My first time

May 10th, 2024. 

The D-day.

The day when my biggest dream came true.

The day when I got my right to exercise my power of being a part of a democratic country.

The day when I got my "RIGHT TO VOTE."

I have been an ardent follower of Indian politics and throughout my 19 years of life, I've gotten to read and witness the different ideologies of political parties, the way matters of the country are looked at and the way things are rapidly changing due to surge of AI. (iykyk)

It has been quite an interesting phase for me as I've gotten to see both sides of the coin- how through the passage of time certain great leaders evolved and sustained due to wise decisions while a few completely withered away. The wide spectrum of people with diverse thoughts that we get to witness in Indian politics is truly fascinating!

They say democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The USP of a democratic nation lies in the fact that people are the choosers. The drawback? People are the choosers.

The citizens of the country have the right to either give power to someone or to completely strip them off it. With great power comes great responsibility and with a responsibility as big as that of electing someone who would be in power for 5 years, lots of caution needs to be exercised before casting a vote. There needs to be lots of thinking, analyzing and understanding as to what the best option for our country's progress would be. Is the same amount of effort being put in by each and every voter in this country? Sadly, the answer is no.

Despite having a country with the youth constituting the major population, it is disheartening to see such a small percentage of voter turnout during elections. It is even more disheartening to see all the educated people taking a backseat and not casting their vote. Since most of the times we have elections conducted during the weekends and with the election day being a holiday, people are prioritizing their personal work over any other activities, thus sabotaging the country's future. 

Every election is dependent on the people who show up. Every vote counts. Please vote for the person whom you think will bring a fresh approach to the table to tackle the current set of problems being faced. Please don't come under the influence of external factors and vote irrationally. Take your responsibility seriously and be the change you wish to see.

As a first-time voter, I will be casting my vote on the 13th of May and exercise my most important right and take part in this privilege of being a citizen of a democratic country. What about you?

JAI HIND!!

                        - Anusha Sridhar

Family time....Family star

On a bright and sunny Ugadi morning, my mom and I decided to spend the day together by watching a movie in a theatre. After a lot of deliberation and thought, we zeroed in on the movie 'The Family Star'. We stepped into the theatre with a lot of anticipation and excitement, but little did we expect the turn things would take. 

For the very first time we were in a theatre with less than 20 people. There weren't many hoots and claps like how it happens for a regular commercial film. There were minimal reactions to all the humor and elevations given to the main lead. Honestly, we had a satisfactory experience, and the songs too were ringing in our heads. Did everyone else have the same experience as us? Apparently, no.

It seems a lot of people didn't like the film because they felt it carried the same old trope of commercial films and had certain unnecessary sequences which didn't elevate the film but instead downplayed its content.  

This response from people caught me off guard. A star like Vijay Devarakonda struggling to pull the audience to theatres despite having a storyline that can easily connect to all the middle-class people? Of course, I agree there are exaggerations that could have been chopped down from the runtime to make it a crisper film but discarding the film on a whole due to certain preconceived notions and half-baked statements? That is a big no.

I was watching few videos on the internet where people were giving their reactions and reviews about the movie. Few of them sounded rational with their viewpoint, but a few of them went too personal- bringing in their own equation with the actor into the picture.

I feel a lot of times actors are judged as a whole on the basis of the kind of scripts they select and the way they are presented on screen. What we fail to realise is that the actor is just playing the character and the character is not the person himself. VD was someone who got type-casted into a certain set of roles after Arjun Reddy. The audience felt he always tried to carry himself as per his popular reel life character. 

If you don't like the movie in terms of a movie perspective, then you have the right to point out flaws. But when you look at a movie not in terms of its storyline and technical intricacies, but with a tainted perspective- bringing in personal lives and remarks made by the actor at some point into the equation, I don't think it is fair. A movie is not only the actor's hardwork, but there are a lot of people involved behind the scenes whose contributions don't come into light. Just because we have a bad precedent about the main lead doesn't mean we start scrutinizing everything in the movie and going into the theatre with a mindset to bash the film no matter what message or idea it conveys in the end.

I personally felt the movie had a great premise and accurately depicted the problems faced by an Indian middle-class family. Just like how no movie is perfect in totality, this one too has few flaws and logical discrepancies. But on the whole it gave us such a good vibe and hard-hitting facts to ponder upon. 

On the whole, I would just like to say one thing. If you want to have a hearty laugh in the theatre and understand the importance of having a good family, don't miss the film and watch it at the nearest theatres!

                    - Anusha Sridhar

The historic moment

The 'prana prathista' ceremony in Ayodhya left everyone speechless and filled with tears of joy. The smiling idol of Ram Lalla left wide smiles on our faces. The country was painted in saffron and Ram flags adorned the flagpoles everywhere. This historic day marked the end of Lord Ram's vanvaas- marking his return to his birthplace- Ayodhya.

I couldn't watch the consecration ceremony live, but when it was repeatedly aired on different news channels, I was awe-struck by the detailing that went into sculpting the idol- those big eyes, beautiful smile- the idol appeared so real to me that for a moment my eyes got moist. The nadaswaram playing 'Kurai ondrum illai' (meaning I have no grievances) during the aarti perfectly complemented my feelings. If watching this ceremony on the TV screen could cause such a powerful impact on me, just imagine the profound impact it would have had on people who witnessed the ceremony live in Ayodhya!

Through news channels, I also got to see how the attendees were gushing over witnessing the goosebumps-inducing ceremony live and were praising their fortunes for being invited. They spoke high about the swift and prompt management at Ayodhya as well. Another place to visit added to my bucket list! :)

To see the rich tapestry of Indian heritage being restored through the construction of the Ram temple makes my heart swell with pride. The Ramayan is one of my favourites that I always revisit- either by watching the serial or by reading the book. To imagine the sheer fact that viewing Lord Ram is not going to be restricted only to my imagination fills me with ecstasy.

22nd January 2024 officially begins the dawn of a new era. Let's all come together and celebrate every 22nd January from now on in a grand manner and make sure this day is forever etched in our memory.

Jai Shri Ram!!

                                                

                             - Anusha Sridhar

(Fun fact: The name of the person who sculpted the idol and gave life is Arun Yogiraj and the name of the person who was Ram in the first Ramayan serial made was Arun Govil! Notice the same name..)

Melancholic Musing

The recent events- the horrendous crimes that have taken place across the country have rattled me to the core. The condition of women and girls is becoming miserable day-by-day and despite that, there are people who still believe that everything happens only because the girl wished for it. Restrictions are imposed on her due to which whatever little freedom she gets is also taken away from her. This poem is just me expressing my angst on the injustice that is being meted to women and I post this with a hope that there will be a change in general mindset and biased opinions people have against women.

Everything I'd done
Every sacrifice I'd made
Every little step I'd taken
to mend our relationship
was always looked down in disdain.
Every moment I spent
always gave pain.
But despite all of that
I tried sticking together
tried to mend things
But you always spent time
only for your gain.

I knew it.
I knew it from the very start
that you were just using me.
but this silly heart
Oh this silly heart
never wanted to accept.
It knew it was living in a delusion.
But it continued to beat
it continued to beat with a hope 
that one day things would be better
One day it'd be back to normal.
But little did it realise that
things were getting eerily abnormal.

Despite the discrepancies,
Despite the desperate doubts,
Despite the state of submission,
I was in that comfort zone.
The heart found its soulmate.
It was ready to give umpteen chances
despite whatever the state.

Every time I looked into the mirror
I wondered
Why were my eyes red
and face filled with patches of black-blue?
I realised
It was your long strong hands
and your hard white shoe.

I always climbed down the ladder of life.
Put you before my dreams.
tried my level best
to stop those screams.
I always tried to change myself
in the process even losing myself.
But it never mattered to me
as long as you were clutching my hands
by going down on one knee.

I trusted you more than my kith and kin-my own.
It never mattered to me that I was alone
despite whatever situation I was thrown.
I never felt any remorse for  turning my back.
'cause somewhere I felt you'd have my back.
But when you showed me your true self
why was I shattered instead of taken aback?

Everything was over.
Finally I could come out.
The relationship got over, but 
what is the use
what is the use when everything is over
while my eyes forever shut?

                                                                                 

                                                                -  Anusha Sridhar

Social media syndrome

After a lot of persuasion by my friends, I finally joined Instagram. I felt very happy that I was becoming a part of the crowd. I was excited that my blogs would reach a wider audience and I could connect to all my old friends with whom I had lost contact. 

It was a quite a memorable day. I got in touch with many people whom I knew- but never spoke to. I got a significant number of followers and started enjoying memes; I understood the craze for it. I got good story responses and I, at last, became a 'Gen-Z social media user.'

The first few days were fun. I learnt the nuances of the app. I also learnt how to put stories according to the situation (the right song, the right pictures and tagging people) It was great to stay in the limelight and I was basking in the glory of being an avid 'Insta user'(this is the Gen-Z way of using the word). 

A few weeks passed by. There was a significant jump in my followers list. I was delighted at the prospect of reaching new milestones in terms of the growth in number of followers.  I was very excited that I had my own personal platform where I could post snippets of my life and stay relevant with the latest trends. With India having the most Instagram users in the world, I was just a very small addition to the humongous 'Indian Instagram- Gen-Z users world'.

As I started to use it on a daily basis- sharing reels and posts with friends and getting timely updates of my favourite films and stars, I realised two things. One, the amount of time I was spending on the app was increasing rapidly and two, I was always looking for 'Instagrammable' pictures- any new place I visited had to first be registered in my mobile and only then in my mind. Not that taking pictures of new surroundings is bad, but it was a new trait I had seen in myself.

Using Instagram was a great way for me to take a break from my daily routine. It provided me the much-needed laughter and was a great stressbuster too. But there were a lot of inherent comparisons that sprung up in my mind while using the app and checking peoples' feed.  An inexplicable feeling- a feeling of discontent and social estrangement. I really had no idea as to why I was developing such negative connotations despite being an optimistic person. I started feeling dejected even at the slightest prospect of lack of fun. Life started looking sombre, very monotonous with no form of break.

These symptoms of social media syndrome worsened day by day and my discontent kept increasing. Seeing this, one day I courageously decided to take a break- to come out of insta for some time. This decision made a lot of difference. I had lots of time to invest in myself- to groom my skills. After a fortnight, I rejoined Instagram with my usage solely restricted to a particular time frame and the purpose just being to stay connected with people.

After this drastic change, I had a few questions. When people know that they are signing in to be a part of a community that excessively promotes toxic positivity, why do compare their lives with others? Why is there this irresistible urge to have one's own active social media footprint?

Being on social media or wanting people to know our presence is not a bad trait. But in this process of showing the world that we are always happy and have a comfortable life, we deliberately put up a show; wear a mask and are never true to ourselves. Highlighting all the good things that have happened is not a problem. The problem lies in not acknowledging that everyone has their own share of both good and bad days and that people just choose to put out only their good experiences. Our definition of a perfect and happy life needn't match with the societal standards and expectations.

It is a natural human tendency to draw out lines of comparison when you find someone making great stride in their respective fields. It's okay if you are disappointed at your personal growth looking at their progress. Learn to come out of it and make a positive change since brooding is going to take you nowhere. It might be difficult to digest certain things at the initial stages, but once you start looking at Instagram as a place for inspiration rather than that of depression and anxiety, it will make you a much better and happier person in life. 

                              - Anusha Sridhar

Parakram Diwas

 (Hello my readers! How are you? It has been quite long since I have written anything these days. I have been preoccupied with some activity or the other- mid exams, celebrations, official visits through the toastmasters club, and lots of other stuff. But, you know, I want to plan my writing instead of making it erratic. Should I have deadlines like once in a month or one-and-a-half month? Do comment your opinion.)

As I was trying to figure out what to write next, a message from college popped up on my phone. It stated 'Please do participate in the Nationwide essay writing competition conducted by the Government of India on Subhas Chandra Bose's contribution towards the freedom struggle.' This got me excited. I rolled up my sleeves, wore my thinking caps and got ready to do the job. This is the essay I submitted on the aforementioned topic. I have made a few changes here and there before publishing it as a blog. Your views matter a lot. So please do give me your honest opinion and help in propelling my growth as a writer. The essay is as follows:

Subhas Chandra Bose- also widely known as Netaji- is a very popular figure among the masses and is remembered for his ideologies and decisions. His famous slogan ‘GIVE ME BLOOD AND I WILL GIVE YOU FREEDOM’ is unforgettable and still reverberates throughout the country. He continues to remain an inspiration for today’s generation for his far-sightedness and his approach in combating problems.

Bose was a staunch advocate for complete freedom and didn’t want the country to achieve freedom in parts. He rose against all kinds of discrimination as a student and never hesitated to fight for his rights. Due to his outspoken attitude, he was expelled several times and was classified as a rebel-Indian. But despite all this, Bose was an exceptional student. He passed his ICS exam. But after the Jallianwala Bagh incident he was shattered. He decided to put his heart and soul working for the country’s freedom.

He joined the INC and worked actively to enlighten the youth and students about the importance of achieving freedom and the atrocities committed by Britishers. He played an active part in igniting a spark in the young blood. He started the newspaper ‘Swaraj’ with the sole intention to spread the word about injustice prevailing under the British rule. He even wrote the book ‘The Indian Struggle’ which charted the Indian Independence movement which was in turn, banned by the British.

He had a lot of respect and admiration for Gandhiji despite certain ideological differences and was the person who gave him the title ‘Father of the Nation.’ He also revered Swami Vivekananda as his guru and followed his teachings and principles.

‘One individual may die for an idea. But that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheel of evolution moves on and the ideas and dreams of one nation are bequeathed to the next.’  Netaji believed that a person continues to live in the world after his death only through his morals. 

Bose was also the pioneer behind the revival of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA) first established by Mohan Singh. He believed in the paramount importance the Army's fearlessness and invincibility hold in order to defeat the enemy.

He went to great lengths to achieve freedom for the country. So much so, that he escaped from the clutches of the Britishers twice and travelled by different mediums- car, train and even by foot. His reappearance-both in Kabul and Germany- gave newfound confidence to the Indian rebels and provided an insight to his masterplan. He even went to Japan to resurrect the INA and make it an unstoppable driving force.

Netaji played a very crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. His contributions to the country are unmatched. His thoughts and vision for the country is the reason why he holds a position as a legendary freedom fighter. His firm belief ‘Freedom is not given- it is taken’ shows his commitment and conviction towards the cause. 

His war cry 'Delhi Chalo!' motivated the army personnel to such great lengths that they passionately laid their life down for the country. Such was Bose's impact (Rightly, his birth anniversary i.e the 23rd of January, is celebrated as Parakram Diwas to commemorate and honor his bravery and courage).

We Indians are proud that you have taken birth on this pure soil. We will always remember your ideals and will not let your contributions go in vain. Your inspirational life will always be etched in the walls of memory and the patriotic spark you have kindled in our hearts will gleam in our actions.   

        - Anusha Sridhar

 

 

My Insights

After two years of juggling with offline and online classes, a hectic schedule and loads of exams I finally got a break of three whole months. Three months to re-plan, reset and restart a new chapter in my life- four years in an Engineering college.

I got admission into one of the most prestigious and top women's colleges in Telangana- BVRIT-H. It gave me immense satisfaction and a feeling of triumph that I finally overcame the peer pressure, unwanted comparisons and most importantly, I came out of the vicious cycle of stress, anxiety and depression.

I had visited the college to clear all the formalities when I was informed that there was an induction program planned for all the freshers. The itinerary and general outcomes of the program were also briefly put out in our respective groups.

On the eventful day, I had attended the session with an amalgamation of emotions and loads of questions. I was a bit nervous about interacting with the new crowd and how I would carry myself. But all of that disappeared when I started listening to everyone speak. I admired the poise with which the alumni carried themselves on stage- without flinching- while rendering their speeches and was truly inspired by the address given by our Principal mam and Chairman sir.

The departmental orientation further boosted my confidence. I got to interact with the faculty and got my doubts cleared. I was happy to be on the right track with an assurance that my future was secure. As the session ended, I was inquisitive and was bubbling with enthusiasm about what was next in store.

The next three days passed in a blink as we students were kept engaged with various sessions covering diverse topics. The resource persons interacted with us in an amiable manner and were open to questions. They spoke about general topics and on how certain activities unknowingly hamper our productivity. They stressed upon the common mistakes students make, and gave tips to succeed professionally. There was a discussion about human values and important skills to develop during the course of four years. There was also an interactive talk on how important one's hobbies are.

We were given activities to keep the adrenaline rush high. We went for a campus tour and had a brief look at everything. We made new friends and got to know each other better in a short span of time thanks to the competitions organized that promoted a sense of teamwork and accomplishment. 

One thing that I really liked was how the college management stressed that they treated students from all the branches equally. They don't look at different groups as a ladder that promotes hierarchy but as a rope- a tool to connect all the branches through extensive training to everyone to remove the difference.

We were introduced to several clubs and were made aware of the numerous and diverse opportunities we have if we know how to balance academics along with activities. There is an equal importance given to technical clubs and non-technical clubs. Social service and nature-love also is of paramount importance so there are clubs one could join to make a difference and contribute from their end. A psychologist is also present with whom students can discuss their academic related problems and their personal problems too without any hesitation.

An opportunity properly utilized can change people's perception and can give one profound respect in the society. I am very proud to be a part of a college that offers a wide array of opportunities and helps everyone to shine.

                                               - Anusha Sridhar