Monday, June 27, 2011

What Women Want

What Women want.. What do Women want??!!

Time & again this question is raised; in lighter arguments as well as heavy discussions. Since I find it amusing, I have often read about it at different pages.. different books; in different contexts.
Discussed it with friends when in the mood for fun..[Fun coz we do know what we want. Not the whole rigmarole maybe...but we're very much aware of what we basically want. ]

I've even been asked these questions by a few guy friends who are interested for whatever their reason -- getting married, recently engaged, interested in wooing a girl, just curious.. they all want to know the answer to this one.

& I must say that I am still surprised that this one is not figured out yet!

So, OK. Here's the answer to this one. Read carefully:

All that a woman really wants is to just let herself BE. Not what others want her to be.


All that she really wishes is to be free from stereotype. Not the image she's expected to live upto in the name of society or peers or traditions or culture or religion.
All that she really wishes is to be accepted for what she is, what she stands for, what she believes in.
All that she wants is not always diamonds or chocolates or flowers only... what she looks for is the way it is given. it wouldn't mean a thing to her, if those are given just because they were expected to be given.
All that she really wants is to let HER be able to choose whether she wants to be a wife, a mother, or a homemaker, a career woman, a balancing superwoman or whatever. Not to be dictated to or be spoon fed.


All this sounds like a little too much freedom to you guys? Does SHE tell YOU ever, you need to be a homemaker or a millionaire?
Does she ask you to care for her parents & then cater to yours too? Does she ever tell you you need to cook & clean & be sociable too? No, She does not. So why stereotype her? Let her BE..& then see what the results are. Your world be definitely be a happier place to live in.

[P.S: Give a woman a choice to decide for herself & most of the time she will end up doing what you want!

I know it. ]

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Creative Freedom Or Creative Affront

M.F Hussain passed away.

I seriously wasn’t surprised when I heard the news. I mean comeon, the man was 95, what’s to get surprised there. But the next day paper reviews definitely surprised me. Most of the creative people, socialites shared their word or two of what they felt about the demise of the celebrated painter. & Most of the people were feeling bad that he died in exile.

That was the part I didn’t understand. He didn’t go into exile yesterday! He’s fled the country a good 5 years & more.. so why are these people suddenly awakening to the fact that he died a sad death & much more blah?

5 years back he WAS indeed 90! Did these people think he was going to live forever?? Hypocrisy at its top performance comes from these socialites & public figures!!

If I am sounding like I have disrespect for the late painter; I admit I was not too fond of him.
I was very respectful towards him once upon a time. Being a creative person myself, as any other normal person I used to like such a huge artist. But the day I read & saw his nude paintings on Goddesses.. be it Bharat Mata or any other Goddesses, I lost all respect for him.

Now please don’t start off mentally chiding me if you think I'm thinking petty [??] .. nor please start off a lecture how creative people should be allowed to express! I can hear it till here.. so stop!

Just becoz a person is creative, THAT DOES NOT GIVE HIM LEEWAY TO GET DISRESPECTFUL! In any culture, by any medium!!

& its not becoz I belong to the religion whose goddesses he portrayed nude that I am provoked. [ That is there too.. but it is another topic altogether! ] India is a country where there is reverence given to the homeland.. hence the 'Mother' tag in Mother India. People will rarely have pictures of Bharat Ma, at home or on their mantles at home... nor do I personally too practice some over patriotic stuff in regards to idolizing that; but if she is a embodiment of the land called Bharat, then that is enough reason for me to respect it. & I am not going to appreciate anyone insulting it.


In the name of creative freedom if anybody is allowed anything, then I don' t even want to think of what all kind of scenarios that can crop up. then there's no telling where these 'artists' will stop! [If they do!] Coz there'll always be one there to up the creative freedom quotient!]

Every established individual becomes liable for some responsible social behaviour. When the society give you that established status, the individual too by default becomes accountable for his/her actions, whether s/he accepts them or not.
Artists are considered slightly huffy people... & 'artists' [esp with such standing in the world] like M.F Hussain just put a stamp on those ridiculous beliefs! [Remember I mentioned, I am an artist too.. Hence the clarification! ]


Every person, every action, every profession, every relation, just about everything in life is defined by some boundaries. In the name of freedom, creative or otherwise, one cannot belittle another's sentiments & try to jump the boundaries & worse, later feign ignorance about it!

When one attempts that, then all roads lead to one destination -

- Fleeing!

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

9 Things I Don’t like about Travelling Solo

If there are things that I like about travelling... then there are also things that I don't like that great! Being a female traveller, a few of my dislikes are based just on my experiences & what I don't like about those situations.

Here's 9 things I Don’t like about traveling solo. Will start off with the thing I dislike most...

1. You need to carry your own luggage always!! Be it a backpack or a suitcase or even a handbag, there's no one to share the load at any point of time!

2. The cost is definitely more...& that quite pinches when planning a week long trip or longer! Even if I try & go moderate, there are some things I cannot compromise on.. esp being a female traveller.

3. No one to take pics…esp good ones! How I wish at someplaces that I'd manage a good pic taken... but alas..! :(

4. While there are helpful people, some acquaintances whom one meets on the journey, at times try & get too friendly.. even after you are back to your routine world. [friend requests on Orkut/FB??!!!?? How cheap or desperate!!] Shrugging them off is a task!

5. In regards to the above point, one has to keep the alertness quotient at full range.. can't afford to let it drop any bit. Its like looking over your shoulder & managing to have fun too! Quite a balancing act that is!

6. As a female traveller, people get all curious about you. They ask questions.. personal too; which annoys the hell out of me!!

7. You cannot cannot go out at night. Could be restricting, but that's a point I stress on even to the bravest of girls. A new place is not the place one should be choosing to let your hair down, even if its your holiday.

8. When you travel between destinations, you have to give in to be dependent to public transport facilities.. like buses, trains.. Taking a private transport like a taxi is not only expensive, but not advisable too. So at times you end up losing a bit of time over this, which can cause upheaval; throwing your carefully planned scheduled off balance.

& lastly,

9. There are moments when you really wish that you had a companion who'd understand your tastes, your frequency... with whom you'd love to explore all these places. The one with whom you can share the experiences & whom you know will be all there with you when you recollect & re-live a place visited by, in just the way you experienced it...... At such times I don't appreciate the travelling solo bit anymore....

Guess its not possible to have all things at all times...

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Sunday, June 12, 2011

9 things I Like about Traveling Solo

This year I've travelled quite a bit. Not one was any of the places I had planned at the start of the year... but things that I hadn't even thought of for this year, I got to visit! That's why those trips were all the more fulfilling!! :)
& not that I planned them that way, but all the places I went worked out as solo travels.

Since I have now been travelling solo for a few of my last trips, I'll list 9 good things I like about travelling thus. Why 9? Coz I plain like the number silly! :D

Here's giving my 9 likes :

1. I am my own boss. The best reason of all! I get to decide my destinations, which path I wanna explore, which places I want to skip.


2. Once I start my travel, I decide my own timings. My own timetable. I like a place, I stay back there for a while until I wish.. I don’t have to worry for anyone else & move on.


3. I meet new people…make new acquaintances. & interacting with them, I learn a lot A LOT!


4. It gives me a sense of freedom to go on my own & follow my own responsibility. It also makes me feel independent within myself & interdependent on the people & place I am visiting., hence connected.


5. I don’t have to match my calendar with anyone to decide a trip. I can take off whenever my timetable is fine enough to travel. Nor have I to worry about pleasing anyone about adjustments. I'm all I need to fend for.


6. People come forward & help you. Seeing a single female traveller, quite a few people offer help if needed...especially if there are families who are travelling around too.


7. The confidence! Every new place is different & every new place give you a new experience. A growing sense of confidence - that yes, you can make it on your own.


8. Your memories are yours. No one else can live those unique experiences with you. Walking in the beautiful mist in the enchanting hills of Munnar... or the view of the Golden temple first thing in the morning... or the bus ride to Jammu & feeling a sense of awe looking at all those cantonments which protect our nation...all those are my experiences. Its like my own secret getaway, which people would hear from me.. but only I would know how it felt.


& the bestest of all;


9. The silence & the introspection. In a new place, in a new land, the way my soul connects to me —THAT is the thing that makes me love solo traveling so much!

Have I tempted you enough to try one for your own too? :)


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