IST - Indian Stretchable Time

I have been a huge Google fan. The story of how a research paper led to a life altering phenomenon is fascinating. Their gradual integration of email, photos, music not seeming to be as monopolising as Apple, delighted me to no end. I was so impressed that I went ahead and bought a Pixel, a decision I haven't regretted till date. There were a few things that did bother me. Like how Google remembered my search histories and displayed ads based on that, or how the gmail app suggests reply formats based upon the content of the email. Though a bit scary; I ignored it, convinced it's not hurting anyone and that their privacy policies & security protocols are fool-proof.

But then an ad for Google Maps on Indian television has set me thinking. Is Google trying to change the way we live? Changing our very own culture? Sure it suggests the fastest routes, and it lets you know where there is heavy trafic and how to avoid it. But is there something more sinister going on? The intrusiveness of Google has now gone too far.

Let me explain. The recent series of ads promoting Google Maps, says "Let 5 minutes be 5 minutes". Implying that people should now be able exactly predict when they will be reaching a place and should abide by it. Now that goes against my culture. When did "Paanch minute mein pahunchtha hu" mean anything? We follow IST - Indian Stretchable Time. If there is one thing that we Indians stand united on - it is our puncutality. When we say 5 minutes it means anything but that - it can be 30 minutes, one hour, next day, next week, next month and in some cases next year. I am sure the reason Mughals and Britishers were successful in invading us was because of our puncutality. Because someone somewhere promised to deliver in 5 minutes and as usual that didnt happen.

I remember from my days in the US. A colleague invited us for the first birthday celebrations of his son. The time mentioned was 6pm, followed by dinner. Around 6:15pm, I was getting ready when I got a frantic call from another colleague confirming the venue. Apparently, she was there and no one was in sight, not even the host!!! Needless to say the host was Indian and the frantic call was from an American colleague. The poor lady thought she would be free by 7:30pm and had planned her evening accordingly. I had to gently break the news that no one is expected before 7:30pm.

Now, Google Maps is asking me to unlearn everything I know. That's not fair.....

Zindagi

This song from Masoom, lyrics by Gulzar, tells the tale of life a bit differently. Not the usual stuff of being brave and look at the bright side story. The plain facts of life in a reverse psychology.

Life is going to be tough and hard, better be prepared to face it. Happiness is one face of the coin with sadness being the other and life just flips the coin around.

tujhase naaraaz nahi zindagi, hairaan hoon main
o hairaan hoon main
tere masoom savalon se pareshaan hooN main
o pareshaan hoon main
(i am not complaining about life but am frustrated with it turn of events)

jeene ke liye socha hi na tha, dard sambhalane honge
muskuraoon to, muskurane ke karz utaarne honge
muskuraoon kabhi to lagata hai
jaise hontonn pe karz rakhaa hai
tujhase ...
(suffering is part of life, if there is happiness then sadness is round the corner)

aaj agar bhar ayi hai, boondein baras jaayengi
kal kya pata inke liye aakhen taras jayengi
jaane kahan gum kahan khoya
ek aansu chhupake rakha tha
tujhase ...
(if something is troubling u today, better spill it out, u might not get another chance to express your grief)

zindagi tere gum ne hamain rishte naye samajhaye
mile jo hamain dhoop main mile chhaanv ke thande saaye
(we forge new relationships along the way, the strongest are those made during the high n dry phase of life)

o tujhase ...

Padharo Mhare Desh

Finally, my better half gave in and agreed to go to Rajasthan. I was thrilled and started planning our annual holiday. But covering the entire state from Mount Abu to Jaisalmer in one week seemed too difficult. We decided to make this a pure desert experience and leave the rest for later (hopefully). The itinerary was fixed to Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Bikaner-Jaipur, to be covered by road. I was a bit apprehensive about spending half of the vacation on the road with an unwilling adult as company, but there was no alternative. Either this or Palace on Wheels!!!!

So off we went and landed at Jaipur airport to be met by our cab and driver for the week. The first thing we noticed was the dry sunny atmosphere, we were experiencing a spate of rains at Hyderabad and it was a welcome relief. The next thing I realised was the "Pink City" was not so pink after all. Actually, it was anything but pink, till we entered the old city, then it was as if someone splashed the landscape with pink paint, all buildings were in pink. 

Amer Fort

After a sumptuous Rajasthani thali started the site seeing. First destination - Amer Fort. Constructed of sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the Diwan-i-Aam, or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-i-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is naturally created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace. Now this entire architecture is repeated at all the forts/palaces we were to visit for the next week. Same layout with minor differences. We were advised by our driver to engage a guide, adding we will get all we need to know from this guide that would be useful at other places. The guide not only guided us through the palace but also acted as a facilitator for our shopping needs. Once we were done with Amer Fort, he took us to a government-approved shop which sold everything Rajasthani from quilts to slippers and artefacts. Apparently, the locals charge exorbitantly and these select shops offer a fair price controlled by the government. One word about the Rajasthani shopkeepers, they are good salespersons. They make you sit and then bombard you with all kinds of stuff and you end up buying things that were not originally on the list. Believe me, they are good, I am a very sensible shopper and I got carried away. 
Another uniqueness was that every tourist place closes by 5pm in Rajasthan, so we are literally left with nothing to do in the evenings unless your place of stay provides some entertainment. Unfortunately, the hotel at Jaipur was not up to the mark and we were left in the lurch. We wandered through the streets and had a glimpse of the Amer Palace by night all lit up. There was a light and sound show but we decided to give it a skip after a local auto guy discouraged us. 

Hawa Mahal

Next day we started after breakfast to visit the Jaal Mahal (closed for public), Jaipur Palace, the famous Hawa Mahal (did you know the popular arch we see is the backside of the palace), Jantar Mantar (it's HUGE) and Birla Temple. We also got into one of these funny looking autos, they looked like a cart attached to a motorcycle. Another evening roaming the streets, this time getting a taste of the local pani puri and other street foods.

Next day we started early for a drive to our next destination - Jodhpur. On the way, we stopped at Ajmer to visit the famous Dargah. Somehow, it didn't meet my expectations. I was visualising a calm, serene place where people prayed. This turned out to be a crowded place filled with pickpocketers (our driver insisted we leave our purse and mobiles in the car). I felt that at least in this aspect religions stand united. 

Mehrangarh Fort from Jaswant Thada

Next stop Jaswant Thada. It was a beauty, could be because of the time we landed there. It was serene, pristine and very peaceful. Its a cenotaph and we had a glimpse of Mehrangarh Fort our next destination. We simply fell in love with Mehrangarh Fort. Built on a cliff of red sandstone, it offered a beautiful view. There was a lift to reach the top and then we walk down visiting multiple palaces located within this fort and now housing museums. 

At Jodhpur we tasted their famous Kachori, I didn't know that Kachoris can be sweet too, with mewa stuffing and the size of a puri - I had one and skipped dinner entirely.

Destination Jaisalmer - Another half day drive to reach Jaisalmer, visiting Pokhran Fort and Jaisalmer war museum en route. Though there was nothing new to see at the Pokhran fort, we got to climb the ramparts and see the view. Also, it was interesting to hear the story about the day of our nuclear testing at Pokhran, how the locals felt the tremors and how there were slight damages to many building. We did see the road leading to the test site, no access to the public.

Jaisalmer Hotel

As we approached Jaisalmer, we noticed a change in the landscape. It was as if the desert was creeping onto us. Till then the cities didn't seem any different from other places, except for the exceptional heat and threat of dehydration. As we approached Jaisalmer, we got to see sand dunes and camels in the wilderness. The hotel we were put up was amazing, modelled around a palace, talk about royal treatment!!! 

Jaisalmer Fort is the only fort in Rajasthan that is populated. Apparently, the local king gave the establishments to his staff and they still stay there. Some are converted to hotels. We found houses with a viewing balconies offering photo opportunity for 10-20 rupees. We loitered around the fort trying not to peer into the houses, before returning to the hotel for relaxation before the much-anticipated desert safari.

Camel Ride

Oh, boy was it amazing. A must for every one. The desert safari was simply superb. We went on a camel ride, and then in a jeep. Both were totally worth it. We were offered overnight camping in the desert, which my husband vehemently refused. But after seeing the desert and the cool atmosphere (by evening it temperatures drop considerably) he got tempted and we opted for a night in the desert. We were treated to some Rajasthani folk music and dance, followed by dinner and night in a tent. Well, a modern tent to be honest. The floor was solid concrete with bed and a toilet. Instead of walls and roof, there was a tent. It was nice to be away from all electronic gadgets and spend some time star gazing. Next day morning we had to bid adieu to this wonder, back to the road to Bikaner.

Unfortunately, we reached Bikaner on Govardhan Puja day, day after Diwali, and it is a very important day for Rajasthanis. Which meant that everything from forts, museums to shops were closed. We were left with nothing to do except lounge in the hotel, again a palace replica, and relax. We missed buying the famous bhujia and other savouries too.

On the whole, it was a great trip, we came back relaxed and rejuvenated, could be because of the idle day at Bikaner or the change in pace and environment. But, we will definitely miss the popular Bollywood songs belted on the sarangi, variations thereof, that greeted us at every turn of the trip.

Running for Charity

I thought I was done blogging about my runs. But then, a run for charity that too organised by company deserves a mention. Come month of October and it is time for Daan Utsav and it is approached with as much zeal and enthusiasm as any other endeavour at our organisation. Apart from collecting donations, multiple events are conducted with the proceeds going to an orphanage. This year a run was organised as part of the Daan Utsav. Since, I was not able to participate in any of the other events, I opted for the run - 10k.

I had not run since AHM in August. My fitness regime included morning walks, stationary bike and yoga. That too were missing for the past couple of weeks from my daily routine, and the week leading to the run I was sick. Naturally, I was not very keen on going. But two things prompted me to go - one, it was not a 10k loop, it was a 5k loop to be done twice. That meant I could turn back any time. Second, there were many first timers, who assured me they would be walking and not running, so I wouldn't be the odd person out. And to top it, everybody gets a finisher medal, irrespective of the distance ran and time taken.

The day arrived and we assembled at 6 a.m.. To my dismay, none of the people who pushed me into coming were there. After a pre-run warm-up, we started off. It was a totally amazing and fun experience, running with the people you know. Seeing known faces at every step, being cheered by name was something different. We were mutually motivating each other and the seasoned runners slowed their pace to give us tips and encourage us. I found a colleague whose pace and mindset matched mine and we completed 5k together. It was first time I ran with someone and sure felt nice. Once we completed 5k, I decided to call it a day. But then the people who promised to walk with me arrived and were about to start. So completed the second half of the 10k walking. It was a totally unconventional and unusual run. The breakfast and the photo session that followed were all worth the effort. The best part was the kids from the orphanage who came to cheer us all the way. Kudos to the organisers and volunteers.

Parents vs Children

It's the age-old debate. These days social media is abuzz with messages and stories on how the current generation kids are not taking care of their old parents. How the senior citizens are left to their own means. How the children are too busy with their lives and career to take care of their parents.

It is not just about taking care of parents, the current generation is getting beaten up for their lack of values, dress sense, respect for elders and the list goes on. While I am not saying that the current generation is perfect, I want to ask one question - are parents in no way responsible for this behaviour of their kids? Who teaches these values to the kids? Is it not the parents?

Let us see what is happening in the current households. It consists of father, mother and one or two kids. The age gap between the kids is a minimum of 4-5 years. A typical day starts with a flurry of activities. Mothers trying to get the kids out of their beds, taking care of the breakfast and packing lunch, ensuring the maid is doing what she is supposed to do. If the mother is working then add to the potpourri the pressure to get ready for office. Father tries to help, mostly by staying out of the way. After schools, kids rush to various activities like coaching some sport, dance or music class and of course tuitions. They come home tired, but the day is not yet over. They have to complete their homeworks and prepare for the classes next day. Mother is, as usual, slogging in the kitchen trying to get dinner ready and getting things ready for the next day. Father comes home late from work too tired and frustrated with work, boss, and traffic. There might be some change in the roles that the individual parent plays and the amount of domestic help available to the household, but it is pretty much the scenario. If the kid offers to help either parent, they are shooed away, reminding them of their studies or asking to enjoy life. What does the child do? It's too risky to play outside, with traffic and lack of space, so they get addicted to either TV or video games or mobiles. The children are not involved in the day-to-day activities, because they are just kids and are supposed to enjoy life, not get into "adult matters". There is no interaction among the family members, meal times being staggered as per each member's schedule. Weekends are also equally busy with everyone ending up going their own way, kids going out with their friends and parents going their way grocery shopping or meeting relatives. While all this fosters a independent and self-reliant individual, the concept of family and co-existence goes for a toss. Once the child grows, he/she pursues their dreams and has their own career in their own space. Parents encourage the kid to be independent and are proud of the fact. The children maybe very successful in their careers, but when it comes to the personal front, they fail miserably. They are not capable of handling simple relations. Live-in relations, separations, marriages and divorce become very common. Children are torn between the values that seem to crop up suddenly and the reality which seems to be clashing with these "values and norms".
The major problem comes once the parents grow old. They are used to being the providers and givers, they find the role-reversal a bit difficult to handle. They cannot give up the age old habit of being in charge and end up giving suggestions in the name of helping the child. Also they are not used to seeking help, so find it hard to tell their child that they need assistance and help. Children grew up without any idea of the needs of their parents. Parents always provided and took care of everything so the child has no clue as to how to take care of their own parents. Even if they try, the constant badgering of advice makes them feel inadequate. It is never good enough or they feel that the parent is being adamant and uncompromising.

Going back in time, to the age without TVs, Video games or mobile phones. How did people pass time? Kids played outside and a bond was formed among the kids of similar age groups. Education was simpler, without being piled on with extra classes and courses. Children were allowed to help their parents in household chores. A notion of sharing and sense of neighborhood feeling and belonging was born. Families or friends would go to movies and follow it up with discussions about the movies, the story, characters etc. This would inculcate the habit of listening to other's viewpoints and development of analytical skills. Then there was the story telling time, either during or post dinner. The stories usually revolved around some value or moral which by repeated telling got ingrained in the child. So without explicit teaching, the value system was established. Then, there were Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles who would interfere in family affairs and dole out loads of advice. These matriarchs and patriarchs formed the much needed therapeutic support system. Kids got to see all the arguments and fights among family members, and it would make them realise that even with all the differences family stayed together, celebrated together. A tiff here and there is quite normal and doesn't necessarily mean the end of the world. Since the kid was always the part of family be it doing chores or taking part in any decision making process, they belong and know how to take care of parents when need arose. Of course, there are exception to the norm, even then there would be some wayward kid. Or a kid who sets of to explore greener pastures. But since it was a joint, a communal living, some relative or the other took care of such parents. And it was acceptable since everyone grew up together and helping each other came naturally.

So who is at fault? The self reliant and independent child or the overprotective and concerned parent? Each one is right in their own sense. Parent for expecting the child to take care of them and pay some respect to culture and traditions. Children for wanting to explore the new avenues and wanting to live life on their terms. And each one has their own setbacks. Parent for concentrating on providing all luxuries to the child and not letting them evolve on their own. Children for taking parents for granted and refusing to see their viewpoint.

Generation Gap

I am a typical Indian with movies forming a major part of my life. My mom's family is obsessed with movies, not only do they watch movies but remember every detail about the movies. No gathering is complete without watching a movie, followed by an in-depth analysis and a quiz session. For me, it's the whole movie-going experience that matters, not totally concerned about the movie as such. With multiplexes, the whole movie experience has gone for a toss. Now we have to wade through the idle window shoppers, salespeople trying to sell membership to some club or the other, the events at the malls and what not, before reaching the theatre, or "screens". Then comes the meagre popcorn exorbitantly priced, not to mention a bottle of water. Anyway, I compromised to that, since I don't like watching movies on the TV screen. I feel the whole at home idea takes the concentration away from the movie. Once I start watching a movie, I pay attention to the story, characters and dialogues, not for me are the elaborate sets and intricate stunts. That does not mean I don't enjoy fantasy, mythological and action movies, I adore them.

 

Let us come to the content of the current movies. Past couple of years I have witnessed a major disappointment in that area, too. I have been seeing movies and coming out either disgusted or feeling sorry for the current generation. This is what the Generation Gap is all about, I decided. 

After almost a year of hiatus, I ventured into the moviedom. Especially after hearing rave reviews of few Telugu movies. But alas, the experience did not change. Let me explain. When I go to a movie I go with some set expectations - Amitabh Bachan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn movies are all about revenge, action and in general good over evil; Rajesh Khanna, Karan Johar, Yash Chopra movies are all about family drama and sentiments; Govinda, Rohit Shetty movies are all about senseless comedy and stunts. Most of the times these expectations are met and I feel happy. But the current generation movies defy these expectations. It is more like we, the audience, have to cater to the moviemakers' expectations. These days most movies which have stars are lacking in content. It is like the makers have decided that cast will sell the movie, content does not matter. It is seen in movies like Khaidi No 150, Temper, Gautami Putra, Duvvada Jagannadham and Spyder and of course Bahubali. I for one don't like to be taken for granted.

Then there are movies touted to cater for the entire family - Sitamma Vakitlo..., Satamanam Bhavati,  Rarandoyi..... The problem I have with these movies is that they are too utopic. Agreed movies are for entertainment and not to be taken literally, but at the end of the day, I get confused how the characters are related to each other and how many festivals or pre-wedding events are in existence. And what is the message they are trying to convey? Apart from reiterating the fact that youth is going to cities and the US pursuing greener pastures and are leaving their old parents and traditions behind.

Then comes the trendsetters, the so-called path-breaking movies - Fida, Arjun Reddy. I didn't find anything path-breaking about them. The storyline in both cases was an age-old one. Trendsetters are supposed to showcase something different which is worth pursuing - Telangana accent and a hero who ODs when encountered with the first hurdle in life is not the trend I was expecting. 

To some extent, I liked Ninnu Kori a bit better. Even though the premise was absurd, it was in line with the characters and their portrayal.

We go to a movie to forget our present and for some relief from our monotonous routine lives. But, a movie is more than entertainment. It portrays the current life situations and gives a way to deal with them. They should not be too far away from reality, and either through comedy or through subtle hints they should give us the strength to face the world with all its imperfections and unfairness. 

My Tryst with Running

Post the successful completion of 5K (Confessionsof First Time Runner), though I had vowed not to run, I continued with the training program. It was convenient, in open space and with the best company ever. I diligently attended all training sessions, but never went for any long runs. Though I had registered for AHM 2017, I didn’t see myself as a marathon runner. I was happy doing what I was doing. It had drastically improved the quality of my life. I was feeling more energetic, my tolerance levels improved – both physically and mentally. I was able to last a full day without getting irritated or frustrated or yelling at anyone. People around me noticed and commented on the changed personality and that was motivation enough to keep going.

Everything seemed fine and gradually the intensity of training increased. Suddenly I started feeling exhausted and tired throughout the day. I was falling sick too often with aches and ills. This was two months into the training and two months to the AHM. I didn’t understand what was going on. Family members as usual said I needed to give up the training, and that I was trying too hard. My dad, a walking fanatic, reiterated that daily walk should be enough for my fitness goals. My mom, though encouraging, thought her little girl was over-tiring herself. For once my better-half, who never objected to what I did or didn’t, ratified my dad’s thought on walking. It seemed I was surrounded by naysayers and it was difficult to get over that kind of negativity. To prove them wrong, I went through a medical check-up. Turned out I was deficit on Vit D and Iron. Might be it was coincidence or might be I should have taken care of my diet during the training sessions. So the regime of supplements started and I gave up on training. Instead, I started working out on my own. Doing the stretches and runs on my own, restricting the runs to 3-4K.

Come August, the month of AHM, anxiety levels grew. I was registered for 10K, I wanted to do it but my confidence levels were rock bottom. How can I hope to run 10K when I was yet to cross the 5K mark? There is a concept of sweep bus, which would go around after the cut off time and pick up the stragglers, I didn’t want to be on that!!! I never felt this bad even before my board exams. Of course, there was constant encouragement, too. Especially from a colleague at work, he regaled me with stories of his first 10K and   made me realise that everyone went through the same phase. I was missing my running gang. One week before the run, I started attending the training again, mainly to be with the gang and get motivated. Bless each one of them, it worked.

Run Day finally arrived. There was a rain prediction for 48 hrs the day before race. I was apprehensive about running in rain, though people kept telling me that it was an amazing experience. But as with all weather predictions, there was no rain on the day. Perfect weather. We were at the venue by 6am, 10K run was to start at 7am. My target was to complete 10K in not more than 2hrs. Modest, but realistic goal.

The first 2K were too easy. My pace was around 8 mins/km. I was elated, didn’t feel too ardous. The 1:10hr pacer was within sight. Dare I hope?

The 3^rdK was tough. That’s when the ascent started and my pace started reducing. It was brutal and I was ready to give up, but there was no transport visible. Suddenly slope descended and I literally rolled down the hill. It gave the much needed respite.

4-5K - my pace was improving and I started feeling better. I was still doing fine with 1:20hr pacer within sight. Not bad I thought to myself. I started walking uphill and running downhill and before I knew it I crossed the 5K mark. I bettered my own record!!!!

At the 6K mark all hell broke loose. Two people collapsed in front of me and ambulances were on their way. It was scary with all the sirens and the volunteers running around. A word about the organisers and volunteers, they were superb. Organising an event at that scale is an herculean task, and the volunteer group was ever encouraging and supporting. I was especially impressed by the school kids lined up to cheer us, it was sight to see.

Then came the toughest challenge of all - the Gachibowli flyover. Luckily for me, by then the serious runners had crossed and most of the people were like me, walking (dragging their feet would be more apt) up the flyover. Suddenly I realised I lost sight of the 1:20hr pacer. I peeked at my watch and my average pace had climbed to 10 min/km. Damn. But then I told myself it’s ok you are here to complete not compete.

Slowly we trudged and crossed the 8K mark, but the 9K mark took forever to appear. The lady next to me wondered if she missed the 9K marker, I said no. As if responding to the mood my player started playing “Azeeb dastan hai, kahan shuru kahan khatam, yeh manzilein hai kaunsi….”, I literally laughed at the irony despite the situation. And then we entered the Stadium, never did any arch look so welcoming. That’s when the theory of relativity finally sunk in. When I was a regular to IIIT, stadium was next door, I would come out of IIIT and take a U-Turn at stadium to head back to the city. In those days, especially when there was traffic, the U-Turn seemed to come too fast, now the distance between the IIIT gate and stadium entrance seemed a mile-long!!!!

Inside the stadium was festive atmosphere with all the music and happy chatter of runners, meeting with their family, friends and co-runners.  I was exhausted and at the same time elated. I did it, I completed the 10K without giving up. I couldn’t believe it.

Post-race: We booked a cab to get back home. The minute I sat in the cab, it felt sooo refreshing and relieving. But at the time of alighting the cab, the pain was excruciating. It was a repeat performance the rest of the day, be idle for few minutes and then any movement proved to be a torture. By the next day afternoon I was doing just fine. Dare I set my target for half marathon!!!!

Confessions of a first time runner

In the recent past, we have been bombarded with images of runners, advertisements about marathons. It feels like every one in Hyderabad has started running. It was hard not to get intrigued and drawn into that world. This year that is what happened to me.

Let me start from the beginning. I was confident that I was pretty much in good shape, my weight was under control and i walk a lot compared to my peers and try to take stairs whenever possible. But, last year a trip to Bhutan changed my perspective. All the walking and hills we climbed made me realise the shape my legs were in. I couldn't walk for more than 10 minutes without having a muscle cramp, i couldn't walk fast, i was just loitering about. It was a rude awakening. I decided I needed to get into shape. So what should I do? Obviously my morning walk, yoga and diet was not working. I was not able to fit Gym or active Yoga into my schedule. Sports activity was one option but finding a partner proved difficult (my life-partner having abandoned me on this venture of mine!) Then I came across a running enthusiast and found that people get trained for running, you are not completely on your own. That should work for me. Once trained, I can run on my own without any dependency. The only hitch - I never ran in my whole life, even as a child I always avoided running, no idea why.

Thanks to the multiple useless forwards on WhatsApp groups (i am not going to get irritated by them again), I came to know of couch-to-5K run program. It is a 8 week course, where experts guide you through the process of running, give you tips, the dos and don'ts, and at the end of the 8-week course you would be ready to run your first 5K. Simple, right, so I rushed to sign up before I got a chance to rethink and change my mind and vowed I will not revert on it, till at least the end of the 8 weeks. And boy oh boy that was the longest 8-week in my life.

Week 1: It was pretty simple. The coach kept it real simple and I breezed through it without a hitch. I was beginning to think I overreacted, I seemed to be doing just fine. The coach used to meet us three days a week and then we were supposed to work on the exercises rest of the week. Easy. End of the week, my legs started hurting. Calf muscles were the worst, coach suggested change in shoes - the ones I had were not for running hence were giving me the trouble. I obliged and bought a pair of running shoes.

Week 2: That is when all hell broke loose. The sessions became intense, we started running and I couldn't run beyond a minute. Legs hurt the entire day, I was limping in office. I was in a dilemma. Some said I should push myself, ignore the pain, just go with it. Some said listen to your body, slow down, why torture yourself. Whom do I listen to? And the biggest demotivater of all "Is it worth all the trouble?" The days when we were by ourselves were the worst. I got a fitbit and the figures were pretty depressing. By the end of the week it was 2 minute non-stop run. Time to call it quits.

Week 3: I took couple of days off from the entire running exercise. I had two people telling me I give up easily. That did the trick. I needed to show them I am not a quitter. I re-evaluated my approach. First, I was not in it to win marathons. My objective was totally different, I am trying to get into the habit of a physical activity. I want to get into shape and be able to run. That's it, anything beyond that would be a bonus. So speed did not matter. Second, I rephrased my goal. I am not aiming to be a runner, I will survive these 8 weeks and complete the 5K at the end of the 8 weeks in a decent time. With that in mind, I revisited all my reading material and started looking for stories that matched my requirements, instead of reading about the glorious and spectacular medal wins.

There was another thing I realised. My priorities were proving to be an hindrance. I was being obsessed with the work I needed to accomplish at home and then at office, I was not able to concentrate and enjoy the one hour I had assigned to myself. I needed to think about myself and what I was doing to myself before I let anything external bother me. I had not been happy with my lifestyle and had decided to do something about it. And now that I was doing it why am I feeling guilty about it? I decided to change my thought process, too.

Week 4: With this changed outlook, I survived 4th week with minimum humiliation. Another thing I realised was I needed some company at least to tide me over initially. Though we were having training session weekly thrice, there was a group that met every day. I started going with them. That is when I realised company matters. We were partners and we corrected each other, encouraged each other and shared our strengths and weaknesses. With this new found friendship running started becoming fun. That is when I achieved my mini-goal - I ran 10 mins non-stop. It might sound silly but from 0min-run to 10min-run was a big deal and I was super elated.

Weeks 5-8: That small 10-min run milestone carried me over the rest of the training sessions and before I knew it, our 5K was round the corner. To boost my spirits, I registered for Pinkathon 5K and completed it in around 50 mins.

My first 5K: It was good, but still there were times when I really wanted to give up. For the first 2k, it was fine but then it was a torture. There was a lady singing and running, I still cant figure out how she did it. She was singing the song “Ruk jaana nahin, tu kahin haar ke” which loosely translated to don’t give up, your goal is beyond all these hardships. It tided me over for the next 1k. Till then the route was along busy roads and it was self-motivating, seeing so many people around. The final lap was within desolate roads and with an incline. I nearly gave up when our mentor met me. He encouraged for the last leg. Told me not to look at my fitbit to see how much more, but just keep on going. By then I was walking. And miraculously the finish line was there. People waiting with the medals. I DID IT, I COMPLETED MY FIRST 5K. Never will I attempt running again!!!!!!!

To be continued.....(10K)

Why I did not like Baahubali

I am a typical Indian, I love movies. I love seeing them, whatever their type and genre (except horror). Otherwise a home bird, I love going out for a movie, I adore the whole movie-going experience (indulged in an earlier blog). 

I love mass movies as much as I adore movies with a message (they were called art movies, not sure what they are called now). I don't mind movie-makers taking liberties in the movies, else what would be the difference between real life and reel life? We are used to the exaggerated stunts of Rajnikant, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar. Thanks to Matrix  and Fast and Furious imitations, we have grown to like the impossible stunts of Ajay Devgan and Rohit Shetty's movies. Post the angry young man era of Bachchan saab and slapstick times of Govinda, I started loving movies with no story-line. The thing I like about all the above mentioned genres is the fact that they never claimed to be more than what they were. You knew what to expect and were not disappointed.

When Rajamouli's Baahubali was declared as a milestone in the Indian movie industry for its technical finesse as a visual treat, I was naturally excited.  I watched the beginning and today, a week after its release, I saw the conclusion. What a let down... I don't care why Kattappa killed Baahubali (don't worry I am not about to reveal it here), I just want to know why Baahubali, the movie,  is referred to as a magnum opus. I have seen all the movies made by SS Rajamouli and enjoyed them especially Eega, Magadheera and Yamadonga. When a director of such caliber makes a movie, you go with an expectation of something beyond the ordinary, other than the hype. So what was Rajamouli thinking? People are fools, they will lap up anything thrown their way? Sadly, box office collections and reviews are endorsing his thinking. I would have excused the lack of plot and character development, if it really was a visual treat. There were so many fallacies in both the movies, that defied the basic laws of physics. You can not increase your speed mid-jump especially when jumping up a level (in beginning when Prabhas leaps over cliffs to reach Tamanna), nor can you climb up an incline leaning backwards (in the conclusion when Prabhas climbs up the elephant trunk). You can use graphical imagery to depict a mad elephant running amok, but it should be as close to reality as possible, else what is the point in using graphics. I could have gone to an animation movie.

Want to see a visual treat, watch Life of Pi, want a fantasy with ultimate technical finesse watch Avatar, want to see some amazing action scenes watch Transporter series, want to see sci-fi thriller see Star Wars. If you think I am being unpatriotic, then here goes my list of Telugu movies with mind blowing special effects - Maya Bazaar, Patala Bhairavi,  Apoorva Sagodharargal. If we could achieve Maya Bazaar and Patala Bhairavi in 1950s, why are we not able to replicate it after almost a century? Why do I feel that we are going backwards in our movies instead of forward despite all the development in technology? They say the talent behind the visual effects of Avatar and Star Wars is from India, so where is it? Why are we not able to see it in any Indian movies?

And to quote my Dad, with all the hype created around Baahubali, I feel guilty saying I didn't like it, people will think I am mad or senile.

Moral Police

I think Indians, especially APites, are the only ones who need moral policing. The recent debate about installing God's pictures to prevent people urinating in public places proves this point. Not only that, we need law enforcement to tell men not to occupy seats and compartments designated for women/senior citizens/physically handicapped in buses and trains. We need police to tell us that hanging onto the doorways of moving bus/trains is harmful. One wonders whether common sense is missing. The basic civic sense is lacking. People spit out of a moving bus window, without bothering to see where or whom they are spitting on. We think that the entire road is a big garbage bin, we love littering. An empty bin with garbage piled around is a common sight. As is people urinating right outside public urinals. 

What is this urge to break rules? We have traffic lights, but still need traffic police to ensure that people follow the signals. Free left-turns have to be implemented by placing cones and barricades. People wear helmets, put on seat belts only when the police is around. Isnt it for their own safety? Add to that the menace of cell phones. People talking over the phones in public places are not only a nuisance factor, but endanger their lives and of those around them. Pedestrian crossing is always ignored and any demand is meted with a blare of horns. No one gives way for an ambulance, of course there is no place to give way. The two lane road has at least five lanes, so where is the question of giving side. Seeing some drive, I wonder the purpose of lane demarcations. Are we supposed to drive on the line?

Take the same person to US, they will follow all rules without any monitoring. The minute they land in India they start littering and spitting around. How will India improve when basic civic sense is lacking in people living here?

Child Labor

I have this principle of not hiring under-age kids for domestic chores, 10th std is my benchmark. I have tried to stick to it but it is proving to be very difficult.

It all started with my watchman taking offence, his complaint: "Everyone in this apt hires my kids for some work or the other, except you. Why don't you like my kids?" Now how does one tell an uneducated man the pitfalls in hiring under-age help and my principles against it? 

Then my maid servant announced that she has stopped sending her daughter to school, would I be interested in hiring her for some extra house-hold help? I tried my best to persuade her to send the girl back to school. I volunteered to meet the expenses, she countered it's govt school so fee was not an issue. Then why deny her education, what was the problem? My maid's husband did a disappearing act and left her with three kids. Elder one was married and the younger one was too young to work. So the burden of sharing her responsibility fell on the second child. Her argument was simple, the time the girl spends at school can be converted into cash. All the girl needs is one or two decent homes and she will be earning at the minimum 5K per month, which is a lot of money. How can one argue with that logic? I went to the extent of offering to pay the 5K so the girl can continue her studies. But why came the question. She has enough education to read and do simple arithmetic, what good will come out of completing school? Families will think twice before considering her hand in marriage. No one in their community wants an educated girl for their sons. She promised she will educate her third child.

Another case, the son of our watchman. He showed some potential and we, the entire apt complex, nurtured him. We paid for his education and he became an engineer. He did a decent job and passed with average scores but nothing exceptional. Unfortunately, he didn't get through in campus placements. Companies look for smart and impressive candidates, which this guy was not. So he was stuck. He feels doing menial work, like his father, below his station and he was not getting any corporate jobs. It took us a couple of months to convince him that no job was too small. So what good did his education?

Coming back to my maid servant. When the daughter came of age, she got her married, took some heavy amount of loan from me towards dowry and expenses. She feels obligated and works very loyally, never asks for a raise nor does she refuse any work. Is that bonded labor? Her third child decided he wasn't interested in studies and quit after 7th std. He took up driving lessons and works as a driver making more than the above-mentioned engineer. She is very happy. All her children are obedient, they take good care of her and are happy in their respective lives. What more can she expect? Compared to the watchman, who is stuck with a surly engineer son, her choice seems very sane and practical.