Category Archives: General Thoughts

Women unsafe in my city-bangalore

General Thoughts, My Bangalore-A view from a woman's perspective, Reshma's Blog

Bangalore has number of pros and pitfalls like any other city.

But increasingly, I have begun to feel and worry on how unsafe the city is becoming at any time, especially post 9pm.

I have been brought up in an environment where I was used to see my father raise his voice over any kind of wrongdoing by anybody.

Even though for most of my teenage years and much later, I continued being an introvert, work life made me see everything and everyone in equality. This applied to me as well where I started raising concerns over any inequality when it came to me or those around me in an organization. Of course it didn’t help me in my career graph but I chose to be a person who wanted equality.

Over the years I have got into several arguments at public spaces, traffic junctions and several other places when I have felt someone is misbehaving or breaking the law or even basic human manners.

Slowly, I have received threats from auto rickshaw drivers, bus drivers, motorists, car drivers (men and women) that they would abuse me or manhandle me.

I have learnt to calm down and now my freedom of moving around has become limited as I am not very sure, i will be back home safe after a watching a play or movie alone or with my child post 8pm. So I tend to travel in crowded spaces or closer home and try to avoid arguments with anyone.

Like many others. I have started silencing my conscience even when there is something wrong going on in a public space. Unless it is too huge a problem for me to be silent.

Reading this morning, just after a festival of good over evil, I felt sad that it is in my bangalore another rape has occurred. This one, the third in a month’s time.

I do hope collectively as Bengaluru citizens we will help each other in being good and avoid crimes.

I do not want to pinpoint to any community or religion but its time to take a stance for women to be safe and happy. This I mean within homes and outside homes.

 

 

 

Why you need to blog?

General Thoughts, Reshma's Blog

If you have a skill over a language or  good at expressing yourself through an art form, along with primary writing skills,  then it’s time you start your own blog.

Bloggers are present in all industries and now we have food bloggers, travel bloggers, parenting bloggers, tech bloggers, career advice bloggers and so many more.

Well if you are one of those who wants to add,  ” But I am not good at anything specific, so what do I blog about”? Then its time you find something that interests you.

Even if you are not a good writer but an entrepreneur, then do consider joining a crash course in writing or hire a blogger who can update a blog for you. Blogging has over a period of time become an important marketing tool in the internet and mobile age.

There are many spaces where you can contribute your content besides your own blog. It may initially not pay you well financially but it definitely helps in personal branding.

Writers may not be bloggers. Some professional writers may even consider bloggers to be of lesser strata in talent but if you are a professional blogger, you will be soon credited for good work by corporates or your own readers who value your opinion.

What does a good blog on any topic do for a reader? It actually makes the reader feel that someone here understands his or her position over a dilemma on a particular topic. Blogging should help readers to solve their anxiety to a certain extent at least after reading a blog. This often doesn’t happen in every article in a publication as the writer is expected to take a stance of a third person. But a blog is like a friend talking to you so there is higher scope of a personal connect.

Its absolutely fantastic if one develops into a niche blog to find and build a targeted audience.

On a personal level I am able to identify myself as a blogger who loves to write on women and parenting. If there is something known as short story blogging then would like to credit myself to that title as well.

Reading a review of a movie or a  product or service is great by a publication or online media. But a regular and talented blogger will also find her or his audience who would love to believe in the blog as an honest opinion.

With blogging becoming serious business, its time people hone their writing skills.

Good bloggers are valued in today’s content driven digital world. So good luck in becoming a blogger or finding the right one for your business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogger’s party by women’s web & Jean-Claude Biguine

General Thoughts, My Bangalore-A view from a woman's perspective, Reshma's Blog, Uncategorized

Yesterday it was a meet, an invitation for a few bloggers in Bangalore to catch up, have a bit of pampering done at an upmarket salon . I am just glad that blogging in the women’s world is getting recognized with some fun element.

Unlike earlier where only fashion bloggers or technology ones were recognized; thankfully now there are so many niche segments in the blogging world that it’s hard to ignore true bloggers. Can say that happy to be in this space right now.

It was good fun having a brief interaction with author Milan Vohra, the dilemma to blog or write a book to connect with the audience and more. I was present too at the meet and was happy that blogging is serious business.

The meet was organised by content provider women’s web in association with the french salon brand.

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A new initiative for mums – Mums and stories on facebook

General Thoughts, Reshma's Blog

 

mums and stories.new

It’s been a wonderful start this week. Something which I was hoping to connect with mums I know, I would like to know is finally happening on the social media on a page called mums and stories.

If you have something to share as a mum do write in on the page with relevant story, yours own or about your children or anything that can be shared on a mums network. Hope to see some interesting stories around.  The story from real people, real moms is something we want to listen and read. And it can be about an incident, motherhood as an experience, anything on being a mum anywhere in the globe.

 

 

Growing up in a multi-culural environment

General Thoughts, Reshma's Blog

Last evening, I went out to see a documentary film, an indo german collaboration, Amma and Appa.

While the intention for me to go and see it was also to understand how children grow up in multi faceted cultures, it was also to figure out if differences in inter country marriages are more difficult to manage than inter state marraiges.

While I do not want to judge the film or which marraiges are easier to sail through, increasingly I do feel it is important to teach children to respect and tolerate others cultural and religious views.

Fanatics are present everywhere and I do hope future generations will not be misled in the name of religions and learn to live in a literal global world.

I do hope I can pass this message to my family at least.

Green zones that are going to make a difference in cities

General Thoughts, My Bangalore-A view from a woman's perspective, Reshma's Blog

park fitness1

It was indeed a pleasure to see people in Bangalore utilizing fitness equipments in a public park today. I definitely want to thank the authorities who are making some effort in making parks a wonderful space for young children and adults too who want to manage the fitness regime in their daily schedule.

Obviously these initiatives will make people think of fitness in outdoors in the natural way, running, jogging, walking and exercising in parks with the equipments. Everyone need not go to gymnasiums alone to be trendy and fit.

Dressed in the attire of their choice and not necessarily fancy fitness attire as dictated by fitness gurus, women of above the age 25 were in saris and exercising in the evening.

park fitness2

In the times when everything is charged in monetary terms, it was a good feeling to see that parks are not just for children but also adults who want to be healthy and they need not pay hefty amounts to be healthy. In fact I was happy to see so many women after office hours coming to the park and using the time to exercise.

Pictures taken in the park in Bangalore, Basavanagudi where children were playing in the adjoining area and adults utilizing the space than just watching over children. The park is next to Bimba Art Ashram.

 

park3

The New English- Indian English

General Thoughts, Reshma's Blog

Since the time I have been taking interest in books for children, I have noticed my own inclination when I go to pick books from a book store or browsing inclinations at the library.

I like to read magazines, articles written by Indian writers. Likewise I quickly pick a book for story narration for my own child or others; the books which have been written in Indian context. But most importantly these are in Indian English.

Yes facebook and other digital tools may ask you which english you want to store in your laptops and mobiles. Not just UK English, US English but I think the world needs to start noticing the Indian English too.

With the number of increasing parents talking to children in English along with other Indian languages, there have been certain words that are used and understood particularly in Indian context. Also it is common for many urban Indian parents to mix a few regional words in Indian English usage. And this is not just limited to children but seen in offices too. Now, earlier I would think this is disturbing the purity of the Queen’s  language. Not anymore.  I think attitudes and perceptions need to change.

After all, after nearly 70 years since the British left us with their language, I feel we have developed our own way of communicating and paved way for the Indian English.

A few examples would be:

1) “Accha, I will see you tomorrow”. ( Accha is a hindi word and refers to okay or alright).

2)” No Yaar, that’s is not what I meant”. ( Yaar again in Hindi means friend or acquaintance).

3) “Chumma, don’t have toget angry on this issue.” ( Seldom used in recent times, but chumma is a Tamil and Kannada lingo invention which means just like that.)

4) ” pakka”, will you be there tomorrow at 11? ( pakka in north India and in south refers to ” are you sure?

When the world has accepted and known words and concepts of Guru, Desi, Yoga, Ayurveda. It is time to know and least not frown at the Indian English language. It is all about communication. No one is talking about purity here.

 

 

 

 

Haunting melodies in Hindi cinema of the bygone era

Films, music and celebrities-India and others, General Thoughts

I had to remind myself today that one point of time I was consistently thinking of films, songs, lyricists, musicians and everything related to Indian film industry, courtesy my job as a radio jockey in FM Rainbow 101.3MHz

It is close to six years that I have forgotten what it is to be in the RJ’s seat. Of course I do miss the days, adulation from listeners and my own working style.

But today being a mother, stay at home person and a writer has taken the front seat right now in my driving phase of life.

Today I happened to hear the song ‘Kahin deep jale kahin dil’ from Bees Saal Baad. It just invoked a gush of memories of me doing my script shows before Meethi Yaadein, my show on Mondays and Wednesday mornings.

Thankfully to help people like me retain beautiful memories of songs in films, there have been many beautiful melodies in hindi cinema that continue to mesmerize the listeners even to this date. Of course I am talking of these melodies from 40’s to late 70’s.

A few songs that immediately come to my mind belonging to this category are:

Kahin deep chale kahin dil from Bees Saal Baad

Naina Barse Rim Jhim from Woh Kaun Thi

Ayega Aanewala from Mahal

Gumnaam hai koi from Gumnaam

Mera Saaya Saath Hoga from Mera Saaya

 

You gotcha be dressed for all seasons in Bangalore

Explore Bangalore- My Bengaluru, General Thoughts

Everyone seems to have the forced opportunity to be dressed for summer, winter and rains in May and June in Bangalore.

2015 has seen dramatic change in weather in this overpopulated growing city. Nothing new, as climate is bound to change over the years, right?

But this time, looks like God is quite keen on making us utilize our wardrobe essentials on all days.

You step out in the morning thinking it is a sunny or rainy day and you are greeted with a makeover weather change in the next half an hour. If you have kids who need to be ferried around the city for school, tuitions or anything extra curricular, then hopefully, the same God should help you. It is not easy either to convince your child to wear layered clothing or carry around a jacket, cap, raincoat or a sleeveless tee.

You don’t know which ones you would need by the time you reach home.

With Bangalore gradually embracing the fashion culture and keeping itself upbeat with other upscale cities, the weather seems to be in full mood to make us utilise our wardrobe well.

No wonder, everyother day, we see a new fashion portal or an app being launched in the city to test the waters. After all bengaluru is making people be on their toes in dressing up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why a leisure holiday is worth your time in Candolim beach, North Goa, India? Read more to find out

General Thoughts, Reshma's Blog, Reviews

A long pending post that was waiting to be posted on to this space..

It was a holiday in 2014 to Candolim, North Goa that literally made sure that we lost track of time. We were two couples travelling with two kids and were hopeful of a holiday to remember especially with small children hovering around us.

Candolim is less than an hour’s journey by car from Vasco-da-gama railway station. We had reached around 7am by an overnight train journey from Bangalore and reached Candolim in about 50 minutes.

However we did notice that there are enough options of not just resorts, but guesthouses at Candolim where you can stay if there is enough planning made for the stay. After checking into the guest house, we had two reasons to directly go to the beach. There was a taxi driver’s strike and the temperature was rising. So it was wise to hit the waters before making any other plan.

Nevertheless post our inaugural breakfast session that was to commence our holiday, we decided to be on the beach for the next two hours. While the men and the kids jumped into the water, the women, that is myself and a fellow woman companion had a good glance at on the fashion quotient on the beach. Obviously we were overdressed for the beach. Thankfully even the local residents give you the comfort level attitude that it is fine with whatever you want to be dressed as to be at the beach.

During our earlier visits, we have had vegetarian cuisines but those were limited ones. This time again, we read the boards that prominently read sea food, but we were optimistic of accessing good vegetarian options. Rightfully we were not disappointed.

For a shopoholic, there are plenty of options to shop –goods that either would be useful during the stay or as a memento. Hats, caps, beachwear for all shapes and sizes, sarongs, skirts, shorts, tees, Indian brass gift items, kashmiri shawls, were some of the items that were seen across displayed at several stores along the main road. There are options of massage centres for those who wanted to de-stress through a massage.

Time flies, when you watch the sunset at the Candolim beach or at the Fort Aguada that is adjoining Sinquerim–Candolim beach. Walking along the pathway leading to the fort and the wall of the Taj at Fort Aguada during sunrise or sunset is a worth a visit. Make sure you take your digital tool to capture the picturesque scenes.

Something that struck us blatantly on our faces in Candolim was that there were several boards that were trying to lure customers to Ayurvedic massage centres, restaurants, but were written in English and Cyrillic, thanks to high Russian tourist population at Candolim.

Lastly like the earlier visits at Candolim, we were greeted by fellow International tourists who want to say a hello to you and smile at you even though you are a stranger. This gives the feel-good factor of being in a place that is a friendly destination. At the end of stay all of us had just one thing on our minds- Wish we could stay longer at Candolim to feel the leisurely Goan holiday much more.

List of suggested activities when in Candolim:

Soak yourself in the sun at Candolim like most of International tourists like to do it at Candolim. If you are not in favor of sun tan, you have the ready option of getting into relatively clean waters. The stretch is less populated and people are on their own so you can be assured of your own ‘me time’.

  • If you do not mind on the budget go for at least one water sport like para-sailing, water bike ride or the banana ride on Candolim beach.
  • Visit a restaurant that has a prominent beach view. It is sheer pleasure to look at the sea during late evening hours. Ideal for a romantic date or a family evening where the kids can have fun on the artificial sand dunes.
  • Make sure you visit a restaurant that offers live band music. There are enough of such dining spots across Candolim beach and also at the by lanes joining the beach coast. You will get to listen to live music right from 7pm onwards with songs in English, Hindi and a few Goan numbers.

Lastly when in Candolim, discover a good holiday in India.

BY RESHMA KRISHNAMURTHY SHARMA