Is Education=RoI?

Why do I study? To get a better job, more money and hence, better lifestyle? I know 90% will say, "Hell yes, else why do we run after getting admissions in good education institutes, sit for crappy MBA entrances, et al?" Hence, the money you spend on your education should be able to give you a good pay cheque at the end of the month...


I kinda disagree. I mean yes, money is important to satisfy your whims, wants and desires but not the other way round. I earn enough or rather more than what I need, but then that's a personal choice! I studied History in Master's because I loved it, not because I wanted a high paying job out it...eventually I got a job, and then shifted to the other with a 'good' jump in the salary. But that's not the point here.


Is it not the whole purpose of education to 'enlighten' rather than a mere excercise of degree collection, to be framed and put up on the wall? Is it not about evolving your senses, perceptions, seeing things 'beyond', questioning things that exist and then making a personal choice whether you agree with the societal norms or not? Or am I being too esoteric here?

Just a random thought! may be you can tell me more!

Pictorial nostalgia

The renovation in my house has psyched the daylights out of my mother who is facing the cacophony of tools since June. the house has never been this chaotic and it almost feels that we are living on the railway station. Things strewn all over the place is screaming for some attention.

But as a person, who is hopelessly 'hopeful'---one good thing came out of it--seeing and touching things that were callously hid in the cupboard under piles of other more important things. Old books-- of nursery rhymes, fairytale, clothes that I still haven't tried on, my childhood clothes and accessories of the 70s and 80s that belonged to my folks, etc.

And yes, lots and lots of photo albums! sigh! this e-age has ripped us from this privilege. I sifted through albums that still treasures my parents' wedlock, my childhood. Few still locked in my memory, others that withered away with time and I had new things to add to my hard drive (brain!). I got goosebumps seeing the 2-year old Mithu dressed as a Pigeon's child acting with her favourite sister-- Mimi di -- during Durga Pujo of 1986. I wondered about my vocal abilities when I saw pictures of my music performances. And revisited so many places across India that I have toured with my parents, family and cousins! Kolkata trip with Babai--our first independent trip, i.e. without folks' supervision has a photo of the 4 sisters (Mammu di, Piu Di, Buchi Di and me) of Chatterjee family!(the only one)

School pictures are funny--fancy dress competitions, batch photos, annual day pictures and school birthday celebrations! Gosh! I got this pang in my tummy to rush to the school music room, my second home! :)

'Time of my life' in Venky---backlawns to lover's lane, to theatre practices and annual fest! Seeing pictures of Shivaa, Ishita, Banu and Manak (Verbum girls' common bf! Communism practiced to the hilt) made me emotional. Trips outside Delhi with college friends during that time made me realise that we grew real fast.

So next time you think about the future and worry about your present--- take a look at the past-you through pictures and you will know how you came so far and that it will be fine in future too...

RIP too soon

A smile so infectious,

A hug so warm,

Beauty beyond words,

A heart unbound,

Love that exudes,

An advice worth keeping and

A person worth missing...

You were so much, and yet, much more was left in you. Your enthusiasm and spirit is imprinted in everyone's minds. You touched many souls and wish we could touch you and be with you all over again...but this time the phoenix didn't rise from its ashes and its for ever and ever...

Miss you Bandana mashi...may you twinkle up there and spread your warmth...

What’s the difference between madness and insanity?

Well, the good old dictionary states that while madness is "quality or condition of being insane", insanity is "relatively permanent disorder of the mind", both might seem the same, but it isn't! It is like the difference between anxiety and angst. So then why do we say that we are 'madly in love'?... is love a disorder/ a negative or a temporary emotion? How do you differentiate between a mad man and an insane person? If madness is sudden then how come there is a 'method' to it? Doesn't it unknowingly become a part of us, dying to lash out when it smells the slightest tinge of desperation, anger or sadness that struggles to survive within us?

Is obsession not a shade of insanity? Aren't extreme emotions a part of madness-- sporadic but intense? While watching the movie-- Shutter Island, I was numb. May be that was the Director's intent, to confuse you about how to feel about the film-- thriller, mystery, dark or plain philosophical. Initially, some of the scenes were so metaphorical that it was difficult to correlate them with the normal flow of the film. Towards the end as the plot starts to clears the confusion, the Director decides to leave it to his audience to interpret the whole narration. it left me a bit desperate, I wanted to know the truth from him. What especially left me wondering was the last dialogue of Di Caprio before being lobotomised, "Which do you think would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as a good man?"

Coming back to the subject, is madness or insanity bad, unnatural and out-of-ordinary? I feel its a part of you and your existence. The only difference is that while some acknowledge its presence, others simply deny or ignore their presence in the hope that it would die, not realising that a slightest uncontrolled moment can unleash these instincts and change your life forever.

Our mind so complex, unpredictable, sly and mysterious that if left alone, it can play the dirtiest of tricks on us and that's why you need to listen to your heart as well. Even Severus Snape told Harry Potter that it is easy for others to read your mind and affect you if you do not know how to control it and where to restrict it.

For me insanity arises out of lack of listening to your heart and the inability to master your mind, thus it is not negative. It is a source to remain sane by accepting its elements within you and to remain hopelessly optimistic or practically realistic.

Dear Pompiii

I don't even remember our first time together, we were too young then. But our connection was made even before you came to this world. Kaku decided to name you Trisha, a name mum wanted to keep for me.

Our letters to each other that we religiously wrote to each other with flowery designs and patterns poured our thoughts and we shared everything with each other while you stayed in Jaipur and I here in Delhi.

I used to look forward to the vacations when I stayed over at your place and we used to choreograph on old hindi songs like, "Ai meri topi palat ke aa" from Funtoosh...so you remember our hat dance? and all night singing sessions? Moments so treasured and cherished.

As we grew up, you turned out to be more of the silent kind, I ranted and ranted while you heard patiently, and your full concentration made me feel so important. The only time people actually heard you was when you sang--melodiously. Voice so sweet and innocent, a smile so genuine that evapourated with your body...but I know you are re-creating your charm up there somewhere and mesmerising the gods with your soulful rendition. All I want from you is that take care of kaku, kaki and dada from up there because they miss you the most and meet me in my dreams sometime to tell me how it is going...

And yes, keep smiling...

Love you always...

Mithu didi

World’s a stage!

So if world’s a stage and we are and all the men and women merely players, then what is ‘theatre’ to us? A way of seeing things in a new light or a mere source of entertainment or a medium to bring change?

Few knew that March 27 was World Theatre Day, a day to celebrate the life on stage, those who dedicated themselves to bring change, to entertain and to give a new dimension to your ordinary life and gave a few moments to live the extraordinary!!!

An actor behind a mask can express more than lengthy soliloquies, an emotion can be depicted through its different nuances, and you can understand an entire era through a woman’s character. A good play takes you to a journey of the unseen, arouse feelings never experienced and to a place that only you can discover if you have the soul in it…

So next time you think of catching a film, give theatre a chance as the excitement to see real people doing 'real' things and giving you the space of learning, unlearning, experiencing is beyond verbum (Latin- word).

Home Sweet Home

From the moment we climbed down the train, my mother and aunt were looking around like kids in paradise…aah! Lucknow and their eyes gleamed like child’s in a toy store, savouring every second of the surrounding. Trying to reconnect with what they knew of the city, much of it has changed, but some withstood the test of time, or may I say—modernisation.

As we took an auto to go to our NBRI guest house, my mother was directing the autowallah, and much to my surprise she remembered the roads so impeccably…I mean 30 years in Delhi and she doesn’t remember roads, and having left Lucknow in 1979, she still knew her roads well. Kutti jumped at the sight of her school like we do when we see a movie star!

We went to AN Jon, where the six sisters went for their haircuts and to our dismay the tikki wallah shop closed down! From Rs 12/ for a dozen of colourful bangles, to chikkan work and eating delectable food…that was Lucknow for all the three of us! The eyesore (Elephants of Mayawati) all over the city could not mar the beauty of the city that lay in its people, sweet language, tasty food and breathtaking architecture.

The most memorable thing for me was to see my mum and Kutti relive their times, their childhood and youth…so precious yet so distant

Kopkhun

The trip to Bangkok, though short, was a memorable one is many ways. For one, it was my first trip alone, as in totally alone...roaming around on my own, meeting new people, at times it was a bit unnerving because you don’t know who to trust.

Then I was invited to a dinner at Atul’s house and the moment I entered, I was ready to tell Amlan, “This is how I am going to decorate my house.” And I met some fabulous people. A beautiful Iranian lady of a Pakistan origin who speaks so eloquently about liberalization, women’s emancipation, Another Pakistani married to English and now dating French at the moment who belongs to a distinguished family and a maverick by heart.

On the other hand, an old, smiling, English-speaking Tuk Tuk driver who warned about things and situations and gave me tips on where to shop, which places to avoid, how to avoid men…and a cab driver called me Aung San Suu Kyi because I was traveling alone without a man!

Then I saw the pretty ladies of Thailand who made me feel considerably old and I was kind of suffering from inferiority complex…as I was fitting into L size tees there! Gosh! But I loved the shopping—cheap bags, shoes, decorative items, silk…and what more you can bargain in the malls! Try MBK, that’s the best.

And what I missed was the greenery, my eyes sore of seeing seas of buildings and concrete and trees struggling to survive among the sky scrapers.

Sp all I want to say is, Kopkhun or Thank you…for giving me a space I needed, for letting me be as I would have liked to, for not irritating or bothering me :)