5 Myths about gujjus

5 Myths about Gujaratis all over the world. Looks like we have become the next community to be stereotyped by the Indian TV shows and movies. Their portrayal of Gujaratis is very far from accurate.

Myth No 1: We are cheap and love to bargain

Gujaratis are one of the most warm and large hearted people that ever existed. We are very inclusive. Yes we do squeeze every cent of the nickel we spend, cos we simply understand the value of money. We would not hesitate to spend money on where it matters. We dont compromise on our standard of living or our health.

Myth No 2: We cook dhokla, thepla, dal dhokli every day.

No we dont cook that food everyday, we probably eat it once a week or in urban homes maybe on occasions. We love our food and we love all kinds of food. The chances of finding South Indian, Chinese, Punjabi or even Italian food is way higher than being made to eat dhokla or dal dhokli

Myth No 3: Our father is either a trader in the stock market or we own clothing stores

Guess what we stopped doing that about half a century ago. Yes quite likely he is a businessman of some sorts. It comes naturally to us, its probably part of our genetic code. But there are equally high chances that he could be a surgeon, a lawyer, a singer or an actor. The Gujarati theatre community is one of the most active and successful regional theatre groups in the whole country.

Myth No 4: We all know how to dance the Garba or play the Raas

We are not programmed to know and like the garba. We also have 2 left feet and probably cant do it if our life depended on it. Holding two sticks and hitting it with other two sticks is quite ludicrous for a lot of us, as it is to go round and round in a circle clapping your hands. We also find the idea of gyrating ourselves for ten nights in a row a little too much.

Myth no 5: We all have ancestral homes and hail from remote villages in Gujarat

Gujaratis were one of the first migrants from India, chances are you will find a Gujarati in several parts of East Africa. We imbibe and blend into the land we are living more easily than any other community. Its true we speak our language when we meet other Gujaratis but doesn't every other race or community do that. Would you have two Frenchmen talking to each other in English simply because they lived in America.

Quest

A dear old friend of mine has been inspiring me to pen the thoughts that consume me.

When I read the writings that she pours her heart and soul, her deepest darkest fears, her happiest glorious joys. They provoke me to wonder what is it that our heart and mind seeks.

What is the journey that we sort out for. Is it love, is it glory, fame, success or just happiness.

Why is that we never reach our destination, and life continues to remain a journey. Is it because our definitions of love and glory, fame and success changes.

Again why does our definition of these loaded words change.

Love is the chemical imbalance that our brain experiences, induced by a couple of hormones.

Glory is the appreciation of others who have not seen the trials and tribulations that you underwent to attain that goal.

Fame is a hyperbole on glory, where we seek the happiness and appreciation from others more than the peace and serenity, the humility that one should experience when a goal is completed.

Where will this quest end and why do we embark on this journey. We were not told that this a journey you have to undertake has it been so hardwired in our DNA that we always have to be on a limb trying to get to somewhere/someone. What if we decide one day that we have reached our destination. This is all what i seek, desire. Would we cease to exist?

Every Other Time

This is a song called Every Other Time..
it describes the relationship I have with my best friends..
You know who you are.. I love all of u..
n I wouldnt change a thing abt wat we have...

the girl in da song is me.... n i think i do this to all of you at most time..
i wonder why u guys love me in the 1st place...
but god knows u do.... n me just grateful cos u guys do..

I said lets talk about it
As she walked out on me and slammed the door
But I just laugh about it
'Cause she's always playin' those games
Deep down I know she loves me
But she's got a funny way of showin' me how she cares
Last night she did a doughnut on my lawn
And drove out with her finger in the air
Oh, yeah

Sometimes its black
Sometimes its white
Sometimes she's wrong
Sometimes I'm right
Sometimes we talk about it
Or we figure it out
But then she'll just change her mind
Sometimes she's hot
Sometimes I'm cold
Somtimes my head wants to explode
But when I think about it
I'm so in love with her
Every other time
Yeah, every other time

Sometimes we sit around
Just the two of us on the park bench
Sometimes we swim around
Like the dolphins in the ocean of our hearts
But then I think about the time
When we broke up before the prom
And you told everyone that I was gay, OK
Sometimes I walk around the town
For hours just to settle down
But I take you back and you kick me down
'Cause that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it

Sometimes its black
Sometimes its white
Sometimes she's wrong
Sometimes I'm right
Sometimes we talk about it
Or we figure it out
But then she'll just change her mind
Sometimes she's hot
Sometimes I'm cold
Somtimes my head wants to explode
But when I think about it
I'm so in love with her
Every other time
Yeah, every other time

Every other time

Keep it up homegirl
Don't you quit
You know
The way you scream is the ultimate
And when I
Walk away just watch the clock
I bet I
Don't even get around the block

I said let's talk about it
As she walked out on me and slammed the door
One day we'll laugh about it
'Cause we're always playin' those games

Every other time

Sometimes its black
Sometimes its white
Sometimes she's wrong
Sometimes I'm right
Sometimes we talk about it
Or we figure it out
But then she'll just change her mind
Sometimes she's hot
Sometimes I'm cold
Somtimes my head wants to explode
But when I think about it
I'm so in love with her
Every other time
Yeah, every other time

Keep it up homegirl
Don't you quit
You know
The way you scream is the ultimate
And when I
Walk away just watch the clock
I bet I
Don't even get around the block  

Virtue-Humility

A lot of stress is given in self help books and life in general about principles and the right ones to follow.... while an underrated quality is virtue.. virtues are no less important than principles. virtues are those morally thingies like honesty, patience, courage and my favorite humility.. among the family of virtues humility is one of the least emphasized....
humility shud not be mistaken with modesty cos they are closely related.. modesty is the virtue of thinking that what you have achieved is not the best.. but humility is believing in that you as an individual are not the best.. there are other far better n far superior to you. Humility should not be considered as a sign of subservience or cowardice.... Humility is not something that is achieved over night, you have to genuinely try to attain that level.. the more humble you become the more pious your heart and soul will tend to be.. Humility enables you to accept that you are wrong and since only human; capable of making mistakes. It empowers you with the strength of self motivation and self goal to achieve higher ambitions.
It is rather simple to belittle someone who according to you is not as capable as you in your fields of expertise.. but there is no human who is not inept at something.... The greatness of the person doesnt lie in demonstrating pride of their knowledge or skill, but in humbly assisting the other person to perform the task.
how many times have we said.. or we have been told..if u dont understand then dont ask, or if you dont know nething abt the subject dont bother me... if a person was aware of the situation or understood.. they wont bother to ask you.. their ignorance is not the flaw.. your pride and arrogance is the flaw.. so next time you insult some1 for being clueless... remember you too are not perfect....

Apologies

I saw Lage raho munnabhai a few days back...Gandhiji suggests munna that he shud apologize to jhanvi. Munna also does it the same way by writing an apology letter.
That particular rendition of apology triggered my thoughts, about effective ways of apologies. The various ways that I could think of saying those three words. " I am sorry " ranged from singing
Please forgive me, going down on your knees and chant Please forgive me at an express rate. you could leave a store bought sorry card. You could try making it up by being useful and a sudden interest in their mundane activities.
All these are extremely effective and would work 9 out of 10 times. There is one more which will work 10 out of 10 times. That is too look at the person straight in the eye, with a feeling of deepest remorse which is heart felt and say I am sorry I let you down. Even the coldest person in the world couldn't say no to that.Yes you might get punished after that, forgiveness is not returned instantly but yes, the person would have definitely started to forgive you.

Dekhi Zamane ki yaari

are dekhi zamaane ki yaari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari
kya le ke milen ab duniya se, aansu ke siva kuch paas nahi
ya phul hi phul the daaman men, ya kaanton ki bhi aas nahi
matalab ki duniya hai saari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari

vaqt hai maharabaan, aarazu hai javaan
fikr kal ki karen, itani fursat kahaan

daur ye chalata rahe rang uchhalata rahe
roop machalata rahe, jaam badalata rahe

raat bhar mahamaan hain bahaaren yahaan
raat gar dhal gayi phir ye khushiyaan kahaan
pal bhar ki khushiyaan hain saari
badhane lagi beqaraari badhane lagi beqaraari
are dekhi zamaane ki yaari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari

ud ja ud ja pyaase bhanvare, ras na milega kaaron mein
kaagaz ke phul jahaan khilate hain, baith na un gulazaaro mein
naadan tamanna reti men, ummid ki kashti kheti hai
ik haath se deti hai duniyaa, sau haathon se leti hai
ye khel hai kab se jaari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari 

Statute of Limitations

Our lives are ruled or governed by certain limitations and restrictions..You need a passport to travel abroad, u have to be 18 to get married, etc... so most things have a statute of limitations... But does failure have a statute of limitations.... I mean is there like a particular limit.. that Ok you have failed so much in so much time.. you are considered unfit to live please die...
No one should be allowed infinite amount of failing....The system up there has to have a restriction code... Why cant life be like an ATM machine where after 3 wrong trials your card is blocked... why don't we get messages saying wrong password and u r forced to log out of the system.
So that concludes that life gives you infinite chances of improving yourself.. making failures into successes...
Thus next time we fail dont lose hope cos we all have another chance..... N hey when we r at the death bed.... a couple of grades wont matter...