Blogging has taught me to be open to debates: Swaram

‘The Song of Life – http://thesongoflife.wordpress.com/’ is my abode on the blogosphere My blog name, Swaram is inspired by my love for music and is also a combination of my first and last name which is Swathi Ram. I am just another being trying to discover myself and be the change I want to see. Professionally, I am a software developer in the field of telecommunications. I was born on the 21^st of June in the beautiful, homely city of Mysore at my grandparent’s place and spent all my life in Bengaluru, until we moved to Hyderabad 2 years back on an assignment. My interests include music, reading, cooking, home-décor, travelling, photography and of course blogging. And eh, how can I forget, my new found love is farming, thanks to Farmville on FB 😉

Swathi Ram, aka Swaram

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

• A: First things first, I thank SpeakBindas team for giving me this opportunity. It’s definitely one of the happiest moments of my life.

• I like the way this question has been framed. Blogging is definitely ‘a part of life‘ now. It’s been a little more than 2 years now; October 2007 is when I started blogging to be precise.

• The credit definitely goes to my husband Su, indirectly if you say so 😉 One fine day, he announced that he had a surprise for me and showed me his new-born blog. Until then, I had not even read a single blog, except for a few which feature on the IBN webpage probably. Reading and writing had always been something I loved doing, thanks to my Mom and Dad, who encouraged me to participate in lots of debates, essay competitions, lecture contests and so on. Call it jealousy or as I always say the belief in equality lolz 😉 or inspiration, I started blogging too. I was a contributor on Su’s blog too along with my FIL and few others; somehow, that blog is not alive and kicking now!

• That was how the journey began and there has been no looking back ever since.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

• A: It’s just about everyday life and everything that touches it – little joys, a few rants sometimes, about inspiring people and thoughts and even social, environmental, religious and politicalmatters too. My blog is my diary where I write things just as I feel about them and whenever I feel like writing. It’s a place where I would turn to some day and feel happy reading about the sweet moments and recollect the lessons I have learnt from the low-key ones.

• Yes, I do have a team. I think blogging is infact a team effort. What would I do without my lovely friends who take time to read my posts, whether it’s nodding their head in unison with me or stating their view point and giving me a chance to think from another angle, giving me their valuable suggestions when I need them, cheering me up when I am feeling low, going wow wow with me when I am happy, they definitely form an integral part of my blogging. And yeah, the lurkers are a part of it too. It’s like an extended family with which I wait to share my joyous moments, travel tales, my feelings and so on.

• As for writing, its been only me until now, but for a few tit-bits I have included from people on few posts, like one which I did on my home-city Bengaluru and added a few fellow city bloggers’ take on the same.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

• A: Blogging for me is more about connecting with people. I make it a point to respond to each and every comment that I receive. I think it makes people feel wanted in my space and know that I value what they have to say. Well, I never say people should feel compelled to visit the bloggers who visit them, though I do that almost regularly or at least as and when time permits. But, probably, they can take time and reply to the comments.

• During my initial days, I had absolutely no readers and I went about writing just for myself. After a few days, I started reading some blogs and even left my comments there. Absolutely no offense meant … each person is different and they may have their own commitments. Honestly speaking though, as a reader, I felt bad when there was no response to few of my comments. So, I know the value of comments and make it a point to respond to whatever people have to say.

• I remember how elated I was when I received the first comment on my blog from the two famous authors Jigyasa and Pratibha, who have a culinary blog. They were working on their second book then and I was so happy to see that they had taken time to read my blog and leave a comment; a sweet gesture indeed. It felt really nice interacting with people. New bonds were forged, friends for life found and these continue till date; it’s an absolutely wonderful feeling.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

• A: Thanks to WordPress, I see that the min. no of hits per day have been 72 and max. 742.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

• A: Blogging for me is just about pouring my heart out. It’s my take on different things and at the same time accepting and understanding what people feel about the same. I have never thought about using it as a medium for making money, at least for now. On the other hand, I absolutely love working in the field I have chosen to and have no plans of quitting it either.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

• A: Ahem… this is the toughest question here 😉 The interview will run pages together if I have to answer this one. So, let me just say, I love each of the blogs that I read for something or the other – the like-mindedness, the writing style, the simplicity, the intellectual thoughts they contain and so on. People whom I read know who they are.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

• A: LOL. Let me have a look if I have a secret bucket 😉 Just be yourself, write what you feel without being influenced by external forces, learn the art of acceptance and interact with people. Well, that’s all I can say.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

• A: Well, it does have a significant role to play in my life. I feel I have evolved as an individual and am changing for the better along this journey. It has taught me to be open to debates, to accept contradictions and keep my cool while interacting, to give people their space, to respect critics etc… I also get to learn good qualities that I feel people possess as I see through their writing. Most of all, my faith in love and relations has increased manifold now. It reinstates faith that life is indeed beautiful and we are surrounded by such warm and affectionate people in between the scary episodes we read, see and hear about.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

• A: I am not sure if I can select the happiest one. I believe that life is full of sweet little joys. It’s only up to us to see and identify them and realize that every moment of life is worth living.

• The day when my little sister scored 98/99/100 in PCM in her 12^th, even when she had to undergo an emergency operation for a boil on her neck, it was really special for me. I respect her a lot for the spirit with which she took it all and never complained.

• When I see the spirit with which my Dad and Mom take their career even now, winning so many awards.

• The day Su won the client award of the highest order – now, that was the only reason I excused him for coming home late every day for more than a month 😉

• When my chotu cousins, whom I love as much, win accolades, like when my sister Sindhu performed her Rangapravesham in Bharatnatyam along with being a national level shuttle player, when Sunny made it to the newspaper for his hockey tournament win and so on.

• And of-course that day 3 years back when we were united in the sacred bond of marriage.

• Now you know, I can go on and on 😉

• So, let me just say I am happy with the life I have, my family, my friends and my blog too. Believe me, whenever I see a comment on my blog, it does bring a smile on my face.

• Gloomiest moments: When my Naana-Naani passed away. I was very very attached to them. It’s been about 9 years and 3 years now, but I still miss them so badly. I missed them hopelessly on my wedding day. If I just stood first in class, it was more than enough for them to tell all their friends and relatives. They used to come to Bengaluru for my annual day and for any other contests I used to attend. If only they knew I was being interviewed online, they would have probably called for a big party ha ha ha. I miss that love a lot now. Enjoy your life guys with the grand generation people when you are lucky enough to have it.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

• A: Aww… this is something I would definitely want to happen, given that I come from a travel-crazy family.

• Valley of flowers with a biggggg gang – family/friends – I just love the bounty of colours and variety nature has to offer @ this place and want to experience the joy. I love having company on such trips, so I want to go trekking there with a big, fun-loving gang.

• Kailash-Mansarovar – If not me, I would at least like to send my parents there. I just feel this is one place where you can be lost within Yourself, where u can feel u r in unison with the Supreme Power. And am sure, they would enjoy it the best.

• Venice – only Su and me 😉

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

• A: I do watch movies … but not the kind where I wait for the releases every Friday and grab tickets; not a movie buff or a fan of any actor as such. I wait eagerly only for the music release of the movie. I watch nice comedy ones or musicals or which carry a nice strong message. I like the ones with a mystery element like Miss Marple Series etc… The last movie we watched was Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

• A: Just one? I think I am extremely possessive about my loved ones. Gotta change: P

• I want to learn to forgive and forget.

• And yes, I am hypersensitive and cry @ the drop of a feather, let alone a hat 😉

• Lotsss of things to do 😉

Q: What is your deepest fear?

• A: Of hurting my loved ones.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

• A: My grandparents – they were one in spirit after all.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

• A: Travel, wildlife, cookery shows, tennis and cricket are what I watch usually. I do watch a few comedy shows and detective serials now and then, but most of them turn to crap after a few days is what I feel 😛 Presently, the only soap I follow is ‘Aapki Antara’ on Zee TV which is about the journey of life of an autistic child and her family.

• Music is my life and can get me out of my worst possible moods. I love all genres starting from that which lulls me to sleep to that which get my feet tapping. Favorite instrument I like to listen to is the flute.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

• A: I think I should answer this depending on why the question is being asked 😉

• Anyways, it’s Rs.460 and about 20-30, 1 or 2 rupee coins.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

• A: Anything pure veg. Favorite food should be chats n ice-creams. I like spicy food in general, may be because I am already very sweet 😉 😉 Opposites attract na: P

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

• A: According to me, its all about how we make use of the same. If we know where to draw the lines, they do make our life easy.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

• A: Blogging is already the BIG thing isn’t it? Twitter, FB and other things have come up and probably it’s easier to post updates there, but I think it’s only the blog where we can express ourselves the best. It’s a reflection of what we are and a veritable snapshot of our mind.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

• A: Live life to the fullest. Blog-world is a wonderland. It’s a miracle how people connect so well over it. If u don’t have one, go for it now.

• I want to convey my gratitude to thank the SpeakBindas team yet again for this once-in-a-life-time opportunity, my blog friends [I prefer to call all of you as friends and not readers; I am not any writer:P] and WordPress for allowing me to key in my non-stop chatter in my own free space online.

Cheers,

Swaram