Pot pourri

India, a land of diverse cultures and a blend of people who almost challenge you to find similarities between one another. Strangely enough, one often is exposed to the entire gamut of this diversity while living abroad. Over a period of time, certain peculiar characteristics of every community become more apparent that it no more requires a very discerning eye. This is purely a satirical view-point with no intention of causing offence, so bouquets and brickbats are always welcome.
The Telugu clan have succeeded in adding a whole new dimension to networking. The unity is there to be seen from the time they land in the country to the queues on a cold wintry 6am morning waiting for the Thanksgiving deals and snatching up a few that even the store-owners did'nt know existed. The Gujjus know a thing or two about business for sure...Harvard and Wharton, please step aside. After establishing their dominance over the Indian grocery store market, the influence of this community has extended well into the motels across the land. In my last visit to a Days Inn, the motel owner was so keen to make me feel at home that an innocent query regarding a complimentary breakfast was dealt with in emphatic fashion- "the milk is in the fridge, the cereals are in the kitchen counter". The Tamilians however are oblivious to such developments in other communities. As long as at least 10 of them can get together over idlis and pots of sambar, the world is a playground. The more adventurous ones venture out on roadtrips and leave behind some tamarind rice and pickles at strategic landmarks just to remind the future visitors of their presence in the area. You could spot the Mumbaite in a crowd of tourists quite easily. As the rest of the touring party is clearly fascinated by the sights and sounds of the territory, the Mumbaite has a smirk on his face...Apne Mumbai mein bhi yeh sab dekha hai maine. Most conversations with the Mumbaite are about, involve, compare, extoll or do all of the above with Mumbai to the point that one wonders whether Mumbai is in India or vice-versa. I have also finally discovered how Punjabis are completely at ease whether at work or play. Almost all of them are under a false security that a back-up career in singing is always available. With the music companies promoting albums of anyone murmuring some Punjabi in the form of bhangra pop, it would be tough to spoil their reverie. The Mallus have been very disappointing in the US, mainly due to their paucity in the country. Apparently, a number of them took the Emirates flight from Kerala in the hope of making it across the Atlantic, but the stop-over at Gulf was too tempting and a mass exodus was witnessed. I have'nt really had a chance to catch up with my Kannadiga friends of late since I hear that they are still trying to protest the tragic death of the movie superstar. Recent exposure to the Kashmiri culture has seen me observe a penchant to making dishes with unpronouncable names with ingredients like lotus roots that the common man would think twice before incorporating in a cooking routine.
Definitely a diverse bunch we are, but it would'nt be even half as fun if it were otherwise. Catch you all next time around...

Tech Speak

A bit of a hiatus and I am back with renewed vigor to continue ties with my blog. The last week or so has seen me travel a bit on a short holiday, which means waiting at airports amidst a sea of people, security checks and the whole jazz. It is quite amazing how startling revelations can be made in the most unusual of circumstances. A cursory glance at my surroundings saw various people indulging in peculiar activities to keep themselves occupied and ease the burden of waiting for those planes that never seem to take off on time. I often feel it is a conspiracy between the airline industry and the restaurants/bookstores/giftshops et all to boost their respective businesses and make the most out of a weary traveler. But, one sight stood out like a sore thumb - everyone seemed to have some gadget or gizmo hooked to parts of their body. They even carried it with consummate elan making those gadgets look like a mere extension of their beings. With the alacrity that could be associated only with someone being startled in the midst of a Sunday afternoon siesta, I took a good hard look at myself- cell-phone, ipod and a laptop in tow. Throughout my childhood, I had admired this character on TV called "giant robot" and wondered how nice it would be if I could acquire some of those powers. I didn't quite realize how quickly those flights of fantasy were turning into a reality. At least, I have started looking like one, good for starters. How did this happen to me? Afterall, I have reserved only the most sarcastic and scornful expressions for anyone embracing technology to such an extent that one loses the distinction between the "embracer" and the "embracee". There was a time I used to know how to record a program on TV through a VCR. In fact, I was so adept at it that I performed the trick at households of neighbors and friends who dared to let me tinker with their prized possessions. The triumphant look bordering on a sneer has now been replaced by an expression you would get if you asked a psychology major to eke out Einstein's theory of relativity. (disclaimer: I have great respect for psychology majors). One look at the panel of the electronic instruments today and you start feeling extremely challenged. Just when you being to feel a sense of mastery over them, boom...here's the next new thing you must have and you are back to square one. How did we even survive before the advent and invasion of technology into our lives? Can I dare you to go back to those times for even a few days?