Slumdog Millionaire

The itch to write after a long hiatus returned as I was watching this Flick late night y'day. Easily it is one of the best movies I have ever watched. I was taken aback by the interest and the kind of research done by the British Director Danny Boyle with an all Indian Subject and an all Indian Casting. Hats off to the whole Team for portraying such a stark reality on screen. Its the story of a kid who goes from rags to riches...From dwelling in slums to winning millions on the show "Who wants to be a Millionaire"! The movie is made with real kids from the slums of Dharavi, Mumbai and therefore, every actor from a small kiddo to the protagonist of the film seems so real and livid! Especially heart wrenching is the way these slum children are treated by Indian Policemen, the Mafia/Gangsters and the general public - no less than animals..Their gullibilily is so in your face when they can be lured by a mere soft drink into the Begging network...Where their eyes are popped out by the shrewd beggars bosses...Just 'cos blind beggars get double the alms! How shocking! It forced me to change my attitude towards these slum kids whose innocence is lost at the hands of crooks at every corner. Its amazing how the director has shown everything from Hindu-Muslim riots, Begging Mafia Network, Gangsters operations, Red Lights areas and trafficking of gal kids...too many vices...I took a look at my newborn and was dreaded with even the thought that any kid would have to endure a journey as horrific as the protagonist! Though India is shown at the epicenter of the modern developing global scene later in the movie, but just the thought that probably millions of kids in countries like India lead such lives made me so sad and sympathetic towards them. I wished Indian Directors took these subjects instead of dishing out mindless flicks after flicks 'cos it definitely leaves an impact and is successful in changing the perspective towards these "Children of lesser God"!

Perspective- Life in the US vs. India

When I first came to the United States back in 2003, my first reaction was "Wow everything is so big here!" big onions, bigger coke glasses and even bigger icecream tubs! Well jokes apart, I really found this country a bigger lot with an abundance of space. To compare it with my homeland which is about one third of the size of the States and three times the population, you can well imagine how many people I was used to seeing per sq. foot of land! Thus it was but natural that after the initial excitement and euphoria subsided, I felt lonely in this alien land with no relatives and a handful of friends to fall back on. I feel the loneliness even now after spending four and a half long years, the reason being that India is a very lively and colorful country with its people being very warm, friendly and cheerful and sometimes, over indulgent in the lives of others. Not that I don't see any down side to that trait of Indians. Being in this environment now, I feel the need and importance for my space. Being independent and living for myself comes more naturally to me than it would have been few yrs back! Now, I cannot just have my cake and eat it too.Can I? An example of how different is India in this respect would be that we usually invite our Parents and In-laws in our homes for periods like 6 months which is quite unheard of in the States.
The second big difference lies in the attitudes of people of the two countries. I find in general, a lot of honesty, kindness, forthrighness in people here vis a vis in people of India. The judiciary in this country is a lot more organised and laws and rules are enforced effectively here as compared to India. Its a lot easier for influential people or even the common man in India to bend the rules. The prime reasons behind such behaviour might be the corruption, red tapism and poverty. The political structure in India is digging holes in the entire system and the corruption is so deep rooted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for a country like India to grow despite having all the modern technology, nuclear and space programs and the most intelligent brain power in the world. As a result of the big difference in the incomes of the two stratas of the society, the crime graphs in the big as well as small cities are on a rise. The rich are getting richer by the day and poor getting poorer. Hope the young blood takes the reigns in their hands and do a makeover of my beloved nation!
The third major difference I feel is a lot more open culture through out the west than the eastern region! India is a land rich in culture and diversity. There are 30 states with a different language spoken through each state, hundreds of dialects spoken, different types of foods eaten, diiferent kinds of dresses worn in different regions. There are many types of religions followed, hundreds of Gods, countless saints, dozens of scriptures. India beholds the key to spiritualism and lots of saints have attained the highest levels of salvation or Nirvana following the core principles of Indian scriptures. Contrast that to the open culture here, I feel a lot of materialism here in this abundant land. Materialism is not a bad thing, only values should not be lost and the correct values should be inculcated in the children. When I see adolescents driving a BMW here or kids having the most expensive toys in this world, I think about the kids playing in dirt backhome who don't even have enough to eat! On the up side, I am glad that people here don't meddle with others' lives and are not bothered about what others are wearing, eating or behaving! In India, Parents are more indulgent in their childrens' lives and provide financial and physical support till they have completed their education and have started earning for themselves. Here, the children are made more self reliant and confident by letting them earn for themselves from a pretty early age which inturn, helps them build the much needed confidence!
Having quoted these major differences in my point of view, I feel myself to be fortunate to have experienced both the worlds. I got to see a different perspective of life from this angle! I absolutely love this land of oppurtunity which has given me everything in abundance but my heart still pines for my motherland and I keep living in this hope that some day, I will certainly go back to where I belong! Amen!

Salaam Bombay - A tribute to Street Children

Saw this extremely realistic and an eye-opener movie made by our very own Mira Nair. I must say, I was completely shaken up by this realistic portrayal and a sneek peek into the lives of Mumbai Street Children. Can life be so horrific and a complete torture for these impressionable and young minds? I could not thank God enough for giving me such an enriched life which we completely take for granted and waste completely thinking about what we don't have but never realise what we do! I mean I have all the luxaries in this world one can hope for but still feel at times that I want to go on the other side of the fence. On the other side, there are these street children who are struggling hard to even make ends meet. And what does it take for a child in his pre-teens who is left alone in this big bad world to earn for himself. Hats off to the Director to show a stark reality and the ugly side of the most glamorous city and the economic capital of India - The Big Bad Mumbai! I mean most of the movies depict this city as a place of opportunities and the land of making it big. But only for a handful of people and this movie shows how innocent lives are crushed here everyday. The protagonist of this story is named "Chai-pav", How recklessly he was named, Since he worked at a Chai stall and had no other identity except the fact that he worked there. How a prostitute has to still "work" despite getting married and having a child and how she loses that girl child to an orphanage since the authorities think she can get decent Parents who will refine her life! It is really heart wrenching to see and feel the plight of these young children who are forced in the world of crime and end up at remand homes and prisons. I salute the lady who has so convincingly depicted the lives of these handful of fellas that it looks more real than documentaries and biographies. Go and watch it, it might change your viewpoint towards life!

Reincarnation - a truth or myth

Today I feel eternally blessed and feel genuinely happy inside, despite of the problems on my pheriphery...Reason - Two of the people who touch my life in more ways than one make it worth living were born today...And I want to thank them so much for being a part of my life...All my sincerest wishes go to them both and may they be blessed eternally.Now to the topic - Which again sent my grey cells in a tizzy and started me thinking...The discussion started off with my better half as usual and as expected, we were on completely opposite sides of the fence.He didn't believe at all in this enigma of karma and punarjanam whereas I was adamant that one's deeds good or bad in the past births are responsible for mankind's bliss or miseries respectively in this lifetime. I can quote numerous examples which come popping in the media every now and then about kids who can give full details of their previous lives, name people they have never met or tell about places which they have never visited. And there is enough evidence to substantiate such findings...So I'm convinced that reincarnation is certainly a reality. Now comes the issue of whether every living being is a mere puppet and comes to life only to experience his or her past deeds and cannot control his life fully with his actions or inactions. It cannot be a mere chance that mental illness strikes some people and they lose control of their mind, body and ultimately of their lives though they haven't done any considerable harm to anyone but on the other hand, murderers, sinners and corrupt politicians keep on living luxurious lives. The argument which I really liked from my counterpart to this theory was : He asked me to name one person who doesn't have any sorrows in life and I couldn't. So according to my theory then, everyone has committed sins in the past since nobody is without miseries in life which was difficult to counter argue.To put forward my point, I told him why only some people become rich, famous and successful in their craft that they get accolades from whole world whereas other humans clean filth all their life to which he answered that These bigwigs have their share of problems in life.So according to my theory then, everyone has committed sins in the past since nobody is without miseries in life. Maybe the magnitude of the sins or misdeeds done in the previous births amounts to the miseries one faces in this lifetime.Life itself is a vicious circle in which everyone comes to experience his or her share of joys and sorrows.Whatever name we give to it - Destiny, previous deeds or something else, there is an external force which is guiding us all. How does it explain otherwise the different awareness and maturity levels of individuals. The ones who remain so engrossed in vyasanas and the futilities and the others who attain vast knowledge of the upnisads and vedas and not only just preach but also apply those ways and virtues in leading their lives. So the question still remains open ended and for you guys to introspect - Is the theory of past karmas just there to instill fear in humans so that they steer clear of all vices and be humane to their fellows.
Disclaimer : This blog doesn't hold one's views as superior over other's. It just bring into the fore the wide contrast between individuals' thoughts and fundamental differences in thinking.

Can't stand Paris and Britneys

It all started with The Thomas Crown Affair...No, this blog is not about the movie that I watched last night, it started off with how the temptations and love (read lust) scenes were handled so gracefully in that movie, so in contrast with today's times when the protagonists are ready to pounce upon each other and the director tries to portray it as steamy as ever to earn a lot of extra bucks.Then there is this E Channel which flashes regular images of either of these three - pop diva Britney Spears, Hotel Heiress Paris Hilton and Famous Star Lindsay Lohan. None of these have any material and their lives are a reflection of wild partying,drugs,porn and rehabs.Even while writing, I'm feeling a sense of hatred towards them. And I guess an average american teenager considers them as their role model and is awed by the glitter and glamour that they exude and in their hearts, wants to follow their footsteps and be in their shoes one day. The papparazzi has made them out to be hot divas so desirable and powerful whereas in reality, these are the most powerless people I've come across in my life...They don't even have a power on their body and minds, let alone controlling anyone else.I guess its the moral responsibility of each citizen not to let their kids' innocent minds be influenced by them.Anyways we are losing our touch of culture and knowledge of vedas and puranas.The way my Parents can chant shlokas and understand their meaning, I can't and so the heritage I am going to give to my daughter is decreasing. Our Cultural Streak is fading away somewhere especially in this foreign land and it's our responsibility to first keep our own feet well grounded to Earth and then our Children's by constantly being in touch with our religious faiths.Its very difficult to keep ourselves grounded in this over materialistic land and still keep intact the connection with our roots.Want to end my post with the mention of one quote I heard - "Live your life like a dry leaf, it flows in water, still remains dry all through"

The one who inspired me

Her contagious laughter echoes all around...Her giggles do let me know if she is present in the office or not...'Cos they rip apart the air from a distance and soothe your ears...They sometimes make me introspect and feel that I'm abnormal as some days, I don't laugh at all! Her name is Shalini - though contrary to her name, she is a carefree, bindaas soul, always ready to help though. She exudes a warmth, a radiance and a positive energy so strong which can light a hundred bulbs...Ok, maybe I exaggerated a bit...But she is really a strong influence on my tender mind. Well hitherto, I considered myself strong enough but after hearing through what she has gone through in life, I feel like a novice. God chooses his persons carefully, the ones who have the endurance to go through it all, all by themselves, single-handedly face the adversities of life and emerge as sure-shot winners...And I salute this winner..She is not in any way less than the heroes of Kargil...I mean they have the whole batallion with them and their families back home but she fought all alone. At times, she didn't have a place to sleep and had to sleep in a car...At others, she didn't have a car and had to walk over miles...Did her education on her own, fetched her own bread and butter, Had sleep in her eyes but cudn't sleep as she had to study and work full time. She made her own life, took her own decisions and reached her own heights...I mean how many such self-made people do you meet in your life? And I'm lucky to have met one in my stint at Chicago...These whole negative experiences of her life haven't left her bitter at all, instead made her a better person for life! Way to go my friend...

My Journey...From a Village to a city

I'm here to write about my experiences when I had my Transit from a lesser known city Kansas (which I considered hitherto a city) to a really big city Chicago. This city opened so many avenues for me, helped me reconnect with long lost friends, changed my perspective completely...I'm a kind of person who gets bored very easily...But to my surprise,I've never even for a second, felt depressed in this amazing city...Even when I was alone for days at a strech...So the reverberating question is - Can a city made of bricks and concrete do so much to lift the sagging spirits of a being? And in my case, it has been so since I have only a handful of colleagues who don't even categorise as friends and have been pretty much on my own for the past two months.So I've got that much needed time to reconnect with my inner self. But on the other hand,this change has also changed my perspective that the happiness lies within and the wordly pleasures can't do much to change your mental state...It does make a huge difference...This city never sleeps, you find yourself on your toes always, there are a thousand places to see in your free time, positive energy all around, so you find yourself immersed in positively charged vibes all around. Now this experience might be the result of a change in place but I wonder if it would have been the same if it wud have been the other way round i.e if I had moved from CHI to KS. Earlier,I couldn't register why do people live in big cities where life is so difficult and you spend a considerable amount of your life juggling between buses and trains to reach destinations, but now I can see the beauty of it all. Its better to be in an overly crowded place than to be on the depressing deserted streets.The lights of this big city have definitely dazzled me beyond doubt and I can think of no reasons to go back to my Village except my beloved being there.I can also fathom the deep roots of all my Mumbai Friends who would not stop at anything boasting about their big city - Mumbai.