Reshmi 's memoirs jotted as events- to be refreshed by the writer if required

Bravo! The #MeToo factor is gaining pace in India. The fairer sex is getting a fair deal with timely punishment of perpetrators. No more fairness cream or fair wages or alimony or striking a revenge for rape or even consensual sex. Sometimes marital rape also endorses views of ‘spouse’ torture, don’t ask me male or female spouse. All sexual transgressions are claiming headlines these days and now who is sex crazy the news giver? the victim or those middle aged/old men craving for news on sex?  Whether it is a transgression of Human Rights on an infant, toddler, school girl, teenager or a sixty year old, Wow! all are making news. Are we a sex-starved nation? After the Harvey storm that ravaged the American coasts another Harvey Weinstein erupted like a Monster in Hollywood. Why he gave a new dimension to the casting couch. Victims – all old and ravaged! Ladies of all sizes, age and talents spoke of a ‘cruel’ man who must now go for rehabilitation for having...

Terms like miscarriage, hijack, usurp, coup, negligence, have turned out to be common parlance in our society today. The terms that lend credence to civilised human existence have found forays to enter openly yet clandestinely. Not many days ago, a 7-year old child had to face death for a disease that could be cured in a week. The icing of the bad news was an administrative gaffe on the medical bill presented to the bereaved parents – a hefty bill of Rs 18 lakhs – a miscarriage of justice, or the result of avarice and medical negligence and worse in a country which has no proper medical care and ranks very low in the quality of life index. Yet another instance of miscarriage of justice. Despite an Indian being re-elected to the esteemed seat of ‘justice’ internationally, a global terrorist leaves prison free to be a civilian – Hafeez Saeed. Mumbai Terror Target The man who solely masterminded the 26/11 attack on one of Mumbai’s posh and iconic hotels is treated as c...

New Indian President Electing a dalit President after being pitted against another dalit did not create a political maelstrom. Perhaps, this seemed to be the last straw on the camel’s back. A political evolution has a superficial gloss but does it really uplift the masses in the lowest rung of society? Overall we expect an erudite, accommodating President who will do good for all, true to the aspiration of Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution. Ram Nath Kovind ,the new President  and more recently Mr.Venkiah Naidu was elected new vice-President are the new faces on the political landscape. So much for a conveniently poised political picture painted for the highest office also drew a lot of flak from the opposition. The opposition is still rattled and clueless but will it only influence the secretly rich politicians to hide and play their cards less blatantly. We are heading for a heady battle of thoughts when politics is not so easy a game provided the...

Should I feel defeated, inferior, jealous or elated to speak of Vidhi (name changed), a Jain by birth, born to a middle class family from Haryana. She went to a government school but fought her way through student life with just one eye. Topped her school and sailed through college life in flying colours. Her congenital defect of being in frail health was due to an auto-immune disorder which was evident from her eye defect that could not be rectified. But before substantiating more details on this person, I must add some interesting information about genes that can affect or break a person’s hopes. Fame/ success cannot elude a person for his defective genes if the person is industrious and indomitably strong-willed. Why this genetic destiny? The following facts are excerpts from “The Gene - An Intimate History” by Siddharta Mukherjee, these are added to clarify the importance or lack of importance for genes but a field that needs to be studied in an evolving manner, as this ...

Know then thyself , presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man. Alexander Pope, Essay on man. I dare not say that I am in the ‘best’ frame of mind but this summer has affected my thought process. Is it because intake of food is reduced and liquids have usurped the digestive tract. My acquaintances or friends are sparingly in contact via all modes of communication blame it on the sweating away of vital (?) emotions. My apparently feeble health has been treading a path towards that finite destination which may sound predictable and spiritual.  Destinations are drawing to a close or a dead-end too. But my travel list is still endless and I am ever willing to pack my bags and go on any journey to the desired destination. You can knock off the word ‘desired’ but travel does enrich. She hardly travelled Speaking of travel, the one person who considered ‘travelling’ an anathema, was my paternal grandmother who lived for almost 83 years.  She was a ...

      Chandeliers no longer a living room luxury While chandeliers certainly upgrade the quality of lighting in a living room, There may be a drab and dull corner that can add up to the elegant quotient with a mini chandelier to enliven the room. The brass based ones in cup shapes  are suitable for the living room and the dining hall. Despite all the modern day developments in lighting technology with fluorescent tubes and CFLs, the allure of a chandelier is unmatched and that is why the rich and famous prefer chandeliers in their homes. They have the unique style and classical touch to charm the people living in and those visiting these tasteful homes. So whatever be one’s budget, there are chandeliers to fit every pocket size.  The awe of grandeur and luxury tags  are attached to chandeliers even today, there are affordable options.  Some rooms which may not require the chandeliers for instance, the children’s study room should have bright...

(This piece was written by me for a magazine on Home decor. I felt the general reader also deserves an insight into making indoors look splendid without tweaking the budget) A well-kept home needs chandeliers to make it look vibrant and colourful. A room without proper lighting looks sombre and  reduces the ability to add life to the living space.  That is why, Indian homes, especially during festivals like Diwali, are brightened and spruced up by a thorough cleaning up and also with a display lamps that help to give brightness, sparkle and colour. Apart from festive seasons, generally, homes need to be brightly lit up to invite good fortune. Chandeliers are not a new concept in Indian homes and have been around for at least the last three centuries. Some say the concept is at least 800 years old and descriptions can be found in the literature of those times especially when describing the dwellings of the royalty and aristocracy. They were hung when electricity was...

“See the other side” by Tatyana Tolstoya – a work of fiction in Russian translated by Jamey Gambrell. ….Ravenna was the small Italian city where Dante was buried. Once upon a time right at the start of the fifth century AD- the Emperor Honorius transferred the capital of the Western  Roman Empire to this city. Ravenna - the city is famous for its mosaics, tourists and churches … Every city big or small turns ugly with the lapse of time like Ravenna. In her work about the city Tatyana proceeds to say there’s only darkness, heat, silence, irritation, doubt and dejection. This was in response to a postcard written by her father and forty years later she pays a visit to Ravenna only to feel disappointed. Coastal cities will perish Like people like cities do face the aging factor and this calls for re-building or renovation. All coastal cities must be constantly spruced up to retain their old glory or they will die a natural death. Dusky doe-eyed Gaikwad ...

Impudence or ingratitude need not be a term to describe how just the Creator was in creating you. No the Creator was not wrong, unless you wish to ascertain the act of your parents to bring you into this world was a fault. After all a biological act does offer a testimony for all to see. In my opinion my life in entirety is insignificant for those I may be associated with close and distant. But people do remember my association with or without a befitting word to describe me or my existence , no regrets, but I do feel blessed to have met and nodded at all who passed by. Treat me as matter and you too are matter to me. P.B. Shelley did opine these lines for himself pertains to me except for a pittance of love from parents and a few relatives Neither fame nor power nor love nor leisure, others I see whom these surround, call life pleasure. The entire gamut of homosapiens that you are associated with do go through a range of experiences for you to emulate, observe or empathise...