Fair is Lovely, Thin is Beautiful

Planning to buy the latest beauty cream...? Or may be, having a sip of green tea after a tiresome gym routine!

Which complexion do you own - Fair, medium fair / wheatish, dusky, dark?

They say, "Beauty lies not in eyes of beholder". If so, is it the societal pressure to be fair?

In a country where majority of people are dark skin, there is this preconceived notion that has been conditioned in the society to look fair and slim. In the current pretext, this is not only applicable for women but for men too. When it comes to songs, they sing-"Gori Gori", the pretty girl.

Why is it that it that whitening products in India have a 2000 crore industry? to add more, men are now joining women in the fairness bandwagon for the pro-fairness obsession that has now existed for decades.

Is the fairness industry itself fair or ugly?

Why is it that it that fair and lovely is the largest selling product in India than any other country and its sale is growing manifold every year? The TV ads selling fairness products link success and confidence to being fair. Forget about working hard, it's all about skin color.

While some Americans have made bitterly racist remarks about Miss America Nina Davuluri based on the color of her skin, it seems that people in India have problems with her dark skin as well.

When it comes to being thin, I seldom stick my eyeballs to posts over the internet and newspapers to find ways to loose weight.

We may ask ourselves a question - Why Do You Want To Be Slim?

Is it because you think you should? Because others have been pressuring you to? Because your doctor said so? Because you are getting married? Because you have a holiday? Because you think it will make you happy? Because you saw a holiday photo and was horrified? Because you want to wear clothes of your choice?Do you feel inferior or lose confidence in front of your slim friends? etc etc

With people starving for days and facing hectic exercise routines, things have clearly gone frighteningly awry. Locked in a battle with their own bodies, and trying to mould themselves into a shape they were never meant to be, many women lose touch with themselves, and what is truly right for them.

So the real question shouldn't be, 'can you be fat and happy?' but 'are you?'

We are quite simply not all meant to be the same, and it's time to celebrate and embrace diversity.

Read more

Right wrong, wrong right. Puzzled!

Disclaimer : This article doesn't intend to hurt any person's religious feelings, any community, country or people.

He sacrificed his brothers, sons, his entire kingdom and even his own life for the sake of his sister's pride! He abducted someone's wife and imprisoned her for several years. You are correct, I am talking about Ravan.

The other day, during a conversation, someone gave me the example of Ravan to define evil.

Ravan is regarded as "wrong". Beyond any doubt, he should be, cause this is how he is being portrayed in the epic and subsequently in all the TV shows. For a moment, if you keep aside ethics and rectify the fact that he must have been "right" on his part!? After all, every girl in the contemporary world needs a brother like him. And every wife needs a husband who doesn't touch a woman without her consent.

In no way do I intend to contrast the epic but to highlight the unvarnished truth that what is the precise definition of  right and wrong! Possibly, it is about the mindset that varies from person to person, community to community, society to society, religion to religion...

Aren't right and wrong convertible terms, depending upon popular opinion?

I believe that right vs. wrong is a psyche that is primarily gained one's emotions and social experiences.

Read the following and analyse from the perspective of both the parties - 

• Many feel it is RIGHT to smoke and consume alcohol, whereas several others find it to be WRONG.
• Marrying someone of choice sounds RIGHT to some, but may be WRONG decision from the perspective of many.
• Committing suicide may seem RIGHT and easy option by a handful of people. On the contrary, it is perceived to be a WRONG decision by most.
• Some believe war and/or revenge is the RIGHT way, others believe peace and communion may solve an issue.

And then you may find a bunch of situations around you illustrating such instances.......

Read more

Ultimate option - none of the above

An excerpt from one of the news channel's website - In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Friday gave the citizens of India the right to reject all candidates in elections. "Negative voting would foster purity and vibrancy in elections," the court said. 

Opinions of frustrated citizens would be known publicly as practically the entire electorate would vote and if the rejections exceeded the votes cast in favor of candidates, all the candidates would be rejected and fresh elections with new candidates would be scheduled. Those in favor of negative voting have been demanding that re-election should be ordered in a constituency where more than 50 per cent of the voters reject all candidates. At present, the law doesn't allow that. 

Supposedly, this is on the verge of reality shows, wherein its the common people who drive the show. In the event of this option being included in the electronic voting machines, I foresee certain benefits:

Voters shall now be free to express their views, rather than being compelled to opt out of any of the given candidates. They might be granted the ability to mandate the possible candidature too. In most of the countries, including India, the political party chooses its candidate. But in US, it is the people who choose the candidates.

Every political party would regard the electorate as a formidable force to reckon with and would ensure that only honest representatives of integrity were admitted to their party. Hence the representatives would be careful and prudent in their conduct. Parties will have to be cautious and pressurized to put up better candidates. This shall also ensure that people cast their mandate for the *candidate* and not for a *political party*.  Scams and scandals would decrease immensely.

A new era of integrity would begin. The citizens will be able to raise their voice/ concern which wouldn't otherwise have been possible easily, esp. in those constituencies where aristocracy prevails in the name of democracy. 

Moreover, the democracy which was till now, of the people and for the people, will now be by the people too.

Accolades and a grand welcome to this decision . I vote for it!

Read more

Open up a whole new world now..

Turn failure into a greater success. Every situation will throw up winners as well as losers. Defeat can, however, be turned into victory by a slight shift in attitude.

The first step is to accept gracefully the fact that you lost. And that you lost because there was something that you did not have and the winner did; do not blame others for your defeat. Focus on that something, understand it and, in doing so, identify your weak areas. Now try and figure out ways of working on those areas. Look at your present defeat as an opportunity to improve yourself and also something that may possibly help you shift focus onto something bigger and better. 

Sometimes it may so happen that you are trying to succeed at something that you are not meant for, and greener pastures await you elsewhere. If that is so, understand that. Focus your energies towards areas more suitable to you. Shifting your goal may open up a whole new world for you, one you may not have dreamt of earlier. 

And remember - 

"Koshish karne se mushkil aasan hoti hai ,

Milne se kya bol tamanna kum hoti hai"

Read more

Wo kaagaz ki kashti, wo baarish ka paani..

Read more