tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111298082024-03-23T11:29:51.309-07:00DesiporaThis blog was chronicling my Ph.D journey, which I am no longer pursuing. Since I will always like reviewing film and talking about Indian family and street culture, this blog takes a different turn.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1161663381857659402006-10-23T21:13:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:18.266-07:00Away in MeerutTo look for more of me visit http://faujiwife.blogspot.comDevelopment Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1150368999533787062006-06-15T03:14:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:18.197-07:00Why I enjoy my Ph.D better than my School, Bachelors and MastersThe reason I was away from this blog, is because I was in Bangalore last week, enjoying myself with friends over beer, coffee and movies. Today I just completed my fresh new proposal with a new research interest - ICT for Development. My previous work was going right through the drain. So hopefully the proposal works and the new university accepts me. <br /><br />When I was in school I found all the sciences very boring, I liked the social sciences and enjoyed all the classes. I failed many a time in science, but my father realized I was intelligent and more of a free thinker, so he didn't care.(Unusual for Indian parents) So I failed high school because I went to study Maths, Physics and Chemistry only because my friends were in the class. But soon enough I realized that there were Literature, Civics and History classes and here I was totally disinterested in the organic chemistry class. I sat disinterestedly even during the final exams.<br /><br />In my Bachelors, I took up Literature, Political Science and Psychology, life felt better atleast the arts allowed me to think in my own fiery way, there was room to accomodate atleast part of free thinking on most subjects especially Political Science.<br /><br />In my Masters I took up "Communications" and here is where my personality was its best - Rebellious, Intelligent, Dodgy, figuring it out always. At University I was treated like an adult for the first time and the subject I chose allowed me to express my views academic or otherwise on anything. So the Masters was next to my ideal academic situation.<br /><br /><br />At the Ph.D level, it is you and your guide, the freedom to choose what you want to study and offer your own passion for a subject, insight and findings makes it the best academic degree to pursue. You try to develop original thoughts and try to look at the subject form various angles to suit or negate your study. This is what makes it interesting and your in command of your thoughts with a guide only to wade you through the maze of information that is available for choosing.Contrary to my free thinking I am a very disciplined and structured person, so organizing my thoughts is not that difficult. Guess I have the right mix of personality for a Ph.D. Also the time is a lot more than the usual 3 year or 2 year degrees.<br /><br /><br />I enjoy it!Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1149226522402701062006-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:18.127-07:00The culture of Sirring<strong>YES SIR!!!!!</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir">"Saar", "Sirrr", "Saheb". </a>We Indians are a society that gives much emphasis to age,hierarchy and seniority. It is expected of us. Since the British got us under their thumb, we have have been adressing our seniors and bosses as "Sir" - the word that has a colonial connotation.We address senior ladies as "Madam".<br /><br />Times have changed in corporate offices your corrected for calling a senior as "Sir". Your reminded that "Sir" is passe."I am Jayaram, but you can call me Jerry." So honorifics are no longer the norm. But it gets confusing, because sometimes, we are reminded to call our seniors as "Sir". <br /><br />For eg: My Mom, once a telephone operator called a Chief Engineer of the Railways as Mr. So and So. He was angry and complained to the office manager, that the lady in the office called him Mr.So and So. My Mom was pulled up and asked to call every one who called in, as a standard "Sir". She resented it.Even today reminds me of how parochial people are, wnating the title "Sir". <br /><br />My Mom isn't alone, my grandaunt, once asked me "Why do you Sir everybody?". Today one of my friends said at her wing in the office everyone calls each other by first names and in my section of the office it was formal with Sir.She told me how "old fashioned" it sounded. She thinks "Sirring/Madaming" someone means your in a way subjected to be under them. And never be able to meet on equal ground. <br /><br />In these globalaized times, all of us are comrades, there is a uniform equality that we all aspire for - hence first name basis. But the Indian workplace is still a mixture of the modern and the old. So I feel comfortable titling people from my boss to the cleaner as "Sir". It doesn't hurt to call anyone Sir, and those who don't like being titled tell me so.In the army campus that I live in, it is "Sir", "Mam" all the time, it is protocol. These titles spread a sort of "conformity" among the officers and their wives, which is necessary in military life. <br /><br />I have observed that "Sir" is a potent word, it makes pople feel respected and powerful. Why destroy that for someone? I am not like my Mom and Grandaunt, they feel "Sirring" is outdated. The politics of colonial culture is to be blamed. The British left us with a lot of their formality. In this day and age we want to give it up, we're/want to be free to call each other by given names. Individuality is retained, or so people think.<br /><br />But I will never give up adressing people by "Sir/Madam", unless they advice otherwise. It makes me feel more respectful of them and they seem to appreciate it.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1149132837709761772006-05-31T20:05:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:18.055-07:00A Comment from Gillian - MothercraftThis was a comment posted by Gillian, my sister-in-law, who is Australian, she seems keen on exloring the cultural differences in "mothercraft" practices in Australia and India. <br /><br /><br />Possible topic: - Any comments on mothercraft practices? With Immanuel sick these last few days it has been interesting to see similarities and differences in how mother's (and especially the health professionals) in India and Australia approach child sickness. Also, generally how families interact - what is the role of the mother and father, husband and wife and who should look after the child, what the child's role is (if any) in the family. <br /><br />These questions also come up in films like <a href="http://water.mahiram.com/">Water </a>(watched yesterday with Sharon and Emelia while Immanuel got some much needed sleep) where children are married off without even knowing, and John Abraham's character makes the comment that his father beleived in children being children or somehting to that effect. To me it seems the point of the film is to apply reasoning and responsibity to our actions even if we need to do so in the face of traditional practies. <br /><br />From my observations within my own family, and from my husbands and the wider multi-cultural community in Australia, I beleive that the parents have such an important role to play in how they teach their children values and their future roles. In particular I think that mothers, as women, need to be aware of how they teach both their sons and daughters what a woman's role is. For example, many mothers in the Italian immigrant community in Australia spoil their sons rotten, not allowing them to lift a finger to help around the house or in the kitchen, and demand that their daughters do this instead. This teaches the daughters that their role is to keep men happy, and the sons also learn this is the role of the women. In many cases the sons do not appreciate the work of their mothers and sisters and do not learn respect for these women in their lives or understand the work involved in maintaining a house and looking after children. Apart from the expectations that the son carries into his next relationships, he also does not learn to be responsible for himself, and this limits him capcity as a human in many areas of his life. <br /><br />While this has been very simply summarised, and each family is obviously different it saddens me to see in films and in my own family how children reap the rewards of parents failure to address relationship inequalities in their roles as husband and wife and parents lack of forethought in teaching their children the individual value of each person and the need to respect everybody, whether male or female -<br /><br /><br /> I beleive that children need respect and responsibility and need to learn this also, whether girls or boys. The hope is that while each generation inherits patterns of relationships from their parents, they also have the opportunity to improve on them. I think I strayed from the mothercraft topic, but I would like to make a comment on mothercraft, that while we can learn valuable practices from our parents and especially mothers, and should value and appreciate their knowledge and experience, we must also be careful not to take this information for granted and be able to apply their knowledge in conjunction with our own; there are reasons for particular mothercraft practices that do not apply to current circumstances and may instead be harmful. On the other hand there are practises that will always be applicable, even if they have not been scientifically validated. The maxim that "mothers know best" is not always right and places the mothers knowledge and experience above reasoning, perhaps it would better be said that "mothers know a lot of things"!<br /><br />Enough of my own comments - hope to see some of yours!<br /><br /><br />******<br />I hope for some of you to give me your comments on "Mothercraft Practices".Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1148960435278660692006-05-29T19:58:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.980-07:00Working on the Ph.dI have never been this busy. The new Ph.d proposal, the family, husband working on his own project. I've been doing some juggling with the Ph.D. More on that later.<br /><br />Since I can't get to think of something to blog about, I'll sign off and come back tomorrow with another Indian cultural musing.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1148443762308198582006-05-23T20:07:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.911-07:00Clubbing isn't that hot<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/318890-FIRE_N_ICE_very_popular-Mumbai.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/318890-FIRE_N_ICE_very_popular-Mumbai.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Unfortunately I haven't clubbed much, because I wasn't allowed to in my teen years and when I hit my 20's I lost interest because I believed the clubbers were trying hard to have fun and it was more of a be-seen place. I loved (still do) dancing but couldn't connect with the music they played, <a href="http://www.chaishop.com/divers/frameset2.lasso?text2/m/ttg2005-in.html">the trance</a>. Just one line with repetitive synthesized beats.<br /><br />I loved the more country n western and popular dance music , so I started to organize dance parties at home with friends and family. Even all girl dance parties while in college. <br /><br />When I moved to Hong Kong for a year, I partied all night, at all the clubs on Lan Kwai Fung (The bar and club road in Central). I loved it, because the clubs were small and played live music on certain nights. It was a relaxed air while partying and downing beers.Because it was fine to party there culturally.<br /><br />Today I have no time nor inclination to go clubbing, it is too expensive, too impersonal an environment to enjoy it anymore. Most clubs in India are located in the five star hotels, the few that are outside are expensive and most only the metro cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Calcutta have them. Goa has many parties and clubs too. Of course visited only by the rich n' famous, curious youth, western tourists and the once in a while party goer.<br /><br />I don't think India, will boast of many dance clubs at all except for Mumbai. Economic success of the 20 something BPO executive, even better awareness of dance music won't help. "Clubbing" has some notorius connotations linked to violence, gangsters and villains. Just have a look at Bollywood movies, the club is the battle ground of vice and moral decay. Hindu Fundamentalists believe "clubbing" to be a western notorius influence. Also maintaining a club is big money that even the wisest of business men don't enjoy getting into The Fire n Ice club in Mumbai had to be closed for ownership feuds. Only the European and American business men who can afford to juggle and trendspot the next dance music and club rave can take the chance.<br /><br /><strong><br />What do people who aren't clubbers do:</strong><br /><br />Hire a DJ and rock at private parties, weddings and birthdays. At my wedding we had a Punjabi DJ and a make shift dance floor that was jam packed with our guests. That was as far a club as we will go.<br /><br />If you can't get to a club, get the club home. Affordable DJ's who will play your type of music are your answer. Well there are silent revolutions on the dance club music scene here in India- <a href="http://www.submerge.in/whoweare.htm">Submerge</a>.<br /><blockquote><br />Submerge was essentially born out of frustration. When we first began in 2003, it was because there was no alternative to the mainstream. No matter where you went, you got the same old music and the same tired experience.<br /> <br />So, we created a night that we could play the music that we wanted to hear, that we wanted to move to. We wanted to play the latest tracks from the global club scene because that’s we were into. It wasn’t about catering to the masses; it was about being on the cutting-edge of music, listening to the best in House and Progressive music.</blockquote><br /><br /><br />"Submerge" DJ's travel all over the country to play their music at clubs, parties, pubs and other events. <br /><br />For reviews of Mumbai night clubs: <a href="http://www.mouthshut.com/product-reviews/Fire_'N'_Ice-925035978.html">Click</a>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147929798515396412006-05-17T21:49:00.001-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.840-07:00Town culture of India - Meerut<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/meerut-map.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/meerut-map.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Major P, has received his posting. We leave in July to go live in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerut">Meerut</a>, a small town in India close to New Delhi the capital of India. <br /><br /><br />1. It is the oldest army cantonment in India.Was set up by the British.<br /><br />2. Home to the Sepia Mutiny 1857 revolution.<br /><br />3. Has some of the best sweet shops in India.<br /><br />4. Is an extremely modern town with many multiplexes, malls industries and businesses.<br /><br />5. Meerut perhaps has the largest number of gun shops in India ( P.L. Sharma Road ). Until a few years back you could still purchase gunpowder and gunshot for use in muzzle.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1857greathed.html"><br />An Account of the Opening of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut, 1857 </a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://meerut.nic.in/">Meerut</a> is an old town and has a lot of history attached to it,especially military history. It seems that it has all facilites that are available in a city. But is according to population density and area a classified industrial town.<br /><br />I have never lived in a town , so this new experience will allow me to learn more about North Indian culture as well, which has for long been labelled as loud, aggressive and materialistic. To a large extent this is true, history has shaped the behaviour and attitudes of the North people.<br /><br />North India was largely under attack from the Greeks, Afghans, Mongols, Persians and other tribes of the North-West frontier. Hence most families boasted of male warriors, making women strong and independent incase of war. As time went of the wars were over and business flourished therfore making the warrior a rich man, but always living by aggressive war tactics. Nevertheless I have been the recepient of generosity and warm welcomes at many of these homes.<br /><br />I realize that small towns have a culture very different from that of the metros. An important step would be to understand the mindset of the town people.<strong> I am looking forward to this, bridging the cultural gap.</strong> We've always been subject to the simpleton "Town" girl, and the catty "City" girl in the media. Eg: India Calling a serial of a small town girl working in a call centre. Let me see if this a true representation. I am interested in watching how my "identity" gets transformed but survives the stress.<br /><br />I am looking forward to the Nauchandi Mela, which is held in, March every year.<br /><br /><blockquote>Uttar Pradesh is hard to beat for the things it produces- Lucknow's chikankari; Ferozabad's glassware; Kanpur's leather; Varanasi's silk saris… the list is endless. And if you want a one-stop shop to buy them, come to the Nauchandi Mela in Meerut. A historic fair, more than a century old, Nauchandi is a month-long extravaganza of great shopping, good food, and UP at its noisy best. The Nauchandi Mela begins on the second Sunday after Holi This is when Meerut becomes much more than just a small satellite town of Delhi, and takes on a glitter and vivacity which is highly infectious. <br /><br />The history behind the Nauchandi Mela is debatable; some say that it began as a cattle fair way back in 1672; others suggest a British revenue-collection fair as the precursor of the mela. Many Hindu devotees believe that it began as a religious festival to commemorate the building of a temple in Meerut by Mandodari, the wife of the demon king, Ravana. </blockquote>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147671401153666282006-05-14T22:08:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.699-07:00following in the footsteps of BuddhadebThe Indian middle-class (IMC) (to which I belong) believes that all politicians are smart but rascals. We don't care to know more of our politicians, save except to lambaste them. So last week when Pramod Mahajan was shot by his brother and while India waited to learn of his life-death situation, I was surprised to read so many positive articles on his <a href="http://www.bjp.org/Newspaper/april_2006/april_2806d_n.htm">association with the press</a> and his <a href="http://youthcurry.blogspot.com/2006/05/pramod-mahajan-man-i-never-knew.html">apparently charismatic personality</a>.<br /><br />Over the weekend, I switched on to CNN-IBN and was catching up with the recent elections. Once again, I am degrading politicians and their once-in-five year -gimmicks. Comes on to my screen an old man in white speaking clearly and pointedly his mind. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The clearly Red Marxist state of India.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/buddha_deb_248.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/buddha_deb_248.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />He's a communist with capitalistic goals. During <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/news/i-have-promises-to-keep-buddhadeb/10375-4-single.html">the interview he held to his convictions</a> without ambiguity,he seemed to know his weaknesses and strengths, his goals and priorities as Chief Minister of West Bengal. Apparently he also likes Tagore and Shakepeare, clearly a Bangla Baba, coffee-house intellectual. <br /><br />So the political culture of India is very boring to the IMC, except during election or getting-shot time. It is time we look at the credentials of our politicians and bring to light for ourselves the ones that want progress for India, not the kameena-saalah (power game)types. Hardly makes a difference to us then. <br /><br />I will be following Buddhadeb closely, he looks promising.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147411038534616392006-05-11T20:58:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.627-07:00The Culture of motherhood - Happy Mothers Day<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/India-MotherChild.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/India-MotherChild.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We don't have a designated "Mothers Day" here in India. Globalization and Markets have bought in many new celebrations. Since celebrating isn't such a bad thing we have also learnt to partake in them.<br /><br />However celebrating Motherhood in India has been around for centuries. Hindus celebrate the, Durga Puja, honouring Mother Goddess Durga, in early October. Hinduism has always recognised the <a href="http://www.hinduism.co.za/motherho.htm#Mother">ideal of motherhood </a>as the highest for a woman. Around the world "Mother" was a construct basic to any society and culture. Even Aristotle and Plato expounded the roles of mothers.<br /><br />Over the years we have built many cultural assumptions, about "Motherhood". Like all women need to bear children to be a complete woman, that only a mother understands her baby's needs or a mother is the only 24X7 caregiver. On the other hand many women find it a hard choice to stay at home and raise a family. There is also a pressure to contribute to the family kitty. <br /><br />Don't forget the expert advice being thrown at Mothers - How to develop your Child's brain power or Get him to be the next Einstein or some sort of thing like that. So it is like being a mother in this day and age is no longer a natural, intuitive task. It is a chore a duty that you have to be tutored in. I realize, I could go on and on on motherhood, its joys and assoicated anxiety. <br /><br />But I would like to ask a question - Is "Motherhood" really valued in India? I don't think so. Look at the <a href="http://www.indiafemalefoeticide.org/">female foeticide</a> rates, the care of <a href="http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_fight_mortality.html">new mothers </a>in hospitals, the employment and health insurance policies of working mothers and pregnant women. If your unable to conceive there is a family pressure, I've seen too many contemporaries face this.<br /><br /><br />So while motherhood is a celebration it is also an obligatory biological process that women have and most time want to undergo. Once called, to motherhood there is no return back, we must learn to make motherhood a choice and right. If motherhood leads to discrimination, then create a stir if not for us then for our children.<br /><br /><br />My personal story:<br /><br />During my miscarriage I didn't have any leave, just had to apply for my normal sick leave. Apparenlty the government has miscarriage leave. But what about the rest of us who work in the private industry.<br /><br />During my 4 month pregnancy, I realized how work places aren't meant to accomodate a pregnant employee's needs. First-trimester sickness is taken for granted and is infact overlooked in all "maternity policies".<br /><br />In my opinion companies should make some levy for pregnant women during their pregnancies. Then again I am not talking about compassion and kindness, but hard rules that will protect the interest of both employer and employee.<br /><br />This is not really a time when you are 100% percent concentrated on your work, there might be a few exceptions, but generally most women are not at their optimum best. I can't get to think deeply about this issue, but maybe rules like a extra hour at lunch for rest, or minimizing work hours, flexibility in work hours, few days off for check ups or intense tiredness would help women cope better with their pregnancy and the work place.<br /><br />Most provisions are made only for just-before delivery or post delivery. But having your progestorone raised and HCG levels high during your pregnant life gets pretty complicated and a work life very hard to adhere to.<br /><br />A pregnant working woman, needs to negotiate at her workplace, to help her give the best to her job and her health. But the negotiation should result in "pregnancy- friendly" policies . And most women work to make the money, so recommending going on leave without salary, or a resignation is not an option.<br /><br />I am actually shocked that pregnancy related work rules have not yet been formulated, here in India, even in Western societies I find women just sticking with discomforts of pregnancy but continuing to work. WHere is the value in Motherhood.<br /><br /><br /><strong>HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!</strong><br /><br /><br />Mom did you Know?<br /><br /><br />In India, usually a maternity leave is for 12 weeks and the employer pays for the leave. In case of a miscarriage, a woman is entitled to 6 weeks paid leave from the day of the miscarriage.<br /><br />The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961The Central Government passed the Maternity Benefit Act in 1961 which extends to the whole of India, and to every establishment belonging to the government – industrial, commercial or agricultural. It provides for certain benefits which are granted to a woman during her pregnancy. Also she cannot be dismissed from service on account of her pregnancy.The maximum permissible period of maternity leave is 12 weeks, with 6 weeks leave to be taken before delivery and 6 weeks immediately after the child is born. A woman can ask for light work before she goes off on leave. The employer cannot reduce her salary in this scenario. The maternity benefits can only be withdrawn if the employee joins some other organisation during that time.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147340151901258052006-05-11T02:00:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.556-07:00Pursuing the Ph.dI took the semester off to decide on the Ph.D course.I gave it up as the blog says, but fate intervenes and I am back on that dirt track once more. <br /><br />I remember once my friend Jess saying, sometimes in between a project or a relationship for that matter one must stop and ask the question - Why I started it in the first place? So many things engulf you midway that you forget your initial intention.<br /><br />So let me tell you the Ph.D began because I wanted to stay alive intellectually and morally. I was wasting most of my time hanging out with the wrong guys and trapped in an office cubicle. What would most interest me and redeem me from this drudge - a Ph.D degree was the option.<br /><br />I was a Communications graduate trying to make a living out of the degree, which wasn't very respected. Mass Communications is a course pursued by many too dumb to study any other course and the very few talented communicators. Communications is such a heart-of-the-matter study, that few understand the kind of cocky, creative and intellectual cocktail personality you must have to be successful. <br /><br />I decided then to take to academics, but in step-by-step manner. I qualified on the NET test, that National Eligibility Test, which allows you to become a lecturer in any of the Indian Universities.I was pursuing my Ph.D because this would be the give me an edge while applying for University/College jobs. I am doing all this while maintaining a 11 hour work day.<br /><br />But life intervenes I get pregnant, have a miscarriage, travel abroad. Then my husband thinks I am smart and should give up the Ph.D for an MBA. The great Indian dream of an Business degree.It would give me a chance to do almost any available job. He thinks I would give most MBA's a run for their money. I think about it, it tempts me, but I have no heart for it.<br /><br />I had people say to me that I should pursue a Ph.D at 40, I wonder what that means, that your old enough and you have all the time in the world to pursue a whim called the Ph.D, why not at 31, in your prime. In my heart I know what they mean, this is a hard road.<br /><br />I once more question my self about the Ph.D - I am an army wife, the frequent moves, the rarity of Universities and Colleges at postings. Is it worth the money, time and effort. I might not even be able to pursue an academic career.<br /><br />But I go back to why I started a Ph.D - I want to stay alive intellectually and morally. It allows me to put energies into a worthwhile project. It is as simple as that. No complicated reasons for pursuing a Ph.D and now it just becomes a challenge. <br /><br />A blog entry on <a href="http://www.invisibleadjunct.com/archives/000006.html">Ph.D. as Preparation for Nonacademic Careers.</a>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147242673194707002006-05-09T22:41:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.490-07:00Two Women - giving India its buzz<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/29kaavya.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/29kaavya.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Last week <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060429/asp/frontpage/story_6161218.asp">Kaavya, the young Indian-American</a>, Harvard, novelist was very much in the news, here in India for plagiarizing many passages in what may be may be her first and last book - <em>How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life</em>. Part of the press seemed supportive of this little copying here and there. Part of the press just reported the story. <br /><br />India's literary circles were take aback by this little brown tart. Even king of diasporic literature Salman Rushdie found it distasteful. Like I said before India is very proud of the success of its diaspora especially in the United States. The diaspora is giving us much more literature than Indian writers themselves. Thanks to international publishers, who love that all American geeky-turned-pop-idol makeover story. <br /><br /><strong><br />In a way Kaavya, crashed that image of intelligent,talented, honest, hardworking, never-been-kissed female Indian immigrant. The truth remains the immigrant can be wild, have a life and kiss his or her dollars away.</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/180px-SunitaWilliams.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/180px-SunitaWilliams.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The other lady whose doing India proud is NASA Astronaut <a href="http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/williams-s.html">Sunita Williams</a>. But why is the Indian press always looking for the little Indian conncetion to make the country proud. Sunita is all the all American girl. Her predecessor Kalpana Chawla studied in India until she finished her under-graduation, so the stature she achieved here in India was well deserved. Sunita Williams whose Dad is Gujrati, has been raised American, but is needlessly being flaunted as Indian. <br /><br /><strong>In a way Sunita, is building that image of Indians being the the hardworking engineer, scientist and astronaut. The truth remains she is American and her Indian roots aren't really buried in Indian space or soil.</strong><br /><br />I think as a country we are obsessed with the success of our nation abroad. Not wrong. The truth is success has duly been awarded to merit and talent especially in the United States. No wonder it will always be the dream of many to build a life there, atleast your daughter could be a novelist with a million dollar deal or a space astronaut.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1147083821400321762006-05-08T02:43:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.422-07:00Run Baby Run<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/budhia-singh-daley-thomes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/400/budhia-singh-daley-thomes.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><em> Budhi with Olympian Daley Thomas and coach Das</em><br /><br />Last week there was this huge uproar about the marathon run undertaken by four and half year old <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4421446.stm">Budhia Singh</a>. I was aghast with the little boys stamina and single mindedness. Every time he ran on the every one hour news, I wished he would be trained to be a marathon runner. I wondered was he talented, gifted or just plain pushed to run? Was the Limca Book of records his goal?<br /><br />The public will never have a clear answers to this question. There fore my opinion on this matter will never be clear.<br /><br />But whatever said , I hope this little guy is going to be running marathons the world over when he is older. I've read reports and articles that he shouldn't be running, he's being pushed by his coach, <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1693146,0035.htm">his tiny body under stress</a>...<strong>but you can't dismiss the fact that he has the hall mark of a great runner</strong>. Running an average of 9.65 Kms an hour!! And to be world class you need a pushy coach. <br /><br />I wish India nourishes and nurtures him to adulthood. It would be nice to watch Budhia run as a man.<br /><br />All the best little one!<br /><br />PS: Personally I am learning to play squash, I enjoy yoga and aerobics. I like running as well, but it can get a bit lonely . But Budhia's got an entourage behind him, so he won't get lonely.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1146891601252132802006-05-05T21:37:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.343-07:00Keeping up with the Digital cultureI recently discovered a very titillating magazine to tickle my technical-bone called “<a href="http://www.livingdigitalindia.com">Living Digital</a>” very techno-pleasurable way of writing. It allows you to keep in touch with the latest in “Digital” personal equipment like cell phones and other black-shiny-silvery- home entertainment gadgets <br /><br />To be honest, I never thought that India would produce such a glossy for the home consumer magazine, but guess I had my head in the mud. Look around me the digital culture has enveloped the middle class India. So how does this class of monied-technno-savvy class know about the latest nano technology that would be part of their gadgetry a year down the line.<br /><br />Well you had coffee, wine, cigar lounges – now you have a Digital Experience lounge in Mumbai called <a href="http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040502910800.htm">Xplore</a>. <br /><br /><blockquote>The lounge works on a “Don’t buy, just enjoy’ for technology enthusiasts wanting a hands-on-experience with the latest technology. Bangalore and Gurgaon will also see such outlets in the future. Comparison tests, Video based workshops and tutorials will also be given to customers.</blockquote> Living Digital<br /><br />Technology excites people, especially the young hence to have a lounge would mean that will be a regular hang out for the gen-X. They can afford the gadgets and understand it. So what a tease this lounge will be. <br /><br /> Forget strolling the streets of Hong Kong to finger the latest gadgets , shopping in duty-free Dubai or Singapore or importing the latest from the USA, Japan or Germany. We’ve got it all here. Digital India has arrivedDevelopment Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1146722151184609182006-05-03T22:42:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.268-07:00Religious Riots once moreAnother religious riot hits India. The <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/story/3677.html">Muslims and Hindus</a> in the state of Gujarat. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/rudraksh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/rudraksh.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><em>Rudraksh - Hindu Prayer beads</em><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/Muslim%20prayer%20beads2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/Muslim%20prayer%20beads2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /><em>Muslim Prayer Beads</em><br /><br /><br /><strong>MUSLIMS OR HINDUS - WE'RE ALL BEADS ON THE SAME STRING! </strong>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1146378996720600602006-04-29T23:01:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:17.202-07:00Multi-Culti Ozzie - Oi Oi OiI am curious to understand cultures and learn more about them. As a traveller and a student of culture you learn so much more about the world. So when I recently travelled to Australia for Cecil’s (my brothers) wedding to Gillian, I learned a lot about Australian culture. What a way of life – Multicultural, Outdoors, Sporty, Friendly and a genuine curiosity to learn about other people’s culture.<br /><br />The highlight of my trip was the wedding – Gillian is Maltese + Australian and Cecil, Indian. The wedding was attended by friends and relatives of 15 different nationalities. At the reception we all danced to Bhangra (Punjabi Indian dance) and English dance music. It was fantastic, to watch the Ozzies dance to Bhangra! <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/cecil1.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/cecil1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Gillian recently emailed:<br /><br /><blockquote>Well I got onto your blog today and I have too much to say! One thing <br />is glaringly missing from your blog and that is your experience in Australia and comments on cross-cultural romances that are very close to home!</blockquote><br /><br />Sometimes we don’t realize that all cultures have much more in common than we think. I realized that the Maltese are family-loving people. Their language has its roots in Arabic. I think the Australians are open to other cultures. They are proud of being multicultural.<br /><br />I visited the <a href="http://www.immigration.museum.vic.gov.au">Immigration museum in Melbourne</a> and was astounded that they had diaries, models of ships, tools and home weaving machines, textiles, tribute garden, family and wedding pictures inscriptions of late 18th century to early 21st century immigrants. They even restored a ship that bought in early immigrants. They even had recordings of immigration officers refusing people entry to Australia.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/immi1.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/immi1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Excitement, Fear Disappointment, relief, A container full of belongings. A single suitcase. A ship’s dock. An airport lounge. Surrounded by family. Stepping out alone.</blockquote> <em>(From a wall plaque)</em><br /><br />I got a free ticket to the museum, because I am a student of Indian Diasporic film and was escorted around by, Michael, of Maltese origin. Unfortunately they didn’t have much on the Indian diaspora in spite of the huge Indian population there. Hopefully one day I can go back there add to the already rich museum.<br /><br />I might even suggest a “Diaspora museum” here in India on the same lines. Indians have set out far and wide to seek their fortunes and build a life. Each of them has a story to tell and a few belongings that they could share for posterity. Should I be the pioneer of a Diaspora museum in India?<br /><br />For now, I think Gillian and Cecil should write their love story and send pictures to the Immigration museum. It would be a heart-warming multi-culti love story.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1146027214839501122006-04-25T21:02:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.943-07:00The culture of wearing flowers in your hair<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/hd3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/hd3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />These summer days the market is filled with fresh jasmine and the smell is slight and feminine, at times strong. I don't buy the flowers, because they are meant to be stringed together and worn on the hair. I am impatient to do that, the malaise of the urban Indian woman. <br /><br />When I see women wearing stringed flowers, I just think how feminine. Most Indian women are not fashionable, most of her dressing is for comfort and the rest are essentials. But once in a while there will be an added accessory - the flowers in her hair. For Indian brides the bridal corsage is a must.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/jasmine.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/200/jasmine.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />For long <a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/02/19/stories/2005021902810300.htm">Indian women</a>, have taken pride in the <a href="http://www.scienceviews.com/indian/indianstories9.html">long black hair</a>. They oil it regularly, wash it with shikakai (soap nuts)/shampoo,braid it or tie it in ribbons if they are little girls. Of course now we have hair in highlights/various hues/styled/non-greasy oils/gels etc. But the one hairstyle that will always endure to us, Indians, especially the men, is the long plait. Better still if it has flowers in it. It means she is traditional and holds the Indian women ideal. <br /><br />Hair, is considered one of the most beautiful and erotic part of a woman.It also reveals personality. Primitive and ancient cultures have loved hair with flowers in it. Hair has always been part of human evolution and adorning it became a part of human evolutionary culture. So when I see that that some Indian women, more from the South still follow that ritual, I think we Indians do have a beauty culture of our own. Even Thai and Hawaiian women wear flowers in their hair!<br /><br /> <blockquote>Flowers have been worn for personal adornment throughout recorded history. Their purpose has been for both beautification and ceremony. Earliest uses in ancient Greece varied from single flowers worn in the hair as a personal touch to crowns of flowers and foliage for the head of both men and women as a symbol of achievement. The practice is also observed in very diverse cultures, as in the centuries-old wearing of leis and hair flowers by South Pacific women. At other times in history the wearing of flowers was as much or more for fragrance as visual beauty in the belief the fragrance would help ward off disease. Today the emphasis is specifically on personal beauty as the flowers enhance the appearance of the wearer and the apparel, with the bonus of an uplift for the wearer's spirit and inner beauty.</blockquote>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1145946795658981032006-04-24T23:20:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.864-07:00just a personal updateI have just changed careers, from the industry I am now going to be an academician. <br />At the <a href="http://www.loyolaacademy.com">Loyola Academy </a> in Secunderabad. Will be teaching 3 topics: Human Communcation, Film Studies and Corporate Communications.<br /><br />My salary is going to be 2/3rds of my current salary. But to be intellectually alive and watch young people unfold before me this is hardly a price.<br /><br />This will also allow me to go back to my Ph.d. Now for my guide to accept that.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1145598077523643832006-04-20T22:36:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.796-07:00I am serious about Anti-state films<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/vendetta.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/200/vendetta.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I saw two pictures in the last two weeks: one was the slick , enigmatic, <a href="http://www.vforvendetta.warnerbros.com">V For Vendetta</a> and the other was the youthful, <a href="www.rangdebasanti.net/">Rang De Basanti</a>. I liked both films. Forget the critical eye, I was energized by the messages within the bigger picture, literally. They appealed to the "idealism" that never ceases to exist in me. Like I said films have a very profound effect on me. An art form we enjoy collectively as a society.<br /><br />I'll spare you the story and plot, suffice to say both the movies were about histories repeating itself, revenge and the state. Both the movies, used, "Violence" and "Anarchy" to seek out revenge on their governments. The violence was justified, I thought, but only within the context of the movies. I like my heroes winning over the bad guys.<br /><br />Like they say, <strong>art imitates life</strong>, even if the quote were vice versa, it bothers me to think that we are turning violent and creating anarchy to get our Governments to recognize us ordinary citizens. <br /><br />Personally I abhor violence/destruction, it hardly improves a situation. I love revolutions though. Peaceful ones! Blacks, Indians, non-violence! Most of us ordinary Indians are smart enough not to proclaim ideologies, like leftist, right-wing, democratic, socialist,libertarian - they confuse us. But one thing we all know for sure is we need more idealism and a <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/07jessica.htm">government that is accountable </a>to you and me. (<em>the link directs you to a coverage of the Jessica Lal murder case)</em><br /><br />Once in a while movies remind us that we should have the balls to tackle our governments! (Sans guyfawks masks!)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/rangdebasanti1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/200/rangdebasanti1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1145422665164778992006-04-18T20:46:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.653-07:00CAREER WOMAN - URBAN LEGEND<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/it-cover.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/it-cover.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I instantly picked up the latest issue of a leading Indian current affairs magazine and read through an article on Urban Career Women. I wondered if the article had something new to say. Alas! The same old cliché’s on how the Indian woman is doing it all. Work, Career, Play, Shopping, Diamonds, Yoga, Kids, Husband, In-laws, ayahs, nannies etc. Oh! The list we women handle is so immense. Supposed to be empowering to women that we handle this list. Personally the list tires me. <br /><br /><blockquote>COVER STORY: THE COMPLETE WOMAN<br />Mistress Of Choices<br />Work, home and play. The urban Indian woman has become adept at multi-tasking, and as she redefines career goals, she is also nipping and tucking her relationships. Will she be the alpha mom, the beta career girl or a complete blend of both?</blockquote><br /><br /><br />The last few days, I have been introspective wondering how best I can realize my potential while making a career. I have a few constraints though, I am an army wife (fauji wife), and so I could be living my life away in small town India for the most part. I want to have babies, but suffer from an incompetent cervix, so my pregnancy demands a moderate bed-rest. So you see my career cannot the priority.<br /><br />But letting go of my career is sort of making me fearful - I will have to battle ageism and sexism even after a year’s break! I have seen a woman (also a dear friend) being relegated from a Manager’s position, because she had taken a break for 2 years, was in her late 30’s and wasn’t adept at using email. Technology and age are ever changing.<br /><br />I want to conquer that fear! I want to realize my life is going to be just fine without the title of career woman. This brings me back to the concept of a “Career Woman” - a title, which is sometimes elusive even to the most talented, most educated, and smartest of women. It is an urban legend (of sorts). Reason – We haven’t clearly defined who is a career woman?<br /><br />In most articles on "Career Women" we often find only a certain kind of educated lady professional termed as a career woman - The corporate banker, the writer, the lawyer, the social activist, fashion designer, doctor, engineer etc.<br /><br />Are the women working as secretaries, receptionists, kindergarten teachers, nurses, industrial worker and those million of mid-level jobs in the private and public sector not qualified professional women? To me all women who work and generate an income are career women. <br /><br />We all work for a variety of reasons, ambition and money being the primary motivators, followed by self-realization, self-worth and self-respect. For the large part working for women is a hard road because we also take care of home and hearth. Over time money becomes the sole-motivation and ambition takes a back seat. Family becomes the priority. We don't care about our intelligence and education - that won't stop us from missing our babies, we don't care about being the boss, because we want to leave on-time to pick up kids and prepare the dinner.<br /><br />So how does a "Career woman" do it all? Compromising on her talent, spending her hard-earned money on day-care facilities and every morning running out of the door into what we call a career.<br /><br />This alpha mom, beta career girl is an urban legend. It is only going to create pressure on us women folk. If you want a career go for it, make the best use of your talent and education without the guilt. If you need the money a career will help. If you want to stay home because you can afford to, is also a choice. <br /><br />Let the media not make issues or articles of our personal women choices. They hardly do anything to empower our roles as home makers or career women. In fact they question our performance on the roles that we play.<br /><br />The working environment is a man's soccer field. It is unfair for them to call us in and not give us the advantage point. Advantage points like office day care for kids, sabbaticals, trainings, flexi-time schedules, management level jobs, education leave etc (these would be good for Dads too). The biggest advantage point would be to acknowledge that we women sometimes need to walk away from the field to take care of personal business like domesticity, pregnancy, toddler care, sickness or an aging parent. At this point we need appreciation for the social role that we play and of course we want to be taken back into the career field should we choose to.<br /><br />I hope we women never feel pressured to perform to Alpha Mom or Beta career girl. We are mere mortal women trying to put butter on our slices of uneven bread.<br /><br />I have never believed in the alpha male or beta career man. He has his own set of issues as well. We women have choices, but men have one choice, a comfortable one – of career alone.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1145248754057523882006-04-16T21:13:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.588-07:00Civic Responsibility - Hero style!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/2_81900_1_248.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/2_81900_1_248.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am respectful how <a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com//060414/139/63jlt.html">Aamir Khan, is showing solidarity to the Narmada Bachao Aandolan</a>, is he taking his persona from Rang De basanti to real life. The idealist! Fighting for the displaced. Fighting out against the dam, that is going to displace millions of poor tribals.<br /><br />From what I gauge, here is an actor who is creating a niche for himself as one who acts out the hopes and dreams of India. Lagaan, Mangal Pandey, Rang De Basanti. Is this what he really feels about India, is he so passionate about India? This is anyone's guess. Narmada has a lot of beautiful faces amidst the confused and sad faces of the displaced.<br /><br />This brings me to my question - Are celebrities qualified enough to support such causes which involve political-social-economic-humanitarian concerns? From my part EVERYONE is. The logic is simple I have never been to the Narmada, I haven't spent years reading about the agitation against the dam except for an <a href="http://www.narmada.org/gcg/gcg.html">article by Arundhati Roy</a>. Yet with this current media barrage on the Narmada, I have formed an opinion that I blog about. <br /><br />So if an actor is using his famous situation to stand up for a cause which is debatable, I think we should applaud him. For he thinks about what cause to stand up for. And from his trail of movies, there is a sort of patriotism, which makes me trust the guy. <br /><br /><blockquote>On the one hand, it is seen as a war between modern, rational, progressive forces of 'Development' versus a sort of neo-Luddite impulse - an irrational, emotional 'Anti-Development' resistance, fuelled by an arcadian, pre-industrial dream.<br /><br />Both interpretations put a tired spin on the dispute. Both stir up emotions that cloud the particular facts of this particular story. Both are indications of how urgently we need new heroes, new kinds of heroes, and how we've overused our old ones (like we overbowl our bowlers). - Arundhati Roy</blockquote><br /><br />Let me addd even actor Rahul Bose has been using his time for the cause of the dam and its leaders on hunger strike.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/ind4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/ind4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />We've got our new heroes Arundhati! Aamir Khan and Rahul Bose to start with! <br /><br />I also wish tha NBA leader <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/apr/16sheela.htm">Medha Patkar's struggle </a>is fruitful. <strong><em>She is undoubtedly the heroine India needs now</em></strong>.Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1144991189442965462006-04-13T21:40:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.456-07:00Salman Khan - India's Bad Boy<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/PH2006041300862.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/PH2006041300862.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Khan">Salman Khan </a>has for long been India's bad boy, ran his SUV into four people sleeping on a Mumbai pavement, hunted endangered antelope, he boasted of his underworld connections and terrified ex-girl friend Aishwarya Rai to participate in events sponsored by the underworld. But this is a guy is <strong>stud-boy </strong>himself.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>On April 10, 2006, Salman was handed a five year jail term for hunting endangered Blackbuck. He is currently in Jodhpur jail, and will remain there at least until April 12, the first day that an appeal can be lodged.</blockquote><br /><br />He has been given bail!<br /><br />This brings me to question the <a href="http://www.samarthbharat.com/judiciary.htm">Indian Judicial system </a>and the money power that rules our nation. It is easy for the rich to get bailable warrants. He is also involved in another court case over the killing of a pavement dweller. <br /><br /> No wonder the culture of corruption and power rule! Why is there no civic action against this man? Is the film going population so numb that we don't hold our actors responsible for their actions outside of screen. If your an actor, your a public figure, if your a public figure, you got to behave yourself. Not flaunt money and fame power. Of course I am all for flaunting those muscles.<br /><br />He needs to be in jail, he needs disciplinary action by the film industry. That is my verdict! I for one will be boycotting all his films!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/13/AR2006041300859.html">Bollywood Star Salman Khan Out on Bail! </a>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1144902521034095302006-04-12T20:53:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.393-07:00SUCCESS is just a SMS away<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/show_ii2img.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/show_ii2img.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We have a copy of the American Idol called <a href="http://www.setindia.com/shows/shows_inside.php?id=52">Indian Idol </a>in TV. I don't enjoy it. I think it spoils the mystique of the achievers. On TV you watch the humble-bowing chicken turn into a fashionable singer, whose body language changes through every episode until that victorius moment when he is proudly procalimed the <a href="http://www.indianidol.sifymax.in/">INDIAN IDOL</a>.<br /><br />We all know artists/achievers, work hard, to cultivate their success. But honestly I don't like reality shows that show of how diligent and how lucky they get. I don't want to SMS, or CALL someone to their success. You get the hang of it. <br />Work hard, practice but not on stage, <strong>perform </strong>on stage. That makes you a classic celebrity and artist.<br /><br />I've heard of Lata and Asha struggle and sing away their youth. But have I seen them scurrying around during their early days.NO! I know times have changed and the definition of success is more democratic, audience polls,internet votes, sms's and toll free calls, but I like "SUCCESS" old fashioned way - Toil while others are asleep.<br /><br />The audience admiration for its idols waxes and wanes, but the discipline, confidance and determination that the idol has for him or herself will be enduring. Therefore a real success!Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1144822183222260532006-04-11T22:58:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.321-07:00Indian Femininity and Sexiness in the Media<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/helen1.1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/helen1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />"India is the land of the Kamasutra" - the cliché many Indian actresses, actors and models use to justify their brazen sexiness on screen. We've been hearing it for so long now that we have taken it for granted - the sexual undertones, overtures and acting is taken as "natural". Yes we have the Kamasutra culture - but it was a treatise of conjugal sex and the art of foreplay. It was not a license to promote cheap sexual moves or brazen sex scenes. <br /><br />And the beautiful Indian people especially the women see it as a pride to be considered a sex symbol.Now I am no puritan, I love being, feeling and looking sexy, in a way that is chic and aesthetic. But when I watch music videos and films , even when I flip through women's magazines. I squirm in my seat. That sexiness leaves me feeling like an odd ball and it looks misplaced on them. Watch closely fashion and film - it all boils down to cheap sizzling titillation! Why? I've asked myself once too many times. The reason is Indians are not used to being sexy, it is not a part of the social culture. Hence one has to be brazen to be sexy, it is not part of the routine.Unlike in the the legendry French culture!<br /><br />So what is sexy? If you know Helen, Bollywood's yesteryear's cabaret artist you realize she is sexy without being a porn star. She carried of sexiness with elegance.So my Mom could watch those dances with her Mom way back in the 60's.This is something our movie stars and models lack today. I'll make the exception for a few models and actresses. Preity Zinta comes to mind. Let me not blame the stars and the models, but the dance and film directors with their cliché - this is what the masses want - Sex or something close to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/malaika3.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/malaika3.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />What we need is the beautiful art of being sexy and feminine.It does look good on a techni-colour film screen or glossy magazine page. But I constantly find myself looking at skinny, toned, yet unsexy and unfeminine super models, who claim India is the land of the Kamasutra. I want to tell them read again. Sexiness is an art, a mind-set, it is in the body-language, not gyration of the hips.<br /><br />From what I observe sexiness is portrayed as brazen or hidden, that is the Indian media's portrayal. <strong>Subtlety doesn't exist.</strong>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1144389007824827742006-04-06T21:19:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.252-07:00Hyderabad - Road culture<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/Photo9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/Photo9.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/167054-Hyderabad-0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/167054-Hyderabad-0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I spend a good part of my day travelling to and from work. For work I pass through an industrial belt of the city.Balanagar, Patancheru, if your familiar with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabad,_India">Hyderabad</a>. So my early mornings are filled with smog and sniffing chemcials and inhaling dust. This part of the city is ugly. Hyderabad is becoming increasingly ugly. How do we save Indian cities from turning into lanes choking with fumes and dust from speeding autorickshaws, overloaded buses and vehicles?<br /><br />Autos will just whiz past without indicators, cars will drive fast, buses are the KINGS of the road. Pedestrians own the streets. Two wheelers beleive that they can squeeze past two lorries. There are no pavements on most roads. Your hardly find police men at traffic signals. So a traffic jam is definitely on your daily toast. You'd find pavements only in the swanky parts of the city. <br /><br /><br />What is the road culture of Indian cities? There is hardly a road culture, in most Indian cities. Delhi is doing better because they have so many flyovers and the new metro to boost of. I have travelled in the Metro and it is good!! We need that kind of a commuting here in Hyderabad. Unfortuantely the MMTS MultiModal Transport System (The local mass transit using train lines) isn't doing well. After all it connects only the fringes of the city. <br /><br />It surprises me after living all my life in Hyderabad that two offending drivers will stop their vehicles in the middle of the street and start to abuse each other, whist a traffic jam is brewing right there. No hand indications!! <br /><br />We need to get back a road culture if not it's going to choke us down. Get out the urban and family planners to restore decent road culture.<br /><br />What is the road culture of your city?Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129808.post-1144049893765423372006-04-03T00:20:00.000-07:002006-10-23T21:14:16.182-07:00Dinshaw - You bloody Idiot<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/1600/still1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1465/890/320/still1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I watched <a href="http://www.beingcyrus.indiatimes.com">Being Cyrus </a> over the weekend. This movie imitated French-style art film. My mind leans towards not liking the movie too much.However, something about it,sticks to my mind.<br /><br />The psycho-thriller was full of psycho babble by all characters whose deep thoughts were aborted by the Script writer or the Director. Whoever, bad mistake, deep character for a deep dark movie. <br /><br />What was it about the "Hutch" (mobile network)in the movie. You could make out the pointed self-advertising in the movie. How could you ever miss the Hutch puppy, wich pisses on the car of one of the characters? I know Hutch must have given in some moolah to make the movie, but don’t sell yourself via a movie that is trying to deliver a strong story. The bloody market drives the movie.<br /><br />Saif looked hot!!!! He's getting rave reviews for his performance (he sort of deserves it), Dimple was good too. Boman Irani average. Naseer, his character doesn't warrant acting just behaving eccentric. <strong>Behaving doesn't qualify as acting</strong>.<br /><br />The picture did one good thing by being made; it highlighted the darker side of the dwindling Parsi community in India, more so Mumbai. The treatment of the aged, the waning fortunes of the once rich community, the incesteousness and famed eccentricity.The Director is Parsi ofcourse.<br /><br />I watched the movie at the Prasad's Multiplex in Hyderabad. Gotto love the multiplex.<br /><br />I loved the way Dimple dialogues – <blockquote>Dinshaw you bloody idiot</blockquote>. You realize she doesn’t respect or love the man. There starts the movie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Earlier titled Akoori, Being Cyrus is the directorial debut of Homi Adajania and also Saif Ali Khan's first film in English. Being Cyrus is a psychological drama with unusual characterizations. <br /><br />The story revolves around a Parsi family, Sethnas residing in the hills of Panchgani. A retired sculptor Dinshaw (Naseeruddin Shah) heads the family. Other members of the joint family comprise of Dinshaw's wife Katy (Dimple Kapadia), brother Farokh (Boman Irani), sister-in-law Tina (Simone Singh) and second brother Fardoonjee (Honey Chhaya). <br /><br />Then arrives Cyrus (Saif Ali Khan) at the Sethna house and stays on. <br /><br />As the movie proceeds it gains a psychological insight into the family and reveals that everything is not all right with the Sethna family. Not just that, even Cyrus comes across as a bizarre personality. <br /><br />Made under the banner of Times Infotainment Media Limited, Being Cyrus is produced by Ambika Hinduja, Dinesh Vijan, Raman Macker and Munnish Puri.</blockquote>Development Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16834879643929262403noreply@blogger.com0