tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88343465888931888862024-03-08T04:25:00.532-08:00I am who I am - Pooja BediPooja Bedi's blogPooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834346588893188886.post-43918808884203282302009-03-08T05:50:00.000-07:002009-03-08T06:03:23.896-07:00Strength of a woman !!!It must be disorienting for the stereotypical Indian male to see the Indian woman emerge from behind the Purdah and don a bikini. To expect her to not leave the <em>aangan</em> of her home and then witness her foray into outer space! To have her morph from being the cook of the family kitchen into a ‘credit card flashing customer’ at fancy restaurants, and to accept that she’s not just born to play a role to men be it a daughter, sister and mother…. but to also be someone in her own right.<br />It is also both possible and evident that the conventional Indian male feels threatened that his power, importance and role as lord and master has been diminished. That his world has changed so dramatically given that the women of new modern India are now successful, dynamic individuals, both personally and professionally.<br />The good news is that the progressive Indian man has adjusted and is thrilled that his “housewife” now looks beyond the next door neighbours’ affairs and is interested in world affairs, has creative pursuits, learns at classes ranging from pottery to dance, that she looks good through exercise and personal grooming, is fashionable and has friends to make her happy and keep her lively. She’s someone he can talk to, drink with, depend on and if she’s got a job, lessens the financial load on his shoulders.<br />And then you have the howlers. Like Pramod Muthalik. Who simply cannot digest the fact that Indian women have legitimate needs, desires, rights and opportunities! He’s so disoriented he forgot we live in democracy and that we have laws to protect to our women. He’s party to the repellent statistics which state that at least one out three women around the world have at some point been subjected to either lewd comments on the street, obscene phone calls, sexual harassment on the job, sexual abuse, rape, battery or incest.<br />Muthaliks’ aggression towards “modern” women isn’t the result of a biologically twisted gene. His offensive "gender-based" violence evolves from the traditional Indian woman's subordinate status in society. Our culture has for long regarded passiveness as a feminine virtue and I guess some men are simply parasitical about it.<br />Can someone please tell Pramod Muthalik that any traditions which are discriminatory to women are a thing of the past?<br />I want to know as a citizen of India and as a woman, how a self appointed moral policer like Muthalik and his ilk can so violently break the law with the aim of preserving redundant traditions and not pay a heavy price for it? Shouldn’t punishments hurt and scare offenders to never repeat their actions. Why is it that penalties are mere irritants and most often do not detract the offender from doing it again?<br />How can he brutally hit other people’s sisters and daughters and then be allowed to walk the streets?<br />What next? Will he start re-imposing Sati and Dowry in the guise of preserving Hindu tradition? And walk out on bail once again?<br />Why is it that the govt and police appear to merely look, book, and then seemingly let him off the hook!<br />Is everything with a religious and traditional hue, a “sacred cow” not to be messed with for vote bank reasons? And if vote banks are an issue isn’t it time the Government realised more than half a billion Indians are WOMEN ?<br />Is India truly shining when it cannot protect its women and ensure them their legal, constitutional, democratic and secular rights?<br />Violence against women and girls which includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse is a violation of human rights. Women need to speak up and the system must support them. Abuse is not a woman’s fault and she does not deserve to be abused. The ridiculous assertion that a woman “invites” rape by wearing provocative clothing or has “incited a man” into beating her is deplorable. Such horrific finger pointing at women dates back to Adam and Eve and the forbidden apple and is well past its expiry date.<br />I think the need of the hour for Indian women is women centric Governance. We need many more ministers such as Renuka Chowdhary to stand up to such nonsense, a woman law minister to strategise and effect stringent laws and punishments, many Kiran Bedi’s to book such offenders and a host of activists to monitor court proceedings and ensure dispensing of speedy justice. We need to urgently rectify what is currently a male dominant system, in which men assume that control is part of masculinity, and that by doing so, maintain the system.<br />I reach out to all parents today, on Woman’s day, to stop advocating to girls that to be dominated and passive are feminine virtues.<br />And as we fast approach the next general elections, I reach out to all the millions of women voters to say, don’t vote for those that don’t protect you!!!Pooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834346588893188886.post-26568088693670326692008-12-03T22:35:00.000-08:002008-12-03T22:40:57.617-08:00It's SHOCKING!!!It’s SHOCKING that our government fails time after time after time and that even their so called CORRECTIVE measures are deeply flawed.<br />It’s SHOCKING that they would take an entire week to demand or accept a resignation from the most inept chief minister.<br />It’s SHOCKING that there was no competent minister to take over the most important seat in Maharashtra governance immediately.<br />It’s SHOCKING that they haven’t figured out that if we wanted to be divisive as a nation we would have would have voted for fundamentalist Hindutva slogan shouting saffron groups that have created Hindu- Muslim hostilities or Manoos crazy lunatics that create regional hatred and segregations.<br />It’s EVEN MORE SHOCKING that they haven’t stopped catering to vote bank politics and are THEMSELVES orchestrating divisive politics. What is this “if Dalit chief minister then Maratha home minister” NONSENSE!!! What happened to the concept of THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB irrespective of caste, religion or gender??? Have the congress forgotten, or maybe not even realised, that the Indian population does NOT care for divisiveness or our gender/ caste/ religious differences? And the greatest proof of that is that they voted a party to power that had a foreigner at the helm.<br />It’s SHOCKING that the ruling government will not only keep dabbling in divisive politics but will not even save us from the horrific fall out of it. The Shiv sena and MNS claimed that north Indians are a menace to Mumbai but it is only THEM that have held the city to ransom. It is only their political groups that have REPEATEDLY over months and years vandalized the city, thrashed cab drivers, burnt hundreds of buses, hit and beat innocents on the street, brought the economic hub of India continually to a stand still with forced bandhs and cost the tax payers thousands of crores in damages and loss of revenue. For years despite our cries for help the Congress did NOTHING about it and pretty much looked the other way. It’s SHOCKING!!!<br />It’s SHOCKING that the Congress has not been intolerant and stern with such goons from the very beginning. We could have put that those thousands of wasted crores to much better use… like our security!!!<br />It’s SHOCKING that despite Mumbai being the economic hub of the country and putting out over 40 percent of the country’s taxes that the city still lacks security and infrastructure.<br />It’s SHOCKING that 50 odd years post independence that as a nation we STILL LACK infrastructure, accountability, transparency and a solid game plan to rid corruption, poverty and terror on our streets.<br />It’s SHOCKING that our politicians take so much care about their personal security (paid for by OUR tax money) and care so little about the citizens of the country that elected them. Times of India’s front page told the story of a common man who walked into the CST, popularly know as VT station, (where the terror rampage happened) exactly 4 days post the incident with a revolver. He walked through the metal detectors at many entry and exit points and was not even stopped once. He then went to the cops and demanded to know WHY he was not stopped and was told they hadn’t heard the beeps.<br />It’s SHOCKING that despite mammoth budgets for our defence fund we have ineffective metal detectors to protect the common man, ineffective bullet proof vests to protect our brave forces, and the use of NSG commandos only for politicians.<br />It’s SHOCKING that it’s taken so long for national outrage. However, I say better late than never and it’s time to demand ACTION and to turn a deaf ear to their promises.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are 3 things I’d like to say to the Congress…<br />1. It’s time to LISTEN to the people of India and care for THEM, because a democracy is “of the people, by the people and FOR the people”.<br />2. The symbol of the Congress is the hand. The same hand can either caress and comfort the population or slap them repeatedly. The choice is theirs.<br />3. They are accountable for what they do and also what they don’t do. Inaction is also action.<br />4. If they don’t show the public visible change very soon, I’m sure the public will make sure they change the government…. Their time to effect change starts…. NOW!!!<br /><strong></strong>Pooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834346588893188886.post-61736268963948308752008-10-22T23:38:00.000-07:002008-10-22T23:39:58.156-07:00attack a celebrity and become one!!!We need to have our obscenity act better defined. On the grounds of “obscenity and vulgarity” we have random people and organisations, even politicians jump onto the “lets attack a celebrity bandwagon”, be it for the clothes they wear (Mallika Sherawat’s new years costume), the language they use, the people they hug (Shilpa and Richard Gere), or the fact that Rahul Mahajan rubbed a bit of oil on Payal Rohatgi’s legs in Bigg Boss season 2. It makes one really makes one wonder!!! Why don’t we see the same politicians/leaders/ religious groups take rape issues, burning of innocents, and constant destruction of public property by various groups with as much zeal? Why is it that the same people who attack celebrities and launch FIR’s against them for improper conduct do not seem to have the same zeal to tackle heinous crimes and dangerous people in society who target countless innocent but unknown people? Why is it that they will not personally take it upon themselves to take the MNS to court for attacking non Maharashtrian’s and for all the loss caused by their violent outbursts but will be the first to attack celebrities because the outfit was too revealing?<br />Mallika Sherawats short skirt, a bit of oil on Payal’s legs and Salman Khan enjoying a Hindu festival does not cause innocent people to lose their livelihood, fear for their lives, suffer loss of loved ones and property, or get beaten up! However, it has been seen that various organisations that jump up and start morcha’s and stage violent protest, DO CAUSE ALL THE ABOVE!!!<br />If the public does not like what they see on TV or on film, they see they can simply change the channel or walk out of a cinema hall or choose not to be a fan of the person in question. The fact is, the most attacked celebrities have the maximum number of fans and the TV show in question has superb TRP’s, which is proof in itself that the audience is clearly enjoying it and finds nothing objectionable about the same. They’re clearly not tuning out.<br />Has it just become fashionable to attack celebrities? Does the fact that the media jumps into the fray when a celebrity is involved in a “controversy” make it that much appealing? Does it tantamount to instant fame for the attacking group or individual?<br />We haven’t despite the entire hullabaloo over the years seen even one organisation or politician request the courts to clarify what is obscene and what is not. Probably because the ambiguity suits them and they can launch themselves as the upholders of morality and get instant fame. What is obscene and what is not is clearly left up to the personal standards of every Indian citizen and given the sizeable numbers of our population and different strata’s in society that’s a helluva lot of permutations and interpretations of the same.<br /><br />I think it’s high time the film and entertainment industry put a stop this easy route to fame for others and protected themselves and their interests. As a family we need to approach the courts for a clear understanding as to what qualifies as obscene and immoral. Till such time, I’m sorry to say, they have loaded guns and clear intent, and we’re just sitting ducks!!Pooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834346588893188886.post-27749003353010024662008-08-15T00:41:00.000-07:002008-08-15T04:09:28.587-07:00Happy Independence Day  <p></p> <p>Happy Independence Day!! May we be free of pettiness of mind, free of the pressure of conformity, freedom from fear and most importantly, gender bias!!!</p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVg_3Q61BI/AAAAAAAAAIs/A_4uIgMspmg/s1600-h/1%5B13%5D.jpg"><img title="1" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 12px 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="302" alt="1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVdpDy3IxI/AAAAAAAAAIw/GivAuIpgosQ/1_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>My recent reality show Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi was a liberating experience and is, according to me, an’ Indian male fairy tale’ malfunction!!! I mean, what happened to the good Indian girl who cooked, cleaned, screamed at the sight of a cockroach and let the man wear the pants?</p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVdrHzrKVI/AAAAAAAAAI0/GKI8Bk5csqI/s1600-h/4%5B11%5D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 12px 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="284" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVjpJ044BI/AAAAAAAAAI4/qUFjAvyfw04/4_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>In a complete antithesis to the image of the domesticated Indian woman, 13 girls in assorted shapes and sizes, with polar personalities ranging from the “goody two shoes” bahu of television Anita Hassanandani, to daughter of Maharashtra’s soil Sonali Kulkarni, effervescent tomboy Urvashi Sharma, calm and composed twins Tapur and Tupur and others (including me J ), have blazed a trail of glory on television sets across the country leaving most of India’s male population gob-smacked. </p> <p></p> <p>Having said that I don’t think that I, or for that matter any of the other girls had fathomed the hazards that lay ahead of us in South Africa or the degree of heroism we would have to exhibit when we boarded the plane.</p> <p></p> <p>I had with great excitement scoured the internet and You Tube for video’s of Fear Factor and with every gruesome, awesome, overwhelming, exhilarating visual tried to envision what my body and mind were going to be subjected to. Ha ha!! Trust me. NOTHING prepares you for the reality or adrenalin rush of Fear Factor! </p> <p></p> <p>The schedule of KKK was grueling, as were the conditions we shot in. But I was up for the challenge be it 4 am wake up calls, minus one degree weather, bruises and injuries, or just the most mind boggling stunts. After all, the tag line is ‘Jo Dar Gaya Woh Ghar Gaya”, and I for one, was most certainly not ready to go home. </p> <p></p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVdyTtr4rI/AAAAAAAAAI8/HrYDg-hsga0/s1600-h/3%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="3" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 12px 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="291" alt="3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVd1u_cGeI/AAAAAAAAAJA/KR01l4nKFqo/3_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="389" border="0" /></a></p> <p></p> <p>Why would I? When else in life would I have the chance to experience being so many super heroes rolled into one. I have felt like super girl when I have flown off high rise buildings without a care as to where I land, like spider woman when I have climbed across glass buildings 12 floors high with suction cups, like James Bond when I have flipped and smashed a BMW, like Medusa surrounded by innumerable snakes, and like Rambo when I’ve jumped off helicopters into icy waters.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The reach and impact of television is phenomenal and as a result of it, the last one month has been euphoric!!! It feels wonderful, utterly wonderful to walk into malls, multiplexes and restaurants and be surrounded by people applauding my bravado, older women telling me that I’ve made them proud, younger women telling me I’m inspirational and having men doff their hats in my direction. </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVd5Qd8VnI/AAAAAAAAAJE/bNyN_1DmiD4/s1600-h/2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="2" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 12px 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="310" alt="2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVeC12cYuI/AAAAAAAAAJI/nxkhYmyjnzs/2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>I truly hope the superb ratings and enormous success of KKK is representative of a changing mind-set in middle class India. That somehow families have broken away from <em>saas bahu</em> melodramas and been inspired to take on challenges, to dare, to achieve and most importantly to break moulds. That irrespective of gender, whoever watched KKK connected with the dormant strength they are innately blessed with and most importantly, that they’ve learned it’s ok to fail, but that its not okay to not try. </p> <p></p> <p>I’m also hoping on the 61st year of our independence that more and more women of modern India trade kitchen politics for the real thing. Women first achieved the right to stand for public office in South Australia in 1894 but in India, Sarojini Naidu, became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1925. </p> <p></p> <p>Be it politics, business, IT, industry, entertainment, banking and all the way into space, the emergence of the new Indian woman is apparent vis-à-vis her representation in cinema, modern literature, newspapers and magazines and this tough woman wants to be seen and to be heard. She’s moving from proving her virtuosity to proving her mettle. I mean, if a modern day Sita had been asked to the walk across burning coals she’d probably respond with “get a life”, or divorce you, or ask you to see a shrink. If you persist, she will in all probability march you off to the cops. And then again, maybe post Khatron ke Khiladi she’d call it stunt # 33 and do it just for fun!!! </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVeJNlgY8I/AAAAAAAAAJM/BFa3CeRwyyI/s1600-h/5%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 12px 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="338" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/pooja.bedi66/SKVeLXxexOI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/1k1xbkzn6Hg/5_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" border="0" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I’m constantly being asked as to how I got the courage to perform such death defying stunts. I have 2 answers. First, are my children, because I believe in leading by example and I want them to grow up to be fearless and take on all challenges that life will send their way. And the second is that, it’s not because things are difficult that we don’t dare. It’s because we don’t dare, that things are difficult!!!</p> <p> <br />Hugs and happiness, <br />Pooja <br />poojabediblogs.blogspot.com</p> Pooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834346588893188886.post-24719573026994357722008-08-04T04:42:00.001-07:002008-08-04T04:42:36.581-07:00It's a magical worldHiiiiii People,<br /><br />Hope all are in high spirits. I am back home after a month long shoot from South Africa and have some free time at hand, so thought of logging on and checking mails and stuff. Internet- It’s one of the best things that has happened to us, And I have decided to make the best use of it. I was already very active on Facebook when one day it dawned to me that here’s another way where not only can I express myself but also can connect to you guys more. So here I am.<br /><br />The Internet has fundamentally transformed our lives in ways that we could never have imagined about a decade ago. Its influence on how we connect with each other has been the single most defining factor of the new millennium.<br /><br />This is the era of networking and when you think about it, we are actually living in a very exciting age, one where you can connect with just about everyone and everything at the click of a mouse. And this is not restricted to individuals or groups - you can literally plug into the universal consciousness and enter a parallel e-world where every person is ‘connected 24 by 7’.<br /><br />It’s almost as if we have this great supercomputer running on human energy with an infinite number of links that throw up a multi dimensional range of emotions, utterly fascinating and extremely compelling at the same time.<br /><br />Most importantly, the Internet has played a vital role in changing the one-dimensional way in which people used to previously get information, which would more often than not, end up shaping their perceptions in a rather skewed manner.<br /><br />For instance- the story of the five blind men and the elephant. For those who skipped this one in school, it’s about how each one of them bases his impressions on the portion of its body he comes into contact with. The one who gets hold of the tail declares that the elephant is like a rope, the one who grabs its leg swears that it is like a tree trunk and so on.<br /><br />Similarly people often end up making up their minds about people they have never met - especially celebrities - after just glancing through a few gossip columns. Someone would tag you in one manner another would fit you in one slot.<br /><br />Having been through this sort of multi dimensional assessment myself, this blog is my way of saying there’s a lot more to me than just a sum of all the parts people tend to gossip about. I am what I am and through this blog, you will in time, get to know the real me.<br /><br />Until my next post you guys can catch me on Khatoron Ke Khiladi on Colors channel. Some time later I'll write about how it was to be there.<br /><br />Hugs and happiness,<br /><br />Pooja<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[Would love to read your comments.Click below on comments to leave one back]</span>Pooja Bedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553998161506810131noreply@blogger.com98