I’m a Chennai journalist, pet lover and bookworm. My blog reflects me. My interests currently are business journalism, blogging,
books and pets. My only ambition, which according to many is not ambitious enough, is to become a more well-informed and balanced journalist and to stay in the profession for the next 20 to 30 years. Journalism happened by accident. I was studying Chemistry and was not doing a very good job of it either 
when one of my seniors in the Chemistry department opted for the journalism course.
Since, I had a vague idea that it would be nice to be a journalist and talk about people’s rights and all that……. I signed up for the journalism course at my college – the great Madras Christian College. Don’t let the word – “great” irritate you, we MCCians are always inordinately proud of our college. I signed up for the course, knowing nothing about journalism other than how one reporter named Tintin and his dog named Snowy had great adventures in the course of fulfilling their journalistic duties I fell in love with the subjects from day one. I really liked what was being taught and loved the idea of being a journalist.
I did my internship with the New Indian Express and later worked there. I also worked for a couple of other newspapers in Chennai. Currently, I work for a business magazine, but sometimes I yearn for the hurry-burry of daily news reporting…But I am quite content. I like where I am and what I am doing. I am not the insecurity devil that I once was when I joined the profession. Those days I would get so hyper if anyone paid the slightest compliment to my work and get downcast if there was criticism. Now, I’d like to think I am more balanced; I don’t know if I am. I dream of becoming a writer and have started working on my first manuscript. Only there are no takers
My other great love is photography and books. Now and then I get the photography streak badly and want to do nothing other than roam the city with a camera in hand and a backpack on my shoulder.
I also love books and strictly read only fiction.
For sometime I have been wanting to explain, why the blog? where I am..where did I come from.
Disclaimer: *The views expressed in this blog are mine and do not reflect those of my employer
Would love to hear from you. Do write to rachelchitra@gmail.com
why did you guys end up becoming atheists?
How about another question. Why did people invent God in the first place?
another journalist ……
I am jealous …
Hi,
R u in Chennai? Because if ur in Chennai, the market for journalists is really opening up. Even mediocre journalists these days are having good jobs with awesome salaries. I read ur blog and feel quite empathetic to an aspiring journalist. Good luck with ur job hunt
hi,
I am in cochin ..
I never studied Journalism as such .. but I would really love to be a journalist. .. they are not hiring people without a Journalism diploma .. right ?
Hi,
A degree in journalism is not a requirement. Most of the senior journalists I know didn’t study journalism. Pl try your luck. Its your enthusiasm and knowledge on current affairs which matter
Hello Rachel
I read your blog and found it interesting. I’m in the United States and have never ventured across seas and would someday love to see India.
I love to write and ready myself. Although I have three children and a full schedule I try to write when I can.
You love to read…and you have mentioned a few of the many books you have read and enjoyed. But, I wonder, have you read the bible? I am just curious.
Hi,
Your welcome
You can also read http://ashleylaurencheney.blogspot.com/
You’ll get a westerner’s perception of India. Can you give me ur blog address, I wasn’t able to trackback to ur ID.
Have I read the Bible? Well, I did nothing else for more than 20 years of my life.
rachelchitra;
I do not presently have a blog as of yet. Usually I’m chasing kids and what not. I suppose I should post a blog some day
Most days I jump online to check out a few sites.
So, you’re an athiest that has studied the bible for twenty years? That is unique.
No, No. I come from a traditional christian pentecostal family. I was trained to be a missionary. But at 21, journalism, marriage, atheism and other things caught my interest. So I moved away from the faith
if that is the case, I will try in IE here in Cochin first..
I am interested in writing for newspapers or magz .. freelancing .. is that possible ? any contacts ?
I think PTI & Indian Express is looking for people. If you mail me, I can send you the contact details
I understand married life and a job can keep one busy. But I wonder why you chose to be an athiest? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude.
So, what type of writing are you interested in persuing?
There are so many types to journalists. As a small child I wanted to write for a popular newspaper. Then in my late teens and early twenties I wanted to write books. I used to love 18th century literature.
I want to write on legal, civic, wildlife & political issues for an English newspaper. I am very keen on reporting, so currently I’m working as a business reporter for an insurance magazine. But I will be making the switch back to the mainstream media or general reporting in a couple of years.
I also like writing features and I’m hoping to get a light-hearted frivolous book of mine published some day.
I love the classics. My favourites are Victor Hugo & Thomas Hardy. P.G.Wodehouse is another favourite of mine because he’s so humorous and Edwardian.
For me my marriage has not meant any additional responsibilities as my husband helps with the housework and is very supportive of my career. Its only my job that keeps me busy.
From childhood onwards I was reared in the Christian faith. I kept on asking questions. When I never got any satisfying answers, the daring thought came to my head, “What if there is no God?” There is no evidence that God exists. And I gradually lost all faith in everything that I was taught.
Now I feel my duty lies in fighting for equal opportunities for all. Whether God exists or not is immaterial to my desire to make things a little better atleast for a few people.
Media reporting…I used to want to do that
I always flirted with the idea of that kind of adventurous lifestyle. Unfortuantely the boat sailed on that dream. I love being a mother and wife. I had a career in the wire industry for a bit there (selling computers, componants, wiring, ect.) It was extremely fast paced and left no time for family which was very difficult.
I can totally see your view of christianity, as I have exerienced unanswered questions and bad examples of what God is supposed to represent in the faith. I grew up in a lutheran church/school where I loved God, but was constantly bullied by both students and teachers alike and it really was a huge disappointment and bad experience overall. For a season I put away the whole idea of faith and God too, mainly in my teenage years thru my twenties. I even came up with the phylosophy of what I call “The Christian Country Club” where people are more insearch of the “christian blazer” (so to speak) acting and doing what they thought was right according to the ‘church’ but rarely were showing what the bible said about God, the love of Jesus, and how we should treat other people. Heaven forbid the sinner stain the church.
For many years as time and experience in life I kept my phylosophy but had always had a curiosity of “what if God is real?”. Yes, I am generally kind and do my best to treat others the way I would like to be treated and have a love for improving the world and the society I live, but my motives now include…for my children too. So here I am in my mid-thirties, a wife and mother of three…after years of research, I have come to another conclusion. I’m not so much religious – but I read the bible. I am not perfect and will never claim to be perfect or even better than the next person…I make mistakes just like everyone else in the world. I remember asking God…are you real? If you are real show me. So I began to read and study the bible as a text book, very much like I did in college. Then I compared scientifical findings, history, the study of the earth over the last two thousand years.
In addition I am a huge history channel buff along with educational shows on cable television. I find it so interesting that science has come to the point that it is proving bibical stories. Moreover, as I continue to read the bible, it sends shivers down my spine when events predicted in the bible are coming to life before my eyes. It is so weird. I found a very interesting show on the history channel “Exodus Decoded”. It is just one of the little hobbies I have. Anyway, science and technology had explained world events that would explain the ten plagues of Moses before the children of Israel left Egypt. It was very interesting.
I am not a professor, just a student of the bible and history. With our world lining up with predictions of the bible, scientivic proof of bible events…well, now I am more interested in God individually. I asked God if He were real…and I am seeing proof that the bible events are real, and not just a myth.
Hi g9momma,
I’m sorry I took such a long time in replying to your comment. And I know, how marriage and family makes you compromise on your career aspirations. I had to turn down a high-paying super, cool job with the Times of India in Mumbai, because my hubby was in Chennai and I couldn’t bear the thought of being seperated from him.
And anyway I’m open to debate
On Christianity and the Bible…I admire Christ and his principles, but I don’t think he’s God. I think he was a great human being. For me, like Apostle Thomas: “Seeing is believing”
As to events in the Bible being true…I think many events should be true as the Bible is bascially an account of the Jewish race. History does not vary too much in the retelling.
So historical records of the events in the Bible are no indication that God exists.
Anyway, I have absolutely no problem with theists or Christians. The only problem I have is with people, who use God’s name to mint money.
To each his own belief
Went thru ur blog… especially the one on TPM … quite true and intresting… but why do you have to be an atheist just because of a few fraudulent evangelicals… I too had problems with faith… I too quit it for a while… But I feel we ultimately need God… well good work by the way.. . feel free to visit http://mjspentecostal.blogspot.com/
Hi Jes Stan,
Thanks for the interest shown in my blog. I don’t believe in God, because there is no proof of his/her existence. I am interested in journalism, photography and social work. God and his existence is immaterial to my career and my interests.
Fraudulent evangelists are there, just as there are fradulent journalists and other frauds in different walks of life.
My indifference and apathy to religion is not due to any personal conflict with the church or any individual. It has more to do with being interested in life and bored to death with religion.
I know this question I’m about to ask is 100% out of context. But most religious turned atheists had more trouble with religious leaders than with God. So I would really like to know which church you were a part of, before you called it quits. My wishes for your family and career.
Hi Jes Stan,
I didn’t have a problem as such with any particular individual: in the sense I was disgusted with their ways, but I never openly confronted them. I was the proverbial goody-goody in church. And I was religious or truly believed in the existence of God, only when I was a kid. By the time the Iraq war happened and I read the bible from cover to cover, I had become indifferent to religion.
My final or official break with Christianity was when I married a non-Christian in the face of opposition from family members.
I usually try to avoid “the God exists or not,” because there is no proof of his existence. Even if Christians can fabricate evidence I wouldn’t care less.
And I used to attend services in the CSI churches in Tambaram, Camp Road & Mandaveli, the Baptist church in Puraswalkam, AG church in Little Mount & the NILF church.
I wasn’t too fascinated with any of them.
And I must thank you for your best wishes to my family and career. It is rare to find Christians who are as gracious as you are to the outsider.
Thank you,
Regards,
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
I have been reading your blogs for quite a time.The topics are very interesting and your writing is good. You really have it in you to become a journalist. Iam a christian just like you, and I have also asked a lot of questions like you have and most of the time got only some excuses as reply or even shooed away. Well i too dont beleive in many evangelists .
Beleif in GOD is not based on any proof of physical existence. Today every denomination in christianity has its own version of what is in the will of GOD. Well i was as confused as any would be. But the truth i felt is that holiness is just in right actions and nothing else. I myself would not beleive that only christians will go to heaven , well then will GOD create hindus just to be thrown out , if that is true then i call it unfair. As long as you care for people and help people and be good at heart that is more than enough it doesnt matter what religion you are.
Just felt like writing this to you , All the best for your future.
Regards,
Stephen
Hi,
Thanks Stephen for the kinds words and encouragement to write. And I think we share similar view points. Because I also love the teachings of Christ, even if I thing he’s only a human being and not God. I must also thank you for your best wishes.
And you are right in that every Church claims its got the best doctrine. There is a lot of theological inter-denominational debate on.
But, I am happy for you as you have found your peace in God. You know so many of my pastors used to tell me Hindus would go to Hell & Christians to heaven. I had some very good friends, who were Hindus, & I felt very upset as a kid when I learnt they were going to hell. I agree with you that the surmise that non-Christians will go to hell is unfair.
And you are right about our actions speaking louder than our words. I used to love the words of the hymn “Yes, they know we are Christians by our love, by our love….” When I was a believer, I felt strongly that our lives should be Christlike. I didn’t like people, who only prayed for their poorer brethren, but didn’t loosen their purse strings
Regards,
Rachel
Well finally after seeing all u ppl , i too have finally taken the plunge.Here is my blog.
http://stephenwalter.wordpress.com/
Feel free to comment
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[...] woman’s womb Published September 21, 2008 genZ , india I chanced about reading Rachel Chitra’s post Morality or the Woman’s womb. After first reading I was very tempted to critically [...]
Happened to read your latest post on women issues. I really dont know why you should blame christians for what they dont do, christians never say love marriage is wrong – to make things clear many celebrated christian preachers had love marriages, for eg, Billy Graham, DL Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Dr. Charles Stanley,etc. Secondly, you are christianizing a social issue. The fertility stuff involved in the arranged marriage system you’ve written about is exclusive to asian countries which are actually non-christian. Thirdly, you’d find that it was actually the christian west, which brought about the radical change in women’s attire – the jeans,t-shirts,etc. Fourthly, women emancipation itself has its roots in christianity. Its clear from your observation that you are judging christianity from a single viewpoint. You have said somewhere you were brought up in a traditional christian pentecostal family, so I’d really like to know which church you attended as a kid. Well my sincere regards by the way…
Hi,
Does the post look like its anti-Christian?
I should read it again. And modify it if it gives that idea.
I was only saying religious fundementalists everywhere support the patriarchal system.
Christian men, Hindu men, Muslim men….all men in India want their wives to be virgins. Whether the men are virgins are not, is immaterial in the quest for the chaste, fair, wealthy and same-caste girl.
Women’s emancipication has its roots in the feminist movement in the West. And women in India were given the freedom to vote, by the Constitution of India.
As to western attire like jeans & t-shirts, I think MTV and Channel V have had more say in the matter than the Church or the Chrisitan community.
And I am not for arranged marriages or marriages of convenience.
My mom used to take me to the CSI church, one set of grandparents to the AG church and another grandparent to the Baptist church in Puraswalkam.
I appreciate ur comments and the gracious tone, in which it was said.
Regards,
Rachel
hi,
sorry for the late reply
my email address is hello@offlineblog.net or, dinzan@gmail.com .. can you send me more details ?
thank you for you comment on my blog
i made my banners with the website blingee
Seems you have real fan following with you
, anyways, it was quite interesting read your posts.
More importantly, i felt our interests matched. Way to go.
Will catch up with you soon.
cheers
I have had worst moments in chennai…the company which laid me off showed just nothing about chennai…anyway keep in touch..
Cheers,
Amish
Rachel,
I read your bloggs, and I wanted to know, why did you become a atheist?
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hi chitra…..
Dear Chitra,
I have been reading your blogs with great intrest.
My prayer for you is that you would come to know the Lord in a very personal way.
May the Lord bless you.
Sam.
Dear Chitra,
May you come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a very personal way.
God bless you.
Sam.,
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