The only thing I can do well, is WRITE! - I Guess!

JUST SOME FACEBOOKING!

2010-04-29T11:43:00.001+05:30

One of my status updates... that took a huge Utopian turn.... Read on.... Comments welcome....

Archana Iyer When the World is dictated by Money.... And the Market Trends tell me how to live my Life.... There's something terribly wrong with the World.....

there is, bcz the world is working on the logic of capitalism and money and market is an important aspect of it.
that is why there is need to change this existing system.

Yesterday at 11:48 ·

Archana Iyer

The Venus Project proposes a Resource based economy instead of the Monetary based economy, which is fake in any case... it also proposes a system with great technological advancements which are resource based and ecologically balanced... sounds like an extremely idealistic idea... but atleast there is a way out.... for more... log on to... http://www.thevenusproject.com/... and don't miss to watch Zietgeist - The Movie & Zietgeist - Addendum. :)

Yesterday at 11:54 ·

Dhanur Gupta

if i may contradict your thought.. u cant have a resource based economy primarily because resources arent spread evenly and arent abundant enough to sustain all 6 billion people on planet.. practically a balance cant be struck between demand and supply so u need monetary economy.. buying power!

Yesterday at 13:24 ·

Archana Iyer

I completely beg to differ... there are abundant resources in this world and thanks to advanced technology... distribution is no problem either... the very basis of monetary based economy is "profit".... and maximization of profit is only possible with scarcity of resources.... hence, scarcity is generated in the market... and the power to layhands on resources is limited to the limited few with immense buying power....

80% of all World's wealth is with 4% of the Population.... if this disparity doesn't qualify for gross injustice.... I don't know what will.... Corprocracy... would never allow a common man to have access to the world's resources.... which is there for all of us.... as Nature had intended it to be.... it's a myth that the resources are depleting.... on the contrary.... with the technological advancements.... and if it is given a free hand....

Alternate Sources of Energy can be tapped.... but the Corporates will not allow this as the entire Industry which is based on Petroleum and it's by-products will collapse like a pack of cards.... which will only do good for the eco-system and humanity per se.... as no more lives will be lost fighting for oil... but the people in self-proclaimed seats of Authority will never let that happen....

TRAGIC!

Yesterday at 13:36 ·

Dhanur Gupta

your thoughts bypass something called as GOVERNMENT!!! try it with a sample size.. 100 people.. given a free hand and a resource based economy's structure.. they would kill other souls to gather as much as they can for themselves.. so much for free hand.. guess u need authorities and "corpocracy" to not let this happen.. and if 96% of the world's population feels satiated in 20% of the world's wealth then either money is not the prime concern or guess its high time they sort out their priorities.. noone stops them from generating wealth legally!!! on the contrary even government has knowingly left holes unplugged for the very same reason madame!!!

COMMON SENSE!

Yesterday at 13:48 ·

Archana Iyer

Your ignorance makes me laugh.... U are actually ok being enslaved by a bunch of people, who are out to squeeze every bit of your share of the resources for their own profits... fearing the anarchy by, what is called, the majority of deprived people.... YOUR OWN KIND!!!

And you actually think that everyone gets an equal opportunity at making money and gathering resources....???

If that is true, why are farmers committing suicide in Vidharbha?.... Do they not work hard?.... Don't they have enough brains to manage their Finances?.... Are they not good at their jobs?....

I can't believe you are so naive to think.... " if 96% of the world's population feels satiated in 20% of the world's wealth then either money is not the prime concern or guess its high time they sort out their priorities.. noone stops them from generating wealth legally!!!"

LOOK AROUND YOU.... GET OUT OF THE COCOON...

Who told you that 96% of the Population is satisfied with what they are left with!!!.... The whole problem is Human dissatisfaction.... And hence, the Maoists, The ULFA, the LTTE, Al Qaeda (which again is a myth, you'll see!!!). People are not happy with what they have.... there is unrest.... cause there is injustice.... gross injustice.... income disparity is a byproduct of the Monetary Based Economy.... and if Capitalism gives 'equal' opportunity to all.... then why is this disparity growing?....

Can you imagine building an empire without an initial Capital?.... Money pulls money, does it not?.... What would you do if you have none?.... Use the "LOOPHOLES" in the system, right?.... And push the society towards downgraded morality, corruption and crime?.... Right?.... Should that really be the way a Human Society should function?... Is that how Nature intended it to be?....

I only have two words for you... WAKE UP!!!...

And to answer your question about greed....

Think about it.... when does greed come into play.... when will I become greedy about resources?.... only when they are of some Monetary value.... If they are in abundance (which is a fact, and scarcity is a myth created by people who always want to enslave Human kind!!!), and technological advancements given encouragement without worrying about monetary gains that follow an invention.... you think anyone would be worried about hoarding the resources?.... If gold has no monetary value attached to it... would you go mad and kill people for it?..... do you do that for air???....The Land Mafia, The Water Mafia, etc, etc, have only come into play cause of the artificial scarcity that has been created for 'Monetary' benefits.... detach money and you're good to go...

Again, I am asking you to watch Zeitgeist, do your research, then try to contradict me!

Yesterday at 19:26 ·

Dhanur Gupta

Truce!!! :P

3 hours ago ·

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2009-06-03T11:43:00.009+05:30

Nupur had told me that the character of Cristina in the film was like mine. And I thought Penelope Cruz played Cristina in the film. So, I went ahead and told this good man that I am curious about the film, cause my friend thinks that my character is like Penelope Cruz's. And, the reaction I got from him was quite weird.

So my curiosity increased. And I started seeing the film. Pen didn't appear till the second half. And all I could think of, was that, boy, I am Cristina (Scarlett Johansson). I am so her.

But, then Pen appeared. Her character was that of a neurotic psychotic woman. Hey, that can't be me. But I somehow related to her too. Boy, now I am really worried!

So Long, Amigos! :)

This Time...

2009-06-02T12:37:00.002+05:30

This Time...

I didn't cry...

I tried hard not to let go..

Didn't get my Ego in line..

I spoke my heart out..

Again, I didn't cry.. (Man, I am surprised!)

I am not going to look back..

I will not go back..

It's all kinda cool..

The memories won't haunt...

It's really over..

It's a Closure..

I still didn't cry.. (:O)

It's for sure..

I am not letting it affect me..

I am not shattered..

I am smiling..

I am looking forward..

It's not going to be so hard..

It lasted just 6 months.. (compared to 8 last time!)

I am older.. and thus.. more mature..

This time..

I am Comfortably Numb!

My 24th Birthday and the Weekend that followed!

2009-06-01T11:54:00.000+05:30

Ahmed used to say, "Expect Everything!" Now, don't get lost in translation to what this Palestenian-Jordanian meant. He meant, "Don't Expect Anything!"

I made that mistake this year. Someone had made my Birthday so special and beautiful last year, that this year I just took it for granted that it could only get better. But, I was so wrong.

In many ways, it was sort of better. Well, I don't want to take anything away from my sweet friends. People whom I had never expected to be around were around, whom I had never expected a call from, called.

So, in some ways, Ahmed's theory worked. But I had a nagging feeling all day. For some reason, I wanted my life to just rewind one year. For some reason, I wanted it to be 29th May, 2008. (Well, may be because that would also make me a year younger!!! :D)

It was a Friday this year. And, it was an ideal Birthday. I was partying till 3 am. All of those who mattered were either around, or had called. But why was I waiting for that one Call, or that one SMS? I would never know. I'm sorry, Ahmed. Despite your repeated warnings, somewhere deep down, I am still expecting. May be a little too much. May be a little too unreasonable. But the heart wants what it wants, they say. And I made it happen for me. I forced that SMS to reach my Inbox. Did that make me happy? Surprisingly, no. I made that Call reach my Mobile. Did that make me ecstatic? Nope. I walked those extra steps to reach out. Did it make my Birthday perfect? No.

The weekend followed. I had decided to dedicate it to my Family. I took a trip to Pune, with my cousin, who by the way, does have a perfect life. (Although, I am really happy for him and terribly proud, I am sort of jealous. Ok, I am a horrible person. If you still haven't guessed that already, that is.) I was at home with my Granny, Aunt and Cousin. And felt really Blissful!!

And Sir Joe Pinto thinks I write well, and that I should write more often. So I am writing.

I just want to repeat, that I had a great Birthday! And I love you all. You all are the best! Thanks for being there for me; All my Friends and Family! I am really really Lucky to have you all around.

And I am also really Thankful for that One SMS and that One Call, I had been waiting for. That One Beer that gave me the Best High!

Thank You One, Thank You All!

So Long, Amigos!

All for the sake of the Stomach!

2008-08-29T23:11:00.000+05:30

21st March, 2003 - Friday:

It was my utter foolishness! I had gone without Lunch that afternoon, probably because I was a little worried about my Final Exams. And, after finishing to write my paper that day, I had a Veg Burger and some Cold Coffee. And then, for some reason, I decide to skip Dinner too. God knows why! So, what had I had that day?

1. 3 Cups of Tea.
2. 4 Slices of Bread (Breakfast)
3. 1 Veg Burger.
3. 1 Mug of Cold Coffee.
4. 1 Mug of Warm Milk (Dinner)

One may certainly feel that it was enough to sustain a Human Body for a Day. Well, that's not enough for me!

And that night, as expected, I grew hungry. Hungry beyond control. I drank lots of water. And as luck would have it, my stock of cookies and other snack was over too! I decided to try those Ayurvedic Cough Drops. If only I knew that they act as Appetizers!!

I did not have a phone in those days, and so I couldn't even call for food to be delivered at my doorstep. And the kind of relationship I shared with my landlady, I couldn't even turn to her at that hour of need. Poor thing, she had offered me Lunch that afternoon. But I just looked the other way!

I even tried to compromise with my Vegitarianism. Luckily, there was no animal around that time! Desperate for a morsel, I ran to the Balcony of my Paying Guest Accomodation, which was on the First Floor. I could see my Two-wheeler parked right across. Out of sheer hungry desperation, I decided to jump or climb down with a rope. (Bollywood had always been an overdoze with me!) But, I couldn't. I had another Exam the next day. It was too much of a risk. But my stomach was screaming at the same time!

At that moment a weird thought crossed my mind. I thought, if a girl like me who is comfortably well off, and probably facing such a crisis for the first time in her life, could act so desperately, (desperate enought to risk her limbs trying to jump off her balcony for food!), then imagine the millions of people who go without food everyday! Aren't their acts, in a way, justified? People steal, people kill. Is that all for the sake of Stomach?

The hunger in your belly can really make you do strange things. Why do we live? Why do we eat? Do we eat to live, or live to eat? Well, that night I did live to eat. And as I was thinking about all these things, I started chewing a few pieces of paper that were lying on my desk! The hunger in your tummy can make you act like a Donkey too!

It is all for the sake of stomach, NO DOUBT!

You think you have heard this before…

2008-08-29T19:21:00.000+05:30

You think you have heard this before…
And you try to sing along….

Deep in those dark eyes…the moisture is spreading….
Seeping into every brick of the wall that was once built…

The song that you hum today…. the song you want to sing along…
As the raindrops pour in…. and the breeze that fills the room….

The corridor that leads to the room…moans with the thunder…
The thunder that rocks the breeze…as the breeze tries to break free….

The broken frames…that cracked up all the dreams….
The dreams that were woven…but never stitched together….

Wrecked wood that once furnished the room…sobs in one corner…
The song and its rhythm…want you to sing along…

Those hands that were once held…those eyes that once met…
Those lips that kissed good mornings…and good nights…

The wrinkles on the bed-spread…the damp pillows…
The scent of all the love that was made…wants you to sing along….

So, if you think you’ve heard this before…
And you want to sing along…

Open those lips that once kissed good mornings…and good nights…
And just sing along….

The Opening Note...

2008-08-29T12:02:00.000+05:30

I'm not a blogger! Or rather, I'd call myself a recent convert. I keep reading about blogs by Amitabh, Salman and other biggies. But have never read one myself. My good friend Malay kept sending me links to his blog full of poetry and prose, and I would lie to him saying that I read it, when in fact, I never have.

So I know, not many people would read this, perhaps. Or better still, not many people would want to read this. I received an email from a friend, Roy, who seems to be a a regular blogger. You can check out his, (what is it called?) Blog page (??) here http://royarya.blogspot.com/

He wrote: "Hey Archana,
Actually I'm running web- blog where I publish women empowering success story.
I was thinking, why not I publish your story.
I know you are thinking, "My story? Come on!"
Yes. Look, being away from home, just to follow your dream & living with it – isn't easy task dear.
It takes guts to live with own dream, and you're doing it. You're listening to your instinct ... believing it … following it. It speaks volume."

I had never thought of this before. I had never seen myself that way. Yes, I am a woman. Yes, I live away from home. Yes, I am following something...(can I call it a Dream?). And hell ya, I am instinctive! That's the word. I have done many crazy things. And I want to continue doing them.

I have been away from home for over 6 years now. Wow, I never thought about that till this morning. I was 17 when I left home. Ok, stop calculating! I am 23 today! And I have been working in Mumbai since May 2007. And what have I achieved? I really can't say. What have a lost? Lots!

But let's not get into all that and make this blog morbid! What Roy wants me to say is that, as a woman, or let's put it this way, as an Independent Woman, I have kind of broken lots of shackles that are still there in the minds of a lot of people in our so-called Civil Society, regarding the Girl Child. But thankfully, my family (My Ma and Pa), have been really really supportive. I always tell my friends, "I was not brought up in a cage, neither was I left in the Wild. I was brought up in a Sanctuary! Where I had the freedom to roam around, and also the security from the proverbial poachers and hunters!"

And today, I am on my own. Making my own decisions. Making mistakes, and learning from them. (Or so I would like to believe!) Falling in Love (fell so bad that I got really bruised!), or at times rising in it! Ever complaining, but hopeful, nonetheless! Struggling to survive, or splurging to celebrate odd moments of joy! Doing a good job, or screwing it up! I am THAT and THAT is ME! And not to forget, I am back to writing. But I am sorry Roy! The credit doesn't go to you for that! There is another person, who brought me back to writing! And this one is for him!

And finally, to quote, Alanis Morrissette: (Nups, thanks for introducing me to this song! It shall always remain our song! I really hope, it shall not remain our Story for ever, though!)

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm worthless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

What it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm shy but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chicken shit
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby
And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

What it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxicab...

So, till next time...

So Long...

To whoever has managed to survive this ordeal!

Smiley --> :-)