My Page

A growing percentage of old and ailing population in the country has not yet sensitized our people to the plight of the aged. Statistics show that this number is on the rise, and soon we will have almost 30% Indians above the 60+ mark. Yet we remain callous and unconcerned, as if it is a problem in someone else's backyard. What is even more alarming is that among the aged population, there is a rise of those afflicted by dementia, schizophernia, depression, alzimer's, and other age related mental diseases. Not to mention diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, kidney problems, oesteoporosis, arthritis and other chronic physical diseases. These people need specialized medical treatment, and often just a litte humane concern and attention. A shocking number of lonely deaths of old people have been reported in the recent past. But we as a society have failed them. We are so caught up with pandering to our young, that our old ...

Rio 2 is a delightful little film, full of bubbly maverick characters. The story is of Blu, the city-bred, app-addicted blue macaw, his wild, fiesty wife - Jewel, their three prankster kids, their sundry friends and foes. This is also the story of endangered fauna of the Amazon forests, the fast disappearing green cover, and the efforts of some humans to preserve the delicate eco-system. The beauty of the movie is in its brilliant frames, full of vibrant colour, and the pulsating music and splashy dances. The constant gags and witty one-liners keep us in splits, while driving home the point gently. We need to preserve our natural treasures, which face anhiliation at the hands of greedy businessmen.  There are a number of memorable scenes like the one where Jewel comes home with a hard-earned nut for breakfast, only to meet her pancake eating family glued to the TV. She concludes that it is time to introduce them to their natural habitat! Then there is the scene where...

Summer is on us like the harsh light of reality after one wakes from a pleasant dream. In our country, it is the steadiest season, always arriving dot on time, and overstaying its welcome till October-November. Never has summer failed to scorch in India. Shakespeare rightly called April the cruellest month, though this was not quite what he meant! The 'rudra avatar' of the mighty sun is on full display, burning and scalding everything in its ambit. Birds and animals on the streets are the worst hit, thirsting for water everywhere. Humans have it no better, though the well-off have the option of hiding indoors in AC comfort. As usual, the man or woman on the street suffers the most, whether it is your door-to-door salesman, or traffic constable, postmen or vegetable vendors. For them, it is really a question of sweating it out for their bread and butter. And then, we have the infamous power cuts (which have no relation to depletion of political p...

Much as we talk about women's empowerment, how much is the Indian woman really empowered? Does employment and climbing the corporate ladder mean empowerment? Or is it about the freedom to make choices on your own? Without the load of expectations and implied role non-fulfilment? I feel an employed woman is under more pressure in India. Not only does she bear the guilt of neglecting her house and family, she also has to cater to unreasonable demands of caregivers or retainers. Then her husband and children keep making demands on the little time she has at home. So where is her me-time? Does she get to do what she really wants, what she enjoys? And here, I am talking about the average middle-class working woman, not the high-flying corporate big-shot. It is double bondage for her - at work, everyone expects her to prove herself, and at home she has to prove her commitment. The clerical grade of banks, insurance companies and big corporates are filled with such women, who often r...