Funny Indian Politics

On a whim today, I was watching news channels and listening to interviews of Indian politicians. A funny thing, I saw.

On one channel was Narendra Modi, talking about important issues such as the state of the economy, making better use the youth by developing their skills and other progressive initiatives. Things you want to hear from a leader (it’s another matter if they aren’t really doing what they’re talking about)

On another channel was Digvijay Singh who had been asked about his take on Mr. Modi and he said:

“I want to know his Marital status. Why doesn’t he talk about his marital status? I’m telling you he is a horse with blinkers who has been brought by RSS.”

Is a slower city, a better, healthier city?

In Italy, there’s a city called “Slow city” where people are urged to live a slower life. The kind of life people in India’s small towns and villages enjoy. A lot of American doctors, self-help gurus, writers, etc. are advocating a slower lifestyle, less consumerism, more quiet, stronger family ties, organic food, more walking/cycling, less worry, etc. Does it ring a bell? All these things are a part of life in India. But no, we don’t like this, we want that. The grass is green and all that.

Is Technology Important for Getting Things Done?

Technology is a huge buzzword these days. Developed countries are big on tech, developing countries want to grow big on tech. But is technology the answer to our most common problems? I know for sure that there are more important, traditional tools that we can use to tackle major problems.

Making a website for a charitable hospital in semi-rural India

I have started yet another project – www.birandevimodihospital.org

I had started this website on 23rd March, 2013. I intend to chronicle the development, growth and benefits (if any) that this website provides to the hospital, the poor and people who need medical attention.

People I admire – Bunker Roy

I recently came across a TED talk by an ex-dosco called Bunker Roy. He was talking about his work at Barefoot College in Tilonia village, in Rajasthan and I was quite amazed. He has probably conquered innumerable odds, faced plenty of challenges and come out strong if he has been able to run the college since 1972.

He was one the list of Time’s 100 most influential people.

You can read more about the Barefoot college here.
And about Bunker Roy here.

And please watch the TED talk.

It will definitely inspire you.

Confused thoughts on Mumbai

Mumbai is a unique place to be. It can overwhelm you. It can scare you. It can give you hope or it can make you fall down into an abyss of hopelessness. Mumbai is a different universe altogether. Very different from Pune, Delhi or Hapur. It’s like a huge country in itself. There are so many people doing so many things, you often sit and wonder why you aren’t doing enough. And then you snap back and tell yourself that you’re unique and won’t conform to any stereotype so easily.

There are days when I want to go out exploring but the mammoth size of this city confuses me. Where do I go? There are so many places to visit.

Then there are days when I just want to sit inside my brother’s modest apartment on Carter Road, whiling away time or looking for a job online. It’s too darn hot to go out. But there are  so many thoughts that keep coming into my head, some telling me to go and explore, and some telling me to relax.

Time just flies by in this city. You don’t get to know when day turns to night or when you had eaten the last meal or called up a loved one.

The property rates are hideously high where we are staying – a cup of tea is 50 bucks in nearly all the sit and dine places that I have seen. If I want to eat a bread and butter sandwich, they charge another 100. This is something which comes for like 10 odd bucks where I come from.

Who said development was always good?

I can’t say whether I am loving the city or hating it, but the place definitely makes you think. You don’t want to sit around and do nothing, unlike Hapur. You want to move around and do something. Even though I want to stay back and spend a few more months here, I am finding it difficult to convince myself and move out of my comfort zone.

Places to Eat in Pune

I have been in Pune for about 17 days now and I have eaten at some pretty decent places in the city. Here are some of the places I remember. Most of them are nice places to dine.

(I am writing this post because I feel demotivated and I read somewhere that you should try and help someone else so this is my good deed for the day)

Chilling in Pune

It’s been six days since I came to Pune and I haven’t felt a moment drag by. It’s all flown by  in the eternity of history quite quickly.

I came to this specific city out of the million other ones in India because I had a good experience the last time I was around. I had a bit of money saved up in the good ol bank account and had some good freelancing work coming my way so I thought, why not travel and work at the same time? Thanks to a supportive and loving family which lets me do what I want, I came here. Plus I had a few good friends in town too so company was also not a problem. So how has the experience been so far?

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What a story. I hope this inspires someone to do something about this horrible thing. I hope the “leaders” in our country do something. at least one leader does something. I hope we get to read about more brave examples such as hers.

kracktivist

I was gang raped three years ago, when I was 17 years old.  My name and my photograph appear with this article.  in  1983, in Manushi.

I grew up in Bombay, and am at present studying in the USA. I am writing a thesis on rape and came home to do research a couple of weeks ago. Ever since that day three years ago, I have been intensely aware of the misconceptions people have about rape, about those who rape and those who survive rape. I have also been aware of the stigma that attaches to survivors. Time and again, people have hinted that perhaps death would have been better than the loss of that precious“virginity.” I refuse to accept this. My lifeis worth too much to me.

I feel that many women keep silent to avoid this stigma, but suffer tremendous agony because of their silence. Men blame the victim for many reasons, and,shockingly, women too blame the victim, perhaps because of internalized patriarchal values, perhaps as…

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