That train journey turned my taste ... ;)

My introduction to beef, was something when even I didn't know what it is. I remember once in a conversation when I said, I don't eat beef and my mom broke the suspense.

It seems I was 3 year old or so when my mom and my uncle who was in military were traveling from Pune to Tiruvalla in Jayanti Janata Express. This train and the journey I think I always remember because it was right from my baby time till my high school days journey to meet grandma was always fun.

But this trip I don't even know unless my mom described it to me. My mom and her brother were going to meet their dad - my grandpa who was unwell and serious. There was a passenger on the next berth a catholic christian lady who was carrying her dinner with her. As a natural human behavior in India - we share whether we know the person or not - its a mannerism to ask at least the neighbor before eating yourself. Yes, that was the India I grew up. The lady offered the dinner to my mom - don't you want to know what was the dinner? 

It was beef fry and parotta (kerala parotta) - my mom a pure vegetarian who doesn't even eat egg for that reason refused and said I don't eat and she made faces to my uncle. Yes, my mom always shows a vomiting face or as if she will vomit when we talk about beef :-) ...!

The lady offered to my uncle as military men are considered tough and eat anything and everything .. thats an assumption. After couple of refuses still the lady requested saying, you should not have any problem have it, I just made before leaving home.

My uncle couldn't refuse it and hence he took it and one by one he fed me the beef pieces. I don't remember any of this. But even before I could know anything I ate beef.

I am sure after that no one tried to feed me beef. But being in NDA, Pune luckily our neighbors used to be from Kerala and they used to be Christians. Now one think is a must to know that Kerala Beef Curry or Fry is very famous and ONLY Kerala Christians can make it so good and tasty. 

Our neighbors used to know that we don't cook beef. Though mom is vegetarian she always cooked chicken, mutton and fish for dad. Thankfully, I grew up with parents who are totally opposite in many things and hence I feel proud that I got the best of both the world. 

Dad never wanted his kids to be vegetarian like mom, because his teaching to us is no matter where you go in the world, you should not be tied up to a ritual or policy specially in the matter of food. I still remember dad feeding me fish, chicken and mutton explaining the importance of it and removing those thorns and bones away so I can enjoy the meat.

Our neighbors whenever they cooked beef, they would share it with us. I remember those Sundays very well where mom will say with a weird and ugly face, "for you guys there is beef so I am not cooking anything as I have my bitter gourd which I will eat with chappati". 

I still love remembering those conversations. The thrill it used to bring to us and I used to tell my mom, that she is losing lot of good things in life. My mom was raised that way and hence I can understand. But since my neighbors shared their cooking, I never cooked beef until I married a guy who cooks equally good beef.

Nature has its ways to provide nutrients to us whether its through plants or animals - some things should be left alone to nature.

As I resume this post, dinner is ready on the table and today it is beef fry and chappati ...the name itself making me hungry...will be back later until then let me enjoy my dinner!!!

~ Dawn

A country that was secular in thoughts...once!!!

Sitting here in my house in Niles, looking at the mountains remembering my hometown NDA, Pune. A place where I was only taught about people, unity and love among all. There was no caste, religion or language that separated anyone. 
Parents always supported the ruling government which was then Congress. Being a child who always liked to ask questions, I often used to ask them why Congress? And the usual answer we used to get is about Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru who made all the sacrifices during Independence time frame of India. I somehow never believed all what Mahatma Gandhi said because being a visual person I used to literally think if someone hits on my cheek, I will never show my next cheek rather I will give back. Yes, even today my answer would be that.
But I do believe what Mahatma Gandhi says about people who do crime we should not hate them instead we should hate the crime and not the person. There should be always a chance given to people and everyone has that right. 
When I got my official right to vote in India I remember I was the only one in my house who voted for BJP, not because of Hinduism, but I felt there is some potential in that government, in that people and more over I felt Congress has been sitting on the ruling seat for long and there is a possibility of getting rusted and hence a change is needed.
I was very happy that the government whom I voted won the election and one started seeing the change, a good one.

I still remember my time in Toronto when the nuclear test was done in Pokharan India. The flashing news was all over next day but what was interesting to me was that the world was watching India but India's cautious and well planned strategy helped in completing this test successfully. I was very proud for this skill and smartness that the country holds. 

I had to face many questions from my fellow colleagues and friends who were non-Indian and some who were Canadian but their parents were once Pakistani. I was amazed the way Farooq was aggressive with me and I could see how much hatred he had in his eyes for me. Because I was from India and he was not happy that India did nuclear test. I could see how he was brainwashed because this guy never ever visited Pakistan then why so much of anger? 

The day was then when I used to get on with everyone who ever said negative about India. Being an independent person, I wrote the letter to the news agency who published the article calling India as a backward country where even today bullock carts and fire lamps are used. I couldn't take that insult and wrote to the agency. I believe in expression of thoughts and beliefs and its everyone's right.

Today when I see that same India, feels so sad that people who are living there have to forcibly go through all these government laid out policies... not to do this not to that and seems the country got the freedom from Britishers but not from the indifferences of caste and religion. 

Someone who is considered to be of lower caste went inside the temple and he didn't see the next days dawn or the one who got killed by the mob only because there was a rumor that he had beef. What is digital India project? Bunch of idiots will get internet access and will be connected with the world? 

People ask me who is the best leader you think? And I want to tell them that there isn't one. Out of that if Narendra Modi has got an opportunity then he shouldn't misuse and take advantage of those people who are having their faith in him. I do not have any faith but if at all he has any capability then he must bring peace, solidarity and secularism first and then once the nation is united everyone will understand the language of progressiveness...!

Its a shame to even tell such things are happening in a country which was always known for its progressiveness and intelligence of the mass. 

I can only say India is no longer that country where I happily was born and raised and grew up with independent thoughts and united people of all kinds. 

A story to tell my kids which I cannot make them witness one. 

~ Dawn

Yes, I am caged with boundaries to fly

I am caged and they say I am free
I bear it for loved ones sake

I bear with the hope things will change

I fear loved ones will suffer

I fear not to trouble others

They say am goddess yet no power

They say am the root for giving life

But, Truth is am caged

In the name of love, in the name of emotions

I am caged!

They saw the way I took off flying high

It made them to fall in love with thy

Caught and caged me, only to see me sly

I care, I worry and so I relay hoping for dawn

Yes, I am caged with boundaries to fly

I am caged yet they want me to smile!!

~ Dawn

Fear and Power Hand in Hand!

There are so many things happening around and so quickly one after the other that...my heart wants to speak out but before I do that something else happens and the list goes on.

Where to start and where not to... is the question...

The other day I met a friend and the discussion was around being alone and how saving is important. The worry was how to save now on and where all. True we all have basic sense of saving for rainy season but why take stress? As the discussion was going on I also felt yes, I need to save too but then I said why stress out and save for the future where we don't know what's in future? Well, we all have family and parents and if we save am sure many will agree with me that our loved ones will get to enjoy even if we are not there.

I settled with the thought that I am not going to worry this year. I have done that and now I dont want to move in that direction.

Lot of things am reading in the news ...and it just aggravates self as you see injustice happening around. It seems like as we are getting educated and well aware of things, we are more confident about implying the jungle law and behaving worst than animals.
We all know by now the tragic incident of the Delhi girl who was brutally murdered after the brutal, inhumane act. People all around the world marched against it and protested to bring justice.

Yesterday, I read a news where a guy tells his college mate that if she doesn't accepts his proposal her situation will result just like the Delhi girl. I mean after all that how dare a guy has that guts to talk like that? It bothered me so much that I immediately responded to that news article saying 'his balls should be extracted and given into his hand and tell that this is what is going to happen, with slightest thought of such deeds." I happen to get 37 points and a bronze reward - god knows what is all this but...it disturbed me.
How dare? Why? Why threatening? Then someone inside me said, they all live in fear...fear of rejection, fear of failure and that's the reason they use such weapons.
Shame! I felt every man that threatens other person he is actually a coward and is not confident about self.
This is like if you don't like me I will kill you, or If you dont sit with me I will shoot you, or I will leave you.

One thing I have learned in life is not to live in fear. Face it and face it in such a way that the person never gives any threatening statements to anyone after that.

It's sad, every individual who goes through such phase and moment have a different approach and lookout probably that is the reason many people getaway with such behavior.

Whether you worry for yourself or for what's happening in the surrounding - where is the end? What is the end?

Can't people live peacefully and lovingly? At the end everyone is looking for peace and being loved then why not with its simplicity and not with force and demand?

"He who spares the guilty threatens the innocent" ~ Legal Maxim