La Vie en Rose

Too often I progress through the ‘ropes of life,’ and do not invest the time to express my gratitude for the support you so eagerly shared for my growth, as not only a student but also as citizen of society. Amidst the chaos and difficulties life is presenting to me each day I stand strong prepared for the challenges of the next day, thanking you. You promoted an environment where I felt like I was able to not only share my contribution, but also know it is actually considered and appreciated. You shaped my right and wrong, your stories and experiences have enlightened me about the great possibilities the world holds for us. I am currently reading My Gita by Devdutt Pattanaik in which he highlights how Krishna nudges Arjuna to understand rather than judge his relationships and the ways of life. ‘Arjuna, people worship limited deities, limited as they are by their nature and their yearnings. From me comes their faith. From me comes fulfilment of their faith. The restricted s...

Imagining India through Media Lens: Indiana Jones and the Colonial World Released in 1984, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was the second film in the Indiana Jones trilogy. Spielberg’s action-adventure, is not simply an escapist piece of fiction, but rather a post-colonial misrepresentation of India, its ancient tradition, culture, religion. As a result, modern India is subsumed by the notion of the underdeveloped and uncivilized “reality” powerfully and persuasively constructed by Spielberg. ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is inordinately racist and sexist, even by Hollywood standards… The film’s only humanized nonwhite is necessarily 10 years old. Indeed, when not particularly downward trodden, the denizens of the third world theme-park where Indiana seeks his fortune and glory are all duplicitous, evil scum whose favored cuisine is a suitably yuckey repast of raw snakes, giant beetles, and chilled monkey brains. (J.Holberman, 1984; 85)’ This movie is pla...

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Star Wars has always said that the quick and easy path leads to the dark side. Recognizing one’s potential is not about daily affirmations and yoga meditations, but recognizing the need to apply oneself to study and hard work and perseverance. Rey’s power is “awakened” without explanation. The moment she calls the lightsaber to her hand (again, something we only see Luke do after a long period of training) consistently gets cheers in the theater. But the idea of easy power has always been associated with darkness. In both   Empire   and   Jedi , Luke’s aggressiveness is met with foreboding and sadness, only to turn to triumph when he jumps off the walkway or throws away his lightsaber, refusing to fight, and following the example of his mentor, who also allowed himself to be struck down. Yet when Rey says “the Force,” then closes her eyes in some sort of meditation, rather than surrender to peace or step away and deactivate her weapo...

La Vie En Rose My life in pink. I hate pink. I am currently in this stage of life were everything is uncertain. Movies tell me 'dream big', 'catch your dreams', my folks tell me 'marks are the parameter of judging', 'work hard, there is on space for mediocracy in this world'. I'm not sure if everyone goes through what i am going through. I'm confused, chaos and instability are running through me creating havoc and buried in this  frenzy I am unable to see clearly, unable to understand what I want, my purpose, the reason of my being. The idea's I have now are both drilled into my head by my folk which could be right, I could be those things, but I'm not sure, Circling back to my confused mind. I don't have a plan and it scares me. Recently a very special person told me that 'Change is inevitable' and he asked me if there could be any job in this world I could get, what would it be given the condition that there would b...