5 Reasons Why I’m Against The Mumbai Meat Ban

Very recently, leaders from BJP asked for a meat ban in some localities following some self sacrificial threats from Jain monks in Mumbai during the upcoming Jain religious festival - Paryushan.

I am a Jain, I follow Paryushan BUT I do not support the meat ban.

There are 5 reasons for it

1. People earn their daily bread by selling meat - what will they earn in these days? (Jain myth - never hurt someone else for your selfish motives)

2. My religious choices are my personal choices - this applies to people who are NOT jains as well. It is their personal choice. The Paryushan does not mean anything to people who are not Jains. Why impose some rules that mean nothing to them. These monks are just inviting criticism and skepticism to Jainism (as if there isn’t enough inside the community anyway).

3. Hell yes it’s political. The monks want to get more followers and the political leaders want more votes. The stringent and orthodox Jains who believe Jainism is THE ultimate religion are all going to be super pleased.

4. For lack of a properly formulated argument, the monks threatened to sacrifice themselves in the name of religion. For god’s sake, what is the difference between these monks and terrorists? If they threaten the population’s emotions to get their job done?

5. Lastly, why does it pain them to see meat hanging in shops only on these selected days of the year? Why create a fuss about it only for 4 days? The pain should be a continuous feature, right? The poor animals are cut and killed every single day of the year. Basically, they are trying to market the idea of ‘Paryushan’ - but hey, dear marketers - no one cares!

Such ‘stunts’ end up defaming a great religion and make it popular for idiosyncrasies created by the modern misconceptions of what Jainism (or religion for that matter) actually is!

Maybe it’s my education which liberates me from orthodoxies and my extensive reading of Jain texts which enhances my belief that Jainism isn’t only about Paryushan. Maybe it’s a surge of open mindedness and accepting of the fact that we are living a secular country which allows for the co-existance and tolerance of different religions.

I sincerely hope these religious authorities and the man behind instigating this meat ban get to read this.

Welcome to Life, Kiddo!

He dug deeper
and deeper and deeper.
'They' could see him digging,
They smirked and waited,
not very far from him.
They were going to destroy
everything he was doing

He dug deeper and deeper,
They could hear him squealing,
They knew he was happy
but they didn't care.

He dug deeper and deeper,
He ignored his mom's call.
He wanted to do it,
just the he wanted to

The distance between him and them decreased.
He dug and they came
They came and he dug
"Finally!" he yelled
That's when they arrived.

The waves filled up the kid's efforts
They filled the pit with more sand and water
He looked defeated and sad
His mom urged him to try another location with a sad smile.

Reluctantly, he went again;
a little farther this time,
and started digging again.

All I did from a little farther away
was muster a silent laugh
"Welcome to life, kiddo!" I muttered.

Dark Desires

A pair of scissors
A lock of long hair
A glistening new blade
Blood throbbing through my veins
An unused rope
A perfect loop
A dose of poison
A glass full of water

My leg on the accelerator
Alcohol in my system
Up I fly
Down I go
Death I want
Life I get

Ctrl Z - Undo

Feelings unexpressed
Tears unseen
Letter unopened
Words unsaid

Hands unheld
Legs untangled
Lips untouched
Bodies unhugged

Memories unenjoyed
Love untold
Destiny undone
Life unlived

Actions DO NOT speak louder than words!

Going against the very famous quote, I personally think that actions do not speak louder than words. Words have the power to heal, the power to flabbergast, the power to bring a smile on someone's face. Not everyone can talk, or exhibit their emotions towards a person explicitly. These people turn to words for help. And words never betray.

As an introvert myself, I have used the tool of writing to let me loved ones know how much I care for them and they matter to me. In similar instances I have received written letters and typed words that have been my support system in times of immense distress.

One such example is this blog post/letter from a dear friend of mine. It makes me smile every time I read it. It reminds me of something...something important about me and my life.

Here is a shoutout to all people who are shy and scared to say things to people they care about - dont worry, pick up your pen and paper and write all of it down. All you have to do is hand over the paper. You can choose to be anonymous if you want to. That's the beauty of writing.

And yes, Action do not speak louder than words.

Hey Y,

Some people come into our lives and barely leave a trace, others leave a string of footprints etched upon our hearts, letting us know they are with us every step we take. It sometimes feels like someone pulls rug on which we are, finding ourselves broken and unable to get back.

I want you to know that I’ proud of you. I am proud of you for taking those steps. I am proud of you for being you and working to rise the best you inside you. We might have just met but you have made a difference in my life. I believe everything happens for a reason. And you are in my life for a reason.  I am very happy to be your friend.

You deserve so much more that these typed words of gratitude. I could be writing this post forever. The only thing I want to say is to hold on to the positive moments and keep the good memories and save them for the tough moments if you are feeling down.

I hope this makes you smile because the world deserves more of your smile. You are a miracle and you are worth of friendship. You are a beautiful person, inside and out. “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” Leave behind your past because I’m in your life now (Self dabba). You were meant to live a life of challenge and courage. All of us have taken a different road to Ashoka. And you bumped into me along the way. Now I will make sure that the road we travel from now is of kindness and joy.

A Life Changing Experience

It would be difficult they said.

You'll regret it, they exclaimed.
She was determined she wanted to do it.
She knew the odds were against her
She knew the challenges she was going to face
She was the prepared for the unexpected too.
She hugged her father outside the railway station.
Her father smiled with determined eyes because he knew his little angel could do it. 
Her mother answered all the questions society asked.
She was scared for her little princess
But deep down she knew
That her daughter would do it for sure
The girl took one final deep breath and boarded the train as she embarked on an 18 day journey
With fifteen other men. 
Most of them unknown. 

She was the youngest and the only girl.
This journey was to be a memorable one, 
because this is where she found her self worth. 
She found out how unique she is. 
She found answers to questions she didn't even know existed within her.
This wasn't her first trek in the Himalayas. 
This wasn't the first time she was on her own. 
But this was the first time there were only guys around her. 
This was the first time she was exactly how she wanted to be. 
It was a dream come true for her.

She enjoyed all the attention she wanted and all the privacy she desired. 
She got to stay alone in a tent and she was admired for her willingness to stay alone. 
She didn't see the need to hide behind her regular social façade.
She experienced the mountains like never before. 
She enjoyed the voice of the river.
She admired the beauty of nature unlike any other time.
She couldn't tell what was different the time.
Maybe it was the independence
Maybe it was the ambience
Maybe it was a new perspective.

In the end, she could look herself in the eye when she finally declared that she felt satisfied.

Friendships on The Move

Friends? What are friends? Are they people who you have Whatsapp conversations with? Are they people whose Facebook walls you spam or who you tag in every other relatable Instagram post?

We don't realise how our friends are basically virtual entities who are very different in real lives than they are in the virtual world where everything is almost picture perfect.

Call me old school, but talking to someone on whatsapp or messenger everyday and sharing what you did during the day doesn't mean that you're staying 'in touch'. An occasional phone call to catch up or a Skype session, where you are at least virtually physically present in front of the person you intend to talk to, is necessary according to me.

Because I study in a university far away from home and live on campus most of the year, most of my friends are away from me a lot of the time and my university friends are away when I am at home. Every time I meet someone in person after a few months, I feel awkward because I know I have changed a lot since we last met and probably that person has changed too.

It's a very uncomfortable feeling of meeting a stranger in a facade of a stranger each time. Each time I meet my friend Niharika, she has so many new stories to share... She has done things the old Niharika wouldn't even dream of doing. And I can't stop from asking myself this question - is this the person I was friends with? Don't get me wrong. I still love her and I will forever. It's just queer to meet new people in the same person each time.

My other friend Dishit, he's someone who I have barely met thrice. But we call ourselves best friends and I'm pretty sure we are. I can't help but wonder whether I am actually friends with him or the virtual version of him?
Would he still behave the same way if I ever were to meet him in person as often as talk to him on FaceTime or Skype. I don't know.

Another friend from college, Asees. We send each other around three sentences on a never ending conversation on Whatsapp. Yet, I know what's going on with her. But I don't feel the connection. I long to just go and hug her, like I used to do each day in college before I went to sleep. I guess I'll have to do that with my teddy bear for now. But it's just not the same.

Virtual is not real. Not for me.

I guess it's a bitter truth that nomads like me probably won't ever have that kind of a friendship when we are just together with our friends all the time and we get to meet each other every other day. Thankfully, I've been blessed with these amazing people, who I know will be there for me in spirit even though not in physic. And that's what makes me sad and happy at the same time. I guess one can't have everything at the same time. So I'd rather look at the goods and enjoy these moments just as they come to me.

I Left A Part of Me Behind...

It's only natural that we get attached to a certain place after living there for almost a year. Having to clear out what was 'my' home for the past year at Ashoka has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am really happy to go back home and I look forward to a great holidays with family and friends. On the other hand,  I feel incredibly sad because I know I am not going to be in Ashoka- in MY room for the next three months.

Room number - 315

It was just an ordinary room when I first entered on 20th August 2014 and in less than a month, it had become my room. My place of solace, the place where went to sleep all night. That room has seen all my phases over the last year- it has seen me happy and cheerful, it has seen me cry over guys and other random things, it has seen me grow into a better person over the year. It has seen me work hard for my courses and it has been my hide out when I didn't want to interact with any human. So, for me- it is more than an ordinary room. It was my partner. It feel like that room was full of life, it cheered me up when I was sad, motivated me and made sure that I kept myself level headed at all times.

Having to empty the place left me thinking- was college going to be the same three months later when we come back for year 2? My batch mates are going to be the same and so am I. But my home is going to change. My personal place is going to shift to another tiny room in Ashoka. And for another year, that tiny place will become my favourite place.

I guess life has its nomadic phases where one doesn't settle in one place. Maybe I like it maybe I don't. This has by far been the fifth 'home' I have had in my life. Yes, these senses of attachment are not the same for all of them, all of them have their own goods and bads. It is only wise that I overlook the bads and cherish the goods of my home and wait as another tiny room will become a part of me over the next year.

With this tiny room gone, lot of my stories are gone too- bits of me will be forgotten. Stories I never narrated and feelings I never shared. Only my room and I know it. It's going to be a fresh start start next semester and I look forward to it as I wave good bye to yet another tiny part of me.

Ignorance and Happy Endings are Bliss !!

Sometimes your deepest fears become your best friends. What you were running away from, all your life, just happens to be the most amazing thing you have now! That is when you know that you are truly experimenting with yourself and that you are taking all your chances. 

I never thought this amount of introspection could lead to a much better personal experience for me.. atleast in this place. Surprisingly, the results have been better... much better. It is so much better to not have to worry about what someone else is thinking right now, or what someone is doing, are they mad, are they sad etc etc etc... 

It is good to be my own centre of attraction for once. And I am loving every ounce of attention I give myself. I pamper myself with food I like, watch the movies I love, play the sports I want to and mainly I follow my heart. I do what I want to do and not what I am expected to !! The last week has been amazing! I think it was about time I gave everything a chill pill and just casually went with the flow... 

Things are so much easier and clearer when I am not over thinking and wasting my energy in disliking people. Partly, a reason for my happiness is also the fact that I will be going home in 4 days and tomorrow is The Originals' Season 2 Finale :P but otherwise, the whole of last week has exactly been how I wanted it to be. I only talk to people when I want to or when they need me (which is not quite often, and I am happy about that). I leave my room only when necessary and I have almost finished packing. 

It's been an amazing end to my not-so-good semester at Ashoka. Following a good start, a crappy two months in between and an amazing week of being with myself, I am about to conclude year 1 of college. I am really happy about it. 

I am looking forward to an action packed summer... with no alcohol :P lots of physical activity and mainly, I am looking forward to visiting London and meeting a lot of new people at Cambridge.. who knows what awaits there :D 

For now, it's a happy ending to year 1 at Ashoka University and I couldn't have been more proud of myself. Only I know what I have gone through and what I have sustained. This year has just taught me that I am much stronger than I assumed myself to be and that I am the most important person in my life. I have learnt to accept myself better and love myself even more freely than before. Finally, I am really proud of myself :)

High on Life

Have you ever pretended to be something you're not not?

Many of us will say no in front of other people but deep down, in our hearts we know it is true and that there have been countless events when we have lied about being happy when we've been dying inside or pretended to be sad when nothing really happened... Or other emotions masked by a layer of artificial ones.

I'd say these are our coping mechanisms when we want to avoid unwanted communication. And believe me, there are times when you just want to be with nobody but yourself for days.

So how is this different from when we are under the influence of alcohol. I smile, laugh and dance like there's no tomorrow whenever i'm even a tiny bit tipsy because alcohol takes me to a better place. Where all my problems seem little and there is nothing more important than 'me'.

It's a place where everything is like a dream - a perfect dream of a perfect life.

It's not like we can be under the influence of alcohol 24*7 and I wouldn't even want to be... So now that I wonder, why can't I simulate such thoughts in their originality when I am completely sober and in all my senses.

Another part of me tells me it's not right to believe in things that are not true. But then what if this is the truth and I have been ignoring it all this time? What if I am actually really happy all by myself and the things I do everyday... What if all this strife is just a perceived reality and is really non-existent? What if I genuinely get happy vibes every time I go and tire myself out in the open playing some sport? What if my true happiness lies in the dance studio and at the sound of my Ghungroos? What if my real emotions act out only when I watch Pokemon and dream about having a companion like Pikachu? What if all I want to is study, play, dance and be with myself all day with bare minimum contact with other people?

What if this is exactly how I am? What if this is who I am?

I tell the other me to atleast give it a chance and try this version of reality atleast once. Some hesitation, but I agree with myself and I am ready now.. ready to give things another chance, but in my way.

People can't make a difference in my life if they barely exist for me. People can't hurt me if I don't let them.

So I take the step, and drink the tonic. The tonic of who I am and who I want to be.

It's time I get HIGH ON LIFE.