Memories Of Egypt

"The thing about travelling as unaccompanied pre-teens is that you get all the importance. The good thing about travelling by Egypt Air is that between India and Nigeria, you have a two day halt in Cairo. I wasn't surprised to know, albeit much later, that a lot of people travelled that route only because you got 48 hours to soak in one of the oldest civilizations of mankind."

Marhaban to Cairo

When my brother and I were packed off on Egypt Air, we had no idea what was in store for us. Arriving at an unearthly hour in Cairo, the two of us were the last in the line of transit passengers waiting to get booked into the airport hotel. By the time the two of us got to the counter, the goddess of transit booking exclaimed that they were completely booked. Our eyes that were pretty much shut tight up until that moment snapped open! Well, now what do we do. One look at our tired but sweet faces must have done it. In the next minute,we were whisked away to the 7-star Movenpick hotel and tucked into heavenly white sheets. Marhaban to Cairo! At some point between the whisking and the tucking, the attendant must have mentioned that we needed to be ready at 7:00 a.m. to start the tour-de-Cairo but needless to say, that was conveniently forgotten. 7:00 a.m. came and blissfully went, only for us to wake up at 10:00 a.m. to find out that we had been blissfully forgotten! So much for heavenly white sheets, eh!

At 12:00 p.m., there is a knock on our door. All readied and fed by then, I jumped up to open. A hotel attendant asked us to get down to the lobby as there was someone waiting for us. Waiting in the lobby was an airline attendant and a tour guide. Pleasantly astounded, our feet gleefully moved towards a 35 seater bus waiting outside just for the two of us! And thus, began the grand tour-de-Cairo.

Pyramids of the Pharaohs

You study it in history class but seeing it is something else altogether. While arriving at the majestic pyramids with the sun right above your head may not be the best idea, these unbelievably grand structures are a sight to behold. The pyramids of Giza are built on a plateau. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest pyramid ever built at 147 meters by Pharaoh Khufu, a ruler of the 4th dynasty. Next to that is Khufu’s son Pharaoh Khafre’s pyramid at 144 meters and the third is the Pyramid of Pharaoh Menkaure at 65 metres. At the entrance of the Great Pyramid of Khufu was a staircase made of wooden planks nailed together. There was two way traffic making its way either up or down. As we began to descend into the pyramid, we realised what a mystery it was inside. Burial chambers, narrow hallways, sealed air shafts, storage chambers; all created a maze of sorts. The Egyptians truly took death or rather life after death very seriously and these pyramids are testimony to that ideology. At the necropolis of Khafru’s pyramid is the Great Sphinx. Truly great, the Sphinx, as our guide told us, portrays the pharaoh as a human headed lion with the head dress of the pharaohs. The stories regarding the missing nose are rife. Some say that Napoleon’s troops blew off the nose in the 18th century while historians from the 15th century claim that it disappeared in their time.

From Papyrus to Paper

After the pyramids, education on how paper was first made awaited us at a papyrus store. We were taken through the entire process of how paper is made from the papyrus plant. The green skin on the stalk of the papyrus plant is removed, cut into long strips, pounded and soaked in water for three days until stretchy. These strips are then cut horizontally and vertically and laid on top of each other. This is what gives papyrus paper the criss-cross pattern. Covered by a cotton sheet, all strips are pressed together to form a single sheet of papyrus paper. We walked out armed with a bookmark each having our names written in hieroglyph. Next on our special agenda was one of the largest perfume galleries in Cairo where we were shown how perfumes or attar is made, bottled, named and sold. Of course, here too we walked out with a tester each of any scent we fancied!

Cruisin’ on the River Nile

Yet unable to believe how lucky we got, we thought this was it. But upon being dropped off at the hotel, we were told loud and clear that at 8:00 p.m., we will be picked up again. Showered and readied, we waited patiently wondering what was to come. I’ll tell you what was to come – an unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime(unless you fly this route often) cruise on river Nile. Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, we entered only to realise that this was a tie and gown affair. More so, it was a sit down dinner with a seven course meal. But who cares when you have a belly dancer who takes away all the attention with moves to kill! And who cares when you have a man dressed as a horse galloping around. And who cares when you have seven different types of dessert on board. And who cares when you are cruising on the longest river in the world…

-Shruti Kothari, Director, Bespoken Words

A History Forgotten Is A Future Lost

"If someone had told me that any country in Africa resembled Europe or;America, I would have laughed it off. Not because it can’t (so many of;them are on their way to) but because it shouldn’t. This is Africa. The indomitable Sahara, the unbelievable safari, the eons of history and veritably, the cradle of civilization."

Early last year, when I realised I had time and joblessness on my side, I decided that I would finally take;the long overdue trip to Nigeria — my original desh. And 2 months later, when I landed at the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa; I knew I was in for a surprise.

Jo’ Burg-ing our way

South Africa has heartbreaking history and it is palpable in every corner, every eye that you look into and on every street. Jo’burg or Jozi as Johannesburg is popularly known is the big throbbing heart of South Africa.As soon as we checked in, I was raring to go. A nice nip in the air, I set out to get to know this city that has been the stage on which the epic of this spectacular country has been played out. Busy streets, packed restaurants, construction in full swing to welcome the FIFA World Cup 2010, Jo’burg is a fascinating city. A multitude of restaurants to eat at, malls, China towns, parks, skyscrapers, Jozi tosses up a lot for the African enthusiast. While one night we were clinking our glasses to ice cold South African wine, the next we were relishing an array of South African titbits; samosas, boerewors and bobotie spring rolls. Our host told us that the entire country was gearing up for the World Cup. The government was encouraging citizens to welcome visitors with characteristic South African hospitality; welcome them into your homes with some nice South African curry bunny!

History was written here

Our next stop was Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg. These South Western Townships, much like suburbia, had its pockets of poor localities and the not so poor ones. Founded in the early 1900s, Soweto was for the black African gold labourers. Post World War II, this township grew significantly. An interesting fact about Soweto is that until the 1930s, Soweto’s population was nearly all male. Workers were not allowed to bring their wives. Finally, we reached the Mandela House. The legacy that is Nelson Mandela resided in this house that was made completely out of red bricks. The history, the heritage and the struggle was vivid in the house. I would like to quote Nelson Mandela from The Long Walk to Freedom since I had read it just before I went to South Africa. It sums up what the Mandela House stood for. Here goes - The house itself was identical to hundreds of others built on postage-stamp-size plots on dirt roads. It had the same standard tin roof, the same cement floor, a narrow kitchen, and a bucket toilet at the back. Although there were street lamps outside, we used paraffin lamps as the homes were not yet electrified. The bedroom was so small that a double bed took up almost the entire floor space. It was the opposite of grand, but it was my first true home of my own and I was mightily proud. A man is not a man until he has a house of his own.That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.’

Are you black or white?

While the scars of 20th century South Africa are apparent in Johannesburg, it is obvious that the healing has begun. What hit me instantly were the stark inequalities but the amazing confidence in the South Africans. The trip to the Apartheid Museum was an eye opener as was visiting Hector Pieterson’s museum. At the entrance of the Apartheid Museum, we were given cards stating ‘Non-white’ or ‘White’. Walking around the museum, one feels like they are thrown back into the 70s and 80s. Police bullets, teargas canisters, the marches, scores of school children, metal cafes, newspaper snippets, film footage; all tell you a traumatic story of what this nation has endured.

South African has come a long way from those days. The young are singing and dancing to groovy marabi beats and KFC is round the corner. The old are telling stories of a time that is gone and the corporates are banking their millions on the impending World Cup. South Africa truly has come a long way. Ask an American about his/her heritage and they will say they are Irish, Swedish, German, Italian, Korean etc. Ask a South African, black or white notwithstanding, and they will simply state – Africa. And that is the difference.

-Shruti Kothari, Director, Bespoken Words

The Last Romance

Let me tell you about jab we met! Our first heady—or steamy, if I may—encounter: 'Unstoppable Double-Fudge Chocolate Avalanche'… yeah, that's his name, came calling. My first bite. A small but audible moan escapes my lips. My eyes, previously perfectly aligned, first cross slightly, and then glaze completely, pupils dilating into pure chocolate pleasure… just before my eyelids close in ecstasy. Sigh! I could live in that transcendental sphere forever!

Chocolate does something beyond description for me. The gooey brown swirls (or sometimes slabs!) of unadulterated happiness elevate me from the see-saw that life is and introduce me to this whole other realm of choco-nsciousness! I am not saying that chocolate is a substitute for love.Aû contraîre, love is a substitute for chocolate. Call it therapeutic, cathartic, aphrodisiacal, what you will. I have been told that if there was rehab or Chocoholics Anonymous for those of us who OD on it, I should be the first to enroll. But here's the thing. I don't want to quit… loving chocolates!

You see, as a certified chocoholic, I am entitled to compassion and understanding from the human race if I do not share my ambrosial delight with any one, an extra helping of chocolate in all its godly variety whenever and wherever, chocolate-flavored food including condiments, chocolate syrup, frosting, sprinkles, or any other form yet to be invented; and the indisputable right to use chocolate as a source of solace, placation, or bribery for personal and professional purposes of any kind. Wow! If this isn't unconditional love, then what is…?

I think the best a man (a presumed partner in all things ecstatic!) can do is supply the chocolates and hope that he will be considered somewhere between the Mmmmmmmm (yeah, there is a sinful chocolate by that sound!) and Hershey's kisses! Clarifying further… ambling along the beaches of Temptation Islands; a man finds a bottle that has been washed ashore. Curious of course, he opens it… and out pops a genie. She grants him three wishes. He first wishes for gazillion dollars,et voila! There were the gazillion dollars! Second wish… yeah, the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe… and voila! There it was... finally, the third one… to be irresistible to all womankind, and whadayaknow! He turned into a box of chocolates! Need I say more…?

-Shruti Kothari, Director, Bespoken Words

From Pauper To Princess

Money, money, money! There must be more synonyms in the Thesaurus for money than any other word. Time, love, happiness to mention a few. But hey! How did this happen -- I have no money but time, love and happiness!

I always believed that love made the world go round. But unfortunately, I grew up, education ruined me and I realized it isn’t love; it is MONEY that makes this world that we live in go round and round and round! To quote my doctor mother, “Vitamin ‘M’ is more crucial to everyone’s health these days than any other vitamin.”

Sad but true. A new haircut, a revamped wardrobe or a dozen self-help books can’t do what some crisp moolah can to boost your confidence, straighten your back, puff your chest out and hold your head high. And as this realization grew on me with every job and every pay cheque that came my way, what also became clear was that the rat race that all of us so desperately run is against ourselves and more often than not also against any basic principles that we may stand for. So, after five years of making money and no love, I decided to quit! And I can tell you this – it never felt better! From a sweet thirty G’s a month to sweet nothings…It should have felt like falling off a cliff but it felt like I was being elevated by angels into this place where they sit and lay wagers on the rat racers below. Not a bad way to earn money and still be on cloud nine!

What helps is that my aim was and is to master the art of doing nothing! Or sometimes, something for some time. Yes, you suffer from bank account blues and you think liquidity is better than still waters. But a reflection on still waters is far clearer than on rippling ones. And most of us don’t even stop to catch a glimpse of ourselves, leave alone contemplate on our reflection.

Finally, I am living life queen-size and will continue to do so. Because of all the things that cost in this world, money often costs us the most!

- Shruti Kothari, Director, Bespoken Words

Life Is A Journey...

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes the pages turn too quickly
Sometimes the verses don’t rhyme

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes the past comes hurling
Sometimes the future seems like a tough climb

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes the tequila is done neat
Sometimes with a dash of lime

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes you get thrown a dollar
Sometimes a dime

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes it gives you a warm hug
Sometimes it sends a chill down your spine

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes you smile
Sometimes you whine

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
Sometimes there is silence
Sometimes full of chimes

Life is a journey
Taken one shot at a time
There may be tears
But amidst all that, there will always be a reason to smile

-Shruti Kothari, Director, Bespoken Words

Living Life 30mm!!!

Does anyone remember the golden period of the idiot box, when it wasn’t touted to be an idiot discovery? That was one era and today is another. But what hasn’t changed is people’s obsession with the 30mm screen. Be it the daily soaps or the weekly family sagas, television has come a long way. If the big screen is dominated by the patriarch segment then the small screen is unquestionably ruled by power puff women.

There was a time when people used to switch off their television sets after 10pm. But Ekta Kapoor, the czarina of small screen changed all that when she launched ace family drama ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ in the 10:30 p.m. slot. Based on a Gujarati family, this maha saga not only created history by becoming the longest running daily soap in India but it also recorded mounting TRPs that left many rival channels baffled. The serial not only managed to strike a chord by uniting the country but also gave the nation a reason to talk. People laughed, cried and even connected emotionally with the characters. The saas-bahu formula became an instant hit. Heavy makeup, bridal saris, a big mansion, a scheming vamp and a timid protagonist are the mandatory ingredients to churn out your perfect serial.

Today, the time, location and treatment might have changed but women continue the legacy of dominating the small screen. From Miss Goody two shoes, the ugly duckling ‘Jassi’ to a humpty dumpty overweight ‘Mahi’ and from rigid women hating the village sarpanch ‘Ammaji’ to a sensible and ambitious ‘Balika Vadhu’, the small screen has experimented with all kinds of genre. The prejudice and the fetish of Indians with ‘fair’ skin were portrayed very well in the serial ‘Bidaai’ where the fairer ‘Saadhna’ always overshadowed her cousin ‘Ragini.’

These family serials continue to give their audiences a satisfying emotional catharsis and a relaxing space, where there’s tension, confrontation, an emotional turning point and a resolution, all at once. Through these serials, audiences escape and drain their ‘excessive’ emotional build up. For the older generation too, these serials slowly have become sort of a window to the world today. Television, an integral part of our social fabric, is known to reflect society. Today, this box has reached a state of hubris where it boldly screams - love me or hate me but you can’t ignore me!

-Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team

A Foodie's Expedition

Gone are the days when television shows about food were limited to cookery shows, which had chefs showing us how to whip up delectable recipes. People would sit, armed with notepads and pens, feverishly jotting down ingredients and methods involved in the process.

There is a refreshingly entertaining trend on Indian television these days with food shows which are not just about cooking. They involve travelling to destinations far and beyond and experiencing local cuisines and flavours. ‘TIMES NOW’ has ‘The Foodie’ which is extremely popular. Then there is ‘Secret Kitchen’ on ‘CNN-IBN’. ‘NDTV GOOD TIMES’ also has some interesting shows on offer like ‘Chakh Le India’. For global travels and a taste of international culinary flavours, ‘Travel and Living’ serves up some pretty fun presentations on its platter.

This genre, that involves both travel and gastronomy are a food lover’s delight. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: getting acquainted with diverse destinations and cultures while travelling in a quest towards discovering incredible culinary delights. Whether it’s visiting the royalty of Rajasthan and sampling some of their exotic gastronomic preparations or making a trip to the Parathewali Galli in Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk to gorging at roadside ‘dhabas’ to the dining at five star hotels, one can experience it all!

For such a show to be able to hold the interest of viewers, the host needs to be very competent. It’s a real letdown when one has to endure rather average anchoring skills on display. When the show is about food, the host needs to be one who clearly enjoys the whole experience of eating. An anchor with a witty sense of humour can be an icing on the cake!

Culinary shows sure know how to titillate the taste buds of viewers. Watching various ingredients, spices and flavours coming together to create a mouthwatering mélange is an invigorating experience. At times, it’s like one can actually smell the aroma emanating through the television sets! Now that is visual stimulation at its best!

- Ruchika Mathur, Bespoken Words Team

Happy Father's Day...

Dear Father,
I ain't the ideal offspring you would've envisaged
But I am glad that you haven't explicitly disparaged
You probably despise my casual and procrastinated life
and my lethargic demeanor, the sight of which is rife
I am the kind of person who would take time to settle
I am blessed, I have your support to prove my mettle

-Sonesh Prakash, Guest Writer, Bespoken Words

A Lyrical Stage

I guess I must have been 12 years old. Sitting in my school auditorium and watching the ‘Wizard of the Oz’. I got transported into a whole new world of storybook characters that completely intrigued me and left me mesmerized. The impact was such that when I came out of the hall, a few lines of the song sung by one of the characters got stuck in my mind and I still remember it.

Musical theatre, a larger than life genre, is full of theatrics, songs, costumes, multi-sensory props and dance. In the last century, it was seen as a great way of developing one’s imagination, creativity and communication skills. Nowadays, this form is popularly known as ‘musicals’. Theatre is believed to enhance one’s physical expressiveness, flexibility, co-ordination and musicality. Musicals were initially performed with the aim to highlight the troubles of the society and to boost the spirit of the youth during times of war.

Through music, movement and mime, passionate performers become imaginary characters enacting scenes from different fairy tale books and literature scripts. It’s a magical fusion of action, romance, melodrama, comedy and tragedy. This mode of the entertainment originated in North America and Britain and in time spread throughout the world. Creative heads like choreographer, music director and the director are mainly responsible for deciding the fate of a performance. Musical theatre involves a great deal of technical perfection. From lighting arrangement to costumes to stage properties to special effects, all enhance the impact of a performance.

The first portion of a musical tends to be longer than the second half where dialogues are generally exchanged through recitation of songs. Musicals are a very intricate art form. The performance involves more music and less verbal dialogue. Thus, it becomes a challenge for the lyricist to compress the emotions of verbal dialogue into an artistic song to be sung by an actor.

Through role playing and improvisation this art gives its performers an opportunity to display their spontaneity and on stage confidence. It’s one such art form where the actor concentrates not only on improving voice and rhythm, but also character development and movement. Musical theatre gives its followers an opportunity to explore the realm of the unknown that stimulates the mind and contributes to the overall development of a person.

-Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team

‘Play’ Along

Just the idea of acting in front of a live audience gives me the jitters. I always wonder how people gather the courage to go up on stage and spout lines with such confidence! Commendable. Really.

Professional theatre artists are magical on stage. The grace and self assurance with which they perform is a treat to watch. So, what is it about theatre that attracts artists? There are a horde of actors who dabble in both films and theatre. It’s a known fact that films are more lucrative monetarily. The fame is instant in films and so is the celebrity status. But something makes actors, who are successful on the silver screen, keep going back to theatre…Really.

Shabana Azmi, a renowned film actress, is known for her powerhouse performances. She has managed to strike a good balance between films and theatre having acted in several well known plays both in Hindi and English. ‘Tumhari Amrita’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Waiting Room’, ‘A Doll’s House’ and her current project, ‘Broken Images’ are some of her popular plays. I read an interview of hers in which she described facing live audience on stage as a completely different challenge.

I think that the rush experienced by acting on stage is unparalleled. In films, one can take several retakes till they get that perfect shot. On stage, there are no retakes which is thrilling and terrifying all at once. Acting on stage requires a lot of improvisation and spontaneity. Ardent theatre enthusiasts find acting, while reacting to the response of a live audience, an extremely satisfying experience.

I guess it is this thrill, challenge and immense creative satisfaction that keeps drawing artists to this enriching medium.

-Ruchika Mathur, Bespoken Words Team