Its my Life

Weekend Glory

Some clichty folks
don't know the facts,
posin' and preenin'
and puttin' on acts,
stretchin' their backs.

They move into condos
up over the ranks,
pawn their souls
to the local banks.
Buying big cars
they can't afford,
ridin' around town
actin' bored.

If they want to learn how to live life right
they ought to study me on Saturday night.

My job at the plant
ain't the biggest bet,
but I pay my bills
and stay out of debt.
I get my hair done
for my own self's sake,
so I don't have to pick
and I don't have to rake.

Take the church money out
and head cross town
to my friend girl's house
where we plan our round.
We meet our men and go to a joint
where the music is blue
and to the point.

Folks write about me.
They just can't see
how I work all week
at the factory.
Then get spruced up
and laugh and dance
And turn away from worry
with sassy glance.

They accuse me of livin'
from day to day,
but who are they kiddin'?
So are they.

My life ain't heaven
but it sure ain't hell.
I'm not on top
but I call it swell
if I'm able to work
and get paid right
and have the luck to be Black
on a Saturday night.

Maya Angelou

Thanks Avada Kedavra

I got three lovely awards from my friend Avada Kedavra.

I love her lovely well maintained blog. I wish I could work miracles with mine like her.

Lovely isnt it. I am glad I am I am your blog buddy Avada !



What a pretty blue ribbon. Thanks again Avada !



This beautiful tea cup courtesy - no prizes for guessing - Avada !

As for who would I pass this award on to.. I dont want to restrict myself to one or two or more, but all the people on my blogroll and reader !

INAM O EKRAM !

DENE WALA

Ek gulab jo gulab hai gulab hai

YEH INAM ME KISKO DOON

Papita Devi

Sharabi

Titliwala

Gaaliwala

Altufaltu batein aur kitabon wali

Kuch Kayde

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to five most deserving blog friends.

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog and link to the original post at The Scholastic Scribe which explains The Award.

Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit the original post atThe Scholastic Scribe and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who wins This Prestigious Honor.

Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules to his/her blog.

I really love this award. We bloggers who blog to keep in touch with our friends, feel the need to ramble on the latest book, movie or the event in our lives, Just HAVE to write, need each other sometimes to authenticate our worth.

In fact, I know we are not the best, there are loads of writers out there that I wish to discover, read and relish. I am giving this award to these people more in spirit of friendship, I know. But I love them (and all the writers I follow) and need them for my daily sustenance. I read you all daily, and try to imbibe your good things and try to avoid your pitfalls.

A special thanks to A rose is a rose is a rose who is uber stylish, encyclopedic and has a lovely knack of keeping all her readers in her loop.

Our foot is in the door,

One day we shall inherit the earth.

8 Things To Know About Me

I have been tagged by A rose is a rose is a rose

8 TV shows I like
Seinfeld
Gilmore Girls
Boston Legal
The Big Bang Theory
I dream of Jeannie
Biographical shows on Fox History
The Soup
The Simpsons

8 Favorite Places to Eat
The Cellar
Sagar Ratna
Indian Coffee House
Polka Bakery
Kamat Hotel (In Bangalore)
Rooftop Restaurant at Shivalik View (yum chinese)
Shangri La
Haveli

8 Things That Happened Yesterday
I made some yummy Aloo Gobi
Son forgot that it was Thursday and he had to wear a white uniform
Because of that I had to go fetch him from half way to school
Was busy at work
Walked around with a friend at tea time and remarked on how hot it was
It rained cats and dogs just as I left office, and I got wet
As I neared home, there was no rain and my wet look drew glances
I went to bed early.

8 Things I Look Forward To
My daughters visit in November
My Nephews wedding in November
My 50th Birthday in October
New salwar kameez that I will get next week
A raise (will it, wont it ? - appraisals were deferred due to ahem.. recession)
My son getting taller
Nicer weather
A drop in prices (veggies, dal, sugar - sigh )

8 Things I Love About Winter
Snuggling in my rajai for a nap/sleep
Not feeling hot
The good food - Sarson ka saag, methi, makki ki roti, moongre
Eating oranges while sunning
Reading on the balcony, sprawled on a chatai
Being able to roam around in the afternoon
Wearing silk and crepe
Wearing pretty sweaters and jackets

8 Things on My Wish List
Being able to go on long vacations
Roaming India and the world
A lovely house
A laptop with wifi
Large plasma TV
A big courtyard for kids to play and me to lounge
A private swimming pool
8 more things to wish for, please Kind Fairy !

8 Things I am Passionate About
Music
Nature
Books
Surfing
Blogging (koi shaq)
Walking by Sukhna Lake
Happiness
Love

8 Words or Phrases I use Often
Aaho! ( I am a punjabi afterall)
Achcha
Chalo
Haanji
I have told you 36 times (to kid)
Kithe ('where' in Punjabi)
Uth ja beta (morning) / So ja beta (night)
Bhaiyya alloo kaise diye !

8 Things I have Learnt From My Past
Never complain never explain
Dont try to improve people
Be lively - everyone loves a happy face
Dont judge - it is the imperfections that make people interesting
To love is the most important thing
Always be a fakir at heart
Enjoy life as much as you can
Do what you think is best.

8 Places I would Love to Go or See or Visit
All the seven wonders of the world
Goa
Darjeeling
Kanyakumari
Paris
New York
Berlin
Switzerland

8 Things I currently Need or Want
A house of my own
A car
Laptop
Lose some weight
Good shoes
Red Jeans (long time fantasy)
Contact lenses
A new washing machine

8 People to Tag
some of my favorite bakras !
Samir
Vee
Couchpapaya
Shayari
Angel (she needs to fly)
Wian
Valarine
Spikeace
(I am itching to say - Smita - but will spare her)

Name Tag Be Glad you are not called Xerxes !

Tagger ! A rose is a rose is a rose

Tag Rules: It’s harder than it looks!(Mind It). Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag your friends. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real… nothing made up!(nahi to police pakedegi Savdhan !!!) If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can’t use your name for the boy/girl name question. Have Fun!!

1. What is your name: Ava

2. A four Letter Word: Alum

3. A boy’s Name: Amit

4. A girl’s Name: Ameeta

5. An occupation: Agriculturist

6. A color: Amber

7. Something you wear: Angrakha

8. A food: Aaloo

9. Something found in the bathroom: Aqua (water)

10. A place: Ahemdabad

11. A reason for being late: Anything

12. Something you shout: Aha !

13. A movie title: Aye Din Bahar Ke

14. Something you drink: Ale

15. A musical group: Abba my favorite

16. An animal: Anteater

17. A Street name: Akbar Road

18. A type of car: Astar

19. A song title: Aaja aaja me hoon pyar tera

20. A verb: Act

Taggees - Anyone called Xerxes? Yasmin ? Z.....?

Jhatpat Tag

Was tagged by A Rose is a Rose is a Rose


1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.

In the light of discussions above and visulisations, we can again say that every..


2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can & catch air?

a tissue


3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?

Rabbit Proof Fence


4. Without looking, guess what time it is?

10.05 am

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

10.16 am


6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Hammer blows on the construction work going on in neighbourhood


7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

I went out to pay the koodewala.


8. Before you started this Q&As, what did you look at?

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose


9. What are you wearing?

A nightie (blush) am abt to change !


10. When did you last laugh?

This morning when the elecrticity returned in 5 minutes, I was expecting a 2 hour cut.


11. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

Baba Nanak's picture, wall clock.


12. Seen anything weird lately?

The absent monsoon ?


13. What do you think of this quiz?

All quizzes are fun.. make you think about mundane things.


14. What is the last film you saw?

Rabbit Proof Fence


15. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?

A house in a posh sector in Chandigarh, one in the hills, one in Goa.


16. Tell me something about you that I dunno!

My keyboard is wayward.


17. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

Poverty ( A rose said the same thing and I agree wholeheartedly)


18. Do you like to Dance?

Ballroom dancing, in a lovely gown, in a lovely hall, to some lovely music.


19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

Hena, thats for real. For a granddaughter, I would like to call her Leah.

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call her?

Angad, thats my first son. Wanted a name that began with an A.

21. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Yes, Rome, Italy, Venice, Greece


22. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

Hi, had fun down there?

In my turn I tag - Vee, Smita (hehehe), Shayari, CP

The Cream and Scum of Blogging

Ours not to reason why,
Ours but to do an die.

Ummm Life is like that isn't it? It is full of choices which may or may not appeal to us. I like life as it is, full of contradictions, a little rough, a little sweet, kabhi khushi kabhi gham kinda scenario. Is blogging any different?

Bloggers seem to stretch from here to eternity. Techo, movie buffs, music buffs, just-airing-their-view-on-anything, letting-it-all-hang-out types. Celebrities, of whom Shobha De seems to invite most brickbats (even from me). There are guys who lost their jobs because they were too hasty to run down the companies that had just employed them. Some lucky ones like Maureen Dowd get famous because of their blogs.

I first stumbled across blogs god knows in which year. I didnt even have an internet connection at home. I used to surf in cyber-cafes, exploring this medium and spending a lot of money in just fooling around. I had created a profile on rediff blogs and wrote to a couple of bloggers. Didnt really get along with the medium, created a blogger profile and lost it. Discovered Jai Arjun's Jabberwock, followed it for a while, lost it. Yada Yada Yada, and here I am with a healthy blog and a good amount of blogger friends who are on my phone and email lists even. I have met a couple and chatted with a few.

It has been a wonderful journey and I have no intention of giving it up. That is the cream for me.

Scum - hum ! I guess there are plenty of bloggers who would put me off. But hey, they have as much right to this world as I do. Let us all swim together in this large ocean.

I like honest bloggers who have a good style and don't bore me. I bypass bloggers who bore me/seem affected/have a bad style. I wouldnt call them scums, just that they are not my type.

Our kind multiplies:We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot's in the door.


The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Alphabet Soup - Tagged by Shayari

A – Available/Single? - Single - Available depends on availablee
B – Best friend? - Three, one chai friend two phone a friends.
C – Cake or Pie? - Apple pie and sinful mud pastry
D – Drink of choice? - Pepsi or Tropicana Orange
E – Essential item you use every day? – cell phone
F – Favorite colour? - Pink at the moment
G – Gummy Bears or Worms? - Gummy Bears.
H – Hometown – Jamnagar and Chandigarh
I – Indulgence? – Daily evening TV, Books whenever, Weekend Mall visits for movies.
J – January or February? - January - what is this? Didnt have another question begining with J? How about Jealous or Benign? - Benign (follow up taggers may substitute the question)
K – Kids & their names? - 2 kids Angad and Hena
L – Life is incomplete without? - Me
M – Marriage date? - am divorced
N – Name? Your real name!! - Ava
O – Oranges or Apples? - Apples
P – Phobias/Fears? - The killer from the Scream, lizards snakes and crocs, fear of road accidents, very old dotage, loss of money, gain of weight, bimari, broken chappal, scooter puncture, snapped bra strap (always carry safety pins), Not having a pen, forgetting my reading glasses - help get me out of here !
Q – Quote for today? - Love conquers all. Live as if there was no tomorrow. Save for a rainy day. Dont depend on Love, Love Thyself. Heck - Just do what you feel like.
R – Reason to smile? - My Children, Loss of weight, Sight of a friend (call or appearence), A new post by my friends, Good weather, a day well spent.
S – Season? - Mild season, which allows you to wear what you like without making you feel too cold, wet or hot.
T – Tag 3 People? – Samir, Mystiquedew (they have been in hibernation for too long), Vee I want him to provide some oxymoronic answers !
U – Unknown fact about me? - Too many to list here.. wait for my khufia blog - wink wink
V – Vegetable you don’t like? - Arbi - hate the thing.
W – Worst habit? – Lazy - Procrastinator.
X – X-rays? - Yes - Got my neck x-rayed.
Y – Your favorite food? - Cant resist baingan made the way I make it, spicy. Tried gobi-ke-dhanthal(stems)? wow ! Boiled challi (corn cob) sprinkled with salt and lemon, upma, poha, pasta.
Z – Zodiac sign? - LIBRAAAAAAAAAA

HERE WE GO !

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Me Too, Me Too

Take the Quiz here!

As soon as I read Couchpapaya's post, I had to take the test too. I dont as such have a 'favorite' austen heroine. Certainly dont want to be like anyone, except Catherine Morland. Not Fanny Price please, Not Emma either, though she is lively. In hindsight, ok, I would love being romanced by Colin Firth, sigh !

Micheal Jackson and I

Tommy Mottola | 10:08 p.m. Tommy Mottola, a former head of Sony Music, called Mr. Jackson “the cornerstone to the entire music business.”

“He bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and pop music and made it into a global culture,” said Mr. Mottola in a telephone interview. Mr. Mottola worked with Mr. Jackson until the singer cut his ties with Sony in 2001. “No one has ever done what he did in his time — and no one will ever do what he did after his time.”

The year was perhaps 1980 or 1981. A cousin of mine had returned from USA. Along with the usual imported 'stuff' like socks and jeans and tops, he brought with him a cassette of songs. "Its this thin guy who has a voice like a girl. His dances are amazing and I love his voice. A new guy called Micheal Jackson". He had loved his stay in US and hated having to have returned. To remind himself of the good times he had, he played the cassette all the time. I was pretty ignorant about pop music, so far we had listened to Abba and Boney M and to be frank, half the time I could not understand what was being said. I loved the beats of the songs and am pretty certain that the song I loved best was "Dont stop till you get enough". It is still the song I love best. It was years later that we got to see his videos and recordings of his stage performances. Much later, after the advent of the www everything you wanted to know about anyone was for the asking.

I doubt if there is any other singer who is as well known all over the world. There may be loads of people who dont care whether he lives or dies, but everyone KNOWS who Micheal Jackson is. THAT I think is the most major achievement of this great singer. He may have been reviled a lot and with good reason too, but nobody can deny that he was a great singer and entertainer who made sure everyone knew about him.

RIP MJ

Once Upon a Time

Long long ago in the Mouthshut land there lived a princess pussycat called Coolwater who was wooed ardently by the prince owl Veekey. He fought a mighty demon called Faisal to win a ring for her and soon, in a public ceremony they were engaged.



Coolwater was radiant and ecstatic.



So was he.



She was busy planning the wedding.

The dress.



Her Guests.



His Guests.




AND WHILE POOR PUSSYCAT WAS DREAMING OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER.




SHE FOUND OUT HE WAS SEEING OTHER PEOPLE !



SOMEONE'S GONNA PAY

I wish

Weekend Yay !

http://rotteneggstrikes.blogspot.com/

Which College Major Should You Be?
	Your major should be Engineering. Logic is your friend. With enough work, you can find a solution to anything... Unless it involves dating or parties.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Earth Hour !

Live Blogging - Earth hour is on my electricity is switched off !!

May Humans learn to use the precious resources of this earth sensibly

Shopaholic for New Templates

Girls love makeovers.
After I got married I grew my hair. When I was young it hung down my back in thick sheets, but childbirth made it limp n stringy. I used to wear it in a ugly oldfashioned bun with pins sticking in. Then one fine day I saw a picture of me with my lemon sized bun and my hands on my hips, thanks to my brother-in-law's candid camera. I was struck with my ugliness, bad body attitude, ugh hair. Ava jawani me boodhi ho gayi thi !

I walked back into the parlour and got a hair cut, and ever since, been taking care of myself. Even if my environs are sad and regressive, I try to keep myself up-to-date and in synch with my inner self.

As with me, so with my blog. I have hunted out the perfect template for my thepinkbee blog and just found one for my rotteneggstrikes one. I love the pictures on both these blogs. I am not too happy with the border on the rotteneggstrikes one, but dont know how to change it, a plain white or black or even a deep wine colour will look good I think. I have asked a friend to help out, I trust his judgement implicitly.

I am now looking for a new template for my books blog. I would like an artwork for that, Mona Lisa or maybe that Michelangelo mural with the guy stretching out his finger. Not David, he looks like he is sitting on a pot.

We love makeovers, new clothes, shoes, bags because it makes us feel new all over. Gives us hope that things are going well.

100 things about me

1. Last beverage → Tea
2. Last phone call--> 2 days ago
3. Last text message→ Not sms'ing much these days - Got one about my Airtel bill.
4. Last song you listened to→ Gulal songs
5. Last time you cried→ surely over SAP

SIX HAVE YOU EVER:
1. Dated someone twice → YES
2. Been cheated on? → Dunno
3. Kissed someone & regretted it? → No
4. Lost someone special? → Yes
5. Been depressed?→ Yes
6. Been drunk and threw up? → No :( Just indigestion :(

HAVE YOU:
1. Made new friends → Yes
2. Fallen out of love → Yes, its always a relief
3. Laughed until you cried → Sometimes
4. Met someone who changed you → Loads of people have changed me.
5. Found out who your true friends were → Yes
6. Found out someone was talking about you → Yes, Sigh, it always hurts.
7. Kissed anyone on your friend's list → On facebook and orkut- yes, not on my blogroll
8. Made the first Move → Yes
10. Do you have any pets → Not currently
11. Do you want to change your name → No
12. What did you do for your last birthday → Attended SAP training and took loads of calls
13. What time did you wake up today – 8:00 AM
14. What were you doing at midnight last night→ Watching TV
15. Name something you CANNOT wait for → My pay day
16. Last time you saw your father → Last week
17. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life → Be more outgoing and active
18. Most visited webpage → gmail,blogger

ABOUT U:
1. What's your name→ Ava
2. Nicknames→ Avdi as a young girl, no more.
4. Zodiac sign → Libra
5. Male or female or transgendered → Female
6. Elementary→ St Annes Convent School, Jamnagar
7. Schools → Kendriya Vidyalaya Jamnagar and Bangalore (Malleswaram)
8. Colleges → MP Shah Commerce College, Jamnagar
10. Hair color → Originally Brown - Thanks to Garnier - still brown
11. Long or short → getting longer.
16. Height → 5'5”
17. Do you have a crush on someone? → No
18: Ever been in love? Loads of times
19. Piercings → Just my ears
20. Tattoos → No
21. Righty or lefty → Right :( so dull

FIRSTS :
23. First piercing → Left Ear
24. First best friends → Shipra, Jignasha, Ameeta, Vandana
26. First sport you joined: Haha - kho kho n ring
27. First pet → a lil doggie called Ritu
28. First vacation → blank - dunno - Delhi maybe
29. First concert → :( No
30. First crush --> A cutie called Prakash Purohit.. real chikna he was .. I was in 1st or 2nd
49. Eating → Go away Hunger !
50. Drinking → So occasionally that you would laugh to death.
52. I'm about to → get happier
53. Listening to--> songs from Jawani Diwani - till Bobby came along !

YOUR FUTURE :

58. Want kids? --> No more, any way am menopausal
59. Want to get married ? --> NO
60. Careers in mind? --> writing !
68. Lips or eyes → Lips
69. Hugs or kisses→ hugs first
70. Shorter or taller → Taller
71. Older or Younger → I aint B Button - so am getting older surely
72. Romantic or spontaneous → Romantic
73. Nice stomach or nice arms → tum tum
74. Sensitive or loud → Sensitive
75. Hook-up or relationship → whatever !
77. Trouble maker or hesitant → Trouble maker

HAVE YOU EVER :
78. Kissed a stranger → YES
79. Lost glasses/contacts → Tch, it is so annoying - but i do manage to lose glasses !
81. Sex on first date → Yes
82. Broken someone's heart → Yes :(
83. Had your own heart broken → Yes
85. Been arrested → NO - thank god !
86. Turned someone down → Yes
87. Cried when someone died → Yes
88. Liked a friend that is a girl/boy? → Guys make amazing friends :)

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
89. Yourself → I guess I have no option
90. Miracles → Still waiting
91. Love at first sight → Yeah
92. Heaven → is here on earth - when your child calls out to you.
93. Santa Clause → No
94. Peace in this lifetime→ No - ppl arent that sensible
95. Kissing on the first date? → Hmm.. depends on how it goes
96. Angels → Yes
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now? --> I am a loner
98. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time in the past? --> No
99. You will die Young→ Haha.. not very young anyhow, have survived that !
100. You will end with the one you love and learn to love the one you are with - It does not matter anymore !


I tag Smita, CP, Sameer, EISI, Vee, Shayari, Angel, UH, Bouncing Bubble, WIAN, Visceral Observations.. haha ! So good to be the first one with a tag, you get a lot of taggees..

25 things you never knew about me

Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

Note to Newbe tagee's .. follow the instruction above. Thanks to Shayari for tagging me. :)


1. I was named Sushil Ava by my mom. Luckily my formal name Sushil did not survive.

2. For a long time my birthday was celebrated on 6th October until I found that my birth certificate certified it as 7th October. As I was born right after midnight, there was some confusion in my family about it. The confusion continues till date as I am greeted on either day by my friends and family with the opening remark - 'tera birthday 6 ko hota hai ya 7 ko?'

3. I love British and Australian actors, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, James Ivory blah blah.. even they are utterly crappy.

4. I am not much of a fighter-back. In case of a fight (verbal) I wimp out and lose. I need to remedy this immediately.

5. I am not much of a caller.

6. I always profess love for ‘good’ cinema but adore watching crappy romantic light stuff like High School Musical, Scary movie, 10 things I hate about you, My Best Friends Wedding, Someone Like You, The object of my affection, Cruel Intentions.

7. I cant stand any of Barjatya movies and have never seen them even for free on the TV.

8. I watch way too much TV

9. I exercise way too less

10. I eat way too much in the evenings, and it is just comfort food, to beat the boredom of the day and stress.

11. I am crazy about bags.

12. Walking by the Sukhna Lake is something I am always game for.

13. I can seem pretty standoffish at times, I dont mean it though.

14. I love my children

15. I am obsessive about my space.

16. I always keep in touch with my friends, and they are for life

17. I love a crazy streak in people. I don’t want them to perfect, I accept them as they are, with
their faults.

18. I dont get addicted to things easily, not even tea.

19. I shouldn’t be allowed to handle money, I should be given 10 Rs. For kharcha each day, am so bad with money. However, if you are eyeing my meagre money, remember you have take my liabilities too.

20. I should have been born to the Sultan of Brunei, or should have been the daughter of the Hiltons. Doing nothing and spending money is my fantasy numero uno.


21. I love Chandigarh, and when I am showing it around to a visitor, I see it with new eyes.

22. I don’t like keeping pets. Animals deserve their space on this planet and their individuality. Heck, all elements deserve their space. It is about time MAN stopped being so arrogant and uppity about his role in the scheme of things.

23. I love pretty things.

24. I hate bad smell.

25. I hate extremism in anything.

In my turn I tag Vee, Couchpapaya, Angel, Prabash, WIAN, Bouncing Bubble, Jabberwock and Sameer !

Smita and Bedazzled have already done it, alas !

Speaking Up

I have never been too particularly religious. Spiritual yes, when I am in deep shit. When I feel I need to turn to some really 'high' authority and God seems to be a likely person to appeal to, or thank for something good that happened to me. But organised religion seems to be run more like a closed exclusive clubs, where you have to abide by certain rules or get busted.

Whether it is Christianity, Sikhism (my own religion), Islam or Hinduism, I find a lot of be desired with organised religion. Whereas the supreme deity should be the epitome of love and tolerance, religion is often the opposite. It seems to thrive on the word NO and a severe list of Do's and Dont's. That seems aimed more at controlling its congregation, intent that the power never slips from the hands of its clergy. Rigid conventions are set up that ask you to do this or that and you are faced with dire consequences in case you dont follow those conventions. For instance, take Karva Chauth. The womenfolk are given a list of instructions, wake up early, eat before sun-up, stay hungry all day, look at the moon through a chalni (a seive) and then eat. During the evening there is a pooja and katha session where stories are read out about unfortunate women who mistook starlight for moonlight and broke their fast incorrectly. Their husbands died mysteriously.

In gurdwara's too preaching goes on against fasting (seen as a hindu custom) and in favor of dashwant, an ordinance requiring the faithful to donate a tenth or their earnings to the Gurdwara. SGPC is filthy rich in funds thanks to the generous donations made everyday by the faithful. Same is the case with all the big mandir's with huge fan following.

The worst part is, you cannot criticise organised religion. As a child you are hushed if you raise any questions about the 'elders' or religion. As a grownup it is the same. Criticism and questioning is the backbone of progress, without it we would still be in dark ages. As a member of a school group I witnessed rabid discussions ensuing every time religion was mentioned. In the end, we gave up discussing religion altogether.

At a social gathering one eschews passionate pronouncements on any touchy subject, sticking to safe mentions of the weather politics and sports. The womenfolk turn to the constructive topics of clothes, jewellery and the goings on in the family or mohalla. But, when it comes to the UN or journalism, one has to take a stand. And here, I concur wholeheartedly with Johann Hari.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-why-should-i-respect-these-oppressive-religions-1517789.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-despite-these-riots-i-stand-by-what-i-wrote-1608059.html
Here goes, do show your support in which ever way you can !!!!