Our national senses must indeed be in dire straits. We were a people able to see God in the stones as we worshipped. And now just because a band of intolerants calling themselves 'Hindutva' activists can see only the nudity of a woman where the artist can see the Goddess, we come to an impasse. And instead of reigning in the ignorants, we banish the good artist overseas for decades and only now get our panties in a twist over his Qatar citizenship. There's not a blurring of the acceptable and unacceptable, nor an absence, but a complete reversal. We are sorry,as we ought to be, but only for our loss. Saturday, February 27, 2010
m f husain...
Our national senses must indeed be in dire straits. We were a people able to see God in the stones as we worshipped. And now just because a band of intolerants calling themselves 'Hindutva' activists can see only the nudity of a woman where the artist can see the Goddess, we come to an impasse. And instead of reigning in the ignorants, we banish the good artist overseas for decades and only now get our panties in a twist over his Qatar citizenship. There's not a blurring of the acceptable and unacceptable, nor an absence, but a complete reversal. We are sorry,as we ought to be, but only for our loss. 
another wedding....
-
i am pretty set in my routine... eat, study, sleep... the places i visit and the people i see also revolve around it... the library, the raddi-wala, various culinarily gifted friends and relatives... yesterday was a little different...
it was barbie's wedding reception... though he did not really invite me to the reception per se, what with my candid confessions, his bride thought the confusion cute and invited me over... probably curious about the genius i am... i went with a few 'mutual friends' from college days... it was good 'catching up'... they swore they hadn't seen me since i left the college... but it didn't matter.... i love the way i can catch up with them and have a conversation like we'd left off just that morning...
i love dressing up... ever since i was a kid... my aunt had a tough time keeping her make-up collection to herself... there was no nook or corner i wouldn't search and dab the stuff on... the problem was i didnt really know what went where and make-up is more scientific than science... and with my persisting chronic case of 'mis-assumptions' which go horribly wrong, harmless adventures did not end that way... like the time she cleaned me up all nice and good and warned me to be clean coz some friends of Uncle were visiting... i wanted to be such a good girl, i went in and dabbed on about half a bottle of the oily moisturizer all over my face and thought accenting my eyes would be a good idea and used mascara where eye-liner would've been better... well, if you're unable to keep up with the little make-up lingo that makes up my limited vocabulary, you're probably single... ;)... anyway, to cut a long story short, i got such a thrashing that day that i didn't venture into anything nearly make-up for a good twenty years...
where the hell is the story going... anyway, the friends pick me up, one of them a little miffed at my reluctance to walk even to the street end where they could pick me up... he was in a t-shirt and jeans... and i had half a mind to drape him in a similar 6meter saree , put him on 2-inch heels and ask him to prance along...(my explanation for the reluctant walk)... anyway, we reached the place... the happy couple smiled uncomfortably for the pictures for a full fifteen minutes before noticing our presence... so then, we had to go to the dais give our gifts, smile politely and all that... i got my into my usual, unimaginably nervous state under the glaring lights... the smile i'd practiced didnt hold up and i now look plainly petrified in the pictures for eternity... barbie looked constipated and menacing(i know it's a rare combo) as he thanked me cordially for coming... i could well understand... and was just glad for the abundance of people around me... his bride looked more comfortable, chatting away amiably in her shiny saree that i said looked like the Milky Way galaxy (and assured her it was purely a compliment just as she slipped into second thoughts about inviting me... i can't imagine how it could be anything else!!)... she complained that it weighed 5 kilos and she'd been standing in it for hours...and it wasn't even the first day... as she explained the whole itenirary of the wedding and receptions all over the country, i couldn't help but feel for the 'happy couple'... it's hard work getting married!!
then, it was time for the foods... i slowly made my way through the stalls and had dinner mostly of ice-cream and rasmalai... we exchanged old stories, promised to meet up again... we probably were the last ones to leave... and only because the wedding party itself was leaving... and then i got dropped off at my house and crept up slowly to my house...
all in all, two more good friends cross over to the 'dark side'... certainly a remembrable day... :)
i am pretty set in my routine... eat, study, sleep... the places i visit and the people i see also revolve around it... the library, the raddi-wala, various culinarily gifted friends and relatives... yesterday was a little different...
it was barbie's wedding reception... though he did not really invite me to the reception per se, what with my candid confessions, his bride thought the confusion cute and invited me over... probably curious about the genius i am... i went with a few 'mutual friends' from college days... it was good 'catching up'... they swore they hadn't seen me since i left the college... but it didn't matter.... i love the way i can catch up with them and have a conversation like we'd left off just that morning...
i love dressing up... ever since i was a kid... my aunt had a tough time keeping her make-up collection to herself... there was no nook or corner i wouldn't search and dab the stuff on... the problem was i didnt really know what went where and make-up is more scientific than science... and with my persisting chronic case of 'mis-assumptions' which go horribly wrong, harmless adventures did not end that way... like the time she cleaned me up all nice and good and warned me to be clean coz some friends of Uncle were visiting... i wanted to be such a good girl, i went in and dabbed on about half a bottle of the oily moisturizer all over my face and thought accenting my eyes would be a good idea and used mascara where eye-liner would've been better... well, if you're unable to keep up with the little make-up lingo that makes up my limited vocabulary, you're probably single... ;)... anyway, to cut a long story short, i got such a thrashing that day that i didn't venture into anything nearly make-up for a good twenty years...
where the hell is the story going... anyway, the friends pick me up, one of them a little miffed at my reluctance to walk even to the street end where they could pick me up... he was in a t-shirt and jeans... and i had half a mind to drape him in a similar 6meter saree , put him on 2-inch heels and ask him to prance along...(my explanation for the reluctant walk)... anyway, we reached the place... the happy couple smiled uncomfortably for the pictures for a full fifteen minutes before noticing our presence... so then, we had to go to the dais give our gifts, smile politely and all that... i got my into my usual, unimaginably nervous state under the glaring lights... the smile i'd practiced didnt hold up and i now look plainly petrified in the pictures for eternity... barbie looked constipated and menacing(i know it's a rare combo) as he thanked me cordially for coming... i could well understand... and was just glad for the abundance of people around me... his bride looked more comfortable, chatting away amiably in her shiny saree that i said looked like the Milky Way galaxy (and assured her it was purely a compliment just as she slipped into second thoughts about inviting me... i can't imagine how it could be anything else!!)... she complained that it weighed 5 kilos and she'd been standing in it for hours...and it wasn't even the first day... as she explained the whole itenirary of the wedding and receptions all over the country, i couldn't help but feel for the 'happy couple'... it's hard work getting married!!then, it was time for the foods... i slowly made my way through the stalls and had dinner mostly of ice-cream and rasmalai... we exchanged old stories, promised to meet up again... we probably were the last ones to leave... and only because the wedding party itself was leaving... and then i got dropped off at my house and crept up slowly to my house...
all in all, two more good friends cross over to the 'dark side'... certainly a remembrable day... :)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
tensions...
-
we each sulk in separate rooms in the 1BHK house we live in… which is kinda hard…not the living… but the sulking… but we manage… i get the living room… she gets the bedroom and the out-room to sulk in… the bathroom and the kitchen are the no-man’s-lands… there’s an automatic truce applied when either one enters that… reason for sulking???
it varies… the oldest is probably the veg-non veg issue…
my argument, “If it doesn’t kill you, it cannot be wrong…”
her argument, “not everything you can do is right… what if everybody went around killing everybody else…??” she always takes things to extremes… one of those ideologists… but i kinda like the idea… haven’t you gone into one of those “just killing someone” moods… she looks at me like i’m going to do just that right after i put on that weight i’ve been trying to…. for the past lifetime…
most recent one…. the kannada film industry… i try to explain away the fanaticism of fans who go on arson sprees every time their ‘hero’ dies a most banal, natural death…. i don’t really dare express my views so publicly where every moron can access it… i am not too afraid of justifying my views to her… however mad she gets… but it’s hard to argue with fools… they drag you down to their level and beat you by sheer experience….(okay, i didn’t say it first… and i don’t know who did…so, there…!!) so if you get into an argument with me, and i give up just so easily, you know why…
and many an argument has gone by… i can’t remember any that got resolved amicably… usually, i call it quits… she’s got more stamina at her end than i can ever manage… even with all the swimming classes i manage… so i usually do the ‘time-out’ symbol, pronounce, “Let’s agree to disagree” and slink back… she gives me a disgusted look which says a particularly foul fowl’s name and walks away…
until the next argument unfolds…
we each sulk in separate rooms in the 1BHK house we live in… which is kinda hard…not the living… but the sulking… but we manage… i get the living room… she gets the bedroom and the out-room to sulk in… the bathroom and the kitchen are the no-man’s-lands… there’s an automatic truce applied when either one enters that… reason for sulking???
it varies… the oldest is probably the veg-non veg issue…
my argument, “If it doesn’t kill you, it cannot be wrong…”
her argument, “not everything you can do is right… what if everybody went around killing everybody else…??” she always takes things to extremes… one of those ideologists… but i kinda like the idea… haven’t you gone into one of those “just killing someone” moods… she looks at me like i’m going to do just that right after i put on that weight i’ve been trying to…. for the past lifetime…
most recent one…. the kannada film industry… i try to explain away the fanaticism of fans who go on arson sprees every time their ‘hero’ dies a most banal, natural death…. i don’t really dare express my views so publicly where every moron can access it… i am not too afraid of justifying my views to her… however mad she gets… but it’s hard to argue with fools… they drag you down to their level and beat you by sheer experience….(okay, i didn’t say it first… and i don’t know who did…so, there…!!) so if you get into an argument with me, and i give up just so easily, you know why…
and many an argument has gone by… i can’t remember any that got resolved amicably… usually, i call it quits… she’s got more stamina at her end than i can ever manage… even with all the swimming classes i manage… so i usually do the ‘time-out’ symbol, pronounce, “Let’s agree to disagree” and slink back… she gives me a disgusted look which says a particularly foul fowl’s name and walks away…
until the next argument unfolds…
tryst with dentist....
-
just back... had to go home... a tryst with the dentist... i'm not afraid of the trip to the dentist per se... i mean, what's the worst that could happen??? i've definitely met worse things and survived... so my pep talks work and i go settle down in the chair... there's a movable tray with all shiny, steel instruments that he pushes so it now blocks my way out of the chair... in case i decide to make a run for it... i prefer not knowing what instrument's going in next, but the doctor insists i keep my eyes open... he says it is coz he'd like to know if i've fainted out of fright, pain, exhaustion, boredom, etc... but i just thinks he loves an audience... things wouldn't be so bad if he didnt want to do so much talking... for eg, this time, with the pokers in place in my mouth, he looks deep into my eyes and asks me how tough these civil service exams are...
"hmm... hmmm" i reply as elaborately as i possibly can ...
"because you know, PG for dentists is tough and instead of spending 2-3 years studying for that, i could've become an IAS officer in the same while" he talks to me or himself (it's unclear) and is convinced of this infallible logic...
"hmm... hmmm", i thoroughly agree.... only coz disagreement would've meant more words than i could manage...
"so, which are the easiest subjects???" he waits for me to answer....
i look blankly at him, my mouth agape (not because i'm surprised... work's going on...)...
"how about public administration??" he offers a choice...
"hmm... hmmm" i agree without thinking....
"which books do i read for that???" he wants to know....
by that time, thankfully, the drilling, filling, tightening is done and i have regained control... it feels good... but there's a distinct after-taste from the disposable gloves though.... oh!! he'd asked something.... a book??? i knew i had that book...somewhere.... top shelf in the big-open-racks in the bedroom.... no! no!!! in the desk drawers in the living room.... naaa! not there... i just went through it last night... i didn't see it...
wait, what did he want??? oh! the pub-ad book... i look blankly at him... i've forgotten!!! the name of one of the most important books i need to study.... and i've forgotten the author's name!!! i could kick myself... it's hard when i'm stuck in the chair with a restraining tray on top of it... but i give an honest attempt... forgot the author!!! and i'm supposed to remember names of obscure, never-use-them-again names like the IMF heads... oh, i remember that one... Dominique Strauss-Kahn...french... may run for president in 2011-12?? against Sarkozy....my train of thought escapes me again... i assure the doc that i'll look into it first thing when i get home... and walk out of the chair... until next month!!!
just back... had to go home... a tryst with the dentist... i'm not afraid of the trip to the dentist per se... i mean, what's the worst that could happen??? i've definitely met worse things and survived... so my pep talks work and i go settle down in the chair... there's a movable tray with all shiny, steel instruments that he pushes so it now blocks my way out of the chair... in case i decide to make a run for it... i prefer not knowing what instrument's going in next, but the doctor insists i keep my eyes open... he says it is coz he'd like to know if i've fainted out of fright, pain, exhaustion, boredom, etc... but i just thinks he loves an audience... things wouldn't be so bad if he didnt want to do so much talking... for eg, this time, with the pokers in place in my mouth, he looks deep into my eyes and asks me how tough these civil service exams are...
"hmm... hmmm" i reply as elaborately as i possibly can ...
"because you know, PG for dentists is tough and instead of spending 2-3 years studying for that, i could've become an IAS officer in the same while" he talks to me or himself (it's unclear) and is convinced of this infallible logic...
"hmm... hmmm", i thoroughly agree.... only coz disagreement would've meant more words than i could manage...
"so, which are the easiest subjects???" he waits for me to answer....
i look blankly at him, my mouth agape (not because i'm surprised... work's going on...)...
"how about public administration??" he offers a choice...
"hmm... hmmm" i agree without thinking....
"which books do i read for that???" he wants to know....
by that time, thankfully, the drilling, filling, tightening is done and i have regained control... it feels good... but there's a distinct after-taste from the disposable gloves though.... oh!! he'd asked something.... a book??? i knew i had that book...somewhere.... top shelf in the big-open-racks in the bedroom.... no! no!!! in the desk drawers in the living room.... naaa! not there... i just went through it last night... i didn't see it...wait, what did he want??? oh! the pub-ad book... i look blankly at him... i've forgotten!!! the name of one of the most important books i need to study.... and i've forgotten the author's name!!! i could kick myself... it's hard when i'm stuck in the chair with a restraining tray on top of it... but i give an honest attempt... forgot the author!!! and i'm supposed to remember names of obscure, never-use-them-again names like the IMF heads... oh, i remember that one... Dominique Strauss-Kahn...french... may run for president in 2011-12?? against Sarkozy....my train of thought escapes me again... i assure the doc that i'll look into it first thing when i get home... and walk out of the chair... until next month!!!
Friday, February 19, 2010
observations...
hey!! how are ya??? what's up??? not much.... how abt you?? howz life?? job?? still hectic??? oh.... how abt the weekend??...sorry to hear that... really... you're kidding!!!...
sound familiar!??!
haven't you frequently thought of how you can have one of these mundane conversations all by yourself... without the presence of another human being altogether... actually, sometimes, i think i have more lively conversations/disagreements/lively banter... all by myself... i can tell myself a joke, make an observation and 'wow' at it... call myself names and then reprimand coz i'm not allowed to bad-mouth(a few rigid rules i still follow... well most times, atleast....)... it's one of the reasons why i took up writing the blog... i figured if i let all the nonsense out, there'd probably be nothing for me to ardently discuss with myself... i'm not sure it's working though... i catch me still talking to myself...
anyway, the newest thing on horizon(for me) is the discovery of 'Farmville' on facebook.... it's a mind-numbingly slow game that requires you to plant crops, harvest them, etc... i find that some people have made the discovery much earlier... and have risen to high levels(40s...)... i'm already on the 10th level and making steady progress... it's so boring i can't even write another word abt it... so CUT!
hmm... another weekend... let me go find out if i can 'catch up' with somebody...
sound familiar!??!
haven't you frequently thought of how you can have one of these mundane conversations all by yourself... without the presence of another human being altogether... actually, sometimes, i think i have more lively conversations/disagreements/lively banter... all by myself... i can tell myself a joke, make an observation and 'wow' at it... call myself names and then reprimand coz i'm not allowed to bad-mouth(a few rigid rules i still follow... well most times, atleast....)... it's one of the reasons why i took up writing the blog... i figured if i let all the nonsense out, there'd probably be nothing for me to ardently discuss with myself... i'm not sure it's working though... i catch me still talking to myself...
anyway, the newest thing on horizon(for me) is the discovery of 'Farmville' on facebook.... it's a mind-numbingly slow game that requires you to plant crops, harvest them, etc... i find that some people have made the discovery much earlier... and have risen to high levels(40s...)... i'm already on the 10th level and making steady progress... it's so boring i can't even write another word abt it... so CUT!
hmm... another weekend... let me go find out if i can 'catch up' with somebody...
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