Born and brought up in Mumbai amongst very diverse community, it was not long before I lost my gujarati touch. Idli dosa for breakfast, samosas for snacks and curry getting spicier, everything from food to festival and language got blended. Life was fun. Until I left Mumbai.
Everytime I come across my fellow Gujarati friends/strangers, I always get volley of questions like what kind of Patel am I, what sect, what diety do I worship, etc... Honestly, I don't know. I never asked my parents and they never forced me to know these answers.
Once they come to know that I am weak in speaking my mother tongue, they seem not pleased. I am lectured on how important it is to learn and keep mother tongue. I am not against my parental language, just that I grew up more with mumbaiya hindi. So why is that look which says I am missing something? Not that I care but it does make me feel uncomfortable.
Just the other day in one of the parties, I was relishing chicken tikka and there comes my guju friend and ask me how chicken is. Once I told him it is good, he walks away from me. This started few questions go around my head(Gujus are not supposed to eat any kind of meat...well most of them.) but I started smiling again. He came back with chicken on his plate ;)
Back home, things got more global. All the kids in family and around are more Hinglish than any other language. (Hinglish = Hindi + English(American)). Wonder what's in store for them.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Parents
All I want to say in this post is please dont find excuse to not be with parents, not help parents. Actually you should find excuse to help them and be with them. (And this applies to both parents as well as in-laws. No distinction.)
Check this email forward that reached me. I agree with what it is trying to say.
-------------------
An IT guy describes how his gesture of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden flight, brought forth a rush of emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet Airways.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for sports gear, fancy clothes, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability,they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us? Better yet, do you even think just thanks is enough?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of ur parents...Please!!!
Check this email forward that reached me. I agree with what it is trying to say.
-------------------
An IT guy describes how his gesture of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden flight, brought forth a rush of emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet Airways.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for sports gear, fancy clothes, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability,they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us? Better yet, do you even think just thanks is enough?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of ur parents...Please!!!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Devotee, Me.
Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple. Washington DC. The beautiful temple which I try to visit once a month unless am travelling away. I am not very religious but this place really brings peace to me. I have been a regular since past 8 years and lot of it has changed. It has grown bigger in size and in terms of number of devotees.
The name says Shiva Vishnu Temple, but it houses almost all Hindu Gods. There is Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ayappa, Lord Rama, Lord Venkatesa, Lord Krisha, and many more. You can see people praying to Gods they like. More devoted onces offer Archanas(special prayers and offering to God).
They have nice auditorium where they have community functions and they also teach kids about literature, dance, languages, etc. On other side of temple, you could see someone performing car Puja so as to ask God keep his car safe in traffic(I think).
One thing I like in South Indians is that they are more devoted and I can see them more regular at temple. And perhaps, they are the only ones in all age groups. They dress the kids in traditional clothes and that is a treat to watch.
Today during the Archana, someone had his cellphone ring and that big guy starts talking loudly for full two minutes. Maybe that was important call but does someone have to keep talking right at middle of Archana? I may never understand.
One interesting thing I have noticed is lot many people here go to temple regularly compared to time they would be in India. Like myself, I hardly used to go to temple in India. Here I am quite a regular.
And yes, to be honest, one of the reason a bachelor like me makes it a point to get up early on weekend and drive for 45 mins to go see Gods is food at temple. Without doubt that would be the best food I can rate and savour. Just Yummy ;)
Monday, September 04, 2006
Return Policy
Someone I know, hurried upto a department store and returned suitcase he used during his three week long vacation. He was lecturing on how wise he is on saving money by returning things before the expiration of return date.
Just when I thought him to be an isolated 'ass' case, I came across friends who would return Car baby seats after using it for a while, friends who would return digital cameras/camcoders after taking hundreds of pictures to thier satisfaction, and someone in my office who would return all her expensive clothes back to store after wearing them at parties or two. I can list hundreds of such examples.
The problem with these people is not that they are unhappy with the product or something not upto satisfaction. It is that plain cheap mindset of returning goods back to the store after using it to thier satisfaction. They think it is thier basic right. You can see that beaming false pride in thier face once they get money back.
I hate these people and really curse them that they suffer the double the cost they inflict on store/manufacturers one way or other. And I have seen them suffer and I can tell you in blog that it brings smile to my face.
If you are one of those people, please stop useless and pointless returns. Just think for a moment, if you are the owner of store, if you are the manufacturer, if your customer is abusing your policy, how will you feel. Will you like someone doing that to you? So please, think before you return and think hundred times before you buy.
Just when I thought him to be an isolated 'ass' case, I came across friends who would return Car baby seats after using it for a while, friends who would return digital cameras/camcoders after taking hundreds of pictures to thier satisfaction, and someone in my office who would return all her expensive clothes back to store after wearing them at parties or two. I can list hundreds of such examples.
The problem with these people is not that they are unhappy with the product or something not upto satisfaction. It is that plain cheap mindset of returning goods back to the store after using it to thier satisfaction. They think it is thier basic right. You can see that beaming false pride in thier face once they get money back.
I hate these people and really curse them that they suffer the double the cost they inflict on store/manufacturers one way or other. And I have seen them suffer and I can tell you in blog that it brings smile to my face.
If you are one of those people, please stop useless and pointless returns. Just think for a moment, if you are the owner of store, if you are the manufacturer, if your customer is abusing your policy, how will you feel. Will you like someone doing that to you? So please, think before you return and think hundred times before you buy.
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