Food Obsession

God made man and then gave him all the rights to eat whatever he likes; only the apple tree was subject to exceptions, to terms and conditions. Believe it or not, we are on this earth for and due to this mere food, the apple. It all started with food, and even today the second cry of the baby is for it. “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!” could be well better phrased as “A good cook keeps the doctor away.” Food is its own master – doesn’t matter if you want the body of a wrestler or just crave the ‘size zero’ tag. It can spice up your life or grill you out. 

We do not perceive food as healthy or unhealthy, when the word “FOOD” pops up, it is the ecstatic untamed feelings that come to one’s mind, the family dinner or the first date or the long chats with friends. For once, you might forget the fat defining your tummy but you will never forget the “Midnight moment,” and hot afternoons with the cold coffee. Sometimes the best way to pass time is to ‘eat’, “I eat not because I am hungry but, because I am getting bored.” That isn’t a thought that only applies to me. Ask yourself, “What do I do when I get a free lecture?”  For most, thoughts like studying in the library and finishing work come much later! The immediate reaction to such a situation is going to our canteen, ‘Jai Bhavani,’ and ordering Chinese or the ‘Vadapav’ watching the butter hit the pan and  letting the aroma attract you like a magnet.

Now let’s put aside the feeling that food can stir up and come to the greedy human brain. The human mind has left nothing alone in terms of catering to our needs – not even food. Vegetables and fruits are known to grow larger by injecting hormones and talks of exposing the food chromosome to UV rays have also been doing the rounds. Little things like changing the Chinese food to cater to our Indian taste are widespread.

Nonetheless, questions like ‘What should we eat?’ and ‘How much we should eat?’ are most common. Well, it all depends on what you believe in.  Your gym instructor prescribes food with low or negligible fat. If you consider religion to be your science, it asks you to eat less than what will satisfy your hunger and avoid wastage of food.

Lord Shiva had recommended bathing thrice and eating once a day and we managed to do the exact opposite. Should we be rectifying our mistake?

The Flock Following

It is quite evident today that to survive in this competitive time, one has to step over another to reach one’s goal, making no distinction between friend and foe. Everyone else is just another player in this cut-throat tournament called ‘Life.’ But, for this, it has also become evident that each needs the help of the other to climb up this ladder.

A serious trend that has been observed among the youth is that which one may term as the “Flock Following.” This is seen right from school levels to choosing the right job. The time when one used to do what one liked has long elapsed. This is the time to see where there’s more money and opportunities to rise to the upper echelons of society. In schools and colleges all around, students choose to follow the few chosen ones to lead them to better colleges and institutions, following them blindly like a flock of sheep. 

Instead of researching and canvassing areas and avenues for their better future, students choose the easy way out, automatically assuming that the “Intelligent ones” know better. It is quite obvious that those who have taken time out to find out which institutions would suit their needs the most have considered only their own priorities and not those of others. Those who blindly deem it clever to follow them, inadvertently find themselves besieged with unforeseen difficulties. I have seen many an example of regret and suffering among those who have chosen the path of the sheep. First they are dazzled by the wonderful institutes and such mapped out and canvassed by the ‘Chosen ones’, but it is only later that they realize their abject folly in blindly following the one who has absolutely no interest in their future whatsoever.

Until about a few years back, there were only a few fields that were considered good fields for studying and career making, viz. Medicine and Engineering. Everyone wanted to enter these sectors and as a result, these fields have been saturated, at least in the Indian sub-continent. Of late, this realization seems to have struck and newer areas of professions have emerged, but even then, the ritual of Flock Following continues. It is inevitable that any and all new fields of study, research or job opportunities will get saturated and squandered by ill-deserving candidates because of this abhorring system, wherein the whole crowd follows the leader, irrespective of whether or not he/she is blind. Due to this, mediocre professionals are created and those really deserving a seat or an internship or a placement don’t get it and are left behind in the dredges.

It is quite apparent that “Flock Following” is here to stay, but it would definitely be in the benefit of society if it remains at a low level – that people realize that what others decide need not be the best for everyone.

Love Your Parents

Deep rooted respect for elders has always been a part of my being, since birth. It’s not just something that had to be inculcated, but which I inherited. Our parents teach us many things in life, half of which, as adamant teenagers, we don’t even bother to pay heed to. To be frank, what made me realise about loving my parents is a Bollywood motion picture. The movie revolved around how a son sent his father out of his own home just because he was ashamed of him. The person was not sent to an old age home, but a place where his childhood friends had bought a home, as they too had gone through similar situations.

The first question that rose to my mind was how could someone be so ruthless? Have people forgotten how their parents took care of them? Have they forgotten the love and affection of their parents? Wasn’t it enough when they were pardoned for every mistake of their lives? To me, a social problem which necessitates a great consideration today is, out-casting parents to old homes. Parents are like weak and helpless babies in their old age. They need to be respected and taken care of, properly.

These days, we hear a lot about the elderly being sent to old age houses. During my recent visit to a few old age homes, I saw that people there were neither poor nor were they devoid of some kind of family. The main cause for them being there was their sons and daughters, who did not have ample amount of money or money to spend; some of them were there, because their children were humiliated if their parents were around their acquaintances; but, the most sickening reason was – because the parents were not compatible with their life partners. Every human, be it a child or a haggard soul, all crave for love and care. There were some people whose children never even looked back after leaving them, while others shared their grief of being put in a forced state of captivity, where all they could dream of was a quantum of solace, happiness – when their soul would become free of their bodies and escape the torture of loneliness. Although, there were a few who came by their own will and stayed happily.  A large group of them also complained about the services provided at the homes and how ill-treated there they were.

Seeing all that, happening right in front of me, I actually feel that old age homes should be open to only those people, who have no support from anywhere. The literal meaning of old age home suggests, a place for the elderly, who cannot take care of themselves after a certain age as they need extra care and attention. It positively does not mean that you send your parents away, just because you cannot or do not want to take care of them. Old age is the age when people retire from their jobs in hopes to spend leisure time with their children and grandchildren. But all they get is their packed bags, lonely walls and strangers to start their life all over again.

To reduce this societal concern, we first need to understand their basic insight into the modern age thinking and more so, the psychology behind it. If we, as children, understand them and get an idea about their requirements, a lot can be solved within the four walls of our own home. Taking care of parents is not a herculean task. It just needs a wee bit of extra effort.

Apart from that, taking help from the government to frame mandatory rules, about whether or not aged parents should be forced to live in old age homes, is called for. We have United Nations Principles for Older Persons, adopted in 1991, and similarly, many more conventions and treaties, which provide guidelines with regard to older people, their right to autonomy, care, etc. These conventions also bolster nations to adopt the guidelines given in their national programmes, but the depressing element is that most countries are still unaware. Thus there is a need for laws that could answer questions like – Who can enter old age homes? What vital facilities are to be provided there?

Community organizations, with the backing of the government and the private sector, should be set up to help the elderly to sort out the differences they have with their children. Various educational campaigns should be conducted for awareness among children, that nothing is more important and valuable than parents, so that they learn to respect them right from their childhood. Documentary films should be made and released nationwide to spread awareness.

From the viewpoint of inflation, to be realistic, and to deal with present day competitions, myriad subsidies should be provided to those families who take care of their parents. This will definitely lend a hand to avoid this problem.

All this in writing looks straightforward, but, it’s a humongous task to accomplish. The biggest challenge for implementing all these solutions is exorbitant man power and financial resources. Opening an old age home which gives all the facilities that a person gets in one’s home can seize a little time. Providing food, good environment and other facilities, all under one roof to thousands of old people is not a one day task. It requires long-term planning and management. Similarly, framing laws and legislations can relatively take time. In the meantime, old age homes should not be banned as we require old age homes to support helpless elderly people.

Last, but not least, take some time to speak to your parents. Let them open up to you and tell them that you do care for them, because, after all, it’s not just about duties, it’s all about loving your parents someone who loved you when you were nothing.

Freedom Is Within You

Freedom – the word itself ignites a spark. Several songs, poems, books (ranging from the Bhagwad Gita and the Bible to 21st century’s books by ultra-modern writers), tweets, updates, forwards (aahh!) are all dedicated to and inspired by this seven letter word . Freedom is an ancient quest, isn’t it? Buddha wanted freedom from sorrow and pain. Bill Gates didn’t go mad after handing over his wealth for charity because he wanted freedom that his wealth couldn’t afford.

We may find freedom anywhere – with a person (friend, spouse, best friend etc.), in a closed or open place (terrace or ram), or on some social networking site, or by indulging in various activities (shopping or chatting), with a thing (teddy or pillow), may be in a dream, a wish, in passion, or in fantasizing or just sleeping can even set you free!

But no, freedom is right within us and all around us. All that is mentioned above is just a materialistic image of our definition of freedom. But real freedom is when we set ourselves free – free from our ego, principles, calculations, judgments and impressions. It is not only the branded merchandise that we wear or wish to wear that have price tags, somewhere inside us, we have these pre-defined tags too. We always want to be like someone else, be somewhere else, with specific people and what more – we also want the situations to be as per our convenience and in our favor! And then our conscience finally gets tired at some point in the rut of getting satisfaction and happiness. For the few moments that we can realize we are NOTHING and NO ONE, we become free. Forgetting about all the titles that we wear and tags that we owe is freedom. Consciousness and self-awareness mean freedom. If this article brought you closer to the present – it’s freedom.

Keeping the crown of “ME” aside, letting down the accessory called “attitude” and swimming through the pool of questions and explanations to reach the other end is freedom. So to all the dudes and divas reading this just take a long breath right now (first time not for tasting a fragrance of a perfume!) and give a wonderful smile to yourself as if you had crush on the person you see in the mirror!

The Metrosexual Man

What would life be without the silent mental dialogue? In the mall you hunt down the men’s section looking for the perfect shirt for that perfect date tonight! “Ah this is the one!” but you can’t say it loud because the color you choose is pink! Before you pick it up, you hear your friend’s voice in your head, his tone incredulous! “Dude you want me to find you a guy?” You flush like a girl and start a mini world war inside your head. “Will I look gay in that shirt? But I am straight, right? “But then she doesn’t know that”! “What if she thinks I am gay?” –Silence—

It’s a common misconception that if a man wears “happy” colors, loves shopping, self-pampering and grooming and is very concerned about his looks, then he is homosexual! Well he may or may not be. Actually, he is the Metrosexual Man! This term was coined in 1994 by Mark Simpson who says: `The typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in or within easy reach of a metropolis — because that’s where all the best shops, clubs, gyms and hairdressers are. He might be officially be straight, bisexual, or gay, but this is utterly immaterial.’

SRK endorses fairness creams for men, and Virat Kohli is known for his penchant for facials. Siddhartha Mallya and Ranbir Kapoor share more than the memories of a certain damsel in common.

Take for instance David Beckham, the ultimate macho man who has sported countless, sometimes -feminine hairstyles over the years and set a million hearts soaring, gender irrespective! SRK endorses fairness creams for men, and Virat Kohli is known for his penchant for facials. Siddhartha Mallya and Ranbir Kapoor share more than the memories of a certain damsel in common. These fair-skinned boyish men are very much in touch with their ‘yin’ sides. Our favourite superheroes seem pretty comfortable in tight, body hugging colorful latex and underwear worn over outerwear, don’t they?! Not to mention, well known designers like Jean Paul Gaultier have designed skirts for men.

Closer to home, our very Indian men may not be very receptive to the more extreme ideas but are now sporting multiple piercing, tattoos without dragons, barbed wires or anything too blatantly manly, colourful spectacle frames, pink clothes, shapely eyebrows, straightened hair and junk jewellery. Metrosexual much?

Is dressing to the nines and a manicure-pedicure appointment every fortnight the only things that define a metrosexual man? Men are taught to be men in India even before they are out of their diapers! After all ‘big boys don’t cry’. But what if men have a softer side and could like flowers ‘n’ chocolates, and read Mills and Boons? Can’t they sniffle into a tissue at the movies? What if they actually like Valentine’s Day, contrary to popular belief that men only celebrate for the sake of their women!

Men today love to cook, take care of the kids and some also opt to be stay-at-home fathers. Maybe next time when we see someone filing his nails, we can stop that frown from lining our face! Moreover, a person’s sexual preference doesn’t a man make! Being homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual is just a choice; it doesn’t dictate who you are. So go ahead, pick that pink shirt off the rack like you always wanted to. Wear it. Flaunt it. Be happy to meet the real you! With the right attitude, pink can be manly to a la Saif Ali Khan in Kal Ho Na Ho! You may not be tall, dark and handsome, but you sure as hell can be the ultimate metrosexual man – female toe-curling manly, right down to your marrow!

Search Your Strengths

At the core of an Indian metropolis, an elegant-looking woman in her late thirties, is returning home from a multi-national conference meeting at a very late hour. She is using the city bus so that she can get home as soon as possible to her family. While she is in the bus, a group of 20-year old boys, who have just got out of a pub, can’t seem to take their eyes off her and are very evidently enjoying the view, till at last the woman gets off at her stop. These young, inebriated men don’t have intentions that you would call harmless. Seemingly, the situation was quite under control as none of the boys crossed the line, nor did they utter a single word against this woman. However, isn’t this act disturbing enough for her to not be able to forgive and forget, even once she is safely within the boundaries of her home? Many wouldn’t realize, but there is enough gravity to this situation in the context of the effect this can have on a woman’s psyche.

In the public transports that they are commuting in, or else in the crowd that they are walking through, women from the ages of 16 to 40, are more often targeted by men as ‘momentary pleasures’. These men, who may never even see the woman again, whistle or pass cheap comments or might even grope her. In return, if they get a scornful look from the woman, it is an ultimate victory for them: a prestigious and highly-commendable award for these “high-libido gentlemen.”

Facing such humiliating situations and pretending that you haven’t paid any attention to it is not a solution. For every woman, it is a question of her self-esteem. By testing her ever-so-high tolerance level, she isn’t proving anything to anyone. Braver and smarter girls take the opportunity and the ultimate revenge of slapping the guy and at the same time making a huge ruckus to call in the crowd to be her shield.

Girls, wake up! You are beautiful and attractive, which is a very obvious reason for men to seek your attention. If it is this attention that they are seeking, give it the way they truly deserve. Not all men are bad, but neither can all men be trusted! If you spot a suspicion, you take an account of it and stay alert. It is never wise to sit back and watch this kind of show unfold, and even worse, to be a part of it! This applies equally to the young men out there, who have high regards for the fairer sex and believe in bringing about a positive change in the society. Being a victim of such a situation is very disturbing, but being a witness to it and not doing anything to stop it, is extremely shameful and irresponsible as a citizen as well as a human being!

Today, women are not just found in kitchens. They are outside making a mark and creating their own identity. They have a home to run and a successful career to juggle. It is important to fight for your self-respect. There is no Prince Charming who is going to come to your rescue! It’s your fight! It’s your call!

Battle for TRPs

TRPs – Is reality TV losing its touch among the audiences for the sake of money, forsaking the purpose of entertainment?

A big question is – what is reality TV? Is it real in its true sense? Gone are the days when the entire family would sit together to watch their 9 pm ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, or enjoy a refreshing weekend by watching the ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’ show and hum along with the melodious tunes. It is a completely different genre now, wouldn’t call it an evolved one, though! Is the ‘idiot box’ truly becoming an idiot? Are reality shows so desperate to garner the TRPs and money, that they know no bounds of ethics and morality? What has happened to this generation’s mode of entertainment?

For today’s youngsters, fame is a big ticket! One entry or just a lame participation in the show makes them want to grab the limelight of stardom. It is known that such shows do grab ample eyeballs, but what sense does it make? Hereon, we shall take a peek at some of the highest grossing TV shows that have been doing many rounds on our small screen.

BIGG BOSS – or FULL-ON TOSS?

First things first, why would the Indian audiences be keen on knowing what the so-called celebrities would do when locked in one house for months? It doesn’t have a concept. So, for its rescue what our famous Bigg Boss does is, it calls for the foreign entertainment brigade, to attract obvious attention. It started with Jade Goody (from ‘Big Brother’ fame, which is apparently the very show whose rip off is our very own BIGG BOSS). Then a two day stay of the popular seductress Pamela Anderson which did raise the viewing for obvious reasons, period! All was well till the last season brought in the much-publicized entry of porn superstar Sunny Leone. The TRPs went through the roof as most of our Indian viewers went gaga over the sultry siren, who has to her credit several XXX movies and over a million followers on the web.

In the past, the show gave a new dimension to the careers of several lesser-known people, who became celebrities overnight for both good and bad reasons post their stint in the Bigg Boss’s undeniably lavish home. So, clearly it is a sure-shot ticket to stardom for many individuals, whether for their right or wrong deeds, it doesn’t really matter…

MTV ROADIES – SHORTCUT TO HELL? No thanks!

Oh yes! Why would anyone want to see or participate in this ‘macho’ show? Is it for finding today’s idle among youngsters?! But stop and think for once, is it really worth it? Being mentally traumatized during auditions doesn’t prove how thick skinned you are! It just tells you, that you don’t possess an iota of self-respect! Contestants are made to perform inhuman tasks, often humiliating and disgusting ones, by a pair of bald twins with over-inflated egos. Is that the youth’s idea of fun? Is getting an enema on national television worth the future career opportunities that may result once you are a ‘ROADIE’?  You may learn to swear like a sailor on this show, but the Information and Broadcast Ministry may not like it!

SWAYAMVAR SEASONS – Real marriage or Real foolishness?

Swayamvar had once had a charm of its own, back in the ancient ages. Every princess was entitled to choose her own groom from amongst the eligible kings lined up to ask for her hand in marriage! It was a symbol of girl power, way back in time! But today, it’s a joke some overambitious TV guy cooked up! The TV stars or VIPs, stage their own swayamvar, claiming to fall in love and marry one of the many eligible prospectives lined up in our drawing rooms! You can see why this idea clicked! For the Indian audience, who can never get enough of their fascination towards these so called ‘stars’ will jump at the chance to see their idols fall in love and marry, all on their television screens, no matter how fake the whole thing is! It’s a meaningless version of entertainment which nonetheless, has stolen the original purity of our cultural swayamvar.

The first season of the show had Bollywood’s item girl – Rakhi Sawant, who couldn’t wait to get rid of her chosen fiancé within a few weeks after the show. The next season featured Rahul Mahajan, the son of late Pramod Mahajan, who had been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Within the first few months of his marriage, news leaked out that he was physically abusing his new wife! The third season had TV actress, Ratan Rajput make a fool out of herself as well the rest of the world by not making any choice at the end! Now, telly-talks reveal that ‘Bigg Boss’ seductress and Pakistani actress Veena Malik is looking for ‘love’ or maybe her share of glitterati, in the next season.

GHAZAB DESH KI AJAB KAHAANI – Do we have to know?

There was one TV show called ‘Aap Ki Kacheri’ by our well respected, Kiran Bedi. But enter “Ghazab Desh Ki Ajab Kahaani” by item girl – Rakhi Sawant. Need we say more? Those who believe that this hostess could solve their personal issues need to get doused by a bucket full of ice-cold water! Dressed in the skimpiest of clothing, Miss Sawant has been seen shamelessly probing her guest about his/her private moments!  Needless to say, if she has always been in the news for her crazy antics, should she be given the honour and responsibility of judging people’s private problems?  Without a degree in law, or a nano particle of common sense, is Miss Sawant our idea of an ideal judge and counselor? For that matter, doesn’t she have millions of her own problems, which she doesn’t mind sharing with the world at every opportunity?