"Shake off all narrowness, selfishness, limitations and wake up to the consciousness of human unity. This is the only way to achieve peace and harmony"
-The Mother
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their precious family members. And Salutes to those brave and beautiful people who fought it out! Hats off! It's time to be one, to feel one and rise up to a new day, a new beginning, a new sunshine. Hope peace prevails.
I have been tagged by both Praveen and Ushaji. Thank you so much! So here goes.......
Two questions from the past, present and future. Answer them and then tag your friends from the blog-o-sphere. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged .
Yesterday
-Your oldest memories
This goes back a long time! When I was born, on a Thursday evening, I am told, that I didn’t cry at all, I was observing the world, with my big eyes! As a child I was very fond of sapotas (also known as Chiku in Hindi) (I still am ;). I was so fond of it, that I wouldn’t even let paati (grandmother) peel it fully and would snatch it from her hands…and I was all of 6 months! I would have an elaborate bathing session, first the oiling with paati, the actual bathing with amma, and the sambrani (loban in Hindi) for drying my hair with appa.
I knew how to hold things, but I didn’t know how to put them back! So, every time I’d get hold of something, and not knowing how to keep it, I’d start that slight moaning, which was an indication to my family and they’d come to my rescue! We had a huge garden in our house. After watering the plants, appa would hand over the tube to me, and I’d be there for hours together, playing in the water. Amma would call from office in the afternoons, and I would run around with the receiver in my hands, with both the paatis behind me!
Usually, children are tricked into eating food, and so was I. Making me eat was one big task. And both my paatis had their own tricks! One paati would ask me “Kaka eppidi vaaye tharakkum?” (How does the crow open its mouth?),“Singham eppid vaaye tharakkum?” (How does the lion open its mouth?),“Korungu eppidi vaaye tharakkum?” (How does the monkey open its mouth?) And each time, innocently, I would do “Aaaa” and off went the food in my mouth! The other paati, would take names of all my relatives, and feed me “Periappakku oru vaai” (One mouthful for uncle), “Attaikku oru vaai” (One mouthful for your aunt). My food would finish before the names did!
That’s a lot of memories now!
What were you doing ten years ago?
Umm…ten years ago, I was in the Third grade. The first year, when I started participating in activities! I remember having performed the play “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” I was the mama bear (being the tallest girl in class). I had just three dialogues:
“Someone’s been eating my porridge”
“Someone’s been sitting in my chair”
“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed too”
And we all felt so good after the thunderous round of applause, like it had been the most difficult character to play! I was also in the class choir (yes there was a time when I could sing, without fearing being beaten up for it!). The first song we performed was
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things…………..
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad”
And for the performance, we had to wear a white frock. I remember going around with amma, searching for that perfect frock, and finally we found it! A beautiful frock in white satin and lace, I still have it! How I felt like a princess singing the song!
And it was also the first time I danced on stage in the school annual day function. The teachers left us to do our own make-up. And none of us had any clue about it! So, for the blush, we took pink lipstick and used it on our cheeks. And there we were on stage, looking like clowns, with bright pink circles on our cheeks!
Around this time, we had been on a holiday to Coimbatore, and from there we were to proceed to Ooty. My aunt was to join us after her work got over, and we had 2-3- hours in hand. Just to pass time, amma, appa and myself, walked into a mini trade fair. There we walked into the silk stall, where the silk making process was on. Hundreds and thousands of cocoons were put in a big vessel of boiling water. One worm with a brave heart tried to escape, and it had reached up to the rim, struggling to get away. How many had lost the battle, we don’t know! I cried, and questioned innocently, if we had to do this just for a mere pattu pavadai (silk skirt) or pattu podavai (silk sari). We haven’t touched silk ever since.
Today
I am your regular college goer. Eco(H). Also, pursuing photography along with studies, something I’ve always wanted to do. There are many other things that I wanted to do, but I can’t devote enough time to them right now. But I will take them up later. My life's funda is:
“People with small minds talk about others
People with average minds talk about events
People with great minds talk about ideas”
Tomorrow
No, it’s a Monday! Not that I don’t like going to college, I hate the waking up early bit! Six days of college…yes, I have college on Saturdays too! :(
What do you see yourself doing 14 years from now?
Hopefully, location hunting for my next film! Also wish to be doing something for animals, poor creatures, they cannot even spell out their problems, and are the only ones who love faithfully! And basically, being good.
I remember having heard this song on radio once, and it got me thinking.
“Kabira jab paida hue
Toh jag hansa, hum roye
Aisi karni kar chalo
Hum hanse jag roye”
(When Kabira was born
The world laughed, we (Kabira) cried
Do such deeds in life that
The world cries and we(Kabira) smile)
That’s my guiding light for now!
If you had a time capsule, what would it contain?
Umm…tough question! I would like to take my entire family, all my friends (including my lovely blogging friends), a DSLR, a video camera (so I can preserve those beautiful moments :), Buddhe baba (so I can continue blogging), a computer mechanic (for Buddhe baba ;), Mani sir, so he can continue making beautiful and meaningful films, Rahman sir, so he can still be making soulful music, Kailash Kher, my favorite singer, and all of my dearest pets- the birds, dogs and the squirrels!
He looks at me sadly every time our eyes meet. He sits there, waiting to be loved. I call him buddhe baba (old man). His eyes cry for that long due retirement, he waits to be set free of burdens. We clean him sometimes, with soap and antiseptic liquid, but that’s almost like dying his hair black, he will still remain old and weak and fatigued. He visits the doctor almost every two months, but we insist that he should work with the same efficiency that he did nine years ago, when he first came to our house. I had fallen in love with him then, love at first sight, I still love him, but may be I am selfish now. He is feeling a little better now, and I want him to work well, for some time at least. I don’t want to let go of him…..my first love, my childhood friend, someone I’ve grown up with.....
I am mean but I love him…….am too attached to set him free……
Huh! Finally I can breathe! Yes, I have done it! I have learnt how to transfer photos from my cellphone onto my computer. You may be wondering "So, what's the big deal?". You are right, not a big deal for you, but a very big deal for me! : ) Here, I would like to thank Praveen, who said to me, "It's simple. Don't give up unless you try it once". And I tried it, and it worked! I would also like to thank all my school friends (especially MA and NS!!) who patiently taught me how to go about it! It has worked guys, thank you so much!
So, finally.....some pictures.....my photographic not-at-all genius!! : )
My first print... : )
In the Qutub Complex, the Iron Pillar. According to the traditional belief, any one who can encircle the entire column with their arms, with their back towards the pillar, can have their wish granted. Like in Cheeni Kum. : )
North Block, one of the prettiest buildings! : )
My friends at the zoo!
My animal friends at the zoo! This is perhaps my best print till date.... : )
Hope you enjoyed it, and guys thank you once again!This wouldn't have been possible without you....*sniff**sniff* : )
There is one man Not often does God make one like him A man of few words But a man of great deeds
The innocence of a child The wisdom of a saint The skill of a surgeon The courage to fight The ambition to grow The manliness in defeat The heart to take it all That heart of gold
We watched him teary eyed As he took his final lap In the end, hearts was all that mattered And he had won them all! He, the Perfect Gentleman.
-Tara 03/11/2008
May God bless you and your family with all the good things life has to offer! We will cherish the beautiful memories forever... Truly, you are THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN. Thank you!
