Fortunately, a TAM!

Please don't mind the Tamness! :D

Somewhere in law school, one begins to feel the explosive need to defend one's language, one's caste, one's hometown...say one's everything. And I am no exception to it. I started to represent Madras and slowly shifted to telling people (who wouldn't listen) about the place and language, then to support...then to defend...and now wouldn't mind FIGHTING for it. At the same time, its beginning to feel like an exercise I am almost tired of. May be the moment has come to withdraw myself from these immature politics (that I was a part of) and just breathe out "fortunately, I am a Tam!" I mean withdrawal actually looks solemn when thought of as an idea to experience my culture without having to feel the need to defend it.

I am happy (probably the happiest) to come from Madras (as I would like to call it) and NOT any other place in the world. Tamil pesardh-la oru thani sugam irukku...Adhellam inga varadhu! To speak Tamil in this godforsaken place is not to be considered for a few reasons:
(a) dearth of people who know anything other than Hindi
(b) convenient use of Article 19(1)(a)... probably the only thing they can jump to
(c) fear of diluting the actual beauty of my language
(d) and of course, common sense (which I don't think is that common here) that language is for effective communication (i.e. at least the addressee must be able to understand the bloody thing) and NOT to create differences in the society.

But thankfully, there are a few others who look at it from a normal perspective- who believe and respect the diversity. May be, that is why I still haven't taken to any violent methods to combat it! Tell me which idiot would like it if you go on and on in some imperceptible language (and then say, sorry bhai, it comes out naturally yaar!).

Coming to why Madras is very special to me. I mean its not only because it brought me up or because I can express myself more freely there...but also because its so quiet and simple yet SO rich. Even if you want to criticize the place, it can only be for it's weather and the malicious autokaranga. Otherwise, it is a paradise. A gem. At least it is comparatively free of people who believe in one national language. It is reasonably clean and unpolluted. And it works best for me because people don't break things and kill eachother for nuts and cookies. Not much of a traffic jam here because the city wakes up early. Its conservative and hence, safer compared to its counterparts. Semma transport system (MTC rocks machi!). Marina Beach and sundal. And so much more.

Namma Madras. Tamil. Dosa-Sambhar. Suprabadham. Arisi-mavu Kolam. Madisar Mamis. Tea Kada. Gana Padalgal. Chettiyar kadai. Pillayar Kovil. Bharathanatyam. Margazhi Pugazh. I can instantly see a smile coming out of my face as the list goes on in my mind...! :)

Health and Deliciousness: An Irony?

The Desire to have Tasty Foods Healthy...

Whats with my obsession? I am so committed to eating, eating and only eating. This overeating disorder of mine has led to a gain of nearly 9 kilos in 25 months. I still don't understand if I do it consciously or not. And whats the irony about it as my title suggests to say?! The irony is about how every little thing tasty has to be unhealthy in one way or the other. This includes all my favourites- pizzas, french fries, chocolate mousse, parathas and paneer butter masala, cheese n noodles, coke, cappuccino and liquid chocolate. Hence, I have made up my mind to blame destiny for the weight-gain and not me, a mere mortal.

The other day, I had this sudden craving to go grab a hot double-cheese margherita and some iced tea from Domino's for lunch. Yes, I could go ahead and do it as long as I have two hundred bucks. However, I had to confront this eternal question and ponder about it for nearly an hour before I could actually convince my mind to quench my craving rather leave it hanging. And the eternal question is about how destiny emphasizes on getting the sadistic pleasure of letting everything tasty be unhealthy or at least not so recommended (or nutritious). On the other hand, it is very simple to have it like this- Why can't pizza be rich in vitamins, fibre, minerals, etc and still be as tasty?! Isn't it simpler that way? I can have what I want to have and yet be not bothered about the entire trauma of calculating how many calories it would cost me. Or if you want me to look at it from both sides- why should cappuccino be delicious with only empty calories. Where is the balance in this system that everybody talks about? I demand that there be a balance between taste and nutrition- as in the degree of deliciousness must be directly proportional to its nutrition content. Fair enough, right? This way, people are eating healthy food with a positive mind. In fact, they would have more and more of it. Aah...What would that be like!

Simply put, all I want is one day (or may be a week?) when I can eat whatever (everything, if possible) I want and not gain a single calorie out of it. Also, on that day, I would want to gain the richest source of calcium from cheese, vitamins from chocolate, fibre from oily parathas and minerals from cappuccino. Or to be more selfish, pizzas could actually help me lose weight. Wow. Now this is why I call myself an eternal optimist...I actually think it will happen someday. Till it actually happens, I shall merely dream of living in that virtual period!

Why This Idea?

I have no clue why, at around 2 o'clock in the morning, I have created this account to blog. Well, not all things start with a purpose. Some begin aimlessly and find it somehow during the course while some begin to finish without any purpose. I don't wish to categorize my attempt as either. It is simply to take a break and bridge the gap between the mind and the mouth. It doesn't need any purpose, does it?! It has a right to exist as it is, I hope. I am beginning to sound unnaturally philosophical... trying to give this a very pseudo start. Not so me, I should say.

Well, on a more practical plane, I should admit that I am more than happy to see my posts "published" on a not-so-random website here which has more readers than any famous classic, I bet. The word "published" thrilled me. Yes, I am a law student trying hard to get something of MINE published somewhere. Predictably, this is coming from an underachiever who is not so bothered about it. Yet, someday I am sure destiny will let me regret the fact. Also, I have been wanting to talk my thoughts without having to answer weird glances and prompt clarifications from companions. So, I guess this is the way. It is neither a conversation nor a monologue. It prefers to be one of its kind and one without a name.

With this, I am quite sure none of us have actually understood the purpose of this post. But it clearly gives an idea that I am extremely random. Extremely(!). But wait! I am convincing my mind to be more comprehendible to the rest of the world. But it persistently requests me for some more time. So, bear with me. Sigh.