Marching On...

March...when life presents an experience of every colour before each is in clear sight...


Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining, have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, (It's raining violets,)
And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.


- Al Jolson

From Tagore's Gitanjali...

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up
into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.


- Rabindranath Tagore

Back in Gunrock!

Home sweet home...

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