Tanzerin

Two days back I was at a conclave of dancers, and some one asked me- "So you're full-time dancing aa?" And I wasn't sure what to say to that. And my reply like it is almost all the time was "Uhm...well....you know.. I dance yes...but I have a one and half year old daughter so...and I also do some medical writing...so you know" And my audience is always bewildered. "So transcriptions aa?" [And as bad as it sounds I take offense to being associated with that line of 'writing' so] my quick retort is always "NOO...I write for research- you know journal papers [ 'regulatory documents' will be quite lost on most people who ask me these questions]... In any case, I've been thinking a bit about what qualifies as full time, part time, hardly any time, time etc etc.. So, I don't have an office to go to in the morning. No 9 to 5 job or 9 to 8 job like most 'working women'. So I'm apparently not qualified to say...

It's time to make resolutions! 1. I am going to get fitter and healthier (it's definite indication that I need to cos my little monster keeps pointing to a treadmill and cross-trainer very excitedly every time she spots one). 2. I am going to read more (although it looks like the genre is going to be uhm.... 'Little Miss Muff...' and 'Dosai amma Dosai...'). 3. I am going to speak no evil, hear no evil, write no evil (this obviously does not include any venting and cribbing that I am entitled to when I'm bugged with certain members in our society- Got IT??!) 4. I am going to dance more (it's a little difficult though since the guru is more fascinated by her grand daughter's Gangnam style than her daughter's Trikala Jathi). 5. I am going to write more often - dear colleagues at work, please do not worry- I'll fit the scientific writing in as well ;) 7. I am going to do some of that mind mapping/memory training blah blah this year ...

I've blogged and gloated about the new entry in my life for almost a year now. New entries have that effect on you I guess. But, 10 years back there was another new entry in my life: don't be scandalised- it was no baby- just a lady. Ok again, don't raise your eyebrows, I'm just referring to the time when most TamBrahms would have labeled me the "kodumakaara Naathanaar" or as you would call it in English "the Sister-in-law".Men are from Mars and women from Venus? More like she was from Mercury and me from Pluto. What could we have agreed on? Not much.... 1. She said "Hugs are beautiful." I said "Uhm... I can't hug." 2. She said "Let's party till 4 AM." I was always indoors before dinner time. 3. She said "Let's practice that step again." I wondered "WHY????" and still do! 4. "Here's your gift for Pongal." she said. And suddenly I realised how my brother had cheated me o...

Remember when some old relative pinched your cheeks at a wedding and said, "How small you were. Look how big you've gotten!" I always wanted to say, " Well. I can't remain 5 forever! And... You used to be so thin.. look how fat you've gotten." And somehow I look at my almost-a-year-old daughter and seem to want to say just that! "Remember how tiny she was. Look at her now!" Just that it ain't moist eyes that accompany that line but "O my god, please don't put that shoe in your mouth..again..grrrr" ONE year seems like a long time but time has slipped by so quickly that I can hardly believe I'm a year old in the parenting business (Daddy J: You agree, don't you?!). Life and everything around me has changed such a big deal, that it sometimes feels like some parallel universe... And here I go again with my "10 Things that have changed...." 1. I have new-found respect for cows... Need I say more. 2. "S...

WAVES OF BEAUTY In the light of the candle I saw her. A glow so radiant that it was blinding; As it was scintillating. A bejeweled crown that shone As if it was her pride. Blackness all around Her dark body seemed to throw. A crimson tongue reeked of anger with weapons to aid. With a garland of skulls, Morbid seemed the goddess. Demons lay at her feet, Frightened by her strength. Her matted hair disheveled Like that of an ascetic. A goddess embodies grace, Is it not I wondered. Then why worship such ferocity, For peace is what prevails?! And then I looked at her eye, I take pride in my children, They seemed to say, Not arrogant by my strength. My blackness is my power, They seemed to say, An energy so potent That it encompasses all. My weapons will rise They seemed to say, When you sin. Devote yourself for good and you won’t stumble. Evil will be vanquished They seemed to say, In every age and ti...

Rule # 1 Long ago: Oldie: At dawn, sprinkle water in front of the house. The dust will settle, you can smell the earth and you will get to hear the birds sing- what a beautiful start to the day! Some time ago: Oldie: At dawn, sprinkle water in front of the house. Girl: Why? Oldie: It’s good for you and for the house. And don’t keep asking questions- it’s disrespectful. Now: Oldie:  At dawn, sprinkle water in front of the house. Girl: But, it’s Saturday. I want to sleep till 9. And if I sprinkle water, my neighbours will slip and fall. Oldie: What a generation! No discipline. Rule#2 Long ago: Oldie: The clothes must have dried. Bring them in before you eat or you’ll get a cramp in your tummy collecting and folding all the clothes. Sometime ago: Oldie: The clothes must have dried. Bring them in before you eat. Girl: Why? Oldie: That’s the rule. And don’t keep asking questions- it’s disrespectful. Now: Oldie: Bring the clothes in before you e...

The Atman cries out to the Brahman “Who am I?” Not hearing a response, he cries out again “Why am I here?” Baffled by the silence of the Brahman, the Atman proclaims “I am the supreme manifestation of reality.” To which he hears no argument but what stirs within him is an unexplained restlessness. He is angered by his mute spectator. “Your silence only tells a story of ignorance”, he reluctantly exclaims, half in anger, half in despair. “I will figure this out on my own”, he says determinedly and sets out.  He travels far and wide. He consults with magicians. He consults with ascetics. He asks the winds and the rain. He asks the swift sand about her maker. “Who made you?” she retorts sarcastically. Stamping her into the earth with a hurt ego, he sets out further. He speaks to the mountains, he speaks to the snow. “Shouldn’t you aim to climb up once in a while?” he asks the snow over Mount Kailash. “Your descent is your end- as you melt and trickle down the plains only to end...