The Wanderer

Dear so-called 'token' girl,  When you look around and you find you are the only girl in the room where important discussion are being held and decisions are being made, I want you to remember these seven things: First : Congratulations for making it there! You know it better than anyone else that it has not been easy. Second : Do not let anyone undermine your presence, your effort and your success. More importantly… do not undermine your own presence, your own effort and your own success. Some of those who have always been in that room, will feed on the slightest of your self-doubt and use it to tell you why either you do not deserve to be here, or you are here because you were lucky, or worse, you are here because someone in the room was too kind. Third : I hate to say it because it is a massive responsibility but you do represent the rest of us who could not join you there. Hence, I implore you to stand your ground, let your voice be heard and do not be afraid of

Last night, I headed to the Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav (an annual Indian classical music and dance festival). With zero knowledge/understanding of Indian classical music, I found a seat, not knowing what to expect. I was there primarily to listen to Anoushka Shankar but ended up witnessing legends such as Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Channulal Mishra in all their glory. This is not a review of their performances (which I am thoroughly incapable of) but of how it became a lesson in humility.    The hall started filling fast, with people sitting on the floor and the stairs all around. Tens of people were left standing, when something unexpected happened: The organizers (led by Uma Sharma) decided to allow audience to sit on the stage and laid out rugs for people to sit! In my concert-going experience, this is the first time I had seen this happening. Of course, the situation was mildly chaotic as those already settled also made a beeline for the stage, but this cha

A few weeks ago, a conversation led me to rant about this on facebook:  Them: Is she your sister?  Me: Yes. Them: Who else is there? Me: (It is none of your business but I will be nice..) We are three sisters. Them: Ooh! So you don't have a brother?  Me: No (asshole I just fucking told you we are three sisters, what part of it doesn't confirm that I don't have a brother. And cut that shitty sympathetic look from your face before I punch it to adjust its fucking nosiness level).  ‪#‎RantAlert‬ Honestly if one more, one more person shows me that look I am going to flatten their nose. They can live like Voldemort for the rest of their shitty lives. ------------------ My friends asked me to ignore the comments that 'didn't matter' and few family members reminded that I do have cousin brothers - as if the latter are some sort of consolation prizes? You know what? The problem is not that they ask, that's still ok. The problem is the judgement/symp

In a recent conversation, someone remarked that the integrity in this world is running on an all-time low. On the contrary, I feel that bad news travels faster and has even better means these days. I am not denying that it should not be reported (because that leads to awareness and hopefully corrective measures), but good news deserves a fair chance as well (because it inspires people). Before people dismiss humanity, countries, nations, individuals, it may be worth looking for the positive. When you find it, share it forward. Not just on social media, but in action as well. Do your bit. All is not lost. Not yet. Not on our watch.

We should not be proud/ashamed of the things to which we did not make any contribution. Being born in a certain country/culture (you did not have a choice plus you did not make special efforts to even know your culture; in fact there are people from other countries who can beat you with their knowledge about your country/culture ), being born with certain gifts like beauty or intelligence (you should be proud of what you did with the gift, instead of the gift itself) or achievements/failures of fellow countrymen (when you did not even know anything about their journey or made any contribution or support before they became an 'overnight' success). We can be happy for them, be inspired by them but pride, if at all, should come from the results of our own actions.

When somebody 'shares a memory' on fb, I always think of glass vials, silvery threads and pensieves.  (All HP fans raise your h(w)ands!)