Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Life Lessons from a Nobody.

I don't know why this matters. I am very well aware of the narcissism factor involved in something like a blog.
''I have an opinion. Its very important. I have a blog.''
But here are a few life lessons I will impart to you because I am very wise, okay?

The best people I've met, at least those I like to call ''my kind of people''', are those who can laugh at things. Most of all-themselves.

I think nothing is more refreshing than being a little irreverent and politically incorrect. Being stupid and silly and just ever-so-slightly offensive. Of course, no one likes a prick and there is a fine line between sass and just plain rude. However, I feel it is important that we don't take ourselves too seriously. 

When I meet a new person, and crack a joke or say something incredibly stupid, I watch the tense, self-conscious expression on their face break into a genuine, happy laughter. That's one of those amazing things to watch human beings do-loosen up, break the ice.

Our lives are so fast and can be so droll. There is so much negativity around you, so much that can pull you down. But one of the small things I like to take pride in, are moments when I manage to make people laugh.

I also believe very strongly in being honest about my feelings. I may disagree with you, strongly. Often people are surprised that I choose to voice my opinion with such gusto. But I am just not one of those people who will nod vaguely and say yes if someone goes on about how women have certain role in society and their role should be limited to that. Sorry, but I just cannot do that. 

I guess I am just one of those people who believe that it is really important to have an opinion on things. The ability to stand firmly according to your principles is one I respect. In a country where we are creating far too many all-I-want-from-life-is-IIT youngsters, it is really important to have people who think, who question, who create. Because it is people who do these things who actually manage to make a difference. And I hope I can make a difference.

However, as this very badass best friend once said about a certain classmate,
''Ma'am, she is entitled to an informed opinion, not just any opinion.''
This is the problem we seem to have today. Social media has given everyone a voice. But it is now a shrill cacophany of views, ideas, thoughts and rhetoric. How do you dissect the sensible from the stupid, the profound from the shallow, the truly revolutionary from the farcical?

Perhaps this is why debating is so important. It is critical that one actively inculcates within themselves the ability of hear both sides of the story and logically evaluate an argument. Debate, if we choose to go deeper, is central to our existence. It is the power to question an idea and/or reject it that creates something superior or causes the initial thought to come out even stronger. The more I learn, the more I read, the finer and more articulate my argument becomes.

And I love it when people engage in a non-hysterical, non-rhetorical debate with me. Prove me wrong, I won't mind that. But don't scream and do absolutely ridiculous slogan chanting when you see that you have no answers.

''What is more stimulating than debate?'', said Mrs. Bhattacharya in class once.
I may or may not be slowly turning Bengali.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Marginally funny musings of an insomniac

Okay I am typing this on my tab cuz I am too lazy to open my laptop.
Apparently I am also too lazy to write because.
DEAL WITH IT.

After a night of lying awake in my bed and wondering about life's mysteries I wrote down my thoughts from last night.

<11.30 pm>
<No Bodhi I cannot discuss the merits of rabindra sangeet I am sleepy>
<no bhaiya cannot reply to your message I am so sleepy>
<yay today I am sleeping on time>
.
.
<12.10 am>
<glances at book, maybe lets read a chapter>
<4 chapters later>
.
.
.
.
<2.18 am>
<well.....shit>
<OMF SLEEP YOU FOOL WHY CAN'T YOU SLEEP>
<I will make use of that exercise cycle from tomorrow>
<my movements are limited from bedroom to bathroom to fridge imma grow fat like this>
<noo I'll be hot and thin like Chitrangda Singh>
<10 minutes of silent admiration for the beauty that is that lady>
<10 minutes of imagining some hip yo life for myself where I look like I am leading the life of someone from a Lakme commercial>
<just being so casually breathtaking and adorable and fashionable yet so independent and successful cuz that's just how I roll yo>
<OH MY GOD SLEEP YOU DELUSIONAL WEIRDO>
.
.
.
<3.07 am sigh>
<Why can't I sleep?>
<Count till 500, you'll fall asleep midway>
<1,2,3....>
<Shit I missed out 37>
<idek how to count I am a failure>
<fail>
<boardzzzzzz>
<serious case of pre result panic attack>
<heavy breathing>
<fail boards marks du>
<no do not think about DU so much you might never go there>
<Delhi is pretty>
<Sidharth Malhotra went to DU>
<Lol Aastha and my Sid jokes>
<proceeds to wondering about Sid's magnificent beauty>
.
.
.
.
.
<Man. Why is he not real? Sigh>
< Why is he not Shia>
<I will never have a chance at love noooo crie>
<what is god really>
<what is organized religion really>
<koi toh hai jo chala raha hai nizaam-e-hasti>
<stupid Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ghazal my dad forces everyone to listen>
<maybe Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is right>
.
.
.
<Its 4 am. God.>
<I should read. This may help me sleep. I read some article where they told people to read something before bed,it helps you sleep>
<reads 2 more chapters of The Cuckoo's Calling>
<huh this is good but god how I wish Rowling moved faster>
<spends next half an hour thinking about Cormoran and Robin's brewing love angle and who could have killed Lula Landry>
.
.
.
<4.50 am wow my routine is so effed>
<Radhikaa is so smart she has aipmt tomorrow I hope it goes well>
<All my friends have law entrances too>
<Chalo sab bade ho rahe hain. Everyone is settling down>
<Ananya has also changed so much. For the better :') >
<law...lawyer...Amal Alamuddin>
<What if Adeeti becomes Amal Alamuddin type lawyer and marries Ryan Gosling who reminds me of Clooney>
<proceeds to imagining Adeeti's glamourous life as Ryan Gosling's new fiancee>
.
.
.
.
<5.10 am god try to sleep woman its dawn outside!>
<I am hungry>
<a little hangry as well>
<hangry is a real emotion ok>
<goes to fridge and eats 4 spoonfulls of Fun Foods Olive Oil Mayonnaise>
<no point in trying to sleep now>
<whispers some lame excuse to half-asleep mom about studying>
<checks facebook>
<Holy shit!126 likes on my comment on Norinder Mudi's status! I totally killed it man. Lulzz this page is so funny>
<ahh there was a time wayy back, many,many centuries ago in 9th grade when only my sweet, older cousin would like anything I posted on facebook,out of pity voh bhi>
<Now I get 126 likes on a public comment. I have accomplished so much in life. I have come a long way, virtually>
<WOW ZEHRA YOU'RE SO LAME ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY>
.
.
.
<Lol Bodhi's messages>
<brush yo teeth get them shiny teeth>
<nimbu chaai,balcony, crisp morning air, watching kids steal flowers from my neighbour's garden>
<back to room,watches Pretentious Movie Reviews again>
<proceeds to visualizing Kanan Gill as soulmate>
<how old is he>
<google search omf he is on twitter>
<lets make a twitter account>
<how the hell does this thing work>
<#hashtag .-. :/ :/>
.
.
.
<last night could be my new blog post!>

I know I am not stand-up-comedian-she's-the-next-Tina-Fey funny. Far from it. I am your normal good-humoured person who can take a joke and make a few too. They'll probably not leave your sides hurting but my attempts at humour will hopefully be met with some polite guffaws and hahas at social gatherings and group therapy sessions.

I know you smiled just now. Come on, you did.
Please.
Pls.
Plz.
This is the face of a grumpy insomniac.