Are school and childhood friendships really so complicated? or I wonder if I am making it so in my mind's maze. For many years now as I see my kids grow I am plagued by some thoughts and Questions. Why do some kids bully others, and take it into their hands to make the poor kids miserable? I am yet to figure out a way to help my kids deal with class bullies. What is surprising is everyone in class hates them, yet gets drawn to them by their power. How do some kids get more powerful and shrewd, and get to control class perceptions. What if you are not part of this popular gang? are you destined to stay unwanted and unappreciated through your school years? I know for a fact now that bullying and groupism in kids can ruin a child's happiness. Unfortunately it can go on for many years. What can parents do to help their kids? Not much really except teach your child the values of friendship and fairness that you believe in. Teach them to be more aware of their own actions and finally and most importantly make them confident enough in their own strengths to be able to ignore the noise. In the long term does being alienated over a period of time affect a child's future? To think back today, I was one of those average kids, neither the queen bee, nor the lowest menial worker and had my fair share of friends and good times. Yet, I don't really think of my school friends much, and am not even in touch with most of them. And yet again every child is different so the stimuli and response is unique to them. Ultimately each child has to deal with their own angels and demons and learn from their own experiences.

What is it that I really want? This question is the most difficult to answer. After a lot of thinking and rethinking ...Love and respect from family, friends, work, society. To have a capable and caring spouse. To help him be the best that he can be. Be useful to your parents and children. Capability to be able to fend for self, family and have some left over to give to society. And world peace.

Back to blogging !

The Forty Feet Sprint

On my usual drive to work everyday I am amazed by the progress our city is making. There are new roads and flyovers being built. The government has taken a tough stand on road-widening. It does not matter, rich or poor, everyday more and more buildings are being demolished to make way for the new beautiful wide roads. All roads now have dividers and sometimes even a lawn with pleasing greenery and small shrubs. It is indeed a pleasure and I look forward to the day I can make it to office in 20 minutes straight! The promise is immense and the mood upswing. India the sleepy tiger is waking up after all and paving the way for its future generations! And it is high time too!!

It was yesterday, on the Bombay Highway while enjoying the drive; I sensed a movement in the two feet wide road divider. A scrawny little girl of seven was holding on tight to her half clothed brother of four and sitting, waiting patiently. My heart skipped a beat, I had seen the kids but would all the drivers behind me see them? Would they take care and not get too close? What was I to do? Stop over and check or just continue? Conscience calls but inertia has its own way….I drove past wondering and glancing at my rear view mirror still thinking. Another two cars drove behind me… and there was no one else for some distance. Just then suddenly the girl got up and still holding the little boy’s hand sprinted across the road to safety! What a relief! I continued on my journey thinking…till more overhead crossing bridges are built, or traffic lights with walkways to allow people to cross are set in place…I can only pray that the children of India can run just as fast!

Contemporary Indian Woman – I spot you!

My intrigue and dilemma with the Bindi started at the age of 10 when I went to school in North India. Associated with marriage and femininity, the practice of wearing a Bindi is a Vedic tradition that women in India follow as a conformation to the spirit of womanhood and marriage. Being a south Indian wearing a Bindi was normal and expected of all South Indian Hindu girls, married and unmarried alike. In the North what I noticed was that only married women would wear Bindis along with Sindhoor in their Maang. I remember being teased as a child and with the overwhelming need to be accepted and blend in I conveniently forgot to wear it a few times and then slowly gave it a miss altogether. My parents did not complain or rather failed to spot my obvious omission.

Now it is more common for south Indian women to Not wear the Bindi or the Mangalsutra. I see this happening not only when they wear western clothes but also when they wear Indian clothes. Of course the Bindi does not go well with the Western Attire and neither does a heavy Mangalsutra with a Pant Suit, yet I do sometimes wonder if the lack of wearing a Bindi goes beyond the fashion statement? Is the contemporary South Indian Woman creating her own identity beyond the Bindi? Does wearing a Bindi feel like a cow being branded and wearing the Mangalsutra like the proprietary mark of being owned by her man? Either way I have seen many a Saas-Bahu and Maa-Beti caught in this intersection. I know of a friend of mine who while wearing western clothes will wear her Bindi sticker while at home and take it off when she moves out, and promptly puts it back on when its time to head back home. This she explains is to appease her mother-in-law, for whom the Bindi signifies her son’s very existence! Surely, there is no harm in aping the west in language and look, if you can carry off the look and it makes you feel in control of your life then go for it! Then again maintaining the sensitivities of your family like my friend have their own merit in this fast changing world!

Our Own Blog !

So excited to get a Blog of our own, now we plan to share our thoughts and our interests through it!