SweStardom

MUMBAI: 26th Nov, 9.30 pm onwards

2008-11-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

It’s been 50 hours of a relentless struggle – here in Mumbai there are 150 dead bodies and still counting, some even waiting to be identified. Clueless about what really is happening behind the broken glass windows at the Taj Mahal Hotel… one is at least relieved to hear that the trial at Nariman House, Hotels Oberio and Trident has finished. Following the images flooding our news channels, this repeated footage is horrifying. Whoever thought the sound of gunshots and grenade explosions would be echoed on the streets of our city someday– NSG commandoes and the army with snipers and AK-47’s crouching on the same streets we traveled everyday.

We as Mumbaites are not going to bounce back like every attack before. Be it a terrorist attack in the past or a natural calamity, our resilience in the past has become our weakness in the eyes of terrorist groups. This is all we can succumb too. No more.

With reports claiming that the Indian Navy has seized two Pakistani merchant ships and is investigating the possibility that they dropped off the militants who then came ashore in fast boats, one just starts to wonder how much more security will be needed to stop this terror - be it land, water or air… What have we done to deserve this? Our security forces no doubt have been striving hard to secure the lives of hundreds held at gun point.

Our PM’s decision to retaliate against Pakistan and summon the ISI chief is great news… but what if every allegation is denied… as the proof lulled?

Every Mumbaite is waiting this hour to see the face of the supposedly last terrorist in the Taj. When will it stop? Will it take some few more minutes or hours? Will there be an entire night of gunshots?

As a lay person a few questions haunting my mind:

- How corrupt could the system be to let 40 armed terrorist enter the country?
- If CCTV’s could capture amazing footage of terrorists in action, why were we unable to take action in time?
- Will it simply become another post 93’ blast - which simply remains records in the court of law?
- Is this enough to look beyond religion, caste and language?
- How will we console ourselves this time?

I feel indebted to the brave soldiers who are now martyrs. Their families know deep down their hearts that for our better tomorrow, their sons have given up their today. Salute.
As I lay asleep tonight I will close my eyes to a city which is now a battlefield – I hope to wake to the rise of a free city. Alas! Only a prayer of hope is all I have.

Abstract Art - The interpretation!

2008-01-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

A common explanation of Abstract Art is that “An artist may interpret and represent his subject as he sees fit.....”. But is that entirely true? I see no need for a subject in the first place. Even post-impressionists such as Van Gogh and Gauguin made paintings to express their inner world and it is said that Gauguin would begin to paint from his imagination rather than to use nature as a model…
An abstract artist's intention is not to preserve an image for posterity, but rather to give expression to the abstract artist's inner self. If this is hard for you to understand, I don’t blame you. Because a lot of people just like you and me interpret the above statement against our contemporary background. We compare impressionistic paintings with our current perception of how paintings are made thus obstructing the true sense of a painting. Personally I wish there were more exhibitions and not just boring seminars to faciliate appreciation of Abstract Art.

History inspires - so please do read up on artists in this genre and help in rediscovery of lost art.

Mumbai Alert-It's raining have you noticed?

2007-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

With it all swishy outside i wonder how long it will take before people realise that its time to pull their socks up(or gumboots watever) and that Mumbai is in an 'SOS' fix...
It s the fear of another 26/7 that keeps stores closed on a rainy day...and trips are canned and so are schools and so on...
Is somethimg going to be done or not...we can't control nature(man has proved that statement wrong too) but atleast do something about the roads and rails and children...Why is it that cameras roll at the dying scene of those drowned and after a day or two...get back to what so called bollywood is up to....
Yes yes i know the memory of an average indian is too short not to get fooled but...this is hideous...Its all a scam that needs to be set right ASAP. Where has all the brain of the city gone? Im sure it got washed away in the rain and finally got swipped into a pothole.

Random like always...

2007-06-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

Def- "Lucid dreaming is a dream in which the person is aware that they are dreaming while the dream is in progress".
And I simply love it. Its a combination of both a want to continue the dream as well as the need to sleep. As for me, I enjoy this selective dreaming.

Just thought I'd write the following,

"There is no other sign but the sight of you each day
A beauty that makes my eyes twinkle
This rain is but a blessing, I adore thee
Come together we will fly away."

'Reasoning'

2007-06-26T02:23:00.000-07:00

Searching for meaning in things one can place their understanding upon is 'reasoning'. It's a sheer want to understand a particular concept based on one's beliefs and as much as one may consider this to be a public opinion it still is what you actually want to see for youself.

There is immense joy in winning an argument and best when its based on indivualistic ideas and disscusions.

There is yet another fill of joy which comes in hand with success in personal thinking.

What is actually imbibed in our minds is not a good or bad reasoning. This is usually mistaken while in an argument and thus such thinking must be taken up as a mental challenge. It will help eradicate the film of perceptions that envelope each of us and structure us into a specific kind a human race. You may ask that if the film is removed then what difference would remain between two individuals? Its of utmost importance to realise that inspite of the mind being the support of every nerve in our system it does not rule our complex being. Emotions and physical touch too contribute to this.

Reasoning by itself is many a times an excuse where one is in search for satisfaction and peace of mind. To calm thoughts and hinder the process of jumping to conclusions.

Hey guys this piece of writing is totally my understanding on the subject and is open to comments. There could be times where I have rambled on useless points and may seem like I've lost focus, so you are all free to give in suggestions etc.

Regards.

2007-01-26T06:53:00.000-08:00

'All my bags are packed im ready to go,

Im standing here...(ok nevermind)'

But well bags are in the 'packing-process' for as a class we leave for Rajasthan on Monday, 29th Jan. Ooo...so exiciting for this is the last trip as a class and a one to surely remember. The last one was in Agra-Delhi and then a trek to Manali and last November to Kodaikanal, the crown Jewel of Mother Nature and the pride of South India. It is beauty with a blend of culture and romanticism, a reality like a picture drawn by God.

As we walked and walked the hilly terrain our minds kindled with expression and joy for nature. There was an enchanting experience to walk miles without a purpose but simply a distance to cover, for with no second thought walking 15km plus is immense satisfaction. There were times we gave up and cribbed and wined, but kept our feet going for a certain target we had to meet.

It was a great oppurtunity to meet new people and make new meaning out of different experiences. We had diffrent sessions organised by our proffesor and a lots of places to viist. Te cold was bitter but bearable. We had an encounter with leeches too, which was disastrous in a way since it made us jump out of our seats and shed tears(at least i did).

While in the presence of over flowing beauty there is mixed feeling of happiness. I have most truly enjoyed to my hearts fullest.

Every trek has been a new chance for me to test my limitations and push myself to do more. Many a times I pledge never to come back but there is a certain actor that helps me realise the outcome and a certain Sudhakar Solomanraj who makes me believe in my capabilities.

Lack of Everything!!! still Smiling

2007-01-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

Are you as a person dependent on anyone for support? Are you afraid of waking up one day with that person gone ? Do you feel life will crash down hard-face first and you will be alone?
I feared that and it happened for a few days , multiple instances have made me strong and millon others weak. And nothing can heal you but your mind. Today as I sit by myself I dont call it being lonely but spending time with the 'me'. I blame nothing on anyone else but fate, for life at the moment is playing games with me. While on one hand it teaches me something on the other hand it contradicts its saying and by then my belief. People come and go and some are meant to stay, they create the fire of passion within you and leave you unattended once life for them goes on. How can I be the person who will keep someone mine without him/her drifting apart is a quest.

Most of this may not make sense and I may be the worst you have ever read but my mind is in a similar state as of now. Before I end :

For my fault, I lost my precious,

With no cause? But he said not a word,

As I see life slipping in years, these days are not for me to moan,

For how long will I depend on you, how much more should I cry?

You will protect me, I will in return too.

When alone no 'she' will be there to wipe your tears but me.

An Arty Farty in the Becoming

2007-01-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

To Elroy

For those wondering what this is, its a scanned image of the last page in my college book.
Do you think it is incomplete? Well its suppose to be like that.
Do you think it needs colour? Nah! its suppose to be like that.
Do you think its suppose to be in a particular way? Nah its just because I want it that way.
Yes yes...done by me, many of you may think its not impressive and so did I but a certain Elroy, also my closest friend thought it was more than doodling whilst a lecture.
He does believe that I should improvise on my hand in Art and I wonder how others percieve it. Hmm...I have pulled out from my draw a 3A drawing book and have sketched a few drawings during boring lectures, also read up a little on Abstract Art. So well lets see where this bit of talent takes me...
This drawing is open to comments...

Cuppa Chai

2007-01-09T04:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to All! After a long long time...Here I go, lets talk about er... TEA.

I aint a tea addict but have a fine taste with regard to different types of tea. May not have tasted the finest of them all but surely is selective enough to diffrentiate between the ones i've actually come across. Most of them though do not include the tea from different states and countries etc. they basically comprise of local tea made at different places locally by diferent people. Be it the college canteen which has two kinds-regular and teachers special, at home 3 types-Dad's, Mom's and Sapna(my maid), the taste of tea served on outstation trains, Tea bag tea etc, etc... some are simply tasteless, too strong, too light, too much etc.
On my trip to South India I bought home some tasty Nilgiri Tea. The funda is to avoid overboiling which if not followed(which many tend to do) results into a bitter delicacy. The Assamese tea is light and a bit too watery-There is also a stronger one but not mostly preferred. The best as of now for me is the one my dad makes each morning- maybe its a habit or just an addiction but whatever makes me start a brand new fresh day! A very Good Morning!!!!

No one cares!

2006-11-28T01:27:00.000-08:00

A lot of people get me wrong when it comes to 'cleanliness' and as much as i try to get my point across, I fumble and ruin the funda of what I am trying to say. It gets passed as being a 'cleanliness freak' or 'OCD'. It's simple...We are educated individuals and if the lessons we studied in primary school rings a bell then yes we should not litter or spit in public places or act all cool by pretending to care a damn about the rest of the world but ourselves. If the act of throwing even a piece of paper in any public place does not create a guilt lump in your throat then one needs to check their conscience.
Ive managed to get myself into some trouble while giving a piece of my mind to some stranger in the train... Also an interesting argument with my teacher who finds its completly ok to throw bio-degradeable things out of the train. The act of throwing as I said is bad enough.
There are some wierdos who stick chewing gum under a bench and spit it out on the road and many who throw garbage from their windows etc.... phew!!!!

2006-11-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

The first job that one does they say are of utmost importance in building a stepping stone in one's career and so on the chat will continue with tips and facts and experiences etc. This is one kind of conversation I am mostly out of or atleast try an avoid. No shame I must mention, for in the name of the company i do hold some pride of being an intern and my future would be bright but as someone with a title and no will power. Hardwork and determination is demanded by all fields that is true and many individuals do deliver it but where is the interest lying. I have for sure come across those with a fat pay and a drab life. So where do you actually find what you are meant to do? Does one start with odd careers in a hope of a better one? or is interest what comes with trail and error? There are millions confused and puzzled and many in doubt of their facts with regard to this issue being real or not. Where does one find an answer for in this throat cut society will anyone bother to care about something you yourself are not certain about?

The following is a personal experience with no connection to the above:
Life's irony flashes in our face time and again to keep us reminded of where we have to stop and ponder, think and imagine. Similiar incidents occur off and on and one such day was today. The look on her face spoke, her eyes spoke too. She was vibrant and full of energy in her expressions and the movements of her hand flowed and told a story. Her tounge had the inability to tell and her ears too shut. Along with me the others too starred and that is a very obvious reaction she probably got from people but could we help it? As my eyes wandered around the compartment so as to not make it that obvious I noticed a group of college goers giggling the way through the journey. Coincidently playing 'dumb charades'.

Not so Interesting

2006-11-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

So what makes an interesting me? i wonder and will for............ Nevertheless i may be some source of entertainment to a few considering im still not a 'loner'. College is blah! and hilarious would amount for the people in it. Where i live is where my life revolved around some time back and now has turned into a 'hey what happened' fact. No more involvement in all happenings and a lot of time eaten up by college hours contribute to major factors. Getting back to where i stopped will be tough and not what i want. I've done much more somewhere else.

What could make an interesting them? The laurel and hardy i met today(in size only) One girl fragile and shaky, the other er...thump! thats what i heard when she sat. Human Body Anatomy, was the title of the books covering their faces and they read and panicked and read and panicked. Phew! alas im doing a course as i wanted it to be. Maybe in some years from now i would regret to have taken it but i have had my understanding of a fun life. Much more to face and looks like no fun anymore. Drab is the word my mind plays all day.

What could make an interesting him? The prof. that the head of my department chose to teach us. He was so Blah!!!

Blog Blog Blog!!!!

2006-11-14T02:43:00.000-08:00

Here we go. Blog blog blog...ok now more, blog blog blog!!! ok that's silly. me just excited with the pinky background and so this, as elroy would say is a 'Test post'.
to be continued...