Thursday, September 27, 2012

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I have never been afraid to be me. I have been more afraid to not be me. I have done many things in my life that don't coincide with what a traditional young Indian lady "is supposed to do". I have worked at restaurants as a waitress, lived on my own and with roomates and dated mostly outside of my culture. To sum it up, I've really gone against the current. And a strong current it is. For some reason however, I always knew to trust my own inner voice. Even at a young age, I knew what was right and wrong. Not saying I always adhered to that, but I knew. My life has been pretty difficult as a result, what happens when you don't go with the flow. People get mad. Even people you don't know get mad. But I'm not doing anything to piss anyone off, the opposite in fact, I'm doing what makes me happy so that I can be in a position to make others happy. You don't have to like it, but in the end you will respect it. I know.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Roshan Pukhraj - Poet and Songwriter




Dad. He taught me that sky is the limit. That I can do anything a boy can do and probably better. I get my passion and creativity from him. He is an Urdu poet and songwriter and has translated some of his works into English. When reciting his poetry, he has both a commanding voice and presence. Undoubtedly the biggest influence in my life, I can't help but be proud of his work. It lives through me.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Hinduism



Lord Ganesha

The son of Parvati was given the name Ganesha by Shiva. The word Ganesha is made up of gana (followers of Shiva) and isha (lord), thus Shiva appointed him the lord of his ganas.

Lord Ganesha is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. Lord Ganesha is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Idols



 I missed the Blonde Ambition Tour in the 90's and for that I will be eternally heartbroken. I performed many dance routines to her songs when I was a little girl. She helped ignite that fire in me, and it still burns today. I wouldn't know a world without her. This is my ode to Madonna, a trailblazer, a revolutionary, an icon that will live on for decades and all around fierce woman. I'm going to see her perform tonight in Ottawa, it will probably be her last tour. At least I'll get the chance to say, thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI6yaZ13EE4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eV5SE49aEk&feature=related
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3JzNXz1bLI&feature=related

Friday, September 7, 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Role Models

Mira Nair is an Indian film director and producer based in New York City. I have been a fan of hers for many years. Of all of her wonderful films, Mississippi Masala and Monsoon Wedding stand out for me as most influential, even life-changing films. The former about an inter-racial couple, an Indian girl and a black man and the difficulties they ensue in trying to pursue a relationship with one another and the latter revolves around the negative stigma and stereotypes surrounding arranged marriages in India. I admire and look up to her greatly and applaud her bravery and commitment in telling these stories. I can't imagine the difficulties she may have endured in trying to do so. Her most recent film The Reluctant Fundamentalist deals with the backlash many experienced after 9/11 simply due to the colour of their skin and the way they look. It will be playing at this years Toronto International Film Festival.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Namaste

Namaste: The god in me recognizes and bows to the god in you.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Musical Influences

Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region in Southeast Asia. As many Bhangra lyrics reflect the long and often tumultuous history of the Punjab, knowledge of Punjabi history offers important insights into the meaning of the music. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae. As Bhangra continues to move into mainstream culture, an understanding of its history and tradition helps to appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKWPzTF8-sw&feature=related