Comments on: Was the previous generation really rooted in excellence ?

By: Why it is meaningless to say you’re proud of being an Indian | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:34:42 +0000

[...] pretentious religious ceremonies over what they actually mean, deep-fried over grilled, elder-worship over thinking for ourselves, the display of money over tastefulness and rote-memorized slogans over [...]

By: Questions about life that seem important but are actually not: #5: “Why am I here?” | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:23:02 +0000

[...] Your parents [...]

By: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to doing Namaste | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:20:34 +0000

[...] away! If you are currently reading a crumpled printout of this guide while someone older is staring awkwardly at you, stop reading, fall forward, perform namaste and read the rest of this [...]

By: Fighting for sports bra awareness in India | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:18:09 +0000

[...] so, as with so many issues that keep Neo up at night – the answer is the same – blog about it and hope that Anita, Minal, [...]

By: Easily Amused

Easily Amused — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:32:25 +0000

Neo.. dude.. I’ve learned to look at the generational rift not as a schism but more as a continuum of disagreements and conflicts – brought about by our very different experiences in our formative years.

It’s not entirely “their” fault or “ours”.. We are in the end.. products of our surroundings.. and our two surroundings were/are completely different.

They are reacting to situations from what they’ve learned.. some with more finesse than others.. but almost all of them are out of their element – in dealing with what now really is a very different country, culture and economic and social setup from the time of their youth.

And yeah.. If we think we won’t have serious differences with your children on how they should live out their lives – especially on how they should live out their lives.. we are sadly mistaken… I’m sure when they grow up, they won’t hesitate to kick us in the nads… indeed if they don’t, we wouldn’t have done a great job at raising them.. merely a passable one.

From my personal experiences.. I’ve learned to pay lip service or out right ignore.. and do what I want.. everyone else be dammed.. and you betcha.. my son will do the same.. his daddy(me) be dammed if he thinks he’s a say in anything remotely connected with his life.

And lastly,… my big bro.. did what the old folks ordained.. and now he blames them for all his short comings.. some real and but mostly imagined… it appears that what goes around does indeed come back around.

By: litterateuse

litterateuse — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:57:48 +0000

@neo: I think it’ll take more than electronic space to settle this. Besides, I can’t wave my hands around and type with the right intonations for added effect. So if you ever happen to visit the US to uh…see what you just don’t miss anymore (:D), I’d be happy to take you up on this over coffee

@Easily Amused: I suspect you said something nice – thank you! (And yes, you do seem to be easily amused).

@Sharmishtha: Balance is indeed the keyword, gosh! Even better if it’s in my bank, but that’s another story.

By: Sharmishtha

Sharmishtha — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:47:23 +0000

Your Uncle Jay – please forgive me – sounds just like an old windbag, the garden variety windbag that every family must have and endure. Just stick him in a corner and cover him with a blanket at bedtime. At least, your young relative (his too, I imagine) left her abusive marriage. Would she have done so a generation ago? Would she have been allowed to initiate a divorce? There are more choices now and Uncle Jay too is aware of them, although he may not like it. Frankly, more than the old uncles, it is the tyranny of the “youthful” Ram Sena types that -as a woman – I truly dread.

By: neo

neo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:19:53 +0000

@Sharmishta

I think my Uncle Jay is very much relevant (he’s a database of Indian history) – but why does he have to be so overpoweringly “relevant” when it comes to what other people wear, or whom they marry ?

By: neo

neo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:09:22 +0000

@Overrated Outcast – Out of the 3 compliments this blog has ever received, I’m proudest of yours (the other two were “ha” and “nice”)

By: Sharmishtha

Sharmishtha — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:42:31 +0000

All very true. However, the converse isn’t paradise either. I’m talking about the tyranny of youth – and youthfulness – under which most western countries labor, including the US where I live these days. Must one always be slim, energetic, fashionable, fresh-faced and twenty- or thirty-something in order to be considered relevant? Balance, people, we need a balance – everywhere.