The Murakami Experience

My alma mater never fails to impress me. It is enchanting that I can still learn from my alma mater after four years of graduating. Recently, the Lady Shri Ram College Alumni Association has become quite active and I have volunteered as a Batch Representative for the 2011 batch. I contributed in the organisation of a couple of events- some big scale and others small- and it was a wonderful experience- going back to college and connecting with alumna who graduated anywhere between 1 year to 40 years back!

We started a Book Club recently. (All ELSAs invited to join! http://www.lsralumna.org/become-a-member.php).

The first book was Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami. I had never read a Murakami book so first I read up about the author online and found that he is an intriguing author. This book contains short stories - which is an unusual format for me- I prefer novels.

I started reading the first story on a flight. I read the first story and while completely engrossed, by the end of it, I was zapped. It had a meaning, but I couldn't get it. I thought I'll move over to the second one and felt the same again! How I missed Google Search at that moment!! I decided to keep the book aside- what did the connotations mean? Why couldn't I interpret them? Why had the author provided such vague details?

That is the sense of Murakami. Later, I read up online on those stories and found other people who felt like me. I usually need interpretations of ambiguous things- just for my satisfaction. But these stories made me realise that sometimes life has no answers. Murakami picks up instances, experiences and thoughts from daily life of people and gets you so involved in the story. Then, would give you lot of detail but leave out some part on which you would reflect later and keep wondering what could have been! This was my first experience of reading Murakami. I had mixed feelings. But now having read half of the book, I am enjoying this! And not all the stories are that vague, for some, I have found my meaning :D 

He compels people to think of things they might not have paid attention to but are essential parts of their lives. For instance, in "The Mirror", he makes you realize that the biggest fear you can have is yourself. If one tells you that, you wouldn't take it. But when you read this story, it is impressed upon you that how much you control your thoughts and mind- which can influence you! 

That was just one example, but I have had fun reading Birthday Girl, A Perfect Day for Kangaroos, and A Folklore for My Generation too. 

Definitely going to read more by the author! 

Pour some "saree" on me, baby!

Sarees look fabulous. In my opinion, sarees really make a woman look and feel great! Also, there are so many fabrics, colours and styles in which one can drape a saree- never a dull moment!

My mother is so passionate about Indian textiles that she visualizes a saree out of any type of material. She transformed this talent to start her fashion design studio called Chanderi Tiramisu- quirky name to keep up with her personality!

Here are 4 looks out of Chanderi Tiramisu's collection of sarees-

Look 1: White chanderi saree with lady motif embroidered- a Stunning statement piece

Look 2: White chanderi saree with red border- Sophisticated traditional

Look 3: Pink neon saree with funky print- Create a splash!

Look 4: Pink saree with bird motif - to keep you cool!

These sarees are available for purchase at www.facebook.com/chanderitiramisu! 
Would love if you visited the page and shared what you thought about our looks! 

There's a message in the dhishum dhishum!

Just saw #revolverrani. Ahh wonderful movie. Authenticity at its best. Did not go with any background knowledge..what it's about etc.. so zero expectations.. in such situations I mostly enjoy movies. And anyway I really don't get it why people get so agitated about how a movie is and start judging other people for liking or disliking a particular movie. 'Omg she likes that movie?' 'Now she's an outcast' and the likes.

Ok hear up you. My choice..my money...my eyes..my opinion...whether I love it or hate..it's none of your business! And if you care so much..you should fund my movies and I'll think about your request to agree with you!

Lol.

Back to where I was. I thoroughly loved the performance by Kangana  Ranaut...she's completely on a roll! Vir Das as well has done a superb job- quite central to the plot. No spoilers here. All I can say is I absolutely loved the style of spoken Hindi typical of that part of Madhya Pradesh.. the humour was just amazing. Overall the treatment of the movie was fantastic and kept me engaged throughout.

What I Realised: 

The best part: Role reversal between Kangana and Vir- in a typical gangster movie.. (or generally in society)- the woman is used shuttled around and kept captive to the male- but here in this movie.. the way Kangana rules over Vir Das- it's just hilarious to watch. Seeing her in power and bossing him around - not a typical Hindi movie or not what many men would like to see even.. but that's what's always done to women and no one has a problem with that. He has to do all her bidding and the only reason is he needs money from her to fulfill his Bollywood dreams so he takes it all. There's a lot he takes...lol.. 

Main point: money is power. And as long as all women are not financially independent.. some of them will continue to live the life because they depend on their husband/father/brother for the money to run their lives and hence agree to whatever shitty terms are set around them. This movie exemplifies that - in a reversal of roles- so I am not advocating pick a gun and become empowered-all I am saying is that with financial independence comes power- doesn't matter if you're male or female. 

Sight & Touch: Mundane or Intense?

We use them all the time. Involuntarily, necessarily, obviously. And with everyone.

I'm talking about eyes and hands.

We see so many things, people- everything! A passing glance, a random meeting of eyes, we notice and move on. We use our hands most commonly for anything we have to do. But has one ever wondered that just one glance or just one brush with someone can become special based on the person one is interacting with?

When you look into the eyes of the person who's special to you, it changes the world around you. It has been said often, it has been portrayed in cinema often that people can talk with their eyes. But when with just that one look, you feel something- you know it's true! Why we avoid eye contact at times? Do we fear that since our eyes can say so much we might just reveal what we are actually thinking?

Hands. When do we not use them? Always upto something, they are! But when the same hands come in contact with people dear to us- there's an electric current all right! It can indicate to you-how you really feel and can even signal to the other person. Do we still need words? Why do we not realise the significance of these things?

Feel. What a word. With too many definitions. What and how do you feel? Is it a function of the heart? or is everything a part of what you are feeling?

"They" will think like "that"

A: Hi, who's "they"?

B: You know them, those people, humans (i think) around us...

A: Oh! What were they born for?

B: To scrutinize me, judge me on what I do, wear, say, eat...

A: Hmm...what were you born for?

B: To conform to what "they" think is right for me. I only behave as "they" think I should behave. You know all I care about is to structure my life so I'm not out of sync with anyone's thinking. My life is "their" job.

A: Right. So you must be appreciated by them and in everyone's good books? Like how you want it.

B: I don't know. I mean I have dedicated my life so "they" can tell me what to wear, how to wear it, what to eat, what not to eat, what to say, think, write, practice. You know everything they wanted. But I still feel I'm doing something wrong, "they" just aren't pleased!

Well, little did B know that whoever this "they" is, doesn't really give a damn about you. It's just a mechanism  used by certain people to make others conform to what they think is right. But first, what is right and what is wrong? And who certified their thinking as right? As kids, we are taught a variety of things, from a whole bunch of people. It is okay to take that as given, considering the limited development of the brain. But as adults, or let's say a mature human, can one not gauge what's right for themselves? Or in another way, I'm sure one can lead a life without first thinking what everyone on this planet might think about one's actions. There has to be a point where people think for themselves or are we to just follow what is the norm? If we all behaved according to a set of everyone else's rules, we'd be clones of each other. But are we?

Pretence

An art~
Some can paint a lovely picture which everyone applauds,

Although the colours might not be so bright and rosy.

Others can’t portray, try as they might;

A huge effort required; although worth remains questionable…  

 A display~
To appeal to all, maybe means to keep self happy,

Though one might be content with whom they do have,

And not run after a few, not compromise on own beliefs

For putting up a show – it’s your life after all.

A sacrifice~
Of one’s true feelings and peace of mind

Do you live for you or them?

Wouldn't be simpler to clarify at the first go where you stand?

Or is it easier to feign and carry on?

A thought~
Is it for their good or yours?

Is it because you avoid confrontation or fear being disliked for what you really think?

Or possibly it doesn't matter that much

And you just want a cordial stand with all?

Did you dare to expect?

Walking along a path...going your way..choosing your direction...or maybe going with the flow..it's your wish    and you might not even have given it a thought..you just move...

And then chance upon a hill..there is a way to go by the valley or climb the hill...you take the chance or get a feeling to just take the unconventional route and give the hill a shot..it's steep...it's tough..and not something you signed up for, but you don't know that yet.

So you're busy doing it your way..setting your foot on a firm rock to propel yourself up, placing your hands at the right spot to lift up and climb the hill..it's challenging, fun, enjoyable and you're doing well.

Out of the blue, a rope drops. A sign of help. Someone up there wants to lend you a hand, that's strange! you didn't ask for it! Should you take it?? That's a dilemma it'll be easier for sure, but weren't you liking giving yourself that thrill? But wait! The rope might be fun too, let's go for it.,.you take it and indeed it's a smooth ride and you're glad for some company..some indication that you aren't alone and you can get to the top of this hill and cross it!

Suddenly the rope starts becoming lose, as if the support is waning..it soon starts withdrawing..without any explanation..any sign..it's gone and you're some way up but the rest you gotta make it on your own. That's ok. Weren't you helping yourself before that? Weren't you absolutely happy? Now why do you miss that rope? Why do you think someone was trying to support you? It's your journey...you have to find your way...

But still..you wait...in total anticipation, you hope, you pray - that rope will drop again..You can't move forward..you can't take a step ahead...all those techniques you knew to climb the hill with just fail before you..you can't figure it out..you need that rope..rope rope rope...your brain's full of it..but does it come? No. Not when you want it. Not when you crave for it.