Hello, what follows was written by my brother- Arjun. He promised to give me a short story, but ended up giving me this. But I shall still pester him until he gives me a short story...
At a time when the whole world is reeling under the combined effect of climate change, recession, starvation, malnutrition and terrorism, it seems quite amusing that so many people find the time to make mountains out of seemingly non-existent mole hills.
Just the other day, a front page article in a supplementary newspaper waxed on endlessly about the commercialization of the ongoing IPL. The author seemed to have a big problem with the use of certain phrases, like “DLF Maximum” and “a CITI moment of success”, by the commentators; this, while the little boy collecting newspapers from homes, or his friend who cleans the tables at restaurants, seem to have escaped the authors hawk-like vision. Of course, child labour is boring and passé.
When the largest democracy in the world wakes up to vote, can controversy be far behind? The dirty face of politics obviously left an impression on the “Aam Admi” in the run up to the elections, and he felt duty-bound to put pen to paper. Just a day or two before Gujarat went to the polls, the “Letters To The Editor” section of a popular newspaper was flooded with the words of anxious citizens of the nation baying for the blood of one Mr. Modi. He was accused of being a criminal and the mastermind of a genocide. They went on to denounce Mr. Modi’s participation in the elections and demanded his immediate withdrawal from the race. So much for “innocent until proven guilty”. Another section of the Indian Public seemed to have a problem with Sonia Gandhi, arguably the most powerful woman in India, being of Italian birth. In the process, unfortunately, the big issues of farmer suicides, low voter turnout in many constituencies including the National Capital, poverty, heat waves, power cuts and crop failures don’t seem to be on the agenda.
I guess it is human nature to find the tiniest of flaws in any given situation. Consider this example. Nowadays, it seems to be the ‘in thing’ to hate politicians. If one is a politician, then one is written off as an overweight, under-educated and corrupt individual. We must learn to appreciate before we deliver our criticism. The entire nation runs on the will power of these very same politicians. We are ready to jump down their throats at the slightest hint of a mistake, yet, how many of us thank them when a new power plant is installed, or a stretch of road is repaired. Forget politicians. How many of us thank the auto-driver as we alight from his vehicle?
In spring 2008, the world was stunned by the Josef Fritzl case. Leading news channels all over the world broadcast the story. Recently, a case of similar nature, involving a man, his daughter, his wife and a ‘tantric’, was unraveled in Namma Bengalooru, but the story disappeared after just a short article in a newspaper.
Each day, thousands of animals face a gruesome death in China as they are skinned alive for their fur, and all we worry about is how poorly India was portrayed in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. However much we may dislike it, majority of Indians live below the poverty line. India does have the largest and the most number of slums. Instead of whining, how many of us actually tried to change that statistic? How many of us pocket a chocolate wrapper instead of littering the road?
It’s time we woke up and asked ourselves what our problem really is.
Sunday 10 May 2009
Arranged Marriages
I am going to state at the very outset that I am against the very concept of arranged marriages as it is practised in India. So, yes, this little essay is going to be heavily biased, but what the heck, this is my blog after all and I should be allowed to say what I truly feel. The only problem is that my folks back at home are eventually going to read this, and let me tell you, you cannot find a more orthodox and conservative tamil brahmin family anywhere else.
Firstly, I do not get the whole idea of the caste system. Shockingly, our IT boom did not help us lose our pretentious divisions, it led to the creation of matrimonial websites which shamelessly and openly flaunt the adverts placed by many desperate people out there.
It disgusts me when I see one of these typical adverts which usually run like this: "Software engineer, IIT grad, working with MNC, looking for tall, fair, housewife of such and such caste and such and such gotra"
Many proponents of the arranged marriages cite the extremely low divorce rate in India, which is at present 1.1% and compare this with the much higher divorce rate in USA, which is 48%. Simply put, this argument is bull-crap! The divorce rate is not high in India because our society still frowns upon those who choose to leave an unhappy marriage. Partners in a malfunctioning marriage are usually expected to grit their teeth and hang in there no matter what.
It doesn't matter if their mental health keeps taking a beating every single day that they spend with each other forcibly, it doesn't matter that their psyche takes a beating when they are forced to sleep on separate beds because they cannot stand the sight of each other, it doesn't matter if their children face abuse and mental trauma from all the bitching and fighting everyday, because what really matters is family reputation and honour isn't it?
Women in the USA are not like the women in India who have been and are being oppressed. A woman here is usually perceived as nothing more than a house-maker and as a baby producing machine. As my biology teacher put it, the reason behind India's failure at population control is nothing more than "lack of recreation". Women are even today traded like livestock, the only difference is that people pay the seller for the livestock; in the case of women, the seller pays the husband a huge dowry to take away his daughter! Even educated women quietly consent to marriages wherein they are forced to play second fiddle, where they are forbidden from studying further or from working.
It is the double edged sword of lack of women empowerment and the ferocious, feral need for societal approval that has contributed towards India's low divorce rates.
Now I am not saying that arranged marriages go hand in glove with dowries or with the trend of subjugation of women. I do concede that many open minded people today are not averse to the idea of an empowered woman. Many have awoken and said no to dowries. But the fact remains that arranged marriages still do function on the principle of marrying within your own community.
We are a nation of bigots who make a loud hue and cry when a pretty face receives racist comments on some game show on UK's cable TV, go figure!
Firstly, I do not get the whole idea of the caste system. Shockingly, our IT boom did not help us lose our pretentious divisions, it led to the creation of matrimonial websites which shamelessly and openly flaunt the adverts placed by many desperate people out there.
It disgusts me when I see one of these typical adverts which usually run like this: "Software engineer, IIT grad, working with MNC, looking for tall, fair, housewife of such and such caste and such and such gotra"
Many proponents of the arranged marriages cite the extremely low divorce rate in India, which is at present 1.1% and compare this with the much higher divorce rate in USA, which is 48%. Simply put, this argument is bull-crap! The divorce rate is not high in India because our society still frowns upon those who choose to leave an unhappy marriage. Partners in a malfunctioning marriage are usually expected to grit their teeth and hang in there no matter what.
It doesn't matter if their mental health keeps taking a beating every single day that they spend with each other forcibly, it doesn't matter that their psyche takes a beating when they are forced to sleep on separate beds because they cannot stand the sight of each other, it doesn't matter if their children face abuse and mental trauma from all the bitching and fighting everyday, because what really matters is family reputation and honour isn't it?
Women in the USA are not like the women in India who have been and are being oppressed. A woman here is usually perceived as nothing more than a house-maker and as a baby producing machine. As my biology teacher put it, the reason behind India's failure at population control is nothing more than "lack of recreation". Women are even today traded like livestock, the only difference is that people pay the seller for the livestock; in the case of women, the seller pays the husband a huge dowry to take away his daughter! Even educated women quietly consent to marriages wherein they are forced to play second fiddle, where they are forbidden from studying further or from working.
It is the double edged sword of lack of women empowerment and the ferocious, feral need for societal approval that has contributed towards India's low divorce rates.
Now I am not saying that arranged marriages go hand in glove with dowries or with the trend of subjugation of women. I do concede that many open minded people today are not averse to the idea of an empowered woman. Many have awoken and said no to dowries. But the fact remains that arranged marriages still do function on the principle of marrying within your own community.
We are a nation of bigots who make a loud hue and cry when a pretty face receives racist comments on some game show on UK's cable TV, go figure!
Saturday 9 May 2009
The Giant's Fall
The blank white noise of terror gripped at the pit of the giant’s belly. For years had he terrorized the denizens of nearby villages, for years had he exploited his natural gift of greater size and stature to subjugate the peasants. For years had he fed off the plates of the tillers of the soil and grown old and fat, his family had grown in size and he had begotten limbless offspring, for they had adapted to a life of ease and lack of need to exercise one’s limbs to eke out a living.
With time, his sight failed, his muscles weakened, his nimble limbs grew limp. The villages at the extremity of his realm withdrew from his liege-ship. Gradually his radius of influence shrunk and the day came when it shriveled to nothing. The wronged peasants drew up their cudgels and the frenzied mob frothed towards the cave of the fallen subjugator.
Ebullient blood cascaded out the hillside, the giant putting up a last stand, a clamorous battle ensued. In a last bid, the giant, with pulsating, raging veins beat back the rebels, and then, exhausted, he fell like a huge oak tree being felled.
One fat green eyed peasant settled the others. With soothing oily words, he convinced them that he would be a good replacement for the giant. The farmers picked him up on their shoulders and declared him their new liege-lord. The oldest, frailest among them remembered the moment many decades ago when the fallen giant started out in much the same way as the scene that was playing out now.
With a frantic palpitating heart, he shouted out a warning, “Fools! Don’t you see, he is the same as your fallen foe lying before you.
The bearers smiled, “Fret not old one, young be we, but not foolish!” They hurried out of the cave and quickly ascended to the summit of the mount, and with one powerful heave, they ejected their green eyed brother over the edge.
With time, his sight failed, his muscles weakened, his nimble limbs grew limp. The villages at the extremity of his realm withdrew from his liege-ship. Gradually his radius of influence shrunk and the day came when it shriveled to nothing. The wronged peasants drew up their cudgels and the frenzied mob frothed towards the cave of the fallen subjugator.
Ebullient blood cascaded out the hillside, the giant putting up a last stand, a clamorous battle ensued. In a last bid, the giant, with pulsating, raging veins beat back the rebels, and then, exhausted, he fell like a huge oak tree being felled.
One fat green eyed peasant settled the others. With soothing oily words, he convinced them that he would be a good replacement for the giant. The farmers picked him up on their shoulders and declared him their new liege-lord. The oldest, frailest among them remembered the moment many decades ago when the fallen giant started out in much the same way as the scene that was playing out now.
With a frantic palpitating heart, he shouted out a warning, “Fools! Don’t you see, he is the same as your fallen foe lying before you.
The bearers smiled, “Fret not old one, young be we, but not foolish!” They hurried out of the cave and quickly ascended to the summit of the mount, and with one powerful heave, they ejected their green eyed brother over the edge.
Monday 4 May 2009
Happy Wedding Day Ma and Pa!
The waves rolled gently into the shore,
the sun played on the sand,
the light drizzle adorned the sky with a rainbow.
The two children played without a care
Ma and Pa stood by ever watchful
looking out for the storm and lightning
Never a moment's rest did they seek
Forever watchful they remained
Their bond of marriage, a golden hammock
upon which the children romped and matured
A home did they build with bricks of love
mortared with happiness and peace.
A few summers before, on this very day
the foundation had been laid
Do you see the stars celebrate?
Yonder, the birds sing and the very Earth
brims with joyous bounty to mark the day
My verses though weak flow from my heart
Please do accept my best wishes and love
The waves rolled gently into the shore,
the sun played on the sand,
the light drizzle adorned the sky with a rainbow.
The two children played without a care
Ma and Pa stood by ever watchful
looking out for the storm and lightning
Never a moment's rest did they seek
Forever watchful they remained
Their bond of marriage, a golden hammock
upon which the children romped and matured
A home did they build with bricks of love
mortared with happiness and peace.
A few summers before, on this very day
the foundation had been laid
Do you see the stars celebrate?
Yonder, the birds sing and the very Earth
brims with joyous bounty to mark the day
My verses though weak flow from my heart
Please do accept my best wishes and love
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