Archive for ◊ August, 2008 ◊

31 Aug 2008 Women’s Rights or Basic Human Rights?
Author:  |  Category: Life, Love, Writing  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment

In the years I’ve been writing about women’s rights, I’ve routinely come across people who think feminism is a big joke, and that writing about these issues just makes me one of those women who think all men are scumbags. Not true.

Depending on a person’s background, I may forgive this interpretation. But if you live in the developing world, just by virtue of existing in some societies, you will see human rights abuses, gender discrimination, and violent acts against women that are supported by a whole society and culture.

This article was in the news a couple of days ago. I just read it this morning.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20080828/804/tnl-no-licence-to-rape-a-woman-who-appea.html

Look at this paragraph: “Though the trial court had convicted the accused Munshi and another person for the rape of a 17-year old woman, the High Court acquitted the accused persons on the ground that victim was promiscuous in her sexual behavior and had already lost her virginity.”

Why do I write about women’s rights? How can I not?

27 Aug 2008 Erratic
Author:  |  Category: Life, Love, Writing  | Tags: , ,  | Leave a Comment

I have been way busier than I’d originally anticipated, and so I’m going to be erratic in postings over the next two weeks as I get settled into my new home, school, and way of life.

So far, America has been fun. My friend Jon, a native of California, drove all the way up from southern California, came to pick me up at the airport and showed me all around the Bay Area. In the six days I’ve been here, I’ve been to a steampunk party, a barbecue, had the quintessential tourist photo taken with the Golden Gate bridge in the background, and driven all over Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco and little tourist towns on the way.

I’ve been productive too. Apart from the usual trying to figure out of the coolest bookstores, bars, and restaurants in town (in that order), I’ve managed to make a few new friends, have coffee with one of the faculty members (who also happens to be one of India’s top journalists), get some advice on my for-love-or-money conflict, chalk out a plan for the next semester (so many courses, so little time), set goals for the year (pay off debt!), meet an important deadline, and spend three days deciding on a phone plan.

Now I have five deadlines in the next five days, a dinner date, several hours of classes to attend, and a lot more discovering to do. This is going to be interesting.

(I’m also really behind on e-mails. If you’ve written to me in the last week, I will respond. Just not as quickly as I typically do. Sorry!)

25 Aug 2008 Indian Couples Seek Security in Marriages (The WIP, Sep 08)
Author:  |  Category: Now in Print  | Tags: , , , ,  | Leave a Comment

Couples in India are finally figuring out that hours of horoscope-matching sessions followed by measures to correct planetary positions make not a good marriage. Urban educated twenty-somethings of today are ditching the priest’s grass mat and heading to the counselor’s leather couch.

Full piece:
http://thewip.net/contributors/2008/08/indian_couples_seek_security_i.html

Also, a blast from the past that just went online:

http://www.beliefnet.com/nllp/ChickenSoupSoul.aspx?date=8-17-2008&WT.mc_id=NL49

24 Aug 2008 Through the Looking Glass
Author:  |  Category: Life, Love, Writing  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment

Hectic, hectic, hectic, hectic.

Moving, no matter where, is simply too exhausting. For one, I’ve had to get a whole new bloody wardrobe, because you know, I’m not equipped to deal with the weather. Everyone finds it hot or comfortable. I’m somehow freezing.

Two, I still have to work out the details. You know, like if the place I’m staying at is where I’ll continue to live, how I’ll manage to keep the cash flow going now that I can’t work twenty hours a day, and how the heck any normal person can afford health insurance in America.

And finally? It’s a whole lifestyle change that I’m terribly excited about and totally dreading at the same time. The school, the possibilities, the learning that I’ll be doing have me absolutely thrilled. I simply can’t wait to throw myself into all that completely.

On the other hand, I’ve left India. I’ve left behind friendships and a relationship that I cherish. I don’t have a great track record with long-distance, you know (two casualties at last count).

So, I’m sitting here writing this feeling on top of the world one minute, wondering how we’re going to survive the long-distance relationship the next. It’s taken an immense amount of courage to make myself vulnerable like this all over again.

Wait. And watch. Patience. Time will tell. Love is all that matters. All that. Wish it didn’t have to be this hard.

22 Aug 2008 More Quotes for Writers
Author:  |  Category: Life, Love, Writing  | Tags:  | One Comment

“The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.” – Robert Cromier

“If you’re a freelance writer and aren’t used to being ignored, neglected, and generally given short shrift, you must not have been in the business very long.” – Poppy Z. Brite

“It’s tougher then Himalayan yak jerky in January. But, as any creative person will tell you, there are days when there’s absolutely nothing sweeter than creating something from nothing.” – Richard Krzemien

“A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God.” – Sidney Sheldon

“The only thing I was fit for was to be a writer, and this notion rested solely on my suspicion that I would never be fit for real work, and that writing didn’t require any.” – Russell Baker

“Writing is a fairly lonely business unless you invite people in to watch you do it, which is often distracting and then you have to ask them to leave.” – Marc Lawrence

“Writing is turning one’s worst moments into money.” – J.P. Donleavy

“It only takes one person to change your life—you.” – Ruth Casey

21 Aug 2008 Goodbye India, Hello America!
Author:  |  Category: Life, Love, Writing  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment

I’ve been sitting on this news since April, but now that the papers are here, the visa has been stamped, and I’m probably on a plane as you read this, I can finally announce it: I’m moving to California.

I’ve been invited by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to be a Visiting Scholar for the school year 2008-09.

According to the school’s website, “The International Visiting Scholars’ Program is a non-degree program and provides an opportunity for mid-career reporters from abroad to pursue advanced professional training and academic study.” What that basically means is that I can attend classes of my choice for free and in return, I educate other students and visiting scholars about journalism in my country.

I’ll be studying investigative journalism and human rights (yeah, big surprise there).

It’s a 25-hour flight. Expect a cranky update soon.

(PS. I’ll be in San Francisco often. So if you find yourself in town, drop me a note.)

« Previous Entries