Ambiguity

Something has been keeping me smiling these days. While driving or working or just talking.

We, Indians, have a weird tendency to be indecisive. We are indecisive (or procrastinate) in almost everything we do. Ambigious in our actions. Its neither a yes nor a no. Neither this side nor that side. I call this tendency 'neither here nor there'. A few examples.

Indian Roads- Every rider from a bus or a rickshaw or a motorcycle to a bullcart, everyone tries to ride at the dead center of the road; irrespective of speed. Lanes, what lanes? If you want to go really fast, you rather drive on the edges of the road risking the lives of pedestrian and yourself (hoping not to get roughed up). Now I know why we Indians have a tendency to blow our horn so often. Think we love making irritating noices.

Here is a poem named "Indian Roads"

Have you ever driven a vehicle on a Indian road?

From fastest to the slowest, everyone aims for the center road.

Neither here, nor there; I exclaim

As I make my claim for the center road.

Author - Yours truly

Another example, The Indian head shake.

Ask us a question that requires an answer in Yes or No. You will get a weird headshake which conveys yes and no. Confused and dazed you restate the question, hoping to get a verbal answer. This I have noticed especially amoungst South Indians. Except for the trained eyes, this would always look like "Neither yes nor no". More Ambiguity

A perfect example (probably not a good one) is the recent Ayodhya Verdict. The Babri/Ram Janmabhomi land is to be divided into three parts; one each for Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhada. An exceptional example of "neither here, nor there".

Maybe it is the Indian way of life. Why decide when you can wait. Funny as it maybe, it is interesting to note. Man we are so indecisive and so flexible. I love India. :)

Moustache - A poem

A poem about Moustaches, by Charlie McDonnell ...

How I wish I could grow a moustache,
so that people could see me as cool.
With a fashionable style, a furry smile,
the ladies would drown in their drool.

Oh I wish I could grow a moustache,
so that people could think me a man.
I would work on a farm, have a rugged charm,
and probably drive a white van.

I wish I could form a moustache,
maybe people would think I was snappy.
I would keep it in trim, I would go to the gym,
with some hair on my lip, I'd be happy.

How I long, and long, for a moustache,
so people could think I was smart.
I would hypothesise, that a moustache is wise,
and then show my results, in a chart.

I wish I could own a moustache,
so that people could think me their friend.
With a jolly old tash, I would sure be a smash,
and a man on which you could depend.

But alas, I cannot grow a moustache,
my face is unfavourably bare.
And now I have disclosed, that my lip

The years shall run like rabbits

The years shall run like rabbits,

For in my arms I hold

The Flower of the Ages,

And the first love of the world.'

But all the clocks in the city

Began to whirr and chime:

'O let not Time deceive you,

You cannot conquer Time.

'In the burrows of the Nightmare

Where Justice naked is,

Time watches from the shadow

And coughs when you would kiss.

'In headaches and in worry

Vaguely life leaks away,

And Time will have his fancy

To-morrow or to-day.

This is an extract from the poem "As I walked out one evening" W. H. Auden.

My favorite part