Mugdha Hasabnis

UPDATE: Mugdha mentioned my name on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa website! Check it out!
http://srgmpss.zeetv.com/mugdha-hasabnis/

I am very proud of my student Mugdha Hasabnis who is doing a wonderful job singing on the 'American Idol' of India - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa! Here are some clips of her singing:





Cross your fingers for her! I am!

Questions about Westernization in India and Feminism

Growth: Questions about Westernization in India and Feminism

As globalization and westernization of the eastern world continues, I am wary about its effects on the average person living in India. India is developing at a rapid pace – every major city in India has shown dramatic growth in infrastructure and capital in the last ten years and the country is finally acquiring a substantial middle class due to the emergence of capitalism; not unlike America in the 20th century. In just two years in Chennai, I have seen almost a dozen flyovers come up, roads have been paved and re-paved, high-rise office spaces and apartment complexes have been erected, clubs and bars are opening left and right, malls and shopping centers boast western wear; not to mention western prices, and going to the beauty salon in India has become a religion in itself where women attend their weekly appointments with the same fervor and intensity as black women in America.

But is India growing up too fast? What are the consequences of developing too quickly without having the educational grounding beneath it? Should anyone ever do anything without knowing why they’re doing it? Shouldn’t lice-less hair, and personal hygiene take precedent over mini skirts and clubbing? Shouldn’t literacy and numeracy be promoted before promoting cell phone use in rural spaces? India has the unique opportunity to examine and analyze the development of the west and take the ‘good’ and reject the ‘bad’. Instead, because of globalization, because of the world wide web, because of terrible commercial American films that seem to do astonishingly well at local movie theaters, it seems that India is being bombarded with superficial aspects of western culture and it is happily sucking it all in like a sponge.

I am particularly disturbed when it comes to women and their ideas of Feminism. In a country where sex-education is still rejected as being unnecessary and too liberal for the average parent, is it really advisable for young women to be going out to clubs and bars at 18 wearing nothing but a mini skirt and a tube top? There seems to be an odd disconnect between logical thought and action in this situation. It seems that it is not appropriate for women to learn about sex, but it is okay for women to look like sex. What happens when the young woman gets into a situation that she doesn’t understand? Who does she blame? Who is accountable? In a country where sex is still not something you ever discuss, whom does she go to when she is taken advantage of? Not only is sex-education not promoted and/or available, but there is absolutely no support system for women who do happen to find themselves in a sticky situation (no pun intended). So now what? She wanted to be cool, she wanted to be hip, she wanted to go out– she has embraced American binge drinking culture (Chug! Chug! Chug!), and now she’s seeking an abortion clinic where the idea of doctor/patient confidentiality is merely wishful thinking. Yes, women own their bodies and yes, women can wear what they want, but every woman must be properly equipped with the education necessary to make informed, responsible decisions while being aware of the possible consequences that exist based on location, time, and culture.

Oddly enough, sexual repression in India seems to promote homosexual experimentation amongst young men and women. Because casual heterosexual interaction is still frequently discouraged and romantic interaction highly controlled, hormonal adolescents find it easier to sexually experiment with their friends of the same sex, than to interact with the opposite sex and risk ostracism from family and peers. Open heterosexual interaction has the potential of gossip and scandal – what better way to avoid that, than to gain some harmless experience and feed the hunger with your BFF? This is in stark contrast to teen sexual culture in the United States. Our western proclivity for logic and science makes us compartmentalize sexuality and place ourselves within a rigid sexual label that most people don’t deviate from.

Even more curious, same-sex experimentation amongst adolescents in India doesn’t change or alter their sexual identity. Teens don’t seem to feel any guilt or find the need to declaratively change their ideas about their own sexual identity once they have had an experience with the same-sex. This type of experimentation is shaken off, not talked about, and seen as trivial. In the west you hear the phrase “everyone is straight… until they’re not.” In the east you just hear, “everyone is straight, period.” Apparently here, actions do NOT speak louder than words.

Moreover, because the open declaration of homosexuality is avoided like the plague, even those who seem to be 150% gay (Heeey Grrrrrrrrl!) call themselves bi. Um honey, FYI - you aint foolin’ nobody.

Is this a new development in a developing world? Is the exposure to western sexual culture changing India’s youth or has this always existed? Is this the consequence of conservative British colonial rule?

What are your thoughts? More to follow…

Middlesex

It's been a few months since I've written. I think it's time to get back in the saddle. A lot of good things have been happening and I am happy and excited to once again be in Chennai.

The biggest news is that KMMC is finally officially affiliated with Middlesex University in London! I returned to Chennai at the end of June and immediately had to attend Middlesex meetings. Presentations were given by the Middlesex staff to try and create structure at KM. Everything that the foreign faculty at KM had been trying to do for the past two years (promote structure, organization, proper protocol, rules and regulations etc.) was summed up very succinctly by Middlesex in one week. It was delightful. One of the biggest aspects of building structure, is obviously building a hierarchy and system so that each person is held accountable for their actions. No one in the administration has ever been held accountable for their actions. Up until this point, whenever someone is questioned, they point at the other guy in response - "she did it, not me." I am thrilled that a system is finally in place - the question now is, who is going to monitor quality control? That brings me to my next little bit of news.

I have been promoted to an administrative position: Programme Leader. In the past month, I have been breaking my back writing writing writing rules and regulations, the student handbook, and protocol which basically puts me in charge of well, everything. It's a lot of work, but totally fulfilling. I like this position. I feel like I can manage people well. I feel like I have a good idea of what works and what doesn't. I think through problems thoroughly and from all angles before coming to a conclusion. But the position was appointed to me by Middlesex, and my sudden authority has left people feeling inadequate, annoyed and rather suspicious. My decisions are constantly questioned. But it is a challenge and I am enjoying it. (The photo is of Rahman's London assistant Anne-Marie and me in KM. She came with the Middlesex people and sat in on all the meetings.)

I spent a month slogging over the student handbook and as a reward to myself, I went and stayed at Fisherman's Cove for two nights with my friend Ayesha. Fisherman's Cove is a 5-star luxury Taj resort located halfway between Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Without traffic it only takes a half an hour to get there. I don't usually take 5-star vacations without the parents, but in this case, I felt like I was entitled (the new raise and all). It was amazing. The pool looked so inviting (especially the bar IN the pool, ha!), I decided to spend most of my time in it. Lounging around in your bathing suit in a city that doesn't allow you to wear shorts is a thrill that I can't even explain. I had a beautiful lobster dinner and even got a massage at the spa. It was wonderful. And the bathroom had a tub! I miss bathtubs...


On another happy note, my student last year, Mugdha Hasabnis is going to be on television on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa! She has been singing one of the pieces that I taught her to the judges and apparently they love it! They call her the "opera singer". Haha. It's an amazing feeling and I'm so proud of her. If you guys watch the show, cross your fingers!