Reasons to thank God

Got a sms yesterday, but thought worth sharing with here too.


If you have food in your fridge
clothes on your body
a roof over your head
and a place to sleep
then
you are richer than 75%
of the entire world's.

If you have money in your wallet
a little change,
and can go anywhere you want
You are among the top 18% of the
world's wealthiest people.

If you wake up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million people who will not
survive this week and will die.

If you can actually read
this message and understand it,
you are more fortunate than the 
3 billion people in this world
who 
Cannot see,
Cannot read, 
or suffer mental retardation.

Life is not about complain, pain or sorrows
it's about a thousand other reasons
to thank God for.

I agree with this, but some of my freinds told me this will make me stagnant, will not let me aim for the stars, that I will never do well in life. What do you think?

Return Policy

NO excuses for not being here...for letting go of my blog...which at one point of time was my best getaway...

there are more than 5--6 drafts, return drafts, that I had intended to be my welcome back post after this uncalled for hiatus but forgetting all of them I am writing this without any editing or calling, just so as to get back to writing. Writing for just me and whoever wants to read or listen…to my much ado about nothing.

But this post is not about nothing….it’s about me making a promise, and another promise to try and not break the former promise and sticking to my blog and not neglecting it ever again!

Most of us do that at some point or the other, no I’m not trying to shift the blame or downplay my laziness, but we all do take things for granted, especially people and relationships. And we all know this too, which relationship we can take for granted and which not. But dearies, the ones that you take for granted are the best one and they are meant to be treasured, cherished and held on to.

I wanted to write about getting married and marriage and all the relationships that it brings with it, but would like to stop here and just thank all those bloggers for stopping by, and making me feel special by letting me know I was missed, Thank you so much, and these relationships I shall never take lightly! 

Its all grey

Early to bed, early to rise,no longer makes you healthy wealthy or wise. It's only when you are feeling unwell, or don't have anything interesting, to do that you sleep early, and now that you don't do anything interesting, don't go out, means you will never know what is happening around you, hence no you are not getting any wisdom!

There was a time when people used to respect one's degrees and scores, now it's all about which university or college you passed out from, how much you paid to get into and which car you use and where you party.

It's not how honest you are, it's how many times you dint get caught, or rather how you manage to squeeze out something extra for free.

There is no black or white, its all grey now.

When I was in school it was a sin to be seen with a boy but today it's a sin to accept that you are out of school and yet a virgin! It's almost unacceptable to be loyal towards anyone. Ad of you are, you are "boring".

So many concepts have changed, people used to fear aids, as its forever, but now it's for everyone

Fruits and veggies were the best fitness mantra, but now these same fruits and vegetables are so full of toxics that if used without any process straight from the lap of mother nature, you may also end up in her lap, dead.

First it was family and friends but now friends are your real family. A friend is someone whom you choose but family is not a choice, gone are the times when family was a gift from God.

Gone are the days when we wanted our kids to be innocent and naive, today, I want my daughter to be smart, shrewd and even cunning if the situation demands.

Relationship status, involved but not committed.

Gone are the days of janam janam Ka pyar, undying love and soul mates till eternity.

Relationships today have become very frivolous, be it amongst families, friends or more. Recently a friend of mine (in today's Facebook age, every one you know is a "friend" irrelevant of everything else.)


So like I was saying, a friend of mine, whom I know from my yoga classes, an 18 yer old, pretty girl from a good family, recently got engaged.

No there's nothing wrong in getting engaged, but then, she was seeing someone else,

 she was in a long distance relationship, which I found out was a relationship of great understanding, understanding that there would be no strings attached, no commitments.

She was with this guy who is settled outside India, so they used to meet up as and when circumstances allowed them, she used to go to a city which was convenient for him when he was in the country, and "meet up, catch up and a enjoy each other's company", whatever that means is upon your interpretation.

Throughout the period that they were together, maybe around a yer or so, both knew the minute they found someone more suitable more "right", the other person would bolt faster than the speed of light.

And thats what happened, she met a righter Mr. Right, and decided to tie the knot. But how does she know he's more right than the older Mr. Right?

In our urge to live better, to live luxuriously, somewhere we have left our emotions and feelings in the old suitcase. Even friendships these days is such a light hearted matter, you're my friend if you say good things about me, compliment me, but if you show me the mirror, I'll crack it.

Relationships are also equally fragile, we all know there are lots of fishes around, so if one dsnt suit you try some other. Divorces are so common these days because of the same reasons.

They say our lives are more stressful, more tensed, but why did this happen?
When we have the best technologies, best gadgets machines to help us work more smoothly, easily, and more efficiently, why are we becoming like machines.

Who is eating away our emotions? Our feelings?
Read a nice quote some time back, all things that make us happy and are good for us are not things. But...

Happy Holi

Happy Holi friends, hope the colors of life complete your world just as you desire. Sometimes we dont know what we want, at those moments trust God.
Have fun, enjoy but be safe. New page, old friends, deadly combination, see you all at my new  place.

And ofcourse, a very happy INTERNATIONAL women's day to all my female friends. I was talking to friend of mine, asking her why we celebrate women's day specifically, and never a man's day, just cause its a man's world and we just have these few scattered mother's day, sister's day and national international women's days, and she tells me, Pooja, its not like that, we celebrate things that DESERVE to be celebrated, maybe the men folk dont deserve it. But then  I was like there are lots of men whom I think do deserve to be celebrated and looked upon on. But then on closer inspection I realized its nothing like it, the card manufactures know which side their butters their breads. So its more about the women in your life!! Enjoy...celebrate and dont think too much about it, after all its much ado abt nothing!! Aint it?

Ek main aur ekK tu, with an extra K

Ek Mein aur ek tu, no not you and me, but the movie, staring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor. I know it's been a long time since the movie released but ever since I saw the movie it's been in my head. It was a new awakening, I new era in Hindi cinema, no not technologically (I'm no judge on that), but content wise and the social message it brought across was a good one. It finally murdered, or has started the slow killing or the age old "ek ladka aur ek Ladki kabhi dost nahi ban sakte", a girl and a boy can never be JUST FRIENDS.  Yeah I know people like you and me were always aware of these things but in rural and even some parts of urban India are still under the influence of our conventional thinking and mind set.  Why go so far, even in our societies, we see people being labeled cause they share a house, a vehicle or maybe just spend some nice time together with someone from the opposite sex, siddha siddha character dhilla ho jata hai! Just cause a girl and boy sleep on the same bed does not imply that they are sleeping with each other.  Just cause a guy likes a girl she does not have to tie a rakhi to him, nor does she need to shun him or avoid him, most boys get of their infatuations or crushes and even if it's love they can take rejections.  A guy and a girl can still be friends, platonic relationships do exits.  Friends can call each other darlings and sweethearts and still not be in a physical relationship. It's possible. Just cause a girl hugs or kisses her guy friend he does not become her boyfriend and she does not become a slut! Times have really changed. Today, a guy-guy , or even a girl-girl relationship is more suspicious than that of a ladka-ladki, (boy-girl).  Times have changed and we need to change things too. The age old trend of finishing off all love stories, the good the bad or the ugly, with a marriage, which are equally worse, has finally begun to end.  As we see in real life, very few love stories, or affairs end up in marriages and even lesser are happily ever after, it happens only in fairy tales and out Hindi movies. But finally a fresh breeze of air I felt. Its been an unsaid rule that the leading couple has to be married off in the end, or killed like in Qayamat Se Qayamat tak, or Sathiya, but they for sure could not be left untied. Hence amongst all the drama, dialogues and dhishum dhishum, the end result was always "just married, happily forever." This trend was worse in cases of rape victims, if a female was raped also, the right to do was to force the bad man to marry her, and so she could be raped for the rest of her life without any consequences on the husband. It boils my temper when I see such cases, what could be worse for the girl? You are rewarding him and instead giving her a death sentence.  Our movies are not just a source of entertainment, they are not just a mirror of our society, many a times, they are also reference points in mane places. Actors and actresses are considered Gods and temples have been created for them. The general public looks upon then and their practices on screen are like lessons to live for most of our rural public. We have statutory warnings for smoking, violent scenes or even sexual content, but there is nothing telling the public that this is a movie, it's fiction and it should not be followed in real life. People look upon the society through movies and television shows now a days, best example is that of the saas-bahu relationship, it was never as strained as it is now, nor was it so notably a negative relationship, if you say something good or nice about your own mother in law or vice versa, it's almost a crime! But this was not there per-saas-bahu sagas, it's only after all these series that the terms have become so tainted.  So all in all, I loved the efforts of the Ek Main Ek Tu 's team, kudos for putting up the urban youths point of view, for telling people not to judge someone on the sex of their friends, just be and let others also be. Cheers to a new bollywood!!!

Time to say goodbye?

Well I'm hoping not, but for the time being am moving to WordPress, till I don't get things sorted with googl. Have left lots of help mails at their desk too, so positively waiting. Hope don't Get to comfortable with WordPress till then! Hope to see you all there too, poojashahdesai.wordpress.com, though most of you have suggested to move off to the promised paradise in blogosphere, I personally don't like changes, so will wish to be connected with blogger too. Let's see what the promised world has in store for me. This is life, it's all destined, never did I think I'd have to leave my first blog and move to a new hemisphere all to gather. God bless and take care...it was great being here...see you at the new venue. poojashahdesai.wordpress.com

Tech help required

Coming back to the problems I'm facing in posting my blogs, as I've mentioned in my previous post, I thought it best to ask for help from you people,my co-bloggers. Well for starters, I was using a normal computer, but then one day all of a sudden I was unable to access all my google accounts. I'm able to open the google search sites, but not personal accounts, specifically gmail and blogger. I usually used to use my cell phone to read and comment on your blogs. But during the same time, somehow, my mobile tells me, that my password is in correct and I need to check it from a PC. On checking the accounts from a friends system, I found that it accepts my old password only, which my cell is rejecting. Now tired with my daily constant complaints, my husband got me a iPad, he had seem me fretting over all the various indiblogger competitons, but now comes the new problem. I don't know how to edit word documents here. I alos dont kow why the page breaks are not working....so many things that I dont know. And now I find out, I can't even link images to my posts. Tried unsuccessfully to link URLs and tags too. Teething day for sure, but am so tired of not being able to blog that I've finally come out seek help from anyone who can. People please leave your suggestions and share your experiences with me here.

Versatile or not, award it is.

I know it’s been a very long time, and no excuses for that too. But as most of us have been through this phase at some point or the other, where we want to come and blog but something or the other just keeps coming in the way. Before I left, I was bestowed upon an award by Bikramjit, now who doesn’t know Birkram Mann, he’s everywhere. This was my first award, and coming from Bikram it was more special because he is amongst my oldest and most regular follower, Thank you Bikramjit for all your wonderful comments and keeping up with me even when I’m so irregular. Well coming back to the Award it's rules are very simple. First: I have to nominate 15 fellow bloggers and also inform them about the same. Secondly, I have to share 7 random (what random means here…I don’t know) things about myself. Lastly, of course, thank the blogger who nominated you. Like you see, I did the thanking part (more so than required) first! But still, thank you Bikram for nominating me for this award. Once again! 7 random things about me would be very difficult, like there are so many things that I don’t know which 7 will do the least harm. 1. So the first thing that comes to my mind is, that though most of the people who come across me find me very confident and in control types, I’m not, “deekhavoo pe mat jao…apni akal lagao”. 2. Though at the same time, there are some who think I’m arrogant and don’t talk to me, but if you don’t talk to me how will you know me? 3. I need constant encouragement and motivation, *hint hint, leave more and more appreciative comments after you read my posts!*. Perfectly described by Linda Goodman, “She seems to be more even-tempered and emotionally steady than she actually is. Her manner may convince you that she's as firm as a rock and nothing can ruffle her calm surface. The truth is that she's subject to many moods”. 4. I completely believe in destiny and luck, or like how fate would have it, though I don’t believe in God that much. I think God has been created to instill the feelings of hope and fear in humans. From what little I have seen in my life, as well in others, I have come to realize good things can happen to bad and good people equally, and vice-versa. It’s just all destined. 5. I make new friends very easily, but also stick to the old ones for a long time…yeah am clingy that ways. Friends for once friends forever. 6. I’m very scared of pets, even parrots! I don’t know, can’t come close to anything with fur blankets included! 7. Have a very bad memory already! Can hardly remember and recollect faces or names! Gets me in lots of embarrassing situations very often. I’ve already forgot what and why I started off this! Now comes the tagging part!!! Yeeahh….and a personal request, please write 1 or 2 things about you that would show us your personal side too. In a random order of course. Sunil, I know he shares lots of his technological experiences, especially everything and anything with an i, does not talk much about him, so maybe this award can act like a catalyst and make his write about himself! A recent follower Swapna, who writes about parenting and her experiences, is indeed very versatile. http://www.indianma.com/ Sunita’s blog, Sukupedia, I see, I feel, I say. As simple as it is, her blogs much more..http://sunitakurup.blogspot.in/ Farila or is it Farida, I’m a bit confused, has lots of wonderful things to share with us, especially since she’s faced so many upheavals in life herself. chaptersfrommylife.blogspot.in/ When I first went on DeEpAK KaRtHiK (420)I was not expecting much, but then I was in for a surprise. http://deepakkarthikspeaks.blogspot.in/, more because of the 420 that follows his name, I want to know if it is meant for people like me? Sujatha Sathya has Conversations, http://sujathasathya.blogspot.in/, about life, relationships and love, but the way she says it I always feel she’s talking about me. Priya http://very-me-priya.blogspot.in/ at very me, writes about her life and also about things happening around her. Rahul says he’s instable but if this is instability, I wish I had some too. Read more at Monumental Instability. http://randomrahul.blogspot.in/ Raj, love the way he hits the funny bone with all his sarcastic and humorous posts. http://fu-ck-lo-ve.blogspot.in/. Pramodji as he is fondly referred to on the blogosphere has lots to share on the workings of a marriage. http://marriagebook.in/ even though his other blog about various other things is more popular, I personally prefer this on. Sensitive heart, as I’ve got to know her, writes about lots of things, from movie reviews to photography, she’s covered it all, but lately she’s been missing from the blogging world, here’s hoping this tag shall act like a catalyst and bring her back. She was also amongst the first bloggers whom I had interacted with. http://myworldmyperception.blogspot.in/ Raksha Bhatt, when I went to her blog and read her intro about herself, I wanted to read more. Here’s what she had to say, Flying through the seasons of life with me, myself and the world...A little of this and a little of that and all of everything! A Doctor by instinct, a Bookworm by desire... I am what I was...I am what I can be. http://ink-and-feathers.blogspot.in/ Mukta a relatively new blogger has tons of yummy recipes at her blog, I think it really tough to keep up a cookery blog, which she is doing marvelously. http://bake-a-mania.blogspot.in/ though by tagging her I would like to know more about her as an individual too. Poems don’t interest me much, more so because they use too many unnecessary words most of the times, but Ritika Patel is an exception. http://delectableflavors.blogspot.in/ Another blog that I have recently started following is http://viveksheel-blog.blogspot.in/. Vivek Sheel, a private blog till now is a treasure trove, especially for morning SMSes. There are lots more blogs which I would have loved to have tagged, but then there are some whom I think do not accept these so called “AWARDS”, and some who I feel are way above their tagging days. But then all said and done, I think we all (ME INCLUDED) are doing a marvelous job indeed. Friends, due to some serious (for a complete tech-novice for me), technical difficulties, a very long story, fit to be my next blog...I am unable to link the image to this post, if there's anyone who can help me please let me know. How do I add an image on this post from my tablet. The choose file option is not valid here... And I also tried to link the image to it's web URL too. But that too dint work. And for the same reasons, please excuse all my formatting errors too...along with that, please xcuse any other errors too ;).Pleas let me know why the formatting thing is not working...while I'm typing here, it shows me proper spacing and line breaks, but when I preview it shows me no spacing no line or para breaks. Desperately help required. I'm just too desperate to post this so here it is. Please bear with me and my ignorance!!

For better or for worse, Happy New Year

I know its Christmas time and the air around is filled with lots of festivities and joy, but it also translates into being busy for a stay at home mom, with my daughter having her holidays, my blog has been pushed to take a back seat. 




But heres wishing that all my readers and fellow bloggers had a very merry and cheerful  Christmas and wishing for a new year that comes with loads of love, luck, happiness and more of good things for all of you. (please leave your wishes too...need them lots and lots!) May it being with it the gifts of joy, goodness, passion, humanity and empathy for all of us. 


Though we all know about the prophecies related to year 2012, we shall all welcome the year with grand celebrations as always, that is what HOPE is all about, such is life. LIVE ON.

The End of the Mayan Calendar is scheduled for December 21, 2012 (give or take a year). The possibilities of what this “end” might mean is an increasingly hot topic on the Internet, in conferences, printed articles, and in discussions all over the globe.  This is because it just might be an incredibly important moment in history -- e.g., the end of history!



For more information on the year 2012 and 2012 prophecies read this article: 2012 Prophecies This powerful article explains everything about the year 2012 and how it relates to the Mayan Calendar. It explains various 2012 prophecies and the significance of the year 2012.


You may also enjoy the article "2012 Problem" by Ralph Miller. It is more of a shamanic view of the year 2012 and the 2012 prophecies. It combines the ancient wisdom of the sacred plant "ayahuasca". You can read this fascinating article on the year 2012 here: 2012 Problem

I also read here ( It says, Every significant Internet provider around the globe is currently in talks with access and content providers to transform the internet into a television-like medium: no more freedom, you pay for a small commercial package of sites you can visit and you'll have to pay for seperate subscriptions for every site that's not in the package.) now this worries me. But looking at the blog, I would rather like to believe that the author has made such remarks to garner more publicity for himself than anything else. Still got my fingers crossed.




How can we forget when how we welcomed the year 2000, even then  the world was going to come to an end, gadgets, phones, machines were not meant to work in the 2000 format, knowing all this we partied harder, so for better or for worse, Happy New Year! 

Destined to...live

With many crusaded dreams,

Painful cherished moments

Cruelly crushed creatures,

Live life to your fullest

We are often told.

Close my eyes see stars,

Even with open eyes, see stars,

Darkness makes them black,

Man makes them blue.

How does one live, love or forgive

What never is what you want

You get only what you deserve

What you are destined, fated

But who knows, who decides?

Child like pleasures,

Man like passion

Woman like misery

No you don’t know it,

No you don’t care.

That’s how I shall keep.

That's how I shall try to

Live.

Compliments

My days’ started off wonderfully. I got the 2^nd most beautiful comment in my life!  (But both of them haven’t come from my husband, or boyfriends for that matter.)

I know I never write about personal stuff much, but don’t know today am typing this, will find out only later if I post this or not.

Coming back to the compliment I received, ohh, the only thing that could beat it was if it had come from my husband, or just any other guy instead of this sweet girl.

She saw me at the gym, lazily working out, I am THE laziest member of the class, even the instructor says so, but I’m also the only one who’s been attending his class from the start, so I guess it evens it out.

After the class, we met in the changing room, she started hesitantly, “May I say something to you?”, and I was like, OH no, here it comes, what could it be, my shoes my top or my pants, or even worse, is there a tag stuck behind my back…gosh!

“Ya, sure tell me” with a small smile that took more force than those push-ups!

“Your face…”

My hands instantly go to my face, what?

She continues, “Your face is very attractive, your features are very nice…”

I relax and even blush, “Oh thank you, that very sweet of you.” I can’t take criticism but I don’t even like getting compliments, it embarrasses me. I know they mean well and good, but still I happen to look at the person suspiciously.

“When I saw you I felt like I wanted to keep looking at you, could not take my eyes off your face”, she adds.

Well now I was almost blushing, has this person been a guy I would have swelled, but as she was a female, made me wonder, think and even suspect her motives, see I told you na I get suspicious.

But later when we spoke and I figured out she was not a lesbian and meant no evil, I felt swell! It made me so happy that I hope I dint gain some inches with the swelling!

Giving compliments is a mean task, especially to a stranger, so kudos to this girl, whose name also I dint get. But even otherwise, one needs to put aside his/her ego and to give a compliment, more so if it to someone of the same sex.

But there are some compliments which somehow sound like insults. Any accolade or praise, even though meant in good spirits, that leave you confused is a bad compliment. They strike you like, no she dint just say that, not in front of an audience!

 “You are looking nice today”, don’t I look nice on other days?

“Your hair’s looking good, where did you get it cut?”, are you saying my hair’s not nice, but only coz of the cut it’s looking good?

“Are those your real eyes?”, no I’m wearing artificial eyes!

 “That dress makes you look thin”, Am I fat?

“Wow, is that a natural tan?”, yes I was born dark, nothings fair.

“You have a very photogenic face”, does this mean I don’t look good in real?

Another of these confused compliments that most of us receive while growing up is, you can do better. Why isn’t what I did good enough? Why you want better?

Your daughter in law is very good”, identified and accepted as a perfect bali-ka-bakra (sacrificial goat) cause “good daughter-in-law” here means, dumb, as in both stupid and mute.

But the most dreaded compliment that no woman wants to here has to be, “congratulations, your baby bump is so cute”, when you are not even pregnant! I’ve stopped congratulating people till I’m 100%sure that she’s expecting.

Another female oriented compliment-cum-insult has to be, “you drive pretty well for a woman”, and I don’t have any words for this one.

Once a very long time back, a friend of mine had tagged me as “a tit-for-tat person”, later she tried very hard to justify saying she meant it in a good way, but I was not. It was for this same person that I had got into a fight with my seniors at work, and she was saying this to the same senior “That’s how Pooja is, let it go”

I remember, I colleague of mine got engaged to this jerk of a guy from the same office, and when I found out, the best I could say was “good for you”, she not knowing that it was not a nice compliment took it as a congratulatory remark.

I know it tough to get over some of these compliments, but the best possible way to deal with them, as per my experience is, to ignore them. Say a thank you, with a smile and let it go, as innocently as it was said, take it like it was not meant to be that way. Maybe the speaker is not as fluent with her language skills as you are. Most of the times, the person’s intentions are innocent, but even it not, thank you works best, as it’s like a missed shot for the person. It will annoy the person when you don’t flare up or get hurt as per his/her expectation.

Have a good day! And make sure your compliment are just what they ought to be.

A Starry Sunday

Yesterday two “stars” were in Indore. I’m not naming them because I don’t want to give them any more publicity than they already have garnered, as it is, these days it’s pretty easy to guess who one is talking about, as the options are limited to those who have a film releasing in the near future.

Well we, ,my husband and me, were unaware of this fact (habit of not reading the newspaper on Sundays is a bad one and needs to be changed ASAP), and happened to take our daughter for a fun filled Sunday at the same place, my daughter happens to love that particular mall’s play zone. But we were in for a shock. 

The moment we entered the mall we were faced with a sea of people, not knowing the gravity of the situation, we assumed it to be limited to the ground floor only. Thinking the floors on higher levels would be better off we started towards it.

But only the ground to 1^st floor escalators (lifts were closed, and even the escalators were not functioning), were passable. On the next level we realized we were stuck, security people would not let us go down thinking we (a least interested couple holding a scared 5year kid) would mob the stars and the audience would not let us go upstairs thinking we would take away their precious prized positions.

As it is someone later told us, that the mall’s staff was all busy keeping the crowds in control behind the tight ropes, so there was no one available at the play zone. So now going down was the only option left.

Somehow we managed to get a “spot”, actually an envious spot, on the same escalator through which we had come upstairs. The view was great from here, we could see the stage clearly and at the same time, there was no-one pushing or pulling us either. We had more than once requested, demanded and even pleaded the security people to help us leave the mall, but they told us, as the crowds was getting larger the gates had been closed so as to keep new people from arriving.  So finally we accepted the fact that we were destined to give the “stars” a glimpse.

Stuti, my daughter, wanted to know where did so many people come from and why, it’s the biggest pool of people she had ever seen, and when I explained to her about the star crazy public, she innocently asked me “so Mumma, all these people have come from all over India?” and she was shocked when I told her no beta, they all are from Indore only, but then she had to ask me where do these people go on other Sundays? To which I had no answer.

After waiting for more than an hour (an hour for us, more than 2-3 hours for many who had come since a long time to get to see these actors), being told another 10-15 minutes for more than 10 times, the stars finally arrived. Arrived they did! To mikes not working, bouncers hitting and pushing the crowds, and whistles all over the mall. Did I mention the air-conditioning or ventilation was also not doing its job properly!

What happened was complete chaos, not at all properly planned, ridiculously managed and even pathetically executed. Temperatures were rising, tempers were flying and people were getting more and more out of control. To add to all this, 2-3 glass panes, huge glass panes, fell off from escalators on the ground floors. Thank God no injuries were caused.

First of all such events, I feel, should not be planned in enclosed places, and even if they are the authorities should make sure their infrastructure is appropriate not for the crowds anticipated but for the actual numbers. And if you are having such stars come, don’t advertise, as it is, word spreads, by leaking it the media you are inviting the general public, then don’t tell them how to behave.

 

On talking to a few of the security people, I found out they had not anticipated such a turn around. Hello, what do you expect? In a country where actors and cricketers are only second to God, who would miss this opportunity, especially on a Sunday?

I think, even our public is to be blamed. Can someone please explain to me, yes I’m an idiot, what does a guy get when he sees a beautiful actress (only after she’s layered herself with tons of makeup), on a stage, just waving her hands to generally everyone or rather no one, after waiting for more than 2-3 hours and shoving and pushing the crowds, and also fighting with the guards? After being treated like a jerk, he still is happy just seeing him and her on stage?

                                                                                                                                 

Hands on Haiku

This is my frist attempt with Haiku, contrary to what most of us think, it is not at all simple to be simple.
Haiku is  a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities: Hope, Peace, and Harmony, as per Wikipedia. But for youknowthatblog it is a simple 3 non-rhyming lines of just 5, 7, and 5 syllables as per the theme of the week.
This weeks theme is Absence, and here follows my first attempt.


Never have, never will notice
all those years ago went missing  
love joy innocence around.


Shall I say what feels
within the insides of  me
crippling as times fly


But if I do say
presence can turn to absence
so let words be scarce 

Please give me your feedbacks, as I'm sure there have to be some miscalculations.

Time life-line

Randomly Daily,

There was a time when I wanted to embrace you, death

But when the time came a couple of hours I had to ask.

Of all the things when you wake me up, alarm clock

All I ask for is some spare minutes, around 120 would be fine.

Last night when I was battling with you, insomnia 

Tossing right left and center

Wishing 2 hours would just casually fly away.

As a child,

When times were tough and testing, exams

In school I always prayed

Let these 2 hours stretch so long,

For me to study more

And score galore

On the ground though, playground

With friends and games,

Always warned you, time

Come not so soon, give me some grace

And come 2 fun hours away.

Mornings were the same, with the sun bringing light

And mom’s same music, yelling

To wake me, to take me on

The ride of the day

Why not some more time I ask?

What the big deal in 2 hours anyway?

Later in life,

When I was there, in college

There were moments,

When you could have helped,

Make it to class on time

Make it to finish line,

But you were most needed

When…

Those 2hours with coffee and her

Went like a blur,

But another 2 with just coffee

Were a curse.

As of now,

Always running short of time here, office desk

With files flying low while the works pilling high

How many wonders could have been worked

If you just gave me those 2 magical hours though?

Never have enough time to be with you, wife

Just stealing flashes from here and there,

Never have time to sit and chill, show you my love,

Give me 2 hours more on the house for thou.

At the park with my hand in hers, my child

I wished these hours would just pause for 2

Only for the cause of my love and joy

Is with you

Need to go out and pamper you, moi self

For health, care, love and spares

Want to travel, want to relax

Want to be whatever is to be.

Surf Excel

Give me 2hours you, but I’m telling

I’ll come back for more and more!

  

This post was written for Surf Excel Matic #GetSmart Contest on Indiblogger. They want to know what you would like to do If you were granted 2 extra hours everyday ? Do share your views here! 

Join my blog's Facebook Page here.

Surf 2 hours away

Lying on my bed,

No it’s still not late

Though it’s almost 10

But I got 2 hours to spare.

Till the moon cradles his head

And my eyes go droopy dead

So up I bounce,

Think on what to pounce

If Only it was a.m.

Fill shopping bags would be my goal

But as its p.m. closed is the mall

I had some unread paper,

But for that I am late

Coz by the time I’d get done

It would be another date.

New news waiting at the door

With all the things I so bore

I thought of my guy

And what all we could do

But nothing works with him

After he’s had his booze

Back to square one, with what to do

Cause today I have 2 hours to move

Then I do what I do best, 

Google about what to do,

And it opens a treasure

On things from head to toe

I settle down on paper craft

With a stick of glue and paper

But strike I hear the clock

Telling me, my 2 hour’s over.

Why does not it trouble me you may ask,

Cause I tell you, tomorrow 

I shall surf clothes again,

And be rewarded with a 2 hour gain!

This post was written for Surf Excel Matic #GetSmart Contest on Indiblogger. They want to know what you would like to do If you were granted 2 extra hours everyday ? Do leave your comments. And unlike me, don't waste this precious time whiling away. 

Join my blog's Facebook Page here.

Happy?? Children’s day

Today my 5 year old daughter’s routine was like this.

6:00am (Yes before the sun rises) Get up and get dressed for school. Bus arrives at 7:00am.

It’s a very important day for her at school; she has Children’s day celebration (read competitions). There 

was a Spell Bee event, followed by some fancy chocolate-cookie races and some quiz games.

For breakfast they had to take their favorite snack which could not be Maggie, chips, burger or pizzas in short nothing junk (nothing that kids would actually have liked). So I make her cheese parathas (my favorite and boring in her vocabulary).

For lunch they were served the routine food (again boring) but as it was a special day, a single ice-cream scoop was given as treat. Vanilla ice-cream, she detests.

2:00pm Back from school; has her fruits with a bowl of curd. She shows me the cute “Happy Children’s day” paper lolly she got from school. She tells me its “”Chacha Jawaharlal Nehru’s bday today, and so its children’s day”.

I ask her what she wants to do today as it’s her special day. She tells me “Mumma I want to watch tv, Doremon, Chotta Bheem , Mr. Bean…” (Her list is endless, I happen to remember only these many); Wants to eat Maggie, strawberry ice-cream and some chocolates (this is added sensing her mom’s in a generous mood today). She does not want to study or even do her homework, (whatever made me ask her)! I don’t agree, but don’t say a no, thinking its Children’s day.

But time soon flies and it’s time for her evening class.

3:30pm time for her evening class. Have children’s day celebrations (again competition) there too. Kids have to talk about what children’s day means to them. I have no clue what she’ll say but judking by the answers I got I’m sure she does not stand any chance of winning any prizes (she’s mumma’s girl, even I never won much). Anyways I don’t want to dwell on it much coz I have dinner to prepare before she comes.

5:30pm. she’s back and I make Maggie for her finally; that’s the least I can do for her, while she gets comfortable on the couch with the remote.  All this after she promises me that she will complete her home work later, or even the next morning pukka - pukka, I let her go, knowing very well nothing of that sort will happen. But then it’s her day, so she’s excused.

But some time in the afternoon, when my friends told me they were taking their kids for some children’s day celebration (more competitions and promotions too this time) to a couple of places, even I was tempted. But then I thought why? Why would she want to go and run races with spoons in her mouth, why would she want to stick tails on donkeys or even shoot balloons? Just so that I can show off to my friends some extra certificates, gifts or the best possibility was appearing in a group photo in the local daily? Would it excite her? Yes it would if her day had not been like how it was, had she slept till 10-11 in the morning, had not gone for swimming for 45 minutes, she would have enjoyed it, loved it.

But then there are times, when I wonder if as a parent, what will happen if I don’t give her the same exposure that these other kids are getting, would my daughter be missing out on some things? Will she not be as completive as the others? What is it that I need to do? Do I let her enjoy life as it is, or do I push her and run with her from one competition to the other, from one experience to the other? What is the right thing to do as a parent? What if she decides to become a couch potato for the rest of her life? Obviously I’ll be blamed!

It is not easy to assimilate that a child is happiest when she/he gets to do what she/he wants, to be able to decide what and when. So decision taken, I go to the couch to ask her what she wants to do, but I can’t ask her.

7:00pm She’s snoring away and smiling! And here I am having the Maggie and blogging!

Rational Religion

Being a Jain, I’ve got the privilege to attend, (I am forced to listen to) sermons by our gurus. No I don’t have anything personal against Jain Gurus or for that matter any other religious person, but there are some things that I would like to ask them or rather open their eyes towards.

First of all, who are Jain Munis (Monks, and here I would like to talk about Jain munis only cause I’m most familiar with them).

In Jainism, there are 2 main bifurcations, some are idol worshipers, some not. The ones not worshiping idols take their Maharaj Sahebs (monks) and Masatijis (nuns) as Gods. Before I go any further, let me also tell readers who don’t know about Jainism that it is one of the most scientific as well as toughest religions to follow, as far as fasting, praying or other aspects of living are concerned. These monks lead a very tough life, they travel by foot, bare foot, around the country throughout the year, eat only food that they are offered, only when they get it appropriately, drink only boiled water, and use least materials as possible, some don’t even wear clothes. Rest use basic simple white unstitched cloth that is wrapped around their bodies. 

They stay at an Apasra, Jain shrines; only if they are invited during the 4 and half months of monsoon, as they do not walk when it is raining, as it is believed that during this season there are numerous living micro organisms in the atmosphere. Jainism believe in giving AbhayDaan(gift of security, fearless existence ) to all living organisms.

I would like to share some examples for the same too. Like how often after having a bath we leave the tumbler in the half filled bucket itself? Often. But Jainism says that the living beings present in that bucket of water fear that you shall fill another tumbler and disrupt their environment again, so if possible use minimal water, and after you are done, do not leave the tumbler in the bucket. Chopping vegetables, using electricity, wearing clothes, applying cosmetics or even using basic furniture items are a complete no-no (sins).

So much so that Jain Priests wear white cotton mask at all times to cover their mouths so that no form of life will be disturbed by their talking, coughing or deep breathing acts.

Basically to cut a long story short, I am well aware that Jain gurus lead a very tough life, physically and mentally. They have my utmost respect; there are no two ways about it. Rather I hold great admiration for their families too, who have allowed them to take this tough path for the betterment of mankind.

But, (there is always has to be a but with me) What I fail to understand is, why sacrifice all worldly or materialistic things and still aspire to be something above the rest of us? Well as soon as you embrace living like a monk, you are given a stature high above a normal human who is slaving his life away to earn a decent livelihood for his family, it also includes the donations and charity made to these religious causes, including the monk’s bread and butter too, well in-case of a Jain Guru he shall not accept bread, so a roti for him please.

I've wanted to ask them, but never was allowed to so putting my thoughts/questions up here.

I agree you are above the rat race that we are in, but hello, isn’t yours another race all together too? You are running for sainthood, for moksh or mukti? Moksh/Mukti here refers to being spared the misery of being reincarnated again and again, till we don’t pay or repent for all the sins that we commit knowingly or unknowingly.

So when I look closely at the life of a monk, (to all those who may ask me what has given me the right to look into a monk’s life closely, I’m a nosey person) I find lots of discrepancies and there are various inconsistencies in what they preach and what they do(just like me I realize).

Like in our normal world, we strive to achieve the most in the world, similarly in their world or domain they do the same, race for the highest title of sainthood. Like us even they have ladders and ranks amongst them and aspire to have shrines built in their honor.  And why? So that they can conjure up a large following of devotees or disciples (read fan, who are willing to donate generously “materialistic things” to their causes). 

In Jainism, most of these causes are like saving a cow’s life, feeding a needy family, providing appropriate facility for the welfare of Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis.

They all want to be the best preachers, best orators and be recognized for the numerous welfare and development projects that they have initiated and been successful at, sounds familiar?

Doesn’t all this add up to doing good work, social work or just plain being a nice human? But with time some things need to be changed, some “traditional and religious ideas”need to be worked on so as to bring wide spread acceptance among the youth of the society.

On the other hand maybe if people like me and you go out and preach the world on how we should help the needy and donate to good causes, then it would not be so effective, to make their words count or bring about some results these extreme steps many be necessary.

But what disgusts me the most, or rather always has ticked me off, is that even though they are at a higher altar in life, believe in purity of thought action and are more closer to God, they too have succumbed  to petty practices specifically that of gender bias.

Gender discrimination is so deeply ingrained within us that these so called Gods also have fallen prey to such appalling ways of thinking. In Jainism, and also in some other Hindu religions, women devotees are not allowed to touch sadhus(priests) and similarly male devotes stay away from sadhvis(nuns). Isnt that almost like being an untouchable?

Most of the times, we also notice that sadhus, priests or monks are allowed to rise up in the rankings much faster that the sadhvis, basis only being their gender. Even if the rank is the same of a nun and a priest, he is always given priority over her by default. After all it’s a man’s world, be it ours or theirs.

Recently I was reading a book on Hinduism and vedas, ya sometimes I pick up these books by mistake too, in which I was shocked to read about the tradition of applying sindoor. The main component of traditional sindoor is usually vermilion. A component considered to be toxic by nature.

As most of you must be aware that Hindu wives are expected to fill sindoor (for me it always looked like a stamp of being taken/sold/unavailable!) along the parting of their hair, thus applying it on the scalp (where the pores are most open), so as to let it seep inside slowly. It is a sacred and most prominent symbol of a Hindu married woman. Like I’ve said earlier, Vermilion is a toxic substance, you might now wonder why a Hindu married lady is made to apply if it is a known toxic, and well that’s the precise reason for making her do it. 

A female’s life span is comparatively longer than her male counterparts, as we all know, and that’s exactly why this practice was incorporated, to slowly poison the wife so that both the partners can die with each other, and for the ones who dint die a natural death, they were made out to be satis. (An abolished tradition of Hindu wives burning themselves alive on their husbands’ pyre).

Doesn't it sound like that applying sindoor is more like killing someone slowly and painlessly? Most of us are not even aware of the meaning of some traditional rituals that we are made to follow. We just do as we are told, as again asking for logic or questioning our age-old praths (religious ceremonies) is considered to be a taboo in most Hindu homes.

 

Let me know if you are aware of any other such traditions or ritual, love to hear new fascinating things like this.