The contentment and discontentment of being a Marathi Manus

As I write the 2 words together, ‘Marathi Manus’, in my head I have already equaled that with ‘Simplicity’. People might have different feelings, judgments whatsoever. Being a Marathi Manus I just believe in the simplicity of lives of typical Marathi souls.

As with all Indian languages am sure, Marathi language has all colors in it. It is sweet; it can be playful, naughty and respectful. The folksy accent is just charming.

Marathi has rich literature in terms of great works of Sane Guruji like 'Shyaamchi Aai', or poems from Ga Di Ma or even the admirable works of Pu La. A typical Marathi Manus relates himself to these great works. I would not dare to count the works of saints like Sant Dynaneshwar or Sant Tukaram Maharaj or Sant Namdev as just works of literature. Marathi Manus has derived his essence of life from compositions of these great saints.

Marathi cinema is one of the oldest regional film industry. Legendary names like Dadasaheb Phalke, V. Shantaram, Acharya Atre or Raja Paranjpe remind you of the glorious era of Marathi cinema. Actors like Dada Kondke had added special flavor of “Tamasha” and humor into it. More recent notable actors like Dilip Prabhavalkar, Ashok Saraf and Lakshmikant Berde are the souls of modern Marathi cinema.

Every Marathi Manus sings to the tunes of pure golden lyrics of some of the greatest compositions like "Shur Aamhi Sardar" or "Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha" or even "Jayostute". And how about the simplicity and sweetness of "Malachya Malyamandi" or tanginess of “Tumhavar keli mi marji bahal”

Maharashtrian food though not as famous as Punjabi or South Indian food is quite popular with its mouth watering sweets like 'Puran Poli', 'Shrikhand Puri' or 'Modak' or with spicy 'Batata Vada' or 'Vegetable Kolhapuri'. A Marathi toungue savors a 'Thalipeeth' or 'Valache Birda'. The typical likes would be a simple 'Zunka Bhakri' or 'Pithala' or even 'Varan Bhat'. That’s the like of a Marathi Manus.

I am proud to be a Marathi Manus. I take pride in saying that I belong to that rich culture and to that simplicity and straightforwardness that the culture has induced in me.

Sadly enough there are people who misuse this title of Marathi Manus to propagate radical behavior of their own egocentric political causes which maligns the outlook of an entire community. So, my question here is why would someone put the 2 words of Raj Thackeray with Marathi Manus? He can use this word for his benefit but why condemn the genuineness of Marathi soul who has accommodated and welcomed you to his life and community for years? Which community does not have a rotten mango? So would you blame the cause and interest of millions of people belonging to that community who have otherwise had an open heart and open door? Raj Thackeray is a Marathi speaking guy, but he does not represent Marathi Manus. Just the way Sachin Tendulkar does not play for Marathi people alone. Just the way Medha Patkar will not fight for a Maharashtrian only. You know who is a Marathi Manus? Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Marathi Manus. Lokmanya Tilak was a Marathi Manus. And so was Ahilyabai Holkar. The six sigma dabbawala is a Marathi Manus. The kaamwali bai is a Marathi Manus. I am a Marathi Manus. Some how Maharashtra NavNirman Sena alone is not equal to Marathi Manus. It is just painful to see the equation where radical activities of Raj Thackeray sit on one side and the title of Marathi Manus sits on another.

Difficult times in life

There have been many such times in my life and some have been far more testing than others. Then I could not look forward. I did not know what to do; what was right and what was wrong? Like a fall leaf I felt I was withered and no longer tethered with the tree that I was attached to. Swirling in the air and twirling in the wind; I felt that I had no path and no future. And there were some times I even felt that I could not take the burden of this life anymore.

But then came the Sun. Every time there was darkness, then came by light. Most of the times I did not see the brightness yet; I did not see the rightness yet; but I saw light. And before I could realize, I was glazing and blazing with no sign of fear or fright. HE gave me the courage and power to rise up to my feet and come out even stronger and even more determined. I fell and I rose up. I rose up and I stood. Stood steady and stood strong to fight it out. I am so glad I could make it.

I now realize that I should not question. I have time and again circled into continuous battle of why things have happened wrong when I was right? But maturity that came to me out of the relentless struggles has taught me now that if I never questioned why HE gave me so many joys then I have no right to ask as to why I am also entitled to sorrows. I know these are passing phases. Each one will pass. End of one is the beginning of another and end of another is the beginning of yet another. I need to keep my faith strong, keep my path straight and stay focused with what I have in hand. I have learnt that life has its own path carved out for me and every time I am put to test; I need to stay strong at my roots and keep going the most right way I can. Someone once said, it is very easy to choose between a right path and a wrong path but it is difficult to choose the best between two right paths and the most appropriate between two wrong paths. I believe in my beliefs and my faith and I know for sure that I will be guided through my decisions on the right way in the right direction, no matter how gloomy the road looks now.

I am now on a gloomy road and I see nothing except uncertainties, doubts and fear. But I also tell myself, that this is not the sharpest of the turns. I will cruise along just fine. It’s just a matter of time. :)

No Palin for me

So it seems that picking up Sarah Palin was the best choice Mr. McCain made after all! Now that she has become so much popular with her fiery speech, by the way needless to say full of sarcasm and personal comments on her fellow politicians (and their religion!) people are going gaga over her. They find her very homely, woman next door and for sure…some find her as hot chick etc… We hear new controversies about her everyday! But anyways do we care when she looks so hot! For sure all qualities that make her a perfect vice-president…why not?!!!

She is trying to defend her “experience” by citing her work on oil resource projects…I mean not that I deny her claims…but seriously so you think that’s enough to run the country and pull it through the economic crisis its going through?! What are you trying to prove here? I mean she cannot even finalize her stand on Bridge to Nowhere! That’s double standard my dear and how proudly you raise it in your speech…Aha! Sure she is going to run the government with all fair means…err… just that people she doesn’t like will get fired without any rhyme or reason! And what will she do when in a nexus to devote time between her big family and country?! What should a conservative woman do in such circumstances? I need to know. And all the talk about budget surplus in Alaska…thank goodness no one supporting her saw the balance sheets verifying that how expenses have increased under her reign (just read from CNN)…I feel that she is fake and untrustworthy…I mean kudos for your speech delivery style…excellent orator ship and salesmanship and 10 over 10 for your acting skills, but say something that makes me believe in you…engaging yourself in cheap mockery is not getting you anywhere; at least doesn’t make me vote for you. You just look like 'plain' jumbled up!

Importance of Physical Appearance in Indian Woman

Hola Ladies! Just today I was discussing with one of my colleagues who is an American born and raised Asian woman about how there is a significant difference in the mindset of a child who grows up in America V/S mindset of a child who grows up in India.

Growing up in India, though I have always been on the book wormish side, I was always aware of the importance of physical appearance and beauty. Nevertheless, those were the days of Miss Universe and Miss World titles being awarded to Indian beauties. So there was a big pool of cosmetic companies flooding Indian markets with their beauty products even down in the remotest villages of Maharashtra or probably even Rajasthan, Bihar. So I cannot dare to say that there was no awareness about the importance of physical appearance at all.

But if I think about it, I actually grew up a totally different society and culture. My mother, teacher, aunt or neighbor weren’t so devoted to beauty or minded about their appearances. Certainly not to the extent of how much an American woman of the same age might be. Though this has been significantly changed in India with changing times and changing economy, for some reason I tend to think that the focus of an average Indian woman is and has been always her family, kids and even her career. If she is lucky enough and aware / careful enough to sneak some time, she definitely manages to do her regular daily make-up, regular routines for her skin etc. I still don’t think she is willing to invest and utilize as much time and money in looks as her American counterpart is. I mean do you think the number of American women who have laser hair treatments, Botox injections, liposuction, breast enhancements; etc is comparable to Indian women?

Obviously money factor also plays an important role in forming the attitude. But hey, everyone from janitors to waitresses is more ‘appearance’ frenzy here compared to folks back home.

I guess my point here is not that an Indian woman is not aware, is foolish and stupid etc etc. All I meant to say is that they have a different mindset altogether. But of course there is this whole genre and generation of Indian women who is more aware and more willing to care about her physical appearance; but what is the percentage of this class compared to the rest?

Here I am travelling in a Subway and I see this 70+ old American woman who is all made up fine, has perfectly matching sandals and bag, her hands manicured and hair highlighted. Now, certainly not a sight in India.

I may be wrong, but these are just my views. Please let me know what you think!

Keep moving

A continuous swirling machine of time… Days to come and go…Like a bus that goes from start to finish and people that hop on and hop off?…Places you see and stay at and then move on; jobs that you do and workplaces that you go to…one after the other its comes at you. You flow with it for some time, make some memories and then carry on. Sometimes it is difficult to move on from a place, person or time; sometimes you are yearning to run to the next one. Phase after phase, from school to old age home, life takes us places. Like the puppets of a show, so little control we have over the things that happen to us. Like they say, life is what happens to you while you are busy planning it?

Once in a while you are tired of this churning. Sometimes you feel left behind, sometimes burnt; sometimes hurt; many times tired. But hopefully for most of us we break through and keep moving; unknowingly.

To all of us who keep moving indefinitely and unknowingly to an unknown destination, I would just like to remind you, you are doing a great job. Playing your part in this theatre full of drama is not so easy. So cheers for making it so far and good luck for the rest of your journey. Make sure you keep moving…

The 5’o clock meeting on Friday

Thank God Its Friday! I have been waiting for Friday since Monday and now finally it has come. I tried to work hard or hardly work, either one of those, so that I reach the most awaited 5’o clock. And it is indeed 5’0 clock! I call my husband, holding the receiver of my phone between my left ear and left shoulder…Are you asking me why? Obviously because my hands are busy packing my bags…and he has a surprise for me!!! Well, but it is not one of those pleasant Friday surprises. He informs me that he has a meeting now. I freak out…Meeting at 5’o clock on a Friday????? He tries to consol me and makes promises about the weekend. None of which I want to believe, but I am almost entrapped in his sweet lies. I have just one simple question…What is the agenda for the Friday 5’o clock meeting? And he says “Discuss the progress of the software being released this weekend…” I hung up. I now know that all my weekend I would be sitting besides him watching TV or at least trying to watch it while he is working on his laptop! “The release” guaranteed another 7-8 hours of work over Saturday and Sunday.

I was really mad at him. But why should I be? Is it because he was working? How about the other people who were working with him over the weekend? How about all the other people I see are putting many many extra hours every week? My real estate agent gives us an appointment for 7.00 PM on a weekday. I have no comments about his weekends. My own manager is logged in to the office network almost any time during the day and night. Other people I know are also doing extra hours. What is this? Competition? Money? The normal work hours per week are no longer confined to 40. Doesn’t matter whether you are billed for 40 or more or less, people are putting in 60-80 hours a week on an average. They obviously suffer from headaches, backaches, shoulder pain or many such small but considerable health issues. But anyways, who has the time to pay attention to these petty issues? What about their families? Aren’t they affected too? If yes, why don’t I hear anymore noises? No one is complaining? Why? Is everyone too busy working that no one has the time to complain? What is happening here?

Is this not a problem? And if it is, is there any solution?

"I don’t know you" Syndrome

Many people have this “I don’t know you” Syndrome. I wonder why people develop this and from where they get this disease?

My colleague in office introduced me to this one girl. She smiled and I smiled and we both said “Hello” to each other. Tell you what, that day we actually had lunch together and she also ate my food!!!

Now, after 2 days, I see her and give her a nice “Good Morning” smile and there she is…standing and staring blankly at me. For a moment, I thought, Oh ****, did I again mix up two people? (This happens to me with Chinese people…am sorry guys…nothing personal against you or your country or your people. But I tend to get confused between two Chinese people. If I meet two of them around the same time, I really get confused between the two of them, at least for the first few days after introduction until I really get to know them personally …I guess this is a normal phenomenon and that the Chinese must be getting confused with Indian faces because we all look similar to them and so on and so forth) Ok…so now am really confused and I don’t know what I have done wrong and why today is such a bad day that people are not recognizing me or caring to give a smile back. So helpless but hopeful for some another day I return to my normal routine.

Then on that another day, some simple soul happens to walk by my desk and this person is accompanied by our troubled lady with “I don’t know you” syndrome. So the simple soul says “Hi! How are you?” and then comes the introduction!! “Do you know Ms. XXXX?” I am very confused as to what I am supposed to say while the troubled person says “Yeah…I know her, I even ate her food!!!” Every corner of heart rejoices on hearing the fact that yes!!!….she does know me and recognize me. Finally I was at peace. The once rumpled feathers of my heart were OK now. I smiled back and said “Yes…we know each other”. I get back to my work with new vigor and a sense of achievement and fulfillment. Fulfillment of satisfying the desire to know what had went wrong??? Achievement is realizing that I was not invisible and everything is normal between me and “the lady”.

Today morning when I enter the elevator…BOOM…There she is…I am ready to throw a “Good Morning” with a smile again and she just IGNORES ME…I am shaken, surprised, confused, troubled and disturbed

Well…not any longer! I left her to herself. I think she is too troubled in life with either her own self or with some else or with a very commonly found disease called as “I don’t know you”. Now, I really don’t know whether there exists any cure of any form for this disease. All I know is that this one can affect not just the sufferer of this disease but other people too. So I am trying to reach out to all those people, not who are suffering from this disease (leave them alone!!!) but to all who are victims of this disease…don’t let these things bother you. Nothing is wrong with you. Whatever is wrong is with them. So chill and keep smiling and recognizing everyone you know (excuse the troubled souls)