Oh Brother Dear Brother !

Siblings

Today I feel is a good day to look back at the past in comparison to the present. The only people who know you from the day you are born are your siblings. Your brothers and sisters know the child you are and the adolescent you were. Yes, the last sentence was meant to be written like that. 

My brother Sameer ( Sam) for short has known me from the day he was born. The younger of us two for many years I looked out for him; after a while got irritated with him; then did not want to be known as his elder sister; and I really don't know how this happened that now I like to have a conversation with him. And he is looking out for me. Amazing... 

I left home young to study and then to work in broadcasting media, he was studying when I left, we kept in touch. He then went abroad for a while, and called from there regularly. Life happened when he was growing up and as it does for all of us threw some challenges, from which he came out a winner. 

Today he has a family: a supportive wife and a young son. He has such a great understanding of the world at large. He has matured to be such a great guy that I would say “hey you know what I know that guy, yeah have known him for years" His son will benefit from all his wisdom.

On his birthday I would loved to have him sat on my table for me raise a toast “Hey Sam, Happy Birthday brother you are the best, you are my friend."

Little People All Around Us

Little People I love them !!

While riding on the tube this morning, there was a 2 year girl said “Good Morning" and I smiled. In a crowded smelly train, where space is a constraint and the only people who are happy are lovers/couples going to work together. 

Little People that’s what I call them, they always make you smile. They are innocent, funny and speak their mind. Every time I see my nephew's pictures or hear speak to him he always makes me smile. It does not matter what he says as long as he says something. 

Little people inhabit this world with us and the adult world and the little people's world clash, in the supermarkets, in the shops, on the bus, on the tube. Little people do not care that they have interrupted our journey to work or our routine they are still living the illusion that life is an adventure and to live life to the fullest.

We were all little people once and inhabited a world in which a new adventure was around every corner, where living life to the fullest was priority number 1. 

To preserve a part of yourself which keeps the little person in you alive, that I say is the only way to happiness. Life is an adventure and when we are little it’s so clear to see, as we grow older the vision of the world becomes hazy and unclear.

Flying High

There have been many people who have come and disappeared without a trace in my life. Some still remain in the periphery of my larger universe. Assem Bajaj Cinematographer, and extraordinary friend was never one of them.

The thing is that if Assem wanted to be a part of your life there is no way he would settle for being a satellite. He is strong with amazing ability to keep things moving. He has been the Director of Photography for many of my television ventures and has always raised the bar.

Today he is a celebrity in his own right; the winner of a filmfare and many other Indian and International Film Industry recognitions.So proud I am to know him. Over and about all this and his international footprints that he is making in the world at large. The best is that he has kept a very dear friend of mine very happy. Leena his wife and my dear friend has blossomed creatively and spiritually since they have been together.

He has encouraged her to be herself , reach for the stars and always been there. Assem I am so proud to know you as the man you are and the ability that you have had to enrich everyone s life that you have touched.

Happy Birthday dear friend-- Have a great 2013 -- Great Cinematographer and a Fantastic Friend -- Will definitely toast to that!!!

About Second Chances

When Ben Affleck was receiving the award for Best Director at the BAFTA's he said as he raised his trophy this one is for all the people who gave him a second chance. And that set me thinking how lucky those are who get a second chance in life are. How many people would have the opportunity in the same lifetime, for a second chance?

There are so many people, who deserve a second chance, and are given one. Second chance is one of the best things that life can give you, it makes you believe again, gives you a clean slate to start again. Makes you feel you can start your life over.

When a second chance comes knocking on your door, many times it not disguised as opportunity and therefore is hard to recognise. There are times when many may have looked away thinking "I don't know this... I don't recognise it" or “Could this be for real?"

It takes strength, courage and belief to actually make a second change a reality. To recognise it’s appearance, to believe in it’s strength and to make a go of it. Second chance can give you all that you want and more, and the fact that you may be able to lead more than one lifetimes experience in one life. How fantastic is that.

So raising my glass to all those how have believed and had the benefits’ of a second chance and to all those who are still waiting.

Love, Laughter, Friendship, companionship!!

Love, Laughter and Marriage, go together and is a part of being with someone. I believe that every relationship must have laughter; which is as much a binder as music. People like to be happy and as children we laugh a lot more than we do as adults. This is mainly because or perception of the world as changed. We make the world more complicated as we grow older.

The measure of the happiness of any relationship is if it has an

everlasting freshness and a child like ability to laugh. And I think if you have that in any long lasting relationship especially marriage it is fantastic. That's how I could describe my relationship with Chet, companion, friend walking alongside me on the winding path called life.

Chet is one of the most selfless and centred people I have meet, with the tremendously ability to feel detached even after soaking in the experience. He has courage in his choices in life and the ability to break life into its most simple form. Biker with an urge for adventure, it's fantastic to be a part of his life.

Cheers Chet.. Live Life, Laugh Aloud and Never Stop Riding.

2013 is here !!!

Another year another year and yet another year

A build up in September and a culmination in December, euphoria, so irresistible; It never fails to amaze me every year, it's another year gone by the syncs would say. 

My New Year's resolution is to take a look at the road map which is my life, and say thank you to all the many people who are and have been a part of it for so many years.

This one is for Leena Yadav; the director/ the film maker/the painter/ creative writer and my friend of 23 years. On your birthday today you should know; you are kind, generous, giving and always willing to take on a fresh challenge. Your creativity knows no bounds, you have been brave enough to make films that defy convention, the courage to look beyond and the approval of that work has come from unaccepted sources, many of them international. I am so proud of what you have achieved and will always remember the moments we shared looking towards the future. 

There are many aspects of my life that you have influenced and been a part of many of my milestones. There is freshness in our friendship that has been there for years, amazing that how this feeling is always intertwined with being comfortable in silence. If there is one thing that I have learned from you was the art of being compassionate.

Happy Birthday my dearest friend; I raise my glass in toast to the many more years of friendship you and I will share.

Being A Women in a Modern World

The gang rape of a young girl in New Delhi has sparked outrage throughout the world. In the same week there is a man in east London who is randomly stabbing women. Two very different parts of the world women were being harmed in different ways. This is just two examples.

I have always thought that being a women in modern world, would be full of opportunities, a bright future, the freedom and impression that all women can breath. In the modern world women have grown changed, accepted, adapted and tried to make a difference.

Have women moved on and left the "stronger" sex behind? Where is it going wrong? And why is this acceptable?

2012 saw 65,000 sexual offences against women, in South Africa. Every part of the world is inhabited by the fairer sex and there are varying degrees of sexual offences against them. There is no generalisation as to why there is a decaying behaviour against women spanning continents. Each society is different and the canvas is reflective of that.

It makes me wonder as a woman of the modern world, have I made a difference to the society I inhabit. How can I say with confidence that I belong to a society that has accepted my success along with my sisters. There needs to a shift of perception and a flexibility of society. Will this take another 100 years?

When will being a woman in the modern world have meaning?