From the corner of my eye

Been busy again (when am I not!). But that does not mean that I closed my eyes to my world around. I have been watching things pass by, from the corner of my eyes!

So, here that remains from the week that was, inna my head -

Two fat policewoman go into a park in North India (meerut) and begin slapping away happily at young couples in name of moral-policing. One couple goes missing in shame. The country goes up in arms; the policewomen are suspended. The tip of the iceberg is removed to grow one more day.

For while the TV relayed the above sad incident, my country is full of faceless citizens who are slapped each day without a problem. I cannot forget once my uncle slapping one of our servants at home - a person who was like my friend, accusing him of stealing. I have seen enough policemen slapping young people on the road - at short notice. I have seen landlords booting their labour. I have seen policemen in a park blackmailing a whore and abusing her & him. I have seen forces men caning a young person black and blue because he played dirty in a movie hall run by the forces- showing dirty movies! Just a few examples. And of course I have heard much much more - gruesome acts. Frankly, I doubt I will ever have and will see the police as a force that can and will ever protect me - unless of course, I use the services of my connected relatives or office administration. Think of my faceless brothers and sisters in the country. They no longer smile because they are sweet. They smile at you because they need your favours. Else, your power is and hold is just too enormous for them.

This girl who is a popular folk dancer in the movies today was once buried with her umblical cord attached by her own mother! Until her aunt decided that she could do with a girl child. Reminds me of my grandmother sharing a dark family secret of one of my great great grandfathers who burnt part of the house... so he could burn... you know what. Sometimes, India seems so much of a mess! The reason - we defend everything about our cultures in name of some external evil force. And with that we defend everything wrong in it too. So, it does not evolve. Instead what do we do. Jump between modern times and earlier times, like jugglers. Sometimes, we just get tired and stop jumping and end up sitting wherever we last dropped. Its the 'modern looking, western oriented people' who take up the visible task to change... and of course that has its own pitfalls. But then, thats what happens when we stop changing ourselves... others will change us... the way they want to!

Well, some people of course in India are aiming to change quick and far. For instance these beautiful ladies above who were once - men! Good for them, they got very good support in the audience which discussed their circumstances. In fact, the audience almost put one guy to shame. He asked, " Ask these people, can they ever be a mother?". And this recently-turned woman said, " So what was motherhood to you. Your birth or being raised by your mother." He never spoke after that.


I saw few movies on the TV, including my favourite malayali movies. Again, did not understand all the words but was still laughing, crying and getting excited anyways. I have to write about Kerala in my blogs soon. That is one special part of my life.

Its been rather busy for me anyways. I have 4 large events to manage within a short span of 40 days. Plenty of daily activities and deadlines. And each one has to be creative in its own way. Its hard to explain to people how much energy it takes in form of concenteration, anxiety and co-ordination. For unfortunately, one of the key aims in my life is to make everything look easy. A personal aim that I borrowed from the swimmer Greg Louganis, the olympic star. Who when asked about what is your aim in your sport (diving/swimming), and he said. " When people see me diving, they must feel its the easiest and most natural thing to do..." Heard it when I was in school and never forgot it yet.