Passing Fad

On the right side of my window is a skyscraper
An ad that beckons me to the Himalayan treasure.
Just below is an offer
For weight loss - a medical wonder.
Another window provides
Links to restaurants with epicurean delights.

All I want is to respond to my mail,
But in closing these boxes, in that I fail.
Watch a drab soap opera on TV
There is the squeeze back to tempt the greedy.
News channels have a subscription ad
I regret this is here to stay, this "passing fad".

"What do I do then?" - I enjoy
The soul destroying creativity that's deployed.

- Written on 14 May 2010
- Self Explanatory. Am tired of pop-ups, squeeze backs, tickers for ads and so on, but c'est la vie so am trying to appreciate the ingenuity.

Innocuous Pleasure

A child’s pleasure -
An innocuous treasure.
A treat, a bribe –
A parent’s respite.

The most gifted
The most loved
The mud coloured delight
Makes most people’s day bright.

How then do I cope
Remembering the dear soul
Wrought to an end choking
On a chocolate of all things?

- Written on 11 May 2010
- Amrit, I still can’t quite believe you are not amongst us anymore.

To Amrit

A lanky boy on the second last bench,
With ever a smiling face
Earnest, sincere, yet mischievous
I'll never forget his assignment with the "f....." phrase.

A bus ride with him as your companion
Could mean a second degree inquisition.
Polite yet confident, he would know the reasons
Why I was not married yet, what were my ambitions.

With other students ‘shush’ing him, an apology
He SMSed later, for overstepping boundaries, if any.
Coming in on a rainy day with a badly hurt foot
To see a Culture Studies class movie, though he was excused!

Early morning phone calls to state
Excuses for a project delayed.
Never let me down though when it mattered
Optimistic, easy-going, rarely dejected.

So many snapshots of him that I recollect:
A toy on the ceiling, a career guidance request,
Working harder when I would his assignment reject,
Mostly teasing Deepti to misery abject.

As semesters passed, he only got thinner
I teased him even about fading away altogether.
Today, a sad day for all, that we will no more see this bright spark
Yet, can I truly state that, when he resides in our heart?

-I will miss you Amrit Bansal – For me you will ever be associated with 7 – your Roll No. when you joined FY.
- Written on 10 May 2010.

Farmville reports replace FB status updates

"What's your problem with uploading status updates? 
Why is FV all that I see on your page? "
Well to answer the query, I must plead, 

Status requires thought , while FV is TP.  
I'm in a phase where I don't wanna think. 
Can't maybe truer, but why be grim.

FV's mindnumbing enough requiring merely a click,
Waiting endlessly for page reloads is an activty fix.
I know this won't last endlessly, I have started to write,
And I may soon desist from activity on FV and the like.
Till then, but, my friends, be prepared to see
FV updates galore, with Causes breaking the monotony. :) 


-Written on 22 April 2010
- The reasons are self-explanatory. I have been accused of being addicted to fv bypassing fb. :) I dunno abt dat, bt d chat lang dfts me.

Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary

A day when we rejoiced with friends
That two of ours had their bonds strengthened.
A day when a voice rang out with conviction
As she said 'I Do' with typical theatrical enunciation. :)
A day when the quieter voice still
Stated his commitment to love's promises fulfill.

Four years have passed since then
Their bond has served as others' inspiration.
More of our group have married
One of them of has had a kid.
This couple, however, stays on as the group's foci
Here's to wishing them a bon voyage on this year 5.

- Written on 21 April 2010. 
- A day in advance for the very obvious reason. Shrads-Mat here's 2 U from all of us Untouchables. :)
-

A Late Night Call

Up late night on g-chat,
At the world hitting back,
Wondering aloud about options new,
A friend says call now, I'm here for you.

Late night, hectic schedules, documents to be worked on, early morning gym,
All forgotten in the hope that he might brighten my world dim.
Listens, listens and listens some more
As I express with sound effects many an inner furore.

I say good night finally, my problems still unresolved
But a peace that lightens my mind I have found
I hope he could sleep and his work tomorrow go about
For I now know that with such friends my problems are not so fraught.

- Written on 20 April 2010
- After a telcon with Easwar, the white knight riding to the rescue over airwaves. :) He knows what I am talking about :)

'Run! Don't look back!"
"Wait! Always watch your back!"
"Attack! Don't just stand and stare."
"Defend! Never provoke another's dare."

The tennis ball aced around
Is not hit so well into the ground.
How do I explain my ditherance
When I am never met with forbearance?

I run and watch my back
Invariably lose my place on the track.
I attack and then defend
About being sure of myself I pretend.

Why do we confuse
Our children with our views?
When we ourselves have no answer
As to how to be a successful player.

Yet, I listen with bated breath
For the next formula to beat failure to death
I even follow at times
Then I pay for my crimes.

Do I learn? Of course not!
Why would I when advisors abound?
Sureshot methods I am often taught
Seems like I am the exception to the rules fraught.

An appeal here to you all
Tell me again once and not for all
How do I succeed
In making my dreams flower from seed?

-Written on 10 April 2010 - typed directly onto the blog :)
-Yes, another advice that I sent down the drain, thanks to my ineptitude. I live in hope that I may someday learn, but so far hope in vain.

My morning

The rush early in the morning,
The need to be alone,
The desire to sleep for a few hours more,
The tiredness that oozes from every single pore.

Catching a bus as late as can be
Leaning forward, willing it on, as it inches slowly.
Forgetting your book, but for a kind samaritan,
Miscounting change for your fare, that is happily returned.

Running through halls, violating decorum,
Rumbles in your stomach making you yearn for food yum,
Hair askew, more than it usually is,
Breathless, panting, one finally reaches.

'No lectures today. Sorry, you are not on call.
We should have informed you, but we unfortunately stalled.'
Curses hover, waiting to be screamed out.
You nod, you smile, say you understand when you patently do NOT.

Then you think,
'Thanks to this respite, could I catch a few winks?'
The answer is 'NO'. You have a price to pay
You were so stressed out, that though exhausted you are wide awake.

-Written on 6 April 2010.
- Self-explanatory don't you think? :P

Can the USA ever stand competition?
Is this fear behind their new found Pak-compassion?
Supported India against China's gainsay,
But it is a superpower on its own today,
Where Chinese communism could never win it allies many,
India's secularism has won friends already.
Nuclear deals struck are now a pain,
Pakistan's accession is suddenly a gain,
A country that's sponsored terrorism,
It deserves more than Iran's defiance.

- Written on 20 May 2009
- Refer to Hillary Clinton's statement granting aid to Pakistan, taking back the statements she had made a month ago deploring the administrative system in the said country!!!!!!!!!!! Two facedness Zindabad!!!!!!!!

India with Gandhi

Welcome stability,
End fragmented polity,
Give a party support to shine,
Do your civic duty and do not whine,
The people of India have to a large extent,
Seem to have worked out their intent
And voted for the least militant.
Hooray! No more 24 hours of news,
Cagey politicians being asked their views,
Introspection called for naturally,
The mass seems to have hood winked even the punidits' wizardry.
Cheers Young India! the party that's come to power
Is most representative of the Indian hour.
Ramchandra Guha may well now write
India with Gandhi and The BJP's f(r)ight.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!! :)

-Written on 16th May 2009

Response to Easwar's Comment on the previous post - Love...

A piece of advice kindly given
Without realising its repercussion.
If I start commenting on Indian politics
The world would be deeper in the pits.
I have a mixed strain of idealism and pragmatism
It is a cocktail that smacks of just impressionism.
Details get conveniently bypassed many a time
That I am laziness personified only aids the crime.
Dear cousin, I am certainly not an authority,
However, when I strongly feel, I do try writing poetry :)
AND when I do not even regularly BLOG about everyday events
How, pray, do you justify your suggestion, for many a punishment?

- Written on 9 May 2009

Love as an aid to self-destruction

I just saw The Believer. It got me thinking a bit more. Last night as I sat typing questions and formulating explanatory answers late into this morning I also kept shuffling the various news channels that had repeat telecasts of 9PM news at 2:30 AM. After a point I felt that they did not really care about what they had to communicate.

The purpose was to fill the air time. There were no debates. Everyone knew what the other party would say and since we have so many experienced politicians who never to seem to let go we have been hearing the same speech almost verbatim for the past many years. The Congress perhaps helped us poor citizens a bit by allowing Jyotiraditya and Sachin Pilot to speak. That they entrusted youngsters to damage control what another "youngster" Rahul Gandhi had wrought was ironical. Of course, they could always backtrack from any political goof-ups by stating novices do not know what the experienced and the 'truly' powerful leaders in the Congress are about etc. etc. Master move, I think.

I also think that the media is a bit more in love with Rahul Gandhi as they have been gagged a bit themselves by the Election Office and can question the politicians on the various hints that "the young Rahul" has shared with them. Is he being "naive" or "shrewd"? The focus is firmly on the Congress as a result. Whatever the various parties may be thinking of Congress is never far from their minds.

The BJP seems to have it down to a pat. As Sachin Pilot pointed out, they will tell what is wrong with the Congress, what the Congress wants, what the Congress should do, what the other parties allied with the Congress or formerly allied with them want or should do, how hypocritical the Congress is, how opputunistic it is and so on and so forth without once focusing on "what is right with the BJP" and what are their strategies etc. With Rudy only confirming everything that Sachin had stated in his answers to Barkha Dutt, one feels that be the Congress in power or not, they are the ones establishing the government. They will be the ones to help form the government by adhering to their principled stand (Manmohanji is our PM) or by merrily eschewing this for higher "moral" grounds of keeping the BJP out of power which could well be about the only thing they learnt from the Left in their long association.

I wonder what will happen. But as my brother says, whatever be the outcome is it going to truly affect the mass in any positive manner? For that I suggest we re-read Freakonomics to know how a single event can shape the trends of the coming generations.

As for the reason I began by saying that I saw The Believer, there is a reason for that. I had had similar thoughts last night (I will share below) that the anti-hero expressed even better in this complexly wonderful film. He says something to the effect that the only way to destroy the Jews is to "love them. Sincerely." They only answer they cannot take is a 'yes'. If Hitler had not happened they would have invented him!!!!!! I thought these lines were wonderful.

India has long been looked down upon, we struggled then to build our nation, but any time we seem to go through times of peace and prosperity, we sure seem to go all out to destroy ourselves. We do not need foreign leaders to ruin us, we have proven that we do not even need Indian leaders to ruin us, the urban middle class that has risen through the cracks of prosperity will ensure that these cracks remain and in fact become larger. They will not go and vote and the politicians who feared these members coming out in full strength happily excuse them with reasons like long weekends and hot weather. I fully endorse the lines in The Believer if applied to the Indian context. Love us to help us destroy ourselves :)

Well my piece composed at 3:30 AM reads:

I wonder what the state of Congress will be
As it desperately fights the effects of incumbency?
Mamata vs. Brinda, Mulayam or Maya
Who will help form the government - DMK or Jaya?

Will swords be sheathed temporarily
Only to be weilded at times of power sharing calamity?
Will enemies be allies and vice versa
Will we see the results of a new political diaspora?

Will Rahul Gandhi's speech come to haunt him
Or will it be remarked upon later for its political wisdom?
For now, the Congress is in the limelight
Other parties are media-hounded to rethink their strategies in this fight.

Will we ever have parties truly secular
Or will we forever adhere to notions that are currently popular?
Independents are the flavour of the season
What matters if their win or loss does not truly serve the nation?

We need a party that will be strong
To take the right decisions in face of all wrongs.
Such courage works best when supported
But alas! our young citizens have not adequately voted.

Come Terrorism, Come recession,
Come corruption, Come pollution
Come crime, Come evil,
Our protests are short lived and very feeble.

We will accept any government - The shakier, the better
Just give us reason to crib louder and longer.
Maoist, Democratic, Republican or even Talibani
Do not bother us about politics, we are only 'aam aadmi'.

We will suffer poverty and lack of liberty
We shine becuase of these you see.
Afterall, it's Slumdog and the NASA Swades
That truly represents our Indian race.

Personal triumphs guided by luck is better
Than working hard as a community to prosper.
Worthy of your salutations, WE ARE INDIANS,
We have no enemies, who can better our self-destructive millions?

-Written on 8 May 2009.

Incommunicado period hopefully past

Hey guys,

I have got mails, smses, and or calls asking me what I have been upto and if I am even alive. While I did not realise I had been that lackadiasical in my communication that you would wonder about my state of existence I do apologise for not being in touch and hope that you all know that if you had needed me I was just a phone call away. So what have I been upto huh.. well

First there was this buliding that I stay in
The BMC ruled that 30 years old and more and it might cave in
So began structural repairs partial
The top floor flat we live in was deemed experimental
Since we live on salt commission land
If the building falls the place will be out of our hands
So the repairs were begun with many false starts
As South Indians we had to be stingy with the costs
A whole wall fell in our bedroom
Mosquitoes galore that night on our blood we groomed
A part of the drawing room wall was the next to be demolished
By that time we had almost got used to our blood needing to be repienished
Hammers and tongs above our flat was not enough
As the terrace got redone we had to have not seepage but flood.
As our newly painted walls cropped up new designs
My brother and I almost decided to disown our family ties
Unfortunately my mother had instilled values
We stayed on and even helped the workers in the mileu
So it goes on even now
We water our walls as our plants are gone
We dust the dust on the dust covering the dust of our stuff
Our CPU languishes in our technician's shop filled with dust and what not
Our AC and stuff we do not even want to touch
We fear they will crumble with all they have endured.
Somehow the brave TV and washing machine soldier on
We take our blessings, whereever they are found.

Of ocurse it is not enough that I wake up to Dust and sleep in Dust
Since I teach at various colleges, projects and stuff carry home I must
Then correct them and then dust them and then store them and then dust them
Meetings and travel will come my way
I will brave the pollution and population fray
Work on not just the weekdays but weekends too
Public Holidays just meant there was time to catch up do
Lectures that begin at 7 am and some that end at 10 pm
A parcel of life that I have wilfully chosen
How do I complain when I was the one to gainsay
The saner voices that I now wish I had allowed to prevail?
I earned a bit more and spent a lot more on travel
I came across many whom I taught who are far more sensible.
Projects of editing and constructing reports I could not say 'NO' to
My doctor's advice though I constantly did NOT adhere to
Sheer common sense does not accompany the genius see
I have grand delusions about my abilities.

Then I decided that enough was enough
So many years that I have spent sheltered and cossetted
I had made a decision: I would go out more and meet my friends
Late nights if need be I would not forsake
In fights with my folks I would partake
Freedom, however, was my birthright
I am, by God, going to finally it enjoy.
So kind of my friends that they arranged
Weddings and functions and parties for me to hold my sway
Daring I went and fun I had so what if a few hours sleep was also set aside
Memories I made and spent more time and energy on travel on again
Rickshawalas and taxi guys are a smart lot I learned as politics and waht not we discussed on our way
Kala Ghoda was fun too.
Of my poor cousin I made full use
His good nature I admire
As he spent more time trying to ignore my tired sighs.
Cakes and samosas and jalebis and pizzas
I have partied hard this winter past

While still not accomplishing much I have done more than ever before
I am proud of myself, please this time my selfishness ignore
The year upcoming I will try to be more organised
And for mails and calls too I will time prioritise.
You were there in my thoughts a few moments here and there
But time flew past before I could my thoughts with you share.
I am trying to do better as you can see
To be more outgoing and a better friend be
A slow learner I admit, however, I will succeed surely.

I hope that you guys will also contibute and teach me
How you mange to accomplish so much so unassumingly.

Apologies and Love
Anusha


- Written on 15 April 2009

Kala Ghoda 2009

So many days past since this feeling
Debilitated me till I was almost past thinking
The pain was just too much to bear
Perhaps all the more so as I had ceased to care
That perhaps I could fall prey
And so should control any foray
Into the world yonder
Even if I had few wishes fonder.
Yet, years of experience came handy
When I thought I would fall I made out like all was dandy
I don’t know that I fooled anyone
But at least no one was compelled to question
Yet, despite the faintness, the pain
I would want this day all over again
Snatches of the day flash past
I smile and want to hold the moments fast.

I had a laugh in my heart through the day
Even if I had not my happiness always brayed.
There are records my cousin took
That I had my usual staidness at times forsook
These only lend credence
That this day had a hollowed sense.
I remember snatches of colour and taste
I know in memories I will happily relive the day
Flora fountain spouted water
What but happiness then could the day harbour?
Samovar baingan bartha that was spicier than assured
Jehangir Art Gallery where paintings were appreciated
For hours we laughed at some of the awardees
Wondered aloud why they could not mean what they seemed
Gasped at some of the price ranges
Even as we enjoyed the air conditioner
The collages were truly wonderful,
A woman looking over her shoulder
Hands held behind her back, filled my cousin with wonder
Some landscapes and the Mumbai based representations
Made us sigh and placed every clue in the frames
The pavement gallery housed art that was base and splendour
Easwar of course had to experiment with snaps and a mirror
Moshe’s chocolate ecstasies were to die for
We whiled away time in the Fabindia coffee bar.
Then back to the Kala Ghoda and more pictures
A Ganesha made of cycle scrap,
A man blaring his industrial angst,
Multi colored buckets, taps and windows
All photographed in clever ways
Bubbles, Chai’na in trunks,
Metal creatures dispelling any funk
Glimpsing performances, Friends greeting,
Catching up, though not always talking
Sharing, communicating; different from the surface discourse
Do I want a repeat? You betcha. Of course! :)

- Caught up with Easwar on10 Feb 2009 on a day long wished and planned for at the 11th Kala Ghoda Festival. All I wanna say is thanks Bro. It was a marvellous day that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Still wonder what the balloon stuck half way with red glaze paper was supposed to represent and wish we could have tried the chocolate mudpie as well :)) Thanks for the treat.

Adieu 2008 Welcome 2009

It was a year when we shone in the Olympics
It was a year that nuclear power was ushered in overcoming political dynamics.
It was a year when unexpected results were yielded
To showcase how strongly the Indian spirit is welded.
A year when courage was show through actions
A year when people of all walks felt every event's repercussions.
A year when unity was newly forged
A year that sowed the seeds of change for years henceforth.
A year in which we learnt much
Never was or will there be a year such.
Welcome 2009 we hope that you bring
A season of hope and joy may you ever spring.

May 2009 herald Love and Peace
May it usher in Prosperity
May health be a constant friend
May all adventures have a happy end.

Happy New Year folks :)

Will there be a day...

Will there be a day
When there will be no race
When no one will recognize
If you are black or otherwise?
Will ever there be a time
When there won’t be racist crime?
Will we ever face
That God made us with grace?
Will we boundaries ever erase
And each other embrace
When we resent not each other
As we tolerate our blood brother
When there be peace, if not love
When caste and creed is a discarded glove
When we recognize the I in another
And realise that we are a reflection of the other?
Will there be such a dawn
For which we all so very much long?
Will we ever, ever
Live as one together?

- Written on 12 November 2008
- I dunno why, maybe the Obama inspired articles are finally having their effect.

Satan’s Followers

Lonely in the midst of a class
Did not know how I could carry on.
Grappling with time’s choking grasp
I also tried to not the world let on.

I am not even sad for myself, in fact, I am content
With my very meager achievements.
I do feel some sympathy for my brother,
But beyond a point I only admire him as he is stronger.

Yet, at odd times visions haunt me
I cannot take him being so unhappy.
Does God test only the strong?
Do only the weak have the right to fool around?

Those who are sinned against
Will either themselves sin or life disdain.
IS this what you want Lord mine?
Satan’s followers whom you create and then destroy?

This reads like a computer game
One in which we are puppets depending on you to be sane.

- Written on 24 August 2008.
- My brother will hate me for this, but as I said he is strong. I feel this piece on this blog belongs.
-

Compare me to another…

Compare me to another when I am being lazy
Don’t tell me that my short hair makes me ugly, is against femininity.

Compare me to another when I am being an idiot
Don’t tell me off for vociferously opposing a riot.

Compare me to another when I am mean to someone
Don’t tell me off when fight suppression.

Compare me to another when I overstep boundaries
Don’t tell me off for refusing responsibility for another’s sins.

Compare me to another for being less smart
Don’t tell me off for merely not studying at dawn.

Compare me to another for being less efficient
Don’t tell me off for choosing my own right way of accomplishment.

Compare me to another for being loud and argumentative
Don’t tell me off for not being submissive.

Compare me to another for not being punctual
Don’t tell me off for questioning the reason for performing a ritual.

Compare me to another for lacking comportment
Don’t tell me off for choosing simplicity over adornment.

Compare me to another if I do not have the sportsman's spirit
Don’t tell me off when I play or dance and give it my very best (albeit poor) shot.

Compare me to another if I overspend on a regular base
Don’t tell me off for the odd impulsive purchase.

Compare me to another when I don’t live up to my claim
Don’t tell me off for fulfilling a promise despite the strain.

Compare me to another if I exaggerate my illnesses
Don’t tell me off for even those complaints that I understate.

Compare me to another when I am being insensitive
Don’t tell me off for my alternate perspective.

Compare me to another for my faults
Don’t tell me off for your perceived flaws.

Compare me to another if you must – Consistently
Don’t tell me off and praise me for the same deed, just as you please.

- Written on 21 October 2008.
- A conversation with a cousin triggered me to complete this long past written draft. I just typed in a poem I had in me since my preteen years. A thought I had articulated when in college, but not recorded as I have now.
- I think I thought better then and write worse now :)

After a Long time

Well may you ask why I absented myself for such a long time. That is the truble with me, I am never regular at anything unless rules and regulations accompany it and even then I find my way around these things.

Sharing my thoughts is something I always do, however, writing them down does not seem to be as much fun as reveling in them in my private domain - my thoughts. :)

What have I been upto? Not much. Will I get back to the story of Untouchables? Likely. Now? No. Soon? We will see.

I have an offering here though. A poem. After so many prosaic pieces in prose one boring offering in rhyme.

Here goes:

If I can't be free
In my very own country;
I will free my mind
And soar in the skies high,
And with my intellect will unbind
The shackles that freeze my land in retro time.

My land burns, my people suffer
But with (c)ru(e)lers I cannot my opinions differ.
At every point I've to justify my rationality
I've to prove my patriotism while arguing for a different, improved nationality.

The media - channels and papers - never let up.
In their quest to get one up
I am a source
For them to improve their TRP force.

I can speak up as long as I do not hurt the 'rationalists'
Or I will be branded 'unpatriotic, worse than those terrorists'.
But I can soar in my mind and heart and I will
I will strive to tolerance in these (c)rulers instill.

I do not expect them to change, for I know I will not myself.
I only wish they would give me the space to be my own opinionated self.
I know i am lucky, luckier than most.
At least of my ability to think thus (freely) I can boast.

In this 61st year of Independence I celebrate
The deep-rooted conviction to liberate - to tolerate.

- Written on 28 August 2008.
(I think the Shabana Azmi controvery finally got to me). :)

Memories - Memoirs

There are times when 5 min of a power cut seems like ages and then there are times when a power cut just allows me to revisit old haunts, revision interesting events and rethink my philosophies. I love whiling away hours with just my thoughts for company. I can just loll around the bed or even stare at a wall or TV or comp screen or even a book and take off on tangents in my mind. I fly to distant places and people. Not foreign, not always, but distant. Removed from this time and space by a few years. They may be remembrances or they may be dreamscapes of the future. It is a lot of fun most of the time.



However, because I love my mindscapes and live in them so often, I rarely know for sure if my memories are fact or fiction. I read somewhere that memories often change shape and are fashioned by what we choose to remember. Some of are better at repressing or reshaping memories than others. Hypnosis and many branches of psychiatry work successful on this premise.



Now why am I rambling about memories instead of engaging with them? Well, a friend asked me to jot down memories of our college days. I do not know if I can record them. So this is my way of engaging with the task.