Is engagement a necessity?

The word engagement started ringing in my ears not long ago. I don’t mean to say my personal story - because there is no story of engagement in my life. Once the marriage was fixed, my husband and I got married without what I have often kicked away from my dictionary – engagement. I could never understand or accept this engagement, except in rare cases when the groom flew to Gulf or a foreign country for a couple of years or more. Those were the days, when the cases of breaking away the engagement were rare. Not anymore. I had once written an article on this issue for Woman’s Era (I don’t have the copyright to republish the article written based on a real-life story). The article was published during the first quarter of 2006.

Back to engagement - what bothers me more is the way engagement is celebrated. Less than a week ago, someone we know well got engaged in a five-star hotel. There was a party during the engagement ceremony followed by a drinking-party later in the evening. The majority undoubtedly asks “What’s in a party, without the chance to booze?” I’d better say, “What is in a party with a chance to booze?” In the name of fun and entertainment, men and women, young and old are cheering off themselves with a glass of beer! Doesn’t enjoyment come our way without any of these? Engagement is more of a status symbol, than a necessity. And it is often celebrated in a posh atmosphere with thousands of guests attending the event. Lakhs of bucks form the core of these occasions. Why not do something better? Perhaps, invest in a business – create employment for the unemployed or donate money for good causes.

Probably, a simple engagement ceremony, if at all necessary will remain in your minds than a costly-affair! Before you take the next step ahead – for that lavish party for your engagement, think twice – Is it really necessary?

Moving with the waves

Fashion show is an obsession for the city dwellers. The once conservative land of Kerala too has joined this bandwagon. Being a part of the fashion shows, whether being a silent viewer or an active participant (in the form of modeling or behind the curtains) is seen with pride. Where are we heading? If someone who lived in Kerala 70 years back returns to this land, will move away without a second thought mistaking to have landed in another continent!

During an interview with the daughter of a very well-known actress of yesteryears and motherof an actor son (apart from a long list of relatives in the film kingdom), this down-to-earth-lady who has seen the varied faces of limelight revealed today parents are eager to push even their tiny tots to the world of modeling and acting. She said she was feeing pity on this kind of mad rush towards fame and money.

Till a few years earlier, the very mention of a discotheque was considered as a taboo subject. Today, it is an open subject. The topic is not merely restricted to discussion among the teenagers or youth. It is a topic of discussion even between parents and children. Who is actually responsible for the present crisis of pushing the children to the limelight? No doubt, the finger undoubtedly in over 85% cases points to the parents. And yes, I know most of the present generation definitely disagrees to my viewpoints mentioned here.

That said, people live with the wrong notion, life comes only once! What people do not realize is we have lived through several hundred years in the past and we still have a long way to go. Remember to get ready to undergo the positive or negative impacts of our acts done in this life, in one of your forthcoming birth. Why not do something good, which would bring a positive impact for one's own family as well as for the society? Most importantly, for one's own soul. Still long way to go before more people joins this gang.

Space to have a say

A space to voice and reveal...that's what I am looking for. I have shared my ideas, thoughts, opinions, talked to thousands of people as a part of my freelance assignments; yet I am uneasy.

Uncomfortable at the thought, I haven't been able to convey what I really want to. What I feel is important in a particular story is often edited. The editor thinks it is unimportant whereas in reality, it could be the central theme of the story! We can only grudge at what is happening. After all, one gets to read the edited story only after it's in print. I hope this space in my blog transforms to be a place to talk on a wide range of topics.