Hold the thought, Get the point

Every time I listen to a panel discussion about 'Breaking the glass ceiling,' I get miffed by the stories that are told. Not because they are glorified, but more per-say, as they convey only a partial narrative of the privileged minority of the population. And while it is okay that this makes my blood boil, it is time things need to be said exactly as the way they should be. So, here I am, ruffling the hornet's nest and opening the pandora's box. But before you start looking for me – to punch me in my face, hear me out. Yes, I agree, acknowledge, and applaud all modern educated quintessential women within and outside the corporate world. And that is indeed a remarkable feat, considering our history of generations laden with patriarchy. The premise of my disagreement begins here. All these women, whose remarkable achievement we are in awe about – were highly educated, acted on their own will, and powered by their own confidence and determination ventured into a world dom...

Let me be the first to call it - This is a modern tragedy of biblical proportions. No, we aren't talking about the Coronavirus. I feel we are all talking about the virus a little too much while being distracted about the real pandemic in our lives - Corporate greed and Political apathy. A year ago, as governments scrambled to contain the virus and contain us without our homes or in the case of India, throw millions of migrants out of their urban homes, we didn't flinch.  If you haven't realized it, this is a Global War. Countries around the world have lost lakhs of citizens. If this were an armed conflict, people would have been outraged. We would have been on the streets campaigning and baying for the blood of our governments for their apathy. We would not have rested until the system changed.  If this was a Hollywood movie, the American protagonist would have rolled out the big guns and then some to bring democracy and world peace. If this was a Bollywood movie, Salman Kh...

What is that they say about silence? Silence is golden, right? Probably, the reason our Honourable Prime Minister is silent.  While people die outside of his privileged sanctum of calm and health, Mr. Modi is conspicuously silent.  He probably doesn't have much to say.  Or maybe he does, but he doesn't need to say it.  Or maybe he does need to say but doesn't know how to say it.  Or maybe he knows how to say it but doesn't know why he needs to say it now.  The dead aren't helpful to him anymore anyway.  The seriously ill will never live long enough to vote and is thus not helpful to him either. The ones living in fear of getting sucked into the vortex of government apathy and corporate greed will forget in time for the next elections. One biriyani and liquor combo lunch with Rs 500/- will guarantee their votes. The rich will flee to their cocooned fortresses and ride out the crest.  The poor will rather die asphyxiated than of starvation. This lea...

The last few years have been tough. But let's admit it - The last few days have been harder. 5 days ago, our PM did it again. He delivered a primetime speech, filled with enough anecdotes that included breaking Corona into an interesting acronym, to shut down our country.  Yes, we had to shut down. Because let's face it. Our healthcare infrastructure is not prepared to handle an epidemic, let alone a pandemic. Yes, we need to do what we need to do to prevent India from becoming a powder keg for the deadly virus. My beef is with the way our PM does this. Sure, this virus much like black-money and corruption needs be to nipped and tough measures need to be taken.  Like demonetization, he gave a country of 1.2 billion just 4 hours to shut down and stay home for 21 days.  He had to be seen taking a tough and a much-needed stand. He had to be seen in control.  But what ensued was utter chaos. Today, he came out with guns blazing defending his decision.  Wh...

They say age is just a number. As I get to the big four O, I both agree and disagree. I don't feel forty but I'm not as fearless as I was.  It's all in the mind they say. But is the mind weary or are you willing to celebrate the glass half full? The decade that just passed has been tumultuous. As someone who follows politics, regional and otherwise, I've been getting sicker. Modi with his unique brand of statesmanship has done a fair enough sleight of hand tricks to retain the voting majority.  We have morphed into a nation where freedom of speech has become a precious nonrenewable resource. Like slow-cooked frogs, we neither have the muscle to rise up nor the money to keep our fight focused.  As politicians openly campaign for violence against those who don't share their political enthusiasm, I lament. I've stayed quiet for the better part of the past decade fearing frivolous lawsuits and death threats from people who don't believe i...

I don’t think people are meant to be by themselves That's why if you actually find someone you care about, it’s important to let go of the little things, even if you can’t let go all the way.   Because nothing sucks more than feeling all alone even when you are with someone. We all see people bitch about relationships all day long, Sometimes, people are so scared of what may or may not happen that they sabotage their relationship. I am so sick and tired of being alone. I am sick and tired of staring at the ceiling, thinking about the one person I am crazy about and wondering if she feels the same way about me.   I am tired of wishing I had someone that I could wake up to, eat a meal with, listen to, come home to and see before I close my eyes. We don’t realize how lucky we are until we’ve lost it. Somethings I do won’t please you. Somethings I won’t do without you. Because we have to find our paths -   Paths of happiness, paths of an...