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Showing posts from June, 2011

Letters 2

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In the serial ‘Gulaal’, we see Kesar (after a ten year’s leap) writing letters to Gulaal but never posting them; just treasuring them in his own drawer. He has written everything in those letters. Every feeling, every emotion that touched him in the last ten years that he spent in hostel, away from his village, his family and Gulaal. Starting from the anger that burns him; the questions that intrigue him; the confusion about what the truth actually is; the feeling of missing Gulaal deeply; the longing to meet her and talk to her – everything has found a place in those letters. But every time she came to visit him in the hostel, his angry side would resurface, and he wouldn’t even come in front of her or meet her. He would just hide somewhere in the corridor and watch her leave. Then again when she would not be there, his eyes would search for her. Kesar’s emotional turmoil is a theme in itself. And those letters are an entity in themselves – very essential part of the story; the pi

Letters

‘Roop ki rani Choron ka raja’- the hit Bollywood movie of its times starring Sridevi and Anil Kapur, had pigeons delivering letters and secret messages to people on Anil’s directions. He would put a folded piece of paper in between its beak and the trusted ‘kabootar’ would fly off to Sridevi. She would then send her reply in a chit safely put in a locket and tied around the pigeon’s neck. This seems to be so interesting today. In ‘Harry potter’, Harry, Hermoine, and Ron would send letters to one another in their vacations through their pet owls. Harry’s pet owl, the beautiful white one, would dutifully do its job of delivering the letters to his friends, to Padfoot, Sirius Black and Dumbledore, and return to Harry in time. In Hogwarts too, students would receive letters and gifts from their parents and guardians on special occasions- all delivered by owls. Letters in today’s modern world are very rare. Cell phones and internet facilities have replaced it almost completely. Today

Passing Thoughts

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Sometimes little things, almost trivial nothings, affect you measures; make you think over again and again. These petty nothings sometimes make you turn a new leaf. Yesterday I was reading “Chicken Soup for the soul”. Being a mystery and suspense lover, it was at first a bit boring for me. But as I continued, I found myself immersed in all the feeling that the book poured into me. I loved every page, every bit and piece of it. Little daily happenings that hint at the divine presence, and love and care in mankind, overwhelmed me. Stories told by the ones who experienced their little good genie can make you smile, think deep and cry with joy. Little joys make your day and become your best memories. Drenching yourself in the first monsoon rain; getting track of your favourite song after years; discovering hand-written letters from someone dear in your shelf; and getting a phone call from a childhood friend whom you had no contact with for years – all are little happenings that fi

Lonely

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Again I plunge into sadness Knowing that I am all alone I had tried to grip on happiness But it would go, I had always known. Sometimes I tell myself to search Search the moments of joy hidden in some corner Search the moments that I love so much Little moments, little minutes, however minor. I cling to my last pleasures As nothing is permanent Happy memories hurt me now to unknown measures And I try hard to live in the present. I feel everyone whom I love Who are so close to me Going further; further away they move I can’t pull’em back; just let it be… I feel lonely, deeply lonely And suffocate in the vacuum all around Everyone talks harshly, angrily I weep to my bed and keep mum. I feel I have become a recluse A vexing realisation My own self, I feel to lose A hollow sensation.

Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju

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