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Tag: Musings

What to do when one can do nothing?

What to do when one can do nothing?

Last week when the news of war in some other part of the world, away from where I live, was breaking out I was busy being part of a ‘kelvan’ for a cousin while placing an order for a birthday cake on the side for another friend. Both occasions of celebration and joy. First the uncertainty and loss of the last two years and now this. So me being part of celebrations somewhere all feels illicit. No? How can we…

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Horcruxes

Horcruxes

Twitter’s magic brought this article on my timeline and I was fascinated. I see the point of order as an independent grown-up because it makes life in the outside world easier. Especially when dealing with red-tape issues or in general trying to navigate life sometimes. But in the context of books and arranging them, I have never felt the need. I have a lot of books. More books than clothes and other things. Proof is a recent apartment move, that…

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Axone and the politics of food

Axone and the politics of food

I watched Axone (pronounced – akhonee) on Netflix 10 days ago. It’s a quiet, satirical portrayal of feeling like an outsider – in this case in your own country – because of one’s food preferences. The story revolves around a bunch of North-east Indian friends living in the capital and trying to cook a traditional pork dish cooked using the ‘smelly’ akhonee to celebrate their roommate’s nuptials. It’s a story of friendship, heartbreak, and belonging tied together by food. The…

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On Storytelling

On Storytelling

I went to watch the movie Thappad today. It’s outstanding, well-written and made. Yada yada yada. Experts have already spoken truckloads about it. I don’t think I can add anything more. So I’ll instead write about my neighbors (a couple) in the movie hall. They reached late. Since I was in the aisle seat I was fine letting them through. Once the movie started, they kept discussing small things. Aunty would ask the obvious and uncle would explain things to…

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Family history

Family history

I got to spend a lot of time with my parents – I was truly at home this time by working from home for 10 days and being around them 24/7. the ‘why’ is not important, but lets call it an health embuggarance. 2 days before I left, we were discussing employment in the 70s and I asked Baba about his first salary and job 🙂 I know asking someone about their salaries is impolite, but I committed that sin…

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Memory

Memory

Memory is weird. I was on yet another journey yesterday, hopping homes. From one where parents live to the one which now feels like one. It’s been more than 15 years that this phase of my life started. Involving travel, hopping cities, homes. I cannot seem to remember how I felt during that first travel on my own. I remember how I coped with it very well. But the underlying emotions of anxiety, apprehension, homesickness – No. I remember this…

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What’s in a name?

What’s in a name?

Is your name-game strong? Are you a name-purist who can remember and pronounce the names of other people as they expect? (I can’t. But I have a good memory so I can usually figure out names of acquaintances I forget after a few minutes in a conversation). Anywho, a few weeks ago I ran a 10K race and a fellow runner (who knows me and has run with me) was cheering for me near the finish line, shouting a wrong…

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