Who invented the gadget called handset or mobile phone? I wanted to hug and thank the gentle soul who spiced my loved life as an 18-something when I developed a crush on some unknown female hiding behind the short messaging service (SMS) for whom my heart goes hmmm!!! Whose heart hasn’t gone cuckoo chatting, flirting and declaring love for an unknown soul as we indulged in harmless calf love and exchanged dirty forwards?
Idhar Udhar Ki Baatein..vagayra vagayra (small, silly and harmless batter..mindless love talk). I had quite a few romantic escapades and relationships hiding behind the handset. I wonder how technology binds us, human beings, in a relationship as we look for love. My first tryst with romance started with the cellphone when someone buzzed or sms-ed me by mistake. You heard a beautiful voice at the other end of the phone and the other person apologize profusely for indulging in mistaken identity. The beautiful voice carried a charming mystery as it touched the innocent heart that you don’t want to let go of her. Another sms reaches your phone, tendering an apology as you shoot back an sms with ‘what’s your name?’ ‘what you do in life?” You start talking to each other, spending the night exchanging thousands sms as you wait for an sms in the middle of the night.
Yes! I’ve been lucky meeting one of the mysterious lady who shared snippets of her emotions and life with me. We chatted for three months on chat, exchanging sms-es and speaking on the phone as we bear our heart out to each other. I longed for her sms and calls. Every week, A would call me as she told me about the crisis happening in her life. Her happiness mattered a lot to me. Finally, it took lot of convincing on my part to make her agree for the famous rendez vous. One day, A said, “Fine! We will meet but I will decide when and where to meet.”
Finally, we met and I was bowled by her charming personality, the way she spoke to me and, man, she is soo beautiful.” I was happy we became friends. It was the time, I was moving to Pune for higher studies and she brought a nicely wrapped gift for me. It was a best seller book by Steve Martini that I cherished and it still adorns my shelf. It’s been ten years now and I bet she must be happily married. I wish her all the best since she deserves all the happiness in life.
We spoke through sms once in a while and, like all long distance friendships, all communications were stopped. But, I cherish the beautiful relationship we nurtured over time. It’s amazing what technology can do to us. Truly! SMS, Love, Crush.
I am honored to host The Whitescape (http://thewhitescape.wordpress.com) for the second time as my Guest blogger. When I woke up in the morning, I received a pleasant surprise that made my day when The Whitescape sent me an attached document on Facebook. Yesterday, I updated my FB that I am in search of gentle souls wishing to do guest posts. Thanks RC aka The Whitescape for the lovely gift, beautifully wrapped in the form of a guest post and that too, without telling me. It’s super awesome and shall return the favor, pretty soon. Make sure you give The Whitescape a big shout on her blog.
The Whitescape speaks on the new political culture in India and the post couldn’t come at a better time, after we just celebrated our 65th Republic Day. It is the voice of the New India, spearheaded by the voice of the new generation, ushering for change.
Before you scroll down to read The Whitescape’s post, make sure you read the bio of the author:
The New Political Culture in India
About the author:
“White is my favorite color, hence the mention of it in my blogging name – Thewhitescape. I have always loved writing and that’s the primary reason for the existence of my blog. I’ve shaped my world and the blog according the developments in the vagaries of my own life. I am obsessed about movies and high heels; hates grammatical errors; loves Chinese food. Appreciation for my writings gives me a better high than vodka. Its my dream to give away autographed copies of my authored books to my fans. On the other hand Yes, you’re allowed to not like my writing, its not a must. But Yes, I love when you read them
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your feedback is highly appreciated! I shall do reply to them”
The new political culture in India
India is perhaps the only nation that attained freedom after World War II and has not fallen prey so far to military rule or dictatorship. This is so because our founding fathers were imbued with a spirit of liberal western traditions and incorporated the best of such traditions and conventions in the constitution. The grant of universal suffrage to the millions of the countrymen reflected the faith they had in the electors as well as the elected. Over the years, except for aberrations here or there, Democratic India has stood the test of time. Today, ours is the largest functioning democracy in the world and people admire us as well as our leaders for upholding the best traditions of this form of government which is of the people, for the people and by the people.
Democracy often described as rule of the mob has brought in its wake certain characteristics which are unbecoming of our rulers. Mobs are aroused over trifles in the name of case, community, religion and riots engineered in various parts of the citizen has been given, under the constitution, right of expression and freedom to practise his religion. Caste and communal riots are black mark on our democracy. But somehow they have given birth to a new political culture in the country.
Demonstrations are organized, protests staged and riots engineered in the name of language, caste, religion to build up vote banks for the interested political parties and their leaders. Passions are set aflame over trivial matters and peace endangered frequently in various parts of the country, solely to build up and consolidate these vote banks.
Another manifestation of the new political culture in the country in India is interference in the affairs of the students, who are weaned away from studies and other constructive activities in the name of electioneering. Student leaders are created and foisted on the innocent community by politicians who have an axe to grind in such elections. All that these leaders to is confront the authorities over imaginary or real grievances and indulge in anti-social acts – all in the name of looking after the welfare of students. Buses are burnt, public property is looted, and the common man is put to great hardship and inconveniences for the sake of so called student welfare. And, poor student leaders act as mere pawns in the hands of unscrupulous politicians and their cohorts. Instead of channelizing the dormant energies and talents of our students towards nation building activities, these leaders turn them into anti-social elements.
But now people have become wiser. They have learnt that they can’t be fooled all the time by the exponents of the new political culture in the country. They have realised their intrinsic worth and given a befitting reply to such opportunistic politicians time and again. This shift in the perception of the masses certainly raises the hope that, out of the ashes of the present political imbroglio a new political culture will arise like the Phoenix and the country will be proud of its traditions and conventions.
Note:
Please make sure you drop comments on the post on RC’s blog @http://thewhitescape.wordpress.com
The brave soldier, Prince and eligible bachelor of Indian Politics has made it. Yes! He did it! They tell us his Moma is very proud of Amul Baby (Face) after spilling out with Arnab Goswami on Times Now. He succeeded in torturing and killing Arnab and screwing the head of millions of Indians who watched Times Now for one hour and twenty minutes. Rahul (Baba) made a grand entry in his first ever TV interview crushing hopes pinned on him. He must be proud and happy as Momma must be feeding him Parle G after punishing him and whipping on the butt for the fracas caused in the household called, Congress. No! I am not speaking about Congress House, the red light area but the household of the Gandhi family, Congress Party.
What do you want to do with your life, Rahul Baba? Arnab asked Amul Baby who, in turn, quizzed him on his childhood dream of becoming a journalist. I wonder what prevented our Arnab Goswami from making face palm on Baba’s attempt to turn into the interviewer and do a U-turn of becoming the politician that ask silly question to a journalist. ROFL!!! I nearly fell off my chair and just imagine Rahul Baba aka Amul Baby Face was one of our leading journalists quizzing people on you know what and what’s not. Okie! Okie! I know this post is going nowhere and my vicious attempt of making it humorous post, picking on our Rahul Baba is becoming lame just like the interview. See! I have been morally harassed and molested by watching apna Amul Baby for one hour and twenty minutes. So, you don’t blame me for becoming senile right now. I am not Arnab for sure but can understand the poor man’s plight for being beaten at its own game..err! no silly! Rahul Baba’s senseless game, or does he know he was playing a smart kid nintendo game on a TV channel. Rely on Digvijay Singh who will tell you that there is nothing dysfunctional with the new Nintendo Game on the market and that apna Rahul Baba walked the talk with so much elan and intellectual grace. See, the boy is Mama’s pet. But who let Mama down in times of dire need like that on TV?! The video game was not designed to the liking of Amul Baby. May be! Or, May be not! The new added features in the game Right To Information Act, youth and Women empowerment and, of course, NaMo..perhaps, they should add some extra bhajan feature such as NaMo NaMo Rahul Sukh ka Karni NaMo NaMo.
Now, I’m curious and my heart is racing and running agog with excitement at the sight of the new and improved Rahul Baba. I wonder what I am doing as a journalist and whether I should go and read for a degree in Psychology. I would make RaGa ya Amul Baby Face my subject of study and delve into his heart and how mental wires are transferred into his head.
ME: Rahul Baba, prince of Delhi, what goes into your head?
Rahul Baba: You tell me. Why did you choose to become a Psychologist?
ME: What the fuck Baba? You are my subject and you are asking me questions. Remember, this study of mine will be lapped up by millions and yet you will take crores of rupaiyas and tell your Momma, Momma Momma I won the jackpot. Let’s forget about NaMo uncle now!!! Pleaze pleaze!!!!!
The PM walla game. oops! sorry race is on..Race Sanson ki….we shall sing the song as August is nearing. He shall not travel by local train to meet peasants. Oh! please Amul Baby Face, please spare us of your long but tedious train journey. See, it’s very tiring and we had enough by watching you on Times Now. Did anybody tell you that your performance on TV was superbly boring and you have no answers to questions. By the way, Baba, do you know there is something called body language and eye contact? What!! They don’t teach it at your alma mater or in the Congress School! I’m sure you have forgotten to play by the rules. Oh! Wow! Thanks for reminding us that your family sacrificed their life for the nation and you witnessed the big Indian sacrifice and you sacrificed your life, your babe in ‘Videsh’ for our ‘desh’. Thanks for telling us. For once, I emphatize with you but even more with poor Arnab whom you harassed and I bet he wanted to check the Vishaka guideline on his lap top. Only hell knows why he didn’t file a complaint for publicly and morally harassing a journalist on air in front of crores people. As I told you, I pity Arnab for sitting with you throughout. What were you thinking Rahul Baba? Sardar bahut khush honge sabashi denge..what Momma Sardar told u? R-a-h-u-l, I never thought that you will break my heart like that and you cannot even perform a simple task like that. See Amul Baby, I prefer Dr Manmohan Singh and I tell you it’s better to be silent like that rather than speaking at all. What a sweet revenge for Dr Singh whose fur you choose to gently caress or rub publicly when he was in New York mission? Our PM must be smiling and eating gulab jamun. Sweet revenge for PM, na!! Not bad when you said that Ordinance Bill should be teared off. NaMo must be thanking you and must be offering his prayers to your clay idol as your own Congress Party is fuming at the change in affection of NaMo towards you.
If we were to make the remake of Sholay what role would you prefer Amul Baby Face? Jai not for you, perhaps, Basanti..as NaMo will sing Koi bhi haseena jab ruth jata hai aur bhi haseen ho jata hai..you chatter box and naughty boy!!!! Howz about playing Uday Chopra as cop of the year in Dhoom:4 catching the thief as Arnab can be offered Inspector Jai Dixit. NaMo will be happy playing the thief, what say?
I am tempted to say, Itni Khushi Itni Khushi!!!!!! Now, you take rest Amul Baby Face after the antics on Times Now. I’m telling you, you are the next Indian Idol sensation on TV. Howz about being an inmate in the next season of Big Boss?
Wait, Amul Baby, let’s play Kaun Banega Crorepathi, just one question for one crore.
Welcome to KBC with Amul Baby Face.
What do you think Amul Baby want to do next?
1. Marry his phoren girl friend.
2. Eat Parle G biscuit
3. Empower his intellect
4. Harass voters and viewers with his GQ
Remember our Phone A Friend option has been stolen by Arnab Goswami, Mommy has banned 50:50, Junta is not voting since they are still recovering from Monday’ heart attack and computer-ji is singing Rahul Amul Baby Face so no alat palat.
Madly Yours
The poor Me, harassed and molested on Times Now debate on the fateful Monday. Still recovering from Monday Blue..oops Rahul Blue
Now, enjoy this one. Shared by my very dear friend Aditi Mittal on FB, http://www.campusghanta.com/2014/01/28/rahul-gandhis-interview-with-arnab-in-pictures. Thanks, Aditi for saving my life as I was on the verge of jumping into the freezing cold pool.
Hey folks, I am participating in 100 Words on Saturday 2014: 4 and the prompt: She had the last laugh, provided by Corinne Rodrigues on writetribe.com. Hope you like my prompt and a big thank you and hugs to all the fellow tribers who read me and drop lovely words.
Anjali finished her coffee and cigarette in an Italian cafe. Two days back, Anjali discovered how her husband was conspiring to kill her for her ancestral wealth and she decided to elope with Ramakant. That night lil did Ramkant and Anjali’s husband knew that she got wind of the plan. That night, Anjali served the husband hot soup with deadly poison. She met Ramakant at 8 p.m near the cemetery and the latter asked, “Have you brought the money?” She threw the bag on Ramakant. There was huge explosion. Anjali stormed her way to the airport and soared high.
Didn’t they tell us that the world is a stage and we live in a global village? While it’s natural to live in a bubble of sort, travel and the internet as a tool of communication, read Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Blogging and Tumblr has made us truly global citizens of the world. I believe that we do not belong to one specific place, whether it’s our place of origin or they place we have settled or living, but citizens of the world. After all, we are all human beings, share the same feelings, face tribulations, get hurt and, eventually, triumph as human beings.
For me, being global, means connecting with people belonging to different parts of the world with whom I connect on social platforms such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter. As human beings, we show prejudice to people staying in different parts of the world and it is attributed to the fact that we don’t want to get out of our comfort zone to meet new people, listen to their views on issues and express ourselves on social issues that do not happen in our world. It’s quite a natural thing to do for many but just look how the world is evolving as citizens born in different countries become one. We are always in quest of professional opportunities as we travel and live in different parts of the world. Similarly, more and more people express their views strongly on issues such as corruption, crime against women, graft and violation of human rights in different parts of the world. Have you asked why? Because we have global citizens and these are things that affect everyone of us. One should never say that it doesn’t happen in my country simple because these issues affect everyone of us and is a global phenomenon.
We are all human beings yet differ from each other in terms of culture, patriotism and emotional feelings. However, that has not prevented us from uniting with each other as global citizens. I believe, internet, has been one medium that binds us as human beings and we travel to different parts of the world to discover each other’s culture, traditions and values. We may be born to one country and has a passport showing that we were born in this country. Yet, many citizens of the world have not shied away of applying for citizenship of a different country where they are now settled. We are no longer citizen of the country where we have been born or settled. How’s about the international communities issuing a Global Passport where can travel in a border-less world where only love and humanity matters. I dream of the day where I will be issued a Global Passport as a human being, certifying that I am no longer a citizen of the country I’m born in, settled or what I call my home. I am a Global citizen and proud of the fact.
Your views? Do you agree and how many of you are willing to legally embrace global citizenship?
Today is a very special day since it’s the 65th India’s Republic Day where I express my love to the land I truly belong to and where emotions are expressed. Today is a special day since I got an unexpected call from a TV channel in India for a project where discussions will be ongoing through e-mails for some small interviews for their TV programmes. I shall withhold it for a while and let see how things move. It made me happy since I least expected the call and the person came across my profile through Linkedin.
January seems like Christmas for me since the wonderful Tazein has again nominated me for ‘WORKING TO CHANGE THE WORLD’ BLOGGING AWARD. My dear friend, Tazein (http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com), contributes a lot to the betterment of society through her posts and it’s so humble on her part to think that I am contributing to something to make the world a better place to live. Thank you tons, Tazein.
” I am creating this new award to recognize those bloggers at WordPress who are working to make a difference in the world.
Recipients of this Award work hard and sincerely to make the world a better place, using their compassion, love and understanding, promoting open minds, free communication of ideas and above all, peace.
THE RULES:
1-Post the Award on your blog.
2-Link back to the person who nominated you.
3-List one thing- however small- that you think would make the world better if every one did it.
4-Nominate bloggers whom you feel help to change help to Change the World- there’s no minimum or maximum , just a list of those you feel are deserving.
ONE THING THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD
We need to change our attitudes, actions and thought to make the world a better place. There is too much negativity where people nurture caste, racial and national prejudices against fellow human beings as well as well as the fact that we live in a patriarchal society that not only exploits women but perpetuate discrimination against women. We need an equal and just society. Let’s get away with exploiting the poor under the name of development by the capitalist society.
Emotions that only the heart can express as pure love and devotion for the mother land comes alive;
Our choked voices finds expression as we sing Vande Mataram and the national anthem reverberates through the soul;
Together, we carved an identity in our heart and pride in being called an Indian;
Despite our squabble that goes violent at times as we fight for a better country, we are united and feel proud of our cultural identity and the country;
Angry patriots we are!
We vent out in the form of protest, shouting on social network sites when we see injustice meted out to the poor and where women rights are not respected;
It makes us angry when an innocent girl is burnt alive and when 30 vultures pounce on a defenseless girl who made the crime of loving someone;
We shout and say no to corruption, racial discrimination and violation of human rights;
We fight with our motherland because we care for her,
After all, it’s our country;
We shall vanquish our defeats and over power elements that shall deter our progress as a nation;
Yet! We celebrate victory when our national team wins a cricket match;
We unite despite our differences to celebrate our sense of belonging as a nation;
We may be far away from the motherland yet we celebrate our freedom and express love for a country that we rightfully call ours;
India resides in our blood as its children,
We cannot disintegrate our soul from the body;
We celebrate our victory as a nation and express pride that we walked the land we call India
Cycling was a dreaded nightmare for me and a scary dream where the ghouls in the form of bicycle gonna get me and consume my skin. Like every child, I dreamed of having a cycle and made Dad buy me a cute blue-colored cycle. The bicycle was lying in the house till a family from South Africa came to visit my next door neighbor during the Christmas holiday.
I became friend with the guy who was elder than me and, man, I was scared of him because of his well built physique. I became friends with Adil who must be 10 years at that time and, one day, he prodded me to get the new bicycle that was lying inside the house on the lane. He zoomed past me on my prized gift as I stood watching him in awe. How can him ride the cycle so effortlessly?, I asked.
He told me, ‘See, it’s so easy riding the cycle and come I’ll show you how to sit on it. I was reluctant, telling him that I will fall off the cycle since I don’t know how to strike balance. Adil shouted at me and said, ‘Just sit and imagine you are in the airplane. I will guide you. I reluctant hopped on and was shit scared, fully aware of falling down and nursing my wounds. He shouted. As I sit on the cycle, he held on to it and let go of me. I fell down. But, I wasn’t hurt except mud splashing on my feet and hand. There was some minor scratches. We attempted a second time and I again fell down with more scratches on the hand and legs. I was sure that I will never be able to ride the cycle and told Adil, ‘It’s so difficult and don’t wanna hurt myself. See the bruises.
Adil was becoming aggressive and said in a commanding tone, ‘Forget the bruises and pulled me on the cycle.’ I was praying to God so that my life is saved from this man I befriended. Gosh! It was miracle. I started cycling and never felt so happy. I applied the brake and didn’t fall down. It never fell so good and it was a life time experience. I fell that I was riding in the sky and the crescent moon. I made several rides and Adil came to stop me. He was all smiles and proud of his student.
It’s been more than two decades since Adil taught me how to cycle in an age where there was no internet or mobile phone. It was pure ecstatic and heavenly joy. I wonder where Adil is and we have not been in touch fr ages. Hey dude!! Thanks! I was too shy as a child to say thank you and wherever you are, be happy and keep rocking.
Today, January 24, is National Compliment Day where it is set aside to shower compliments on, at least, five persons. According to http://mcg.metrocreativeconnection.com, compliments lift the spirit of the giver and provide a quick et easy way to cement bonds in a positive way with those we come into contact with. It dispels loneliness and forges bond.
More can be found on n mcg.metrocreativeconnection.com/publish/sections/calendar-details.php?National-Compliment-Day-1071.
It’s a day where I am blogging exclusively to shower compliments on at least five people whose works I admire and with whom I have a strong connect. These souls give me good vibes and it’s an honor to read them. I have never met some of them personally and most are my friends on Facebook, with whom I have an emotional and soulful connection. Over the months, we have connected, the bond has strengthened with time. I admit that there are more than five souls whom I admire a lot and it’s a tough task to list all. I apologize to all those whose names I have omitted. Trust me, it’s a strenuous task.
For the National Compliment Day, here are five names that I have decided to shower praise on. Complimenting someone is very healthy and it lifts one’s spirit and please accept my appreciation.
1.Sakshi Nanda
What an honor it is to shower praise and compliments on Sakshi Nanda (www.sakshinanda.com) and the lady is a brand in excellence. One just have to read Sakshi’s posts and your writing skills will automatically improve. There are many times when I face writer’s block and I just hop on Sakshi’s blog to get inspiration to write. Where do you get such inspiration, Sakshi? She’s one lady who has an amazing sense of humor and check her FB updates and blog for that. I am simply in awe of Sakshi.
2.Soumya Vilekar
An accomplished poet, book writer and blogger, Soumya Vilekar is based in Dubai and I had the honor to do a review of her latest book, ‘Suroor of the Soul’ that was recently launched in Delhi. Soumya is a very dear friend of mine and I am in awe of the poems that she churns out so effortlessly. Soumya blogs at her personal space, http://soumyav.wordpress.com, and what you waiting for to say hi to her. She is simply amazing.
3. Kajal Kapur
The lady who just celebrated her birthday runs http://myriadrainbowhues.wordpress.com where she blogs about almost everything and is a huge and self-confessed fan of Hindi movies and, of course, Salman Khan. What more can one say about Kajal? Words fail me to express my pleasure at reading her work and what’s more she has also started another blog for her love for movies, http://moviemassala.com. In one word, sheer pleasure to read you, Kajal.
4. Zinal Bhadra
Zinal blogs at zinalbhadra.wordpress.com and she is a very good friend of mine with whom I can be myself. Well! We’ve never met each other and we connected so strongly through appreciating each other’s blogs. She is an amazing blogger whose work I am in awe where she makes everything she writes so beautiful and glamorous. She has the power to make the simple posts so attractive and beautiful. Kudos to the lady who also penned a book, ‘She is not an MBA.’
5. Anuja Rathi Singh
Anuja was my class mate at Fergusson College and is a very accomplished person as well as trained psychologist in Pune. She blogs at Life (anujarathi.blogspot.com) and she is the first blogger whom I started reading and following since 2008. Her posts are a big WoW and is such an effortless blogger, who churns so many amazing stuffs. It’s an education to read Anuja and her posts based on her observations of things.
Honestly, I don’t think that National Compliment Day can be complete without mentioning the names and works of other blogger friends. One name that come to my mind is Revathi (http://haathitime.com) whose work I admire a lot. She is an effortless blogger and an inspiration. Her posts are simply awesome and I am a huge fan of her’s. I am also huge fan of http://pepperedthoughts.wordpress.com who has a very cute blog and who writes beautiful and cute stuffs as well as Sneha Bhat who blogs at Rendez Vous (http://snehabhatsepo.blogspot.com). I have known both ladies through the blog for the past three years and they are very special to me. There is also the wonderful Tazein, a very strong but gentle soul, who has been through so much life and finds joy in making her friends feel special. Do visit her at http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com.
I need to mention other bloggers such as Shilpa Garg (shilpagarg.com), Richa Singh who writes beautiful novellas at subzeroricha.blogspot.com, Corinne Rodrigues, the brain behind writetribe.com and for whom motivating lazy writers like me to write is a great fulfillment . She blogs at http://everydaygyaan.com. Words of mention to my friends Kathy Combes (http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com), Alastair (http://kattermonran.com), Jairam (mahabore.wordpress.com), Hrishikesh Bawa (http://andiwrite.com), Jensy Georges (http://jensysg21.wordpress.com) and the super cute& dear friend Aditi Mittal (http://ethicalhedonism.wordpress.com). A big shout out to my courageous friend, Sharmistha Basu, who fights her own battle everyday and keep rocking, Sharmi (http://sharmishthabasu.wordpress.com).
Gosh! What an exhaustive list! Let me confess that it’s not a complete list and next time, hope they come up with a list of 25 to 30 people so that I can write bout my favorite bloggers.
Vishal Bhidu 