Change in the name...

As Romeo says...what's in a name?

but as far as I'm concerned, everything is in the name.

When I first started blogging, I didn't know what to name my blog. Even now I can't think of a title which defines me and my blog and my writing. It's a hard thing. So I decided to erase the old title - 'PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN'. why? because I don't think there's a need to showcase my love for India. When I decided I'll change the name, I still didn't know what title I'll be giving my blog. Since it's a personal blog I came up with known terms like My passion, My Dreams, My Ideas....So I clubbed them and named it - My Ideas; My World; My Pride!

One might wonder...why semi colons and why exclamation at the end. semi colon often gives you enough time to reflect and the exclamatory mark shows how obsessed I am with myself. I'm sure many of you disliked the title...let me know why.

Regards.

Meeting the 'Aam Aadmi'...

I was assigned a project in my University. Being a Media student I had to talk to the Auto drivers in the city and present a report in their angle. I interviewed many of them…a few co-operated; a few didn’t. It was one experience I’ll remember all my life. For the first time I was asked to go there and do something which not everyone would think of. The term ‘Aam Aadmi’ has over the years lost its true meaning. Everyone is an aam aadmi these days. Politicians use it everyday. Journalists use the term to describe anyone who does not belong to the Upper Class. But, I’m happy I met the REAL ‘aam aadmi’. Auto driver is the one who serves everyone without getting any credit whatsoever. All that he gets is the meter money with reluctance. No gratitude, not enough support from the Government either.

The day I entered the University for my Graduation I couldn’t connect to the crowd there. A few call it a culture shock. I’m not too sure as to what that means though. One thing I never liked was the hugs and kisses everywhere. Some hundred hugs a day and a few kisses blown to each other is a common sight in the campus. I always found it pointless. I still don’t get the idea behind it. Why do you have to hug and kiss people when there’s no special occasion whatsoever? I wonder! But when I met the auto drivers, I truly felt like giving a ‘jaadu ki jhappi’ to all of them. They were a wonderful lot. A 65 year old Iyengari was trying to explain to me how it feels to OWN an auto. I could see in his eyes he was happy with his life. 40-45 years of experience in driving auto. Woah! That’s something that people of this generation would like to learn – sticking on to one profession all your life.

One encounter in particular interested me more than any other. We all know that the number of farmers is on a decrease. I met one auto driver who had given up on farming to settle down in Bengaluru. He comes from a place called Mandya near Mysore. He came to Bengaluru to earn a living. There was drought in Mandya which lasted more than 8 years and his father couldn’t support the huge family. That was when our auto driver worked as a room boy somewhere in the city. Later he went on to drive auto for others and now he owns an auto. He now has two children who go to Government schools. He is happy that his children are getting what he couldn’t – square meals a day and education! There's a lot to learn from people like them, isn't it? The moment I heard the story, I was touched. We are indeed a privileged lot. We should be thankful to God for all that he has given us.

Happy and Strong!!

My thoughts in my World have gone through a drastic change in the past few days. I feel rejuvenated and fresh. I feel confident and strong. I live life by my own terms. I do what I like; I eat what I like; I read what I like; I wear what I like. I believe in myself more than ever before. When I was reflecting on the reason behind the whole change I realized it was certainly because of all that I do in my organized life off late. I study English Literature and the amount of learning one gets through it is incredible. Literature has come in my life as a welcome gift. The gift I would treasure all my life. This gift is made all the more beautiful by my teacher at the University. She makes the subject all the more interesting and lively. I can now feel my hunger for knowledge. Literature is the best thing that could ever happen to a person like me. I live on random thoughts that strike me. I’m not a person with 150-160 IQ level. I’m any normal person who loves what she does and has many plans to do what she loves. I eat well. I sleep very well. I listen to songs of all kinds. I’m a girl of good taste. I like making sense of almost nothing and I love myself. Isn’t life all about loving oneself and making peace with self. Harmony with self is a topic for another day. I’m not a very out-going person. I, in fact, hate parties. I find parties too absurd. I find dancing in parties even more absurd. I’m spiritual in a sense. I like being for myself. I enjoy every moment. I find talking to people of my same age unnecessary. Yes, there’s a lot to learn from my friends but I still don’t like doing it. But I’m fine with all that. I’m just happy that I have no immediate neighbours. I’m happy that my parents don’t demand an answer to all my actions. Honestly, my parents are the only people I care for. I’m accountable to them and no one else. I’m selfish to a certain extent. Well, to a large extent. But then, is it wrong? I don’t think it is because I’m not cunningly selfish. Literature seems to have changed the way I think and the way I conduct myself. It’s a positive change. My attitude towards life is more constructive unlike before when I used to criticize myself thinking that’s the best way to go forward. I know that poets were no social reformers. But they have certainly reformed me. A much needed transformation has finally happened at the age of 18. I can almost feel the positive vibes within me. I feel strong! The hunger for knowledge is here to stay!