Banana Milkshake, please?

Of Bananas...

My mother makes very nice milkshake, and I happen to have a liking for bananas so banana milkshake it is! Plus, in my mother's words - "so rich in potassium, you eat one banana everyday and nothing will happen to you." She made milkshake ever so often as an after-breakfast beverage...but other things in life began getting more importance, like oatmeal.

2009- My 1st attempt at getting banana milkshake after this long gap:

Me: Amma, I want banana milkshake. It's been so long.

Amma: (Tamil) You just had breakfast! Why?

Me: It tastes yummy! (makes a spoilt, I'm-going-to-throw-a-tantrum face)

Amma agrees to give me milkshake. What joy...such a beautiful morning!
Amma puts a banana and a glass of milk in front of me.

Amma: Make the milkshake in your mouth!

I don't know what to say. My eyes keep darting from the raw food resources to her. She's too busy to laugh for more than a minute. I'm too amused. I'm more greedy and hungry than annoyed so I just take one bite of the banana and one gulp of milk and feel quite content.

Later in 2009- My 2nd attempt at getting banana milkshake after the mixer-grinder got new blades (or so I thought):


Me: Amma, please make banana milkshake.

Amma: Ok, but you just ate breakfast. You're over-eating. Be careful. (some Tamil dialogue)

I think of taking this warning seriously...for life. Temptation wins.


Me: No, it's ok. I have space! (eyes shining with joy)

Amma places a glass before me. Inside is a concoction of sweetened milk with mashed banana bits...reasonably big (a baby might just be able to swallow the bits if it's smart enough). Clearly, she had mashed the ripest banana into a glass and topped it with milk and sugar.

Amma: I don't think the mixer is working and it's too much work anyway. It's a good exercise for your mouth (Tamil). Bon apetite! (makes the wide-eyed Mr. Bean face)

Again, I am at a loss for words. I think of potassium and my canines and the respect I have for my mother's culinary efforts and blissfully work my way through the milkshake.


2011- Amma sees me writing this post.

Amma: I'll make banana milkshake tomorrow.

Me: No, I just wanted to say something funny!

Amma: I can see that you're yearning for it.

Happy days are back!


Amma: That way, one banana and a glass of milk will go into you. (said in Tamil)

Amma says this in reference to my not eating bananas like I used to, and my lack of respect for the poor man's fruit. Yes, Amma. I know that the bananas rot in your absence. 


Amma is now rejoicing at the thought of a fresh bowl of yellow nutrition on the table tomorrow...


...and now we are taking a slippery walk down the lane of fruity, banana nostalgia. Our experiences with bananas in San Antonio, 1996...the scenario might be quite different now...in terms of size...


Amma: (Tamil) Bananas in the USA were so big. When you were a kid, you would eat just a little and give the rest to Appa, who voluntarily accepted them. That's how Appa started eating bananas.

Summer Conversations :)

Introduction of character AK47- One of the funniest in class, he was named after the rifle for...I don't remember why!
My 'gang'- STARS: Sakshi, Tasneem, Ritu- was known for...umm...monkey business...and targeting the ones who would be easy to 'fight' off! 


We punctured AK47's bicycle tyres whenever we had a chance of escaping from class during school hours. Of course, we also sneaked out through the back gate to buy Pure Magic biscuits, but that was when we were hungry for food, not for mischief. Not that it (puncturing bicycle tyres) was a bad thing; he lived a couple of kilometres away and could afford to walk home once in a while...but if it rained...not much risk of acid rain back then?! Comforting enough! 


Hiding at close-quarters to see his reaction, the look on his face- stunned at the sight of his collapsing, 2-inches-shorter bicycle- was totally worth the effort!!! Watching his acceptance of fate- his chin drooping into his neck, satisfying himself with one shout at only-he-knows-who, smiling sheepishly and walking with his equally depressed cycle- the part of us feeling sorry for him was also secretly laughing!!!


We were never caught...well not until the Principal showed up, and 
1st time- Sakshi and I hid in the school bus, when the Principal, standing on his toes, peeped in and asked us what we were doing...it was like he had video cameras to track us three!


2nd time- My friends had the sense to run away while I stood there trying to explain to sir that we were just admiring all the cycles (quite believable, considering that we had traces of cycle-tyre-dust on our skirts). 
What surprised us was how AK47 found out that it was 'us'!!! A flaw in the plan. But nothing stopped us from our mischief!


Forward sent from AK47
AK47: This summer, temperature will
            cross 45 degrees celsius.
            Many birds die due to lack of water.
            Please keep a bowl of water in your balcony/terrace.
            Please do forward.


Me (annoyed that I was being disturbed while studying comparatifs francais): Go and keep a bowl of water first
(thinks- "instead of forwarding texts and disturbing me")


AK47: I already kept a bucket re.


Me: :D (laughs) Is that poor bird supposed to bathe or drown?


AK47: I arranged a straw also.


Me: One straw in a bucket...! Nice :) Were you a bird in your previous lifetime?


AK47: What were you re in your previous life?


Me: ...Hey can I put up this conversation on my blog? I won't mention your name!


AK47: Ah permission granted. Mention my name

(AK47 thinks- "might as well say something extra if she's putting up all this on her blog")

Hang a glass with a chain on the bucket and keep a signboard stating- "drinking water strictly for birds; others are prohibited"


Me: (thinks- the things people will say when they're getting a little publicity!)
I'm giving you a pseudonym. Pay me Rs. 1000/- if you want your name.


AK47: Haha...(nervously)...It's ok re, I don't like publicity. Don't mention my name


Me: Tu es oiseaux?


AK47: French- you are learning, not me


Me: Are you a bird?


AK47: Yeah, presently on your terrace


Me: Go jump into the bucket!

Is It Alive...???

Of Spiders...

Yesterday, close to the birdie clock in my parents bedroom, I found a skinny, misshapen, slim-legged spider that looked like it had been sun-dried after too much exercise. I came to the conclusion that it was dead, but did nothing to take it off the wall...shudder shudder...So I left it there, watching it lifelessly fly to the breeze of the fan...shudder shudder...

The next morning, I was glad to see that the birdie clock was once again surrounded by a clean patch of wall. I turned around, and there the shudder-inducing creature was, on the other wall. I must give it credit for standing firm despite the fan breeze. Now it's scrunched up in a tiny cluster of itself, giving me 'the shudders' as usual. I've never really watched spiders for this long before because-

a. I don't like coming in contact with them

b. I think I'll get rashes at the sight of them

c. I think they can fly

d. They give me 'the shudders'

e. There's nothing itsy-bitsy about them

f. Well...they're...spiders

However, it was very interesting watching it exercise and get into all these funny poses...

...and this is what I write when I'm unable to study! See? Spiders can be distractions too!

This reminds of the giant black spider I had the misfortune of seeing in a very awkward position a few weeks ago.
On the window sill of the high glass window by the staircase leading to my house is a little family of miniature animal dolls- all very happy to be there, all very cute.
One day, on my way downstairs, I was thinking how cute the dolls looked in the sunlight when I saw that giant black spider taking refuge behind the hen's backside. The hen willingly mothered it for a couple of days until the spider began it's mischievous rendezvous with the rest of the family, finally deciding to hang on to the yellow puppy's tail.

I casually mentioned it as a joke to my parents. My mother laughed. My father looked straight ahead. The next morning, the family of miniature animal dolls looked liberated, and the hen looked as though she had laid a golden egg...thank you...to my father...

Nice is not a nice word...!

This post is dedicated to one of the most wonderful teachers in the world- Irvinder ma'am. Thank you, ma'am :)

Irvinder ma'am was my English teacher at Sherwood Public School, and what a teacher she is! From engaging us in her English lessons with her rich, expressive accent to being a friend outside class, she has always been an inspiration. She extended her educational boundaries to teaching us how to study survey maps in Geography class! How cool is that?! She treks the Himalayas, sings sweetly, writes poetry and cooks wonderfully, with a lovely smile! She is a gem of a person- dedicated, caring and loving.

Her classes transported me to another world. I can proudly say that she is responsible for my growing interest in literature, arts, and the belief that we are children of substance! Irvinder ma'am is in my literary conscience all the time. She is one of the reasons I have been a perpetual topper in English! When I left Sherwood, I found it difficult to let in any other English teacher for a long time. But she taught me how to accept that every one of those teachers has a different approach and that I only had to look for what I needed to keep learning.

Instructions turned into life-long lessons-

•  In the 3rd grade, she took away our erasers for the hour. It taught us to bring neatness out of our minds and onto paper, which is a valuable lesson that I carry with me to this day. The minute you think you possess the tools or have the ability to erase something, you take the liberty of repeating errors. But life is not like that, it's different. You cannot erase your mistakes. All you can do is to flip the pages and move on, with the past somewhere at the back of your mind. So you might as well think out a strategy and execute it flawlessly.

• Bad words are useless. It might sound very childish in a world where using the 'f' and 'b' words are shockingly involuntary. I am not a model citizen but I have always believed in and followed the saying "Bad words are useless." They really are. What does one achieve using bad language? They are distasteful and have no positive impact. Ma'am showed us that there are more constructive ways of channelizing our anger. Cheers to a teacher who has taught me how to be more respectful. No matter how badly one has abused me, I can hold my head high and say that I have never retaliated. 

• Nice is not a nice word. Ma'am said, "Children, did you like the story?" Class, "It's very nice, ma'am". Imagine madam's annoyance! So many beautiful words in the English language and nice is the only word that pops into our minds! We can enhance experiences by describing them the way they are meant to be- uniquely! The Dal lake and mummy's chocolate cake- are they both just...nice? Or would you rather say the 'picturesque' Dal lake and mummy's 'delicious' chocolate cake? Personally, I think people are afraid of being teased for sounding ancient and poetic by using rich, flowery language. Try it, it's such a happy feeling because all of a sudden, the world begins to look a lot like Heaven! 

It is a blessing to have a teacher like you, Irvinder ma'am, and I will cherish memories of being your student forever :)

Happy Women's Day!

I donned my mother's bright green men's kurta over my black churidhar, quickly swiped some black eyeliner on the lower rim of my eyes, tied my hair in a banana clip and wore a printed green scarf. Then I made my way to the railway station to board the train to college. While I patiently waited in line to buy a ticket, a man in a blue shirt tried cutting the line, to which I said "Excuse me", pointed to the line and said "line". When my friends and I made our way out of the destination station, I saw this young man looking at my friend, making eyes up and down. Absolutely unacceptable. I said, "Excuse me", to which he looked at me and said- "What happened?" I glared.  Only 15 minutes later did I realize that it was Women's Day! Well, it was a nice way to begin the day. Not because I was sassy, bossy and successful in tackling two of the male race, but because I was able to enforce some simple rules that will make people see that I'm not the kind to use my feminine side as an instrument of change, but the kind who looks for equality 'between' men and women.

To reach this state of equilibrium, or balance the mentally-imbalanced scales, one has to understand that simply yelling at your man, the one among the 4 billion men at your mercy, is not going to make any more concrete changes than bringing fear at the sight of you. Hence, the biggest way to acknowledge, embrace and empower the woman in you is not necessarily exercising authority over men. Men can be feminists too; there are so many kind men out there. Dominating them is not the best way to tackle male domination. It is all about standing up for your values as an individual, and winning in situations where pure talent sets you apart.

To women: In my opinion, some of the best ways to empower your kind are-
- to overcome among women the tendency to be submissive. Speak up!
- to share compromise with the man of the house. Work together!
- to have tremendous self-control.
- to not cut queues, saying "Ladies line, aiyya".
- to prove oneself through actions
- dignity and realization of self-worth, whatever your profession
- love across barriers

Happy Women's Day!!!

Here's My Project!

In continuation of "Where's My Project"...

I'm one of those girls who goes out of her way to make her project special. So I was pleasantly surprised when my 'Know Your Medicines' (Inter-Disciplinary Elective:- Chemistry) class teacher, apart from giving me full marks and a 'v. good' for my project on Diabetes, said that she would like my project back- to keep and show future students of this course! Wow! I'm overjoyed!

P.S: This happened once before with my Environmental Science project on Food Resources... :) :)

YAY!!!

When Music and Movies Merge

THE TOP 7

Musical movies in the shelf of every film aficionado…

When music and movies- two powerful elements of entertainment- merge, the result leads to the creation of invigorating cinema that is scintillating to the senses. Films transport us to a world of fantasy before we snap out of the dream and wake up to the call of life as we know it…


“I think in art, but especially in films, people are trying to confirm their own existences.”- Jim Morrison

Films are a slice of reality, reflecting real life characters that we attempt to understand as the hidden wonders and vagaries of the world unfold before our eyes…Films hold a mirror to the world to help us witness what lies beneath, above and within us, stirring inexpressible emotions… There are films we connect to, films that evoke laughter, tears, myriad sentiments, films that ignite a spark and invoke a catharsis, leaving an indelible mark on our memories, never fading with time…

“When words leave off, music begins.” - Heinrich Heine

Films are incomplete without music to create and set rhythm and tempo for the plot to bloom. Actors break into song to poetically express that which cannot be spoken, which only violins, flutes, harps and stilling beats can harmonize and knock against one’s heart. While these timeless classics have dominant themes depicting the era they embrace, their articulately composed background scores make them legendary for soul-stirring melodies, foot-tapping numbers and jazzy rhythms we can’t help dancing to. Here are some magnificent musical films with outstanding soundtracks that we listen to over and over again…

MY FAIR LADY- a 1964 American musical film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion
Director: George Cukor
Music: Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison
Star Quote: “I sold flowers; I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady of me, I'm not fit to sell anything else.”
Henry Higgins, the short-tempered professor of phonetics, believes that one’s accent determines one’s position in society. He brags to Colonel Pickering that with his proficiency he could pass a common woman for a duchess. He takes a flower girl- Eliza- off the streets and under his tutelage. How she overcomes her cockney accent is entertaining to watch, with songs like Why Can’t the English, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, The Rain In Spain, I Could Have Danced All Night, On The Street Where You Live, You Did It, A Hymn to Him and I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC- 1965 American Musical from the book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp
Director: Robert Wise
Music: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II and Irwin Kostal
Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer
Star Quote: “A captain with seven children, what’s so fearsome about that?”
Filmed in the breathtaking mountains of Austria and Southern Germany, the film begins with Maria singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music…” Young and free-spirited, she leaves the convent to become a governess to the family of the naval captain widower Georg von Trapp. The movie is replete with melodious songs like Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Do-Re-Mi and Sixteen Going on Seventeen.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF- 1971 American film adaptation of the 1964 Musical
Director: Norman Jewison
Music: John Williams, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
Starring: Chaim Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey
Star Quote: “Without our traditions, life would be as shaky as…as…as a fiddler on the roof!”
Set in the harsh times of Tsarist Russia in 1905, the film is a touching tale of a Jewish family living in Anatevka. Their life of contentment in the face of struggle are portrayed through unforgettable songs like Tradition, Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man, Miracle of Miracles, the haunting Tevye’s Dream, To Life, Do You Love Me, Anatevka and Wedding Celebration- The Bottle Dance. Tevye, the charming protagonist says, “Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize there's no shame in being poor...but it's no great honour either. So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?

SANKARABHARANAM- 1975 Telugu Musical film
Director: Dr. K. Viswanath
Music: K. V. Mahadevan, Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Starring: J. V. Somayajulu, Manju Bhargavi, Chandra Mohan
Star Quote: “Music is divine, whether it is Western or Indian.”
Sankarabharanam deals with the fall in popularity of Carnatic music and the student-teacher relationship. It revived Indian classical music in Andhra Pradesh. Sankara Sastri is a popular Carnatic singer who mastered the raga Sankarabharanam, amazed the youth by singing pop music and awakened the minds of youngsters. Beautiful renditions of Omkaranadhanu, Raagam Taanam Pallavi and Shankaranatha Shariravara with other ragas by S .P. Balasubramaniam, Vani Jayaram and S. Janaki take the story to great heights.

THE LION KING- 1994 Hand drawn animation film by Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Music: Hans Zimmer, Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly
Star Quote: “Hakuna Matata…It means no worries for the rest of your days!”
The Lion King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi of Pridelands announce Simba as the heir to the throne, much to the unhappiness of Scar- Mufasa’s selfish brother. Simba’s life as a growing lion are depicted through enjoyable and touching songs like Circle of Life, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King, Hakuna Matata, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Can You Feel The Love Tonight, enriched with African harmonies.

LAGAAN: Once Upon A Time in India- 2001 Indian drama film
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Music: A. R. Rahman, Javed Akhtar
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne
Star Quote: “Toot Gayi Jo Ungli Utthi, Paanchon Mili To Ban Gaye Mutthi.” (The accusing finger upon us has been broken, we five have come together like a fist).
In an ancient, barren village near Bhuj, peasants suffer due to heavy taxes imposed by the British Raj. Praying and singing for the rain to fall on their crops, the village folk request the British to reduce taxes, but settle for a wager- tax exemption for three years if they win a game of cricket against the British officers, a challenge courageously accepted. The music and dance sequences have an earthly essence, showing the simple yet culturally rich lives with songs like Ghanan Ghanan, Mitwa, Radha Kaise Na Jale, O Re Chori, Chale Chalo and O Paalanhaare.

MAMMA MIA! - 2008 Musical romantic comedy
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson, Original Music by ABBA
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters
Star Quote: “Typical isn't it? You wait 20 years for a dad and then three come along at once.”
After discovering from her mother’s diary that she has three possible fathers, a bride-to-be tries to find her father by posting three wedding invitations to three men in Sweden, New York and Britain. Songs like I Have A Dream, Money Money Money, Fernando, Mamma Mia, Chiquitita, Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, Voulez-Vous, SOS among others make Mamma Mia a fun-filled and heart-warming family movie, a thorough entertainer!

Endowed with cultural, historical, social and inspirational value, these films are high on entertainment. They are treasures that captivate our senses and inspire moments of joy. For those yet to watch them, do so not once, but twice! You might just set aside that bowl of buttery popcorn and get so involved in the story, before you realize it’s over and you want nothing more than to watch it again!

Written on 14th October, 2010

YELLOW!

A colour, and much more...

When you hear the word yellow, a flurry of images usher in thoughts of bright morning sunshine, sunflowers looking up at the sky, Winnie the Pooh, The Simpsons, shimmery earrings or gold bangles, the sunny side up you had for breakfast, the yellow rose you got on Friendship Day, school children packed in a yellow auto and singing “yellow yellow dirty fellow sitting on a buffalo”, or the new way of saying hello!

The Anglo-Saxons claim the origin of the word yellow as it is derived from their Old English words ‘geolu’ or ‘geolwe’; the oldest written use is found in the epic poem Beowulf in a description of a shield made of wood from a yew tree. Yellow has varying connotations and interpretations in different countries across the globe.

The fifth colour of a rainbow, the hues of yellow represent a plethora of emotions- happiness, optimism, warmth, merriment, communication, spiritual awakening and enlightenment. It is said to stimulate the nervous system and radiate positive energy. Yellow is indeed an energetic and bubbly colour, the colour of daylight and the starry night sky.

Jews wore yellow armbands in the Nazi concentration camps. 10th century France saw doors of traitors and criminals painted in yellow. It is ironic that the word ‘yellow-bellied’ describes cowardice, as Japanese warriors of the War of Dynasty in 1357 wore yellow chrysanthemums as a pledge of courage and patriotism! In politics, yellow represents liberalism in many countries. The phrase ‘Yellow Dog Democrat’ refers to a hard-core democrat. Southerners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries disliked republicans and would vote for a ‘yellow dog’ rather than a Republican.

The Yellow Ribbon, founded in 1994, is a community-based program for the prevention of teen suicides and is the initiative of the parents of a carefree teen called Mike Emme, who took his life when he could not express himself in his time of trouble. Ever since, they have successfully addressed issues faced by young adults who are lost somewhere in their growing years.

We are all fascinated with bright yellow pencils freshly sharpened. Ever wondered why they are yellow? The USA has been importing graphite from China since the 1800s. American pencil makers wanted a special way to acknowledge this Chinese connection. Since the 1980s, 75% of all American pencils have been painted yellow, a colour that stands for royalty and respect in China. This is their way of showing gratitude to China, a supplier of high quality graphite.

In Indian culture, yellow is a very auspicious colour and symbolizes purity and knowledge. In Hindu and Syrian Christian marriages, the traditional thread mangalsutra- a sacred thread for the day of the wedding- is coated with turmeric powder and has a gold pendant. The use of turmeric is chiefly in the states of South India. The lighting of the lamp precedes religious and cultural occasions and the brass lamps bring warmth and joy to the celebrations.

Yellow in Italy refers to real and fictional crime stories. In 1929, the first series of crime novels- the Il Giallo Mondadori series- published in Italy had yellow covers. Yellow journalism refers to sensational journalistic practices for higher newspaper readership. The truth is bended to pave way for libellous, slanderous and exaggerated facts to keep the reader glued to a story. This unethical practice has been prevalent since the 1800s and gained immense popularity in the 1900s with the circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a character with the tragic flaw of ambition, says- “I have lived long enough. My life is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf…” to describe the fatal result of ruling as a tyrant on an usurped throne and losing the support of his people, having no one to turn to in his last days. Yellow symbolizes withering over time and crumbling to dust, a green leaf that becomes brown with age.

The reader in you would love Oscar Wilde’s poem Symphony in Yellow, through which he beautifully emphasizes the importance of art in life, taking the Aesthetic movement to great heights. Reading it is like looking at a thought-provoking painting that brightens the avenues of your mind. William Wordsworth’s Daffodils is a sunny poem exuding an aura of hope and bliss. The picture of “a host of golden daffodils” transports us to a dream-like state where nature’s beauty overtakes one’s soul.

In Aztec culture, yellow symbolized their primary food- corn. Imagine vast mustard fields- a farmer’s joy…When you are on the hunt for food, you might think of a Mc Donald’s Happy Meal or healthier options such as bananas, sweet lime, lemonade, cheese, or the American Sweet Corn vendor outside the college gates.

For music lovers, listen to shades of yellow in rock with Coldplay’s Yellow, Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, Toni Orlando and Dawn’s Tie A Yellow Ribbon or The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, and Claude Debussy’s western classical piece The Girl With The Flaxen Hair, melodies that linger in your memory forever.

Written on 5th October, 2010

A Film To Remember

“Every great film should seem new every time you see it.” - Roger Ebert

Countless films are made each year across the world, reflecting human instinct to express oneself and portray the evolving world on a magnitude larger than life. Some films live on for their impact on society, for the way they articulately capture an aspect of the world and effectively communicate with us. No matter where we are, these themes are relevant to our lives and give us a sense of never being alone and sometimes answering our much-contemplated questions. A number of films cross cultural boundaries and become popular worldwide sources of entertainment for the powerful and enlightening message it sends to its viewers. The award-winning film Gandhi is one of those films and will be passed on as a treasured heirloom for generations to come.

"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood."- Albert Einstein, about Mahatma Gandhi

GANDHI
1982

A soul-stirring autobiographical film about the life of Mahatma Gandhi--a freedom fighter who, during India’s freedom struggle, spiritually awakened, inspired and empowered the masses with the weapons of non-violence, satyagraha and ahimsa, becoming a national hero and the father of the nation. This film highlights the foundation of his political ideology of active participation in the Indian National Movement against the British by imbibing India with the values to build a unified nation where tradition and modernity merge, where man has the independence to express himself and embrace his culture with open arms.

Director: Richard Attenborough
Starring: Ben Kingsley
Music: Ravi Shankar, George Fenton
Notable quote: “Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they may seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail. Think of it: always.”- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

The film shows a transition of events in the life and work of Gandhi--from his days as a lawyer in South Africa, to formulating political ideologies and establishing the Gandhian Era of freedom struggle in India, becoming the ultimate pillar of strength. From his life-altering experience of being discriminated as an Indian in South Africa in 1893, to his decision to launch a non-violent fight for the equality Indians in South Africa; from his journey to India where his methods stirred the masses to play an active role in attaining independence from the British Raj and armed them with peaceful resistance, to a movement that promised freedom without the bloodshed caused by militant nationalism and extremism. While he was initially unfamiliar with India due to living abroad for 20 years, Gandhi flagged the non-cooperation movement, struggling against all odds.

The film is replete with imagery and is appealing to one’s senses, ending with a melodious rendition of the hymn Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram. Director, Richard Attenborough’s sharp eye for detail is admirable and he has undoubtedly done justice to every aspect, making the film complete with facts supported by flawless screenplay and cinematography. Actor, Ben Kingsley accomplished the arduous task of portraying Gandhi to perfection and his astounding and gripping performance took the film to great heights. The historical scenes involved roping in thousands of people to recreate past events and take viewers back in time. Gandhi won eight Academy Awards, including awards for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Picture.

Relating the historical and autobiographical film to today’s world, the message to audiences worldwide continues to educate us to this day to speak up for one’s rights and respect fellow human beings irrespective of caste, race, religion and nationality, to accept diverse cultures in order to co-exist peacefully while continuing to develop the world around us, negating intolerance and shaping human thought for a brighter and more harmonious future.

Written on 30th November, 2010

Three New Articles

When in my 3rd semester, sometime in the first week of October, I heard that a person who was launching an international youth magazine was on the lookout for writers. He came to college to test our writing skills. In the selection process, I wrote 3 very good articles that were highly appreciated. I got selected and earned the title of being a favourite. However, my articles never got published because the magazine is yet to come out and the wait was getting too long for me! So I've decided to post them on my blog!

They are-
1. WHEN MUSIC AND MOVIES MERGE- on some special musical movies from across the world

2. YELLOW! A colour, and much more...- about all things yellow! Information has been derived from books and websites for factual details

3. A FILM TO REMEMBER- a review-essay on Richard Attenborough's film Gandhi

Where's My Project?

WRITTEN WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAY, AND WILL BE, OFFENDED BY THIS POST.

For this possible feeling of being offended, I only blame the manner in which the system carves a certain portion of the human mind and psyche so that it adapts, succumbs, without opposition, to the only way an over-populated world seems to be able to run. Don't look at me, I'm afflicted too. But hey, there is a part of me that does not like us students being taught how to be Unknown Citizens, a cog in a wheel, a mere number, and being taught how to accept the ways of the world. This is why I love George Bernard Shaw. He was so cool when he said in Man and Superman- "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
Few are those who teach and encourage us to think and do differently no matter how noisy the cries of the crowd may be. True, we are but a speck in this expanding universe, but the miniscule difference we bring shapes the growth of the world and the universe, and contributes to the evolution of the infinite.
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We've all (most of us, including me) have been through school, college and all the ups and downs of the education system. We've been given those assignments that most-often actually test our compilation skills! But yes, we do all the research, gather necessary information, then hunt for pictures, and finally spend hours, days and weeks in putting them all together. Don't we all swell with pride, joy and exultation as we show off our creation at home, in class, and finally to the teacher who says, "Wow, very good!" Result? 10/10, 9/10......6/10, 2/10, etc. It isn't the marks that matter. No matter which number column you fit in, what you finally get for your hard work is MARKS and SATISFACTION- IN THAT ORDER. It's normal to feel the way you're expected to feel. Fortunately, there are those kindred spirits who make us feel happy from the depths of our hearts and my heart goes out to them for their support and appreciation.

But what happens when you find out where exactly your project has disappeared?
Into a cupboard, somewhere at the back? Understandable. The teacher has a lot of people to deal with. A store room? Bearable.
To the raddhiwala/scrap paper dealer? You have no other choice. Recycling is important and we value paper because we all love and need trees.
But what happens when someone gets a cut-out of a friend's project under that friend's nose, whatever purpose the 'recycled circular' may serve? It hurts.
I believe in concealing the sundry ways of recycling student material so that the student can lead a motivated life as long as he is where he has to be.

With love to all <3 ,
A girl who goes to the ends of the earth to shed off specks of being An Unknown Citizen. W.H. Auden, you are known to this day :)

Note added on 4th March, 2011: Please see "Here's My Project"!!!

The Friend We Had- Part One

Before I begin, I'd like to mention that 'The Friend We Had' is not about that one friend you had, and let go of due to certain reasons.
'The Friend We Had' is about all those friends who are, at the end of the day, meant to be a passing phase in our lives, like those interventions one has when life decides to play another song, like those learning signs that teach us a lesson, leaving it to us to work towards an ending that might help us move ahead.
'The Friend We Had' is about the lessons that return as a reminder of something incomplete in the growing picture, and you don't always have to let go of this friend.

Since I do not intend to give a moral science class, or get nostalgic on readers who have a serious-enough life, or preach (since I'm grandmotherly-enough in real life), well, I have to add-

On a lighter note, 'The Friend We Had' also applies to those who very unconsciously add that touch of comedy and humour to every day, and it isn't cruel to turn a serious ending into a hilarious new beginning! So here's to the friends who had no choice but to turn into clowns for my amusement. It's life's way of de-stressing me! And if any one reading this is true to their 'minds' (because the heart can be a tricky organ), you know that we all convert certain friends in our lives to comic reliefs, and 'I' might just be one of the many clowns in your lives, and I don't mind one bit! Cheers!!!

To be continued...!!!

The First Rain of the Year

The first rain of every year is a red letter day for me. There's something about it.
In 2010, it was on February 17th. It looked like it would rain on Feb 17th this year too but the day arrived 4 days later on February 21st. My mother woke me up saying that it was pouring outside and flung open my bedroom door leading to the balcony garden. I delightedly jumped out of bed!

Rain is only gloomy in the rainy season, so spring showers are more than welcome! With a cup of cinnamon tea I sat and watched the rain as it lashed away a majority of the mango flowers and cleansed the green and grey. It cleared up in an hour. However, it set the tone for the rest of my year and refreshed me. That's what I love about the year's first rain.

I never thought of recording such a day before 2010 but I remember the joy those special days would bring, the dangerous feeling of satisfaction that came along with the breeze. It's alright to feel like that once in while along the route of an ambitious life...

Monitoring the Mosquito

After a lot of "Come on, you'll miss the train", I get into the car just as it finishes singing London bridge in a very annoying tone...Every morning, Appa drops me at Seetaphalmandi Station where I catch the train to Begumpet to get to college. It isn't just a 3 km drive. It is 3 km and 8 minutes of trying to shoo away or kill mosquitoes. Note that I do not like killing mosquitoes and face the guilt of a creature's blood on my hands. Wait, that's my blood!

Coming back to the point, these journeys completely scare me because I tend to get very paranoid on roads and jump every time Appa claps and slaps a mosquito, his hands a good 4 inches away from the steering wheel. The other much-preferred strategy is to open the window at repeated intervals for it to fly away, the sound of the radio going up and down with the sound of traffic. This strategy does bring in a lot of noise and pollution apart from the hope that the mosquito does not prefer the silence of the backseat.

This ordeal is a routine of sorts. Appa is used to assessing the possibility of a mosquito lurking close to his skin, I'm used to saying, "Don't worry, just drive. I'll take care of the mosquito." Then he claps at it again and I scream...Well, I'm beginning to wonder if the mosquitoes stay just because we look so amusing and sound so hilarious.

If you wonder how these nibbling creatures get into the car with the windows all rolled up, I don't know! They just do!

No monitoring the mosquito until Monday!

A note:
"Appa can afford to take such a risk because he is a very skilled driver"- Amma

A Cloud of Inspiration

I'm quite taken aback that I silently watched my blog float away into oblivion. It will be defunct no longer and I'm now here to stay! The good thing is I never stopped writing; Now I'm ready to share a part of my everyday contemplations however bizarre the idea may be! Here's to a new beginning!

A note to Amma: " As the February showers sweetly dominate the expected sunshine, I'm finally listening to you and writing my experiences! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them, I hope it gives you something to think, laugh and smile about wherever life takes us all."

A note to Appa: "As you read The Hindu, with the rain dampening hopes of a possible political agitation a few kilometers away, I hope you will be able to overlook my excessive punctuation, which is not as much as it once was, and enjoy my ramblings!"