Hum aapke hai kaun? Waise toh koi khoon ka rishta nahin hai. Par kehne ko sab apne hi hain.
One of the things that I love about our country and miss in other parts of the world is the way we address people- friends and strangers alike! The autowala becomes ‘bhaiyya’ or the chaiwalla- ‘dost’, the kaamwali bai becomes ‘maushi’, the good old peon is ‘boss’, the man in the chequered shirt sitting next to you in a train is ‘chacha’, the complete stranger whom you ask for directions is ‘bhaisaab’, the vegetable vendor calls you ‘tai’, at the garment store you become ‘bhabhi’, your mother is everyones 'maaji', the sandwich wala is comfortable calling you ‘didi’ while the elderly man making his way through the traffic becomes ‘uncle’and his wife who is bargaining as she window shops is ‘auntyji’.
Depending on the person and place our fellow countrymen and women become 'bhau', 'bondhoo', 'bhai','dada', 'anna', 'amma', 'ben', 'praji' 'munna', 'sishter' and so on.
Jo jab dekho jahan dekho rishte bana raha hai, jaane –anjaane mein logon ko apne saath jod raha hai. Hain toh sare ke sare paraye, phir bhi hain apne hi.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Maas and Behens!!!
23rd Feb 2011
Today is my Birthday and I am ensuring that I have a ‘Happy’ one. Toh socha aaj thoda ma- behen ho hi jaaye!!!
Indian men have such high regard for the womenfolk that every time opportunity presents itself, they effortlessly remember their ma, behen’s. Chahe Olympic ka race ho ya police ka case ho! Men relentlessly pay tributes to the embodiment of love and sacrifice-Ma!! How and why behen gets equal importance I fail to understand. Probably because Man is closest to these women in his growing years and his interactions with them contribute significantly to his personality. I have no doubt that it was Man who invented this innovative way of so respectfully remembering all mothers and sisters. Also, all of us know what the testosterones do to a man and hence I think the sexual connotation. Otherwise I would want to believe that Man in no way wants to degrade the woman.
Now, Man is extremely generous with his ma’s and behen’s and doesn’t once falter in rendering his services in this department.
Picture this- A short and stout man, oiled hair and tiny calculative eyes clad in a white kurta and pyjama, gold rings on every finger goes for Mataji ke Darshan in a temple. After pleading with Mataji to bestow her choicest blessings on him gets back to his Ajit garment ka store in his Maruti. The moment he reaches the store, his temper sores on seeing it closed. He then fondly remembers Ma, and curses his salesman for turning up late.
Situation 2
Sachin Tendulkar is playing on 96 and the next couple of runs can be crucial for India’s victory. There is pin drop silence as the bowler prepares to bowl with a killer determination in his eyes. He rubs the ball with his saliva one last time and takes the start. All eyes are on Sachin. Everyone has stopped doing whatever they were. Sachin’s eyes are on the ball. The ball comes on and he plays the ball and runs (cautiously but fast) for a single. The wicket-keeper scampers around in an attempt to stump him. All remember their sisters in unison. I know that sentimental Sachin raises his bat on the field towards the sky. But woh toh apne Baap ke liye karta hai. Pata nahin baki sab ko behen kaise yaad aate hain!
Istri se shirt jal gayi ho, barish rukne ka na naam na le rahi ho, chaldi mein bike thok di ho, 7:51 ki train choot gayi ho, boss ne solid phada ho, ya girlfriend ka birthday bhoola ho, Man always remembers to render his ma-behens.
I urge all my male friends - Yaar, agar pani maa ka dudh piya hai, toh tum mardon ke jhagdon me hum auraton ko ghaseetna chhod do. Grow up guys.
Today is my Birthday and I am ensuring that I have a ‘Happy’ one. Toh socha aaj thoda ma- behen ho hi jaaye!!!
Indian men have such high regard for the womenfolk that every time opportunity presents itself, they effortlessly remember their ma, behen’s. Chahe Olympic ka race ho ya police ka case ho! Men relentlessly pay tributes to the embodiment of love and sacrifice-Ma!! How and why behen gets equal importance I fail to understand. Probably because Man is closest to these women in his growing years and his interactions with them contribute significantly to his personality. I have no doubt that it was Man who invented this innovative way of so respectfully remembering all mothers and sisters. Also, all of us know what the testosterones do to a man and hence I think the sexual connotation. Otherwise I would want to believe that Man in no way wants to degrade the woman.
Now, Man is extremely generous with his ma’s and behen’s and doesn’t once falter in rendering his services in this department.
Picture this- A short and stout man, oiled hair and tiny calculative eyes clad in a white kurta and pyjama, gold rings on every finger goes for Mataji ke Darshan in a temple. After pleading with Mataji to bestow her choicest blessings on him gets back to his Ajit garment ka store in his Maruti. The moment he reaches the store, his temper sores on seeing it closed. He then fondly remembers Ma, and curses his salesman for turning up late.
Situation 2
Sachin Tendulkar is playing on 96 and the next couple of runs can be crucial for India’s victory. There is pin drop silence as the bowler prepares to bowl with a killer determination in his eyes. He rubs the ball with his saliva one last time and takes the start. All eyes are on Sachin. Everyone has stopped doing whatever they were. Sachin’s eyes are on the ball. The ball comes on and he plays the ball and runs (cautiously but fast) for a single. The wicket-keeper scampers around in an attempt to stump him. All remember their sisters in unison. I know that sentimental Sachin raises his bat on the field towards the sky. But woh toh apne Baap ke liye karta hai. Pata nahin baki sab ko behen kaise yaad aate hain!
Istri se shirt jal gayi ho, barish rukne ka na naam na le rahi ho, chaldi mein bike thok di ho, 7:51 ki train choot gayi ho, boss ne solid phada ho, ya girlfriend ka birthday bhoola ho, Man always remembers to render his ma-behens.
I urge all my male friends - Yaar, agar pani maa ka dudh piya hai, toh tum mardon ke jhagdon me hum auraton ko ghaseetna chhod do. Grow up guys.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
GURU
2nd Feb 2011
Guru
Being a House-wife is a full time job for some women. And whether out of choice( as in my case) or whether out of none, all are doing their job religiously. Home-maker, Sit-at-home-mum, call it whatever suits your ego. The fact remains that you are exclusively managing a home!! And I take pride in doing just that. I treat it like any other job and try to do it with much passion. Not once have I felt any pangs of anger or depression for being at home! But I do believe and sincerely desire that the term- ‘House-wife’ be used with the much deserved respect and not in a degrading manner. My heart goes out to all those women friends who are belittled for ‘sitting at home’.
Anyway, that’s not my topic for today.If you manage your time well you would always find time to do things you love. And one thing that I like is to watch interesting stuff on T.V. On a lazy Monday morning while it was misty and cold outside and the bare trees only added to my gloom, I sat down with a hot cup of green tea and picked up the remote. As I surfed through the channels I came across quite a few ‘religious channels’. Each catered to a certain religion. I heard the holy Koran being read out. But I failed to understand the language and hence moved on. Then I came across another channel where a certain ‘Brother’ was inviting sick people on stage and healing them with the powers he claimed to have bestowed on him by Lord himself. I watched his dramatics with great interest and fascination. “Touch”, he said as he touched the foreheads of the sick and rendered them unconscious.(?) This increased my curiosity and every opportunity that I got, I started watching and listening to these channels. Every time I saw a new face - ‘gurus’, ‘matas’ or ‘babas’ or ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ and ‘bapu’s’ and bhai’s. Today these broadly comprise of the booming spiritual sector! ( sector?) Then there even are those monks who have sold their ferraries. They belong to a different league altogether and those we’ll concentrate on another time. But as for the run-of -the mill( if I may say so) products, its their appearance that most sets them apart. From heena coloured beards and bandgalas to saffron overalls and pristine white robes. From just the ‘sweating brows’ to the ash smeared foreheads, each has a trademark. Each one applies a ‘tikka’ differently. It fascinates me to see the variety. ( my neighbour tells me that something similar is an integral part of daily soaps). Some have a huge red U in the middle, beginning from the top of the nose to the hair line, some just have ash smeared on the forehead. Some replace the ‘U’ with ‘O’. Some have vertical and horizontal lines in a hazy pattern, some wear an ‘I’. And one of them wears an all vermillion forehead! One would say what’s in a physical appearance?( actually a lot). However it’s all about inner beauty( and I hope I don’t have to pay royalty for using these clichéd Miss Universe lines).
These gurus recite hymns (some in the most unmelodious voices) and yet people both loosen and lose themselves among the chants swaying in a trance-like manner. Some educate us on the holy books and our conduct. Others emphasize the benefits of a vegetarian or healthy diet and Yoga. Yet others believe in idol worship and highlight the benefits of offering prayers and more. They all talk about spirituality - The need to connect with one self and with Almighty. Soft spoken or not all have oratory skills. All are emphatic!! What I like the most is that they all encourage philanthropy. A lot of them teach good virtues. I know people who’ve benefitted from these teachers and preachers. Simply by listening to them and following their advice they have been able to give up a lot of vices and they lead much healthier and happier lives now.
Not very long ago the list of such and other self-proclaimed gurus was few. More the sins, more is the need for redemption. But is it as easy as rinsing off our hands after a hearty meal? Today Gurus have mushroomed up like never before. What I realise is that more and more people want an anchor in their lives- a philosopher and guide. We seek an equilibrium that we are unable of achieving. More and more people desire peace and turn towards a guru for relief from troubled minds and souls. Some have become so dependent on these gurus that without their presence their lives will disintegrate. While I am glad that some of these gurus who only mean well are doing us great service by holding the hands of thousands of their followers and comforting them with spiritual talks, I wonder if we as friends, family and society are incapable of providing each other with that much needed emotional support? Are we probably failing as a society by not being there for one another in grey times? Is there so much of disconnect among ourselves? Do we really need a catalyst to experience God? May be not. But some of us do need a hand to hold that’ll show us the way.
Wanting to have a guru is good. Finding the right one is even better. It is after all a matter of belief. Just like the placebo effect. You believe a certain guru can change your life, he/she will. You believe it will happen, and it will.
To all my wonderful friends, may you get the guru you seek. If not, maybe you’ll find one within you.
Guru
Being a House-wife is a full time job for some women. And whether out of choice( as in my case) or whether out of none, all are doing their job religiously. Home-maker, Sit-at-home-mum, call it whatever suits your ego. The fact remains that you are exclusively managing a home!! And I take pride in doing just that. I treat it like any other job and try to do it with much passion. Not once have I felt any pangs of anger or depression for being at home! But I do believe and sincerely desire that the term- ‘House-wife’ be used with the much deserved respect and not in a degrading manner. My heart goes out to all those women friends who are belittled for ‘sitting at home’.
Anyway, that’s not my topic for today.If you manage your time well you would always find time to do things you love. And one thing that I like is to watch interesting stuff on T.V. On a lazy Monday morning while it was misty and cold outside and the bare trees only added to my gloom, I sat down with a hot cup of green tea and picked up the remote. As I surfed through the channels I came across quite a few ‘religious channels’. Each catered to a certain religion. I heard the holy Koran being read out. But I failed to understand the language and hence moved on. Then I came across another channel where a certain ‘Brother’ was inviting sick people on stage and healing them with the powers he claimed to have bestowed on him by Lord himself. I watched his dramatics with great interest and fascination. “Touch”, he said as he touched the foreheads of the sick and rendered them unconscious.(?) This increased my curiosity and every opportunity that I got, I started watching and listening to these channels. Every time I saw a new face - ‘gurus’, ‘matas’ or ‘babas’ or ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ and ‘bapu’s’ and bhai’s. Today these broadly comprise of the booming spiritual sector! ( sector?) Then there even are those monks who have sold their ferraries. They belong to a different league altogether and those we’ll concentrate on another time. But as for the run-of -the mill( if I may say so) products, its their appearance that most sets them apart. From heena coloured beards and bandgalas to saffron overalls and pristine white robes. From just the ‘sweating brows’ to the ash smeared foreheads, each has a trademark. Each one applies a ‘tikka’ differently. It fascinates me to see the variety. ( my neighbour tells me that something similar is an integral part of daily soaps). Some have a huge red U in the middle, beginning from the top of the nose to the hair line, some just have ash smeared on the forehead. Some replace the ‘U’ with ‘O’. Some have vertical and horizontal lines in a hazy pattern, some wear an ‘I’. And one of them wears an all vermillion forehead! One would say what’s in a physical appearance?( actually a lot). However it’s all about inner beauty( and I hope I don’t have to pay royalty for using these clichéd Miss Universe lines).
These gurus recite hymns (some in the most unmelodious voices) and yet people both loosen and lose themselves among the chants swaying in a trance-like manner. Some educate us on the holy books and our conduct. Others emphasize the benefits of a vegetarian or healthy diet and Yoga. Yet others believe in idol worship and highlight the benefits of offering prayers and more. They all talk about spirituality - The need to connect with one self and with Almighty. Soft spoken or not all have oratory skills. All are emphatic!! What I like the most is that they all encourage philanthropy. A lot of them teach good virtues. I know people who’ve benefitted from these teachers and preachers. Simply by listening to them and following their advice they have been able to give up a lot of vices and they lead much healthier and happier lives now.
Not very long ago the list of such and other self-proclaimed gurus was few. More the sins, more is the need for redemption. But is it as easy as rinsing off our hands after a hearty meal? Today Gurus have mushroomed up like never before. What I realise is that more and more people want an anchor in their lives- a philosopher and guide. We seek an equilibrium that we are unable of achieving. More and more people desire peace and turn towards a guru for relief from troubled minds and souls. Some have become so dependent on these gurus that without their presence their lives will disintegrate. While I am glad that some of these gurus who only mean well are doing us great service by holding the hands of thousands of their followers and comforting them with spiritual talks, I wonder if we as friends, family and society are incapable of providing each other with that much needed emotional support? Are we probably failing as a society by not being there for one another in grey times? Is there so much of disconnect among ourselves? Do we really need a catalyst to experience God? May be not. But some of us do need a hand to hold that’ll show us the way.
Wanting to have a guru is good. Finding the right one is even better. It is after all a matter of belief. Just like the placebo effect. You believe a certain guru can change your life, he/she will. You believe it will happen, and it will.
To all my wonderful friends, may you get the guru you seek. If not, maybe you’ll find one within you.
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