The Old Me

Back again with the intention to post here what goes through my little head which is enlarged right now because of the WFH, lockdown, home cooking, no time to excercise excuse. We eat healthy all week and then 1-2 dinners we indulge in fried chicken, chicken biryani, fried fish, potato wedges.... fried fried fried with mayo, cheese slices, butter and icecreams and coke. We relish them. And with a movie or web series, Ricky, Bittu and I have a wonderful dinner by recreating a KFC or mall experience! Never been a conscious foodie. All I care about is well cooked tasty food and most importantly hygienic food. It is very hard to ignore the unclean tables or cutlery, forget roadside food. 

Back again to promise myself that I will write regularly. I should stop calling it "back again", "here I go again", "time flies" or "long time". It is all about perspective. A person who reads the blog does not care whether you are back or not. It is one read after another whichever month or year it is written in. 

Talking about perspective, my first OWN observation was about the words we use. We all know that Sun is stationary, all other planets and celestial objects go around it. Then why do we say these:

• The sun rises in the East and the sun sets in the West (in all languages I know)
• The sun is on your head at noon (as said in Hindi).

So, according to us, the sun is MOVING from East to West everyday. And wait, isn't sun supposed STAY STILL!

Perspective! I will share some gyaan here about perception of TIME: While we look forward to future and look back at past, for Greek people it is the other way. They can see the past (visible) which is in front of them and the future is behind them, which is invisible. To put it in simple words, we travel through time and for them time travels as they remain still. Hmm...

Okay, then, that's it for today.

 17 November, 2020

10am

Just to document the date here as I am going to add the link to this blog in my webpage.

Skimmed through some of the articles I wrote here and all I can say is I have become such a boring person now. I would not like to meet myself. All studies and no fun. 

Reflecting: Today, to relax I review a paper or a thesis or read an interesting work. While doing housework I listen to podcasts in NLP and not to Kishore Kumar or Geeta Dutt.

What have I become!

A new me!

A new me, I write. Really? Am I really a changed person. Perhaps... I have become bold and courageous in terms of voicing my feelings or opinions. But, I still consider myself a balanced person, and rarely get carried away emotionally. I speak only if it is going to have an impact. Also, when I shout I lose voice or end up getting a hoarse voice within 5 minutes, so I don't.

Coming to blogging, this blog definitely will be a rejuvenated blog, with my last post written 7 years back. I am encouraged by my elder son to 'earn' money by writing. I smiled. With today's kids, everything is money. My students go to do internship at other places instead of doing research here during summer as there is 'money'. Imagine a 2nd year BTech student is being paid Rs 80k per month... What? Yes!

I have gone commercial in my second phase of blogging. Let me see how worthy I am. Will I earn Rs 800, Rs 80 or 80 paise? I am at a stage where I can laugh at the world, laugh at myself and enjoy my tea without any worries.

So, I will try to keep adding here regularly my thoughts on everything - food, movies, kids, friends, work, the world in general with me in it.

As a researcher, I am curious which ad will pop up based on what I just wrote here :-)

Bookmark this page. You are welcome to read my old posts.

A beautiful love song...

http://youtu.be/1-5L_yUL8xs

I am having trouble uploading the video - so search for "zara zara" on YouTube to feel the love;-)

Hindi Song Lyrics of Zara zara bahekta hai
REHNA HAI TERE DIL MEIN Movie Songs Lyrics
Zara zara bahekta hai Lyrics Hindi Song Title: Zara zara bahekta hai : REHNA HAI TERE DIL MEIN
Singer(s): BOMBAY JAYASHREE



Hindi Lyrics:

(Zara zara bahekta hai, mahekta hai
Aaj to mera tan badan, main pyaasi hoon
Mujhe bhar le apni baahon mein) - 2
Hai meri kasam tujhko sanam, door kahin na jaa
Yeh doori kehti hai paas mere aaja re
Yunhi baras baras kaali ghata barse
Hum yaar bheeg jaaye is chaahat ki baarish mein
Meri khuli khuli laton ko suljhaaye
Tu apni ungliyon se main to hoon isi khwaahish mein
Sardi ki raaton mein hum soye rahe ek chaadar mein
Hum dono tanha ho, na koi bhi rahe is ghar mein
Zara zara bahekta hai, mahekta hai
Aaj to mera tan badan, main pyaasi hoon
Mujhe bhar le apni baahon mein
Aaja re aa re
Tadpaaye mujhe teri sabhi baatein
Ek baar ae deewane jhootha hi sahi pyaar to kar
Main bhooli nahin haseen mulaaqaatein
Bechain karke mujhko mujhse yun na pher nazar
Roothega na mujhse, mere saathiya yeh vaada kar
Tere bina mushkil hai jeena mera mere dil mein
(Zara zara bahekta hai, mahekta hai
Aaj to mera tan badan, main pyaasi hoon
Mujhe bhar le apni baahon mein
Hai meri kasam tujhko sanam, door kahin na jaa
Yeh doori kehti hai paas mere aaja re
Aaja re, aaja re, aaja re

Shopping spree...

On Thursday, I had gone to Nampally to order furniture for the kids' and guest rooms. When I go alone I do a better shopping, I guess. As I already make up my mind about the budget and design of what I want it is easier. The research before I go takes time but once I enter a shop it is a quickie. Spent Rs 52000, so overall I spent over Rs 2 lakhs on this house - to make it comfortable and nice. So far, I have bought only the necessary and essential things. After spending similarly on my first house and leaving all of it for my children's safety, it has been a trauma to think of establishing another settlement:-)

But I have succeeded...

Yesterday, I met my cousin, Chinna, in the city. It was a lovely evening... He is one of the victims of failed marriages. But he is still into the matrimony and has to suffer day in and day out. She torments him verbally. I am so worried for him as he drives a bike long distance everyday. He has no drinking problem, he is not violent, he is such a soft person - he got the worst out of life. He is not bold enough like me to come out.

Anyway...I met him in Punjagutta, went to Bombay Dyeing to buy bedsheets, then went to Hometown and all random shops for fun. Had coffee at CCD in Hyderabad Central.
Went to Sai Baba temple also. Then, by chance went to a handicrafts shop and the owners happen to be Kashmiri. Chatted and chatted... They offered kahwa. Got transported to Kashmir.

Then on the way back, picked up mutton biryani from Bawarchi in Indra Nagar. Chinna wanted to drop me home. He is so kind. I wish him well. All he is asking for is peace of mind. All I ask, Baba, is to give him energy and strength to relieve of the relation which is not a relation in the first place.

Newspapers and TV

I haven't bought a TV for a reason - I need more talktime, more together-time, more playtime, more reading time at home. This is what I told Indrani in another context. I also don't buy newspaper - I feel it is a source of stress and it litters the house. Am happy with online newspapers, online movies - YouTube and DC++.

I just went online to read Times and I got disturbed by the headlines:
See for yourself... And this is one day news. If one such news comes out of KSA once a year and the whole world talks, and this is everyday thing in India and people ignore. There is no discussion either....SAD!!

1. Cop held for youth's murder
2. Teen drops catch, beaten to death by friends.
3. Two women paraded naked in Faridabad village on Holi.
4. Man beats sister to death.
5. Minor maid raped and dumped.
6. Pub employee gangraped in Gurgaon.

There are more on cheating, scams, corruption... I don't need stress. I don't want newspapers.

Jai Bharat Maa!

RIP! my dearest friend, Kala!

It is difficult to go through a day when you know it is somebody's birthday and that somebody is not with you today.... RIP Kala
This is the line I wrote on Kala's wall on FB. I had deleted it first as I didn't want to express myself in public - but at the same time I didn't want people to forget such a wonderful human being.

Ashok and the kids have arrived in Delhi for a holiday and I am unable to go to see them. Midterm exams,two colleagues on leave and all such lame reasons I have including my Internet banking has some problem - couldn't book tickets. Tch!

Anyways... I admire Ashok for taking the kids on holidays on the days he knows he will miss Kala very much. Bless him! I don't think any husband loved his wife as much as Ashok loved Kala.

Nana loved Arpan - that is another couple I admire so much. Two tragedies for me. Such pain is left for the couples who love each other. I wonder why God is not interested in the fighting couples. Couples live together tormenting each other - but they live a longer life. That's the irony of life!

Friday - Akshaya Tritiya

Friday! Some pictures from a previous weekend - tea is the highlight of a relaxed day. Friday! Got into the habit of buying gold on the occassion of Akshaya Tritiya - a habit influenced by Kala. May her soul rest in peace. Planning to go in the evening to Malabar Gold at the newly opened Lulu mall. Akshaya Tritiya on a Friday has made it more special. Today was a relaxing day - got up at 10am - had slept at 4am. Came back from Jary by 2.30am, but it took me sometime to wind up things and go to bed. Made semiya upma (yummy) and a flask full of mint+red tea (wah!). Watching "Zanjeer". Amitabh is sooooo handsome! Love him. teri hasi ki keemat bataade tu... here is the famous song from the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q-hisL2Srs

Osama is dead!

The western media is going ga-ga over the death of Osama Bin Laden. They see it as an American victory. What a joke!!

If Osama is not dead already, he must be laughing at all this. As I wrote on my Facebook wall - "With this farce of Osama being dead, I wonder how many such stories the western media has fed the world till now! And how many I have believed..."

Relaxed...

What am I doing....
Imagine! Watching "Shaadi 3 crore ki" on NDTV Imagine. Following the customs, rituals, emotions, happiness and sad moments when two families are marrying, as we say - it's not just the bride and groom, but it's two families coming together. I feel happy to see the traditions being followed in this age and time. Though, initially, I didn't like the concept, now I watch it regularly. Enjoyed the bollywood night, sangeet, shagan, mehendi. The gifts exchange and the relatives comments - some good n some nasty - it is amusing to watch. Very close-knit families. God bless Ishu and Sheenu. Waiting to watch the wedding episode.

Yesterday, India beat Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals. Another event to watch the flow of emotions - before and after, and during the game. As I wrote on Facebook, it is time to redefine the word "Patriotism" in terms of cricket.

Rewind

December, January and February.
Events, get-togethers, parties.
Time flew....
With akka with me!

Rain in Winter

Imagine rain, thunderstorm and a bit of hail! In winter, that too. I am in college having hot soup. The weather is 8c or less. This weather demands one to be at home under quilts. It is exam time and lots of "sorting out", "clearing up" time.

I enjoyed the bus ride at 7am. It was raining and it was cold. I had my green tea, mp3 player and in a happy mood.

There is meeting at 12 and an exam at 1. I hope the evening goes well too;-)
I am sure akka will make pakodas with ginger tea.

Singh meets King

Posted On: 28-Feb-2010 18:46:58 Source: Agencies


PM Manmohan Singh will meet Saudi King today to discuss various issues

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz will meet on Sunday evening and have delegation level talks on a variety of issues including bilateral, regional and international concerns.

Dr Singh arrived in Riyadh on Saturday to a rousing welcome from the Saudi Government which demonstrated a special gesture as the entire cabinet, including the three brothers of King Abdullah, received him and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the King Khalid International Airport.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister and second Deputy Prime Minister second Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz and Governor of Riydah Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz warmly greeted Dr Singh, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in 28 years.

Amid his keenness to impart "strategic character" to India-Saudi Arabia ties, Dr Singh will hold wide-ranging talks with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on issues ranging from cooperation in various areas, situation in Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism.

India's concerns over 'safe havens' of Al-Qaeda and Taliban along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border will be also discussed during the talks between Singh and King Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia itself has concerns with regard to Al-Qaeda operating out of Yemen.

During the three-day visit, the two sides will sign ten pacts including Extradition Treaty, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners and Agreement on setting up Joint Investment Fund.

Dr Singh and King Abdullah will also hold talks on Sunday on opening "new frontiers" of cooperation in various areas including security and defence.

During the visit, India and Saudi Arabia will sign a number of pacts including Extradition Treaty, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners and Agreement on setting up Joint Investment Fund.

Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, the Prime Minister, in a statement, noted that his visit to Saudi Arabia carries a "special significance" and that India and Saudi

Arabia have much to gain by cooperating with each other in combating extremism and terrorism.

Dr Singh said he would discuss with the Saudi King the situation in Afghanistan and other regional issues and ways in which "we promote greater stability and security in the region and impart a strategic character to our relations beyond the traditional areas of our cooperation".

Referring to the Delhi Declaration issued during the visit of King Abdullah in Riyad in 2006 as Republic Day chief guest, the Prime Minister said it was a "valuable blueprint" of cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Hinglish Ads

Currently, am doing research on the use of Hinglish in ads today. The 70s-80s ads were either in pure Hindi or pure English (a bit of borrowed English words in Hindi ads). The new ads have metaphorical codewitching done smoothly - English and a reginoal language. It reflects the language of today's generation. Hinglish ads - where the matrix language is Hindi and the English words/phrases are beautifully fitted in the Hindi syntax. So far so good. So I was a bit surprised to find this ad that was ahead of it's time!

Nirma lime fresh
Girl: Nirma lime fresh feel taazi
Nirma lime fresh mein hai everything
wow
wow
Nirma lime fresh

Boy: lots of taazgi zyaada fun
Together:aur yeh ho gaya
tera mera number one
Boy:life mein ek hai aarzoo
Together:Nirma lime fresh main aur tu
Nirma lime fresh main aur tu

41

[Copying from my notes in Facebook written just now]

41 - 4 and 1, 1 and 4 are always there in the "numbers" of my life - at least most of the times. My personal email ids are always "radhika41" - from a couple of years when I give this id I would joke, I am not 41 yet! So what's 41? If you haven't heard it earlier... [I hear a groan from others;-)]

My LIFE - as in ON MY OWN kind of life - began in 1990 after graduating. I was 21 [mentally 14] when I joined for my Master's in Linguistics at Hyderabad Central University [HCU] aka University of Hyderabad [or the other way round].

My room number in old hostel was 214. I shared this room with Shanti from Sociology dept. Later we shifted to the new hostel - single room - room number 140. I was here for a long time - MA 2nd year, MPhil and 2 years of PhD. "140" was a popular/busy room.

Then I joined NCST, Bombay, in 1996. And guess what was my flat number? 41!!!
And my extension in office - 41!!! [Later the phone numbers changed to 3 digits]
This was the time I had also made my yahoo account - so kept it as "radhika41" as radhika123 was taken:-) After that all my email ids or account numbers in cyberspace have been [99% of the times] radhika41.

Reminiscing, I feel these numbers - 1 and 4 - have been the indicators of good times. lol. In Nagpur, the flat# 206 and in Vizag flat#11 and then flat#302, in Mehdipatnam flat# 3, had no 4 and 1.

When I shifted to IIIT hostel, the saga with 4 and 1 continued after a gap of 5 years. My room number was 104!!! In Riyadh it is 2409 - I was a bit disappointed - I don't believe that not having these numbers are indicators of bad times, it is just that I like the fun to continue...

And then they painted the numbers for all the stairs in the block, and the stairs I take frequently is - #14!!

Last year, I bought a flat. Among other reasons, the deciding factor was the flat # 401.

That's my association with 4 and 1. Nice?

So much to say that I love being 41 forever...But I can be 41 for only a year, but the numbers can be with me for a lifetime!

So...

How am I celebrating my 4 years of successful innings!

By watching some hilarious videos on Youtube. Posting some here...



If you liked Jasraj, you will love M.S. Subbalakshmi too. lol!!



I love India - so much of variety in everything.

Now watch this.
Desi spiderman...



Desi Tom (& Jerry)


Just to show the power of dubbing, a last one [lol].




Bye for now.
Love you world!

This day that year in 2006...

Feb 20th, 2006

Took the night flight to Riyadh. Had gone to IIIT to say my bye-byes, and then at night everyone in the family [akka, bavagaru, dad, ash]came to see me off. Dad and Ash had come from Rjy. Till the flight took off, I was talking/smsing to Himani, Ash and Monis. Rest had gone to bed. I still remember the big jumbo I took - the one that would pass our hostel in the nights. I loved looking at the planes flying so low at IIIT. Now, I guess, the route has changed. Hyderabad looked lovely from the top - I felt I was looking down at the stars.

In short, I feel it was yesterday I had come to Riyadh. Memories so fresh in my mind. Good innings overall.

Am very happy!!

Little drops of water...

I went down to the supermarket to get some sugar. The water for tea was boiling when I realised that I needed sugar. I didn't waste time to think 'to go or not to go' - because I know a little voice would tell me "give up sugar, rads" "it's time to give up sugar".

I go out and what a pleasant weather it was - very windy with little drops of water hitting softly on the face! The supermarket is just below near the stairs - so not so much of exposure to mother nature. But the 2 minutes of joy are recorded here in the time capsule called BLOG.

Long time...

It was a nice week of compliments. Six people - in different contexts - laughed and laughed and said that I made their day, appreciated my sense of humour, asked if Ricky/Bittu are also witty etc etc. I had made the swedish hero film, made some comments in the 'stress management' lecture which others found very witty and when someone said we are prisoners, I added 'of our own delight'[Hotel California]

At end of the semester - finished all the teaching, tomorrow is one last class. Wrote 3 of the 5 exams. Looking forward to the weekend to finish our paper. I add the swedish heroine here...

My tribute to MJ!

Eighties was synonymous with him. Thriller, Bad...


RIP!!
Remembered for the moonwalk!



My favorite song!



Truly a legend! My memories of teenage are renewed...

Long time....

It's been a long time since I got a little time for myself on the web. Offline it has been a very hectic life - many events, many activities, many responsibilities. Students and colleagues took the front seat and friends the backseat for a while...
Being in the last weeks of the semester and all that.

I had made one trip to India in April: A few hours in Hyd - met Vikram, Himani,Rafiya, Sandhya and others, one week in Rajahmundry - parents, kids, akka, house-warming ceremony; on return trip - a day in Hyd again, 3 hours in Bombay - Gopadi and Gracy.

Feeling happy about the best events of the year:
Much awaited Weddings:-) Priyanka [done], Santosh [to do], Monis [to do] and Ishrat [to do].

To record June:

Events: Ricky's birthday, My birthday, Career Day, Graduation ceremony, Appreciation ceremony, English Dept farewell party, smallish farewell party to Vidya, and univ appreciation ceremony.

Activities: Professional development committee, Exam committee, Conference subcommitee.

Responsibilities: My 3 courses with 90 students and my paper with Anna!

Having recorded this, let me breath some fresh air.

Some new things in my house: DSL connection

Exciting things: Indrani's kid, Priya contacted after 10 years,Kashmir trip in July

Some new friends found, some old friends are leaving town - life remains spiced up!

Was just browsing things and then I watched this. Nostalgic... Though I am not into Western music much, I like some old songs like Abba, Boney M, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and some solos. This is one of my fav from Eagles album.

April is Autism month

Here's a video to spread awareness through personal experience of a mother, sister, brother...



More info from the parent:
Here's the story -- well, the first five years -- in the life of Quinn: a wonderful, exuberant, mostly non-verbal boy with autism. You can see how the signs appeared over time, even before his diagnosis was made at 21 months.



A comment on this video:
As a person with autism, i can say that it easily could've been me saying that.
It's so true, autism is the most beatiful thing in the world if you could understand it - Olole

My favourite ad...

Once again, happy ugadi to all. I woke up at 1.30pm!
Had lunch and two cups of tea. And have been watching the memorable tour "Unforgettable tour" of Amitabh and others - Abhi, Ash, Riteish, Preity, Madhuri, Shilpa, Akshay Kumar...It just got over. It was nice - Amitabh is truly a legend. He started with 'jahaan teri ye nazar hai...'. aur kya chahiye!

Spoke with parents, kids, paru [Rajahmundry] akka, bavagaru [Hyderabad],anna [Bulgaria] and kala, arvind and ashwin [Malaysia]. Mobile phones bring people closer - like Close up?!



Little Bittu thinks of me whenever this ad comes on TV. So sweet of him - he remembers me saying I like it very much. The one in Telugu goes 'daggaraku rana...'.

I found a longer version of it which has been picturised beautifully. Originally sung by Sona Mahapatra. Enjoy!

Happy Ugaadi!

Wishing everyone a very happy new year!!

Just today I was wondering that in the anticipation of a new tomorrow, we tend to forget today's significance. Today is the last day of the old year! Last year we celebrated it's arrival!

It's 2.15 am! I got up at 9.30am and from 10am I had been doing only 'productive work'. I didn't go shopping also. This sem I have 50 students in one course [2 sections] and 40 in another course [2 sections] and only 2 in another course. I am used to teaching small classes. So from morning trying to keep everything on track.
Corrected students' work. Then updated the newly made course websites for the two courses. Put more pages. When I am on this, time passes very quickly.

The positive side is I teach 3 courses instead of 4. And I have classes on 3 days only. Saturdays and Tuesdays are offs. So got enough time...

I have the satisfaction of working good on the last day of the old year:-)

The highlight of today was the walk to the ATM. The weather is so beautiful - cool, breezy and pleasant. I was tempted to go for a long walk. But I came back.

When I really work, the TV should be on for me. I 'hear' TV. "Heard" several movies and TV series. Even now at this time, it's 'RACE'. This is one movie I liked very much esp since I hadn't heard or read about it earlier.

This day should really go in my time capsule. saal ke aakhri din toh kaam kiya maine;-)

I wanted to put a nice picture and as I browsed I found these on the first page of google images. Memories flooded back. I love Ugaadi pachchadi!! It has the wonderful taste of sourness, bitterness, sweetness...We used to remove the neem flowers and eat the rest. In the magazine, Andhrabhoomi, I remember there were cartoons on this 'pachchadi'. Raw mangoes, mango leaves, neem flowers, cuckoo bird, signifying spring from another image made me nostalgic. And the lunch!! The lunch on festival days is something I really misssss!!

Once again, with wishes of peace, happiness and prosperity to one and all, I sign off to catch some sleep! It's 3am!! That means 5.30am at home! People must be getting up to celebrate the new dawn of the new year....

Spring festival at Turkish embassy

Today afternoon, went to Turkish embassy for the spring fetival. It was nice - full of spirit and life! Ate very good food. One interesting dish was like our parathas - sounded like "goes-lemon". Had both spinach and meat stuffing.
There was cultural program by the school children mainly.
Apart from Turkey, the exhibits were from Azerbaijan, Krygysthan, Uzbekistan, Tajikisthan and Kazakhstan. It was nice talking to some people in 'no-language'. Apart from a few photos, I brought home two small fridge magnets.

Happiness is...

Seeing the 'phulka' really phulta hua.
---Finally, I started making the phulkas - I made it thrice so far. I thought making rotis is the toughest thing. Though I don't get the perfect 'round', it is not bad. But I wonder it is fun making a few rotis - not dozens.

Tasting your own 'aalu parathas'. Another happiness giving activity.
---They were too good. Though I researched on how to make them, I got my own version.
It was sooooo tasty with achaar. I thought of all the places and people I associate it with:

First and foremost - NCST. Thursday breakfasts!! everyone's fav!
Residency hotel, Nampally - with Indrani. It was my 3 hrs transit from B'bay to Rjy.
Punjabi rasoi, Gachibowli - Himani, Priyanka, Santosh - aalu and more...
IIIT hostel - on Sundays - oily but good.

Now that I know how to make it - I will keep quiet about it;-)

Sharing the recipe:
[more for my time capsule]

Made dough with salt and little ajwain
In a saucepan, added boiled and mashed potatoes to sauted green chillies. Added pinchful of dhania and jeera powder and salt. And then fresh coriander. Mixed well. Tried two ways:
Either you roll out, add the mixture, fold it twice - semi circle and quarter and roll out again. Or put the mixture between two 'rounds' and roll out. When the tawa is hot, reduce the heat and fry them using oil.
With achaar [and butter which I avoided today] it is yummmmmmmmmmmmm....

When you write a recipe, your inadequacy in translation surfaces!!
Will post the photos later after I download them into my comp.

dhool ka pool!

March 10th, 2009. Riyadh.
My talk was from 12-1 pm and what an exciting day. By 12 noon, outside -it became all dark and later orange. Luckily my topic was interesting - 'Translation and Humor' which made all the teachers sit. The afternoon classes were cancelled. Many were wearing masks. It just reminded me of the heavy rains - school would be closed and some would have umbrellas ready like many had masks. Here are the pictures which I emailed everyone today. Though we are inside the building, the dust is still in the air and in our mouth too...

Gandhiji, aap bhi na...

kahin bhi apna chashma aur chappal chod dete hain. tch!

all the beer money is going to bring your belongings back to India for 9 crores of rupees!!

I wonder how you would feel about it - you who did not get attached to your personal things; you who would definitely have asked Mr. Mallya to build a school or hospital or public lavatories for Rs. 9 crores!

This is one way of showing patriotism, I guess!

Able, Stable, Disable....

Who has the power to destabilize a whole nation? Who has the ability to bring peace between warring nations? Who can build a relationship and who can destroy it?

Such questions were popping in my mind as I saw once again - the live action of the young men terrorizing this time by targeting the sportsmen.

As I watched the interviews of sportsmen, saw the demonstrations against Pakistan by our citizens, read the statements of our politicians....I felt happy that there are some sensible people in the sports world at least.

My respect for Kapil Dev grew as what he spoke made sense. He emphasised on the need to have strong neighbours. Though he said that he will do what his government asks him to do, he said he wouldn't hesitate to play in Pakistan if his government asks him to.

When our politicians are speaking of the security breach there, I wonder if they did any self-analysis as well.

Our politicians should try for peace by first differentiating some facts:

All these terrorists are Pakistanis, but not all Pakistanis are terrorists.

Our politicians should not mislead us citizens. There should have been demonstations against terrorists and not against Pakistanis.

For me P civilians, government, military and terrorists are all different even if they have the same nationality.

For once, our leaders should think of us and not the elections!

Though I speak of our leaders here, I will put other governments like American, Saudi and others along with them - for having double standards - for being confused and confusing others!

delhi-6

I like the promos of this film. I like the song 'masakali'. Cannot believe Anil Kapoor's daughter... She has good expressions - looks very sweet. Abhishek also looks good by being simple! Read somebody hearing the song as 'matar paneer matar paneer'. Lol!

kaash...

kaash main vahaan hoti
kaash woh yahaan hote
kaash sabhi saath hote...

It has been a dull day in spite of me doing several things - did the dishes, made a good proper lunch of rice, dal and two curries, worked on my slides for next week presentation, watched a movie 'Fool n Final' beech beech mein thoda thoda... Phir bhi feel dull. Perhaps I should go for a walk later.

Yesterday was a great day - very very exciting one till I went to bed. After the Oscars, talked to two friends for a long time - one local and one ISD [not my money!], then got ready and went for a talk at PSCDR [in DQ only] on "Leadership". Met Fraser, Shiela and Alwiya there. Came back - called home, Himani and later Priyanka. Then after a long time chatted - with Himani and Sandhya. More FB comments from Himani. It was fun. Then as I said bye to Himani saw my cousin's son Rahul online. I was very thrilled. According to him he uses FB and Orkut and hardly Google and so yesterday was a real coincidence! He is in the UK. I know him from the time he was a toddler. I mentioned him in my earlier entries, I think.

So, kaash aaj kal hota:-)

Jai ho!

What a way to start my day! The Oscar award live was still going on when I switched on the tv today morning. It was a wonderful feeling watching Anil Kapoor, Irfan, the kids, Rahman with his gorgeous wife on the famous red carpet. 2 Oscars for Rahman and 1 each for Rasool and Gulzarji. Jai ho!

When our films do not get nominated for Oscars, we feel it is not a big deal. But when someone really wins one - it is indeed a proud moment!

No Time...

No time to sleep, no time to breath, no time to eat, no time to rest....
It has been very hectic ever since I joined the abominable Exam Committee. Everything is an experience, they say. Where will I use this experience -I wonder!
One good thing about the busy days was that my colleague and friend from Pakistan, Saima, has so much of empathy that she has been sending food to me all these days. And such good food. Yumm...May God bless her with happiness and prosperity!

In all this, I had to mark my own exams, enter the grades in the e-register, review others' exams. Everything is done. The exams are going smoothly too. So I took a few moments to write here today.

In all this, I also managed to conduct a farewell party to Eman on the 3rd with mainly Jenny and Alia's help. She left on Friday night.

In all this, I spoke to my family - thheir health, studies and bittu's birthdays were the main things this week. Mom says this was the grandest birthday party!
Thanks to Akka and Paru.

So... Phir milenge. One picture I came across today. Have a look!

Over two weeks!

Looking at the pictures of little children with shots in their heads and chests - my heart cringes. Imagine to be in a place with no food, no water, no electricity/gas, no medical supplies, uncertain of the next moment... With hundreds of friends and relatives dead... This is a war that is killing one physically as well as emotionally. What kind of a life the people who are alive will have? What kind of a person the little ones who will survive now will turn into?

If the Bombay attacks were by terrorists, who are doing the current attacks? Why are we so stringent with the term 'terrorist'? Aren't the victims in Gaza 'terrorised'?
Why doesn't the story of the children hugging their dead parents till they died of starvation move the Israel army and its big supporter the US of A?

Are we all becoming desensitized?

"I am Israel"

I am Israel

By Hashem Said
The Daily - Washington State University, Feb. 25, 2002


I am Israel - I came to a land without a people for a people without a land. Those people who happened to be here, had no right to be here, and my people showed them they had to leave or die, razing 480 Palestinian villages to the ground, erasing their history.

I am Israel - some of my people committed massacres and later became Prime Ministers to represent me. In 1948, Menachem Begin was in charge of the unit that slaughtered the inhabitants of Deir Yassin, including 100 men, women, and children. In 1953, Ariel Sharon led the slaughter of the inhabitants of Qibya, and in 1982 arranged for our allies to butcher around 2,000 in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla.

I am Israel - carved in 1948 out of 78% of the land of Palestine, dispossessing its inhabitants and replacing them with Jews from Europe and other parts of the world. While the natives whose families lived on this land for thousands of years are not allowed to return, Jews from all over the world are welcome to instant citizenship.

I am Israel - in 1967, I swallowed the remaining lands of Palestine - the West Bank and Gaza - and placed their inhabitants under an oppressive military rule, controlling and humiliating every aspect of their daily lives. Eventually, they should get the message that they are not welcome to stay, and join the millions of Palestinian refugees in the shanty camps of Lebanon and Jordan.

I am Israel - I have the power to control American policy. My American Israel Public Affairs Committee can make or break any politician of its choosing, and as you see, they all compete to please me. All the forces of the world are powerless against me, including the UN as I have the American veto to block any condemnation of my war crimes. As Sharon so eloquently phrased it, "We control America". I am Israel - I influence American mainstream media too, and you will always find the news tailored to my favor. I have invested millions of dollars into PR representation, and CNN, New York Times, and others have been doing an excellent job of promoting my propaganda. Look at other international news sources and you will see the difference.

I am Israel - and you Palestinians want to negotiate "peace!?" But you are not as smart as me; I will negotiate, but will only let you have your municipalities while I control your borders, your water, your airspace, and anything else of importance. While we "negotiate," I will swallow your hilltops and fill them with settlements, populated by the most extremist of my extremists, armed to the teeth. These settlements will be connected with roads you cannot use, and you will be imprisoned in your little Bantustans between them, surrounded by checkpoints in every direction.

I am Israel - with the fourth strongest army in the world, possessing nuclear weapons. How dare your children confront my oppression with stones, don't you know my soldiers won't hesitate to blow their heads off? In 17 months, I have killed 900 of you and injured 17,000, mostly civilians, and have the mandate to continue since the international community remains silent. Ignore, as I do, the hundreds of Israeli soldiers who are now refusing to carry out my control over your lands and people; their voices of conscience will not protect you.

I am Israel - and you want freedom? I have bullets, tanks, missiles, Apaches, and F-16's, to obliterate you. I have placed your towns under siege, confiscated your lands, uprooted your trees, demolished your homes, and you still demand freedom? Don't you get the message? You will never have peace or freedom, because I am Israel.

nutana samvatsara shubhaakaankshalu! naya saal mubaarak! 2009 mabrook!

My national spirit arises....

Thanks to Bittu! I was asking him something about our country and he reminded me my promise to bring him the pictures of Chacha Nehru. I had completely forgotten about it. I downloaded pics of other leaders as well in the process.

It is such a tough thing to teach children 'objectively'. Whatever my opinions and attitudes are - I keep them aside and try to teach 'good' things to Ricky and Bittu. Once they have the information, it is upto them to form an opinion - when they grow up. But our job is to give them knowledge. Right?

A song that touches the heart of every Indian...

Lyrics: Kavi Pradeep, Composer: C. Ramachander, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Context: Sino-Indian war

ai mere vatan ke logo.n

tum khuub lagaa lo naaraa

ye shubh din hai ham sab kaa

laharaa lo tira.ngaa pyaaraa

par mat bhuulo siimaa par

viiro.n ne hai praaN ga.Nvaae

kuchh yaad unhe.n bhii kar lo -2

jo lauT ke ghar na aaye -2

ai mere vatan ke logo.n

zaraa aa.Nkh me.n bhar lo paanii

jo shahiid hue hai.n unakii

zaraa yaad karo qurabaanii

jab ghaayal huaa himaalay

khatare me.n pa.Dii aazaadii

jab tak thii saa.Ns la.De vo

phir apanii laash bichhaa dii

sa.ngiin pe dhar kar maathaa

so gaye amar balidaanii

jo shahiid...

jab desh me.n thii dIvaalii

vo khel rahe the holI

jab ham baiThe the gharo.n me.n

vo jhel rahe the golii

the dhanya javaan vo aapane

thii dhanya vo unakii javaanii

jo shahiid...

koii sikh koI jaaT maraaThaa

koii gurakhaa koI madaraasii

sarahad pe maranevaalaa

har viir thaa bhaaratavaasii

jo khuun giraa parvat par

vo khuun thaa hi.ndustaanii

jo shahiid...

thii khuun se lath-path kaayaa

phir bhii banduuk uThaake

das-das ko ek ne maaraa

phir gir gaye hosh ga.Nvaa ke

jab ant-samay aayaa to

kah gaye ke ab marate hai.n

khush rahanaa desh ke pyaaro.n

ab ham to safar karate hai.n

kyaa log the vo dIvaane

kyaa log the vo abhimaanii

jo shahiid...

tum bhuul na jaao unako

is liye kahii ye kahaanii

jo shahiid...

jay hind...

jay hind kii senaa -2

jay hind, jay hind, jay hind

3 Days!

From Wednesday evening, I am glued to the TV. I cannot imagine all this is happening in real life. It looks straight out of a movie or a video game. Everyone is talking of Mumbai spirit - which doesn't want to bounce back this time. Hats off to all the men in uniform - Police, NSG, RAF, Army, and all the journalists giving minute by minute details. It was live on all the channels including BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera. I wonder if there were no American victims, the foreign media/governments would have really cared. The terrorists' mission is accomplished in that sense.

Yesterday I was quite upset because those are the areas where I have my cherished memories. Oberoi hotel is where Indrani and I went to that Mahesh Bhatt's party - we were on Sony TV! We were enjoying eating and watching the stars while Sandipa was shooting the stars. Nariman point is where Lakshana and I had our tonga rides. This is where Pallavi and I enjoyed our strolls eating salted peanuts. Her hostel/college was nearby. Taj - I never went inside but had frequented 'Bade Miya' behind it in the bylane. The kababs were the best! I used to go to Strand bookshop and I went on my own around this area a couple of times - just like that. And VT station? OMG! Cannot imagine it was not spared either...

Better sense prevail on everyone is what I can pray for today!

Of Babies and Moms!

I think this is the season of talking of pregnancies! Three of my students are pregnant - Adwa may deliver anytime now, Mody and Nadia have EDDs in Jan, Roy in summer and yesterday Paru said her sister is pregnant!

Here most of the girls marry young and then they have babies while studying. Some handle it well, some cannot. As it's a women's college, you see lots of pregnant women working efficiently. In this age and time, I feel surprised to see some with 6 children, 8 children - and all in their thirties. The eldest babysit the youngest! Saudis have no problem of course with nannies and maids for each child!!

Lovely weather!

From a couple of days the weather in Riyadh has been very pleasant. Yesterday - my most busiest day of the week is Sunday - after reaching home I changed and went for a long walk with water and salted peanuts for company. It was so lovely - I felt everything was 'normal'. I sat by a fountain in a small garden between two roads behind the UN building and had the peanuts. I was in such a good mood I plucked a few flowers on my way and took a few pictures of them and finally saw them float in the water... Back to nature!











I had mushroom soup in the fridge. I heated and had it watching the movie 'Monsoon Wedding'. I really enjoyed my evening.



Today as I have no classes [Monday and Saturday are my free days - I needn't come but I do come to work for the lectures or write the blog:-)] I took the pleasure to come late with Fraser. It had stopped raining and it was cold - at 11am!!

At home, I made pulav, fried aalu, baigan fry and deep fried papad also. When I go back in the afternoon - I will enjoy my lunch! Here are some pictures....





















Riyadh is flooded! It has been raining like in India. I watched the girls getting wet and enjoying the rain. All this took me back on a nostalgic train.... Perhaps in the next entry on this. Philhaal will have my chai.

Here's a picture of the flooded cafeteria in our building.

CALL in class

I am teaching a new course CALL - Computer Assisted Language Learning. For their project, I have asked them to BLOG. How cool, na? None of the 6 girls are familiar with blogging. Facebook yes, but blogs no. So I showed them how to do it and what the contents should be like. Actually this entry is a demonstration to them:-)

A restful Saturday!

I start the week with no classes. I just tie up the loose ends or do the needful for the following days. I did all that and it is just 11am. I explored the net to look at the ad of Ayesha Takia and Shahid Kapoor's Complan ad and then went from one place to the other - reading about child artistes - I always loved Master Raju - and how good or how bad they are now etc etc - till I reached the blogs on Marketing - I love you Rasna was catchy - and then I found the treasure - Amitabh's blog. I had read about it but never remembered to read his blog. I read a few of his entries - quite good. I will as well put a link to that.

Yesterday I was watching 'The Burning Train' and a few days back had watched 'AAA', 'Dharmatma'... I think I enjoy the movies of that era. The heroes were HEROES;-) I don't think the personalities of Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Feroz Khan or Amitabh can be matched with that of the current heroes... I do like the Khans and Khannas, but still woh woh hai and yeh yehi honge.

So that is how I spend the time - watching movies, sitcoms, cookery shows - now I watch the food channel 'Fatafeat' regularly. Now a days, I am catching up my reading on Pragmatics. For once leaving NLP behind, focussing on Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis is as refreshing as having a cup of black tea with fresh mint leaves in it!

Ciao till my next entry...

Yeh Jeevan Hai

Yeh Jeevan Hai, Is Jeevan Ka
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Rungroop
Thode Ghum Hain, Thodi Khushiyan
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Chaon Dhoop
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Yeh Na Socho Isme Apni Haar Hai Ke Jeet Hai
Ise Apna Lo Jo Bhi Jeevan Ki Reet Hai
Yeh Zid Chodo, Bandhan Yuh Na Todo
Har Pal Ek Darpan Hai
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Dhan Se Na Duniya Se, Ghar Se Na Dwar Se
Saason Ki Dor Bandhi Hai, Preetam Ke Pyar Se
Duniya Choote, Par Na Toote, Yeh Aisa Bandhan Hai
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Yeh Jeevan Hai, Is Jeevan Ka
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Rungroop
Thode Ghum Hain, Thodi Khushiyan
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Chaon Dhoop
Yeh Jeevan Hai...

[Such beautiful lyrics... Very sweet movie... I watch it everytime it is aired on TV. Saw it again yesterday.]

All set to go!

Sink is clean, kitchen is clean, fridge -fruit/juice/laban all untouched -given away, thrash is thrown, bags are locked, hand baggage too is ready....

For once!

Is it the habit or is it something else? Why am I ready so many hours ahead. Will the driver give me the last minute tension by not coming? Why am I tense about being relaxed!

So here I go again to my beloved ones. Will be back on 5th Oct.

Ramadan Kareem to everyone!

When pictures speak...

Here is the story of aalu+beans curry. It was meant to be a fry but as the tomatoes were to be used up I made a curry type. The pictures tell you the story I hope. I had made it yesterday and the leftover went into my sandwich. Shabash!