GIve me some answers

In my 26 years of existence, I never felt like an outcast. Like I had to justify my stance as a human being, defined by religion nationality or culture. I had my beliefs and part of what gave me a sense of freedom was that nobody could hold that personally against me. Today, that belief was shaken, by no one else but my own people. I lived in India for 23 years but came to the U.S to study. Yesterday, I went out to Shakti Mandir, a local temple in the outskirts of Atlanta to partake of the festival of Navratri. The 9 days of dance and celebration which culminates in the festival where truth presides over evil- Diwali. But yesterday I experienced something evil in the place where God resided. And that is something that will haunt me forever.
I went not alone, but as a part of a group of 20, including Americans whom I hoped to introduce our beautiful traditions and cultures too, and then there was a friend who happened to be Muslim and we invited his wife and kids too so that they could see how much fun we have as Indians, a nation with so much unity where we all celebrated the same festivals as part of what our secular country stand for.
We finished paying for our entry and called on to our friend to do so for himself and his family. That’s where we probably made the mistake of calling out his name and when the guys whom were in charge heard this, they asked for his identification and then blatantly refused to let him in. Unlike us, who are on student visas, he is a US citizen and yet was openly discriminated for being a Muslim. I for one am NOT Hindu, but am an Indian and like others thought that I could be part of a festival that had Indian origins. And I was told upfront that it didn’t hold true for other religions-it was just with Muslims that they had a problem. But sadly our Muslim brethren are not considered Indian enough to be a part of this. It just got me thinking of how shallow we’ve become, that we cannot promote peace even when we have the best chances to. This is the 21st century where we should have matured enough to learn that the hurt and grudges we keep in our hearts will only mean more mistrust, more hatred and eventually more violence.
These were elderly men who have made it to the US and are possibly literate enough that they managed to make a life for themselves and their families. People whom are educated have such narrow minded philosophies that create the feeling of division that one religion doesn’t belong where the others are present. And they had the audacity to mention that they could enter the temple but were not allowed to come into the event since their private “laws” did not permit entrance to Muslims. And how happy would GOD be when he realizes what we’ve created- these monsters that get rich and make decisions that can break the very morals that we stand by. That one human can be differentiated from another by the religion he follows. They smirk at how little we can do, so much so that we begin to believe that there is nothing we as young adults can do to change this crazy situation where each of us need to defend our beginnings. Will they continue to have so much power that it destroys our faith in the system altogether. That’s when I decided that I had to start somewhere. To do what little I can and be a voice to let the world know that not all of us wish to be divided by race and color and religion.

Faith matters

Have you ever been in a situation where nothing else can save you but hope?
Where nothing seems like the right thing to do.
How something so important can turn into dust in a flash;
When the only salvation you draw is from the hope that there is someone greater than you
Who can bring you out of despair and make you believe again
And when you find that prayer that gets you through your lowest moment,
That’s when you know; you will never be alone, no matter where you go,
That the faith in you will pull you through

OSCAR Night - Slumdog Millionaire – 23rd Feb 2009

And the Oscar goes to………. The impact of those 5 words on the Danny Boyle and the cast of Slumdog millionaire must be quite awesome!!!! And hearing that 8 times in a row on the same night, should give anybody a run for their money. The movie itself is not a Hindi movie… it is a British movie cast in India about a section of Indian people. And yet all the Indians all over the world would be so happy today that this movie has won. After all we Indians feel joy at others success, make it our own, and sometimes get so carried away that we start believing that it is our own! Some might argue that the movie is way overrated - that it does not justify the amount of popularity it’s been given. I’d say yeah maybe it’s true if you compare it with movies of the Spielberg category with aliens invading the earth and special effects that have to be seen to be imagined. Others say that it has portrayed a very wrong aspect of Mumbai, and India at large and that now all of the world would consider India a place where you have to kill to survive. That I strongly disagree with. This is a movie at the end of the day. It is not what Mumbai is about. If anything the movie is about the spirit of Mumbai. To come out triumphant no matter how adverse the odds are against you, to fight it out till the end. It’s a movie that makes you feel sad, gives you hope but finally leaves you with a sense of calm. That in the end good will triumph over evil and all will be well in the world. So this movie then, is definitely not about Mumbai, Mumbai is much more than a movie can ever capture. And to be very honest a bollywood movie, which is truly Indian can never capture emotion like this one did. So slumdog, congratulations- you do deserve every bit of that Oscar - you do!

Thanksgiving Day 26th Nov

I was to begin writing about my experience being maid of honor to my sister, but till today didn’t feel that spark to start. This is thanks to a very special friend of mine, whom I hope I can show to one day!
Now its 8 days for me to board my flight back home and I am sitting here in my apartment, listening to the news of Mumbai being under attack “Warzone Mumbai” the breaking news on NDTV. And truly I feel broken. Life must have a little more importance than this. The media is doing an awesome job of reporting the news-I know it better since I’m sitting here in the U.S. and know more than my parents back in Mumbai.
I am really excited about my sis’ wedding cause I know they’ve been the best of friends who know each other enough to make each other happy for more than a lifetime. Life is about living, and what better way to spend life than with someone you love. We’ve had an awesome childhood, where mom and dad gave us all they could and taught us well, to be responsible, to look out for others, to make the most of what we had and to leave a mark. It wasn’t what you did but how you felt after you did it.
Blossom was always my role model. I cannot remember whom I have fought with more often than her, but that I think is something that was essential for me to find myself. Anthony too, has been a good friend to me, non-presumptuous and very ready to listen whenever you needed sound advice. That is what will make them perfect for each other ‘cause he can replace me better than anyone else I know.

Two days before departure - 2nd Dec

It feels very surreal at this moment, knowing that I’m goin home after such a long time. There is this huge excitement inside, for all those people I am going to meet after a long time, years it seems. There is also a tiny spec of fear, for going back to a place that may have become foreign to me, that may have changed so much that it may be difficult for me to adjust. But most intimidating is the untainted sense of happiness, to be reunited with my family, my doggies, my home, my life.
Life changes, it never leaves you behind. It takes you along and shows you new things but you carry the old with you always, with a hope to bring back that same joy that you once experienced with the simplest of things. Home to me equals no complications, where I can be myself, not have to wonder what anyone will think of some idiosyncrasies of mine.
So now I am ready to go home. To become part of what is my soul, to share in the joy of two very special people coming together for the rest of their lives. I thought for a very long time that marriage for my sister would mean a very sad thing for me. But now as it approaches, it seems like the most fantastic dream coming true, for a person to find in someone else the ultimate happiness, and the joy to make a lifetime of difference to the other. No one mature enough sees it as a lifetime of only happiness, but instead as an eternity of making another human feel unconditional love, and that is what truly amazes me.

Happy Friendship's Day

Yesterday was friendship's day......and i'd never think of having so much fun with actual FRIENDS in a new country with all but no one familiar...............
I've grown this year- as an individual, as a soul, as a human in this social world........ and ive come to learn that friends make a big part of who you are. They say each of us is unique. and we carry a small part of others in us. My friends are all over but there is still that bond which will never break. and ive made new friends this year. more than i've probably tawt possible...n i love this feeling!
Happy Friendship's day

A l'l bit of learning evry day

I have never been to a club b4...... thr i said it! For all of my 23 yrs of existence, i've never been to a nightclub/disc/dance-club before...... maybe ive never felt the need to go, maybe i wanted to, but thr was never a right tym...... now the strange thing is, i'm here for 6 months, living my life on my own terms, and i'm going to venture out and into a CLUB!!!!
The thought itself is scary, not b'coz ill be killed or sumthing, but by the fact that i'm old enough to make a decision like that, and be confident to live thru it....... these places have always intimidated me.... i've had several opportunities to go, but never had the nerve too face the WORLD in the limelight, as they say...... this place is like a glare into what so many young people are made of. and sometimes i'm scared i'm too different than the rest. My idea of fun is to be wid my friends, talk n be as comfortable talking as i wud be sleeping.
Well, tomorrow is another day, and whatever will be will be Tommorrow...... and as sum1 once wisely said, its best to face ur fears by staring them in the face so that it has to look away first. So wish me luck, as i try growing up, being one of the crowd, and standing out all the same.