What a Thriller!

Today, I’ve been moved.

And I blame it on ‘Human Nature’ and the King of Pop!

The experience I had today was unexpected, nostalgic, riveting and uplifting, for more than one reason.

The plan was to watch “THIS IS IT” with a bunch of friends, but because of a whole lot of miscommunication I reached early (earlier than them that is), already having missed the first 15 minutes, although I didn’t know it at the time and they reached much later and decided to not watch at all. At first I was ticked off. I declined their generous offers to buy me lunch and treat me to another show, all to make up (which I thought was extremely cute)! But then Jackson stepped in, took all of that and in his words “let it burn”!

So there I was embarking on a cinematic experience and musical journey, for the first time all alone and completely unprepared to be gripped by that ‘Dancing Machine’ who definitely knew a bit about living life ‘Off the wall’! Late as I was, my eyes were glued to that super-sized screen from the moment I entered. From the infectious rhythms and beats to the precise, intricate moves to the tunes we all know so well we could sing them in our sleep, this was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world!

I guess being alone just helped me pay that much more attention to the film. As I watched, it hit me that this was all so real! He had no idea what fate had in store (or maybe he did), but there was certainly no chance this character in the movie was doctored in any way. There were no retakes. This was the King at work in a very real world. I watched in wonder, a humble genius doing what he did best. If anything epitomized a balance between razor-sharp perfectionism and a child-like innocence it was Michael Jackson.

The emotional attachment he had with his music, and message, came across crystal clear. He encouraged his troops to “nurture the music” and “feel the love”. He shows the world how in-touch with his child-like love of performance he was. His pureness of heart wore no disguise and was evident with how the words "God bless you" were second nature to him. One of my favourite scenes was the one in which he encouraged his lead, lady guitarist to reach for the highest notes she could and to own that moment because it was hers to shine! In true ‘Don’t stop till you get enough’ style.

I’m thoroughly glad that my first time watching a movie alone was this one in particular. It feels like homage was paid justly on my part to one of the greatest entertainers, and quite literally, movers and shakers of our time.

MJ the world was lucky to have you! And although your life’s pain was fuelled by ‘Tabloid Junkie’s that should’ve just ‘Beat it’, you left your mark. ‘It’s the falling in love’ that no one could stop. And you, through your music, performances, sheer scale of dreams and size of heart will continue to inspire us to ‘Keep the Faith’. ‘We just can’t stop loving you’ and will always ‘Remember the Time’ we were struck by a ‘Smooth Criminal’.

‘Invincible’.

And definitely, ‘Gone too Soon’.

 R.I.P. Michael.

Getting Away.

I don't normally do daily posts. I detest the thought of a virtual diary. It scares me. I value my privacy too much maybe. But I just feel like writing about the huge number of random things I did today. Only because they all cumulatively left me with a happy feeling from within at the days end.

It's been a brilliantly peaceful day. Well deserved I think as we've just been let go from the long tedious grasp of mid term assessments.

Today included things like,

~Sitting on a slide top in a play ground on a hill, overlooking a vast expanse of lake. Breeze blowing in my face and nothing but distant laughter teasing the dominant silence.

~Experiencing an infinity pool and the awe it invokes when I looked past it and took in the limitlessness that is nature.

~Rocking on a hammock, no where close to Goa, feeling the sun warm my face and dry my feet- wet from the pool I couldn't resist stepping into.

~Playing pool and darts, both after ages and laughing at how terrible my aim is.

~Listening to off-tune complemented by in-tune karaoke singing, for once not being the one yelling her lungs out without a care. 

~Driving fast on straight, clear, tunneled in green roads with the radio, wind and friendly chatter as my background music. 

~Laughing at petty tricks and cheating strategies that I was completely oblivious to, while playing some hilarious, impossible to win UNO games.

~ Jumping on a Trampoline after ages! haha! The joy of bouncing! Who said that was for kids? 

~Turning up at session (almost in time after all!) to watch it go off really well and smile-filled. Thank god for good friends and the SSU.

~Coming home to a Chinese food dinner that I was too late to stop from ordering and therefore had to inevitably eat! And I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had stayed off Chinese food long enough apparently, because it all just tasted so perfect today! the honey and Manchurian and noodles and everything else in an amalgamation that was some kind of heaven.

That was the day, and indeed, it was good.

To happy days!

Cheers.

Sleepless

Unsound sleep

A mark of dissatisfaction

A mind unwilling to rest

Sometimes, because it is aware of its incompetence when it comes to fulfilling the potential it knows it owns.

The over riding guilt jostles the thoughts and excuses and plans around, creating a ruckus, whipping what seems like all the contents of the brain, tangible or otherwise into random motions translated by every nerve and tendon into the perception of the self being rocked in a boat stuck in a whirlpool

Round and round

Nothing makes sense

So much want for peace

Such a longing for calm

And what lazy efforts all the same

The change has been a long time coming and THEY know its going to come

Who are THEY anyway

Restlessness consumes

Peace is known

Not often enough felt

The soundness of sleep is missed

The joy in purpose- hidden

The search persists

The self endures

A Woman's Question

(Something a friend posted, I read & loved!)

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
Ever made by the hand above?
A woman's heart, and a woman's life--
And a woman's wonderful love.

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing
As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win
With the reckless dash of a boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,
Manlike, you have questioned me.
Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul
Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,
Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be as true as God's stars
And as pure as His heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
I require a far greater thing;
A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts---
I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,
And a man that his Maker, God,
Shall look upon as he did on the first
And say: "It is very good."

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From this soft young cheeck one day;
Will you love me then, 'mid the falling leaves
As you did 'mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,
I may launch my all on its tide?
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,
All things that a man should be;
If you give this all, I would stake my life
To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
You can hire and little to pay;
But a woman's heart and a woman's life
Are not to be won that way.


-Lena Lathrop

Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside out, Outside in.

Wikipedia would state and I quote:

“Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 projects, which resulted in more than 500 completed works. Wright promoted organic architecture (exemplified by Fallingwater), was a leader of the Prairie School movement of architecture (exemplified by the Robie House and the Westcott House), and developed the concept of the Usonian Home (exemplified by the Rosenbaum House).”

But that is Wikipedia. This is me.

I’ll start at the beginning, which in my world dates back to approximately two years ago. I was a young, enthusiastic, clueless fresher in a college for aspiring architects. At that point in time, Frank Lloyd Wright was a random name a couple of my professors threw at me and told me to research for a class assignment. Something I’d feel immense gratitude for in the future.

I can’t deny the possibility that the intrinsic connection I feel with Wright’s school of thought and works is a result of those many long hours and sleepless nights that went into the making of that particular presentation. Although, I’d rather that take a backseat to the fact that I was in fact intrigued by his philosophy with regard to architecture and design.

Frank Lloyd Wright lived an unconventional personal life; one stricken with much turmoil. He had been married three times and fathered seven children. He was famous for his unique dressing sense and often wore his own designs. He was also known to have picked up more than a speeding ticket or two in the swanky rides he owned back in the day. For a life as chaotic as his, Wright was one of the most structured thinkers, painstaking perfectionists and empathetic designers the world has ever seen.

Wright was influenced a great deal by Nature. He not only introduced, but forced the world to acknowledge the concept of Organic Architecture. The art of building while being sensitive to the surroundings thus producing designs which appeared to evolve from the relevant context. Maintaining the relationship between site, surrounding and needs of the client was key, underlining the essence of the concept as a whole. The free-flow of space from the interior to exterior and vice versa was a vital characteristic of these organic buildings. The structures seemed to stem from roots within the earth making it hard to tell immediately where the built form began and nature stopped.

“Fallingwater”, which was also regarded “The Building of the 20^th Century”, epitomizes this philosophy. It is a private residence designed over a waterfall. A radical project; one which both, put and praised the possibilities of Organic Architecture on the world map.

Fallingwater, Bear Run, Pennsylvania,

Sensitivity to the needs of the common man was a trait Wright possessed that was evident with the evolution of his “Usonian Home” concept. The term ‘Usonian’ was coined by Frank Lloyd Wright himself and referred to the average American. Usionian homes were essentially well equipped, self sufficient and spacious homes that were affordable even for a middle class American citizen. Wright believed strongly that it was possible to provide the average, growing American family with a decent space to stay, at a reasonable rate and without compromising on some necessary amenities. This included an outdoor garden area as well as a terrace space.

He introduced the use of ‘open plans’, which are basically unobstructed spaces. On many occasions the living and dining/kitchen spaces were included in a single, large space. This when viewed from a domestic context, made the life of the everyday mother and housewife, back then, much easier as she could keep an eye on the ever active young of the house, without having to abandon her work in the kitchen. In my opinion, that is in-depth thought at it’s best.

This article is merely a snippet of, or rather, my take on, one of the most reputed architectural greats that ever lived. It doesn’t even begin to do justice to the man.

So, all those who read past this,

If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright admirer yourself- I hope you enjoyed the read and will forgive it’s shortcomings;

If you have never heard of him- I hope that you’re glad you now have.

__________________________

The Works

Guggenheim Museum, New York.

Rosenbaum Home, Florence, Alabama.

Who were they?

There are some people, real and fictional, that would top the list in the index of my book on "The Stuff of Legends", were I to actually write one, for reasons I'll elaborate on later.

And so often I'm completely shocked at the fact that a lot of people my age haven't even heard of some of them. (In some cases that is more understandable than others, but in some cases, downright unacceptable!)

So, in an attempt to change that, I'm going to do small (partially) informational pieces on these personalities, but based more on what they mean to me!

Hope y'all like! Amongst the people I want to cover are a few mentioned below.

Coming Soon:

Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside out, outside in.

Janis Joplin: The Colour in Rock & Roll.

Kevin Arnold: The boy we grew up with.

New People

So I got to thinking, and somewhere along the line, concluding;

I like new people.

Of course, I’m talking in general terms and am completely referring to the time before I actually get to ‘know’ them. (After which I may probably still like them or maybe, not so much but that’s not the point.) Just the curiosity that creeps up on me in the beginning is consuming and very similar to the feeling you get when you try anything new and are entirely clueless about what the outcome could be.

Presenting: – ‘A new person’.

Honestly, you can’t deny; This person may look you up and down, and then decide for whatever reasons not to take you seriously. This person may decide to be annoyed by your existence and make it very clear. This person may be unaware of your existence altogether. And you definitely can’t deny that you’re hopeful. Yes, you’re hopeful this person may answer your silent prayers, become the miracle that you’ve been waiting on, be your best friend or at the very least be A friend.

It’s pretty exciting! To wonder how you go down in a strangers mind and how that translates into her/his behavior with you. This brings me to another topic altogether; We care too much about what people think of us. (But that would serve as fuel to start a whole other fiery discussion.)

I wonder about the mystery behind the unfamiliar face, the stories that have carved its expressions, the thoughts behind the actions and the spontaneity of response or lack thereof. There is an exciting discomfort with a new person. One that has to be tackled differently each time, depending on the sort of character you’re dealing with. It is so contradictory to the feelings around our good ol’ loved ones. The two experiences probably cannot even be compared because, as much as I love the possibilities new people bring, nothing really beats the “good ol’ loved ones”.

Then again, those “good ol’ loved ones” were once “new people” too!

Some good ol' loved ones with a new person, on one of our discovering India trips :)

Time Cloth

(*When I say "I", I don't necessarily mean 'me'; it's more of a reference to the average youth in this day and age. This piece is also a product of some insightful conversations with some really close, introspective friends!)

I live in this blanket which on some days will keep me warm, cozy, safe; and on others claustrophobic, trapped and uncomfortable.

Things change, people grow and seasons come and go, more unpredictable each year.

How, in all my consciousness, unconscious I can be!

I think of myself as pretty tech-savvy and suddenly they’re all talking about software applications, gadgets and gizmos that invaded the market right under my nose while I was perfecting my skills in techno-stuff as I knew it and thought it would remain. Not to mention the fact that the terminology that they use may as well be Greek!

I think I know about the goings on in the world. Of course I can discuss the situation in the Middle East or Korea and the fact that I think its pretty cool Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize even though the Dalai Lama was stood up by him! Then again, only he could get away with that I suppose. And the opinions I have about the environment and the government and its lack of governance and the poverty and filth in my city and the crater-like holes in the roads I use every day are never-ending and noteworthy!

Then someone asks me about Politics in my home zone.

Blank.

Ok, so they just had elections for… something!

I think that everything’s alright. My family and friends are just as happy with me as they’ve always been. And times are good, when suddenly; I have more people losing their temper with me than laughing with me. More people (who matter – bollocks to those who don’t!) giving me grief about being detached and distracted, not really there, consumed in myself. And all I wonder is, what’ve THEY got to be so upset about? Do they even know what I’M going through?!

This could work another way too. I suddenly feel like no one’s really paying any attention to me. My existence is taken for granted.

So, now I stop and think. Something slipped up, obviously.

Question is what?

Of course, I needn’t even ask really, I know exactly what the answer is! But pretending I’m actually wondering for a few seconds probably feels better.

ME.

It’s like this fabric of time that’s wrapped around me through life is essentially woven from threads of change. So I can bet my useless lucky charm (presumably my most prized possession) that change is in fact the only constant component of my existence; A variable constant perhaps?; One that no lucky charm could even assist in evading.

The problem, or as aforementioned “slip up”, here is my incompetency with regard to keeping abreast with all this change.

Only because change is positively certain of not going anywhere anytime soon, definitely does not mean I need to let it rain on my parade.

“Take control a little!”

So what if I don’t know about the savviest equipment around?

Or the reason my country, in all its mess, functions decently anyway?

Or the truth behind souring relationships?

At least, now I know that I don't know!

Yeah, reality bites. But nothing’s stopping me from biting back.

Some added emotional investment in my relationships and some extra efforts to keep myself informed can help bring my A-game on. At least I hope so!

Being aware of the fact that the world out there is so much bigger than me makes me feel small and moves me out from the centre of my universe.

And somehow, consciousness kicks in.

What’s ironic is this shift from a self-obsessed outlook (all the time i.e. because sometimes it’s good!) just makes me feel better!

It’s almost selfish. Talk about a paradox!

The College Exhibition

SANVAD 2009: The Experience

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I think ‘Against All Odds’ would sum up the experience of bringing about Sanvad ’09. But I’m going to concentrate on elaborating on everything positive that came out of this endeavor; One, for lack of enough space to spell out every little detail and two, if any thing reigns true, it is that more good comes from the positive!

They say the starting point to all achievement is desire. And if there’s one thing we had, it was desire. At the back of it all there were a few key things pushing the production of this exhibition apart from plain desire. We had to prove, more to ourselves than anyone else, that we could do it. And in the short month we had to prepare, we found our strengths, overcame weaknesses and pulled it off with a spirit of dedication and daringness.

Mistakes were made, lessons were learned and triumphs were celebrated.

The exhibition not only brought about more interaction amongst us students and developed camaraderie, but also a sense of learning .Learning, in all realms of a production from publicity, sponsorship proposals and deals to hospitality, research and implementation of ideas. I dare say we got a good lesson in management as well, not just of time but personal activities too.

In hindsight, we are better of for having given it our best shot and ultimately having succeeded in doing what we set out to. The long hours of planning meetings and designing posters and invites along with the brainstorming that went into space décor and panel layouts all paid off. There is a sense of humble satisfaction. I say humble because there’s only one way to say it – “Bigger and Better from Here”.

After all, what’s done is done. It’s time to plan what’s going to come.

____________________________________________

SNEAK PEAK:

Confessions of an unrestricted mind.

______________

This is simply an attempt to put in written word the random thoughts and emotions that run through a seemingly frequently (if not always) active mind.
Have you ever realized that, us, as humans hardly ever give ‘us’ a break?
We’re always thinking of ways to deal wit the future or

we’re busy reminiscing some past event.
At times we’re just thinking things that are absolutely illogical and getting a good kick out of it too!
After all, there’s really no other place that allows you to be 'you' like your mind.
No judgment, no questions, no comments.

It is what it is.
And, somehow, THAT is where the comfort lies.
It’s hard to define our species.
Leave that alone, I’m not going to get ahead of myself because I’m having enough trouble defining me.
It’s been said, much to my consolation, that defining oneself is practically impossible. After all we are not ‘definite’ beings.
Ever changing, ever growing, ever adapting.
Yeah, absolute surety is something we humans quite simply do not go hand in hand with.
Nothing is for certain, right?

I think that's where the spice of life is anyway!
What makes this day to day existence of ours bearable, even joyous?

It’s the unknown.

It would be quite a bore having every answer, knowing the outcome of every situation.
Yet being the ever hopefuls that we are we take immense pleasure in planning and creating and discovering bits and pieces of this existence that probably lead us to believe we’re just that much closer to knowing it all.
What a thrill!

________________________________

Things to do before I die.

dreamcatching
(subject to continuous change! And not necessarily in this order!)

1. Italy.
2. Vienna.
3. Africa.
4. Catch a Cirque du Soleil show.
5. A Bon Jovi Concert.
6. Bungee Jump.
7. Dune Bashing. (with the belly dance stop!)
8. A Gondola ride.
9. Fall in love.
10. Master the art of something.
11. Read Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice (i know! unbelievable that I have never gotten to them!) and at least one Ayn Rand book. (just to be able to say i did!)
12. Learn to cook.
13. Be fluent in Hindi, Marathi & German (if not more!) and Proficient in English.
14. Catch a Formula 1 Race.
15. A Hot air balloon ride.
16. A holiday with my maidens. Just us in a foreign land.
17. 
    

Forever Lessons

One of the most fulfilling and self revealing experiences of my life has been being a member of a local, inter-religious youth group called The SSU (Searching & Service in Unity). It’s just a portion of my life that I can honestly say I never get tired of sharing, and most certainly can’t imagine doing without. It is essentially a part of the person I am today, in more ways than there are words in any language!

I could make a never ending list of the things I’ve learned from being part of such a group but I’ll restrain myself to mentioning only a few. The things, I think, are more relevant to our place and times.

Being inter-religious, one of the greatest lessons I’ve learnt is that we’re all basically the same. We may call our God by different names; we may not call on him at all, speak different languages, celebrate different festivals and study different subjects. But we laugh at the same jokes, find joy in the smallest, most insignificant things, hurt at insensitivity and cry at irreplaceable loss. We’re human. We’re the same.

It wouldn’t take a genius to know that if you really wanted to achieve something, you’d better work to deserve it. This just brings to the fore another one of those ‘lessons for a lifetime’ that I’m in the process of learning – “If you want to, you can”.

Two of our annual events in the group are The Play, which is staged for a charitable cause and The Camp, which is centered, mainly, on youth training and character development. Both of these take place only after some meticulous planning and execution by production teams or planning committees. They’re both events that have proven highly successful in administering the lesson of commitment and responsibility.

Don’t get the wrong impression though; we’re not a bunch of martyrs sacrificing all our free time trying to do noble deeds for the rest of mankind, (though I definitely think we do the little we can) in fact I think we wouldn’t be able to function straight if we didn’t make sure we had our fun alongside. Another lesson that has made its way to being a golden rule – there’s no joy in work without fun and there’s no joy in fun without work!

It’s that crucial balance between the two which once struck ensures you just can’t go wrong. Everything falls in place and, voila! You’re a happy soul through it all!

So, those are some of the things I’ve picked up along the way on my path of self discovery and still sometimes I forget how they work and lose my footing, but I know for sure I’ll manage to find my way back with a little help from the family, some good friends, a little faith in self and life goes on! Happily. Purposefully.

What more is there to want? So much! But it’s a good start.

Larika

February 2009

_____________________

camps

plays

outreaches

games

parties!