Nobel Prize for Indians

That came as a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. It is amazing what hope one guy can bring with him. And what strong political will can bring about! YES WE CAN represents the new age mantra and raises hopes of a happier future for kids all over the world.
And then we have our Indian Politicians. YES WE CAN translates into so many actionable points for them , though I doubt if any of these will fetch them a place in civilised history!
YES WE CAN – make our families rich for generations by stealing all the money that belongs to the people of this country. So what if there is no public infrastructure – my family has land, houses, cars and pots and pots of filthy money!
- YES WE CAN create issues out of air – Marathi manoos vs rest of India, Tharoor twitting away, SRK getting held up at the airport. Who cares if Mumbaikars are struggling to get to work each day or women are unsafe in Delhi?
- YES WE CAN delay things that do not suit our purpose – Roti , Kapda aur Makaan for people, clearing out slums, building in time for the Commonwealth Games.
- YES WE CAN – create nuisance – Ram Sena that thought it was immoral of girls to go to a bar, MNS that can make powerful Karan Johar come to him instead of following the law of the land, MNS that threatens the OZ team.
- YES WE CAN be brazen about anything in this country – creating parks and statues for ourselves, our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters; flying business and first and throwing attitude, shutting the sealink for the lords of this country to pass thru, or inconveniencing all of delhi because we are unprepared for commonwealth games.
- YES WE CAN – keep quiet about things that may put us in a tight spot – so noone has the courage to tell the Thackerays to lay off, to demolish slums, to come down heavily on the bureaucracy that does not work.
- YES WE CAN use all public machinery for only our people. So, satellites, helicopters –the work were looking for one YSR Reddy, but there was nothing when Mumbai was attacked.
Obama got a nobel prize for raising hope! And regular Indians also deserve a Nobel Prize – for eternal hope. Hope that someday, we will have a government that performs, that there will be roti , kapda and makaan for all, that kids will learn in school, that there will be jobs and healthcare for all!
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Celebrating Marriage

Karva Chauth is one of the only times I blatantly lie to my in-laws. They think I keep the vrat and I have little courage to tell them I don’t. Not that I don’t love Praneet or don’t want a long life for him or don’t want to demonstrate my love for him. But really, I don’t love him more on that day – rather I will hate him for being the reason I went hungry that whole day! I am happy to do it the year he is not travelling and keeps it with me, but food is too dear to me!
Anju had this wonderful take on Karva Chauth – she looks at it as a celebration of her marriage. For so many years you look for the right person to marry and then when you do, and Karva Chauth comes around, it is such a fun ritual. It breaks the monotony of another working day – you get mehndi put, buy new bright clothes and bangles , get up in the morning for sargi and start your day! There is Puja in the evening and that ritual makes you feel part of womanhood and helps connect with other women! Ofcourse, New Age women raise a toast to their husbands. Women bond big time with each other that day as well – bunches meet to play cards or go see a movie!
Then there are husbands like my father and brother in law and many friends, who also keep the vrat with their wives! That is so gracious of them!
But Anju made me realise that this is not about men! This is about women and the happiness that it brings to them. The ritual may have its roots in any tradition or superstition, but the feeling that one does it with is complete love..and therefore, I think a better celebration of marriage than the anniversary!
So Praneet darling, I will definitely do one of these two things next year – Either tell Mummy truthfully that I can’t keep the vrat, or will actually keep it for you!
Keep the gift ready in that case!

Jai Ho

We define Patriotism and national pride and identity in so many stupid ways! So if Pakistan lost the match in the last ball to Australia, it was a deliberate attempt to put us down. If Dhoni and team win the match, we are proud Indians. When Akshay Kumar gives his patriotic speech in Namastey London – oh the warming of punju blood! When SRK is detained at US, it is an insult to our national pride!!
But there was a true Indian moment last week at the special screening of Wake up Sid at Juhu PVR last week. As soon as the national flag came on screen, everyone shuffled on their feet and stood up. The flag was on the big purdah but there was a problem with the sound system. As we all stood, there was no music for the longest time. Then, a guy in the front screamed,’Come on guys, lets sing it!’There were some giggles and some embarrassment. A few people started singing the National Anthem and within seconds, all joined in! It was amazing! Everyone was standing upright and singing loudly. There was no music to drown out the voices – shrill, soft, in tune or out of it! And at the end of it, perhaps we were all so overwhelmed by ourselves that all of us started clapping and there were cheers of Jai Ho all around.
This was so different from when we were kids – it was so uncool to know Hindi or sing the national anthem – I mean who was happy about being an Indian in India? NRIs had money, clothes and all fancy stuff, there was no McDonald’s or colour TV and the only revolution on the road was the Maruti car.
But this high I came back with got punctured promptly when I came back home. 11 year Daughter dearest informed me that Bollywood was not her type and neither was Bollywood music! Huh! And I thought this generation was different!
Or maybe we become patriotic only as we grow older!!