Chowkpurana

Sapne suhane.......

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Dreams make  us  optimistic -fill us  with hope for a better future.Many scientists were able to invent their dream product as they visualised it in their dreams.The solutions just emerged out of their various thought processes in visual form.Many writers,poets were able to complete their great works as it all appeared in their dreams as they slept away, tired, trying to find that perfect story.

Many of us day dream - not just dream.This is good, provided, we take some steps towards the fulfillment of those dreams.I have dreamt many times of various scenarios.In a majority of them ,I am the protganist. Basically being a very insecure person ,I dream about my success in numerous fields .The others do get fringe benefits, all ,solely because of my success.




I once dreamed about  becoming  the first woman CEO, of the company, where I was employed.This started a trend & in my welcome address ,I spoke of how from then onwards,men will have to struggle to head the company as women had broken the glass ceiling & will just head for the sky ! I will continue to win the CEO of the year award, for decades !

I once dreamed about starting an NGO which will provide legal aid to women & children ,the poor & the downtrodden.Slowly & surely,the NGO will try to employ the poor ,the downtrodden & women in some forms of employment like tailoring ,cooking,basic computing skills,etc..An in house  school would be started, to  educate the kids.My NGO work will pay off as my old frail self will receive the Nobel Peace Prize !

Another dream is of becoming a writer, who is able to challenge ideas,perceptions & change them completely.I once dreamed about becoming a writer who writes novels,shorts stories,articles etc.I would be mobbed at all places - in bus stands,railway stations,on stage etc.I will be in such places, as my money will be for charity & I am a simple down to earth person.My novels will be made into films which will be super hits ! The final triumph will be getting  the Sahitya Academy award !


I once dreamed about becoming a politician, who becomes the Prime Minister of India .I would try to make Bharat, a safe country, for women where women can walk freely without fear.That Bharat will be devoid of gender inequality & the birth of a girl child will be celebrated with gutso ! Criminals will be dealt in a time frame with certain punishments.No one will be spared, no matter, how high the placement in terms of money ,power or stature.

I just have to work towards all the aforesaid dreams.I am sure,very soon ,one person is going to win the highest honors in corporate  affairs,literature,peace & public life.That would be me !

Alpana

Straight hair make over

I have brown hair which is quite old now .There are shades of red as well, due to henna application.I go for regular hair cuts.I oil & shampoo my hair.Recently ,I felt, that I must try to get straight hair  so that I get some makeover.My hair is short  & curls at the neck to give me a bob look.

I tried by keeping books & pillows on my tresses ( not head )  as I slept.I would just spread my hair away from my head as I lay on bed & keep the pillow or rather two to three pillows on the hair.Then I would sleep away, imagining that by the next morning,I would wake up to straight hair.But alas,that just remained a dream !

I went to a parlor & asked them for straightening my hair.They were glad to do it, for an ostentatious amount which made my purse lighter by a few hundreds.A cream was used & I had to sit with that cream over my hair for some hours whiling away my precious time.After that, my hair was cleaned of that cream & viola ,my hair was straight ! Sadly ,this was only for that day.Slowly & surely ,the next day ,my hair just like the dog's tail had started curling the way it was before ! Such a colossal   way to spend money.I felt defrauded by the cream as also by the beauty salon ! I marched to the salon, to be told that all depends on the way the hair cooperates & stays that way.So ,it was all my fault- sorry, my hair had non -cooperated & that's why ,my hair had bounced back to its natural state ! I was informed curtly that my hair ( well almost, except for that day when it was straight ) was just like the dog's tail which can never become straight.

I tried tying strands of my hair tightly with threads to straighten them up in groups.I would do this in the night & wake up hoping that as I untied those threads ,my hair would have transformed into straight sleek hair ! This did not happen .I was at my wit's end.I wanted straight hair as it looks stylish ,eat & gives me a sleek look.I may have to do away with combing altogether.Just run my fingers through my straight hair & I would be ready to face the world ! I needed straight hair as my tresses   needed combing every now & then.





I tried conditioning my hair after shampooing .I again repeated the numerous attempts with books & tightly wounding  with threads after conditioning.Yet ,I failed to get straight tresses..

Then , I heard that Sunsilk hair experts have got the magic potion for getting hair straight ! I  was amazed by the results.And believe me ,it works ! Now,my head is at rest & my hair is straight ! My hair looks neat & stylish -as if I visit the parlour daily.Wow ! It is that parlour hair look -blow dried ,sleek  & stylish ! Sunsilk has kept the cost  reasonable too, which means the world to me.Thank you ,Sunsilk !

This is my blog post entry for The Straight Hair Experiment contest on IndiBlogger. Do "like ","comment " & "share".

Muggu

The stepping stone for success !

"The post at the city branch office is falling vacant.""Ma'am,will I be considered for the post ? " Sanjeev enquired.Shweta looked at Sanjeev & said,"You know Sanjeev,you are the most eligible person & yet ,one look at your face & I have to reject.""Why ,Ma'am ? " Sanjeev was crestfallen.

Shweta answered,"You are so lazy.You never shave on weekends.You shave & that too just because you have to, on weekdays, as if, it is a chore.One can always make out, that ,shaving is not smoothly done.The face looks unhygienic, not clean shaven, on most of the days.On weekends,you are at your casual best-you leave a stubble."

"Ma,am,I want that position so much-you know ,how hardworking I am.My sales was the highest.I also hold an MBA from IIM.I am well behaved.I never say no to work on holidays."Shweta butted in "Sanjeev,that's why ,I said you are the most eligible & yet ,your attitude which is reflected by your stubble makes all believe you are lazy & casual about work.""Shweta Ma'am,I promise to shave on all days provided ,I am made the branch manager."Shweta said,"Take your time to get disciplined.The present branch head  has  given notice yesterday.One month has to pass before he goes.In the meantime,show us, that you are serious about your shaving, as it shows that you are hardworking & not lazy .This will mean a lot.As a branch head ,you have to instill discipline down the line.If you come unshaven and with a stubble ,others will try to emulate you.Then it will lead to laziness in work.You know how it is.I need not elaborate.So,if you really crave for that post,please start shaving your  stubble.All the best ." Shweta immediately started making some calls after that small talk. Sanjeev knew it was a sign, for him, to leave.



Sanjeev mumbled,"Thank you,Ma'am."He knew he had been caught for not shaving at all & for shaving improperly.He hated shaving.So much of a task.Too tedious.He did shave half heartedly as he had to meet clients.He loved his job.And he craved to be the branch head.He was a workaholic  & yet, he would get to be the branch head only  if he shaved regularly & neatly.How much he craved for that post of the Branch manager -if he was made that ,he would show the world,how good he was.He knew ,he had no time to lose.He decided to shave, on his return home.He loved his neat & clean look in the mirror.He set his alarm for six in the morning.Again he shaved, with concentration.He looked good.He was surprised that shaving was wonderful for his appearance.That day ,he made sure ,he met Shweta Madam.He wanted her to know that he was trying very hard for the post.

Now ,shaving neatly & daily was a pleasant task for Sanjeev.He felt happy with his looks -the satisfaction of a job, well done. All in the office, started teasing him .They asked if he was meeting someone.He just smiled.He knew his shaving gamble was paying off.

The month long notice period was going to end.Sanjeev was anxious.Shweta Ma'am called him ."When are you willing to take charge ? " "Ma'am,as you say."Sanjeev replied in all humility."It's decided then -tomorrow you take over.And don't forget to shave daily, as you are  doing ,Sanjeev "Sanjeev bent & touched the feet of his mother Shweta.He knew his mom was someone who would have her way if she had made up her mind.She had told him many times earlier & he never cared to shave properly.The carrot & stick policy had worked.Shweta & Sanjeev had a good laugh.Shaving for that  craved post had made him a branch head.There was no stopping him now.He knew he was headed for success.Shaving was  the stepping stone to success !

This post is a part of the 'Shave or Crave' movement in association with BlogAdda.com

Speed post

Hello Dearest,

I have never addressed you by this name .I am doing so, as I hope, you will read this letter, from a dear friend & not your mother.

You are, at an age, when your friends mean the  world, to you.

 I am worried like any other mother.I worry about how you will travel with others -your teachers & schoolmates.Will you be able to sleep as the train chugs along when you know that I am not by your side .Will you eat or make a face & refuse to eat what is offered.Food will not be like what it is at home.Moreover , food choices hardly exist on train routes.Maybe, I worry too much, as you are so young.

I just want you, to take care of yourself.Please do not go alone anywhere -no matter how curious you get.Always be in the company of one or more of your friends.Please keep your teacher informed about your whereabouts.Do keep your mobile charged, so that you can be contacted, in case, need arises.Please remember to carry your cell along, wherever you go.

Eat healthy & not junk like biscuits,chips,colas etc.Try to sleep in time.In case you get hurt,please get help from friends & teacher.You please  assist    others, in case, anyone gets hurt or even otherwise .Please learn to work as a team with your schoolmates.That will always help you.

Be courteous to teachers & schoolmates & others.That will keep the atmosphere pleasant & make things work .Be clean.Take bath ,shampoo &  comb regularly.Wash your hands before & after eating.Remember to brush teeth twice -once when you get up & second time before you retire to bed.This will maintain hygiene.



Before you get bored & stop reading this ,I think I must remind you that most of all, ENJOY your trip ! I am so surprised that you grew up so fast ! I never realised, you would go out ,without me, at this tender age !

May the best team win ! All the very best to you & your team !


Love,

your mom.

This post is being written for #MomsforaBetterWorld Project 

Rangoli

Fit to bobbitize.

The recent gang rape, of a girl in a moving bus, in Delhi, has ignited a  debate for the way to punish such offenders.The alternatives are death sentence,life imprisonment ,chemical castration & bobbitization.

Death penalty is an option though not suitable.It is costly -death penalty is rarely given.When given,the accused will go to all lengths, to procure a lesser sentence.This will delay punishment, thereby putting pressure on our already clogged Judicial system.The accused will approach High court,then Supreme Court & the President, for pardon.All this time ,the accused will be in custody, on the taxpayer's money.It is a colossal waste, that a felon /s  as barbaric as a rapist/s will be ensconced in jails, while the victim /s has died or is suffering physically & mentally as also  being   socially ostracised..And for demanding death penalty,more investigations,more defence lawyers,more bureaucracy is needed.It is too expensive an affair.Moreover, after the final refusal of the Presidential pardon ,getting hold of a hangman, is another task which is getting difficult if not impossible.Payment to the hangman, is also an issue After the hanging ,handing over of the body to his family is another matter to be dealt with .And the death penalty is too simple, a punishment, for an inhuman crime such as rape.

Life imprisonment is a big NO.No such criminal /s who have raped should be imprisoned for a lifetime. It is unfair for citizens, that their hard earned money is used to pay up for the judicial custody of rapists till the rapists are alive & kicking ! Our courts have started specifying life terms to more than 14 years .This is again, a drain on our  Exchequer.  There is no guarantee, that life imprisonment will continue for lifetime of the rapist/s .The accused may be let off earlier for good behavior or  medical or other grounds..Studies have shown, that a  majority of rapists will rape again when they move back into society.Medically unfit accused have all the ability & fitness to violate women.Our jails are overcrowded & minimally guarded.The accused rapists may rape others in the jails itself.This will lead to greater problems.Moreover ,the rapists may escape custody & be free to commit crimes again.

Chemical castration is an option being favoured as it costs Rs 2000/ per injection.Chemical castration is a therapy in which drugs are administered via injections to reduce libido.Studies have shown that while 3 % of sex offenders who are chemically castrated, will repeat rape/s as against 97 % of sex offenders who are imprisoned will rape again. And chemical castration is cheap- it costs nearly Rs 2000/- per shot.The problem with this punishment is that this shot has to be repeatedly administered.How will that be done ? Either the offender/s have to be monitored perennially or the offenders must be lodged in jail.In that case,the therapy does not work out cheap.If the offender/s are let off after the initial shots,how to give them the next shot/s ? Our police force is very  hassled & more  involved in protecting VIPs.Moreover ,locating offender/s in a highly populous country such as ours is tedious & costly.It will be a time consuming affair .Within that time ,it is highly possible that the accused would again commit rapes & other sexual crimes.

Bobbitization is the ideal punishment.Bobbitization is doing away with the penis of the offender/s. If the organ refuses to exist,there can be no repeat offence by the offender/s.Bobbitization is cutting off the penis.This term Bobbitization  gained notoriety after a housewife ,Lorena Bobbit severed her husband's penis in a fit of rage, after years of infidelity, in 1993.This happened in Virginia ,USA.

Bobbitization is a fitting finale, to an act as cruel as rape.It is cheap -can be done by anybody.No special training is needed.So no question of selecting candidates for being employed for bobbitization. Many will offer their valuable  services with their precious time to perform such noble tasks ! Good samaritans will  get their own instruments as well. A simple instrument or weapon like knife can be utilised to achieve bobbitization. After bobbitization ,the offender/s can be let off - he cannot commit rape again.So the expense of lodging in jails,monitoring ,etc is done away with  The offender can be bobbitised with an instrument which need not be disinfected.This will deter him & prevent others from such inhuman crimes.Moreover ,if the resultant infection is severe enough ,death will naturally follow.There are more positives for bobbitisation. A little brutality, will go a long way, to prevent & deter rapes, as compared to the brutality of rape/s visited on the victims.Moreover ,an offender can be bobbitised anywhere-so no establishment costs ! How come nobody thought of it before Lorena Bobbit ?

In India,one rape happens every 54 minutes as per the State of World Population report. Bobbitization will prevent as also deter such rapes.So many unwanted pregnancies result from rapes & gangrapes. Bobbitization will ensure that such pregnancies will reduce.This will, in turn, stabilsie if not reduce our high growth rate.The severed penises can be utilised for medical research.This may lead to mind boggling discoveries   of  therapies to make male libido virtually non -existent !

Bobbitization serves a dual purpose- it will deter potential offenders as also prevent repetition of rapes.This is what any punishment must aim at. Hence bobbitization, is the only punishment for the sexual offenders.It is infinitely better than chemical castration,death penalty & life imprisonment even in economic terms.It will be akin  to  family planning, with a twist !

Kolam

Mute therapy.

She wanted to scream her lungs out .Still ,she decided not to .After all ,she had promised herself,that she would let things be.She would take it all, in her stride.She was trying an experiment.She was trying to keep calm .This act of being a mute witness, was so unlike her.Any reaction, howsoever small & insignificant, would lead to a  torrent of words, from her side.

She went berserk with her words.Her daughter would retort back .And then, arguments would flow thick & sharp.It was repeated every now & then ,day in & day out.Her daughter was aping her ,she felt.She had been told so, by her friends & well wishers as well.They asked her to calm down & they argued, that her kid would calm down as well.She was unsure, about the outcome, in case, she kept silent.She was afraid of trying.She was enjoying the daily screaming .Was she ?

No ,in fact, she had got tired of the daily fights of words, with her kid.She wished her kid was as obedient as other kids.How other parents handled their children ? Were they as impossible as her daughter or worse off ?Was it because, her kid missed the father, who was busy touring ? She had no answers.

She tried meditation & it did calm her down a bit.Then, as she got busy with her daughter's badminton classes, she gave up meditation.She had no time.She was busy throughout the day catering to her kids demands,household chores  & other things.

Then,that day , as she sat reading her favorite magazine ,she read about the positive effects of staying calm.She read how one must remain a mute witness & stop reacting.Just keep observing & stay quiet.The argument was that things go from bad to worse as we argue endlessly.She decided to try this out.

It was weekend & she felt some peace & quiet may change things.Even if nothing changed,it could not get worse.When her daughter screamed, that she wanted some pancake for  breakfast ,she just got up & made it.She did not argue.Her kid gobbled it up.Then, her daughter  skipped studying & watched the idiot box.She had no homework,she informed her mom.She kept silent through all her daughter's tantrums.Her kid took ages to take bath that day.Not once ,did she remind her daughter to take bath.By sunset,her kid took a bath & surprised her.

She went for her evening walk .Her daughter had kept a glass of chilled lemonade for her ! She smiled as he sipped it.Her kid came & hugged her.Her daughter promised her, that, even she, will try to stop shouting, to get her way.After all, her daughter said they must behave, as friends behaved.

She was overjoyed.Just a day of silence, had achieved so much ! Silence is a great healer . It worked beautifully.It was the therapy ,they both needed-perhaps,she needed it more than her kid.

She decided to try being silent, more often.After all ,the reward that followed was worth it !

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Chowkpurana

Book Review :The Edge of the Machete

Abhisar Sharma, a senior  anchor with Aaj Tak has written books earlier. He has won the highest award for journalism in India -the Ramnath Goenka  Indian Express award for his book "Lal Masjid Ka Safed Sach."

In this book "The edge of the machete",by Westland books ,he tries to weave a tale, on what could have transpired in Pakistan.It is a fictional account which rings true.

This is a gory tail of the jihadis ,the Indian journalist Rahul Sharma,Ed Gomez,a  CIA operative ,a white Muslim,Shahid Khan.It is also the story of how youngsters like the dreaded Aamir Sherzai are indoctrinated into fighting for jihad.

There are so many organisations fighting for jihad that it becomes difficult to keep track of them. The  the terrorists, their bosses, the ISI ,the Pakistan establishment all have their own agendas. They would like the world to believe that the jihad is being fought for Muslims though all the parties are in it only for power. It is just power play though disguised to show that it is against Kafirs.

Ed Gomez ,the CIA operative has infiltrated the terrorist outfit, to avenge the death of his buddy, Jason who was butchered in Pakistan by Aamir Sherzai.Ed Gomez has an alter ego, which he is unable to shake off as he progresses further in his plans towards completion. Ed is unsure if he will save himself from being killed in this war of wars or be caught like Jason.

The white Muslim, Shahid Khan has joined the terrorists to reclaim his faith. He feels wronged by the West. He is unable to mix with the jihadis, whose cruelty is limitless. He is in a dilemma. He wants to remain a true Muslim & is unable to follow the commands of terrorists who suspect his intentions.

Rahul Sharma who wants a big story, is sucked into this war after being captured by militants. His wife & mother pine for him. The journalist becomes the news, in this gripping tale.

Aamir is a sadist, as he is in love with his machete which must taste blood every now & then. The crux of the story is how the CIA plan & try to further their agenda on friendly soil, in Pakistan.

The tale is overflowing  with accounts of capture ,savagery & cunningness. The cruelty is very appalling & makes us hate all militants. I felt like stopping reading, as I encountered such details of pain & unimaginable goriness. I feel that women readers may  feel extremely uncomfortable reading  accounts of mindless torture.

This book does present a realistic picture of Pakistan, where, the Government does seem powerless .The reins are in the hands of   many, who have anything, but Pakistan in mind. It shows that power is an end in itself & it corrupts all so much so that nothing remains the same anymore.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books

 

Saathiya

The picture

This post is part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

This picture evokes memories of our family trip to Goa. This was about three years back.My daughter was at an age, where she would be able to fondly recall about her family outing & we decided on this trip.It helped, that my brother & family had recently concluded a similar trip to Goa.

 It was a package tour.Breakfast was on the house & even dinner.Every morning ,there was an outing to a place nearby for exploring.Evenings were free for us to shop & stroll. It was the first morning after we had landed in the resort the evening before.We hurried up with our breakfast.We gobbled up all that was there.Because ,lunch was on our cost !

The bus was waiting to take us on our first local trip. We went & sat down in the bus after having got comfortable seats.It was a pleasant morning.There was a cool breeze.It was October.The bus started after all guests had occupied their seats. The first stop was to be the Aguada Fort.

We reached the fort.We got down.The guide who had accompanied us in the bus gathered us all & started speaking about the fort.He said that a part of it was Central jail where many prisoners were kept.He showed us around & then told us that after fifteen minutes,all were expected back in the bus to move on to the next destination.

 We were all on our own now.We explored the vast spaces of the Fort.The space fascinated us all, as many of us ,were from cities where space crunch is the only reality.My husband & kid were walking around.I had the camera.I started clicking pictures randomly. Then I saw an opening of a door- without the door.I felt, that this was a good photo opportunity.I started to click & at that moment,a foreign national- a teenage girl ,with a scarf wrapped on her head just walked into my picture frame !

 I had seen her with her dad & brother - this is my guess.She was not Indian.Maybe, from the Gulf.She was fully covered.She was fiddling with her camera as well.I don't know, when she walked into my picture.I was spellbound ! There was no time for another click of the camera.We could hear the guide, calling us all back into the bus for our onward journey. I gathered my kid & hurried up to the bus with hubby, in tow.

I was wondering about the photograph.I was just an amateur.I felt awesome, having clicked that snap.I would have to wait till we reached home after our trip.Then, only, would I be fully able to comprehend the photograph in its entirety. I clicked many snaps on our Goa trip.We did go on many trips after that.Still, that snap, is one of the best clicked by me.Moreover ,that girl with the head scarf holding camera in her hands in the photograph, has given a new perspective to it !

 The door opening with the girl, looks like a photo frame.I simply love that photo ! Though the girl is framed in the snap,I feel it is my talent, that has been framed, vide that picture ! And that too, for posterity !

Muggulu

Laughter & Silence

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.
Many times, it so happens, that there are  animated discussions .All are debating pros & cans.All are in the mood to say vociferously what they believe in or rather would love to believe that the world agrees with their view or views.So all are very aggressive. Then someone says something which silences all.

This happens umpteen number of times.We tend to forget how we can hurt unknowingly.This leads to silence.Till, someone says something out of the blue, which makes  for a smile   which breaks the silence !

Like suppose ,there is a death in the family.All are sad .They have suffered an irreparable loss .The mourning family ,& others prefer to keep silent.People are coming in, to pay their respects.Many are dressed appropriately in white or dull pastel shades.There is no music &  sounds are muted. At that time ,a cell phone rings & the caller id or tune is " Main zandu balm hui ,darling tere liye ....' I am sure ,many want to laugh but cannot, in such circumstances.Though ,all may be unable to maintain silence & one or another may burst out laughing because of the ring tone.The person whose cell, has that caller tune, is embarrassed,  only, for that moment.It is not that the caller tune is going to be changed.It will be exchanged for the next popular number never mind how indecent & hilarious it makes the owner appear as & when it rings

The other day ,we were discussing about the interiors of a new flat.The interior decorator had suggested a carpet.I ,being someone who believes that carpets are something under which all dirt gets swept was totally against the carpet.I still am.I said that it is the most uncouth idea.My blunt comment caused a pin drop silence.I realised, that I had bitten more than I could chew.I also remembered that the said flat was not mine.Before I could stop myself,I could hear myself blurting out ,"There will one person who will be the happiest in case ,you carpet the living room.That would be the maid . Her work of sweeping & mopping would reduce substantially  !" That did it.The lady who owned the flat started laughing & soon others joined her. Her laughter broke the silence.And was I glad ? Yes,I was.


I know I must control myself & not be so frank .I have no right to push my opinions on others.This habit of mine may lead to many awkward silences.Moreover ,I may not get lucky chances to transform them into smiles.

Alpana

Book Review : The Bankster

"The Bankster" is the latest book by Ravi Subramanian ,the winner of the 2008 Golden Quill Readers' Choice Award.The publisher of the book is Rupa ,New Delhi.It costs Rs 250 /- only & has 358 pages.The cover of the book shows a man dressed in an overcoat & trousers in  dark glasses, carrying a gun in one hand & a briefcase in another against the city skyline .He is standing near the sea at night time & a flight is leaving the city.This in short ,depicts the story.

This is a thriller,  based on financial frauds going on in a bank .It also connects internationally with blood diamonds & arms procurement.It describes the NGOs which are funded  & hence, have their own hidden agendas.The story also deals with protests at a nuclear power plant which has echoes in the agitations at the  Koondakulam nuclear power plant.

The writer  has spun an intricate web of threads which run across  the world .His writing is effortless & includes lots of research regarding the war in Angola & the illegal arms trade.He strives to inform the readers that banks manipulate customers to suit their own ends.His writing is interspersed with humour & sarcasm.

The author is quite critical  of the banking sector as can be seen from the dialogues spoken by the characters he has created.This is a tale of a scam  which has connections in the bank ,the arms deals ,the NGOs & the blood diamonds.The bank employees manipulate the clients .Some scamsters use the banks for their own ends very smoothly .That  is till, someone smells a rat & starts probing.This leads to a  body pile up.The investigation gathers speed & ultimately the thugs are exposed.

The NGOs are not what they seem to be.They are funded by nations & others who have their own aims to bring to fruition.They will pull all stops, including leading protesters to death, as in poor nations, there are many who can be indoctrinated to death for a lakh or two.

The characters are very vividly described.In fact ,we have encountered  such characters in our dealings with the banks,the NGOs & the like.Hence ,it makes for a compelling read.The suspense builds up from the beginning till it ends in a spellbinding climax. Moreover ,now that scams are a way of life in our nation ,this story throws some light on how some will use  institutions & people  to achieve their dreams  destroying   them in the process.So ,this warns readers to beware of such crafty people.

I would recommend this book to all, for a peek into the financial scams that are springing  up on a daily basis even as India goes liberal & opens up.India needs to have laws & rules to  prevent & arrest financial frauds -otherwise, the public, will find it increasingly difficult to trust the financial institutions.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Kolam

Elixir of life !

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

I love books & so do many others.Books provide us companionship at all times & places.When we read books ,we are not alone.We have a friend and a confidant in the book.

Books give us immense joy as we read them . Confucius rightly said ,"You cannot open a book without learning something".They help us with learning & educating ourselves.Books help us in getting creative &  get us thinking.Books divert our attention & relax us.They may give us solutions to problems & by this, I do not mean guides & keys ! 

There are self help books,books on crafts & arts ,story books,books on facts & figures,account books,science books ,etc.There are so many varieties to choose from.There are coffee table books & books with illustrations and lovely photographs !

We may not be able to own all books we want & need.We can borrow from friends & the library to  read & stare.In this age ,our matchbox like houses, seldom have space to accommodate all the books we would love to read & store to re read.

Unconditional acceptance is what books give us.There are no demands by books,isn't it ? We, of course, demand to be enlightened as also  entertained by books.Seldom, are we disappointed by books.

Ernest Hemingway said "There is no friend as loyal as a book ."I think the best thing in life is / are  books as they are for a lifetime ! Many book can be read many times over.Each time ,we may come across some new idea which the author intended & we failed to  get it the last time we read it.

In this age of the internet,books seem to be losing to the net.Many books are downloaded on electronic devices & can be read online.Many book stores are closing down.People seem to have decreasing attention span to appreciate books.Still ,all is not lost.

The fact, that books are being downloaded on the web, proves that there are readers who feel printing on paper is anti green & prefer the net !

I am lucky, as I have started reviewing books gifted to me by BlogAdda. I get to read the latest books by so many writers.Incidentally ,book reviewing may get other wannabe readers interested in reading ! In essence,I stay in touch with  what is happening in the world of letters.Hence,I am in tune with  the times, on the net ,with the net & by the net, by blogging reviews of books  !

Rangoli

The gift of time !

This post is a part of the contest at BlogAdda.com in association with Badhai.in

I love receiving gifts.Giving gifts is not my cup of tea.I do give gifts & that too without discrimination.This means, that I find the cheapest ones available.I go to sales & buy gifts.I know, that as you read this ,you must be thanking your stars, that you are lucky enough to be have never met me ! I am like that only.

Most of the people we meet & know, generally have everything they needed & gifts are unnecessary except for the feel good factor.Moreover, our gifts may be not liked by them because they preferred a different brand,colour,type etc etc.Many of the gifts, we give to others, are simply recycled so much so, that often ,they are gifted back to us !

I have many NRI ( non resident Indians ) friends.They gift me & I in turn, have to hand them presents. For NRIs,the choice of tohfa gets very narrowed down.Electrical items are a big no as these items  available  here, are especially suitable  for Indian power fluctuations.Heavy  & bulky items cannot be gifted as NRIs generally have lots of baggage of their own.Clothes are also ruled out as dressing up abroad is a different ball game unlike here.

I once had this problem of what to gift my NRI friend who was on a short visit to India..She is working & has got many Indian clothes & she would hardly use the said dresses.She said she wanted nothing as she  had done most of  her shopping .

Gift unwrapping at Birthdays is so exciting !

I was confused.I was racking my brains to come up with any idea of a special  gift for her.I asked my other friends,parents,neighbours ,etal but to no avail.I tried shopping for something unique & that gift shopping experience drove me crazy & I failed . Very soon, it was time for her  to return.

The phone rang .It was my friend.I again asked her if she needed anything ,I would gift her that.She said she wanted  something.I was thrilled .She enquired, if I could accompany her the next day or any day in that week for meeting  friends.She said she needed company as  the city was not what it was, when she stayed here.I agreed, as I had no work lined up the next day.I had also felt the need to talk with her & gossip about our other friends , acquaintances,the city,our neighbours,& so many things.I just couldn't  let go of this chance of spending so much time with her.

The next day ,I met her at her parents place & we left together.She paid for all the travel ( I love this about my friends - they never let me spend a dime ! ).We met her friends.She also finished some last minute shopping & other errands on the way.We gossiped throughout - I gossiped & she listened.She had no choice.After all, she had asked for it ! We did get emotionally nostalgic about the times we had spent years ago.

It was late evening ,when I left her at her place & bid her goodbye.It was a day well spent for me.I doubt if it was the same for her ? She must have got a splitting headache listening to my ranting. And she called me up before she flew back.She told me how much she loved me for having given her the gift of my time ! She said that I had given her the most memorable tohfa - of love,  by being there with her, when she needed me ! I was on cloud nine ! I mean, this was priceless for me, for reasons stated earlier , & even  for  her !

Henceforth,I know that, I must spend time with those, whom I want to gift.That is me -gift wrapped  !

Chowkpurana

Vegetarianism is humane

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

I am a vegetarian .As I grow, I believe & trust in vegetarianism all the more. Vegetarianism is about health, hygiene, kindness etal ! Recently, newspaper reports stated  " It’s official: Vegetarians outlive the meat eaters."Many people are of the opinion that they are better off without a long life in this bad world & might take to non -vegetarianism just to end their life faster. Non -vegetarian food is slow poison, which brings early death to the prey & those  gorge the prey.

Please take a look at this video by PETA to understand the basic reasons to convert to Vegetarianism -

'If I had the power to change something, I would change the eating habits of people.’ The world is going vegetarian with a vengeance & that just proves that vegetarianism is the way to go, for mankind. I am a vegetarian & so , I am less prone to heart diseases as my diet devoid of meat & flesh does not clog my arteries with cholesterol .Vegetarian food helps in decreasing risks of type 2 diabetes,cancer & other grave  health disorders. My plant rich food gives me fibre which makes me feel full & hence ,I  tend to eat, not overeat. This helps me stay lean not obese, which is a problem with a majority of those who feast  on meat, fish, etal. Vegetarian diet helps maintain a good body mass index.

Many animals whose flesh is consumed are diseased & these diseases get passed on to the humans who consume such food. Examples are salmonella, the mad cow disease to name just a few. Moreover, most of the flesh, meat includes poops of the animals & that also gets eaten with the meat. This is most unhygienic & disgusting! 

The animals are slaughtered in the cruellest ways to satisfy our hunger. How can we eat those ,who has been butchered? The animals are fed grains to make them obese, so that more meat is produced & then killed ruthlessly just for feeding us. This is inhuman & unkind. As humans, we must be humane. Our inherent, inborn tendency is to be vegetarian as we have long intestines .In our long intestine, non- vegetarian food stays longer & rots .We will not consume rotten food & yet, allow food to rot in our tummies ! This is illogical. Carnivores -like tiger, lions etc have short intestines where meat tends to stay for a shorter period & therefore , does not rot.

Animals also feel pain when they are butchered, pricked, strapped, stripped, skinned, for their skins, horns, nails, etc. Hence, we must also avoid products made from fur, leather, pearls, bones, etc. Only then, will our vegetarianism be truly complete.

Vegetarians make for a sustainable environment, as to feed one vegetarian, less land is needed -less than one acre. On the other hand, more than two acres of land are needed to feed a non -vegetarian. As humans eat animals, the carnivores like lions, tigers, cheetah, will reduce in numbers as we are consuming their prey. This will harm the ecological balance which is already fragile. The chicken, pigs, cows, fish need more & more food to feed them so that they can feed us by becoming our meat. This means more land for feeding these animals & also more water. In effect, the non -renewable sources like land, water, air are getting polluted by the waste of these animals & that is bad news. So for a sustainable environment, we all should become vegetarians.

In fact there are many more reasons to give up meat,fish,eggs,& go vegetarian.For a start towards vegetarianism ,the aforesaid reasons are sufficient.Once,a beginning is made,one will discover advantages upon advantages.There will be, only one way -to go forward & become a vegan. 

To mark the beginning, if I had the power to change one thing, I would like -nah love, the people to convert to vegetarianism. After all, it symbolises affection, love, kindness towards all the living beings with which we must all co -exist .This will make our world a paradise in the true sense!

Muggu

Wish me luck !

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

I was fed up of getting irrelevant jobs in my mail box .That too from the job portal of an esteemed daily.Still, I wanted to see what was on offer this time around.It was something that was unbelievable ! The job offer appeared to have been created for me - it fitted me like a T ! So wonderful ,it felt ,to realise, that even after half a decade of leaving a job in the Public Sector,I could apply for a position which was so very apt.I applied for it as I had the experience & the qualification that it called for.More over, this position is one wherein I will be judging certain sets of actions.I am so lucky ! I mean ,we should never be judgemental for our own peace .Yet ,if I get this job , I am officially the judge & get paid for judging others's actions which I am doing day in & day out on a honorary basis !  On second thoughts,this offer can be for  all of us,as all of us  are experts on judging others . I am anxiously awaiting that elusive interview call.Elusive, because though it is suitable ,I doubt, if I will get a call, after a gap of more than five years.I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed for this one !

I have a whole lot  of wishes, on which I am keeping my fingers crossed.To put it another way,by now ,my fingers have become so tightly wound up, that they are going to stay crossed for ever !


My maid's son has lost vision in one  eye.The diagnosis is, that this was, the result of a dog bite, which was not fully cured or rather neutralised by anti rabies.The source of infection led to the loss of sight.To prevent the remaining eye from losing vision ,he has been put on steroids.The treatment is nearing completion now.I have repeatedly told my maid that I will help her financially if the boy needs surgery or other expensive treatment.My maid & her family & even I,are keeping our fingers crossed, that the boy's vision is saved & even returns in the eye which lost it  though this looks highly improbable.There is charm in wishing for miracles,isn't it ? !

My daughter has started reading - no she did not join school now.She joined years back.I meant reading books which was never her hobby .Now ,she has suddenly developed a huge liking for novels  & books.I am loving it though I feel that she is reading all this by neglecting her studies.Still,she is doing well in some subjects & badly in others.I  & her father are  keeping our  fingers crossed so that she gets into a good college wherein she can study well.We are keeping our fingers crossed so that she is able to take care of herself when we are no longer there !




I am keeping my fingers crossed for a dream house which will have a garden full of blooms & a huge kitchen which will be  filled with the wonderful aromas of baking cakes & steaming dhoklas ! I want to do a world tour , when I am still young maybe ten  years from now.I want my blog to get maximum hits -so that I know ,I can influence people. In fact ,I know it already - only my would be readers are yet to realise it ! I am keeping my fingers crossed for winning one of those short story contests so that all know that a new writer has arrived !

I think ,I ought to conclude now.This is  to stop  my fingers  from  typing on the key board.Then, I can keep my fingers crossed, to direct all good fortune towards my wishes !

Saathiya

Parasite

Parasitism  as per Wikipedia ,the online encyclopedia, is a relationship between two organisms where one benefits at the cost of another.The organism which lives at the cost of the other organism is the parasite.The organism on which  the parasite thrives is the host.So the parasite is a guest  in one sense though a permanent one ! Examples of such parasites are plants like mistletoe,cuscuta, & in the animal world, the parasites are tapeworms,leeches,etc.Viruses & bacteria are parasites as they invade the hosts & thrive there in the host body.Some orchids are parasites, which just goes to show, that appearances are indeed deceptive !

No record about human parasites are listed.This is far from the truth.The word Parasite was first used in English 1539 .It is derived from parasite which is Medieval French .This is turn has come from Latin parasitus : latinisation of the Greek parasitos which means one who eats at the a table of another.Parasitism was coined in English in 1611 from the Greek words para & sitismos which means fattening , feeding.


In a sense, almost all humans can be classified as parasites - when adult children live in the homes of their parents & adults get dole from parents ,siblings ,etal as they remain unemployed to laze around. In one  sense, they are adelpho  parasites as  such parasites  resemble hosts so much so, that both may belong to the same family ! So its all, in the family !

The wife is a parasite on the husband as she expects him to be the provider,the protector, etc. The husband is the parasite  on the wife, as she cooks,cares, brings up children etc. These roles of husband & wife have undergone many changes in this age & still the mutuality of existence, which is the basic premise of parasitism continues.

People are kleptoparasites as in such cases,food gathered by one is appropriated by others.Some appropriate food,still others shelter,many others jobs & so on & so forth.So hard work by host  yields fruit to the parasite.In office,research,project,done by one is misappropriated by another leading to promotion of the parasite ! That is why parasitism is coveted by many !

Humans are social parasites as well. People  take undue advantage of the various interactions in society   to suck life out of their near & dear ones.Brood parasitism as seen in case of the cuckoo bird is  observed in the human race as well.Cuckoo bird  gives birth to young ones & instead of building nests & taking care,the cuckoo leaves its young ones in nests of others like the crow.In such cases,the crows are the baby sitters for the young ones of the cuckoo.Grandparents,neighbours ,relatives ,friends,are baby sitting for kids of their offsprings ,siblings,etal !


.Even our netas are parasites living off the country as they hardly do anything worthwhile for the nation.The members of our legislatures are  in fact, parasitoids as in this case,  the development of the  larva of the parasitoids  leads to the death of the host.Witness, where our nation is headed, all  thanks to the generation next of our netas. Our leaders  are predators, as they are killing the prey that is, our nation, slowly & surely. This predatory characteristic is  typical of parasitoids.


Parasitism leads to diseases like malaria, bacterial & viral infections,etc.It gets endemic & spreads widely & rapidly.Animal & plant hosts have developed mechanisms to repel & prevent parasites . Humans are yet in the dark, about the dangers of parasitism which has become  deeply ingrained.Or maybe, human hosts are addicted to their parasites & that's why they are unable to shake them off. Parasitism may sometimes lead to some benefits for the host.Grandparents enjoy company whilst taking  care of the grandchildren .Still benefits are few & far between.

Perhaps ,crusaders like Anna Hazare ,Arvind Kejriwal ,Kiran Bedi are telling us that we must rid our Bharat of parasites.The individual hosts must take cue from this & develop mechanisms to prevent if not repel parasitism.After all, prevention is better than cure !

Plagarism is mono parasitism as it is copying from one source while research is multiplagarism that is copy pasting from multiple sources !This leads us to the fact that,the parasitism of plagarism & poly ( multi )  plagarism is thriving  in this internet age, all thanks to copy & paste !

Last but not the least ,for this blog post ,the host is  Wikipedia ( Parasitism ) & the parasite is yours truly !

Alpana

Book review : The Krishna Key

The Krishna Key is a thriller  by Ashwin Sanghi who has authored the bestselling Rozabel Line as also the award winning Chanakya's chant.It is of 475 pages.It is by Westland books.It has many black & white illustrations in keeping with the character of the book.


The tale is about a boy, who is indoctrinated from his school age to believe, that he is the Kalki avatar & hence, must eliminate all who are up to mischief.This is done by a mother figure, who in turn has been manipulated by a don.It is also the story of five friends who are working on various quests in India.There are other characters like the lady Inspector Radhika -sniffer Singh , Priya who is the doctoral student of a Professor,Rathore,Radhika's assistant,Garg-Radhika's boss ,Sir Khan,etal.Basically ,it is the story of India from times immemorial ! Bodies start falling from the very start  & the tale has many surprises as also shocks  to keep one engrossed.

The author has done lots of painstaking research to come up with this tale, which combines geography,history,numerology,astrology,linguistics, genetics,nuclear science,etal.This book dwells on the mythical Saraswati river which once flowed in present day Rajasthan.It also connects the dots amongst the various Harappan civilization sites,the migration of Indians from there & how Indians have remained custodians of their culture & legacy.It spins an interesting view about how Shiv & Vish are one & the  same, apart from  a rearrangement of   letters.It makes one  wonder, if Kailash parbat is  man made or natural. It surprises, by informing that Indians knew many things about nuclear energy ,radiation & means to protect against radiation.In short,Vedas have much to reveal about what the West is discovering in science & technology today !

It dwells heavily on Krishna's account of the Mahabharata- in fact, this  runs simultaneously along with the thriller & makes the book all the more readable.The Dwarka ruins,the Somnath,temple  & its architecture & sculpture speak  volumes, if only we could stop & decipher.The past & present are  juxtaposed brilliantly to give us a mystery.The Mughals,the Rajputs,theYadavas, the Kshatriyas et al are all brought together to show how all are connected with each other & with India's ancient wisdom which was so rich ! It continues to guide us today.Ashwin Sanghi seems to be  been inspired by Dan Brown of The Da Vinci code fame in penning this novel.


The Sanskrit shlokas & the black & white illustrations are  added attractions of the book.They are a necessity & make the book worthwhile.


The story made me so proud of my cultural heritage as an Indian.At times,the facts get so overwhelming that one seems to be gasping for breath ! Were our forefathers so intelligent ? Then, why have we remained  so backward today ? We seem to be content,   living on our past glories.We must reclaim our glory seems to be the author's message for his readers.For, as he reminds  us ,more than once ," ....the philosopher is more important than the stone ."

There was a dearth of Indians writing thrillers .For this  reason also ,  I would recommend this book.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Raangoli

Book Review : Fractured Legend

This is my first book review .I have recieved this book under the books review program of Blog Adda.I am thankful to BlogAdda for giving me this opportunity.

The book 'Fractured Legend ' is by the Hyderabad based novelist, Kranthi Askani.This book has been published by APK Publishers,Pune who started publishing books, in order to give a chance to upcoming writers.

The cover of the book is full of - red,yellow,black, orange & white hues.It shows a teenage girl asleep on a table with her head completely resting on her left hand.

The  tales of the heroines are told by the women themselves.They are their own sutradhaars.Men have a role or rather roles to play in the stories of women.The roles of men are just like branches which grow out of the trunk of a tree.The setting is real to surreal,present & past ,dream  & reality.

The story of the book is about  three women - Priyambada,Nandhini & Pravalli.Priyambada is a temple slave.She decides to go in for a life in flesh, even though she will lose immortality which she has, as a temple slave. Priyambada goes through the human cycle of marriage & childbirth.She is unable to break with her past though she is quite happy with her human life.Nandhini, is a woman, who has taken up the task of eliminating people by killing them for a price.She is trapped through her son  into killing her boss .She kills her boss & then she despairs if she  did right.This had never confused her earlier.Pravalli is penning a letter to her mom after years.She is unable to forgive & forget her mom.As the book ends,Pravalli tries to come to terms with  why her mom, behaved the way she did.

The author has tried to weave magic in the story - as his heroines keep passing from the real world into the surreal.The heroines keep going back & forth in time,  every now & then- memories of association as the heroine reminds us.They dream quite a bit.The book starts weaving its magic slowly & pensively.It has a sad undertone.One can feel the anguish of the women who are trapped, for no fault of theirs. One tends to sympathise with the heroines & this makes us anxious to read further.

The writing is good, though in the initial pages ,it gives a feeling of too many words being used from the world of architecture.Later ,it is not so.Simple easy words would have helped more.The imagination is very vivid.The author correctly describes the feelings of all mothers who will keep sweets for the child whenever they attend any function & not devour them like fathers.The tender relationship between the mother & daughter is detailed poignantly.

The pleating of sarees has been described by the author correctly.This is a surprise, considering that nowadays ,sarees are the  last option of generation next.Even I started wrapping sarees in some decent manner quite late.One  heroine is typically frugal in her choices -she will go for the middle priced item, be it bangles or anything else.Chiffon sarees are the preferred choice of the ladies  & all this paints  a vibrant kaleidoscope of colours !

I would recommend this book for those readers, who are patient enough to wait for the magic to begin slowly but surely.The wait is going to be worth it though the ending leaves many questions unanswered.Perhaps,the writer is penning a sequel.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Kolam

Mesmerising Melbourne !

As I read about Melbourne ,Australia,I find it very  familiar.And then it struck me ! It is so much  like Mumbai. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra,Melbourne is the capital of Victoria.Inhabitants of Melbourne are Melburnians or Melbournians -the residents of Mumbai are Mumbaikars.Mumbai is a port city with the busiest port in India .Similarly ,Melbourne port is the busiest port in Australia.Melbourne has a river Yarra & Mumbai has its own river Mithi -never mind, it is hardly a trickle now ! Melbourne has an extensive network of rail & road transport just like Mumbai, where the local trains & BEST transport make up the lifeline of Mumbai.

 

Very soon Mumbai is going to get its Metro & mono rail.A metro for Melbourne is underway & will soon see the light of the day ! Trams were a sight in Mumbai many years ago & trams are a very visible mode of transport in Melbourne even today.I feel, trams give a bygone era look to the city of Melbourne.It is as if, two time zones are existing at the same time ! I will definitely want to travel in the trams & savour the feeling of an era gone by !

 


British,Chinese,Vietnamese,Indians,SriLankans,Malays,Muslims,Christains,Hindus all have made Melbourne their home .Mumbai is cosmpolitan as it is teeming with Indians of every religion & region .So,a Melbourne visit, will be like a bird’s eye view of diverse cultures at one place.Melbourne is a centre of many international cuisines as the numerous settled  communities have their own food culture, which they have showcased in the cafes which line the streets of Melbourne  .Being a foodie,I think I would get a wonderful opportunity to sample various cuisines- vegetarian as I am a vegetarian..My daughter is a big fan of MasterChef Australia &  she is eagerly awaiting a visit to Australia.


 


We can smell roses actually & not just literally, at Werribee Mansion & that too a mind boggling  5000 varieties ! One can visit the Werribee Open  Range zoo vide a safari trip to see Zebras,Griaffes ,etal as they roam freely on the expansive grounds .I would amazingly watch koalas & kangaroos at the Healsvillie Sanctuary, as I have never seen either the koalas or the kangaroos till now !


 


I would collect memorabalia at the famed Queen Victoria  market & savour fresh diary produce there ! A lifetime experience would be the one, at Victoria's oldest prison, which housed dangerous criminals in days gone by .I am sure ,the wonders of Melbourne would keep me enthralled throughout !


 


Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia.Similarly Mumbai has a a diverse culture - Bollywood being the most visible sign.There are theatre groups -the Marathi theatre,English ,Hindi as also Gujarati.Even advertisements & television serials are shot extensively in Mumbai .Dance & music recitals are also very much a part of Mumbai's cultural scene.Televison in Australia started with Melbourne.Melbourne houses many centres for music & theatre.Melbourne celebrates many festivals just like Mumbai -all thanks  to its cosmoplitan population which makes for vibrancy ! All in all,both Mumbai & Melbourne are very happening cities ! So, no dull moments in Melbourne.The city of Melbourne is always pulsating with some excitement or the other ! This makes it a must for exploring ! I think ,I can hear my heart beats growing faster, by the minute, as I think of all this !

The Garden city of Australia ,Melbourne is an excellent model to follow for Mumbai as Mumbai has a dearth of green cover.Gardens will also make up for aesthetics in Mumbai.

As I pen this ,I can hear ‘…it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!’ This is so, as  my daughter will very soon, be joining college.I would like her to join one of the various Universities in Melbourne .Our Melbourne visit, now, would make her get familiar with the sights & sounds of Melbourne so that she feels comfortable ,once she starts pursuing her higher studies in Melbourne, very soon. Melbourne university is among the top four universities in the world.Even the other Universities housed in Melbourne such the Monash,RMIT ,Victoria have excellent international rankings.My choice would be Australia & particularly Melbourne, as it is cosmopolitan & my daughter can live & experience numerous cultures of the world , even as she studies.Moreover ,Melbourne being so much like Mumbai ,she will feel very much at home abroad ! What more can she  ask for  ? ! After all ,due to its wide cultural spread,Melbourne has been ranked as the most liveable city three times over !

As,I write this ,I wonder why can’t we model Mumbai on Melbourne & not Shanghai ? After all ,both being so similar ,that can happen sooner !

This is my blog post entry for the ‘…it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!’contest on IndiBlogger in association with Tourism Victoria.If you liked my blog post ,please vote ,comment & share !