...is a lot of things-naturally! I am a mother, a wife, a daughter-in-law, a sister, a daughter and a woman.Plenty of ideas flit about in my head leaving little room for peace at times.
But something I saw today on TV especially worried me.It was a new game show which dangles the proverbial "cash prize" for nothing more than 'telling the truth'.Mere curiosity prompted me to catch 20 minutes of the show and I regretted having done so.
How can you betray the love of your family, the trust of your friends and the security of your relationships for the sake of money? Is it worth it?
Hey, we all have secrets...who doesn't?But should we be compelled to take that on air and exhibit it to the world at large?
Who takes the blame here?The producers of the show or the contestants? Both are responsible, I guess.When money drives you to remorselessly admit to improper behaviour, rankling hatred, unfulfilled fantasies, of what value will that money be if and when you win it? You have lost the peace of mind which you sacrificed to get it anyway.
I must say I agree with this writer when he poetically rips the show apart for its callous nature, scheming underhandedness and martyred effect of the 'game show' scenario.
All I want to say to the contestants is, if you have to make money, do it the hard way;work for it.The "honest" way does not seem worthwhile. A broken marriage, a failed relationship, the anger of your family,friends and co-workers hardly seems to add value to any money you may win.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday, September 01, 2008
My Guru, Guide and God
Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba. Four words that lit a lamp in my life in the October of 1994.
That was the first time I heard of this entity; this being who did miraculous things, chief among them being, the transformation of the individual soul.
We all need a guiding principle in our lives, to help us make the right decisions, to walk us down the chosen path, to lift us up when we are down in the dumps and to bring us to earth when we have our head in the clouds. For most of us, that principle can come in the shape of a loved one- a parent,a child, a sibling, a friend, an elder- and for me, He appeared in the form of Bhagwan Baba.
There are times when I worry- often unnecessarily- about the insignificant nothings in life such as , "does my neighbour like me for who I am or what I can do?" or "did I say that the right way or did I offend her sensibilities?"
Then there are other times that I don't think twice about such things...finding them too trivial to be dealt with.Swami,however, has always been with me...guiding me to the one thing that makes me happy-being me.That's right.
It's only when you are content with yourself that you can be happy for others and happy with others.
That was the first time I heard of this entity; this being who did miraculous things, chief among them being, the transformation of the individual soul.
We all need a guiding principle in our lives, to help us make the right decisions, to walk us down the chosen path, to lift us up when we are down in the dumps and to bring us to earth when we have our head in the clouds. For most of us, that principle can come in the shape of a loved one- a parent,a child, a sibling, a friend, an elder- and for me, He appeared in the form of Bhagwan Baba.
There are times when I worry- often unnecessarily- about the insignificant nothings in life such as , "does my neighbour like me for who I am or what I can do?" or "did I say that the right way or did I offend her sensibilities?"
Then there are other times that I don't think twice about such things...finding them too trivial to be dealt with.Swami,however, has always been with me...guiding me to the one thing that makes me happy-being me.That's right.
It's only when you are content with yourself that you can be happy for others and happy with others.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Why women can't get along
- Misogynist: A man who hates women as much as women hate one another.
If women and men can't get along, blame it on gender bias. If women and women can't get along, blame it on ego, obstinacy, high-handedness, loftility...need I go on?
Hardly any situation can exist without a certain degree of discord. In a way, that's fine, because it adds variety and spice to an otherwise monotonous existence.But when the same discord threatens to break up the very fabric that weaves us together, it moves out of the 'variety zone' and travels into the 'resentment zone'.
New ideas, opinions, judgements are all fine...within limits and when they do not spill put of hand.
But put a bunch of women in a room, ask them for their opinions on a subject, and stand back. Chances are you may just miss being drowned in the tsunami of the response. And I mean tsunami in the full essence of that word- violent, unexpected, unstoppable. That's how most reactions are to any situation where women alone are involved.
The basic premise behind this volatile situation is that women can't stand each other. Why?
It seems to me that women don't like each others' successes. They delight in finding fault, proving their point and are in a constant battle to present their one-upmanship (or should that be one-upwomanship?). Ask them what makes them jealous and you are most likely to hear that they don't like the way their neighbour's life is happier, fuller or more satisfying(although you will never actually hear that from any woman;)!
I have a 2 year old baby girl. My biggest concern now is, will she too grow up to be one of us 'women'? Or will the world be a more open forum where views can be expressed without anger and annoyance?
Somehow, I hope it all works out in the end.I can do without all the resentment and the negativity.
Monday, July 07, 2008
How would you live your last years?
Well-made movies can send out multiple messages simultaneously.
Which would you rather be? The one who knows when he is going to die or the one who lives everyday not knowing around which corner Fate waits to deal the last card?
Take The Bucket List, for instance. Here you have two old men, who are in the last stages of their lives, wanting to live their dreams before they 'kick the bucket'. Until I saw this movie, I was unable to confidently assert which one I would be. Now I know that I would rather not know.
As Carter (Morgan Freeman) puts it: You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.
The two men set out to achieve their dreams before the sun sets on their lives. How they go about it makes up the rest of the film. What sets the film apart are the performances of two of Hollywood's finest actors( but obviously!) and the humorous yet poignant portrayal of the inevitability of that final curtain call.
Nothing you do in this lifetime would make any sense if it weren't for the way you touch people's worlds and are touched in return.
It is easy to love people who love you back.The challenge lies in loving those who either can't or won't make it easy to be loved. For they are the ones who need it more.
Ultimately how you live your last years will depend on how you have lived the earlier ones.
Which would you rather be? The one who knows when he is going to die or the one who lives everyday not knowing around which corner Fate waits to deal the last card?
Take The Bucket List, for instance. Here you have two old men, who are in the last stages of their lives, wanting to live their dreams before they 'kick the bucket'. Until I saw this movie, I was unable to confidently assert which one I would be. Now I know that I would rather not know.
As Carter (Morgan Freeman) puts it: You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.
The two men set out to achieve their dreams before the sun sets on their lives. How they go about it makes up the rest of the film. What sets the film apart are the performances of two of Hollywood's finest actors( but obviously!) and the humorous yet poignant portrayal of the inevitability of that final curtain call.
Nothing you do in this lifetime would make any sense if it weren't for the way you touch people's worlds and are touched in return.
It is easy to love people who love you back.The challenge lies in loving those who either can't or won't make it easy to be loved. For they are the ones who need it more.
Ultimately how you live your last years will depend on how you have lived the earlier ones.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Keep the mind alive!
With more of the world going digital, there has been a sharp dip in the need to exercise our brain.
We don't have to remember phone numbers anymore---our phones do that for us.
Forget postal addresses--it is the age of e-mail and our friends are all just a mouse click away.
Don't have good handwriting? Relax...the speed of your keyboard typing is more important now.
But, all this comes at a great price! Weakened brains and minimal use of our grey cells.
Recently, I realised this truth and started to tackle some mental puzzles,doing crosswords and playing scrabble.
What worries me more is that our children are getting a direct entry into this digitised world and have no room left for creativity, genius or mental kung fu.
We have to pull up our socks and make sure that books are read, games are played and numbers are memorised. Let us not make robots of our kids.
We don't have to remember phone numbers anymore---our phones do that for us.
Forget postal addresses--it is the age of e-mail and our friends are all just a mouse click away.
Don't have good handwriting? Relax...the speed of your keyboard typing is more important now.
But, all this comes at a great price! Weakened brains and minimal use of our grey cells.
Recently, I realised this truth and started to tackle some mental puzzles,doing crosswords and playing scrabble.
What worries me more is that our children are getting a direct entry into this digitised world and have no room left for creativity, genius or mental kung fu.
We have to pull up our socks and make sure that books are read, games are played and numbers are memorised. Let us not make robots of our kids.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tales of a student driver
Wheel in hand, grit on face and clutch under the left foot--we are ready to roll...almost.
Started driving classes about 2 weeks ago and the experience has been liberating. I am just glad I got around to it before hitting the 30-year mark:)
Critical things to remember:
See you on the other side with a full-fledged driving license:)
Started driving classes about 2 weeks ago and the experience has been liberating. I am just glad I got around to it before hitting the 30-year mark:)
Critical things to remember:
- Wheel balance
- Steering is not a grip-and-hold-on-for-dear-life affair
- Releasing the clutch slowly when starting the car
- Moving quickly from 3rd/4th to second while braking or turning
- The half-clutch..where the clutch is released slowly,while keeping the brake pressed down.Then when the gear shift vibrates, time to release the brake to move forward
- Releasing and applying hand brake when moving and stopping respectively
See you on the other side with a full-fledged driving license:)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Poem by Me:) (published by poetry.com in 2001
LOVE in practice
Walking into the room i sniffed the air
yes i could sense it..hostility everywhere
smiling i strode around the chairs
making my presence felt
warmth in my body warmth in my smile
i reached out and touched one child
she drew back i felt pain ...but soon i
smiled again
after a while she came close daring
to touch my skin..wincing i let her
knowing this could lead to gain
then it came like the beauty of a shower
light and pleasant..Her smile drawing
in the sun's rays
sweeter than manna was this joy
for the only other who held me(close)
was my owner...a darling little boy
Shailaja Vishwanath
Saturday, August 25, 2007
My take -'In her Shoes'
Normally not one for a truly girly movie,but I took a chance with this one. Surprisingly, I found it good.
See on IMDB
The tale about 2 sisters who tread different paths in their pursuit of what they want is quaintly touching. Kudos to the performances by stellar cast- Toni Collette,Cameron Diaz and Shirley Maclaine.
Ultimately, it comes down to how family,friends and love are the most indispensable things in life.
The poem by e.e.cummings at the end has a special appeal for me as I have studied his work in depth. Worth a watch.
My rating: 8 on 10
See on IMDB
The tale about 2 sisters who tread different paths in their pursuit of what they want is quaintly touching. Kudos to the performances by stellar cast- Toni Collette,Cameron Diaz and Shirley Maclaine.
Ultimately, it comes down to how family,friends and love are the most indispensable things in life.
The poem by e.e.cummings at the end has a special appeal for me as I have studied his work in depth. Worth a watch.
My rating: 8 on 10
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The cutest little bundle
No..It did not arrive by post,e-mail or special messenger.This package arrived all covered in sweat,blood and love on the night of July 17th,2006.It had the most amazing pair of eyes that wanted to see the entire world the day it entered this universe.
Gayathri, my daughter, screamed her way into our lives with gusto and pink cheeks.
It is nearly 5 months since she set foot in this world and it has been an unbelievable journey thus far.The sleepless nights, the crying due to colic have all come and gone .But each second has been worth re-living and enjoying to the fullest.
Now the baby prattle and the joyous beam when she sees her father are all Kodak moments in their own league.
I know these moments are short -lived, but they are the ones that make life worth living. Somehow nothing compares to the unbelievable love and joy that a baby can show you...
Gayathri, my daughter, screamed her way into our lives with gusto and pink cheeks.
It is nearly 5 months since she set foot in this world and it has been an unbelievable journey thus far.The sleepless nights, the crying due to colic have all come and gone .But each second has been worth re-living and enjoying to the fullest.
Now the baby prattle and the joyous beam when she sees her father are all Kodak moments in their own league.
I know these moments are short -lived, but they are the ones that make life worth living. Somehow nothing compares to the unbelievable love and joy that a baby can show you...
Monday, July 25, 2005
Labour of Laughter--A published article of mine in THE HINDU,June 27,2005
I was trying to write on humour and the exercise was turning out to be a nightmare. Four hours of sweat, toil, paper, ink and strands of hair pulled from my scalp had produced a final, typed copy of 417 words.
Glowing with pride and satisfaction, I punch in the e-mail address and dash off the copy. Then, I sit admiring myself in the mirror, practising my gracious smile that says: "Oh, it was but the work of a moment."
The phone's shrill ring jars me out of my idyllic world of narcissistic pride. The editor on the other end says: "We wanted something humorous; not an outpouring of your emotional attachment to the idea of humour."
Glumly, I hung up and realised an axiomatic truth that many aspiring writers are privy to.
Writing isn't easy. Writing on humour is far from easy. And writing a humorous piece is the most difficult of all.
Chewing on the tip of my fingernail, I contemplate on the various probable topics I could explore. Politics? Too common. Sports? Too limited. Religion? Too controversial. But everyday events? Yes! I would stun readers with my incisive insight into the mundane world of routine occurrences. Bold and intrepid, I would strip the serious facade off day-to-day happenings and expose the warm humour pulsating beneath the surface.
"Ahem. What humour?" queries a voice. Not on the phone this time, but from within my head. Startled and annoyed, I have to admit there doesn't seem anything funny in getting the daily supply of milk, leafing through the newspaper or buying groceries from the supermarket, standing in long queues to pay the bill.
Humour writers, like syndicated columnists and cartoonists, are always under pressure to produce the best. Although we laugh every day reading the comic strips, at the masterful execution of wit and at the satirical caricature of public figures, rarely do we appreciate the effort that goes into its production. I should know!
Glowing with pride and satisfaction, I punch in the e-mail address and dash off the copy. Then, I sit admiring myself in the mirror, practising my gracious smile that says: "Oh, it was but the work of a moment."
The phone's shrill ring jars me out of my idyllic world of narcissistic pride. The editor on the other end says: "We wanted something humorous; not an outpouring of your emotional attachment to the idea of humour."
Glumly, I hung up and realised an axiomatic truth that many aspiring writers are privy to.
Writing isn't easy. Writing on humour is far from easy. And writing a humorous piece is the most difficult of all.
Chewing on the tip of my fingernail, I contemplate on the various probable topics I could explore. Politics? Too common. Sports? Too limited. Religion? Too controversial. But everyday events? Yes! I would stun readers with my incisive insight into the mundane world of routine occurrences. Bold and intrepid, I would strip the serious facade off day-to-day happenings and expose the warm humour pulsating beneath the surface.
"Ahem. What humour?" queries a voice. Not on the phone this time, but from within my head. Startled and annoyed, I have to admit there doesn't seem anything funny in getting the daily supply of milk, leafing through the newspaper or buying groceries from the supermarket, standing in long queues to pay the bill.
Humour writers, like syndicated columnists and cartoonists, are always under pressure to produce the best. Although we laugh every day reading the comic strips, at the masterful execution of wit and at the satirical caricature of public figures, rarely do we appreciate the effort that goes into its production. I should know!
Teaching- My dream job
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to teach. As far back as grade 6, I recall having said that i would become a teacher one day.That dream came true in the Summer of 2001.
A memorable year in many respects...2001.
The year I met my future husband....2001.
The year we were united in holy matrimony...2001.
The year I was awarded a Gold Medal for my Masters in English Literature...2001.
And, the year I began working....2001.
Through my students, I see new ideas,new approaches, new questions and further avenues to explore. The days in a teacher's life may be many things, but the one thing it can never be is Boring!
Looking back, I realise that the people I feel most indebted to are my parents, who never stood in the way of my dreams and my teachers, who always recognised my interests and allowed me to express myself.
So, to the teachers of this world, This one's for you.
A memorable year in many respects...2001.
The year I met my future husband....2001.
The year we were united in holy matrimony...2001.
The year I was awarded a Gold Medal for my Masters in English Literature...2001.
And, the year I began working....2001.
Through my students, I see new ideas,new approaches, new questions and further avenues to explore. The days in a teacher's life may be many things, but the one thing it can never be is Boring!
Looking back, I realise that the people I feel most indebted to are my parents, who never stood in the way of my dreams and my teachers, who always recognised my interests and allowed me to express myself.
So, to the teachers of this world, This one's for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)