2 States - Not really a review

I have done the unthinkable. I read a book by Chetan Bhagat. I had made up my mind that Chetan Bhagat writes pedestrian stuff and therefore has a huge readership. Very presumptuous of me, I think. I had no experience, just a firm opinion. And so events transpired or rather conspired to make me read "2 States". Now I can say with the authority of having read one Chetan Bhagat book - he writes pedestrian stuff and has a huge readership.

The title of the book truly echoes my 2 states of confusion. Is this a novel that is to be made into a movie or is it a movie screenplay that has be "back-written" to look like a novel? I can guarantee that the movie will be a huge success with or without Shahrukh Khan because it has all the elements of a blockbuster Bollywood tale - love story (boy meets girl), drama (parents against marriage), action (boy moves to unfamiliar part of India to woo to-be in-laws), emotion (boy hates his father), and a comedy track (provided by relatives from either side). Every stereotype of a Punjabi boy meets Tamil girl is depicted in the book (just short of Tamil teri maa, Punjabi tera baap statement). So what is unique about this story? The couple fall in love while studying at IIMA! It is a natural assumption that they should be having super high IQ but they keep doing one stupid thing after another. Not content with being in love, they decide to get married only when they are assured that both families will be smiling in the wedding pictures. So they come up with harebrained schemes to please "the other side", none of which work.

The whole narrative proves that IIMA grads are as stupid as the rest of Indians, even grads who turn out to be writers perpetuate the stereotypes of regional differences in spite of seeming superficially broadminded. Here are some examples - the girl is a Madrasi but fair (how is it possible), the madrasis are highly educated and crave knowledge (read newspapers all day) while Punjabis crave paneer and prize their milk-like complexions above all else.

Perhaps it is Bhagat's own story and each word is true but short of declaring it an autobiography, he could have imbued the story with some creativity. The story is simple and written in an easy read manner that is appealing to the masses. But there is no depth to the writing. Even as the protagonist suffers the separation from his beloved, it is difficult to feel his pain. His tongue-in-cheek narrative has a smug undertone that is grating. The solutions to his problems miraculously fall in line. The shrewd parents turn into gullible idiots when Krish Malhotra offers to coach the nerdy IIT-aspiring to-be-brother-in-law as if Brilliant tutorials does not exist. The father and mother are mere puppets as Krish charms them with his skill and charm. Similarly Ananya Swaminathan who has never cooked a meal in her life is able to twist a host of Punjabi relatives at a wedding around her little finger by taking a feminist stand. Sounds too good to be true? And so the story chugs along with a inexplicable twist, a Devdas phase for Krish and a not-so unexpected villain turning good guy at the end.A great story for a movie and I am sure it will all work out - for Bhagat and his fans. But I think I will abstain from reading other books by Bhagat.

Why I watch Masterchef Australia

Every weeknight I tune into StarWorld to watch Masterchef Australia. I look forward to the intense competition amongst the participants battling out to be Australia's next Masterchef. It is a wonderfully crafted show - fast paced, sharply edited, incredibly exciting. The participants are amateur cooks while the judges have established reputations and restaurants. It is the chance of a lifetime for the chosen ones who get to battle live on TV as team challenges, pressure tests, invention tests and elimination rounds are thrown at them. The show is smart, savvy and scrumptious. Guest chefs share recipes, compete with contestants and cook at exotic locations. The judges are tough with the tests but kind with their words, they are true mentors who love to see their proteges shine and produce delicious food. They are generous with compliments to the deserving and clear in the feedback to the unlucky ones. Being vegetarian, I sometimes balk at the exotic meat that is included in the ingredient lists, the memorable one being octopus. But I still watch to see how it all turns out.

When it is time for a contestant to be eliminated quite often they are asked their reason for participating. For most, it is a way out, a new fork in their path as they struggle with mundane jobs or dead-end career prospects. It is a chance to make a living using their passion for food. Some look at the competition as a shot to open a restaurant, publish their cookbook or get into a profitable catering business. They give up jobs, put their wedding plans on hold and spend weeks away from their families as they struggle to keep their place in the Masterchef kitchen. They all want to win. Desperately.But something strange happened today. As four contestants battled yet another elimination challenge, just before the announcement of the loser, Adam, a scuba-diving instructor stepped down and away from his shot at possibly winning the title. In a few straight from the heart words, he mentioned how he had participated to check if he loved his life. Being among people who exhibited a passion for cooking far more than his, he felt that by staying in the competition, he was taking away the chance from someone who deserved it more. His words sounded honest, spoken like a man who had just had an epiphany. He realized that the life he had, running his scuba-diving school was his first passion while cooking for friends was second. He left sooner than he had to but he returned home with the knowledge that he was lucky to have a wonderful business that fueled his passion.

What does that mean then? Should we stick to what we know best? Do what we have been trained and educated to do? Do what makes a decent living even after the passion for your work has ebbed into complacency? I think Adam's choice meant the opposite. It emphasized to me that we must explore all of our talents and interests. Even if we don't make it to the top, we would still have wonderful experiences like all the Masterchef contestants have, regardless of when they get eliminated. They learn from the best, they make new friends, they learn how to work in a team with relative strangers, they get competitive. They are richer for having been part of the Masterchef experience. That is the way to look at all opportunities. How does the experience of participating change you? Are you a better person for having tried? Is your life richer, more complete for exploring new territories? Absolutely yes.As Les BRown said, "Shoot for the moon, Even if you miss, you land among stars."

Last Man in Tower - Book Review

Vishram Society located in Vakola is the ideal target for ambitious developer Dharmen Shah - a crumbling society with two towers, close enough to the Mumbai domestic airport to be a desirable location with jaded occupants eager to lap up the offer of a lifetime. Thus begins the saga of the residents of Tower A as each apartment owner begins salivating at the unbelievable amount of money, upto Rs. 20,000 per dilapidated square foot that holds the promise of transporting their lives into realms that were beyond their imagination. Adiga introduces us to the characters who have lived in communal harmony, sharing meals and tears over the years of living in close proximity to each other.

Mrs. Rego (Batteleship), the Saldanhas, and the Pintos represent the dominant local Christian community of Vakola while Ibrahim Kudwa and his happy family lends the diversity touch. Mrs. Puri, a friend of the late Purnima, wife of retired Masterji, Yogesh Murthy is the key character who drives the residents towards freedom from Vishram, as she aspires for a better life with the money from the sale which can go towards paying for the care of her eighteen year old mentally challenged son. The central character of Masterji, who joins the Pintos in their dissent is etched beautifully by Adiga. The outdated idealogy with his rigid views about people, sharply contrasts with his sentimental memories of his wife and emphasizes the divide with his son. There is a point early on in the novel where Masterji remembers his wife's words "A man is like a goat tied to a pole. You may have free will but only so much." Those words ring true when the momentum builds up as the deadline provided by the builder for residents to accept the generous offer approaches.

All the characters are portrayed as flawed individuals, each responding to their own circumstances, including the characters of the apparently ruthless but physically sick developer Shah and his "left-hand man" Shanmugham. The evolution of the idealists in Vishram from nay-sayers to eager aides as they deviously plan to get Masterji to agree happens gradually and in the process some unexpected surprises are thrown from the stereotypical secretary Kothari and the wily broker Advani. As Masterji faces one challenge after another in his solitary battle once the Pintos succumb to threats of physical violence, the callous nature of the law, the silence of the media and the connivance of his son, you feel terribly for the lone crusader. You almost wish he would turn pragmatic and choose to live even if the money was inconsequential to him. The end is almost pre-decided but still catches you by surprise. After baring the heart of maximum city, Adiga shows how heartless it can be. As a Mumbaikar I may wish otherwise but the taste of betrayal lingers long after the book it put down.

Waiting

Waiting is something I don't do very well. Ask my (late) mother! Considering my lack of patience, a friend once asked me if I had indeed gone through with 9 months of pregnancy before my daughter's birth! So when I found myself about an hour early for my lecture at St. Xavier's college, Mumbai on Sunday, I did not know what to do.

For some reason the flight from Hyderabad arrived early at the airport and at 9.30 a.m., most of Mumbai seemed to be asleep, or at least off the roads and half an hour later I found myself in the majestic corridors of Xavier's, an old Mumbai institution that continues to refresh its reputation with each new movie featuring its famous basketball court that hits the multiplex. But today seemed to be a rest day for the hoops, no cameras, no props. I sat at a bench near the canteen, overlooking benches where a few students studied in groups of three or four. A girl with a bright orange top and large earrings walked to the adjacent table after turning the fan on. A boy with a two-day stubble picked another spot and took out a laptop. The silence broke occasionally with loud laughter from a group. Two thick rainforest canopies of green provided relief against the gray rock facade of the building on either side of the canteen. A solitary sparrow skipped about, pecking at crumbs. A couple of crows perched on the wires overhead. A snow white cat napped under my bench. A few students moved towards the volleyball court and started a boisterous game.

A man arrived with a snack. As he munched his sandwich, the cat moved to a seat right within his sight, smacked its lips purposefully, multiple times. The man continued eating but just before he got up, he threw a piece of bread. The cat silently picked up the morsel and found a secluded spot to enjoy its bounty. The weather was perfect, warm but not hot, hazy not humid. I decided to leave my hair loose about my shoulders, not tie it up as I always do in humid places. I picked up Aleph by Paulo Coelho, hoping to catch up on my reading. But I decided otherwise. I stopped the urge to always "do" something. I observed instead. I did not compare. I tried not to judge. I was "in the moment". And so an hour passed. I looked at my watch - 11 a.m. Perfect I thought, time for me to teach. But the teacher before me was not done yet. So I continued to wait in the same spot. I resisted the urge to open my laptop and check email. I tugged at Aleph, then put it back. The game continued. Groups of students came and went, like gentle waves in the ocean not far from the building. The benevolent arched corridors looked on. And so did I.

Key Ingredients for Success

I gave this keynote speech to a roomful of women chemists at a Chemistry symposium at the St. Anne's Womens College last weekend.

"We are in this room to celebrate 100 years since the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Marie Curie. To the world, Madame Curie represents a woman successful in her chosen field. All around us, specially in Hyderabad where we live, we see posters and billboards of successful women, sportswomen Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal; the current Miss India from Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, successful in the Indian biotechnology industry. All of us want to be successful but what does success mean to you? Money? Fame? Admiration of peers? Winning competitions? Do you want to be successful? What is your definition of success? Each one of us has a specific and highly personal definition of success at any given time in our life. More importantly, the definition of success is also highly dynamic. If you think your luck or fate or destiny determines your ability to succeed, think again.
No matter what your definition is, there are some ingredients that are necessary for success.

I have picked 7 ingredients that I feel are key to success:
1. Dreams - Dreaming is essential. But write down your dream so it becomes a goal.
2. Hard work - "The only place success appears before hard work is in the dictionary"
3. Opportunity - Stay tuned for opportunities that knock on your door. Someone once told me, luck is opportunity meeting preparation. So when you work hard and prepare, you will be able to see the opportunity. Others will think you are lucky but you know what really happened.
4. Failures - Paradoxically, failures are essential for success. The most interesting stories of successful people are full of challenges, troubles and obstacles. So don't be sidetracked by failures.
5.Self-belief - If you don't believe in yourself, how will others? More of my confidence comes from my failures and challenges that from my success.
6. Constant learning - Learning does not stop when you leave college but learn something everyday, from everyone. This is another way to boost your self-belief.
7. Positive thinking - When others ingredients don't seem to be doing much, this last and final ingredient will help you stay the course.

The one enemy of success is "fear". Fear is not just about failure, sometimes we are afraid of success, actually we are just afraid of change. Gautam Buddha said "To see what few have seen, you must go where few have gone before." So we must first overcome fear of change. Since change is the only constant in life, we need to persevere as we come across challenges. Life, after all, is a marathon, not a sprint.

As was mentioned earlier, although 40% of students in a college classroom full of students pursuing higher education in a scientific field are women, the number decreases to 1% as we survey those who pursue science careers. It has been shown that men are 3 times more likely than women to occupy positions of power and prestige in these fields. Why do we see such a gross disparity? When it comes to innate intelligence and ability, women are as capable as men but the reality of the obstacles in life push women towards dropping out. Reasons for dropping out of a Ph.D. program may include family demands, conflicts with academic guides, research projects difficulties, funding problems etc. Dropping out of work may involve non-cooperation from family, unfair bosses, unreasonable demands of work, disparity in pay and promotion, work practices that do not help work-life balance. Each difficulty seems insurmountable and a good enough reason to drop out. Does the choice to leave the work force affect just the individual woman?

No. When a woman leaves the workforce, she impacts her future as well as that of the others who follow her. We have very few women in decision-making positions because of the lack of constancy and the commitment to stay the course. There is a solution to each problem that you face in the workplace, sometime it is as simple as asking someone who has tackled the same problem. My advice to all of you is to continue working, continue moving ahead.

I would like to share some of my favorite "How to's?" These have been collected by years of reading wonderful writers and inspiring people.

How to become successful?
As Indira Gandhi said, she was told that "there are two kinds of people in this world - those who do all the work and those who take the credit. Try to stay in the first group since there is less competition there." No substitute for hard work.

How to make your dreams come true?
Write them down, make them your goals.

How to predict your future?
Create it.

How to change your fate?
Change your attitude.

Walt Disney talked about 4 Cs for success
- Curiosity
- Confidence
- Courage
- Constancy

I leave you with one last thought, a sure remedy for days when none of the above advice seems to work. LAUGHTER. Having a sense of humor about your life puts you back on the positive thinking track.