The Great Indian Kitchen - An experience 👪

Disclaimer: Trust me,  I am a no "fake feminist" 🙏 and no major spoiler ahead 😝

Often we are bombarded with messages, films and news pieces as "Must-Watch/read for Women".😅 You, gentlemen, here is a MUST-WATCH PIECE for you, "The Great Indian Kitchen". Don't miss it. Watch it on NeeStream.🎦

The title when first read sounded like a 'reality show' on TV channels that air unique and majestic kitchens across India and related entertaining facts. Surprisingly, it is a realistic picture shot in a kitchen of our own household-like with most of our characters - directly or indirectly! 😃 No character is wrong but Patriarchy is - the core of this film!!! 

At one point in time, the movie-watcher starts gasping for air by merely watching the amount of work a housewife does. Of course, times have changed and there is a sense of sharing in some of our households, but in a democratic county, apparently we go by majority. In that connection, yes, I do not hesitate to say that kitchens own Indian housewives. Working women - that play dual roles - have no escape either👎.  As I personally know men who do not even wash their tea glasses at houses, the director's portrayal is no exaggeration at all🙆. But same men would stick to etiquettes elsewhere! Hypocrisy at best! Shameless! 😄

Though I am not for those isolation practices during menstrual cycles, I initially felt happy for the lead character to have been isolated for it would give her the much needed rest. As movie goes on, that happiness is not long lived🙅. Woman to woman equation is also unpleasant. 😓 

And yeah, women cannot be open to husband as far as sexual desires are concerned. Even usage of word "foreplay" attracts insult. 

The whole movie moves like a documentary though. However visits of guests, what kitchen work composes of, how personal needs of each and everyone vary, why even mothers are for patriarchal practices, elegantly touching upon respecting one's opinion, and making life's choices are all genuinely pictured!👍

On a personal note: 

(1) To make some of you jealous 😉: I watched the film alone and did not recommend it to my husband as it has no relevance to him! 💖💞 Lucky me 😍

(2) My attitude towards being a guest to a house has changed.👭

(3) I personally remind my family male and female members that ours is a not a great Indian kitchen. 🙅

Origami: an underestimated form of learning

In a recent workshop on Origami (paper folding) conducted by Kutty Aagaayam, children were told that origin of the art is not clear - whether Japan or China. Doesn't matter; Immaterial of origin, its relevance is worldwide - for all ages. Anyone would love to try a hand at it, if exposed.

The highest form of paper folding I learnt in my childhood was making a boat, a rocket and a camera. I seriously cannot recall anything more! And the only one I still remember is making of paper boat 😝

Pathetic, ain't I? But thanks to Sadako Sazaki, I learnt to make paper cranes! 

This art form has gained significance in recent times where children are enrolled in art and craft classes. Also spaces such as YouTube are browsed to try folding papers for beautiful home decors and fun-filled play items. COVID-19 outbreak has raised viewers and experimenters as children remained indoors for almost a year. Now, there is one important question that pops up in my mind!! 

Why weren't I introduced/taught Origami in Mathematics classes in my school???!!!! 😕

There are undoubtedly many benefits of learning this art. Some are;

1. It is FUN with shapes and colors

2. Gives an hand-eye-brain coordination

3. Develops problem-solving skills

4. Instills creativity and provokes curiosity

  

Of course we all know this! Besides, it is the most loving way to learn Mathematics. That is why I strongly recommend that Origami should be taught not only in art and craft classes but importantly in Mathematics. Will tell you why!

Learning basic shapes: Children could have hands-on training on shapes by folding and/or cutting papers. A paper can be turned to any shape - not only the basic ones - square, rectangle, triangle and circle. After making and learning, the same shapes could turn to a home decor with children's art on it!!

Fractions: It is easier to understand what half, one-third, one-fourth and so on are, by a mere folding of paper!!! It directly has an impact on learning basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Geometry: Learning this branch of Mathematics is not only important but also difficult for most of us. To understand area, angle and dimension of each shape is what geometry is all about. Till now, these are taught with 2D drawings on blackboard leaving us confused 😟whereas Origami will help us learn with 3D shapes made by ourselves. What more one needs to learn it better and easier!!!!

All these with minimal use of tools such as scissors, compass and the like. A Mathematics teacher mastered in Origami can tell us more benefits in detail! As a parent, I imagine how beautiful it would be, to see children coming out of Mathematics classes with color papers and shapes, in addition to better learning!!😍

Any parent reading this, please insist your child's Mathematics teacher to incorporate Origami in your child's class! It would beat the teacher's monotony and also bring interest in subject for the child. Truly a win-win situation!💖

P.S.: A scene in Putham Puthu Kaalai where grandpa would say ludo is nothing but Mathematical Law of Averages. That easy is Mathematics, if rightly and interestingly taught. Unfortunately, I did not come across one such teacher in school! 😞 

A surprise from Gautham Vasudev Menon

"Classy romance" is what we see in most of Gautham's movies. Almost all of his films are made for urban audience given its elite environment, English dialogues and portrayal of love. His latest outing, "Avalum Naanum, Avarum Naanum" (ANAN) was a true surprise to me, though he stuck to his strengths. As a part of the recently OTT released anthology film, Putham Puthu Kaalai, ANAN has captured love between two, in fact three, so beautifully!!! 💙💚💛

The whole short film features a high profiled grandfather (thaathaa) and his new generation granddaughter (Kanna). They both were totally awesome and effortlessly pulled us into their (less than half an hour) journey. The camera not only captures these two lead characters but also thaathaa's lovely house and its interiors. Emotions we find even on walls of the house match perfectly well with that of thaathaa and Kanna. 

The camera shows the two and their interactions, slowly growing bond and the love they finally find for each other, and interestingly music introduces the third character, VOICE!!!! For thaathaa, his pride of life is his daughter's voice, which according to him is strangled and lost!!! The way he expresses his love for his daughter and the latter's voice in the background, accompanying music are all soul stirring!

🎵🎶🎵🎶"Kanna Thoothu Poda" in Govind Vasantha's music, Bombay Jayshree's voice and karky's lyrics is the top notch of the whole film. The visuals too!! It solely communicates his daughter's love for him, her response to his disappointment 😊 and in turn thaathaa's love for his daughter 😊, the nucleus of this film. I fell in love with the song; in fact anyone would! Such a blissful one after a long time!! 🎵🎶🎵🎶

The title "Putham Puthu Kaalai" seems to be very apt for this short film (of course for others as well). Every dawn is beautiful and miraculous; so is the bond between thaathaa and kanna that grows, changing their lives more loving day after day! 

Life doesn't hide that beauty from any of us; may be sometimes we fail to spot it! Every dawn is a new beginning to pick up from wherever we left and however it is!!💗💗

Japan and I ❤

There are friends who travel across the world for various purposes. I feel jealous at times 😉 as I have never stepped out of my country. One has to make efforts to travel around, which I did not so far. So complete fault is mine.😝 Of all dreams to travel to different places, the most dreamt one is "Japan" 😍

Seeing my fascination for the country, my spouse tells me that I did have hidden connection with the place ages ago (something like "Japanil Kalyaraman"😜😲). Sometimes I feel that it must be true! 😄

The first thing I learnt about Japan during school days is the horrendous disaster they faced in the World War - II. I was always taught that the country bounced back with momentous growth in most fronts after the incident. Japan is not only a victim of war but also an active participant (Yes, Karma is a boomerang). Their learning at very heavy cost has transformed their outlook on life, is what I believe. I recently learnt that Japanese are raising peace monuments across the world to compensate their past war actions. There is a saying: "Learn from others' mistakes for life is too short to make it all by yourself." But it is a wonder why and how the adults (rulers) still fail to learn to spread "Peace"!!! Adults are adults! 😧

The next is my favorite TV game show during childhood, "Takeshi's Castle" 😎. OMG, What an awesome show it was! And I always wished that my town/state/country had something like that for kids to freak out.😞 Know what, when one of my friends travelled to Japan, I asked him to visit the place. He could take a picture of the place from the bus he travelled in as it was closed looong back. Still, I wish to get a glimpse 👀 of it some day.

"Totto-Chan" is my most favorite book (it is on a school in Japan that was crushed to pieces in World War II) since the time I read it. How could one dream of such a beautiful school and execute it to perfection!!! There is no place where I failed to make a mention of this book as I consider it to be a treasure and there are takeaways for anyone and everyone on earth!! I can simply speak for hours on this book 😆 I was unlucky to not have got such a memorable school life. Wish the next generation all around the world gets! 💞

Then the irresistible show, "Shin Chan" that we began watching with our daughter. One gets to know how child-friendly the Japanese city is by seeing the way the little boy goes around, in day and night, in sun and rain. Also it gives us so much insight about the Japanese culture that is looked upon by rest of the world. Such a cute show it is, not a single day goes without it! 💗

The most heartwarming life history I recently shared, Sadako Sasaki! Lesson for life for both children and adults all over, particularly to the rulers of nations. The meaning of "peace" it sow deep inside me is too intense to choose otherwise! How irresponsible we adults are, to make children go through all that they NEVER deserve! Neither does a parent on earth deserve to go through the pain of Sadako's family. Sadako and those peace cranes have become an integral part of our lives! 💖 We do make paper cranes often! 💝

And in the last week, the online site, Kanali have dedicatedly published series of articles/interviews/books on Japan. Beginning to read with the thirst to know more before I travel 😜😍

Every now and then I come across (both incidentally and accidentally) interesting facts, beautiful stories and everlasting history about Japan. Do not know if at all there is a connection between Japan and I, but it is on the top of my wish list!! 💓 

Voices are to be heard: NEET, Actor Suriya and the Judiciary

Many celebrities are vocal in matters of social concern in the present generation. Despite its pros and cons, being vocal is to be appreciated for a celebrity's voice is louder and wider. As far as actor Suriya is concerned, he has been into educating rural children for more than a decade now. Not only serving to the needs of rural school children, his foundation "Agaram" has been supporting higher educational needs of needy children, particularly girls. Having been a volunteer in an NGO a decade ago, I have personally witnessed Agaram's interest in rural children and education. Since then, I have heard a lot of first hand information from the beneficiaries themselves. Since his venture, the foundation and the actor have been reacting and responding to the matters concerning education, be it NEP or NEET.

Now his official statement has invited unexpected response from the Judiciary, criminal contempt. REASON: In addition to many of his concerns in the statement, he made a mention that (not verbatim)"when Judiciary conducts its proceedings online fearing lives due to Covid-19, it directs candidates to appear for exam without fear".

 

 

So now how does it amount to (criminal)contempt of court??

The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 gives courts the power to restrict fundamental right to personal liberty in terms of expressing one's opinion in forms such as written or spoken words, signs and actions. Disobeying court's order is referred to as civil contempt whereas "scandalizing" or "lowering" the authority of the courts and its orders amounts to criminal contempt. The latter also includes interference in judicial matters or obstructing the same. There are several articles that reiterate contempt of court such as Article 129, Article 142 (2) and Article 215. 

In short, the criminal contempt refers to all those cases that make allegations on Judiciary, have motives to make public lose faith on it or give unwarranted criticisms.

In such circumstances, how is actor Suriya's statement is contempt of court?

I invite all your attention to the fact that even while unlocking of nation and Tamil Nadu gradually began, courts remained closed. Slowly, electronic means of filing and proceedings was happening. Courts are yet to be fully opened or accessible despite the fact the advocates from moderate to poor backgrounds have already switched over to jobs such as vegetable sellers, fruit sellers, daily wage farmers and the like. Though the sheer survival of advocates was/is shaken, courts refused to open stating the fear of Covid-19 spread.

Given this fact, Actor Suriya has just made a "fair statement" or "accurate reporting" of what the courts said and how the courts act in this pandemic period. It very well fits into the domain of "What is not a contempt of court". If at all there is an issue for the Justice to raise this matter, it has to be the ego attached which enjoys the privilege of "independent authority". May be the comparison between the "learned judges"/"chief justices" and the common people did not go well and led to this controversy. 

 

Interestingly, the very next day a group of retired judges and senior advocates jumped in support of Actor Suriya and the need to not probe further for various reasons. One state that it has to be treated and ignored as over-reaction of an artiste and the other say it has to be looked within the context and not beyond. At the same time, there is a group that condemns his statement. 

However it goes, as a layperson I find nothing controversial in the statement, rather it voices the minds of many. Banning NEET or scrapping NEET in view of tragic incidents happening is beyond this post. Yet, there is always an imperative need for a space to discuss, deliberate and express one's dissent. The very constitution guarantees the right to expression, the basic need for democracy and it has to be safeguarded by the Judiciary themselves. What actor Suriya did has nowhere "scandalizes", "intervenes" or "obstructs" the judiciary system. When a layperson like me puts all these facts together, the actor's opinion has to be taken in the right sense of venting frustration and helplessness for the children who not only go through tough preparations (with a failed education system that is unfair to majority) but also fight the pandemic risking lives. It is just that when opinions get voiced by a celebrity, the reach is far and sometimes end up controversial for no valid reason. Personally, I do not see a reason for actor Suriya to do this for publicity.

 

Similar contempt of court recently happened in the case of Prashant Bhushan. He refused to apologize stating that it would be against his conscience and he stood by his stance. Mere expression of one's opinion with a conscious mind cannot and should not be treated as contempt in a democratic system. Even England has done away with this system to a significant extent where India has taken this precedence from.

The country lacks voices and those that are heard are strangled every now and then. The least we all could do is to have a healthy discussion and dialogue wherever and however possible. In those cases, even such celebrity's view point would serve as a starter.

P.S.: Neither am I a fan of the actor in discussion nor do I have any connection with his foundation. And thanks for the inputs received from advocates Yogeshwaran and Mahalakshmi.

Are you hated?

My dear women 👭 out there,

Do people (both men and women) around treat you indifferently? I mean, 

Isolation? Ignoring? Backbiting? Irritating? Eating your minds? Creating troubles? 

Well, you must be one or more of these (and many more):

• working 
• smart looking 
• socializing
• tackling work-life balance well
• intelligent
• have an opinion on various affairs
• creative
• tidy
• (financially) independent
• transparent
• initiator
• empathetic
• calm and composed 
• refraining from dangerous gossips
• consistently climbing ladder, both personally and professionally
• visionary
• principled

Come on, its not your mistake to be a victim in the society, workplace or neighborhood. It is the idle minds that accommodate devils plenty in number causing unrest. 😀😂😅😆

Its ultimately your choice to fall into the trap like most of women out there or walk with head held high for what you are and what you want to be. Above all, to ensure that your daughters (and sons) are raised right for a better society. 💪👍

"Face is the index of mind" is an old saying that stands right across ages. Those women are beautiful that glow inside out!!! 💥

Rest of them, trust me, are not your cup of tea!💗

கதை கேளு, கதை சொல்லு!

கதை கேட்கவும் கூறவும் பிடிக்காதவர்கள் யாரும் இருக்க முடியாது. அதிலும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு கதை என்றால் அலாதி பிரியம். விதவிதமான கதைகளும் அதை சார்ந்த உரையாடல்களும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு இயல்பாகவே வரக்கூடியவை. அதனாலேயே எந்த காலக்கட்டத்திலும் குழந்தைகளுக்கான புத்தகங்களில் கதைளே பெரும் பகுதியை பிடிக்கின்றன. இதிகாசங்களும், வரலாறுகளும் கதை வடிவிலே பிள்ளைகளிடம் கொண்டு சேர்க்கப்பட்டன/சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. பள்ளி செல்லும் முன்னரே குழந்தைகள் பல கதைகளுடனே வளர்கின்றனர்.

முந்தைய தலைமுறை வரை கதை என்பது தினமும் சாதாரணமாக நிகழும் நிகழ்வு. வீடுகளில், தெருக்களில், பள்ளிகளில், வகுப்பறைகளில், விளையாட்டுத் திடல்களில், குடும்ப நிகழ்வுகளில் என எல்லா இடங்களிலும்/இடங்களைப் பற்றியும் கதைகள் வாழ்ந்த வண்ணம் இருந்தன. அப்பா, அம்மா, தாத்தா, பாட்டி, பக்கத்து வீட்டு மாமா, அத்தை என அனைவரும் கதை சொல்லிகளே.

ஆனால் சில வருடங்களாக "கதை சொல்லிகள்" (இக்கட்டுரை குழந்தைகளுக்கான கதை சொல்லிகள் பற்றி மட்டுமே) என்ற அடைமொழியுடன் பலரின் பெயர்களை பார்க்க முடிகிறது. இவ்வாறான ஒன்று பெருமளவில் வளர்ந்து வருவதை உணர்வதற்கே எனக்கு நெடுநாள் ஆனது. யார் இந்த கதை சொல்லிகள்? இவர்களின் பங்கு என்ன? யாரெல்லாம் கதை சொல்லிகள் என்ற கூட்டுக்குள் வர இயலும்? இது போன்ற கேள்விகள் எனக்கு எழுந்த வண்ணம் இருந்தன. இது தொடர்பான என் புரிதலை இங்கே விவரிக்கிறேன்.

கலை என்பது ஒருவரின் கற்பனைத் திறன் மற்றும் செயல் திறன் கொண்டு அழகிய எதோ "ஒன்றை" உருவாக்குவதேயாகும் (எ.கா. ஓவியம் வரைதல், இசை அமைத்தல்). கதை சொல்லுதல் என்பது, சந்தேகமேயின்றி, ஒரு கலை. அனைவராலும் கதை சொல்ல இயலும். மனிதனுக்கு இயல்பாகவே கதை சொல்லும் திறன் உண்டு.  கதைகளின்றி மனிதனால் முழுமையான வாழ்க்கை வாழ இயலாது. கதை சொல்லும் கலையின் ஆரம்பப் புள்ளி பிறப்பிலேயே நம் உயிரணுக்களில் வைக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது. அது அழகான கதைகோலமாக மாறுவதும், அத்திறன் அலங்கோலமாக மாறுவதும் நாம் அந்த கலையை கையாள்வதில் உள்ளது.

ஆனால் மிக நேர்த்தியாகவும், கவனத்தை சிதரவிடாமலும், கதைக்குள் ஊடுருவ/சில நிமிடங்களுக்கேனும் வாழ வைக்கவும், கேட்பவரின் கற்பனையை தூண்டவும் கதை கூற எல்லாராலும் இயலாது. 

அதிலும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு கதை சொல்லுதல் என்பது நாம் நினைத்துக் கொண்டிருப்பதை விட கடினமானது. அவர்களின் கற்பனைக்கு தீனி போடுவது சவாலானது. விபரம் அறியாத வயதில் குழந்தைகள், நாம் கூறும் கதைகளை விரும்புவர். அவர்களே சற்று வளர்ந்த பின், ஏராளமான நிபந்தனைகள் இடுவர். உதாரணத்திற்கு, கதை நீண்டதாக இருக்க வேண்டும், சொல்லப்பட்ட கதைகள் அவர்கள் விருப்பமில்லாமல் திரும்பவும் சொல்லக்கூடாது, அவர்கள் கேட்கும் தலைப்பில் கதை இருக்க வேண்டும், அவர்கள் கூறும் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் கண்டிப்பாக அக்கதையில் இருத்தல் வேண்டும், நாமே ஒரு இயங்குபடமாக கதை கூற வேண்டும், கதை பிடிக்கவில்லையெனில் பாதியில் அக்கதையை நிறுத்தி உடனடியாக வேறொரு புதிய கதையை கூற வேண்டும். இப்படி ஏகப்பட்ட நிபந்தனைகள் (இவையெல்லாம் என் நான்கு வயது மகள் செய்து வருகிறாள்!!). இவற்றையெல்லாம் சமாளிக்க அந்த நொடியில் ஒன்றிரண்டு குழந்தைகளுக்கான புத்தகங்களை மட்டும் படித்து கதைகளை கூறிவிட இயலாது. பல கதைகளை நாம் படித்த வண்ணம் இருக்க வேண்டும். அதை பலவாறு சொல்ல பழக வேண்டும்.

இங்கு தான் நமக்கு "கதை சொல்லிகள்" உதவுகிறார்கள். இப்புள்ளியில்தான் கதை என்பது கலை மட்டும் அல்ல அறிவியலும் தான் என்று நமக்கு உணர்த்துகிறார்கள். குழந்தைகளுக்கு அவர்கள் விரும்புமாறும், அவர்களை தூண்டும் விதமாகவும், கற்பனையை அதிகரிக்கும் விதமாகவும், அவர்களே கதை சொல்லியாகவும், கதை எழுதுபவர்களாக மாறவும், நாம் கையாளும் கதை கொண்டு அவர்களின் குழந்தை பருவத்தை  மெருகேற்றவும் உதவுகிறார்கள். "கதை சொல்லிகள்" அவர்களின் கதை சொல்லும் அனுபவங்கள் கொண்டு ஒரு கதையை எவ்வாரெல்லாம் சொல்ல முடியும், எவ்வாரெல்லாம் சொல்லுவதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும், மேலும் மேலும் நாம் சொல்லும் விதத்தினை நேர்த்தியாக்குவது எப்படி என்று ஒரு அறிவியலை நமக்கு படைக்கின்றனர். இதுவே இறுதியானதல்ல. இந்த அறிவியல் முயற்சியும் கலையோடு ஒட்டி மேன்மையாகிக் கொண்டே இருக்கும். மேலும் நம்மைச் சுற்றியுள்ள கதைகளை/கதைகள் தொடர்பான புத்தகங்களை நமக்கு காட்டித்தரும் வழிகாட்டியாக இருக்கின்றனர்.

இவற்றிலிருந்து நாம் புரிந்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டியது கதை சொல்வது என்பது "கதை சொல்லிகள்" என்ற அடைமொழி கொண்டவர்களால் மட்டுமே கூற முடியும் என்ற எண்ணம் முற்றிலும் தவறானது. "கதை சொல்லிகளின்" நோக்கம் அது அன்று. அவர்களும் ஒப்புக்கோள்வது நாம் அனைவரும் அற்புதமான கதை சொல்லிகளே என்ற உண்மையாகும். இன்னும் அழகாகவும் நம் குழந்தைகள் விரும்பும்படி சுவாரஸ்யமாக சொல்ல உதவும் வினையூக்கி மட்டுமே "கதை சொல்லிகள்". அதுமட்டுமல்ல, நம் குழந்தையின் விருப்பமான கதை களம், சூழல், விதம், எண்ண ஓட்டம் அனைத்தும் நமக்கு மட்டுமே ஓரளவேணும் புரிந்திருக்கும். அதற்கு மேல் தேவைப்படுவதை நம் பிள்ளைகளே நமக்கு கற்றுத்தருவர். எனவே என் புரிதல் என்பது கதை சொல்லிகளின் தேவை குழந்தைகளுக்கல்ல பெரியவர்களுக்கே!!

கதைகளோடு பயணிப்போம்!👪👫👬👭