Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo! - Part 2

Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo, Asee nabe pure sau, Sau se nikla raja chor pakadke bhaga!

Why Part 2? Because after my 3rd and my sister's 1st standard we moved from Kalayan East to Kalyan West. This town was bigger and we changed school too. Our new school - Holy Cross Convent was closer to our home - Jairam Apartment - both at karnik road. We had to undergo written test to get the admission - and though difficult we wanted to be in Holy Cross and not Old Lourdes because the school had playground with slides and sea-saw! My parents wanted us to get admission there as it was the best school around! As we grew up, it was fun and interesting to speak of and have rivalry between both schools - 'Jo Jeetha wahi sikhandar type' - Ours being Girls only school and theirs mixed,things were interesting.



New school and new friends when in 4th and my first friend there was Saritha Naik, who helped me complete Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo today after nearly 30 years in Facebook...Not sure if she remembers that. As we moved to secondary school Saritha went to different class and Juhi joined. Also there was Smitha whose sister Rakhee was in the same standard as my sister. So untill Smitha moved to Thane she was my best friend and then Juhi. Loved the visits between our houses, combined studies and cycle races. How we used to spend sooo much of time....over petty things one instance being writing - 'The best way out of difficulties is through it!'

Enjoyed the morning assembly, republic/independence day celebrations, annual day, sports day, singing/dancing competitions, elocution competitions and dramatic competitions. Annual picnics were real fun. It was good to have holiday on Thursday and Sundays. With Karate classes on Thursday. As I was trying to cope with my studies, my sis was more into extra curricular activities and had her own group in her class called 'standing committee' and was friendly with my batch mates too. Weather it be Table Tennis with B.Priya or song drama with Preetha Shenvi - Na doctor benega main, Na engineer benega - Actor kha beta hoo main actor he banega. But ya, learning various knots and going for camps was fun when in guide; we had some schoolies opting Social Service and LTS as well.

Still remember Vani was my great motivator, who would praise me for all small things. There was the naughty group of Michell-Mansi-Monica. Always wondered how Mich could be an all rounder pleasing teachers and every one with her sweet voice and poetry and being around with fun loving girls! Not sure if Bhakti was in that group - but Bhakti and Mansi sat behind me. Prathiba for her Aplam-Chaplam and other dances though she topped every class, Kirti being the school captain and best student, Payal for her blue skirt/lovely dimples-she was the Aamir Khan of our class. Mithali Kini for her - My heart is beating. Natasha for her Pooja Butt look and tom boy styles; Anushka/Pinki/Sailakshmi/Soni and Jaya for their studiousness, Shilpa for her - Rukhey sabh khi kadam, Tara rum pum pum - Koyi aisa geeth gaya karo. Aish for her various songs and style and friend circle with Sana, Thanusree and Sibi. Sibi not only for her question on Pride and Prejudice, but also because she was the daughter of Tilak Uncle who was Panku Uncle's friend. Don't know why and how most of the time, I ended up using her sister Simi's books - who was teased as Pinky/Pinky. Where-ever it was mentioned 'he' in any civics text, simi would have added 'she' near it. We had common friends who left HCCS before completing school to UP - Sajitha and Sunitha; all of us used to meet in one person or others house. Shilpa Talim for her smartness, Sheetal for her handwriting, Prachi for her Shortput, Monika/Krupali being our Gujju Bean, Incia for her style and Bihari dance and Rittu Matta too for her experiments.Don't believe how goregous they have grown up into. There were 3-4 kavita's all sweet in their own way, 2 Mitalis both different in all the ways, 2 Sindhu's, 2 Priya's the neutral silent leader then and now - Sabina.

How studious I felt wearing spects when in 5th; and most teachers did like me - especially Prasanna Miss - don't know why there was a special bonding between us, and she even called on my sisters wedding. Jessi Miss and Lalitha Miss liked my mother and used to advice us especially 'Chinticha Andham illiya, chintichillengil kundam illiya'. Loved Annie Miss's handwriting and Geography classes, Almeda Miss's English classes - for some reason felt proud to have a teacher like her and still do. Sister Mercy both Junior and Senior. There was and is a special place for both of them, one being our headmistress and others advice - which I always carry with me - 'Simple living and high thinking'; did enjoy her Value Education classes as well. There was just one special class by Sr. Mercy - Senior; in which I fell giddy, and slept in the last row - on a Thursday holiday. Our craft and drawing teacher - Bharathi; our PT teacher. Somehow felt sorry about Vikshalakshi miss and loved Beena miss and her stories. Because of the hard work I had been putting to learn Hindi and Marathi - Nigam miss, Geetha Miss, Gokaley Miss and Luis Miss are always fresh in my mind - I ofter used to say MeeraT/Marathi to boost my interest in the subject. Sr. Neeta, Sr. Jaya and Sr. Ranet would always be remembered for their History. All of us used to admire Alice Miss's hair and on asking her what she used she said Johnsons soap! and Oman Miss was a terror for all. For a short time we had P.T.sir instead of miss - all comedy.

How difficult it was to get marks in those days and anything between 75-85% was excellent/distinction; unlike now where every one gets above 90% and all A+. We cried and felt proud to get hold of a bicycle - Thanks to Amma for getting us one with the tight budget with which she had to handle things, and for achan/John and Santhosh for helping us learning how to ride.

Still remember how I cried on 15th February 1992 as it was our school farewell day! Glad that we could all meet again thanks to whatsapp and the advancement in technology. But now no more Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo solve our problems!

We had our neighbour Rajshree who was of my age but used to go to a Marathi Medium School; so we started enjoying that language and learning it. In our building there were 3 Maharastrian's, 3 Goan's and only one Malayali - us. On feast day of our school, my sister participated in 'Feast Day Greetings' song, and it was there my mother met John's mother - and we become family friends - which grew stronger as we grew up. It was this year when in 4th standard, I read my first story outside school syllabus from Women's Era (is'nt it too ealy for a girl in 4th standard to read women's era even now?) - the story still lingers 'The naughty girl'. My father used to bring magazines from his office library. For me hindi and marathi were tough in new school and found it difficult to catch up with. For which I was always scolded by Rajani Miss, Lathika Miss. Because parents wanted us to excel my mother send me for tuition's to Saroj Miss's house for Hindi and marathi though she used to take tuition for 25-30 children for all classes. Saroj Miss & Anita Rane of Lourdes school where good friends of my mother - the latter still is and the former is no more. Had been there for four years with Shailesh and Ashwin.

We did not leave behind every one from St. Judes. Sindhu, Indu and Sreeram had come to west; Sindhu Menon being in the same school as me, but Indu and Sreeram going to Lourdes. Also there was Sreechand and Smitha children of my mother's school friend from Kerala - See the world is so small - You do not know whom we meet where! Then they were happy just one friend meeting at one place - but today we have reunions in US, Canada, UK, Kerala, Mumbai, and all across the globe - We are connected - Still we belong to one family!

Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo! - Part 1

We would always say that Childhood was the best days of our life.



We cried on the first day of our school, Our parents came to drop us to school and pick us up in a peaceful town of Kalyan East - without much traffic.We had Raju/Rajani, Shobha/Rupa(No idea where they are now), Unni, Munni/Jayasree/Ravi for company. Most of us going to St. Judes school and some to Model English. Enjoyed going to 'Thabela' and seeing lines of buffalos, and bringing home fresh milk daily.

Anyone owning an ambassodar, Premier Padmini or Maruthi 800 was considered extrimely rich. We had houses in rows - Santhi Nivas, Kamla Nivas - like ribbion and vast space in between where we had Ganesh Chathurthi, Ayyapa Pooja, Dhai Hundi, Deepavali, Christmas and New Year celebrated every year. At times there were movies shown in a big white screen or by taking VCR/VCP on rent. We used to divide and share the cost of watching movie. Amma, with Rema Aunty, Leela Aunty, Mema (Pushpa Aunty- Don't know where she and her daughter Deepa are now?) enjoyed co-ordianting Thalpali and other events. It was so much fun, dancing for 'Dance little baby- Dance your paws', 'Chicken on the egg' and 'Sweeper came a sweeping'. Amma liked to take us and click photos from Mr. Natwarlal studio - it made us feel special just one photo. Achan used to narrate Ramayana, Mahabharatha and other stores every weekend and take us to USA (Ulasnagar Sindhi Association)to meet Govindankutty Chettan Uncle sometimes on a cycle, or Bhandup to meet Go-Nany in the local train. The meetings with Panku Uncle - Lekha and Tulsi Uncle/Omna Aunty in Mulund.
If we had long holidays - we used to go to meet our cousins in Bourvili/Malad - Chanda Aunty/Geetha Aunty. Still remeber the day Geetha Aunty wanted to give us 'puttu-rubber band' and how Priya cried! How I tried making tea for the first time when Prabha Uncle came home and there was no elders only we children. How a buffalo came to hit Priya (was it because she wore red dress?). How it was considered a great thing, if someone got into a flight or travelled abroad? How a watch or a tricycle/toy was cherished by children and envyed by others! I had one watch gifted by Raviman and tricycle gifted by Shasiman - and it was enved by other children when I took them out to play in the varanda. Especially our Andhra neighbours. We used to count the number of 'Maans' (dears) that was in the scenery above our dining table and the 'Maans', that we had and thought why both were called Maans.

Writing letters with pen on paper was an interesting thing, there were phones only in one house somewhere around the corner, and we used to go to somebody's house and watch Chitrahar or P.T. Usha running for Olympics. Achan used to collect and send magazines to Sasiman, and it would take a month to reach. In case there was something urgent - we used to send telegram.

Comming to our Native place was an event in itself - which happened once in 2-3 years. The two day train journey in Jayanthi-Jantha/Kanyakumari express were independence day for us - A long picnic. We used to have at least 2-3 other family with us. Priya/Prasant/Reshmi. Was scared when achan got down at every station. Nandan Chettan would tell us good stories. And the scary days where when first me, then my sis and mother got Chicken Pox.

Ah! Those where the days when for life's simple choices we would just toss a coin and decide with heads/tails and for most complex choices had the simple solutions of Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo, Asee nabe pure sau, Sau se nikla raja chor pakadke bhaga!

Nayak - The Real Hero

Happen to see 'Nayak: The Real Hero' again yesterday.Though had seen this 2001 Bollywood political thriller film a remake of S. Shankar's successful Tamil film Mudhalvan even before; this made me ponder over the Indian Political situation.

Under Anna's leadership, India came on streets against corruption. The people demanded a strong anti-corruption law. The government did not agree. None of the parties agreed. Obviously, they couldn't have agreed because if they passed a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, most of the politicians would be in jail and their properties would be confiscated.



Soon after Aam Aadmi Party was born. We did find some hope in this party - but soon after Delhi election everything turned topsyturvy. Was it genuine or another brain child of Congress?


As Payal had once mentioned - "We know all politicians are alike, we know they all fake it, mask it, peel us and reel us to their personal interest and use us to build their personal assets...We saw congress, we gave BJP a chance. We lost trust, we lost faith...the only one thing that keeps us going is Hope....Hope that Good will come someday!Someday an Avataar may arise, like Ram or Krishna to kill the Ravanas or Kans of our motherland...The Avataar may take his time, but to keep the hope kindling in our minds...lets show that...

Gandhiji said that politics devoid of honesty and spirituality is disastrous for the country. We have to change the politics of this country. When Modi was elected - people though he would Modify India. Would he be able to cleanse, and improve things around? Or has our entire political system become rotten? Can Most of today's problems due to corrupt politics be cleansed? Hope we would not have to wait long to watch, and the wait would not lead into disaster. Hope the man from the land of Gandhi would turn out to be another 'Nayak: The Real Hero' - leading us to progress. It pains to see my motherland be looted!

FIFA - 2014

Who is Fifa? Fufa's wife? This was the kind of knowledge I have had about Football until 2014. Remember Achan waking up at night keeping alarm to watch the match - and people around talking about it and bursting crackers. Half the neighborhood appeared to be a great Fan of Brazil or Argentina.

Yes, I did win a context in 1998 on who would be the FIFA winner, and I had predicted France; not because I understood the matches but because I liked their goalkeeper. But here I had in 2014 memories of my Father; our German Boss and mother in office who made me interested in the game and finally support - Germany.



The first every full match that I had watched in my life was the semi-finals between Germany and Brazil - an incredible one - which nobody had thought of 7-0. Not a semi final kind of - But there were many things to learn and I started loving the game. When more than half of the football loving people were supporting Brazil, here was me cheering for Germany..Though felt sorry for the host - they had injured their star player Neymar and Thiago Silva was suspended from the Semi finals so they had become a weaker team; and Germans were indeed very strong. The game was all one sided.

Then there was the next semi - finals between Argentina and Netherlands. Heart was with Holland - oranges but mind said Argentina - Messi was the star player loved by all. Wanted the Oranges to win last world cup, but they had not- In fact they had never won a world cup. Contrary to the first Semi - This turned out to be a very tough one with the game moving to the penalty after extra time and Argentina did it.

Then came the finals - All figures crossed- Fantastic game - Ball by ball, pass by pass, foul by foul, miss by miss. Seems my Germany completed all the quota of their goals against Brazil during the normal time and Argentina - So many misses - Messi needed to be recharged - something obviously wrong there.

The German coach was really cool, the way he spoke to the team, hugged the boys and tried to motivate them quitely. We would just see them winning. And there was the Argentina's coach - about to retire, tensed, and trying to always guide and instruct the team walking around. Amazing Goal Keepers.

Into the extra time most of us hoped the game would not end in penalty shots and wished that something really happened. Last few minutes of the game left and Yogi was outrageous because Schweinsteiger needed help - he was bleeding - was the match turning into wrestling - when in the beginning people were hugging each other?

Finally Gotze scored a Goal in the last five minutes. The end was like a thriller fingures crossed. Unsure if Argentina would score a goal and my TV showing grains and getting switched off...OMG this is it! All cry - of joy or sorrow! - Hugs & Kisses - So cute.

As always my heart would go out to the losers and their crying heart. I felt bad for them first for Brazil, then for Netherland and now for Argentina. But that is part of the game!



Finally Germany is very happy and proud! With Gotze being the happiest guy in the world at that moment - whole country cherishing the moment of pride - First in the Unified Germany since 1990 - First by an European team in America - Their 4th start and much deserved!! 5,00,000 people were celebrating together in Berlin watching the match.

Cow and Car - Bull and Bullet

Arun send this picture and said - A new bull in the stable - and Sajeev asked is it a bull or a bullock cart?

This reminded me of the conversation I had with Achan during his last days when in hospital. He said -

Today people reject marriage proposals in case they find Cows in the cow shed in the would be's house; but the would be spouse is considered prospective in case they have Cars and bullets in their garage. The big and costlier ones, the better.

Which is better Cow/bull or Car/bullet?

Cow/Bull gives dung, which could be used as a fuel, and creates no pollution. They are used to facilitate transportaion, plough the fiels, and even after death, they are of great use. They also give us their offspring. We do find appreciation in their value.

Cars/Two wheelers use petrol, consume fuel, and add to air pollution. Once we start using them, their value keeps depreciating and they are of not much use when scrap.

But a family is considered better with the better/bigger and more number of cars they have, This is the world we live in today!Speed.....Can Cow/Bull cope up with the speed todays generation wants? And why trouble living beings, Using Cow/bull would be atrocity against animals...How about Cars/Two Wheelers - Is it good, safe and a great boon?

How about a bull-let or a cowcar?

A Farewell to Orkut

What a situation? Had updated a post on Orkut, then on Death,and now here is the email saying - A farewell to Orkut.

It is not only people, but technology, nature etc. that die...and the fact is universal 'The fittest survive, and the weak go to the grave'. Remember how Pager was around just for few days...

One of the first social networking site that we had been using is Orkut...and here is an email form them :-(


After ten years of sparking conversations and forging connections, we have decided that it's time for us to start saying goodbye to Orkut. Over the past decade, YouTube, Blogger and Google+ have taken off, with communities springing up in every corner of the world. Because the growth of these communities has outpaced Orkut's growth, we've decided to focus our energy and resources on making these other social platforms as amazing as possible for everyone who uses them.

We will shut down Orkut on 30 September 2014. Until then, there will be no impact on you, so you may have time to manage the transition. You can export your profile data, community posts and photos using Google Takeout (available until September 2016). We are preserving an archive of all public communities, which will be available online from 30 September 2014. If you don't want your posts or name to be included in the community archive, you can remove Orkut permanently from your Google account. Please visit our Help Centre for any further details.

It's been a great 10 years, and we apologise to those of you still actively using the service. We hope that you will find other online communities to spark more conversations and build even more connections for the next decade and beyond.

So dear friends gear up...save/transpose any data from there that you wish to.

When is the last time you thought about death?

Often wonder - 'Leaf's departure was because of winds pursuant or because the tree didn't ask it to stay? '

Oh forgot if the leaf did not want to stay at all?

Why do people die untimely? I do not know, but often do I think of death...And two consecutive deaths this year...still cannot digest some of them...Cannot think of loosing both parents together...Though only 7 years since met - Death of my sisters MIL and FIL is shocking and indigestible. (Savithri Amma and Gopinathan Sir) Thought of her MIL takes me to my father both who wanted to go to places, enjoy life; but had to encounter death. Can we call it early death? Both were in mid 60's..active, Not sure if it was early, but indeed it was untimely. But who decided the time?

Death is one thing that, I don't want to think about, but always come to my mind.....And now with every ticking of the clock...I think of it....

Guess : Death for we all know is the ultimate truth and the only thing true about life! As only thing that do not change in life is change.....

The flowers reminded me of the 9 months journey for birth and death, and flowers being common; received for both as well as for wedding. On your wedding day, you sleep on flower and on your funeral flower sleep on you...


Had this message on 4th January 2013 - "Remember as well that the soul of your father remains unchanged. He is still around in your heart. Whenever you need him just speak to him as if he were still in his earthly body. You’ll hear his response in your heart."; but a year and a half...am still looking out for him. I have only seen people in their earthly body...so is it true - 'Dust Thou Are To Dust Return'?



Here he is, between his favourate 'Kaya' and 'Chena'. 'UNANGUVAN VALAREYERE SAMAYAM EDUKKUNNA MURIVUKALIL VALIYORENNAM !!!!!!'

Bagavat gita chap 2 slogam 22 says - 'Just as a man casts off his worn out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied self casts off its worn out bodies and enters others which are new'; and 19th say 'He who takes the Self to be the slayer and he who thinks he is slain, neithet of them knows. He slays not, nor is He slain'.

But why this seperation when there could have been more, 25 years.. . Where is the soul, if dust though are to dust return was not spoken of the soul....SEPARATION is always painful : during birth or death !! during birth it is ecstasy and during death it is agony . PAIN is part of life.Once last breath takes place, the chapter is over and a/c is closed. Those who are defaulters will have constant pain.

Sea water changes to clouds it travels in air up to the high it can reach, then it rains and becomes water as rivers it flows to sea again. What is separation? It was cloud and then rain and pure water as in river and saltwater when in sea. Kindly do not be subjugated to the material gratifications we don't know what happens in the next second of our life.

Gita Chapter 2 sloka 16 says The unreal has no being; there is no non-being of the real; the truth about both these has been seen by the knowers of the Truth. (Or the seers of the Essence)? We know the unreal and do not know the real....Leave behind the things which we cannot control? Do not worry about the thing which is out of our control? Whatever comes on our way we have to face.That is the reality.

Not sure of the defaulters but for sure I don't know if there ever was a happy and content man with a smile always even after the end, on his own ground near his mother. .with all hand over done and giving members 9 months to cope the reality...Don't we like to close overdrawn accounts, but keep the active ones? Correlating what happened in Jan and July I feel what happened in Jan could have happened even 25 years later; yes could be in 2035-38....

UNTIMELY DEATHS HAVE LONG IMPACTS: CANNOT FORGET THE BRAVE DEATH OF ABHIMANYU ...., AND THE DEMISE OF JESUS CHRIST .... TO CONSOLE WE CAN SIMPLY SAY "GOD CALLS HIS MOST LIKABLE PERSONS FIRST" !! JULY CASE WAS A SPECIAL ACT OF GOD : WHEN THE LIVE PERSON LOOSES INTEREST IN LIFE - ...

Death....Lingers...But we must leave on...Till it is our time/chance. You too your death, I too my living, who alone is going through the right way, is unknown to all....Except God!!??

Orkut...

Why speak good about the people only at their grave? ...Loved the testimonials at Orkut...Once that was written about me...Inspite of all the good wishes, I could not become a CA though! Reading these reminded me of Amlaki days...Enjoy reading them now..


Ramya Udayan- 7 Jul 2010
My sweet chechiii....an ideal sister...

M - MODEST
E - ENTHUSIASTIC
E - EXCELLENT
R - RELIABLE
A - AFFABLE

"An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too" - Pam Brown

A good sister...a special friend...who is always special for me...

Thank you ..thanks alot...

Geeta mishra- 27 Feb 2010
It is since 12th standard that we did not meet each other. But always remembers and try to contact whenever possible. You are very caring and loving person. You never forget your friends . Always helpful and emotional. Your messages are always divine . Very philosophical, true, simple, hard working, independent, no complains etc..... words are falling short. See you soon.

nidhi r menon - 16 Aug 2009
i dont think i have to write anything more about her , as her nature is so mesmerizing that nobody remain unseen of it ,, i just love her, she is the most humble person on the earth, a best guide, and most importantly the most lovable cousin for me,

Saro:

..... is like badi deedi for me......bahut pyari...lekin thodi nadaaan..

Hum hai rahi pyar ke, phir milenge, chalthe chalthe...

- 13 Mar 2009
...deedhi....very sweet n caring person.. absolutely lakhon me ek....
not all can be like her or even dream about it...she is one ultimate mixture of a caring,jovial,fun-to-be-with, understanding person.....an all the more a GREAT friend .,, :-)

Vandana- 17 Jan 2009
A)grees with what you say
(B)elieves in what you do
(C)ares about you way too much
(D)oesnt give up on you
(E)asy to talk with
(F)orgiving of your mistakes
(G)iving special gifts
(H)as time to give you breaks
(I)s always on time
(J)ust envies what you do
(K)eeps you close in mind
(L)oves to talk with you
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever lies to you
(O)pen
(P)retends never,always true
(Q)uiets your cries
(R)espnosible and fun
(S)tays out all night with you
(T)houghtful and calm
(U)nderstands all that you do
(V)ery confident,very true
(W)ill always be a friend forever
(X)-actly knows whats right for you
(Y)our friend indeed
(Z)aps you back to the person you are,still always luvs you...tcaress...may GOD always bless u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- 16 Dec 2008
see this s my chechi...ente chechiyavan ella yogyathem, stuff okke ulla my meera chechi...
aalu oru puli thanneyanu...seriously speaking very rare to see these kind of stuff.She has inspired and supported me in every walks of my life...in studying,in proffession etc etc...i strongly feel her journey of life,her perspective,attitude and purpose of life is entirely different from most of us.
Her ambition is to be a Chartered Accountant and ...i believe almighty will consider her efforts and our prayers very soon.
And last but not least she is right example of the phrase 'substance over form'...if any ca students wants to learn deeply about this concept,please observe my chechi for a while.

may god bless my chechiii and she will be always happy....

prema rohit
- 30 May 2008Pending approval
wellllllllll
abt .................
shez my support ,strength and motivation in our kudumbayogam.
A simple a person that can b defined.
softspoken,loving,friendly,creative and what not????????
Ever willing 2 accept any responsibilities.

In fact the master mind behind our kudumbayogam.

Love u ...

- 10 Aug 2007
she is my best chechi......when we used to meet we spend a great time with each other.
now we stay far away .........but those memories and good days are still fresh in my mind.
still we are close to each other with sweet heartly bonds.

LOVE U CHECHI...........LOTS AND POTS OF LOVE.

Rashmi Menon
- 3 Apr 2007
chechi chechi chechi….well I dnt hav 2 say neythin more 2 all dose who kno wat dis word means.…well I startd callin u dat long b4 I even knew wat it meant… but now dat I kno its real meanin u r my meera chechi in evry way.. i rem in my childhood on ney holiday all v wud do is plan ven 2 leav 4 kalyan(ur home in mum)...i really wish u cud hav been dere durin all my growin up years too...our relationship is a proof dat no matter wher u r ..hw far ur frm ur loved ones.distance can never b a constraint..i wish u all d best in life ..so my fav chechi keep smiling nw n always (n dnt tell tara chechi i calld u my fav chechi..coz i tell her d same too hehehe)

my ...she is very loving and friendly girl.She is very sensitive.luvs her friends a lot and expect the same from others.

- 24 Sep 2006
She is so simple and so calm, Very soft spoken sometimes, considerate and alwyas puts others interests before her own, she is a true friend. I am proud of it, to get such a good friend like u.

Rajagopal Venu
- 23 Aug 2006
...., one of the most enigmatic persons that i have come across at Amlaki,adept at sailing through the mind boggling "desert" of Amlaki accounts,and our great HR! Bubbly, enthusiastic and at times into her shell draped with a "transparent" veil of secrecy i dare not question!!! She is so committed to her work and loyal to her organisation that one wonders if she is a kin of our CEO! Kudos to ur loyalty! Meeraji, in your voyage through life, may the heavenly guardians of peace and wellbeing guard you day and night and looking forward to the pleasure of seeing "CA" added to your name plate,i wish u all success!Long live Meeraji, you will come out with flying colors in the exams called LIFE! My prayers are with you!

Reshmi Vinod
- 31 Jul 2006
..ji..., i know her for the last 6months. She is more a friend and elder sis, than a colleague.
Very fond of sweets, children and guess what??? Sleep....
U'll alwyz find her with a smile. Hamesha apne mein masth. That's Meeraji.
U can rely on her nytime. No doubt she will be there alwayz with u.
Par ha kabhi mere kutch bathein nahi maanthi....Tooooooooooo bad.. Hope u get it dear..
Wish u joyful International rides in our 'Uddankattola'.
Mera - 'Happiness Always!!'
So chweeeeeeeettttttttttttttttt………………..
Will miss u dear..........

Srinivas Nurani Devarajan
- 6 Jul 2006
I have known ... to be very jovial , helpful and friendly person.She is a person whom you can look upon in need.But here's a caution for her!!!! , Itna bhi achcha mat bano ki log tumhare achchai ka galat faida uthane lagen.I wish her the best of everything in life.May all her dreams come true.Waiting to see a nameplate as Ms. .... VT Bcom , CA

Transformation – Stop, Start, Continue

Stop
 Operating in silos
 Blame culture
 Being cynical
 Limiting empowerment
 Chasing ‘rainbows/ Initiative overload
 Heroic behaviors
Start
 Think / act as one
 Targeted approach to growth
 Globalising our good thoughts
 Embracing change
 Recognising others successes
 Balance process with an entrepreneurial approach
Continue
 Putting our clients first
 Living values – humour!
 Inspirational leadership
 Being entrepreneurial
 Passion, commitment and can do attitude
 Being confident!

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

Finally got hands on Jeffrey Archers 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less'....One of the first of his novels.



It begins with Harvey Metcalfe's tale of rags to riches; from a kid to father of a rich independent daughter. He releases Prospecta Oil shares in the market in which four men - the heir to an earldom, a Harley Street doctor, a Bond Street art dealer and an Oxford don - find themselves penniless overnight. They band together and formulate a plan to sting the crook who robbed them for exactly what they lost. To the penny. Each with their own plan....as per their Talent; quite interesting...

Effective Team-building Strategies

It is said that what one person cannot do, two can; what one person can do- two can do still better. Paul Allen and Bill gates together found Microsoft, Our company was established in London as Wertheimer Lea ; John Henry Williams bought partnership and Williams Lea was created in 1883.

Team work is the backbone or basis of any family, society or a corporate world. We have evolving team leaders within our team and most of us have family. So I thought this topic would be apt for all.

The course in English is for 4 hours; Useful overall, some points appeared to be a little obvious but enriching; need to dedicate time, there were some really good team-building exercises as well.



Objective:

In this course, you'll learn tools, techniques, and tips to help you--the team member--help your team (which includes your family as well) develop a "one for all, all for one" mentality. In particular, you'll explore some motivational techniques to apply from the get-go so that potential problems are averted. You'll also learn how to promote and maintain a creative and productive atmosphere. Finally, you'll practice a couple of team building exercises.

Lessons overview:

Being Proactive : helps us to Build Trust; Understand Expectations; Become Effective; Acquire Motivation.

This is done by allocating responsibility logically, Clarifying expectation and Establishing team goals.

When we say Allocating responsibilities logically – It would mean this should play to the team members strength) –.

In a team we may need people to Lead the team i.e.(provide guidance and direction);to address technical issues;for heading up creative tasks, for facilitating meetings, for managing projects. In corporate world the people who do this are often called (Team Leader, Technical advisor, Creative lead, meeting facilitator, project manager

How do we allocate responsibility logically? Ask Team members if they agree and want to go ahead with a particular role. A person can assume two or more responsibility; but it is not fair and feasible for one person to do everything; it will lead to disaster. Team mates background and personality make them ideal candidate for certain task. Ask the people who will be effected by the decision on what their thoughts are.

· Team lead – motivated, team oriented, assertive

· Technical – Knows software programme, can set up computers

· Creative – innovative, artisy, good natured,

· Facilitate meetings – detail oriented, organised, foucsed

· Project Management – planning skill, supervisory, organized.

Clarifying expectation – (Life is largely a matter of expectation). One needs to fulfil ones Mission (what we are responsible for), need to be Interdependent (how it fits with the responsibility of others, how it completes the big picture) (This needs to be done at the early stage; ) Your are responsible for your fellow team members as well. You need to understand how all responsibilities, will lead to the successful completion of team goal. (Be Assertive to do this)

Establishing team goals – Decide what you really want. (team, each, value, build trust – good culture like sharing knowledge, being open to new ideas, working collobratively with others) {Be specific, clear, measurable)

Maximising Creativity (Don’t allow negative criticisim)

This lesson covers Two steps of creativity and how to apply them effectively.

It says Left part of our brain is Logical and Right part is Creative.

Maximising creativity helps Cross pollination of ideas. Of the two steps of creativity first is

Generating creativity ideas –This should happen in an open, non judgemental atmosphere.

For creativity to work the atmosphere needs to be that of – Playfulness, flexibility, brainstorming (you get quantity of idea – first thought comes first – so it may not be quality ideas), analogies (when you look at mutually exclusive things, new ideas may come up and potential solutions.. )

(Pringles Potato chips conceived? – P&G – Pack dry potato best when wet and dry them after packing – thought from dry leaves)

Evaluating creative ideas – This should be done only after all ideas are generated – sort, refine and eliminate if not required.

Two step process –

· Discuss pro and cons

· Combine better ideas and refine

Facilitating Synergy

Lessons overview – Reap benefits from synergestic team environment.

· Together

· Everyone

· Achieves

· More

Benefits:

· Working with one another

· Being foucsed and confident

· Counting on one another

· Having energy takes on a life of its own

The tighter the team, greater chance of team cohesiveness. It helps in Creating a sense of identity

Ask Each person in the team (Team exercise):

· To give atleast one reason why the team is unique (Attributes that make your team unique) (Formalise thoughts about team identity, go around the room)

· One example of a time when each identifying characteristic was demonstrated

· Agreement on teams idenfitying characteristic (Ask do you agree?)

how do we Increasing team cohesiveness?

· Collaborate don’t compete

· Assume – positive intent – Assume that team mates motives are positive

· Put the team first – ‘ V before I’ Team is not about I and me; but all about we and us.

To Sum up: ‘In the I alone world; let us have a we culture’.

Enjoyed this My Learning World exercise @ Williamslea

Inferno - Dan Brown

Revolving around Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy - covering Inferno, Purgatoria and Paradiso; Dan Brown has yet another novel to his credit that is captivating; though there are some similarites at places with some of his earlier writings. That is obvious because it is again our dear Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon going around Florence, Venice and Istanbul, with a threat to his life that propels him into a breakneck chase across the city. Only Langdon's knowledge of the hidden passageways and ancient secrets that lie behind its historic facade can save them from the clutches of their unknown pursuers - People from The Consortium and WHO Director Dr. Elizabeth Sinskey and her team.

With only a few lines from Dante's Inferno to guide them, Robert Langdon and a young doctor, Sienna Brooks, (with unique intellect including a rather startling capacity for recall), must deciphere a sequence of codes buried deep within some of the Renissance's most celebrated artworks to find the answer to a puzzle which may, or may not, help them save the world from a terrifying threat....


The great pariah in the medical community Bertrand Zobrist had pointed hypotetical question - If you can throw a switch and randomly kill half the population on earth, would you do it?' Obviously may not. 'But what if you were told that if you didn't throw the switch right now, the human race would be extinct in the next hundred years?' Immediate reaction when asked the question would that be of 'Denial'.

What genetic horror Zobrist dreamed up? How he would thin the human heard? Why did he do it? He was not herd, considered mad, felt all alone...The worst kind of loneliness in the world is the isolation that comes from being misunderstood. It can make people lose their grasp on reality. And if you have enormus energy and knowledge; you end up doing what you feel is right....Who is Dr. Sienna Brooks?

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in time of moral crises. i.e In dangerous time, there is no sin greater than inaction.

Just Last Year...But wish we had more of it...

Ah! Enjoy the pics...this is where we had been for the meeting; as I sit idle and the bubbly host there is busy taking a tour of Germany I am reminded of this.....

http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&gs_rn=5&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=7&gs_id=q&xhr=t&q=schliersee&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43287494,d.Yms&biw=1255&bih=827&wrapid=tljp136268811278606&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=dfg4Uf6qKcSLswbohoCACw

Ekant

We did meet again...Though she wanted us to meet near a river and play in the water...we just remembered

The morning slides up upon the pane,
Fresh air through an open vane
The chill across the body warm,
No harm.
The sea it splashes hard and strong,
Beyond a point, there is no wrong
We stand and stare and stare and stare,
Nature so beauteous, can never be fair.
Take up the walk, take up the shore
Take up upon never ending and more.
A way side Inn, in sun and glare
Little seats about the pavement bare.
Much later then another walk
Vast bodies of rock, silent, no talk.
There is a silence about and above
This is not game for treasure trove.


Though....the poet gets into writers block...it was a good get together.

We need someone from Dubai to come home for the people around to meet.

Frozen Thought...

Thank you Smitha for sharing the wonderful magazines with us....

There was this wise old man who answers to all life-related questions. He was an enlightened person. A boy, in his adolescent years, wanted to test the wise old man. He caught hold of a little bird. Holding it in the palm of his hands, and with his hands hidden inside his coat, he asked the wise old man, “ I have a bird with me. Is it alive or dead?” The old man smiled and said, “If I tell you, the bird is alive, you will crush the bird and show me a dead one. If I tell you, the bird is dead, you will release the bird and show me it’s alive.


Embarrassed, the boy dropped his head and began to walk away. He would have hardly walked a few steps. He heard the voice of the old man, “ Mind you my son, in fact, this is the philosophy of life – your life and your death are in your own hands.”


In spite of the canvas, despite the paints and the brushes involved, the quality of a painting is the responsibility of a painter. Similarly, the quality of a sculpture is the responsibility of a sculptor. If so, then the quality of your life is your responsibility, and yours alone. Your life and your death are in your own hands. No blame is allowed.


If I ask you to carry a 12-Kg single granite stone and walk a kilometre, you would struggle with it. Now, I ask you to carry your child who is 12-Kgs for the same one kilometre and you will happily do it. Anything in life that is perceived as Kashtam Kashtam will only appear to be even more difficult. Do the same thing perceiving it as Ishtam Ishtam, the most complex of tasks can be done with effortless ease. Stop viewing responsibilities as a burden and start seeing them as opportunities. Stop saying Kashtam Kashtam to responsibilities and step forward to take responsibilities saying Ishtam Ishtam.

I will assume....don’t wait for others to offer your responsibilities. You take the initiative. You Volunteer. You step forward. Announce your presence.



I will assume unconditional...what is not unconditional never gets done. There is no point in keeping the ‘exit’ door open all the time. Burn the bridges. Conditions are required only to pass on the blame, in case there is a failure. Don’t even consider failure as an option. Where conditions succeed, responsibilities fail. Where responsibilities succeed, conditions are redundant. Just take it and do it.



I will assume unconditional responsibility. The Lord may have borne the corss of your sins, but even he will not bear the cross of your growth. The cross of your growth is your responsibility, and yours alone. You alone must carry it.

Only when you feel responsible for your life, you can respond with ability. Else, it will be responding with disability. Put your hands up and be counted.


It is the eternal law of life- the law of impermanence – anything that begins will end. If it had a beginning, then it will have an end.


Did the day begin? Yes! Then the day will end. Did the year begin? Yes! Then the year will end. Did your relationship begin? Yes! Then it will end – either by parting with each other when life is still on, or through the death of one. We all have come into this planet with confirmed return ticket. The date is the only unknown factor to us.


Success is failure delayed. Failure is success delayed. Good times will be followed by recession and recession will be followed by great times. Every beginning will end and every end will result in a new beginning.

This isn’t a pessimistic view of life. It is the other way around. Because we know there is death, let us make the most of life. Because we know the day will end, let us make the day count. Because we know the year will end, let us do something significant to do it memorable. Because we know our tough times too will end, let us endure it with strength and courage. Because we know the best of times too will end, let us be humble even in our success. Because we know every relationship will eventually end, let us give ourselves completely and unconditionally to our loved ones.



Above all, because we know even we will end, let us live such a life that we leave a legacy.

Talk The Walk!

In management as in marriage, the ‘C’ word is crucial. Like Hilton’s essentials for a hotel’s success, ‘Location, Location, Location’, here the winsome threesome is –‘Communication, communication, communication’.




Yet, people emerge from even the most elite educational powerhouses, with tongues tied up in knots.


What use your ideas if you can’t convey them convincingly? What use your leadership if you find it awkward to express yourself? What use yearning to be a sought-after guy if you mumble a speech and stumble so badly over a punc-line that the joke falls flat on its face?


Public Speaking Skills make all the difference to how you come across.


Tips abound to get over your fright in addressing a roomful of people. ‘Imagine them naked’ is among the most absurd – it could result in the most embarrassing consequences. ‘Avoid eye contact’ is as stupid because using your eyes is among the best ways to win ‘ayes’.

Here’s my maxim: bring about a ‘C’ Change.
The 6 C’s are – Content, Conviction, Confidence, Contact, Conflict (on occasion) and Cool (always).


In our eagerness of ‘how’ to say, we can’t overlook the primary importance of ‘what’ to say. Work on ideas first. You’re never going to win over anyone to views in which you yourself don’t believe.

Once you have content and conviction, the third ‘C’ is a shoo-in, with a little rehearsing.

Personalising your message is the surest way of getting it across – and the best messenger is eye-contact.

Conflict, via controversial remarks, is a great way to wake up your audience - but use this judiciously.

Finally, keep your cool – lose your temper and you lose the battle.

Book Buddy - Working Women and communication

Some times before in 2012 my book buddy told me:

Building a new structure and foundation is going to be very important for you. It may feel as if the very foundation for your life has been shattered but beneath is something stable, strong and everflowing. I encourage you to find an outlet that draws out this strength and enables you to share what you know with others - here you will find purpose for your being and build a future foundation for others to walk. Be open to discovering what this is - it is already there waiting for your permission.

Your personal freedom can be found through communication - it does not need to be verbal or physical. Sometimes silence is far powerful than the spoken word. There is a perfect way waiting for you - if you are open to being the answer.

Affirm:
I am open to ways in which I can serve the world with who I am today
What I know can change the world
I am free in every way that is necessary for me to fulfil my purpose

Ask:
How can I be of service as a free and open channel? Your mind does not need to know the answer. Just asking the question will direct you to living the answer.

And she was:
Louise Gilbert | Author | I met my Soul in a Coffee Shop
Your Purpose Consulting Ltd
E: louise@imetmysoul.com | T: 0800 369 363 | M: 021 464 122

Soon I lost in touch with her...

But is grateful to find one in office....who is there to bring me out of my personal emotions and thoughts and help me enjoy my work..like a Santa Claus who takes a ride through the night and leaves presents for all children in the chimney; she has been our constant motivator ..Thank you Dunja...She has send me books beyond my count and recommended so many readings viz:



http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/memory_keeper.html

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X

http://www.amazon.com/Angelas-Ashes-Memoir-Frank-McCourt/dp/068484267X/ref=pd_sim_b_7

Alice Munro - Short stories:
http://www.amazon.de/Alice-Munros-Best-Selected-Stories/dp/0771065205/ref=sr_1_13?s=books-intl-de&ie=UTF8&qid=1386577946&sr=1-13&keywords=alice+munro+short+stories

A Perfectly Good Family: A Novel: Lionel Shriver:http://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Good-Family-Novel/dp/0061239496/ref=la_B001HD3UCY_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389818919&sr=1-5

Book =Buch, title = Titel : Ein ganzes halbes Jahr - a whole half year ....(One of her many gifts to me)




Not just books but she also shares thoughts and inspirations:

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/11/289018821/for-working-moms-key-to-balance-may-lie-in-elusive-leisure-time?utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20140316&utm_source=mostemailed

"The women who has given the interview is American. Culturally it is a bit different from Germany but the issues working women are sharing are worldwide the same. France is very advanced in childcare but still it is very difficult. But all women are facing similar issues.

The key message I got is that you have to ensure right from the beginning to involve your partner in everything. Otherwise we as women end up in a role being the father (going to work fulltime) like our father did and a mother as we try to organize everything and have a tendency trying to make everything a 100%.


When I listen to male colleagues in India I have the feeling that the young generation in India is changing much faster than in Europe. Praseed e.g. really cares about his daughters and is very much into family life. I think it is so great to see male colleges who take over responsibility rather than going to work and come home with the expectation that everything is done. I do really wonder how the society in India will change over the next 30 years…

The reason why I send you this interview is that you –like all working mothers in the world – need to take time out for yourself. You are in the beginning of your thirties but as we say in German – your batteries will be flat if you don’t do that. You work in a company with a young boss who has three children, I have kids and I am female and I think non of us will become upset if you take a day off every other month. You should do this Lavanya – only to take care about yourself – it is a gift what you can give to you and finally your family can take advantage from it too.

Don’t do the same mistakes as other women and think that you have to do everything a 100%. 85% is the 100% of a working mother ;-)"

Some of her most amazing advices have been 'Nothing happens for Nothing'; 'Don't forget - ME is nothing life threatening'. 'Don't go into your shell - don't close down, when someone is asking too much - Take the chance to send an email, SMS or call just to say "A,B,C are really getting on my nerves'; sometimes it helps. Not to speak about it does not mean you are week."

Count Your Blessings

From the book, The Magic

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."
Willie Nelson (b. 1933)
singer-songwriter

You will have heard people say to count your blessings, and when you think about the things you're grateful for, that's exactly what you're doing. But what you may not have realized is that counting your blessings is one of the most powerful practices you can ever do, and it will magically turn your whole life around!

When you're grateful for the things you have, no matter how small they may be, you will see those things instantly increase. If you're grateful for the money you have, however little, you will see your money magically grow. If you're grateful for a relationship, even if it's not perfect, you will see it miraculously get even better. If you're grateful for the job that you have, even if it's not your dream job, things will begin to change so that you enjoy your job more, and all kinds of opportunities for your work will suddenly appear.

The flipside is that when we're not counting our blessings, we can fall into the trap of unintentionally counting negative things. We count negative things when we talk about the things we don't have. We count negative things when we criticize or find fault with other people, when we complain about traffic, waiting in lines, delays, the government, not enough money, or the weather. When we count negative things they increase too, but on top of that, with every negative thing we count, we cancel out blessings that were on their way. I have tried both - counting my blessings and counting negative things - and I can assure you that counting your blessings is the only way to have abundance in your life.

"Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your
blessings to counting your troubles."
Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901)
writer and clergyman

First thing in the morning, or as early in the day as you can, Count Your Blessings. You can write out your list by hand, type it on a computer, or use a special book or journal and keep all of your gratitude in one place. Today, you are going to make a simple list of ten blessings in your life you are grateful for.

When Einstein gave thanks, he thought about why he was grateful. When you think about the reason why you're grateful for a particular thing, person, or situation, you will feel gratitude more deeply. Remember that the magic of gratitude happens according to the degree of your feeling! So with each item on your list write the reason why you're grateful for it.

Here are some ideas for writing your list:

* I am truly blessed to have what? ,
because why? .
* I am so happy and grateful for what? ,
because why? .
* I am truly grateful for what? ,
because why? .
* With all my heart, thank you for what? ,
because why? .

After you've finished making your list of ten blessings, go back and read each one, either in your mind or out loud. When you get to the end of each blessing, say the magic words three times, thank you, thank you, thank you, and feel the gratitude for that blessing as much as you possibly can.

To help you feel more gratitude, you can be grateful to the Universe, God, Spirit, goodness, life, your greater self, or any other concept you are drawn to. When you direct gratitude toward something or someone, you will feel it even more, and your gratitude will have even more power, and create even more magic! It's the reason why indigenous and ancient cultures chose symbols like the sun to direct their gratitude toward. They were simply using physical symbols to represent the universal source of all goodness, and in focusing on that symbol they felt more gratitude.

The practice of counting your blessings is so simple and so powerful in altering your life, that I want you to continue to add ten more blessings to your list every day for the next 27 days. You might think it could be difficult to find ten things you're grateful for every day, but the more you think about it, the more you will realize how much you have to be grateful for. Look closely at your life; you have received, and are continuing to receive so much each and every day. There is really so much to give thanks for!

You could be grateful for your home, your family, your friends, your work, and your pets. You could be thankful for the sun, the water that you drink, the food that you eat, and the air that you breathe; without any of them you wouldn't be alive. You could be grateful for the trees, the animals, the oceans, the birds, the flowers, the plants, blue skies, rain, the stars, the moon, and our beautiful planet Earth.

You could be grateful for your senses: your eyes that see, your ears that hear, your mouth that tastes, your nose that smells, and your skin that enables you to feel. You could be grateful for the legs you walk on, your hands that you use to do almost everything, your voice that enables you to express yourself and communicate with others. You could give thanks for your amazing immune system that keeps you well, and all of your organs that maintain your body so that you can live. And what about the magnificence of your human mind, which no computer technology in the world can duplicate?

Here is a list of subjects that will remind you of the major areas you can look for blessings to be grateful for. You can also add any subject you want depending on what is important to you at any time.

* Magic Gratitude Subjects:
* Health and body
* Work and success
* Money
* Relationships
* Passions
* Happiness
* Love
* Life
* Nature: planet Earth, air, water, and the sun
* Material goods and services
* Any subject of your choosing

You should feel significantly better and happier after each time you Count Your Blessings, and how good you feel is your measure of how much gratitude you felt. The more gratitude you felt, the happier you will feel, and the faster your life will change. Some days you will feel happy really quickly, and other days it may take a little longer. But as you continue to Count Your Blessings every day, you will notice a bigger and bigger difference in the way you feel each time, and you will see your blessings magically multiply!


Magic Practice Number 1

Count Your Blessings

1. First thing in the morning, make a list of ten blessings in your life you are grateful for.
2. Write why you're grateful for each blessing.
3. Go back and read your list, either in your mind or out loud. When you get to the end of each one, say the magic words, thank you, thank you, thank you, and feel the gratitude for that blessing as much as you possibly can.
4. Repeat the first three steps of this magical practice every morning for the next 27 days.

Incredible India

Finally it was a dream come true, discovering Incredible India; the best of it with Panicker’s Travel India Pvt. Ltd.; Saro & Family and Jisha. Three long days moving from Delhi, to Jaipur to Mathura to Agra and then back to Delhi from Kerala....So varied and entertaining. It all started with Karol Bagh at New Delhi shopping and tasting variety foods viz. chats like Bhalla Papri, Aloo Chat, Pav Bhaji, Mathura Rabadi, varies North Indian Thali meals and Biryani. The journey all began from the much talked about New Delhi Airport.

On 17th April we could cover
Indira Gandhi Memorial,

Birla Mandir,

Qutab Minar,

Lotus Temple,













Stadiums, Teen Murti, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, House of PM, Sonia Gandhi etc., India Gate, Red Fort and Raj Ghat.




On 18th April morning we left for Jaipur from Delhi which was around 266 kms. First to Amber Fort,

Here we could see Sheesh Mahal and enroute saw Jal Mahal,Maharaja Palace and Hawa Mahal.

Jantar Mantar (which is also at Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain, and Banaras) – it hand a blend of astrology and astronomy;

Birla Mandir and loads of shopping.

The stay at Hotel Red Fox was also amazing and it was Saros In-Law’s wedding anniversary.


On 19th April we started at 4 am in the morning from Jaipur to Fatehpur Sikri

which was around 200 kms away.Could not spend much time there as it started raining and we wanted to see so much more with so little time! Went to Mathura Birth Place of Lord Krishna at Bharatpur, and then via new Express Highway of Agra finally had the enchanting view of Wah Taj!

Telegrahph, Travell to Thoughts…..

In India State owned BSNL discontinued on 15th July 2013, all Telegraph services; while On Monday, 12 July 1999, a final telegram was sent from the National Liberty Ship Memorial, in San Francisco Bay to President Bill Clinton. the sign-off message was a repeat of Samuel F. B. Morse's message 155 years earlier, "What hath God wrought?



The long-distance transmission of textual (as opposed to verbal or audio) messages without the physical exchange of an object bearing the message; started in 1792 by way of semaphore lines; and the electrical recording telegraph came into being in 1846. This then lead to telegram, cablegram and fax. In the mid 1960s Email came into existance; first only between different account of the same user.

Prior to the electrical telegraph, nearly all information was limited to traveling at the speed of a human or animal. The telegraph freed communication from the constraints of space and time and truly affected how people lived their lives.



Telegraphy facilitated the growth of organizations "in the railroads, consolidated financial and commodity markets, and reduced information costs within and between firms." This immense growth in the business sectors influenced society to embrace the use of telegrams.


More numerous than grass is the thought that raise in the minds of men.


The part of the world that we dwell in, America meant the US and that was somewhere on the other side of the world, Artic and Antartcia was the top and bottom of a globe in the geography class, Australia was a the biggest continent and country, Africa was dark and scary, but now travell across the globe is possible for comman men here, and we know and can be to all these place not in eighty days but in eighty hours.

And what more, whereever we go, we can communicate to who-ever we want, not knowing the receipent of the information, where we are communicating from...

Telephone, Trains, Airoplanes, Jets, Internet, Computer, Mobile, Washing machines,OMG...

Hats off too the time......for all the magic with the Technology....It is upto us on how we use it. Indeed the world is at our finger tips today, is it 'Kalikalam' or 'Kaliyugam'!

When time has made our life easy, it has also increased tension, terrorism and lack of time! What an irony!

If ethical principles deny our right from doing evil that good may come; are we justified in doing good that the forseeable consequence is evil?

OMG

Oh My God: for ‘God’s sake’ you can’t miss this film!



OMG is a moral science lesson that doesn't sound preachy. This is a film that not only entertains and inspires but also enlightens.

A film like OMG Oh My God, that fearlessly and unwaveringly raises fingers at the commonplace commercialization of religious customs, is certainly an audacious attempt. Oh My God shouldn't be mistaken to be a film that endorses atheism. Rather it questions blind faith.


OMG is a 2012 Bollywood courtroom film. It is directed by Umesh Shukla. It is a remake of the 2001 Australian Film "The Man Who Sued God" and adapted from a highly acclaimed Gujrati play named Kanji Virrudh Kanji, 'OMG Oh My God!' is An Entertaining, Well-Intentioned & Superbly Acted Film!

Kanji Lalji Mehta (Paresh Rawal), a middle-class atheist-Hindu owns a shop of Hindu idols and antiques in Chor Bazaar, Mumbai. He is cursed by Siddheshwar Maharaj, while his son was playing dahi handi. One day, a low-frequency earthquake hits the city, and Kanji's shop is the only shop that is destroyed.

Next day at the insurance office, Kanji and his neighbor Mahadev learn that the disaster claim does not cover any damage caused by natural calamities classified under "Act of God". Running out of options, Kanji decides to file a lawsuit against God but fails to find a lawyer for such a lawsuit. Finally, he meets Hanif Qureshi (Om Puri), a poor Muslim lawyer. Qureshi, a disabled man, helps filing the case as Kanji decides to fight on his own. Legal notices are sent to the insurance company, as well as to religious priests, Siddheshwar Maharaj (Govind Namdeo), Gopi Maiyya (Poonam Jhawer) and their group's founder, Leeladhar Swamy (Mithun Chakraborthy) summoning them to the court as representatives of God on earth.

The Judge agrees and the court accepts the case. However, Kanji soon finds himself trapped amongst armed fundamentalists, his mortgage bank occupying the house, and his wife leaving him. In all instances, Kanji is rescued by Krishna Vasudev Yadav (Akshay Kumar), a real estate agent who rides a hot-shot motorbike and is seen flicking a slick key chain around. Krishna buys Kanji's house from the bank; but allows Kanji to stay with him.

The lawsuit causes a public outcry. As Kanji and Krishna watch this on TV, Krishna advises him to go to the media and put his view in public. Kanji's interview receives wide coverage and public opinion swings in his favour. Meanwhile, hundreds of people, whose insurance claims were rejected due to "Act Of God" show up at Hanif Qureshi's house and join lawsuit. Kanji agrees to fight on behalf of them. In the next court session, Catholic priests and Muslim Mullahs are also summoned to the court as defendants. However, lawyer Sardesai (Mahesh Manjrekar) points that Kanji has no document that can prove the disaster was "Act of God". The judge orders Kanji to present a written proof that will stand by his claim.

Kanji loses hope, when Krishna rescues the day by telling Kanji to read the Bhagavad Gita, and all holy books, such as The Quran and The Bible to find answer of all his questions. Kanji studies the books intensively for a month. In the next session, Kanji points out a passage in the holy books which says that "This world is a creation of god, and it is his will to allow it to grow or destroy", which strengthens his case. Suddenly, he loses consciousness. He is rushed to the hospital, where doctors unsuccessfully try to revive him, leaving him comatose, and announcing to the media that Kanji has been paralyzed, and only God can now save him. The next day, Kanji suddenly opens his eyes to find Krishna in front of him. Krishna wipes his key chain over Kanji's body curing Kanji.

As confused Kanji is, Krishna reveals that he himself is Lord Krishna, and he has purposely saved Kanji to show him that God does exist. Kanji, then learns he has been in coma for a month and things happened during the period. The lawsuit's verdict was in his favor and religious organizations were ordered by court to pay the compensation to all the plaintiffs; people have started calling Kanji a "God". Meanwhile, Leeladhar, Gopi Maiyya, and Siddheshwar have opened temple dedicated to Kanji & accumulated millions in donations. And today, as per Kanji's "will", he is about to be removed from the ventilator, and thousands have gathered for his funeral procession. On Krishna's hot-shot motorbike, he takes Kanji to stop the procession. Kanji arrives at the right time, and addresses the crowd, destroys his own statue and tells them to tear down the temple.

After successfully completing the job, he goes back to Krishna to thank him, however Krishna & his motorcycle have disappeared. Kanji's family arrive and they are reunited. On their way home, Kanji sees Krishna's key chain on the floor. When he is about to secure it inside his jacket, he hears Krishna's voice, telling him to get rid of the key chain as idol worship was what he fought against all this time. Kanji smiles and throws it away.

OMG; don’t be blind, but know your signs….

Mahabharata Revisited.....Jaya & The palace of Illusion

Thanks to Greeshma for provoking me to revisit Mahabharata.



The Mahabharata is an ancient Hindu epic where:

A son renounces sex so that his old father can remarrry
A daughter is a prize in an archery contest
A teacher demands half a kingdom as his tuition fee
A student is turned away because of his caste
A mother asks her sons to share a wife
A father curses his son-in-law to be old and impotent
A husband lets another man make his wife pregnant
A wife blindfolds herself to share her husband’s blindness
A forest is destroyed for a new city
A family is divided over inheritance
A king gambles away his kingdon
A queen is forced to serve as a maid
A man is stripped of his manhood for a year
A woman is publicly disrobed
A war is fought where all rules are broken
A shift in sexuality secures victory
The vanquished go to paradise
The victors lose their children
The earth is bathed in blood
God is cursed
Until wisdom prevails.

Devdutt Pattanaik have beautifullly retoled Mahabharata in a simple and lucid style; for all to understand in his 'Jaya'.

It is said that Vyasa knew it, before it happened chanted it to Ganesha, who penned it down. The longest epic poems in the world; and lucky enough to watch BR Chopra's version on TV in between 1988-1990; was engrossed in reading both the versions of the book back to back.


At the same time, happen to read 'The Palace of Illusions'; Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni gives us Panchaali's Mahabharata.

Both Interesting; Divakaruni says, Vysa had foretold that there would be three dangerous moments and at that time you need to hold back;
1. Just before wedding hold back your question.
2. When husbands are at the height off their power, hold back your laughter.
3. When you are ashamed; hold back your curse.

The thought of 'mine' and 'theirs' is the cause of trouble, if the King could see all as his, and love all alike, the war would never have occurred.

“Your childhood hunger is the one that never leaves you. No matter how famous or powerful they became, my husbands would always long to be cherished. They would always yearn to feel worthy. If a person could make them feel that way, they’d bind themselves to him—or her—forever.” 

The art of kingship is: A ruler should know how to conceal his own weaknesses. He should choose his servants carefully. He must cause dissensions among the noblemen in his enemy's kingdom. He should be forgiving, but not excessively so, for the men of evil heart would take advantage of him. His innermost thoughts must be concealed even from his nearest ones.

But what had to happen; had to and Panchali could not hold back.

The power of a man is like a bulls charge, while the power of a women moves aslant, like a serpant seeking its prey. Know the particular properties of your power and use it wisely.

Aren't we all Pawns in the hands of time, the greatest player of all? But even a Pawn has a choice.

Father is equal to heaven, but mother is even greater and so Pandavas decide to share their wife.

Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path - all they do is trip you up. For one person to gain desire, others have to give up theirs. Distance is a great promoter of harmony. God gives you what you want with one hand and takes away something more valuable with the other.

A situation in itself is neither happy nor unhappy. It's only your response to it that causes your sorrow. Be Calm. The life we live today is only a bubble in the cosmic stream, sharpened by the karma of other lifetimes (of the same life or another); one whom you hate may have been your beloved and vice versa. Why weep for any of them then?

Then there are two great teachings:

1. Yudhisthirs answer to Yaksha's questions:

-More numerous than grass is: Thoughts that rise in the mind of man.
-Truely wealthy is: That man to whom the agreeable and disagreeable, wealth and woe, past and future are the same.
-Most wonderous thing on earth is: Each day countless humans enter the Temple of Death, yet the ones left behind continue to live as though they were immortal.

2. The Song or the Geeta: Krishna's word motivating Arjuna:

The pleasure that arise from sense objects are bound to end, and thus they are only sources of pain. Don't get attached to them. When a man reaches a state where honour and dishonor are alike to him, then he is considered supreme. Strive to gain such a state. Weapons cannot harm it, fire cannot burn it; it is eternal, still and blissful. Man drives to wrongdoing in spite of good intention because of anger and desire, our two direst enemies and their offspring revenge...

Important to have victory against the six inner enemies that plague us all: lust, anger, greed, ignorance, arrogance and envy.

After the war, who was the real winner and who the loser?

Karna......The ..(failing to get words): Thought of giving him a special mention as it is friendship day today, and was there and will there ever be such a great friend?

A friend, stays a friend untill the end
Though Forgiveness eluded; forgives,
And gives away what could have saved his life,
A life paralyzed because of a promise kept?

Moreover (t)his is the main difference in both the books.

At the moment when Karna died, the sun plunged behind a cloud so dark that people feared it would not return. Despite the brutality of his death, his face held an enigmatic smile. A divine glow left his body and circled the battlefield as though searching for something before discarding this world.

Forgiveness: It is a virtue that eludes even the great! Is the desire for vengence stronger than the longing to be loved?

The purpose of life is to love, how well you live comes down to how much you love. The heart is wiser than the head. Honor it. Turst it. Follow it.

We cannot force ourselves to love - or to withhold it. At best we can curb our actions. The heart itself is beyond control. That is its power and its weakness.

Krishna's love was a balm, moonlight over a parched landscape. We came out of fire, and return to it; we are all instruments in his hands and he is the doer...

“Your childhood hunger is the one that never leaves you. No matter how famous or powerful they became, my husbands would always long to be cherished. They would always yearn to feel worthy. If a person could make them feel that way, they’d bind themselves to him—or her—forever.”