Belonging to a generation of Change

"Will you take me to the Mall, Mumma?"
"Take me to the games place, Dada!"
"Let's order MacDonald's today."

Sounds familiar? Yes, Off course! this IS today's generation. The 21st century kids!! but then, come to think of it, we, of the previous generation are actually giving-in to these demands, aren't we?

No, this is NOT a sermon on the ill-effects of Mall Culture! This is just an observation and a wish to share the pride of belonging to my generation.

I belong to the generation:

• where my childhood was spent playing on ground learning to cycle by bruising my knees.
• when "come to play" meant finishing my homework quickly to go out to play
• when we pestered the golawalas for aur thoda syrup after Summer holiday club
• when birthday parties were just calling everyone after rosary to cut the cake and distribute chanas and sweets
• when "let's go shopping" meant roaming the streets of Crawford Market and Fashion Street to strike a good bargain
• when the best music was made and my friends and I had a `Song Diary' in which we wrote the lyrics of our favourite songs. Lyrics, which were painstakingly jotted down by playing and rewinding cassettes on our cassette players
• when we had two half glasses of ganna juice in order to get that half glass extra
• when pyaali and kiri were treats
• when the best Mysore Masala Dosa was best eaten in the rain , yes, from the roadside carts
• an outing meant going to Bhaucha Dhakka / Ferry Wharf or Gateway
• a ride in the front seat in the top deck of the double decker bus made us feel on top of the world  

We've seen the best movies and seen the best actors. We've curse Ajit saying Mona darling and clapped as heroes bashed up the bad guys with their DHISHUM DHISHUM
We've danced cha cha cha and break dance.....
We've witnessed the turn of the century!!!

However, instead of dwelling in the past, I truly believe my generation has been lucky. I am lucky to have been able to experience all that as well as the times we live in now.
I am enjoying the convenience of gadgets, when googling is a verb and the answer to all queries.
Where the world is literally at my fingertips - in my SMART PHONE or tab or laptop!!

The best part is that I actually enjoy the occasional Temple run, shopping online (regularly rather than occasional;-)), summoning lyrics in my palm and even singing karaoke with Youtube and cringing when Kungfu Panda comes hurling at me in 3D at IMAX!!!

YES, we are the BLESSED ones. I've got the best of both worlds or rather eras, but can I pass on the simple pleasures of my past to my kids, the present and future generations?? That is the challenge!!!

Let me google it: ~HOW TO HAVE FUN ? UNPLUGGED?~

Looking for reasons to connect

Looking for reasons to connect…

These are a few random observations I thought of penning or rather e-penning here about various idiosyncrasies of human behavior . When people are in a land that is not their own, there a few peculiarities that I’ve noticed – even in myself, that cross across geographical distances and find a way above cultural and religious differences.

• ·         You turn around and look when you hear someone speaking your language.
• ·         In the sea of differences you tend to sift through the crowd for a familiar or even friendly nod or smile.
• ·         Regardless of the different states we belong to in India, when we are abroad we are drawn towards anyone Indian. It’s like a breath of fresh air to know that the shopkeeper knows your language.
•  People at the airport, on the plane…someone whom you’ve never met and may never meet again strikes up a conversation with you, looking for something in common. It only takes a word to get a conversation going. If that word strikes a chord that’s similar…the experience is fulfilling.

My neighbor on the plane to Dubai was a teacher, and so am I. That was the ice-breaker.

At Dubai, a lady came and spoke to me because she has grandchildren whose age difference is like that of mine.

The Indian operator of a toy mini monorail gave us a free ride without asking.

The Orthodox Egyptian supplying jet skis at the beach spoke only Arabic, yet struck up a monosyllabic conversation when he  found out that we were Catholic.

In a place away from home, I feel, all are looking for some connection. Maybe they feel nearer to home and to their families when they connect to others.

In a world that highlights the differences, finding similarities may well be the answer to dissolve conflicts…….

And then when I see my kids playing for the first time in the sand, on a beach that is thousands of miles away from home, I am warmed by the thought that regardless of time and place, religion and race, kids everywhere play in the same beautiful way. We are all similar.

It’s a small world after all. Depends on how you look at it.