Monday 3 December 2007

SAVE EARTH

Sometimes I do wonder what all the people on earth are waiting for, to kickstart the mission to save the Earth. We are already quite late. I sincerely hope that we haven't really missed our last bus. It is annoying to find politicians turning a blind eye to such self-evident facts, and professing that global warming is a 'myth'.

It is now time for the common people to take initiative to fight this menace. Our country, India has been given a kind of special permit to pollute the environment a little more because our per capita emission of GHGs is quite low when compared to the U.S, the E.U and other heavily industrialised nations. However, this should not be taken as a licence to do 'anything-what-you-want' by the middle and the upper classes of the country. Indeed, our poor bretheren have been subsidising our emissions for the past many decades. The well-off in India are at least as bad or more probably, worse polluters than their counterparts on the other parts of the globe. Hence it is imperative that we take measures on our own to cut emissions.

It is not possible to transform a society like ours in a single day. However, small steps like
1. Replacing the incandescent lamps with CF lamps wherever possible,
2. Minimising wastage of electricity. Switch off appliances that will not be used soon. Iron all the clothes in a single go etc.
3.Use public transport as much as possible. If you need to use private vehicles, try car pooling. If the distance to be covered is small, go for a walk. Use energy-efficient vehicles and maintain them well.
4. Turn the background of your computer screen to black. (That brilliant idea behind Blackle!)

will go a long way.

I am not asking any one to plant trees as there is a big debate going on about the efficacy of such measures.

However, please please do not let anyone cut down the already existing forests without sufficient reason.

I am trying to walk the talk. It is very hard. But still, it's worth doing.

Friday 30 November 2007

Democracy

Finally Mr. Musharraf has taken over as the 'civilian' President of Pakistan. The whole thing was the neatest farce I ever saw in my entire life. It was so disgusting!

Quite honestly, I am more glad to be an Indian than ever. If any of our leaders would have ever tried to remove even a lower court judge so that an adverse judgement may be delayed, his/her government would have fallen the very next day. What a hue and cry it would have aroused! There, in Pakistan, almost no one else barring the lawyers and some students protested. I wonder how a ruler can impose an emergency on his country for such whimsical, vague reasons and people submit to it, without complaining.

I believe the reason clearly lies in the strength of our democracy. Though we speak 0f it in the most unforgivable terms, I shudder to think of the situation under a dictatorial rule. Our neighbouring countries seem to have developed a magnificent degree of tolerance for such regimes, which disgusts me.

Democracy, with all its pitfalls and failings, is the most legitimate form of government that man has ever known. It gives power and voice to the millions; the ruled have their say in the government. Revolutions are bloodless and it gives the citizens a much needed confidence.

I must admit that politicians become power-hungry and corrupt, but at least people can have a check on their activities. What happens in the case of a dictator - you cannot imagine him/her to be just and benevolent always. People are left helpless if s/he decides to resort to inhuman tactics to suppress the opposition against him/her. Moreover, democracy, in almost all cases supports and is supported by an independent and impartial judiciary which will save the citizens' rights even if the government takes wrong steps.

All Indians must be really grateful to leaders like Nehru, who could have turned our institutions into mere stooges by the charismatic hold they had on the public. They chose to strengthen them instead. Whatever the follies they are accused of, we have a duty to be thankful to them and our dear motherland for giving us this free air to breathe.

Thursday 29 November 2007

Cutting hair

The easiest way to be noticed by everyone in your college, if you have hair of at least a moderate length, is to bob it. You should have looked at the incredulous eyes looking at me, their jaws dropping as I got out of the college bus. Persons who had never ever spoken to me earlier, came to me saying, "You cut your hair!" All my friends were shocked beyond belief for some time. I admit I was having a ball with so much of attention fixed on me.

It was a mistake, I freely admit. I should have been more sensible. But it is done and I can't do a thing about it until nature remedies it. For the first time in my memory, for a whole day, my parents didn't speak of bank - that they were busy firing me is no consolation, though. About sixty per cent of the people liked the hairstyle, thirty percent were neutral in their opinion and the remaining were vehemently against it.

It is fun though, my cold and fever have almost subsided and I needn't bother too much about my hair. I cannot decide on whether I am looking reasonabe or downright awful, judging by my image in the mirror.

My favourite reactions.
Anju-Dropped her jaw. Then started laughing and was squirming almost for a whole week.
Mom-"Where's the rest?"
Dad-A sarcastic smile. Then "Why didn't you shave it all off?" (Followed by a torrent of advice on why I shouldn't cut my hair)

Friday 16 November 2007

Reflections

It wasn't until I reached the college that I realised how great my parents really are. I never realised how terrific a school atmosphere I had the luck to enjoy.They never stopped me from chasing my dreams, let me be who I was, and never said that I was in a disadvantaged position as a girl. Instead, they always thought I could reach greater heights, that I shouldn't be 'one among the crowd', but that I must stand out. In spite of their many reservations, they let me take engineering as a career option, and now, when I almost regret it, they are supporting me in the attempt to get into a management course.

I do not know if many girls are this lucky. In fact, I have heard many of our relatives say, " So you have two girls", and my mom would say, "They are better than boys". ( At home, however, looking at how we make a mess of the whole place, she would say, "They are worse than boys")

I do not claim that girls are better than boys. They are equals. Each person has his or her own high points. That's what my parents taught me. And my experience as well. At my old school, for every competition, we had boys and girls fighting it out for the prize. There was no kind of discrimination. We were friends. In fact, almost till getting out of the school, I never even really bothered whether my friends were boys or girls. Coming here, however, has changed all that.

This is almost a damned conservative society where society draws strict lines between the genders. Can't a boy and a girl be just friends ? I too seem to be drawing unnecessary lines everywhere. This wasn't my bringing up.

I was brought up to be confident, to live my life on my own terms and most importantly,
'Be myself'.
I had forgotten that; I am reminding myself now that I needn't be a coward like this.
Let's see how I will live up to my expectations.

Thursday 11 October 2007

Feeling guilty

I am losing my sleep over a stupid poem that I shouldn't have written in the first place. I hurt a lot of people today and am feeling extremely bad about it. The worst part is that they are keeping quiet about it. If they had come and quarrelled with me, I would have felt more at peace with myself. Even that pleasure has been denied to me. Their dignified silence is aggravating my insomania.

Oh! Wretched me! I am here to atone for my sin - my conscience does not stop for a second while accusing me of hurting the feelings of my fellow beings! What do I do? I dare not apologise to them in public, for I do not know how they are going to take it.

The problem is, sometimes I can't seem to understand what I am doing. Hope those fellows will understand and forgive me. I am feeling really miserable.

Saturday 6 October 2007

I don't know

Quite honestly, I do not know what I should write about. Life right now seems to be like a ship going through perfectly calm waters, sailing with the gentle breeze, so gentle that I fear I might get stranded.

I do not seem to have any problem in my life right now, which worries me as I have nothing else to worry about. Except for a few words with mom - she objects to my reading books (novels) for almost the entire time I spend at home.

Completed reading 'The Tin Drum'. My Lord, what a book! It is so powerful, with not a single word wasted, each won carrying a deep meaning that I was going snail pace with it. I couldn't keep it down, I have never come across a book like that, and I don't think there would be a book like that ever again. No wonder he won the Nobel Prize. I thought I would write a summary, but, no, I don't like to make an atrocious image of that spellbinding book just to satisfy my whims. Reading it was an exercise to the intellect. Wonder how anyone can write like that! Genius of first order!

Meanwhile, on all other fronts, life continues as usual.

Wednesday 29 August 2007

Weight loss

I have always had the dubious distinction of being one of the fatter souls of the class. No matter whatever I did to get rid of this coveted position, these extra kgs are deeply in love with me, and are always with me - just like a shadow.

What can I do? Two weeks ago, I started my walks again. I say 'again', just because I have tried this route before, and to my dismay, found that I always gained weight whether I walked or not. It seems that even drinking water made my body gain weight; no, I must say that the act of taking in air alone is enough for me to put on a few more kilos!

I am perpetually envious of those blessed souls who don't put on weight how much ever they eat. I would do anything to get a boon like that.

I gave up walking. It was not doing me any good, as usual. So I dug up my skipping rope and started skipping again. I believe I have lost some weight because my sis says that I look like an elephant now. Before that,she used to tell me that I was an adult blue whale.

Well, I hate to think how I would look after I shed some weight. I particularly didn't like Adnan Sami's looks after he lost his weight. He was so cute and chubby before.

Wonder how I will look like???

Thursday 23 August 2007

Feeling drowsy

After having lab exams, it is perfectly natural for anyone to feel drowsy. You had nightmares all throughout the week that you were not getting the output and that the external examiner was a guy from some other planet who spoke in a tongue you didn't know and about things you never knew existed. So after the lab exam, if you get the output, you are glad that you have escaped for the time being...until the next lab exam, that is.



But the sheer mental strain of going through it makes you listless. You take at least a week to recover provided you get the output. If you don't get it, or better, if you did not convince the examiner that you have not obtained the output, then you feel little better than dirt for a long time until a physician called time heals all your wounds.



Ah well! Whenever I see that dreaded lab of mine now, I am glad it's over. Two lab exams with tough questions are enough to make any hardcore atheist turn into a Catholic priest-cum-missionary. Whew! The very thought that I have endured four lab exams makes my hair stand up. No wonder I have lost so much of my hair!



It worsens when your external examiner is one who has thorough knowledge about the experiment and you haven't got a clue. He asks you questions, you guess the answer and say something, he smiles and follows up on that, you guess again and get a high seeing that you are surpassing your own expectations about yourself and are answering the questions well until he decides that he has had enough entertainment from this chump and tells thou," Thy answers were all wrong". Now, couldn't he have said that earlier?



But the biggest thing is getting the output. If you get it, you have hit the jackpot. Nothing to worry for six more months. I have a sincere feeling that getting the output in the lab is a random process. You either get the output or you do not, each with the probability of 0.5.

May God preserve me during my next lab exam!

Sunday 19 August 2007

Ah well

Finally,I am having lab exam on wednesday after three postponments. Really glad about it. It was a kind of Damocles sword hung around the neck. Once that is over, I will have a sigh of relief.

I am continuing my morning walks. I feel better now. ( Hope I will look better too, soon.)

Thursday 16 August 2007

Exercise

I have always wondered why people bother to exercise. I mean, to me, it doesn't make much of a difference at all - everyone has to die someday, whether you exercise or not.

Well, I also understand that the above excuse is a pretty lame one for not doing any. The main reason I do not want to do any exercise is that I will have to do it in the morning, so I lose my morning sleep. That is exactly the worst thing that can happen to me.

Unfortunately, my mother doesn't think so. She has decreed that starting from today, I go for morning walk everyday. And, there is no appeal against her decrees. Her word is the rule for me. (sob!)

I walked to Pattom and back today. I guess I will have to do it tomorrow as well. The situation is clearly out of my control.

(Thinking back, however, I feel that mom's right, as usual. I know I have been putting on weight and so I will have to shed my flab soon. The sooner, the better.)

Monday 13 August 2007

Classes start again

The problem with having lab exams during the classes is that you feel greatly relaxed after the exam and do not want to sit and listen to your lecturers for a long time. Some may disagree, but I strongly feel so. So I was filled with gratitude to God when the first three hours were free. It happens only once in a lifetime in the department of electronics.

There were a lot of activities going on, meanwhile, to engage our attention. I had to return my library book. I got four books issued in my name today- two from the department library and two from the main library. Moreover, there was a discussion on the industrial visit. We may not go to Hyderabad after all. The very thought depresses me. I would have loved to go there.

Joe was tying friendship bands on everyone's hand today. She really needs a thumps up for putting in such a lot of effort in making those bands. I cannot imagine myself doing such a tiring job. Well, Joe, you are magnificent in your patience with threadwork! Thank you for the band.

After the LIC period got over, I ran out of the class, planning to cut the IM class. But Aparna dragged me back and I got in half an hour late. The lecturer didn't kick me out. I guess it is because the fellow is from the mech department.

CO period was free again. We started discussing about cancer patients. I thought it would be a good idea to go and meet the patients at RCC. Neetha told me that an institution, called Careplus would allow us to work as volunteers. I am going to volunteer.

Honestly, I do not know how it is going to affect us - I mean, both the patients and me. I have had an experience of nearly losing my mother and would do anything in the world for not going through all that again. What I will be seeing there would be the same - people struggling with death and their families, trying to give them hope. I know it is going to shatter me but I am sure it will build me as well. It will give some meaning to my life, I believe.

I hope to go there this Saturday. We haven't received permission yet from anyone. So there will be some work to do this week. I am glad about it. I always feel terrible when I have nothing to do.

Sunday 12 August 2007

In love with life

Some human beings seem to have an extremely admirable quality of being in love with life even when they are struggling for their life. It fills me with awe.

Only today morning did I see such a person. Her name was Sneha and she lives in Nedumangadu. When I saw her, streams of blood were flowing beneath her eyes and through her nose. She is suffering from blood cancer and had come to the church, asking people to help her. Today, the sermon was based on the story of Lazar and it had a tremendous effect on the people. I sincerely hope that Sneha would have received enough money to continue her treatment, though I do not know if she will survive for long. But I really want her to. She is the kind of person who inspire people to go on living in this otherwise drab world. She loves life, I bet.

Got to know about yet another cancer patient. Wife of a customer at mom's bank. He is having three blocks in heart and will undergo Angioplasty tomorrow at Sree Chithira Tirunal Institute. Their only son is studying in Dubai.

I hate this disease-cancer. It took the lives of two of my grandparents. I sincerely pray for the success of those engaged in finding out a cure to this menace. It has wrecked the lives of so many people.

But a vast majority of the cancer patients I know seem to love life and have an urge to go on and to live their lives to the fullest. This makes a painful but utterly beautiful sight to those around them. You do not wish to waste a single moment of your life- that kind of attitude. If healthy people had half these fellows' guts, I wonder what an Eden this world would have become.

I read the book 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel. A thoroughly inspiring book. Tells us that you become aware of your true strength only in the worst kind of adversities. That you should have the will to live in order to live. That you must face your fear and never give up.

To wind up, I retire today, in love with life.

Saturday 11 August 2007

Roaming around

I am not much of a traveller. I mean, I belong to those species the members of which hate to stir out of the doors of their homes. I admit that I make all sorts of excuses for not going to the dentist or for shopping or for any other errand which would make ordinary mortals get out of their beds and dress. However, I feel that I am changing. Sometimes, I feel like I urgently need to go out and paint the town red.

Today I was in one of those moods which forbade me from sitting at home. So I got out at the earliest hour possible. So I was out by 10 o'clock only an hour after I woke up at 9. Which is quite remarkable because I hate to get out of my cosy and dirty room. The aim was to pay my fees at a coaching institute I had joined for CAT '08. Sis asked me to get a social science QB for her.

I was supposed to reach Vazhuthacadu around 10. But I didn't know how to get there. In fact, after 4 years of living at this city they call Thiruvananthapuram (why don't they cut the name short, for God's sake?) I knew only four or five places fairly well. So, following dad's instructions(very dangerous, because when asked for direction, my father says 'north' while he means 'south' and it should have actually been 'east'.), I got down at PMG. From there another one to Vellayambalam and finally an auto to Vazhuthacadu. Only then did I remember that..... I had forgotten to take enough money to pay my fees. After ten minutes, a girl was seen at the Service Branch of SBIasking whether they had an ATM nearby. 'No', they said but told me about the SBT ATM nearby. So took the money and went to pay my fee.

After waiting for about ten minutes, a fellow finally appeared. Classes were going on nearby. He asked me what I had come for. On hearing my story, another gentleman walked in who told me that I might better go home than waste my time there as he couldn't issue a receipt for the money if I paid. I was directed to go to Kannammoola. So I caught a bus to Statue and from there to Kesavadasapuram.

Back home, I had a fine lunch. Read Wodehouse for an hour. The effect was almost immediate. I wanted to go out again. Wodehouse always makes me restless, I have found. So I caught an auto to go to Kannammoola and pay my fees. From there, reached MC by bus and KDPM on foot. Actually, I was thinking of taking long walks again. Having put on a lot of weight these months, I intend to get rid of it as soon as possible. Only when I reached the bus-stop did I remember that I had not bought her nibs' book. So I had to rush to Statue and buy the book. Reaching home back by around 4, I immersed myself in Wodehouse again.

I believe I will get out next Saturday too.

Search This Blog