"Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

"I entered like a winner." -Vasuki Sunkavalli

Those who know Miss Universe India 2011 Vasuki Sunkavalli use many words to describe her. Confident, intelligent, genuine, kind, strong, beautiful, etc. Perhaps the most fitting word is driven. This is a woman who has, in a relatively short time, accomplished many things. Undoubtedly, the most striking thing about Vasuki is her unyielding drive. She sets a goal, she works towards it, and she achieves it. What better role model for the young girls of today?

Vasuki attended Symbiosis International University and graduated with an LL.B degree in 2007. While there she was president of the Human Rights Cell and Deputy Editor of the University Law Review. It was during this period that she was approached several times by members of the fashion industry. She declined as her priority then was her education. She knew if tried to do both, she wouldn’t be able to give her all to either. Doing something halfway is not acceptable to Vasuki. In 2006, she received the Law School prize for Most Diligent Mooter and won the gold medal in the Inter-College Moot Court competition. At graduation, she was awarded the D.L. Mazumdar Medal for Overall Outstanding Performance in 2007 and the Mother Teresa Scholarship for exceptional work in Human Rights. Vasuki also found time to do an internship at a law firm conducting research and assisted in drafting license agreements. While in law school, she did a series of internships at India’s National Human Rights Committee where she drafted petitions and wrote shadow reports regarding women’s issues and general human rights issues such as right to healthcare and water.

In 2007, Vasuki made her entry into Indian fashion when she walked the ramp at Wills India Fashion Week. For the next two years, she had a prolific career as a model. She participated in various shows for many of India’s top designers and modeled for brands based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata. She was also part of the ad campaigns of Nike, Kit Kat, and World Gold Council. During this period, Vasuki also worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Avahan Project for HIV/AIDS as Programming Officer. As assistant to the program director, she drafted policies and conducted fieldwork in an effort to spread awareness and introduce sex education to rural areas.

In 2009, Vasuki enrolled at New York University to study International Law and Human Rights. She graduated with an LLM as a recipient of the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship. Upon graduating, she interned at the Human Rights Watch in NYC where she worked on reports regarding illegal police detentions and children’s rights. She was then appointed as the Third Committee’s research assistant at the United Nations’ Permanent Mission of India. While there, she concentrated on human rights.

As one can see, Vasuki is deeply committed to making a contribution to the world that has given her so much. Infact, it was one of the reasons behind her enrollment in the Miss Universe pageant. Vasuki is many things. Vasuki is a woman on a relentless pursuit to make a difference. She is a lawyer, an athlete (she played basketball at both state and national levels for eight years), a model, and a crusader for human rights. But to those who know Vasuki, she is quite simply a woman whose gorgeous face pales in comparison to her inner beauty. Many say she is a beauty with brains, but she is in fact much more. She is a brutally honest woman who fights fearlessly for that which she believes is right. Vasuki demonstrates the generosity of spirit and dedication to community that is expected not only of a Miss Universe, but of a true citizen of world.

To vote for Vasuki in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Brazil, click here.

If money wasn't an issue, and if you had to completely ditch your life as it is now and pack up everything... where would you choose to go? What would you do?


Manhattan!




I would walk for miles... breathe in the city... take photos of everyone and everything... eat pizza at 2AM... watch the pigeons... shop for roadside art... sip coffee while listening to the city's cries... welcome the new year in Times Square... stroll through rain and snow in no particular direction... go to Lincoln Center for Fashion Week... jog in Central Park... and become one with the city.

is this progress?

This post is about the following article...

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/four-grams-of-gold-free-of-cost-for-girls-getting-married-jayalalithaa/791626/

Briefly put, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha has pledged to give 4 grams of gold to women getting married. Her other pledges involve free rice, etc.

I'd like to know why incentives are being offered that promote marriage but not education. What the young girls of India need is schooling so they can be financially independent. With this offering of gold, yes there will be people who benefit. But there will also be those who take advantage of the system. Who is to say this won't encourage women to get married several times? Or for men to take advantage of unassuming women in the greed for gold? Has anyone considered the consequences of this policy?

The days of securing one's future via marriage are long gone. We should be encouraging children to become self-sufficient and the way to do that is through education. Politicians, knowingly or not, seem to be stepping on progress with policies such as these. It is time to elect those who recognize the importance of education.

my day job vs my passion

Medicine is my day job. Fashion is my passion.

Medicine is in my blood. Fashion helps me breathe.

Medicine is faith. Fashion is religion.

Medicine is not for all though it should be. Fashion is for all though it shouldn't be.

Medicine is science, logic. Fashion is art, limitless.

Medicine is work. Fashion is instinct.

Medicine lets me help people. Fashion helps me.

Medicine is what my mind tells me to do. Fashion is what my soul needs me to do.

who is your hero?

I believe a hero to be any person who inspires you to be your best. To push limits and surpass expectations. A hero compels you to think, to act. A hero is someone who leads without intending to, inspires without words, and endures in the face of overwhelming adversity.

People often cite famous names when asked who their hero is. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, etc. These are men and women who have achieved great things and whose stories inspire millions.

I have been lucky enough to find my hero in a person I not only know, but with whom I share a very special relationship.

Mom is many things. She is a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a friend, a doctor. When you see her with her family, you see a woman with immense patience and unwavering loyalty. If you talk to her friends, you will hear of a woman who not only cares tremendously but has the guts to be honest, even if it could jeopardize a friendship. In her interactions with her patients, you see a confident physician with genuine concern and a desire to heal.

People are amazed when they see how close Mom and I are. I believe that we've struck the perfect balance; yes, she is my mother but she has also become one of my closest friends. I have always cherished my relationship with Mom not only because of its rarity but also for its role in shaping my identity. She didn't just give me life; I inherited from her a heart that loves without hesitation, a soul free of demons, and an open mind.

Mom always says she was blessed with the most supportive and wonderful parents anyone could ask for and I couldn't agree more. Neither of my grandparents were educated but of their five children, one is a math genius, one a doctor, one a lawyer, and one an engineer. My grandfather feared nothing and worked tirelessly so his children could have what he never did. My grandmother is a dynamic woman whose generosity and compassion know no limits. An uneducated couple from rural India raising such successful children might elicit surprise but only until you meet them. They are proof that hard-work and perseverance will take you far.

One of the things I admire most about Mom is her strength. She has overcome many obstacles, on both personal and professional fronts. She has a way of finding the good in people and extracting the lessons from bad situations all the while remaining undaunted. She doesn't compromise on her principles and she doesn't rest until she reaches her goal.

As a mother, Mom supports me, guides me; and the best thing about her is that she has never, ever let me doubt that. As a woman, Mom inspires me to be better than my best and reach farther than I dared. I sometimes look at her in awe for who she is, why she is, and how she came to be. I believe myself to be incredibly blessed to have her in my life and am proud to call her my mother. She is compassionate to those in need, devoted to her commitments, and relentless in her pursuits. If I could be a tenth of the person she is, I would consider myself a great success.

who is the real enemy?

The Guardian reported this week on documents that find Pakistani Intelligence Agency (ISI) to have been involved with the 26-11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008. The document is a report of the interrogation of suspect David Headley.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/18/pakistan-isi-mumbai-terror-attacks

Headley claims that ISI not only met with the LeT but also partially financed two of their missions. ISI officials have denied it and it is being said that perhaps the top-ranked officials were "unaware of atleast the scale of the planned strike." Also, Headley's wife stated that she approached the FBI to report her husband's activities but was ignored.

In the wake of all of this, there is going to be a lot of anger and justifiably so. I'm very torn on this issue. I'd like to know why the ISI is not being held accountable for their actions. I think the United States fancies themselves as the "neutral" parent to two fighting children. If they don't want to "pick a side," that's fine. This is not a playground. What concerns me is that more and more administrations are choosing to stay quiet and be "politically correct" rather than condemn that which is wrong.

Is it solely an India-Pakistan thing? Because when Israeli soldiers brutally attacked an aid ship a few months ago, the Obama administration condemned Israel, a US ally.

When the Twin Towers were attacked, Americans sprang into action. President Bush said he would "go get the people who did this" and a war on terror was declared. Less than a month later on October 7, the US Army marched into Afghanistan. The same administration told Indians to be calm, rational, and not act too quickly when over 160 people were killed by armed militants. These men snuck onto Indian soil and brutally shot men, women, and children. Many claim that the attacks were about religion. But it wasn't just Hindus that died. A Jewish center was among the places attacked. Americans and Britons also died that day.

Last month, I criticized the Indian government for not being more cooperative with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. I'm starting to understand a little more now why they are so resistant. In light of all this, I find myself wondering if peace is even on Pakistan's agenda.

I'd like to make clear that I have nothing against the people of Pakistan. From what I've read, seen, and heard, the Pakistani government is an inaccurate representation of its people. It would be wrong to hold the citizens of any nation accountable for the actions of their government.

I may hold citizenship in the US but India is the country of my birth and has shaped my identity and my outlook. I will never apologize for denouncing attacks on India or her people. Moreover, as an educated individual, I have the guts to speak out when that which is precious to me is threatened. Do you?


"That which is morally wrong can never be politically right." -Khushwant Singh