Wah Taj!!

Bart Simpson has taken the lead to present her views about the Taj Mahal being one of the seven wonders... Now let me present my views from the perspective of a Taj Nagari Vasi (person from the City of the Taj)... Ok, may be while reading the post you might feel that staying in Singapore has made me "un"patriotric... but then it depends on how you define patriotism.... Patriotism is something like Bravery... For some, a person who has the courage to kill himself (commit suicide) is brave [fair enough! you need courage to kill yourself] while for some the one who faces life is brave.... I prefer the latter... Same goes for Patriotism... For some the person who speaks well of his country is Patriotic.... But for me Patriotism means accepting the shortcomings of the country and then working to free the country from these....

Again, as Bart mentioned, India is known primarily for the Taj and Kashmir, and I feel proud while introducing myself as a citizen of the City of Taj Mahal (Agra)... I am probably among the most happy people from this news and I invited every Tom, Dick and Harry I met to visit the Taj and stay at my place... (Psst psst.... it also includes some very good friends like Juliana and Won Jang, good news being that I'll probably meet Won Jang.... Hurrah!!!) But then, I remember the state of the places around the Taj.... Do I really want people to see that??

It is all shitty, tacky, smelly.... so much so that I (living only 15 km away from the Taj) find it really hard to motivate myself to visit it.... The Taj is indeed a marvellous monument but it is tarnishing... Yellowing... and what about the river Yamuna which flows right behind it... The water there is worse than sewerage water... What are we doing about it??

Just proclaiming that I am from the City of the Taj doesn't mean that I am patriotic.... There are so many children in that City of the Taj who don't even know that their city is one of the most renowned places in the world.... For them life is a constant struggle for survival... What are we doing about it??

And can you guess that what will happen now??
Here is a much underestimated crookedness which will take place... The MP (Member of Parliament) of Agra will appeal for a huge sum of money to maintain the Taj Mahal and the nearby places....By huge I mean, HUGE......

And then, 10% of it will be used to do some temporary maintenance (To last till his term gets over)... The remaining 90%..... ahem ahem ahem.... The result being that the money allocated for the welfare of the people (out of which again only 10% would have been used) went to maintain the Taj or rather unmaintain the Taj...

Do you want to know why the MP would go only for a temporary maintainence??
So, that during his term the Taj looks maintained and in his successor's term...well, let me not use the word I intended to... This will then be used as a point in the next election...

Complicated?? Nah.... This is the most common tactic in Agra Elections...

So, now tell me, what shall I feel about the Taj being one of the seven wonders of the world??
Proud to be from the city or worried about the political game which will be played using Taj's name??

Leia Mais…

Reflection!!!

During the last days I have discovered a lot about myself. I was browsing through Dey's blog and shockingly stumbled upon some of his learnings which were in a way same as mine.... These are, perhaps, the learnings which everyone experiences at some point of their life's journey and to be truthful, you can understand them and enjoy the beauty of these learnings only when you actually live them!!! So, here you go!

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I have learnt that people around you matter. The ones that are around you influence the world you live in. No matter you lie to yourself many times saying that it doesn't work that way, but the truth remains. So be careful of the people you hang around with - they can be the best inspiration or the worst nightmare.

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You don't change people.You change yourself and that changes people. Isn't it so true?? And many times you are just amazed with the change in people's attitude... It is more like a miracle!!!

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Your world is what you want it to be. If you don't like it, move! If you like it, enjoy!You don't need to spend your life complaining. It is better to smile.So, look for the things that make you smile.

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Loneliness is a good company.Not all the time, not forever, but definitely is a good friend that I need to visit more often. To may be understand myself better.... To understand where I am heading to!!! Is it the place I really want to head to??

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Living life fast is the new trend. Not stopping to let things sink is not healthy anyway.Balance is needed everywhere, not necessarily happens continuously, but it needs to be found. I think I have the tendency to make myself extremely busy and living life fast.... Then not be able to step back and reflect... To actually face the innermost problems rather than running away from them...

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Love is not about a relationship.Love is about love.

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Don't be scared about the kind of person you want to be. Let it emerge, it is within you.It is within me! Give it all the time and support it needs and life will be heaven!!

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You are a beautiful person. Everyone is.... Just concentrate on the beauty of others and Life will become BEAUTIFUL!!!

Remember!
Forget!
Let it go!
Let it come!

Leia Mais…

Lights, Camera Rolling and Action!!!!

Alright, I don't want to sound immodest here to say that I am one of the Best Actresses I have ever known.... (Its not only in my opinion but in that of many others who have seen me act) Being in AIESEC made me realize that I am a good stand up comedian too and have the power to engage a large group of people for hours!!! *thank u, thank u But I never thought that I would be working with professionals in a movie clip in la-la land.... And above all, during my internship with the Singapore Compact for CSR!!! But it happened...

I was asked to reach office on time on Monday (And also, be very smartly dressed *do I not dress smartly everyday??)... When I reached the office, I was informed that the Singapore Business Federation is making a movie clip (5 min long) and they want me to act for them.... Whoa!!! How did these guys come to know about my acting abilities??

I said,"Alright" with the air of Angelina Jolie.... and came out of my cabin (Yes, I have been promoted from a cubicle to a cabin)... As soon as I stepped out Sally, Jenn, Allie and the Director (Jack) said unanimously, "Put some make up, atleast lipstick"...
"Sorry, I don't wear make up"

"She doesn't need one. Jack, you should see the shot, her face is made for the camera", said the camera man *hiks hiks, I am so touched..... I have not heard such flattering words in such flirting tone for full one and a half days.... Good Mr. Camera man (Oops, forgot to ask your name :( )

Anyways, we start shooting for scene 1, where I knock the door, enter the room and shake my hands with Phillis and we exchange cards and I sit and talk for a while.... Can you believe that the part where I enter the room was shot about 10 times before we moved further.... It took us 45 minutes to just shoot the perfect scene for my entry... Sometimes, Phillis blocked me, sometimes the way I opened the door wasn't perfect, sometimes, the way I leave the door wasn't perfect, sometimes I moved my left leg first, sometimes I looked as if I had come to kill Phillis.... Phew!! I pity poor actors and actresses.... But then I was enjoying every bit of it.... Then we moved on to shaking hands.... Gosh!!! I never paid attention to how I shake hands but my, my if you are acting you have to take care of so many intricate details.... Finally, scene 1 was shot in 4 and a half hours and length of that shot in the movie would be 2 min....

And then scene 2, for the remaining day... They didn't need me for scene 3 (length in the movie half a min) so I just ran out of the office.... I enjoyed every bit of it but I don't think I would ever make it my life long profession... I am a kind of person who needs change every moment and doing the same scene again and again is not my cup of tea....

I had always thought that it is so unfair that the actors get paid so much money but acting in this short movie clip, I understand the reason why it is so! I am happy not being an actress... :D

p.s. The movie will be screened on 2nd August in Singapore Business Federation's office. And the voice recording will be done when I will be in India, I just hope that the voice which is used for me matches my personality otherwise it will be hilarious

Leia Mais…

Militants or Extremists, Terrorists or Fighters!!!!

I was scrolling through a news site (BBC) where they reported about the comments of the HAMAS Militants. Almost instantly I was reminded of the way the Indian Freedom Fighters were termed as militants by the British and perhaps, the rest of the world... And the question which has always been disturbing me started squeezing the grey cells of my brain again!!! Who are they actually... My discussion is restricted not only to the Hamas but to the "Terrorists" on the whole... Are they actually the Terrorists or are they Freedom Fighters... Freeing themselves from poverty, illiteracy, and most importantly freeing themselves from FEAR....


Now, I personally don't agree that you should kill innocent people for freeing yourself from FEAR... But weren't at some point of time these people victims of some atrocity by the PEACE ENVOYS of the world...


Saddam Hussain was executed for being an authoritarian.... Many of us justified his execution just as the British might have justified Bhagat Singh's execution (Bhagat Singh was an extremist freedom fighter of India and prayed by people even till now...) I am not saying that they are same in any respect but wasn't Saddam treated as God by many Iraqis... He was not perfect but then who is?? And I shall not go into te details of what happened and is happening to Iraq when Saddam left it.... Who knows the inside story?? Is the Media objective enough? Bah...

Lets go to the Kashmir Issue... To Indians there is a region called Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and for Pakistanis there is a region called India Occupied Kashmir (IoK) and there are I-don't-know-how many-groups (so called militant groups) fighting for Azad Kashmir (Free Kashmir)... Haaa- Kashmir, known as the paradise on the Earth, is now a mere battleground.. But one inevitable result of all this will be that there will be more violence, more people will fight to have a "Better" Kashmir... Who is responsible for the birth of such violent people??

Does Terrorism comprise only those acts of violence which have a negative effect on the US?? But what about those acts which are caused by the US itself?? Shouldn't the Iraq War be called a Terrorist attack by the US?? I am not attacking even the US here... They might have had their reasons which I may not understand.. But why so many people had to be killed?? Everyday you come across the name of a new group fighting for something.... Why?? Have we tried to sit with them and find the root of their behaviour?? May be they are just looking for some attention and love and are unable to comprehend their feelings... May be their causes are noble but they don't know the Best ways of reaching their goal... May be they actually are freedom fighters but we are being misguided by the media and the people around us...

I remember, when I was young, people used to tell me that the Muslims are not good people, they are all terrorists... Today, I say with utmost pride that only two guys who are very close to me are Muslims, and I just love both of them... Had I lived with the feeling which was tried to be evolved in me, I would have been an anti-muslim?? And I come from the so-called educated well-to-do class... Then what about those children who have been denied even the basic necessities of life and the reason given to them is a certain group of people... Isn't their hatred for that group of people justified?? Isn't their fight for creating a prosperous world for their children justified??

I read a story where a Kashmir girl (about 12 years old) was raped by a Hindu Pandit... 5-6 years later she was ready to be a human bomb and kill a large number of Hindus.... I agree that her revenge took away lives of several innocent people but isn't the lust of the Pandit the root cause of these deaths... Had he not done what he did, perhaps Kashmir would have had a capable doctor, socialist or a perfect home maker....

The sole purpose of my writing this blog is to see that are the present day terrorists actually terrorists or just fighters!! The solution here is not to execute the present terrorists only to give birth to terrorists... For every one terrorist we kill today, 10 more might be born... The solution is to stop the birth of new terrorists!!! NOOOOO..... Please don't start killing the women now... Just make sure that the people get the basic necessities of life and justice if anything wrong has been done to them.... Politicians should take care of even those people who are not a major part of their vote banks... If each one of us pledges that we will take care of atleast one helpless person, we really won't have any problem... Come on guys!!! Just one less fortunate person.... You guys can do it....

If every family decides to adopt a less fortunate child, there won't be any more terrorists taking birth.... Take a pledge to adopt a less fortunate child, to make sure he/she gets educated, gets a lot of love, sees the beautiful side of the world!! What are you waiting for?? Just one child and you'll make an enormous difference... For that matter even save a lot of lives..... Spread your love and you will see how happy you become....

"A simple solution to a very complex problem"

Leia Mais…

Food for Thought!!!

I came across this beautiful poem on Made's Blog who had copied it from Dey's blog..... Truly inspiring!! It is a poem extracted from Heinz Shalloff:

You can`t make someone love you,

All you can do is be someone who can be loved,

The rest is up to the person to realize your worth.

We spend too much time looking for the right person to love

or finding fault with those we already love,

When instead we should be perfecting the love we give.

Free your heart from hatred;

Free your mind from worries;

Live simply.

Give more.

Expect less.

My hope for you is that you will finally discover the happiness within you.

When you feel down because you didn`t get what you want,

just sit tight and be happy, because I thought of something better to give you.

My friendship.

It is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.

When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means.

There`s a purpose to life`s events,

to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too loud.

I too agree with the last line : There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too loud!

Leia Mais…

He Cares and I just Love him!!!!!

5 am in India....(7:30 in Singapore)... I call home,

Ma: Hello!
Me: Where is Pa?
Ma: He already left for Delhi....
Me: Okie, I'll call you later... Take care! B bye!

Another call:

Pa: Hello!
Me: Happy Birthday, Papa!
Pa: Thanks Beta! I thought I should cancel ur call and call u back but then today is my birthday... And hearing ur voice early in the morning is the best gift I can get....
Me: Thanks Pa!
Pa: You know I have taken leave from my office from 11-28 July... Will be with u the whole time... Only 20 days left for you to come back.... Come fast Beta!! Each day is passing so slowly... We are so excited!! (I am goin back home from 11-28 July!! And I have not been counting the days!!!)
Me: Pa, I am excited too....
Pa: I understand! Don't spend ur money... I'll call u later... Take care!
Me: Love you, Pa!


I know He Cares a lot and I love you tooooooooooo much!!

Leia Mais…

Invitation or What???

Sometimes I feel that why do people feel obliged to invite others when they don't want them hanging around.... Not only does it spoil the mood of the host but also of the person who was invited.... I received one such birthday dinner invitation some days back..... But I am grateful that this time the host made it obvious that I have been asked only for formality's sake.... Some excerpts from our conversation:

host : hey... wat are u so excited about? :)
just curious... :) (That was my nick..... And I know that you were just curious :P But sorry honey, no gossip from my side....)
me: a lot of things : b'day coming, goin home in less than a month, my best frnd back in india got thru all medical exams n i got my first pay :)
host: Wow!! congrats! congrats! congrats! and congrats! :)
btw u free tmr evening?
me: thanks :)
host: im havin a dinner at my place.. u can also come..... (Oh wow!!!!! I am so honoured.... I won't be so honoured even if the British Queen would have invited me on her birthday.... Check out the line: "u can also come"...... ha! On a side note, the British queen shares her birthday with me.... I know I am no less :P)
me: oh....i m so sorry :)
i can't promise
host: okay just see if u can make it.. if u can, bring Jhummi along too..
if not, guess she'll be left out n bored.. (yeah yeah... so considerate of you..... Don't you think you are too full of urself??)
me: I don't think that she will be free.... She is very busy herself.... (How dare she think that Jhummi lives onher mercy)
host: chal then u enjoy urself!
me: we'll see
thanks for the invitation
host: ur welcome


So, what do you guys think about this?? Was it a respectful invitation or am I too sensitive... Actually I would have gone if Jhummi wasn't invited like this.... Points to be noted, I was invited through chatting and Jhummi was not even invited by the person... It was only through me :P

Bah, we had a much better time that night.....

Leia Mais…

18 till I die!!!!

I turned 19 a few days back.... And to tell u the truth, I find 18 a very cool age!! I think the last year was a very impactful year for me.... My world completely changed... It was on my Birthday last year that I got admitted to NUS and after that everything changed.... completely!! It has been a roller coaster ride since then...

10 things which happened last year that make me proud:

1. My group of friends (@ly and non @ly) and my pseudo family....
2. Being elected as the President of AIESEC in NUS
3. The Corporate Social Responsibility Project
4. Being genuine with myself and to my feelings
5. Doing an internship for the cause I so believe in
6. Selecting the Vikings as my team! This thing makes me really proud.... I just love the Vikings...
7. Winning the Best Delegate of APXLDS, New Member Excellence Award in NLDS and being known as the Dancing queen of APGN
8. Maintaining relations well with people back in India.... Still in the loop of things...
9. Rashika clearing all the medical exams....
10. My Mum and Sis.... Yet again they get their position in things which make me proud :)

Leia Mais…

Another Historic Day!!!

Yet another historic day for my life!! Today I received my first working allowance.... I have received monetary awards before but today is the first time I have been paid for working in an organization (I was paid money for cleaning my cousin's room)....

Rashika told me that she made through all the medical exams back in India... I am so happy for her :D

I am going home after almost a year and less than a month.... Going on 11th July...

My Birthday is in a few days :D

And I received very touching messages today :)

What else would I want??

Leia Mais…

One Month of working!!!!

Yay!!! Today is my monthly anniversary of starting my internship..... Wow!!! I am working..hehe!!

Ever since I was a child, I always fantasized myself in the business Suit and walking in and out the office with utmost dignity... Having high authority.... People waiting for my response for everything...hehe!! Childhood fantasies....

And I am working now... I never thought that I would work in a proper office at the age of 18 (Ok leh, only some days for me to flaunt that I am just 18)...

I don't know why I am writing but I wanted to share my happiness at having completed the first month of work!!

Leia Mais…