Is being born a girl an abomination?

This is a question that I dont ask myself but want to ask all those inhuman devils who murder and abolish the female fetus even before it takes its first breathe of air in this world, or a girl child that’s brutally destroyed and made non existent even before she reaches adolescence. It brings in rage, anger, anguish, pity, pain and so many more emotions when I read articles of this in newspapers, blogs and watch it on the television. I find it even more hard to believe that even in this so called Ultra Modern era, a girl child born in some parts of the world finds it difficult to find her existence and survive it out in the cruel world.

My mind boggles and it worries me internally why is the girl child hated so much by so many? What is it that makes us different from the male offspring? What makes them more superior, that they are yearned and desired so much? And, I find absolutely no answers! It probably could because of the way I interpret and see things – that I find men no mightier than the women.

The other day I saw a horrid picture of a female fetus thrown into a drain along with the placenta attached to it. It was a sight that I swear would never wanna see again in my life and it gave me shivers and jitters, not to mention many sleepless nights. The picture agitated me and made me grieve for the poor thing, and for many more such beautiful creatures of God that are disrespected and thrown away in drains, buried alive or even burnt alive. My heart goes out to those little ones who just arent allowed to see the first light of this world, and brings out my aggression and makes me furious against those mothers who let this happen to their own blood and tissue. Doesnt her conscience ever humiliate her for her action? Make her feel disgraceful and ashamed of the action? Or is she is so overpowered by her relatives that she forgets that she herself is a woman? God… how can someone be so barbaric and brutal to an innocent little child and punish her for no fault or offense.

I hear educated folks craving and wanting for their yet to be born child to be a boy, such is a society of ours! Makes me feel lucky to be born and raised by parents who dint care for these old school thoughts and nurtured me without implanting any thoughts of discrimination that could make me feel inferior to my male counterparts. To this day, I personally know families that rejoice and feel top of the world to have had male heirs and sulk when a girl child is born. Why these double standards? Why this injustice even in this age when men and women are treated as equals and must I frame it more appropriately – when men and women are equals.

The male to female ratio in many states in India is reaching marks that is very worrying, alarming and needs concrete action and heads up. There could be a time when men would outnumber the women creating an imbalance that will take decades and centuries to correct. I really pray that people stop being foolishly smitten by conservative and absolutely baseless sh** induced into their heads from generations and generations. Its the demand of time that girl child be let to live in this world, as the world is as much hers as its yours and mine. If we do not stop female infanticide and female feticide now, the future generations will face consequences that cant be accessed nor can be fought against.

It will be a plague for which the entire human race will pay a heavy price – this isnt an warning but a prophecy.

Sporadic

No specific subject just passing thoughts, questions, my views and my way of seeing things. Its been quite a long absence from my blog and reasons for it have been several. My laziness tops them all followed by my inability to concentrate and think of a subject on which I wanna write. Many topics flash but just that none make it to the ms word. And so I thought why not pen a kaleidoscope of various things that I had been wanting to write but couldn’t make one single blog.

Like a new trend of movies where they show multiple stories and weave them like beads in one thread, I tried to give the same a shot. Need to see how’s the response from my couple of readers gonna be????

Piracy

This is my most recent topic of interest when I heard one of the newly released movie’s producer jailing someone for piracy. And then my brain started taking its course on this not so relevant topic, and I asked for myself why Piracy? Yes I watch movies online that surely are not the legal copies, and enjoy them no matter how bad the print is. Let it be blurred, let it have visions of people buying popcorns, seeing someone enter the theater late in the movie, see numerous shadows, added soundtracks of whistles, claps, hootings, children crying, seeing people get up and move around, and also see the constantly shaking camera never focused on the screen. I do because I feel that it’s not worth paying Rs.100 – 350 for a movie and watch it in a theater. I am a ordinary person and it pinches me to spend so much for movie tickets and an extra Rs.70 – 100 on extra fillings like popcorn and drinks. This was my situation in Bangalore, where there are either multiplexes or tents. There is nothing for an ordinary middle class – upper middle class, and yes I feel its expensive and ridiculous. Why will the aam janata in Bangalore want to spend so much for a 3 hrs of entertainment when he can possibly take his family out for a lunch with the same amount that he pays for a ticket?

In contrast to this city like Hyderabad has awesome theaters with AC and dolby digital sound system for just Rs.40 per ticket for balcony. This is the highest in a theater and the lowest price can go upto Rs 10 for benches. This means that anyone from a auto rickshaw driver to a beggar to middle class and upper middle class families can enjoy movies in a theater with their entire family and still feel good about it.  I haven’t been to any other city and so cant comments or compare it to Bangalore. Bangalore has become a hub only for multiplexes and seems like it caters only to IT Professional who earns a bomb every month. So I feel that the lack of infrastructure is a reason for people like me to opt for Pirated version of movies. I too am an IT professional and it surely hurts my pocket when I have to shell close to 400 Rs for a ticket.  We go to shows that start at 10 to get tickets on discounted prices. By the way some theaters which screen only one show and are in the center of the city charge no less that in the Multiplex. Basically the trend I see is that single theaters have washed away giving way to the new age Multiplexes.

My view – Multiplex owners make the prices low and u will earn more profits.

The determination guilt

The other day I was in the gym panting and puffing my heart on the treadmill, gasping for some oxygen and profusely sweating, and just on the other treadmill was an old man, about 60 – 65 yrs of age speeding on the machine at the same speed as me and being completely normal. Not a sign of tiredness did I spot and he just went on and on with complete focus unlike me who kept taking regular long breaks. I timed him and saw that he ran for about 30 min non-stop at close to 5.5 mph and stopped only after the 30 min session was completed. I was wonder stuck and wanted to know what energy drink he was having so that I could try out the same. And then we spoke, he said – “Hi”, in reply I said a “Hi” with my voice hardly audible in between of the sooper loud panting. I said – “You have a great stamina”. He said quite slowly, wiping his sweat – “Thanks, it comes with practice”. Now I got curious and that time my tongue hardly stays in my mouth – I bounced back asking – how do u do that? What’s the mantra? He gave a smile – which I interpreted as you Indians are so so curious about knowing things and trying to see how you could copy it… He said – “I have a goal, and treat myself everytime I reach it.” Now it got me even more excited and curious to know what was the goal and more than that what was the treat.. . He said – “If I go to the gym and do a 30 min exercise for 3 days continuously, I treat myself on the end of the 3^rd day with a glass of wine, or a pastry, or even an awesome dinner. This way I keep myself motivated and on the goal. I then take a day off and start my next 3 day regime. This goes on and I have been doing it for sometime.”  I was totally impressed and seemed like a simple plan of execution that was achievable. The treat was always a bonus and you could measure your progress in ur goal that way. The key was self-motivation along with determination, which was completely absent in my case. He was nice enough to also add – “Start slow and then make it vigorous when you feel comfortable”. I was all boosted up and decided to do the same, but till day my regime has never gone on 3 days continuous. I treat myself once the 2^nd day is done and 3^rd day I bunk, and then get totally irregular. But now I am back again, to follow, cos I feel that we all have our days of laziness, but we should stretch it too much, it then becomes a lifestyle .

I am working on it now and I am sure I will succeed. What I really learned that day was most Americans have determination for achieving somethings, following some practices which they follow no matter what the consequence may be, and sense of strong will power. I am not idolizing them but I appreciate a few things about them.

I now feel I think different, more positive than before and more focused. It was a day I might hardly forget.

Strangers and Voyages

During my numerous visits to various parts of America, I have met several strangers – people with whom I have talked out of the blue, shared contact details and become friends, and with others, got to hear the various agonies and experiences of their lives without even knowing their names. When I am reminded of those moments it just feels beautiful to listen to someone for hours not asking them their names and bidding good byes with pleasant smiles.

But the people I have met and talked to on these instances have been elderly people, who I assume just want someone to hear to them, and probably their children are no longer interested in their talks. I met a Vietnam war veteran in Seven Falls Colorado, a beautiful couple on the return train journey  from Niagra, girls from Russia in Aspen and so many more. Friendly and absolutely not hesitant of sharing their thoughts.  Such people leave a mark in your life and make your journey more memorable as its not only the places you have seen you recollect but the people you met during these adventures that make it more eventful and interesting.

Looking ahead for many more such journeys and many more beautiful people to meet up.

Flicks that click

My top picks of absolute favs that I love watching any time, any day and any number of times. For those who have an opinion after reading the blog that these are not ur favs, two words – “Buzz Off”. These are the movies that I relate with some day in the past or some kind of an instance it reminds me of my innumerable crushes, infatuations, confusions, beautiful days with friends and Adi etc etc etc Smokyyyyyyyyy….Mostly moments that have passed on and emotions that have lasted..

Well I have other bigger lists which I think I will jot down someother day, but for now these are the ones that flash in my brain.I have marked them pretty randomly so no particular sequence or order here. I dint want to write the story line of it cos thats not wht I intend to do. It just contains a synopsis of what I relate to when I see the movie.

• Dil chahta hain – Its like a cocktail – sweetness of romance, tang of friendship, blast of fun, and this is one perfect movie I am sure most love. It just peps up the mood and fills in happiness indescribable.
• P.S. I love you – You know what you havent valued when it was with you until you lose it. This movie portrays this emotion so finely and yet sticks in your mind the awe of romance. Gerald butler’s voice is sooooooooo yum… Like a chocolate bar filled with nuts hmmm falling short of comparison actually… Love the striptease he does and the background music is more like the catalyst to the whole mood of this movie.
• 27 dresses - Absolute Chick flick, and I loved the hero. Somehow its a “feel good” factor movie, for some strange reason it appears on my list
• A walk to remember – Plain, simple and yet impactful.
• The Ugly truth – Now this is the movie I call pervert comedy. A complete entertainer, like a Cracker.
• Lakshya - Cant decide if its Hrithik or the way the story was portrayed that I love the most abt this movie. Both I guess… But I luvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv this movie.
• Gone with the wind – Long very long, yet beautifully made.
• Behind enemy lines, Saving Private Ryan – Oh… these movies are fantastic, the “guys love” kind of a movie. I like Black hawk down of the similar genre. Adreline rush, keeping u hooked all the time.
• Forrest Gump – I think its my best pick in the whole series. Never have I got bored seeing this movie, everytime it feels like its my first time. Refreshing as cuppa Coffee.
• Kuch Kuch hota hain – I loveeeeeeeee this movie, cos of so many reasons one being – Kajol plays the character that has my name. Just kidding, I think I love it for some scenes that I personally like – the dance in the rain, the song – “Tujhe yaad na meri aayi”, so many more…
• Paa - no dishum dishum & can easily make you cry. Elements of emotion, romance, witty, comedy all in all.
• Hangover – This movie gives me a hangover everytime I watch it. i feel like I have been on a super roller coaster ride as I watch this movie. An absolute Timepass and a slapstick

Americanised…

Howdyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….Its finally time for me to jot down some of my terrible changed lifestyles after being in the US. Well now those who think I am yappying off can continue to do so, cos you have no idea what it is to live in a country where you just cant fantasize about Indian food and think yeah lets go to that Darshini near our home and binge out on those lovely idlis, cutneys, dosas etc…  You will just see the downside of all that very soon…

So lets start this incredible post with how my day begins… My breakfast… Hmmm now if I was back home, I wouldn’t take a second look on those amazingly designed colourful well stacked cartons in a supermarket that claim to be an Ideal breakfast… But here as ironic as it may seem the CORNFLAKES turns out to be my everyday breakfast and even lunch on my sooper lazy days. Just imagine being kickstarting yourday with cornflakes swimming in a cup of white milk, and with addons of Strawberries or nuts or honey oats or vanilla and so on and so forth, and you just think wish there was masala dosa instead. Freakkkyyyyy.. Yes it is, and that’s where you slowly start adapting to the American lifestyle. You don’t realize the change that something u hated back home is turning out to be ur life jacket Yukkkkkkkkkkk… I just fantasize about the dosas and the vadas as I take a scoop of my source of vitamins and fibres that claim I could loose 6 Pounds in 2 weeks… How inspiring!!!! Oh yeah you did u notice this – you forget the kilos and all you know is the pounds and ounces, litre displaced by Gallons, kms by miles and you know you have caught on the American bug

Well discussed a lot on food, now lets get onto another terminology that I horribly hate here. We are called “Desis” by our own race. Towers of Sarcasm… I just cant understand why are we desis??? I mean we call someone a desi, this is back home – someone who must be from some long lost rural village that might take even Google sometime to locate on the Indian map, and we call Indians from cosmopolitans cities of India as “Desis”. Sorry but I kind of hate that word. And what I hate even more is f****** accent we try and put up after coming to America. Come on guys we have a decent accent don try to make it all weird. Its torturous to even hear some bloody junkie recruiter trying to put up a hideous accent and talk to you. She acts as if her 7 generations has lived and toiled around in America. I think we loose it all when we come here… We pretend to be Americanised…

Now let me touch upon the topic of shopping, this is my fav part where I have done a Ph D you can say on how we shop… Back home we wudnt step into a seconds sale or even a discounted sale. How many of us have really gone to a seconds Sale or a discounted sale until and unless its not Levi’s or Pepe or Nike that’s announcing it in a small little article in some news paper. Here on the contrary we turn out to shopping here only when there are discounts. Here the discounts happen in funny ways and you shop in funny ways as well. We bring winter clothing in peak summers cos they are on discounts. Yes they are cheap and more than they being cheap they fit our budget which is most important. We buy summer clothing in peak winters, this is the shopping mantra in the US. Offseason clothes for cheap and discounted rates. You are never choosy about the clothes here if they are on discounts, no matter what the color or the size we are ready to steal the bargain. Best thing is we buy smaller size clothes with the upright optimism that we may shrink down eating all the salads and cornflakes, which as usual never happens, cos beer is cheaper as well Am I being totally crappy head now, well may be but that’s what our psychology and our views become when we come here. And like I said before some traits of our roots don’t just vanish. Like Russell Peters said in one of his acts – “We are cheap man and there is nothing wrong in admitting it”. And may be this is one of the reasons that we have managed to survive out in this really costly country where a plain black coffee is more than 50 bucks. We might be the first ones in line for a Black Friday sale (ofcourse Americans also wait for it for the whole year) or any sale for that matter Its in our DNA… Just that they wait to buy a LCD TV or lawn mower and we wait to buy a laptop or even a GPS or colored printer

And we become all health conscious after we come here. You can see women of all ripened ages hitting on the threadmill to get all toned and look sassy… And there are some chicks like me too who are absolutely jobless and don have better things to do who also end  up for some free tv watching as we burn some of those ghee calories. One more thing I have noticed is that we don really socialize well with fellow Indians. I have hesitated to talk to someone I see and we act so pricy, with full on attitudes like “I don’t care and like to be alone”. Well why do I hesitate? I did some analysis on myself and found that I do cos I see only ladies with kids around and I want someone of my age group (whatever that means…). Well trying hard to cope up with things here, but its actually quite an insight to how we behave in Foreign countries Its been an wholesome new experience and may be I will share more when I happen bounce on somemore… But for now this is it about my process of dealing with my own Americanisation… Cheersssssssssssss…

Cupid strikes…not just once…

Pretty long time this post has awaited to get completed and come over for others eyes to look and minds to read. Its been a post that I have had difficulty in writing cos I haven been able to figure out where I need to draw line and whts the limits.

Love they say comes to you just once in a lifetime and I think thats absolute crap. You find love and it sure comes to you more than once, its just that you need to look out for it. I have seen many with soaring hearts and dejected by love and telling me its all over, but I know that there is no way in the world you can stop yourself from falling in love again, and it just happens. Love is so beautiful, eternal…,if it can give u pain it can sure revive you from it as well. Thats what I have learnt from experiences both mine and others. I have seen people love again like its their first time and they forget that one bad experience they must have had.

Can you hold yourself out from feeling love for someone? To just know what it would be like to spend a few moments looking into their eyes and not say a word?Thats a question for which my answer would be a big NO, you cant hold back from doing it again and again…

Everyone wants to be loved, wants to love, be cared for, hold someone really close on the day its cold, its raining, to kiss someone so intensely that you feel like there is not gonna be another day like this. I think its the magic of love that makes the world go around, it makes you do the things  you would think is rubbish and insane if someone else was to do it. It makes u so insane and so into it, the world revolves around this one person and you cant stop that from happening. And so i cant stop thinking how you could stop loving..

The pain of a lost love is unbearable but the whole thought of falling in love again and giving it another chance is absolutely irresistible. This post goes out to all those in pain of not being able to love and trust anyone again – mend your hearts cos there is someone waiting for you out there and may be you should just let your heart trace out give it another chance cos you deserve better… Love is boundless and another chance to someone who really deserves it is something you should never restrict yourself from. I strongly feel that there is a time when you will meet that special someone who will sweep you off your feet, whose nonsense talks makes your day bright, whose one smile, one hug can makes you feel that you have waited for this for a zillion years… You find love and you find it more than once in a lifetime… Ways to mend a broken heart is not to shut it from the rest of the world, but to let it fly across and find the love in a person who could be waiting just for u…

I have seen people go lucky second time in love even the first one dint succeed, may be traces of the last relationship burns your heart and feelings but over the period it just becomes a grave, a lost thing for which ruining your life isnt worthwhile. This line is only for those who were truly in love with someone and cudnt make it to be the only one, there is a second or even a third… Love and you never know when you will find the one that truly belongs only to you.

P.S: This post is not for those who “think” they love someone new every night, or just a playtime thing. You just wasted your time in something thats absolutely irrelevant to you, ur lil brains cant take such amazing stuff.

“Every lovebird finds that one partner with whom it would live forever and die for….”

(I must mention that I was quite inspired to resume writing this post when I heard to Kisses and Cake soundtrack from P.S I Love U by John Powell)

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier is one of the finest afro-american actors whose movies I fortunately got to see. All the roles that he has played seem to be tailor made for him, be it the Mark Thackrey in To sir with Love or Dr Prentice in Guess who’s coming for dinner or Noah in Simple life of Noah Jones. He has given the most outstanding performance with neat elegance that kind of made me watch his movies over and again. His performance I feel over shadows all other characters and you just get that feel good factor when you finish watching them.

To Sir With Love

In this movie Sidney plays the role of a school teacher Mark Thackrey who out of no choice opts to be a teacher. He is supposedly an electrical engineer and gets rejected in places where he applies since he is a “colored” man(which is not directly told to him) or he is over qualified than the “white” men who might be their seniors or junior colleagues. So out of no go he joins this school that’s completely not as he imagines. The children have absolutely no discipline, no interest towards learning, have more problems than they can handle and are not even tidily dressed. He isn’t accepted at first but then the students start respecting him and follow what he has to offer. Sidney has done outstandingly well and his acting so perfect that you can feel the whole book unfolding in front of your eyes. The book is more elaborate though and I think I enjoyed the book more, but nevertheless the movie is the best becos  of Sidney. I think it’s a must see just like the next 2 movies I will write about.

 

Guess who’s coming for Dinner

The movie is about a white girl falling in love with a colored man and how they need their parents approval for the marriage.You can see the review of this movie in http://rjayanthan.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-review/ who has very brilliantly written what I would have wanted to. Sidney Poitier who plays Dr Printice in this movie Is an absolute Gentleman. His expressions and dialogue deliveries are so crisp and so mature that you could just fall in love with the character. The way he carries off an attitude of a man with values and who is determined not to get married to the girl he absolutely loves without the consent of both sides of parents is so well done. His acting seemed natural and realistic. I don’t know if anyone could really do it so well as him.

 

The simple life of Noah Jones

I think this must be one of his recent movies, this was done in late 90’s I guess. But again a splendid performance. Noah Jones is the character he plays, a carpenter by profession and someone who is more than 100 yrs old. Some builders want to capture his land and convert it into a shopping mall. In this Sidney acts as a man who is completely aloof of the world and is absolutely untouched by people or technology. A total loner for whom the world is his work and nothing else. His world revolves around doing his work and not socializing with people. An elderly person whose innocence and quite nature is taken advantage of. Sidney Poitier’s expression does the magic. Very few dialogues but very brilliant role and a rather strong role. By far a nice movie that you could watch on a beautiful nite. The ending of the movie where he actually caresses a a dog is so cute and the way he cares for the girl who saves his land is very touching.

Overall Sidney Poitier is one fine actor and I would love to watch his movies  over and again for the performance he shows on screen. Simply Superb….

My Journey in US – Part1:California

Yehoo… My travelogue goes international… well it certainly doesnt have anything that you might not have heard of, but for the first timers to US like me, its sure is a guide of what not to miss on a high level.

San Diego

Now this was my home for close to  3 months and I completely loved this place. I will always wanna go back to Sunny San Diego. Has a huge amount of Mexican influence, shouldn’t be surprising as the Mexican border is not very far off from here. Its probably the last big destination before you enter into Mexicano Now with Mexican influence I would generally mean you can see  a lot of Mexican people and lots of mexican restos. Chipotle is the best place if you wanna try any mexican food. You will like it cos its kind of Indian. Damn I just deviated from my subject…

Now the must see of San Diego as far as I know are:

Beaches

You have many of them and the commutation is just easy.. Take public transportation like buses and trolleys or rent a car. Mission Beach is one such Beach which I went to and it was pretty nice. Reminded me of Goa and it was no different.

San Diego Zoo and Safari

People say its one of the best and a must see. I missed it. Nevertheless it can be added in my To Do list if I ever get to go to SD again…

Los Angeles

They say its the most commercial place in the southern part of California and it should be.. this place happens to be the hub of IT and automobile companies and also the home to the Hollywood’s greatest studios – Universal Studios…

A visit to Hollywood studios should be marked the top on the list if u happen to visit LA. A whole day feels well spent when u enter this place where the world’s best movies are made. This experience to the Universal studios will be one everlasting memory that you will carry with you, well thats what I felt. The universal studio tour is a must see, if you miss this, then Dude you have missed the grand show of the whole trip They keep updating it and you will actually see urself feeling familiar with the place. The 3D King kong show was the best part of the studio tour and its been brilliantly done.

There are a lot of adventurous rides that you must try like – The Mummy ride, Jurassic Park and Simpson’s ride. simpson’s ride was the best by far that I liked. Then there are other shows like Terminator, Shrek, Behind the scenes of how movies are made etc… At the end of the day you will feel it was a day well spent.

Dont forget to try the Hard Rock Cafe outside the studios if you are a great fan of this chain. Its like a must visit. You can shop.strll around, and get all wild and wicked and noone will actually care.

Hollywood sign was something I missed, takes another day which we couldnt kind of manage. But yeah put that on your list of must visits to complete the Hollywood journey.

The Hollywood walk of fame on Sunset boulevard is the must see. Kodak theatre, Madamme Tussads, Ripley’s believe it or not,its all here on this amazing stretch of road. It keeps buzzing with people moving up and down and this part of the city hardly shuts down I think. Kodak theater is where the Oscar happens and we went on odd timings. Go early and you can actually take a tour ride which covers most Kodak theatre and Beverly Hills. Kodak theatre actually has shopping complexes within and well Ii dint find anything much to really talk about. Next stop was Beverly Hills, – yeah you find lots of beautiful houses and ofcourse this is where the celebrities live. Awesome place cos you find each house is distinct and wonderfully maintained. Ofcourse they have to be.

Guess thats about the parts of California I got to see. I missed couple of places like San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Big Bear,Sacremento, Mammoth etc… But may be if I had been a little longer there, I could have written more. Nevertheless optimistic side of it is that I got to be in one of the most favorite states of US and I am sure I might just come back some day to see the places that were in my wishlist visits in CA.

The Killer,The Death machine – MIGs

This post has been on my mind for sometime now and every time I watch Rang De Basanthi it makes me more desperate to write this one.So this post is dedicated to my brave and precious brother Mohan. No, correction its got to be Late Sqn Ldr Mohan Kumar, one of the most daring, very capable and absolutely talented pilot of Indian Air Force.

His name gets me a faint memory of a handsome person with an height of more than 6 Feet, smart and who was extremely loved by all in the family. A person who could only be a epitome of love, sacrifice and lots of dreams. Someone who always had a dimpled smile to die for.I met him when I was around 13 or so… He was my cousin, a cousin quite different from the others. He was affectionate and would take me around his farm and tell me lovely stories. My Dad was always proud of him, not because he was a part of the Indian Air Force, but because he was one of finest pilots that Air force could have produced. He got promoted to the post of Squadron leader much ahead of his peers and was always appreciated by his superiors. He never told me stories of air crafts or of MIG 21s that he used to fly though I pestered him for it. I wanted to be a pilot just like him and that was my ambition then. Yes he used to fly the MIG-21s, supposed to be crowned as the best Indian Air force had. I must have seen him in quite a few occasions as my vacations never matched with his and my visits to Kerala was seldom once a year. But we used to have long chats with the family whenever he was around.

He was married just a little more than a year before he died in a plane crash on 13 Oct 2000 in Bikaner. That was probably the moment his newly wed bride would have never dreamed off. The ill fate that took away the life of a very young and loved man. I still remember that just a few weeks before this incident there were a series of crashes of the MIG – 21s and they were named as the death machine. Many pilots lost their lives and many were lucky to Eject. I used to wonder why the govt did not take any action to stop these accidents from happening, and that they had to be in the junk yards than in the air killing pilots.
The 13 Oct 2000 will remain in my head and heart as the day when I lost my brave brother. I was shocked and in tears to hear the brave act he put in order to save a village that was under the plane that had lost its controls and could have become the crash site. Officially only one person was killed but they say many could have been. That day he might have never thought that his routine training flight would be the killer machine for him. he dint eject fearing how many could have died, he let his life sacrifice for the tens and hundreds to be saved.I salute him and the act that he put up. Rang De Basanthi is one such movie I really love cos I see my Brother in Madhavan’s role. Yes MIGs were the killer machines, the machine that took away lives of so many pilots who werent supposed to die. I came across a site which showed that 22 incident occured in the year 2000 alone where MIGs either crashed killing the pilot or many ejected and all this due to the malfunctioning of these outdated machines. Govt did finally stop using these machines for trainings as well, but then it was late.

I still go to the place where he was buried and his mom has that pain even now I can feel. The loss of her young son is something none of us can even imagine. I feel it too for he was a loving person very dear to God. He wanted to live long, wanted to love his parents, be in the house he built for his family and live many lives as a son,a husband, a brother… when his body(hardly any of it was found) was bought to Palakkad his home town there was a lightening strike and people who dug his grave, couple of them died in the lightening that stuck there. His mother who witnessed this told us – “He dint want to go… he went after he saw us and took along with him 6 people”. For her the time stopped. His grandmother could not stop crying cos he was her favorite grandson. And for me the site of the charred tree hit due to lightening and his grave is the sign that he died before his time. It brings tears of my eyes even after a decade f his death when I go there. I am in tears everytime I see RDB and I never wanted to be a pilot after that.

I love you Mohan etta and RIP.

To all the people in the Indian armed forces(AF,Army and Navy) I salute your bravery and wish that you all live long…

US Here I come

As I had written in last travelogue, US or ladakh will be my next destinations that I will write abt and here I am in US writing all my experiences.This is gonna be just the post where I willl write my experiences I had in the first few day of being here. So here I am in San Diego in California enjoying the mix of sun and shivering cold breeze and enjoying the other side of life I had never experienced. what that is? Its called being a home maker,house wife etc etc… Yeah my first break with absolutely no thoughts of code,work and meetings. I am getting a hang of being this way,but must say its tuff  considering the fact that I was like 8+ hours in cubicles among colleagues and friends and this being a complete opposite.All rite let me now say my first reactions of landing in USA and how the overall 24 hour journey sucked….

Well I departed from Bangalore – my most fav place in the whole damn earth on a lousy monday evening. My parents and in laws were at the airport to bid me farewell and man it was a tuff part. Saying goodbye to the people I love the most was the horrible thing to do, and for a moment i wanted to turn back and just run back to car and say – “Dad lets go home, i dont wanna go to Adi”. But then on the other end I had an excitement of meeting Adi and be in the place I always dreamed of. Even after having a L1 visa i never had the oppurtunity to go to the Land of Oppurtunities and the land that every Indian professional wants to be – United States of America So i complete my immigration checks and then wait 2 long hours for the Emirates flight that will take me to Dubai. Why Dubai?? Ask the conceirges who booked my tickets so that she can save a lot of company money.. yeah I was going there bitti with Adi’s company paying the costs Delightful hhuh… actually yeah… i wud not have spent a pie from my pocket for sure. Well so I then board the Flight to Dubai get a window seat for which I am all smiles and within my heart thank Adi for doing the online check in. I then look around and find just very few ppl in the flight, I even wonder if I boarded the wrong plane… well some habits die hard – it was like i have boarded some wrong bus Then there are these very beautiful air hostesses with bright red lipsticks who give a nice smile and welcome ppl.I kept praying that d seat next to me be vacant and I be the sole traveler :) Well it did happen that way and I got the
previlege of stretching myself and having the whole seat for myself… wah journey queen size I was never hesitant to make them serve me water and juices all thru the journey. Paisa vasool karna jo tha… chahe woh company ka ho ya humara kya farak padtha hain?

Stage 2 – Dubai Airport

Anyways i land out in Dubai airport and then have this tensed walk to the terminal 3 from terminal 1 where I got down.. Why tensed! Cos i could only find alleys and esclators with noone arnd whom I could ask for the right way. Well the whole walk was a scary one as well, I could only find loads of restrooms and noone around.. Damn that walk must be the fastest I had in my life And then I finally end this scary walk at the Terminal one where I had to get the boarding passes to my next flight which was like 4 hours later. Indians checking out at these places asking if we were carrying any other persons items. Ya right, I left my Java books back in India cos I dint have enough weight to carry and you think I willl take anyone else’s stuff. Well security checks done and got the boarding passes and walk to the Gate 109. I was in awe of the size of Dubai airport.. It was sooooooooooooooo huge and if I remember the last gate was 350. I am sure that its not like it has 350 gates but then the enomity of the airport took me by surprise. And that was when in those 3 hours I saw so many people of different race, languages etc etc.. So many Indians waiting to go home or to the other destinations. It was fun and I really enjoyed seeing people going to and fro past me. I then go through the security check to board the United Airlines to Washington, my first port of entry into USA…. Well the sec check here was intense. People had to remove their shoes off as well. I wonder why India does not impose this? And thats when I spoke to the first Indian outside our country and that too in Kannada. He was this sec checking guy,made me feel happy Namma karnataka guy in Dubai… Dubai looked spectacular from the ariel view… I could see so many different patterns made by the lightings that lit up streets and roads of Dubai… Damn i wanted to be in that city for a stroll… So now I was mentally ready for a 14 hour flight but then I dint think it will actually be so pathetic… 14 hrs of being in air was like OMG so boring… I tried sleeping,but well couldnt. Movies played were crappy and overall service not great. The flight crew dint have any handsome guys as well, I mean no inspirations at all. SO BAD… Anyways time ticks off and I get to actually speak to an Indian born now American lady.. she was returning bak from Hyderabad and headed to Virginia.. Spoke to her in the last 5 hours of flight, she was of great help in terms of filling up the immigration and custom docs…..And then I bid her farewell in the flight and all set to set my foot on USA…

 

Stage 3 – Washinton Dullas Airport

I bundle up my jacket and carry on my luggage and move to the immigration check to get stamped with H4. Hmmmm I must say I loved USA after this moment. My immigration officer was a smart handsome guy with dark hair and broad shoulders.. he was a piece of cake well me all tensed walked up and said hi he looked up with a smile and said Hello how u doing today.. I give a sheepish smile and said fine thank you,how u? he said good… next he looks into my passport and asks me details like where is ur husband working, I answer obidently, next comes the tricky q – are u carrying any food. I said confidently – NO. He asked me again and I still said NO. he was like – “No even achar”, I was taken back… He was talking in Hindi.. wow…. Loved the way he said “achar” in the hinglish accent… I said – “No” again being all scared now… wht if they ripped open my luggage and found packets of it… I will spend the rest of my life in the prisons of Washington… Then he said – “You know what you can actually carry achar”. I very innocently said – “OH i dint know taht”. He then asked me what are you gonna do in US? i said – “I am gonna  be a house wife”.. he said – “Thats bad… U can work here”.. I wanted to say – “ya sure… y don u get me a job dude…” he asked me what have you studied.. I said I am an Engineer, and for that his reply was “you should try for a job,m sure you will get it”. Ya sure if you were the one interviewing me was the thought that ran in my head. He said I know Hindi cos I was born in Delhi.. i was like – Oh thats nice… full dumb false accent n all… Anyways he finally puts the H4 stamping and says – Welcome to US and have a nice stay.. I full khush khush said thanks.. so nice… Finally i had to walk to see where my flight to San Diego was to come and I met a very sweet couple straight after another round of Security check. Uncle’s name was Gopal Kishan who was our desi but now settled for 40 yrs in US, and aunty’s name was Lillie and she was originally from Phillipines and settled in US again.. Awesome couple they were.. they spoke about everything right from where I had to go to where they lived to how much I will enjoy being in San Diego. They were both faculty in medical college and we even exchanged mail ids they showed me the way to my gate and we had a wonderful chat for the ten min that we people walked. very sweet couple and they actually started their journey from Blore and were in the same flight all the while and I dint even realize it.. Strange

 

Stage 4 – San Diego flight

Anyways San Diego flight felt like BMTC bus. Crowded and so conjusted that 5 hrs I sat like i was glued with Fevicol on my seat.. Damn boring… The phoren gurl sitting next to me dozed all the 5 hrs and i was amazed how she could sleeep like that. And then in this flight also absolute bhuddy aunties and daadi ammas served us.. Godddddd… My journey was so eventless. I was just waiting to see Adi now and just hug him… Well on the journey, I couldnt see the White house but saw many beaultiful landscapes… there were wonderfull patterns below and the farms were marked in perfect circles and they looked so marvelous. At some places I could see snow clad mountains and some rivers and all… Then there were these beautiful places where I could see land of all colours and they looked like mosiacs and granite flooring in our houses Let me fast forward cos there was nothing much to see also…

 

Stage 5 – San Diego Airport

So i reach San Diego airport and wait for my baggages to arrive and wondering if any food was taken off I am so delighted to see my baggages cos at one point in the flight I even doubted if I had placed “My” baggages in Washington or someone else’s I then struggle like a fool to get them all to the phone booth. There were no trolley and we had to pay 3$ by credit card to get one released.. I acted like a complete fool there and people were giving me that stare, you know that type I go to the phone booth with just my luggage that had the valuables and try calling Adi. I dont get him cos I dont even bother to read how that phone works and chumma dial his number. And then to my relief he comes and boy I was so happy to see him… Give him one big teddy hug and say I love u and tell him that go get the luggage So this was the tale of my complete trip to US.. people here are nice and gentle atleast on the outside Its been a fun filled journey of close to 24 hrs and must say travelling alone is not that bad Till the next one.. keep looking out for my updates….

The bling, dark streets and the DISGUST

My first topic on a social stigma, read on to know what it is.

But prior to reading ahead please remember I am not taking sides or trying to point whats right or whats wrong. Its just my vision, my point of view to what I believed just existed in unreal, and havent been able to come in terms of the fact that what I see is what HAPPENS.

I work in the heart of one of India’s metropolitan cities.
The scene in the morning day light is filled with gushes of traffic,people rushing to their offices, vendors on road side selling cigarettes to the tobacco addicts and a whole lot of people running around for earning their living. But as the light dims out, the moon is emerging out, there is a whole different world that starts showing up.
The posh area now turns out to something close to what I term the “Red light”. I know that this sounds absolutely weird, but I could not believe my senses when i saw this first. Yes, it about the flesh market that I am talking about. Flesh market on the streets that still has women going back from work to their homes. Let me tell you its the most devastating and scary sight. Will let you know in a while whats scary…

My first impression about them – women standing and waiting for buses,auto or some means of commutation. Then my this impression is completely proved wrong when I am told what actually is happening, and I was taken aback.
I see lots of them dressed well in their best attire and standing on the footpath, looking for their possible customers. The whole scene makes me feel sad and completely torn apart. Why should people get into this kind of slavery or shud i call it business? I don know whats the reason and I am sure they too might not be having the pleasure in doing what they are doing. Well not to mention, i have seen there are some incredibly despo men out there who are just wanting to make use of this insanity.
How do i know this? I pass through that very way everyday and its not hard to guess what really happens on that street.

Being a girl it makes me feel sympathetic for such people who have no other means of earning their living. What makes me scary is the fact that after dusk we cant just stand in such places to take an rick or a bus, cos then we too are looked upon in the similar manner as them.
I have felt so insecure,so embarrassed to stand and wait for an auto and being stared upon by men passing by, who slow down and give you the bizarre look thats so cheap,so awkward… and i have no words to describe it.

The auto guys show all the bhav and wont be ready to go to the place u ask them for… U get all nervous not knowing what to do. I even wear my company tag round my neck so that people passing by don give me that glance I so hate.

And then my mind shifts its pace to thinking and feeling pity for all those people cos they are human  just like us and may be that their way of earning their bread. They have no stand in the society and no recognition,no LIFE at all. Its the most sad thing God could do… How could we change this? I have no idea,but it touches my heart and my soul.

Thats my thought on something real, something I feel deeply about, something we cant ignore thinking about even if its for a second…