My husband and I always start the week with brisk walks in the mornings in the picturesque Promenade (past midweek, the enthusiasm wanes and we totally stop going for a walk by the weekend........you know, the usual valid reasons-rains, hectic working day or got to leave early for office). These are the times we discuss our life and its problems (read argue). I have always had this humble opinion that I am a brisk walker and a more active person than my husband and at any given opportunity, I remind him of that.
On this particular day we were walking and were just about to enter the Promenade when suddenly, I felt a hand on my neck. Before I could react, I heard my better half shouting and realised that there were two guys on the bike who were trying to snatch my mangalsutra...gosh! How can this happen to me? My first reaction was to see whether the chain was intact. And then I had to rub my eyes in disbelief when I saw my usually lethargic husband chasing the thieves who were riding away on their bikes.
But the worst part was two more accomplices of the thieves who had been following on another bike started chasing my husband. All the drama was happening before my eyes and I was standing there like a stupid, dumb spectator. The whole scene had shifted to the highway and I could not actually see what was happening.........but I realised that the guys on the second bike were hitting my husband. I was shocked and suddenly realized that this incident could really turn into a nightmare........but then the thieves too , I think, were too shocked that a middle aged man can chase a bike on foot and still keep up with them. Anyhow they gave up on him and fled the scene. Thankfully, my husband was not injured and I could see the incident in a lighter vein (of course only after a few days and not immediately, silly!). Now-a-days I don't challenge him about his excercising routine or tease him saying that he can't even dream of taking part in the Mumbai Marathon.
Such an incident could have turned for the worse for us......I could have lost a valuable chain or my husband could have been injured badly........but I thank our stars that none of this happened. I have promised myself never to take my life for granted. Just one small incident or one mishap can change the entire colour of life. I think all of us must appreciate each and every day, every moment of life with more spirit and happiness.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Child abuse
Blogging after a long time! The vacation in May and few disturbing happenings made me think about what I should write. And then, the news that a pre-teen dyslexic girl was raped by her tutor has made me really want to put down my thoughts on this topic. It is sad that this girl had undergone the mental and physical torture for over four months without her parents' knowledge. I feel that this is the zenith of ignorance today's parents show towards their children. How can somebody leave such a small girl all alone at home at the mercy of such a monstrous tutor? Why is materialism given so much importance, that parents tend to think that the child needs all comforts, more than their presence? This child, who has grown up all alone and has undergone so much, won't have any respect for her parents. How can a mother ignore the signs of physical abuse in her child for so long? How many parents realize that when they are slogging far away in an office, the child could be physically abused by watchmen, servants, car drivers, courier boys or even the next door neighbour?
As a teenage girl, even after having led a protected life, with a mother around all the time for any help, I felt there was physical abuse which I had to face either while travelling or attending classes. Or while walking back home a bit late in the evenings, or sometimes even with the ward boys when I had late night duty in the hospital where I worked. I used to feel so terrible about being a girl or a woman. But when I read such articles of child abuse by teachers or even fathers, my heart bleeds for such children. People who have the moral responsibility to protect innocent children, themselves turning into monsters is really something to be taken a serious note of! Its time for mothers/women to buck up and do something against this malice. It's the duty of every mother to ensure that they are alert enough to note any change in the child and be good listeners to their children rather than being money making machines.
As a teenage girl, even after having led a protected life, with a mother around all the time for any help, I felt there was physical abuse which I had to face either while travelling or attending classes. Or while walking back home a bit late in the evenings, or sometimes even with the ward boys when I had late night duty in the hospital where I worked. I used to feel so terrible about being a girl or a woman. But when I read such articles of child abuse by teachers or even fathers, my heart bleeds for such children. People who have the moral responsibility to protect innocent children, themselves turning into monsters is really something to be taken a serious note of! Its time for mothers/women to buck up and do something against this malice. It's the duty of every mother to ensure that they are alert enough to note any change in the child and be good listeners to their children rather than being money making machines.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuitions and coaching classes
My daughter is in the tenth standard. The pressure on her is ten times more than the pressure I experienced. Even about ten years back, attending coaching classes or going to tuitions was considered to be for weak students and those who were unable to cope. But now it is more of a necessity, which of course, is made to seem so by the parents. They think that it is good for the child to get all the extra help, to score more marks and get admission into prestigious colleges. But from the students' point of view, it is sheer stress and nothing else. The teachers at school often complain in PTA meetings that children are always sleepy in the classes after running to various tuition classes till late evening and then doing the school homework till very late in the night. Children are exhausted with 8 hours of classes at school and another 4-5 hours at tuition classes. They hardly ever relax or play games to de-stress.
I strongly feel that with few hours of rest after returning from school and studying for a couple of hours would be more beneficial than attending these extra classes. So I have not put my daughter in any extra class and she is absolutely fine with it. But I have to admit that I have started feeling left out in the conversations among parents which is, of course, centered around the analysis of various tuition centers and how the school doesn't care about this subject or that exam etc. Let me wait and see, how this no-extra-classes decision of mine and my daughter's helps her in the Board exam. But even if she scores an average percentage I can vouch for the fact that I will be a proud mother of a daughter who has done it all by herself.
I strongly feel that with few hours of rest after returning from school and studying for a couple of hours would be more beneficial than attending these extra classes. So I have not put my daughter in any extra class and she is absolutely fine with it. But I have to admit that I have started feeling left out in the conversations among parents which is, of course, centered around the analysis of various tuition centers and how the school doesn't care about this subject or that exam etc. Let me wait and see, how this no-extra-classes decision of mine and my daughter's helps her in the Board exam. But even if she scores an average percentage I can vouch for the fact that I will be a proud mother of a daughter who has done it all by herself.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Indian Idol season-5
I like to watch music programs on TV . The talent hunts and reality shows on music throw light on such great talents, that I don't want to miss some of the popular shows like Idea Star Singer on Asianet or Indian Idol on Sony. But the disturbing trend I notice in the talent shows in the north is that South Indians are completely left out. In fact, that Indian Idol should be renamed "North Indian Idol" is my strong opinion. They go to remote areas of UP and MP to hold auditions and yet, ignore even major cities like Cochin, Chennai or Hyderabad in the south. Why is there this biased view towards south? The only city they had auditions last year was Bangalore and the only South Indian singer who got selected for the final ten was eliminated in the first round itself. The fact is that this singer had already won the Asianet contest which has far superior talent than the national talent shows. Indian Idol persisted with some horrible singers till the last round due to the stupid SMS voting system. Even a person without any musical knowledge could point out that particular singers were really awful.
I am just waiting to see some South Indian talents at least this time. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV, at least, had one South Indian winner years back. That's the last I remember the South Indian talent being recognized on a national level. Otherwise, whether it is singing or dancing, it's North Indians all the way . I hope that the trend changes and south gets its due.
But until then, "Vadakku vazhgiradhu, therkku theigiradhu"
I am just waiting to see some South Indian talents at least this time. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV, at least, had one South Indian winner years back. That's the last I remember the South Indian talent being recognized on a national level. Otherwise, whether it is singing or dancing, it's North Indians all the way . I hope that the trend changes and south gets its due.
But until then, "Vadakku vazhgiradhu, therkku theigiradhu"
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Friends or relatives?
During my school and college days, I always thought friends were my world and I even imagined a life and work that would involve a circle of my close friends. Even after my marriage (being the first one in this group to get married), I made it a point to keep in touch with all of them through letters (note-there were no e-mails then!) and making personal visits whenever I could. But as one friend after the other from the group got married, I noticed that their inclination towards maintaining the friendship was waning. At first, it was difficult for me to comprehend the reason. But slowly, I realized that being a woman , the importance given to the relatives of the husband's side is more and friends take a back seat. The best option for me was to develop a fresh friendship with someone my age from the close circle of relatives. Luckily for me, my co-sisters-in- law happened to be of the same age and slowly, but steadily, over the years our relationship has blossomed so beautifully that I feel developing a friendship with cousins or close relatives of the same age group is more long-lasting and practical than the ones developed in college or school.
In fact, many of my so-called close friends have not even bothered to keep in touch and I think that whenever we go through a personal high or low , it's the relatives who we are able to share it with immediately and not friends who are usually settled elsewhere. In times of crises, a cousin or an in-law is the first one we turn to, thinking that friends need not be troubled at such times. Though I do not feel the gap developed with school or college friends when we meet after years, I do miss out on the major happenings in their lives. Bonding with cousins, sisters or in-laws (when we get lucky) becomes stronger over the years. At least, that's how it's been for me.
In fact, many of my so-called close friends have not even bothered to keep in touch and I think that whenever we go through a personal high or low , it's the relatives who we are able to share it with immediately and not friends who are usually settled elsewhere. In times of crises, a cousin or an in-law is the first one we turn to, thinking that friends need not be troubled at such times. Though I do not feel the gap developed with school or college friends when we meet after years, I do miss out on the major happenings in their lives. Bonding with cousins, sisters or in-laws (when we get lucky) becomes stronger over the years. At least, that's how it's been for me.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Subtitling Parashakthi
Working from home, I've always felt that those who work in the field of entertainment are blessed. I was fascinated, especially, with the back-screen workers like dubbing artistes, technicians for special effects and subtitling writers. I was under the impression that these people would be enjoying their work because they get to watch movies during their work.
So, a couple of weeks back, when I got the offer to do a subtitling job for a company, I was thrilled, to say the least. I jumped at the offer and I was on the job the next day. The first movie I got was Parashakthi. My dream of making a huge name in the field of subtitling, like Sivaji from his first movie, took wings . I began work very enthusiastically and was boasting to people at home that I am getting paid for watching movies. But what a nightmare it turned out to be!
I had to translate every 'ohh' and 'ahh' and I could tell anyone the number of 'Kalyani's uttered in the movie, even in my sleep. I never thought I would be cursing Karunanidhi (non-stop dialogues....only the crow and cuckoo didn't talk) for something other than his politics.
The worst part of subtitling the movie was translating the songs. I thinks it's utter foolishness to try and translate a song, which is generally a play of words that sounds good only in the original language. If saying "Kalyani ran to the edge of her life" was bad enough, imagine the difficulty I went through translating "Ananda Koothadinalum Thandavakone" song in the movie.
I've vowed never to comment about the bad subtitling in movies, ever again, now that I know the effort that goes into it. And next time you watch the movie Parashakthi with subtitles, you know who not to blame!
So, a couple of weeks back, when I got the offer to do a subtitling job for a company, I was thrilled, to say the least. I jumped at the offer and I was on the job the next day. The first movie I got was Parashakthi. My dream of making a huge name in the field of subtitling, like Sivaji from his first movie, took wings . I began work very enthusiastically and was boasting to people at home that I am getting paid for watching movies. But what a nightmare it turned out to be!
I had to translate every 'ohh' and 'ahh' and I could tell anyone the number of 'Kalyani's uttered in the movie, even in my sleep. I never thought I would be cursing Karunanidhi (non-stop dialogues....only the crow and cuckoo didn't talk) for something other than his politics.
The worst part of subtitling the movie was translating the songs. I thinks it's utter foolishness to try and translate a song, which is generally a play of words that sounds good only in the original language. If saying "Kalyani ran to the edge of her life" was bad enough, imagine the difficulty I went through translating "Ananda Koothadinalum Thandavakone" song in the movie.
I've vowed never to comment about the bad subtitling in movies, ever again, now that I know the effort that goes into it. And next time you watch the movie Parashakthi with subtitles, you know who not to blame!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Mahajan family
Recent news about Pramod Mahajan's brother , Pravin Mahajan's death made me ponder about the state of their mother. Do these sons ever think about what their mother would go through because of their actions? The newspaper article stated that their father had been a strict disciplinarian, who brought up all the children with good values and had faced lot of hardship to give them a good life. But the mother, witnessing her sons making such a mess of their lives, would have felt that all these values have had no effect in their upbringing.
I have known a few families where the children have gone astray despite the parents being sincere and honest in their efforts to bring them up with good values. Sometimes I wonder whether a strict disciplinarian father has a negative effect on his children. Children have such an overdose of discipline that they decide to take the opposite path, in rebellion. I have also come across families where the parents paid no attention to their children, who have grown up to have a good life.
So, whether all our efforts to be excellent parents to our children is really going to have any relevance in our children's lives is a real mystery...........we can only hope and pray for our children's welfare, after coming across such families as the Mahajans'.
I have known a few families where the children have gone astray despite the parents being sincere and honest in their efforts to bring them up with good values. Sometimes I wonder whether a strict disciplinarian father has a negative effect on his children. Children have such an overdose of discipline that they decide to take the opposite path, in rebellion. I have also come across families where the parents paid no attention to their children, who have grown up to have a good life.
So, whether all our efforts to be excellent parents to our children is really going to have any relevance in our children's lives is a real mystery...........we can only hope and pray for our children's welfare, after coming across such families as the Mahajans'.