The Wanderer

Last night, I headed to the Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav (an annual Indian classical music and dance festival). With zero knowledge/understanding of Indian classical music, I found a seat, not knowing what to expect. I was there primarily to listen to Anoushka Shankar but ended up witnessing legends such as Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Channulal Mishra in all their glory. This is not a review of their performances (which I am thoroughly incapable of) but of how it became a lesson in humility.    The hall started filling fast, with people sitting on the floor and the stairs all around. Tens of people were left standing, when something unexpected happened: The organizers (led by Uma Sharma) decided to allow audience to sit on the stage and laid out rugs for people to sit! In my concert-going experience, this is the first time I had seen this happening. Of course, the situation was mildly chaotic as those already settled also made a beeline for the stage, but...

How to create under confident women: Tell them that if they do not use fairness creams, no one will marry them. Tell them that if they do not look a certain way, no one will love them. Make sure they do not talk to guys in school/college, because you know Sanskaar . When they come to you about marital problems, try to find a way to blame them for it. Of course, she is to be blamed, after all how can the son be wrong?  Make her believe, that no matter how wrong the husband is, it is her duty to 'adjust'. And if she can't, she is not a good enough wife.  Tell her that she should be thankful that she is so lucky, you know 'it could be worse'.  Tell her that no matter who she becomes, the men will be rated higher than you. Equality? Bah, humbug. Scare them into believing that if they stood up for themselves, they will be outlawed by the society. And that this is a bad thing. Oh, and to be clear, most times it is women who make other women believe this. Yeah...

Loss can teach you so much. One of the most heartwarming pieces I have read. Or maybe just related to it. Excerpts from Sheryl Sandberg's moving tribute to her husband. The most powerful one-line prayer: “Let me not die while I am still alive.” The choice offered by tragedy I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can give in to the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs, constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find meaning. These past thirty days, I have spent many of my moments lost in that void. And I know that many future moments will be consumed by the vast emptiness as well. I have lived thirty years in these thirty days. I am thirty years sadder. I feel like I am thirty years wiser. But when I can, I want to choose life and meaning.  Being a mother I have gained a more profound understanding of what it is to be a mother, both through the depth of the agony I feel when my children scream and cry and from the c...

Met my future self (hopefully) in a bus in the Japanese countryside ;)  Meet Giovanna, a traveler from Italy who started traveling when she was 25 and has been to 252 countries in 45 years of traveling. Visited several of them multiple times and said India was her favorite (may be she was just being nice tongue emoticon ) This time, she is traveling by herself across Japan for 4 weeks.  This coming July, she turns 70.

As another close friend leaves Shanghai today, it reminds me of my old theory that Shanghai is like a huge hotel: you meet people for a while - by the pool or the coffee shop - spend some time together and then eventually they will check out and move on; and you know you will too.... And I can't even begin to describe the people I have met (wanderers, adventurers, vagabonds, war veterans, cancer fighters, dreamers, devotees, artists, musicians, writers, readers, ones so enthusiastic about life that it is contagious, the right amount of weird, an extra bit of crazy, witty ones, sarcastic ones...from all over the world) and the conversations we have shared - as if each person was a book to be read, and there minds countries to be explored.... And all you will have is a limited amount of time together - maybe you will get a chance to form a deep bond, maybe not; there will be some that won't keep in touch, some will go beyond all gaps to do so; Whatever it is, it is right her...

At times after falling to ashes, rising is the only option. At times what burns us, fuels us.

"Hypocrite, boredom sets into a boring mind." - Metallica

Whenever I think, "This is too easy, what could possibly go wrong with it."... Life takes it as a challenge. :/

to bootstrap (v.) to start a self-sustaining process that is supposed to proceed without external input.  Many a times in life we need to pick ourselves up... (Remember, you can use your shoe laces :D)

We think, a soulmate, success, money, car and houses will bring us happiness, when really...... It's the other way around. Have a happy morning!