Kashmir – Paradise Lost or Regained!

January 23, 2015

“Gar firdaus baro e zamin ast, hamin asto hamin asto hamin asto!” meaning, “If there is paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this!” These were the words of Mughal Emperor Jahangir complementing Kashmir during his visit.

Image Source

The state of Jammu & Kashmir has been in the news of late. You might exclaim when did it ever leave the media spotlight?! Beyond the trouble-torn recent past, Kashmir has a whole lot of history, right from its name been taken from the sage Kashyapa or the belief in Moi-e-Muqqadas relic of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Hazratbal shrine. Be it Alexander the Great or the Mughal Emperors, Kashmir has been the favoured place for the royals.

Kashmiri culture has a mixture of influences from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. So there is nothing wrong in naming it “the paradise”, a blend of all cultures. The rapid development in Srinagar city has added more charm I would say, but if you ask the old folks, they prefer the old Kashmir, as it was more magical. A calm place situated around a huge lake, where Shikaras (boats) were the mode of transport instead of the noisy automobiles. Imagine! Kashmir would have been no less romantic than the city of Venice!

Srinagar – a place nestled amidst the Himalayas. One would assume that it is a city to be enjoyed only during winters, but No! Have a visit to Patni top, located on the way from Jammu to Srinagar. For me, it will always be ‘Pitni top’! A night stay was a compulsion while we travelled during our childhood. The pine trees act as guardians of the roads and the small food shops make us believe in living in the world of dreams.

Today’s rapid way of travelling has no fun at all. The travelling through our own cars was much like an adventure, going through those mountains was scary as well as exciting. I still remember the Vaishno Dhaba, famous for its Rajma chawal, which was always our stop for lunch.

The famous landmark, the four Chinar trees ‘Char Chinar’ standing in the middle of the Dal Lake. The Chenar (Chinar) has the same name across the world, but it is only Kashmir that has been given the privilege of naming the tree ‘Boonyi’ in its own native language. The beautiful Mughal Gardens also introduce us to the beautiful ‘Foreshore Road’.

The Foreshore Road is definitely one of my favourites. The long drive and the encounter with small kebab shops is the most interesting part. The later, the more exciting and beautiful the scenery gets. A drive with all my cousins and having the yummy kebabs at famous Khayyam Centre is a must-do. The stories I’ve grown up listening to, the late night stay on these roads are little scary as Kashmir is also known for welcoming ghosts. However, our confidence comes from the aroma of kebabs, which will make the ghost forget its target and will end up in joining us for the dinner!

Pahalgam, Tangmarg, Sonmarg and Gulmarg; all have breathtakingly beautiful scenery as a gift. If you haven’t seen snow in your whole life and are free only during summers (April-May), Kashmir does gives you an option! Sonmarg is a place where snow can be found during summers as well. Situated at a higher altitude, Sonmarg is a snow land for everyone to enjoy regardless of its weather.

Pahalgam will make you fall in love with it, each time you visit. The Betaab Valley gets its name from Betaab, the debut Bollywood movie of Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh. If you have been dreaming of living a small house by the river in a lush green valley, then book a hut for a week in the Betaab Valley of Pahalgam.

The snow covered mountains of Gulmarg; a place that made me feel like a princess when I attempted my first horse ride through those lush green meadows. I still vividly remember my stay in the beautiful hut and roaming around on the private horse. Isn’t that truly romantic?

Talking about romance and royal treatment, how can I not mention the “Houseboats of Dal Lake”… The floating market of Dal Lake also grabs your attention. Kashmiris have a belief in treating their guests in true royalty, so this idea was introduced during the British Raj. You can have a ringside view of nearly the entire the Kashmir valley from these houseboats, including the Pari Mahal, Chashma Shahi (the royal fountains) and Shankara Charya. My mother had made me believe that Pari Mahal was really the ‘palace of the fairies’! A stay at this place after 6pm can be given a second thought, as it would be the fairies that will be your guide later!

Kashmir has been a favourite place for Bollywood movies, which have also played a vital role in promoting tourism. From Shammi Kapoor’s colourful “Junglee” to Shahid Kapoor’s dark “Haider”, Kashmir has an adaptive nature. The soothing music of Santoor or the calmness of Buddhist chanting in the monasteries of Ladakh, will surely remain as haunting memories, making you to come back again. The warmth you will receive from the Kashmiri people will definitely make you fall in love with the place. The ready acceptance by locals will make you realize the real beauty – as all Kashmiris call it, “Mouj Kashir” (Mother Kashmir), is surely a re-birth of heaven on earth!

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_Valley

The Ugly Indian Keeps it Clean!

Caleidoscope

January 21, 2015

Author – Lakshmi Venkataraman

The Ugly Indian – The very name of this four-year old organisation gives a rude shock to everyone when they hear it first time. With wide eyes, you would have probably opened Google and searched for it. Fortunately, they have a delightful cause that makes you think. So what do they do? They call themselves “The Ugly Indian”, since they feel strongly about the filth strewn around our cities. Now it makes sense, doesn’t it?

The Bengaluru-based group works on the Gandhian thought, “Be the change you want to see” and firmly believe in “Stop talking, Start doing.” It is easy to start the blame game going, ‘Oh! The government did not fix it!’ or ‘Oh! The people, you know, you can’t change them!’ Thankfully, this group of anonymous people set out to change it by doing.

The Ugly Indian started their campaign from Church Street, one of the busiest streets in Bengaluru. The road was like any other road, strewn with litter, paan-stained walls, and broken gutter slabs that gobbled humans. So The Ugly Indian along with a few volunteers, shopkeepers from shops nearby and civic authorities, began changing the scenario by fixing things one by one.

What did they do? Well, they simply cleaned up the garbage, fixed the footpath, painted the paths and put potted plants to add charm and deter people from spitting or urinating. By now, there would be a little cynic in you screaming ‘How long did it last?’ It is probably time for the realist in all of us to come to terms with the truth. Their work received so much appreciation from everyone that it led to a full-fledged voluntary organisation, The Ugly Indian.

They started as a small citizen movement on November 15, 2010 and soon began to grow. They had to do a lot of trial and error, but surprisingly the major issue was not on how to clean public spaces, but how to keep people from dirtying them again. They came up with innovative, cost-effective ideas such as painting the walls with cream and terracotta. The paint cost less than Rs.500 for a 50-feet wall.

They also placed potted plants that make the place look neat and dissuade nuisance makers. They specifically chose cheap pots so that it would not get stolen and planted palm, a pretty common plant. They also roped in residents and shopkeepers nearby to maintain the plants to ensure cleaner footpaths. They installed tube-like structures near cigarette shops and outside pubs so that litter would go into them and not clog the drains. It was an effective, simple and cost-effective way to manage the litter, which also looked elegant.

While these were more tangible forms of transformation, they persuaded shopkeepers, residents, business entities, chaiwallas, paanwallas and other small shops to follow a proper disposal method. This made it easy for civic workers to collect the garbage. Over time, with lot of persuasion people began to change, despite sceptics offering their “this would not last long” sermons. Slowly, not only the clean walls endured for months together, but also made the surroundings pleasant to walk by.

Apart from their main agenda of keeping the surroundings clean, making the footpath usable by changing misplaced slabs also caught their attention. The open slabs of gutter drains were hazardous, since people could fall into and get hurt or in some cases die. The Ugly Indian thought about how to sort out the cable mess beneath the open slabs, which worsens the situation during monsoon rains. After a few calls, the respective government agencies admitted that it was their task to close the slabs but just did not. So The Ugly Indian took it upon themselves to fix them. By simply owning up and doing something The Ugly Indian could save a few lives.

A lot of civic issues in Bengaluru have been addressed by The Ugly Indian; their Facebook page shows where they are active and have put up photos of spot-fixes done by them. It is pleasant to watch the change they are bringing in. The Ugly Indian have been doing for a long time now what Narendra Modi’s Clean India campaign has been propagating now. It is high time that we individuals take up responsibility of our own area and stop doing lip-service. The Ugly Indian is a wonderful initiative that can be replicated by people like you and me to make a difference.

Image sources –
https://www.facebook.com/theuglyindian

Factfile –
http://www.theuglyindian.com/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://www.rediff.com

Films that Stir Our Hearts at Pune International Film Festival

Pooja Wanpal

January 19, 2015

A scene from the movie Papusza

As the cold sighs of winter winds sweep the city of Pune, Punekars look forward to a plethora of art, cultural, music and film festivals, which form an integral part of their social calendar. Be it the soulful evenings of the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Vasantotsav, or the boisterous rocking music of NH7 Weekender, Punekars tend to plunge wholeheartedly into this celebration of life. Obviously, it is no surprise that one of the most celebrated festivals in city is the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).

Despite of its comparatively recent origin, PIFF has captured the heart and soul of Punekars. With films from over 48 countries, the festival celebrates the global spirit of cinema, while keeping in touch with its local roots by dedicating an entire section of awards to Marathi movies. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be among the masses that thronged the theatres this year, but for the past few years, I have haunted the various venues of PIFF, catching as many as 3 movies in a day!

This year, the 13th edition of the Pune International Film Festival kicked off recently, with the screening of ‘Timbuktu’, a French-Mauritanian film that has been making waves across the world. Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, it is a brilliant exploration of vulnerability and strength, which deals with the harsh reality of extremism. When Kidane, a cattle herder goes to confront his neighbour, a fisherman who has accidentally killed Kidane’s prize cow, the consequences are disastrous. The film deals with the tragic situation in the country, the loss of individualism and rationalism as it slowly falls prey to the fundamentalism.

Other gems, like ‘Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero’, a Marathi movie that released this year to acclaim, were also screened. The film is a biopic on Dr. Prakash Amte, the son of the renowned social worker, Baba Amte. Dr. Prakash Amte, and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte moved to Hemalkasa in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra State, way back in 1973, for helping in the development of the adivasi tribes that lived in this remote district. The movie showcases the exemplary struggle of the two doctors in their selfless bid to help the underprivileged who wre without any access to health care, which can stir even the coldest of hearts.

During last year’s PIFF, one of my most memorable experiences was undoubtedly watching the movie, ‘Fandry’. As a part of the Arbhaat Short Film Club, I had seen Nagraj Manjule’s first short film, ‘Pistulya’. ‘Pistulya’ is a heart-wrenching tale of a young boy, who struggles with his fate, and whose ardent desire to go to school remains unrealised despite all that he has experienced. Hence, I was understandably excited by the prospect of viewing Manjule’s first foray as a feature film director.

Fandry

Nagraj Manjule’s ‘Fandry’ is not just a film; it is a statement, an experience and above all, it is a cry. Fandry, which in the Kaikadi language means ‘pig’, is the story of Jabya, an adolescent from the Kaikadi community and his love for Shalu, a girl from a higher caste. His family subsists by making wicker baskets, but the worst tasks in the village, which are considered undignified by upper caste people, are regularly relegated to Jabya’s father. Jabya’s continuous search for the mythical black sparrow, and his desire to impress his classmate, when juxtaposed against his harsh reality serves to stress the indignity and class discrimination that still exists within our society.

Papusza

Papusza was another amazing movie that was screened during PIFF 2014. It is a biopic of a relatively unknown Polish-Roma poet, Bronislawa Wajs, who was known as ‘Papusza’, meaning ‘doll’ in the Romani language. With a non-linear timeline that criss-crosses across the life of the poet, the film gets confusing at times, but still manages to provide a visual treat. Papusza defies her family as she learns to read and write. She eventually meets a non-Roma poet, who travels with her caravan and encourages her to write down her songs. She is eventually excommunicated by her people when her poems are translated and published by the poet, Jerzy.

Many people have this notion that film festivals are about award winning offbeat, documentary and alternative movies. However, PIFF is not just about the offbeat. Mainstream Hollywood films like ‘Captain Phillips’ and ‘The Secret life of Walter Mitty’ were also a part of the line-up.

As PIFF slowly draws towards a close, one cannot help but wonder about the significance of watching movies from other countries. Watching a foreign film is truly a novel experience. Although the actors playing out the lives of characters are unfamiliar, they can strike a deep chord within. The background score may be unknown and the language illegible, but it will surely stir our hearts. Even if a film is about a local issue with relevance to us, it can transcend its limitations to connect with people around the globe. The barriers of society and language can dissipate when the audience immerses itself into the film and experiences its true essence. PIFF provides an opportunity to do just that!

Image sources, Factfile –
http://www.piffindia.com/

Heading Out for a Road Trip? 7 Ways to Maximize Fun

Jenny Travens

January 16, 2015

Whether it’s with extended family, your closest friends or your significant other, few things are more exciting to undertake than a fun-filled road trip.

Fortunately, when it comes to vacationing on the road, it doesn’t even have to be the most exotic or interesting destination because exploration is exciting enough when you do it with those you love!

But, there are still a few ways that you can maximize the fun and really have a road trip worth remembering.

Heading Out for a Road Trip — Road trip near Sykkylven by TimOve

1. Get Everyone Involved

Especially when you are traveling with your friends, make sure it’s lively and animated in the cabin.

You can ask them to recite their most memorable moment on their last trip but one by one. That would ensure even the most introvert of the lot speaking out.

Games like 20 Questions, Name That Tune, Continue with Story-telling, are indeed for kids but how about being a kid for the next 2-3 days? Trust me, nothing’s more fun.

Everyone’s not going to want to do the exact same thing all the time, so asking around to see what tourist sights or food spots can’t be missed is a great way to keep everyone engaged.

And, it also means that you’ll see or find something you might not have come across otherwise!

2. Get Off the Road

The boon of a road trip might be to see all the amazing sights along the way and really get a feel for the place you’re travelling around.

But, being in the car for too long can get to anyone, no matter how excited they are about the trip.

Instead of planning long, drawn-out day travel so that everyone is worn out and tired, make sure there are plenty of pit stops for rest, relaxation and touring local sights. Make your traveling simple. The more easy you are on the way, the better the experience.

It’s an effective time management tip too. Take frequent breaks to be at your productive best 🙂

This can make all the difference between a road trip that feels like a job done, and one that feels like a true getaway.

3. Bring In-transit Entertainment

Seeing new places from the window of a moving vehicle can be pretty exciting, but simply because a place is interesting doesn’t mean the scenery always is.

So, instead of sleeping through the road journey, ensure there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family to be amused by.

While some vintage upbeat numbers would keep your grandpa going, kids mostly like musical and loud stuff.

You can bring along items like cards, crossword puzzles or travel-sized board games too.

Try and avoid carrying tablets and smartphones. Kids occupied with Youtube and video games is the last thing you want to see when out on a leisure trip.

4. Feeling Good Is Important –

Needless to say, you can only enjoy if you are feeling good from inside. No point gulping cola cans and chips in a jiffy and have a nauseated feeling later.

Any kind of vacation or getaway is often rife with eating choices that are not necessarily good for the body. While burritos and margaritas might feel good in the moment, they rarely have that impact after and can leave you sluggish.

Instead of binging on only indulgent foods, try bringing some healthy foods along for the ride.

Whether it’s nuts, dry fruits or granola bars, these will stave off frequent hunger pangs too.

Photographing-your-road-trip — Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

5. Don’t Aim to Shoot a Million Picture Roll –

In the era of the selfie, it can be easy to get carried away with picture taking.

But, when it comes to a trip with your friends or family, photographs are the kind of thing that are really going to make memories…and may even help to create some new ones.

The trick is to capture only special places and moments and not take out camera every single minute.

Be a little selective with your shots. The light, the pose, background – all matters if you wish to take some great photos.

Think of it as if you only have 36 photos in your camera and equal number of chances to get it right. Seriously, digital cameras and camera phones have killed it all.

You may even want to create a little competition for best vacation photograph. Try it out.

6. Collect Souvenirs Along the Way

Whether it’s in the form of a snow globe or a sweater that’s bedecked with the name of a place you’ve never been, souvenirs tend to have a pretty bad reputation.

Making stops to collect a few unique souvenirs can be a great way to really experience the flavor of the place and make the moment last.

It can be very much like taking a picture in that you’ll remember the time and the place distinctly. And, when you share souvenirs with your family or friends at home, it will be like living the story twice.

souvenirs from road trip — Image – Pixabay

7. Do Something that Surprises You

Unexpected pit stops are part of the fun when it comes to embarking on a road trip.

However, there are those places that pop up along the way on any road journey that are often passed by because they don’t fit with the schedule.

But, it’s these very things that can make for some of the best road trip stories out there.

Instead of forgetting about what’s passing by, be aware of interesting parks, cottages, or even roller coasters that come up along the way.

They just might end up being the most memorable part of the journey.

Mumbai Marathon – Chala Jaata Hun!!

Shristi Rai

January 16, 2015

Author – Shristi Rai

Many people wonder why so many normal people sign up to run serious distance races? Why do we run a gruelling, energy sapping, mind numbing race of 42 km? Why do so many people run marathon, making it the most participated sport on earth?

Running a marathon has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Last year, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 was held on 19 January 2014. Having participated twice earlier in other marathons, this was my first attempt in the 21 km category. To be honest, I had not trained at all and thus after the first 7 km, I was extremely tired. The race started at Bandra and the route went over the Bandra Sea Link, followed by Worli Sea Face and then on to Marine Drive.

While the sea breeze helped us in our running, it was nothing compared to the motivation received from fellow participants who would continuously crack jokes and call out funny phrases making it much easier for us along the path. Right from the beginning till the end of 21 km, massive crowds of people gathered on the road side, many of whom offered oranges, dates, biscuits, water and juices for us. They made us feel like a winner, like you were running for them and if you stopped you would be letting them down.

In fact as I slowed down at Pedder Road to climb the slope, a lady came running from behind to say that she’d been following me throughout the run, that I was her pace-setter, and if I stopped, what would happen to her! And I was doing the same thing to a man running in the front!

Around 40,000 people ran the Mumbai Marathon race in various categories and in its 11 editions. The sponsors claimed that they collected crores of rupees for charity. That is the official reason – the consequence – Mumbai sees a new dimension to the word “train”. Yes, the lifeline of Mumbaikars, quite literally in their hands.

So every Sunday morning, you will see Marine Drive flooded with corporate employees with their high-tech gadgets informing them about their pace, calorie burnout count and what not, their bottles, their iPods, their florescent shoes running for kilometres together, in sync with the Aam Aadmi in their modest shorts and t-shirt sharing the same experience of pushing their mind and body through unbound limits and to surprise themselves with the result!

At the 2014 Mumbai Marathon, the girl who won the women’s race for 21 km ran barefoot. Coming from humble beginnings, she ran to win the prize money for her father, a farmer in the interiors of Maharashtra. The African athletes who win the marathon each year, run in herds; their aim is to take the prize money to their country. The senior citizens run to feel young. The Dream Run participants who run for 6 km run for their Facebook pictures. My boss runs to better his timing, to challenge himself.

When I look back, I do not really know why I registered. However, during the last 500 m of the race when my feet refused to go any further and all I wanted to do is go home and sleep, I saw a man with one foot, reaching for the finish-line and on his face was the happiest, most content smile I had ever seen. Then I knew that I had to run just to feel this beautiful spirit.

Image sources –
Mumbai Marathon via Flickr
marathon-photos.com

Factfile –
http://scmm.procamrunning.in

Jobsora – The Best Site for Job Search in India

Caleidoscope

January 15, 2015

Are you going to make your fresh start in India? It might be the greatest experience in your life. For sure, you’ll fall in love with this country! Marvelous nature, welcoming people, rich history and culture, interesting traditions and customs… The list of worthwhile things in India may be endless.

Why online searching is the best?

India’s economy is developing and growing but it hasn’t reached its highest point yet. Hence, there are a lot of difficulties to overcome. Good news, they do need qualified employees in India! So, there is a chance to gain important experience working abroad and make a great career.

But first, let’s find the right position for you. If you don’t have a contract with a company in India, then you need some help. And there is a perfect assistant for you! Visit a job site https://in.jobsora.com.

Why Jobsora?

Because the purpose of their work is to find a perfect position for you! Jobsora claims this aim as principal one and maintains its quality. This site guarantees that you’ll find a job quickly if using it. And that’s true! You no longer need to spend hours and days surfing the Internet and seeking vacancies. Because Jobsora provides links to all positions posted on job boards. Everything you need is registering on the site and applying for jobs.

Use special filters and Advanced Search if you know what exactly you need. If you assign for job alerts you’ll get offers to your email.

Have you decided what region of India you prefer to work in? Then you can search for a job by location.

There is a list of popular positions available. Look through it and perhaps you’ll find something suitable for you.

Jobsora is trying to make the process of job hunting easy and rapid. Surely, you’ll appreciate this site and definitely find the best role for you with the help of Jobsora.

Of course, there are a lot of means of searching a position. Maybe you’ve already tried them. The most popular ways are: consulting recruitment firm, addressing directly to the desired company for the desired position, looking for a job in local newspapers, contacting acquaintances, etc. All these methods of the search might be helpful if you combine them. But, to tell the truth, they are time-consuming and sometimes require investments.

Besides, all employers have gone digital, they post their adds and openings online. So, we must keep up to date and take into account all those factors. Nowadays few employers are advertising something offline, let alone vacancies. That’s why if you don’t perform job hunting, online you won’t be a successful applicant.

To perform online effectively follow the next steps:

Update your resume, make it digital friendly. You can upload your resume to job sites and receive alerts with job offers to your e-mail.
Make sure your social profiles are filled with the necessary information and show your best sides. Don’t forget to eliminate unwanted or weird posts. If an employer decides you are the right candidate, he or she will check all your social networks.
Create an online portfolio. This way your future employer will see your experience and achievements not only in a resume and cover letter.
Create your personal brand. This is the most up-to-date option that makes you stand out and represent yourself to the target audience.

As you can see job hunting online is really beneficial. And if you use efficient job sites like Jobsora, you’ll find an appropriate role very quickly!

We know your search will be successful!

Abundance Syndrome – The Problem of Plenty

Gayatri Devulapalli

January 14, 2015

Image – Jeni Rodger

Consider this – You have fifteen pens and you don’t find even one when you really need. Does that happen to you too? What is the first thing we all do? Since it is “just” a pen, we run to the shop and get another one and forget about the fifteen pens. Don’t you think this example somehow reflects how we have changed over a period of time…

Pen and change? Yes, when things are available in abundance we forget its value. Globalization and the ensuing consumerist culture has resulted in a fascination for excess consumption. Multiple options for people at reasonable prices have resulted in people not attaching any sentimental value to what they have.

Gone are the days when we cherished that beautiful ink pen like a diamond. Why? Because today, we can always buy one and more importantly, we can afford to buy any number. The combination of these is making us, as humankind, lose the important quality of appreciating, cherishing and most importantly treasuring anything. This problem is mainly faced by urban Indians (particularly, upper middle class) who have higher buying power.

When we are unable to cherish or understand the value of anything, how will we ever understand the meaning of failure or of success? How will we understand what is losing and what is gaining? Today when we look at the education scenario of India, we feel shocked. The number of engineering or MBA colleges that have mushroomed in every street of India has pushed down the value of an engineering degree. You don’t need merit to get one; all you need is money. The abundance of colleges plus the ability to pay huge amounts of fees by parents has resulted in hundreds of thousands of engineers graduating every year. How many of them are true “engineers”?

Evidently, the value of engineering has vanished. If only the students had got into the college with merit, they would cherish and value their seat and study hard. Instead, their lax attitude towards studies is the result of the fact that they haven’t gone through any difficulties in getting the seat. They have got it on a platter and unfortunately, they are completely ignorant of the fact. Cut down the number of colleges and automatically the value of the degree will increase. Commercialization of education is the sad reality of India.

We see this abundance syndrome affecting our children as well. When my child loses his umpteenth pencil/eraser, he coolly asks to buy a new one and he loses it again the next day. He simply cannot understand the fact that we need money to buy pencils and erasers. All he knows is that his papa has the money and he can buy it. Basically, the “value” lesson is lost right from the beginning. When we were young , we cherished our first pencil/eraser, because we knew that once we lose it, we are not going to get another one.

We load our children with so many toys from the day he/she is born, that they simply don’t get the point of buying toys for an occasion. We go out and we buy a toy/chocolate/drink whatever they ask for. The number of toy shops/malls have increased manifold, along with our ability to buy goodies. Particularly, the post-millennium kids are facing this issue. This vicious combination is creating havoc for parents. Who is to blame for this? Why do our children not understand the value of things?

We can quote numerous other examples of abundance. Massive wastage of resources like water, power, food are evident all around us. The whole point is that we are lost in a sea of abundance and are eternally living in a confused state of mind. We are spending half the time in choosing and acquiring things and not actually doing anything productive with them. We are buying things left, right and centre and most of the time, we don’t even need them! Our cupboards are full of clothes we hardly wear and we possess electronic gadgets that we use, maybe once a year. We switch on TV to watch TV and not a particular programme. The reason is there are too many TV channels to choose. Yes, we realise what is the problem we face, but what about the solution?

There is a change in our value system and the way we view “things”, it is not always a bad thing to have many choices before us. But what really matters is that we need to choose the most essential one among these umpteen choices. Moreover, our choice can promote a change that is a natural process and the harbinger for new things. We can try and preserve our core value systems, our Indian culture and at the same time absorb anything new that enhances our lives.

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

Indian Youth – A Generation of Culture-Wreckers?

Harika Bantupalli

January 12, 2015

Author – Harika Bantupalli

Kiss of Love protests | Courtesy: HT-PTI

In recent times, voices have been raised against the younger generation’s ideology and obsession for taking things in control or trying to bring about a change. Bragging – as they would call it, is supposedly what we always do. And social networking is adding to us like what a fuel would do to the fire that sets things ablaze. Are we really a generation of selfie-obsessed windbags and culture-wreckers?

To begin with, there’s more to the youth of this age than just a status message on social media or a 144-character tweet. There’s an undying passion for a better world and an unshakable faith that pushes us to give the best in what we do. As far is Indian culture is concerned, it shall be preserved as long as one is proud enough to live with it.

Life as we know it, is very complicated. It changes every second and so does our culture and lifestyle. If it weren’t so, we would still be in the age of Harappa and Mohenjodaro rather than being a part of this global village!

We have adopted numerous traditions from different civilisations and religions over the last many centuries. Hadn’t there been rebels with a vision for change back then, India wouldn’t have been what it is today. If the consequences of a past rebellion is accepted today and preached as culture, then why not now?

Culture is not meant to be preserved, but shared, learned and developed. With the advancement of technology and breakdown of the barriers that stood between countries of late, this culture-sharing practice has gone international and radical. But it doesn’t mean that our very own culture is sabotaged.

youth-power-india — Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

This young generation is not really oblivious to our culture, but it is paving way for certain changes by breaking down the taboos. Public Displays of Affection (PDA) and protest campaigns like Kiss of Love, Gay Pride Marchs and Slutwalks may have created outrage among the culture-lovers, considering them to against Indian culture. But are the reasons behind why they started seem good enough to be considered culture?

Sensual depictions and figurines can be publicly displayed without any objection, but PDA is strongly opposed. A woman who is considered as the ultimate power can be disrespected in the name of culture, but campaigns taken to prevent it is considered an unforgivable sin. Where are we going with this attitude?

Our country is a magnificent piece of land with incredible culture. However, like every other thing, it is subject to numerous changes with the passage of time and generations. The youth culture of every generation is meant to be rebellious and bring in much needed change. So do we, like any other generation, bringing in what we can while trying to preserve what already exists.

We the Indian youth might have been off path many a time, but to err is human. And we do learn from our mistakes. We are the upgraded version of what our previous generations, a little more upbeat and much more impatient. We have been called names and had our voices crumpled, but all we do is to eliminate the taboos, while still maintaining the essence of a good life. Today, as we celebrate the National Youth Day, I would like to reiterate that we are not wreckers, but amateur builders trying to repair what needs to be mended.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Attempts to Bring Back NRIs

Levine Lawrence

January 9, 2015

Today, 100 years ago, a non-resident Indian lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi arrived from South Africa along with his family to permanently settle down in India. We could emphatically say this incident changed India’s political history forever. 9th January 1915 marks the day when Gandhi returned to India after years of work in South Africa. This event is commemorated as ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community and the people of Indian origin.

Khadi and Gandhian philosophy will be the theme for this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. For the world, Khadi may be just an interesting handloom fabric, but it is a political ideology for India. Similarly, Gandhian philosophy has remained in the spotlight ever since independence, but of late, it has received much wider coverage due to the recent Godse vs. Gandhi controversy. Amidst all this hoopla, the state of non-resident Indians remains in deplorable conditions.

Our prime minister’s recent flamboyant visit to the US and the awe-inspiring reception offered to him by the Indian Diaspora in New York is fresh in our memory. However, we must also remember the struggle for rescuing the 40 Indians abducted in Iraq by the dreaded terror organisation, ISIS. While the Indian government’s prompt actions to rescue them is surely appreciable, it is sad that it did not take action for other NRIs trapped in similar situations. The sordid tales of Indian sailor Captain Sunil James and Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade seem to have faded away from public memory.

After years of misery and apathy, the government has at last acknowledged the problems faced by NRIs, by extending the visa-on-arrival facility for several countries. Further, the Indian Citizenship Act will be amended to merge the status of People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), so that they can get lifetime visas and own property in India. Click here to know who are PIOs and NRIs!

Hope this will turn the tide for the sentiments of our expatriate brethren and also for the flow of their investment! The most noteworthy aspect about NRIs is their remittances to India. It would be surprising to note that NRI remittances in 2012 matched the total export revenue of the entire Indian IT industry!

Meanwhile, there is a hilarious turn of events at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event held in Gujarat. Several kiosks set up by the Uttar Pradesh state government have been removed! Uttar Pradesh has eagerly set a website to attract investments by NRIs and PIOs in a state otherwise devoid of any infrastructure development. I think a few assurances would go a long way in promoting India’s largest state’s image among NRIs:

No NRI or PIO woman would be raped or molested in the state
No communal riot will affect the investments made by NRIs and PIOs
No bribes will be asked for setting up a business!

In fact, these assurances would help promote India’s image as well!

Caleidoscope’s infographic on the Indian Diaspora:

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<p><strong>The Great Indian Diaspora [Infographic] by caleidoscope.in</strong></p><p><img src='https://caleidoscope.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NRI-infographics-caleidoscope.jpg' alt='The Great Indian Diaspora' width='100%' border='0' /></p>

India’s Streetside Coffee and Tea Culture

Neeraja Sundar

January 7, 2015

Author – Neeraja Sundar

Who says men don’t gossip? Come to the little streetside coffee and tea shops scattered across India. As the dawn breaks, they lie in wait on the benches outside. They read newspapers, drink tea, eat vada or bhajji, complain about everything under the sun, drink tea again, smoke for a bit, munch on biscuits, gossip about various topics, occasionally engage in a squabble, drink tea again and then leave as the sun sets.

Be it a metro city or a small town, the quintessential tea shop is found on nearly every street and a couple of regulars for each shop. It is not just the bored jobless men who frequent them, but also the men who work in corporate firms who like enjoy their cigarette break.

The tea shop in my housing colony is a busy hub. The venerable owner, Mr. Ramaswamy, is the most well informed person. He is the hearty ‘grandpa’ whom all children like. He always has a tin of biscuits ready for them. He is great with advice. He can converse with everyone – children, housewives, daily wagers, office goers, everyone. He discusses cricket matches with boys, analyses the characters in the TV serials with middle-aged women, politics with the older men and what not. His non-earning customers maintain a tab and drink tea without immediately worrying about the money, though it is not much.

There is just something about that tea which is indescribably delicious. The steaming milk in the boilers, the wafting smell of cardamom, the ground ginger and pepper and the flavour of tea just invites one to indulge in a cup. We operate under the theory that he uses a secret ingredient to make his tea special. He is mum on that subject but an involuntary twinkle lights up his eye. My curious eye tried to find out the secret, but his magician hands created an illusion so fast that I just couldn’t spot the mysterious element. Maybe there is one, maybe there isn’t. This could give Schrodinger’s cat a run for its money!

The hill stations are popular for their tea. In the misty climate, tourists stop often to refresh themselves with a hot beverage. Tea in its multiple avatars is worshipped here. Lemon tea, ginger tea, cardamom tea, mint tea, chamomile tea, chocolate tea, cinnamon tea and fusion of these are available.

The tea drinkers of India aren’t as fancy as the coffee sippers. While the tea shops operate within tight space and open air, the coffee shops put out a nice spread. There are Espressos and Lattes, Cappuccinos and Mocha, along with South India’s proud possession – Kaapi. This filter coffee decoction is sold at all fast food joints and dining halls in southern states of India.

Although not a great fan of coffee, I never miss the Kumbhakonam degree coffee – a high quality coffee served in Tamil Nadu. The rich flavour of coffee is unadulterated by chicory or any artificial ingredients. Further, pure cow’s milk is used in the preparation.

In contrast, the Café Coffee Days, Starbucks and Baristas are all about pretention and class. The Indian Coffee House and Kaapi Cheenu are ideal places for delicious and inexpensive coffee and tasty snacks. There is a little shop called Idli Vilas in Chennai, which opens at dawn and caters to early risers like joggers, workers and people who forgot to purchase vegetables the previous night!

I guess other cities in India have equivalent shops. For the students with minimum pocket money in their wallets, these eateries are life savers. It is a place to hang out for hours and eat sumptuously without creating a dent in our meagre savings.

People often raise questions about the hygiene element in these streetside shops. To that I would say, “Get accustomed to India and develop a stronger immune system!” Even the fine dining restaurants that are posh on the outside often maintain their kitchens poorly. You might get sick once, twice and then your stomach strengthens. Enjoy the street life of India!!

Image sources –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_culture

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