surprisingly, it has never bothered the health either.

Apologies to my pizza lover friends, taste buds varry from person to person...the indian foods still dominate my taste buds and India, my mind and heart..!! :-)

A day with a difference....

A cozy night long sleep with cute dreams around followed by a lazy yawn , hide n seek of dark n light, a fresh sunrise, a damp of fresh air, chippering birds, standing up in the balcony with a cup of steaming hot tea, the idea of starting a fresh day can not be better than this.

Alas…no Monday morning starts like this ever…

Added to it if a monday starts with a nasty head ache (due to struggled sleep whole night due to power cut), cough and moreover the pressure to be in office on time then suicide seems to be a much better idea than continuing with the rest of the day.

Such was a day today. In hurry, missed the morning tea too…L

My office serves tea without milk, and today i felt they have stopped sugar supply also…thanks to cost cutting (even if my organization is on headlines for its balance (profit) sheet and the add for the very organization says “expect more from us”).But i had to swallow the tea in two big gulps because my bad throat needed some warmth and I had to take a pill for my headache. A dull me, thanked my boss as I did not have much work today in office. After replying to few mails, making some official calls and doing some daily activities I was left with only a lazy lean day forward. The lazy weather outside supplemented it.

Kolkata’s weather is unique. In summers it leaves u with a chipchipa feeling for 3 long months independent of the sun being harsh or not. And the winter comes with dryness throughout and makes u loose the original colour of your skin…even if u try the costliest fairness cream available in market (I bet on it).

I took a break from my work station and looked through the window. The foot path adjacent to my office building was full of street vendors. Fruits, boiled egg, jhal moori , masala moori, pakoras were handy. Saw people struggling to cross the extremely busy road. The traffic police man was on his toes to balance the vehicles. I come by this route and see all these everyday. But I think there is a difference between ‘seeing’ and ‘watching’. Watching demands concentration and with this theory I was watching all these for the first time. :-)

It was almost lunch time. The mooriwala was surrounded with people and busy in supplying the moori filled paper packets to his customers. One standard moori pack costs 3 to 5 rupees and this was the lunch for most. There may be few who were eating it because they like its taste. But many of them were having it to appease the mid-day hunger and balance the money purse simultaneously. I don’t know how far these moori packs were able to fill their stomach but the 8-10 rupees (cost of a standard lunch plate) DOES make a difference to their purse.

A paan shop was there in a corner. I remembered one day when I took shelter near the paan shop to avoid a sudden pouring while waiting for my vehicle, the lines written on the wall of the paan shop attracted my attention. One line in my mother tongue. Nayak paan dokaan (i.e-Nayak paan shop, nayak being the surname of the shop owner). I at once got excited and asked the paanwala whether he belongs to my state. His reply was affirmative. Then of course, the best possible thing happened and we started talking.

With course of conversation I came to know that he does not own any separate house in the city. He sleeps inside the paan shop only. And the strangest part was the paan shop was just 2/2 window like structure which can not even adjust a sitting person inside along with the other stuffs. (those who have been to Kolkata must have seen such uniquely designed small wall shops in may parts of the city).

I imagined him there in a rainy night, I imagined him there in a stormy night and in a summer and a winter night too. I imagined him not being able to stretch his spine properly all night long. It was scary. The reason, he could not afford a single room in the city as he had a family to run back home.

Next to the paan shop there was a man sitting on the footpath with a display of weird things in front of him. He was new in this ambiance, or may have been left unnoticed by me earlier. I gave a close look to the things just to surprise my senses. It was bunch of all disposed things of a normal household. Used safety pins, cracked mirrors, rubbers, plastic show-pieces, cotton bags with holes and what not? All old, disposed and not at all in a condition to re-use. I could not understand the purpose of its display and ran down to have a conversation with the man. (yes…I did it).

First he got scared, then became submissive and then aggressively started talking. My almost perfect Bengali (only with some pardonable cho, chi, cha type mistakes) eased my initiative of establishing the bond with the man. When asked he said all these are for sale…and my instant, reflex reaction was “WHO THE HELL WILL BUY ALL THESE”? He smiled and said, the people who sleep on footpath, who cook on the footpath, who send their children to beg for a one rupee coin to traffic joints, whose only concern for life is to get a proper meal at the end of the day can obviously not afford the first hand things, or even the second hand ones. They take it and for them only I run my business and feed my family. I was about to tell something when a lady interrupted.

She chose one shilpa bindi packet in which only three, dust filled sticker bindis were left and one red ribbon with stints of ink spots. These cost her 3 rupees and after much bargaining she got it in 2 rupees. The lady left so did I. Nothing much was left for further conversation….

On the way back I looked at my jacket with a Reebok tag on it which had cost 4000 rupees and the hand purse containing all my cash/ creit/ debit cards cost 1200 rupees.


I still don’t know why I felt bad…….why I felt guilty…..why I bought a big pack of fruit cake for the little girl begging me for a penny……….!!

But I knew this much that I wanted to sleep tonight, with some peace inside!!

A start…:-)

A sweet long sleepy day it was…. :) spent more than half of the day on bed, under the blanket, with books around and the laptop on!! Of course, the TV was handy to update me about the outer world (did not need much updates though). Thanks to my maid who made it more comfy with regular supply of hot and delicious food and did not leave my coffee mug empty!! I enjoyed every bit of it, as I finally reached the day after last day of my diet, and the result of the diet plan did not disappoint me much. Moreover I got proper food after 7 days.. :-)

A relaxed mood after a long time compelled me to finish some long pending write-ups and starting some fresh ones. Finally…I made it :-) Am happy...so very happy!

Writing a piece, I felt, is just like conceiving, carrying and delivering a baby. It involves apprehensions, an element of surprise, happiness, bit of discomfort, lots of dos and don’ts, lots of care and caution and of course lots of pain at the end. But the final product gives the unmatched joy, satisfaction never before…develops a rare, exclusive feel. ( I am yet to experience the physical pregnancy :-), but am much experienced with the mental one now :-)

I went through all the whole day.

I just loved it!!

My almost empty blog, I felt, need some pieces of good write ups urgently, and I want the year 2010 to end atleast with a double digit number in my blog space. :-)

Did not get any better a topic than my own experiences in a city am now living in, so close yet so alien…

Come…see the city through my window!!

The City of Joy… :-)

Landing up in Kolkta in a shortest notice, leaving Delhi (the last thing i wanted at that point of time), initial discomforts in the city, the humid climate, not so good experiences with people around left me with disgusts and filled me with much of negativities.I did not know what exactly the agony was and whom my so called rebellion was for? After all shifting to Kolkata was my very own and conscious decision.

There was none who was to be blamed for except the sweaty, chipchipa discomfort I was experiencing. Here I felt like as if each day was a struggle to survive….the metros used to scare me, so as the roads. The taxies used to take a toll on my purse and I repented for the first time for my decision of not learning driving.

Finding an accommodation was just like a live nightmare. The house brokers suggested the best possible accommodations which looked like not less than godown spaces. The old Kolkata was clumsy. The old structures were not left with much space around and staying there was the last thing I could think of. Finally I shifted to a hostel. The ambiance was no different. But it was near my workplace and readily available. I decided to take it up because I was yet to know the city closely. So staying near the workplace was the wisest idea then.

Language was a small difficulty, but the people were much more difficult. Delhi taught me independence, freedom of thought, expression and provided friends. The level of comfort I shared with Delhi, could not be established with Kolkata. I am struggling to establish the same till date. The crowded, thin roads, the hand rickshaws, the yet to be familiar snake-like, curvy routes (everyday I get confused on my way back to home), the rickshaw-wallas, open meat shops, the subzi vendors (who almost cover half of the road with their stuffs), the walking mass who hardly respond to horns and very rarely give space to cross them, above all the stinky ponds, water deposits and garbage mount (Each day I felt like vomiting while crossing those areas) just accelerated my discomfort and non-familiarity with the city. I, put all my efforts, mental strength to find out that only single reason that can establish the bond with the city. I desperately wanted to like the city (wish some day I will be able to replace the word “like” with “love”…though it seems difficult) but in vain.

The Joy Continues… :-)

It was not that the city had nothing of my liking. The list was decent enough. Rich Literature, Regular Theatres, Art Exhibitions, history-rich monuments, feel of british era, touch of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanada, Shri Aurobindo, Subhas Bose, Paramhansa Yogananda (surprisingly all my ideals were from this soil only). But books and the theatre were inaccessible as I did not know the language. (Limited translated Bengali literature is available anywhere in India) Belur Math, the only place, provided me with the much needed solace, but it was temporary. Travelling to Belur was just like a war. Over crowded metros, struggling taxies and moreover the dangerous pheris on river Hoogly, (a single unconscious step and you are vanished in the flowing, polluted water of Hoogly), along with all these the Belur visit also demanded a whole single day. Therefore, regular visit to Belur was next to impossible.
The famous kali temples, once visited, did not attract me for the second time. No…no issues with the Godess but the crowded, scary ambiance discouraged me like anything. So, with due respect to the Godess, the best temple I identified , was my heart. I started worshipping all the deities in my heart and mind, and avoided temples. The only innocent reason was I wanted to avoid the uncanny experience in temples.

Over-Joyed..:-)

Loneliness…loneliness mounted as a result. In Delhi I used to enjoy my seclusion. I used to use the time to write, read, browse the internet, or just sleep. I used to enjoy every bit of it. But, to my utter surprise the same seclusion scared me to hell in Kolkata. Many suggested that I should go for a flat mate. Atleast there would be someone at home to talk to. But I did not want to share my much difficultly spotted house (yes…I finally had shifted to a decent flat from the hostel) with any stranger, which I still strongly feel would have only added to my discomforts.

To avoid this, I started trying mixing up with people around. I was more than polite in my approach,(atleast I feel so), after all the need was exclusively mine. But, surprisingly, in return, I got stares, giggles and non-acceptance. The reason was quite clear. Being a girl (which I forget most the times), staying alone, managing the self alone, travelling alone (which at times my job demands), and moreover not having a marriage certificate or at least a sign of the same had made me not less than an alien, who can only be stared from a distance but can not be accepted as one of them. Delhi had not offered me such an experience ever, so I was not prepared for the same. The reaction surprised me….

Another important reason for this was the locality where I was staying. The very next door was owned by a retired clerk in some govt. organization whose only aim to get his 12th pass daughter married was fulfilled long back, the flat exactly below mine was occupied by a small grocery shop owner who did not allow the girls of his family to go out alone ever and next to him was a private school teacher who always made a face when ever he used to see me in denims and talking over mobile. Few of the women of t`he society started coming to my flat (almost in a way of trespassing) and used to verify each room (even the food made in the kitchen) and directly indirectly used to query about my marital status and relationship status along with so many personal questions. This was becoming a kind of headache day by day.

Some of them once sacrificed their so precious early morning sleep and peeped from their respective balconies, to see my cousin who was boarding a taxi at 4 A.M to catch an early morning flight, and i had come down to see him off. With due respect to my ex-neighbors, I still feel sorry to disappoint them and questioning their right to appease their curiosity of finding the truth, which could have further helped them to cook up some masala stuff. Anyways...the truth was that my cousin, who came to Kolkata for some official assignment and whom I had allowed to stay with me for 2 days did not carry any identification cum relationship-tag with him nor did I bother to explain the same to the gentlemen.

My blunt nature and happy-go-lucky attitude which has always been admired by most people around, first time forced me to think twice over its display. I hardly wear salwar kameez, not because I do not like salwars but I prefer denims and tees because its more comfortable, handy and easy to use for a lazy bull like me. But then I consciously bought some salwars and started avoiding sleeveless kurtas. I started tying my hair up, avoided using english language in public places and minimized my public appearances. I did all my shopping (grocery to vegetables, safety pin to gadgets) in shopping malls even if it was an extra burden on my purse. The reason, I wanted to avoid local shops and the stares. But all these only made me feel like a self-made prisoner. I was loosing myself in course.

I started marking a difference within. A kind of unnamed fear was mounting inside me day by day. A fear for the place, the people, the ambiance or may be fear for the mounting fear itself. I remembered that i had not read a single book, written a single paragraph, watched a single pragramme of my choice on TV, had not even tried to see the city through my own eyes, have not lived a single day in the city in my own sweet way since the moment I had arrived in Kolkata. I had almost stopped living for myself. Hobbies were on verge of death and I hardly cared to water them. I felt as if I am trying to be moulded as the city/people want me to. BUT WHY….WHY THE HELL SHOULD I??

One thing then became pretty clear that I did not want to loose myself in the very course…my very own sweet self.

Constipated…:-)

Being thoroughly watched by so many eyes everyday and seeing so many ready candidates to make an entry into my most personal arena in the very next available chance knocked at my mind and suggested me to change the house asap. But again, finding a decent house (keeping in mind conveyance, security, water supply, electricity, rent and moreover the willingness of the landlord to lend me the house even after knowing my marital status) was really a task.

A bugged, pareshaan ME, one night logged on to google (the only thing that assures a minimum 10 pages of solutions for anything in this world) shouting “HELLPPP”.

God in form of Google J helped me…got a link. An add for an independent house available for rent in a better locality with a decent rent amount attracted my attention. I picked up the number posted in the add and dialed instantly. The first line of the house owner seemed like nectar to my ears. A smile peeped on my lips. THE OWNER WAS NOT A LOCALITE AND STAYED IN BANGALORE (Banagaluru now)!! WOW…!!!!! No kich kich..no jhik jhik till the time I would be regular with transferring my rent on time, on line. What better could I expect for??

Difficultly suppressing my ecstasy, I negotiated on other things and fixed up an appointment for next day to see the house. They arranged for the keys.

Next day was welcomed by rain, and it happily made the city hopeless for commuting with in minutes. But the new found ray of hope, the new house, had made me more adamant so I decided to continue with my home search mission in spite of regular and healthy pouring.

A half drenched ME, finally reached the venue after knocking so many wrong doors and apologizing the inmates for disturbing. I finally collected the keys from the neighbours. Another smile peeped up on my lips as I saw a picture of Sai baba on the key ring. I took it as a good omen and a positive sign. I opened the door…

…Darkness welcomed me inside. No tube light was in working condition. So expecting to see the house properly was a hopeless idea at that moment. But the pushy fighter inside me did not let me come back without entering each of the rooms. I switched on the mobile light and verified each room. The ambiance was mystic. I was reminded of each horror movie I had seen till date. But I continued…

The house was big enough for a family of 4 or may be 6. But I had to stay alone there. The locality was decent enough and equipped with 24 hours water supply, generator, in case there is any power-cut and a security guard at the entrance all the time. Most importantly my neigbours were South Indians with much better profiles. They too stared at me, but only to welcome. It full filled almost all my criteria and I instantly decided to shift.

I did not have much stuff with me, so shifting was not a headache. I rented a taxi, rented a coolie and shifted within 2 hours on 31st of the month.

I was still a bit apprehensive about the new place and maintained a low profile. But the apprehension started diminishing with time. Got a maid, got all access to all other amenities, got a promotion, got a friend, got a much needed mental stability and moreover got the WINTER :-) My first winter in Kolkata. I missed the winters in Delhi, but enjoyed the cold blows in Kolkata too. J I unpacked my denims and started wearing them again with a smile on my face. This time I did not see raised eye brows around me. I sighed with relief….FINALLY! :-) :-)

Here after nine long months, when I see the city, I find no change around. The roads, the crowd, the stink, the garbage mounts, and the people are still the same. Same are the stares and non acceptance by a particular mass. But on the other hand, I see its not affecting me anymore. It took me nine long months to adapt and accept Kolkata, and to prepare myself not to be affected much by the whims and fancies of the city. I accepted the polluted water of Ganga and went for boat rides in moon light, the Victoria memorial and the ride on tom tom (horse driven carts) seemed okay, I started enjoying the puchkas on road-sides which was missing in Delhi and I accepted the crowded metros and made a room for myself in its compartments!

Yes…Kolkata is yet to replace Delhi, but the acceptance has made my life much easier. See… I am updating my blog after eight long months, I am writing and smiling …OHH MY GOSHH:-) :-)
The struggle has made me learn so much, the strong ME has become stronger only!!

Before finishing this write up I would like to apologize the Kolkatans, if have hurt them in any way!! (my experiences were exclusively personal not necessarily to be experienced by every new entrant of the city)

So, Guyzzz….its high time i should take your leave and looking forward for your wishes and precious comments….and do not make any change in your travel plans for he city (if any)

:-) :-)

BE BLESSED AND KEEP SHINING!!

Love,

Shree :-)

Heyyy…stop…the sweetest thing I forgot to share- “I can now speak Bengali fluently and have joined A DRIVING SCHOOL!!” :-) :-) :-)