Blaaaahhhh !!!

City of Contradictions...

2010-07-23T04:29:00.001-07:00

The 'city of contradictions'-- Well, this definitely did not strike me in entirety until this morning;

Venue: AER, 33rd floor, Four Seasons Hotel, Worli, Mumbai
Time: 11 am, Friday
Day: Gorgeous, windy with the promise of rain in a few hours... The skies seem perfect with just the right blend of grey, white and blue.

I step out the elevator, turn left and enter the AER. As I walk towards the room, my breath is knocked out of my throat-- literally, and I almost choke on the wad of gum that is perpetually in my mouth. The French (bay) windows span the entire length of the wall-- making them seem non-existent.

I stop short, taking in the magnificent view of the waves thrashing against the shore, the ships at sea, the skyline and the 'Haji Ali'.. It looms in front of me, as serene as the simplest of sketches. I walk ahead, dazed, wanting to stick my nose to the glass and take it all in before the scheduled shoot begins.

And as I walk on towards the window, once again, I stop midtrack.. And this time it is not in awestruck wonder but surprised horror. Right in front of the ocean rises the biggest land bank I have ever seen-- slums and chawls lined one-atop another, innumerable huts packed into the tiniest space of land. It is only when I step into the room, that I see the bigger picture.

Right alongside the new, swanky and sexy sky-scrapers that define Mumbai's elite landscape is the stark reality. The condition of the majority living in this city of dreams. Where, in one dilapitated hut, many families seek shelter, not just against the harsh weather but also against each other.

It reminds me of a cartoon I watched years ago; where a small room is infested with mice-- scurrying up, under and over everything in sight. Right alongside the slum lies a cremation ground from which spires up a wispy trail of smoke. I raise my eyes to the ocean as it dawns on me that the view is no longer picture perfect.

I literally have to peel my eyes off the window and drag my mind back to the moment, as I have a deadline- and and anchor who is scheduled for another shoot in less than 2 hours. As I don my producer's cap and sound the clap for the shoot, I realise that although I have always known the reality that is Mumbai, the clear contradiction has sunk in only within the four walls of the 33rd floor of one of the poshest places in the city!

And then, back to business-- in more ways than one.....

WORDLESS!

2010-06-05T03:27:00.000-07:00

An unexplored path, a relatively new journey-- the thrill, excitement, nervousness and angst: a heady and potent combination of emotions that leaves the brain quite scrambled at the end of it all!

And once the initial rush recedes, what next.. The question pops out quite randomly and before you know it, the weight balance is out again-- measuring and calculating, ironing out the pros and cons.

There are two choices, and the logical side of me knows that all too well... In paper it comes down to whether you choose to feel like a rag on a clothesline-- high and dry; or a kite whose tail is just clipped off and after all the initial stutter, it finally breaks free.

In life it is not enough just knowing and putting it down on paper. "Practise what you preach"-- we have heard that time and again, at every single crossroads!! Why is a four word phrase so hard to implement... Here, I add that I simply will not buy the theory that it all boils down to the strength of the individual's mind. Because, what the hell is wrong with the momentary bouts of weakness? It is bloody human and teaches us the MOST important lessons in life.

There are times when the options ahead are crystal clear.. and others when all that you see as you look up are cloudy, grey skies-- almost an indication of gloom and darkness ahead. And during those times although the RIGHT thing is to look for that ray of light and hold on to it for inspiration, for hope and for a reason to rejoice: it seems almost impossible.

Is this going to be one of those depressing, hard-hitting emotional posts!! Well, so not...

Because that moment will pass, and there will be music, and light and a whole new meaning to life!! And if you are really lucky, there will be others rooting for you along the sidelines and as you turn, one glimpse and you realise that THEY make all the difference.

To those I love, and those who love me: for once I am just going to shut up; cos words just wont suffice!

This is me..

2010-02-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Something that I have always started out to write, but never quite managed to finish or hit the publish button for.

I sit in the extremely turbulent flight, scared, and glance across at the little girl whose fingers are tightly entwined around those of her mother's! And remember....

Unfortunately, life does move on; and happiness is something I experience every single moment. ...but 'healing', well that is a whole different thing!

There is so much to learn, so much to understand and so many times I want to be in total control. More importantly, there is so much I have lost out on, so much that could have been and so much that I still yearn for. But, LIFE is a Bitch; and some things are just not meant to be!

This is because I can never be complete again; because I love you and miss you.

Found myself today,

Oh, I found myself and ran away.

But something pulled me back

A voice of reason I forgot I had!

All I know is you're not here to say

What you always used to say

But it's written in the skies tonight...

So I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems Life turns around

And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong,

When I'm standing in the dark I still believe

Somenone's watching over me!

Seen that ray of light

And it's shining on my destiny

Shining all the time

And I won't be afraid

To follow everywhere it's taking me!

All I know is yesterday is gone

And right now I belong

To this moment, to my dreams.

It doesn't matter what people say

It doesn't matter how long it takes

Believe in yourself and you'll fly high

And it only matters how true you are

Be true to yourself and Follow your heart!

So I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I still believe

Someone's watching over me!

Hello New Year

2010-01-27T19:22:00.000-08:00

It seems like just yesterday I was ringing in the new year, and already January has almost drawn to an end. Have to be in the studio in another 5 minutes, so here goes a random post, just to kick off 2010 on this page:

- CASTE is still very much a part of the Indian society. I have realised that claiming it exists only because we care to bring it up is not something I believe in anymore.

- Business Reporting can be very interesting, if taught in the right manner.

- I can give up alcohol, but my daily dose of Caffeine- NOT HAPPENING!!

- The hospitality in the state of Rajasthan is unbelievable.

- The 12 days in Barmer is something that will continue to haunt, influence and instigate me for a long time to come.

- Being a student is undoubtedly the best phase of life; but I need a change of scenery!

- My sense of independence and head-strong(ness) sometimes tends to hurt people I care about; should keep a check on that.

- ERASE is a short word, difficult to implement, but I will sincerely try.

"BELIEVE"

2009-12-15T02:16:00.000-08:00

In life, it is so easy to succumb to pressure. Sometimes the cause of it is oneself; it is situations we are in, relationships, work, society, an 'image' that we want to live up to or the 'past' that we can not seem to escape from.

It is absolutely essential to gain some perspective, to learn to step back and look at the bigger picture. Life does not offer us too many chances, and to make the best use of the ones that we are given is what makes us wise.

Be your best friend; accept your flaws- learn and yearn to better them. Fight against the tide, do not surrender to the flow of the river, work your way upstream. It is not anyone else who steers the ship; it is YOU!

Life- it is a GIFT! You owe it to yourself to be the best you can, realise it. Please.

Believe in yourself

To the depth of your being

Nourish the talents

Your spirit is freeing

Know in your heart

When the going gets slow

That your faith in yourself

Will continue to grow

Don't forfeit ambition

When others may doubt

It is your life to live

You must live it throughout

Learn from your errors

Don't dwell in the past

Never withdraw

From a world that is vast

Believe in yourself

Find the best that is you

Let your spirit prevail

Steer a course that is true!

-Bruce B Wilmer

It is all in the MIND hun!

2009-12-11T22:23:00.001-08:00

"I think; therefore I am"

- Rene Descartes

"The idle mind is the devil's workshop"

- Latin Proverb

"Bandhar kya jaane, adhrak ka swaad!" (only one who truly understands something, can appreciate it)

- Hindi Proverb

This week has given me a lot of time for 'introspection'; not in terms of the person I was or what I have become. [I have changed, and am not going to deny or justify that. It is just something that is] What I spent time thinking about was how one's "mind" can be the most powerful influence. The most amazing companion, your best friend and at the very same time, your worst enemy.

The above sayings emphasize this stark but definite truth. Let me illustrate with an example I am pretty sure most of you can relate to -- in many arguments with your loved ones, you sometimes let go; just so that it does not balloon to disproportionate limits. You do not necessarily feel sorry, you often think it is the other's fault and still you find yourself apologising and making excuses. At times it is the other way around. Simply because fighting leaves either side hurt or upset and mostly because the issue is just not worth it. A typical moment when the dual nature of one's mind shines through brilliantly! That so-called 'inner voice' which knows you do not quite agree with what you are doing or saying, but convinces you for the moment, it is the best option.

Personally, it is my mind that has always proven to be my biggest weakness and my biggest strength. Numerous times it has been my inspiration. When I'm down and out, it forces me to pick up the pieces and march on. The tests that it throws time and again, has taught me that to fear 'falling' is foolish. It is better to train oneself to get back up and carry on. This is much easier said than done; honestly, there have been times when I have said 'enough; the drama just ain't worth it anymore.' And then, just like a best friend should, my mind pops up and gets my feet back on the ground. :)

There is no SINGLE person in this world-- be it parents, siblings, friends or lovers that you agree with and want around you all the time. You need the office hours, the social get-aways, the parties etc. to interact and form other meaningful relationships in life. Times when no matter what your bond with the other person is, you need a break! In the exact same way, there are times when I want to rip my mind right off my head and incinerate it. These are generally moments when I am depressed and all it does is fire out old memories, instances of utter joy, bliss or sorrow, embarrassing incidents [got quite a bit of those ;P] and uncomfortable memories; manipulating your attention to it inevitably! Oh yes, beware, the mind is a super sharp and powerful tool. Something even the toughest thug simply cannot master.

It makes us who we are, trains us to live with ourselves! In short it is:

-M: Magnificent / Moronic

- I: Invigorating / Irritating

- N: Necessity / Nuisance

- D: Dominating / Disturbing

The true Master!

2009-11-17T01:11:00.001-08:00

Back after a longggg break...

The number of times I have just wanted to ramble out on a particular topic; only to divert my attention to something else and let it slip by unwritten- innumerable! and that irritates me.

Writing this between a session of editing and production! Love the frantic pace and non-stop nonsense that goes on in television production and hope it never dies.

Yesterday, was out shooting at Kannagi Nagar, a slum relocation unit off Thuraipakkam in Chennai.

The story turned out rather messy because of numerous contradictory angles; so we filmed a couple of vox-pops, conducted interviews for an UPSOT and headed back.

At home, I could not help but reflect at the experience. The settlement was not terrible, but the woes of the residents there- innumerable. I realised that after the first couple of minutes of their cribbing, I had become mildly immune to their accounts of grief.

A tiny part of me also argued that these slum-dwellers had actually been given land with cement roofs overhead, a decent alternative to their earlier accommodation. Therefore, the least they could do was try to make the best of the situation and not just wallow in self pity.

Finished the shoot, dumped the footage and left college. On the way back home, thinking about what had happened, I was left wondering whether a sense of 'detachment' had set in when it came to certain matters on the professional front.

Having visited many such slums, poverty ridden and un-inhabitable areas, had I become mildly de-sensitized to the plight of it's residents? Did their discomfort and sorrow not distress me to the same extent as it had earlier, I pondered.

Drawing an analogy, does a doctor not feel as upset and morose on losing his 35th patient on the operating table as he did when he lost his first; or does frequent occurence act as anesthetic, numbing the human mind.

Does the individual adopt the profession or is it the other way around; I wonder!

The importance of NOW

2009-09-04T00:48:00.000-07:00

"I do not yearn the future; nor do I long for the Past.
Both of these options, I believe are escapes from the challenge and sometimes the pain of living in the present.
I thus believe in blooming wherever I'm planted or, more appropriately, regularly replanted.
And so I joyfully try to make do with wherever and who-so-ever I am"
- Farid Esack

This simple, powerful and profound statement confuses me.
On one hand I am so impressed with his clarity and control over the mind and emotions. On the other, I wonder, can living according to these ideals ever be enough? Will it actually feel complete, or does it mean mere 'existence' and not 'living' in the true sense.

The beauty of life lies in the 'memories'. Some that you look back upon with a frown; and certain others that leave you wishing that you could go back to that very moment- wishing it were frozen in time because everything seemed so 'perfect'. The past can never really be erased, no matter how much one wants it to be; and this is one of the most important lessons that we learn in this journey. For me, the most important person in my life can today only exist and breathe inside my head. If complete self control means letting go of this yearning for 'what once was', I doubt it is possible, even for the mentally strongest amongst us.

And looking to the future: dreams, hopes and ambitions- is that not what fuels life and adds meaning to it. Can we be ever be satisfied living like mere fish in the ocean, with no sense if direction, no desire to find out what lies on the outside?

Reality is sometimes wonderful, easy and happy- in the good moments, we often tend to lose a sense of reality, living in a protected bubble. In these times it is the future which brings us the UNCERTAIN, the unprepared for, the struggle; For life cannot always be a bed of roses. In times of distress, when nothing seems to be going right for us, when despair seeps into every pore- the HOPE and PRAYER for a better tomorrow inspires us and takes us through like the flame of a candle in the darkness.

Farid Esack's words however, I cannot choose to ignore. There is so much wisdom and so many years of experience that has gone beyond his thoughts. The vision behind his words inspires and the simple message seems to call out. 'The most important thing is to live in the moment; cherish the life that is now.'

I ask for the sense that enables one to simply strike the balance! :)

Social Networking and the 'E' word

2009-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

An interesting comment on the relationship between Narcissism and the internet sparked off this post. Also, just a couple of days earlier I had come across an article on net-addiction which will surface later in the blog. Social networking has become as important as any other ‘basic amenity’ for most of us today; one day without Facebook or Twitter and we feel lost, disconnected from the rest of the world.

‘God! I was away this weekend, can’t wait to log in, there is so much catching up to do’, or ‘Listen, my net is down; can you check if somebody wrote on my wall’ have become common elements of conversation. Honestly, I cannot remember how I used to keep tabs on my friends before Orkut or Facebook came along, it seems like so long ago.

This irresistible pull that micro-blogging and social networking has today is much fiercer than say the desire to catch one’s favourite show on TV. Even in college, all that I want to do in between classes is (no, not facebook) go on the internet; and this totally stupefies me because I have always been a person who has ‘hated’ the computer. (It is a strong word, but I actually felt very strongly about this not so long ago). Anything to do with this machine and I would be the last to volunteer; the more the distance between the comp and me, the happier I was.

In Journalism today, CONVERGENCE is the word of the hour; if one is not the jack of all trades (the basics of print, radio, internet writing and television) there is absolutely no room here. This leaves people like me with no option but to look at the internet in a new light, and truth be told it is fairly simple to get hooked on to this world wide web, even if one detests it initially- it is in reality, ‘no rocket science’! :P

After that long intro, down to the details. An acquaintance remarked on the narcissistic nature of social networking sites earlier today. After a lot of thought, I realise that it actually holds true to quite a large extent. Subconsciously, we have all fallen prey to this alter identity crisis.

Narcissism is the feeling of ‘self-love’; it also treads on the waters of Egotism. It is generally used in the negative connotation to signify a sense of superiority over the others. This is propagated to a large extent by each one of us with an account on any SN site.

How many of us can identify with even a few of the following: looking through lots of photos to find the right profile picture, or when someone manages to capture a decent frame during dinner or evening out, running back home and the first thing you do is to upload it that very night? Thinking of what to say on your status message- typing out something only to delete it midway because it simply does not sound right, why does it even matter? Logging in at regular intervals after we have written a note or uploaded a video to check if somebody has commented or even just ‘liked’ it are examples of self-obsession; whether it is a conscious gesture or not.

In a warped way, this ‘publicising’ of our personal lives and intimate details seems to bring pleasure and a certain degree of entertainment to our otherwise drab lives. These online profiles become so much a part of our ‘real’ lives, blurring further the lines between the real and the virtual. The added pressure that we have willingly enslaved ourselves to, is this phenomenon of social networking.

Now, not only do we have to dress, act, behave and conduct ourselves in the right manner in the real world, but it also extends to internet sphere: the right picture, the right people on your friends list, the incessant wall posts to a friend who you meet every day in class or your sister who is just across the hallway in which you have to sound smart and funny. This unhealthy quest for perfection of ‘self’ can be quite disturbing if not restricted.

Sigmund Freud once said that humans are born without a sense of themselves as ‘individuals’, without any ‘ego’. It is during childhood and youth that certain individuals pick up the idea of a perfect self.

Social networking has guaranteed that even the most quiet and naive persons have a sphere to get up and be noticed. It is the instant ‘pep-up service’ in life; it does not matter how terrible your day at work has been, if six friends have ‘poked’ you and three have written on your ‘wall’- the day suddenly seems much better indeed!

Narcissistic in nature or not, social networking has become an integral part of my routine. To keep in constant touch with those who matter to me and to share my every moment with them and vice versa is a feeling that cannot be described. So is this sub-consciously feeding to my ego? Well, I sure as hell hope not ;)

Just :)

2009-08-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

We could not wait for the weekends, my sister and I. It meant an absolutely amazing two days of fun, frolic and a little work thrown in as well. To most other pre-teens, the end of the week meant malls, movies, coffee and tons of gossip with friends; to us it was two days of total family bonding; after completing all necessary school work of course; my mother would not spare us otherwise.

My parents would ensure that during the holidays we gave mother a well-deserved break; ordering in or pigging out at a nice restaurant was a definite feature. My father and I were the foodies, my mother and sister would tag along and make appropriate ‘yummy’ noises at all the right times to keep us company. It was a fabulous set up; we loved the meal, enjoyed the drive back with dad’s old Hindi music playing in the background; his off-key singing amused and entertained us. (To this day, every time he sings my face lights up) We grab dessert on the way home. The typical Saturday ended with us either watching television together; or us kids retreating to our room to read, giving the parents some quality time together to catch up and inevitably discuss us.

Sunday afternoons were my absolute favourite- ‘family game-time’. No excuses for absenting oneself were entertained; but that really did not matter, because none of us wanted out of it ever. It was always a post lunch session, after we had helped mother clear out the dishes. Meanwhile, dad would get the living room ready; it was either ‘carom’, ‘spellbound’, ‘monopoly’, ‘scrabble’ or ‘mind trap’. It really did not matter what game we played although we all knew his weakness for a good session of carom; one of the many things in which he was an absolute pro!

And so it would begin, a few hours of high pitched giggling, squealing, chatter, insults and arguments. (Which in hindsight make for some of my most treasured childhood memories and without a doubt my sister’s too)

My mother turned into one of us every time she played; sometimes father complained that she was worse than a teenager- she had this habit of constantly breaking into incessant giggling whenever she missed an easy shot, or one of us did something goofy! Seeing her face scrunch up in delight and eyes fill with tears because of laughing so hard left me glowing inside, that sound of pure glee delighted us every single time; and my father’s mock exasperation only added to the fun! Occasionally, he would see the funny side of the tale and join in on the joke! On such occasions, the four of us- well! It will suffice to say that the neighbours did not have quiet Sunday afternoons for a long time indeed.

Today, I sit thinking of the days that used to be; the years that have sped by at a rapid pace. I reflect on the ‘high’ points of my life- the few achievements and stories of success. It amazes me that though all of these are incredibly meaningful and special, the moments I truly cherish are the ones with no special significance. I rarely even remember birthdays!

It is the times when I have done nothing extraordinary, nothing to write home about- these are tales that might not evoke the any emotion when narrated to or read by someone else; but which define me, make me the person I am on the inside. Times when just like any other family we have laughed, fought, cried and complained; these mean the most.

Those simple moments where I was sitting around doing ‘nothing’- these are the ones that are dearest to my heart; the ones that I will cherish the most: in this wonderful, difficult and challenging journey called Life!

What lies in between!

2009-08-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

It is probably a very fundamental mistake, one that has been passed on for centuries now, or maybe it was meant to be; in order to cajole the human mind into thinking and probing- I am referring to one of the most irreplaceable tools of daily life, the COIN. Hold one up, study it. There are two sides or ends or extremes that never face each other; two halves that are joined together all throughout the surface, but at the same time are distinctly apart- it can only fall one way or the other: heads or tails!

Another analogy that reiterates this concept is Robert Frost’s ‘Road not taken’. [For those who do not remember, it is a must read J] It talks about two roads diverging in a yellowed forest, and about how chances are that these paths will never meet; and how life being the way it is will just let you go down one, and if by any chance you want to get to the other, you will have to retrace the entire path.

All through the years, we grow up simply accepting this probable truth. Is there no real middle path, does it always have to be one way or the other?

I like my food with less oil- a very difficult concept to get in most places I eat out at; I don’t want ‘oil-free’ or ‘regular’ I want ‘less oil’ [for those who are grinning, there is a difference :p] I like to drink, I find it very difficult to resist a couple of pegs when in the right mood but don’t necessarily have to get drunk in order to have an enjoyable evening. A concept alien to most people who claim ‘what is the point of drinking if you are not going to get sloshed’!

The path of moderation; taking the best of both worlds and forming a middle ground, why does this seem so difficult?

This is in direct reference to a talk by an eminent expert on the field of ‘Brahminisation & Dalitisation’. A stalwart and scholar with immense years of research and experience; he spoke about the atrocities that the Brahmins inflicted on people of the lower caste, cleverly questioned the very fundamentals of the Hindu religion in which true prayers have to be in Sanskrit and Goddesses are depicted with blood smears and weapons perched on a dead animal. He mentioned that the lower castes enjoyed no privileges, no dignity of labour, no respect in society and were treated worse than animals.

There were a number of questions that clouded my mind, I did not disagree with his views; realized that it was high time that they felt as equal a component of the society as any other sect; that they should be entitled to certain privileges. His words even had me considering if maybe the reservation on basis of caste was actually justified; something that I had earlier taken a very stern stand against; although the nagging doubt of whether resorting to discrimination (albeit of a different kind) yet again in order to overcome the rift caused by prior discrimination still bothered me. His following lecture the next day had a totally different effect.

It emphasized on the dignity of labour, how backward classes did more of the meaningful and manual work only to be treated with derogation. About how society is hypocritical and superficial, rewarding those who do the so-called easier work. His words seemed to reflect an opinion that the entire Brahmin community was a thieving bunch, who did not treat their women right, took undue credit and continued to be a bane to the progress of society. This did not anger me; but I stopped listening without bias, suddenly it seemed like I had taken a defensive stand, mentally criticizing his comments without meaning to do so.

He went on to add that there should be equal wages for the doctor: who cleaned and repaired the human body, and the sanitation worker: who cleaned and repaired roads and buildings! This he declared was dignity of labour, considering no job more menial than the other- idealistic but far from practical. And what about the question of skill- the nuances of surgery, the knowledge of every single vein and organ that constitutes the human anatomy inside out; can it actually be equaled to plumbing a drain, just to prove a point?

In his address, the concluding statements included that the only way at a reformed, equal and progressive society was ‘Dalitisation’. The wave was already in motion he added illustrating that “Dalit women have been smoking for centuries, my mother used to and so did my grandmother… today, the trend is that most women smokers are from Brahmin households; The Dalits have always eaten meat, nowadays it is the Brahmins who eat it and dispose the bones in their backyards- This is in reality Dalitisation, but the Brahmins will never accept it; they refer to it as westernisation!”

This is when I got thinking about the coin; in the name of open-mindedness and reform, this influential scholar chose instead to propagate an extremist outlook, change in a very superficial sense, which would only continue this vicious circle of injustice and revolt, time and again. The simple way to have influenced us aspiring journalists and forced us to look at an equal society in a broader light, would have been to simply promote the path of moderation; emphasizing the need for each individual to contribute to an equal society, to freedom in the true sense of the word.

Maybe the human mind will never understand moderation in the broader sense; maybe life is more challenging this way! It is very easy to say that the middle path is what is ideal, but as an individual at every phase of life I have chosen the extremes; there are 2 sides to a coin BUT what is it that lies in between- will we ever care enough to find out!

Is it just about the questions?

2009-07-29T09:18:00.001-07:00

It is a very confusing world we live in- this fact was exemplified in today’s rather interesting lecture on Nationalism; or what we perceive of it. Where does one turn to if the very fundamental history that you learn in school is rubbished; when all that seemed important in the ‘glorious’ freedom struggle is thrown out the window? It is very easy to accept what is taught to us, to learn up answers and to take in facts that are wrapped up in the pretext of education; even more effective if these will later fetch you an extra couple of marks in the forthcoming examinations.
The thing that is not so simple is the rhetorical analysis of these facts, much later- to have it broken down principle by principle, to question the very fundamentals all over again. As a youngster still learning, still seeking to soak in the depths of knowledge, which version does one read into, which argument does one go along with, when both sides seem to make equal sense; if one is not instantly provoked or peeved off with the opposing viewpoint immediately, does it reflect a sense of complacency or indifference; can it simply not indicate that more research and analysis on the subject is needed before arriving at any further judgement or conclusion. In matters of extreme social relevance or importance, is it not necessary to look at things from the other perspective; even if just temporarily so.
Why is it so easy for bias to seep into our way or mode of thinking? The youngster’s mind which is capable of nurturing and remembering is tarnished by this uncanny trait of ‘influence’; it is absolutely essential to accept that as the youth there is so much that we do not know, have not experienced and simply do not understand; but it is even more important to understand, analyse, read up by one’s own means; to listen to all kinds of input, look at both sides of the coin and then figure out what one’s stand is! This, however is much easier said than done; and a very important factor which affects it is the power of EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, the manner in which the presenter comes across: vehemence, emotion, precision, clarity, passion and emphatic speakers tend to leave a longer and lasting impression than their counterparts with lesser oratorical skills- it is very easy to be swayed by the former, even if the latter makes more sense.
At first I was very sure that ‘to question and confute is to learn; and to learn is to live’. Over the last few weeks, I have felt the need to modify this- ‘to listen, retain, remember and reflect is just as important as the questioning; and as long as one is always thinking, it is all that matters!

:)

2009-07-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Gonna be back.... SOOONN!!!

Cashing in on Cashew

2008-03-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

"Progress" is a very relative term. 20 year old Lakshmi, from Koondapur in Karnataka lived in a thatched hut without a toilet, kitchen or any other basic amenities, a mere seven years ago. Living with her husband and two children, she had no clue whether she could even afford to feed the family the next day. Today, her house boasts of a concrete roof, a bathroom, a kitchen and is furnished with a small cot. The family often gathers around the radio in the evenings to listen to popular Kannada songs!

This climb in the social ladder is a reality in the lives of many other rural women living in Puttur, Sulya, Udupi and the South Kanara district of coastal Karnataka. For Lakshmi, and scores of other unskilled and uneducated women, life changed completely the day they started working in the cashew industry. Taking home an average of Rs.900 a week, life has ceased to be a constant struggle for them

Over 3000 women from these areas have found a lifeline in the flourishing cashew enterprises which offers scope for employment in avenues like manufacturing, processing and export. With the guarantee of a definite income all year round, these women have not only bettered their lives in recent years, but are also funding the education of their children now.

Previously engaged in either farming or beedi-rolling, the shift in the employment pattern took place a decade ago. The cancerous health hazards of beedi-rolling and the heavy manual labour in the fields took a toll on these women and they started looking for alternative sources of income. Struggling with unemployment for over four years, the setting up of cashew industry in the state , by the government in the late 90's came as a boon to them. Coastal Karnataka, being climatically and geographically suitable, became the cashew hub of the country after The National Horticultural Mission declared this nut as one of the 11 crops to be popularized.

Kerala, South Kanara and the Konkan coastal areas are the centres of cashew nut cultivation in the country; which is the world's largest exporter of these nuts. In the Udupi district alone, 25000 hectares of plantation was set up initially with an investment of Rs.850 lakhs. Today, around 160 cashew enterprises are seen here. A labour-oriented field, all factories have over 95% women employees as neither is heavy machinery operated, nor is stressful toiling required. Men are engaged only in the packaging and transport departments.

In India, cashew cultivation starts in November but the crop is ready for harvest only in May. Farmers have had a fairly good produce as no major disease or epidemic has been recorded in recent years. The quality of Indian nuts, especially the Goan variety is in great demand all over the world; it surpasses even the African ones. The local demand for cashews increases during Christmas and Diwali but good business is enjoyed all year round. Consumption is relatively higher in Mumbai, Delhi and other northern states.

In the 75 processing plants in the Udupi district, rural women are hired and given weekly wages according to their work output. With working hours from 8 in the morning to early evening, their domestic chores remain unaffected. There is also the option of taking the nuts home and peeling it; mainly to help support the elderly and disabled women.

Cashew processing involves boiling the nuts, initially. Large quantities are heated in incinerators and then roasted. The kernels are then cut using simple machinery, followed by heating again and peeling. Grading is done next where the cashews are separated by hand on the basis of size and colour. Over 30 kinds of nuts are manufactured in India, ranging from small, brownish ones to the large Ivory-white ones. The final packaging is done depending on whether the nuts are of export quality or for the local market. The cashews are vacuum packed, treated with a gaseous mixture of 70%Nitrogen and 30%Carbon-di-oxide to prevent spoilage and then sealed. Thus packed, these nuts can be stored for around a year without chances of rotting.

Nalina, 33 of Kukoondoor says, "I have worked for 13 years as a cashew peeler, and have three daughters who attend school. In the evenings, they also help me shell extra kernels at home. We lead comfortable lives today because we earn almost Rs.1200 every week." Mallika, another villager in Karkala, turned to working in these factories after her husband abandoned her family six years ago. Stranded, without an educational background, money or relatives to turn to, she had no option but to join the cutting department of a kernel processing factory. Introduced to this job by a neighbour, she is still employed as a cutter, six days a week. "I work here along with my mother and sister. Together, we support my children. The absence of a man in charge of running the household is not felt anymore. This job has given me a new lease of life. I am making plans for my sister's wedding next year," she proudly adds.

Benefits like sickness and maternity leave, provident fund, insurance and gratuity for the women, organized by the government has made their lives more secure. Manager of the Mahalasa exports in Hiriadka, Mr.Rohildas says, "The government earnestly supports the cause of employing these under-privileged women. Recently, taxes have been reduced to 4% and incentives have also been assigned for the labourers." Since there is no specific retirement age in this industry, women can continue to work as long as they are physically able to.

And there is demand for more labour. Partner of B.R.K cashew industries in Karkala, Jayawant Kamat says, "The company started with fifteen labourers 50 years ago. Today there are over 800 women employed by us. We can hire 200 more women right away, as the demand for cashew nuts is on the rise and the industry depends entirely on manual labour, not machinery. We have set up a unit in Padubidri, near Mangalore where beginners are taught tasks like peeling, cutting and grading of kernels. Started four months ago, several women have been absorbed by the factories already. On an average, each worker can earn around Rs.180 a day. Bus facilities have also been recently arranged for the workers."

Interestingly, there is no environment pollution caused as a result of processing and packaging cashews as can be seen in most other industries. All the by-products are bio-degradable. They are used for various purposes; the cashew fruit is used to make alcohol, its hard shell is used in the manufacture of paints, oil and varnish. The seed coat is an integral component of the gutkha and tobacco industries.

A research station at Ullal, in the South Kanara region, under the University of Agricultural Sciences, tests cashew oil and juice from the various plantations. The marketing channel in the state is the Cashew Merchants Association, which also promotes women welfare and employment

Bollywood Party Nite!!

2008-03-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

A terribly hot afternoon, feeling more dejected than ever after missing an important courier, I was all ready to wind up, pack my bags and head home for the weekend; a couple of days with my awesome family, adorable doggy and amazing friends seemed like the perfect mood elevator. It was then I laid eyes on the ‘Bollywood Night’ posters, and thanked God for the millionth time for giving me the Manipal way of life J

A night full of Bollywood extravaganza, where YOU get to be the star and experience the exhilaration of being hounded by media, paparazzi and cameras, claimed the posters all around the town and priced at Rs.100 per ticket, it was a gamble most students were willing to take.

Organized on the 7th of March as a fund-raiser for Article-19, the annual college fest of the Manipal Institute of Communication, the theme party targeted bulk of engineering students who were to finish a gruelling round of sessionals on Thursday.

The venue was ‘Edge’, the most popular disc in town and slowly the crowd started poring in by around 10 pm. And, the spirit and enthusiasm with which Manipalites had turned up, and the efforts they had taken to look ‘Bollywood Ishtyle’ was truly phenomenal, a trait that gets imbibed in every student under this university banner.
From Amrish Puri to Saif Ali Khan, from Zeenat Aman to Kareena Kapoor, they seemed all geared up to move some serious butt!

The ambience was indeed glamorous, with bright yellow and red being the colours of prominence. Dazzling lights, gorgeous posters, glitter and gossip; all the elements of a great party and bi***y Bollywood were totally taken care of!

With the red Carpet and tongue-in-cheek interviews this was one party, I was glad I had not missed. The added attraction was undoubtedly the brilliant numbers rendered by MIT student cum deejay, Mayank. The crowd went berserk dancing to sajna ji vari vari, hum Hindustani, move your body, chamma chamma and the likes.

The curtains were drawn at midnight when the organizers ushered the quite unwilling guests back to their hostels, fearing the wrath of the chief warden. It was then it finally dawned, there was absolutely no need to take a break, no need to run away; that it simply does not get any better than this. No matter what Manipal, is the place to be in, the place to study, the place to party and the place to give a whole new dimension and meaning to the phrase, LIVE LIFE KING-SIZE!!’

Hehe, Fictitious blind dating!

2008-03-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

The tongue-tied moments, the insufferable smile that just does not seem to leave your face, the initial rush, the pause-filled conversations that are brief yet bewitching, the blood flowing right to your face bringing out the pale pink blush, the helplessness in just not being to take your eyes off; for those dimwits ( lol…just kidding ) who have not guessed it yet, these are the sure sign symptoms of a Mega-crush; something that can progress to a very entertaining, amusing, interesting, meaningful and amazing relationship if you are lucky and at the same time tactful.

It is said that the definitive years of a person’s life is his college years. I mostly agree, because I believe that it is a passage of time during which a person evolves, becomes opinionated, decides for himself what is right and wrong and redefines his values. In Manipal, every passing semester brings about new changes, friendships are strengthened if they withstand the trial of time, new acquaintances are made, rifts are created, opinions are changed, relationships are broken; it is all a part of the package deal.

One thing that majority of the students in this town seem to agree on is the concept that being in a relationship enhances the experience that is Manipal. Couples strongly recommend being in love in this student town as it makes the whole place more beautiful, easier to cope with, more enjoyable, more memorable and lots more fun than it is for their single counterparts. It is a magical feeling when everything around you seems so much better, happier and brighter. Staying away from family and childhood friends, the common belief seems to be that it is absolutely essential to find that special someone and foster the bond of mutual respect, love and admiration. It moulds an individual making him more satisfied and complete.

This discussion is what lead me to my next venture; why not bring two similar people, with the same interests, goals and more importantly identical wavelengths together and see if they click! It did not require a lot of effort as the inter-college network in this university town is quite efficient and a couple of calls is all it will take to find consenting students who are ready to try something new just for a break from the routine and predictable monotony of student life. And voila! Just then was born the Blind-date program.

My Kashmiri friend, Payal was introduced to a neighbour’s brother. A budding musician, he was on his way to becoming a dentist. They had the same taste in music, food and politics. She was an introvert but could carry out conversation if slowly drawn out of her shell with mild persuasion. He was a smart guy, with not enough time on his hands to go girl-scouting. Moreover, with his best friend also hooking up recently he needed some quality company of his own and I decided to merely make a teeny-tiny attempt at playing cupid. So, off I sent Payal and Rishabh to dinner at China valley. And the outcome? Not so soon darling, you just have to read on!

The next two victims were Shweta, a colleague and Vikas, a singer in one of the leading college bands in Manipal. She was loud almost to the point of being irritating, out-spoken, a thorough extrovert, found almost everything funny and could not speak a word of Hindi to save her life. He was a friend of her roomate’s boyfriend; funny, cute, witty and loads of fun to chill with. Shweta agreed to meet and hang out with him, on the condition that a bunch of them made plans together. This resulted in a lounge session in Twist followed by jamming in a friend’s apartment.

I was super excited and could not wait to analyse the outcome of these two scenarios. Was I meant to bring them together, was finding solace, comfort and dependable companionship surely that simple? I was absolutely dying to find out.

I ran to Payal as soon as she messaged saying she was back, turns out she and Rishabh totally hit it off and had loads of fun that evening. Dinner was promptly followed up with dessert at Picollos and a walk in the moonlight before he bade goodnight at her doorstep. Bollywood style? I think so too. J The best part is, they have plans for the following weekend.

The bunch of us Shweta’s girlfriends decided to tag along and hook her up for good with Vikas. We spent an enjoyable evening at Twist, where he joined us with his friends and unfortunately things did not go according to schedule. Shweta was constantly made to converse with him, all of us hung out together the entire night and her verdict was she just found him cute and funny but not her ‘kinda guy’. We decided not to give up without a fight, so the next day we all met up at Enigma, the newly opened disc at Sanman Residency. We were all set to ignite flames of passion between the two; however, boy where we in for a surprise! Shweta could not take her eyes of Vikas’s friend Rahul, the DJ at the club. She did not leave the dance floor for even a second and boogied away till the wee hours of the morning. She seemed smitten by the Love bug, unfortunately with the wrong guy. Well, I lost that round but was happy with myself for at least whiling away time this holiday.

However, as far as blind-dating goes, I have come to realise that the odds in Manipal are almost the same as anywhere else in the world. It depends on whether that initial spark is ignited, otherwise the momentum simply cannot be retained, or something like that. J As for me, call me gutless, but I’d rather stick to the conventional way of courtship!

Fictional Udyavar :)

2008-03-23T10:45:00.001-07:00

Sitting in an extremely non-stimulating Economics class, my mind simply cannot help wandering to the fact that there is a nice, long weekend ahead in Manipal; and for once with almost nothing to. Highly excited at the thought of running away some place nice for the 3 days, I start to consider the probable destinations. But, before that the task of convincing people to actually take off. My mind works on overdrive, I’m prepared for a small speech and everything; ‘We can finish college on Thursday, take off, spend the weekend elsewhere, wrap up and head back just in time to make it to the Monday morning lecture at 9. This is one of the best things about studying here, lets do this guys;’ just wait a minute; what am I thinking; please it is Manipal, almost everyone is looking for an excuse to have a good time.

The timing of the weekend could not have been any better; people all around me were extremely tired of doing the same boring things day in and day out and wanted to take a solid break from the hectic schedule of lectures, conferences, lab sessions and workshops; and what other way of ringing in the party mode other than the perfect weekend getaway as we MU students are undoubtedly keen on living life king-size.

Now the big question, where did we want to go? Goa- the beach, the booze, the bikes, the clubs and the absolutely delectable sea-food; prawns, kalamari, lobster, shrimp sautéed and the others around me are already salivating at the thought of glorious Goa, until the smart one pipes up reminding us of the current scenario post the teenage murder. Close patrolling, no loud music and closing of shacks before midnight, honestly does not sound all that great. A unanimous decision was made in a matter of minutes; we needed to move on to option number two.

Gokarna- a secluded stretch of sand, a nice bottle of Beer, a lazy dip in the beach and some good and easy to score grass for the boys! Sounded like the perfect option to our ears. We decided that was it and almost booked our train tickets when at the station we saw a bunch of our acquaintances; loud, annoying, opinionated, brash and so not funny (well u can pretty much guess by now that they were not our favourite people in the planet) boarding the train the very same place saying, ‘Arey yaar! Aap log bhi Gokarna aao, bahut mast lagega bey!’ (U guys do come to gokarna, it will be so much fun) What happened next is pretty predictable; a quick about turn and back to base one, looking for another destination.

Shimoga- the land of the reputed Jog falls, the biggest in the country. It was rather surprising that we had spent almost three years here without having been to the place. Since it would not be that time consuming, we decided to throw in Murudeshwar as well, spend a nice and quiet night by the sea-front and unwind at the resort there. Some of us were also keen to visit the temple there the next day and then we could head back Sunday morning and catch up on some sleep for the coming week. We call up NJ travels to sort out our entire itenary only to find out that the falls is not a very good idea with the weather being cold, rainy and unpredictable.

And we are back once again to the risingly familiar room where we sit down and brainstorm for what seems to be the fiftieth time in one day; you see we Manipalites don’t give up that easily, once we make up our minds it is almost as good as etched in stone! J

Then comes the bright suggestion of Udyavar- the native place of a friend of ours, we had access to a cosy house, warm beds, yummy food, a delightful boat ride across the river to reach the shore and of course Mattu Beach, the one place that can be aptly described as isolated paradise. We quickly make a couple of calls, rope everyone in and decide to take off on Friday morning. Five bikes, five pillion riders, a bag of sandwiches, a couple of drinks and lots of sunscreen for the girls and we are finally off- on what turned out to be one of the most memorable trips this semester.

So we did end up getting the perfect holiday; the sun, the sand, the drive and the best of all, good old Manipal company! For people here, the sky is indeed the limit!!

2008-03-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Patwardan

2008-03-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

An extremely interesting, inspiring and interactive session with a thought-provoking film maker and I simply cant wait to pen down all the details. What I’m talking about is a day-long workshop with Anand Patwardhan, an award winning documentary film maker, unafraid of controversies, contemporaries or consequences; a person who depicts reality as it is and one whose over-powering presence fills the audience with awe and admiration.

The Manipal Institute of Communication, under the supervision of faculty members Samvartha and Prof. Sunil Bhadri organized an interaction with this great celebrity in what turned out to be one of the most memorable events in the history of the college. The day started with the screening of War and Peace, [“Aman aur Jung”], a movie on the demerits and hazards caused by the tactless decision of developing nations going nuclear under the pretext of defence and security reasons. Honestly, before watching the movie I was amongst those who believed in the concept of fighting fire with fire; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth as the age old adage goes. The only way for India to prove her might and superiority was nuclear empowerment, making it clear to the other countries that we were not to be messed with. Watching this documentary made me realise how easy it was for an individual to take a stand by hearing just one side of the story. The footage of the thousands of lives lost, endangered and deformed in test centres like Pokhran, Khetolai and Jadugoda; suffering in terms of the loss of homes, farms, property and self-esteem is something that has scarred the foundation of the nation forever and no amount of technological or scientific development can even come close to compensation. The disturbingly real visuals helped at least most of the students there realise that they were the ones monumental in bringing about change, in terms of equality, peace and brotherhood. The only way out for all nations is nuclear disarmament! This was followed by a post mortem of the movie with Anand cleverly justifying his stand in the film and how he was faced with opposition from all concerned authorities in the country as the film was perceived to be anti-establishment, anti-nuclear and pro-Pakistan.

The session post lunch involved the screening of the films “Ram ke Naam” and Father, Son and the Holy war; both of which predominantly revolved around social issues of casteism, male dominance, religious and communal differences and political involvement and manipulation resulting in scapegoats being made out of the illiterate as well as the educated sections of the society. The former dealt with the demolition of the Babri masjid and the Ayodhya issue in a sensitive manner. The latter saw the masses support Sati, accept male superiority and condemn women progress or involvement in matters not concerning the running of the household. Both the films stressed on how most parties in the country like the Shiv Sena, BJP, Hinutva activists and Muslim league influenced the minds of the public by calling out to them under the pretext of religious dominance, patriotism, honour and the like; and how these leaders were willing to stoop to any levels whatsoever to ensure votes in the next elections.

The entire event proved to be thought-provoking right from the start to the finish. I could clearly see the protected surrounding sphere inside which I lived a superficial, secure and ignorant life, oblivious to our country’s troubled past and the distressing present day conditions; and I can say quite confidently that every other person on that room was going through the same unsure flow of emotions. Time is running out rather rapidly indeed and if we care enough to make a difference it has to be done at once. The entire responsibility at a whole new approach to issues like caste, creed, religion, secularism, superiority and peace lies in the hands of the youth; the current bulk of population that has chosen time and again to turn a blind eye to controversies and remain dormant in the most important of matters. We can make a difference, but ONLY if we really want to. Thankfully we still have individuals like Anand Patwardhan who remind us time and again that we have moral duties, and life is so much more than our regular, rather predictable routines!