From the west

When people said “from the West” or “Western clothes” or “aping the West”, I always thought that they were referring to Ahmedabad or Gujarat or maybe Bombay. In the Indian context, Gujarat is in the west. But I could never relate any of the things they said about the West, with Gujarat or Bombay. Like the so called “western clothes” had nothing Gujarati about them as such.

I was ten then and I had a whole lot of such interpretations. Yesterday I giggled when a lady was talking over the phone with a prospective landlord to ask if the loo was Indian or Western. Poor lady was embarrassed to see me laughing. Now what was I to do? Tell her the whole story?

AB Junior gets Yash Bharati

The Uttar Pradesh government has chosen apna AB Jr for the “Yash Bharati” award this time. Responding to allegations that he has given the Bachchan Jr undue advantage due to his closeness to the Bachchans, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav had this to say:

I know a section of the media is busy kicking up a controversy over Abhishek’s inclusion in the list of awardees.They say he is too young. But, I wish to remind such critics, that age has nothing to do with accomplishments. Abhishek is a deserving recipient.
He is a role model for the youth”

(bold mine)

Not a long time ago, this is what Junior B had said at a family get together .. I mean .. at the “Koffee with Karan” show, about what he thinks of Mallika Sherawat. (Source will be added soon).

I think Mallika Sherawat epitomizes today’s woman.

Now isn’t that a beautiful thought? Gives the youth something deep to chew on.

Too many planes on NatGeo

Even though I appreciate the quality of NatGeo investigation programmes, I’ve really had enough of plane hijacking and accident episodes. Tonight I watched the painful episode of the flight IC816 that was hijacked and eventually taken to Kandahar. Finally , all except one passenger (who was killed) were recovered safely. And in return, the Indian goverment let three very dangerous terrorists free. Ofcourse each one of the three released terrorists, have successfully justified their reclaimed freedom. After watching it, I’m very dismayed. Not angry. Just depressed about how the very technology, the laws of civilization that we have created with our gifted human brains, has done the highest damage to us humans. And I dont know why but NatGeo seems to have a huge bias in covering aircraft failures, emergencies and hijacks with 9/11 being an all time favourite. It is all very informative – yes, but I really don’t want to know about all of it in such detail. I am whining even when I had the remote. Sue me. But I did watch an hour of Pogo later, to cleanse myself.

Anyway, I watched a lot of TV on Sunday sitting cosy and warm in a really old sweatshirt that is getting softer year after year. And I hand-stitched two blue brocade cushion covers for the first time. I had seen them at a mall, but they were really overpriced. On my last trip home, I had picked up this nice piece of brocade at a very reasonable price and I finally could make some use of it. Somehow the one I stitched while watching Pogo and Friends has turned out looking very well-finished. And the one I made while watching NatGeo has some cutting problems here, some finishing problems there, though all well-concealed unless you look at it closely.

Sweet Monday, here I come.

Ab hair bands bhi?

What!? So it is now officially normal for a guy to sport a hair band, even when he’s not getting his facial done? First it was Farhan Akhtar and now it is Bachchan Junior! Aaahhh.. Yesterday, I watched the show “Bigg Boss” for the first time (which by the way is the saddest show on earth), and Deepak Parashar uncle with saggy eyes – of Swabhimaan days, was also seen wearing one! Will I even find a drool worthy guy on TV again? Ever? Will my hair stop graying and let me concentrate on my work again? Ever?

Growing chillies and staying on my own

 

That’s a picture of baby chilly plants growing right outside the window in my own balcony! I just casually planted some chilly seeds in the lemongrass pot, ten days ago, and I had almost no hope that it will actually grow. Of late, we have been growing some nice flowers, from saplings. I can’t wait to cook with home-grown stuff! Even if its just a stupid chilly. Its amazing, the way the boring balcony has transformed into a happy and pretty looking flowery balcony, that I am oh so proud of. The marigold – one of my favourite flowers, has even managed to attract orange butterflies with maroon dots. The gende ka phool had always been there in all the garlands during festivals at home, but it was never appealing. I dont know since when, probably after watching Monsoon Wedding, I just love the bright, desi to the core, non-fussy, always happy flower. It doesn’t have much of a smell, but that uniquely light and slightly pungent smell, feels so good and familiar to me.

 

I am majorly encouraged by the success of chilly planting experiment, and plans of growing coriander, methi and tomato are underway. And some task it is, maintaining them. My mornings start with watering the plants these days. With my history of being absent-minded, I have made it a point to water the plants before i eat anything. The best part is, the plants reward me quite often with pleasant surprises like a new rose bud or some fresh leaves on an almost dormant curry leaf plant.

Apart from that, S is away for a couple of weeks and I am not liking this staying all by myself business much. x-( Considering I have been on my own for a long time and recently I even vouched for staying alone against staying with an unfamiliar roommate. So much for standing by my word.

By the way, the other day, I saw a crow feeding on a dead rat, right in the middle of the street I take on my way to work. And I didnt gross out. I didnt take my eyes off it. Kept watching it indifferently, till I walked past. And there is no moral of this story. Just that I surprise myself sometimes.