Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast

Yes, this song. This song came to my mind when I was standing in the bus stand today, for 20 minutes at --49 degree centigrade. Although I am worse in dancing than any human walking on the face of earth, and although I shouldn't be proclaiming this fact in public and although this song is most remembered for its dance movements, and my dancing has got nothing to do with the disassociation of this song for its dance movements with my memory system, this came to my mind as I was struggling to keep blood circulating in my body.

Before I tell you why, do watch this video and do watch closely (Get your headphones on).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNIBmo2LmIw



Now, my eyelashes were freezing. I had a scarf put around my face (like Arab Bedouins, or so I would like to think) and then the vapour of exhalation was going in direct contact with my glasses. As a result, first, my glasses went cloudy. And then ice formed. And then, I panicked (as predictable).
If they broke, I wouldn't be able to see the bus number, teach to my students, or do anything sane. And a new pair of glasses would cost (sans the minimal fashionable look and with an eye exam...roughly around $175-$200). That would hurt....sorely.

So I was panicking and wishing I had a pair of glasses with an outer detachable layer and then an inner vacuumed layer (that wouldn't freeze or whatever...you do the scientific explanation)....much alike Paresh Rawal was wearing in the song. Instantly the song came to my mind and I was humming it.

In case you want to know who Paresh Rawal is, go back to the video link given above and see his entry around 1:54 minute...he's the other man, not the hero.

As I was saying...I actually liked the song and was singing it (not humming, but singing it in a low voice...)when I got onto the bus which came 20 minutes after.

I reached University, met my supervisor and learnt that one of my committee members wants me to change the focus of my research. Now, I'm doing multi-method. He's from the quantitative camp (and somehow I wasn't expecting the trouble from him....but from another member who belonged to the qualitative camp).
Turns out that he wants me to do "confirmatory qualitative research with a large sample size", with explicit specifications of variables and hypothesis AND research questions right from the first paragraph. On getting this first academic assualt, I promptly changed tracks from "cheez badi..." to "Kutte Kameene.....main tera...". Though it was not a song per se...but it fitted my mindset perfectly well. For any person who can envisage doing confirmatory qualitative research and tries to infiltrate and get disguised into the qualitative camp thereby, I have no better words for description. I should be fuming and foaming in the mouth, but well, here I am, blogging and thinking about Lalmohonbabu as he was examining yellow sandstone bowls in Jaisalmir ("Shonar Kella") and exclaiming in ecstasy "Eh to Sonar Pathorbati moshai!"

I need to find that yellow sandstone and create a sonar pathorbati and go back singing "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" ......................no not to myself, (Even if you might think so, let me correct you in your belief; I am, not, that narcissistic).....to my proposal.

How great is that? I would be doing Confirmatory, Qualitative Research!! Woo hoo!!!