'India is my motherland'
November 15, 2000, 2100 hours EST, New York City: It was late on the East Coast, evening on the West Coast, and early morning on November 16, 2000, in India, when Miss India-USA Ritu Upadhyay logged on for the Chat from her office in New York City. And showed that this lady, a journalist, is one beauty with brains!
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000)
Hi, Folks! It's great to be here tonite with you all.
Chetan (Wed Nov 15, 2000)
Hi Ritu jee... I
am a 6 year old boy... How can I become a great person like you! My elder
brother told me that you are doing lot of good things for India.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000)
Chetan, You are very sweet.Thanks for the compliments. Keep
listening to your older brother :)
kauai (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
hey, I read an
article by one Ritu Upadhaya on the Rediff USA site! Is it you?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Kauai, It's meee! Good to hear you keep up with rediff's articles.
Rob (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
How has your
thinking change after you won the title? Rob
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Rob, Thanks for your question. To be honest, I never really
expected something like this to happen to me. It's very exciting. Keeps me
busy...
martin (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
how come you took
part in a beauty pageant. I thought most journalists were against such things
where women are paraded for the pleasure of men.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Martin, First of all, women are not paraded around for the
pleasure of men at pageants. I fyou choose to see it that way, then I'm, sorry.
Secondly, journalists are supposed to be objective. I was always quite
indifferent to pageants. Didn't think about them much. Since this kind of fell
into my lap, I've realized that it is really what you make of it. At my age, I
do not feel it exploits women. Perhaps if I was younger, I might feel
differently.
kamal (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Dear Ritu...best
wishes. This must be so exciting. What are your career aspirations? Do you want
to have a movie career? You should.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Kamal, I don't plan to pursue anything in Bollywood
professionally. But I am a big fan of the Indian movies and music. I would like
to continue working as a journalist after this is all over.
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Did you always make heads turn?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Abhijit, Thanks for the compliment. I don't really know how to
answer...guess you'll have to ask people who've known me...
Rob (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Whats your most
favorite food? Rob
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Rob, I love Indian food, particularly "Chulakani," a type of daal
that is native to Uttaranchal (my home state).
Dipti (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Dear Ritu ..
Congrats for winning the Miss India-USA Title. Has the title changed your life
at TIME at all?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Hi Dipti, Thanks. Life at work has become a little busier. So far,
I've managed to balance my pageant duties with work. It definitely gets tiring
though!
bond (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
how long you been
in the US of A and plan to visit India?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Bond, I was born and raised in the US (that would be 23 years
here). I visit India often. I will be there in December for a publicity tour.
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
boy, u really
keep track of India. Uttaranchal was barely born a few days ago and you are
already mentioning it as your home state. do you follow indian politics....
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
abhijit, I try to keep up...especially when it affects my family.
gul (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Congratulations Ritu.
Are you coming to India? If so, what are your plans? What are your special
appearances or meetings. Thanks!
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Gul, I will be doing some charity work in India. Of course, I'll
find some time for the fun "Bollywood" types of things as well. T.V. interviews,
etc...
BhupinderRamaswami (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
What
do you like better: India or USA?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Bhupinder, I love both countries...India is my motherland. When
people ask where I'm from, that's my answer.
Dipti (Wed Nov 15, 2000 18:20 IST)
I read on
rediff.com that you are participating in Miss India World-Wide competition. Are
you nervous about the contest.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Dipti, Yes, I will be at the worlwide pageant in a week. I'm not
very nervous right now, but that may change as it gets closer...
ALOHA (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Ritu, If it is you
writing that article on Bollywood Music Awards in USA, does it mean you that you
are a closet journalist?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Aloha, I'm definitely not in the closet write. It is how I make a living, and I'm really enjoy it.
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
What is(are) your
favorite Hindi Movie(s)? Favorite stars?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Sharma, My favorite old stars are Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore,
Amitabh, Rekha. I prefer older movies...My fav comteporary star is SRK.
Surprised?
aloha (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
how do you define
ABCD?!
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Aloha, I think ABCD means American Born Confused Desi...wouldn't
know anything about that though. I'm certainly not confused.
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
which all places
in india will you be visiting... when
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Abhijit, I will be all over. Don't know the exact schedule yet.
Look for me on TV.
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
How about
Hritik.. hasn't he impressed you? How about Abhishek B?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Sharma, they both seem fine, but to be honest, I haven't had a
chance to see their movies yet.
rash (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Are you serious
about Bollywood
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Rash, not right now, but who know what life has in store for you?!
garima (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
hello ritu, how
did you get interested in a journalism career ?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Garima, I have been writing since I was in 5th grade.
rash (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Hey, ritu you
didn't reply me. are u nervous with my tough questions
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Rash, it's hard to keep up with the ?'s.
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
How many
languages do you speak... Do you speak/read/write Hindi?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Sharma, I speak english (obviously), hindi, kumaoni, and
spanish...Yes, I can read/write Hindi
ismail (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
kya aap hamse
miloge india mein?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Mein sabse miloongi!
cain (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
hey Ritu - what
kind of stories do you cover at TIME?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Cain, I write in the special projects division. I do a lot of the
international stories for our newsmagazine for kids.
alok (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
hi ,so proud of you, ritu... a fellow uttaranchali.are you planning a trip to that part of india, soon?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Alok, I will be there, visiting my Daadi in December.
martin (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
any marriage
plans in the pipeline?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Martin, WELL....the title is MISS india USA, so not anytime soon.
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Tell me what you
like about INDIA the most? and the worst?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Best: the wonderful people. Worst: the pollution in big cities.
pranjal (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Would you be
angry or feel embarrassed if i asked you your vital stats? If so, just ignore my
post.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
I'm 5'8". It's rude to ask a woman any more than that...
cain (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
i think Martin was
asking if you were single
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Cain, No, I'm not married.
Rupal P (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Hi Ritu, So how
about those wildcats???
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Hi Rupal, GO WILDCATS! We're having one of those good football
seasons that happens every 5 years.
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
what are your
future plans? do you plan to stay on in journalism? Will you be doing reports
on/in India? Best of all, any chance of being based in India?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Abhijit, I would love to work as a journalist in India. First
though, I must establish myself here, hone my skills, so that I will have a lot
to offer over there.
martin (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Great! Does that
mean I stand a chance I am not bad looking...
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Martin, I'm not in the habit of meeting people over the internet.
Sorry.
pranjal (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
5'8".... surely
ever time you visit India all your relatives must look "up" at you???????
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Yes, I do stand out a bit. Especially in the bazaars. No matter
how hard I try, somehow people know I'm a foreigner!
bala datt (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Hi Ritu. I am
from Banglore and I wishes to go to Journalisms programs in the America. How is
Northwestern journailsm school. Thank you, B.D.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Bala Datt, Northwestern's program is excellent. It brought me
where I am right now. You should certainly come here. There aren't enough Indian
journalists....
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Ritu... any
comment on the US presidential elections... I thought only the indian
polititians are crazy...
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Sharma, As a journalist, this election has caused me to lose a lot
of sleep!
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
what made you
take up journalism as a career... surely there are better avenues.... journos
are such bores......
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Abhijit, You obviously have been hangin out with the wrong
journalists...
BhupinderRamaswami (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Do
you ever get tired of being Miss India USA?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Bhupinder, It is an honor to represent Indian AMerican women. I
enjoy it, but, yes, the demands do wear on me at times. I can handle it for a
year though.
Chandra (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Where do you live, NY or Chicago. I read about you in India Today,
India Tribune, India Abroad, Rediff.com, Indian Reporter, and Desi Talk and
India West, and they all say Chicago. Yet you work for Time? I thought Time was
in NYC.
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Chandra, I was born and raised in Chicago. Now I live in NYC.
Sharma (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Why is that? Are
you also covering the elections? I thought you were for the Time for Kids!
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Sharma, TIme for Kids covers all the news. Especially the election
stuff. What, you don't things kids want to learn about these things?
abhijit (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
I don't hang out
with them coz the few i know are full of themselves and their own importance....
but any reason why you chose this profession?
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Abhihit, journalism allows me to discover the world. I couldn't
think of anything better than getting paid to ask questions.
martin (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
how would u
compare nyc with chicago
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
They are both great. New York is the unofficial capital of the
world though.
mahesh (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
would you
preferred to be bushed or gored? or discretion
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Mahesh, GORE
Ritu Upadhyay (Wed Nov 15, 2000 )
Thanks for the great questions tonite! It's getting late on this
side of the world, so I must be going. Hope to be here again soon.
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