@Hyderabad, 20th Aug 2014... clock reads 12:15 am.. Sleep has betrayed me, so I decide to capture the flurry of thoughts and emotions before catching up on some sleep..

I never thought that I would live as many years in Hyderabad, as I did - nearly a third of my life! As I now leave this city, looking back at the years spent, brings back cherished memories - of the wonderful people, the places, the food and the journey.

...seems like yesterday when I found myself in this city of strangers, naive and coy just out of my college. As with most girls, my parents too accompanied me when I moved - to have me settled as I joined my first job in the city. A week of frantic search for accommodation, joining formalities and I was all set to get started with my professional life... Few days later, I was on my way back from the Company's Training center, when I got a call from my parents that their they were en-route to the train station. Still remember that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized that I am on my own in this big city. Having always led a sheltered life, I was so unsure how I would cope. Had lived away from home since my Engineering days, but that was different. The only sign of relief was a couple pals from college and a handful of acquaintances. Thus began my journey in this city with unfamiliar names, places and routes, super spicey food and the language so different. Even the familiar sounding Hindi spoken with the Deccani accent was hard to comprehend!

Gradually all the unfamiliarity gave way to fondness and comfort. So much so that I developed a deep bond and sense of belongingness in this city. I don't know how much life would change after moving to a new city, but leaving Hyderabad behind isn't easy. This city will always be special for me.

@Pune, present day...

It's been little over a month and we've kind of settled down in the new address 'Pune'. So far it's been fairly nice in this new city. As it happens, after a while things turn routine (read monotonous) - travelling through the same routes and seeing the same places, going for dinners at the usual favorites, and doing the same activities. After a point, you aren't excited to do the same stuff anymore. Having moved here, has been such a welcome change in that respect. It's exciting to travel through the streets wide-eyed, discovering and making a mental note of things to do, places to go visit (read Shop!). Although I don't highly rate my social skills, but so

...and after a long hiatus, I'm back!

2014 General Elections are round the corner and I for once, have decided to exercise my electoral rights after all these years. My reason for abstinence all this while? A big confusion whom to choose out of evil and bigger evil! Crimes ranging from looting the tax payers money to planned encounters, from extortion to murders - the list is endless. And as a hapless citizen, all I do is just see the nation to go waste. Sad but true. I think "Absolute Power Corrupts". No matter which party comes to power - arrogance and corruption are bound to seep in, unless they are strong enough to fight those tendencies. But wait, that's after coming to power, what happens before it? Is everything fair and square as to how the campaigning is done, or for that matter elections are fought? Starting from criminals given tickets to contest elections to purchasing votes by giving cash, gifts or liquor, and ultimately rigging poll booths, The Great Indian Tamasha (read Elections) violates all norms and practices laid down for fair elections. And once the eletion results are out, foes turn BFFs and vice versa. All this to stay in power for 5 years and bring prosperity

There are countless number of blog, forums and debates on the www with a simple yet unanswered question are we doing enough to save this nation. The answer is a BIG No.

My childhood hero, my Dadubhai

I wish I realized how special this photograph would be one day when I would barely be able to recall these moments. The disinterest that clearly shows on being handed over a coconut to beat the heat, wouldn't have been there to say the least. But I couldn't care less about it. The soul of this picture is our 'Grand dad' or Dadubhai that we fondly called him, with whom we share this moment.

I have been fortunate to have grown up being loved and pampered unconditionally by so many in my family, but none so special as my 'Dadubhai'. While everyone around would keep mum at the sound of the authoritarian voice, I, without any care in the world would climb up on his lap and listen quietly all that he had to say. I never had a doubt how much he loved me. That's probably the reason why, one day when he handed all his young grand children a note asking whom he loved the most, I confidently wrote my name and not surprisingly won a prize for that! It was was an achievement that I couldn't stop talking or thinking about it for a few days.

The concept of pocket money didn't exist during my time or rather I wasn't introduced to it, fortunately. On certain occasions when I did get it from my grand dad, I felt so profoundly rich that I never feel till day when my salary gets credited every month. His love for food was undeniable. He loved everything that was fresh and probably that led him to converting the garden into some kind of a farm where he planted all the vegetables. He would proudly take me around almost every other day and show me every vegetable that grew. I would head back home to my mom with a bunch of veggies in my arms with Dadubhai's order to make them for lunch.

A well read and well traveled man that he was, he loved to know what was changing around him - be it the Oil crisis in Middle East or the era of Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing. Before I got into my first job, he made me sit one day and asked me questions about what did I understand by IT. IT wasn't something I aspired of getting into and it didn't surprise me that I answered his questions quite poorly. But what really surprised me is how much he knew about it at his age.

It's been 6 years since this day, that our Dadubhai he is no more. The day before he peacefully left, he called me asking how I was. I hadn't been keeping well. Little did I know it was the last I would hear from him... Even though he is long gone, he lives is a me and no matter how old I get, I can never outgrow him. He always told me and my brother to take care of everyone around. While I could never do what he did for everyone, on this day, I wish well for everyone he cared about and even for the ones he didn't.

Be happy and at peace wherever you may be, Dadubhai.

Stop this shame!!!

2012 - The year started with the heart wrenching stories of baby Falak and Afreen and ends with the tragic stop to a young life Damini, Nirbhaya or Amaanat - whatever you chose to call the brave soul. While they were set in different circumstances, all share a common sentiment - of hurt, of shame and of indomitable courage. The hell they lived through, is a testament of how low has the human stooped. The world watched helplessly as the innocent lives fought in their struggle for life before they could take no more. They affected most of us. We rallied for stringent laws, better and responsible policing, faster judicial processes but is that going to be enough? The ones who committed the ghastly, inhuman crimes, were one among us. As a society, we have failed ourselves. Always believed that a child's first school is his home and his first role models are his parents. We live a paradoxical society, where on one hand we worship female forms and consider them symbols of strength, wisdom and prosperity and on the other, the women folk are considered second in the patriarch driven society. Every other day, we come across battered women who are ill-treated in their family, and in the society at large. While we all condemn such ill-practices, they still continue unhindered, unabated. If we wish to see an end to the crimes against women, we need to change, we need to teach our children to value and respect life. If not, no matter what measures we take, there'll never be an end to it.

Damini, every girl in the society relates to your pain. It's never been easy being a girl in this country. Most girls in the country have had their helpless moments, some were lucky to escape, while some where not, some lived to fight, while some could fight no more. But the pain you've been through in this brief life you've lived, is unthinkable to say the least. Yet, the strength you have shown is an inspiration for all of us. May you be at peace now and find your rightful place among the angels.

Home calling...

11 long years, it’s been since I left the home of my childhood. The address still etched in my mind, the memories still vivid. I can still run through those rooms in my mind. Each corner, each shelf, each photograph, so clear. The noise of the incessant rain hitting the roof, the comfort of the winter sun in the front porch, the furry touch of our pet, summer evenings spent star gazing with my dad on his easy chair, the smell of the ripe oranges in the winter afternoons, still fresh in my mind. I wonder how long it’s been and yet I still remember... The mind, in its strangest of capabilities has a way to preserve memories close to the heart.

Home is where the family is, I always told myself, never believing it though. The brick-concrete pile up too, is part of the memories. And I left mine over a decade back, never to see it again. Since then, had 5 addresses to call my home, but never connected. It gives a sense of comfort to see places that you grew up seeing, meet people, you grew up talking to. 

Life is about a constant change. Old give way to the new. Old experiences make way for new escapades. But somewhere, in some teeny weeny corner of the mind, you keep pilling up those memories... 

Merry Christmas!

Just like many, December is the best time of the year for me. As a child, December was always a favorite. The dreaded exams would finally be over and schools would close down for the winter break. Last day of the exam was special with the pre-Christmas festivities. Christmas carols were sung, the nuns enacted the play of Jesus Christ's birth and we stuffed loads of goodies and finally it was time for the goodbyes to the friends and teachers. Back home, I had the liberty to do almost anything! It never felt better. The sacrifices made, had given way to indulgences... It was almost I had conquered the Everest :) A few days into the vacation, and I would start prepping up for the Christmas. Making greeting cards, shopping for little stars and bells that I could hang on my Christmas tree and the grand party with all my brothers and friends on the Christmas eve. We danced, played and teased around the bonfire until our parents coaxed us to get back home. It was a ritual for me too, to hang a pair of socks for Santa's presents and my dear mom never failed to tuck in some chocolates in them. That was Christmas for me. Nothing grand, nothing fancy. Simple yet very special memories. As I grew, I realized understood the true essence of Christmas. Thanks to the wonderful story by O'Henry "Gift of the Magi". Some stories remain etched in your hearts, while you forget some. The story of Jim and Della, their love and sacrifice, reflects the true spirit of Christmas - spreading love and joy. 

Have a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the festive season!

PS. The fairy tales I would read myself to sleep had a very different picture of Christmas. A white Christmas. I would dreamily gaze at it and say to myself that one day I would see it for real. That's one wish that's yet to come true. Hope it does, someday. 

A man who made a forest

It is late in the night and sleep seems to have betrayed me. Came across a small yet stirring article while I surfed the net. A man who created a forest. At a glance, sounded a bit strange to me. Of all my years of existence, had heard a zillion times how not-so-good people and not-so-bad-yet-helpless people encroached into the wild, disturbing the delicate balance of nature and life. I am aware of the few good people fighting for preservation of the wild. But this one seemed different, too good to be true kind of story. A story that made me realize that it’s not important how many or how few people are there with you when you want to do something good. You can make all the difference, just by yourself when you have the right intent and perseverance!

The Man and his Forest

The article goes how a labourer, Jadav Payeng, at a tree plantation site of the social forestry division chose to stay back after the completion of the project, to plant more trees over a span of 30 years; eventually turning it into a forest that now spreads across 550 hectares. The Mulai Kathoni or the Mulai forest, what it’s called now after its creator’s nick name, is now home for the wild – rhinos, tigers, deer and myriad varieties of our  avian friends to name a few.

I have often questioned myself how does the contribution of a single individual or a group of like minded people match against a race hell driven to its own destruction? Wonder if such questions ever cropped up in Jadav Payeng’s mind. Probably never; else he wouldn't have ever succeeded in accomplishing such an exemplary feat. I realize that the sense of logic and judgment that we have developed with our knowledge and experience in dealing with the world, is actually our curse. We think a lot, but do very little. We know what’s going wrong, but have arguments to let it be. We have everything at our disposal - information, technology and probably resources compared to the Jadav Payengs of the world. Yet we stand tiny in front of such humble human beings, who have so less but have given back to the world much more. 

I salute. I aspire.