In an ideal world

In an ideal world….

• There would be no suffering
• There would be no exams
• Best friends would be next-door neighbors
• There would be no heartbreaks, depression, tension, stress
• There would be no poverty, illness, crime
• There wouldn’t be an unborn child with a heart defect, and parents who want to abort it
• There would be no politics, nuclear deals and terrorism

But are we ready for such a world?

If there is no suffering, what would we compare happiness to? If distance wouldn’t separate our loved ones from us, what value would we have for them. If there are no heartbreaks, there would be no friendships, no flirting, no laughs and winks, no attraction and adolescence would lose all of its tingling. No exams still seems like a good idea though and no terrorism too. But think of it…. I don’t want to live in an ideal world. I think these words from Shantaram explain it better..

“I think that we do not suffer anything in this life, if we are strong enough to deny it.”

“Is it not true that some of our strength comes from suffering? That suffering hardship makes us stronger? That those of us who have never known a real hardship, and true suffering, cannot have the same strength as others, who have suffered much? And if that is true, does that not mean that your argument is the same thing as saying that we have to be weak to suffer, and we have to suffer to be strong, so we have to be weak to be strong?”

“I would say that it is different for all of us, but that it happens when we grow up, when we mature and pass from the childishness of our youthful tears and become adults. I think that is a part of growing up, learning to control our suffering.I think we grow up, and we learn that happiness is rare, that it passes quickly, we become disillusioned and hurt. Suffering, you see is a kind of anger. We rage against the unfairness, the injustice of our sad and sorry lot “

 

Of dusty towns and sleepy villages

I wonder where those phrases come from. I never find lonely deserted towns to be dusty. I never find villages sleepy. Instead I find them a lot more vibrant and fresh than any of the cities we live in. Going down a road that is used by cars, buses, trucks, bullock-carts and people alike, I found myself feeling things that I would never feel otherwise. I think traveling does this to most of us. There is a certain clarity of thoughts. I think that is one of the reasons why most Paulo Coelho books say that travel plays an important role in discovering oneself. The road to Santiago may or may not be a reality, but it is a dream journey.

Acres and acres of green fields stretch out on both sides of the road that keeps twisting and turning through valleys. We travel alongside rivers that are meandering their way through the path of least resistance. Come to think of it, the river has carved out the very valley we are traveling in, it has that power, but yet it chooses to lengthen its journey, to sweep along the the valley like a sparkling snake, taking its time, savouring the extra twists and turns. Do you believe in omens? I do, I believe anything, and object, any incident can be interpreted to become some sign that relates to your life.

The occasional doggie, crossing the road completely brown in colour because of the monsoon. Where the population is dense enough, ( a cluster of houses), a couple of chickens scurrying along the side of the road. We passed many bullocks standing tall, tethered to their carts, at full height even taller than our car. Feels so weird, seeing there powerful creatures being tamed by humans who are plainly a lot weaker. Maybe it is a matter of convenience, you scratch my back, I scratch yours. You ensure I live a secure life, and I will serve you with all that I have.

And then comes the most pleasantly surprising sight. A group of at least 20 girls, dressed in the most funny uniform that I have seen, but nevertheless, obviously on their way to school. 20 girls! That must be the entire girl population of the village, all traipsing along the road, that doesn’t have a building in sight for at least 4-5 Kilometers. What does education mean to these people? Only one of these girls will probably see any city, or live a life that does not involve her village. Then why do you need an education? I realized with a shock how difficult it must be for the Government to plan out the education of a country where on one hand, you have students murdering other students with guns stolen from their parents, and on the other hand there are these 20 girls, walking up and down two hills and valleys to get to their school. What does a good education mean to me? It means I can call myself an Engineer, that I can apply my talents and hopefully enrich my lifestyle, and my standards of behavior and living, along with doing my bit for the society. It also means another obvious thing - A means of making money; of making a place for myself in the rat race, or rather, developing a career. But what does it means to these people. It is here that education takes its true meaning - Progress. They need to know how to handle a bank account, about how the world functions, about what rights they lawfully have. They need to know how to handle transactions. They are not thinking of careers, they are thinking of adapting and progressing.

All in all, I see nothing dusty or sleepy about villages. All I see, is a source a peace and calm, and a certain fresh approach to living. Is this what they call waking up and smelling the roses?

 

Young people these days..

We hear a lot about the youth of today going to waste. But at the same time there is also talk about youth doing wonderful things. We are growing up in a world full of such ironies. How many parents would like their children to take up the career as a social activist or social worker?? You want engineers and doctors, but you also want youth who care about everything else happening in the world, and believe it or not, these days , it is possible. All you elders were young too, at some point of time, and i am sure you can identify with our lives and our problems, but there is only a certain limit to which you can really feel what we feel. There is only a certain point upto which all the wise and experienced people can claim to have been there and done that.

I never thought I would quote Alanis Morissette on my blog, but here is something from her that I actually liked. And though it doesn’t actually represent how I personally feel or what i see among my friends, I think it pretty much sums up the so called problem we have with youth today.

Hand in my pocket - by Alanis Morissette

I’m broke but I’m happy
I’m poor but I’m kind
I’m short but I’m healthy, yeah
I’m high but I’m grounded
I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed
I’m lost but I’m hopeful baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be fine fine fine
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I’m sober
I’m young and I’m underpaid
I’m tired but I’m working, yeah
I care but I’m worthless
I’m here but I’m really gone
I’m wrong and I’m sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be quite alright
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

What it all comes down to
Is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I’m free but I’m focused
I’m green but I’m wise
I’m shy but I’m friendly baby
I’m sad but I’m laughing
I’m brave but I’m chicken shit
I’m sick but I’m pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

What it all comes down to my dear friends
Is that everything’s just fine fine fine
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxicab…

 

Foreigners in Goa

Disclaimer: I am not writing this post to make any sort of judgment over the death of Scarlett Keeling. What happened to her was wrong, but who was to blame will never be certain.

I have seen four kinds of foreigners in Goa.

The ones that look like they have been staying here for a while. These are people who look extremely comfortable with wearing what everyone around them is wearing, you have to look at them twice to really see that they don’t come from around here. They are spotted more in art exhibitions and music shows rather than on the beaches. They carry diaries and journals rather than cameras and bottled water. These are usually people with genuine interest in Goa and its culture. Many of them stay in Goa to learn some kind of art; some form of music (i think an extraordinarily large number are fascinated with the sitar). Be it a way to get away from the bland lifestyle of the west or way to start a new life, they are really interested in staying here for a while. They also know the ways of the land they are living in. They make sure they don’t leave their 15 year old daughters alone on the beach full of rowdy drunk men after dinner time, or that they don’t attend late night shows without arranging for transport.

The other type is the hippies. Everyone knows of Goa’s reputation as the haven of drug users and rave parties. These parties are often misunderstood for what they are not, but it is true, that it is a dangerous affair in all. These ear, nose (and god knows what else)-pierced people roam the beach strip on enfeild bullets and bikes. Most of them appear harmless to someone as gullible(giggle) as me, but frankly I know as much about them as I know about Goas nightlife. (which is to say I know nothing at all), so i’d better shut my mouth right here.

The third kind are the ones that roam the streets of panjim wearing shorts and cotton kurtas, looking not quite so comfortable in their Indian clothes, but willing to try and blend in, in order to observe Goa and its lifestyle more closely. To my imaginative (and modest ) brain, they are the journalists, they will probably go back home and publish a book or showcase a documentary on Goa and its culture.

The last kind are the tourists. The lost expressions show they have not done their homework. The revealing bikinis that they wear while walking on the busy(or not so busy after all) streets of our cities, show how negligent they are of the fact that they are standing out. Their bright red tans show they are here to enjoy to their utmost. These people don’t really care about being polite or clean or anything else, they are here to have a good time and go back to their land with tans to show off the tropical country that they visited.

To wind up, a few pointers:

• Goa is and always will be the most peaceful and calm place that I have seen.
• Tourists: (especially Indian) Do dive in and frolic in the water on your first few days here, then try sitting calmly by the beach and sipping coconut water.
• Foreigners: Come here to find yourself, not some fantasy land.
• Media: The things because of which you label Goa unsafe happen out on the streets in your metro cities too. It is unfair that they dont make headlines then.
• Goa needs the tourists for revenue, the tourists need Goa to have the best time in their lives. It is symbiosis. Both sides are to blame for anything that goes wrong, and both will be affected equally.
• To the culprits: Think before you cut off the hand that feeds you.
• To the visitors: This is a place where you will get some of the most pleasant and hospitable people. It is a statistical fact that the tourists and visitors produce more garbage and human waste in Goa than the residents do. Th least you visitors can do is take care of yourself and this beautiful land around you.

 

TRPs

I watched MTV Roadies Season 4 with a lot of interest. I hated Bani for all her gimmicks. But is that not what got the attention of all the young people watching the show? Was that not the very reason I kept watching. To watch in hope that she will be kicked out? On the other hand, the other half of the youth was watching to root for her, hoping she would win. The point here is we were all watching. The point is they got a lot of TRP. (You can see what TRP actually is here )

Whether I like to admit it or not, I was hooked to the show, and so I will be to the 5th season too. It is shocking, yes, horrifying, yes, but it is entertaining. The politics and scandalous behaviour, are of course only one part of the show, the tasks and the locations are on the other hand wonderful. And I guess the team behind the show will be working very hard to make it more and more interesting. Ultimately how much of these self proclaimed reality shows is real is very much uncertain…(we have the Rakhee Sawant fiasco with nach baliye to prove that)  which only helps in the rumour mills and suspense building, which in turn again increases the TRP. No wonder one the of the contestants wrote on her form… Whether it is negative of positive, I like attention and I can make sure your TRP stays high if I get chosen…. surprisingly, she was not chosen.

What disturbs me is the kind of India these people portray.
Q. If you could cheat on your girlfriend/boyfriend and knew for sure you would not get caught, would you do it?
Q. If sleeping with your boss could get you promotion, would you do it?

That is outrageous! How many of Indian youth sitting at home watching the show even have a girlfriend/boyfriend? Why give the impression that it is a cool thing to indulge in infidelity or sex? And some nuts out there auditioning will actually say yes to the above questions, hoping that their answers have enough attitude to get them selected. Maybe the questions are there just to pick out who these nuts are and see if they are interesting enough to be on the show. Who knows? But it is horrifying all the same. But horrifying enough to keep me watching!! But the problem is maybe I think about it and laugh later, but there are many out there who idolize Bani. The same Bani, who by the end of the show was screaming out for her shrink. (thats a psychiatrist, for those who didnt know)

My mother gets angry too, she asks me why I have to watch shows that have to insert a beep every five minutes to what the contestants or sometimes even the judges are saying. My answer is…I really like the tasks, and the dynamic politics is interesting. What is it in saas  bahu sagas that interests aunties and grannys (not to mention quite a few uncles and grandpas)?? I would never understand. Similarly the elders would not understand whyI get horrified with the show and yet keep watching. At the end of the day it is about entertainment, TRPs and fame. Everyone is happy. Well almost everyone!

 

The Potpourri

NOTE:

1) No intentions of hurting an sentiments.
2) No intentions of generalizing or making judgments.
3) Based only on my experience, on the people I know and meet.

A few days ago when my exams were going on the door bell rang unexpectedly in the afternoon. I answered the door to find two tall boys not much older than me, appearing to be from well to do and respectable families. They asked if anyone was home; that they wanted to preach to us about the Bible. I said nobody was home other than me and closed the door. After closing the door, it struck me if I should have asked them what they would have said if I knocked on their door asking them to give me a chance to teach them the preachings of the Gita or tell them about the miracles from the Mahabharat. But then I thought about it…would I do that in the first place? Do I believe in my faith strongly enough to believe firmly that I would be doing good to others by telling them about my beliefs? Is it really about how strongly you believe in your faith?

One thing I really admire about all my Christian friends and acquaintances (or catholic? Really sorry for my ignorance, but I really dont understand the difference…I tried to find out, but was not really successful) is that they are always pleasant. They are always smiling. They are always charming. I really like that. No matter what their mood is, what the circumstances are, they always make sure their manner is pleasant. Its a thing worth admiring. It starts seeming a little too good to be true, a little fake after a while, but after spending some time with my friends, I have realised this is just one part of the values they have been taught about. That appearances matter. All their functions and ceremonies too, very much unlike most Hindu ceremonies that I have seen and experienced; are pleasant and soothing. Cheerful and calm, rather than pompous and noisy. But why the superiority? The firm belief that Jesus and the Bible will help you more than any other thing can.

I am Hindu. I am neither a critic nor a preacher of my religion. It might be dangerous to write something like this, but I do believe that our scriptures talk more of evil than good. Of treachery, of dirty politics, of manipulation. Of questioning the sanctity of women, asking them to prove their purity. Having said that I admire my religion for many things too. First of all I think we are the most pampered. No compulsion of visiting the temple on (say) Sundays or Fridays. I think hygiene and health are concepts well taught by my religion. The stress on bathing before going to a temple or taking shoes off before entering make scientific sense to me. ( The Ganga is too polluted now, but the concept still makes sense. Although I think we should just keep the kumbh mela out of this discussion).

One of my closest friends is a Muslim. And this fact never really struck me as a glaring reality. It takes a Da Vinci Code to remind you that our neighbor with whom you share so many novels is a Christian. Similarly, it takes riots in Sanvordem to make you realize the guy sitting next to you is a Muslim, and he might be going through many many small things in his life everyday, to remind him of that; but it never really strikes the others. One thing I learned about his religion from him is the priorities they have. It is not compulsion, it is with full willingness and true faith that they fast rigorously for month, or pray five times a day whenever they can. It is just a way of life. I was too young back then to remember anything about the 92 Mumbai blasts, and I did not live in Mumbai when there were the train blasts last year. And so I might have a different way of looking at things, but i was talking to a friend of mine from Mumbai and she has lost some good friends in the blasts. She said every time a lady in a burkha enters the ladies compartment in the local trains, her heart skips a beat and she prays that she is innocent. She said : Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims. That gave me such a shock!! It was so unfair!! First of all that is not entirely true. And the HOW can you generalize things in this way? How will you move on if you keep suspecting everyone? All i know is that i can take the liberty of saying I know my muslim friend extremely well and I JUST CANNOT think of him doing anything even minutely cruel. They why should he and his community be judged like that? Would that not push him even more into the corner and make him believe even more that he is different? You know what? I enjoy spending time with my friends and we have a jolly good time too. And the happiness we get and memories we share are too precious to be marred by something like this, to be influenced by the misunderstandings and cruelties of the past.

Finally I think we are lucky to be living in this potpourri of people. To be living in a society that is so rich with cultures and values. I thank God ( all forms of him/her) for giving us all this.

I will end by saying this. I believe in Ganapati, and not in Jesus or Allah because I was born in a family that prays to Ganapati. I think very very few of us have had the personal choice of choosing what to believe. Not that it has been forced upon us, but thats just one thing you cannot control…you cannot choose where you were born. I would almost be an atheist, but I do believe in that certain power. I believe in that higher authority out there, that just might be pulling some of the strings, if not all of them. I am friends with God. I believe he/she knows what is going on in my life, when I go to the temple, I go to seek peace and calm. I dont go to the temple only before the exams to ask for good marks. When I pray, I dont ask for anything. I just say I respect you and you know everything; just give me strength, and I will do the rest.

 

Tell me & I’ll believe you

My poems never really rhyme, but what the heck, they come right out, and I need to put this one here today. PS: I couldnt find a better photo, but this one was as close to what I wanted..from fotosearch

Tell me I am irreplaceable, that I matter
Tell me its not fate and destiny, it is what I do with my life
Tell me every action has a meaning, every act a motive
Tell me you never have happiness, you find it.

Tell me they will not go away, the smiles
Tell me these tears of happiness will be frequent
Tell me the unending road goes to a place I call home
Tell me there are miles to go, places to see.

Tell me there is no horizon, only endlessness
Tell me that the babies will always giggle, and doggies will always go woof
Tell me the sadness will go away with just a “Whooga Bhooga”
Tell me that the blues will always melt away someday.

Tell me I will wake up everyday, eager to find reasons to smile
Tell me that each setting sun will be as peaceful as this one
Tell me the tomorrow and the beyond cannot scare me anymore
Tell me the past will play its part only to make me learn.

 

A Different Sunday

Went out roaming this Sunday. Did some of the exploring my beloved goa that I had mentioned earlier. First we went to some old deserted forts, some which even the locals living there don’t know about.How can people stay next to monuments which are so involved in making history, and don’t even know about it? Well we went to some forts built by the Portuguese in th 1700’s, so that other conquerers, mainly the Dutch and the neighboring maratha and mughal emperors could not invade their territory. One thing that I learned about forts is that most of them have sloping ramps instead of steps. It makes the construction a lot more complicated, but the ramps are needed to haul the heavy machinery needed to make gun-powder and of course the cannons themselves up into the fort. We were lucky to have two Central Government Archaeologists with us, so we even had access to some areas restricted to normal tourists when we visited some of the more popular forts. Here are some pics that I took: click on the pictures to see them.

(L to R- A wall of the fort around which a banyan tree had spread itself; the kind of paths that we walked on; a cave that we found)

(L to R- A lily that my father picked for me; view from the lighthouse on fort aguada; a friend holding up a flower called agnishikha. This flower’s petals turn a full 180 degrees when it’s completely open. Hence, you can see the pollen outside and the petals inside..he is holding it upside down to prove the point. The flower is used to induce labour pains during pregnancy. Here’s all the information about the flower that I could find)

This is the most special part of the day’s adventures. Aguada in Portuguese means water reservoir. That’s exactly what was special about this fort apart from it’s prison cells and lighthouse. This underground water “tank” (so to say) has the capacity to store 23,76,000 gallons, thats is one crore and 6 laks litres of natural rain water. Seems like that the invading Portuguese knew more about the importance of natural rain water harvesting that us. The hole on top through which light is flooding in is one of the many ways the rain water flows into the tank.

All in all, it was a very different Sunday for me.

 

More pics…

As i had promised earlier, here are more (and hopefully better) photos…..have put them as thumbnails because they were not all fitting on one page…links have been provided to view them better.

This is the Zuari river that i have to cross everyday on the way to college..notice the way the railings seem to go backward as i’m moving forward in a bus.

bridge.jpg

Just another photo..

titan.jpg

Miramar. I love this beach..can’t stop taking pictures of it.

miramar-that-day.jpg

The fields near my hose again…

fields.jpg

I’m reading this book.. really intriguing cover picture… You can expect a book review soon..

witch.jpg

I do NOT hate stray dogs..

doggie.jpg

Okay thats it for now. Will be really busy for the coming few days. Don’t know if blogging will be regular..One for sure after the 6th of september..

Ciao till then

 

My lovely goa..

All pics have been taken by me..so bear with the amateurish photography….and all of them have been taken on my cell which had 0.3 mega-pixels…have a better cell now..so better pics are herewith promised

Candolim

our temple at night

mahalasa

fields near my house

miramar beach near my place

wet roads in valpoi