India, Don't put me down!

Anything in the below post is my opinion and solely my opinion.

I am a 22 year old working professional but I am also a Grand Daughter, a Daughter, a Sister, a Niece, a Cousin, an Aunt, a Friend and most importantly a GIRL! A girl who is scared to take a step without the fear of being a victim to the atrocities we have seen over the past one month because she knows she is on her own and that if she can not fight for her own life, NO ONE WILL.

The month of December had a lot of people speaking up for themselves. Some of them standing up for themselves and fighting for justice and some of them speaking up utter crap!

December 16th could easily be the day that I felt India awoke from it's hibernation - The day which brought utter shame to India when a 23 year old girl was Gang Raped! The day which shook me out of my wits. The day which made me afraid of India - The country I was born and brought up in.

After 13 long days of struggling to live, The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died succumbing to her injuries after being brutally beaten up and raped by six drunken men in a private bus which was driven around south Delhi localities on the night of December 16th 2012. Today, being the tragic end of that 23 year old girl's life who awakened India.

What can we infer from this? That girls are not allowed to roam around the streets of their own country without the fear of being raped, running in their minds the entire time? What were the safe keepers of our country doing? If their job isn't to keep the country's citizens safe then what is their job? 100 hours after the gang rape, there was a laud for them when they caught just 5 of the 6 Rapists.Yes, they did a good job but only after the girl was brutally raped. Here are a few News clippings which show us how lightly the case was being taken. Hardly days after that gruesome rape, there was another rape in Gujrat! What is the signal we are trying to give people here? Get another country to live in, cause you may just get Gang Raped in India.

What gets even more annoying is the fact that Cops have been extremely biased to Rape victims. They have slapped around sexist remarks questioning the character of the victims! And to top it, Cops from the state of Gujrat are willing to offer a compensatory amount to the rape victim's family! Why? What are they trying to do? Are they trying to cover up something? Will the girl ever be able to lead a normal life without listening to all the snide remarks passed about her even though her family is given a compensation? The Girl would never be able to lead a normal life! But, Men can resume their life just where they stopped it before the rape. The reason it boils down to is the simple fact that we live in a Patriarchal society. How come only women's character's are questioned, how come no one ever question's a man's character? Why are we as little girls always told to dress up properly, not to walk around alone in unknown places? Why can't anyone teach men to respect women and behave themselves? If only Boys were taught at a young age! 

If the same were to happen to anyone from a Politician's family or a well known personality' family, would it have been taken with the same gusto or even more? Why the bias? We are after all Indian citizens and we all have the same rights.

The Women who were raped - They were/ are Victims. The definition of a victim just in, case you'll forgot is a person who suffers from a destructive or an injurious action/ a person who is deceived or cheated. It doesn't stop with the cops, the Politicians drunken with power have made outrageously sexist remarks too. Right from WB minister Anisur Rahman's remarks to the President's son - Abhijit Mukherjee with his dented and painted comment to the TMC Leader Kakoli Ghosh's with her remark about the Park Street Rape victim. Who are they to make such comments? When did India become so unreliable? Why must we take in insults made by our fellow country men - by the people we look up to? It is one thing to go to other countries and listen to a few nasty racist remarks but to listen to a few in one's own country from Leaders degrades the country as a whole.

What the Police have to do, Charge the accused! Will it do justice for the victim by just slapping murder charges against the accused? Will that make it safer for me to walk in my city with my head held up high? Of course NOT! The Rapists have to be charged under the IPC - That was foreseen, they have to be. But what I would demand is that the Rapists must be hanged to death in front of the people of India! And the Minor must be given the same punishment! Because everyone can differentiate what is Right and what is Wrong at a very young age! And for him to plead for justice because he is a minor is unacceptable. Why can we just not have Capital Punishment for Rape? Are India's laws too old that it can't be bent? Isn't India bothered about the welfare of it's women citizens? If those men could not value a girl's life, why must we value their lives? I was always taught to "Live and Let Live", if people can't follow that simple principle, who gives them the right to live?  

Not a day passed by without me praying for that girl's speedy recovery and justice to her and the many oppressed and of course, the fact that India would open up and do something about it. Rather than let it pass with the blink of an eye. This as a matter of fact opened my eyes to so many things India has so beautifully hidden. But I wish I didn't have to have my eyes opened when a girl was so brutally raped. How come it took us this one Girl's life to bring out the evils in Society, She wouldn't have been a victim if only the evil had been cut at the nib. She did bring out the anger to fight in each and every girl, every woman. My heart goes out to her parents as they are left with nothing but memories. Your daughter's will to fight is an inspiration to many. 

The Leaders and The Police of our country have proved their mettle. Isn't it high time we follow what we learnt when we were small under the subject "Civics"? The fact that India is a Democratic country - For the People, By the People and Of the People!

I hope reforms are made For the People (Safeguarding of every citizen), By the People (in Power) and Of the People.

A whirlwind of a holiday in Delhi

Another holiday comes to an end, there is that urge to stay for just a little more. But all good times must come to an end.

Delhi has been awesome! I loved every moment of my holiday- right from getting out of the T3 terminal into a misty Capital city which just turned 100 to meeting my Dad. From getting annoyed with that guy from church on Christmas eve only to have a laugh at it later, to spending a Christmas away from my family and to have cookies and gift's given to me by my extended family.
Attending a Syrian Christian wedding - Delhi style was just an awesome experience to meeting cousin's I've never met before only to realise we all hit it off pretty well (Touchwood) to travelling from one end of Delhi to the other end to cover some of the major sight seeing spots and shopping spots in less than 20 hours to the going up and down flyovers to being stuck in Traffic to hearing Kolaveri Di being played all over which nearly led me to ask myself- "Why this Kolaveri DI?".
To spending time playing games and chatting with a number of people on Facebook to just lazing around to getting up late each day.

Jumping on and off a Metro in crowded Delhi to going shopping only to realise people think Delhi is cheap and reasonable when Bangalore is a hundred times better for it's price and selection.
The misty mornings and evenings to the feeling that the days were actually eaten up by the night. Delhi you have proven the well known fact that time flies by when you are enjoying yourself, though it also flies past in an exam hall. (And I really don't enjoy myself in an exam hall)
To going to church on New Year morning to give that guy dirty looks, only to realise that the new year changed me! (Though I would still love to give that guy a piece of my mind)
The wonderful feeling of walking through the Inner and Outer circle in CP! The feeling of not being in India only to realise that I was in the Capital City of India when someone spits in front of me. The Crusing around the area's of the embassy's to feel that we were jumping countries in no time!
The indulgence of the Dilli cuisine- which was made a must by my Dad- from the Channa Batura to the Lassi to the Kulfi's to the Biriyani to the Pulao and the special Fried Chicken. The taste of South India in Saravana Bhavan only to miss the South and my family.
The walk's in the INA market when I was craving for something homemade- The lovely Appam and Beef roast I had there. To realise that I was not the only one feeling home sick. Delhi has never felt like a new place cause I was always surrounded by people I know or by people from God's Own Country which makes life all the more easier for any Mallu. No wonder they say even if you go to the Arctics you'll find a Mallu selling Chai. Im so glad their all over.
Holidays- It really did go by soon! I'll miss you, Delhi, Im coming back SOON! Be good to my Dad till then!

Till then here is a recipe someone invented, It's called "Recipe for Delhi". Maybe I should try this out in Bangalore.

The Lost One at my Window.

Getting up late is something that happens when Im on a holiday! Today being part of my Weekend Getaway was No Different. But this Morning I was woken up by Something very different, by something other than the screams of my parents saying Im going to be late for college! It was a Pigeon. It reminded me of Masakali, It looked into my window wondering who were the Earthlings inside! It wondered why the Curtain was drawn apart! It wondered why its privacy had gone! It needed to get back at us so it kept poking its nose into our window. From What I figured it was just telling us I want my privacy back! I told it in my mind we'll move in a day so please let me go to sleep! As if it understood me it flew away!
I curled under my Blanket and was about to get the rest of my sleep when the door banged open and my Brother and Mother emerged after a session at the gym. The newly turned fitness freaks!
It surely was time for breakfast. The dream Briton Breakfast?! Well well well, thats exactly almost what I got and eating with Britons made me realise that exactly was the Dream Briton Breakfast.

"Y - M - C - A!"

Ever Since I realised we were going to be staying at The YMCA! Iv been singing the Popular Number to myself! Trying to Imbibe the sense of YMCA maybe. But ever since I heard the fares, Im still trying to Digest the fact that Im living at the YMCA for the same amount I could Live in the Taj West End or Residency or The Leela Palace In Bangalore! I know The typical Malayalee attitude has struck me!
But I do love Staying at the YMCA! When I finally did get up for Dinner, There was a play going on at the Quadrangle, I suppose! Im still to get used to the place! And the Theme was Easter. It surely did make us feel at home! A lot of things make us feel at home but the pinch of the Fares surely did not make me feel at home!
Dinner was absolutely awesome! Being a supposed ex Diet Conscious Freak, I was so happy I wasn't one any longer and just dug in! Now Im waiting for breakfast already even though thats 9 hours away now! Overall YMCA Delhi is not like the other YMCA's Iv stayed in! Its a different Experience. Well It has to be else the Fares wouldn't be so much!
I think whats affected me is I wouldn't be able to shop so much just cause of this! Well we'll just have to see! But the fact that Our Car too gave
way by Puncturing itself took me aback.
The look from the balcony of our Room is awesome! We've got awesome Neighbours too, The Organising Committee building for the Common Wealth Games 2010 and The Park which is a little away!
The YMCA hasn't caught my attention still much but I love staying here! So Il just have to Pray tomorrow is a better day! And I hope Holy Saturday does do its wonders cause Good Friday was not that Good!

I do not want to be DTOA (Dead Tired On Arrival)!

A trip to the Capital city of India, during a hectic week in the middle of a semester for just a weekend can easily be the best get away I could ever think Of!
Iv been waiting for a holiday! And I just do not want to be Tired on arrival! It usually happens cause Im air sick! Well thinking over it Im basically Travel Sick. But I love exploring places and If ever there was a stream of Undergraduate Courses which dealt with just travel and had a good scope, I would easily have opted for that! But going by the trend Engineering seemed right then! I have No complaints of that though!
Anyways an Early Morning Flight out of Bangalore has a lot of Implications! It means getting up early with the experiences we've had of getting up an hour and a half before the flight we're used to it!
We're out of Our House by 4 and the only tune which keeps humming itself in my Mind was "Leaving on a Jet Plane"! The scenic beauty to the Bengaluru International Airport is always Amazing and it takes my breath away everytime!
But within No time were we in the race with other cabs. So I take out my earphones plug it in and go into a World Of My Own!
I get up in the middle and realise we've reached the Airport, then I started dreading the Journey cause there has only been a travel when I have never shown any Uneasiness! Thanks to my Co Passenger. She kept giving me boosts of Confidence! Well this time its different, this time Im not on my Own! I have my entire family!
By the end of the 2 and a half hour Journey, I realise what the best way to beat the Uneasiness is! Sleep through the entire journey on My Amma' Lap. I wonder what Il do on my Journey back, considering Im going back on my Own again!
Well the famous T3 Terminal took me by surprise. It was amazing! It was like No Airport Iv seen before! It was Awesome! Was this just the beginning of an awesome Weekend Getaway with extremely Out of this world Roaming Charges!? Well it did start as one.
The reason we came to Delhi was a Promotional Transfer! Transfers always give me the jitters! It keeps us all apart but the very fact that its Just a 2 and a half hour flight away, Just an Std call away, Just a National Sms away! It eases my Nerves.
And I still believe in What happens, Always happens for the Good!
Our First stop was the Quarters but we had nothing to spend a day in it! So we decided Shopping and before anything Eating. We were famished!
We go to the Famous South Indian Creation - Saravana Bhavan! It made us feel at home but the prices did make me feel we were paying a bit too much for eating in a place just like home, So far away from Home!
Jet Lag didn't bother me once I realised I was to go Shopping! But that was Short Lived. My Mother fell sick and she was so in need of some Well deserved rest. After all it was a holiday! My Father did not think Twice! Within No Time we were Checked in to The YMCA! I was not DTOA, until I sat on the bed and Got up by 7 in the evening for Dinner!