Sari tales...

For the people belonging to this part of the world,Saraswati Pujo is hailed as the Bengali Valentines' day.I'm not that fond of the original Valentines' day itself,let alone the Bengali version of it.When I was a kid,Saraswati Pujo meant dressing up in my mother's too subtle for a five or six year old silk saris and feeling claustrophobic after an hour or two.In the early teen,it meant settling for the best zari-embroidered sari possible to impress the dishiest guy around.Then,as I grew up,Saraswati Pujo started holding less and less significance for me.It just became one of those rituals which was blown out of proportion and therefore,made me hate it with a lot of passion.But I love wearing sari occasionally though.I still do.And given my hectic schedule,I hardly get to wear something as lazy and time-consuming as a sari.I'm graduating this year.So,attending Saraswati Pujo as a student comes to an end,finally.I thought I should grace my college with a visit this year.But I was busy with a lot more things.So,didn't get to plan my outfit properly.

The sari was a Durga Pujo gift from my aunt but I didn't get to wear it on Ashtami,thanks to the desperation of meeting a friend I hardly get to see in spite of living in the same city and a hookah session that lasted a little too long.I had no other occasion to wear it thereafter.So,I decided,Saraswati Pujo it is.
                                                                                                                                 Like I said,I didn't have too many fancy things at my disposal.Fashion Bombay announced the arrival of 'pile all your bracelets up,ditch the minimalist elite snob in you' trend.So,I took the bangles out from my closet.The goldens and browns looked too matchy-matchy.So,I added the current favorite silver owl pendant and the pretty but somewhat flashy silver jhumkas(not visible in the pictures,*Tears*),apart from the silver nose ring I've been sporting these days,just to add a little contrast.I'm in love with this vintage Kolhapuris for a long time.So,they were an obvious choice.And I threw in the Taj Mahal embroidered Rajasthani sling on my sari because well,
i)I love it to death.
ii)Not too many people carry slings with saris.
iii)I love to stand out.
But sadly,even the sling isn't visible in the picture.No brownie points for my photographer for sure!*Wink*

Mourning the final nail in the coffin of 'democratic' India

We Indians take a lot of pride in being Indian,in being the citizen of a free,democratic country where everyone is given equal precedence,where no voice is lost amidst the chaos,where no one is denied justice and most importantly,where everyone is free to have an opinion.And that's precisely why the recent controversy regarding Salman Rushdie's presence in the Jaipur Literature Festival saddens me to death.
                                                                                                                       It doesn't take a literature critic to understand what a genius this man is.I've not read all his books but pondering over 'Midnight's children' for a considerable amount of time(Yes,it's the book that took me the longest time to finish) and reading select pages from 'The Satanic Verses' were enough to make up my mind on this legend.He isn't a feel-good writer,I'll give you that.But I don't know of a better read when I'm in any kind of emotional dilemma,when I'm having doubts about myself,about my abilities as an individual,when I feel like I've turned into everything I've been loathing since,like,forever...he comes to my rescue.He isn't easy-going,he isn't quick but just going through his books once restores my confidence back-my confidence on humanity,my confidence on the world.And to see that very man fall prey to this nasty conspiracy is extremely disheartening.
                                                                                                                                  You know what,I won't even get into that.Yes,he's one of my THE most favourite authors but then,someone might not like his works as much as I do and I totally understand that.But even if they don't,does that mean he shouldn't be allowed to say what he wants to,write what he'd like to...why'd he need an allowance in the first place?He's as much Indian as his protesters!Did these people need an allowance in order to hate him?And what's more saddening is that the Government literally remained a mute spectator throughout this whole joke.Insensitive,unreasonable and downright offensive demands will always be there but it's the Government's duty to make sure these demands are NOT met.And to do nothing as Jaipur Lit Fest goes on without his presence is nothing but fanning the extremist sentiments.It sets a bad precedence.It gives our country a bad reputation and it makes people like me want to say,'I'm an Indian and I'm not proud of it'.
                                                                                                                                    I'm not a Hindu,Muslim,Christian or Buddhist.but even I believe that God(if any)should be above everything.Even if the author wrote something blasphemous(which he didn't,according to me and many others),God should be powerful enough to rise above a mortal's 'opinions'.For every Salman Rushdie,God has trillions of people singing paeans to him,so,why does he care anyway?Live and let live,dude!Simple!
                                                         I'm not an intellectual(though at times,I claim to be).I don't understand literature(though I try very hard to).I'm no expert on religion(and I couldn't care less).But I DO believe in humanity and I try to abide by it.Driving an author of his stature to a point where he has no other option but to skip the festival(which claims to be the Cannes of Literature anyway)is shameful for all Indians.It's a sad day for democracy.
                     I'm wearing this nose ring to voice my protest against something so unjust! I think in some way or the other,it makes me look angry.And also,I won't be voting this time because if I spend hours standing in a queue and bring a political party to power and then no one hears my voice because I'm a peace-loving harmless citizen with no backbone and I can't issue 'fatwas',why care?

                                                          

Readers' digest

I always keep saying that my readers make the blog what it is.They take it forward,they make a difference,they inspire me...they play the role the people play in a democracy.And it's their enthusiasm I thrive on.Otherwise,I'm just an overweight pessimistic snob with thirty pairs of shoes and a few books in my bag.
                                                                                                                                  I savour nothing like a well-thought feedback from a reader.It doesn't have to be positive.I don't want to be surrounded by praises.I value honesty above everything else.An honest feedback,even if it shows me in a not-so-flattering light,makes my day because it proves that someone cares for me in spite of having no self-interest in it.I don't pay anyone for reading my blog.Unlike a few other celeb bloggers,I don't even arrange giveaways on my blog!So,whoever reads my posts,wastes their time without hoping for a gain.And still,they choose to do it and go on thanking me for writing though I should be the one thanking them!
                                                                              There've been many feedbacks that inspired me in some way or the other since the very day I started the blog.I already did a post on Meher and the effect her comment had on me.Today,Tanvii's post got me thinking again.
                                                                                           I was going through a personal crisis since the last week of Dec,2011.The result was Heartbreak and Co..A reader left a comment on the post which read,
'Hello Soumi.!Most probably you don't know me, even I didn't know you until I searched your name on facebook and was surprised to find that we are from the same college..(strange,no...?) Anyway, I don't know how exactly I landed up in here (your blogging site) during my usual net surfing after a long tiring day in the office. Primarily the name of your blog fascinated me... (Wow..What innovation!! Though I didn't get the real meaning of it..), then I started reading all your posts one by one (here I must mention that I am a great admirer of good writings; and yours are superb, very natural and your choice of words is very unique) and I really enjoyed all of them. But I was touched by one of your posts (Heartbreak & Co), actually I could relate myself (to be specific, our story) to every word you wrote over there.
  Three years back,I had had my first breakup..She didn't want to but I insisted and almost forcefully moved on. Her condition was pathetic after it, she pleaded for a second chance but I had no other option. While reading your post (Heartbreak & Co), I got a feeling as if she was pleading for a second chance again after so many years, because the feeling you shared over there was exactly the same, she used to tell me the same things, same requests, same pain..All the same..!!! Only difference is that she was not a gifted blogger like you, so she couldn't manage to translate her pain into some beautiful piece of literature.I am feeling guilty now for what I had done three years back. During all these years,I never had this guilt pang inside me, actually I never gave it a thought,I was busy making my career and took her as a lost chapter in my life. I never tried to understand her pain, never bothered to think how she was spending her days..
But your blog forced me to realize how tough it must have been for her during those days..!!!
All these years,I never called her, neither did I receive her calls..But one thing is for sure, tonight I am going to call her up and ask " kemon achis Shatabdi..?? "(Rough translation-how are you,Shatabdi?).
Sounds melodramatic, right..??? But anyway, that’s the way it is.
Wish you all the luck, keep blogging.
GOD BLESS YOU :) -ANIRBAN'
                                                     I call myself anything but a writer.In addition to it,to have someone's life changed because of some random lines I put together?What in the name of God can be more satisfying than that?I make it a point to mail my readers back after they put up comments in here. I don't like to reply to them over here because it just keeps increasing the number of comments,thereby giving others a wrong idea about my popularity,:P(There're actually five comments under my post but since I 'replied' all my readers,blogger shows others that I've got ten comments which is misleading,to say the least!).Anirban didn't leave his mail ID.So,I couldn't get back to him.So,I'd like to reply to him in this post only.
                                                                                                              Anirban,I don't know if you're reading this or not,but yours is the most emotional comment I've received in these nine months(yes,that's the age of my blog.)Making a difference is the biggest thing a creative person can aim to do-a singer,a dancer,a poet,a painter,a writer,everyone wishes their creations will change someone else's life.That's the best award one can hope for.You've taken a brave decision.Good luck with that.I personally believe that it's never too late.No matter what the outcome is,do let me know,will you?And if you're in Kolkata,you might come by
and say 'hi' sometimes.I love meeting my readers and other fellow bloggers!Feel free to meet me in college or elsewhere.Maybe I can share my story in detail then.It's been a while since I talked about my heartbreak because it wasn't a typical relationship and not many people understand.Also,people get judgmental very easily.And no,I don't think what you said sounds melodramatic.In fact,it's the most non-cheesily romantic things I've come across in a long,long time.God bless you.I sincerely hope you and Shatabdi follow it through and become one of those 'ridiculously happy' couples.And even if you don't,even if she has moved on,do stay in touch.I'm a pain freak and I think no emotion can ever be as pure as pain.God chooses those to inflict with pain who're stronger than the happy ones.So,you and I are God's special children.Cheers to that!

                                                   Coming back to the outfit,I've been wearing this pendant regularly for almost a month but since I never take close up shots,they get lost in almost every picture of mine.I've a soft spot for this watch though it shows no time any more(not the correct time,that is).This pink wallet is something I never leave home without.It adds fun and color to whatever I'm wearing.I've been obsessed with anything yellow for close to a year or more.So,that explains the frequent presence of this kolhapuri in my posts.hope you all had a great week.Take care.Love.