Images changing India today

Women-only cab service in Mumbai

"It addresses real concerns of female commuters. More women are traveling alone as they break with traditional roles and enter the workplace or even just to go out for the evening. Although Mumbai is considered safer than most cities on the subcontinent, where sexual harassment is rife, Indian women and visiting tourists often complain about being leered at by male cab drivers."

This is an excellent idea. We definitely need this in all metropolitans in India. I remember feeling really helpless in Delhi this year when I couldn't travel anywhere after sunset. Kudos to Roy. I hope Forsche works and takes off well.

As for the cliche about women drivers, Roy says: "It's mainly men who are involved in road arguments and accidents. Women are safe drivers and my women will rock."

Hear! Hear! Below image courtesy BBC.

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Indian Air Force celebrates Platinum jubilee

Really impressive display. Read the article to get the full story.

Below image courtesy BBC.

A relax(zz)ing Sunday

What is the probability that on 2 separate weekends, my continental airlines flight to Chicago gets cancelled because of storms? The first was in November and then now this weekend in March. It's a cruel joke really.

So considering that I found myself totally free this weekend (except for a few social commitments on Saturday), I decided to do something that I hadnt done in a loooong long time - Spend Sunday lazing about the house. It is seriously the best form of bliss there is.

I woke up and had chai with my neighbor who is also a really good friend. We pontificated about life in general while listening to some amazing music. The soundtrack was Motorcycle Diaries and we drifted off to a world of adventures, greenery, trains and history. Then I proceeded to listen to more music while catching up with friends online and doing nothing of any significance. This was immediately followed by a beatific siesta. And then a dinner date with 2 of my good friends. So that in my opinion was the best Sunday in a long time :-)

Books I've read/am reading of late:-

Kite Runner by Khaled husseini:- Emotional rollercoaster. Loved it. Even cried while reading it.

Namesake by Jhumpa Laheri :- I really wanted to find out what the big deal about this book was. It is a really deep story and I was really distraught while reading it. I cant say I loved the book but that's probably due to the high expectations built about it. I am really excited about the movie though - especially cos it has Kal Penn playing the part of Gogol Ganguli. Really cool article about him in the amNewYork today. I've loved him since the days of American Desi....so i cant wait! :)

The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen :- Still on the first chapter.

The India Model by Gurcharan Das: - Fantastic piece of work. This paper was pointed out to me by a friend. I was impressed by it so much that I have to list it here. Give it a read. A few facts that jumped out at me: I was not aware that the outsourcing industry in India accounts for 20$ B! Or that half of our population is under the age of 25!!

Albums of Sunday:

- The Motorcycle Diaires OST
- Samandar by Rahul Sharma
- Garden State OST
- Corrine Bailey Rae's self titled album

The Taj (Dilli Diaries Day 2)

Here are some pictures from the second day of my trip back home. A visit to the Taj with my best friend from high school. Took a ride on a 2nd class seating taj express....quite adventurous to say the least. Took the whole architecture of the beautiful bldg in. One of the best trips of my life. I was surprised by how clean and well maintained the Taj really was. (But of course Smits and me decided that Shah Jahan was a pompous arse ;-) ..)









Adios!
-Amrita :)

Home

If this isnt utopia...I dont know what is.

Ammu is Des-bound

Dilli Diaries - Day Zero

It's time to go home...

It's time for a little romance with the wind over the Aravalis,
The same questions ("Do you cook there?"; "Do you have friends? Are they Indians?") ,
The same once-overs ("You've become so dark/fair"; "You've lost/gained so much weight") ,
Feeling the familiar rush of patriotism as I cruise down Rajpath and Shantipath,
Ducking behind my mother as she expertly plays the bargain game in Janpath,
Wrapping myself in a shawl on a foggy winter morning, sipping coffee and chatting with dad,
Eating peanuts on the terrace on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the winter,
All this; while my stomach transforms into a bottomless pit as I gorge on Idlis - Bathure Chole - Sambaar - Koottu - Kachoris - Gaajar ka halwa - Tharatipaal - Filter coffee - Nirula's Hot Chocolate Fuge - Adai - ... ,

And just like that; for a few beatific days; my soul is at peace.

*sigh*

As Ozzy would say - "Mama I'm coming home!"

:-)