Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A thought for a new year ahead...

I sit here in a corner
The city covered in the warmth of winter...

I sit here in a corner
Thinking of a city back in my homeland yonder,
Which steps in the new year tomorrow...

I sit here in a corner
Shed a tear or two for the people slained in that homeland,
Human brutality that kills on religion,spares none,
Will the new tomorrow be any better???

I sit here in a corner
Thinking till when will I sit in this corner;
And see the cities bleed,my people slained...
Will I never rise?
Or just let the tears dry!
Thinking can we write our tomorrow....
Or better just wait till next time,
When walks in another sorrow....
Maybe next time it will be my corner!!!

(30th Dec- Debapriya)

Every year just before 31st I am really excited...what the new year beholds...it marks a beginning..though its very cliche...but for me it always bring in new things...but this time...everyone is pensive...the wounds are still fresh...
But thinking of it...hasnt enough been already written and talked about the Mumbai seige...hasnt the Media already championed,bashed,sympathised with it all over the world...Politicians resigned,fought,roared and calmed down...but has all the anger vented out been channelised...I dont know...am too small a speck to rationalise these...but sitting in my corner..just one thought lingers..are we prepared for tomorrow if it strikes us again????

Monday, December 29, 2008

A heartbreak and two movies!!!

Two days to the New Year...and whoa...I find myself at crossroads...and ya surprisngly,this time I have an answer also to my oh-this-cannot-happen-again-to-me problem!!! anyways a girl always feels lighter at heart when she has a heart-to-heart talk with her best friend...even though that person is the bone of contention!!! I am amazingly stupid in some matters but luckily this time after the cyclone hit me over the weekend, I feel more sane and calm on this snail-paced Monday!!!
Maybe because I spent..rather forced myself to do what I like doing the best- shopping and watching movies!!! As they say Retail & Cinematic theory always helps and heals fast...(now don't ask me who said that..tsk..tsk)
A new dress and Slumdog Millionaire...hmm...doesnt seem that bad an healing alternative for my rather heart-breaking weekend..
Wats with this guy...Mr.A.R. Rehman...isnt there a limit to his brilliance in one year...started with Jodha Akbar and ended with Slumdog Millionaire...Ghajini,Jane tu ya jane na...even the soulful Yuvvraaj is a gem...he has really outdone himself....though Jodha Akbar is a personal favourite...there is a richness in its music and the Sufi straints are heavenly...but with Slumdog..his music creates images,paints characters and sets the pace of the movie...I think after Guru,finally with Slumdog, Rehman has again connected with the cinematographer...you feel the music,as you see the movie...
Oh ya,and the night when the cyclone hit, I watched the "Memento"ous Ghajini...bad choice to go with such a mood..but when you see a brilliant actor enjoying and having fun in say, such illogical scenes...you usually get so involved to think anything else...But kuddos to the director..in a long time have seen a 3 hour long movie which does not drag......though being dumb its really executed well...maybe it would have been better off with couple of misplaced songs and the spiritless Jiah khan...but no doubt Aamir rocks!!!(by the way what happened to his fashion sense,wat with those Club Bouncer's shirts....lol)..
And Slumdog lifted up my spirit...it makes you believe in the brilliance and excellence of story-telling..more than the story..there was a heart in its screenplay that touched the chords...and I liked Dev Patel!!!
But somewhere Slumdog reminded me of Shantaram...still waiting for it to be adapted to screen..that will be a journey to take..and with Rehman's music!!!
Happy Dreaming!!!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve...!!!!

Chrsitmas Eve finally:):) Though the excitement this year for the first time is very less...Strange...c'mon am in New York...the City which celebreates Christmas in the grandest way...but ya, with the current temperament of the tides this year..with the financial recession, the terrorist attacks and its aftermath...the Yule tide seems little mellowed down...how do one rejoice over their own happiness if people around are sad????
But ya,Christmas though being an Hindu has always been one of my favourite festivals of the year...more because I grew up in a Convent culture with their customs and rituals...and the X-mas eve always special...it was the day before school closed for Winter vacation...and the nite when Saint Nicholas came visiting....the best feeling of the year..to wake up at the earliest hours in the morning and feel the gift under my pillow...that is an excitement I still feel...and that happiness which any kid over the World can never let go across countries and over the world...
I agree Commercialism in the modern world has hyped Christmas, Santa Claus,the warmth of gift giving,the real message of this festival...but its still on us to hold the joys and the togetherness that this season brings...at home...away from home...
Remember I mentioned my dearie "Christmas Story" in a previous post..let me share one of the story from it...in my words...(the magic of Christmas story-telling!!!)
Once upon a time,in a town in Italy,lived a poor man with his three beautiful daughters.The old man worried always as he didn't have enough savings to give in marriage for his daughters with good men..One day a week before Christmas,the three sisters sat in the courtyard lamenting over there future..the youngest daughter was crying and saying,"Our old father is always worried about our marriage...Is there no way can we solve his problem?"
At that time a young,kind hearted priest,Father Nicholas was crossing that way and overheard their talk. He felt sad for the girls and wished if in any way he could bring joy to the girls' lives.
One week later,on the night of Christmas Eve,the young priest came and dropped three small pouches of gold coins for each of the girl....
When they woke up in the morning,and found the bags..the girls leaped in merry and showed it to their father.The old father shed tears of joy and thanked Christ and his saint who anonymously gifted them on this day of 25t,december..
As myth goes this was one of the stories of the kind-hearted Saint Nicholas, who later came to be popularly known as Santa Claus...
and as my favourite Christmas Carol goes-
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn king!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful,all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies.....
Merry Christmas to all!!!
To old friends who have moved on with time,to best friends who have stayed constantly in my lives and to new friends who have brought great joy to my life..
To my family who are though far are always near to me..
To those few whom I have loved with my life...
May this season bring you lots of joy and strength and herald a wonderful new year!!!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Winter mood sets in...

For now I am the only visitor to my Blog..I am soon gonna invite my friends..but for now this is good till I get back to my habit...I have my own space...
Was gonna post something else in the blog today..but going with the collective mood around and the snow storm outside..winter in New york was more apt...
Its a thick white sheet outside the window...the NY skyline has suddenly disappeared...still in the mood to enjoy my first snow showers in life....its amazing and beautiful...though the chill kills!!!
But though the festive spirit here is dimmed..people still have the best wishes and hope in their hearts as they start preparing for Christmas day....a new year ahead...
With the tumultous recession times..America is going through a real change..job losses,retail & auto industries failing...big banking & investment institutions being washed out...the dynamics of this Superpower is really changing...
The new President has a big task ahead....
Growing up in Convent institutions...being with Missionary sisters in my junior School...Christmas has always been one of the best times of the year,next to Durga Puja...
Getting gifts from Santa on Christmas eve nights,decorating the trees...pestering Mom for Cake...its all happy memories...
and soon I got in my own christmas tradition of reading Enid Blyton's "The Christmas story" each year....a book for all ages...with each chapter describing the different christmas tradition-
the Mistletoe,the story of baby Jesus,the story of three wise men,origin of Santa Claus..i just luv it...have read it each year for last 10 years...but do not have the book this year with me in New york..will miss you dearie!!!
Oooops..gonna run now...its snowing outside...and my manager just told I can leave early...yipeee
will soon be back online from home...getting addicted to Blogging!!!
Happy snowy weekend!!! luvin it more now..:):)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

18th of december

Happy B'day S....still cant write the name..have almost erased it from my life...The first person in my life who taught me to see the dark side of belief..the cruelty that frienships can bestow..how innocence can be exploited...but on his b'day should wish him & thank him to help me learn few important lessons of life..though the path was very difficult...
And the most important thing that I learned...a lie can never get you anything in life..not love,not friendship..not respect...
Have come a long way..its been almost three years since that storm is gone..just wrote down these final words to relieve my mind from it...
"Aisee vani boliye, man ka aapa khoye
Kahat Kabira ,apna tan sheetal kare,auron ko sukh hoye"
[Speak such words,sans ego's ploy
Says Kabir,body remains composed,giving others joy]

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Change that beckons...

I am looking out of the window to the foggy NY skies...Manhattan skyline beholds...sometimes though it has been more than six months..its really hard to believe I am in NY..USA...thousands of miles away from home!!! The sound,the view,the people,the smell..the everyday routine...the streets,the paths,the trees,buildings.,,they are not familiar...they still do not register into my dreams...they are still not part of my integral existence...but I am living...enjoying...and experiencing each moment...but everyday still longing to go back to my country!!!
America is amazing...huge,dynamic,beautiful,examplary...and happening...and to stay in its most happening city is a whole new life & experience in itself...but still somewhere it misses the magic,the everyday heart felt smiles and sense of belonging of your own land...India...
Maybe will compare and discuss the two lands in some other post....
For now..let them stand tall individually...and carve their destiny at the present times..let them rest in peace for a while...both the countries are facing one of their most tumultous times...
Last evening when I posted my first blog...I was thrilled and excited to be back in the medium..where I always wanted to be...the career I dreamt to be in long back...the world of words...writing...
Its a therapy..heals you..relaxes you...for last 4-5 years when I had all the material for writing..could not force myself to jot down even one word...still remember picking up so many different diaries,notebooks...just so that I can start writing again...but...may be it all depends on your state of mind...
Now I am lot healed,relaxed,content...and calm...and confident enough to energize my thoughts back again to the right direction...Maybe soon again I can re-write "The Last Dance"...(sorry Swati..the original is lost!!!)

First few words.....

I still remember the nervousness,the excitement and the nostalgia of my writing days back in my School years(that reminds me Swati has to be the first person to be invited to this blog,,cant do without my hard-critic editor!!!)...Its been almost 4-5 years sice I have jotted down lines,thoughts,feelings....maybe the first few words in years...so little shaky....
Honestly speaking I still remember the thrill of my first blog in my tenth grade...Lots of things have changed since then...I have grown up since those days...guess should reflect in my writings in the future blogs....
But I have also been an ardent follower of this medium...and always believe in the potentiality of the changes and revolution that such a medium can bring...especially in the present times....difficult times!!!