all things beautiful

Happy Birthday, Canada!!

2017-07-01T17:33:00.001-07:00

The flight was delayed by an hour and a half, but we were assured that we will catch up. I hadn't eaten for the last 22 hrs, I had no hunger and the lump in my throat grew bigger as the flight began taxiing down the London Heathrow Airport.

I was moving, across the pond.

Seven hours later the pilot cheerfully announced our arrival at Montreal's Pierre De Trudeu Airport. The outside temperature, he said and I quote was 'a warm -15 degrees'.

Montreal was grey. Lit up by eerie grey sunlight at 9 PM on a February night. Montreal was cold. Now, I have seen cold, but Montreal was bone chilling cold. I was tired,confused and sad. No matter how much ever you like it, a permanent move from a country you called home for over half a decade to a place you really don't know much about to begin life afresh is , the least to say, painful.

I had as many bags as British Airways allowed me to check in. I waited in line for the immigration to the new country I will live in. 'Bonjour' said the young immigration officer. I replied the same. Now, my French isn't great. It is limited, well, limited to 'Bonjour'. 'English?' he asked. I nodded and he began going through with the paper work. He looked at my over flowing trolley. 'Books' I said, reaching out to open the bag. He waved his hand. 'No need to open, ma'am. it's fine'. I looked at him astonished. Here I was at an airport immigration, and he trusted just like that. That was the first of the many times I realized that this country simply trusts. He finished the paperwork, grabbed a 'use next lane' board and stepped out of his booth. ' 'Let me help you out' he said grabbing one of my trolleys. He walked me out to the new country I would just not live in, but call home.

Seven years later, Canada is indeed home. I have got used to the pleasant 'hellos' strangers offer you at the elevator. I have got used to -10 degrees being good weather. I have learned the simple easiness.
One of the most beautiful and benevolent nations, one that is cosmopolitan by existence and gracious by character, the red and white umbrella covers all, leaves no one out. You may differ in political opinions or national policies but most will agree that a nation couldn't be simpler and easier and all encompassing.

Today Canada turned 150. One hundred and fifty years of opening doors to the world, of braving the weather, of staying beautiful and of celebrating life. 150 years young as a country, home to who ever walks through those borders. 150 spectacular years.

Happy Birthday, Canada, Today and every day , We shall stand on guard for Thee.

Yogi Adityanath - in the heart of the heartland

2017-03-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

After a week of fervent activity , the action packed UP elections have finally drawn to a close. Everything has been challenged. The elections, the EVMs. the mandate, the sanity of those who voted and finally the Chief Minister. Everyone had a take. Everyone's take mattered- at the least to themselves.

Before we proceed, let me clarify that I don't know the etiquette of addressing a Yogi,or a Chief Minister, definitely not the combination. So please do not hold my words against me on that regard.

When Yogi Adityanath was declared the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, not unexpectedly, a segment of media went on an uproar. He was torn apart. His ideologies and beliefs were challenged. The administrative abilities of a five time parliamentarian was questioned. Sections of media were busy bringing any and all proof that would make Yogi Adityanath look like a blood baying,communal extremist.

Media remembered every word he had spoken for the last two decades. For the benefit of understanding of a 'shocked' nation, his words were quoted, in and out of context. As it always happens in these situations, he was awarded credit for many things he never said, some of the words were pure evil that it would be a crime even when hurled at your worst enemy. The attack was brutal. No one considered giving the young man a chance.

But then the past would be dug out. Media should. That's what the democracy is all about. You should not be voting on the basis of campaign. You have to remember all of that happened in the years before. But Uttar Pradesh did remember, hence the mandate. Media did too. But selectively.

About a month back a former Chief Minister/Union Minister called for the youth of an Indian state to take up weapons against the Army of the Indian Union and go in the path of God. Weapons for holy war can be loosely translated to jihadi. A former CM called for jihadi against the nation. Aforementioned media kept mum. No reaction. Did not remember.

After a major multi stage elections in a few states an incumbent Chief Minister of one of the sates went on an overdrive against the process and even the Election Commission of the world's second largest democracy . Aforementioned media maintained stand, nothing. No reaction. Cannot remember.

'The immature by party's own confession' leader of an old political party has always been loved by the aforementioned media. No questions have ever been asked about administrative abilities. None. No reaction.Will not bother to remember.

Those were on what they did not do. Now on what they would do. Igniting communal tension, flaring up skepticism, aiming the Chief Minister's ideologies against him, using religious sentiments and all the works would follow. It cannot be stopped, but in one way.

Among all the videos, audio bites, and words that surfaced in the last 24 hours was a decade old video of a young parliamentarian, probably about half the age of most other members, breaking down after being subjected to an unending saga of criminal branding and witch hunting. Behind the clear voice and bold persona of that young man was a touchable genuineness, one that stays to this day.

I was reminded of the times when the witch hunting, name calling, visa rejection and the works were imposed on an incumbent Chief Minister. I remember feeling the pain and anger that the world could so unilaterally isolate a person or brand him guilty before any trial. I remember thinking what must be going through him.

I remember thinking the same when he had the US Congress in splits and on their feet for many minutes in applause during that phenomenal address at the Joint session of the US Congress at Washington DC last year. Then I realized, what must have gone through him a decade back. Hurt may be, but definitely one that started a fire; the fire that gave India a new perspective and world a new India. In selfish retrospection, it was probably worth it.

I hope Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will find a hero too. Not in the celebrated Prime Minister of India but in that Chief Minister of Gujarat who started the fire that silenced even his staunchest critics- The fire of action.

One more time, let's start the good fire. After all, the new India needs a new heartland.

The accountability for India

2017-02-27T19:56:00.002-08:00

Freedom of Expression is a phenomenal thing. The power to express all emotions good and bad. Strong and feeble. Great power that. Though not all encompassing.

You cannot make rape threat to anyone by virtue of freedom of expression. You cannot threaten to cut someone to pieces by virtue of freedom of expression, not to mention 'beheading' someone.
You cannot apply freedom of expression to tell someone that you will be destroy them. If you stand by someone who made those threats there is every possibility that you could be considered part of conspiracy. Someone accountable would call you out. You ought to face it.

Above are the threats that was made to India by pseudo leftist liberals. Every single Indian had the accountability to call out. Call out, we did. You conspired , we stood up. You wanted to spread the venom, we put a tourniquet. It wasn't pleasant, but it worked, at least for now it did.

Now how are we wrong when we do that. When you sling mud at the sacred feminine that is Mother India you are right? But when we call out the folly of a 20 something girl who cannot differentiate war from peace, we are wrong. When we speak it is extremism, when you speak it is freedom of expression?

We still did what we did with a lot of satirical humor. You got us into the mud slinging because you dragged into it someone very very important to us. Well played, villains. But no, Olive Green has and will have nothing to do in this business. Keep them away.

#Isupport ABVP is not politically aligned. It is nationally aligned. The new placard from the queen of placards might not directly violate national interests. But it indirectly does. Remember the sponsors behind stone pelters, the master minds behind the terrorist attacks, all of those were indirect. Going against ABVP in this case is indirectly taking a stand against the nationalistic ideology of not letting poison spread. Let's condemn the violence, the threats and all the works. But,dear friends, while you condemn the 'fake' threats, please be cautious not to take all of it by the hook, line and sinker. Teach them to respect the motherland, respect for all women would follow.

We Indians are passionate beings. We love passionately. We protect that which we love even more passionately. And as for India, you would have understood by now, that she will be protected.

**Throw back to 2009 when a 'premier' TV channel created in 2009 when they send a legal notice for defamation to a blogger for (rightly) calling out on one of their 'star' reporters. So as it stands freedom of expression sometimes does have certain limitations. .

Brand Indian Army

2017-02-18T20:09:00.001-08:00

Had the Indian Army been endorsing products, this past week alone could have made the organization wealthier than MS Dhoni. Such has been the tireless efforts made by paid democratic Indian media. Absolute'praise worthy' work to keep the Chief of Army Staff on trending news.

While most of the people in India couldn't have cared less about the opinion of some terrorists, charity taker separatists or some spokespersons of a hung government in Kashmir that has nothing to its credit, what really sold the story was the branding. Tag 'Indian Army' in anything and you have got our attention. The media just played that spectacularly well. An IIM grad would be proud the way media sold it.

Lutyens Delhi's politicians came up with a barrage of comments, name calling and all the works. To give these politicians the benefit of circumstances, it really requires life lived with honor and loyalty to be able to stand up for the same. Definitely cannot be expected from terrorist sympathizers. The chief's words were manipulated and distorted to create a synthetic media storm. The air time that was dedicated to allow people to do name calling was unbelievable.

It was as if the fear factor had caused ripples and the fifth column just stepped into panic mode. Strange as it may be, General Rawat spoke about using power on Over Ground workers of terrorist outfits and ducking for cover were MPs of Congress and sections of paid media. Why would that be?

Now, for all those people who thought the COAS was wrong. Thank you for your opinion, now that you have expressed it move on. Nothing changes. Truth is, no one cares. Indian Army does not operate on your opinion.

For all the democracy protecting politicians and freedom of speech upholding media magnets, the democracy of the nation is not protected by you. You are in fact abusing the democracy and the freedom of speech. You are attempting to malign the Armed forces and the nation.

General Bipin Rawat is the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Union. Anyone who speaks to him, about him or about the organization must do so with respect. Beyond being the protectors of India's geographical frontiers, the Indian Armed Forces are the keepers of democracy as much as the sovereignty and integrity of the country. If in doubt, peek over your shoulder , across the border to your best friends. The tongues that wag now wouldn't have lasted a minute there. Since, proof cannot be handed over for the same, I suggest you head over.

Picture Courtesy: ADGPI

Champions win

2017-02-06T15:14:00.001-08:00

Here's a shout out to all my friends who watch the American Football, I request you to please put your hands together for the National Football League's greatest ever team- New England Patriots. I now request you to please join us for a moment of silence, as we, Patriots Nation, offer our heart felt sympathies to Roger Goodell, Roxanne Jones, and to those of you who had your one hand on that key board all set to make some jokes on air (pun intended), sorry folks.

There has never been a greater game, I suspect if there would ever be. Justice would never be served in a better way, it need not be.

Last night Patriots did not just win the Super Bowl, but they redefined the way American Football would ever be played. Not again will any team leading with over twenty points go into the last quarter thinking they have won. Not again will losers complain about the regulation balls. Not again would any one undermine champions. Not again. Not again would New England Patriots be challenged.

We are Patriots Nation, our team plays foot ball. We took all the mud you threw at us quietly, because we let our team speak in the language they best know, no,I didn't mean football, I meant winning in style.

You could tell me a million things about your own teams or explain to me why Patriots weren't a better team for most of last evening. Why pat defense sucked for three quarter of the game and how Tom Brady was beaten. I promise you I would hear all of it, another day. But not today. Today we celebrate New England Patriots, Super Bowl Champions.Today we celebrate the sheer will power called Tom Brady, the steel nerves called Bill Belichick and today we celebrate each of our amazing boys who chose to rise as champions when it counted the most.

Patriots, as we always say, you are the team we would send out to play for our lives. The truth is last evening you made even your sworn enemies agree to that.

Well Done, Pats.

What avalanches cannot bury

2017-02-02T19:16:00.005-08:00

Siachen Glacier. The world's highest battle ground. Indian Army's Garden of Roses.

On February 3rd 2016, Indian Army's Sonam Post , located on the icy heights of Siachen was wiped out by a deadly avalanche.No one would survive. But in the six days that followed that fateful moment a group of brave men would create a legacy no ice would ever bury. Inscribed in gold in the annals of our nation would be the story that would tell you the what the Indian Army is made of.

Siachen is Indian Army's back yard. No one would know how bad it could get there than the Army themselves.When they set out for the mission to bring their fallen brothers home a happy ending would never have been in their minds. And a nation waited with bated breath, not just for the brave heart Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, but also for the heroic Indian Army rescue team to come back, safe.

The Army, true to it's style, downplayed all the hardships. One hundred and fifty men braved all the odds, stood up to blizzards,pushed their limits- all because they would never give up on their brothers. They cut through as deep as 40 ft of ice, made as much 200 sorties and powered on through blizzards munching just chocolates- in the most dazzling display of comradeship.

Their story is what heroics are made of. Their indomitable spirit, courage and above all camaraderie is the true Indian Army story. At a day and age when the media-the Indian media-never miss an opportunity to drag the organization out to intense scrutiny, it is these memories that a grateful nation will never forget.

Today we remember our fallen heroes. Today we salute the Siachen Battle School and High Altitude Warfare School.Today, we thank the Siachen Rescue Team , whose faces, names, ranks or regiments we will never know. Today we raise a toast to the Indian Army , to the remarkable men who defy odds every time.

*Avalanches hit the region on a regular basis. Twenty more heroes have laid down their lives this year. Indian Army is devising strategies and implementing new technologies, but the posts will continue to be manned; come whatever may. No amount of ice would bury the rose garden for on guard is the Indian Army. And a nation wait again, with bated breath, for the season to pass.

Who is an Indian?

2017-01-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

What defines 'Indian'? Is it a citizenship certificate? A passport? Anyone who lives in the country? Any one born in the country? All of the above? Or any of the above?

Indian is not just the nationality column you fill in an application form. Definitely not just the travel document you hold. Way beyond all theoretical proofs, Indian is a matter of belief and faith as much as emotion and other matters of the heart. Indian is a sentiment.

It is the honor you defend, at all costs. It is the pride that makes you stand up for the national anthem, no questions asked. It is the loyalty to your flag and a promise to never let it down. It is the courage to stand up, speak up and take guard on behalf of the nation when it matters. It is the allegiance you pledge to the ideologies of the nation. It is your respect to those who choose to sacrifice themselves for the nation. It is your hope to have the courage to be them, if you are ever deemed worthy, by destiny.

I am a overseas citizen and my breed has the very unique responsibility of representing the country each time we step out of our door. We end up explaining 'Slum dog millionaire' and arranged marriages and Kashmir to the comity of world nations -everyday. If we drive rough we are often asked where did we learn driving from. We are told that mathematics is in our genes. We are almost expected to be late to meetings. We are supposed to be successful. We are expected to be smart, logical and intelligent.There is also a code of conduct to follow. We are expected to be honorable and gracious, loyal and peace loving, credible and tolerant. We may be restaurant owners or IT experts, driving instructors or doctors, astronauts or cab drivers, we finally always round out to be just Indians. It's a unique honor, trust me, to represent India by the minute. It's an honor we shoulder with infinite responsibility, great respect and deep love. We may call another country home, but there would only be one homeland.

Indian is not because you live in India. Indian is because wherever you live, you live with India in heart.

From across the oceans, today, we tune in to cheer you, India. Beyond all the boundaries, today, we promise to be Indians worth fighting for.

Happy Republic Day India, the world is our playground, may the game begin!

Forgotten Hero

2017-01-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

Forgotten hero, they say. But heroes are not forgotten, not forever. When they are eventually remembered they would reincarnate as an ideology and an inspiration. All they stood for and all they spoke will yet again inspire generations. to continue what they started.
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose stood for the most simple yet most debatable topic of today's India- India First, at all costs.He stood for honor and respect, for the country. One hundred and twenty years later, today, his spirit guides India . Today the nation pays respects to one of her finest sons- one who taught generations what nationalism at its best form means. Today the nation salutes the man who taught us to fight for the right.

About Hope

2017-01-20T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hope is eternal. If you believe that you have great power to be whoever you want to be, and if you have the courage to go through whatever fire might burn around you, no matter if the whole world stands in front of you, miracles will happen. Credibility is secondary. Belief is primary. If you ever doubted that, this day is your answer.

Donald Trump has become the President of America.

There is no taking away the courage, self belief and power of the man. He believed, he did. Now all he really need to do is fathom the great power he wields. He has proven all it need to be. What is left behind to prove is extremely crucial. But what he needs to understand is even more crucial. For starters, to understand that he probably doesn't understand much would be good. But, then again, who does? Once limitations are faced, may be we can get going on the path to make America great.May be he will figure it.

Hope, still, is eternal.

Bonds Beyond Blood

2017-01-17T17:06:00.003-08:00

My Grandfather is a soldier- an Indian Army soldier and a war veteran. But to me he has always been a story teller. My bed time stories always revolved around the beautiful PirPanjal mountain ranges, Kashmir, Longewala, Rezang La and a lot more. But the life blood of his stories was something else- camaraderie. Espirit de corps. The feeling of oneness. I remember his stories always made him smile. He had wonderful memories of good times spend with friends while fighting off enemies. His stories always underlined honour, loyalty and tradition- the touchstones of Indian Army, and those stories inscribed in me, faith trust and massive respect for all men in olive green.

I am not an expert, not part of the establishment, not an Army Brat. Below is just my thoughts rising from my perspective formed by my times with a man in uniform. I could be wrong, but then, I could be right too.

Like all organizations that are operated effectively, there are hierarchical standards, segmentation If you may, and operational protocols in place in the Indian Army. This is not unique of the Indian Army. Prevalent hierarchical classifications exist in all organizations across all industries and all work places in numerous different ways. Sometimes your expectations are met, sometimes not. Sometimes you have a difficult boss, a bad day or a hard project. Not just the Jawans but the officers of Indian Army could also be dealt with a rough hand at times. After all, the Army, as rightly said, comes from within the population.

To change the culture around which the Army has been operating over the years is a prerogative of the Army. An established organizational system that has been in place for many decades need not be made a media talk point. I trust Army to make decisions based purely on what is right. As much as , we cannot weigh Army's sacrifice and strength, we should not weigh Army's rules and culture.

Not once do I want to rebuke the grievances of the soldiers who spoke, but the men in uniform, beyond all ranks, also have a commitment to uphold the organization where discipline is of paramount importance. Sometimes, however hard it may be, the organization stands taller. Extreme perspectives cannot be applied to diminish the esteem of an organization that exists on the foundation of honour and comradeship.

Being fair, grievance redressal can take any route. But what is not fair is dividing the organization to officers and non- officers. Indian Army is a unit- one unit, one brotherhood. No power should be allowed to seed difference of opinion that would divide the brotherhood.

My Grandfather was an Indian Army soldier, not an Indian Army officer or an Indian Army Jawan, just an Indian Army soldier. I don’t know the names, ranks or regiments of my brothers at the border, I just know that they answer the name Indian Army and that is more than enough of what I should know.

Very Cool Play

2017-01-15T03:30:00.000-08:00

All sorts of records were created at Foxborough last evening, the most significant was probably that one of the worst play of the season by Patriots rocketed them (pun intended) to the AFC Championships. That, now, must be a first. Patriots played a shadow, no better word for it. They were off touch, so much that for about 17 mins of the three plus hours we almost thought that it might just turn out to be a cruel sport and we may be out shopping next Saturday or catching up on a movie. That is a big deal. When Patriots play there usually is never a single moment that we think 'what if', every micro second Patriots are winners.

Patriots won last night out of sheer habit than anything else. You see, with a 14- 2 season, sometimes you forget that a game can have any other result. And so Patriots won. Well played or not they won. And that's what champions do, they may execute the play in military precision or they may play a shadow, either wise the result would not change- they would win invariably. That should be good enough.

Not for New England Patriots. Patriots don't just beat the opposing teams, each time they play they beat their own previous game. Every win is a promise to better themselves. So Patriots grumbled. There would be no celebration, for, winning badly is not allowed. Every win should be the Patriot kind of win- flawless, perfect and in "Very Cool" style

Next Saturday we won't be shopping or catching up on a movie, we will be cheering NFLs best team as they punch through the AFC Championships to the Superbowl. That is Very Cool, indeed.

So, go on Patriots win like how you are used to winning.If we were going into a game to defend our lives, you would be the team we would trust to fight for us. Because, like last night, you may be bruised or beaten, you may be tackled by brutal force and all may seem lost on you, yet, like last night, you will rise. You will never give up, you will simply fight and you will win. And in the end that's all that truly matters.

Go, Pats, Go!!

Where are you from?

2017-01-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

Present Day
"So, where are you from? "The chirpy Grandma seated beside me asks. I pause, thinking fast. I have to get this right. This , my dear friends,is a million dollar question and you need to know beyond rocket science to answer this. You need to know hypnotic telepathy;if such a thing exists. I have been stumped by this very harmless "where are you from" innumerable times. Let me explain, scenario basis.

Year 1999
One of many thousand engineering students in the Garden City I was peeping into an open ventilator, when the doctor asked," so, where are you from"."Kerala, Sir" I replied. my eyes still focused on the oxygen line."Of course I can see that; 'WHERE' are you from? Ouch. Local Specifics please. I look up to his incredulous expression."Vijaynagar, Sir". Well, that was one baptism by fire.

Same year, different day. Still one of the many thousand engineering students in the very same Garden City I was peeping into a different ventilator ( yes, we did work on a lot of ventilators!!) when a different doctor asked the same "so, where are you from"? question. Ha ha. This time I didn't have to look up. Someone intelligent had once said of not repeating mistakes."Vijayanagar Sir". He stops to glare at me and continues accusingly 'Sure but .WHERE are you from? Well, I would be damned."Kerala 'Sir". "That's all I asked". He grumbles. I just bite my lips.

Year 2009
I was sitting in front of a computer making world changing decisions that would define the global economic climate when a colleague asked the by now dreaded question"so where are you from?" I look into her eyes and make the call. This shouldn't be difficult. "India", I smile."Of course I can see that but .WHERE are you from?" Not again!! I had over the years recorded a complete failure rate to this question.

Same year, same office, same computer, just a different colleague and your guess is as good as mine; the same damn question."So where are you from? "City Centre"."Oh, but WHERE are you from?" Never mind. Here I am moving millions of dollars for some of the most powerful financial institutions and I don't know where I'm from.Well, people, I own up. You know why the world economy tanked, it was us, we messed up.
[ As you would have guessed my FS work has been highly dramatized for, well, fun ]

Present Day

I have heard this question so many times in these years. More often in the last 12 years. I still have a 100% failure rate. But today I'm determined to change it. I acquire divine power from the clouds at 35000 feet and turn back to the chirpy grandma."India". My fingers cross and my brows come together and I look at her questioningly. "Oh wonderful", she replies. " It's a beautiful Country". I do an imaginary fist pump. Yes. I have done it. And then she continues. "Well, I can see that. I was asking WHERE are you from"? An emoji that can reflect my state of mind is yet to be drawn.

My dear friends, have you been at the receiving end? If or if not I have a question for you-WHERE, for the love of life, are you from?

Remembering the brave hearts of Pathankot..

2017-01-02T02:07:00.001-08:00

You shall not be forgotten..

2016 in 16 points

2016-12-30T15:27:00.002-08:00

(1) Lesson Learnt- Never keep tax filing to the last moment. Oh Crap!!
(2) Decision of the year- Write, never mind if no one reads ( which is most of the time)!!
(3) Realization of the year- 140 characters make too little words

(4) Realization 2 of the year- Fitness.. whatever!!

(5) Realization 3 of the year- Healthy Eating.. Well, Whatever ever

(6) 'May you rot in hell' person(s) of the year- Omar Khalid, Kanhaiya Kumar

(7) Best Fantasy Fiction - CPEC, Producer- Peoples Republic of China

(8) Comedian of the year- Rahul Gandhi
(9) Fiction of the year- Refer to point 8, point 10, All they spoke this year.
(10) Best Actors- Barkha Dutta, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal

(11) Best movie of the year- "I love the soldier" the movie Karan Johar released a few days before the release of Ae Dil hai Mushkil

(12) Stop the clock moment of the year- US election results- Donald Trump What??

(13) Email of the year- Hilary Clinton

(14) Hacker of the year- Russia

(15)Most Hardworking Employee of the year- Barack Obama in the last two weeks

(16) Popular profession of the year- Pseudo Intellectual- Everything Said

Friends, here's wishing you all an amazing new year 2017 !! May 2017 bring happiness, wonder and hope and a chance for new beginnings!!

Chennai 600027

2016-12-29T01:37:00.000-08:00

The train pulled into the station in the wee hours of morning. It was our first time in the city and we had a long day of a marathon job interview, but I still remember that my first feeling when we stepped out of the train was one of happy excitement. I had fallen in love with the train station. Don't get me wrong but I have a thing for train stations and airports- I love them. That but is a story for another time. We have since then been lucky to be at quite a remarkable lot of train stations, but to this day Chennai Central remains our absolute favorite.

That night we walked out of what would be our office with our first real jobs. Nine hours before we had found ourselves to be the only two girls vying for a job alongside 65 men. Talk to us about male dominated professions. But we had pulled through. That was how we got introduced to Chennai. The city that would become our home away from home. The next couple of years we traveled to Chennai often, made friends, fought and made up with friends, cribbed about the bad air, loved Marina, devoured food at Sangeetha and learned to express our love and hate for Chennai in one breath.

**** **** **** ****

It was a warm humid Chennai morning and the tree lined street thankfully offered some solace from the scorching October Sun. A bomb scare at the near by US embassy had resulted in a cordon forcing everyone to move away from the waiting areas near the British Embassy. My best friend had a visa interview and I was sitting on the sidewalk waiting and wondering if we would ever get to leave Chennai. Inside the depths of my back pack was my passport largely empty but with one full page print - the British student visa.

If you have known friendship as how a lucky few like me gets to know it, this wouldn't come as a surprise to you; my visa would mean nothing until my best friend gets a similar stamp on her little blue book. We had left a few jobs before Chennai came by because we wanted to work together. We had been friends for five years, best friends for most part of it. The thing if you are from middle class backgrounds and Class B cities before the age that internet became as popular and Apple made Iphones is that you would learn fairly quickly to plow your way up, yourself,alone. You have to find your own destinations-those which only you know and then cut the road to it all by yourself for no one knows it better than you anyway. We had decided on giving a good shot at what we wanted to do, together. I didn't care about a Master degree. I liked the idea of studying abroad. She wanted that Master degree, abroad university be damned. So we had decided to do our Masters in the UK, 'we' being the operative word. That morning at Chennai would go down as the day that changed our lives.

Twelve days later we flew out of Chennai and India for the first time. Twelve years and three continents later Chennai still brings the same flutter in our heart as it did that October morning when we set foot in Central for the first time. Some cities become home away from home not because of the years you clocked in there, but because they just made dreams come true. And Chennai has done it, over and over.

Love Actually

2016-12-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

Some of the most beautiful scenes of the popular movie ‘Love Actually’ were actually shot with hidden cameras at the arrival terminal of London’s Heathrow airport.

Records have it that 1.2 million people moved through Toronto’s Pearson International Airport yesterday. As beautiful as Christmas is, travelling between the 20^th December and the 5^th of January could get really ugly, more so if you are in the East Coast of North America, weather being one of the elements. But what can I say; efficiency thy name is Pearson!! The fabulous staff with their omni-present smile guided the million plus with military efficiency. The best airport experience so far. Proud of you Pearson!! I am a lover of all automobiles, particularly the ones that fly and Air Canada you have found a new fan!!

So we arrive at Boston after a truly pleasant flight and bundle out, grab the luggage and I settle down to evaluate if love actually can be found in the arrival terminals. The reason can also be explained as forced people watching attributing to the phone battery being at a dangerous minimum.

Holiday cheer was active and kicking in Boston too. Fedex crew in purple Santa hats, smiling passengers and what with even Boston’s very famous and equally unpopular TSA staff spotting the rarity of a smile- Christmas had really arrived.

An airport staff member assists an elderly grandma to the seat beside me as she tries to locate her family coming in to pick her. She waits and he hangs around not wanting to leave her alone. They chat. I watch.

Streams of people flow in and out with phones pressed to their ears. One stands out. A 20 something young man, boyish looks, phone pressed to the ear, his voice a mixture of exasperation and anticipation as he struggles to figure his bearings in the airport. Unknown to him, many eyes watch him with naked admiration. Our eyes lock for the tiniest of the moments- I look straight at him, I nod. He nods back with the slightest of a smile. A very popular dialog is conveyed.He gets it. I know.

Another row away another grandma with cotton candy hair is patiently waiting. Our eyes meet and we smile at each other

I am waiting too for my best friends.

A dad and son arrive and the elderly grandma beside me is united with her family. Dad gets a kiss on forehead and son a hair rub. ‘I don’t want to embarrass you with a kiss’, says the grandma to her, about 12 year old, grandson. He reaches over and kisses the grandma instead. They settle down beside me as the dad goes back to fetch the car.

A mid to late sixty something gentle man rushes in with a big smile and loud apology-‘ Mom, have you been waiting for long?’ The grandma in the other row, tries the most put on expression’ you are always late'. But her wet eyes give away the badly kept secret. They melt in the most beautiful parent child embrace. She waves at me and leaves happily chattering.

A happy group of four finds the twenty something guy. Squeals of happiness and back-slaps later they head out. As he grabs his ruck sack and walks out with his friends a grateful nation step aside to give him way, with nods of appreciation. The young man, you see, was clothed in battle fatigues and only a keen observer would notice the innocuous insignia on his sleeves- AA Airborne** .

I see my best friend at the other side of the door. Merry of the Christmas now reaches out through that door to my heart. As we hug and walk outside I look back one more time and I find overwhelming peace right there- in all colors green, yellow and gold, blue white and brown. I find the true spirit of togetherness in all those smiling faces and I find the greatest magic in that arrival terminal- the magic and miracle of love of all forms and kinds, nothing but love actually.

** The insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division, an airborne infantry division of the United States Army-specializing in parachute assault operations into denied areas.It is the U.S. Army's most strategically mobile formation and one of the most highly trained light infantry divisions in the world.

My National Anthem

2016-12-20T22:14:00.000-08:00

What's the core problem? Is the willingness to stand up for the National Anthem the issue? Or is it the Apex court order that the National Anthem must be played at cinemas the issue?

Is it necessary that the National Anthem be played ahead of movie screening? My opinion is as unimportant as yours.Beyond that, it is also the smaller issue. India allows constitutional rights to citizens to opt legal means to challenge or question any rule, judgement or decision.You feel that the Supreme court shouldn't have passed this particular judgement? Go on , use the country's own judicial machinery and go through fire if you may and prove that your point. Feel free to do that.

Now the larger and more concerning issue. Forget the cinema, if you are in a park or beach or street or at The White House you should and must stand up for the National Anthem. It simply is representative of a nation and you have a responsibility to show respect, like it or not. In my decade plus years of life outside India I have had the opportunity to stand up for more than a hand full of National Anthems. There really is nothing unusual in it when your class room at a given moment has nine nationalities and your workplace a minimum nineteen ;you would learn to respect another's values as much as yours fairly quickly. But respect always has to be commanded. May be an Overseas Citizen of India can give you remarkable pointers here.

That leads to the most significant of the issues. Standing up for your own National Anthem. For any person who pledges allegiance to a nation is just a reflex action from the heart. There is a great difference between standing up for any National Anthem and your own National Anthem. Whatever be the travel document you hold, wherever be that you might call home, if you stand up because you missed a heart beat, that's when you hear your own National Anthem. But beyond the emotion, it also is your duty as a law abiding citizen. Now, you may feel differently about it. Unfortunate, but your freedom of expression cannot be extended to violating my honour. Yes it is a very big deal, for me. You sitting down for 52 seconds is making the world turn around and look at me when my National Anthem plays. Simply put, you are bringing disrepute to my country by making this very topic debatable.
India's National Anthem is not a platform for your expression of displeasure in judiciary, because it is not just yours , it is mine too. India gives you a vast array of rights, but violating my sentiment, emotion or honour in order for you to exercise your freedom of expression is not one of those rights.

Dear #Republic

2016-12-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

Dear #Republic

For all the things you would represent # Republic , here's hoping you remain independent.
As global as you might get, your opinions would always be dissected based on certain predetermined objectivity, one we hope you would never win points for.

There would be haters, powerful ones. There would be conspiracies, bad ones. There would be blame games. There would be accusations - of jingoism, warmongering and the famous 'noise' but,rising above all of that you will bring out the overwhelming truth that the nation wants to know. You will.

This much you should know and remember- never in the history of media would have any nation waited for the opening lines of a news channel as much as we wait for your ticker to appear. Massive responsibility, that. Huge trust, we put.

You will bleed nationalism. You will buy respect for those who deserve it. You will bring down many a facade. You will not be impassively objective. You will lead from the front. You will be alone and you wouldn't care. Of all things you may or may not, you will never, 'never ever', shy away from taking a stand. Because that's why you are. You will be the voice we want to hear. Count on our support, Republic. May you be the fearless voice of Independent Indian media.

This, Republic, is our hope for you.

Remembering true heroes

2016-12-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Because this is the face you should see and the man you should remember.

Because he is a brave heart who fought for you,for me and the country

Because he is a true hero, And true heroes should not go unsung

He is Captain Tushar Mahajan, a name you should never forget

The son of a high school principal at Udhampur, Kashmir

He is the Captain of 9 Para Special Forces, Indian Army

A hero not just of Kashmir, but of the nation

He was martyred at Pampore

No one went on streets with candle lights for him

No one pelted stones at terrorists on his behalf

No one issued incentives to his family

Because his brothers are still fighting a battle

For you and for me and for the country

Because today's headline again has been Burhan Wani and it shouldn't be

Because a terrorist's is not the face you should be seeing or remembering

Because like him there will be many, but they will end just the same way

In the hands of our heroes , who will defend our nation.

Our brave hearts will always have our gratitude. They will always live in our hearts

And we will always talk about their courage.May be we can do nothing more.But their memories will keep the fire alive, in our hearts.We shall not forget them, ever.
And that's how we will honour them.

'Misguided Missiles'- The citizen's perspective

2016-12-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

An opposition is quintessential for active democracy. The government policies and performance are bound to be challenged and opposed for the sake of constructive nation building..But no one, just no one, has the right to displace national interests. When you do that you become a 'misguided missile' that becomes a threat to our own national security.

Rahul Gandhi's ill timed tweet attempt to appear intelligent has done just the contrary. You now have a nation hitting its head wondering if he really is for real. You also have an enemy sate hitting its head and wondering why exactly is he supporting them. And finally, you have Rahul Gandhi doing what he does the best after he speak- hitting his head and wondering why in the world did he speak. That leaves us the people wondering why we are even wondering about what this man says.

Mamata Banerjee's theatrics about the Army coup in West Bengal- it was beautiful and touching to see the democratic machine of West Bengal trying their hardest to keep the divine light of democracy alive when the killing machine called Indian Army knocked the doors of their, well, toll booths. Below I quote two separate lines from Major Gaurav Arya. I believe that put together there cannot be a better definition for the Indian Army than these:

"When all seems lost, it is the soldier who stands between India and misfortune.These are hunters of men and gatherers of souls. For the enemy, they are death clothed in Olive Green. "

Please note the highlighted words above, in those words are the reason for Mamata Banerjee's theatrics. Those words would tell you why our Army got her worried and whose side she is on. For the enemy they are scary, for the rest of us line 1 says it all. I rest the case.

The next and probably the worst case of a missile losing control- Arvind Kejriwal needing proof of surgical strikes. When you discredit Indian Army you discredit India. On Twitter, on the democratic floors of the Houses of Parliament or on national media, if you discredit India we will consider you an enemy of the state. No one Indian would need any further proof for that.

So here, my friends, is a snippet of our fifth column. The peace- mongering, well wishing, democracy protecting, pseudo secular, pseudo liberal fifth column. Be aware and be ready, for in the days to come we might have to deal with many a misguided missile.

All colors of Christmas

2016-12-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

It is the most beautiful time of the year, the most flavorful time of the year and the most happy time of the year. No, it's not holiday time. It is Christmas time, Hanukkah time and Kwanzaa time.

I abhor the idea behind black Santa ( the idea, not the Santa ) as much as I would abhor the idea of a white actress playing Jasmine in Aladdin. Giving the world a black Santa is not equality. It is actually quite the contrary. Connecting the whole world to the grand old white man who lives at North Pole is equality. Let race, religion, color or belief not blur the celebrations.

Know this-when you take crazy routes to please everyone, and rush to prove your commercial interest in equality, you are creating stories that cannot be defended and divisions so deep that generations may end up having to pay a price for it. Whether you build walls or you build bridges, if they are built on blocks of race and religion they shall never connect hearts and minds .Letting live is tolerance. Looking similar does not bring peace. Looking different and yet living together brings peace.

May happiness sparkle through the season. May the magic last beyond it. May we always believe in miracles.May the cotton bearded merry white man's sleigh land at homes of all kids naughty and nice ,black ,white or brown with the greatest gift of it all- Peace and Love.

Happy Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa.

2016-12-05T21:13:00.001-08:00

She is an icon. Her legacy shall live forever.

In the upcoming days the South Indian politics may see many a changes, but it sure will not see the emergence of any leader who would redefine perseverance . There will not be another woman with such steel nerves who will redefine determination. There will not be another politician who will reach out and touch the lives of the true common men and women. The South Indian politics would not anymore have the charisma of a leader in control and the voice of a politician with utmost conviction. How much ever strong or hateful the counter narrative may be, the Chief Minister will be remembered forever for for her strength and her resilience. She will forever be an example for never giving up. Adieu, you were loved, a lot. So you did do right, a lot. You are an icon. Your legacy shall live forever.

The time line of hurt

2016-11-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

I still remember that night, eight years ago. Christmas lights had just been turned on in the beautiful western European town that we then called home. I remember staring into the computer screen, hands shaking,as despair,helplessness ,anger and hurt set in in no specific order. In the blur of the days that followed there is one thing I remember with clarity-that you could recognize an Indian just by looking into the eyes . There was a touchable despair , a nod, just a look that connected total strangers. We were connected by grief.

The larger than life, powerful, happy city had,many years before, been the starting point of our adult lives. Armed with our first job and endless possibilities, we had first landed in Mumbai six years before that fateful night. I can still remember, the contended warmth as we sat down reminiscing at the Gateway of India admiring the grandiose of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, sharing the folk-lores that made Taj more than a luxury hotel. I remember the smiling faces of tea vendors, the excited voices of tourists and the easy friendliness of he localites. I remember the calm as we walked down the Marine Drive, took the boat tours and spotted the Navy Ships. I remember how full of life Mumbai was. When blood spilled into nostalgia, many thousands of miles away we bled for Mumbai, for the lives lost, for the brave-hearts martyred, for lost innocence and for our tainted memories.

Fifty nine days ago the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control. The power was unleashed. Once again a day had come when you could recognize an Indian just by looking into the eyes. A cold stare, a nod, a clenched fist- just a look that connected complete strangers. It was all there , just in a different dimension- the right dimension. This time around we were connected by pride.

We shall never forget 26/11, the day our memories were scarred.But some scars delicately hide raw wounds.They hurt until healed. And we too shall heal one day . For one day we shall avenge. True healing will begin then . Until then we will wait.

The week that was

2016-11-11T08:21:00.002-08:00

Off late I have realized that you can't get some things out of your system until you speak out loud. Therefore this post.

#VulturePolitics

Everyone has guilty pleasures like stealing a bite of chocolate when you are on diet. It seems  for Arvind Kejriwal it is suicides. A job for Rohit Vemula's brother , a crore for the Veteran's family; Suicides just seem to get him going. Like photo moments get Rahul Gandhi going. Never mind. To each his own. But let's get this clear. Let's not make a martyr out of a victim and a political stunt out of the unfortunate suicide of a veteran. Let’s not use the word ‘sacrifice’ loosely. The supreme sacrifice of a soldier is not just in his death. The Supreme sacrifice is in the choice. The supreme sacrifice is made the moment he chooses to serve unconditionally in the face of certain death. Do not wait til a soldier is dead to respect him. Do not undermine the sacrifices of the living, death is not the only way you sacrifice life. Do not politicize The Indian Armed Forces. Do not patronize our Veterans. Do not act like you care, we the common people are not that naive, we understand. Stop #VulturePolitics

Demonetization

Arvind Kejriwal needed notice before currency was withdrawn. No comments. Rahul Gandhi was at the ATM to change cash. Nothing wrong, he likes selfies as much as a teenager with a new smart phone. Guilty of little pleasures!! But this is not about Rahul Gandhi. This is about my Mom-A home maker at a nondescript small town in Kerala. So I ask if Dad has been to the bank yet. My mom's response: " No we have some hundreds for the next few days. I told him don't go to bank unless absolutely necessary. Everyone has to do their part for the country. We should be patient until things settle down." Rahul Gandhi, take some lessons on prioritizing.
To the gentle men who have been concerned about the common men, women, children and innocent black marketeers of India, here's what the average Indian citizen thinks. The average citizen like any average day cribs, complains , blames the system, timing and what not. But the average Indian citizen is taking up this challenge to look at the system in its eye and change it. The average Indian citizen is going to bear the inconvenience ; it’s not everyday that we get this opportunity to pinch the ISI’s nose;albeit indirectly
Side note to Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal: Guys, please take a step back and look at yourselves. Maybe you are surrounded by people who hail you, but face the truth. Your timing's all over the place. It's just not working and you are becoming more and more of a laughing stock. Stop it now, this joke has to end.

Akar Patel

I didn't know him, guess I didn't miss much there. I didn't know of the article. I belong, to what I believe, the majority who read that article only because we read the stellar reply from Major Gaurav Arya first. Nothing more to add, just one question to Akar Patel. What do you propose, Sir? You don't like the Army. Shall we go Military free so you could lead by example? Now that you’ve managed to become infamous, may be the nation wants to know;)

Farhan Akthar

I have always been a big fan. The proposed Antakshari between warring nations comes as a bad and insensitive attempt at humor. In music he says is the answer. No, not because Rock On 2 is coming out. But because common people in both sides want peace. Now I don't know as much as Farhan Akthar about people on the other side. But this much I know, I too want peace. But the price for that peace would not be my brothers' blood. Our Forces will not be billed for our peace, cultural or trade exchange. While the Government does its part, we are happy to do ours. You want to play Antakshari. Let’s do it. Here you go Farhan Akthar, Round One, Song One from us. And, thank you for the song!! Singing to the Enemy

Singing to the Enemy

# IndiaFightsCorruption

2016-11-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

Mr Prime Minister, today, yet again, you have given us respect. Today we stand tall as a nation that is capable of making positive changes. You have redefined the perspective of a nation-we no longer wait to retaliate ; we attack. We have never been a more united, more proud and more strong nation. Mr Prime Minister, you are a nation's dream come true!! # IndiaFightsCorruption