tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.comments2023-04-16T04:25:38.715-05:00The Solitary ReflectionsSreerupa Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-46044348953643440102013-09-10T09:30:49.250-05:002013-09-10T09:30:49.250-05:00I just read this book because I had nothing else t...I just read this book because I had nothing else to do while on journey by train to Kolkatta.<br /><br />Being a devout shivite myself and worship him daily in my morning rituals, I found it very hurting to read each and every page, my instinct was to put it down.<br /><br />Capt. Was right, If he has tried this under islam, Fatwa would have been issued. I wonder how this one got printed. We hindus are tolerant.<br /><br />If it is a fiction, then why Shiva's name is being used? and to add to that best seller tag to this... disgusting!!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212769181124154107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-68442078546162647672013-09-10T09:29:39.613-05:002013-09-10T09:29:39.613-05:00I just read this book because I had nothing else t...I just read this book because I had nothing else to do while on journey by train to Kolkatta.<br /><br />Being a devout shivite myself and worship him daily in my morning rituals, I found it very hurting to read each and every page, my instinct was to put it down.<br /><br />Capt. Was right, If he has tried this under islam, Fatwa would have been issued. I wonder how this one got printed. We hindus are tolerant.<br /><br />If it is a fiction, then why Shiva's name is being used? and to add to that best seller tag to this... disgusting!!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212769181124154107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-12561852646088199292013-08-28T04:10:45.776-05:002013-08-28T04:10:45.776-05:00very well written my sister!very well written my sister!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-35506632249287329912013-08-01T05:54:02.712-05:002013-08-01T05:54:02.712-05:00Hheeyy,
Thank you so very much for your kind comm...Hheeyy,<br /><br />Thank you so very much for your kind comments... oh you are doing the Coursera course on Modern and Postmodern, are you ? I am also doing the same course... You pointed out an extremely valid reason... yes I know on some level, Indians can be very racist, but, also,we,ourselves are responsible for it on some level... I am not saying, me and you in particular...but look at our social media... all these mindless soap operas, where the ladies are denied marriage alliances and sometimes jobs because of the color of the skin or for their looks or for that matter for how rich or poor you are, it's disgusting... don't you think people who watch these soap operas get influenced by such ideas... and who are the people who devour these, it's people like "us", common women and men... Also, what I am trying to point out is see, your skin color ( please don't mind me saying that), or my "fatness" did not deny us from educating ourselves... probably, and trust me this is true for me at least, because on some levels we were conscious of how the world viewed us, we strove so hard in getting far higher degrees in the education field, than many other "pretty" girls did . But here, even if you are slim and pretty... you would be denied education and jobs just because you are "black"...In India, whatever the people might say, we had equal right to excel didn't we? But here that opportunity was denied to generations after generations... But yes, I completely agree, Indians can be very, very racist, another blog post coming on what you pointed out... thank you so very much for the ideas...thanks a ton for making me think anew... :) Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-63712770485104692192013-07-29T18:55:00.142-05:002013-07-29T18:55:00.142-05:00I am sorry if I sounded rather harsh in my comment...I am sorry if I sounded rather harsh in my comment. I just do not subscribe to the notion that Indians are very fair people when it comes to the way we treat others around us. I think we are just plain hypocritical. <br />You are right - apart from fair skin, fat is another aspect of a person that invites a lot of ridicule from other Indians. I am fat too, and have always been, so you can imagine - dark, ugly and fat. It wasn't easy. By being dark we may not elicit hate like you rightly put it, but we do invoke feelings of disgust in others. I have seen people squirm in their seats openly, people who don't want to sit next to you. A lot of this does not come to the front in an urban setting, but it is there - simmering under the sheets, always. Which is why I believe we Indians are extremely hypocritical. Besides, our race problem is our caste system. Everything you have said about what a black South African goes through because of the colour of his/her skin, we experience the same because of the caste we belong/not belong to. Given all that I am not so sure what happens in India is pure idiocy. Like I said, I was lucky not to be denied education or jobs because of the colour of my skin. But that happens too in India, and at a much much larger scale. I have done my PhD in African American literature and have also written a paper studying African-American literature against Dalit literature. They are almost similar, if not the same.<br />I liked reading your thoughts - you are honest and you write well. I came here from the link you provided on the Modern and Post Modern course from Coursera, just in case you are wondering.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-14859495839683810572013-07-29T14:19:10.793-05:002013-07-29T14:19:10.793-05:00I am really sorry, you had to face that... I won&#...I am really sorry, you had to face that... I won't say, I am extremely fair or beautiful, but I have never faced anything regarding the color of my skin... probably I have been called fat, which actually I am, so you never had that experience with the color of the skin... Although I do agree with you, that Indians can be very racist if they want to... but here in South Africa, it's worse, far worse... in India, you at least didn't have to deal with jobs and college or in professional level... you weren't denied education or jobs because of the color of your skin, were you... here in South Africa, people were... look what happens in India is pure idiocy... what happens in South Africa is pure hatred, and when faced with that, our travails seem really small... thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my article...Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-68961113940077713882013-07-29T13:48:17.020-05:002013-07-29T13:48:17.020-05:00I can only say that you are lucky - that you have ...I can only say that you are lucky - that you have lived in India and never had to hear a comment about the colour of your skin. I believe from experience that Indians are one of the most racist people in the world. We may not talk about it, but our actions speak much louder than our words. Open any matrimonial advertisement in any of the national news papers, and look out for the characteristics that are required for a bride. In 8 out of 10 cases, you will find the word 'fair' (and, hence, beautiful) screaming out at you. We squirm at the sight of a dark person. And pass rude and insensitive comments about other people's colour and skin. <br />I have two sisters and a brother, all of who have taken after my mother, who is very fair and beautiful. I took after my father and am dark (and hence, ugly). I wouldn't be lying if I say that while I was growing up, I heard the term dark and ugly to describe me again and again, repeatedly. Even when I was barely five years old, when I didn't even understand the concept of skin colour, people asked me questions such as this: "Your sisters are so fair and beautiful, how come you are dark and ugly?" I was led to believe that I was the way I was because my parents took pity on me and picked me up from a gutter, and that is why I wasn't beautiful as my other siblings. The man who repeatedly abused me sexually for years convinced me that this was happening to me because I was ugly. Over the years, I may have developed enough confidence and self-esteem to not give a damn to such comments. But because you haven't experienced it don't assume it doesn't exist. Indians are very racist. And that is a fact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-83850891824833520792013-07-17T10:51:29.887-05:002013-07-17T10:51:29.887-05:00hey Kalyani...
I know, even I thought about it fo...hey Kalyani...<br /><br />I know, even I thought about it for weeks before finally taking courage and writing it down. I just didn't want any other woman to search the net madly for some real life incident on this and be disappointed.If you have read it and think it's useful in any way, please do share it. thanks so much for stopping by... Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-17325324618498241622013-07-16T14:05:42.790-05:002013-07-16T14:05:42.790-05:00for one i can say, it takes a lot to write about i...for one i can say, it takes a lot to write about it! Respect!Kalyanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09618013202117076436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-54550996538082495112013-07-10T01:44:25.495-05:002013-07-10T01:44:25.495-05:00looking forward to your write up on african cuisin...looking forward to your write up on african cuisinean emboldened mystiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11162528317153655076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-16787559348352722532013-04-24T07:30:18.513-05:002013-04-24T07:30:18.513-05:00Amazing, this is all me! Nature is fascinating. ...Amazing, this is all me! Nature is fascinating. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-57371055537151304092013-03-07T14:22:57.815-06:002013-03-07T14:22:57.815-06:00Yes, entirely, with signs and pointing...!!! it wa...Yes, entirely, with signs and pointing...!!! it was amazing...!! :)Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-16783097157385354942013-03-06T11:00:38.751-06:002013-03-06T11:00:38.751-06:00She told her story without speaking? Amazed! She told her story without speaking? Amazed! Kalyanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09618013202117076436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-8404744898359873212013-02-19T20:00:14.398-06:002013-02-19T20:00:14.398-06:00Absolutely... In India, everythings is taken from,...Absolutely... In India, everythings is taken from, but they don't incorporate it fully, it gets lost somewhere between western thoughts and traditional believes... thanks for stopping by... :)Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-21524580447731785172013-02-19T12:00:37.661-06:002013-02-19T12:00:37.661-06:00Sreerupa, this is a good read. I can relate to you...Sreerupa, this is a good read. I can relate to your experience when we were teens :-)Hetvinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-64102360326077606832013-01-27T06:11:28.620-06:002013-01-27T06:11:28.620-06:00This is so me :-)This is so me :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-22484186108707766622013-01-11T12:06:56.795-06:002013-01-11T12:06:56.795-06:00The daughter's last wish or revenge? They chos...The daughter's last wish or revenge? They chose the daughter's last wish. I don't think I have an answer if asked what will I choose? <br />More than being in the parent's shoes, I'm thinking what must be going in the lady's mind. In plight of crucifying pain, shock and another thousand things running in her mind as she is about to die, she chose to forgive her murderer. Kalyanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09618013202117076436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-48436094028552192652013-01-11T05:49:11.605-06:002013-01-11T05:49:11.605-06:00I dont think that I would be that generous.Thats a...I dont think that I would be that generous.Thats a big ask.After all its a life that was taken.Ana Coelhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128116082889067945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-54930402013421736692012-12-27T04:52:23.317-06:002012-12-27T04:52:23.317-06:00it is sad to find that women the world over are st...it is sad to find that women the world over are still suffering 'Rape'. It happens here too, (in England.) It's the old story, 'She was asking for it, I mean to say dressing like that, The way she was smiling, looking, talking etc, any number of excuses. Like you say, it's down to the men to change for them to repect all women whoever they are. It is a matter of them to control their animal behaviour and like upon other women as their mother, sister, aunt etc until such times as these women become their wives etc.<br />They should learn 'No' is 'No'.<br />Your blog is brilliant and very interesting thank you for sharing.<br />Happy New Year to you and your family.Paula RChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05550276147711384895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-20786627381617623662012-12-20T16:09:36.118-06:002012-12-20T16:09:36.118-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-18551857140576693982012-12-20T16:09:35.913-06:002012-12-20T16:09:35.913-06:00Absolutely, I totally agree with Sayak... amazing ...Absolutely, I totally agree with Sayak... amazing point of view, I did not know about this Madonna- Whore complex... but its absolutely true...Sreerupa Sanyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278902039140858819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-84673086818324010202012-12-20T12:30:40.415-06:002012-12-20T12:30:40.415-06:00Most Indian males suffer from an extreme version o...Most Indian males suffer from an extreme version of Madonna-whore complex. It's a psychological condition which permits them to objectify unrelated stranger females. Therefore, they fail to give them the basic respect they all deserve as human beings (let alone for their gender). <br /><br />Growing up during my college days and even for a few years at work, I inadvertently found myself surrounded by people who like to trash any attractive female (or even non-attractive ones) as public property. Anyone who's not anyone's sister, wife or female relative is considered fair game. It's a real sick mindset but the disease is far widespread than what one could imagine. It's generally peer groups that encourage such unhealthy thoughts and ideas. The argument goes that "boys will be boys". I disagree, I knew some boys from an Army background and they never participated in these sick discussions. <br /><br />It all boils down to upbringing. If a boy grew up in a household where he saw his father beating and abusing his mother and his sister being treated in an inferior way, he would grow up with the beliefs that he's to somehow feel superior or better to all females. Even though such adult males would feign respect for their female co-workers, friends and casual acquaintances, deep down he feels the need to dominate his wife and children and treat them however they please.<br /><br />It's a sick mentality that pervades most parts of India and the only way we can bring out a social change is keeping the plot alive; let's not allow it to die out so casually.Sugarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06542749901747810569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-44146614036399580382012-12-19T14:36:55.537-06:002012-12-19T14:36:55.537-06:00Ya... unless and until women realize that, even sh...Ya... unless and until women realize that, even she needs to be strong, all the guys will act like this. I can at least try, to be strong and defend myself. Will you?????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-46741089918765027672012-10-06T11:51:27.925-05:002012-10-06T11:51:27.925-05:00you have used words brilliantly to portray emotio...you have used words brilliantly to portray emotions... strong...!an emboldened mystiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11162528317153655076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319642010535819637.post-15512984717017814142012-10-04T09:44:15.160-05:002012-10-04T09:44:15.160-05:00What Mr. Tripathi has missed out in the book is a ...What Mr. Tripathi has missed out in the book is a disclaimer indicating that this is a work of fiction, and has no connection with the Shiva of Hindu religion. The way well-known aspects such as chronology of events (e.g Shiva being born a thousand years after Ram which would make Ram's Swayamvar with Sita impossible - remember Shiva's bow which was broken by Ram, Ravan being a Shiva worshipper etc.), making a hotchpotch of historical aspects such as a marble temple of Ram 2500 years before marble was used as a building material in India etc. reminds one of the contrived writing of Vikas Swaroop in his Q&A and six Suspects. It is time now that Indian writing in English matures beyond the level of juvenile pulp fiction and becomes more convincing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com