Singapore, Malaysia, India

Last week, we had been on a holiday to Singapore and Malaysia, my first visit abroad. Also, it was my first flight journey. When the flight took off from the runway, my joy knew no boundaries. I kept looking down to ensure that I was in the sky literally. Moreover, the sight of sunrise made my journey more memorable. It was an exhilarating experience to witness the changeover from night to day.

THE CHANGEOVER AS CLICKED WITH MY CAMERA

As my experiences are plenty to share, I felt that they could be shared under different posts. In this post, I would like to reflect upon the people and culture of Singapore and Malaysia, as against India. Being an Indian, let me point out the facts that made me feel proud to be in India than elsewhere.

|. BANNED PUBLIC SMOKING : Ever since public smoking was banned in 2008, the chances of passive smoking was drastically reduced. Only when I inhaled second-hand smoke in Singapore and Malaysia, did I realize the boon of banned public smoking in India.

NO SMOKING

PICTURE COURTESY: wikipedia.org

||. VEGETARIAN DIET : Statistics have proven that consumption of fruits and vegetables are more healthier compared to a non-vegetarian diet. Health benefits of such a vegetarian diet are numerous. Being a person who cannot eat non-veg barring chicken and fish (if cooked properly), I found it difficult to find a veg item in the restaurants abroad. I was astonished to learn that India was the first country where Mc Donald's does not offer any beef or pork item and has developed a special menu with vegetarian selections to suite the Indian palate. The retail food giant has specially re-engineered it's operations to separate veg and non-veg food processing.

INDIAN VEGETARIAN DIET

PICTURE COURTESY : http://sbioak.org

Now, it's time to pinpoint the merits of Singapore and Malaysia over India.

|. CULTURAL DIVERSITY : India boasts itself to be a country of cultural diversity. We claim to be united despite our differences. However, the religious and cultural tolerances of people have come down significantly over the last few years. Various incidents have occurred to prove this statement. Singapore, on the other hand, as a country inhabited by migrants a few centuries back, has a rich and diverse population. Most importantly, every person respects the religious sentiments and beliefs of other citizens.

DIFFERENT RACES, ONE COUNTRY

PIC COURTESY: goingplaces.sg

The sight of Indian woman wearing gold jewellery with jeans or Malay Muslims wearing burqa with western wear is common there. Whereas in India, we ape western culture and consider clothing and language to be the only way of expressing modernity. Anyone wearing traditional attire or talking local language is never respected.

THE PEOPLE

PICTURE COUTESY: voyage99.com

The Indian government also fails to recognize the importance of ethnic identity and tries to promote a single language, Hindi, despite the fact that some of the other languages are more primitive and considered classics. When Tamilnadu opposed Hindi in schools in the mid 1960s, the state was totally sidelined. I was unhappy when I moved to Bangalore and found it difficult to speak in Hindi. Today, I feel proud that my state helped me learn Tamil because of which my identity has not been disrupted totally. Other languages can be learnt anytime but it is important to know one's mother tongue.
In Singapore, the first language is English and the second language is one's mother tongue which is either Chinese, Malay or Tamil. When I heard Muniyandi,Nathan,Kalai,Velan, who had been Singaporeans/Malaysians for about three generations speak Tamil in an impeccable manner, I was surprised. They were happy to be Singaporeans and Malaysians, as well as Tamilians.

||. ADHERENCE TO RULES: Singapore is a country well known for its discipline. The people are punctual and 9am is always 8:55 am and never later than the prescribed time. Also, the traffic rules were strictly adhered to by the citizens. People had the patience to wait for their turn. Malaysia was truly Asia in this sense. I guess you got my point:) Yes, the traffic was similar to that of Bangalore.

CARS ON ROAD AT SINGAPORE

PICTURE COURTESY: traffictechnologytoday.com

Having discussed the differences, I am sure there is a strong need for us to inculcate self-esteem through our value systems without blindly following the west. If done so, there are chances for us to regain our lost self sufficiency and global competency in the coming years.

Friends at home

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.

C. S. Lewis

My married life in bangalore had taught me many lessons of which the important one is to value friendship. Brought up as a home loving girl under the protection of parents, it took me some time to adjust and accept people as they are. More so when you are the odd one out. My apartment is primarily inhabitated by north Indians and imagine the plight of a conservative (atleast in dressing:) south indian there! Third language in school and chitrahar in doordarshan did little help. It was my mother tongue sourashtra that made it easier for me to learn the language faster. Today, I can understand hindi, speak fairly well and even manage to watch hindi movies.

February was my month to host kitty party at my house. To me, maths and cooking are alike in one aspect. I can do it if I must do it, not otherwise. That is, I am less passionate about them though if I attempt, I get through with good results if not great outcomes. I had been thinking hard day and night on the menu and games. Obviously the latter was easier to decide upon.

The D-Day did come and here goes my menu for the party:

*Lemon sharbath (Ondipuli brand from Madurai)

*Bovonto (Soft drink from Madurai)

*Malpuva

*Raw banana bajji bonda

*Idli

*Mix veg gravy with coconut milk

*Onion chutney

*Coconut chutney

*Tamarind rice

*Brown channa

*Soya chunks peas pulao

*Cucumber raita

*Plain rice

*Rasam

*Soya beans gravy

*Curd

*Ice cream

My friends loved the idlis and pulao. As for the games, we played dumb charades, making matchstick equations and word crocodile. The day ended with a hot cup of tea.


Making matchstick equations

I was pleased at my ability to host a party at home.

Thanks to my friends who made my day. For someone who wants a ear to hear her incessantly and be by her side during tough times, dears, you are simply awesome!

காலம் கற்றுக்கொடுத்தது

பெற்றோர் ஆசிரியர் சந்திப்பிற்காக
பாப்பாவின் பள்ளிக்குச் சென்றிருந்தேன்.
ஆர்வமாய் ஆயாக்காவை சுட்டிக்காட்டி
"இதுதான் காளியம்மா " என்றாள்.
சிரித்த முகமாய் இருந்த காளியம்மவைப்
பார்த்து புன்னகைக்க நினைத்த போடு
சிக்கலான எண்ணம் தோன்றியது.
பண்டிகையைக் காரணம் காட்டி
பணம் கேட்டு விடுவாளோ?!
இருபத்தைந்து வருட வாழ்க்கை அனுபவம்
எல்லோரையும் சந்தேகப்படு என்பதைத்தானா
கற்றுக்கொடுத்தது ?
விடை தெரியாமல் வெட்கித் தலை குனிந்தேன்.


- வைஷ்ணவி பிரசாத்

இடம் பெயர்தல்

Painting by S.Ilayaraja
Pic courtesy: alraja.blogspot.in

இறுக்கமான முகத்தை தவிர்த்து
இதழ்கள் விரித்து சிரிக்க வேண்டும்

சுடிதாருக்கு துப்பட்டாவும்
சுருட்டை முடிக்கு சீயக்காயும்
போட வேண்டும்

ஆற்றுத் தண்ணீரை அடுப்பில் வைத்து
ஆரிய பின் குடிக்க வேண்டும்

பக்கத்து வீட்டுக்காரருடன்
பேசிப் பழக வேண்டும்

பிழைக்க நகரம் வந்த எனக்கு
விடுமுறைக்கு ஊருக்குத் திரும்ப
பயமாக இருக்கிறது,

நான் மீண்டும்
நானாக மாற வேண்டுமே...



- வைஷ்ணவி பிரசாத்

Where is the solution?

The recent gang rape in a moving bus in Delhi has reverberated shock waves across the country. There are a few points to ponder in this regard.

I. When the media flashed the news of gang rape, there was one particular point stressed by the reporters continuously. It has happened to a college student in the capital city of our country, DELHI, and that too in one of the busiest areas. The take away for the audience - it can happen in a remote village to a dalit but how do we digest such a crime otherwise. No, I am neither an anti feminist nor a communist but only trying to decipher the reason behind a biased projection of reality.

II. The parliament demonstrated immense drama once again with a few opposition party politicians demanding justice and some artist stating guilt for her helplessness despite being an MP. It was all for a day, as always.

Image courtesy : niticentral.com

III. At times, we seem to go overboard by carrying slogans such as 'don't teach your sons to rape but respect women' or 'don't tell us how to dress up but tell them not to rape'. We must remember that none of the parents preach antisocial activities to their children or support them in such ventures. Take the case of traveling by train. There are posters stuck all over the railway station requesting the passengers to wear lesser jewellery and carry minimal cash to avoid thefts. We judiciously act by doing so. Do we question the authorities as to who they are to tell us not to wear jewellery or carry cash? It is the duty of the government to protect our safety, agreed. However, at the end of the day, isn't it wise to be proactive than pass on the reactive solution to them? Sometimes, we have to read between the lines and try to understand the true meaning intended by the speaker. The reason for our politicians for not voicing their opinions in such situations is the fear of being cornered or twisted for all that they say.

IV. Consideration of capital punishment for rape will not help reduce its occurrence but only aggravate for one strong reason - most of the rape accused are relatives or friends of the victim. The accused could the breadwinner of the family. His loss will mean a lot. As suggested by the author of an article published in The Hindu (name forgotten)recently,reporting of rape cases might reduce in such case.

Our society has a long way to go in becoming modern, in the true sense. We need laws to safeguard the rights of all sections of the society and yes, much better ways to ensure their execution. Until then, it is always wiser to seek justice in a manner of invoking prompt action rather than provoking extreme emotions.

துப்பாக்கி

ஒரு ராணுவ வீரனின் வாழ்வில் நடக்கும் ஏதேச்சையான நிகழ்வு, நாட்டின் தீவிரவாத பிரச்சனையை ஒழிக்கும் சந்தர்ப்பமாக அமையும்பொழுது, அவன் எடுக்கும் ஆயுதமே துப்பாக்கி. விஜய் மற்றும் முருகதாஸ் கூட்டணியில் அமைந்திருக்கும் படம் இருவரின் ரசிகர்களையும் திருப்திப்படுத்தி இருக்கிறது. ஹீரோ இன்ட்ரோ சாங், சண்டைக் காட்சிகள், நடனம், காமெடி ,ஹீரோயிசம் க்ளைமாக்ஸ் என பல விஜய் பட கிளிஷேக்கள் இருந்தாலும் தீவிரவாத ஸ்லீப்பர் செல்ஸ் என்னும் திரைத்தளம் மட்டும் முருகதாஸ் உடையது.

Image courtesy : http://www.indiaeveryday.in/tamilnadu/gallery/t/6688/vijay-thuppaki-movie-posters/2.htm

பிடிப்பட்ட தீவிரவாதியின் சுண்டு விரலை வெட்டுவது, போலீஸ் அதிகாரியை தற்கொலைக்கு தூண்டுவது, தங்கையை தீவிரவாதியின் இடத்திற்கு அனுப்புவது, தன உயிரை பணயம் வைப்பது போன்ற இடங்களில் மனத்தைக் கவரும் மாவீரன் ஆகிறான் விஜய். நண்பன் சத்யனுடன் ரகசியம் பேசுகையில் காஜலின் அழைப்பு வந்ததும் உடனே ஓடும்போது காதல் மன்னன் ஆகிறான். சற்று பூசினது போல் தெரியும் கன்னங்கள், புதுப் பொலிவு (ஒகே ஒகே, காஜல் அகர்வால் பத்தியும் கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுறேன் ). அகன்ற விழிகள், அழகிய சிரிப்பு, ஆவின் பால் நிறம் ( ஹூம், டீ போடுற காப்பல திரை விமர்சனம் எழுத உக்காந்தா இப்புடித்தான் :), அருமையான உயரம், அளவான நடிப்பு என கவனம் ஈர்க்கிறார் காஜல் அகர்வால்.

ஹாரிஸ் ஜெயராஜ் இசையில் பாடல்கள் தொய்வையே ஏற்படுத்துகின்றன. கதையோடு ஒட்டாத ஒரே மாதிரியான பார்ட்டி, டூயெட் பாடல்களுக்கு மத்தியில் கேர்ள் ப்ரேன்ட் மட்டும் கொஞ்சம் ரசிக்கும் தரம்.

தீவிரவாதியைக் காட்டும் போது வரும் " யாயீ " ஹிந்துஸ்தானி கசல் இசையை எப்பயா விடப்போரிங்க ? " எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் டமில் தெரியும் " டயலாக்கை வாஞ்சிநாதன் படத்தில் வரும் தினத்தந்தி படிக்கும் யூசுப்கானே சொல்லிட்டான்..

ஹீரோவை கோட்சூட் மூலம் சுலபமாக கண்டுபிடிக்கும் வில்லன், தங்கையை நாயின் உதவியோடு மீட்கும் ஹீரோ, ஒத்தைக்கு ஒத்தை வாடா என வில்லனை உசுப்பேத்தி தப்பிக்கும் ஹீரோ, இதெல்லாம் ஆடியன்சை அல்வா கொடுத்து அமுக்க பார்த்திருக்கும் அநியாயங்கள் !


இதுபோன்ற சில சொதல்பல்கள் இருந்தாலும் வலுவான வசனங்களுக்காகவும் ராணுவ வீரர்களின் வாழ்க்கையை விளக்கிய விதத்திர்க்காகவும், கண்டிப்பாக ஒரு முறை ரசிக்கலாம், இந்தக் குறி தவறாத துப்பாக்கியை !

What Next ?

I had began frying the masala when my daughter woke up from bed and came straight to the kitchen, questioning in a sleepy voice, " Are you cooking chicken amba? ". I was startled to hear this as we don't eat non - veg during the Tamil month of Purattasi. My husband gave a pleading look on behalf of my daughter as if to say why disappoint the two year old. I gave a fierce look and he disappeared with the little one to the nearby shop to pacify her with a lollipop.

" Sathvikhaaa", my neighbor yelled from the balcony. I rushed to see it had started drizzling and my dry clothes had to be removed. I smiled thankfully and returned to the kitchen. Oops! Sathvikha had not taken her rain coat. We had planned to buy a new one during the Pooja holidays as her old coat don't fit her anymore. Also, there was loads to purchase for the family function next month.

The door bell rang and my maid entered with a grin. "Went to get school application form for my sister's son akka",she replied, with a broader grin. "Are forms issued so early for next academic year?", I asked, not satisfied by her excuse. She smiled as if sympathizing with me for my ignorance and started explaining the usual practice followed by so-called reputed schools. I was surprised. Meanwhile my husband and daughter had returned, thankfully the drizzle had stopped without a heavy downpour. My husband asked for a towel.

Picture courtesy : http://vector-images.com/clipart/clp90838/

"Where is my towel?", he asked again,louder. When I opened my eyes, he pointed to the clock which showed 7 in the morning. "You can save your morning sleep for tomorrow as it is a holiday for Gandhi Jayanthi. Also, Sathvikha's school will be closed for Dussera in two weeks. Would you wake up now to send her to school?" he said with a stern voice. I smiled. What a nice way to woo a sleeping person.

Finally, WAKING UP, NOW THAT SEPTEMBER HAS ENDED, way to go for the month ahead!

Wishing you an awesome October!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

NO-HOME-OUT-OF-HOME

"How I wished I never had holidays other than weekends", Suma sighed. The plates were stopped being swept with a spoon by her friends. There was silence for a second. Those who knew her well, understood.

The information technology era has created a plethora of opportunities and different classes of working women right from full- time, part- time, telecommuting to freelancing and much more. There is one more category of people originating from these changes who are less mentioned - different categories of parents. Few decades ago, the family lived in a single town which made it easier for the married children to meet their parents. Women could leave their little ones under safe hands and go for a job. Today, things are different. We have full-time-hometown, part-time-hometown, full-time-out-of-hometown parents. The help of the elderly becomes necessary for working parents to look after their kids. And this creates another new section of people who are seldom taken into consideration - the no-home-out-of-home category!


Many like Suma fall under this section. Because of their siblings being working couples, their parents are out of home as a result of which they don't have a home apart from their regular place of stay.

Whenever there is a long holiday like Dussera or Christmas, the plight of such mothers becomes pathetic, especially if their children are in pre-school. The father wants a break and wishes to send the mother and kid for a vacation. A vacation to be a vacation, has to be enjoyed or relaxed. The mother feels the same as it is difficult to engage a preschooler all alone at home. But the mother whose parents are either part-time-hometown or full-time-out-of-hometown parents, feels helpless, homeless! She is taken for granted as she is a mere homemaker and is supposed to have sufficient private time to relax for herself.


This applies to men as well. After all the hustle and bustle in the office, how nice it would be if they could sit and watch a cricket match without being nagged by the wife to get groceries for the next day or the child asking for a new water bottle. Won't it be heavenly to have mother's preparation on a lazy Sunday in hometown after a good chat with old buddies?

I take this as an opportunity to address all those who somehow seem to be related to such categories. Do give your children a break by helping them find a shelter to relax and rejuvenate themselves for the next busy schedule. After all, Frost was right.

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."

Picture courtesy : http://www.guaranteed-proofreading-services.com