India, Indians and Summer Time

India, Indians and Summer...all have something to say.

India -- The country that is famous for its "Unity in Diversity".

Does India have 3 or 4 seasons.

My mind says 3. Summer, hot and sweaty. Monsoon or the Rainy season, when rain comes down and cools the earth that was heated by the Summer. Winter, everyone likes as it keeps the sweat away. Blossoms of many colours are seen and then picnic and outings feature in the life of the people.

Indians -- Indians love their food, their dressing sense,and of course the different languages. Move out from one state boundary, sure to meet people speaking a different language from another state. Food habits differ and of course some cultural difference. But, Indians like to live in this diversity.

Summer -- Ufh!!! the summer has stepped in. Now its time for cotton clothes. Cotton clothes are so soothing to the body.

Temperatures will start rising but people in India wait for this season for the Mangoes. Eat it raw or ripe, doesn't matter.Pickle it or drink ripe mango juice. Soothes the body and the palate. Food habits change, less spicy and something cold. Ice-creams and soft drinks fill up space in the stomach.

How can you hate Summer in India when the Mangoes come.

Silly but true. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!

Who Helps You???

This question looks simple but the answer can be difficult. Each one can draw own meaning out of this.

When someone put forth these words to me, I was taken aback. Later I realized this was something to talk about mainly for the women folk.

INDIAN POLITICS

Indian politics is showing a change. The different states may not have spoken by themselves, but we, the people of this country showed courage to wipe out the ones who had created a great mess in this country. Those who have been swept clean never once thought about the pangs they created for the common man, who constitute the mass of this country.

They sat comfortably in their cool luxurious chambers and went on doing THIS and THAT now and then, thinking they are the Lords or Kings who had every right to act in their Lordly fashion...the way they liked.

Little did they remember that India is a DEMOCRACY now and being the largest democracy in the world, with a huge population of highly educated people and even people with little learning have started to know the Right from the Wrong and also know they can fight for their RIGHTS. And this Right was very well exercised in casting of their (common man) votes.

It is no longer, "Jago India (Bharat) Jago"., for already the people are saying, "Hum Jag gaye hain, aab dekho...".

The two words – Secular and Communal

These two words Secular and Communal have been making rounds in my mind. Thought best to sit and make a personal judgement on them – find the right and the wrong in them and their correct applications to those who speak such words with a loud open mouth and make that big noise like the bursting of crackers on the Diwali night.

India is a Secular country which does not have an official state religion. Let’s see where this leads to.

Secular: Secularism means, equal treatment meted to followers of all religions by the state and envisions acceptance of religious laws as binding on the state, and equal participation of state in different religions.

Communal: Meaning in Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, “pertaining to a commune or community”. So there is no specific reason to say that Communal means being hurtful to other religions apart from the religion you practice.

So by using the word Communal repeatedly, some people who call themselves Secular are trying to divide the country (India) on religious ground.

Here I have to say, having been brought up in an area where the Muslims families were more in number than Hindus, never felt any difference. From a tender age till now religion has never drawn a line in my life to differentiate people. Even we had Christian families who were very close. The people of the other religions always participated in each other’s religious festivity.

It is a great mistake if we tread upon the path that has been made by some to divide this huge country on religious grounds.

Common man wants to live in peace for he has to toil hard to earn his bread and butter. Those who are doing this nuisance have lots stashed in their kitty…maybe out of the wrong earnings they have made. They want to live in peace and see the fun in making others fight, and in all this there is creation of fear, tension, anger and loss of lives.

I say these two specified words, used mostly in politics, hardly makes any space in my life.

Jai ho!

Mission to Mars from India

The Mission to Mars from India has started. Here, on this earthly country we are struggling for existence. Love is giving way to hate, the environment is becoming unfriendly because of us, greed is pushing in like a gust of wind, trying to pull down others to reach the highest rung of the ladder, the lust for political power is crossing all barriers. Simple and common people now find existence to be on the difficult track. When we cannot live a life fairly on this earth, can we think of going to another planet to live a happy and peaceful life. Dreams can be true at times...dreaming and happy...

Pak Onions Ind(i) Curries

Onions make you cry...believe me this is true...

When did I cry ‘With’ or ‘For’ the onions last time? That’s a tricky question for me and also for many.

When a question comes it needs an answer.

With Onions...

Last time when I cooked meat...aha! more specific...when I peeled and sliced the onions tears ran down my cheeks...and then the perfect onion paste was ready within minutes...Mixie Magic...that was last weekend...

For onions...

And now I cry again for onions...soaring prices...says catch me if you can...taking the sudden flight...hurt in the price rise and so makes me cry...

...now Pak onions trickling into India...mind you no visa no passport...

...steps smartly into Ind(i) homes...safe in the kitchen...cooked and curried...

Safe curry, tasty Bite.

Share your thoughts.

Common Wealth Games (CWG) 2010 of India and of Delhi

In the name of the Games (CWG) there are so many Hullabaloos at present. The noise is all about the common wealth that’s being squandered in the name of this Sporting Event.

Even before the track and field and the indoor events have started, it seems a special Relay race is going on. Allegations are running down from one to another. The first shot is fired with cases of bribery, and then it runs into faulty contracts with some contracts being made without written documents. The relay moves on next into unfinished stadiums where the leaky roofs give evidence of the type of finish the places are going to get. Then it heads towards those fitness equipments meant to be there on hire for India does not want to produce athletes in future as fitness equipments are going to go once the games are over.

Delhi looks more like a dug-up city with roads caving in here and there and no respite from traffic congestion. In giving a makeover to this city it has created more mess than anything worth looking at. Most believe Delhi was much better before, and, the changes have not brought about anything worth a word of praise. Money has been simply squandered in the name of the Games.

With the date of the Games coming closer the locals are not at all interested in going to watch the different events. Instead with the closure of the schools during that time many will prefer to stay away from this city for there will be lot of traffic problem.

With the work coming to an end very soon so many labourers will be left without any work. Where will they go and what will they do. The state government will try to evict the shanties of these labourers put up on the roadside. This is going to a huge problem soon after the Games are over. And then the government at the Centre and the State will play a blame game and leave the people to suffer silently.

But the rich and powerful will have a sound sleep in their luxurious rooms having power and some having made lots of money in the name of the Games.

If this topic starts burning, political heads will divulge into another topic to let this die a silent death and see no digging is done to find what lies deep down.

A new burning topic will come up and politics will play its own game but life of the AAM AADMI will move on.

Of Languages...

Tulika Books has announced a Blogathon 1 and the topic is:

How different are the written and spoken forms of your first language? If you want children to become familiar with their first language, which form would you look for in children's books - formal or informal? Why?

The topic is interesting, not simple, but difficult, if it comes up for a debate.

The other day I met a family at a party, small family of father, mother and son. It amazed me to find the parents talking with their child in Hindi and not in the language the parents speak. Are we really ashamed of our first language?

India. The country of Unity in Diversity has so many languages and dialects. Very often in the streets and public places we hear more of spoken English than an Indian language. And following English people prefer to converse with one another in Hindi.

I have had the privilege of learning to speak, read and write in my mother tongue. Being an Indian, apart from English I can read, write and speak 3 other Indian languages and it makes me happy. Though not good with speaking I can understand 2 more regional languages. It gives me a sense of pleasure that at such a time when the first language is losing its grip I’m lucky about languages.

I’ve always encouraged my children to speak in Bengali at home. Knowing more than one language is an advantage and in school where the first language is English there is always the benefit of learning a second language. Being a bilingual is easy nowadays. Then there is the chance of learning the language of the state you’re living in (even if someone is living there for a short time). Learning languages is a personal interest and depends very much on the individual...easy for a child. 

I think the best way of letting the children learn their first language is by reading out stories in their first language from a very young age. They pick up words and understand them and then are able to speak in it. During their long summer holidays, parents or even grand parents can help in this. The children can be made to write and read, like doing a page of handwriting writing regularly, as I pointed out, during their holidays. They can be kept occupied and once they develop an interest they’ll have that good feeling of knowing and learning something new. Creating the interest is of importance and this can be possible to some extent by speaking with the children in their first language at home.

Now I find many youngsters making an effort to learn their first language, for, as they are growing in life they find the feeling of belongingness in this...which they have not been interested in,earlier. Many have started reading books of great regional writers (starting with their translation works in English) and want to know more from their writings. Our regional literature is very rich, and if such a move comes up, regional literature will no doubt get a boost and encouragement. Hope such moves can help in the interest and revival of our regional languages!

Hockey World Cup – India losing grip...

Yesterday As I watched the India vs South Africa match, there was little to be happy about. India and South Africa ended their playing time with three goals from each side. So it was a draw.

As someone seeing the match on the television screen, I thought Indian players were bit let down morally because of some decisions made by the referees. I felt the boys played giving their best efforts.

Don’t know how much determination the players had while playing against England.

Now India will play for the 7th and 8th position in the tournament. Let’s see if they can better the previous 11th position India was in.

The commentators in English were not neutral with their words when India was playing. Their commentary did not go down well with many. To avoid this situation we have to become stronger and get a place in the top 3 and then what these people will say has to be heard.

Hockey World Cup 2010 – When India loses to Spain...

Yesterday as I sat watching India playing their third match - India vs Spain - there was nothing to be happy about. What has happened to the Indian team that played against Pakistan, a win over them and hopes of every Indian rising to see his/her country’s hockey making a place in this Hockey World Cup? Indian hopes have been shattered, Indian team losing to Spain playing before the home crowd in their home ground.

This brings to mind many diverse thoughts:

Why this sudden change in the attitude of the players.

The defence was weak and there was enough gaps for the opponents to give the finish.

Did the Indian players not do their home work before coming out to play?

Sad affair they couldn't convert the penalty corners.

To say without Shivendra Indian team has lost their moral boost. Just a plea.

Is the past rift between the Indian Hockey Federation and the players still going on which has demoralised the morals of the players?

So many questions have come up in the minds of the people but the end answer is - the mood of Indian Hockey lovers has dampened.

Media has written so much about the match that every hockey game lover has got the details even if they could not go to the stadium to watch the match or could not get time to watch it live on their television sets.

Still the remaining hockey matches will be watched with interest and enthusiasm even if India is not playing. After all the best team deserves to win and be cheered.

At least being the host country Indian Hockey could get a place in this tournament. But they have lost their chance.

Time for Indian Hockey to rise above the level they are in and stop being called “Under Dogs”.

Isn’t it?

World Cup Hockey 2010 & Indian Hockey

India played the second match of the tournament against Australia. I waited for the match to start. Watching the match was not the same as the first one. Where do I begin...?


First the Indian striker Shivendra Singh was suspended for 2 matches, suspension reduced from 3 to 2 matches. So we lose the services of our main striker. It is really strange how the suspension came into force when the Pakistan team had not lodged a complaint against the player. What message does it leave? Is it biased towards the Asian players? If we had look at the England and Australia match earlier it is clearly visible how there had been rough tackles but no one was pulled up.


The commentators spoke out about the Indian players with a mean note from their Commentators box throughout.


The Indians were over powered by the Aussies from the very beginning.


Indians were at a disadvantageous stage when their ignorance of putting the ball out of the touch line was paid off with a penalty corner in favour of the Aussies who converted it into another goal. The team needs to do a lot of homework with the prevailing rules.


The Indians did lose the match 5-2 but still has chance to get a birth to the semi-finals with a win over Spain in their next match. But they have to careful with the goal margin.


Wish the Indian team all the best for the next match.


After all Indian Hockey is not losing its sheen with so many following the game whole-heartedly.

World Cup Hockey 2010 – India Wins First Match

I sat watching on the television the two teams - India and Pakistan - lining up to start their first match. When the Indian National Anthem was played it brought tears to my eyes. These were not the tears of sadness but that of a sense of pleasure overcoming my emotions. The Anthem itself brings the sense of pride and love, and my sentiments ran wild and fast. Don’t know why? But there was that strong feeling for my country...of love and adoration and honour.

Soon the match started, arch rivals playing against one another, India vs Pakistan.

Why am I talking of all this...emotions, admiration, love, pride and...when I’ve dedicated this space for Hockey, that too the World Cup being played in the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi.

Till the day the World Cup Hockey tournament started there was little hope about the attention this event would get. For the third match of the opening day (February 28, 2010), I mean this India-Pakistan match, the stadium stands were mostly full. This shows the interest people still have for our National Game.

From the beginning Indian players were at their best. They managed with 4 goals having missed a very near 2 more. The players excelled in all areas.

For the Pakistanis, they struggled, missing their opportunities to convert the penalty corners to goals. At last they could hit the ball into the goal post for a lone goal.

For sure Indians across the country are happy with the performance of the players. Today (March 2, 2010) India takes on Australia. A win over them makes it easy for the Indian team to reach the semi-finals.

Fingers crossed I’ll watch today’s match and cheer from my drawing room sitting area for the players.

The Hockey players have shown their talent and skill on the field and with that people have also raised their interest bar in this game.

One more win today and I’ll shout, “Jai Ho Hockey our National Game”.

With this sweet note...

Cricket Fiasco at Kotla

Yesterday I was happy relaxing in front of the TV watching the match played between India and Sri Lanka…han han the cricket match…and happy with the start. It seemed India was doing very good from the first ball itself.

Only a couple of days back there was such a mess about getting tickets for this match that was being played in Delhi’s Kotla ground. Those people who did not get their tickets must be such a happy lot now.

Why is it cricket has to have such a horrible closing at the end of this year. The crowd must have waited in the queue for long hours, frisked by security personals before entering the stadium, sit for sometime watch few overs being bowled and later see the two teams walk out with the last announcement coming the match has been suspended.

Those watching the match in the comfort of their homes at least could get the signal from the pictures and the commentators the pitch was not suitable for play. With a grassy top the ball was rising high enough to hurt the batsman which of course was happening just before our eyes…the camera is very clever to catch every movement with the handiwork of the person behind the lens.

The match could not be played, blame games shooting up but after all who takes the blame…BCCI, the curator of the pitch, the Delhi Cricket Board, go on naming and ultimately no one wants to shoulder the blame. Why should one want to get the blame? There is so much of money in this game…cricket has made BCCI rich…and being a part of it is an honour. So people would love to be involved in cricket from close quarter, to be facilitated and privileged in getting complimentary passes to watch the matches in the different venues.

The other day when the match was being played in Eden Gardens, the flood lights went off. Can we say with too much cricket this game is losing its sheen and, the needs and wants of this classy game is not looked into properly - be it the laying of a pitch or giving a thorough check to see the floodlights are working properly.

Why has so much of callousness come in? Is it too much of anything ends up with little interest for it? Unanswered question…

Time to see our faces don’t drop in shame if we cannot hold the 2010 Commonwealth Games as expected by all the participating countries who will come here to be a part of it.

‘Learn from mistakes’…the calling…

Cricket Continued (3)

Yesterday Australia won to level at 2/2. When India won the last match in Delhi, there was much expectation from the people that India would also win the match played in Mohali…expected continuous third win. But the end said it all.

Talking about umpiring errors, there has been and will be. The topic of umpires making errors took the front seat when Tendulkar was given out LBW. After losing the match, Dhoni said Tendukar’s out was one cause of losing. If he would have been bowled out, then what would be the thought? The others in line have to play well to win. There have been times when batsmen coming much lower down the order have helped to win a match.

With too much cricket there has also been concern about the fitness of players. Cricket is the game which brings quick fame and money. Players too want to be selected and play all the matches, and Fitness and Form can only give them a place in the national squad.

Cricket Continued

With the ongoing cricket India-Australia series, talking about sports at this time will be more about cricket and less about the 2010 Commonwealth Games that will happen next year.

India having lost their opening One Day match has to give a thought of winning the next one. As an expert comment, Sourav Ganguly former Indian captain, thinks it will be better for team India if Dhoni bats at the third position. And agreeing to his thoughts is Adam Gilchrist, adding a Yes to Ganguly’s thought. But Dhoni has his own disposition and does not want to come up in the batting order.

Whatever the experts or the captain of the Indian team says, it is a matter of prestige for the Indian team to beat the great Aussies and win the series. After all playing in India in their home grounds is an advantage for the Indian side. Now it’s a wait and watch time to see how good are boys, at winning, to make every Indian cricket lover proud.

Cricket Curried

There has been too much cricket for the Indian cricket players and also for the huge population of this country. With so much of cricket, the game is losing some of its taste…among the lakhs and crores who used to follow this game.

Earlier there used to be few cricket tournaments, and now cricket matches are played throughout the year. Nowadays with 20 over matches there is more cricket to play…less time for a result oriented match. On the other hand people also have less time to spend watching these matches. Some great cricket heroes have failed to get a place in the teams hence their fans have also lost interest in watching the game.

With so many changes coming in this game, it is moreover getting curried. With less cricket and lesser changes in the game cricket will again be followed religiously in India. After all there is so much Wanting in Waiting.

Isn’t it?

Diwali with Lights and Crackers

People are busy lighting up their homes for Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light. When India is lighting up, whole world does not want to lose the festive flavour of this country. Even President Obama wanted to get the feel of Diwali. It shows India and Her Festivals is attracting the West towards Her Festivals which have strong flavour, colour, music, mood and an air of oneness. The sound and the festive mood have stretched from Durga Puja and Dussera, to Diwali.


This festive mood stretches across this vast country, from the North to the tip of the South, from the East to the west. The mood melts into every person living in this land who is proud of the Tri Colour…Saffron, White and Green and the Ashok Chakra in the centre which symbolises strength.


People of India love food and Festive Time is the best time to have a bite into the different varieties of food. So many tastes are boiling in different pots in different kitchens in the different parts of this country where language, traditions, dress and living style may differ. But when you ask anyone, you can hear a single tone ringing, “Proud to be an Indian”.


This is India with Unity in Diversity.


As dusk falls earthen lamps filled with oil and cotton wicks dipped in it is lighted up with a flame that brightens up not only the home…also the area surrounding it. There is a choice these days to light up the home. Electric lights come in different colours and set in different designs line up to bring light as they are switched on.


The best part of life at this time is GREETING each other, and sweets and gifts having their own part to play.


After dusk, once the lamps are lit and the Puja is over it is time for the crackers to burst into flames, creating noise that is enjoyed as it is a part of this festival.


Whatever be the message of a Green Environment, Diwali will no doubt resound in the ears with the noise of the bursting crackers…that’s the joy of this festival.

Road Deaths in India

The WHO (World Health organization) Global Status Report on Road Safety reveals that more people in India die in road accidents than anywhere else in the world. The report, a first of its kind global survey shows India ahead of another populous country like China. With the rising road fatality rate, it is time to check road accidents. Causes vary in nature like drunken driving, crossing speed limits, driving without proper training and driving license, road rage and low use of helmets. The survey points out that road fatality could become the fifth biggest killer by 2030 - spreading like an epidemic in years to come.

This timely caution has no doubt sounded the warning bell.

Time is the best healer.
Drive safe.
Ride safe.
Be careful
And
Be happy.

Swine Flu and Homeopathy

Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus has entered the Indian soil and is now spreading from one place to another. Till now they were the ones who had returned from their foreign trips brought the H1N1 virus with them. And now silently this flu is hopping from one body to another, from one city to another, causing a major threat and health problem in India.

Swine flu took its first toll on life in Pune. The people of the other cities are not safe either. The number of H1N1 virus infected persons is rising in the different parts of India. To check the spread, government is trying to control the spread of this influenza.

Simple caution: wear masks on the face covering the nose and the mouth portion, wash hands regularly at short intervals, stay away from visiting crowded places, avoid being near those who are sick and most importantly avoid foreign travels if not necessary.
Till now the government hospitals had been asked to conduct the tests for this infection and administer and distribute medicines from government hospitals only.

Now Homeopaths have come out to say Homeopathy can prevent and cure swine flu.

With another ray of hope for cure, many may heave a sigh of relief from the panic they are going through.

“There is always light at the end of the tunnel” has been rightly said.