allthingsindian

Kaminey -Hindi movie review

2009-08-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

So I got a chance to see Kaminey last Sunday. After reading several reviews showering praise on the movie, my expectations were all raised. The movie turned out to be an entertainer all right.
A taut storyline with several layers of subplots and engaging characters makes the movie different from our usual masala movie. Priyanka is good and Shahid Kapoor is subtle in his dual roles.

I had enjoyed Omkaara tremendously and now Kaminey. Vishal Bhardwaj you are good! Make more movies. I would want to see more movies based out of our rural heartland.

Ramdev- Gay Rights

2009-07-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

So earlier, I had praised and had become a fan of Ramdev due to his mission of trying to spread yoga to the masses as a preventive measure to lead a healthy life. Ramdev however was in the news recently trying to file a petition against the HC judgement benefiting gay rights.

I do not like this. I believe Ramdev should not interfere. Homosexuality is part of life and has existed for centuries. What 2 people do in their private life and time should be of no concern to any one and anybody!

People who need to be censored are political goondas, people who encourage violence and criminals and rapists. Love is love, whether between a man and a woman or man and a man or a woman and a woman and that my friends is that!

Women -Philosophers-Artists-musicians

2009-02-07T04:57:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning my cupboards and found an old book that I had read in my mid twenties. It was Will Durand's Philosophy of life. I started to re read the book and after a few pages, my thoughts started wandering. It was then I asked myself "why haven't there been great women philosopher that have been universally acknowledged". That made me then think that one could ask that q about every other discipline.

Is it because we are biologically wired to not think beyond our small spheres of family & friends? Or that we could not care less about such things. I simply don't know. I can only hope that soon women will prove me wrong.

Benefits of Yoga

2008-12-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

Baba Ramdev needs no introduction to most Indians. He is a Sadhu with a mission to make people healthy by asking them to make yoga life style habit. I too have become a big fan of Baba Ramdev.
The essence of yoga lies not only in just doing physical asanas but bringing the mind under control and in harmony with the universe and with God. He advocates everyone to do "Pranayama's. Pranayama has immense benefits in lowering blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular health.

It's been 2 months since I started doing pranayamas and all some asana's for weight reduction, in addition to taking morning walks.
Recently when we went to Ganapatipule, we did some trekking and we had to climb an incline. TO my surprise, instead of huffing and puffing and trailing as I am usually prone to do, this time, I comfortably led the group. That to me was the immediate benefit of pranayama.
Anyone interested please look up Baba Ramdev's website, and or watch him on Aastha channel.

Today is December 31st 2008. Here's wishing everyone a happy, prosperous and healthy 2009.

.

Some more pics from Ganpatipule

2008-12-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

Ganpatipule

2008-12-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_91HyuEnYaTY/SVcuz00koiI/AAAAAAAAA7I/SznpZywia4o/s1600-h/DSC02800.JPG">

" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284744144904466786" />
/>

Ganpatipule is some 375 kms from Panvel and you can reach it very easily by taking the
Jan shatabdi which deparats Panvel at 6.40Am and reaches Ratnagiri at 10.40AM (usually 30minutes late). Ratnagiri station is relatively clean and cool (since it is at an elevation).
We took a private vehicle to Ratnavally beach resort which is some 26 Kms from the station. We had rented a villa and a cottage for the 7 of us. The beauty of this resort is that it has a private beach all of it's own. The service and food at the resort is basic and nothing to talk about.

On thursday we bummed around eating drinking and hammocking:-) We were the only family on the beach.
On Friday we rented a Qualis and went to see the Ganapati temple 2 Kms from the resort and the jaigad fort.
The temple is close to the the beach and one can do a 'parikrama" a circular trek outside the temple. My niece Antara the junior most member of the family went on a camel ride.

We purchased laddoos at the temple as prasad and then after a refreshing coconut drink proceeded towards Jaigad fort. There is nothing impressive the fort, so we warily climbed the steps and to our delight found a spectacular panoramic view of the sea. And as we took in the sights, Mala my brother's wife spotted dolphins and there was mad scramble for the binoculars to view them. They were a little too distant for us to catch a good glimpse. But we could definitely see them jumping and diving.
We were lucky to sight them at our own beach on Sunday morning and the second time we could see them more clearly though the binoculars. It's time a get a good SLR with a telephoto to capture wild life was the thought running through my mind as my brain saved the memories of these wild dolphins.

We also saw a variety of birds around the resort and at jaigad fort.
It was indeed a truly refreshing break.

Electoral reforms india

2008-12-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Let the army rule the country while these electoral reforms are being made.

Electoral reforms should include the foll:

Candidates should have a college education:

Rural candidates with X11 education can be considered.

Candidates should have no charges of any crime /violations against them. (If they have a case pending, those cases can be cleared on priority basis and if declared innocent they can stand for elections)

Appoint external auditors for all funds that the party and candidates get for election purposes.

Candidates should have a well stated idealogy that spells out their views on

Poverty, religion, national security. Candidates need to have a broader general knowledge that goes beyond their caste and community state and nation.

Encourage more women.
Continuing with electoral reforms:

Candidates should have demonstrated minimum 10 years of social service before contesting loksabha elections.

Candidates cannot stand for more than 2 terms;

Candidates above 60 years should not be allowed to contest.

Remuneration paid to politicians should be at par with the highest paid civil employee.

They should be barred from influencing police, and the army.

The chief minister and the prime minister should take responsibility and give an account of their performance to the people at the end of every years on specific counts like national security, food, water, housing, power and health issues.

Elected candidates should appoint professionals chosen from the general public and not people with popular votes.

Time for a national movement has come

2008-12-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

Seeing the huge turn out today at the Gateway of India cheered me no end. I hope this is the first step that the youth of this country is taking to bring about a much needed change in this country. I hope this gathers momentum across rural India also and becomes a strong force to give shape to a truly shining India. An India with no corruption, an India with a strong sense of values of honesty, integrity and compassion towards life.

I strongly feel one way to bring about this change is for the election commission to ban all exisiting political parties.
Bring about army rule for 2 years.
In those 2 years change the constitution to allow for a 2 party democracy.
Let new parties be formed. These new parties should lay down strict rules for contesting elections.
Minimum education : Bachelor's degree
Minimum years of proven social service
A clear stated idealogy
No criminal records- this means that you should not be a suspect in the eyes of the law.

I will continue on this theme ....

SAVE MUMBAI CAMPAIGN

2008-11-27T07:08:00.000-08:00

Save Mumbai Campaign
Mumbai is a lovely city that we call home.
Folks lets save Mumbai from

1. Terrorists
2. From politicians like MNS who are no better then terrorists
3. From weak ineffective Chief Ministers like Vilasro Deshmukh
4. From all crooked indian politicians who use it and abuse it to serve their own crooked interests.
5. Mumbai belongs to all hardworking people of all classes and all those visionary entrprenuers and business men who create employment opportunities that attract people from all over.
6. We salute our hardworking police, but they too need to be freed from the clutches of evil politicians.

So dear folks it's high time that we all started to give some serious thought to make this happen.
It all begins with ideas, so let's hear your voices as to how to bring about this change.

Mumbai should be made into a union territory

2008-11-27T00:46:00.000-08:00

Living in Mumbai is slowly turning into a continuous nightmare. An ordinary person leaving his home can today no longer be certain that he wil return safely home. Terrorists blasts, politicians like MNS who terrorize people and weak ineffectual CM. Mumbai deserves to be led by a truly inspired Mumbaikar CEO style with no political affiliations. It is the financial capital of India and it strongly needs a safe and free enviromnent to prosper. Mumbaikars its my fervent plea let's start a petition to free Mumbai from the clutches of the politicians and hand it to a leader elected by us mumbaikars to make it the truly great city that it is.

Raj thackrey and his goondas

2008-10-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

This is 2008 October, and today I hang my head in shame for being born in this country! Thanks to Rj thackerey and his goondas, I can now safely announce to the young children of this country that " Violence is the best solution to all your problems". Go kill people and damage property if you feel that others do not think think the way you do.
Great going isn't it. I think we should make him the principal of the schools and colleges and give him the title of the devil. It's his rule now. So going by his philosophy, any one of us if we feel that we don't agree to Raj thackerey's views have the right to go and kill him! Now let's see who can do that for us:-) I love this idea very much indeed. All I need to do is to contact Osama or his men and give them the contact info. for this man. What do you think, Mr. Thackerey, we are talking your language now! I think I have to agree with Lalu Prasad yadav. Mr. RajThackerey should not be put in jail. He needs to be sent to the mental hospital in Thane and given some shock treatment.

List of things that I want to do

2008-10-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to make a list of things that I want to do. Let's see how many of these I realize over time.

Travel:
To machu Pichu
Visit Africa
Galagopogos island
Australia and NZ
Vietnam, Thailand and China
Bhutan
Learn pottery
Write a book
Make a movie!

Happy Birthday my dear Appa!

2008-09-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

With his charming smile and winning ways, he has been winning the hearts of all those he comes in contact with for the past 75 years. The long list of contacts on his ever ringing mobile is testimony to his popularity. His circle of friends includes the local dhobi, the barber, the bhaaji walis and of course the lottery wallah. In his heart there is a special place for the poor and the illiterate. It is this quality of his that has taught me the invaluable lesson of being grounded in life.

His day begins at 4 am in the morning with vipassana followed by a long walk and ends at 10PM after checking the daily lottery results on the Macbook, yes folks he is somewhat tech savvy! During these 18 hours he ventures out of the house at least 5 times, talks on the phone at least 10 times. In the hours when he is not out of the house he is busy reading the news, nurturing the plants, doing the laundry, cutting vegetables, fixing the bulb, tightening the leaking faucet and doing innumerable chores to help my mom! We all wonder if he has the energizer battery strapped to his belt! Even to this day he is as sharp with numbers as he was in his younger days.

As long as I can remember his indomitable spirit has made him laugh and overcome all the challenges that life has thrown at him. He is a true gambler at heart.

He can discuss a variety of topics and is highly opinionated just like I am, which invariably leads to verbal duels between us at times, but the good sport that he is he often backs down and let's me win the battle.

Folks I am the lucky and proud daughter of the handsome ever youthful Mr. Suryanarayana! Today 24th September is his birthday and I wish him health, opportunities to travel and many many lottery wins You are truly unique and I love you very much dear appa. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY DEAREST!

Flowers

2008-09-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

These are some flowers that have been nurtured to bloom by dad.

The brewing economic storm

2008-09-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Looking at the economic mess that is unfolding in the US, isn't it pertinent for govt's all over the world to open public discussions on what is ailing free market capitalism policies and fix those issues?

I feel that world over people need to buckle down and CEO's who are getting paid astronomical salaries should take less of the pie and learn to live like the middle class. The middle class too should buckle up and not aim for luxurious standards of living. In fact tradtionally since middle class indians were into the savings mode, that is what should be encouraged. Easy access to credit is also ruining young indians who need to learn from what is currently happenning in the US. More investement in better public transportation, so that families who own more than 4 cars can reduce the mumbers should also be encouraged.
In a world of shrinking resources, the high standard of living that was seen in the USA for the last 50-60 years is just not sustainable. India should learn lessons and take a clue and not go about blindly aping all that comes out of the west!

Here are some links to some expert views on this topic;
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a5_ShyKnHFBI&refer=news

Depression

2008-09-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

There was a news article in yesterday's Times of India about the increasing incidence of depression among Americans aged 20-50 with females being more prone. Apparently doctors are noting similar trends in India.

So why is depression increasing despite increased material possession, better lifestyles?

I believe, that increased emphasis on cerebral activities, less physical toil, and increasing disconnect from other human beings and a total disconnect from nature among city-dwellers is contributing to this phenomenon.

Evolution has designed our brains to become the cause of our own destruction. With our brains, we have chosen to build weapons of mass destruction, we have chosen to become violent at the slightest provocation. We choose to be isolated and sit in front of the TV or computers and socialize on facebook or Orkut or write blogs (just like I am doing now),instead of going out and talking to real people and connecting with them.

Everyone keeps spouting figures, and statistics, no one is ready to talk about feelings! While we are willing to take risks on the stock market, very few of us are ready to risk giving our hearts to others. We are basically turning into robots, and may perhaps one day have the entire portion of our brains that control feelings erased leaving us with only our logical and analytical brains. I cannot think of a more frightful scenario than that.

So dear folks, here is my two cents worth of advice, go and intermingle with peole, laugh, cry and engage in emotions, kick yourself into doing some physical labor and go talk to your maid, the cobbler, the farmer , the milk vendor. Pick up the phone and call your forgotten friends. Keep doing this on a regular basis and I can bet you the surge of adrenaline that you get by human interactions will obviate the need for prozac!

My Petra and I

2008-08-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Do you recall the adrenaline rush that you felt the first time when as a kid you took your cycle and explored your neigbourhood tentatively on your own. You probably collided with the vegetable hawker (which is what I did), or you went exploring and looked for tiny fish in the local pond, or saw a street brawl. It was the same when I first learnt to drive, with my first car (a second hand Toyota corolla -a sports model) that I bought as a grad student in the US. The thrill of taking her on the free ways and roaming around and the first accident that I had are strongly imprinted in my mind.

We were mobile and we encountered experiences. That is how most of us probably got our first taste of independence.

Be it the humble bike, the gleaming kinetic honda, the roaring Yamaha or Maruti or the Octavia, they all stand proudly as the symbol of our independence.

I now drive the 1.6 litre 105 bhp petra from the fiat family of thoroughbreds:-). I love the feeling of joy when I drive her to work on the quiet Palm beach road in the mornings, listening to music. I also recall, how during last years monsoon, the roads were flooded deep in water and I literally was encouraging my Petra to pull me through the rain water and the surge of relief that I felt when she just did that.

I also anguish over the dents and scratches that she gets. For the past few months her sideview mirror has been broken and I have not been able to get her a new one, as yet (blame the Fiat Co, for not having spares!).

One of my dreams is to get behind a porsche or a BMW and drive through Europe. Porsche or no Porsche, today is the present that I have in the form of my Petra:-) and I love her for the freedom that she gives me.

Ganapati festival

2008-08-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

So it's nearing that time of the year when we celebrate the elephant headed God lord Ganesh, also known as Vignaharta (destroyer of evil), Vinayaka, Moushakavahana His chariot is pulled by mice).

So those of you who are not familiar with the story of Lord Ganesh, here it is.
Shiva (one of the trinity of Hindu Gods(Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer)once left Parvati his wife,unguarded at home. Parvati wanted to have a private shower, so she creates a young boy from her bodily sweat (I wonder whether that was the genesis of present day cloning technology:-) so that he can guard her privacy. Well when her husband Lord Shiva comes home, he is not permitted by the young guard to go inside. He is furious and beheads Parvati's young guard. When Parvati sees this she is inconsolable and wants her son back. Shiva then goes out and brings an elephant head back and brings the boy alive. And that is how the elephant headed God was born. Lord Ganesh is worshipped before all the other God's.

The public worshipping of Lord Ganesh became a vogue, ever since Lokmanya Tilak started the practice during India's freedom struggle, as a platform to ensure public participation in reforms.

I will post more on the sculptors of the big public idols in my next blog and will also try and post pictures of this year's Ganapati festival which begins on September 3rd.

Of the mind and the heart

2008-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

For centuries throughout human evolution the heart has been a central force in our lives. It is only in the 20th and 21st centuries that the mind has displaced the heart from it's preeminent position. Today everyone is told to revel in the acquisition of knowledge. We have information pouring in from all sources, the print, TV, the Internet, even from our mobiles. I simply get a feeling of being overwhelmed with so much information. Everyone seems to know everything but this very knowledge also appears to distance our hearts from that of others.

No doubt knowledge is important for getting a job and earning a livelihood and leading a secure life. Beyond that though, knowledge is limiting, for knowledge cannot and will not provide warmth or happiness to the heart and soul. To feel happy the heart needs feelings. The single minded pursuit of knowledge, brings degrees, certificates and accolades and makes you very logical and analytical. While they seem important, as we grow older, the self yearns not for more knowledge, but for warm nourishment for the heart. Music, arts, nature, animals, very young children and people with warm dispositions therefore provide incomparable sustenance to our souls and in the final analysis that is what truly satisfies.

Matheran

2008-08-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard of Matheran, then it simply means you are not a mumbaite. For all mumbaikars surrounded by concrete jungles take off to a real jungle on top of a hill some 100 ks from Mumbai once in while. One has to do this you know, lest our lungs forget what pure air feels like.

Matheran has several points Duke's point, sunrise and sunset points to name a few and manmade lakes. You can ride horses to check out the various points if you are not inclined to walk. Hotels have mushroomed and I personally hate the market area. Aesthetically very unpleasnt. But go off into the trekking areas and then you truly feel refreshed.

Here are a couple of pics of matheran.

Life and friends

2008-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

I am in a pensive mood today. Life just doesn't seem fun. I miss being with my friends.
It seems as you get older, it becomes more difficult to make friends, specially from the opposite gender. It is not surprising that the TV serial "Friends" is a constantly
watched by youngsters. Lucky are those that make childhood friends and maintain them throughout their lives. Such friendships are usually possible when you continue to live in the same neighborhood all your life. That is true only for a lucky few, so many of us move around the country or outside that we are not rooted in the same place to be ale to enjoy enduring friendships. Life without friends is like life without sunshine.

Dandeli - a dream destination

2008-08-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

On our way back from Hampi, we drove from Hubli to Dandeli and were lucky to get accomodation at the Bison River Lodge, right next to the river Kali. It is an enchanting location. From across the river we could sight the Malabar pied horn bills flyng back and fro to their nests. The birds are truly magnificent, unfortunate that I did not have a zoom lens to capture them. We went canoeing on the river kali and got to see blue kingfishers. One can opt for white water rafting. We went on the early morning safari tour but failed to glimpse wild life. The resort itself was very cosy and provided a good outdoor barbecue. I love this place and plan to visit again.

Kharghar

2008-08-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

I live in Kharghar, 15 kms from vashi. The best part of Kharghar is that the roads are big and broad and Kharghar has hills in the back drop. There is Pandav khada a waterfall that comes to life during monsoons. During my early morning walks at 5.30Am I am lucky to have solitude as my companion and then I can listen to the sounds that nature makes in the form of croaking frogs, singing birds, and the ocassional villager singng the abhang. By 6 Am I glimpse the golden sun arising in the east, and sometimes am fortunate to see young "kites" undergo flight training, so that they can soar majestically over the hills of Kharghar.

Here view this slide of Kharghar in Monsoon and you will see why.

Abortion issue

2008-08-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

So there is case of a mother who wants to abort a baby that has been diagnosed with Congenital heart defects at 25 weeks. The law of the land (India) is agains this and the mother has challenegd the exixting law on abortion. I am on the side of the petitioner, for i strongly believe that it is her and her husband's choice.
What right does anyone else have in this matter?
If we can allow abortion upto 12 weeks then why not in the later weeks, if it does not constitute a health hazard to the mother.

A fetus is a fetus whether it is a day old or 24 weeks old. So the argument against the petitioner based on the age of the fetus is irrelevant.

A very valid and important question that the mother raises is if others (Society, GOvt) is insisting that the child be born are they going to take up responsibility for the baby?
Be realistic the Indian govt. has failed to take care of poor nomeal kids.
So let the parents have the last word in this matter. And yes let the govt and the rest of us stay out of this one.:-)

Poems

2008-07-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Just as other forms of art, poems too create a sense of wonder and serenity. It is indeed a sheer joy to read in a few lines what a pedantic scholar may write in a tome:-)

Being emotional creatures we all at some point go through this urge to put down our feelings in words, paint, music or any other medium of expression. Do give in to those urges and share them with the world.:-)

Lord Byron, Pierce B Sshelley, Robert Frost are some of my favorite poets. Tell me who are your favourites?

I have posted some of my own poems on www.poetry.com, check them out under Shobha S Rao.

2008-07-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Art in any form gives pleasure and many times can be extremely soothing to the senses and to the soul itself. Life without art cannot exist. Nature is the biggest artist of life and is a constant source of inspiration to us mortals.

Prabha Shah and Geeta Vadhera are two of my current favorite artists. Please see inks below to access their website.
Prabha Shah's abstracts have a tranquil feel to them. The delicate use of pastels with superb color combinations provide a visual treat to the eyes.
Geeta Vadhera's paintings evoke a sense of the mystical and spiritual.