Tag: Dr Pooja Birwatkar

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Bombay, bas

Dear Rain, what is your problem?

It should be pouring almost constantly, but before the rains properly settle in Mumbai, there’s no harm in eager anticipation, right?
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

The month of June went by without a drop of rain. And we are now in the second week of July, but the rains are not yet settling in Mumbai.

When it rains in Mumbai, it really rains, is what a typical Mumbaikar would tell you. Us Mumbaikars take lot of pride in telling people in other cities about the rains in our city. Also, every Mumbaikar will always mention the city braves all types of weather like the sport it is, and that life goes on (or tries to) even when it really pours.

We’ve had one or two big showers of rain by now, and what relief they brought to the city! I always enjoy the start of the monsoon – what a beautiful sight it is to see children dancing on the streets with joy, housewives rushing to pull dry clothes off the clothesline, people without umbrellas scurrying for cover, and the city collectively watching the dust and dirt of the rest of the year wash away to leave gleaming green trees with swaying branches.

Frankly, nothing beats getting drenched in the rain, reaching home soaked and having hot adrak chai, or even better, the tapri chai with some yummy hot vada pav.  The smell ofRain in Mumbai the wet soil and the romantic weather is a great combination. And nothing beats sitting at Bandstand or Marine Drive in a light drizzle while eating corn on cob or walking under an umbrella with your loved one.

Whether we admit it or not, we feel a secret thrill on the times the rains do actually manage to put a stop to our fast paced lives, when our life line, the local trains stop and chaos follows. Each season, we secretly pray for one such day of heavy rain that prompts offices to close on their own accord, and for schools and colleges to declare a holiday. There is nothing like a paid leave on a heavy rain day.

My fondest memory of my childhood days is standing outside the school gates on a rainy morning, only to be told that the school was closed for the day. I so loved the rains that day and whatever age we are, it still remains the same feeling.

The rains also make celebrities out of the BMC officials, with the TV channels, radio and even the public all going berserk, collectively lamenting the generous smattering of pot holes on the roads, the traffic and the water logging. Hindmata and Milan Subway achieve cult status as rain attractions for tourists, as they are frequently shown on TV. These places are like rain gauges for the rest of the city – if they are flooding, it means it has rained as per ‘Mumbai standards’.

Even as I wait for the rains to settle in and follow a more predictable pattern, I long for the drop in temperature and the various magical moments the season brings. It is quite another story that once the rains truly arrive, I will complain about how miserable my life is in the season. But till then, I wait.

Dr Pooja Birwatkar is currently pursuing post doctoral research and working in the area of science education. She has been associated with the field of education in the past as a teacher educator, and her area of interest is research in education. 

(Pictures courtesy deccanchronicle.com, mumbairain.com, chalochalomumbai.wordpress.com)

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Guest writer

Why has nobody thought of a good roti machine?

Women grapple with the task of roti making every single day of their lives. A Mumbaikar offers a futuristic solution.
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

It’s a fact that Mumbai is always on the run. Between the binaries of fast and slow, fast is the chosen one that defines the life of almost every citizen of their dream world.

In the whole hustle-bustle and mad race, one looks for ideas and ways that help one cope better with the demands of everyday life. To make matters worse, if one is a working woman and has a family to cater to also, the tying up of loose ends and running an endless list of chores exhausts you to no end. This may sound sexist, but the general scenario that still pervades most households is that a working woman works two shifts, one at home and other at work, while males have the joy of concentrating only on the office front.

To bring about a change in this system is a farfetched dream. Though one does see a radical shift in responsibilities and sharing of duties between both genders now, but such cases are sporadic in number and occur in isolated patches.

To help tide away such mundane tasks, our Mumbai housewives then look for ideas and innovations that make their lives easier. One has, to a large extent, adopted automation that makes life easier, like washing machines, food processors and all variety of appliances that help to clean the house and other things, and lend some degree of relief. But what about the sad state of affairs when it comes to rotis?

Almost every Indian household eats rotis every day. The making of rotis is a tedious task. As a working woman and homemaker myself, I always wished for a genie to appear and Making rotisrelieve me from the endless task of making rotis day after day. Certainly, there are solutions to offer in the market, but I find that these only add to your woes. On looking at the available roti makers, one finds that still you have to do basic jobs like mixing, kneading, making balls of dough or manually putting each ball of dough on the making surface, etc. These roti makers’ only help is in the area of making round rotis.

The other day, as I was getting some photocopy work done and watching how copies emerged from the machine one after the other, I was stuck by an idea. What if there was a machine that handled the whole process of making rotis, right from kneading the dough to rolling out hot rotis? It would eliminate all the possible labour, including cleaning up afterwards.

Taking the idea further, there could be a panel of operations for making rotis. One can select the number of rotis, size, thickness, crispiness, oil/oil free. There would also be a provision for a timer to be set and a clock timer, plus automated cleaning and a way to keep it near the dining table so that fresh hot rotis can be had during meal times.

Just imagine it – after a long tiring day, to have fresh rotis with the press of a few buttons! What a wonderful dream! But I wonder – in this age of technology, why has nothing like this come up to reduce the efforts of Indian women? As insignificant as it may sound, it is one of the most important issues of our daily life.  So all you innovators and technologists, this is food for thought. Let us in a small way help provide some solutions to such time-consuming tasks that would help working women get liberated from a few of their daily life burdens. Not just Mumbai women, it would be revolutionise the lives of many more across the nation, including the men.

(Pictures courtesy www.nandyala.org, ribbonstopastas.blogspot.com)

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Bombay, bas

There’s a ghost in Mumbaikars’ lives…it’s called ‘EMI’

Buying a house in Mumbai comes with its own monthly nightmare – paying off EMIs and watching every rupee spent.
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

To have a dream house of your own in Mumbai features in everyone’s list of what their life in the city should be. In the context of Mumbai, however, one has to let go of the word ‘dream’ and has to be content merely to have a shelter over oneself, which one can call home.

Way back in time, when my parents were groom-hunting for me, I used to scan the matrimonial ads in papers out of curiousity. The ads from Mumbai would always particularly strike me as a bit odd, because they attached a lot of importance and stress on mentioning “has own house in Mumbai”. Later, on the verge of marrying a Mumbaikar, I realised the significance of this home-owner status.  Like most couples, we began our struggle with a house hunt and finally got the keys of our house on the morning of our wedding day. While most people go trousseau shopping, we went house hunting.

Buying a house (sorry, I should say ‘flat’ or ‘room’) is not a joke. Taking a housing loan is inevitable. While in the process of getting the loan, you get introduced to something called EMI ‘EMI’ (Equated Monthly Instalment) and trust me, this monster in disguise exists for almost a life time.

Most of us live under the fear of this EMI monster. It strikes every month, usually on a particular day, wiping almost a major chunk of one’s salary. Till you don’t pay the EMI, you are miserly about spending your salary, as there is anxiety and tension that your bank account should have enough funds for the EMI monster to gulp in one go. And, of course, once the monster has had its share, you are left with barely enough to sustain through the month before falling into another vicious circle of salary-coming-EMI-monster-striking.

Nevertheless, you live in the hope that one day either the EMI would cease or reduce, but thanks to the country’s financial situation and the ever-rising home loan interest rates, either the amount goes up or the number of years increase or if you are unlucky enough, both go up. Either way, your hopes crash every few months as the banks make startling announcements. Sometimes one feels that if we were to die before we finished paying up, our future generations would bear the brunt of this EMI.

For those of us who have additional car and other amenities bought on loan, the EMI ghost is a perpetual visitor.  On a positive note, the EMI has actually led many of us to enjoy the materialistic pleasures of life, but the problem is that we seldom acknowledge them as our whole focus is on fighting off or removing this from our lives.

Come to think of it, Mumbaikars are actually paying a very heavy price for the small houses that we get in return. The same amount could buy us a mansion in other parts of the country.

Plus, our entire lives are spent in maintaining our houses. We earn for the house alone. I have seen a lot of people celebrating the day the last EMI is paid. But the options are limited, too. Either you buy a house or pay a hefty rent with the sword of an 11-month lease hanging over your head.

I sometimes wonder: with so much migration and increasing population of Mumbai, what would the future be? How much would Mumbai expand, and where would the coming generations go? The houses that most of us currently live in are merely sufficient for nuclear families. The joint system of living is not practical in Mumbai, because the space crunch doesn’t allow for a joint family system. If given a choice, we would love to have big families where our kids would be looked after by their grandparents and we would continue to soak in their love and warmth

Matrimonial ads now need to make a special mention: that, apart from one’s own house, the said house is also EMI-free. For most of us in Mumbai, this EMI is like a baby which refuses to grow up for fear of leaving the parents’ home. 

(Pictures courtesy www.commonfloor.com, rkrealtech.co.in)

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Uncategorized

Why you should vote…even if your choice is NOTA

Lok Sabha elections are just around the corner for Mumbai. Here’s why exercising your vote would be a good idea.
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

Part 3 of the ‘Your Vote’ campaign for Lok Sabha 2014.

After several months of hoopla, the elections have finally arrived. It’s the time of the year when the common man suddenly assumes huge significance and becomes the focal point of political parties’ attention. Your vote counts and that makes you wanted by all – so what if these same ‘all’ neglected you and your voice for years? These unheard voices and pleas of the common man having fallen so far on deaf ears will suddenly now be heard.

Sometimes, this whole scenario makes us feel so betrayed by the political system that we decide to take our revenge by not voting. One feels, “Why should I vote now, after all, where was I all these years?” Yes, you are right in feeling so, but at the same time, this is not the way to ‘penalise’ the system. This way of punishing the system is counter-effective, as in the end, we stand out to be losers, too.

The serious tone at the polling station makes you realise how the voting process is not a joke, and how valued your contribution to it is. As one goes behind the box to use the electronic voting machine, you are free in that moment to discard all the opinions and judgements passed on to you, all the promises made by political parties. It is you who will decide, at that moment, which button to press.

I have pledged this time that I will vote. Whatever be my decision – to choose a party or to opt for NOTA (None Of The Above) – I will go and cast my vote. I have a small son, for whom my dream is that he should be a responsible Indian citizen, and this is my duty as a parent. I want to show my son that I follow my civic duties and take my citizenship seriously. Hence, I will make sure that on Election Day, I go and perform my duty with utmost sincerity.

For those who are still not convinced, there are some not-so-serious reasons to go out and vote as well. You can show off the little blue dot on your fingernail and boast about howNOTA option you are a true Indian. Trust me, the moment the indelible ink is put on your finger, you feel the liberation that comes from having made a choice. The whole experience of going to the polling station is unique. Standing in line as you wait for your turn, you witness a whole range of activity. The serious tone at the polling station makes you realise how the voting process is not a joke, and how valued your contribution to it is. As one goes behind the box to use the electronic voting machine, you are free in that moment to discard all the opinions and judgements passed on to you, all the promises made by political parties. It is you who will decide, at that moment, which button to press. You are in your own bubble – you, the partition cordoning off the EVM from others’ eyes, and your decision to cast your vote. It feels like you are looking at a treasure chest, and the key is known only to you.

Whether you want to experience the magic of voting or not, do consider this: whether you vote or not, someone is going to win and capture the seat. So why not do your calculations and help the right people win? The anxiety and happiness to see someone you voted for winning, is a very different experience. You feel like you actually made a difference. Of course, maybe one would still lament and blame the elected ones later, but you would know you chose them and that changes your approach to your own criticism. Besides, what stops you from reminding your elected representative why you elected him or her in the first place?

Sure, April 24 is a holiday for voting and we like holidays, but this is a holiday with a purpose. Go early and cast your vote – it hardly takes any time – and you can have the rest of the day to yourself.  

‘Kaun vote kare? Sab ek se hain…I like no one.” Don’t say this, please. Go vote. Believe me, you will like the experience.

Dr Pooja Birwatkar is currently pursuing post doctoral research and working in the area of science education. ‘Your Vote’ is a column capturing the Lok Sabha 2014 fervour in Mumbai. If you want to be featured here, write to editor@themetrognome.in with the subject line ‘Your vote’.

(Pictures courtesy india.blogs.nytimes.com, www.tntmagazine.in. Images are used for representational purpose only)

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Bombay, bas

Why I don’t mind when the lights turn red

Nobody likes being stuck in Mumbai traffic, but it actually gives time for introspection or a few minutes of relaxation.
by Dr Pooja Birwatkar

As a new driver, whenever cars which had been level with me suddenly zoomed past, I would wonder what the matter was. Now, after considerable driving experience, I realise that they’ve spotted a traffic signal that is green and are trying to rush past it before it turns to red

Despite the amount of driving I’ve put in already, I still slow down seeing the green light from afar. Most vehicles rush ahead while I wait for the signal to turn red. You must think I am mad. After all, who would actually seek out a red light at the signal? But I do it for various reasons. I have developed a sort of life of my own at the traffic signal. It is now an important part of my daily commuting life and I have learnt to make the most of it.

Firstly, stopping at the signal provides a breather. Your feet, hands and brain all get temporary relaxation as you sit back and actually listen to what the RJ on the music channel is saying. There are some people who still honk from behind you and as you glance at the rear mirror to see what all the commotion is about, you catch a quick glimpse of yourself. This prompts me to readjust the mirror to look at myself more closely. But don’t do this if you are even a little bit insecure about your looks – car mirrors are notorious at telling the truth about your face, warts and all. My rearview mirror reminds me if I need to make a salon appointment or touch up my face.

While I am waiting, I also check for fuel reserves, readjust the seats and mirrors, and make a mental note of cleaning the car.

A great thing about waiting at the signal is that you get to know which fruit is in season, and what its current rate is. I am sometimes sorely tempted by the sight of luscious mangoes and red strawberries, but thanks to a movie which showed these sellers actually polishing the fruit with spit, I have learnt to resist. I do, however, resolve to visit the market and buy some fresh fruit.

I also check my cell phone for calls and messages. But a piece of advice here – do this quickly, because the moment your call is connected or you’ve almost finished texting, the light changes to green and everybody starts honking at you. And don’t try making calls while driving. Your loved ones are waiting for you at home, and the people on the road also have families and homes to go to.

The wait at signals also gives me time to mentally tick off the tasks I’ve finished or add more tasks I need to get through. What I should make for dinner is usually decided at the signal nearest to my home.

If you’re waiting, you should also look around. You’ll learn which new movies, TV serials, products are in your city, as also which celebrity is arriving soon. I’ve always been updated about the next phase of polio drives through hoardings. I also try to see how many of the cars around me I actually know – this knowledge helps me keep up with my five-year-old who knows more car names than me and frequently tests my knowledge.

Waiting at the signal also reminds me of my civic duties. Of course, there have been times when I have tried to cross the signal and the lights have turned red. It has been too late to reverse, so I’ve just waited and kept an eye out for a traffic cop, who, sure enough, jumps out at me from behind a tree.

The wait also makes me introspect – I compare my life with those of the people living on the city’s streets. Little boys and girls who should be in school are either out begging or kids at street signalsselling stuff. I always use this time to teach my son about gratitude and empathy, even as I learn a lesson or two. I don’t mean to sermonise, but if you can, do buy something from those street urchins.

I also get idea for most of my articles like this one while waiting at the signal. And I am not the only one who appreciates traffic signals. Several movie plots have liberally used traffic signals for important turning points in their stories. In the movies, many romances have played out at traffic signals, and bichhde hue bhais and behens have also come together.

I really like waiting at traffic signals. Do you?

 

(Pictures courtesy election.rediff.com, in.reuters.com)

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Bombay, bas

So, you’re new to Mumbai…

Your only chance at survival in this magnificent metropolis is to learn about life here and why it ticks so.
by Dr Pooja Birwatkar

As a child, I heard a lot of stories about the big bad world that existed somewhere. A place where people were like machines devoid of emotions, leading a mechanical and calculated life, where crimes that one read about in stories actually occurred and people were heartless, self-absorbed and practical. Coming from a small hilly town with a close-knit community, I always wondered where this world was. Slowly I discovered it was called Bombay (in those days), and which we now know as Mumbai.

When I came to know that I have to visit this city, my first reaction was that of fear and a reluctance to go. As advice such as ‘Be careful there!’ from near and dear ones poured in my ears, my anxiety and restlessness grew. I landed in Bombay after many scary dreams and nightmares that I underwent all through the journey. The city appeared magnificent, voluminous and bustling. I remember clutching at my mother’s bag and holding her hand tight as we walked past Gateway of India.  Every person, to me, seemed dubious, and the crowded city looked so threatening. I went back with the resolution never to come back. But as fate would have it, I was back years later after having married a Mumbaikar. I questioned my fate – Why did I return, of all the places, to Mumbai? But being left with no choice, I settled for a life here.

Mumbai dads are like Santa Claus, because they usually come home late – normally when the kids are fast asleep.

In my initial year, I learnt a few things about the city:

– ‘Ka’ must be suffixed to all action words – jaaneka, khaneka, baithneka, rukneka, etc.

– If someone asks where your room is, the person is asking for your address and not about your personal room in your house.

– ‘Bumper to bumper’ means that there is a traffic jam and ‘mama’ is the name given to the traffic police man.

cutting chai– ‘Ek cutting dena‘ means give half a cup of chai.

– Everyone is genuinely busy in Mumbai. Soon, this will rub off on you, too.

– Everything you heard about the local trains of Mumbai is, unfortunately, true. But if one has to learn punctuality, learn from the local trains.

– If someone standing in the local train asks you which station you will get down at, it does not mean the person is interested in you or trying to be friendly. It simply means that your seat is now booked by him/her.

– Well groomed, hair in place, large bag, sandwiches or roti wraps in foil and cut fruits in zip lock bags, latest novel and big glares on…this is what a woman in the ladies first class coach normally looks like. To identify the second class ladies coach, you need no training – it is bursting with women, but is more homely. It is okay if you did not get time to eat or wear your accessories in a bid to catch the train, as you can buy all of it here.

– In Mumbai, the rains do not stop life, nor do terror blasts. However, local trains and BEST buses do manage to halt life momentarily.

– Winters are hardly present here, but nevertheless, Mumbai celebrates the spirit of winter.  Though the weather is merely pleasant, Mumbaikars still shiver, light fires, wear warm clothes and say ‘Arre, thandi hai kafi.’ This might make people from the North, who are used to harsh winters, roll their eyes and mock these deprived souls, but Mumbaikars don’t care. If they are not sweating, then it is winter in the city.

– It is never too late to go and eat dinner outside. Restaurants would be open. Almost everything gets home delivered.

– Mumbai dads are like Santa Claus, because they usually come home late – normally when the kids are fast asleep. You expect the dhobi, pavwala, bhajiwala to be there in the crowdsevening when your door bell rings. It is unusual to find your husband so early at the door. The first reaction to your husband home early is to wonder if he is unwell or if there has been a bomb blast in the city.

– It is easy to cross the road despite the traffic, as discipline still prevails. I am not joking – once a dog stood next to me at a zebra crossing and waited patiently to cross the road.

– ‘Sobo’ means ‘South Bombay’, and if you are a Sobo resident, you are usually envied and considered to have ‘class’. Going to Kala Ghoda in Sobo is a status symbol.

– If you ask for directions, people will seldom say they don’t know. They make every effort to help you. Rest assured that you are bound to reach with the directions given to you.

– It is hard to imagine this, but amidst the hustle-bustle, Mumbai has a strong religious streak and rejoices during festivals.

– The ‘aam janta‘ here is not fashion-conscious, and frankly, they don’t care about the latest trends. Unlike their counterparts in other areas of the country, people here don’t look down upon you if you are not fashionably dressed.

– Mumbaikars are not star struck, but local train-struck. They would prefer missing seeing a celebrity over missing their long distance train.

New entrants like me owe a lot to this city. Mumbai makes you stronger – much more than you ever thought you could be – and teaches you to raise your self-esteem, and instills fearlessness and strength to go on. I now love this pulsating, vibrant city which never sleeps. So, to all you newcomers, it would be just a matter of time before you would also say with pride like me, “Yes, I am a Mumbaikar and it is my own aamchi Mumbai”. I belong here and I am happy to be here.

(Pictures courtesy Nidhi Qazi, www.thehindu.com, mumbaithecityofdreamscometrue.blogspot.com)

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