No Age of Innocence

Some days ago when I overheard a conversation in the local market, something inside me asked a question. Is the age of innocence really over? Is humanity and compassion of no value any more? Does money talk all the time? Does one always need to have money in his pocket to be able to show his worth? It is truly disheartening to see that the world is heading towards a black hole which lacks innocence, values, and virtues.

Nowadays most children lash out at their parents if their demands are not granted. They throw tantrums all the time and it seems as if their demands are never-ending. It’s understandable that peer pressure is a major cause of such behavior, however, parents also willingly agree. Moreover, this attributes to a great extent to parents’ affordability and that they cannot devote much time for the children. Further, a recent survey revealed that 70% of 13-18 year olds agree to deceit to attain success. If this is where the value system has reached, how is one going to cultivate morality in their child? What has happened to the current generation? Where are the kids who used to be happy playing ludo, carom, chess, monopoly, scrabble and other simple and family board games? Even dolls are not liked by little girls these days. Everyone wants to play with complicated and expensive games. I remember we used to play gulli-danda, pittuk, hide& seek, dark-room and other similar local games, hurt ourselves and be blissful. Why are such games unheard of today? Thankfully atleast, some local kids play simple versions of badminton and cricket on the streets and parks instead of spending that time with the computer, TV or video games. Moreover, friendship has become more virtual that real. Greeting cards are hardly bought, leave alone drawn and painted by the children. And then again I was quite taken aback to come across a children’s salon in one of the malls. It looked more fashionable that an adult’s salon. Are these kids made of a different matter altogether?

Truly the society has metamorphosed greatly. This is evident in the advertisements and commercials. The products, the attitudes, the expressions tell us that simplicity and innocence are passé. One can only survive if one changes oneself in thought, word and deed. Also the current songs, movies, TV serials portray a similar picture. Brands are the need of the hour-- for adults and children alike. Aggression, rudeness, impolite behaviour, arrogance, intolerance, impatience, dishonesty, etc. are the current behavioural traits. Perhaps that’s why we hear of road rage, serial killers, frequent mass shoot-outs of innocent people, kidnapping by children etc. everyday. Cheating, killing, and robbing are commonplace nowadays. People are ready to boast at the drop of a hat. And none bats an eyelid when they observe a misdeed. Every negative action seems to be acceptable in today’s world.   

Who is to blame for all this? Why has it come to this? Is this how we intended to see our future evolve? I feel there’s still time and scope to change for the better and correct ourselves if we pay attention, think positively and understand the dent that we’re making in the society at large. This is my appeal to all to continue the good work of cleansing our culture, and to help bring back those who have moved away from the right path. 

If Mobiles Could Cook

The single most important device that one cannot do without today is the mobile phone. Correction! I would rather name them the I-Phones, the I-Pads, the Tablets, the Smart phones. All these can be used to read books, write letters/stories/blogs, draw pictures, surf the internet, purchase products, book train, flight, movie and theatre tickets, play games, do official work, do monetary transactions, etc. etc. etc. And, by the way, they are also used as phones. About 7-8 years ago, I had once heard a line about a mobile phone: “It’s a phone, you call, and you hang up”. But I suppose, it’s not that simple anymore. This gadget offers multitude of services or apps which help you with almost every possible need in life today.  

However, it’s pitiable that mobile phones have not yet been programmed to cook for us. That’s one app which the world might be waiting for. Food at the press of a button! Wow!! Imagine feeding the device with vegetables or meat and masala/spices of your choice, and lo behold… the dish is ready. No stoves, no fire, no utensils, no waiting and preparation time. You can throw away all the cooking tools and buy only cutlery and crockery. Just think of the dish, input the ingredients in the app, and that’s it. Your plate is full. A new cuisine everyday!

Now imagine this! Breaking News: ‘Chefs lose jobs, restaurants, vegetable and meat shops and grocers close down- Reason: Mobiles can cook’.  ‘Huge sales of mobile devices for cooking apps’, et al.

Are we ready for this revolutionary electronic food yet? Or are we satisfied and happy to eat normally cooked food?

31 Oct 1984: My story

The train stopped with a jolt mid-way into the station of Konnagar, a quiet hamlet at the outskirts of Howrah District. It was 3:00 pm and we presumed it was one of the usual unscheduled stops during an Indian train journey. I was about 10 years old and was accompanying my Father, my maternal Uncle, a doctor and my ailing Mother, and we were headed to Kolkata (then known as Calcutta) from Indore. Hence, I was infact more of an observer than an actor through most of the events which were to follow.

When the duration of the halt seemed rather extended it dawned upon the passengers to make enquiries. Rumors and stories flew in from all sides and it seemed that the people were making much ado about nothing. However, it was finally confirmed that the then Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi had been assassinated by her security guards in New Delhi. This news opened Pandora’s Box and literally all hell broke loose.

Panic and chaos spread like wildfire. Roads were blocked and trains were stopped in their tracks. People were distrusting each other and were ready for violence at the drop of a hat. Gradually there was a scene of sheer madness all around us. Amongst this commotion my Father pleaded with the station-master to arrange for an ambulance to take us to Kolkata and also announce our non-arrival at the Howrah station so that our awaiting family could be informed accordingly.

The ambulance eventually arranged, my Mother, Father, the doctor and me took off towards Kolkata and my Uncle stayed on with the luggage in the train awaiting its arrival to the Howrah Station. Our journey was often obstructed by the many barricades built by the locals. I remember seeing plenty of road rallies and demonstrations. I also remember feeling quite nauseated due to motion sickness. Thank God I’m quite cured of that now. Bracing similar obstacles aplenty, we reached our home in Kolkata after several hours.   

27 years have passed since Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s assassination, and till date each of us can recall the obstacles faced on that unfortunate day. Young or old, healthy or ailing, I’m sure all of us have a story to tell, and even while you’re reading this your hair has surely stood on end with memories of the similar or worse incidents in your lives.  

October 2011

My Jethu

My Jethu, Mr. Anshu Banerjee, had been a Father to me. From being instrumental in admitting me to one of the best schools in Kolkata to pampering me with all sorts of luxuries that a child can never dream of, he brought me up with ethics and values. He instilled in me a liberal thought process by introducing me to the path of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. He taught me the importance of life’s struggles, to always accept challenges towards growth and to broaden my horizon about life. His brilliant and unmatched wit and humour was a part of my growing years and reminiscing those unforgettable moments always bring me great joy.

As a child I fondly remember him painting many a canvas, writing and reading a variety of literature. Jethu used read the works of Sri Aurobindo, explain the interesting world of the ‘Impressionist’ painters and gave me Reiki healing while I was recuperating after my surgery. I recall his constant encouragement to be optimistic and feel fortunate and blessed by the Almighty. His influence in my life brought me in contact with many important personalities, of visiting unthinkable places and it’s all because of my Jethu’s upbringing that I’ve been able to come this far in life.

Often I played Jethu’s bar-tender and fixed him a drink or two. He liked to take a medium peg (he called it Mejo) and I had mastered the art of fixing the same for him. Never in my adult years did he offer me a drink. It was only once when I was vacationing in Kolkata that he surprised me by offering me some wine.

It’s disheartening that such a loveable and towering personality had to suffer towards the end. Although it is difficult to accept that my Jethu is no more, I’m sure his blessings are always there for me and he’ll remain in my thoughts forever. Let’s hope I can live up to his aspirations and be his ideal Gadai Master.

Delhi to Dhaka-April 2009

Parked at a comfortable corner at the waiting area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, I was awaiting my flight to Dhaka along with other passengers headed to different destinations. As far as my vision went, I could see a myriad of colours, faces, heads, people, luggage, and hear a multitude of announcements, voices, squabbles, tongues and noise. It seemed like I was in some cosmopolitan country, where being an Indian felt strange. There were many Indians, correction, NRIs around who only resembled that they once belonged to my beloved India. Of these, the older generations might have even spoken in a familiar tongue and accent, but the current crop looked, behaved and spoke completely foreign. It made me wonder whether they would be Indian at heart, or even belong here, if ever their families decide to relocate to their incredible Motherland.


It was as if I was getting a ring-side view of the whole world sitting here. The little play pen near Gate No.4 was a playground for several Indian, Pakistani, British and Thai kids. The area had turned into a mini Olympic enclosure, with all the participants playing together and thoroughly enjoying themselves. If only we could take this example and peace could be established across the world.


Amidst the din, my ears caught the boarding announcement of my flight. I moved towards the gate with mixed feelings. Happy to be setting off to a new and unexplored destination, but sad to leave this global terminal bustling with activity.


Although this assignment came as a surprise, but it seemed destined. I had renewed my passport a month ago and my boss wanted me to go to Dhaka. I was excited at the prospect, but there was truly an apprehension since this was my maiden overseas official venture and I was going to be my soul guardian there.


Since it was only work for those two days, I couldn’t fulfil my desire to take a city tour. From whatever I captured, Dhaka is like any other modern city with its shortcomings. The main hub has broad roads, hotels, markets and restaurants. However, the factories are located in a separate zone located at the city outskirts and the roads here are not very good. Shabby Maruti 800 cars are used as taxis which tarnish the modernity. Further, the auto-rickshaw drivers are caged to save themselves from being knifed by local rouges. It’s also rumoured that most industries are run by an unethical lot.


Having said all this, it was interesting to note that the people and language of the capital city of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Bengal) brought certain warmth in me. It was a learning experience and I’m surely looking forward to revisit so that I can familiarise myself more with our neighbour.

The Curious Case of Inquisitive Indians

Ever since I’ve been living in New Delhi all by myself, this feeling of people’s interference has intrigued me more often than not. Sometimes it’s made me wonder if living single brings along a baggage. But over the years I noticed interestingly, that Indians in general are curiously inquisitive about anything which is not their business.






Initially the neighbours/semi-strangers/ office colleagues enquire about your age and then your marital status and the reason for being single. Not satisfied, they want to know the reason for your living single and why parents do not stay together. The amount of rent and if there’s some partner staying together is also enquired about. Bucketful of advise such as it’s risky for a single female living alone in the city, and that one must stay with some friend/family, and that one must buy a flat etc. is given for free. This achieved, the questions sometimes turn to the place of work and the amount of salary. Further, people will want to know how is spare time utilized (as if singletons have a separate definition for spare time), marriage plans, modes of fighting loneliness (it’s a given that living single brings loneliness). People are also inquisitive about mode of transport everyday and what is the make of car, in case you own one (it’s quite a hot topic of discussion in case you happen to own a sedan). Almost everyone would express a desire to take a look at your house and it seems like a crime in case it is tastefully (read expensively) done. Dropping tongues and popping eyeballs are the widely evident expressions.






Having said that, the inquisitiveness does not end there. In case one is married and has not had a baby in one year, questions about such plans float all over the place. Whether you’re married or not, females traveling alone are always subject to very personal and irrelevant questions by co-passengers who are complete strangers. Sometimes, the looks are worse than the questions. In a totally different scenario, if a new outfit, footwear or mobile phone is noticed, one is bound to get raised eyebrows and asked the price and the requirement of such a purchase. If you’re planning a holiday, the neighbours show greater interest. It’s important for everyone to know what food you eat/cook and whether you have a maid or not. Even when you stand in a queue and hurriedly fill a form, people either stare at the form or at you. It’s most irritating when people randomly stare at you as if you belong to Mars. Believe me, the list is endless!






My question is why? What makes Indians this inquisitive? Why cannot everyone mind their own business? I mean it’s nice to be concerned about your neighbour/ colleague, but most people seem to cross all boundaries of being civil. When will they learn the importance of personal space? When will they realize that this habit of being nosy is irritating to the sufferer? God only knows… or does anyone want to take a wild guess???

Bio-bottles: Will it stop the habit of wastage?

Across the globe there are found large wastelands of plastic bottles. This is mostly evident at what used to be scenic locations once upon a time, and have been converted into popular picnic spots. People do not pay heed to the environmental damage and have a tendency to dump plastic plates and bottles among other refuse in these places, thereby further converting them into wastelands. Moreover, we also see empty plastic bottles being strewn across the city roads.


All this shows mankind’s negligence towards protecting our planet.


Firstly, it is important to understand the need for recycling plastic bottles at homes. One can regularly wash the empty water/ soft drink bottles and reuse to carry water/ juice etc., if needed. This will create a sense of saving instead of wasting amongst all.


Then again, it is common knowledge that tap water is drinkable in most parts of the world. Hence, is it necessary to buy expensive water bottles whenever one travels? The tap water can be filled in recycled plastic bottles. This will reduce the wastage and help in bringing ecological balance.


However, the soft drink and water giants continue to produce bio-bottles in their attempt to cut carbon emissions and be environment friendly. They cannot comprehend that this would lead to unnecessarily expensive purchases and thereby insurmountable amounts of wastage, because human beings are habitually wasteful.


Does this mean that since the bottles are 100% recyclable, we are allowed to continue this practice? Or should we rectify our old habits before it’s too late?