Has anyone read books by the new generation Indian writers?
The ones whose books always concern Indians and their adjustment to immigration in America?
Well, I was reading one today by the woman called Chitra Banerjee. She as a writer,isnt really that interesting. Her plots are the same as everyone elses. Indian women struggling in America. However, she manages to weave words so wonderfully, that the hackneyed plot can be forgiven.
Anyway, the book was a collection of short stories about Indian women moving to America( surprising isnt it!)
and to cut a long story short,
one of them leaves her husband even though she was not brought up to do something like that, because she thinks that the marriage is dead
another one, adopts a boy even though she doesnt want to be tied down like other indian women
another one is told to never buy a saffron saree because it will bring her bad luck. she is then told the story of her mother, who leaves her husband, after he tried to sleep with the servant girl...and a saffron saree is somehow weaved into the storyline
another one's marriage breaks down cos she cant adjust to her indian born husband
basically, a whole bunch of stories abt women, and not one of them happy

It makes you wonder then, if you can ever escape from your fate as an Indian woman..
I know so many women whose lives compare to the storybook ladies...
its not something that is so dead that pple can eulogise it in books
so many of us still stay at home, take care of the house, have kids, face all the traditional pressures
have we come forward at all...and is forward such a good thing

Smrits and I spent a pretty interesting morning...
starting with the arguing at the breakfast table abt abortion beyond 24 weeks
Then...to globalisation..and we read through a section on the IMF website..
such a circular argument....poor countries are poor cos they are not well adapted to globalisation....very annoying line of reasoning..will put up some parts of it later for general amusement
then..we found out who Zbigniew Brzezinski is:-)
Watch this space to find out

I just found out that today is the anniversary for the bombing of Hiroshima...
Still on the subject of history..how do we judge when atonement is enough...
Japan...so conflicted..
where they slaughtered us mercilessly in the past..
when i was little...like 12...read a history book on the japanese invasion..and i was so scared. I had my mom promise me that we would leave singapore and move to a tiny indian village..
and it has taken me years to stop dreaming the dream..
everyone has a recurrent dream, running away, falling down from a cliff....
mine..is escaping from japanese soldiers who want to cut my head off with a samurai sword...hilarious i know..
but when you have to put up with visual decapitation scenes for years..you dont see the humour in it all
and Iris Chang...The Rape of NAnking...that is another book that defines it for me..
there i read abt 2 officers who had killing competitions..where they killed randoms and tallied numbers..and there were pictures of hanging heads..and tales of how the river turned red with blood.
Stories of comfort women..women who were taken from what they knew.their families, husbands and children..who existed to serve soldiers.....
and now the government denies their existence.....
A reign of terror in so many countries..death railways in thailand...murder in malaysia and singapore...
and now..we are supposed to forget them and forgive them...
Would it be politically incorrect of me to say that i personally cant do that

My family wasnt ripped apart by them, we were left alone..
but i dont see what they have done to deserve our forgiveness
they refuse to apologise..for crimes that they should be begging for atonement for
and they release history textbooks glorifying their nationalistic past
and their prime minister goes to visit Tojo every year..
no one wants them to be eternal apologists..that isnt happening to germany..
but to take responsibility for their actions..
Yes Hiroshima and Nagasaki should have never been bombed...
and maybe sorry doesnt really matter in this case..its so easy to say it
and maybe it doesnt mean anything

not that it takes much to set me off anyway...
strangely depressed by the story of a man and his chimp in readers digest...
got a few CDs..crazy CDs...Billie...Ray Charles...need to buy an Ella CD
Found an old friend today:-) going to go see her soon and catch up on years
something so courageous abt a woman who would sing 'strange fruit'
thanks for sending it to me Tomothy...in penance for the Asian bastards that we discuss:-)
Slightly tired of having to put on a smile and get on with it
Dont feel like myself anymore...what does that mean anyway

Southern trees......bear strange fruit..
How could we have been terrible to each other in the past
How does one atone for their ancestors..and their actions
and do I have to anyway...being here...isnt that atonement enough..
for i can state that i wouldnt be here if not for my ancestors...
I dont know...there are so many different situations to consider if i want to launch into..a what it could have been

When ur sad... I am too

I was reading something that inspired me....
Yes its true...I am turning into a homebody
In the past, not going out everyday was seen as some sign of failure..but now I cant be bothered..especially if its with people who do not interest me
I am past the age where I have to be out for outs sake
Not having something to do..does not bother me as it once used to..I mean...i dont see the attraction in endless shopping and eating...
I mean...I love shopping..but I cant stop seeing it as superficial...
I have half the soul of an african peasant and the other half is like....coco chanel..or someone equally high maintainence...
The conflict is always going to cause me conflict I guess...HAHA
I cant believe I typed that out...
I was the one who suggested that I marry twice..one to come with me to Ethiopia and the other one to keep me in my pradas....
Yes..I do like nice things...but I cant help but see the materialism of it all
All serious today....
It seems as if we fight a losing battle to be someone...never happy with what we achieve..and thats the end of it
somehow..the world changes..and i dont whine anymore