For one who officially read Tamil in school for 2 years.. 1st and 2nd standard, by the way - I managed to complete the 5 volumes of Ponniyin Selvan :D. It feels like an immense achievement ;) though I think I always knew I could read the language well and quick.. though, I may not be able to write that well :|
Anyway, initially I thought the plot was quite predictable.. but there was a quick turnaround at the end leaving me quite pleasantly surprised. No wonder, its called one of the most successful novels in Tamil !
I also think some of the "Tamizh" names are wonderful. Has anybody wondered how beautiful a name "Poonguzhali" is, once you get the "zha" bit correct :)
Alors, Felicitations! and more Tamizh reading to you :)
B
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Decisions
How does one make decisions in life ? Back in college, choosing the electives you want to do used to be a big thing.. I mean life altering is what we used to think then. 10 years later, I feel it did not matter much.. I mean, how does it matter if I did GUI or Artificial Intelligence.. both don't have much place in my life today anyway!
But, as I've grown up in life.. I seem to be expected to make some BIG decisions! Should I study this year, Should I continue to work at XXX place, Should I be paid more than what I get, Should I just dump all this,get married and be a homemaker :-/.Who has answers to these questions.. I certainly don't seem to at the moment!! :D :D. These are life changing decisions.. :-/ Or will I just be thinking about all this 10 years down the line and wondering what the fuss was all about.. I just hope I do!
I can only recollect a time in college. A close friend just couldn't get over a subject.. and she tried as much as she could. Finally she said.. "B.. I can't do this anymore. I am gussing this subject and getting on with the others". I wish I could do just the same :).. dump all those questions in my mind and get on with life :)
B
But, as I've grown up in life.. I seem to be expected to make some BIG decisions! Should I study this year, Should I continue to work at XXX place, Should I be paid more than what I get, Should I just dump all this,get married and be a homemaker :-/.Who has answers to these questions.. I certainly don't seem to at the moment!! :D :D. These are life changing decisions.. :-/ Or will I just be thinking about all this 10 years down the line and wondering what the fuss was all about.. I just hope I do!
I can only recollect a time in college. A close friend just couldn't get over a subject.. and she tried as much as she could. Finally she said.. "B.. I can't do this anymore. I am gussing this subject and getting on with the others". I wish I could do just the same :).. dump all those questions in my mind and get on with life :)
B
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Doordarshan
I was watching the Golden Jubilee celebrations of good ol' Doordarshan on TV tonight. The program was characterized by the normal DD standards.. poor production values, very normal costumes and amateurish presenters. But, what I cannot fault DD will be the content bit.. it had excellent dances from the different states - Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam, Kathakali etc. The performances were interspersed with the legendary "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" beat and were done by professional dancers from dance academies. The group dances were excellent in co-ordination and the dance.. brilliant!
This got me thinking.. We have these umpteen festival shows across all these entertainment channels(mostly Hindi) for the different festivals. In these shows, we have overworked TV actors struggling to dance to the latest numbers. The steps are forgotten, dresses are loud.. and mostly end up being a headache. I wonder why the broadcasters think we want to see Tulsi, Parvathy etc. dance for festivals :-/. On the contrary, it would be a good idea to call in dancers.. students, young children etc. and give them the opportunity to perform some Indian classical music and dances. It serves two purposes, helps the young ones to appreciate classical Indian music and educates the society about the existence of such classical forms encouraging parents to enroll their wards into them. And yeah, it will be a damn sight better for viewers like us! :)
Recently, I attended a wedding.. and during the reception, we had dancing on Tamil "dappanguthu" music. I felt it was not appropriate.. atleast not for a solemn occasion like a wedding. Its not my business to comment if it was right or wrong, but I believe it had to do with these times where young children have grown up listening to these so called "happening" music. We rarely have a Tamil film without a mass song and some stupid dancing.. It leads kids to think that is the only way to dance :( and thats an unfortunate thing to happen.
I think people must start realizing that there are other traditional forms of dance(besides Bhangda!)and music which we can learn and perform. Unfortunately, DD seems to be the only channel interested in showing this idea! I've regretted many a time for not pursuing Carnatic vocal music beyond a point owing to studies. All the more so, when I landed at BITS and met the number of bright students singing/dancing and playing instruments so well! Its time for another generation to think and act so!
B
This got me thinking.. We have these umpteen festival shows across all these entertainment channels(mostly Hindi) for the different festivals. In these shows, we have overworked TV actors struggling to dance to the latest numbers. The steps are forgotten, dresses are loud.. and mostly end up being a headache. I wonder why the broadcasters think we want to see Tulsi, Parvathy etc. dance for festivals :-/. On the contrary, it would be a good idea to call in dancers.. students, young children etc. and give them the opportunity to perform some Indian classical music and dances. It serves two purposes, helps the young ones to appreciate classical Indian music and educates the society about the existence of such classical forms encouraging parents to enroll their wards into them. And yeah, it will be a damn sight better for viewers like us! :)
Recently, I attended a wedding.. and during the reception, we had dancing on Tamil "dappanguthu" music. I felt it was not appropriate.. atleast not for a solemn occasion like a wedding. Its not my business to comment if it was right or wrong, but I believe it had to do with these times where young children have grown up listening to these so called "happening" music. We rarely have a Tamil film without a mass song and some stupid dancing.. It leads kids to think that is the only way to dance :( and thats an unfortunate thing to happen.
I think people must start realizing that there are other traditional forms of dance(besides Bhangda!)and music which we can learn and perform. Unfortunately, DD seems to be the only channel interested in showing this idea! I've regretted many a time for not pursuing Carnatic vocal music beyond a point owing to studies. All the more so, when I landed at BITS and met the number of bright students singing/dancing and playing instruments so well! Its time for another generation to think and act so!
B
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Senior Citizen!
Well.. I think it defeats the purpose of naming my blog "Me, the way I am" if I am going to offer justifications for not posting often etc etc.. Hey, thats me... and I am lazy by nature!! ;)
Anyway, when I was scouting for a topic to write on.. popped up the word.."Senior Citizen"! There is a senior citizen tax exemption, special interest rates for deposits, concessions in Rail/Air fare and lately, on the Volvo bus fares!! I don't this is a concept that has come around in the last few years or so.. think they exist for quite sometime..
I guess I am noticing this word nowadays is cos Appa is one and Amma is taking baby steps towards it.. Its quite funny to hear Appa arguing with the Customer care for all those umpteen domestic services.. they invariably start of with this gem of a sentence.."What is this? I am senior citizen.. what do you expect me do? blah blah blah". Perhaps, they should start a separate cell for senior citizens with some folks who can give better answers than... "The system is like that.. Sir!!".
See, I am an IT person (who incidentally is unable to answer my Dad's queries, invariably asks friends/colleagues about the most happening softwares) who designs stuff and can comprehend this answer but to expect a lay man who has been molly coddled earlier by bank/services staff etc.. to understand it is stretching things too far! Time BPO services took note!
Anyway, back to the senior tag.. I think I never noticed that my Thatha/Patti(Grandpa/Granny) were seniors too, cos that is the only way I know them. But to see your strong and fiery(;)Hey, I get scolded for something or the other every day!) parents turning one is a learning process...
Adios,
B
Anyway, when I was scouting for a topic to write on.. popped up the word.."Senior Citizen"! There is a senior citizen tax exemption, special interest rates for deposits, concessions in Rail/Air fare and lately, on the Volvo bus fares!! I don't this is a concept that has come around in the last few years or so.. think they exist for quite sometime..
I guess I am noticing this word nowadays is cos Appa is one and Amma is taking baby steps towards it.. Its quite funny to hear Appa arguing with the Customer care for all those umpteen domestic services.. they invariably start of with this gem of a sentence.."What is this? I am senior citizen.. what do you expect me do? blah blah blah". Perhaps, they should start a separate cell for senior citizens with some folks who can give better answers than... "The system is like that.. Sir!!".
See, I am an IT person (who incidentally is unable to answer my Dad's queries, invariably asks friends/colleagues about the most happening softwares) who designs stuff and can comprehend this answer but to expect a lay man who has been molly coddled earlier by bank/services staff etc.. to understand it is stretching things too far! Time BPO services took note!
Anyway, back to the senior tag.. I think I never noticed that my Thatha/Patti(Grandpa/Granny) were seniors too, cos that is the only way I know them. But to see your strong and fiery(;)Hey, I get scolded for something or the other every day!) parents turning one is a learning process...
Adios,
B
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Late Again!
I am still up :-/. Wonder when I will improve and become one of those model daughters my Dad would be proud of!!
Hi folks, just popping up to say Hi!
If any of you had dropped in to check if I have been writing.. Merci beaucoup! Will start blogging soon! :)
B
P.S: I started my "gen" label - things which I cannot slot into any other group goes here. Something tells me I am more likely to put things in gen than anywhere else! For the uninitiated, gen is short for general.. BITSians love to shorten the words :)
Hi folks, just popping up to say Hi!
If any of you had dropped in to check if I have been writing.. Merci beaucoup! Will start blogging soon! :)
B
P.S: I started my "gen" label - things which I cannot slot into any other group goes here. Something tells me I am more likely to put things in gen than anywhere else! For the uninitiated, gen is short for general.. BITSians love to shorten the words :)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentines' Day
I hope the Ram Sena is not monitoring my blog ;)
As a ritual, I always crib on 14th February for not having the "right" company. But, with many a friend getting married off late.. I find fewer people sharing the same thoughts about this day!
So, will celebrate(sigh!) the day with a cheesy joke my friend pinged me today..
"
In spite of what you have been told by everyone, the truth is that Valentine's Day originated hundreds of years ago, in India, and to top it all, in the state of Gujarat !!!
It is a well known fact that Gujarati men, specially the Patels, continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Patelianis). One fine day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Patelani, having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin to make chapattis). Yes....the same Velan which she used daily, to make chapattis for him.... only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.
This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the Velan. There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over Anand and Amdavad.
The Patel men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Patelanis.
Thereafter, on 14th February every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day - the wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved.
Soon The Gujju men realised that in order to avoid this ordeal they need to present gifts to their wives....they brought flowers and sweets. This is how the tradition - Velan time - began.
As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, the ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words 'Velan time' !!! In course of time, their foreign tongues, this got anglisized to 'Velantime' and then to 'Valentine'.
And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine's Day and now you know the true story of Valentine's day.
"
Well.. if you don't find the joke funny enough.. don't blame me.. I warned you that I tend to crib!
B
As a ritual, I always crib on 14th February for not having the "right" company. But, with many a friend getting married off late.. I find fewer people sharing the same thoughts about this day!
So, will celebrate(sigh!) the day with a cheesy joke my friend pinged me today..
"
In spite of what you have been told by everyone, the truth is that Valentine's Day originated hundreds of years ago, in India, and to top it all, in the state of Gujarat !!!
It is a well known fact that Gujarati men, specially the Patels, continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Patelianis). One fine day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Patelani, having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin to make chapattis). Yes....the same Velan which she used daily, to make chapattis for him.... only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.
This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the Velan. There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over Anand and Amdavad.
The Patel men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Patelanis.
Thereafter, on 14th February every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day - the wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved.
Soon The Gujju men realised that in order to avoid this ordeal they need to present gifts to their wives....they brought flowers and sweets. This is how the tradition - Velan time - began.
As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, the ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words 'Velan time' !!! In course of time, their foreign tongues, this got anglisized to 'Velantime' and then to 'Valentine'.
And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine's Day and now you know the true story of Valentine's day.
"
Well.. if you don't find the joke funny enough.. don't blame me.. I warned you that I tend to crib!
B
Do you recognise me?
Honestly, I feel this blog will go dead if I don't write.. so am trying to come up with something! Anyway..
I was in Chennai for a family function last week. Now, I am very poor with faces and being out of the family social circuit for a long time now.. I hardly knew most of the people who attended. Even otherwise, I doubt I would know ;). Anyway, this time, I had quite a few people walking up to me and saying.. "Ennai teriyudha" and I'd go blank! Some faces looked familiar, but most of them were strangers to me :|. I'd go sheepish and reply.."Illai teriyalai". I don't think that looked a pretty answer, but I did not think anything but the truth would help in such cases. What if they asked me more questions!! Thereafter, I went looking for my Mom/Dad who could then introduce me to the said people. My Dad would say.. He is Kannu's son and I'll nod my head. On pressing who is Kannu, he'd give an unhelpful.. He is Labour Officer Kannu's son. I give up!! B gives a polite smile and moves on to the next group.. :|
Well, I don't know if I have always been this way or its something I have picked up in life. I surely know I was bad with faces in BITS, but don't remember before that :-/. My friends resorted to showing me photographs time and again to ensure I remembered a face. Maybe I should attempt that now.. Ghajini style :D.
B
I was in Chennai for a family function last week. Now, I am very poor with faces and being out of the family social circuit for a long time now.. I hardly knew most of the people who attended. Even otherwise, I doubt I would know ;). Anyway, this time, I had quite a few people walking up to me and saying.. "Ennai teriyudha" and I'd go blank! Some faces looked familiar, but most of them were strangers to me :|. I'd go sheepish and reply.."Illai teriyalai". I don't think that looked a pretty answer, but I did not think anything but the truth would help in such cases. What if they asked me more questions!! Thereafter, I went looking for my Mom/Dad who could then introduce me to the said people. My Dad would say.. He is Kannu's son and I'll nod my head. On pressing who is Kannu, he'd give an unhelpful.. He is Labour Officer Kannu's son. I give up!! B gives a polite smile and moves on to the next group.. :|
Well, I don't know if I have always been this way or its something I have picked up in life. I surely know I was bad with faces in BITS, but don't remember before that :-/. My friends resorted to showing me photographs time and again to ensure I remembered a face. Maybe I should attempt that now.. Ghajini style :D.
B
Monday, January 19, 2009
Cricket, a way of life
I am short on topics to write! So thought I'll write in a few words about... Cricket!!
Now, we are a cricket family.. in the sense all of us watch it with a lot of passion except my Mom of course. I think that's partly to do with the fact that we are so obsessed with it all the time!
Dad watches cricket of every kind. He fought with me the other day because I was not allowing him to watch the Saurashta v/s Bombay Ranji match! As my mom puts it right.. "Mattaiya thukkindu vandhutangala.. ", any match with a bat and ball is all that is required to get his attention.
Bro was slightly better off. I mean he watched all India matches and a bit of other exciting teams, like Australia v/s South Africa etc etc.
I watch matches with India playing in it. Period. Others I am not keen, though off late, I do track matches in which Australia is on the losing side ;)
Now, cricket has the unique ability to decide our moods. The day India wins, We are in the best of moods cracking jokes and laughing loud :). The day India loses albeit fighting, our mood is fine with some laughter missing. The day India "really" loses pathetically, we are in mourning and a simple request by Mom to remove the book from the sofa would invariably result in an argument and tears :(
So, happy days,
- The Hero cup final in 1992. First time I saw the magic of Eden Gardens lighting up papers to rejoice the victory :)
- 1996 World Cup match against Pakistan :). During 1996, we(bro and I) used to call the Indian team the "One-way" team ;), they had a chance to win only if they batted first :D and fortunately, we did it that day!
- 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan :). Sachin the genius !! I remember seeing a photo in the Outlook magazine where a chai walla had a board offering FREE tea to everybody cos of the win. I've tried hard to locate that snap, but haven't managed yet!
- 1998 series against Australia :), Sachin again :D
- 1998 Sharjah series against Australia :). Sachin was phenomenal in the last two matches :D, complete mayhem of the Aussies !
- 2001 series against Australia :). Vacation time, was at home :). The Kolkata test had the ability to cool frayed tempers between bro and me over some petty issue ;)
- Independence day Dhaka final against Pakistan :D. Saurav and Kanitkar did the trick.
- Natwest series final against England. We were returning from Shirdi and escaped the England batting marathon. Morose, we never watched the Indian innings for sometime after Sachin's dismissal... but the neighbours of my uncle's in Bombay ensured we did watch the match after all :D
- T20 world cup final in 2007 against Pakistan :D
- 2004 Series against Australia in Australia. That’s one of the reasons I bought a television as soon as I moved outta my aunt's place in Hyderabad :) not waiting for the roomies to say "Yes". Its tough to get women to decide on buying something together, more so when its for cricket!!
Before 2000, we used to win so rarely, most of them due to Sachin's sheer brilliance that the wins are so vivid in my memory. It also helps that I was in Chennai around that time. I barely watched a couple of matches in Pilani.. there was hardly any company :(. And to argue for the TV in the hostel common room is pretty annoying, so I sticked to 'The Hindu's report on matches!
Sad days,
- 1996 World Cup semi final. It still hurts :(. Bro and I couldn't sleep that night.. don't remember feeling so miserable any other time
- 1999 Test match in Chennai against Pakistan :(. We were about to win, but botched it up in the end. I watched this match at my Grandfather's place.. got so angry at the end, shouted and walked outta home without saying Bye to thatha :(. I am sure he was worried, every grandfather is worried when the "girl" child in the family is so aggressive ;). The only silver lining, I refused the offer to go and watch the 5th day of the match at the ground.. don't think I could have handled that :(
- 2003 World cup final :(. I slept through the first half hoping Australia would be bowled out for a paltry score.. they made 359! @$#!!!@#$#!&^%^
- 2008 Sydney Test match against Australia. Again #$@#$%^!$&*
There have been many other defeats, but can't remember anything that rankled for long.. I mean before, 2000, we lost 3 outta 5 matches consistently :), so can't be too worried about them all! I started watching cricket during the Sachin era.. watch matches as long he is there and then switch off... there was no hope/chance to win without him! Sachin is truly truly the GOD!
Ironically, my work deals with building a product for Australia! My secret desire is that if ever Cricket Australia were to buy this product, I would perhaps resort to some "rogue" coding :D. Fortunately for them, my biggest enemy - Mathew Hayden is now retired.. and if they continue their losing ways against India..I might just be nice :).
As for Hayden, if he continues to play for Chennai SuperKings and plays well enough.. I might support you also !! Strange are the ways of cricket!
B
Now, we are a cricket family.. in the sense all of us watch it with a lot of passion except my Mom of course. I think that's partly to do with the fact that we are so obsessed with it all the time!
Dad watches cricket of every kind. He fought with me the other day because I was not allowing him to watch the Saurashta v/s Bombay Ranji match! As my mom puts it right.. "Mattaiya thukkindu vandhutangala.. ", any match with a bat and ball is all that is required to get his attention.
Bro was slightly better off. I mean he watched all India matches and a bit of other exciting teams, like Australia v/s South Africa etc etc.
I watch matches with India playing in it. Period. Others I am not keen, though off late, I do track matches in which Australia is on the losing side ;)
Now, cricket has the unique ability to decide our moods. The day India wins, We are in the best of moods cracking jokes and laughing loud :). The day India loses albeit fighting, our mood is fine with some laughter missing. The day India "really" loses pathetically, we are in mourning and a simple request by Mom to remove the book from the sofa would invariably result in an argument and tears :(
So, happy days,
- The Hero cup final in 1992. First time I saw the magic of Eden Gardens lighting up papers to rejoice the victory :)
- 1996 World Cup match against Pakistan :). During 1996, we(bro and I) used to call the Indian team the "One-way" team ;), they had a chance to win only if they batted first :D and fortunately, we did it that day!
- 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan :). Sachin the genius !! I remember seeing a photo in the Outlook magazine where a chai walla had a board offering FREE tea to everybody cos of the win. I've tried hard to locate that snap, but haven't managed yet!
- 1998 series against Australia :), Sachin again :D
- 1998 Sharjah series against Australia :). Sachin was phenomenal in the last two matches :D, complete mayhem of the Aussies !
- 2001 series against Australia :). Vacation time, was at home :). The Kolkata test had the ability to cool frayed tempers between bro and me over some petty issue ;)
- Independence day Dhaka final against Pakistan :D. Saurav and Kanitkar did the trick.
- Natwest series final against England. We were returning from Shirdi and escaped the England batting marathon. Morose, we never watched the Indian innings for sometime after Sachin's dismissal... but the neighbours of my uncle's in Bombay ensured we did watch the match after all :D
- T20 world cup final in 2007 against Pakistan :D
- 2004 Series against Australia in Australia. That’s one of the reasons I bought a television as soon as I moved outta my aunt's place in Hyderabad :) not waiting for the roomies to say "Yes". Its tough to get women to decide on buying something together, more so when its for cricket!!
Before 2000, we used to win so rarely, most of them due to Sachin's sheer brilliance that the wins are so vivid in my memory. It also helps that I was in Chennai around that time. I barely watched a couple of matches in Pilani.. there was hardly any company :(. And to argue for the TV in the hostel common room is pretty annoying, so I sticked to 'The Hindu's report on matches!
Sad days,
- 1996 World Cup semi final. It still hurts :(. Bro and I couldn't sleep that night.. don't remember feeling so miserable any other time
- 1999 Test match in Chennai against Pakistan :(. We were about to win, but botched it up in the end. I watched this match at my Grandfather's place.. got so angry at the end, shouted and walked outta home without saying Bye to thatha :(. I am sure he was worried, every grandfather is worried when the "girl" child in the family is so aggressive ;). The only silver lining, I refused the offer to go and watch the 5th day of the match at the ground.. don't think I could have handled that :(
- 2003 World cup final :(. I slept through the first half hoping Australia would be bowled out for a paltry score.. they made 359! @$#!!!@#$#!&^%^
- 2008 Sydney Test match against Australia. Again #$@#$%^!$&*
There have been many other defeats, but can't remember anything that rankled for long.. I mean before, 2000, we lost 3 outta 5 matches consistently :), so can't be too worried about them all! I started watching cricket during the Sachin era.. watch matches as long he is there and then switch off... there was no hope/chance to win without him! Sachin is truly truly the GOD!
Ironically, my work deals with building a product for Australia! My secret desire is that if ever Cricket Australia were to buy this product, I would perhaps resort to some "rogue" coding :D. Fortunately for them, my biggest enemy - Mathew Hayden is now retired.. and if they continue their losing ways against India..I might just be nice :).
As for Hayden, if he continues to play for Chennai SuperKings and plays well enough.. I might support you also !! Strange are the ways of cricket!
B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)