The Scam of Romanticising the Past

There is a trend online where people are drawn to anything that looks old. Cars that barely run, bikes that need a push to start, Clothes from decades ago, cafes with broken walls and dim lights, all of this is now called meaningful and full of character. Social media keeps pushing the idea that things from the past are better than what we have now. And many people believe it.

This is not real respect for the past. It is just another trend. People are not choosing these things because they work better. They are choosing them because they want to stand out. A rusty scooter becomes cool. A broken Film camera becomes vintage. It is not about value. It is about attention. The truth is we moved on from these things for a reason. We upgraded because we needed comfort, speed and most importantly safety. Nothing about that is wrong.

The people who talk about the past like it was perfect are often the same ones enjoying every bit of modern life. They use fast internet, ride new bikes, wear modern clothes and still post about how good the old days were. They forget that many of those old things were not charming. They were just hard to live with. And people back then would have chosen better if they had the chance.

In most cases, this is not love for the past. It is a way to be different. In a world where everything works well, people pick what does not,  just to feel special. And social media loves that. Not because it is meaningful but because it looks good.

There is nothing wrong with liking old things. But fooling yourself into thinking they are better than what we have now is not Ideal. It is just a choice to ignore how far we have come.

Nothing deep. Just felt like writing.

Not everything has to start with a reason. Not every sentence needs to change the world. Sometimes you open a blank page, Not because you have figured something out or Not because you have got anything new to say. Just… because.

Today feels like one of those days.

Where I am not sad. Not happy. Not tired either. Just off. Like wearing a shoe that does not match your foot. You will survive. But you feel it all day.

There is no story here. No moral. No breakthrough waiting at the end. 

Do not expect something like clarity, conclusion or answers.

Because this is not that kind of writing.
This is the kind that just needs to exist for nothing.

Some days that is enough.

Peace.

When Blame Finds You Anyway

Sometimes a person gets blamed for something they never did. No questions are asked. No space is given to explain. The blame is placed. It becomes a truth for others even when it is false. The person is left standing with nothing but questions. It does not matter what really happened. It only matters what others have decided.

Being wrongly blamed does something to the mind. At first there is confusion. Then anger. Then comes doubt. Not just about the event but also about the self. The person begins to wonder if speaking up is worth it. They start holding back. Not because they are guilty, but because they are tired. Tired of trying to be understood in a room that has already made up its mind.

This kind of blame is not that huge. But it changes things. Slowly It changes how a person enters conversations. It changes how they respond to people. It creates a hesitation that was never there before. Life begins to shift in small ways. Trust breaks and the person who once spoke freely starts to filter every word.

The worst part is that these changes often go unnoticed. Even by the person going through them. They just start to feel less like themselves. More guarded and more distant. Friends may still laugh around them. But something feels off. Because something inside has changed. Not out of choice, but as a way to cope.

Blame, when placed carelessly does not correct. It corrodes. And sometimes the only way to protect yourself is to leave, where the truth is always up for debate.

Why I Prefer Riding Solo

 

Lately I have started to understand the actual fun of riding. Not just solo rides but the very act of motorcycling. For years I was in a bubble. A mindset that this is how rides are supposed to be. Go with the group. Stick to the plan. Be part of the usual routine. Discuss the same stuff. But after doing a solo ride my perspective changed.

And yeah before anyone jumps to judge, no I have not done hundreds of solo rides. Just a few. But that is the thing. It is not about the number of rides but about the experience. The shift that happens inside your head when you ride alone even once.

To begin with, my contacts started expanding. In a group ride you stay in your corner. Same people. Same vibe. Same content. Again and again. Even if you want to step out of that circle and talk to someone new, you hesitate. And in rare cases when you try, you are made fun of or made to feel small. That is how group rides work for many. But in solo rides, you have the liberty to speak. To meet new people. Some become memories. Some become lessons. Some walk with you for a while, some just pass through. But you connect. And that is something.

Your memories grow wider and deeper. You stop where you want. You click a photo if the moment feels right. You halt just to enjoy the place or the vibe. You breathe it in. Unlike group rides where someone else decides the pace, the plan and the halt. The vibe is already fixed before you reach. But solo rides, they have an insane vibe of their own. Raw. Free. Heartfelt. One you can actually enjoy the ride.

Then comes the part nobody likes to talk about that is the blame game. In group rides it is always around. Even if you make no mistake, someone is ready to point fingers. Nobody wants to understand your side. They just assume. Always assume. But in solo rides there is no one else to assume or blame. You take your decision. If something goes wrong, you deal with it. You do not have to carry someone else’s blame or clean up after them.

Over time you stop blaming others too. You learn to take responsibility. You stop explaining yourself. You stop giving reasons for every small thing you do. Because now there is no judgment. No eyes watching your every move. You find peace. You solve problems with a calm mind. You learn to move forward.

Another thing about group rides is the constant need to adjust to different skill levels, speeds and comfort zones. You might want to push your limits or explore challenging routes, but the group pace often holds you back. Or sometimes the group moves too fast and continuous, making you feel rushed and tense. That constant compromise takes away the pure joy of riding at your own rhythm. Solo riding lets you discover what you are really capable of without pressure or hesitation. It is a chance to grow as a rider in your own time.

After reading all this, If you feel that you are stuck in the same bubble I was in, thinking this is how riding works. I urge you to try a solo ride. Just once. One ride. There is a whole different world out there. Waiting for you to explore. A world where the road belongs to you. The stops belong to you. The vibe belongs to you.

And You will never know it until you step out once. Not for a story. Not for a post. Not for proving a point. Just for yourself.

What a Solo Motorcycle Ride Teaches You

 

There is a certain wit only a solo ride can provide. It is just you, your machine and the long roads that does not speak but teaches. At first the solitude feels intimidating for instance the absence of a pillion or a fellow rider to talk to. But as the kilometers unfold so does something within you. You begin to listen, not to music, not to traffic but to your own thoughts. That is where the first lesson lies: clarity. When you ride alone the clutter of the world begins to fade and in that space, you find focus. 

Riding solo teaches you discipline. Not in a rulebook kind of way but in the way you learn to respect the road, the machine, the people and time. You start waking early, prepping your gear without reminders, eating healthy to stay alert and riding with a sense of structure. You are your own manager, timekeeper, navigator, mechanic and caretaker. There is no one else to blame if things go wrong and no one to fix it but you. Slowly you start owning your decisions, your delays and your detours. And that ownership starts teaching life beyond the throttle. 

But the road is not always kind. You face unpredictable weather, fatigue and sometimes even a puncture or a breakdown. A breakdown in the middle of nowhere or a wrong turn in an unfamiliar terrain can test your perseverance. It teaches you not just to hold on but to trust yourself when everything else seems uncertain. You begin solving problems with a sharper, more analytical mind. You stop panicking and start thinking about how to get help, how to fix a puncture or how to re route without losing your cool. These are more than just survival tactics, they are life skills covered in dust and grease. 

Surprisingly solo rides also bring out the social side of you. Strangers offer you water, share directions or help you fix a minor issue. Not because they have to but because you are just a lone rider on the road. And you respond to them with stories, gratitude and laughter. You learn to trust people without being naive, to observe their intentions and to communicate your needs without fear. These moments do not just help you ride better but they also teach you how to be vulnerable and strong at the same time. 

A solo motorcycle ride does not just show you the world instead it shows you yourself. You return with dust on your clothes and an empty wallet but a surprising clarity in your heart. You begin to feel change that may be subtle but certain. You become more grounded, more patient, more open. Riding solo is not about escaping others instead it is about meeting the person you are. And somewhere along the miles, you realize that you did not just ride through landscapes but you also rode through layers of your own becoming.

So if you have never ridden alone, do it once. Not to prove anything to the world but to finally hear the voice that matters most "your own".

Skin Deep Cinema ft. Retro

In "Retro" the character Rukmini played by Pooja Hegde appears noticeably dusky. It is clear that makeup has been used to alter her skin tone. At first glance this might seem like a creative choice to suit the setting of the character. But the decision to darken an actor's skin for a role raises serious questions. It is not just about this one film. It is about a pattern within the industry that shows something deep.

If the story truly required a dusky skinned woman then the director could have simply cast someone who naturally fits that look. There are many talented actors who are dusky. When such roles are instead given to others and their skin tone is modified, it shows a troubling mindset. This is not a question of performance or popularity. It is a question of intention and integrity.

Some may argue that casting decisions are made based on market value. That a familiar face helps the film reach more people. But should that matter when the message being sent is so flawed? When a filmmaker like Karthik Subbaraj who is known for raising voices for the oppressed, chooses to represent them through altered images rather than real people, it feels like a contradiction. He has spoken about the struggles of the working class and the Sri Lankan crisis. But when it comes to colour the representation is very wrong.

This is not the first time Tamil cinema has done this. Across films we have seen actors being made to look darker for roles that speak of marginalised communities. Instead of giving these roles to those who are naturally in that skin tone, the industry often chooses to paint it on others. It becomes a disguise rather than genuine representation. It is difficult to ignore this when it keeps repeating film after film.

Some may call this cinematic choice or artistic liberty. But cinema is not just art instead it is an influence. It tells people who deserves to be seen and how. When a film that claims to fight for justice chooses to alter skin tone instead of casting someone who lives that reality, it is no longer representation instead it is an erasure. It is easy to speak about oppression on screen but it takes courage to cast it truthfully. Until that courage shows up behind the camera, no message on screen can claim to be honest.