Many of us might have come across this clueless term. Clueless because it is very difficult to predict that this may not belong to English - considering the fact that it is used in English (as well).
Well R. S. V. P. stands for a French phrase "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply." This, apparently is the most basic etiquette (rather rule) in Western culture, which, I believe, is sort of common sense, a courtesy that should very well be tacit! For instance, a person sending the invitation would like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. Even from a practical point of view this is important for efficient planning.
Ok fine, but why the French connection?
Well, history has it that French was the language of refinement and high society through the 19th century in the United States. Many of the practices of Western etiquette came from the French court of King Louis XIV in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At Versailles, his palace, Louis XIV had the rules for court behavior written on what the French referred to as "tickets," or "étiquette." The tickets either were signs posted at Versailles or were the invitations issued to court events with the rules of behavior printed on the back.
So the next time you know that you should reply... in the meanwhile R. S. V. P. to my blog ;-)
Ref: Howstuffworks.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
House of Uncommons
I was just going through the HT Café today and came across a few articles that discussed the lives of people who prefer not being in the limelight or are proud to be unconventional.
James Ferreira is one such person who likes to swim against the tide and is really bold about it. This 51 year old is a fashion designer by profession and teaches couture at the SNDT University. Inspiring enough because he boasts to be a promoter, admirer and a practitioner of the originality in Indian fashion design. He can identify well the thin line between being inspired by the western designs and adopting them. The base still needs to be Indian that is what his concern is. Starkly against the fashions portrayed in the Bollywood, a great fan of Karl Lagerfield James returns back after a sabbatical of 3 years!
Ghazal exponent Talat Aziz (52) speaks about his current work, his inspiration and about the authentic ghazal singers going extinct. After doing Bayaan-e-Ghalib with Farooque Shaikh in Kolkatta, Mr. Aziz is working on a musical composition in the honor of Mirza Ghalib, Sonu Nigam collaborating with his voice.
James Ferreira is one such person who likes to swim against the tide and is really bold about it. This 51 year old is a fashion designer by profession and teaches couture at the SNDT University. Inspiring enough because he boasts to be a promoter, admirer and a practitioner of the originality in Indian fashion design. He can identify well the thin line between being inspired by the western designs and adopting them. The base still needs to be Indian that is what his concern is. Starkly against the fashions portrayed in the Bollywood, a great fan of Karl Lagerfield James returns back after a sabbatical of 3 years!
Ghazal exponent Talat Aziz (52) speaks about his current work, his inspiration and about the authentic ghazal singers going extinct. After doing Bayaan-e-Ghalib with Farooque Shaikh in Kolkatta, Mr. Aziz is working on a musical composition in the honor of Mirza Ghalib, Sonu Nigam collaborating with his voice.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan – design and history
Originally called THE VICEREGAL LODGE, this PRESIDENT’S ABODE is the most prestigious address in the country! Why should this not be one of the reasons for vying for the post of the President of the largest democracy in the world?
After writing the above lines I realized, as well, that the word “the” is perhaps the most prestigious, eminent and an emeritus word in the history of English! J
How it all started?
Well, one fine day on 11 December 1911, King George V decided to transfer the capital of British India from Calcutta (now Kolkatta) to New Delhi. Then Edwin Lutyens was entrusted with the job of designing THE VICEROY’S LODGE. About the same time he was also required to design a similar house in Britain. It seems he traveled to n fro between India and Britain once every year for about 20 years!
Till date THE RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN remains the largest residence for any President in the world – WHITE HOUSE included!
Wow! One more reason why I am proud to be an Indian (so what if we have not built it). For that matter, I am even proud of VJTI even though its not built by us.
What with the design?
THE RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN is a complex concoction of colonial and mughal architecture an ancient vaastu shashtra beliefs.
For instance, no steel was used in the entire structure => Saturn is eliminated. So what? The logic is that Saturn is the planet of masses and since President is not directly elected by the people Saturn is was seen off. Then, the protruding roof and the dome was a precaution against the water seeping for India that is conspicuously characterized by rains. An argument was that whether the famous dome that is a spectacle for the tourists, was inspired by the Pantheon of Rome or the Sanchi Stupa. I have not taken pains to find out what was concluded.
Astrologically, these design elements symbolize grace, stability, financial integrity and balance.
History has it that most Indian Presidents have come out clean and are noted for peaceful governance. I hope the trend continues this time as well….
MAA TUJHE SALAAM
After writing the above lines I realized, as well, that the word “the” is perhaps the most prestigious, eminent and an emeritus word in the history of English! J
How it all started?
Well, one fine day on 11 December 1911, King George V decided to transfer the capital of British India from Calcutta (now Kolkatta) to New Delhi. Then Edwin Lutyens was entrusted with the job of designing THE VICEROY’S LODGE. About the same time he was also required to design a similar house in Britain. It seems he traveled to n fro between India and Britain once every year for about 20 years!
Till date THE RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN remains the largest residence for any President in the world – WHITE HOUSE included!
Wow! One more reason why I am proud to be an Indian (so what if we have not built it). For that matter, I am even proud of VJTI even though its not built by us.
What with the design?
THE RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN is a complex concoction of colonial and mughal architecture an ancient vaastu shashtra beliefs.
For instance, no steel was used in the entire structure => Saturn is eliminated. So what? The logic is that Saturn is the planet of masses and since President is not directly elected by the people Saturn is was seen off. Then, the protruding roof and the dome was a precaution against the water seeping for India that is conspicuously characterized by rains. An argument was that whether the famous dome that is a spectacle for the tourists, was inspired by the Pantheon of Rome or the Sanchi Stupa. I have not taken pains to find out what was concluded.
Astrologically, these design elements symbolize grace, stability, financial integrity and balance.
History has it that most Indian Presidents have come out clean and are noted for peaceful governance. I hope the trend continues this time as well….
MAA TUJHE SALAAM
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
twinkle twinkle little star,
how I wonder what you are
up above the world so high
like a diamond in the air!
This is a tribute to my mother and my junior grade teacher who first taught me how to express my ideas in the form of words. Without them life would have been depressing different. Even today when I subscribe to these and other childhood memories, I feel I am in my utopian comfort zone free from all worries, chases and expectations that my life (just as any other's) is stalked with.
Another reason why I started my blog with this post is that I believe it is possible to strike a parallel between this poem and offering worship to Lord Ganesha before the start of any task.
What a better way to start a blog than this gesture!
Well, I haven't thought of a theme before creating this blog and why I started blogging suddenly is because I realised that there so much of information that I am gaining every moment, at the same time I am not putting in efforts pause and give them a thought and perhaps channelise this information! I consider this blog as a place to vent and develop my thought process.
Hence each and every comment of yours would go a long way in my small achievement :-) The bottom line is pls comment generously, critically, regularly!
Happy Reading!
how I wonder what you are
up above the world so high
like a diamond in the air!
This is a tribute to my mother and my junior grade teacher who first taught me how to express my ideas in the form of words. Without them life would have been depressing different. Even today when I subscribe to these and other childhood memories, I feel I am in my utopian comfort zone free from all worries, chases and expectations that my life (just as any other's) is stalked with.
Another reason why I started my blog with this post is that I believe it is possible to strike a parallel between this poem and offering worship to Lord Ganesha before the start of any task.
What a better way to start a blog than this gesture!
Well, I haven't thought of a theme before creating this blog and why I started blogging suddenly is because I realised that there so much of information that I am gaining every moment, at the same time I am not putting in efforts pause and give them a thought and perhaps channelise this information! I consider this blog as a place to vent and develop my thought process.
Hence each and every comment of yours would go a long way in my small achievement :-) The bottom line is pls comment generously, critically, regularly!
Happy Reading!
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