I decided not to visit my home town, a village that oversees the Western Ghats. One may wonder why? Plugging away at my PhD for the past one year, I have skipped deadlines I set at least couple of times. My dad got used to the timeline that he adds a buffer period of two months to the time period I give every time. So, I thought it would be better off if I submit the thesis and then visit my village with no strings attached.
However, wish got the better of my will and I had been to my home town (near Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India) recently. It was more of a jaunt – a short trip for four days and hardly had time to rewind and bask in the whistling breeze as against the bristling heat in Chennai.
I am making this trip after seven to eight months. There was much to catch up and I did. It awakened me and brought me to realise that disaster could happen in no time and to people who were once fit and healthy. Some existed and a few had disappeared. For people like us, who are on a rat race chasing money extending our hands in all directions to grab currencies in a cut-throat fashion with no liking for fellow human beings and chums and friends, I could see the cues of impermanence from only four persons whom I met in a single day. Continued…….
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
What am I taking away from you?
I am not writing blogs to get rave reviews. Of late, I have been receiving nasty comments and someone looked at me saying ‘You are creepy’. My open writing style has put my identity at stake. Women, I don’t have many readers, think I have two selves and more than that. For one, I do not behave in society in line with the will-of-the wisp imaginations of my heart. But, I etch all my thoughts, foul and fair, vice and virtue, good and bad, in my writings.
Having seen a silent and soft spoken character that I do not intend to willingly portray with any sinister motives, a joke I cracked recently did not pull out the raw laughter from those who usually do. Instead, I was probed if I was capable of doing it. Cracking jokes, I am not a habitual humour machine. Now and then, I can produce some. Not ready to believe. No sweat.
The funniest part is someone close to my heart believes I have the potential to backbite and leave the person lurching high and dry. What a paradox? She does not know I have a camera installed in my laptop bag. I am not Sharon Stone..hahaha. But, it’s time to disclose my mission. Mission that is new found. Hijack or get hijacked. It cannot get any trickier than this, isn’t it? I would love to leave this post as unfathomable as how she never allows anyone to know what has irked her to change her colours.
It has been wonderful all these days. This week, especially, has brought out my pluckier streak never before known. I don‘t know what people think of me, talk about me – good riddance bad rubbish. I am happy to take all that comes my way. But, the larger worry is that nothing comes.
Yet another journey whose memories I will live with. Do you know why I have to live with it? I am not spilling the beans. For the unexpected sweeping, teeny climax that is keeping me off the ground. Anyways, that is my feeling. Come on guys! Bury the hatchet and let us shake our legs. Imagine that you have given me a royal kick and shown me the door. My pants have gone dirty – you could have pushed me gently. Never mind. Take care you all who took good care of me. BYE. Am I leaving without telling someone something? The pain is mine. However, let my parting be your pleasure.
CAN I HAVE A GROUP PHOTO AS WELL AS (typo error)
Having seen a silent and soft spoken character that I do not intend to willingly portray with any sinister motives, a joke I cracked recently did not pull out the raw laughter from those who usually do. Instead, I was probed if I was capable of doing it. Cracking jokes, I am not a habitual humour machine. Now and then, I can produce some. Not ready to believe. No sweat.
The funniest part is someone close to my heart believes I have the potential to backbite and leave the person lurching high and dry. What a paradox? She does not know I have a camera installed in my laptop bag. I am not Sharon Stone..hahaha. But, it’s time to disclose my mission. Mission that is new found. Hijack or get hijacked. It cannot get any trickier than this, isn’t it? I would love to leave this post as unfathomable as how she never allows anyone to know what has irked her to change her colours.
It has been wonderful all these days. This week, especially, has brought out my pluckier streak never before known. I don‘t know what people think of me, talk about me – good riddance bad rubbish. I am happy to take all that comes my way. But, the larger worry is that nothing comes.
Yet another journey whose memories I will live with. Do you know why I have to live with it? I am not spilling the beans. For the unexpected sweeping, teeny climax that is keeping me off the ground. Anyways, that is my feeling. Come on guys! Bury the hatchet and let us shake our legs. Imagine that you have given me a royal kick and shown me the door. My pants have gone dirty – you could have pushed me gently. Never mind. Take care you all who took good care of me. BYE. Am I leaving without telling someone something? The pain is mine. However, let my parting be your pleasure.
CAN I HAVE A GROUP PHOTO AS WELL AS (typo error)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Is corruption affecting condom business and our country's development?
Development is the key word that has put some countries in the front and some in the rear. It is unfortunate and simultaneously a global mandate that a few countries are flush with funds, technologically advanced, with high level of awareness about political, social, economic and health issues. On the flip side, there are countries where poverty handicaps their growth; earning potential of majority of the people is acutely low. This has made access to technologies a debate that goes on and on and has not been won yet.
The line drawn between the leading countries and moderately and highly impoverished countries is called the divide or development divide. Therefore, there are developed countries concentrated in the North Bloc, for example United States of America, United Kingdom, to a larger extent all Scandinavian countries and Canada. Asia is branded a developing continent though South Korea and Singapore have marched ahead close to the North Bloc.
India, a third world country, is a developing nation facing constraints to bring about all round development. It is sad to note that India is pegged at 128th rank in the development index. This is in spite of IT industry bringing revenues in streams. However, this information-based economy accounts only for 30 percent of the nation’s growth. The remaining 70 percent is agro-based economy with most of our fellow Indians living in rural pockets without basic amenities such as electricity and water.
Taking a kaleidoscopic view of the entire state of affairs, it is understandable that there is a way out for our country to develop. If only corruption is eradicated; people are aware of their rights and responsibilities; and much more.
Corruption is a candidate unanimously selected by those whom people elect democratically. Later, this insidious candidate is used against people. Those who ‘have’ garland corruption for all wrong reasons. What about people who fall under ‘have-nots’? Thus, corruption stratifies the population into two and in the end creates development divide and social inequality.
Corruption is everywhere, in all government departments and perpetrated by all government workers. Traffic policeman is a case in point. He works hard to regulate traffic and stands in scorching sun, biting cold to make sure office goers and others do not get held up in traffic. Violating traffic rules is a fun ride some of us enjoy doing. Four in one bike.
The traffic policemen stop lorries and take them for a ride. Those vehicles that go on a long trip transporting goods from one state to another or from one city to another within a state have to bribe the traffic regulators. Now, to understand development better, this has to be seen in a different context. Drivers leave their families and will be away for a week or two depending on the job assignment and distance. On their way, they get attracted by the prospect of sexual workers. Practically speaking, as raw human beings, they are snared after a drought of having no sex. They are not saints like Swami Vivekananda. But, the irony is this incidence has now cast a shadow on institution like marriage and our nation reports higher number of AIDS patients.
The argument here is the government talks about taking preventive measures before indulging in such wrongful activities. I do not want to opinionate whether it is right or wrong. But, if traffic policemen are going to collect bribes as lorries enter each state border, for example, the drivers and others traveling in the vehicle will be left with little money that they cannot afford to buy condoms. So, does the question of ‘playing it safe’ arise?
Corruption has made drivers almost broke and the reserve money they have are used for contracting AIDS, less wonder. The next and final question is: In this context, how do we expect our country to develop? The government creates awareness through advertisements and the government officials give no chance to bed with sexual partners in a safe way. It is a clear paradox. Is this not related to health awareness and development?
The line drawn between the leading countries and moderately and highly impoverished countries is called the divide or development divide. Therefore, there are developed countries concentrated in the North Bloc, for example United States of America, United Kingdom, to a larger extent all Scandinavian countries and Canada. Asia is branded a developing continent though South Korea and Singapore have marched ahead close to the North Bloc.
India, a third world country, is a developing nation facing constraints to bring about all round development. It is sad to note that India is pegged at 128th rank in the development index. This is in spite of IT industry bringing revenues in streams. However, this information-based economy accounts only for 30 percent of the nation’s growth. The remaining 70 percent is agro-based economy with most of our fellow Indians living in rural pockets without basic amenities such as electricity and water.
Taking a kaleidoscopic view of the entire state of affairs, it is understandable that there is a way out for our country to develop. If only corruption is eradicated; people are aware of their rights and responsibilities; and much more.
Corruption is a candidate unanimously selected by those whom people elect democratically. Later, this insidious candidate is used against people. Those who ‘have’ garland corruption for all wrong reasons. What about people who fall under ‘have-nots’? Thus, corruption stratifies the population into two and in the end creates development divide and social inequality.
Corruption is everywhere, in all government departments and perpetrated by all government workers. Traffic policeman is a case in point. He works hard to regulate traffic and stands in scorching sun, biting cold to make sure office goers and others do not get held up in traffic. Violating traffic rules is a fun ride some of us enjoy doing. Four in one bike.
The traffic policemen stop lorries and take them for a ride. Those vehicles that go on a long trip transporting goods from one state to another or from one city to another within a state have to bribe the traffic regulators. Now, to understand development better, this has to be seen in a different context. Drivers leave their families and will be away for a week or two depending on the job assignment and distance. On their way, they get attracted by the prospect of sexual workers. Practically speaking, as raw human beings, they are snared after a drought of having no sex. They are not saints like Swami Vivekananda. But, the irony is this incidence has now cast a shadow on institution like marriage and our nation reports higher number of AIDS patients.
The argument here is the government talks about taking preventive measures before indulging in such wrongful activities. I do not want to opinionate whether it is right or wrong. But, if traffic policemen are going to collect bribes as lorries enter each state border, for example, the drivers and others traveling in the vehicle will be left with little money that they cannot afford to buy condoms. So, does the question of ‘playing it safe’ arise?
Corruption has made drivers almost broke and the reserve money they have are used for contracting AIDS, less wonder. The next and final question is: In this context, how do we expect our country to develop? The government creates awareness through advertisements and the government officials give no chance to bed with sexual partners in a safe way. It is a clear paradox. Is this not related to health awareness and development?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
CBI raids doctors (wish it happens)
Till last year, I had to set aside a huge amount towards investment to ease the burden of tax. I mean income tax. When I was in the initial stages of earning, I did not know the importance of investments and one fine month, I would find 40 percent of the salary eaten up by tax monger and just some peanuts dropping into my account.
I am not here to argue if paying income tax in full is a sane advice or making investments and paying a slice of the total tax is. It might look as if one has got around hazards of tax that gobbles up more than a month salary if you are an IT employee. On the other hand, to pay reduced tax amount, one has to invest five fold and it increases with increase in salary. So, it six of the one and a half dozen of the other - all the same.
However, I am scrupulous and do not want to hedge off paying tax. The irony is people like me will be very few accounting for a small percentage – especially all those working and falling under IT slab.
There are many who dodge tax payments quite deftly. Many professionals who are held in high esteem in society are culprits and go unpunished. Recently, my son was operated for tonsillectomy. I met a doctor and found the charge high and approached a government doctor instead. It goes without saying he gets paid by the government and to add he is a consultant in a few hospitals. He suggested a hospital which might charge reasonably.
The date for the surgery was fixed and it was to happen on a Saturday morning. He said he would not be able to do it on Friday as he had a case to attend to. He also quashed our intention to have it in the first week of October citing he might go abroad. For all you know, that was a cute excuse presented to push us to get the surgery done right off the bat.
I received a call from him on Thursday evening. He said the surgery he was supposed to perform on Friday got postponed and so he was free to operate my son on Friday. I was shocked as he had not seen the test reports he had told us to do. And, is he going for surgery without examining the patient, reports? I could sense the urge in him. It was rather an attempt to clinch a business deal. Human life – is it (not) pay dirt?
He told us to admit my son to the hospital and came at 10.30 p.m. to make sure the operation theatre was all set for the next morning’s surgery. He also brought his gadgets. He wanted to make sure all is well for the surgery to take place. He paid a surprise visit to our room and looked at the X-ray and reports - was just going through the motion. He left as fast as he entered saying that the surgery is at 6.30 p.m.
When I tailgated him, he told me to pay him Rs. 6000 and Rs. 1000 for the anesthetist. For the first time in my life, whatever respect and reverence I had for doctors crumbled as he told me to put the money in envelopes and no receipts for that.
This raises a serious question as to what bloody/darn social responsibility doctors have. I do not want to generalize but the law Anbumani Ramadoss has introduced for the medicos that they practice in rural health centres for a year to be qualified as doctors is legitimate beyond doubt.
Right from students coughing up 20 to 40 lakhs in self-financed medical institutions to the same students graduating with a corrupt thought of making quick money after completing the course, they are reared as raring to squeeze money out of patients.
And the doctor who operated upon my son may be culpable but is he not someone who is hoarding money – black money at that. They too are quacks in a way and steps to expose such uncouth professionals rest with every one of us.
The saying goes’ “An apple a day keeps a doctor away”. We really need to think about keeping doctors at bay. Social responsibility has become a clichéd term. The so-called doctors are myopic about that.
I am not here to argue if paying income tax in full is a sane advice or making investments and paying a slice of the total tax is. It might look as if one has got around hazards of tax that gobbles up more than a month salary if you are an IT employee. On the other hand, to pay reduced tax amount, one has to invest five fold and it increases with increase in salary. So, it six of the one and a half dozen of the other - all the same.
However, I am scrupulous and do not want to hedge off paying tax. The irony is people like me will be very few accounting for a small percentage – especially all those working and falling under IT slab.
There are many who dodge tax payments quite deftly. Many professionals who are held in high esteem in society are culprits and go unpunished. Recently, my son was operated for tonsillectomy. I met a doctor and found the charge high and approached a government doctor instead. It goes without saying he gets paid by the government and to add he is a consultant in a few hospitals. He suggested a hospital which might charge reasonably.
The date for the surgery was fixed and it was to happen on a Saturday morning. He said he would not be able to do it on Friday as he had a case to attend to. He also quashed our intention to have it in the first week of October citing he might go abroad. For all you know, that was a cute excuse presented to push us to get the surgery done right off the bat.
I received a call from him on Thursday evening. He said the surgery he was supposed to perform on Friday got postponed and so he was free to operate my son on Friday. I was shocked as he had not seen the test reports he had told us to do. And, is he going for surgery without examining the patient, reports? I could sense the urge in him. It was rather an attempt to clinch a business deal. Human life – is it (not) pay dirt?
He told us to admit my son to the hospital and came at 10.30 p.m. to make sure the operation theatre was all set for the next morning’s surgery. He also brought his gadgets. He wanted to make sure all is well for the surgery to take place. He paid a surprise visit to our room and looked at the X-ray and reports - was just going through the motion. He left as fast as he entered saying that the surgery is at 6.30 p.m.
When I tailgated him, he told me to pay him Rs. 6000 and Rs. 1000 for the anesthetist. For the first time in my life, whatever respect and reverence I had for doctors crumbled as he told me to put the money in envelopes and no receipts for that.
This raises a serious question as to what bloody/darn social responsibility doctors have. I do not want to generalize but the law Anbumani Ramadoss has introduced for the medicos that they practice in rural health centres for a year to be qualified as doctors is legitimate beyond doubt.
Right from students coughing up 20 to 40 lakhs in self-financed medical institutions to the same students graduating with a corrupt thought of making quick money after completing the course, they are reared as raring to squeeze money out of patients.
And the doctor who operated upon my son may be culpable but is he not someone who is hoarding money – black money at that. They too are quacks in a way and steps to expose such uncouth professionals rest with every one of us.
The saying goes’ “An apple a day keeps a doctor away”. We really need to think about keeping doctors at bay. Social responsibility has become a clichéd term. The so-called doctors are myopic about that.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Goggledygook, a gaffe
Sons and daughters make us feel proud. I have two sons and only them. I could not help much when my wife came out of the operation theatre after delivering the second baby sobbing and whining. One would imagine she was reeling under pain after she was operated upon for delivery and got her womb nipped. So, her womb is not flush with fertile glands anymore. Later, when she was moved to the room, I learnt that her desire for a baby girl doomed and now taking another shot was also quelled for good.
Three years down, she is thankful to me that I was persistent with having two kids as I am always with my bedding rant. Now, my kids have grown up and one is showing signs of frustration whenever persuaded to study while the younger one is keen on flipping pages and making alien sounds with books held upside down. My wife, thinks she is clairvoyant, says he will outsmart me. Touchwood.
Well, I was taking all of them two sons and my wife in my bike. One sits on the bulging petrol tank and in a linear view, it looks like four blocks of different heights (size apart) moving strenuously through heavy traffic. I told my son to crouch a little as I can’t see things ahead. He started talking about my head.
Your head is important. It is a bundle of …..bundle of what nerves eh?, nope, it is a bundle of knowledge. What a thick sheet of ice that must be? Honours from my kid. He did not stop with that. He said your head is a google. I wondered and admired that he has understood google and can use it as a verb.
Anyone would have remained sated with these praises. I went little farther. I asked him ‘You said my mind is a google’. Is it similie or metaphor? He screwed up his eyes when lights from an opposite vehicle peered through them. Whether it was light or my question that got him made faces – I did not know. If I had not pestered him further, he would have changed the topic. Eventually, I had to give him the answer. And, he changed his tack cleverly and said ‘Your head is like google’ reducing my self worth a bit.
Three years down, she is thankful to me that I was persistent with having two kids as I am always with my bedding rant. Now, my kids have grown up and one is showing signs of frustration whenever persuaded to study while the younger one is keen on flipping pages and making alien sounds with books held upside down. My wife, thinks she is clairvoyant, says he will outsmart me. Touchwood.
Well, I was taking all of them two sons and my wife in my bike. One sits on the bulging petrol tank and in a linear view, it looks like four blocks of different heights (size apart) moving strenuously through heavy traffic. I told my son to crouch a little as I can’t see things ahead. He started talking about my head.
Your head is important. It is a bundle of …..bundle of what nerves eh?, nope, it is a bundle of knowledge. What a thick sheet of ice that must be? Honours from my kid. He did not stop with that. He said your head is a google. I wondered and admired that he has understood google and can use it as a verb.
Anyone would have remained sated with these praises. I went little farther. I asked him ‘You said my mind is a google’. Is it similie or metaphor? He screwed up his eyes when lights from an opposite vehicle peered through them. Whether it was light or my question that got him made faces – I did not know. If I had not pestered him further, he would have changed the topic. Eventually, I had to give him the answer. And, he changed his tack cleverly and said ‘Your head is like google’ reducing my self worth a bit.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Removing Mush - is it a fair bet?
It was the convoluted political coup of Musharaff that brought down the government of Nawaz Sheriff. Later, Sheriff lived in exile almost losing his iconic identity reduced to a fantasy figure in the heads of his fans. And only fans. So, was late Benazir Bhutto. Mush became president and he established Army as the supreme authority to steer forward the country through tough times and easy days. Mush is cool and is a hawk to boot. Soft and tough. For a decade, he remained a cult figure and a fearsome personality.
Removing him has not cost the country much, nary a farthing. Another political virtuoso (read in negative connotation) is jockeying for the post. But, it is no easy pushover and Nawaz Sheriff stands in the way. I am not sure if he cares for the post as much as he hated Mush. By the way, the presidential election is not far off.
I never did hate mush, not once in my life. I look good with mush. Sorry, if you think I have taken a mug with him. It is my own moustache. It was not a well-orchestrated plan to upstage my look or rather uplift my facial features. I was in exile in my hometown for three days and I knew most of the inhabitants would not recognize me with my mush stripped off. My mother looked the most disappointed. She said 'You look like one in the village band who beats the traditional drum hung from his shoulder in temple festivals'. The odd comment I got was 'You have become a pious muslim'. That rattled my nerves. When I came back to chennai, my wife related me to ROSE programme in VIJAY TV. grrrrrrrrr...
When I attended a marriage in my village, I thought I will be in the limelight for either reasons - seeing me after a long time and seeing me in a new look. Both went west. People would have bothered to look at me had it not been for the absence of mush. I don't insist nor do I opine that Mush must be reinstated.
If you ever thought it was a coup, i mean removing mush..it is an insane idea. But, those who recognized did coo and boo me. Unlike the Pak Mush, removal was my own making or undertaking. I did not commit any crime for villagers to put me on a donkey shaving my head and face. So, there was no reason for them to impeach me with ugly marks on my body.
You can work on other permutations and combinations. Why would I remove mush? To give some one run for his money? Your guess is grossly wrong. To woo the opposite sex? Fabulous idea, I never though about that. Planning to send some one to live in exile? Yes, my own old looks. And taking a rain check on whether I have all positive points favouring me. Like: Do I have cute lips that are a source of seduction? A montage of leading models' lips.
If that be the case, it has all what it takes to steal the thunder leaving the rest of the features to fall flat? Except for one. My eyes can hardly deflate as they look like two marbles etched on a rock. So, there is a competition between my lips and eyes, I suppose.
Having said that, who is now aiming a shot at the barren space where mush had 100% stake? Let me stop rambling. It is once again going to be those glittering silver hair peeking through the lush black mush. But, they spoil the show. The reason why I removed Mush may upset many close friends. But, it is a definite attraction for the uninitiated. Anyway, what is wrong in test driving?
Removing him has not cost the country much, nary a farthing. Another political virtuoso (read in negative connotation) is jockeying for the post. But, it is no easy pushover and Nawaz Sheriff stands in the way. I am not sure if he cares for the post as much as he hated Mush. By the way, the presidential election is not far off.
I never did hate mush, not once in my life. I look good with mush. Sorry, if you think I have taken a mug with him. It is my own moustache. It was not a well-orchestrated plan to upstage my look or rather uplift my facial features. I was in exile in my hometown for three days and I knew most of the inhabitants would not recognize me with my mush stripped off. My mother looked the most disappointed. She said 'You look like one in the village band who beats the traditional drum hung from his shoulder in temple festivals'. The odd comment I got was 'You have become a pious muslim'. That rattled my nerves. When I came back to chennai, my wife related me to ROSE programme in VIJAY TV. grrrrrrrrr...
When I attended a marriage in my village, I thought I will be in the limelight for either reasons - seeing me after a long time and seeing me in a new look. Both went west. People would have bothered to look at me had it not been for the absence of mush. I don't insist nor do I opine that Mush must be reinstated.
If you ever thought it was a coup, i mean removing mush..it is an insane idea. But, those who recognized did coo and boo me. Unlike the Pak Mush, removal was my own making or undertaking. I did not commit any crime for villagers to put me on a donkey shaving my head and face. So, there was no reason for them to impeach me with ugly marks on my body.
You can work on other permutations and combinations. Why would I remove mush? To give some one run for his money? Your guess is grossly wrong. To woo the opposite sex? Fabulous idea, I never though about that. Planning to send some one to live in exile? Yes, my own old looks. And taking a rain check on whether I have all positive points favouring me. Like: Do I have cute lips that are a source of seduction? A montage of leading models' lips.
If that be the case, it has all what it takes to steal the thunder leaving the rest of the features to fall flat? Except for one. My eyes can hardly deflate as they look like two marbles etched on a rock. So, there is a competition between my lips and eyes, I suppose.
Having said that, who is now aiming a shot at the barren space where mush had 100% stake? Let me stop rambling. It is once again going to be those glittering silver hair peeking through the lush black mush. But, they spoil the show. The reason why I removed Mush may upset many close friends. But, it is a definite attraction for the uninitiated. Anyway, what is wrong in test driving?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Souls sponsoring my PhD
I am surrounded by gestures. I must be one of those lucky guys to garner help from friends and acquaintances. My calendar for data collection that began from April is going full steam ahead. My contacts and their good-natured and courteous nature have made my pursuit easy. This looks like I have become a ‘dada’ or ‘don’ they have taken fancy to. You wonder, for what? To see me complete my doctoral studies. Inwardly, they must be thinking I am one nutty pest to latch on to a subject that I myself can’t talk about convincingly??!! So, what is my stance? Dare not ask that?!!
My friend who came to know about my visiting the whole of South India for collecting data grew suspicious after seeing the itinerary. It looks like honey moon with a Cuban girl, he said. No doubt, there certainly is going to be a rocking party drumming, dancing, twittering, tossing away shame and indulging in a riot of sprightly seashore gala, especially after twilight.
But, I am waiting for the day when I can shriek with exuberance to myself ‘the winner is none other than ……’ I know I am day dreaming.
And time to thank students, friends, my guide, and others. A special mention about my son who makes funny remarks – pop always talks about PhD, not sure when he will come out of that eerie world.
Above all, I shot a mail to my cousin Fareetha in the States to get me a couple of books. She thought the ship I was traveling in sprang a leak and was sinking by yards or like the Titanic. She treated the mail with such urgency that she placed order for the books much faster than the campaign race between Obama Barrack and Hillary Clinton. To add, she revels in contributing to my effort and she is one caring soul who has been continually enquiring about my career. And, today when she repeatedly says it is her pleasure to help me in some way, I feel like a kite trying to overpower the wind in cloud nine. It is so special that people like her are making my life easier.
What do I owe them apart from dough that I need to pay for the books? What do I owe you all?
My friend who came to know about my visiting the whole of South India for collecting data grew suspicious after seeing the itinerary. It looks like honey moon with a Cuban girl, he said. No doubt, there certainly is going to be a rocking party drumming, dancing, twittering, tossing away shame and indulging in a riot of sprightly seashore gala, especially after twilight.
But, I am waiting for the day when I can shriek with exuberance to myself ‘the winner is none other than ……’ I know I am day dreaming.
And time to thank students, friends, my guide, and others. A special mention about my son who makes funny remarks – pop always talks about PhD, not sure when he will come out of that eerie world.
Above all, I shot a mail to my cousin Fareetha in the States to get me a couple of books. She thought the ship I was traveling in sprang a leak and was sinking by yards or like the Titanic. She treated the mail with such urgency that she placed order for the books much faster than the campaign race between Obama Barrack and Hillary Clinton. To add, she revels in contributing to my effort and she is one caring soul who has been continually enquiring about my career. And, today when she repeatedly says it is her pleasure to help me in some way, I feel like a kite trying to overpower the wind in cloud nine. It is so special that people like her are making my life easier.
What do I owe them apart from dough that I need to pay for the books? What do I owe you all?
Courting food in Hyderabad
I was in Vizag couple of weeks back to gather data for my doctoral studies. Returning from Hyderabad after a botched schedule I came to this port town. Staying for two days in Hyderabad was no cheery moment as I could neither understand nor speak Hindi, let alone Telugu. Thank God, I conducted my study where girls speak at least three languages. I survived interacting with them in English.
But, outside where I was put up in a hotel, I used non-verbal language to convey what I wanted to. Half of them went off the top of the auto drivers. Or they pretended they understood and used it as an excuse to wring as much money as they could. Yet, the money they squeezed out of me was half what the rapacious auto drivers in Chennai would demand to cover the same distance.
Staying two days, I wanted to exploit the culinary items of the Moghul town. I took directions for the best biriyani hotel and did not mind walking all the way to the hotel in spite my having to nip down two or more than two km. Hell, when the waiter rattled out the menu, I choked up even before I swallowed anything. I said, “Menu card, please’.
The colourful menu had a lot of varieties of which I knew only of biriyani. Not knowing what the rest of them are, I opted for a safe bet, which is hyderabadi biriyani. The quantity seemed far too much to eat. Half way through the course, someone came and sat opposite me and ordered a different exotic stuff and I thought in retrospect ‘Ewwww, Could have had that’. I picked up the paper napkin and guarded my mouth from doodling.
So, this is what happened everywhere I went to have food or tea. The tea shop paraded biscuits and I grew leery of them all. I thought it would do well to skip my meals and taste all of those crispy biscuits instead. I was tongue-tied by the options as much as by the language barrier and had to go to the man sitting at the cash register and put my fingers on biscuits I wanted. “That, no the next one, this, that big round piece, etc.”
After filling my stomach breaching the limits, I washed them down all with tasteful Irani tea. Now, the man who serves collects money. In fact, I took about 10 minutes to gobble down and an equal amount of time to tell him what I had and pay him. He made me go to the cash register and show all biscuits I had. I demonstrated it once again.
It only reminds me of my friend who claimed she knew Hindi and told someone ‘Anju’ (tamil equivalent of five) whereas she wanted to say ‘paanch’.
But, outside where I was put up in a hotel, I used non-verbal language to convey what I wanted to. Half of them went off the top of the auto drivers. Or they pretended they understood and used it as an excuse to wring as much money as they could. Yet, the money they squeezed out of me was half what the rapacious auto drivers in Chennai would demand to cover the same distance.
Staying two days, I wanted to exploit the culinary items of the Moghul town. I took directions for the best biriyani hotel and did not mind walking all the way to the hotel in spite my having to nip down two or more than two km. Hell, when the waiter rattled out the menu, I choked up even before I swallowed anything. I said, “Menu card, please’.
The colourful menu had a lot of varieties of which I knew only of biriyani. Not knowing what the rest of them are, I opted for a safe bet, which is hyderabadi biriyani. The quantity seemed far too much to eat. Half way through the course, someone came and sat opposite me and ordered a different exotic stuff and I thought in retrospect ‘Ewwww, Could have had that’. I picked up the paper napkin and guarded my mouth from doodling.
So, this is what happened everywhere I went to have food or tea. The tea shop paraded biscuits and I grew leery of them all. I thought it would do well to skip my meals and taste all of those crispy biscuits instead. I was tongue-tied by the options as much as by the language barrier and had to go to the man sitting at the cash register and put my fingers on biscuits I wanted. “That, no the next one, this, that big round piece, etc.”
After filling my stomach breaching the limits, I washed them down all with tasteful Irani tea. Now, the man who serves collects money. In fact, I took about 10 minutes to gobble down and an equal amount of time to tell him what I had and pay him. He made me go to the cash register and show all biscuits I had. I demonstrated it once again.
It only reminds me of my friend who claimed she knew Hindi and told someone ‘Anju’ (tamil equivalent of five) whereas she wanted to say ‘paanch’.
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