I feel if reaching a destination is exhilarating then the journey undertaken for it is taxing, testing and thought provoking. In July my husband and I went touring to Agra, Jaipur and Manali. We returned happy and satisfied with many memories to treasure. Watching the beauty of the Taj Mahal, the enormity of the Aamer Fort and the splendour of the Rohtang Pass with the Ladakh mountains forming its backdrop left us spellbound. We travelled by road to all these cities. There were various kinds of sights that we saw in addition to the above, such as:
Hounding guides at the heritage monuments.
Populated markets, where at every step we had vendors after us to buy their goods.
Dhabas situated at deserted locations in between cities.
Small settlements in conditions and at heights you wouldn’t want to return to a second time.
People making their livelihood by selling tea and taking photos at 13,000 ft!
A man, leaving the sanctuary of his home, driving for days on end through treacherous routes.
What makes men and women lead such difficult lives and continually so? Wouldn’t they prefer any other way? I don’t believe that it is simply a lack of vision and/or ambition posing as obstacles, but a lack of means.
Extremely hard though it might be, these people haven’t surrendered but are striving to meet their needs. And all the struggles and sacrifices are always for a better tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Kahin toh hogi woh
The film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na caught the nation’s attention when it was released in 2008. Imran Khan and Genelia Dsouza became overnight sensations and crowds began calling them by their respective nicknames used in the movie: Rats and Meow. The refreshing songs gained popularity even as they hit the tv screens. However, it was only a week ago that I heard Kahin toh hogi woh... in its entirety. As with many songs that I love this too has few accompaniments with the stress on the vocals. But it was really the lyrics that struck a chord with me and got me listening to it repeatedly.
Believe me when I say that only where he is, is my laughter, my happiness... my life. (Jahaan hai tu, meri hassi meri khushi meri jaan)
The song voices my sentiments. Not having someone besides me these days makes me yearn for the world:
where we will be together (Kahin toh hogi woh duniya jahaan tu mere saath hai),
where there will be days when I will wake up in the morning to find him gazing at me lovingly (Hogi jahaan subah teri palkon ki kirano mein),
where every night I will fall asleep in his arms (Lori jahaan chaand ki sune teri baahon mein),
where there will be a magic of sorts every time we meet (Hai nasha teri meri har mulakaat mein),
and where at any and every pretext we will kiss each other (Hoton se hoton ko chumte o rehte hai hum har baat pe).
where there will be days when I will wake up in the morning to find him gazing at me lovingly (Hogi jahaan subah teri palkon ki kirano mein),
where every night I will fall asleep in his arms (Lori jahaan chaand ki sune teri baahon mein),
where there will be a magic of sorts every time we meet (Hai nasha teri meri har mulakaat mein),
and where at any and every pretext we will kiss each other (Hoton se hoton ko chumte o rehte hai hum har baat pe).
Believe me when I say that only where he is, is my laughter, my happiness... my life. (Jahaan hai tu, meri hassi meri khushi meri jaan)
Here is the full song for you to enjoy:
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Abbas Tyrewala
Singers: Rashid Ali and Vasundhara Das
Kahin toh... Kahin toh hogi woh
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Abbas Tyrewala
Singers: Rashid Ali and Vasundhara Das
Kahin toh... Kahin toh hogi woh
Duniya jahaan tu mere saath hai
Jahaan main jahaan tu
Aur jahaan bas tere mere jazbaat hai
Hogi jahaan subah teri
Palkon ki kirano mein
Lori jahaan chaand ki
Sune teri baahon mein
Jaane na kahan woh duniya hai
Jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahi
Jahaan meri zindagi mujhse
Itni khafa nahi...
Saasein kho gai hai kiski aahon mein
Main kho gai hoon jaane kiski baahon mein
Manzilon se rahein dhoondti chali
Khud kho gai hai manzil kahin raahon mein
Kahin toh... Kahin toh hai nasha
Teri meri har mulakaat mein
Hoton se hoton ko
Chumte o rehte hai hum har baat pe
Kehti hai fiza jahan
Teri zameen aasman
Jahaan hai tu, meri hassi
Meri khushi meri jaan
Meri khushi meri jaan
Jaane na kahan woh duniya hai
Jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahi
Jahaan meri zindagi mujhse
Itni khafa nahi...
Mila's Daydreams
Mila's Daydreams, was recently recognized as a Blog of Note by Blogger.com and it absoutely deserves it. Its blogowner is Adele Enersen from Helsinki who posts on it photos of her baby daughter Mila while she is asleep, captured in various settings imagined to be her dreams. One time Mila is Mary Poppins and another time Little Pink Riding Hood. One day she has Gone Fishin and another day Horse Riding. One time Mila is Walking a Dog and another time she is the Princess whose sleep gets disturbed by a pea.
Check all these and many more photos on: http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/. It is a blog which can make anyone's day.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Morning school assemblies
Yesterday was my Ph.D. viva and it made me ask myself the question when was the first time I had spoken on a platform. The answer was in class fifth. From the faint memories I have of that time I recall that during an English lesson I had recited a poem from our reader titled "Abou ben Adam". My teacher was rather pleased and felt I should give a repeat performance in the school's morning assembly. She had to specially take permission from the Junior School (classes Nursery-V) Headmistress to allow me to speak. I practised quite hard and it paid off. When the moment arrived I managed to deliver without faltering.
In Middle School (classes VI-VIII) and Senior School (classes IX-XII) the format of the assemblies was different. Every day the assembly was conducted by students of one of the houses (Chenab, Ganga, Sutlej, Ravi, Yamuna and Jhelum) of the school. It would have to include a thought for the day, followed by the morning news, scripture reading and then speech. I spoke on many occasions and even enjoyed it, sometimes speaking because I wanted to and sometimes for filling in for a student gone absent.
A few years after I passed out of my alma mater I heard that barring a few special assemblies this morning ritual had been stopped. While some of my friends rejoiced at this news, I thought it was sad. Agreed because of the school timings and the extreme weather in Delhi we used to find ourselves either sweating in the sweltering heat or shivering in the biting cold in the huge playground. But it also gave us the chance to gossip with friends, exchange notes with students of other sections, and to look at awe at all the seniors and dream about growing up. It used to be a proud moment when receiving a certificate or a prize from the hands of a chief guest in front of such a huge audience.
In Middle School (classes VI-VIII) and Senior School (classes IX-XII) the format of the assemblies was different. Every day the assembly was conducted by students of one of the houses (Chenab, Ganga, Sutlej, Ravi, Yamuna and Jhelum) of the school. It would have to include a thought for the day, followed by the morning news, scripture reading and then speech. I spoke on many occasions and even enjoyed it, sometimes speaking because I wanted to and sometimes for filling in for a student gone absent.
A few years after I passed out of my alma mater I heard that barring a few special assemblies this morning ritual had been stopped. While some of my friends rejoiced at this news, I thought it was sad. Agreed because of the school timings and the extreme weather in Delhi we used to find ourselves either sweating in the sweltering heat or shivering in the biting cold in the huge playground. But it also gave us the chance to gossip with friends, exchange notes with students of other sections, and to look at awe at all the seniors and dream about growing up. It used to be a proud moment when receiving a certificate or a prize from the hands of a chief guest in front of such a huge audience.
For going to debating or recitation competitions one always needed the backing of teachers who had the necessary authority. But for speaking in assemblies there was full freedom. If you had the willingness then all you had to do was express your interest to the House Captains and they'd happily give you the next immediately available chance.
For me it was through such experiences that I gained confidence, developed public speaking skills and managed to get over stage fright. I, therefore, fervently wish that this practice of morning assemblies is brought back to schools and continued so that young students who are otherwise shy learn to shed their inhibitions and take pride in themselves.
For me it was through such experiences that I gained confidence, developed public speaking skills and managed to get over stage fright. I, therefore, fervently wish that this practice of morning assemblies is brought back to schools and continued so that young students who are otherwise shy learn to shed their inhibitions and take pride in themselves.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
On becoming a Tamil movie watcher
In the days when there was only Doordarshan, on every Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons films in regional languages used to be telecast. Being an avid movie lover I would rarely miss these film shows irrespective of the fact that on many an occasion I did not even follow the language. It must be this training because of which I haven't really minded the Tamil films that I have been made to view since last year by someone.
My knowledge has finally extended beyond Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan and Madhavan. I can now recognize Suriya, Dhanush, Vijay, Simbu, Vikram, Ajith, Nayantara, Tamanna and Anushka Shetty. Months before Khatta Meetha trailers hit the screen I knew who Trisha was thanks to her success in the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. While I'll be seeing many more Tamil films in the years to come, of the ones I have watched so far my favourites are Yavarum Nalam, Kaaka Kaaka, and Chennai 600028.
The Madhavan starrer Yavarum Nalam (meaning
Everything is well) was the first Tamil film that I saw on screen. Its plot which is drama based as opposed to dialogue based, made for an easy understanding leaving the requirement of translation irrelevant.
The story is that a family moves into an apartment 13B. Soon the womenfolk get hooked on to a television serial by the name Yavarum Nalam. One day Madhavan realizes that the serial is a lot like their own lives. Soon he starts seeing even more similarities. Whatever happens to the characters happens to his family members as well. When an episode shows his wife undergoing a miscarriage, Madhavan decides to unearth the mystery. The events that then unfold keep you to your seats edge. Like the hero you are filled with disbelief that he will kill his own family as the soap opera predicts. At no point are you able to guess who is behind it all.
Yaavarum Nalam is surely a must watch. For those interested there is also the option of going for its Hindi version by the name 13B.
I had read somewhere that Suriya is like the Aamir Khan of Tamil films. His 2009 release Aadhavan however raised grave doubts in my mind, until I got to see Kaaka Kaaka (meaning To protect).
Its beginning is very intriguing, with police officer Anbuchelvan (Suriya) being shown as lying almost dead on the banks of a river with his thoughts only about saving a girl named Maya. The film then goes into a flashback when Anbu was a part of a specialist group allowed to use any means to wipe out crime. A man of few words, his affection for Maya (Jyotika), a school teacher whom he befriends, is reveale
d when she meets with an accident. During an encounter Anbu and his group kill a gang leader involved in a kidnapping case whose brother Pandya then decides to take revenge. The members of the special unit find their families and themselves targeted. In the midst of this Anbu and Maya get married and go to Pondicherry. But Pandya and his aides land up there and take away Maya leaving behind a brutally injured Anbu, bringing us back to the point where the story had begun. On recovering he starts his search for Maya and it is revealed who had given away the vital information to Pandya about his whereabouts in Pondicherry. In what I thought was a shocker ending, during his face-off with Anbu, Pandya stabs Maya who dies. An angry Anbu tracks down Pandya and finally kills him. The film shows that after this Anbu resumes his duties as a police officer and his old lonely life.
What I liked about Kaaka Kaaka was its tight script. The sweet love story between Anbu and Maya does not hinder the pace of the movie. Presentation wise it has a slick look. The performances are restrained and not over the top. Suriya plays the tough guy-silent lover combination perfectly. Not surprising then that this film relegated the actor to stardom.
In complete contrast to the above two films is Chennai 600028. Its one of those comic capers which actually make you laugh. The story is simple.
It is about two warring cricket teams: Rockers and Sharks. The starting point of the film is the Radio Mirchi Cup Final which the Sharks end up losing. From there on the movie is about the events that unfold in the lives of the 11 members of the Shark team during the year until the next finals. Will the Sharks emerge victorious and be able to successfully avenge their previous year's loss? Chennai 600028 has got one of the most unpredictable and hilarious endings I have ever seen. I recommend it to anybody who wants to unwind after a tough day.
My knowledge has finally extended beyond Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan and Madhavan. I can now recognize Suriya, Dhanush, Vijay, Simbu, Vikram, Ajith, Nayantara, Tamanna and Anushka Shetty. Months before Khatta Meetha trailers hit the screen I knew who Trisha was thanks to her success in the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. While I'll be seeing many more Tamil films in the years to come, of the ones I have watched so far my favourites are Yavarum Nalam, Kaaka Kaaka, and Chennai 600028.
The Madhavan starrer Yavarum Nalam (meaning
Everything is well) was the first Tamil film that I saw on screen. Its plot which is drama based as opposed to dialogue based, made for an easy understanding leaving the requirement of translation irrelevant.The story is that a family moves into an apartment 13B. Soon the womenfolk get hooked on to a television serial by the name Yavarum Nalam. One day Madhavan realizes that the serial is a lot like their own lives. Soon he starts seeing even more similarities. Whatever happens to the characters happens to his family members as well. When an episode shows his wife undergoing a miscarriage, Madhavan decides to unearth the mystery. The events that then unfold keep you to your seats edge. Like the hero you are filled with disbelief that he will kill his own family as the soap opera predicts. At no point are you able to guess who is behind it all.
Yaavarum Nalam is surely a must watch. For those interested there is also the option of going for its Hindi version by the name 13B.
I had read somewhere that Suriya is like the Aamir Khan of Tamil films. His 2009 release Aadhavan however raised grave doubts in my mind, until I got to see Kaaka Kaaka (meaning To protect).
Its beginning is very intriguing, with police officer Anbuchelvan (Suriya) being shown as lying almost dead on the banks of a river with his thoughts only about saving a girl named Maya. The film then goes into a flashback when Anbu was a part of a specialist group allowed to use any means to wipe out crime. A man of few words, his affection for Maya (Jyotika), a school teacher whom he befriends, is reveale
d when she meets with an accident. During an encounter Anbu and his group kill a gang leader involved in a kidnapping case whose brother Pandya then decides to take revenge. The members of the special unit find their families and themselves targeted. In the midst of this Anbu and Maya get married and go to Pondicherry. But Pandya and his aides land up there and take away Maya leaving behind a brutally injured Anbu, bringing us back to the point where the story had begun. On recovering he starts his search for Maya and it is revealed who had given away the vital information to Pandya about his whereabouts in Pondicherry. In what I thought was a shocker ending, during his face-off with Anbu, Pandya stabs Maya who dies. An angry Anbu tracks down Pandya and finally kills him. The film shows that after this Anbu resumes his duties as a police officer and his old lonely life.What I liked about Kaaka Kaaka was its tight script. The sweet love story between Anbu and Maya does not hinder the pace of the movie. Presentation wise it has a slick look. The performances are restrained and not over the top. Suriya plays the tough guy-silent lover combination perfectly. Not surprising then that this film relegated the actor to stardom.
In complete contrast to the above two films is Chennai 600028. Its one of those comic capers which actually make you laugh. The story is simple.
It is about two warring cricket teams: Rockers and Sharks. The starting point of the film is the Radio Mirchi Cup Final which the Sharks end up losing. From there on the movie is about the events that unfold in the lives of the 11 members of the Shark team during the year until the next finals. Will the Sharks emerge victorious and be able to successfully avenge their previous year's loss? Chennai 600028 has got one of the most unpredictable and hilarious endings I have ever seen. I recommend it to anybody who wants to unwind after a tough day.
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