Saturday, December 7, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Fair is Lovely?
Of
late, I have seen an interesting interview of Kangna Ranaut, in one of the Bollywood
news channels. When the host asked the reason she dropped a famous brand
endorsement in an era where we see celebrities endorsing whatever possible products
in the market, she replied indisputably that it’s her conscious. Interestingly,
she pointed out the craze of fairness cream, lotion, face wash, etc among
Indians, how they get mesmerized by the fairness quotient. Our so called superstars
support the fact that being fair means attractive, beautiful and confident
& being loved. So a fairness product can change your life. Kangna pointed
that “Indian skin tone is brown or wheatish & we should be proud of it but
what are we teaching the next generation?” She stated rejecting the endorsement
didn’t affect anyone at large but she is happy with her self- consciousness
& not supporting a wrong notion.
These
fairness product companies promises the consumer that within few days you will
become fair & lovely and the madness goes shopping. Not only ladies but men
are also following the trend of becoming fair. Have you heard the phrase “Tall,
dark & handsome” since when we changed it to Fair & handsome?
Are
we not doing racial discrimination? Hundreds of products are flooded in the
market & the business is booming. I believe we should be content &
proud of how we are; though staying healthy is important but colourism is a form
of discrimination in which dark-skinned people are seen as inferior, less
beautiful, less competent, less intelligent and less accomplished than
light-skinned people. Personally, I get upset when I see people preferring light
skin & try anything & everything to get the look. It is not important
to have a fair tone but to have a pleasing & beautiful personality.
I
can inscribe on & on in this topic as I too have faced such bias during a
dance function at school. Friends don’t
pay any heed to skin colour but look for true colour in you & in the people
around you.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
What is a Bad Day? There are worst scenarios too.
Narrator: Subuhi Gupta
Occupation: Quality Analyst or Job seeker
Place: Bangalore
Note: Have patience to read fully ;)
It was a usual breezy –bright day in the month of
October. The clock was ticking; I took a
quick shower & got ready for my nth interview.
“Did I carry all my
documents? Hmm.. looking confident &
fully loaded. All the best” My mirror smiled at me. Past few months I have been on job hunt, looking for an apposite
career & settle my financial dues. I strongly believe that “Everything
happens for good, God has reasons behind his action”. Or maybe I’m just
consoling myself.“ (a wink)
Punctuality is my strength, though sometimes it irritates me
as rarely people value my time. However, even today I planned my day to be on
time & started at 9 am. As the interview was in electronic city .i.e., 22
Kms approx from my residence, I caught an auto to Lakkasandra bus stop from
where I could get direct buses to my interview venue. I must tell you Bangalore
auto drivers don’t miss a single chance to rob passengers stating no change, rush
hour extra, rainfall, night charges, etc.
As per the www.mybmtc.com
there are several buses to Agrahara (Electronic city). I could see the sea rushing
in & out of the vehicles, all in a hurry to reach their destination. “Is
this bus going to Agrahara” I enquired to one of the bus driver. He signed get
in. Then I crossed checked with the
conductor before paying for the tickets. My prayers started with the journey
& after passing the traffic at snail's pace, I got down below the Agrahara flyover.
“Something is not right.” I looked around “Can you tell me
where the PESIT College is.” I asked one lady in the bus stop. (That was the
landmark near the company, given by the consultancy who scheduled the
interview).
“I don’t know” was the blunt reply. I asked a few more
people but nobody could help me until a college student informed that I had to
go to the other side of the road & get a Banshankari bus. “What, m I in the
wrong place?” to my utter shock.
I called up the consultants who never picks up my call, then
tried to call up the company landline no. “Hello, How may I help you?” from the
other end. “Can you guide me to your office location; I have come for an
interview?” After struggling for 10 mins with confusing left & right, back
& forth, she suggested, please check with any nearby shops. I asked in a
petrol pump hoping they could guide me but to my utter dismay neither they nor
the passerby could help me.
(Bulb in my mind) Ok, I had a friend of mine who is a “Bangalore
route Google” & I was sure to get my answer. He enquired my location &
said “Are you standing below the flyover so walk towards service road, where
you can see less traffic. The company would be close by.” “Yes” I replied &
started walking. After walking for more than half a kilometre in the roasting
sun, there were no traces of any company. I called up my friend again &
finally he gave the brilliant idea to take an auto & tell him to drop in
the address.
After waiting for another 15 mins, in the busy street with office
goers packed vehicles, I caught an auto. The driver demanded 50 rupees for less
than 2 km, as though I have a money plant, I bargained & settled for Rs 30.
He drove me to some isolated auto stand to enquire about the location. His
fellow mates peeped inside the auto to get a glimpse of the lady & her
belongings. “Madam 20 km from here you have come to Agara it’s not Agrahara”
one of the weird looking drivers replied me with a grin. “One and half meter
pe” My auto driver was demanding one & half on meter charges that too in a
sunny afternoon. I was in the midst of
nowhere at one point I felt like coming back home.
“Subuhi, you can’t give up so easily. You have prepared so
much after coming so far don’t just go back.” My booster dose. Next followed
the hard negotiation of who will take a young female in his auto & how much
to charge. I felt like mice trapped with vultures soaring around. Something was
making me uncomfortable & I walked towards a bus in the signal while the
drivers kept fighting & calling me back. “Silkboard” I said to the
conductor. Now I need to change one more bus to get near the correct office
address.
I got down near the signal where traffic was rushing from
all ends. I walked towards the bus stand to catch the right bus this time but
it was nowhere to be seen. Then, an old lady told me to walk back towards the
signal since the bus stand was far & I could hop into the vehicle as it
stops in the junction. Finally, I boarded the exact one & made myself
comfortable in the vacant seat. “Bhaiya
drop me near PESIT college” (as per my landmark) the conductor handed the
ticket & replied “there is no stop near college but you can get down if any
traffic signal comes. “Ok” do I have an option?
I got down in the signal, to my despair; I had to march 1 km
in the scorching heat to reach the interview venue. Fully drained & sweating profusely, I
signed the visitor’s register where the security guard kept starring my sun
burnt face. I arranged my hair, wiped off my face & tried breathing slowly
to get the fresh & calm look, in the lobby. “Subuhi, please come this way.”
The receptionist took me to the interview room.
The interview went on for almost 20 minutes with all kinds
of typical professional questions. From what I understood they required an
experienced, hard working, flexible candidate for minimal wages. I did fair
well so was shortlisted for the final round of interview in the same day but
that would be in MG Road, approx 18 kms from my present location. “What, M I a
superman to travel in light speed with super energy for the next round?” I murmured to myself.
By this time I made up my mind what I had to do. I crossed the
highway to reach the other side & catch a vehicle as directed by the
receptionist. There was no sign of any vehicle except the dacoit autos who loot
the passengers & at length I decided to walk towards the bus stand. Oh, my
God, the day seemed so long & tiring plus I had to change another two buses
to reach home & lay down at peace. I caught the bus to east end Jayanagar
& got down to walk an extra half km to catch another bus to my home. Al
last I thought of catching an auto & get dropped near my PG doorsteps however
in five minutes I got the direct bus to my residence so I thought “Khaya Piya
kuch nahi aur glass thora bara aana” let me not waste money in auto. Nevertheless,
I can’t travel like this, changing four buses plus two autos plus walking for
almost 4 kms, Monday to Saturday. I am dropping this opportunity because I
would be a dead body by Sunday or may be worse.
While I was lost in thinking all this, my bus took a
diversion without any alarm to my stop. I jump down at some distance &
again walked back for 15 minutess & finally open my room door & crushed
in the carpet. First thought was switch on the fan & then prepare a hot cup
of energising tea.
“Why Why why, no power & milk was spoiled, tears
literally rolled out. So much struggle the whole day for zero outcome. I saw
the watch it was 2 pm, with no choice, I took hot tap water bath. At the end of
the day, I thanked Almighty God for the day as I am use to this no matter what
happens during the day. After all everyday is not the same day & I had worst
experiences than this earlier.
With this note I closed my eyes to sleep tight.
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