What you see is what you get

Although an experiment meant for photographers to emphasize their importance in photography (see the write up of this experiment here), it speaks equally about how our prejudices influence the way we see people. How our judgments corrupt our vision. And how, with just a change in paradigm we can alter what we see!

The model in these photo sessions came in the same clothes, met the photographers at the same location and greeted them in the same way! The only difference was the background of the model informed to the photographers which they were supposed to capture. The experiment was to suggest that the quality of photos depends more on who's behind the camera than who's in front of it! But in behavioral context it holds more than true, how our prejudices define the way we see things! 

Master Oogway Special

Sharing glimpses of one of my favorite character's from Kung Fu Panda movie (2008) - Master Ooway! 

1. What an amazing perspective!
Oogway: There are no accidents.

2. The importance of a Mentor in our lives!
Shifu: Illusion? 
Oogway: Yes. [Points at peach tree] Look at this tree, Shifu. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time.
Shifu: But there are things we can control. [Kicks the tree so that peaches fall] I can control when the fruit will fall! [He slices a peach and throws the seed in a pit] I can control where to plant the seed! That is no illusion, Master!
Oogway: Ah, yes. But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Shifu: But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!
Oogway: [Folding mud over the peach pit] May be it can, if you are willing to guide it, to nurture it, to believe in it!
Shifu: But how? How? I need your help, Master!
Oogway: No, you just need to believe. Promise me, Shifu. Promise me you will believe.
Shifu: I... I will try.

3. To help someone begins from understanding them first!
Oogway: [Walking towards Po] Ah! I see that you have found the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom!
Po: [Po turns around with a lot of peaches stuffed in his mouth.] Is that what this is? I am so sorry! I just thought it was a regular peach tree!
Oogway: I understand. You eat when you are upset.
Po: Upset? I am not upset. Why, what makes you think I am upset?
Oogway: So why are you upset?
Po: [Sighs] I probably sucked more today than anybody in the history of Kung Fu. In the history of China. In the History of sucking! ... May be I should just quit and go back to making noodles.
Oogway: Quit, don't quit. Noodles, don't noodles. You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying - "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today, is a gift. That is why it is called 'The Present'.

4. News V/s Good or Bad.
Shifu: Master! I have... Its very bad news!
Oogway: Ah, Shifu! There is just news. There is no good or bad.
Shifu: Master, your vision. Your vision was right! Tai-Lung has broken out of prison. He is on his way! 
Oogway: [Pause] That IS bad news!

5. Truth be told! (One of my favorites from this movie!)
Oogway: One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.

Raymond - The Complete Man

I was rather moved by this advertisement! There are very few ads that actually portray healthy reality scenarios in our country. The over glorified social traditions and plots sometimes cause much disappointment than the actual expected excitement. But then, there are also these types of ads that give a rare picture of hopeful real world we would want to see around us!

Out of these very rare advertisements, this Raymond totally marks my favorite. It gives so much hope to working women in our society! For once, someone felt like showing the side of working women who struggle with the "Working Mother's Guilt" in order to balance their professional and personal lives. And also associate "Completeness" to the Men who not only understand it, but also support it in every way! I respect all those men who fall in this category from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for understanding, supporting and breaking the image of Stereotypical Men of our Society!

Most importantly, thank you Raymond for this advertisement!

The Soundtrack of Our Earliest Memories

 

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me about music is how it reaches places within us that we didn't even know existed. It has an extraordinary ability to unlock memories, emotions, and sensations long after we've forgotten the events themselves.

I don't remember much of my childhood before the age of ten, but I remember the songs that drifted into my sleep. Perhaps that is why some of my earliest childhood memories are not visual at all. They are musical.

Speaking of sleep, my earliest memories through music are lullabies.

In India, many lullabies are passed down through generations, not because they are written down, but because they are remembered. Their soothing rhythm, familiar melodies, and gentle words become a part of our nervous system. Years later, as adults, we find ourselves humming the very same songs to a little baby who slowly falls asleep to our voice.

There is something profoundly healing about that moment.

It is a feeling that is meant to be lived, more than it can ever be told.

These are some of the lullabies I keep returning to. They've become an important part of my own winding down routine, gently reminding me that rest, too, can have a soundtrack. Bollywood has truly made these songs immortal!

1. Dheere Dheere Aa Re O Baadal
2. Ahista Ahista Nindiya
3. Pyara Sa Gaon
4. Dheere Se Aa Ri Akhiyan Mein Nindiya
5. Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani
6. Nanhi Kali Sone Chali
7. Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein
8. Luka Chuppi
9. Jaage Hain Der Se
10. Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini
11. Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu
12. Meri Laadli Ri, Meri Laadli Ri Bani Hai

Perhaps someday, I'd love to travel across India collecting lullabies from different regions and languages. It would be a beautiful way to preserve a small but precious part of our cultural heritage, one gentle song at a time.

Coffee Lover's Stop

Can you smell the coffee yet?? :-)

Language

Who is better than Stephen Fry to write and read it himself about a subject so vast??? Sharing one of my favorite artists at his best!! :-)

मन वढाय वढाय - बहिणा बाई चौधरी

 

सुशिक्षित अणि ज्ञानी ह्या दोन भिन्न गोष्टी आहेत ही वस्तुस्थिति बहिणा बाई दाखवून जातात. निसर्ग अनेक प्रकारे आपल्याला धडे शिकवत असतो, आपणंच ते बघण्यात कमी पडतो. कही गोष्टी अजरामर का होतात हे अशा ओळी वाचल्यावरच कळु शकतं.

मन वढाय वढाय, उभ्या पीकातलं ढोर । 

किती हकला हकला, फिरी येतं पिकांवर ।।

मन मोकाट मोकाट, त्याले ठायी ठायी वाटा ।
जशा वाऱ्यानं चालल्या, पानावर्हल्यारे लाटा ।।

मन लहरी लहरी, त्याले हाती धरे कोन ।
उंडारलं उंडारलं जसं वारा वाहादन ।।

मन जह्यरी जह्यरी, याचं न्यारं रे तंतर ।
आरे इचू साप बरा, त्याले उतारे मंतर  ।।

मन पाखरू पाखरु, त्याची काय सांगू मात? ।
आता व्हतं भुईवर, गेलं गेलं आभायात ।।

मन चप्पय चप्पय, त्याले नही जरा धीर ।
तठे व्हयीसनी ईज, आलं आलं धर्तीवर ।।

मन एवढं एवढं, जसा खाकसचा दाना ।
मन केवढं केवढं? आभायात बी मायेना ।।

देवा, कसं देलं मन आसं नही दुनियात ।
आसा कसा रे तू योगी काय तुझी करामत? ।।

देवा, आसं कसं मन? आसं कसं रे घडलं? ।
कुठे जागेपनी तूले असं सपनं पडलं ।। 

इस मोड़ से जातें हैं

The magic that can be created by this Golden Pair of Gulzar and R. D. Burman is simply unbelievable! By the time you are still figuring out how can simple words make so profound expressions, the music will drag you to your heart touching memories! And the ultimate effect is that you just wait there, bask in those memories and thank them big time for making you realize that "Its always about those precious things you have that money can't buy!"

इस मोड़ से जातें हैं, कुछ सुस्त कदम रस्ते 

कुछ तेज कदम राहे

पत्थर की  हवेली को, शीशे के घरोंदो मैं 

तिनकों के नशेमन तक 

इस मोड़ से जातें हैं ...

आंधी की तरह उड़कर, एक राह गुजरती हैं 

शरमाती हुई कोई, कदमों से उतरती हैं 

इन रेशमी राहों में, एक राह तो वो होगी 

तुम तक जो पहुंचती हैं

इस मोड़ से जाती हैं ...

एक दूर से आती है, पास आके पलटती है 

एक राह अकेली सी, रुकती है न चलती हैं 

ये सोच के बैठी हूँ, एक राह तो वो होगी 

तुम तक जो पहुंचती हैं

इस मोड़ से जाती हैं ...

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

A very powerful poem I always quote to myself in the times of confusion. It always makes my opinion of conventions seldom lead to greatness! You have to be path breaking to make a difference! 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Who Moved My Cheese

p.s: One of the very few good renditions of books I have seen. A very inspiring story!

जन पळभर म्हणतिल हाय हाय

जन पळभर म्हणतिल हाय हाय !

मी जाता राहिल कार्य काय?

सूर्य तळपतिल, चंद्र झळकतिल, 

तारे आपुला क्रम आचरतिल, 

असेच वारे पुढे वहतिल

होईल काही का अंतराय?

मेघ वर्षतिल, शेते पिकतिल, 

गर्वाने या नदया वाहतिल,

पुन्हा कळजि की न उमटतिल,

पुन्हा तटावर हेच पाय?

सखेसोयरे डोले पुसतिल, 

पुन्हा आपुल्या कामी लगतिला,

उठतिल, बसतिल, हसुनी खिदळतिल,

मी जाता त्यांचे काय जाय?

अशा जगस्तव काय कुढावे,

मोही कुणाच्या का गुंतावे?

हरिदुता का विन्मुख व्हावे?

का जिरावुनाये शांतित काय?