Mahabharat

Palace of Illusions

One more book on Indian mythology. So many characters, with each character there is a moral tale attached. This read travailed some contrary thoughts in my mind. I have no other choice, but sharing it with you.

Draupadi is the "emerged" daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi (again) becomes the queen of Indraprastha. She is also variously referred to as Panchali (meaning one from the kingdom of Panchala) & Mahabhaaratii (great wife of the five descendants of Bharata)^. She is described in the Mahabharata as being extraordinarily beautiful, unsurpassed by any other woman of her time. Draupadi is one of the Panch-Kanya (The Five Virgins) of the ancient Hindu epic, as is her Mother-in-Law Kunti.

For a woman to have so many descriptions is in itself very cryptic. So many stories and so much buzz about how her life was a self invited mess. Why couldn’t she speak for herself? I guess women that time and this time were both suppressed. Right now by taxi drivers and that time by kings and literally by ‘men of honor’. Now I will start showcasing my regards in association to this whole “Mahaaaaabhaaarat” thingy.

So you have a Swayamvar, and refuse a man with good looks and swordsArt just because he is from a lower caste. You say NO. You do express your desire of not marrying. But when you get married and are appropriated to be a gift bought for 5 sons’ by a heedless Kunti, you just drink back your tears and stay put. You don’t fight, you don’t retaliate…you don’t rebel! Why?

Ok..chalo Draupadi stays mum. But how can a Mum do so to another woman! Unknowingly Kunti replies to Yudhisthir, share whatever you bought amongst the 5 you, and Yudhisthir, the man of words, the righteous king… for once could not excuse her mother for not knowing her orders? Couldn’t he explain to his loved Mother, that what you want us to share is not an object, but a human being? Please look back and bless the newlyweds Arjun and Draupadi.

Everything said and done, they do have to share Draupadi, and they all agree. Not even one of the 5 noble Pandavas has the courage to step back and say this is wrong. Polyandry can’t be something that we can practice just because our respected mother was mistaken!

Owing to her marriage to five husbands, Draupadi had to live with each one of them turn-by-turn for one year each. She had the boon to be born virgin every year, and is therefore called an eternal Kanya (a virgin). Oh my…if it was me in such a chaotic situation, I would have re-appealed for a boon where every year, when it was time to start fresh with one of the 5 husbands I would forget about my past one year and start all over. I would willfully ask for my ‘Yaadaasth’ to go on and off for the entire husband swapping period.

So you are a Queen, you have a palace; you have all the comforts and luxuries you always wanted. Maya grants you all the illusions you want. Someone new to your house falls and you mock at them! How rude can you be being a Queen? At least you could have felt bad on face and lampooned Duryodhan behind his back. Words can be more painful than wounds, words can house in your conscience and remain there as imperishable wounds. Wounds that ache and bleed every now and then.

Ok so you get ridiculed on a shabby fall, get laughed upon by a bunch of women and but of course get teased by Dignity of a Queen…whom you are really not a big fan of. Then you don’t play upon her on a game to win and acquire as a procession. Doesn’t that almost amount to pouring acid on a girl’s face, or posting her objectionable pics online to demean her? So…nothing much has changed then and now. As revenge you show off your mighty thighs signaling for the queen to give you a lap dance, and then ask your younger brother to strip off her saree until she becomes bare. What kind of rearing is that??? At least today there is porn, there are strip clubs, there are call women, the desire to have fun can be satisfied in one way or the other, but back then one conspired this atrocious act in a hall full of public! I think the seeds for such catastrophes were laid back then!

The lord with the flying fan on his finger, the God with all the powers, the God whose Leela was Aprampaar, all he did was supplied more and more material for the saree that Draupadi was wearing. He could use his powers punish Duryodhan & Co’ with a paralytic attack, or heart attack any other freaking attack or could use his flying fan for once and beheaded the wrong! If he could have chastised the “Black Dhoti Co’” the big war, Mahabharat…wouldn’t have taken place at all. I think the drapery was called Sari, until the lord with peacock feather in his helmet supplied meters and meters of material until Dushhasan exhausted, they started calling it Sareee! The extra e’s gives the saree’s length its meaning!

So Duryodhan gets special drishti from his mother and turns to steel which was a blessing for him (at least he thought so that…!). I am glad he was ashamed of going completely naked in front of his mother; hence covered his pelvic area…or else he would have to find a match like himself, where steel could ‘DO’ steel…Lol…Just can’t imagine that!!!

What is with these Shraap’s???... Dude if you are annoyed by someone just tell them so…or monetarily penalize them…or ask them not to talk to you again. Why to curse? One was considered to be sage a learned man …but without any control over their anger! Most of our Katha’s (mythological ones)…are enriched with Shraap’s and the episodes following that.

Well my mockery can go on and on. As children most of us watched Mahabharat on Sunday mornings. Our grandparents watched it as if it was a LIVE telecast from heaven. Things with our children from now on generation would rather change. Chota Bheem might be more interesting than most of the characters back then. As for me, I can accept as true that mythology had evil and good equally. But some where the logic defies every time something needs to be comprehended. I have nothing against the people who follow and idolize Katha’s and mythology. This was just an effervescent vent of what I felt in my mind when heard or watched so many strong characters on screen portraying such peanut parade of jealousy, emotions and anger. Reading my thoughts might make you laugh and might cross your sentiments. But do not get Red with anger, do not get offended and throw some illogical ‘Shraap’ at me. You know why???…because they won’t work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ignorance is bliss...

Maa bought Piku a lovely gift which was big, shimmer wrapped and definitely one around which she could wrap her arms. Piku’s Maa was very generous this year. She worked very hard at her self-employed business. Maa always told people she was an entrepreneur. She was involved in export and import of niche handicrafts. Single mom and that too an entrepreneur. That sure would engage her in a lot of business trips. Sometimes Hyderabad, at times Bangalore, Delhi, even Thailand. Maa looked lovely with each day, no one could rule that she was already in her 40’s. She chased the dream of buying her own house, car and having Piku study in a convent school. Yes she was a winner. Piku was happy, she threw an expensive party to her friends this year in a fancy eat out joint, even lingered with them for deserts and coffee later.

Maa asked her before going to bed…”Did my baby girl have a lovely birthday”…to which Piku gladly replied…”It was the best birthday ever!!! Thanks Maa. Whatever you do, I want to assist you when I am a big girl. I want to help you in your business”. She smiled in a very concealed manner and cycled her hand in the birthday girls hair, kissed her good night and said “You will definitely do better than me…”. And closed the door behind her. Unknowingly Maa had left her phone near Piku’s pillow. Just then the phone rang…

It was an unknown no…Piku answered the call pretending to be her mother…The voice said, tomorrow evening, Hotel Tulip, 2 businessmen, paid for 3 hours…Code: “roses are red”, nothing oral, fine with you?

Just then Maa came rushing back in the room…snatched the phone. Asked the man to repeat and answered by saying 4 PM, she will be there.

She nervously looked back at her daughter,  saw Piku’s clueless face, then she gathered herself, conspired…and spoke about a very important exhibition tmw at 4 PM. Kissed good night once more and closed the door again this time with her phone in her hands.

Piku blissfully fell asleep to the face of ignorance and dreamt of being as strong and empowering as her mother one day!

WiFi ties

Constant consultations with my psyche (my mishter) has bought me to learn something very realistic. In the age of WiFi  we are maintaining ‘WiFi relationships’. I mean wireless ties/radio alliances. For some basic reason I was made to understand, that when someone is upset or not in agreement with me or my behavior, they talk to a set of people… which makes me think, I don’t have that spark…which will make them talk to me as happily as he/she talks to them. When I proposed this behavior makes me Jealous my better half explained very justly. 

We always have some sort of wireless connections with the people with whom we have shared our lows in life. Somehow they are the ones with you always rest your head upon and contract comfort. It is because they were there for you in your unhappy times; they had unconditional affection for you even when you did not have an upper edge over the otherwise competitive world. They treated you the same when you failed, when you tripped or even when you were wrong. It is that progression of building a connection with them, which can’t be broken whether you are close of far away from them. That bond can never be disrupted
due to low connectivity. Customarily, it justifies why a child is more prone to talking to its mother. The unconditional love and nurturing makes you in sync with her. This can happen with fathers too I guess with times changing, this metaphor would also be applied to fathers!

Our friends are mostly the ones to know, dude this guy just needs to be listened to. No need to give suggestions, just a patient ear is enough for him/her. For instance, a 3 year old friend of my daughter… we stay in the same building. They happen to share the same school and same school van as well. Both her parents are working. She comes home to a ‘Maavshi’ whom I happen to know as well. That’s the best they can do for their offspring. So this baby  girl spends most of the time with the Maavshi, eats with her, sleeps to her gentle embrace and cuddles, eats to her dotingly served plate of food, takes comfort from Maavshi’s lap when the poor girl has fever or an upset stomach. In little girls brain…something has made her understand Maavshi will always be with her in thick and thins of life…she takes all her orders, looks forward to seeing her every day and confines more in her than her own parents. I have seen the little girl’s mother feeling left out, being jealous of all the attention and thunder the Maavshi steals away from her. When asked her who loves you the most…Mummy or Papa?…she very affirmatively answers…”Padmini Maavshi”!

Very aptly quoted``
“The ties that bind us are sometimes impossible to explain. They connect us, even after it seems like the ties should be broken. Some bonds defy distance, and time, and logic. Because some ties are simply… meant to be.”

― M.G.

  



 

 

 

 

Trip from Sunnyvale CA to Yosemite

Last week I visited Yosemite valley with my family and I must say it is a wonderful place for vacation. Now I regret because I planned for only two days.
I started on Friday morning at 8:30 and I chose US101-CA152-CA41 because I planned to enter Yosemite from south entrance and spend some time in Mariposa grove. There was almost no traffic and with couple of stops it took me 4.5 hours to reach Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
I did not find any parking in the Mariposa grove so the park volunteers asked me to drive to Wawona , park the car there and take the free park shuttle to come to Mariposa. The park shuttle was very comfortable and convenient.
Below are some pictures I shot in Mariposa with giant sequoia trees.

We did not have much time there so instead of walking (which would have been the best option) we took the tram tour, it was about 1hr 15 mins tour which covers major points of interest including all of the big sequoia trees in the grove.  Tram also stopped at few place where we could click some pictures with giant trees (as shown above). After finishing the tram tour we came back to Wawona, also known as Clark's station, where we parked our car, using the free valley shuttle and then drove to our hotel Yosemite view lodge which is near the west entrance of Yosemite valley. I must say that driving in the valley was not at all difficult (which I was thinking before coming to the valley).
We stayed in the hotel for the night. The hotel was two miles before the west entrance and was decent hotel. But I would personally suggest to stay within the valley, preferably in a tent. In morning we drove to Yosemite valley. The entire road was very scenic and we stopped at many places to click some snaps before we reached the Yosemite valley parking. This is the place where we should have stayed for atleast couple of days but we had only one day because we planned to drive back to Sunnyvale by evening. Anyway, it was very cold and the tram tour was not in operation so we again used the free valley shuttle to visit all the spots in the valley.
Below is the route map of the Yosemite valley free shuttle

I really like the free shuttle, we could get in and out of the shuttle at any stop. In our next visit , which we will plan soon, we will stay in the Curry Village (they have low cost tents) for at least four or five days. And every day we will go on some trail. I think this is the best way to enjoy the Yosemite valley.
We left valley and started back to Sunnyvale in evening and this time we chose CA-120.This route is more scenic and we exit from the west entrance of Yosemite valley. And I took about 4.5 hrs to reach Sunnyvale from this route also.

This trip was short but after this trip I realized that Yosemite needs at least a week to enjoy. Next time I will take a weeks off to visit the valley.

~Manish

Dil chahta hai !!!

Well that was one good movie. Everyone wanted to do something that they didn't get to do. And once when they accomplished their dreams, achieved the impossible that bought a happy ending. There are many instances in my mind, that bring me to say I would like to do that…if you really care to know…what is it…that “I”wanna do!...Read on.

My childhood has seen many journeys to Lucknow from Mumbai. My Naani house is in Lucknow. I used to love to see the majestic farms …green and brown stretches of beautiful cultivation. I still do. I am still the first one to call for the window seat while travelling. The endless miles of mustard fields is what mesmerized me. And then came DDLJ where SRK and Kajol romanticized on the same green and yellow natural carpet that I loved, I dreamt, I fancied all the time. It gave wings to my passion for roaming free willingly on those unending green and yellow fields. I would love to have me and my most loved ones to be on those meadows and getting ourselves photographed.

I love watching films. By films…I mean meaningful, quality, even noncommercial cinema. I appreciate if in the film there is absence of a hero and a heroine dancing in sand dunes at one end and then Icebergs in the other. Films like ‘The Blue Umbrella’, ‘Lootera’,’Children of Heaven’,’Eeshwar’,’Beasts of the Southern wild’,’Finding Neverland’,’300’…they direct a desire in me to act. I mean to try acting sometime. In fact while I was in primary school, I even got a prize for playing a role in a small skit. Well that was then now... I might suck at it…Big Time…but would still want to give it a serious attempt.

As a child I was not much into sports. In the name of sports, I might have only played ‘Lagori’, ‘Aati Paati’ or bounced balls here and there. I happen to watch a lot of sports, as my husband is a very observant sports fan…let it be badminton, soccer, Football and how can we forget Cricket. I watch a lot of cricket with him as that is the sport that makes sense to me and I grew up watching. Manish even taught me table tennis and to some extent polished my badminton shots too. In cricket or let it be any other sport…when I see a team winning and roaring on the triumph achieved, I say I want to feel that!!! I want to smell victory. I want to win something as a team and feel responsible for it. I want to win and then shout at the top of my voice exhilarating the energy, the strength within me.

I try my hands on writing and blogging. That’s just an effort to improve I write every time. My brother suggested a film that made me more inclined towards writing with a purpose. “Julie and Julia”. (Thanks Thou!!), that made me endeavor the tenacity of writing 12 blogs in a year. This was last year. But I was short of 2 blogs! I would like to write meaningful write ups at least putting myself to write once in a month, now that can’t be too much. I hope to resolve this aspiration probably this yearend. Again to be able to write good, one needs to read good. I want to take out time for reading. At least 15 minutes a day. I guess it's a catch 22 situation.

There is a very big word associated to our lives at some point or the other. The word is ‘Procrastination’.  I am a big time procrastinator. After delivering my first born, a genuine 15 minutes run was what helped me lose weight. Even after knowing this, I postpone my plans of running. I want to run, and not only run because it makes me lose weight…but run because ’I want to run’ & because ‘I would feel partial if didn’t run’.

Tattoo’s: Body art, body piercing/body self-torture. Do not know which one is the right definition for a Tattoo. But it does look very beautiful on some, point to be noted….on some parts of the body. I desire to have a Tattoo sometime…somewhere on my body. The courage and nerve I need to carry on with that I might need to inherit from someone who has already given this a shot. Any takers here ???

Being conservative in my way of dressing and to double it belonging to a conservative family while growing up, I have not worn dresses or outfits that can be called bold. Now too, if I had to wear a sleeveless kurti or a shirt in front my parents, I feel uncomfortable. I want to wear formal daring gowns, and skirts that might be termed ‘gutsy’. But again it is a Catch22 flashback. If I run, I can succeed towards wearing what can be called as bold and beautiful.

Trekking, mountaineering & paragliding. Never ever done these. But I am pretty sure, soon after Ananya is grown up, we as a couple will certainly venture into these activities.  These activities somehow bring you in competition with yourself. You have no one else to compete, but your own desire of overcoming the fear, the fear of height…fear of falling. Ananya grow up now>>>FAST FORWRAD.

Last but not the least…I have still not been to a pub or a discotheque. Umm…please don’t laugh at me…but come laugh with me. J Haha. Although the people who know me, say that this place will definitely be something that I wouldn’t like. But I still want to experience the madness already paid for.

I guess. Mr Abraham Maslow. He was the fellow who explained and proved that human beings desire increase as you age one read about his Pyramid too. Hence this write up will keep getting additions until I feel enough I have seen everything and done everything.

“You can't have everything in life; even the trees lose their leaves.”
― Humphrey Ominisan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relativity!

I have come to stay with my parents for a while. Coming back to Bombay is like reliving the old era...eating sandwiches, wada pao, dabeli, frankies....and Maa's home made food(although first comes sandwiches and then Maa's home made food!). We have an udipi restaurant just across our house...'Mayur'...which is the biggest landmark for anyone trying to reach our house. This time I had made my mind...about ordering Chana Masala from Mayur('Sapna Salian'...thinking of you too!)...and fortunately I could. Another reason about eating there is, it is not a very expensive place to binge. For me I can throw a party there and still save money by not going to a bigger branded eating joint like..dominos, barista...or even McDonalds.

While returning from my dentist, as she allowed me to eat anything I could  I said why not 'Chana Masala from mayur!!!'. I stopped by...ordered my grub, and happily sat waiting for my dream sustenance. just then I saw a couple with their son..they parked their bike and entered the restaurant. It was past 2 in the afternoon, very sunny and warm. They trio looked very tired and sun dried. Their son entered inside saying that he was very very hungry. It seemed that the father was not only carrying the helmet and a back pack, but was also carrying load of worries perhaps from liability or an obligation. He looked over worked & drained. And same was for the mother...she had dark circles reaching her cheeks, she had managed to tie her hair and still her hair were running out of her bun. The only good thing about the trio was their son still looked fresh and had a spark in his eyes which a child of his age should have!

I reminded the waiter for my much awaited Chana Masala. Seeing people around me eating...Paper Dosa, Poori aalo, wada sambar, Chinese platter, madrasi thali...my taste buds started playing volley ball in my mouth. He said it will take another 10 mins. I waited patiently...although my mind was already processing when I eat my 'Chana masala'...how incredible would that be. I would be eating that after almost 6 years. So then I started viewing my surroundings again.

Suddenly tensed couple got up and started leaving. The hotel manager and the waiters asked them, Sir...what happened ...Didn't you find everything fine??
The father cleared his throat, moved his hand over his nose and not looking at the waiter in his eye replied "Vo chintu ko non veg khaana hai...zidd kar raha hai"...The wife smiled very subtly rubbing her hands together and nodded in unison of her husbands reply. Mayur is a vegetarian restaurant. I felt bad for the son...poor little boy was very hungry. Just as they left...my order was ready. I was happy to go home and eat !!!

I was walking back to my house with the yummilicious Chana masala in my hands...just then I started wondering where nearby would the couple take their son for him to eat NonVeg. There was nothing nearby that would serve them non vegetarian. Right then I saw the same couple standing at one of the Anna's roadside gaadi...where we get same South Indian food... but at cheaper price. Their son was sitting on the bike and the mother was feeding him plain dosa. I understood...that it was not that the son who wanted to have non veg...but the scene was so that...although the restaurant was reasonable for me...it was expensive for their pockets. They made an excuse so that no one in Mayur knows that they are trying to save money! This instance made me realize that terms like expensive, cheap, good, bad, warm, cold....are all relative. Cheap for one and expensive for another.

They looked at me, they had seen me wait for my order...I could not help but smile at them...with a very tacit inference in my eyes ..."I understand folks...enjoy your food"

How I got my driver's license in California USA

I recently got transferred to bay area from Hyderabad India. And the first most important thing that I had to do was to get California driver's license. Once I got my license I realised that there are certain things which I was not aware of and did not find online. So, I am writing my experience with DMV and the process I followed to get California driver's license.
Steps that I followed are:

1. Getting the "temporary/instructions" permit to drive in California: I went to Santa Clara DMV on Nov 6 2013. It took me about four and half hours without appointment, but with appointment it was taking only 20 to 30 minutes. I wrote the test and could barely pass it. I got 30/36 correct answers, which is the minimum requirement. After passing the test I got "temporary" permit because I had Indian driver's license. .Which means I can drive a motor vehicle alone for 60 days. Those who do not have either other state or other country driver's license , get "instructions" permit , which means they can drive only when another person having a permanent driver's license is sitting with them. Sometimes DMV guys do not ask if you have other countries driver's license, in that case you have to tell them and ask for "temporary" permit.
• Documents required for writing test are:
1. Passport
2. I-94
2. Booking a behind the wheel driving test: Behind the wheel driving test can only be taken with appointment. You cannot just walk into DMV for behind the wheel driving test. Usually appointments are available only after 30 days. But if you call many times a day you may get an early appointment which got cancelled by someone. I called up on 16th evening and got first appointment on 17 Dec. 
3. Driving Test: On the test day I drove around the DMV in morning to familiarise with roads. In evening I took the test. Examiner instructed me to route around DMV. In the beginning only I made  a mistake, I stopped at green signal while taking right turn. I stopped because there was a lady standing at sidewalk and all set to jump on crosswalk. But the examiner did not like it and marked it as a critical error. So, I flunked. Here I got to know that even though I flunked but the "temporary" permit still remains valid till its expiry data. I booked again for 26th Dec, this time prepared better than last time. But I got the appointment at San Jose DMV. It is a little far so I did not go there to check the route around DMV. Anyway this time I passed with 8 minor mistakes. (You are allowed to make 15 minor mistakes and 0 critical errors). 
• Documents required are:
1. Temporary permit
2. Insurance copy of the vehicle
3. Title of the car you are planning to drive. I had brand new car without number plate and title. So, I just told them that it is a new car and they searched for the car using VIN as on the insurance.
4. Waiting for license: After passing the behind the wheel test it takes about 2 weeks to get the license but usually you get before that time.

Some questions that I had before getting driver's license are as follows:

Q. I am holding a temporary permit and if I fail in the behind the wheel driving test will I be able to continue driving with the temporary permit or the temporary permit will be cancelled and a new instructions permit will be issued?

A. The temporary permit will remain valid till the expiry of the permit. Even if you fail you can drive alone on the temporary permit.

Q. My temporary permit is expiring can I extend it?
A. Yes, you can. But it depends upon the discretion of the DMV guy to whom you approach. If you have valid reason for not passing the behind the wheel driving test before the expiry of the permit then you can get it extended. Recently one of my colleague got extension in San Jose DMV. While one of my other colleague did not get the extension and got learners permit.

Q. I am going to have take my driving test as the same DMV, can I get the same examiner?
A. One of my friend attempted the driving test for the second time at the same DMV (Santa Clara, CA) and same examiner who tested him last time came but when he checked some docs and realised that he already tested him then he told my friend that he cannot test him again and asked some other examiner to test. He passed in second attempt.

Helpful links:

http://ryangaraygay.com/dmv-behind-the-wheel-driving-test-in-fremont-ca/

Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Not been much fortunate lately on reading worthy books. Books that I have read are interesting…but not entertaining. Eat Pray love comes in that league too. I had heard a lot about this book on shows and from a few friends. But after reading the book I may say ‘Get up~ Work ~ And go to sleep’….can be synonymous to ‘Eat Pray Love’...It is as monotonous as it sounds!!! The author satisfies her urge of eating In Italy, praying in India and Loving in Indonesia!

Passages in between the book where Liz meets diverse people while travelling to 3 different countries, is at times interesting. The most interesting character was Wayan…she is an Indonesian healer…who can heal anything and everything. One of her expertise includes guiding...or I rather say directing the man to make a suitable pose while copulating in person in regards of helping his woman to conceive.  Her stories are funny!

Liz is divorced and preaches about how she will never disclose about her X-husband…and the ghastly experiences they had. But none the less…she does criticize him each and every moment she could. Not even one country…she visits, where she was not biased critic for their plagued matrimony. She is good heart and makes an effort to help deprived people in Indonesia. For her to experience contentment, divinity and solace it takes as much as travelling around the globe to 3 countries. I wonder what would be her story after she gets back to America…how she would have lived without any pursuit for better living. Another grab about this book could be extracted from the movie which is much awaited. While we wait for that,  let us Drink, Merry and Live!