To Post or Not to Post

The Social media has come a long way. Few years ago no one could imagine that there will be a time when there will be smartphones, so much internet usage and most importantly so much of social media. Today there are zillions of platforms- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, Tinder, Flower, Petal and God knows what else (the last two names were the figments of my imagination but who knows right :)).

Again there is a lot of discussion around the pros and cons of social media, how much and what one should share and so on. Of course there are no hard and fast rules as such so everything is fair game as long as the individual is comfortable with it. My guess is that it also depends upon the individual personality and more or less the social media is an extension of either one's personality or what one really wants to showcase.

People will always have opinions on the content shared by others and now that social media has become so big that no one can really define what needs to go up and what not. Its individual discretion what goes up and what not....photos, opinions, tweets, blogs etcetc

One thing is for sure...love it or hate it...its here to stay and we all better get on the board and get used to it. 

The Color Black!!

Really Fascinated since time immemorial!! I consider myself as someone who takes her fashion seriously and feels most comfortable when wearing something or everything black. Any shade, any hue would do.  Something about this color...it oozes style and confidence like no other color. Many celebrities swear by it...the underlying reason being that black is also a safe color. When in doubt...wear black...Red Carpet event, Day wear, Evening attire anything...black will go!!  As an example, LBD is iconic!

Fashion choices change with time and season but one color that has braved the changing times and remains timeless is BLACK.Wear it, flaunt it and enjoy it!

Fads, Fashion and Style

Everything's changing rapidly now so much so its difficult to distinguish between fashion and fad anymore. So many products, so many varieties available...products guaranteeing to change everything about you. This drive to look perfect, to possess everything is making world more and more materialistic. Globalization and aggressive marketing is not helping the cause. Range of cosmetic products, brands and lines of clothing and even plastic surgery and other surgical enhancements are now at your disposal, promising to transform you into that perfect man and woman that their advertisements talk about. Maslow's hierarchy of Motivation is now under question as 'Needs' have become secondary now. All sorts of eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), exotic dieting methods etc. are into play to achieve that 'perfect' shape. A few centuries ago, curvy, slightly heavier and curly haired women were preferred and considered a 'beauty' in England. A few centuries later, its the skinnier ones-the Kate Mosses and Miranda Kerrs who rule the roost. How soon can you lose the post-baby flab (that is if you must have a baby)and turn into your fabulous skinny self is something tabloids are keeping tab of on a daily basis. Some like Gwnyth Paltrow have gone a step ahead and cut the toxic 'Carbs' from their Children's diet. Very soon, there will be pills quenching thirst and hunger minus of course the dangerous 'carbs'. After all, style is everything!!!

The Unforgettable Win :)

Yet another battle of nerves and India comes through...we qualify for the World Cup Final for the third time... defeated Pakistan for the 5th time in the world cup thus cementing the fact that India never loses to Pakistan in the world cup.

It was like all the cosmic forces had conspired together to keep Sachin playing and my heart kept flying to my mouth each time he was dropped or some other wicket fell...In the end Suresh Raina steered the team onto a comfortable total and then there was tremendous bowling and fielding effort and for once it outshone the batting :)

I want to thank:

M.S Dhoni- for his mind blowing captaincy


Sachin-for his valuable 85 and just for his presence anyway

Sehwag- for giving a blazing start

Ashish Nehra- for excellent line and length

Suresh Raina- useful contribution of 36 runs

Yuvraj Singh- for making up with ball what he couldnt with the bat today

Munaf Patel- for being so impressive

Zaheer Khan- for his usual brilliant self

Harbhajan Singh- for welcome breakthroughs

Entire Indian Team- for brilliant fielding and team cohesion

Pakistani Team- for dropping Sachin 4 times and  being a pathetic fielding side in general

It was an amazing bowling display by Wahab Raiz and Sayeed Ajmal.

Waiting for the Saturday and praying for the team to win this one and lift the cup!

Good Ol' DD Days...

Getting nostalgic eh?...Yes I am and writing this blog to refresh,cherish and relive those wonderful memories.

National Programme was introduced in 1982. In the same year colour TV was introduced into the Indian market and the first thing was the Live telecast of Independence Day speech given by then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi on 15th August 1982 followed by the Live telecast of the 1982 Asian Games being held in Delhi.




80's and early 90's were the classic Doordarshan entertainment era where it was the latest and only form of visual entertainment available to the Indian audiences. I am talking about the time when owning a colour TV set was a status symbol and people kept their TVs in the Living room for everyone to see [some of them still do I believe :)]...

I am talking about the time when  Sunday morning tea was incomplete without  Rangoli ......Chitrahaar was something not to be missed on Friday evenings.....among the first serials were Hum Log (1984), Buniyaad (1986-87), Ramayan (1986-87), Mahabharat(1988-89) etc which glued millions of viewers to Doordarshan.

Now that I look back at those days filled with fond memories, I find Doordarshan as a major part of our lives where we could not wait to watch serials like Byomkesh Bakshi, Janki Jasoos, Karamchand, Vikram aur Betaal, Surabhi, Circus, Fauji, Malgudi Days etcetc...



Although I was very young when most of these serials were aired, they have left a lasting impression on me and just remembering them fills me with nostalgia and refreshes my fond memories of those happy days.

My emotional outburst would be difficult to understand by those who were born into the Cable TV era...in this heavy commercialisation of the electronic media where  there are atleast 200 channels in every home today and where its easy for any person like me to get flummoxed by this flood of non-stop, 24*7 entertainment, where the electronic media is brimming with millions of channels and those many formats of entertainment.

Doordarshan was left far behind in this rat race and today I am sure except for those who cannot afford cable TV or where its not available (very unlikely though), no one watches Doordarshan including me. I have stopped following Indian serials for a very long time mainly because its too difficult for me to digest the daily dose of  crap that is fed to the viewers and where Saas-Bahu is the central theme of almost every serial...where the copied "reality" shows like Bigg Boss are popular...I honestly cannot stand Bigg Boss where entertainment is provided by accumulating some has-beens and some wannabes, their fights, showcasing their personal issues and any other non-sense they can broadcast for garnering TRPs....

I am reminiscing about the days when TRP was not even known...when the serials were aired only once a week...when their characters acquired a legendary status and no matter how popular these serials became, they did come to an end (pun intended!!)... when life was simple...Simple yet Beautiful :)

Why do I still serve you?

These  are the amazing lines I have borrowed from a TOI Blog....Thought Provoking....


Why do I still serve you?


How you play with us, did you ever see?

At Seven, I had decided what I wanted to be;I would serve you to the end,

All these boundaries I would defend.

Now you make me look like a fool,When at seventeen and just out of school;

Went to the place where they made "men out of boys"

Lived a tough life …sacrificed a few joys…

In those days, I would see my "civilian" friends,

Living a life with the fashion trends;Enjoying their so called "college days"

While I sweated and bled in the sun and haze…

But I never thought twice about what where or why

All I knew was when the time came, I'd be ready to do or die.

At 21 and with my commission in hand,Under the glory of the parade and the band,

I took the oath to protect you over land, air or sea,

And make the supreme sacrifice when the need came to be.

I stood there with a sense of recognition,

But on that day I never had the premonition,

that when the time came to give me my due,

You'd just say, "What is so great that you do?"

Long back you promised a well-to-do life;

And when I'm away, take care of my wife.

You came and saw the hardships I live through,And I saw you make a note or two,

And I hoped you would realise the worth of me;

but now I know you'll never be able to see,

Because you only see the glorified life of mine,

Did you see the place where death looms all the time?

Did you meet the man standing guard in the snow?

The name of his newborn he does not know...

Did you meet the man whose father breathed his last?

While the sailor patrolled our seas so vast?

You still know I'll not be the one to raise my voice

I will stand tall and protect you in Punjab Himachal and Thois.

But that's just me you have in the sun and rain,

For now at twenty-four, you make me think again;

About the decision I made, seven years back;

Should I have chosen another life, some other track?

Will I tell my son to follow my lead?

Will I tell my son, you'll get all that you need?

This is the country you will serve

This country will give you all that you deserve?

I heard you tell the world "India is shining"

I told my men, that's a reason for us to be smiling

This is the India you and I will defend!

But tell me how long will you be able to pretend?

You go on promise all that you may,

But it's the souls of your own men you betray.

Did you read how some of our eminent citizens

Write about me and ridicule my very existence?

I ask you to please come and see what I do,

Come and have a look at what I go throughLive my life just for a day

Maybe you'll have something else to say?

I will still risk my life without a sighTo keep your flag flying high

but today I ask myself a question or two…Oh India…. Why do I still serve you?

A Growing Menace...Reality TV Shows...

So whats capturing the headlines at all the news channels and papers in India today...a certain Reality TV Marriage is breaking apart.  Its not the first time the rich and spoilt brat of a Late Politician has been accused of domestic violence. His first marriage (which did not take place on Reality TV) also broke apart after his wife divorced him on the grounds of domestic violence. What remains questionable is that on what basis then was this monster who gets his kick by hitting women was brought to a Reality TV Show with a lot of fanfare and promotions in his quest for a new wife??...The moronic title of the TV Show was "Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega"...I never watched the show so I really dont know on what basis the girls were selected and further on what basis he selected his "bride", what I do know is that after garnering lot of TRPs and advertisement money, the brat finally selected a wannabe actress/model from Kolkata who is accusing him of domestic violence barely into 4 months of their marriage and who is now showing off her abuse marks on news channels, I have no real sympathy for this girl because afterall on what basis did she decide to marry this guy? Didnt she inquire into his past, tried to know him better? If her only objective was Money and Fame, she got all this and some more that she had not bargained for. I think the next title of the show the brat will star in will be "Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega...aur fir uski Pitaayi Karega"...

Theres a flood of reality TV shows these days and apparently this brat is much in demand in these shows because he also starred in another moronic "Reality " show "Big Boss"...I have still not comprehended what this show is about...They gather some wannabes from all walks of life (mainly those who have been involved in some kind of scandal...more scandalous,the better) and keep them in the house and monitor their "activities" and based upon "Viewer Voting" they are all chucked out of the house one by one and in the end one wins a huge sum of money...How..Why..On What Basis....Dont ask...thats the beauty of these reality TV Shows.

The list is endless...for high TRPs, thwarting Competition and in the quest of  presenting themselves as 'Different'...TV Channels are leaving no stones unturned and since "Reality TV Shows" are the hottest "in" thing these days they are belching out a variety "Reality Dance...Singing...U name it and its conceptualised in the "reality" format. One such mindless reality show was "Emotional Atyachaar" wherein couple conducted "Loyalty Tests" on one another and this TV show helped by "planting" a sexy ruse (male/female dependent upon on which partner the test was being conducted) and then this ruse would chase and shower attention on mostly plain and slightly over weight "targets" who more often than not fell victim to their attractions and then got busted...they then helped the other partner who was conducting the test to catch their cheating partners "red handed" in the act and actively recorded and broadcasted the emotional showdown that used to follow...Forget about whether its real or scripted, can you imagine something more idiotic and stupid than this??...A popular TV show like "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" has also fallen prey to TRPs...a show that has given some of the most talented singers to the country is now dependent upon viewer voting where Judges are no more than Puppets and real winners are chosen by public through voting,where people vote for their favorite singers not for their talent (because seriously how would they know who sings better,not everyone is a musician) but vote the contestants if they belong to their state, caste, religion etc.

News Channels are also not acting responsibly...Under Pressure to keep viewer's attention, these 24/7 news channels sensationalize and hype small and irrelevant issues to such an extent that they seem like national calamity. For example, the marriage of this brat (entire ceremony was broadcasted 'Live' ofcourse) was reported with the same enthusiasm with which they are now reporting the allegations of his second wife and her bruise marks. As the "Idiot Box" is graduating into "Moronic Box" we can do nothing but choose to either watch or not watch.

Reality TV was touted as the great new hope for the digital era. A new genre featuring real people in real situations,laughing real laughs and shedding real tears. But it has fallen prey to the easy temptation of pre-packaged programming, degenerating into a scripted charade controlled by off-screen handlers in which contestants shed fake tears and throw sham tantrums to wring a few drops of interest from blase viewers. And why blame the viewers? All entertainment today is prefabricated . Even war. No wonder death has also lost its capacity to move us.