When I moved to US few years back, many asked me what is it that you miss the most apart from family of course, about India? My answer was Traffic, the chaos and driving my car (as i didn't have an American license and also I was not familiar with american way of Left-Hand side driving).
Similarly when i moved back from US, many people asked me what i missed the most in US about India? MY answer remained same, traffic and the chaotic roads and my car :)
There is something about driving in India. I am quite fascinated by the way every driver manoeuvres his/her vehicle. We have so much variety on roads and not just limited to types of cars or bikes. We have scooters, cycles, cycle rickshaws,auto-rickshaws (popularly known as tuk-tuks in west), pedestrians, sometimes horses, camels and in some cases, carts, carriages, tempos, tractors,cows and donkeys too..List is endless phew..
I remember Gul Panag recently tweeted that we have bad driving in our DNA..but is it DNA or its just how we are accustomed to, since our childhood? As a kid, i remember pillion riding behind my dads two-wheeler with my brother and we only had our dads waist as our protection for our balance. Today, i twitch my nose each time i see a couple having their child seated in front of the two wheeler or seated between two pillion riders. We had never heard of child seat but my brother doesn't board the flight to India with his son, till a child seat is arranged for his son. In US, one cannot dream of taking the child out without a child seat in the car, unless he/she has extra money to pay for the ticket.
Well, getting a license in India is quite interesting. You need to practice a little, even if you have cleared the driving test, either you need to have contacts in transport department or should we willing to loosen purse strings to get the final driving license.
Traffic signals look very pretty..give a very organized look to the roads. But I am one of few Indians who never jump traffic signals. But this hasn't won me any laurels..my car has been bumped from behind while waiting for green light, I have got snarls and stares for stopping at red light and pestered by beggars on the lights for some petty cash.
Then there are many who love to tailgate vehicles and not just put a dent on their vehicle and pocket but on the front vehicle too..and if you are unfortunate to be travelling in a bigger vehicle, you end up paying even if it was the other persons fault.
Metros are characterized by traffic jams, chaos and it is usually caused by drivers jumping lanes and blocking traffic in return. Though we have right hand driving but we all seem to be ignorant about right of way. I can go on and on..but i guess i am exhausted now..
For non Indians/NRI's and people fascinated by the tag FOREIGN, favorite tag line to use is "traffic in India is so bad". But still, this is the way i have learnt and i love and enjoy listening to FM while driving..
Happy and Safe Driving to all...
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Superstitions galore!!
Well..If great leaders/winners/conquerors were/are superstitious. We have all the right to be. Dont we??
I have often met people who claim that they aren't superstitious, I buy that fact. BUT, i am yet to meet a person who didn't fall prey to superstition even once in life. Some may mask it under garb of bad omen, luck or timing..but we all are superstitious in some way or the other.
Wikipedia defines superstition as "a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge". I agree there is no reason for being superstitious when someone calls out your name when you are leaving or when a black cat crosses our way when we are set out for some significant task.
I don't bracket myself into general superstitious lot but at times, I can be very very superstitious. My biggest superstition is with clothes. Color red to begin with is a big no-no for me. Somehow, red always spells trouble for me. Then if a new footwear or outfit means a bad day at office, it never sees the light of day for months rather years to be more precise.
Recently, all newspapers were inundated with myriad superstitions related to cricketers and supporters alike. And in case, a superstition comes true, it carries a stigma with it forever. Also, there are many who get an opportunity to rhyme " I told you so". And superstitions are not exactly new age brainwave, there have been instances of superstition galore from time immemorial.
I can list (Not in order of frequency) some of the most common superstitions:
1. Number 13 - Considered very unlucky..To the extent that many people from Victorian times don't have a house number 13. In my city, Chandigarh (one of the most and only planned city in country), there is no sector 13.
2. Black Cats bring bad luck - Cats have nine lives and cats spell evil/doom.
3. Touch Wood - Touching a wood, enhances chances of luck. Wood has always been considered sacred, pious and a route to reach God.
4. Call out from Back - Never to venture out, if you are heading for an important task and someone calls out from back. Same is the superstition associated with Sneezing
5. Twitching Left eye or Shaking Legs - Both are harbingers of bad omen and luck for business.
Well, if i start listing general as well my own personal superstitions, i will never be able to finish this blog. I guess, all of us in this crazy world are "LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA"; no matter what age, century we fall in, we will always have some sort of belief or superstition.
We will always have superstitions and there is no harm in having one. Some are good like touch wood, lucky mascots etc but some are evil like witchcraft, female oppression etc. If a superstition does wonders, why should we shy away from it? If a superstition saves our day, why should we abhor it? Whereas, if a superstition contrasts with our lifestyle, with our progress, with our environment and our society at large, there is no point of carrying on with such regressive notions.
However, what I want all of us to ponder at the end of my blog is: Is superstition now a way of life with me and hampering my growth (personal/professional/societal? or Is it just a belief that guides/protects me?
I have often met people who claim that they aren't superstitious, I buy that fact. BUT, i am yet to meet a person who didn't fall prey to superstition even once in life. Some may mask it under garb of bad omen, luck or timing..but we all are superstitious in some way or the other.
Wikipedia defines superstition as "a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge". I agree there is no reason for being superstitious when someone calls out your name when you are leaving or when a black cat crosses our way when we are set out for some significant task.
I don't bracket myself into general superstitious lot but at times, I can be very very superstitious. My biggest superstition is with clothes. Color red to begin with is a big no-no for me. Somehow, red always spells trouble for me. Then if a new footwear or outfit means a bad day at office, it never sees the light of day for months rather years to be more precise.
Recently, all newspapers were inundated with myriad superstitions related to cricketers and supporters alike. And in case, a superstition comes true, it carries a stigma with it forever. Also, there are many who get an opportunity to rhyme " I told you so". And superstitions are not exactly new age brainwave, there have been instances of superstition galore from time immemorial.
I can list (Not in order of frequency) some of the most common superstitions:
1. Number 13 - Considered very unlucky..To the extent that many people from Victorian times don't have a house number 13. In my city, Chandigarh (one of the most and only planned city in country), there is no sector 13.
2. Black Cats bring bad luck - Cats have nine lives and cats spell evil/doom.
3. Touch Wood - Touching a wood, enhances chances of luck. Wood has always been considered sacred, pious and a route to reach God.
4. Call out from Back - Never to venture out, if you are heading for an important task and someone calls out from back. Same is the superstition associated with Sneezing
5. Twitching Left eye or Shaking Legs - Both are harbingers of bad omen and luck for business.
Well, if i start listing general as well my own personal superstitions, i will never be able to finish this blog. I guess, all of us in this crazy world are "LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA"; no matter what age, century we fall in, we will always have some sort of belief or superstition.
We will always have superstitions and there is no harm in having one. Some are good like touch wood, lucky mascots etc but some are evil like witchcraft, female oppression etc. If a superstition does wonders, why should we shy away from it? If a superstition saves our day, why should we abhor it? Whereas, if a superstition contrasts with our lifestyle, with our progress, with our environment and our society at large, there is no point of carrying on with such regressive notions.
However, what I want all of us to ponder at the end of my blog is: Is superstition now a way of life with me and hampering my growth (personal/professional/societal? or Is it just a belief that guides/protects me?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Remove clutter !!
Its been days and there has been clutter all around. I have been wondering to myself, how does it matter with a little mess around? After all, having Indian DNA in me, I love the chaos, I love a bit of mess and everything perfect makes me a tad bit uncomfortable.
My mother, who has spent good percentage of her parenting life trying to make me a bit organized, has indeed given up. She has tried everything from sending me to a looney hostel (in a vain attempt to discipline me), counseling, ridiculing in front of my girlie friends to keeping all clutter on my bed, but some habits are incorrigible.
But then I am surprised at my own self, when it comes to my work, I am quite meticulous and organized but when it comes to household chores, its simply not my cup of tea. I find it absolute waste of time to organize my closet when i exactly can find the right top and right belt and pull it out just the way a magician pulls out a rabbit out of his hat. But, recently, much to my chagrin, things have suddenly become unmanagable. These days its an ordeal to find things and out of sight has become out of mind. Situation came to a hilt when i couldnt find something which was quite indispensable for an occasion and the whole situation went kaput.
It rang a warning bell to me and I resolved to clear the mess. Started with emptying my handbag, which weighed at least 5 pounds less after i removed clutter. Now have resolved to clear the clutter from my closet within the coming week. It is as good as mission impossible but these days i am up for challenges. Also, I came across an interesting article about clearing clutter from life.
Removing clutter from your life involves more than just tidying up and organizing your living space. It also consists of getting rid of the unnecessary components that clutter up your social activities and professional life, and moving on to a healthier, more liberated state of being.
Although it’s not as popular as losing weight, removing clutter is a resolution for individuals looking to relieve stress from their lives. Clutter, piles, and an overabundance of “stuff” can cause stress in many people and by purging unnecessary goods they can reduce the potential unhealthy side effects of chronic stress. By organizing the home and removing stress-inducing piles, individuals can reduce the amount of stress in their personal lives and actually begin building a healthier, happier lifestyle. This is one of the most important practice of Feng-Sui as well.
You can remove clutter from your life by following few simple steps:
1. The clutter of too many obligations
2. The clutter of too much stress
3. The clutter of too many work commitments
4. The clutter of negative people
5. The clutter of emotional baggage
Removing unnecessary elements from your surrounding gives you a sense of control over your life. In fact, organizing and removing clutter can be so life-changing that some people experience a sense of euphoria and well-being.
So, lets de-clutter our lives...
My mother, who has spent good percentage of her parenting life trying to make me a bit organized, has indeed given up. She has tried everything from sending me to a looney hostel (in a vain attempt to discipline me), counseling, ridiculing in front of my girlie friends to keeping all clutter on my bed, but some habits are incorrigible.
But then I am surprised at my own self, when it comes to my work, I am quite meticulous and organized but when it comes to household chores, its simply not my cup of tea. I find it absolute waste of time to organize my closet when i exactly can find the right top and right belt and pull it out just the way a magician pulls out a rabbit out of his hat. But, recently, much to my chagrin, things have suddenly become unmanagable. These days its an ordeal to find things and out of sight has become out of mind. Situation came to a hilt when i couldnt find something which was quite indispensable for an occasion and the whole situation went kaput.
It rang a warning bell to me and I resolved to clear the mess. Started with emptying my handbag, which weighed at least 5 pounds less after i removed clutter. Now have resolved to clear the clutter from my closet within the coming week. It is as good as mission impossible but these days i am up for challenges. Also, I came across an interesting article about clearing clutter from life.
Removing clutter from your life involves more than just tidying up and organizing your living space. It also consists of getting rid of the unnecessary components that clutter up your social activities and professional life, and moving on to a healthier, more liberated state of being.
Although it’s not as popular as losing weight, removing clutter is a resolution for individuals looking to relieve stress from their lives. Clutter, piles, and an overabundance of “stuff” can cause stress in many people and by purging unnecessary goods they can reduce the potential unhealthy side effects of chronic stress. By organizing the home and removing stress-inducing piles, individuals can reduce the amount of stress in their personal lives and actually begin building a healthier, happier lifestyle. This is one of the most important practice of Feng-Sui as well.
You can remove clutter from your life by following few simple steps:
1. The clutter of too many obligations
2. The clutter of too much stress
3. The clutter of too many work commitments
4. The clutter of negative people
5. The clutter of emotional baggage
Removing unnecessary elements from your surrounding gives you a sense of control over your life. In fact, organizing and removing clutter can be so life-changing that some people experience a sense of euphoria and well-being.
So, lets de-clutter our lives...
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