Dewdrops.

2011-09-21T10:58:00.005+05:30

It was 11pm,my son was fast asleep.I was watching television,my husband was reading a book. He got up to use the bathroom. He went,opened the door and just stood there.He didn't say a thing.I looked up and asked him why he was just standing there.And after an excruciatingly long silence,he tells me he saw a snake on the geyser.And now it was gone.He went inside and checked everywhere and found no traces of it. He told me it must have gone out,just the way it made its way inside.I was stunned,speechless and went numb just knowing that there was a snake in my bathroom. How am I supposed to be even using it in the future,knowing it had free access and knew its way out.He went inside,used the bathroom,came out,locked the bathroom door from outside, and simply said,"Nothing to get worried about.Just get back to sleep. Its not there." He is used to to such things, but definitely not me.I was freaking out here,and was wondering how hes able to be so calm,even after sighting a creepy,crawly creature in our very bathroom. I'd lie if i said I had a good night's sleep.The next morning,my husband was the first one who entered the bathroom,scanned every bit of it and gave it the clearance required,so that i could use it.But every second I spent in the bathroom was terrifying,not knowing where the snake is going to come out from.That day,when the orderlies arrived,checked for the snake,didn't find any and went about cleaning the place,cementing every crevice,packing up the windows with newspapers wherever there was a gap and at the end of it,made it feel like it was secure.After a few visits to the bathroom,I just got used to it. Everything got back to normal.That night,around 9pm,my son had to brush his teeth,so I went along,switched on the light and opened the bathroom door. And there it was again,the snake,and this time all perched up near the window,crawling slowly in its own happy pace.I immediately shut the door and called my husband.I was stunned and shocked,on seeing it return.We decided we need help now,someone has to do something about it.Our help arrived..my husband's orderly came immediately after he got a call from us.We decided to take a stroll and get back after he had caught the snake,since I didn't want my son to see a snake in the bathroom and get paranoid.But I was wrong.Although we didn't speak much about this incident in front of him, my two and half year old understood quite clearly what was happening.After a good 15 minutes we got back home, only to find a brown snake,about 3feet long all curled inside a used plastic water bottle,very much alive. We still can't believe how he managed to catch the snake alive and all the more in disbelief to see it neatly inside a bottle.He wanted to catch it alive and let it out somewhere else,so that it can live in peace.My son was so excited on spotting a snake and the best part,all curled up inside a bottle.He spoke about it for days.Our residential quarters are usually situated away from the city, a midst a lot of greenery and thick foliage.We are almost prepared for such things, but when they enter your home is when the drama unfolds.

2011-09-08T18:33:00.002+05:30

"Mama,what happened?"
"Nothing baby."
"Was Coop angry with you?"
"No dear."
"Did the Ice cream guy refuse to give ice creams to Coop?"
"I don't know sweetie."
"Did Mr.Kat hit Coop and Dennis?"
"Maybe, baby."
"Okay. Millie must have taken Mr.Kat to Mrs.Munzen's house to play. I want to play with Coop."
"Huh!"

Conversation that my two and half year old son had with me hours after he watched an animation series on television. I am amazed that he remembers all the names of the characters and tried to make a story himself.

2011-09-06T17:34:00.003+05:30

Flow of words and thoughts is an art. I try hard and still can't put down what I want on paper. Its so hard finding the right words to explain our feelings or thoughts.
I try hard to put a few words together so that it makes sense,but never have I done a good job.I, always and every time feel I have fallen short a long long way in expressing myself correctly. I envy those who write so beautifully and do such a great job.Working very hard on that aspect, but looks like one has to be born with that kind of talent.

2011-09-06T17:30:00.003+05:30

For close to thirteen years
Through the smiles and tears
Held my hand
In the moving sand
Looked out for me
Always standing by me
With time passing
The bond tightening
Never too loud
To the Almighty bowed
Thank You
The terrific duo
Breaking free
Is easy
Remain the same
No matter what game
Its never a shame
To stay in a frame.

(Dedicated to my two close friends)

2011-09-04T15:51:00.002+05:30

I am too skeptical about a lot of things. I find men are no longer chivalrous, there are very few who are well mannered, very few who respect another person's feelings,very few who are caring,...because mostly I come across self centered,opportunistic and selfish people. But today, I witnessed an incident and felt,that after all not everyone is like that. My husband and I were going on a drive,when we saw that a cat had been hit by a heavy vehicle ,and did not survive.A man,in his twenties, who was on a two wheeler,stopped,parked his motorbike, picked up the dead cat from the middle of the road and put it near a tree,on the side of the pavement and covered it with some dry leaves and left on his bike. He gave the cat a dignified farewell when no one bothered. I can't even imagine the plight of the carcass if he hadn't moved it from the road.
Hats off to that good Samaritan.

2011-09-03T12:06:00.002+05:30

Sad. Very Sad to see the kind of medical treatment the poor get in this country. No money equals no right to live. Pathetic. The Callous government is always thinking of being in power and amassing wealth for themselves. Yesterday's news about 11 newly born babies dying in a government hospital due to negligence is shocking,to say the least. If the country's top party's president needs a surgery,she takes off to the US. The country's leading movie actor needs a surgery,he takes off to the US. Thats the kind of faith they have in our doctors and hospitals. So,the poor in this country have no right to live,no right to question,will perish...people like us who can just about manage to pay a doctor's fee in a private hospital,may survive a few more years...but the privileged lot like the politicians,and the other rich who have lots of money and have no time for philanthropy, will definitely live a long life, just like cockroaches.

2011-08-30T17:30:00.002+05:30

It amazes me that my last blogpost has been about a year ago.That is exactly around the time I moved to Aurangabad with my husband. I can't believe I've been so occupied,that i didn't even open my blog. My friends have been asking me to start writing, but sometimes,whatever you do, you simply can't sit down and write. My close friend Shoba,has been mailing me about how long it has been since I wrote, but never realized it was this long.
Its not that I've been a regular blogger or something, maybe it was one or two posts in a month. But the reason behind this post has been 'Preeti Shenoy'.
I just completed her book '34 Bubblegums and Candies',which was refreshingly light and breezy. She is a blogger and has published a collection of her blog posts. As simple as that.
There are three things that I decided I'd do. One was to blog often, the second was to read good books and complete them,(because I tend to stop in between when I feel its not so engaging )and the third one is to be in touch with my friends and family regularly,either on phone or on mail.
Cheers!!

2010-10-11T23:52:00.002+05:30

I've been thinking about changing my blog template for sometime now, but didn't.
Today I had to and I did it and I feel nice about it.

2010-09-28T12:50:00.002+05:30

A lot has been written, read, argued and discussed in vain about the CommonWealth Games. The mess that it is in and the mess thats getting murkier by the day. The biggest joke was when Kalmadi said that CWG was going to be better than Beijing Olympics.
The problem is not just with the arrangements and conducting of the games. Its a much larger issue. The total negligence, the dont-care attitude, money floundering, complete disrespect for another human being...these happen with every other department in our country...leave alone sports.
There is a complete lack of morality and ethics by the people governing our country which is extremely disturbing. Not a single politician takes accountability because they just dont care. There is no respect or dignity for life or our country. If they really worried about the reputation of our country, this wouldn't be the state of affairs.
Wish our politicians were more proactive, and hope to see some sensibility and sensitivity while dealing with issues of utmost importance.

2010-04-10T13:49:00.002+05:30

My husband and I finally watched a movie in a theatre after nearly 18months.
Thats an eon,almost!! :)
And we decided,being in hyderabad, we should watch Avatar in Prasad's IMAX.
And,man, what an experience it was!!
Awesome!!
Loved the movie, and the 3D effects and that too in a theatre like that.
Enjoyed it thoroughly.

2010-01-11T23:08:00.001+05:30

You are The Lovers

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.

The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.

Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Birthday Wishes to my hubby

2009-11-11T13:49:00.004+05:30

9th November was Shyam's Birthday. This time too,we were not together for his birthday.
In the 6 years of our married life,we have celebrated just 2 of his birthdays together. Being an Army officer has a few advantages and its own disadvantages too, especially when it comes to family life. Most of their serving years they tend to be away from family. Even occasions like these have to be foregone and the moments and the times spent together are always extra special since they are very few.
Happy Birthday to dear Shyam!
Abraham Lincoln said "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

2009-11-11T13:23:00.005+05:30

Its so easy to be taken for granted and sometimes its so easy to be fooled in a relationship,in general, with friends and family.
We tend to be true and honest with a person,share all that we have,financially as well as emotonally, but later when you learn that they dont reciprocate in the same mannner, it hurts. Probably they feel we are not close enough to them.
We consider a few people in life really close and expect to help them in case of emergency, but many times they reject it or dont even come to you because they have not accepted you the way you think you want to be. Trying really hard to include yourself in one's company sometimes can be in vain since the other person just doesn't think you are eligible or fit enough to be in their inner circle. They dont mind accepting help or advice from anyone else but you.
Why should one take the trouble asking if they need our support when we are just not required. Only with experience do we understand these things and only then we learn to be careful with any situation or person. Such experiences last a lifetime and the next time we offer help,we need to give it a second thought and maybe even a third.

Hes the best!!!!!

2009-11-05T23:15:00.003+05:30

Holding his future in his fist
Sleeping innocently in his nest
Like the delicate morning mist
Trying to give his best
In every conquest
Always giving a new twist
To the work he does with interest
His mischief cannot be said in a gist
The little imp's got a huge list
Putting his family's patience to test
With his tiny feet climbs on his father's chest
With his naughhty smile captures every guest
Playing with him is hard to resist
with him around its always a fest
My darling Vibhu is different from the rest.

My Angel

2009-11-05T23:11:00.001+05:30

Sometime in May last year.

Some uneasiness. A feeling of restlessness. Not feeling too well.
My hubby and I decided to meet the doctor.
A lot of apprehensions......some expectations.....anxiousness and nervous.

After we met up with the doctor, we learnt that we were going to become parents. The feeling was mixed when we heard this. Were we ready for such a huge reponsibility? Would we be able to manage another person? were we capable of it?
But at the same time it was a very joyous moment. We were going to bring life on to this earth....a miracle in itself. I cannot forget the expression on my husband's face..that of happiness and ofcourse, the sudden sense of responsibility. That day has been one of the many special moments in my life.
But the one special moment which stands out above the rest was in December when I carried my baby for the first time. My little angel...he was a bundle of joy. The little wonder who was in my arms that day was looking at me and others wih a twinkle in his eye, wondering where he was and who we were,I guess.
What a precious moment it was in my life. He is such a darling who has filled our lives with immense joy.
Love you my baby...my dear Tamaghna Vibhu. You have given us everything...completed my life in every way. Thanks sweetypie for all the happiness.

2009-11-05T22:50:00.002+05:30

A few days ago,I was chatting with my best friend.He mentioned that he had slept for about 14 hours the previous night. And I casually compared him to Rip Van Winkle, the legendary character who was in deep slumber for 20years.
It was so nostalgic remembering the classics,the characters and the books that we read in our childhood. How can we forget the famous Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge from "The tale of Two cities", D'Artagnan from "The Three Muskateers", Long John Silver from "The Treasure Island", Adventures of TOm Sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn,Robinson Crusoe,Silas Marner,Oliver Twist,most of Enid Blyton's and so many more.
Most of our childhood we spent reading them and exchanging books with our friends and neighbours.
These days children hardly read and hardly know about these books. Its just television and computer games and playstations. Even if they are reading its more of Harry Potter and other contemporary books rather than old classics. Its very important that we get the kids to read atleast the abridged versions of the children's literary classics.

True Iies

2009-10-23T15:19:00.002+05:30

Sometimes when people tend to lie and you know they are lying and just cant do anything about it, its quite frustrating. A person whom I know quite well does this on a regular basis,trying to hide something and in the process lying.
I dont know whether to confront the person and ask about it,but maybe that person would completely deny it and I would feel all the more miserable since I wouldnt be able to substantiate my point.
Its like the saying "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep". I really wonder why they cant understand that to some extent their lies are believable.... after a point that person totally loses credibility and even if they are speaking the truth,we tend to look at them with suspicion.
Trust and credibility is so important...very difficult to gain them back once its lost.

2009-10-03T22:47:00.002+05:30

Letters all shuffled
Words all jumbled up
Sentences disarrayed
The effects of the hiatus

The break taken,longer than expected
The blog waiting
Has aged beyond recognition,
Time taking its flight

Back to blogging
Feels relaxing
Vowing to continue
With my son permitting.

2008-12-04T19:08:00.002+05:30

When we were deciding on which restaurant to go to yesterday evening for dinner, my mom suggested we go to this place in Kammanahalli. I was just not ready to go to any place in Kammanahalli, no matter how big that restaurant was or how good it was.
I had been to Kammanahalli about 10years ago to visit a friend of mine, and didnt quite like that area. It was too dusty, and crowded and just didnt appeal to me. So, when my mom said 'Kammanahalli', immediately those scenes came rushing to my mind and I outrightly told a big 'NO'. It took a while for her to convince me that this place had some really good food, and that I could give it a shot. She even said if I didn't like the area, we would then go to some place in Indiranagar. But when I went there I was in for a pleasant surprise. Bright lights,branded shops,restaurants and chat houses were what I saw. Kammanahalli was now where people love to hang out in the evenings. After dinner, even I took a stroll on the road and felt how wrong I was about it.Since I now belong to this part of Bangalore, I sure know where I'm going to spend some of my evenings.

2008-12-01T10:32:00.002+05:30

Am deeply hurt by what just happened in Mumbai, and am sure there are millions others who feel helpless with such an audacious terrorist attack in the heart of Mumbai.
I am definitely not going to talk about the apathy shown by our politicians,because there is no point.
But this is a time I think we should be proud by the way our armed forces have shown grit and courage to end the senseless killing spree by the terrorists.
Hats off to the men in uniform. The commandoes and the police personnel who lost their lives will be remembered for a long long time.Atleast,we have somebody we can turn to at a time of crisis.
I have immense pride in being an army officer's wife.
We need to act tough, be strong and determined to face any kind of challenge that comes our way.

2008-11-14T15:24:00.003+05:30

Back in Bangalore
Feels nice to be back in Bangalore,although it has changed quite a lot.
The best part is meeting and catching up with friends, get togethers at home, relatives and cousins visiting,attending family functions and eating mom's food.
This is definitely something I look forward to when I'm away.
But,when I see outside, it has definitely made me realise that Bangalore has changed multifold in a few years.What surprises me is that it has become all the more chaotic with major traffic jams, pathetic roads and frequent power cuts.
I just hope it all improves bringing back the old charm that it had.

2008-09-03T20:13:00.003+05:30

I do miss Bangalore sometimes,especially during festivals and most importantly during the time of Ganesh Chathurthi.
Maybe its not anywhere close to the grandness of Mumbai's much talked about celebrations, but we do have our own sweet way of celebrating our favourite festival'Ganesha Habba'.

Although we have our festivities at home,starting from bringing the Idol home,decorating It, mom spending hours in the kitchen preparing a feast fit for a King( who else but Ganesha),then the long and detailed pooja,and finally eating all the different sweets prepared. But after all this comes the heavy feeling with which we would have to take the idol for immersion. After getting back we would feel like a member of our family is missing. Thats the kind of presence Ganesh can bring to our homes.

And more than all this, the festivities and the celebrations by our residential flat association would add to all the excitement. A huge Idol of Ganesha would be kept in the Pandal for 3 days and the entire residents,of all religions would participate, and distribute the yummy Prasad, which all the different blocks would take turns in preparing. There would be a feeling of oneness and joy at the pandal, bringing all the residents closer on those 3 days.
Now, I'm missing Bangalore all the more.

Let Peace be the first option.

2008-08-30T10:58:00.005+05:30

For the past few weeks,the issue that has been spiralling out of control has been the issue of Kashmir. What started as a small land problem turned out real ugly,now leading to the question of 'Azaadi'.
Having been a subscriber of the magazine 'The Outlook', it was saddening to read the views of a renowned writer about the issue and about Azaadi. Arundhati Roy has written an elaborate piece,expressing her opinion, but I wondered why I couldn't agree at all with her and I feel many Indians would not, considering the fact that we feel Kashmir is part of India as much as any other state in the country.
Arundhati's article from the Outlook Magazine.

And today,while browsing,I found another article which has a different view.
A point of view from an Army man.

After the army being in Kashmir for so many years, losing thousands of soldiers safe guarding the borders and fighting insurgency, its so blatant and tragic to blame the army for all its problems.

Whats more tragic is the fact that many of the leaders there have ulterior motives, and selfish benefits,gaining political mileage out of such a serious issue.
Why cant a few rational thinkers sit down, discuss and resolve?
Why should there be blame games and passing the buck on to the other?
Why cant PEACE ever be an option?
Why should we constantly lose so many innocent people in this?

All I pray for and wish for is for some peace for the people in Jammu and Kashmir and a speedy reolution to the problems there.

For my dear Mother-in-law on her Birthday.

2008-08-28T19:46:00.005+05:30

Today is my Mother-in law,Smt.Annapurna's birthday. And whats so special about it is that she turns 70 today.
Being her daughter-in-law, I feel absolutely lucky. But what I did today was that I wished her in the evening, which was a very mean thing to do.
Although my husband and I have been thinking for a couple of days about her birthday, when it came to wishing her, we both just didn't. We were even planning a nice gift for her, but we felt since we would be going to Hyderabad in a few weeks,we'd give it to her personally.
But today, was really embarrassing,especially because shes such a simple person, and shes more a mother to me than a mother-in-law. In case I have to discuss something, sometimes, I take her advice even before going to my mother. she has always treated me like her daughter. She is one of the most kindest souls I've ever seen, never ever have I heard a harsh word or a rude comment from her.
In times when girls these days have so many problems with their in-laws, I feel absolutely blessed in her presence. She having retired as an Asst Director of Child and women welfare dept from AP state Govt, she has herself seen scores of women in trouble and has gone out of her to solve their problems.
She has seen a lot in her life and has a very strong personality, raising her 2 children all alone since she lost her husband just after 2and a half yrs of her marriage.
Hats off to her for being such a brave person during troubled times, and being a person of great integrity,filled with only love,passion and kindness for others and for being such an inspiration for all the youngsters in the family.

Thank u Amma for being with me always, for being so sweet and caring towards me.
When I become a mother and if I am even half the kind of mother u have been, I'll consider it my victory.
Thanks for always being there.
Wish u a very happy birthday,Amma. I want you to be healthy and happy and smiling like this always.Love you.

2008-08-27T19:28:00.002+05:30

Yesterday was Mother Teresa's Birth anniversary. And that reminded me of the time I went to visit the Mother's house.
When my parents visited me in Kolkata, we decided we should go to the 'Mother's house'.
It has been more than a year, but I just can't forget the feeling I had on that day,which remains with me to this moment...a sense of calm and peace.

That evening,after a very chaotic traffic, we reached the street where Mother Teresa had lived. There were a few people sitting on the pavement, speaking in English and willing to take you the house where she stayed. There was nothing exorbitant, nor any huge sign, but a simple nameplate with Mother's name saying 'she' was 'IN'.

Once we entered inside, we saw that the Sisters were busy with their daily chores, some were cleaning the place where Mother rests today,her Tomb, and some were busy carrying water,washing,claning and doing other things. One Sister came up to us and said she would show us the place. There was complete silence inside, with everyone doing their work with utmost dedication. She took us up a flight of stairs, and showed us where Mother stayed and it was a tiny little room, with basic furniture and is kept the same way as it was when Mother was alive. Simplicity reflects from every part of the House. There is another room, where Mother's things and notes are displayed and later the Sister took us to the Tomb,where one felt a strong sense of peace. We were all standing in silence and and there was no way anyone was going to break it, because one just couldn't. Thats what amazed me that day, silence was so powerful.
Even after we came out of the 'House', we were all silent for the rest of the journey back home. The sense of calm,silence and peace prevailed for a long time and we defnitely felt her simplicity.
A person like Mother Teresa had come all the way from her country to help the poor and the dying in our country. Shes a great lady and the work started by her is being followed and carried out by her missionary. But, what one needs to learn is the selfless personality she had and the care and love she had for total strangers.
Do the people today have time to stop and think of a poor man or an old lady on the street?

2008-08-26T11:02:00.002+05:30

Last week, we decided to go out, and since there were quite a mumber of new malls in the town, we thought we'd visit one such mall.
Being a Saturday,we did expect a few traffic problems,parking problems and ofcourse a huge crowd at the mall.With the heavy rains, it has become a nightmarish experience to travel on the roads of Kolkata. And moreover with the tram lines being repaired and relaid in most places of the city,it has only added to the woes.
My husband had a wonderful time driving, trying dodge the water-filled potholes, trying hard to avoid the eccentricities of our favourite, reckless taxi drivers(who by the way consider they own the roads and all the other vehicles on the road, since they dont care if they brush against a few while they drive hysterically),and at the same time the tram lines which are in the middle of the roads,all this while its raining outside.
One might wonder why we chose such a day to go out,but the point is any day at any time this is the situaution in Kolkata,especially during monsoons(and yeah, we have rains here even in winters sometimes).
After about one hour on the road,for a 10km stretch, we were still about a few 100 yards from the mall and then there was this huge traffic jam completely halting all the vehicles. A few cars,including us were lined up for a U-turn,some had to take a right turn, some had to go straight and a few had to take a left turn. But the traffic constable chose to consider the traffic on the opposite side, completely ignoring this side bringing all the vehicles to a grinding halt for more than 40 minutes.
After all this chaos, we finally made it to the mall's parking lot and managed a spot faster than we expected. The moment we entered the mall,for a minute I felt I was in 'Kumbh mela' with people everywhere.The main motivation for us to go there was the huge book store we had heard about, but everything else was dampener.Every corner of the mall was occupied including the food court with each counter having serpentine queues and thats when we decided we should head back home where one can breathe and eat in peace.
What had to be a nice outing ,left us frustrated.

2008-08-12T14:45:00.003+05:30

Congratulations to Abhinav Bindra!!!
He has indeed made us all very proud!! Incredible!!
This win at the Olympics will help us shift our focus to more deserving sports and athletes who can be big achievers if they have the right training and encouragement.

2008-08-06T19:07:00.005+05:30

It has been 9 years since the Kargil war, which was in 1999.
Every year Vijay Divas is celebrated to commemorate our victory and to salute our brave soldiers who were wounded and have lost their lives for their country.
But for the families of those soldiers who have lost their dear ones is an everyday battle since theirs is a personal loss.

My husband was injured in the war, and even today the scars of the injuries remain.

I am posting an article from Hindu,which was published in 2000, with the interview of my husband, Major Shyam vijay Simha, who was then Captain.

Click here to read the article

I guess, we as a nation must be proud that we have soldiers who risk their everything for our country.

Khel Ratna for Dhoni??

2008-08-04T23:42:00.002+05:30

Today's news headlines screamed about Dhoni being honoured with the Khel Ratna Award.
He is the second cricketer in our country to be awarded after Sachin Tendulkar.

What makes one wonder is, if he really deserves it more than others.....when some legendary bowlers and batsmen (who have contributed in many more wonderful ways making us a proud cricketing nation) ,were either not even nominated or were simply denied.

Dhoni might have won us the first T-20 World cup (It was a trial version,u rememeber,whereas Kapil Dev won us the Prudential World cup in the approved format) ,he might have appealed to the masses because of his attitude, and might have been in every possible advertisement that can afford his huge price tag, and he might have even denied going on tour to Sri Lanka because hes simply tired.
Probably Dhoni has all the stars in his favour. Good for him.

2008-06-02T17:27:00.002+05:30

Finally, the IPL is over. People were really consumed by it, even if the purists argue about the nature of the T-20 format, it sure proved to be a big hit. Not that the restarting of my writing in the blog had something to do with the end of the 1st season of IPL, looks like they have coincided quite well. It has been a season of comebacks...with Madhuri Dixit-Nene recently making hers( n ofcourse, not a very successful one)...n so have I(I'm sure its gonna be more successful than hers ;))
Anyways, feels like fun, writing after a really long time.

A game of Polo in the cozy winters of Kolkata

2008-01-29T10:26:00.000+05:30

Every year, just before Christmas is the time for the Kolkata Polo Season. This time in December 2007, it was jointly organised by the Fort William Polo Club and the 144 year old Calcutta Polo Club at the very famous Pat Williamson Grounds,which is at the centre of the Race course.

It was my first time to a Polo match and that itself was thrilling.

We went on 3 different days and watched 5 games.

It was definitely a great experience. The mid afternoon during winter seemed like we were transported to a different land, with the hazy light, clouds tryin hard to block the sunlight and especially with the Victoria memorial as a distant backdrop was truly enchanting.

The horses looked amazingly ready for the game with the Polo players and their mallets(the stick used to hit the ball).

The language of Polo includes Chukkas (the basic period of play... each chukka is seven and a half minutes long and there are four chukkas in each match), Handicap(comparative rating of polo players awarded by the Polo Association), Throw-in(The game is started with a throw-in where the ball is literally thrown in between the line-up teams by the umpires), and the usual penalties, fouls and goals....and it took me one whole game to understand it fully.

The R-Day Effect.

2008-01-27T10:32:00.001+05:30

The 59th Republic Day of our country was celebrated yesterday.
With each passing year, the debate whether we should really have a parade showcasing our military might and power has only become larger.
But the point here, I think is that the R-Day parade is much more than just this.
Every year, the parade is one thing I've been watching regularly on the television since I was little, along with my grandfather explaining about it. It brings back old memories each time I watch it. I only wished the kids of today had the same kind of feeling towards our nation's pride. But unfortunately, it seems to be withering away.
The other thing the I felt was that this was one such days in a year that our nation and more importantly,our news channels remember the unsung heroes of our armed forces. There is a huge coverage on the heroes and martyrs who have given their lives fighting terrorism and insurgency. But unfortunately it is restricted to only a select few days in a year that they are remembered, whereas there are officers and jawans living in unimaginable conditions, away from their families fighting each day against the weather and the enemy, laying down lives every other day. But how much of it is covered and shown to the public is anybody's guess.
The media is not to be blamed wholly because they show what the people want to see.
The basic problem lies in the very attitude of our people. We'd rather see an interesting story about our favourite Bollywood star or discuss about the strategy of the next day's game of cricket or the mindgames of a certain cricketer.
Like my best friend often says... "Weird are the ways of the world".

Happy Republic Day to everyone.

Super Confident Novak

2008-01-25T20:11:00.000+05:30

This match was definitely something I've been waiting for, like many have.
But the great tennis which we wished to see eventualy knocked out Federer.
The world number 1 surely had an opponent who came to the courts to execute the game plan he had.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic defeated the Swiss in straight sets 5-7, 3-6, 6-7, leaving the crowd shocked.
Yesterday, world no.2 and today, world no.1 were sent home,by the new kids on the block.
The confidence that Djokovic had and being able to convert the tie breaker in his favour in a pressure situation says a lot about our new champion in the making.
The finals on Sunday will see the unseeded Tsonga and the 3rd seeded Djokovic fighting it out for the title.
Looks like one interesting contest.

The Tsonga Song

2008-01-24T17:59:00.000+05:30

The Nadal and Tsonga semi-finals in Australian Open was the highlight of today's games. World No.2 Rafael Nadal must have felt it would be an easy match against the unseeded French opponent. But little did he know, that Tsonga would defeat him in straight sets to clinch his place in the finals.
What a match that was!
The Spaniard played very well but Tsonga looked like he was there on a mission. It was breathtaking, with the game of tennis emerging as the clear winner.
Looking forward to the finals where he will have to face either World No.1 Roger Federer or Serbian 3rd seed Novak Djokovic.
Today's afternoon was very well spent. :)

2008-01-22T09:55:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading the book "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.
I think I must be one of the last persons to have read it, because almost everyone I met in the last couple of days have read it and enjoyed it. Better late than never. :)
When my close friend recommended this book, I didn't expect it to be this good...honestly.
The compelling way of his narration and the story itself is so gripping. I just couldn't put the book down. One feels for every character in the book...makes for a wonderful read.

Mayapur, Perth and Vintage cars!!

2008-01-21T10:39:00.000+05:30

On Saturday morning, we decided we would go to Mayapur, about 110km from Kolkata. Mayapur is the place where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,who was part of the very famous Bhakti Movement,was born and is also where the world headquarters of ISKCON is situated.

The 110km distance took us about 4 hours to drive...the roads were pathetic, considering it is such an important destination for people around the world. The place there was packed to the last inch of available space, and pretty understandable because weekends here are like that and one better get used to it. It becomes very difficult to maintain a place that huge when the crowds swell in number, and all it requires is that the devotees are more conscious of the place they are in and realise its sanctity.

The Sanctum Sanctorum was the best part with the deities dressed in bright pink and looked splendid. It was definitely an experience to be rememebered for a long time in every sense.

Go here and here to find out more about Mayapur.

And then, the best thing that happened that day was the superb win against the Aussies at Perth, wrapping up the test in 4 days. Cheers to our Team India and especially the ever-so humble Anil Kumble.

Sunday, the day we usually wake up late and laze around. But this Sunday was different.

The annual Vintage car rally in association with 'The Statesman' was organised at the Eastern Command stadium.

Hardly a few mins away from our home, we went there with a lot of eagerness.

More Information here.

The cars definitely stole the limelight with each one rich with its past, gleaming in the sun. One had to look at it over and over again to get the sense of how it must have in those days. Loved every minute of that experience. We spotted Cadillacs, Ford, Jaguars, Austins...and even a few bikes from the past.The proud owners of these beauties were more than delighted to show-off their cars. The stadium was full of car enthusiasts and people who just wanted a slice of history.

What a lovely way to spend a beautiful Sunday morning!!

Not so 'Welcome'!!

2008-01-18T22:40:00.000+05:30

I wonder why the movie 'Welcome' was even made in the first place.
After having had a treat yesterday, watching the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", I don't even know why we ended up watching this movie. Since this movie was shown in our Campus Auditorium, we decided to go, expecting a light hearted comedy, of course not expecting any logic. But it was even worse giving me a severe headache. The plot being dragged on and on for no reason. One of the worst movies I've seen in the recent past.

A Dream No Less!!

2008-01-18T17:47:00.000+05:30

It was a completely different experience that I had yesterday when I went to watch the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream"by Tim Supple presented by The British Council at the Kala Mandir in Kolkata.

When I had told a few friends of mine in Bangalore,that I was going to watch this play, they had mixed reactions...warning me of boredom. But I was determined to go ahead with my plans.
The magic of it, the energy and the sheer canvas blew me away.
Firstly the play being multi-lingual,we took some time to adjust to their way of story telling, but in a few minutes one is totally glued to the performances with traditional Indian dances, Indian music and beats and even incorporating martial arts. Their agile and athlete bodies helped them perform superb acrobatics which leaves one wanting for more.
With a couple of international actors, the rest of the cast were Indians and Sri Lankans speaking Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, Sinhala,Hindi, English and a little bit of Sanskrit.
The live orchestra with three musicians added that perfect touch.

My personal favourite was Mr. Joy Fernandes playing the character Nick Bottom with his humour and Mr. Ajay Kumar playing Puck who was at his wicked best.

The creativity and the performances,the set, the music...just about everything makes this play very special. Its definitely enchanting whether one can understand or not, mainly the play being multi-lingual.
Cheers to Mr. Tim Supple for giving us such a colourful, interesting and beautiful play!!

'Dreamz Unlimited'

2008-01-15T18:47:00.000+05:30

I'm not sure how many of us remember dreams...but I'm one of those who remembers it very rarely. But I have realised that in the past couple of weeks I have been able to remember one particular kind of dream.
Since 25th December, I've been getting frequent dreams about my grandfather,who passed away in 2004. I am more than glad that he keeps visiting me in my dreams, but what I dont understand is those are the only ones I remember quite well, sometimes, even the conversations we have.
Infact, I've always been extremely close to him throughout, and when he passed away, it was very difficult for me to come to terms with it, and I know, I haven't still.
My husband says dreams have a deeper meaning and have to be interpreted properly.
I dont know how and I dont know what my dreams mean, but one thing is for sure, I feel happier that atleast I get to see him in my dreams and remember it.

'Growth'

2008-01-14T19:04:00.000+05:30

An article in one of the most respected National dailies has made us think about the way we perceive 'Economic Growth' (Click here to read ). Every nation and just about everyone thinks of growth, and we have always felt that 'Growth' can do wonders to a country and to a person. But, had we thought about it the way the writer does, for sure it would do us good in many ways.

'Left' stranded!!

2008-01-14T10:39:00.000+05:30

Being in Kolkata would mean getting used to rallies...be it political, apolitical, for Rizwanur, for Taslima, or against Taslima, artisic freedom,by intellectuals or non-intellectuals, for Nandigram, for singur, against Nano, against a flyover, for water...just about anything and everything...
But, what happened yesterday was the mother of all rallies.

We had a hunch we would have a few traffic jams, but since we had to buy the 'all-so-impt' tickets for a play which was supposed to be real good, we thought we should be booking it in advance. We left our home in our car,just reached the main gate of our campus, only to see a sea of people walking with red flags and bus loads of people just about everywhere. Returning back definitely crossed our minds, but we decided against it and felt it would clear in a few minutes since we sighted a few policeman trying to help our car pass through the chaos. But, little did we know that that would be the last glimpse of a cop.

We managed a few feet, and then we were caught amidst haphazardly driven vans and buses. Thats when we decided we should indeed get back to our home...but it was too late. We were stuck. A few 100 metres away was another gate to our campus, so we thought we should be heading towards it and go home. But in vain, the few 100 metres looked like a mammoth task to tread...Not a single policeman in sight...no one to clear the chaotic traffic, no one to ask the buses to move which were parked along the road...and we had to just silently watch as the people were walking around with flags like there was no tomorrow. And all this in Kolkata's best 'Red Road'.
The taxis had a field day with their great manouvering,squeezing their yellow ambassadors into teeny weeny gaps between the vehicles, and each time they did, simply left us praying that nothing happens to our car.
The few hundred metres I was mentioning took us 'just' 2hrs to cover, and the very glimpse of our gate made us feel as if we had achieved something.

But this definitely made us wonder what would have happened to those who were very sick and needed immediate help, what about the ambulances that were stuck in the traffic...I'm talking about being stranded for 2 hrs to cover a distance of a couple of 100metres. Pathetic.

And, yeah, the rally was organised by the ruling party in the Maidan, with the CM being part of it, with a few lakhs attending from all over West Bengal,using buses meant for public transport for their own purposes, bringing the whole city to a grinding halt...
If the rulers of the state can be so indifferent to the common man's woes, who should we be complaining to?

NANO

2008-01-11T10:22:00.000+05:30

Kudos to the TATAS!!

This is definitely a defining moment.
A 'Folks wagon' finally!!

Ever since, Mr. Tata had announced his ambitious plans for a one lakh car, there has been a spate of criticisms about how bad looking or how feasible the car would be...or even if its really going to be priced at just one lakh. And ever since its launch, people have been blaming it to be the one to create pollution and add to the traffic chaos on the existing 'pathetic' roads we have.

Cars have always been one big barrier between the haves and the havenots.I'm not saying that every Indian is going to buy this car, but atleast a long cherished dream for many Indians is going to come true.
Lets face the fact, that we Indians are basically emotional people...be it cricket or politics, we take decisions from the heart. This is one such thing.

How long do u expect a mediocre family to just travel on a scooter? Be it rain or the scorching heat,we have to make do with a raincoat n a helmet.
This is revolutionary by every which way.

Pollution and bad roads shouldn't stop one dreaming...lets look at how they can be overcome.

Aeroplanes have been contributing to enough pollution, but we cheer when one super rich businessman gifts his spouse a Jet to celebrate 'whatever occasion'. Celebrities take pride in owning a private jet, what are they doing about environment pollution? One eminent director simply burns his lavish set down,contributing enough CO to the atmosphere,so that he can claim insurance.

Whats the Government doing to improve our country's infrastructure?

Instead of tackling these issues,we are targetting the Tatas 'Nano' which is for sure fulfilling some man's dream in some remote town.

Why do we have double standards in every single thing and every single issue in this country?
Why should people jump the gun and criticise something when they dont have full knowledge about the product. The car is going to roll out by the year end, and we will know exactly what the Tatas have to offer.
Until then, I think we have a winner here.

I salute Mr.Ratan Tata for dreaming and dreaming big!!

2008-THE YEAR OF THE RAT

2007-12-31T22:49:00.001+05:30

2008...I'm sure we are all looking forward for a peaceful year ahead.

2008 is supposed to be the year of the Rat according to Chinese Calendar...and that too 'Earth rat'. First in the cycle,the Rat Years begin the sequence and recur every twelfth year.The Rat Sign is characterised by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth overlaying a 5-year cycle of characteristics on the original 12-year cycle....and hence 'Earth rat'.

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. It is said this is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start.

And, according to the Chinese,the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person.
Now,thats something interesting.

Do we smell a rat here?

Goodbye 2007.

2007-12-31T22:34:00.000+05:30

2007 has been a year of many ups and downs on a personal front.
More importantly, it has been a year of self introspection.

The year has been a roller coaster ride of emotions....and having had to shoulder a few important responsibilities I suddenly felt I had to be emotionally very strong, which usually I am not.

But, this year has taught me quite a lot, on how to deal with people and to know where to draw the line. Like every passing year,I have stepped into the new year a learned person.But this time, I feel I am more capable now to face the year ahead with much more dignity and poise and ready to face any number challenges that come my way.

2007-12-31T21:37:00.000+05:30

After a break of 4 months, I have started writing on this New Year's Eve.
Its a great feeling to return to writing in my own space.
Looking forward to writing more and writing more frequently in 2008.

My nephew Sid....hes the cutest!

2007-08-07T15:34:00.000+05:30

Dhuadhaar Falls at Jabalpur.

2007-06-26T11:12:00.000+05:30

One of the most enchanting falls I had been to in the recent times.

Real Cute.

2007-06-19T13:43:00.000+05:30

2007-06-19T13:31:00.000+05:30

KALAM FOR PRESIDENT

Millions of Indians, I'm sure want Dr.Abdul Kalam to continue as our President.
How often do we get to see such a charismatic, down to earth, people-friendly and intelligent person in that post?
But, the reality is....the whole Presidential nominations and this whole issue has indeed become a joke, like how our dear "Amma" J.Jayalalitha put it.

When will the day come, when our beloved politicians would consider putting our country and its progress first(rather than their personal interests), before deciding on any issue??

2007-06-17T17:02:00.000+05:30

Shivaji Released!

The Big release of this year...Shivaji....has hit the theatres all over the world.
But the sad part is, it has not been released in kolkata.
All the hype and hysteria it has created, has made me all the more eager to watch that movie. But, when?

The India We Live In

2007-06-12T22:08:00.000+05:30

World Day Against Child Labour was observed today and it completely went unnoticed.
The television channels went on and on about who should or should not be the Indian cricket coach, why Ford rejected the offer of coaching Team India, later on about the ODI and Test squad selected sans our non-performing Sehwag, and much later about Bob Woolmer investigation which after weeks of speculation confirmed natural causes behind his death.
And ironically, all the 4 news items above are related to cricket which is the top most priority in our country.

Our Country India has atleast 13 million workers below the age of 14, which is the highest in the world.
What has the government done about it?

The road side tea stall employs a kid to clean the glasses; the street chaat guy we frequent, has a kid employed to wash the plates, we just enjoyed our spicy panipuri; the highway dhabas, we dont mind driving all the way to relish his dhaabewaale sabzis and rotis has a kid somewhere inside cleaning and washing; or even some small hotels where a young teen comes to clean the table and remove the plates. These are situations where children are employed ..... we see them and ignore.....this is because none of us are bothered. We seem to busy with our own lives.
There are places where these young, delicate fragile bodies are employed and no one will ever notice.....fireworks industry, match stick industry, leather industry, tanneries, and work in much more hazardous environments. Some studies have also shown that children are employed in mining. Even the lovely, expensive embroidery and zari work are mostly done by those tender hands.
Is anyone listening? Not at all.
As long as our work is getting done, we tend to carry on with our business. How selfish can we get?
Poverty, hunger and debt has driven these kids to work at a young age (when they must be playing and enjoying their childhood), so that he can earn two square meals for his family. Cheap labour and ease of training those young minds for the specific jobs has only helped the employers to take advantage. Our officials are in nexus with these employers and this issue is ignored.
We speak of an IT revolution, globalisation, knowledge explosion, communication breakthroughs, increasing economy, branded shoes, designer wear and helping a charitable organisation (funnily enough, even charity,is nowadays a fashion).
But why are we closing our eyes to such exploitations?
Why are we not highlighting their problems even on a day dedicated to it?
Too many questions, far too less answers.
Lack of political will, social lathargy, lackadaisical attitude and complete carelessness on our part has only fuelled the increase in the number of child labourers in India.
Its high time now we all sit up and take notice.
How can these children who are freed from their employers be rehabilitated and given a decent life?
Its time we realise that children need education, freedom, joy at that age and not the burden of his family's debts.
Will we ever be able to give them their innocence or their childhood or atleast a smile back on their faces?

Near Chilka Lake, Orissa

2007-06-07T10:43:00.000+05:30

SALT!!

Speed Breakers on our Indian Highways!

2007-06-07T10:28:00.000+05:30

Kolkata Blues

2007-06-03T16:52:00.000+05:30

2007-06-01T09:35:00.000+05:30

Feels refreshed after a nice break that I had.
I should say that it was a 'forced break', but I'm glad I went with it.
First of all, I was going to my hometown and to top it, I was even going to spend a week at Ooty. I couldn't have asked for more.
Going to Bangalore after more than 6 months was motivation enough.

Each and every time I find a new eating place to go to, a new hangout, some additions and few old ones with a new look and some places brought down.
Its always new and different, but the best part is that it has retained its soul.
Thats whats enchanting about my place...namma bengaluru.
There are a few problems as is the case in any metro....increasing vehicles on the road,eternal traffic jams, pollution and the dirt...but its totally taken over by the warmth of the people, family and friends.

It has been a couple of weeks since I left Blore, but I'm already missing it.

Looking forward for my next visit.

2007-03-12T11:24:00.000+05:30

The Rich,Famous and the Show-offs.

The much talked about, the much hyped 'Liz-Nayar' wedding, finally got over.
Whoa! I can''t even imagine the money spent on the wedding celebrations.
First a wedding in England, then a week long lavish splurge in India.
Was it really required? I know love has no limit....but how much is it worth?

It was a complete show-off of their wealth. Ridiculous, I would say.

The media just went over the top trying to report something they weren't even invited to. Don't we have enough news to report, that all the news channels had almost dedicated half the air time to the guest list, the songs that would be played, the designers, their wedding attire...oh...the list is endless...is this stupidity or what?
So, whats next, A wedding in every country they've been to.
The whole meaning to the most sacred wedding ceremony has changed.

Now, the whole 'wedding thing' for the rich and the fame-starved, is to show the world their wealth and give the media their day in the sun.

The money (not all of it...maybe even one-fifth of their total expense)could have well been spent on something more fruitful, for the poor in this country, for the sick, for the old, for the orphaned kids, for the blast and accident victims....so many could have benefitted. But, no. That was not to be.

Our country is seeing, the rich getting more richer and the have-nots remaining have-nots.
Hope, there is a day, soon, when every single family in this country, can atleast afford to have a decent life and two meals everyday.

2007-03-08T17:42:00.000+05:30

Women on Top!!

Newspapers, news channels, entertainment channels, print ads, almost just everything
had one common thing today.....Women's Day!

Celebrating womanhood, women emancipation, women on par with men, women raring to go ahead in every walk of life....wow! its so nice to hear these jargons...but how many women are really enjoying it!

The fact is, not many.

If only this effort, time and money was put into benefitting many more deserving women, who aren't as lucky as many of us.

The very fact that I woke up today to read some disturbing news about attrocities on women, not one, but three different news articles, in the same newspaper which had a few pages dedicated to celebrating women's day!!
Thats the irony in today's world.

Its so easy to ignore the brutal reality and embrace a 'make believe' world, which sadly is a distant dream for many women who are silently suffering.

Happy Women's Day to all the brave,courageous women who are fighting a silent battle against abusive men somewhere.... who knows, maybe in a house next door.

2007-03-01T10:21:00.000+05:30

My dear friend Shobs had written the following and I loved it so much, that I wanted to put it in my blog.

Hair today, Gone tomorrow

I can still recall the moment; I sprouted out on the vast expanse of Susie’s head. It was the first glimpse I had of what I had to brave to be called the crowning glory. The look on Susie’s face when she saw me for the first time will be etched in my mind for all eternity. I was her pride and joy and, was flaunted before every adoring aunt, uncle, and grandparents but, most important of them all was, the seemingly endless care that she bestowed on me. I was the first thing she laid her eyes on every morning and the last thing on her mind every night. She pampered me with the best and made sure that I shone like the stars. I had found Utopia but, as I would soon find out, that was not to be.

Susie was now thirteen years old, and was convinced that I would suit her better if I were dyed red, with streaks of blue, and curled. It was just the curtain raiser for the myriad ways in which I would be styled and groomed and never one for complaining, I simply complied to her every wish. But, eventually the routine caught –up with me and the effect of all those different dyes, curling irons, and dryers began to wear me down. At this point, I assumed that my dear girl would stop and let me be, natural.

On a fine Sunday morning, Susie decided to walk into the best hair saloon and there I was, waiting to be pampered and groomed. But, then I felt the cold steel cut through me. Just as I thought that my tryst with destiny was over I heard the roaring of the electric shaver and knew that it was the end of me.

2007-03-01T10:05:00.000+05:30

Out of sight , Out of mind.
Thus goes a famous saying.
But I feel strongly it is true.
Unless one makes a constant effort to make his/her presence felt, he/she is forgotten.
Thats how it works in today's scenario.

2007-03-01T10:04:00.000+05:30

Who doesn't desire for a carefree life....free from responsibilities...
We need to be in 'Utopia' to experience it.
(or do we?)
Every single day, every single moment we have some responsibility or the other to be fulfilled. Sometimes, we are just lifted from our secure surroundings and put in circumstances wherein we are forced into weird responsibilities.
But, the whole beauty of such situations is that we (effortlessly) do manage to fulfill them, ......most of the times atleast.

2007-02-24T18:34:00.000+05:30

BEing

Just be yourself.
U lose your identity completely trying to emulate and be someone else.
Simply,not worth the effort!!
What say?

AAYA AAYA GURUBHAI!

2007-01-31T09:43:00.000+05:30

What can I say?
Its an incredible movie.
Although, saw the movie much later after its release, it was worth every rupee I spent on it.
Superb performances, awesome locales, amazing picturisation and above all, Mani Ratnam at his best.
'Dream and dream bigger' is the Mantra.
Sheer determination, will and gut and above all 'vision'.....
that is what one needs in life too...
I'm simply too impressed.

2007-01-23T17:14:00.000+05:30

A nice Hot cup of coffee on a dull, cloudy, chilly evening....
PRICELESS!

2007-01-18T09:26:00.000+05:30

Have you any regrets in life?
I do.

I regret not having spent a lot of time with my paternal grandmother, not getting to know her........

I regret not having openly appreciated my maternal grandma for the way she cared for me, for the way she brought me up, and not having thanked her for all that she was for me, for not telling her how much I loved her.......

I regret not having told my maternal grandfather that he was everything to me, for not showing him my love, for not telling him that he meant more than anything that this life can offer, for not telling him that hes 'the best grandfather' in the whole wide world, for not thanking him for what I am today......

I regret not displaying my affection, for being a very shy person, for not telling them everyday that I am what I am now because of them.

I still regret....

I guess, we need to tell the people close to us, that we love them a lot, because of the uncertainty that persists....so that,later we needn't regret.

2007-01-17T18:48:00.000+05:30

It was love at first sight.
Peaceful, yet full of life....simple, yet had a very strong character......neat, yet had an earthy feel....
That was Mhow....a village near Indore.

I had the opportunity to visit that place and stay there for 2 months. I relish every moment I have spent there.It was not just another place....it made me feel what we all, brought-up-in-the-cities-type, miss in the big cities. Peace, Pure air, greenery, and warm people. I met a lot of people, made some great friends, "gossipped", experimented with new recipes, enjoyed early morning walk like never before, and played a lot of snooker.

Mhow has one very well stocked,modern market which stretches to about 2km,with its lanes and bylanes buzzing with activity. The Poha (beaten rice dish-usually eaten for breakfast) there is the best I've eaten and Bhavrilal has the best sweets and savouries. The kachoris, gulab jamuns, gajar ka halwa and dry fruit laddoo is yummy. The fruits and vegetables were so fresh and, the way it would be displayed,it looked so colourful and inviting. Everyday, my friend and I would walk upto the vegetable 'mandi',buy fresh vegetables and cook. Most of the vendors and shopkeepers in the market recognised us and gave us concessions ,since we were such regulars.

The most interesting feature of that place is the Mhow paintings. Every lane in that place has a minimum of 2 art galleries with superb artists. There are a lot of framed paintings,and even imitations of famous ones to choose from, or one can even place an order to get their portrait done. Every person who visits that place does take back a few paintings. I was fortunate enough to have met one such great artist, Mr. Dwivedi. He owns an art gallery, and teaches art, and that too free of cost for girls and boys from nearby villages. I requested him if he could teach me and to my surprise, he agreed. Although,I met him quite late, with just 2 weeks of stay there,
I did utilise it well. He taught me the nuances of sketching and making portraits. I was myself surprised with the result. Due to lack of time, I could not learn oil painting, but I'm sure the next time around,when I get an opportunity to visit Mhow, I would utilise it properly.

Now,I'm back in Kolkata, but not a day passes by without me thinking of Mhow.

2006-10-12T14:26:00.000+05:30

Someone sent me this text message: "The highest pain in life is to sit just beside a person you love a lot and know the fact that the person can never be yours in this lifetime."

While I discussed about this with a friend, he told me...."If I talk about love, I needn't own and call something/someone mine.The moment I own, I wield authority over it. Where there's authority, love is absent. If you love someone a lot, there's no need for that someone to be yours (your own) at all!"

Then, why is a person possessive of his/her spouse? Is this not authority?
If love cannot be in a place where there is authority...then can it be if there is possessiveness?
If one is not possessive about the one he/she loves, then is it really love?
One in love likes it if someone's possessive of them, isn't it?

2006-09-28T13:16:00.000+05:30

Arrogance and money reign!!

Sometimes I wonder, what makes one arrogant.
Is it the fact that one thinks he is in a better position (money or otherwise!) in comparison to his peers, or is it a way of trying to get over his insecurities?
Does money have any part to play in one's arrogant behaviour?
Or maybe, arrogant people with more money is just a coincidence?
Is arrogance bad at all?
Can we channelise arrogance to something constructive?
.................Many questions, very less answers!!
.................Whatever it may seem.....Arrogance, sometimes, does hurt!!

2006-09-25T19:07:00.000+05:30

Busy cooking in the kitchen and all of a sudden, I remembered a nursery song and when I went with the flow, incidentally I remembered the entire song. I was so proud of my memory!!
Later, I learnt that this was one of the very first ones to be written in America. WOW!!
So, this is how it goes...

Hush-a-bye, baby,
in the tree top.
When the wind blows,
the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks,
the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby,
cradle and all.

A very Sad day in my life!

2006-08-27T21:12:00.000+05:30

The day was 11th December,2004 and the time around 11pm.
A very uncomfortable feeling was getting to me.There was a phone call, which my mom attended.....I just knew something was terribly wrong.My dad woke us up and said he had to go and wanted my husband to go along with him.Shyam did not ask a single question, he just got up, and got dressed and left with my dad.Meanwhile, I was just lying down, praying and hoping and wishing everything was fine.After about an hour, the telephone rang again and the very sound of the ring sent shivers down my spine.I just got up and went to my mom who was speaking with my dad.She was silent....just listening. She told me not to panic and then she slowly said that it was all over. What was she saying? How can this happen? Maybe this is all a bad dream. I'm sure its just a dream.....but, it wasn't meant to be. The unexpected had just happened...something I dreaded,something that would tear me apart, something I was sure I can never be prepared for, something which will change my life forever,...and it had just happened.
I had cut short my vacation with my husband at Vizag and Araku valley to go to Bangalore to see my granpa who was hospitalised.But, when I came down and saw him in the ICU... I wasn't quite prepared for what I saw... (He was on life support system, and wasn't able to speak).... and after being in the hospital for 15 days,now,my beloved darling grandpa had left us for his heavenly abode. He must have gotten tired being such a nice person,for being the most caring and considerate to everyone who walked into our house... He was my life, my all, my everything. The person I am today is because of him... we both shared a very unique bond..he was my buddy..... we talked about just everything...from freedom struggle to politics, from woman emancipation to boy friends...he was 85 when he passed away, but was just a 20 year old in his heart...he was the most enterprising and charming man I have ever come across...he was a man with no inhibitions, no qualms about anything, simplicity personified, a man full of energy and zest for life.......
The loss to me is irreplaceable...there is just nothing that can fill the vacuum in my heart...the pain of his loss hurts more than any physical pain...it pinches my heart and chokes my throat whenever I relive those moments of his last days in the hospital,where we all were so sure he would come back home hale and hearty....I haven't been able to get over it as yet, because, every minute of life is related with him and his memories........

He is Immortal!

2006-08-05T15:37:00.000+05:30

A person very close to me passed away more than a year ago.
I can't stop thinking about it even to this minute.
Every moment I had spent with him has been so precious and invaluable, and today...I remember him every day...every minute, infact.
I feel that vacuum can never be filled,no matter how much my friends and relatives try.

Is it wrong to remember him always and have that uncomfortable feeling, that none can equal him?
How can I stop thinking about him always?
And, if at all I try to,will that make me a bad person?
Should I stop grieving and accept it as a part of life?
Is it wrong to expect people close to me to be like him?
Most of all, I wonder how I can carry on with my life without HIM?

So many questions in my mind....wish I had an answer......

Jumpstart

2006-06-11T19:48:00.000+05:30

Finally,started posting in my blog.
I thought i would do so last week on Tuesday, but then why risk it on the day of 'the devil'...(06-06-06)... Kept delaying ,but then, I finally did it.
I had always thought of starting my blog, had felt the need to put down my views and thoughts, but then ,me being the 'procastinating type', kept saying,'may be tomorrow'.
But,it took the day-666,for me to give that urge to begin(evil!!!)...I just had to make one small, small move and I would have had a full fledged blog,alive and kicking, for a long time now.
What the heck, its better late than never....
So,here I am