February 26, 2008
This article is made up of ramblings going on in my mind for the past few months and not meant to be a complete analysis.
Is nt that the most often question in most phase of many peoples life and creates variety of notions! From the birth certificate, primary schools, social circle. however insignificant it might seem to some of us, for most people answer to this single word decides whom and how they get along with other person and how much.
Answer to this single word has given you respect in certain places, and the same can result in your heads taken off in certain places. Answer to this single word can make u be sacked of a plane and be put in to jail for several days with no other questions asked. Answer to this single question especially if its “I am not sure” or “I dont beleive” Can make people can think that you are a wrong person with no other logical reasons!
But thats not my concern. The single word which predominantly defines who a person for most people in the world is taken blindly even by matured adults and no questions asked! There is no review of these rules and applicability of these rules of various religions to todays environment. Worst thing is if someone wants to ask question or review it or understand it he is often considered an negative force with ill thoughts.
Some scary thoughts preached by certain religions which actually can cause lots of apathy
* Religious leaders considering other religion followers as arch enemies and proclaim that it is for peace of god they have taken agenda to erase out the other followers by conversion/proclamation
* Religions considering some members of the same religion not capable of doing certain activities. Religion preaches that certain people of the religion can have some privilleges and some cannot. every sect people belonging to the religion can and only do the given job
* Religion preaching that women have no right for doing many of the activities concerning religion.Religious Duties. A section of the human race is virtually discarded or considered unworthy when the rules are made
* Religions preaching that safe sex using a contraceptive is Unholy and doing so can cause lots of negative energy to the person involved
These are just are very few of the rules that make up religous books. But just mere glimpse of it suggests that by preaching it religions are calling in for a biggest pandemic ever , merciless killing and inequality between sexes and slavery.
If this books infact are return by a holistic person why are these above rules and all these negative aapathys?
September 12, 2007
Novel I read recently..that I would surely want to recommend..This is about a journey of a hermophrodite..Author makes the story flow in a very non offensive manner and at the same time very beleivable…At times I forgot that I was reading a fiction..It was like walking through Calls life, along with him..It was like travelling with him and see what he saw..it was wonderfully written..Its a very sensitive subject, about a person who is born and raised as a girl and reborn as a boy at the age of 14. Now the hero, at the age of 41 looks back and tries to trace back his roots..Author has wonderfully explained the greek and turkish wars..the way the historical information is blended with the story without much of a distraction from the story is really appreciable!
It beautifully explains the problem with continuous intermarraiges in the greek and the possibility for ambiguous genetelia..Author of this book is Jeffrey euglenides..I wonder how he is able to make such a dark subject very light through his wonderful narrative! Style of Jeffreys writing and his ability to give a comical touch in a story with darkest subject like this really keeps you hooked..
Am sure stories like this would make people to switch of their television sets and go to libraries again..
Bravo!
July 22, 2007
My long wait was over yesterday..I want to see this movie atleast another time to grasp all of what michale is conveying in this movie. It is oriented towards healthcare in the US, in comparison to other western countries. Asian countries like India are not in his theme. But it does have an impact on any middle clasee youth, who thinks he/she has everything settled. Because this is the path which our country is wanting to follow!!in the name of globalisation..yes..ministers and leaders, we all need to see this shout from our fellow american friend, who is pointing to us the issues in the system we want to follow!!!
Few months ago, I have seen in an NDTV article, about how a woman has been denied life insurance after her husband’s untimely pass away. Any guarantee this companies give are only till the time you buy the insurance. I dont think any one who signs a insurance or health care policies, is aware of the terms and conditions of the policy, or if any marketing agent educates the customer of the terms and conditions before they sign in for insurance. Even if you want to study and understand all these terms and conditions, you need atleast 2 lawyers and big thesarus near you and one day of youtr time to understand these..If you sit down and understand the terms, most of us wont be willing to sign in for a policy.
All these terms and conditions are designed so as to give loop holes for the companies on any issues, and not of any help to the customer!Only if healthcare is provided by government, and implemented fairly, it will be unbiased. think about it..why do we need governance for a country!!why all of us pay taxes!!what are all the basic things we would be needing our governance for? and what and how we wud want the tax money to be spent !!
Lets Take it from home, how a family spends the money it earns..what is the priority we spend them on
1.Food
2.Shelter
3.Health
4.Education
5.Entertainment
6.Investment for future
Am I right in my order?May be 5 &6 can be interchanged..So to my simple mind, it seems fair to apply the same logic to governance, if it is people friendly, like family is..but are our governments doing this?do we reallly shout out and ask our governments to do this?do we even think/realise this is the order government should invest on and voice our opinions..it wud mean that agriculture, main stream for making our food requirements and healthcare for all should be given more priority by the government and made sure everyone gets necessary food items at fair price..How a government can do it better? By outsourcing the responsibility to a private enterprise or by doing it by itself? What would be the priority of a private enterprise if it owns these services?make more returns from the investment and keep share holders happy or provide everyone services at fair price?
If we want government to take control and not let private enterprises enter all the necessaery services, we should examine it and voice our opinion.All the changes cannot be made by one individual leader/hero..the revelation should start from inividuals..lets start thinking before we drown in to these mess ..
July 7, 2007
Indeed true!! I am brought up in a traditional environment with lots of relatives and friends and around through my college days. Every evening outside my home, all the relatives and friends would be sitting in a chair, sometimes crunching some hot snacks and having fun calmly. I always used to enjoy it..But never to the point have i realised the importance of that and effect that had made in me..
I remember how my nephews were grown,when my cousin was around 2 years, he would come out and be himself and go around all the near by houses, and everyone would play with him and enchanted about him!! what a wonderful way to raise a kid!! I am sure I also had a similar neighbourhood when I was little kid..Lots a people around to care and nurture the kid
Now I am raising my kid, In RTP, in a very big apartment complex with lots of play areas, swimming pools and what not!! But I feel a big hole in my heart..My kid does not have lots of people to talk to or play with..The people around you are your support system…whenever u cant breathe!! u can just call one of them and you are back to normal..get it??
Its very stressful managing career and kid and family ALL ALONE!!! only when u do that you will know..yeah because i realised it only now..when me and my husband are doing it all alone!!
VERDICT :::SUPPORT system is the healthy environment for a stress free life..
Now what can i do about it..and what am i doing to tackle it..well first thing i wanted to do was write it down and realise this is the fact..which is what is this page all about!! Now given this i want to avoid getting anxious about it which disturbs my state of mind and my ability to tackle day to day issues..
Future plan, Well where ever you are even far far away from your family, its up to you to build your own support system..Yeah not all are blessed with the harmony around them like i had in my childhood..But we all can build one..if we all start realising the importance of it..All along when i was in banglore, I realise how little i talked to my neighbours before my kid was born..that is how we all have become!! Make your neighbours your friends and build your own support system!! sounds easy..lets see 
))
June 6, 2007
Today I was watching Oprah winfrey show..Yeah.I like her shows and a big fan of her..she is inspiration to lots of women worldwide. I am a big fan of her shows and watch it whenever i get time..Today I watched her show and her interview with Michael Moore. It was about about Michaels new documentary “Sicko”..Here is the link to it ..http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386032/
This is a documentary about health care industry and crisis that needs to be addressed..I always wondered why I have to pay 250$ for a simple consultation here in US (I know ..!!!) and what would happen if I dont have a insurance and have to pay it all from my pocket. In my middle class mind, I think its too much spending..and I would probably think twice if I get a flu before consulting a doctor..and probably pray to got no one in my family never get sick and had to sit in a doctosrs office..That too with the amount of testing, that are suggested for every simple problem and charges for each and every test..really makes it scary living here without an insurance!!..
Really looking forward to seeing this documentary when it is released i think end of june or beginning of July!I am sure its going to give people a new way to look at these health care industry and medical care
More on this after watching the movie..
June 1, 2007
I have always wondered what happens to (Many of )us Indians when we get ourselves employed and living in a foreign nation..why we change and what triggers us for the change..Fortunately (or unfortunately !!) I have not gotten in to all the “usual” changes I see in people in 2 years of assignment I am in here..
Why a person want to change his/her identity so as to live in another country?Is it required to change your habits and way of living. Do we think its the only way we will get accepted!! or we start liking the new way of life we see and start adapting to it!!
We Indians are known for our culture and traditions and family..But all those values seems to be lost or hidden for some reasons when the same person is living in a foreign country..why is this?
when I hear a traditional south indian saying..”rice..Oh No!! Carbs!!!!” I just cant stop laughing..what is on to us..HAve we all not been brought up in india for 20 0r 21 years eating idli,dosa, sambar and rice everyday..!!!Have n’t we all turned up fine?? Taking care of health and wanting to be healthy is a nice thing ..but where do we get this hatred against rice..What made us think that Rice and Dhal are not healthy foods. If we use our logistics we would know that we do need carbohydrates for getting essential energy!! eating right is needed but please think before throwing away all the traditional meals in the name of health or diet. Dont we all have our grandma’s and grandpa’s living for 90 or 100 years eating rice all day..Eating healthy and right is not to throw away the rice ..my friends!!
When I visit Indian hotels here..Most of them dont actually serve many of our known traditional delights..and our fellow friends from other countries start thinking that indian meals are HOT!! I tried explaining to some of them by bringing food from my home but..this is what is the impression most people seem to have!! I seem to think it is part of us who very welll know its not true..but not doing anything about it!!
I am not against from taking nice things from new culture..But do not start hating the very values we are known for..There are lots of nice things to take from people here ..What I see is people really enjoy vacations and work hard during other days..yeah work while u work and play while u play (hi hi )..I have always felt that the current tech savy generation in india hardly spend anytime outside their computer for any physical activity..Here I see almost many people have a passion other than their work..say its tennis/golf/boating/skiing/ and they spend a very good time pursuing their passions..
Love to the mother country can be shown simply by being what you are..yes it is that simple. When we show our real values that we are hiding and stop mimicing we will make our mother nation proud guys n gals!
Jai Hind!
