Around four days back AJ pulled a muscle in his neck. The pull was quite a terrible one; he couldn’t move his neck and was in immense pain. This had happened to him last winter as well, exactly around this time. This time around, however, the pain was quite insufferable and he refused to go to the doctor, until yesterday when the pain started to affect his shoulder and left hand (ya it was that bad).
I rushed from work to his office and out comes AJ with a print out with the details of an unknown doctor who practices alternative therapies. Now I really don’t have a problem with alternative therapies, but I’d prefer going to a specialist who has been recommended by someone. To this argument AJ said, “Well this is like asking LG who used your 1st television.” Anyhow, finally after a lot of arguments about the doctor’s credentials AJ agreed to go to a well-known hospital.
Not too happy with the change of events, AJ entered the doctor’s room and unleashed a barrage of questions (had I been the doctor I would have thrown the man out). As soon as AJ finished telling the doctor of his symptoms, the doctor started to write something in the pad and bang came AJ “Are you giving me antibiotics?” The doctor looked up surprised and said “no, why would I give you antibiotics for muscle pain?” Unnerved AJ threw another question at him, “Are you sure this is muscle pain?” The doctor visibly irritated by now said, “No am not sure but your symptoms indicate that its muscle pain. But if you want I can ask you to get an x-ray done.” To this AJ answered, “No I don’t think it is anything to do with the bones, hence no need for an x-ray, must be muscular.” The doctor gave him an exasperated look and continued to write something as AJ (in true form) threw another question, “You think physiotherapy will help, I don’t want any painkillers, okay.” The questions continued and to the doctor’s credit he didn’t throw us out.
So the doctor prescribed him physiotherapy but we could take it only the day after since they were fully booked. Hence, I decided to go another hospital since the pain had clearly reached AJs brain! Now, by this time AJ was at his agitated best and refused to go anywhere else and I had to literally force him.
All through the journey questions and complaints flew left, right & centre, “Why are there no lights near the hospital, that’s the least they can do“ “What a huge hospital, they will fleece us am telling you, all these big hospitals focus only on sales target” “I really don’t need physiotherapy” “ My god why have people parked outside the hospital, only to save the 20 bucks which they will have to pay inside” “ Look at the parking its full, we will never get a place.”
The physio got over in 30 minutes and when we got into the car to go home AJ said, "the doc asked me to rate my pain on a scale of 1-10 can you believe it, how can anyone rate pain? I told the doctor as much, what a nonsensical question?” Only if he had realized how many such nonsensical questions he had asked everyone around him in 2 hours! Clearly he was being a pain in everyone’s neck because of the pain in his neck :)
I am sure in some way body pain affects the brains! It must, what else could explain such irrational behavior coming from an otherwise sensible, patient, intelligent & mild-mannered AJ!
Anyhow by morning the pain reduced and AJ was out of the “Question Bank” mode, back to his normal lovable persona :) Phew!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
The web of life
For a change Payal woke up before the alarm. There was a spring in her step as she got dressed. Her very first day at her very first job!
As she got into her beige trouser and maroon shirt a twinge of guilt at the money her parents had spent on it hit her. Her dad was already waiting for her when she went in for breakfast. This was her moment of pride, having breakfast with her father and leaving for work with him. It was delicious, this moment of achievement.
As the green line bus traversed the dusty roads of Noida, Payal’s excitement grew. Dad wanted her to be independent and it was a joint decision that she would travel by bus. She didn’t mind the journey; she was carrying a book along to pass her time. The heat was a killer as it is in May and by the time she reached her workplace she was drenched in sweat. Thank god for deos, thought Payal!
A deep breathe in and she plunged into her new office, which was in a residential complex, a normal occurrence with PR agencies in Delhi. Proudly she marched in; it was no small feat to join as an account executive in a leading PR agency.
She waited in the reception with a sense of trepidation as Sunanda walked in. Sunanda, with her hair pulled back into a bun, no nonsense attitude, cold stare and cryptic voice looked scary. Hi, I am your boss and you will be working on D & Z client said Sunanda as she shook hands. She led Payal to a workstation and told her that since infrastructure wasn’t the best they’d have to share the computer. Payal was still staggering behind a bit bewildered at how fast things were moving. As Payal’s spirit kept ebbing Sunanda kept talking.
The first 8 hours of her work life left Payal bewildered. There had not even been a proper induction. The client coverage docket had been dumped on her; Sunanda spent 20 minutes on each and briskly explained their business. And then she asked Payal to fax a release to the 35 names in the media list (a list with journalist numbers & details). The drudgery unknown to Payal had begun.
6 months later
Payal’s slim frame was hunched over the tracking table (a common term used for the place where newspapers are tracked for client news). It was 7:00 am in the morning and Payal just couldn’t concentrate, she had changed 3 rickshaws to reach work as buses didn’t ply till 8:00 am, had missed breakfast and her back was killing her because of long hours in front of the computer. But she couldn’t afford to delay. Sunanda, her devilish boss would be in anytime and if the news summary (a consolidation of client news) wasn’t ready she would be yelled at, yet again. Last evening she had thrown a press kit at her face because the kit was looking dirty! Now how could that be her fault, it was the client’s mistake, clearly the kit had been stored too long in their godown and nothing could restore it….
Sunanda stormed in at 8:30 am and yelled saying how come we are not in the story on consumer electronic companies’ focusing on Sri Lanka. Payal quivered and shifted from one foot to another. She tried explaining that client had not been available to make a comment, but Sunanda never listened. The office boys were looking at her with pity. Payal broke down that day and her confidence was in tatters. She was dreading going to the desk and computer she shared with Sunanda, but it couldn’t be avoided. As she reached her desk she saw 500 clips (coverage in newspapers) and Sunanda crisply told her, that the clips needed to compiled into a PR docket (advertising equivalent calculated, clips cut, pasted and bound) by tomorrow morning 9:00 am. Payal stammered as she said Sunanda I already have 2 dockets to make, why don’t we get the clippings team (a separate tracking team) to do half of it. Sunanda quietly said, I have done this for 5 years as well, and it’s doable. I want the docket tomorrow morning.
The bus journey back home was traumatic. The hot August air did nothing to ease out her stress and tension. Nothing in her college days had prepared her for this. Whatever happened to public relations strategy, campaigns, brand management plans, positioning statements, media management policy creations? All those pages full of assignments, crisis management, positioning recommendations sounded like a dream, a lie, a waste. All she did was cut clips, fax releases, send email blasts, go on media rounds to hand over press releases and follow up with uninterested and rude journalists. That night Payal made up her mind, she had to leave. Drudgery at work could be acceptable but constant humiliation was not.
7 years later
Avni walked into her new organization, her first job, Payal came out to receive her. As they walked in, Payal handed Avni a docket, her induction docket and told Avni that though they would work together, Avni’s “buddy” through her induction period of 3 months would be another colleague. Only after spending 3 months in an in-house training program would Avni be introduced to actual work. Avni loved her workplace and by the end of 3 months was eager to jump into work.
It was a windy January morning and Avni and Payal were headed towards a client meeting. Avni had been in the organization for 6 months now and loved working with Payal. Payal was a dream team lead, patient, knowledgeable, supportive and stern when required. That morning Payal was particularly chatty and as they got talking Avni mentioned that her elder sister had been in PR as well and had worked for X PR agency. Payal curiously asked her, what’s your sister’s name? Sunanda, replied the cheerful Avni.
Payal stared at Avni and then burst out laughing. Oblivious to Payal & Sunanda’s association and bitter parting, Avni joined Payal’s laughter. Their playful banter continued till they reached their destination.
Payal never let Avni know of the dreadful time Sunanda had given her. And Avni was awarded the best employee that year.
As she got into her beige trouser and maroon shirt a twinge of guilt at the money her parents had spent on it hit her. Her dad was already waiting for her when she went in for breakfast. This was her moment of pride, having breakfast with her father and leaving for work with him. It was delicious, this moment of achievement.
As the green line bus traversed the dusty roads of Noida, Payal’s excitement grew. Dad wanted her to be independent and it was a joint decision that she would travel by bus. She didn’t mind the journey; she was carrying a book along to pass her time. The heat was a killer as it is in May and by the time she reached her workplace she was drenched in sweat. Thank god for deos, thought Payal!
A deep breathe in and she plunged into her new office, which was in a residential complex, a normal occurrence with PR agencies in Delhi. Proudly she marched in; it was no small feat to join as an account executive in a leading PR agency.
She waited in the reception with a sense of trepidation as Sunanda walked in. Sunanda, with her hair pulled back into a bun, no nonsense attitude, cold stare and cryptic voice looked scary. Hi, I am your boss and you will be working on D & Z client said Sunanda as she shook hands. She led Payal to a workstation and told her that since infrastructure wasn’t the best they’d have to share the computer. Payal was still staggering behind a bit bewildered at how fast things were moving. As Payal’s spirit kept ebbing Sunanda kept talking.
The first 8 hours of her work life left Payal bewildered. There had not even been a proper induction. The client coverage docket had been dumped on her; Sunanda spent 20 minutes on each and briskly explained their business. And then she asked Payal to fax a release to the 35 names in the media list (a list with journalist numbers & details). The drudgery unknown to Payal had begun.
6 months later
Payal’s slim frame was hunched over the tracking table (a common term used for the place where newspapers are tracked for client news). It was 7:00 am in the morning and Payal just couldn’t concentrate, she had changed 3 rickshaws to reach work as buses didn’t ply till 8:00 am, had missed breakfast and her back was killing her because of long hours in front of the computer. But she couldn’t afford to delay. Sunanda, her devilish boss would be in anytime and if the news summary (a consolidation of client news) wasn’t ready she would be yelled at, yet again. Last evening she had thrown a press kit at her face because the kit was looking dirty! Now how could that be her fault, it was the client’s mistake, clearly the kit had been stored too long in their godown and nothing could restore it….
Sunanda stormed in at 8:30 am and yelled saying how come we are not in the story on consumer electronic companies’ focusing on Sri Lanka. Payal quivered and shifted from one foot to another. She tried explaining that client had not been available to make a comment, but Sunanda never listened. The office boys were looking at her with pity. Payal broke down that day and her confidence was in tatters. She was dreading going to the desk and computer she shared with Sunanda, but it couldn’t be avoided. As she reached her desk she saw 500 clips (coverage in newspapers) and Sunanda crisply told her, that the clips needed to compiled into a PR docket (advertising equivalent calculated, clips cut, pasted and bound) by tomorrow morning 9:00 am. Payal stammered as she said Sunanda I already have 2 dockets to make, why don’t we get the clippings team (a separate tracking team) to do half of it. Sunanda quietly said, I have done this for 5 years as well, and it’s doable. I want the docket tomorrow morning.
The bus journey back home was traumatic. The hot August air did nothing to ease out her stress and tension. Nothing in her college days had prepared her for this. Whatever happened to public relations strategy, campaigns, brand management plans, positioning statements, media management policy creations? All those pages full of assignments, crisis management, positioning recommendations sounded like a dream, a lie, a waste. All she did was cut clips, fax releases, send email blasts, go on media rounds to hand over press releases and follow up with uninterested and rude journalists. That night Payal made up her mind, she had to leave. Drudgery at work could be acceptable but constant humiliation was not.
7 years later
Avni walked into her new organization, her first job, Payal came out to receive her. As they walked in, Payal handed Avni a docket, her induction docket and told Avni that though they would work together, Avni’s “buddy” through her induction period of 3 months would be another colleague. Only after spending 3 months in an in-house training program would Avni be introduced to actual work. Avni loved her workplace and by the end of 3 months was eager to jump into work.
It was a windy January morning and Avni and Payal were headed towards a client meeting. Avni had been in the organization for 6 months now and loved working with Payal. Payal was a dream team lead, patient, knowledgeable, supportive and stern when required. That morning Payal was particularly chatty and as they got talking Avni mentioned that her elder sister had been in PR as well and had worked for X PR agency. Payal curiously asked her, what’s your sister’s name? Sunanda, replied the cheerful Avni.
Payal stared at Avni and then burst out laughing. Oblivious to Payal & Sunanda’s association and bitter parting, Avni joined Payal’s laughter. Their playful banter continued till they reached their destination.
Payal never let Avni know of the dreadful time Sunanda had given her. And Avni was awarded the best employee that year.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The death of a PR professional?
A refresher on the characters:
• Nutty – Client/company/organization
• Legging – Journalist/Media
• Starry-eyed nut – Me/PR professionals
Sometime back I got a call from a Nutty saying, “I have some information ready can you please block some space in the XYZ publication.” For a second my jaw dropped and then I recovered from the hit and told her, “Well I don’t think I can “block” (I’d have to be the owner of the publication for that) space but why don’t you send me the information I will take a look and see what can be done with it.” I got an incredulous exclamation from the other end and a retort, “Have a look? Are you serious? You know I am a subject matter expert and I don’t think anyone needs to look at what I write.” I was loosing it by this time, but, somehow managed to tell her that it needs to pass me even if she is a Nobel prize winner on that subject.
This exchange of conversation made me wonder how little some people respect PR professionals. Is it something to do with us and our constant bloopers? Could be that, and could also be the fact sometimes we act only to see that XYZ cc news clipping. And it is this XYZ cc clipping that matters to Nutty at the end of day. And since most Starry eyed nuts like me work in factories and on 3-4 Nutty’s simultaneously we loose track of sensibility and just become press release carriers and commit blunders which make us seem like dim-wits and mark the death of PR:
- I once called a Legging and went on and on without even letting the other end speak. Since I had 3 press releases to issue, I was in a mega hurry and could not even comprehend the uncanny silence. It was only when impudent me stopped that I was informed that Legging had passed away! That minute I wished I could melt and flow away.
- Bitching about Nutty with Legging: So you have had the misfortune of having a very rude and insensitive Nutty, but that is no reason to bad mouth him. It is in very bad taste.
- Calling up Leggings and asking “Did you get the press release?” No it got stuck in the jam outside ITO you want to escort it back in!!!
- Calling up leggings and saying, “My Company VP is in town, can I fix an interview?” Errr on what? Taliban and Pakistan?
- Cut copy paste: Am not saying don’t do it, but if you do it, be good at it. A Starry eyed nut was assigned to mass mail (a regular professional hazard). Starry eyed nut of course did not check the content and blindly kept sending the mails only to realize (after having sent it to half a dozen Leggings) that he hadn’t changed the names. In this day and age, outlook has made our lives much easier by introducing Bcc, no?
- A Nutty once insisted that we should give “exclusives” to 2 publications. Clearly, Nutty hadn’t attended his English classes because when you use the term “exclusive” it means for one party only. And fortunately or unfortunately for us, news is on public domain and can’t be hidden if you have promised exclusives to 2 Leggings, either under pressure from Nutty or from your own folly. By the way, this Starry eyed nut scared of Nutty, did give 2 exclusives, not to mention that his firm got banned for 2 years by that publication.
- Calling Leggings at 6:00 pm (until unless its earth shattering). All Starry eyed nuts are coached and trained that this time is the filing time. But we do it again and again (I have done this myself till 2 years back).
- Pitching industry trends to Leggings which suspiciously look like last years :)
- Promising Nutty the sky, based on assumptions. A starry eyed nut once promised a crazy Nutty CNBC in the following words, “Don’t worry sir, we will have CNBC, XYZ in CNBC is my best friend and we will get a 30 minute slot.” This came to bite back Starry eyed nut and bite was really hard.
Maybe it is this behavior which makes Nutties ask us to “block space” and marks the decapitation of a PR professional :(
• Nutty – Client/company/organization
• Legging – Journalist/Media
• Starry-eyed nut – Me/PR professionals
Sometime back I got a call from a Nutty saying, “I have some information ready can you please block some space in the XYZ publication.” For a second my jaw dropped and then I recovered from the hit and told her, “Well I don’t think I can “block” (I’d have to be the owner of the publication for that) space but why don’t you send me the information I will take a look and see what can be done with it.” I got an incredulous exclamation from the other end and a retort, “Have a look? Are you serious? You know I am a subject matter expert and I don’t think anyone needs to look at what I write.” I was loosing it by this time, but, somehow managed to tell her that it needs to pass me even if she is a Nobel prize winner on that subject.
This exchange of conversation made me wonder how little some people respect PR professionals. Is it something to do with us and our constant bloopers? Could be that, and could also be the fact sometimes we act only to see that XYZ cc news clipping. And it is this XYZ cc clipping that matters to Nutty at the end of day. And since most Starry eyed nuts like me work in factories and on 3-4 Nutty’s simultaneously we loose track of sensibility and just become press release carriers and commit blunders which make us seem like dim-wits and mark the death of PR:
- I once called a Legging and went on and on without even letting the other end speak. Since I had 3 press releases to issue, I was in a mega hurry and could not even comprehend the uncanny silence. It was only when impudent me stopped that I was informed that Legging had passed away! That minute I wished I could melt and flow away.
- Bitching about Nutty with Legging: So you have had the misfortune of having a very rude and insensitive Nutty, but that is no reason to bad mouth him. It is in very bad taste.
- Calling up Leggings and asking “Did you get the press release?” No it got stuck in the jam outside ITO you want to escort it back in!!!
- Calling up leggings and saying, “My Company VP is in town, can I fix an interview?” Errr on what? Taliban and Pakistan?
- Cut copy paste: Am not saying don’t do it, but if you do it, be good at it. A Starry eyed nut was assigned to mass mail (a regular professional hazard). Starry eyed nut of course did not check the content and blindly kept sending the mails only to realize (after having sent it to half a dozen Leggings) that he hadn’t changed the names. In this day and age, outlook has made our lives much easier by introducing Bcc, no?
- A Nutty once insisted that we should give “exclusives” to 2 publications. Clearly, Nutty hadn’t attended his English classes because when you use the term “exclusive” it means for one party only. And fortunately or unfortunately for us, news is on public domain and can’t be hidden if you have promised exclusives to 2 Leggings, either under pressure from Nutty or from your own folly. By the way, this Starry eyed nut scared of Nutty, did give 2 exclusives, not to mention that his firm got banned for 2 years by that publication.
- Calling Leggings at 6:00 pm (until unless its earth shattering). All Starry eyed nuts are coached and trained that this time is the filing time. But we do it again and again (I have done this myself till 2 years back).
- Pitching industry trends to Leggings which suspiciously look like last years :)
- Promising Nutty the sky, based on assumptions. A starry eyed nut once promised a crazy Nutty CNBC in the following words, “Don’t worry sir, we will have CNBC, XYZ in CNBC is my best friend and we will get a 30 minute slot.” This came to bite back Starry eyed nut and bite was really hard.
Maybe it is this behavior which makes Nutties ask us to “block space” and marks the decapitation of a PR professional :(
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Starry-eyed nut & her Pre-diwali (Mis) Adventure
Markets, buildings, offices, parks, residences all are lit up. There is a festivity in the air, the winter nip has set in, the markets are buzzing and the roads are jammed with people. All of this spells Diwali with a capital *D*.
In this entire hustle bustle in one corner of Gurgaon lived Starry-eyed nut. She was very excited about Diwali and was busy cleaning up the house, fixing up the lights, getting new curtains, buying diyas, candles, torans etc.
One night, after a particularly hectic Monday and an equally hectic weekend (because of diwali shopping & diwali entertaining) Starry-eyed nut and her husband AJ decided to take a walk to enjoy the lovely weather.
They walked out hand in hand enjoying the silence of the night. AJ looked at Starry-eyed nut with love in his eyes and suddenly noticed the car keys in her hands. Wondering what Starry-eyed nut had in her mind, AJ questioned, “Why do you have the car keys in your hand, sweetheart?”
Starry-eyed looked up from her romantic slumber and noticed the car keys in surprise & horror. With urgency in his voice, AJ questioned, “This is the car key, where are the house keys?”
Starry-eyed NUT shook her head and said, “I forgot them home.” All mayhem broke loose, AJ lost it and Starry-eyed nut went ----------------------- as they ran towards their building.
Yes, I locked myself and AJ out of the house 3 days back. Instead of taking the house keys I walked out with the car keys. It was 11:30 pm in the night so there was no chance of getting a key maker to help us either.
We called the maintenance guy of our apartment complex who ruefully told us there was nothing much he could do and this would require a carpenter. But when we pleaded with him he agreed to try. So we went upto our neighbors (right above us on the 4th floor) and one of the maintenance guys jumped from their (our neighbors) kitchen balcony to ours. We thought once we entered our kitchen balcony we could get into the house because our kitchen balcony door is usually open. But it was not to be. That day, the smart-ass Starry-eyed nut had been extra careful and locked the kitchen door as well.
Then began the tiring process of trying to unlock the kitchen door, all means were tried and all means were unsuccessful. Finally, after 40 minutes AJ asked the maintenance guy to break the kitchen door (made of glass).
I am still thanking God that the kitchen door was made of glass or else we would have had to spend the night at someone else’s place.
AJ had the last laugh though. He has a horrible (it's no longer horrible) habit of asking me every time we go out if I am carrying the house keys. I have, until now always laughed back and ridiculed him for being over-hyper. But last week has tilted the balance in his favour and I don’t think I am going to say much :) for sometime at least…
And I ofcourse blame the Diwali rush, preparation and parties for making me tired and absent-minded. Seriously, I never before done this and the Diwali stress is to be blamed for such uncharacteristic behaviour :)
The incident however did issue a warning that it’s quite easy to break into the house if someone wants to. All one needs to do is jump from one balcony to another :(
In this entire hustle bustle in one corner of Gurgaon lived Starry-eyed nut. She was very excited about Diwali and was busy cleaning up the house, fixing up the lights, getting new curtains, buying diyas, candles, torans etc.
One night, after a particularly hectic Monday and an equally hectic weekend (because of diwali shopping & diwali entertaining) Starry-eyed nut and her husband AJ decided to take a walk to enjoy the lovely weather.
They walked out hand in hand enjoying the silence of the night. AJ looked at Starry-eyed nut with love in his eyes and suddenly noticed the car keys in her hands. Wondering what Starry-eyed nut had in her mind, AJ questioned, “Why do you have the car keys in your hand, sweetheart?”
Starry-eyed looked up from her romantic slumber and noticed the car keys in surprise & horror. With urgency in his voice, AJ questioned, “This is the car key, where are the house keys?”
Starry-eyed NUT shook her head and said, “I forgot them home.” All mayhem broke loose, AJ lost it and Starry-eyed nut went ----------------------- as they ran towards their building.
Yes, I locked myself and AJ out of the house 3 days back. Instead of taking the house keys I walked out with the car keys. It was 11:30 pm in the night so there was no chance of getting a key maker to help us either.
We called the maintenance guy of our apartment complex who ruefully told us there was nothing much he could do and this would require a carpenter. But when we pleaded with him he agreed to try. So we went upto our neighbors (right above us on the 4th floor) and one of the maintenance guys jumped from their (our neighbors) kitchen balcony to ours. We thought once we entered our kitchen balcony we could get into the house because our kitchen balcony door is usually open. But it was not to be. That day, the smart-ass Starry-eyed nut had been extra careful and locked the kitchen door as well.
Then began the tiring process of trying to unlock the kitchen door, all means were tried and all means were unsuccessful. Finally, after 40 minutes AJ asked the maintenance guy to break the kitchen door (made of glass).
I am still thanking God that the kitchen door was made of glass or else we would have had to spend the night at someone else’s place.
AJ had the last laugh though. He has a horrible (it's no longer horrible) habit of asking me every time we go out if I am carrying the house keys. I have, until now always laughed back and ridiculed him for being over-hyper. But last week has tilted the balance in his favour and I don’t think I am going to say much :) for sometime at least…
And I ofcourse blame the Diwali rush, preparation and parties for making me tired and absent-minded. Seriously, I never before done this and the Diwali stress is to be blamed for such uncharacteristic behaviour :)
The incident however did issue a warning that it’s quite easy to break into the house if someone wants to. All one needs to do is jump from one balcony to another :(
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
I love badges
Thanks to the Ketchup Girl for my 1st online badge.
This one has been long pending, but it isn't easy to write just 10 honest things about myself....there are so many more :)
And as I write this I realize that I love badges :)
So, here are the 10 honest things about me…
- I am obsessed about my family and they comes first, before anything and anyone else…
- I am paranoid about clean loos; I am so obsessive about them that even if my bladder is splitting I won’t use a dirty loo; I’d rather opt for the fields outside.
- I love soaps! All of them from the K-series to the current Balika Vadhus and when I get time I make it a point to watch all of them back-to-back.
- The sight of freshly ironed bed sheets on my bed makes my heart sing.
- I detest it when people put their feet up on my bed and sofa. I know I know I am a borderline case of obsessive compulsive disorder
- One day when I have time I intend to learn cooking
- I love melodrama and more so in movies! So its no surprise that I enjoy soppy and melodramatic Hindi movies, the Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham types :)
- I will never do any task/job/request if asked rudely, even if it is my responsibility. Talk to me nicely and I will hand my heart out in a platter with a smile.
- Shopping is a hobby, sport, passion and everything else.
- I fall in love with AJ all over again almost every day :)
- I hate Maths with a passion and a vengeance and can't calculate for the life of me, that's why instead of 10 honest things this post has 11! Hence proved.
Now for tagging others:
- Mustaf
- onthepiccadilly
- Dilligent candy
- ispeak
- V Gossip
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Don’t cry for me India
PT Usha is one of the first sport people I could recognise. In school, PT Usha was a name which was a part of the general knowledge syllabus year after year due to her dazzling national and international achievements.
Considered the queen of Indian track and field, she is one of the greatest athletes produced by India. Her achievements are endless and mind boggling.
One can easily say that PT Usha is a legendary athlete of our times like Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers of our times. But are they on par? Doesn't seem like it.
Well, if they were on par you wouldn’t see India’s greatest athlete crying on screen because the Bhopal government couldn’t even provide her with accommodation when “they” invited her for an event to their state.
PT Usha was shuttled by the government authorities from one place to another in quest for lodging. In a state new to her she was left to fend for herself with no help or support from the local authorities. National shame seems a small term for this apathy shown!
And now perturbed with the media coverage the government has announced an “inquiry.”
Would they have done this with a Sachin Tendulkar or a Kapil Dev?
And may we request a reaction from Dr. M.S Gill our Sports minister in the same vein that Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni reacted when Shah Rukh Khan was detained in the US?
Too much to expect?
Considered the queen of Indian track and field, she is one of the greatest athletes produced by India. Her achievements are endless and mind boggling.
One can easily say that PT Usha is a legendary athlete of our times like Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers of our times. But are they on par? Doesn't seem like it.
Well, if they were on par you wouldn’t see India’s greatest athlete crying on screen because the Bhopal government couldn’t even provide her with accommodation when “they” invited her for an event to their state.
PT Usha was shuttled by the government authorities from one place to another in quest for lodging. In a state new to her she was left to fend for herself with no help or support from the local authorities. National shame seems a small term for this apathy shown!
And now perturbed with the media coverage the government has announced an “inquiry.”
Would they have done this with a Sachin Tendulkar or a Kapil Dev?
And may we request a reaction from Dr. M.S Gill our Sports minister in the same vein that Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni reacted when Shah Rukh Khan was detained in the US?
Too much to expect?
Thursday, October 1, 2009
She has a history of closeness with men
It’s been a mucky case since the day it started. With Shiney’s lawyer insisting it was a case of consensual sex it doesn’t come as a surprise that the more powerful Shiney Ahuja has been let go on bail. And as things work in the Indian judiciary system, it also seems likely that he will go scot free.
Soon after the incident there were discussions on “how to keep away from maids, “how maids have become sexual objects” and “how Shiney stooped low enough to sexually assault a maid” which made it more of a class issue than about a woman who had faced sexual violence.
After 3 months Shiney is out on bail and the arguments used by his lawyer seem rather hollow.
Shiney’s lawyer claims that it was consensual sex and that “She was habituated to this (intercourse) and "she had history of closeness to men.”
The lawyer forgets that even if the girl was “habituated” to intercourse and had a history with 100 men before Shiney it doesn’t negate his crime. If she refused Shiney he had no right to force himself on her. A woman’s past doesn’t construct her future and just because a woman has had sexual relationships with men in the past, she isn’t easily available and a man can’t rape her.
Gupte said that as per medical reports, there were no injuries on Shiney's body, barring one between two fingers of hand. "It could be love-bites... or she clutched his hand very hard," he said, adding that had the girl resisted, she could have scratched Shiney's face, or his upper body.
The girl in her statement had said that Shiney had held both her hands and she couldn’t fight back. It’s the victim’s verdict against Shiney’s and it seems Shiney won.
The girl had told the police that on June 13, a day before the incident, Shiney had touched her in a wrong way when she had clambered on basin to turn on overhead water tank, and she had chided him for that. She did not tell this to other maidservants, or to anybody else, Gupte pointed out.
The girl comes from a background which is not financially secure and must have been scared of losing her job. It is possible that in her insecurity she might have shirked it off as an accident and hence didn’t report it and create a scene.
Even in the statement recorded before magistrate, the girl used the word `atyachar' (atrocity) and did not mention rape.
A young girl barely out of her teens has been sexually assaulted by her employer. She must be scared, hurt, traumatized and terrorized. In this state of mind she mustn’t have used the right word? Or maybe she is feeling uncomfortable using the world “balatkar” which stands for rape in Hindi.
I am not a law expert and I don’t want to pass a judgment about who’s wrong and who’s right. It could be possible that Shiney is innocent.
But what if he is not? What if Shiney has committed this heinous act and goes scot free because of the baseless arguments above?
Unfortunately in a case of sexual assault the first thing that the culprit’s lawyer attack is the victim’s character and since the victim is usually a woman the task becomes easier. Will the lawyers ever stop assassinating the character of women to prove the guilty innocent in sexual assault cases?
The whole truth is something which we might never know, like in Arushi Talwar’s case. We have seen time and again how victims & witnesses are bribed, broken and harassed to ensure that culprits go free. In cases where there have been strong evidences like in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case it has taken years for justice to come. A rape accused Bitti Mohanty escaped after being sentenced because law was hand-in-glove with his influential father.
Soon after the incident there were discussions on “how to keep away from maids, “how maids have become sexual objects” and “how Shiney stooped low enough to sexually assault a maid” which made it more of a class issue than about a woman who had faced sexual violence.
After 3 months Shiney is out on bail and the arguments used by his lawyer seem rather hollow.
Shiney’s lawyer claims that it was consensual sex and that “She was habituated to this (intercourse) and "she had history of closeness to men.”
The lawyer forgets that even if the girl was “habituated” to intercourse and had a history with 100 men before Shiney it doesn’t negate his crime. If she refused Shiney he had no right to force himself on her. A woman’s past doesn’t construct her future and just because a woman has had sexual relationships with men in the past, she isn’t easily available and a man can’t rape her.
Gupte said that as per medical reports, there were no injuries on Shiney's body, barring one between two fingers of hand. "It could be love-bites... or she clutched his hand very hard," he said, adding that had the girl resisted, she could have scratched Shiney's face, or his upper body.
The girl in her statement had said that Shiney had held both her hands and she couldn’t fight back. It’s the victim’s verdict against Shiney’s and it seems Shiney won.
The girl had told the police that on June 13, a day before the incident, Shiney had touched her in a wrong way when she had clambered on basin to turn on overhead water tank, and she had chided him for that. She did not tell this to other maidservants, or to anybody else, Gupte pointed out.
The girl comes from a background which is not financially secure and must have been scared of losing her job. It is possible that in her insecurity she might have shirked it off as an accident and hence didn’t report it and create a scene.
Even in the statement recorded before magistrate, the girl used the word `atyachar' (atrocity) and did not mention rape.
A young girl barely out of her teens has been sexually assaulted by her employer. She must be scared, hurt, traumatized and terrorized. In this state of mind she mustn’t have used the right word? Or maybe she is feeling uncomfortable using the world “balatkar” which stands for rape in Hindi.
I am not a law expert and I don’t want to pass a judgment about who’s wrong and who’s right. It could be possible that Shiney is innocent.
But what if he is not? What if Shiney has committed this heinous act and goes scot free because of the baseless arguments above?
Unfortunately in a case of sexual assault the first thing that the culprit’s lawyer attack is the victim’s character and since the victim is usually a woman the task becomes easier. Will the lawyers ever stop assassinating the character of women to prove the guilty innocent in sexual assault cases?
The whole truth is something which we might never know, like in Arushi Talwar’s case. We have seen time and again how victims & witnesses are bribed, broken and harassed to ensure that culprits go free. In cases where there have been strong evidences like in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case it has taken years for justice to come. A rape accused Bitti Mohanty escaped after being sentenced because law was hand-in-glove with his influential father.
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