Speak for Humanity: One Billion Rising - Dance-A-Thon!

Valentine's Day is a day of love, passion, compassion and kindness. While most people insist this means red roses, teddy bears and romantic dinners, in 2013 this is hardly a way to celebrate. Look, we live in a day and time where the world has become harder to live in. In fact, forget harder, it's become dangerous to live in this world. Over the last week, I've sat with myself and fought with myself over why the world has become this way. Wars, rape, murders; it doesn't seem to end. So really, where is the love? Why is it we can't find it in ourselves to display and show T.L.C. for one another? Why do we insist on hurting one another. No. I refuse to believe that this world is devoid of love. I will not live in a world where love doesn't exist. And thus, on February 14th, an international day of love, I will go out, a single woman in Hong Kong and dance my way into a new world.

Speak for Humanity, an organization dedicated to the betterment of the world, has joined with a global project known as The One Billion Rising Movement. As an organization, Speak for Humanity has a number of objectives that it supports. These include:
- Raising awareness about issues of global concern
- Serving as a platform for dialogue and engagement
- Serving as an interface to connect global actors striving for change

It's motto, "Injustice Anywhere is Injustice Everywhere," speaks for the extent to which the organization wishes to make a change. The Dance-a-thon will be one of several events which will serve as a launchpad for the organization.


The purpose of the Dance-a-thon is to bring about equality and safety to women all over the world through workshops and various methods including the February 14th, Dance-a-thon. More details are available on the Facebook page and website but this is your chance to change the face of how women in the world. As citizens of the modern world, it is our responsibility to decide how women are treated now and in the future.

Speak out and dance it out, this February 14th at Statue Square from 8 PM to 10 PM. Bring your friends, your valentine, your family, the women in your life.

This is Valentine's Day, make it one with a difference.

Doctor KK Talwar of the Medical Council of India,

You are a disgusting man. How dare you sit on a public platform and act like you’re doing the country a favor by merely existing? Did you not feel even an ounce of remorse for every single person whose life has been destroyed by the malpractice of sick doctors? And when you were question by Aamir Khan as to a commitment, you simply shook your head. Sick. We all saw you looking to run out the nearest studio door as a wave of guilt came your way. Your hesitation and lack words towards making any changes, or reform, is unacceptable. You’ve been in office for nine months. Is that not enough time for you to have made any changes?

I was totally shocked by your inadequacy to answer even simply questions which any Chairman of a medical council should/would know. How on earth should we expect any changes in Indian healthcare when you have no idea as to how many doctor’s licenses have been revoked. I could have told you that and I have close to zero knowledge about the Indian healthcare system except that it is in dire need of reform. How should I, an aam aadmi, be expected to understand the policies of the MCI when you are unable to comprehend them yourself?

I’d love to take a peek at your bank account over the last nine months. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if overnight, you’ve found yourself X amount times richer courtesy of all the ‘work’ you’ve done. Look, I’m not saying that it is your solo job to eradicate corruption from the medical field, but for heaven’s sake, make some bloody changes. When the women of a village find themselves devoid of a uterus, then really, some real big changes need to take place and now.

Post the show, I sat to google the reactions that people had towards your appearance on Satyamev Jayante. The consensus was clear: you are nothing but a sham. The manner in which you presented yourself and the MCI was simply disgusting. As an Indian, I expect nothing from you, nor do I expect any changes from the MCI.

I believe that change will only happen in the generation that follows. It is through them that hopefully we will see changes in the Indian healthcare system. Until then, I hope that the citizens of India, who have lost loved ones, body parts and those who are still footing huge bills after no fault of their own, realize ultimately, as usual, they will have to take things into their own hands.

Apparently, you’ve been felicitated with a number of awards and recognition too. But for what? You reek of corruption, deceit and guilt.

Gross.

Dear Hindustan Times,

I have never used foul language on my blog. Never. But today I will make an exception. I would like to tell you a quick Fuck You today. I feel that as a recognized Indian portal, you have gone ahead to behave in a completely moronic fashion with your “Kareena Kapoor: Size Zero to Fatso” pictorial piece. This is not about Kareena Kapoor. Not at all. This is about how insensitive a piece this was. You do realize that KK is not a “fatso”, right? In fact, I clearly remember how nutty your publication went a few years ago when she took on her size zero avatar. Back then you called her a whole bunch of names including “unhealthy”. So what’s the issue now? Do you understand that you are basically implying that if you put on a bit of healthy weight, you become a fatso? And then hold on a quick second. Kareena Kapoor puts on a kilo or two and she’s a fatso, but Vidya Balan who can be easily borderline obese is what? Sexy? Why the double standards, you morons?

One of the biggest health related issues young girls deal with include anorexia and bulimia. As a society, we look down on girls who are slightly chubby or big boned – unless you’re Vidya Balan of course, then you’re just plain voluptuous. As a leading Indian publication, your job is to educate and eliminate this outdated idea from the minds of old fashioned Indians. By putting up pieces that look down on a healthy weight, you’re hardly being progressive. By this logic, you have to be a fair size zero fair woman in order to be considered hot, yes? If that is indeed your opinion, then basically my “fuck you” is completely justified.

I understand where these pieces come from. As Indians and Bollywood freaks, we’re all slightly obsessed with every aspect of a star’s life. And when it comes to Kareena Kapoor, we’re infatuated with her size. So of course, in order to bring in readers, it’s best to talk about her weight which has increased, thankfully. But calling her a “fatso” is simply not on. And then the malicious comments on each of her images were just plain down market. By sensationalizing this issue, you are indirectly promoting size zero. For this, another fuck you.

To say that you should rectify your mistake would be asking for too much. So instead, all I want to do is reiterate what I’ve been saying all along: Fuck You. Until you don’t grow the eff up and start writing meaningful articles, you deserve this type of reader. You’ve lost a reader in me. Oh and I’ve put on 2 kilos in the last few months. So yeah, I’m a proud fatso. And what?

P.S. Once again, she isn't FAT. 

It's That Time of the Month.....

It’s that time of the month again. No silly, not “that” time but the time where there are too many burning issues that are weighing on my mind and thus, I must put them down vis-à-vis a blog post. Oh word of the week, by the way, is ‘burn’. And I’ll tell you why. So apparently, this month is filled with XYZ Days. Yesterday happened to be Teddy Day. Please do not aw and gush on me. Please no. It’s simply absurd all these silly days. What purpose do they serve? None. And thus, if you are dating someone who is giving you a teddy bear and not teddy lingerie, you should burn the bear effective immediately. But it doesn’t stop there. Please check out the list of lame days that will occur this February. If you honor/celebrate more than two of these, I will judge you. Alright then, back to burning issues.

Yuvi Yuvi Yuvi
By now every single cricket fan/fanatic has already expressed their grief over Yuvraj Singh’s cancer news. I of course, am no different. Naturally, I am convinced he will bounce back and be his usual self. But as cricket buffs, we need him for more than one reason. Yes, he needs to get well soon and get back on the team, lord knows they need them and how. However, Yuvi brings with him a great amount of excitement. He’s funky, wicked and wild. He hits sixes, dates girls nonstop and of course, when you need him to, gives the spunkiest answers to dodge ablaze questions. And lastly, Yuvi should come back hit yet another six sixes and win us another World Cup. Just imagine, he helped Team India win with strains of cancer floating around in him. The guy is such a star.

Baby Falak
It’s such a sad sad sad society we live in. If you haven’t heard about little two-year-old Baby Falak, here’s the gist. Young 22-year-old Munni was sold to her husband when she was 16 to a man who eventually walked out on her leaving her with 3 children to fend for solo. She was promised a job if she moved to Delhi. Unknown to her, that line of work would be prostitution. When she refused, she was told to marry another man and to leave the children to a friend. Her oldest daughter was sent to live with a relative, her son is yet to be found and her baby, who has now been named Falak, moved around from family to family. Eventually, she fell into the hands of a young teenage girl who belonged to a sex worker group. She had run away with an older man who had abandoned the teen to see his family and wife in Mumbai. She was forced to take care of the baby alone and tortured the baby nonstop. The baby’s head was smashed against the wall, a hot iron was placed on her face and there were bites all over her. The teen bought in the baby to a local hospital asking for help when officials discovered something was just not right.

I don’t even know where to begin with this story. For starters, selling your child is a phenomenon I just cannot fathom. But we have no one but ourselves to blame for this entire ordeal. As a society, baby girls have always been frowned upon. And thus, the easy way out always seems to be to get rid of our girls whether it’s marrying them off earlier or in some cases sell them off even. We don’t look to see if the man is at all capable or trustworthy; as long as she’s out of our hair, who cares. This desperation in itself forces our daughters to deal with situations solo. In the case of Munni, leaving her children to marry for the second time seems like a raw deal to me. A man who wants to care for you, should do so irrespective. She may has well have gotten into prostitution then. But the real victim here is Baby Falak. Just thinking about the poor pain a voiceless two-year-old had to endure alone infuriates me. When will we finally wake up and realize this is not acceptable? When will we grow up and realize that a baby girl is just as precious as a boy? And when on earth will we start punishing such assholes for these heinous crimes? How many more baby girls will it take?

Sid Mallya

And very quickly, if you’ve been following the Ayesha Takia versus Siddhartha Mallya/Kingfisher Airlines fight on twitter, you’ll probably have learned that he is an ultimate douchebag. He has no manners, nor does he care about anything but himself clearly. I don’t care how rich you are and who the hell your father is, your company screwed up. Own up and figure it out already. After Ayesha’s sister’s boarding pass was shredded by some ground staff for whatever reason, he simply came out to ask who Ayesha was and also told her to “pipe down love.” I tell you where I’d like to put that pipe; up a hole where pipes shouldn’t go.

And with that, my burning issues come to a cooling halt. Well not really, but nothing a chilled beer can’t fix. Too bad beer isn’t my thing. Lassi se hi kaam chalalungi!

Karan Johar - Paris Hilton: #SamePerson

Karan and Paris: Same to Same

I’m a bit amused at all the hoopla surrounding Paris Hilton’s arrival to India. I’m also slightly unsure as to why it’s even a big deal. Sure she's here to launch some accessory line (yeah, I won't be buying. I like my accessories as Desi as they get) but so what? As of now, I’ve received a number of emails asking me if, “I’d like to party with the Heiress, the icon, the falana.” Of course, I smirk and hit the delete button. But again I ask, what is the big bloody deal? And then I started to ponder about a few things. For starters, who is the equivalent to Paris Hilton in India? And if we have one, would they receive the same ruckus as Paris is?

Let’s first define what makes a Paris Hilton who she is. Bratty tendencies. Sex tape. Social butterfly. Hit reality show. Money bag. Celebutante. What is she famous for? Nothing really. The girl lacks any talent nor does she really have any vocation. Keeping that in mind, here are a few options for equivalents from India.

Parmeshwar Godrej: She doesn’t really work. Too old.

Sonam Kapoor: As much as I believe she lacks any sense of talent, she does work hard. And no sex tape. Blah. 

Siddhartha Mallya: He’s pretty much famous for his last name and nailing Deepika Padukone.

Karan Johar: For some reason, I feel like K Jo is the closest thing to Paris Hilton that we’ll ever get in India. The only thing lacking from ensuring K-Jo’s position as Paris Hilton’s parallel— a sex tape. And I’m pretty sure there is one lurking around somewhere.

So crowning Karan Johar as India’s answer to Paris Hilton means that she would receive the same reception in country XYZ, yes? Don’t count on it. Look no Indian celebrity gets the same reception as the Hilton Heiress does because they are a) not as important and b) not as well known. And this after Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan is really a worldwide ‘phenomenon’ or so he claims. The number of times we hear of K Jo chilling in Los Angeles or in London is uncountable. But how often do you hear of the media going nuts over Karan Johar’s arrival being newsworthy? And really, how many invitations do you get to party with Karan. More importantly, if you did receive such an invite, why on earth would you even go? By the same token, why on earth would anyone want to party with Paris? She speaks like a lame duck, lacks any sense of intelligence but more importantly, and this one is for the guys, she is definitely not going to make a sex tape….with you. Just saying.

I think we need to really reevaluate who we think is important enough to party with. For example, I’ll party with Jennifer Lopez, she’s still more real than Ms. Hilton. But if you think I’ll spend money on partying with Paris Hilton, then er, no thanks not really. And since she can swim in money, why on earth should I even have to pay a dime! Hello! If people in America are not gonna pay any attention to Karan Johar, then peace out. I ain’t gonna bother with Paris. Even if Karan can’t spell and I’ve promised not to be friends with him until he learns how to spell Koffee, I mean Coffee. Oh look, yet another similarity. They both can’t spell. If you needed anymore consolation… well here it is. Over and out.

P.S. I just read that the likes of Simi Garewal and Karan Johar have actually snubbed Paris Hilton's visit. Yeh lo. Yehi suna baaki reh gaya tha.

Flawed Beauty: India at 64

Every year on August 15th, I blog about one event: India's Independence. Today, strangely, I'm a rather odd state of mind. I woke up this morning ready to rant on about what a proud nation we are. Independent,. modern and savvy. So why is it then, I find myself lost amidst negative comments from locals. Some call our independence an "illusion" while others question what the point of our independence is? Today is a day where we are supposed to remember the teachings of Gandhi. But what do we really have to remember? That we're independent of a country that ruled over us for years before we finally kicked them out? But over 60 years later, are we really independent? Till date, we hear of stories of the female infanticide, dowry, corruption and even caste discrimination. Not really independent from our mentality or thinking.

This word, "independence" is totally taken for granted. Physical independence was the initial problem. And so through brave hearts like Gandhi and Nehru, we drove out the British. That act in itself was a foundation for what should have followed. However, here we are 64 years later, still reeling in issues that are rather sticky. Ultimately the problem is simple: a lack of education. And let's not confuse education with literacy. There is a huge difference.

But is it fair to blame all the above issues on the uneducated/illiterate? As educated Indians, we too have a responsibility towards our country. The first of course is simple. Vote. The illiterate do not know the difference between their politicians. They're hungry for anything and thus, will place their vote in those who provide them with empty promises. Every time a metro voter chooses not to go out and vote, you allow one more corrupt politician to gain another illiterate vote.

The youth have a responsibility to get involved. It's your country, your future. If you're sick of the system, then get up, get out and do something. There is no point sitting on your young buttock watching your country falter at the hands of ministers who are filling their pockets. And if you're told you don't know what you're talking about, bachche ho tum and all that jazz, then instead of shrugging and walking away, take a stand. The power of the youth should never be underestimated.

Look to say we're not an independent strong nation is totally false. This is one of the reasons we're attacked by terrorists regularly. They fear the pace at which we're progressing. But this is not a reason to back down. In fact now more than ever, we need to get it together. The time is now. Our freedom fighters say, "This is not the India we fought for." It's now time to make it that India.

Today happens to be one of my most favorite days of the year. I miss my summers in Bombay where I'd run down to my building podium in my pj's to watch the tricolor go up. A moment of pride would fall over me. And even though I'm on the opposite hemisphere today, my heart beats saffron, white and green. I am and will always be a proud Indian. Jai Hind!

Political Fashionista: Hina Rabbani Khar

I absolutely love the way the Indian mentality works. It's hypocritical and wrong, controversial and sometimes correct. We go on about how we're such a cool culture; how we've matured. But the reality of it is we still live in a time capsule when it comes to certain issues. So check it out. The very pretty and modern, by Pakistani standards, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar steps foot on Indian soil in hopes to mend Indo-Pak relations and of course, we (junta, media and critics of all kinds), immediately tagged her an emerging fashion icon not a core-shaking change-bringing minister. She, needless to say, was not too thrilled with the title. A quick note to the Paki Foreign Minister: the minute we see you sporting Cavalli shades, 17 Lakh Hermes Birkin and Jimmy Choo heels, we officially crown you a stylista among other monikers.

But what I loved most was the abundant amounts of lechery that was displayed by the men of India who were interested in her visit. They paid ‘special’ attention to her. I, however, am more interested in how our own politicians looked at the pretty good looking minister. Everyone knows how lecherous our ministers can be. Hey, some of them are convicted criminals for goodness sake!

I really don't think anyone took her seriously, sadly. Maybe it has something to do with her being a prominent Pakistani female. As women we look to them as oppressed women - becharis and all that jazz. So when we see a modern Pakistani in a position of power, we're almost intrigued. But then, we also put her down to nothing by belittling her nothing but a Fashionista. The men are no different. They don't take her seriously because she's a Pakistani female minister who happens to be pretty god-damn hot. So in totality, India doesn't look to her as a woman who will make a difference to IndoPak relations.

She has been given a byline too: "A breath of fresh air." But I don't really understand what that means. The bigger question is, would we have perhaps paid a bit more attention to the issue at hand if the Pakistani Foreign Minister were a male? Perhaps then we would have actually been more concerned with what he came to achieve versus Khar's Cavalli shades.

I don't know what will happen with Indo-Pak relations. I'm not sure we really will be able to solve the underlying issues; there are far too many under rooted historical, political, social and even religious problems which have been long drawn out. But there are people on both sides of the border who are willing to try and bring some changes to the relationship of India and Pakistan. But if all we can do is demean them, then really what changes in our herd mentality are we so proud of?

Dodging the Marriage Question!

Ever since I’ve turned 25, my life has been plagued by a single question: “When will you get married?” In all honesty, I never thought I’d be bothered incestuously by this question because in my mind, I had it all planned out. A stable job, a committed relationship followed by marriage. All this by at 26. So the fact that I am actually writing about being pestered to get married says two things: 1) I am clearly older than 25, and 2) my plan failed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not at all flustered or irritated that my plan didn’t work. In fact, praise the lord it didn’t because I would most likely have married the wrong man and never succumbed to my real passion: writing. Anyway, this is all irrespective. So here I am, loitering between 25 and 30 being told on a daily basis that I should be taking the plunge. Amidst all the nagging and blackmailing, I look to my close friends for solace and comfort. Girls similar to my age who understand the pressures but choose to take in-one-ear and out-the-other attitude simply tell me: “Don’t settle for settling!”

That very statement got me thinking. Ultimately what is the definition of “settling down”? I look at myself as being very settled in life vis-à-vis a secure job, good friends, a solid income, roof over my head and success at a constant pace. Technically, isn’t that being settled? But no. In actuality, the Indian culture insists that 'Settling Down' requires you to be married, change your last name and have a man in your life. And until you can check off each of those criterion, you are pretty much unsettled. But you know what’s the strangest part of this entire scenario? The mere fact that as Indian girls, we are told to never settle. “Never settle for the anything but the best,” we are told whether it’s our grades, a job or a car. And mind you, these material artifacts are temporary while a marriage is theoretically forever. But who can question the numerous contradictions that exist in our society? Forget the fact that it hasn’t changed in eras but who has the energy to sit and explain that times have changed.

So what do you do in such a situation? Instead of sitting and cribbing about it, here's my two-pence at easing your pain. Over a girl's night filled with wine and cheese, a bunch of my girlfriends and I wrote a list of ways to answer, avoid or simply dodge the dreaded marriage conversation.

1) Next time you are asked, “When will you get married?” or the likes of it, answer with the following: “When God puts him in my life.” Who has the audacity to question what God has in store for you? Watch how the questioner simply looks away never to ask you the question again…or for a while at least.

2) If you find yourself stuck in a situation where you’re cornered by your parents, in one of those “come sit with us” moments, we suggest you simply tune out. Think about your upcoming Friday plans. This is the ideal time to plan your outfit and shoes.

3) My personal favorite is when I am asked by my Grandmother, “When will it be your turn?” I simply say to her sweetly (don’t want to upset my cutesy Nani), “I’m ready to marry. In fact I’ve even found the man. Please let know I’m ready.” And after she laughs, I add, “I won’t say a word! I’ll just land up at the temple ready in a designer red sari!” While this is only a temporary dodge, it is more than likely the conversation will move from your wedding to Ranbir Kapoor’s last or upcoming flick.

4) And lastly, when in doubt, quote women who married late in life. I always find myself using Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as a prime example. The lady married at 33 and look at who she got? The very suave and cute Abhishek Bachchan. So who knows!

The lesson here is simple ladies. You will be questioned and how. But if you won’t even settle for a bad haircut, should you settle for just Mr. Alright-Kinda-Sorta?

First published: The Brown Girl Mag

13/7: Mumbai Strong; But For How Long?

It felt like a scene straight out of a Hindi movie. I woke up to voice mails and nonstop messages from friends letting me know that Mumbai had been attacked. Again. My heart literally went dhak-dhak; dhak-dhak; dhak-dhak. I jumped out of bed with a lump in my throat and crashed on my couch in front of the television. For a hard core Mumbaikar (at heart at least) like myself, sitting and watching your favorite city up in flames, courtesy of a series of coordinated bombs, from the opposite hemisphere is heart wrenching. I found myself  falling into 26/11 mode. Unhappy, angry, scared and furious, I heard the updates while my Mother called relatives and friends to check on their safety. Lucky for us, our loved ones were all safe and sound.

I have one question for the Indian government: can you or can't you protect your citizens? It is just not fair for Mumbaikars to deal with such incidents over and over again. Just because they happen to be a resilient city, this does not mean this vitality should be taken for granted.  Everyone has a breaking point. If you, the Indian government, cannot protect your taxpaying citizens, then either you step down so we can find an administration that will or you step it up. Trust me, there will come a point where the citizens of the country will hit their saturation point and then, they will take it upon themselves to protect their country. And if they revolt, you'll find yourself dealing with dire circumstances; one that will be harder to control.

The details will keep coming in and we'll hear from the government who 'condemn' the attacks. Of course you do! The five year-old kid down the street playing gaali cricket condemns it. Our government uses that word far too loosely, it really pisses me off. But where are our Marathi manoos? The Shiv Sena, as usual hibernating in their homes, will come out of their hiding tomorrow morning and tell us how 'upset' they are. No one will take responsibility and we'll go back to believing that we are safe. For now at least.And we'll have those Candlelight Vigils headed by Bollywood stars but what good will that do?

This time however, the panic was not insane. We saw Mumbaikars come out to help one another. Twitter was used effectively while the rumors were kept to a complete minimum. It was all information and for the first time, Social Media in India did not sensationalize a dire situation.

Personally, I don't know what to say this time around. Who do we blame? The terrorists? Why should we blame them. They know we aren't and can't be protected and thus, they attack us again and again. Or should we blame our government? The ones we vote for or really, don't vote for. It's times like this I always say, if you didn't vote, then you need to STFU. It's because of you - the educated non-voter, that we have a government that is incapable. And it's not the rich that suffers; it's the common man on the street who hurts the most. The man who decided to have a quick bhel puri at Zaveri Bazaar, who will never come home again.

Look, terrorism has no religion but we know where it's coming from. So where do we go from here?

The Social Side of Bollywood

I'm all about the glam and gloss in Hindi films -- trust me, I may sit and oust Karan Johar, but I've seen every single of his OTT films. However, amidst the luster of a Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and one I Hate Luv Storys lie a few films which make an impact which is far greater. Every so often, when we are lucky enough I believe, we are bestowed with a social film. A director will take it upon himself to make a film that is hard-hitting and honest. Over time, the issues have changed from being more complacent to ones that are more prevalent in time. I for one, have always advocated for such films. You see, the only two things that really sell in India is Cricket and Bollywood. Now, how do you incorporate the murder of the female child into cricket? Can't do it right. So you opt for option two. Desi folks (or most of them) absolutely adore Hindi films and thus, if you can manage to work a burning issue into a film, you can pretty much be sure your message will be noticed, if nothing else.

The first social film that my memory can recall was Deepa Mehta's Shabana Azmi-Nandita Das' Fire. I remember being all of 13 and watching a film about women in love with one another. That was my introduction into the world of homosexuality. I grew up with a pretty liberal mother who believed her children needed to be aware of everything in the world. And thus, despite our rather sheltered upbringing, we were aware of issues that were taboo. From then on, I developed a slight bias to such films. In time, more such films were introduced into the world of Hindi films. But the issues haven't always been related to sex. Yes, we are yet to completely understand and fathom homosexuality in India without mocking them - ahem Karan Johar ala Dostana; you can be sure more films on the gays and lesbians in our country will be made, but our socially aware filmmakers have moved on. It's about political strife, infidelity, education, AIDS, suicide, ragging, violence and even untold secrets of the glamour world. Some issues work better than others; Some win awards, others are shunned for reasons that are rather shameful, I believe.

Very few filmmakers actually have the balls to come out and place pinpoint such issues. Can we expect Karan Johar to shed the glam quotient and make such a film? Probably not - look what he did with KANK and My Name is Khan? Serious issues; sugarcoated. And the west is no different. Slumdog Millionaire is hardly a true depiction for the slums in India. Mahafail, Danny Boyle. But you can be sure, other filmmakers will continue to do so. And sadly, we need to recognize them for their courage. They know the film will probably not make waves or rake in heaps at the box office. And yet, they stand by their films hoping it will make a difference in India and will educate the ignorant, motivate the youth and open eyes of those who choose to wear a blindfold to social issues that are blatantly in front of them.

Going Viral!

An email circulating is making my blog pretty-damn popular! It was forwarded to me today and honestly, I'm a firm believer of the idea that any publicity is good publicity and so if this is what it takes, then I'm all for it. And this does explain the great numbers. But check out the email, it reads:

This girl apparently is making headlines for her comments about Hong Kong Sindhis … Ouch!

http://roshniwritenow.blogspot.com/2010/10/hong-kong-sindhis-living-in-bubble.html?spref=fb

 Pretty cool, eh?

Obama Chale St. Xaviers!

For the most part, I'm not too concerned about American politics. I find it a tad bit boring if anything. Politics ho toh India jaisa; mazedaar! But when "The" President of the United States of America visits the motherland, then you know I'm on it covering every moment, every comment, every step. And amidst the fancy dinners with the best of India ala Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan and Manmohan Singh, the rock stars of entire trip had to be the student of St. Xavier College, Mumbai. In what is easily the most democratic events in India and mind you has never been organized in the history of Indian politics, was an open "town hall" debate where the students had the unique chance of asking Obama questions during a question answer session. The students were treated to a quick intro by Michelle Obama who encouraged the students to ask her husband, some toughies in the form of questions.

While I'm not an avid Obama fan, he did make some valid and other controversial remarks which had me both smiling and then debating. His opening speech highlighted some interesting areas which most students would be able to connect and resonate with. The rhetorical questions geared toward generating more verve in India today really had me going. Obama asked the 300 odd students,"What do you want India to look like in 20 years?" And then he quickly informed them that ultimately this was a question they needed to answer themselves. Despite the terrorism and poverty in the country, Obama recognized the country had progressed and how.

A friend of mine made a valid point. "Obama will go away from India a happy man believing the country is one of the most hospitable. And India played fab host to the President. They ensured his security and made sure their was no reason to complain during his time in India. Now if the government could do the same for its citizens," she said. Baat mein dum hai bhai.

Getting back to his question-answer session with the Xavier students, only five lucky ones were allowed this chance courtesy of the short time. However, those five managed to ask some of the most rock star questions ever. They quizzed him on his opinion of Jihadi's, how to encourage brotherhood in the country, his admiration for Gandhi, his real understanding of his favorite word "Change" and what was really going on on the Afghanistan front. But it was a young girl in glasses who was given the microphone and asked the ultimate question, "Why is Pakistan so important an ally to America that so far America has never called it a terrorist state?" Silence. And then a stuttering Obama answered something that is considered a answer but really just deviated from the question if you ask me. He went on to make a point that I completely and utterly disagree with. "May be surprising to some of you, but I think India has the biggest stake in the success of Pakistan. If Pakistan is unstable, that's bad for India. If it's good and prosperous, that's good," he said. And almost immediately, I found myself in a debate with my father over this. Economy-wise India does not rely on Pakistan. However, in order to keep the peace with a neighboring country that is as volatile as Pakistan and whose government is so unstable. So I guess in that aspect, yes, it is important for Pakistan to be successful. However, how it benefits India ultimately is simply on a safety level.

And with that, the town hall debate came to an end. Ultimately, it wasn't Obama who came out looking like a rock star but the students who shed all inhibitions and asked away. Great to see such honesty and zeal. Now if only our own politicians would come out and talk to the youth like Obama really encouraging true democracy in the country. Until then, power to the students of Xavier; you have officially been bestowed with rock star status...from me anyway!

Saturday Night Blogging Fever!

I'm home on a Saturday night and "all I wanna do is have some fun." Ultimately, that means, blogging. But when I got down to thinking about what I wanted to write about, I found myself debating between two issues that were disturbing me. And then I thought, great! I'll just do a blog post about both. Woohoo! Okay, so issue #1: Obama in India. Now obviously, the entire country is split between sheer joy and plain disinterest in the arrival of President Obama, but ultimately it is Colaba residents who are most disturbed. The President will be staying at the prestigious Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and during his stay, residents of the area have been given guidelines to adhere to which included the prevention of lighting fireworks during the last two days of Diwali. And that isn't even the beginning. Closeby stores and restaurants have told to shut down while locals have had to stop their entire lives for the President. Colaba, I've been told, has never been so quiet or dead. Amidst the disruption in routine, the city's security has beefed up. In fact, security is so tight in the city, that locals claim the city has never been this safe...ever. So ultimately, this is what it takes: a foreign dignitary. The mere entrance of the American President on Indian soil puts the country on high alert. However, for their residents and citizens, this would never happen. The government would never go through such extremes to ensure the safety of their own residents and yet a gair (foreign) man comes in and badda-bing, the country becomes a safety shaft. And this from the country who couldn't protect its country from some "amateur" terrorists in 2008's 26/11 catastrophe. Its just plain sad, I tell you. For those people to whom Obama and Indian politics is hardly a priority, this becomes a huge problem. These people want to be able to get to work, get home and make a living. Forget office personnel's. Obama's visit will obstruct the lives of hawkers, beggars and even the thousands of pigeons that loiter around The Gateway of India waiting for people to feed them. This is plain unconstitutional and idiotic. Irrespective of whether or not a big politician comes to the city, realize that the aam aadmi (common man) are as important. Obama better make some huge promises and live up to them, especially after all the inconvenience he has managed to cause. 

Okay issue #2. A few days ago, a friend of mine and I had a discussion about a person we both love immensely: Shilpa Shetty. We actually only became fans of the actress post her stint in the Big Brother house. Her nonstop rebuttals, one liners and basic attitude really allowed her to attain a rock star status and we couldn't help but gush over her. But the question we both debated was simple: was the so-called Racism Row, her claim to fame? She actually reiterated those very words, "Claim to Fame" on the show to villain Jade Goodie. After their standoff, it was the prior who received more praise for her dignified stand on the issue. Jade of course, looked like a complete idiot. BUT who came out on top? Shilpa for sure. She claimed the maximum amount of fame possible. This is not to say that Jade's actions and comments towards her were ever acceptable. Never. In fact, Jade clearly was delusional about the consequences. However, despite her "dignified" posture on the situation, and her statement saying she didn't believe the issue was racist, it clearly was, and she eventually gained exposure, fame and won the show. Smart woman, I must say.

Arundhati Roy: Kashmir K(C)alling!

I'm no Arundhati Roy loyalist. She's a good author and I've read her stuff. Yes, she's good. And opinionated. That too is fine. Most writers are. Myself included. So when she went ahead to comment on the current political strife and tense situation in Kashmir, I'm not sure why it has gone on to become so heated. It actually took a lot of reading to understand what exactly she said that caused the Indian government to go up in flames regarding her comment. After experiencing some time in Kashmir and mingling with the locals, she gained first hand experience of the living conditions of Kashmir, which is controlled primarily by the military. Somehow her observations led her to believer that, "Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this." Naturally, this comment of hers has upset the Indian government who have not only called her comment "misleading","irresponsible" and has threatened to arrest her if she doesn't retract her comment. She has been charged with Sedition which is defined by "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India." If arrested and convicted, Roy could be face a sentence as harsh as imprisonment.

And that isn't even the worst part of what she is facing. The author has been threatened by a number of politicians and Hindu loyalists who have claimed to exile her from India. The exact words by one such group was, "not to adopt the path of M. F. Husain misinterpreting the right to freedom of expression…our country has already taught a lesson to Mr. Husain." Apparently, Roy has challenged the Indian democracy too many times now so much so that it was "bordering treason." After dealing with all the hoopla surrounding her one sentence, Roy went on to write a statement explaining her stand on the issue (look here).

I understand that we live in a democracy in which freedom of speech is a given right. But when is taking advantage of this right seen as taking it too far? I honestly, for the first time am 50-50 on the Arundhati Roy issue simply because my understanding of Kashmir during the partition is so limited. So Roy went on a public platform and expressed her feelings after experiencing Kashmir in 2010. Really, the strife that has been occurring in Kashmir has been going on for ages, but it is only now that she feels the need to speak out. Clearly that needs to be questioned. But is the government right to go out on a hate Roy stance and call her out for one comment? Their understanding is that it is sending out wrong messages internationally. But that too doesn't make sense when the entire world knows that Kashmir is one piece of land that India is constantly fighting over with neighbor Pakistan.

So what is this entire ordeal really about? Is it about her comment? Or the fact that someone has felt the need to speak out? The Indian government needs to explain their outburst a little more honestly while Roy needs to find a more subtle way of speaking mind because clearly her intent fell through. Now instead of creating awareness, she is fighting a possible sedition case. And everyone knows the Indian government (and public) finds it hard to forgive...and forget.

10/30/2010 update: Mid-Day publishes full transcript of Roy's speech - Sedition or not?

Book Review: Home by Manju Kapur

I've never done a book review and not because I don't read - I'm an avid reader. But a book has different interpretations and I've always found the books I love, people generally hate. Well, that is pretty much how it is with the movies I love too but hey, I dance to a rhythm of my own. Anyway, a book I simply adore and have read over twenty time and it took the twenty-first time for me to realize I needed to write about my love for a book that never fails to transport me to a different world.

Home by Manju Kapur begins as a love story of a Sona who marries into a cloth merchants family and finds herself barren. After many years of prayer and fasts, she is finally granted a baby girl, Nisha. And then a son in the coming years. The story continues to talk about the manglik Nisha, her life, changing times, taboos and cliches in a North Indian middle class family. And its not a typical book written by yet another Indian author. In fact, Kapur talks openly about oppression and sexual abuse that occurs in joint family. In addition, she perfectly depicts the problems most families still have with castes and social status. And while the book does end on a happy note, it teaches you a number of valuable lessons.What works for Home most is the empathy value. It's a simple story that is told from a number of perspectives. If you see the small-mindedness of the parents, you see the rebellious attitudes of the younger Banwari Lals.

Nisha is all of 25 when she decides to take her life into her own hands and begins her own small business. But her astrological falacies prevent any relationship from stabalizing and she watches her friends and younger family members all marry around her. Mind you cut to 2010, being 25 and career oriented is hardly seen as a tabboo. In fact, we admire girls who are independent. She is then sexually abused by her cousin brother and while the family realizes who the culprit is, they do not oust him but simply ensure there is distance between them. Yet another probable situation ensuring the family pride is honored.

Home has major holes but it doesn't really affect the pace or the matter of the book. You still can't stop turning the pages and by the time its the end, you wish she would go on. It really is a must read and while my copy is finding its way to becoming tattered and torn, its one I will land up reading yet again for the nth time.

Hong Kong Sindhis: Living in a Bubble!

I grew up amongst the very flamboyant Sindhi community in Hong Kong. I lived in a bubble surrounded by fancy restaurants, a great school, exquisite parties and pretty much the best things money could buy. And that was all I knew. For any occasion, a birthday, anniversary, Diwali, the entire community found themselves gathering together to celebrate. Tailors would go into overtime as the ladies were determined to outdo each other with their clothes while they showed off their big diamonds. And because I grew up amidst the glamsham, it seemed normal. I had no understanding of the world outside Hong Kong. We vacationed and even then, it was the best hotels, food and cars galore. And then I left the country and moved to America. All of a sudden I realized that there was a life beyond the fancies I grew up in. People struggled to make a decent living, an thought I was aware of, but didn't believe I would witness.

It's been just under a decade since I left Hong Kong and what surprises me is how much the community has evolved (read: not at all!). It's strange but for the life of me, I actually assumed that Hong Kong Sindhis would have moved on from the shosha but apparently, they are still living a time capsule. Courtesy of Facebook, I manage to witness the numerous amounts of events that take place regularly in the city at fancy restaurants and bars. And what surprises me that even now the creme de la creme of Hong Kong still party like its the millennium, which is great - live it up people, but have no issues throwing their money around for no reason. Every time I am told of an extravagant lavish affair, I always ask, "Oh! Is this for charity?" And then the answer comes simply, "No." This isn't to say that there isn't a certain part of the community who are driven differently and realize that there is a sensible way to spend their money as long as it goes into helping other people who are not as fortunate as them. However, for the most part, it simply is a good time or in my opinion, a waste of time as it serves no real purpose.

But what do we expect of a community that thrives on moolah? Look, its great to be inspired, driven, ambitious and wanting to have a good time. But somewhere amidst running from kitty party to satsang and then to a fancy dinner, it wouldn't hurt to spare a minute to think or contribute outside your bubble. Nor would it hurt to teach your kids to do the same.

So here is what I propose or challenge.

To all the Sindhi Auntys: Instead of wearing two diamond rings, how about just one? And the cash you would use for ring number 2, you donate to women who need a home. I assure you, the Kitty aunties won't judge you even though your pretty manicured fingers will lack a diamond ring.

To the Sindhi Uncles: Sell a car and donate the proceedings to a charity. Yes, you'll be a car short but guess what? You live in Hong Kong where the public transportation is not only one of the best in the world but accessible and cheap.

To the young Sindhi folks: Step out of your bubble people. Instead of spending every Friday night frolicking at Lan Kwai Fong drinking the night away, take that time and money, and put it to good use. Dedicate your time to an charity that needs volunteers.

Have you truly really evolved? Prove it.

Update March 6th, 2011: Just Saying...

TOI: Shamelessy Anti-Indian!

The Babri Masjid verdict was delivered and while India acted maturely - shock and horror, it was the Times of India that really attempted to create havoc with their insensitive one lined headline that read, "2 Parts To Hindus, 1 Part To Muslims." If at anytime the media has tried to be manipulative, it is now. And honestly, they ought to be ashamed of themselves for this incredibly insensitive headline. If this is their attempt at sensationalizing an event that has been graciously been accepted by the Indian populace, then as a publication, they should really been sacked. This is not only unacceptable but considering the Times of India is one the most oldest newspapers in India, you would think they more than any other publication, would know that such a headline would and can cause outrage in the country which would lead to further turmoil. It feels as though they just didn't care about the title of their article. And it isn't as though they couldn't have thought of a more politically correct headline; the TOI editorial team doesn't lack talent and this is a well-known fact.

What exactly their agenda is or was, that is unknown. And you shouldn't even try to find out what on earth they were thinking; it just isn't important. But irrespective of the reason, it is simply an irresponsible act by the Times of India and they owe the readers of the TOI an apology for being so insensitive.

Link to article: "2 Parts To Hindus, 1 Part To Muslims"

Rules for Being Human!

Came across this today and was wowed! 

When you were born, you didn't come with an owner's manual; these guidelines make life work better.

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's the only thing you are sure to keep for the rest of your life.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "Life on Planet Earth". Every person or incident is the Universal Teacher.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of experimentation. "Failures" are as much a part of the process as "success."

4. A lesson is repeated until learned. It is presented to you in various forms until you learn it -- then you can go on to the next lesson.

5. If you don't learn easy lessons, they get harder. External problems are a precise reflection of your internal state. When you clear inner obstructions, your outside world changes. Pain is how the universe gets your attention.

6. You will know you've learned a lesson when your actions change. Wisdom is practice. A little of something is better than a lot of nothing.

7. "There" is no better than "here". When your "there" becomes a "here" you will simply obtain another "there" that again looks better than "here."

8. Others are only mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another unless it reflects something you love or hate in yourself.

9. Your life is up to you. Life provides the canvas; you do the painting. Take charge of your life -- or someone else will.

10. You always get what you want. Your subconscious rightfully determines what energies, experiences, and people you attract -- therefore, the only foolproof way to know what you want is to see what you have. There are no victims, only students.

11. There is no right or wrong, but there are consequences. Moralizing doesn't help. Judgments only hold the patterns in place. Just do your best.

12. Your answers lie inside you. Children need guidance from others; as we mature, we trust our hearts, where the Laws of Spirit are written. You know more than you have heard or read or been told. All you need to do is to look, listen, and trust.

13. You will forget all this.

14. You can remember any time you wish.

From the book "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules" by Cherie Carter-Scott

I love Salman Khan whose charity is named: Being Human hence, the picture!

Babri Masjid: No Right Verdict

In all honesty, I never really understood what the entire episode regarding this masjid was all about. Today, courtesy of Ranbir Kapoor who insisted Anjaana Anjaani get postponed because the verdict would be announced on the day the film was supposed to release, I decided to sit down and read all about it. So what I basically understood from it was the following.

Ayodhya, birthplace to Lord Ram, is where it all began. A temple was built in honor of the God. However, during the Mughal's reign over India which lasted many hundreds of years, the temple was pulled down and in its place, a masjid/mosque was built. It stood there for many hundreds of years until 1990, when it was pulled down and demolished by Hindu karsevaks. A hearing has been called and is still underway. On October 1st 2010, twenty years after the masjid was pulled down and the riots it caused, a verdict will be reached as to who is responsible.

So what is the problem? Well, no matter what the verdict is, it doesn't mean anything. Who is right? No one. It wasn't right for the Mughals to pull down a temple that commemorated Lord Ram and then many hundreds of years later, it was definitely immoral for Hindu fanatics to go in and destroy the masjid. But this is not the problem. In a country, where children have no homes, we are worried about the destruction of a place of worship. Instead, I think Lord Ram would have been more than happy if we would have built a school or a home for the poverty stricken. But no, we fight and increase communal tensions. The riots that took the deaths of Hindu's and Muslim's in India, mean nothing to government officials. They would much rather defend their sad actions rather than step up to the plate and say, "Hey! We messed up."

It has taken 17 years, Rs. 8 Crores, 48 extensions, 399 extensions, and 100 witnesses and yet, we have no verdict. But no matter what the verdict turns out to be on October 1st, it won't bring back the dead, the hurt, the temples, the masjids. They belong to the ground now; ashes in the dirt.

63 Years; 63 Achievements

63. A natural number. Number of years that lasted the walking of Ram. The number of independent years India has accomplished. Of course, it is the last that is most pertaining to this post. Today, August 15th 2010, marks 63 years of Independence for India. That's a whole lot of independent years. However, it also means that we must quantify 64 accomplishments for every year of independence. If we can allocate an achievement for every year since 1947, only then will it be possible to claim that we have fully utilized our independence from the British.

1. Largest democracy in the world
2. World class education. IIM Ahmedabad is the toughest Management school to get into; ahead of Harvard
3. Best Dabbawalas in the world with an efficiency rating of 99.9999 percent
4. Largest milk production in the world
5. Largest railway system in the world
6. India recycles 60 percent of its plastic waste. The figures for Japan and China are 12 and 10 respectively
7. Largest postal system in the world
8. World's second largest labor force
9. Largest film industry in the world
10. Literacy rate is at a constant increase
11.With reformed health care, life expectancy has increased from 32 to 65 years
12. Built 1.25 million miles of new roads
13. Steel production has been multiplied by 50
14. Cement production has been increased by 20 times
15. India has a GDP of $ 2,375 billion, making it the fourth largest economy in the world
16. 2nd largest bicycle producer in the world
17. Untouchability is now (and finally) a criminal offense
18. Improved investment climate
19. High economic growth
20. A young population - 70% of the population is below 34
21. Indian foreign exchange reserve crossed $ 1 billion
22. Indian companies netted over Rs. 70000 cr. in exports when global economy was seething in 2002-03.
23. There are 16 companies whose exports net over Rs. 1000 cr.
24. 15 companies exports goods worth Rs. 500 cr.
25. 150 companies which earn over Rs.100 cr. in foreign exchange.
26. The FORBES list has included 18 Indian companies under its list
27. The country rose form 12th to 10th in dollar term between 2002-04
28. The economy of India has grown by more than 7% in the past two years
29. The per capita availability of grain and cloth is greater
30. Foreigners are coming to India for cheaper medical treatment
31. The gap in male female literacy rate has decreased from 24.84% in 1991 to 21.60 in 2001
32. Times Higher Education Supplement ranked the IIT's as 3rd in all Technological Universities of the world
33. Won Cricket World Cup in 1983
34. Won three wars against Pakistan
35. Abhinav Bindra won Gold Olympic Medal in 10m rifle shooting
36. Indian Hockey Team is ranked 9th in the world
37. Indian played Sania Nehwal is currently ranked 2nd
38. GM Vishwanathan Anand is the current World Chess Champion
39. Prakash Padukone triumphs at All England Badminton Championship in 1980
40. Rajyavardhan Rathore winning Olympic silver for Double Trap in 2004
41. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were the most dominant tennis pairs in the world
42. Narain Karthikeyan races in Formula 1 and puts India on the F1 map
43. Sania Mirza is also the first Indian woman to win immense accolades in international tennis
44. India's first Test series win overseas in 1971
45. India win Twenty20 in 2007
46. Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to reach space in 1984
47. CV Raman: Awarded with Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on scattering of light
48. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983
49. India sends first Indian moon probe, Chandrayaan-1 to moon
50. Possessor of India possesses nuclear weapons
51. First Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen in 1994
52. Kottayam, Kerala becomes first city to 100% literacy rate
53. Ahmedabad becomes first city to have an e-court
54. Elects first female President: Pratibha Patil
55. More than 62 universities engage in biotechnology training and education
56. India has indulged in strong roots of secularism
57. Immense progress in technology
58. Self sufficient in food
59. Strengthening of regional co-operation in foreign policy
60. Poverty is at a constant reduction
61. The availability of food grains per capita rose from 395 grams per day in 1950 to 466 grams in 1992
62. Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined
63. A.R. Rahman becomes first Indian to receive two Oscar awards on an international platform

And this is 64 of numerous thousands of achievements that the country has achieved. However, this in no ways means that there is no room for improvement. In order to be really be fully considered a developed nation. I, personally, am completely blinded by the negativities and cons that India houses; to me the country has been through years of strife and always manages to bounce back. 64 years and rocking! I love you India! Jai Hind!