This probably happened because I write on Carnatic music and I like Tamil film songs.

I explained to the originator of the list and my new list of followers that I wasn’t Tamilian, so that they wouldn’t be disappointed later.

It was certainly very flattering to be thought of as Tamilian (as I love the language, food and culture), though I must admit to being perturbed by people following someone solely on the basis of their ethnic origins (I must add, it doesn’t seem to have made a difference to quite a few of the followers that I am not Tam and they’re still on my list. Although I don’t know if they’re still there to avoid my ego being punctured by their departure).

I once went to an Ajoy Chakraborty concert in London. He is a famous Hindustani musician. At this concert, the audience was jam packed with Bongs. I was mistaken for a Bong there. I was annoyed because these people hadn’t turned up when other very good people sang, and that led me to the conclusion they were only there because Ajoy is a Bong (and they were hugely proud of that fact) and not because they care for Hindustani music per se.

Which leads me to think, quite morosely, that if I announce I am a Sindhi, and start blogging on Sindhi music, language and literature, whatever I write/tweet may be almost unread.

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What surprises me is the eerie silence of the Muslim ulema in the subcontinent (particularly in India) in their condemnation of this cowardly act of appalling brutality. Where are those who leave no opportunity to condemn what is inconvenient to them, no matter how comfortable it might be to Islam in general and Muslims in particular? What happens to all those voices which grow louder at times of trivial issues which they think place Islam in danger? What more danger can await a religion than accusation of the kind which we see after such heinous atrocities? When can the Islamic ulemas realize that acts such as these are the ones which actually put Islam in danger.

The rest at Dr. Khan’s blog.

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It was rare and is for me to win a prize in a competition or to do well in a competitive exam. I am more non-competitive than I would like to be, otherwise I would have applied myself far more in school.

Anyway, it was the first year of my BA in Delhi and I was aimlessly wandering down the corridor, when a lecturer called me into a classroom where others were sitting and asked if I’d like to do a general knowledge quiz for fun. So I sat down at a desk, did the quiz and wandered off and forgot all about it.

Months later a senior was packing things in gift wrapping paper in the hostel. I learned they were prizes.

One of them’s yours, she said.
What said I, did I do?

Turned out there was a prize given for general knowledge every year and you had to do that quiz for it. I hadn’t even read the prize list on the bulletin board. The senior informed that there was much amusement because a first year had won the prize.

Now those happy old days when awards for randomly tested knowledge were distributed and even older days when prizes for dressing up like a witch (my favourite fancy dress costume) are long gone, one is especially delighted that one’s readers and blog friends still keeps one’s ego intact.

Lavanya (Desigirl) has kindly awarded me the Superior Scribbler Award. Given that not much scribbling (save for the regular whines I post to let off steam) has happened here of late, let alone of the superior kind, I feel I don’ deserve it. Thanks DG. I accept humbly, and want to pass it on.

I must pass the award on to five people so here goes:

Miapan. Write more, woman.

Spirited Seeker has just started blogging but I know she can write really well. Best of luck on your blogging journey Seeker and may it continue, for all our sakes!

Flaneur Urbaniterecords London through the lens of her camera and her words in all its gloriousness and grittiness. Her blog, Urban Legends, has just celebrated a birthday.

Coolkarni and N A Keerthi’s Rasayana on Indian music. This is a new blog, but there’s already much to chew upon. It’s a good place for some excellent free downloads too!

Vidya Have awarded her before and she doesn’t do blog awards if I remember right, but I don’t care, am giving it to her anyway, she doesn’t have to do the tag. She must be read and read and read, because she truly is superior.

The rules of the award (to be followed by the awardees) are:
* Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & 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 This Post, which explains The Award.

* Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!*

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

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When I was young I desperately wanted India to succeed. Looking at Pakistan, I could see it was a basket case, the quality of its leadership decaying at such a dizzying pace that the prospects of internally driven progress were non-existent. The only hope was in a miracle or in a dramatic breakthrough in India. The latter development would make Pakistan’s citizens see the light and make them demand change from its leaders who kept feeding the myth that Pakistan was doing better than India. Or so I thought, and so I prayed for India’s success.

Note:
The South Asian Idea, from where I have linked the above post, advertises itself as a learning resource for college students in South Asia, has many interesting articles and is useful as a source of ideas, debate and discussion not just for college students, but for others as well. Do add it to your blogroll and send more traffic its way. It is run by someone who is a committed educationist, thinker and peace activist.

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Start of aside:
Many years ago my parents were invited to judge some children in a play along with some others and award the “best actress of the evening” etc. In the end they decided to award everyone and insisted all the kids get a certificate because the play was a team effort. I was really mad at my parents. The school was too, and gave its own awards. But there was one change-everyone did get a certificate-a practice that hadn’t been followed previously-and their contribution from lighting to acting was noted on it. In every subsequent year too this practice was followed. Now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I think my parents did have a point. Blogs aren’t team efforts but neither are they entries for the Pulitzer. They are, among other things, a way of communicating with each other, sharing ideas and experiences and learning. A lot of us are friends online now as a result of blogging-offline some of us do tend to acknowledge those who make a difference to our lives. So a little bit of online nepotism, recognising ordinary people more than once is OK I think. End of aside.

Am going to use the awards not to award my favourites, who know who they are already, but to link to some other blogs that people might not have come across and might find interesting. If you know of an unknown, unawarded blog that needs highlighting, please leave a link in the comments and I will put it in the post.

Dipali gave me this one months ago. Thank you Dipali, I was very touched.
“Some bloggers give us Hope. They are bloggers who care, for ALL THE CITIZENS of this World. These bloggers can see above the generalizations of Caste, Community, Religion, Language, Region, Race and National boundaries. They are the hope of our UNITY IN DIVERSITY.”

Links:
Here are some blogs that are interesting to read on matters of peace (and therefore controversial matters of conflict):

This blog is written by Dr. Binayak Sen’s brother. As a lot of people already know, Sen was detained for two years, accused of supporting Naxals. He has recently been released on bail. Sen himself has condemned violence and all those who know him speak of him as a gentle and compassionate doctor who gave up the prospect of a glittering career after winning gold medals at CMC to tend to the poorest of the poor in remote parts of the country.

The South Asian Idea explores ideas about South Asia, on peace, violence, identity, education and many other issues. You can even ask a question to start a discussion. A treasure trove.

Raza Rumi is a Pakistani Sufi blogger already familiar to many, who finds and promotes peace through his spirituality. He writes on a range of interesting things.

Finally, here is the blog of a google group I am a part of. This is a shameless plug for our group. The blog hasn’t been updated in a while but hopefully that will change.

The lovely blogger award is also from Dipali. I think she’s absolutely lovely too. Her comments as well her posts convey the “intangible warmth” this blog is about. I’m afraid I will be nepotisitc if I award this, so I will simply say thank you, and ask for nominations for the award so we all have some new blogs to read!

“for the intangible something that makes your posts sound so warm.”

Finally, the sisterhood award from Sujatha. Was really honoured to get this from her. She was one of the first bloggers I read and really admired, for her zen and calm and balanced approach to life. She’s also been an email friend, and though we’ve never met, she has been a great source of support, warmth, friendship and sisterhood:

The rules of the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 blogs which show great ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link this post to the person from whom you received your award.

Again, I would be re-awarding blogs if I did this, re-nominating people on Sujatha’s own list-so will just end by saying thank you. If anyone has any recommendations of blogs “that show great attitude and gratitude” please do share them!

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