Adu's first official coloring competition!

Competition? Not again! This was the first thought that had flashed my mind when I saw the note that Adu’s teacher had sent along with him regarding some coloring competition. He has just entered his nursery section and the world has already grabbed him into the web of competition. Sigh! The thought was very painful to me. And not that he had any option to back out. The competition was compulsory. A compulsory competition!

I don’t know how Adu felt about this competition thing. But I can surely tell how his mother (i.e. Me) felt about it! She felt nauseating! Yes the same feeling she (I mean I, i.e. Adu’s mother) used to get when I was in school. I remember how proud my mom used to be about my singing and dancing skills. Hence, you can imagine how much this so-called word ‘Competition’ was a part of my life. I had big time stage fear then but I had to perform because that was one thing that gave me a chance to stand out from my friends. And for me and my parents, I was something unique who was born to do unique things! And what more, if I perform I had to win, yes! Otherwise, I would bad mouth all the judges; I would cry my heart out! Phew! Yes, for me I was the best! And I had to win! Otherwise the world would go topsy turvy! But Alas! Frankly speaking it was only few times I had won any competition. Thus, the hatred towards competition!

Anyway, coming back to present, willingly or unwillingly, I had to prepare Adu too for his coloring competition. Yes, coloring competition in which I used to score a big zero in my school days Ahem! Frankly put, it was my maid who prepared him for his coloring competition. She taught him how to color within the lines and boundaries and God knows what all! And to my surprise, Adu really did well in that. I mean he really colored within the lines and boundaries, which was not the case till April, 2011, if my memory is not wrong! I remember when I had gone to my mom’s place, my aunt (who is known for her pestering stunts) had told me seeing the way Adu was squiggling the paper with colors, to teach Adu to do coloring within the lines and I had bullshitted her saying he’s just a kid. And now I just can’t believe that the same Adu has learnt to color within lines. Sigh! An eye-wetting moment, isn’t it? Yes it was for me!

Finally, after a very good practice session, Adu colored well in his coloring competition but not as well to win a first or even a second prize. Somewhere, it did hurt me (yes, all those typical mom’s feeling and all) but when I saw his colored sheet displayed among his friends’ sheets (not though on the main notice board of the school) it was a proud feeling for me. I could see the innocence of my kid in that sheet who doesn’t know anything about competition. The rabbit that he had colored in pink and red displayed a child’s imagination. It displayed his love towards what he was doing! It displayed his pleasure! It displayed his happiness! It displayed a moment of peace for me! It displayed creativity at its heights! And he was already a winner in his mother’s eyes!

My first open day!

It’s a day worth mentioning! The feeling of motherhood was at it heights today. Yes 30^th July, 2011 is my first open day at school. No! don’t get me wrong! It was Adu’s open day today but for me too it was the first of its kind. You can call it my first step towards being a responsible mother, keen on knowing her son’s progress in school.

Doesn’t it all sound crazy? Yes to me at least! It seems like yesterday when I used to accompany my mother to my school. It was never a quivering moment for me then because fortunately I always faired well in my studies and other activities. Coming back to present, it was neither a tension-filled moment for Adu as well because his ability to not perform was miles away now as it was just his first step to his school life. However, this day was a paroxysmal moment for me as a mother, as hitherto it was only as a kid I had been to school but now I was entering this divine place as a mother, not just a mother—a responsible mother. The feeling is inexpressible for me!

When I entered Adu’s class, my legs were shaking , my hands were twitching. Even in this cool monsoon day, I was sweating like a pig! Earlier, I was merely a carefree kid who didn’t have to worry about performance, competition, being smart. But now I was a mother whose upbringing and teachings were at stake. My mind constantly prayed to see my son performing well, hear teachers saying good things about him, see him be the best in the class. Seeing other kids doing things better than Adu was painful to this selfish and ambitious mom. I forced and pushed Adu to be a part of the group, to stand head high in front! To recite poems perfectly! To speak English flawlessly! Sigh! I didn’t leave any stones unturned to behave like a conventional Indian mom.

Yes! I did all that my mom did to me when I was kid and for which I used to be angry. But now I realize how my mom felt then! Yes, all parents—be it the parents of this generation or the earlier generation wants the best for their children. We, as parents, forget or can say deliberately forget that our kid is just a child who has all the right to see the world in his/her own way. We forget that he/she is an individual. Now, I understand that parents don’t force themselves on kids. It just happens. It’s inbuilt in all parents. But now when I take this moment to write this post, I make a note in my mind and heart that being responsible doesn’t mean to be forceful on our kid. I should stop seeing my son as a competition material. I should stop expecting more and just attend the coming open days as a chance for me to see my kid growing from a tiny seed to a big tree!

Hands on hold!

It has been so difficult to pen down even a single word these days. I don’t understand what’s gone wrong with me. I guess either I have become lazy or my mind has stopped working or I have lost confidence or I am not good at it. What is the true reason? I don’t know.

I claim to be a good writer but where is the writing? Yesterday I went for an interview and when the HR person of that company asked me to pen down an essay, I couldn’t write even a single word, leave the whole essay. I think it’s high time I start writing something everyday so that my hands don’t come to a halt when someone asks me to write something. I need to shun my laziness and utilize my time more fruitfully. I know I can but now I need to know when I can. So today’s resolution …. Every day I will pen down at least something that will come to my mind!

Get set go!

Freak The Fake !!!

Office is a place where all sorts of talks are bound to happen; ranging from daily household talks to filmy gossips to international issues to … Oh my God!!! the list is endless.

Similarly, yesterday evening, after a daylong hardship of writing Copros & pdms, we colleagues had a searing talk on varied issues. It all started with the rising rates of buildings in Mumbai, which is really appalling, to the escalating population of malls.

Hah! And what struck me the most during this conversation, was the expert comment given by our hiphop guy Deepayan Goswami ( hey, he is not a hip hop musician or something, but yes we call him so, as his looks resembles a lot to hip hop singers, the way he walks also reminds me of hip hop dance).

His spontaneous response was, “ Arre, aajkal to malls Mumbai main paan tapri ke jaise kone kone main hain.”

Guys, wasn’t he right?

Yes, I agree to him!

Shopping malls, previously unheard of in India, are sprouting up like mushrooms. Another relatively new phenomenon is the cinema multiplex, which is rapidly replacing the single-screen theatre of yesteryears. In many instances, the new shopping malls come integrated with a 3 or 4 screen multiplex, providing consumers with a shopping, dining, and entertainment outing that can easily span several hours.

This trend, which was unprecedented in India, is in, all because of globalization.. Ever since foreign markets started entering our arena, malls, multiplexes & fast foods have become ‘happening’.

There was a time when vadapavs, masala dosas and uttapas had a place among Indian menu. But the intrusion of foreign giants like Mac Donalds has created a boom for pizzas & burger.

India, which became the key destination for outsourcing & off shoring business like BPOs & KPOs, have filled in the pockets of Indian teenagers. In turn, Indian youths as well as oldies equally started looking out for better way for lure and happiness rather than the usual trend of spending weekends on parks, gardens & beaches.

Shopping malls are an outcome of this.

Going by facts & figures, India's organized retail industry accounts for just 3% of the country's total retail sales, though it is balanced to grow by 97% per year in the next five years to a staggering $24bn.

Stimulating this augmentation are India's expansive shopping malls, which are increasingly taxing High Street stores, corner shops and village markets alike.

Just five years ago, there were shopping arcades but no malls.

Today there are nearly 100 big shopping malls in the country, more than half of them in Delhi and Mumbai alone.

And in two years there will be 360 malls across the country. More than 20 are in various stages of development in Delhi and Mumbai.

Paco Underhill, a retail anthropologist, has vividly captured the swelling significance of shopping malls in his book Call of the Mall where he writes, "the mall is the venue where the young have their first taste of social freedom and the rest of us compare notes". Further he adds, "Malls are very much like television. Another totally fake environment that attempts to pass itself off as a true reflection of who we are and what we want. We disdain it, and yet we can't stop watching. Or shopping".

I agree to it, how can one stop oneself being away from this fake world of glitters.

So lets move with the tide!!!

An Idea developed........

After a short flickering weekend with my husband in my comfy sweet home, i am back to my office among the most happening & vivacious guys. One will find all "types" here. Will talk about them & their kaarnaamaas sometime later.

Today i am all determined to do something frutiful & creative. And who else, my newly created blog, "gud talks"is awaiting me. You know what, I always had thought, if i get a blank platter like this i would scribble many things on it. Now, this dream of mine is going to be true. So, the thrilled me is all ready to smear my blog with my sizzling gud talks.

Hmmmmmmmmm..............

Guess what... Its been an hour now, & my hands are still left frozen on my keyboard with nothing to write on. Lekin... one thing is being done very nicely.....lip biting. Now this is toooooooo much!!!!!. This 'writing' thingi is making me feel frivolous. I never ever thought it is such a difficult task to do. Oh God!!!! now all my anxiety is drained away.

You know guys, one thing I always wonder is how people write so well out of nowhere? Hmmmm......... I think, I have an answer to this. Once my professor of English literature, Dr. Anjali Paranjape, (who herself is a good writer & an intellect), told us, the task of a writer consists of being able to make something out of an idea. That means people don't write out of nowhere. They have an idea to develop. But.......Idea... where will i get this idea from? I am all confused now. Okay now.... I have almost spent my whole day with no brainstroming idea plunging my head. Now, I'm giving up. I think writing is not my cup of tea. Anyways.......

( Oh!!!!!!!! a surprise)

Hey guys, did u see this i have almost written a quarter page cribbing about nothing to write on. Well, I think this is what my prof. had called "AN IDEA". I think my idea was on "what to write" & i developed on it. Anyways i will try to come up with something good in my next post. See ya.

Eternal Voice

Hey all, am back to blogging after a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge gap!!! Something is really haunting my mind since morning, and I am unable to concentrate on my pdms & Copros (hey, that’s what my job is all about).

Most of my buddies had quit from my organization and now am all alone in the office with some strangers, writing pdms & copros. My only comfort at this place now is kishore da. Hey don’t be surprised!!! I am undoubtedly talking about the great versatile singer kishore da, who, yet after so many years of his death is eternal in our heart.

Starting from yodeling to experimenting with different genre of songs Kishore da has been successful in every mode of music. Let it be sad songs, romantic beats, or fast number, nobody could beat him. Be it any of his songs, right from Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si… to Rhim Jhim gire Saawan… to Roop Tera Mastana… to Chingaari Koi Bhadke…, he is a man who has made me laugh, made me weep, made me feel romantic & given goose bumps on my body by his invincible songs.

Kishore Kumar, is an unprecedented singer who came up with a new genre of yodelling in Indian music during the era when only classically oriented singers were giving the playback in the films.

How can one forget his yodillli yodulli…yuhooooooooooooooooooooon in Zindagi EK Safar… from Andaaz. His voice always played an asset for Rajesh Khanna in this song. I can still envisage Rajesh Khanna yodeling around with Hema Malini singing Zindagi EK Safar … . The verve & exuberance of kishore da’s voice along with Rajesh Khanna’s vigorous performance had made that song a hit, which will always be engraved in every Hindi music lover’s mind & heart.

Going back to his biography, one can discover that he was not a trained singer. He didn’t have a style of his own but he mainly emulated K.L. Saigal. It was S.D.Burman who had advised him not to copy K.L.Saigal but develop his own style. With this in mind Kishore soon developed his own style, the style of yodelling which, he had learnt from Anoop Kumar's record collection. Thereafter yodelling became Kishore's trademark.

S. D. Burman, again the great Indian music director with whom kishore da had given inestimable hits, was the person who had recognized kishore kumar’s talent and led him the way up to the ladder of success.

S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's (actor) Munimji, Taxi Driver, Funtoosh, House No 44, Nau Do Gyarah, and Paying Guest. S.D.Burman, Majrooh, Asha and Kishore became a strong team and produced some fantastic music for films like, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, the song, "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si", "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" and "Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana" became very popular among the moviegoers, there was also, Dev Anand's film Paying Guest and Teen Deviyan. The song "Mana Janab Ne Pukara Nahin" from Paying Guest was incredibly popular. Kishore and Asha recorded a lot of casual hits such as, "Chhod Do Aanchal", "Ankhon Mein Ji", "Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab", "Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein" and there was another classic song from the film Dilli Ka Thug, which had, "C.A.T..Cat Maane Billi" and "Hum To Mohabbat Karega", the list is endless.

In 1966, S.D.Burman's son, Rahul Dev Burman burst into the music limelight when he scored the music for the film, Teesri Manzil. Kishore’s first hit came with him in the shape of Padosan with the song, "Mere Samnewali Khidki Mein". There was a scene in the movie where Mehmood would fight Sunil Dutt in a singing match. Kishore insisted that it would be boring if dialogues were spoken during the song to which Mehmood agreed. Keeping this in mind Kishore, Mehmood and lyricist Rajinder Krishan and R.D.Burman came up with the 'musical fight sung titled, "Ek Chaturnar Karke Singaar", it was sung by Kishore and Manna Dey who was a trained classical singer. Manna Dey found it preposterous that he should lose the song fight to the likes of Kishore and at one point refused to record the song. Mehmood who was also movie's producer had personally assured Manna Dey that he was a better singer than Kishore and it was the films script that dictated who loses. Later, however Manna Dey applauded the way Kishore had sung the song and was very happy with the result.

This was not an end but just a beginning, which continued till the last breath of his life. Nothing could stop him from being a legendary singer. His voice became an inspiration for hundreds & thousands of singers right from his son to kumar sanu to abhijit, the list is endless.

The depth, the emotion, the mettle, the voice, the incomparable Legend Kishore Kumar's death on Oct 13, 1987 left a void that could never be filled.