Frangipani

What's in a name, the bard wrote, but I'm sure there is no one in today's world who would agree to that. A name is the first element that gives you an identity, and that defines what you are to the world around you. I have always been extremely possessive about my name. And have had to face quite a bit of enthusiasm from the world - not only about my first name, but also my last name. Picture this - You are walking down the corridor of your school, and there is this teacher screaming out for 'Saraswati' or 'Sulakshna' at the highest pitch possible. Obviously, this 'Saraswati' or 'Sulakshna' is either deaf or simply non-existent...:-). And the latter was the case. Besides these, I've always had to repeat my first name at least thrice when introducing myself. Well, this is not unique to me. It is an affliction for many traditional Indian names - be it from Punjab or Tamil Nadu or anywhere on this semi-continent. Coming t think of it, maybe ...

It is March in New Delhi and the colorful festival of Holi has just gone by leaving its traces on people. This time of the year is when Delhi is at its most beautiful. I know many of us would argue that the winters in Delhi ought to get more of the limelight. But that would be stating the obvious. Spring in Delhi just dawns on people, it comes in ever so gently and makes its presence felt in a quiet way. The flowers just seem to abound, the breeze carries the cool caress of winters mixed with a nice warm feeling. It's at such a time that all the Gulmohurs of this city and the pansies bloom away. The main roads of Delhi - Lutyen's Delhi - Akbar Road, Shahjahan Road, Nehru Gardens, India Gate, the innumerable roundabouts are full of color. There are reds, yellows, greens of the grass and the trees, whites, oranges, the mad rush of the pink bougainvillea...its beautiful and wonderfully enthralling. Waking up in the early mornings when the moon is still shining away and the sun is ...

SRK - Shahrukh Khan - the man who spells magic in Indian cinema. He's considered a man who is very grounded and very dedicated to his work. I don't know him at all nor am I such a film gossip buff that I would be updated about his moves. history or anything else. Yet, I would say I'm an admirer of Shahrukh. It's strange what that mna can make you believe. In movies like Kal Ho Na Ho which is not his best performance per me, and you know he can do better. Yet, there are those scenes where he uses his eyes to express it all. One look at them, and you know you will never regain from the magic or the charm. I have been critical of movies like Kal Ho Na Ho and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham yet there is this attraction towards these movies. Each time they show it on TV, I'm glued to it. No matter what I might say - the story lacks credibility, why is the ending so melodramatic and more...yet I will sit and watch them. I will shed a tear or two along with Shahrukh and feel sad...

I've had this moment in time after a very long time. The moment that I 'm talking about is this sense of calm and peace. Being alone at home and at peace on a Saturday afternoon without having any place to go or anybody to meet or anything to do is an interesting feeling. Today it is that of calm, of feeling rested. The week before saw a Saturday lost in traveling and meeting long lost people. I met Archi after not a very long time. and then there was Rashmi...she looked exactly the same. It was unbelievable to see her primarily because meeting her reminded me of the time when we were still young at heart and so fresh and so blase right after our independence trip. The play that followed was another jewel. It was a very powerful play, and like I have always believed Hindi plays and poetry seem to have such a moving impact. And I would think the same of French ones... This Saturday afternoon is typical. There is music to be discovered. As Manu Chao sings, I'm taken back agai...

Well, it has been quite a week or was it weeks that all that seems to be having in my world is deadlines, fixes, and making sense of language. In the midst of all this "excitement" that the work I do provides, I think what tops the list is the new words one keeps hearing and the new -isms. Well here are a few rare gems: "We should stop creating page turners ." If only somebody would enlighten me or else the world out there in the Content Solutions world that a page turner is supposed to be all good..yeahh...all good. When something is a page turner, it means it is so engrossing that you have to keep turning pages to read on and find more. But, alas, the new-age IDeas of the janpath scoff at any such meanings. For them a page-turner is a No No No (now I'm singing...). "Language is a no-brainer ." My apologies but I rest my case after having said as much as I could about the creators of page-turners... I will be back...:-)

Basically, this is for me. I had been planning on creating a blog of my own for quite some time. Though to be honest I dont know as of now what it is that I plan to put up on this blog of mine..I will keep myself updated. :-)