Monday, January 21, 2013

Just another morning...

It has been a wonderful morning so far! After I dropped Manasi off at the bus, I went for a long walk along the lake - winter is relenting - not freezing anymore, merely brisk and invigorating! Then yoga, followed by my Mandarin lesson. I even managed to wrap up a couple of items on my to-do list that had been languishing for ages! Phew - now I need a nap!!

Meanwhile, back in the real world - has anybody else noticed that news about the trial for the accused in the Delhi case have slowly slipped off the radar? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, maybe the TV news are covering this? After the tidal wave of public fury and outrage, it would be a shame if the case just fizzled away and true justice was denied! On the other hand, would anyone be truly surprised if the perpetrators got away with just a slap on the wrist?

What a dichotomy - only to be found in India! This is a land where the Goddess as Lakshmi, Durga & Saraswati is venerated and worshiped in a majority of households, a country which has seen powerful women such as Indira Gandhi hold center stage - and yet, this is the same country where millions of women struggle to live with a bit of dignity and respect. Women's rights, what's that?!

And while it is easy to blame everything from Bollywood movies and TV soaps to the chauvinistic attitude of Indian men, isn't it true that we women are our worst enemies most of the time? Instead of bemoaning the lack of support from society, I think we are best served by standing up for ourselves. True, society needs to change, attitudes need to change - but this change needs to happen from within. I am not talking of dramatic and drastic upheavals - just simple things, like a mother being able to sign her child's report card for school!

In a society where men and women are genuinely treated as equals, there would be no need for 'women's rights'. Surprisingly, China has much to teach us in this respect. 'Women hold up half the sky' is one of Chairman Mao's teachings, and the Chinese seem to have taken it to heart. There is no special treatment for women - and totally absent is the condescension and patronizing attitude so prevalent in India.

I'm going to get off my soapbox now. Everything that needs to be said and then some more, has been said about the condition of women in Indian society. Adding my two cents to the clamor doesn't do anybody any good. Coming back to the Delhi case, I sincerely hope that our judiciary decides to make an example of these sad excuses for men, and sentences them most severely. That would certainly be a step in the right direction, and hopefully, the beginning of a new era of respect.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Farewell, 2012!

The New Year is already a week old - 'Best of 2012' lists for everything under the sun have been eagerly devoured, new resolutions made and perhaps, already broken! And once the frenzy has passed, it always comes as a mild shock to discover that the calendar may have changed, but the business of living remains just the same!

2012 passed by in a whirl - it was ushered in with predictions of doom and disaster - and I can only say I'm glad that the year didn't quite live up to the hype. Most importantly, the world as we know did not end - thank you, Mayans, for all the speculation - loved the nail-biting will it, won't it suspense! The London Olympics and the U.S. Presidential election undoubtedly were the highlights of the year - the former once again demonstrating the resilience and triumph of the human spirit, the latter reminding us that be it the U.S. or India, in politics, the ends always justify the means!

Hurricane Sandy brought New York and a major part of the East Coast to its knees - the devastation unleashed by Mother Nature left thousands homeless, with damages of billions of dollars. Thankfully with the help of early detection technology, the death toll was at a minimum! And with deepest empathy for those affected by Sandy, a cynical side-note - the storm certainly tipped the balance of power in President Obama's favor, sweeping him straight into the White House!

The destruction caused by humans is no less - conflicts rage all over the world, especially in the Middle East. The Connecticut school massacre - every parent's worst nightmare - if kids are not safe in a U.S. elementary school, where in the world can I find a haven for my family? Malala from Pakistan and Nirbhaya from India - 2 ordinary girls subjected to senseless, undeserved violence - highlighting the plight of women in today's society. It was heartening to watch the protests in Delhi - is it too much to hope that justice will be served? I guess I have to take back my words - 2012 did turn out to be as bad as promised...

On the personal front too, I will always remember 2012 as the year we laid our beloved Snowy to rest. 10 years of companionship, 10 years of pure love - gone in an instant. I miss her so much, every single day. What she was to me, what I still feel about her - I have no words.

In midst of all the gloom, there were a few bright spots too! Our move to China has been a huge success - professionally for Ajey, and personally for us! Our extended family is all doing well, and our ever-increasing tribe of friends continues to be our mainstay during all these changes. Christmas vacation in India was so much fun - relaxing times with family, and thanks to the Shreyas gang, a rousing New Year's party!

And now to look ahead - what will this year hold? No resolutions - well maybe, just a few usual suspects - exercise more, eat healthy, less spending, more blogging! On that note, let me wish all of you a very Happy New Year! Hope it brings you and your family all the happiness and joy in the world!

Signing off...