Not bad at all

I am referring of course to the Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women that figures they would like to send pink underwear in protest against violent attacks against women in pubs and threats of moral policing on Valentine's. Naturally, anything peaceful in protest against conservatism would gain my unflinching support, even something as perfectly obnoxious as couriering pink underwear. Not to mention going ahead with any Vday plans, knowing fully well that marriages (allegedly to be performed according to Hindu rites by priests prowling the streets with mangal sutras) where consent is obtained by force are voidable, at any rate.The threat of violence may be harder to avoid; I've heard that there are suggestions of taking advantage of this moral policing in order to get married where the couples' families are uncompromising.

Did I also mention that I love Amul? They always manage to get the best ad campaigns up in context and this time round havecome up with ads in support of the pink chaddi brigade. Amul will always have my loyalty for aye (coming to think of it, I've always liked their products anyway.) Meanwhile, college has its own box for contributions; they've stated unequivocally that we could put in anything wrapped in a polythene bag, from chaddis to contraceptives, anything that right conservatives disapprove of are welcome.


Meanwhile, I'm curious. How many forced marriages will Vday see? Bangalore police stations welcomed eloping couples and married them as long as they were of a marrigeable age and registered them; what will they do when faced by right wing brigands forcing a couple to tie the knot? Indeed, what of dating teenagers? [Though I recently came across a statistic that gave the average age of marriage of Indians as the minimum age of marriage. Freaky.]


Happy Valentine's y'all, and lots of love.

Highs

Wistful

Delusional

Playfulness and Caprice

Enamoured and Bewitched

Flames. 

Why I am.

Anshuman had once decided that I was quite a frustrated little imp. In order to prove it, he decided to draw up a nice long list of 101 things that frustrate me. He managed to get 30 before work and other obligations called us away from that particular enterprise ;) I clearly remember them including not having aCisco/Ubuntu Tee; Not enough hard disk space; Male chauvinism and so on. That list was safely tucked into his wallet for future perusal/completion/reference; unfortunately the wallet was subsequently lost. (That fact could get added to the list as well). I'm feeling rather light today, though, and since my blog has been crying for attention, I've decided to honour our insanity and make another list, only this time, of things that make me happy, just to prove you wrong. I've always claimed that its very easy to make me happy, now I'll set out to prove it. So here we are, 101 things that make me happy:

1. Family. The very thought is enough.
2. Friends. 'nuff said.
   
3. Being alive and healthy, mentally (well, at least I'm not legally insane) and physically.
   
4. Hugs. Simple, effective and comfortable.
   
5. Stationery. Pens, pencils, brushes, paper, books, paints... name it, I'll go crazy over it.
   
6. My cat, asleep and purring on my lap.
7. Sleep. Pure bliss.
8. Cuddles. ^_^
   
9. Food. Home cooked food. (mom's cooking. unbeatable.)
   
10. Bananas!!!!
    
11. Ice creams, milk shakes, milk, milk products.
    
12. Animals in general.
13. Letting huge dogs take me for a walk. (I miss that one)
    
14. The smell of the air preceding a storm. Feels like nature's high.
15. The smell of oil of olay, shower to shower, juniper, sandalwood;
    
16. Basking in sunshine
17. Thunderstorms, just the idea of wind and water playing with your senses. (contradictory? They both have their own charm)
    
18. Music... my language. I'd like to elaborate, so forgive the next few being separate items on this list
19. Singing. Half a day with me should give you an idea; I really cannot stop myself. To those that actually put up with this, I love you just as much.
    
20. The sound of an instrument being played like it controls the person playing it. Violins, Pianos, Guitars, the list is endless.
21. Playing Fur Elise on a piano. (I'd like to thank Rukmini for this one, I'd only played keyboards before that.)
    
22. Old songs, new songs, meaningful songs, abstract tunes that don't need lyrics to convey their emotion, classical songs, listening to them, singing them, singing along with them...
23. Singing in the car!
    
24. Art, my religion... further elaboration.
25. Sight. The ability to enjoy this.
    
26. The smell of oil on canvas when I paint
    
27. Every stroke of the bold pencil upon art paper, each smudge that softens the strokes.
    
28. Colour, wherever.
    
29. Digital Graphics.
30. Animation. aaaah.
    
31. Getting that twinkle in the eyes when I draw
    
32. That twinkle in your eyes when you laugh
33. Laughter.
34. Having people who care and people to care about.
    
35. Snaps with good composition
36. Taking the above mentioned snap.
37. A certain Video that can always lift my spirits ;)
38. An optimistic nature, for most part. I really wouldn't be happy if I didn't look at the bright side.
    
39. Constantly having something to do, even if its just lazing around.
40. Being able to laze around.
41. Good poetry. (subjective, yes, go along the lines of Tagore and Wordsworth to know my taste).
    
42. Good books with happy endings.
    
43. Cold showers in Kolkata heat.
    
44. Swimming. Exhileration after the exercise.
    
45. Love. Loving. Being loved. People in love. Collecting quotes on love. Despite my complaining, it actually makes me high.
46. Pictures by Anne Geddes.
47. Babies that don't mind me carrying them.
    
48. Feeling the keyboard beneath my fingers as I type; hearing them click in the night's silence.
49. Comments on blog posts.
    
50. Technology. Software that supports my laziness.
    
51. Long conversations where there's always something left unsaid for the next one.
    
52. Finding imperfections, weirdities and the para-normal.
    
53. Arguing. Yes, it's only fools that do, but it just makes me so damn happy.
54. Soft clothes, the kind that feel nice.
    
55. Feeling squeaky clean after a bath.
56. Playful fights.
57. Thumbfights!
    
58. Carving quills, putting them to ink.
    
59. Buzz of nonsense on the hostel lan
60. Corny movies. (Yes, yes, softie)
61. Figments of my imagination running wild across the mind's stage.
    
62. Perusing blog posts of friends and family.
63. Autorikshaws without mirrors.
64. Reminiscing. I've had quite an amusing life. Done amusing things.
    
65. The fact that I look back and smile at what was, and smile at what is.
    
66. My determination seeing me through.
    
67. Anything anti-Microsoft.
    
68. Walking in Kolkata.
    
69. New glasses. So clear. pristine.
    
70. Star gazing. Clear skies.
71. Skipping stones.
    
72. Letters.
73. Watching good dances.
    
74. Writing, the feeling of an inspiration hitting me.
    
75. Mythology.
    
76. The feeling of understanding and being understood.
77. Holding someone's hand. Interlocked fingers.
    
78. Puns.
    
79. Running barefoot on wet grass.
80. Computer games.
    
81. Compliments. Duh.
    
82. Thinking. Dreaming. Same difference.
    
83. Being trusted.
    
84. Listening to interesting stories.
85. Competition. Playing.
    
86. Raising my hand in class. It's almost a reflex.
87. Knowing.
    
88. Acceptance.
89. Good comebacks.
    
90. People that restore my faith in people.
    
91. The sound of birds at 5 in the morning
92. Sunrises, Sunsets, Moonrises (never witnessed a moonset...)
93. Doing.
    
94. Feeling the texture of leaves.
    
95. Smart kids that get the better of me.
96. Quenching thirst.
97. Sitting down on a cold floor.
    
98. My own ego.
99. Cyberspace
100. Jumping fences, climbing walls. When they're small enough, of course.
     
101. Life!!!!!

We

Then, perhaps you might listen, though I have nothing to say. Endlessly lost in your thoughts, it seems impossible that anything else ever existed. You began as a dream, but turned everything else into one. I trust nothing, but could blindly walk on the faith of this alone. My own existence seems justified solely by the ‘us’, the possibility of knowing an existence outside the self that has gradually become more a part of me than I myself am. A renewed bliss in all that I enjoy, enhanced by your presence in their importance. The warmth of the sun as it were, as someone said, from both sides; music to string unspoken emotions into the tangible abstractions of a tune; winds that reach for us in embraces; the unceasing heart with a cause to strive; the pleasure of a solitude that can no longer be.

I become my world. The silence of a moment to enlighten the spirit; the cosmos attains the trance. I know, and that knowledge is sufficient for a lifetime. I feel the world’s happiness; I am a part of it. Thrown, grappled and played, a physical existence can no longer bind me. What I desire, I become. You hold me, laughing; I am far too close for it. Enthralled in my eyes, you recognise what I see. Let life complain all it wants; we have found better. We are no longer bound by the ‘I’; it is no longer of any consequence. It ceases to exist, strengthening us. We are not a part of reality, for we create it. It cannot touch us. Time bows to our being as long as it is ours to enjoy; for who cares about what is beyond? What is ours today shall remain as long as we care to keep it.

Love!

Procrastinated artwork

http://timelesstirade.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/untitled-1.jpg

[image inspired from the movie frozen]
तू धूप हैं झाम से बिखर 

तू हैं नदी ओ बेखबर
बह चल कहीं उड़ चल कहीं
दिल खुश जहाँ तेरी तो मंजिल है वहीं
[तारे ज़मीन पर- खोलो खोलो ]

I ♥ google

ಎದೆ ತುಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದೆನು ಅಂದು ನಾನು
ಮನವಿಟ್ಟು ಕೇಳಿದಿರಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು

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ಕೇಳುವಿರಿ ಸಾಕೆನಗೆ ಅದುವೆ ಬಹುಮಾನ
ಹಾಡು ಹಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಬೇಕೆ, ಬಿರುದು ಸನ್ಮಾನ

ಎಲ್ಲ ಕೇಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ನಾನು ಹಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ಹಾಡುವುದು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯ ಕರ್ಮ ನನಗೆ
ಕೆಳುವವರಿಹರೆಂದು ನಾಬಲ್ಲೆ ಅದರಿಂದ
ಹಾಡುವೆನು ಮೈತುಂಬಿ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ
ಯಾರು ಕಿವಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದರು ನನಗಿಲ್ಲ ಚಿಂತೆ

ಎದೆ ತುಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದೆನು ಅಂದು ನಾನು

- ಮೈಸೂರು ಅನಂಥಸ್ವಾಮಿ

transliteration extended to include kannada (=

Blog Action Day

Right... For the first time ever, I find myself obliged to post something about the environment having enthusiastically signed myself up for the "Blog Action Day" (for details, see the nice little link in the sidebar). I did it in the hope of finding something to write on my long since unused blog, but the inspiration has evaded me. Maybe I could write a 'ten things you can do to help out' or random rants about the environment demons in the world (that would follow the general tone of this blog anyway). And I'm still waiting for that stroke of genius.

Ah well, here's how to make me happy. Don't litter, biodegradable stuff on good soil is not a problem, but plastic- keep evil off. Try not to use it, anyway. Let me repeat an old independence day rant by asking all people to shun the plastic flags. Replace your light bulbs, use fluorescent lighting. (They come in yellow too, I should know, I use one such.) Edison might have been the greatest inventor and this his best invention, we shall not forget his contribution to science. Just utilize the evolved version instead.

Conserve Paper. A bit rich, coming from a die hard stationery fan who cannot live without paper, but I do try. I do not waste paper, at any rate, and am slowly being converted to electronic methods of creating art (Photoshop/Gimp/Blender/Autodesk anyone?). Print only if you must. It might be a waste of electricity, but I know for a fact that most of the electricity that we are supplied with is hydroelectric. (We suffer load shedding in summer, see.) For notes, use bagasse paper/recycled paper. The processing may pollute just as much, but this way the trees aren't hurt. It is Pareto superior, and will do until the Pareto efficient solution is found.

Stop smoking. Cigarettes, joints, etc are neither good for you, nor for the environment. Many aren't even properly put out before being disposed of, which additionally adds to the litter. If you do not want to live beyond the lifespan of an average smoker, petition for the legalization of euthanasia, no one's going stop you (Though I might file a counter petition, come to think of it). I'm quite sure my readers are not the kind of people who might buy a tiger's skin, or a preserved sea horse or some similar morbid motif.

Go Green!


PS. Posted at 23:26 IST. Made it. (=

Invisible boundaries

A gunman shoots 32 people at a university, and has now been identified as a South Korean who was a resident alien, and studied English there. In that order, of course, with not a mention as to what his name was. In a world of man-made boundaries, it's but natural to explicitly state- you are from that circle, and that will be the only identity that you will be known by. Nationality is every person's original sin. Which nation doesn't matter, there's always someone who'll hate you for it. Religion comes next, only because of some flexibility in which religion and the option of the lack of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the killer is to be pitied. I'm just commenting on a passing thought sparked off by his identification. Unfortunately, you can't opt out of nationality. But in the competition of the ill will created, religion takes the cake. The sole cause of caste, the crusades, the Riddah wars, the holocaust- the list goes on. Perhaps 'cause' is too biased a word. Property may have been the cause, but it wasn't the justification. If indeed, God (or whatever spiritual goal it is that prompts these notions) requires all people to follow the true religion (being every religion in existance in the minds of its followers) he would have known better than to send so many spiritual leaders, or agree to killing off people in his name. Old argument, still worth the mentioning. What makes anyone's religion better than anyone else's if you use it for the same purpose anyway? To give you a false notion of superiority knowing that there are others with the same misconception and to justify every act that causes harm to another in some way. Yes, humans do have a fetish for power... something to make one feel good in one's own little world- that the 'I' is of some consequence.

What is your nationality anyway? Why is your country so important when it is but a piece of the earth marked out for no concievable reason besides wanting to be 'better-off' than someone else? The productivity of the land in question may actually make you better off in terms of health, etc, but why do you want to exclude others from it on various justifications? To keep yourself better off and to keep your progeny better off. In other words, to survive as comfortably as possible. I'm quite convinced humans did evolve (I'll also give credit to genetic engineering theories like those of Erich von Daniken and others) from animals, as you see, we retain territorial instincts and it's still the survival of the fittest amongst us. Only we live in our own notions of what qualities are possessed by the fittest. Most religions seem to think it necessary to state that man is different from the other animals that inhabit the planet with us. Of course we are different. Can you see animals inventing new reasons to justify a survival instinct? They mark out territories too, but do you see them differentiating between two of the same species from different territories? Yes, maybe if one of them was stronger than the subject, and we don't see religious wars there. Atleast we haven't discovered any such religious affiliations other than food, shelter and mates, all matters of survival. Not masked in spiritual gain or the attainment of a better afterlife. Yes, humans are different, but not, as many religions of the man made world put it- better.

Until my next!

Imbroglio

A few days ago, I was faced with yet another controversy that required me to watch Aparna Sen's 15 park avenue. The movie itself was brilliant, bringing back faith in the quality of Indian cinema... &c &c. Unfortunately, as is typical of her movies, the end remains 'open to interpretation'. I do admire the creativity that goes behind bringing about such an end... it must take either a totally different mindset or an immense amount of strength to leave your creations in the lurch- to fend for themselves, so to speak; leaving it to the characteristics of the creations to lead the way beyond the "end" of the story. I only said 'admire'. My preference is an entirely differnt thing- I prefer solid endings. Happy, sad, astonishing, funny, whatever it is, just tell me what happens in the end. I usually get involved into one or another or all of the characters in the story which means that I land up needing to fend for myself in an open end. I usually manage to steer my imagination down some lane or the other, and my optimism ensures the characters' (and consequently, my own) happiness at the end of the (extended) story. In case of those stories with a decided end, I usually imagine the sequences of events that could have happened in the course of the story, or those sequences that are not particularly explicit. It is perhaps for this reason that I like knowing the end of a story before reading it- (yes, I do. Don't be so shocked) I like getting there in the confidence that the 'end' exists. Suspense does not excite me, anticipation does. I like waiting for something that I know for sure is to happen; as for what I do not know- reality is so full of it that I prefer to limit the unknown to the bare minimum of my life.

!! spoiler warning !! [not that it matters really... how old is the movie anyway?]

Coming back to the subject matter of this post- 15 park avenue- the story leves it to the viewer to figure out an end. In this case, I simply could not. There was nothing I could think of, no explaination I could offer to ease the suspense. It was a story without an end, and I wanted to leave it as a story without an end. Unlike me? Yes. For some reason, the movie did not leave me in any suspense- it left me calm, more like one of those passers-by watching the confusion, not really bothered about the conclusion. Enough for me to have known that Mithi seemed in bliss, whatever pain or anticipation she put her sister in. I watched the movie to take a stance, and ended on taking none. The reason I watched it was that my mother (a teacher, and consequently, involved in discussions with other teachers who are all equally vehement about the correctness of their own views) was involved in an argument regarding the movie. One contention was that Mithi's sister was schizophrenic, and imagines that Mithi is. The other was that Mithi becomes one of those neglected women on the street who keep turning up through the movie (ominous signs, supposedly), and her sister eventually begins to lead her own life. For my part, I am content that I have not turned schizophrenic (or so I believe) and am happy to continue living in my own life that offers ample opportunity to question reality. After all, we all live in our own worlds, created by our perception, processed by and acted upon by our beliefs of the ideal world, and there can be no 'right' or 'wrong', yet here we are, each vehemently leading those we can into thinking as we do.

Lost

Not too pleased with the situation at hand- The prospect of leaving a comfort zone carved for me yet again. I’m going Home in less than 3 weeks for over two months. I don’t seem to be too excited. I do look forward to it- How can I not like the idea of running back to the bliss of my family’s warm embrace? It’s just that I’m not counting down the days till we leave, not thinking of packing up, not planning the vacation- nothing. I’m just content with the idea of going back. Fact is that I’ve learnt to love this corner of Kolkata – A place I lost in a dream and found in reality. I don’t mean that this is the land of milk and honey that I needed to reach- (I still doubt any place comes close to Bangalore in that respect) what I do mean is that I’ve taken root here, so to speak. The word ‘home’ now means the thought of my room in the hostel (when in class) or the comfort of the hundred familiar faces that support life without choking it. I have got used to it, and getting me used to better comforts all over again seems just as frightening as getting used to lesser ones. I would now refer to this as ‘home’ and that of Bangalore as ‘Home’. Of course I prefer Bangalore to college; familiarity never has bred contempt as far as I’m concerned. All I’m saying is that I’m going to miss home when I’m Home. Kudos, Kolkata.

Noplace Else!

After all, its here that life began, and its here that I breathe myself in the cool weather- oh all right, seemingly cold weather after a 33 Celcius, but its still worth it (that's highly understatedd). Its worth the craziness, the extravagance, the laziness, the simplicity of the complications... everything. Besides a brilliantly warm blanket of starved affections, Life has suddenly started playin in slow motion, encompassing all those lovely items I missed on my headlong dive out. perhaps after the swim I may reach the banks, perhaps new streams, but the roots of a tree are firmly in place , though the branches may spread for eternity...

Home at last.

Classroom joys...

Rainy weather Friends...

Looking back, the pleasure of having no work would not be enjoyable without the presence of these brilliant people around a girl shivering in the rain... A big thank you to ye all. To those that sheltered me from the rain, those that unberdened the huddled shoulders, those that laughed in the rain to wink at me, those that helped me crib, those that ensured I got good sense knocked in, and last but not least- those that ensured that I didn't try eatin ice creams in the cold. To those that were there, I take a bow.

After a gruelling session of projects and vivas, I finally decide that a break is the last thing to miss out on, so here I am, enjoying the pleasures of internet without work... the worst is yet to come, but the calm before the storm is to be enjpyed while it lasts... :)

Ah well... here I am sittin at a cyber wasting time doing nothing. Why would I do so? Simply because I can. Its quite perfect, the excuse of the lack of resources and the want to do nothing... as different from the lack of the want to do something, it is the want to do nothing that drives one in a chaotic maze of work to be done for an indescribable end that is too obvious to be ignored. Despite the nonsense that gets penned, there are certain undeniably sane thoughts that do go unmentioned- but thats restricted to the days of hangovers. (Did ye know, by the way, that every hour of sleep missed can be equated to a pint of alcohol? Drunk??? indeed, thats most of my life here :P) Perhaps some old case or the other will soon catch my attention before the day is done, or some sociologically objective observation that no one would have missed to take a stance on. Until then, this object of the universal conspiracy against itself remains
Uncontrolled.

Kolkata...

The mist on the path of life has cleared up slightly... atleast I know where I will be for the next few years, Kolkata. The heat takes getting used to, though- I think I have, considering 32 degrees seems chilly now. The workload has started, and so the party ends... atleast I have my path set, my eyes focussed upon a faded light through the mist... I shall run. It may tire me, but the inertia will keep me running for all I'm worth. The marathon has begun, the exercise exhilerates, and the company is infectious- Bliss? no- Merely fun. but that is what life lands up being in the end- despite the not-so-amusing parts, the end summation can be nothing less.