Generation Gap: Young ravers in Mangalore, a sleepy Indian city that is morphing into a modern boomtown.
The man had been watching me from his balcony for several minutes. He was curious, perhaps even a little worried. Finally, he came to his door and shouted, "What do you want?" I smiled apologetically. "I'm looking for my home," I said. "I think you're living in it." With a frown, he listened. My family, I explained, had built a home here in the neighborhood of Kodialguttu just before I left Mangalore in 1991. This was the first time I had come back, and I wanted to see that house again. I had been searching Kodialguttu for half an hour, but I hadn't found it. In fact, I didn't recognize the neighborhood at all. Our house had been built on a paddy field, and you could see it from a couple of miles around. Instead of that paddy field, I now saw shopping malls, colleges, apartment blocks and a giant convention center sheathed in glass. The man's house was the only thing that looked anything like my old home. Had he bought it from my father? "I'm sorry," he said. "I built it myself eight years ago."
He put on a shirt, and together we went looking--in vain--for my house. I told him how bewildered I was by the way Mangalore had changed. It happened so fast, he said. In the beginning he had been proud that Mangalore was becoming a city, but now he gets confused. "Even we wonder sometimes what city this is that we're now living in," he said.
The pulse of India beats fastest in megacities like Bombay. But to understand how quickly the economic boom is creating a new country, you have to visit places that few foreigners have heard of--places like Mangalore. Back in 1991, when I left, about 300,000 people lived there. Since then its population has doubled. But that doesn't begin to describe its transformation. A decade of rapid growth has produced shopping centers and high-rise apartments--and most of the construction has taken place in the past five years. Old houses have been uprooted, replaced by bars and restaurants. The city's first multiplex cinema is about to open. A giant Smirnoff poster in the center of town announces, LIFE IS CALLING. In Indian cities like Mangalore, answering that call has brought consequences no one could have foreseen.
Located on India's southwest coast, Mangalore is hot, hilly and carpeted in coconut palms. When I was growing up, young men of all religions were united by shared values of hard work, enterprise and a desire to get out of Mangalore as quickly as possible. My brother left when he was 18. I left when I was 16. Many of those who got out never returned. There was no need to go back because the place never seemed to change.
But the past decade has seen extraordinary change--and extraordinary excess--in Mangalore. The fastest-growing industry is education. During the 1980s, higher education became the only way out of a broken system for many frustrated young Indians. The best doctors and computer engineers had a fighting chance of nabbing a lucrative job offer from Silicon Valley or Manhattan. So boys and girls throughout India streamed into colleges and institutes, where they studied calculus and organic chemistry with a passion that was probably unrivaled anywhere in the world. In recent years, the trend has accelerated. Mangalore had one medical college when I left; it now has five as well as at least four dental schools and 14 physiotherapy colleges. Some 350 schools, colleges and polytechnics are listed in its yellow pages.
A lot of the new colleges, predictably, focus on computer education. They tempt young recruits with the prospect of rewards that would have been inconceivable before the outsourcing boom. A few outsourcing companies, including tech giant Infosys, have opened shop in town. A flood of new money has arrived, thanks to outsourcing jobs, surging real estate prices and expatriate remittances. As a result, many locals have become middle-class, upper-middle-class or even rich. One ad for "premium luxury apartments" promises, IF YOU'RE IN LIMELIGHT, THIS SUITS YOU THE BEST. AND IF YOU'RE NOT, THIS PUTS YOU IN LIMELIGHT.
The city's new affluence manifests itself in subtle ways as well. Leo Fernandes, one of my old teachers, told me, "All the other teachers have bikes. Some even have cars. Only I still walk." Others spoke in a similar manner of a simpler life that was disappearing. I met neighbors, relatives and classmates, and each had done well in some way--one had his own house, another a car. But each also had some sorrow we could hardly have imagined. A Catholic friend's daughter had married a Hindu, and her family no longer spoke to her. A Hindu friend's daughter had been divorced by her husband. Divorce, extramarital affairs, interreligious marriages, homosexual flings--the doors of experience had swung open in Mangalore. The small city had grown up.
At the Nehru Maidan, an open space in the center of town, I watched kids playing cricket. Among the spectators was a group of drifters and homeless men, some carrying rolled-up mattresses. Most Mangaloreans I spoke with shrugged off the arrival of so many poor people and said they were itinerant immigrant workers, drawn by the construction boom. Nobody, it seemed, was ready to acknowledge that the city might have a permanent underclass that the boom had left behind.
For better or worse, Mangalore's fate is in the hands of outsiders. "Tier 2 cities" like Mangalore are believed to hold the key to the future of the Indian outsourcing industry. With wages rising in big cities like Bangalore and Bombay, tech companies must expand fast in lower-cost cities. But Mangalore shares the problem of other small cities with big aspirations: it's not an exciting place to live. "Lifestyle is a challenge when you're trying to get people from outside to stay here," Sudhir Albuquerque told me. Albuquerque, an Infosys executive, was taking me around the company's Mangalore campus, the most significant tech presence in the city. "There are things you can do here that you can't dream of doing in a big city like Bangalore. For instance, you can still go home for lunch, which I do on most days." But even that may become a thing of the past. Infosys is planning to move to a new, larger campus soon. From there, Albuquerque said sadly, he wouldn't be able to pop home at lunchtime
Before leaving Mangalore, I decided to visit Court Road once more. For me, that small, steep, winding road--which connects my journey through the gud old primary school, St. Aloysius, to the high school up the hill--is the physical embodiment of a rite of passage. I had gone up this road as a 13-year-old on my first visit to that school (which my father had walked many decades earlier) at the same high school. From the top of the hill, I had a fine view of the city. Two decades ago, when you stood at a high point like that and looked down on Mangalore, the city's puny buildings all vanished, submerged beneath a canopy of coconut palms. That was when you felt a sense of contempt for Mangalore and dreamed of going somewhere big. But now you see concrete towers with dozens of metal rods sticking out of their sides, as if they were ripping a path for themselves through the trees. You cannot feel contempt for Mangalore now. You feel a sense of awe at how profoundly it has changed. But if you look a bit longer at the scene, you cannot avoid a faint inkling of something like fear.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Life - a Mirage cycle & Death-d ultimate reality!
Life is death, and death is life, and everything in between. ~Cherralea Morgen
Life is HIS divine playground! He blesses with life & pulls the curtains as per HIS divine plans & timings! No one can question HIS authority or ways! Only HE knows –when, who, where, how & why, as HE wishes in regard to destinies of beings!
Just yesterday learnt yet again how life is tough & can be a roller coaster ride! It takes up a lot of your time. A series of people, places, events, meetings, memories and departures. Friends discovered, others lost. Precious time ticks away, waiting for none. Big droplet tears are shed for yesterday, but are dried in time for tomorrow, until all that remain are foggy, broken memories of a happy bygone moments, people, places & feelings. Suddenly, everything will change –LIFE ENDS!!
The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. What do you get at the end of it? Death! What's that, a bonus or a reality check? But yes, a moment when it suddenly dawns on the insignificance of other things that we perceive as important & run behind, ignoring the actual & real important things – providing support & happiness to the deserving people in our lives, when we can & must! Well ,like it very appropriatley told by Stacy- "We should give meaning to life, not wait for life to give us meaning" or "The purpose of life is a life of purpose"~Robert Byrne
Almost everything in life is easier to get into than out of. ~Agnes' Law!! How true?! The final calling may come - any moment, to anyone & anywhere! It is one who is ready for it & accepts it that gives strength of purpose to his current existence! Death, suddenly rocks the rest of associated people back to reality .Reality that everything, everybody comes with an expiry date! So make the most of it, in the best’s possible ways one can, for…….it would be more painful to regret not having done what you could have done... When that person was with u……………. (Easier said than done!!)
Jack Palance: "Do you know what the secret of life is? One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean shit."
Billy Crystal: "Yeah, but what's that one thing?"
Jack Palance: "That's what you've got to figure out."~From the movie City Slickers
It inded was apty said by James M. Barrie-" Life is a long lesson in humility " which help us realise that we beings are a mere humble puppet in HIS hands! Rest..is HIS divine playground & drama!
The eternal question lives on...whats life?its meaning & death....."The meaning of life is not an unquestionable answer; it is an unanswerable question" ~The Quote Garden
Life is HIS divine playground! He blesses with life & pulls the curtains as per HIS divine plans & timings! No one can question HIS authority or ways! Only HE knows –when, who, where, how & why, as HE wishes in regard to destinies of beings!
Just yesterday learnt yet again how life is tough & can be a roller coaster ride! It takes up a lot of your time. A series of people, places, events, meetings, memories and departures. Friends discovered, others lost. Precious time ticks away, waiting for none. Big droplet tears are shed for yesterday, but are dried in time for tomorrow, until all that remain are foggy, broken memories of a happy bygone moments, people, places & feelings. Suddenly, everything will change –LIFE ENDS!!
The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. What do you get at the end of it? Death! What's that, a bonus or a reality check? But yes, a moment when it suddenly dawns on the insignificance of other things that we perceive as important & run behind, ignoring the actual & real important things – providing support & happiness to the deserving people in our lives, when we can & must! Well ,like it very appropriatley told by Stacy- "We should give meaning to life, not wait for life to give us meaning" or "The purpose of life is a life of purpose"~Robert Byrne
Almost everything in life is easier to get into than out of. ~Agnes' Law!! How true?! The final calling may come - any moment, to anyone & anywhere! It is one who is ready for it & accepts it that gives strength of purpose to his current existence! Death, suddenly rocks the rest of associated people back to reality .Reality that everything, everybody comes with an expiry date! So make the most of it, in the best’s possible ways one can, for…….it would be more painful to regret not having done what you could have done... When that person was with u……………. (Easier said than done!!)
Jack Palance: "Do you know what the secret of life is? One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean shit."
Billy Crystal: "Yeah, but what's that one thing?"
Jack Palance: "That's what you've got to figure out."~From the movie City Slickers
It inded was apty said by James M. Barrie-" Life is a long lesson in humility " which help us realise that we beings are a mere humble puppet in HIS hands! Rest..is HIS divine playground & drama!
The eternal question lives on...whats life?its meaning & death....."The meaning of life is not an unquestionable answer; it is an unanswerable question" ~The Quote Garden
Monday, September 8, 2008
Places 2 go...Sites 2 c!!
Disclaimer...this post is the result of watching too many travel shows n reading too many lonely planet guide books:):)
I have always dreamt of visiting every place possible in India n abroad, of exploring little streets, eating all the local delicacies (as long as it isn’t anything creepy crawly...or brinjal:):),watching people n their acts, tryin to ctahcup on the various customs, cultures & attitudes.....
My favorite channels would have to be Discovery Travel and Living just because of the amazing line up of travel shows(..have always envied the anchors...well who wouldn’t right:).But eversince Jia has developed a crush on Cartoon Network .....my interests have taken a back seat!So wat do I do?Do d next bets things...catchup on some desi travel show on either Sony or Star amidst the various soaps dat my wife watches....n try 2 soothe my soul....
I'm forever reading up (lonely planet), on all places possible collecting info as if I will be going there sometime soon:):)...no harm in being prepared right....what if I win a lottery or if I just get noticed in the mall by some director n' am asked to host some travel show...lol, ya I know will happen the same day aliens takeover earth or when Stallone or our own Salman does a whole movie with his shirt on:):):)
Just pack my bags n go......god that would be so cool:):) n impossible. Think I am to be blamed 'cause regardless of all my plans I am a procrastinator...I always keep things for tommoro:):) n of course I don’t have the money too, damn those shopping malls!!:)
So anyways, the only traveling I have done is to a few beautiful places in South India n to a few places in Southeast Asia. Now I have this ever growing list of places I want to visit.
In India:
Amchi Mumbai: Phew! this place rocks!Mumbai is in my heart & mind! I could write a entire book on this place & what it means to me!All my vacations were spent here with my maternal grandparents & uncles. From early childhood was impressed with the speed & d lively buzz around !First luv is hard to outgrow & so are impressions created during childhood!Yes, this is the city I fell in luv with as a young boy.My best childhood memories are associated with this place-thanks to the pampering & exposure my relatives gave me here.Everything seemed the same & got better as I got to be stationed here professionaly for over 3 years from '97-2000!The people, the crowds,the speed -essence of the city, the places around -all thanks to the excelent company that helped me experience life/place & mould me into the person I'm today.The Elephanta caves, the Mahalakshmi temple,fashion street,flor fountain,Nariman Point(Makers Chamber),Churhgate,VT(Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus),Dadar n bylanes for footpath shopping, HareRam Mandir at Juhu,Chowpathy & Juhu beaches, Aquarium on Marine Drive,Madh Islands, Tiwala Ganapati temple, SiddiVinayaka Temple, MaryChurch, BandraBandStand, Powai Lake, Arey Dairy, Chota Kashmir, SanjayGandhi National Park, Byculla Zoo,Mulund,Bhandup,Thane, BAARC ,Ghatkoper,Khar, SantaCruz, Dombivilli are the places associated with my growing up years & a must visit for me everytime I step foot there.Later on when I started living there -NaviMumbai-Vashi, Nerul, Belapur &Panvel through the beutiful lush green places around like SagarVihar,SaiMandir, etc made it a experience worth re-living all my life!Hats off to the palce & people who left their mark on me!Cant seem to have enough of this place,irrespective of the fact that not many in my closest family like this place!If one place defines me-its Mumbai!
PUNE:Hmmm..many a weekends of mine were in honour of Pune whilst I stayed in Mumbai fom 1997-2000.My aunt's place was my recluse then.Whatever I hv seen n felt of Pune have a direct relation to the outtings we had as a family during those short stints over weekends.Infatc the firts aplce self n wify,Kavi visited after honeymoon was Pune.Luv Pune in rains.The place reminds me so much of Bangalore!Yes it did!The MG Road,the drive to Nigdi from city centre,the drive fomr airport to Nigdi,the amusement park,the Ganapti festivities, the culture,the language..all had me hooked!Shall detail a lot more of Pune & its imapct in a different post!!
MANGALORE: Hmmm..my native town!Strong family roots bound me to this small bubbly town drenched in typical culture engulging the place.My dad's family & mom's grandparents are the lineage holding connections to this place. Visited this place during vacations on some special ocassions like some1's wedding , death or house warming ceremony.Managed to see a lot more of the town when my sister was doing her MBBS there at KMC. Carry with me deep impressions of the picturesque locations, lush green fields, coconut trees, humidity,rains,summer, the boat rides across the river Netravathi & the its closeness to Arabian Sea at SultaBatheri (place where my Dodda & family lived), Taneerbavi,Tippu fort at Sultan batheri, the flower market at HappanGhata, the KeduBithil near Mahamayi temple close to the Venkatramana Temple Square,the DASARA Veshas(fancy dresses),the Sharadha processions & immersion , the poeple,their outlook to life,their humour,their issues,their preoccupation with water,power issues, the jolly godd fish curries,the various temples-Kadri Manjunatha Kadri Hills, Jogi Mutt, Gokarna temple & few extended family members are the highpoints . Strangely been there only twice ,each for a day during the last 8 years & yet it is very close the heart!Sometime, plan to spend some leisurley time catching up on names/faces/places hearing which I hv grown up!
HYDERABAD/SECUNDERABAD: My association with the twin cities is primarily thanks to my sister staying there & my official visits. My earliest visit was in 1990 for a family friend's wedding & ever since my sister's wedding in 1996 has been a periodic visitor. Perosnally I fel dat d' cities hv d potential 2 be a gr8 city!But somehow always felt it holding onto its past with a lazy carefree outluk & its people luving its chaos.Nevertheless, d' Safdarjung musuem, RamojiFIlm City, Necklace Road, Budha Garden, Hussain Sagar, Birla Temple, Charminar, Pearl shops,n d' busy bylanes in d old city where u seem 2 get anything n everything are a must visit!Last but not the least is d Karachi Bakery with its yummy biscuits & Paradise for ist mouth watering dum biryani are a must visits for any1 visting these twin cities! Planning to visit the nearby getaways liek Nagarjuna Sagar & Golkonda forts during my next few visits .
CHENNAI:What can I say about this place?!Its been a complete paradigm shift from my 1st impressive impression of this city during my official visits starting 1995 & freaky disastrous staying in 1997-Hence carry with me mixed experiences!Whatever lilttle Tamil I speak is mainly thanks to this medival city & its conservative people!With due respects to the city & its people - like its Marina & Beasant Nagar beaches, the Central Railway Station, Guindy snake park,Annanagar Park & maybe the Marina salai!Rest,less said the better!I livedin this city for a year in 1997 & It was one of the most forgettable memories ever! The auto rickshaws were noticed to be all calibrated & cheats.The people lived ina flase sense of hypcoritical society where bachelors were looked down upon as some aliens and landlords preferred brahmins!Yet the touch-me-not kinda attitude of the city was in dark contrast to the couples hudding below lampposts n catamarans all over the beaches n any secluded corner!So much for beineg conservative!The perennial water problems, the congested roads, the frequent power cuts -especially at nights during summer,the flooding of roads during the monsoons -all in tandem with the high moral ground of piousness & righteousness of the so called cultured people could not be digested easily!The best I can say about the city is its conenctivity & locla mode of public transportation.Highlight though is the cheap yet stomach filling food you get anywhere-espeically if you like rice , sambar & Thair(curds)!! I never used to like curds before & thanks to the city & its food culture I drink & use curds now aplenty! My worst day was the day I got a call from mom/B'lore informing me of the cardiac arest my dad had suffered in the early morning on 14Nov'96.Though I started at 7am, believe it or not I could reach B'lore only at night 11pm,though there are innumerable road/railway n air conenctions between the two cities! The city,its people & few so called relatives didnot add much to my experiences & no wunder that I agreed immediately to the idea of a official transfer to Mumbai!Good riddance!Hats off 2 d people living there!!
PONDICHERRY: yup shameful na, that I got to visit pondi only once!That too witha few collegaues when I was working in Chennai for a twodays-one night stay ata sea resort.Woooow,all that we did was be drenched in the sea, oogle at all the gorgeous goris who came along & drank pots n pots of beers,whisky n u name it!! Think I shud plan a trip soon...to enjoy the rest of the place...like the Aurobindo Ashram, Orevilles( exclusively for the foreigners..)
KOLKATA: Hv been there a few times between 1995-2000 when it was still called CALCUTTA.Every time was there-luved it more! The sweets , the language, the life styles, the place....isn't it reason enough for em return there more often??!!! lol, but seriously I would love to go here during the Durga puja...have seen it on TV n have been totally intrigued by the festivities.The Nteaji Subash Chandra Bose Airport, The SaltLake-Science City,D Nicobar Lake-Park, VICTORIA MEMORIAL under lights, EDEN GARDEN packed to capacity (ya was lukcy to watch a India v/s South Africa one dayer that India won!!) ,the old Howrah & new Hoogly bridges, the Hoogly & the catamarans , the rickshawallas,the Taxis, Writers building, Subash chandra bose's house,Ramakrishna ashram/Vivekananda piligrimage center, Birla planetorium, the festivities & traditions at the famous Kali Temple, RabindroSadan(I gave my 1st television interview after watching a play..though know not if that was ever telecast), the METRO ,Tollygunj and the TRAMPS , CAMAC Steert...all have a special place in my heart.
DELHI:Holala!!I cant seem to get enough of this place!Luved it BIG TIME!Spent some real memorable moments at all the must see places around town!Added to the fun was my close pal,(more of a lil borther-Jassi-Jaspreet Singh Randawa) & his family made it all the more pleasant .It was like home!I spent majority of 1995-1996 in Delhi!Just adored the aristrocracy of the place! I can wirte a whoel big blog on Delhi....So the experiences will be shared in a different post!
Dwarka & Probandur:Had read a lot about his place!More so in d various AmarChitra Katha comics ,as Lord Krishna's place!So was all the more hyper to explore that place.Sadly!Anticlimax,as I could stay just one night n 2days at this palce..during my onward journey towards Mitaphur ona official visist to the Mitapur Cement factory!Saw the Krishna Temple from far,was not lukcy enough to enter it!Blame it on time!Was intrigued by stories as to how majority of Dwarka & its palaces are now beneath the sea.What I remember vividly about that place is the yummy Katiayavadi Gujarati Thali..dinner.phew!never have I eaten such a variety..at suchha low cost! Probandur is a sleepy coats town and a irony of our times.Gandhi the preacher of peace haisl from here & this place is notorious of its gangwars, landlords, kidnapping & arson!Shame that such a nice place at the edge of the kutch is vasted in poverty & garbage everywhere! Never ever woudl I viist Porbandur again!
AGRA:Wow....Was like a dream come true!D TAJ MAHAL..in all its glory!Found it much better than what I had expected!I felt connected to a higher entity with the sheer splendour of the structure.Something deep within me made it a very divine experience.Felt light and empty after going through the place.Just dindt feel like moving out!Clicked a few snaps & was left awestruck with the efforts that had gone to make the place what it is!!No other monument has moved me the way this TAJ did!Time stood still as I just couldnt get enough of the gardens, the fountains..all made me feel very very emotional & touched! Sadly ,I can not say the same about AGRA!AGra n the way to the TAJ hurt me!Ya,was hurt with the poverty, uncleaniless,the slums,the narrow paths,the taunts trying to make a fast buck,etc and only two things that I liked about the place was AKBAR'S FORT & the yummy vegetable salad comprising of raddish,carrot,beetroot,cucumber ssplashed with salt,pepper that helped soothe the pangs of seeing the chaos in AGRA!!
MATHURA:Phew!!That was a unepxected stop enroute to Agra from Delhi!Was so curious to see the shrine.Felt humbled and privileged ot have the darshan amidst tight security!Yes,for the 1st time felt how it was ot visit a place of worship with guns,troops at the background.The mosque built by Aurangazeb shares majority of the complex with thie Lord Krishna shrine!The campus was vast & full of people...or shoudl I call it security/army men keeping a close vigil! The NandanaVan, the Vridavan with its shares of cows/calves were all a soothing experience(though I had expected a lot more of these places).Something deep within me told me that I might not come again to this place!Yes, 1st time I felt as if I was tryingh to get more of the place & time was slipping away from my hands to see more of the place.
MYSORE: A sleepy ol' town!Thats my 1st impression of dis historical town since my 1st ever bike adventure to the famous Chamundi Hills way back in 1994 with my cousin! My impressions have not changed ever since! Been there a few times with fmly on holidays & few official visits.The only difference noticed over the times is the cropping up of a decent industrial area housing the famous Infosys campus & a few other leading industries .The Mysore Zoo(could spend the entire day there), the Palace(awesome under lights!),the Brindavan Gardens, the KrishnaRajaSagar Dam, Chamundi Temple & few drives around the town with its lush green trees are worthwhile. Offlate in Bahrain , been hearing a lot more of the different shades this sleepy town through some new friends from Mysore .But frankly going by my own experiences , feel that the town has a lot of potential & will be a lot more fun exploring with a few local guides,thrown in for local flavor!So luking forward ot more of the city in future!
SriRangapatna:A quiet,quizzical town off Mysore .Surprised to note the massive muslim tradition co-existing with the Hindu customs at this once stronghold of TippuSultan & HyderAli.The SeshaSayana Venkatswamy temple, the bathing & burial ghats, the TriveniSangam ,the Rose Garden & Tipu's tomb are a few of the must experience sites there!
COORG: Wow!Watta place!! I luv it!Though had bene to this palce in 1994 with my engineering classmates enroute our project work ,got to experience the real delites of this place only when my mom was officially transferred there for 2years in 2003.Been there thrice & each time fallen in luv with its loft hilly terrains, drizzles, kool clime,narrow winding roads, d lifestyles, the estates & generally the holding up of the Colonial ways of life-even of a common man ! D' Drives to & fro Talacauvery,the dip in the pond at Talcauvery, the misty Bhramgiri mountain from where you can actually see the Arabian Sea on a clear sky day, the RajaSeat ,the Abhey falls, the nearby Kushalnagar with its Buddhist colony & temples around , the bamboo gardens at Nisargadama & the river Kaveri , the khaddas /elephant training centre, the dense forests & greenery around,the wildlife, the eating habits with the pork & wine are all memories that are hard to erase once experienced!I do not mind settling down in Coorg ,once retired!!
Cochin: Hmm...picturesuqe!Have been a few times to Ambulmugal -industrial belt from 1996-2002.Imemdiate recollection is the lovely sea food & quiet intellectual in the fact that I noticed everyone tucking a rolled newspaper under their arms , reading something or the other..even in busses,bus stands,boats .I enjoyed the city more on a personal level with a boat ride on d Arabian Sea.Would definitely like to explore more of Cochin & all of Kerala...especially in the rains!Allepey-the boat houses, kovalam,Wynad, Idukki,Munnar,Trivandrum,Kannur,Bekal fort are the places that I have read about a lot & dream about visiting someday!!
Vizag: I know not ahy I luv this place! I hv been there twice,both of official duties but ended up extending my stay over the weekends to explore more of the place. Just enjoyed my visits to the serene Ramakrishna beach, The Venkatagiri/ShivGiri hills overlooking the bay,The ashram,Vizag Steel Plant, Naval academy ,etc.The best facet about this place is that its soo friendly n relaxed.Would like to take my family once there,sometime!
DHANBAD,Bihar: Hate that town! Coal town & full of guns wielding thugs!I happened to stay over at that God forsaken land over two nights & never have I felt so unsafe! I ws fleeced off all my cash & transport from the moment I got down the train at Danbad. Strongly recommend none to visit that place!Wonder how the locals live there,for ever under pressure from local politicians for ransom & even private cars!!
OOTY ,CONOOR & KODAIKANAL:Memorable & pleasant memories associated with these places Was almost a honeymoon getting drenched in the perennial drizzles even in April & felt kinda filmy romancing through the vastly famous must visit-sites , made famous by the advent of bollywood!Can never have enough of these places ,especially the sights onboard the tarin journey from Conoor to Ooty made famous by the Shahrukh-Mallaika jig in DilSe!. Strongly recommend the stay at the cosy wooden cottages over looking the coffee/tea estates across the LADYHIll VIEW......amazzing experience dat!!
AURANGABAD/AJANTA-ELLORA: Hmm,one gets caught up in the glorious past & the advancement in explicit expression vide sculptures even in those days!Symbollic are the caves and buddhist monastries that leave a lasting impression!Should mention the special PAAN packaged in silvery foils & rose petals that are absolutely a delight!Strongly recommend these paans for experience!!
GOA: Sun, sand, sea, fennies, old churches, foreigners in semi nude dresses prancing around..is not all that is there to GOA!I used to frequent Gos ona official visits to industries far flung & isolated from the now world famous reasons what Goa is known for!I had the privilege of biking alone in the long curvaceous orads,tarvelling on boats across small tributaries,eating from roadside hotels & at same time experiencing the best of 5star hotels & massages!phew!! This place has so much resemblance to Mangalorean way of life! Some day want to holiday there with family & freak out!!
BARODA: Colorful to say the least!Especially during DASARA is ultimate experience with the night out dandiyas and all the splendour associated.Was lucky to experience Dasara twice-1995/96 at Baroda amidst the various other offical visits made .Developed a strong friendship with a few locals who helped me roam around and fele the city at its best..at the University campus,palace, army jawan park, etc..The chaats available at Baroda are ultimate!
AHMEDABAD/Surat/Rajkot/Jamnagar & Bhavnagar: You get the same feel as if in Mumbai!Dasara is stand out attraction but more bollywoodish!Countless visits from Mumbai to Baroda,Surat Ahmedabad, Shipping building at kasar, Reliance Hazira/Jamnagar & ONGC Mehsana have left a impressionable impact with the causal way in which people cary crores worth diamonds in their pouches is amazzing! Gujarat rocks & how!!
DAMAN N DIU: Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat-the state of Gandhi!Hence people make short binges to Daman & Diu the closest union territories where liquor ie easily available!People make a living out of selling liquor here!Funny it is to observe people cross the checkpost..enter the closest cottage & guzzle up all they can & return bakc dead drunk bakc acros sthe post on the highway!! This in no way diminshes the great beauty of the sunset & sunrise at these pictursque islands .The best of resorts & massag centres are available here!!
Udupi : Lord Krishna's & Dasa's place!STrnagely have bene there oncly twice though it is so close to Managlore.Plan to explore more of the place sometime..
Dharmastala : Love the aroma of the food served at the Manjunatha temple.Adore the Gomateswara idol & serene banks of river Netravathi.
Kukke Subramanya : Finally,was able to a make it to this sleepy town of Subramanya for a visit to the temple in 2003!Always had heard a lot of his place & so enjoyed the experience!typical small town amidst the clods filled western ghats!
Katil : Been there only once!Freaked out at the river waters gushing aournd the small island where the Katil Mookambika temple is!!
Chitradurga : The fort!!Yes Obavva's cave is the stand out!Yet to fathom how the Britishers managed to crawl through that small opening in the FORT's wall & not be noticed by any one else!!Perfect excursion spot for shcool going kids from Bangalore
Places where I would like to go....someday....
Rajasthan: I am a very colourful person...n don’t think there is any place in India with so much of colour. In particular I want to visit Udiapur, Bikaner, Mount Abu and Jaisalmer. Those sand dunes, colourful outfits the dances...everything sounds so beautiful.
Punjab: Want to go to the golden temple @ Amritsar. Wanna do the bhangra with the people there n ofcourse wanna eat those yummy parathas n tandoori chicken ( ya ,ya its avialable everywhere...but comeone I'm sure it tastes different in Punjab!!!):):).Not to forget the glass full of yummy lassi & rotis with all their exotic dhaals.
Shillong: "The scotland of the east"--had some juniors @ our college from here n they forever told me that the place was amazing.
Himachal pradesh: Kulu Manali, Shimla, Chamba...all these beautiful places are in Himachal. I also have an obsession with snow...the only snow i have seen till now was @snow world , Genting and Hyderabad:):)...I need to see real snow people!!!
Darjeeling, Leh Ladak: Snow being a major factor here :):)
CHEERAPUNJI:
SRINAGAR:
CHANDIGARH:
KANYAKUMARI:
Also want to go to endless:):):) other places...........to be continued
I have always dreamt of visiting every place possible in India n abroad, of exploring little streets, eating all the local delicacies (as long as it isn’t anything creepy crawly...or brinjal:):),watching people n their acts, tryin to ctahcup on the various customs, cultures & attitudes.....
My favorite channels would have to be Discovery Travel and Living just because of the amazing line up of travel shows(..have always envied the anchors...well who wouldn’t right:).But eversince Jia has developed a crush on Cartoon Network .....my interests have taken a back seat!So wat do I do?Do d next bets things...catchup on some desi travel show on either Sony or Star amidst the various soaps dat my wife watches....n try 2 soothe my soul....
I'm forever reading up (lonely planet), on all places possible collecting info as if I will be going there sometime soon:):)...no harm in being prepared right....what if I win a lottery or if I just get noticed in the mall by some director n' am asked to host some travel show...lol, ya I know will happen the same day aliens takeover earth or when Stallone or our own Salman does a whole movie with his shirt on:):):)
Just pack my bags n go......god that would be so cool:):) n impossible. Think I am to be blamed 'cause regardless of all my plans I am a procrastinator...I always keep things for tommoro:):) n of course I don’t have the money too, damn those shopping malls!!:)
So anyways, the only traveling I have done is to a few beautiful places in South India n to a few places in Southeast Asia. Now I have this ever growing list of places I want to visit.
In India:
Amchi Mumbai: Phew! this place rocks!Mumbai is in my heart & mind! I could write a entire book on this place & what it means to me!All my vacations were spent here with my maternal grandparents & uncles. From early childhood was impressed with the speed & d lively buzz around !First luv is hard to outgrow & so are impressions created during childhood!Yes, this is the city I fell in luv with as a young boy.My best childhood memories are associated with this place-thanks to the pampering & exposure my relatives gave me here.Everything seemed the same & got better as I got to be stationed here professionaly for over 3 years from '97-2000!The people, the crowds,the speed -essence of the city, the places around -all thanks to the excelent company that helped me experience life/place & mould me into the person I'm today.The Elephanta caves, the Mahalakshmi temple,fashion street,flor fountain,Nariman Point(Makers Chamber),Churhgate,VT(Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus),Dadar n bylanes for footpath shopping, HareRam Mandir at Juhu,Chowpathy & Juhu beaches, Aquarium on Marine Drive,Madh Islands, Tiwala Ganapati temple, SiddiVinayaka Temple, MaryChurch, BandraBandStand, Powai Lake, Arey Dairy, Chota Kashmir, SanjayGandhi National Park, Byculla Zoo,Mulund,Bhandup,Thane, BAARC ,Ghatkoper,Khar, SantaCruz, Dombivilli are the places associated with my growing up years & a must visit for me everytime I step foot there.Later on when I started living there -NaviMumbai-Vashi, Nerul, Belapur &Panvel through the beutiful lush green places around like SagarVihar,SaiMandir, etc made it a experience worth re-living all my life!Hats off to the palce & people who left their mark on me!Cant seem to have enough of this place,irrespective of the fact that not many in my closest family like this place!If one place defines me-its Mumbai!
PUNE:Hmmm..many a weekends of mine were in honour of Pune whilst I stayed in Mumbai fom 1997-2000.My aunt's place was my recluse then.Whatever I hv seen n felt of Pune have a direct relation to the outtings we had as a family during those short stints over weekends.Infatc the firts aplce self n wify,Kavi visited after honeymoon was Pune.Luv Pune in rains.The place reminds me so much of Bangalore!Yes it did!The MG Road,the drive to Nigdi from city centre,the drive fomr airport to Nigdi,the amusement park,the Ganapti festivities, the culture,the language..all had me hooked!Shall detail a lot more of Pune & its imapct in a different post!!
MANGALORE: Hmmm..my native town!Strong family roots bound me to this small bubbly town drenched in typical culture engulging the place.My dad's family & mom's grandparents are the lineage holding connections to this place. Visited this place during vacations on some special ocassions like some1's wedding , death or house warming ceremony.Managed to see a lot more of the town when my sister was doing her MBBS there at KMC. Carry with me deep impressions of the picturesque locations, lush green fields, coconut trees, humidity,rains,summer, the boat rides across the river Netravathi & the its closeness to Arabian Sea at SultaBatheri (place where my Dodda & family lived), Taneerbavi,Tippu fort at Sultan batheri, the flower market at HappanGhata, the KeduBithil near Mahamayi temple close to the Venkatramana Temple Square,the DASARA Veshas(fancy dresses),the Sharadha processions & immersion , the poeple,their outlook to life,their humour,their issues,their preoccupation with water,power issues, the jolly godd fish curries,the various temples-Kadri Manjunatha Kadri Hills, Jogi Mutt, Gokarna temple & few extended family members are the highpoints . Strangely been there only twice ,each for a day during the last 8 years & yet it is very close the heart!Sometime, plan to spend some leisurley time catching up on names/faces/places hearing which I hv grown up!
HYDERABAD/SECUNDERABAD: My association with the twin cities is primarily thanks to my sister staying there & my official visits. My earliest visit was in 1990 for a family friend's wedding & ever since my sister's wedding in 1996 has been a periodic visitor. Perosnally I fel dat d' cities hv d potential 2 be a gr8 city!But somehow always felt it holding onto its past with a lazy carefree outluk & its people luving its chaos.Nevertheless, d' Safdarjung musuem, RamojiFIlm City, Necklace Road, Budha Garden, Hussain Sagar, Birla Temple, Charminar, Pearl shops,n d' busy bylanes in d old city where u seem 2 get anything n everything are a must visit!Last but not the least is d Karachi Bakery with its yummy biscuits & Paradise for ist mouth watering dum biryani are a must visits for any1 visting these twin cities! Planning to visit the nearby getaways liek Nagarjuna Sagar & Golkonda forts during my next few visits .
CHENNAI:What can I say about this place?!Its been a complete paradigm shift from my 1st impressive impression of this city during my official visits starting 1995 & freaky disastrous staying in 1997-Hence carry with me mixed experiences!Whatever lilttle Tamil I speak is mainly thanks to this medival city & its conservative people!With due respects to the city & its people - like its Marina & Beasant Nagar beaches, the Central Railway Station, Guindy snake park,Annanagar Park & maybe the Marina salai!Rest,less said the better!I livedin this city for a year in 1997 & It was one of the most forgettable memories ever! The auto rickshaws were noticed to be all calibrated & cheats.The people lived ina flase sense of hypcoritical society where bachelors were looked down upon as some aliens and landlords preferred brahmins!Yet the touch-me-not kinda attitude of the city was in dark contrast to the couples hudding below lampposts n catamarans all over the beaches n any secluded corner!So much for beineg conservative!The perennial water problems, the congested roads, the frequent power cuts -especially at nights during summer,the flooding of roads during the monsoons -all in tandem with the high moral ground of piousness & righteousness of the so called cultured people could not be digested easily!The best I can say about the city is its conenctivity & locla mode of public transportation.Highlight though is the cheap yet stomach filling food you get anywhere-espeically if you like rice , sambar & Thair(curds)!! I never used to like curds before & thanks to the city & its food culture I drink & use curds now aplenty! My worst day was the day I got a call from mom/B'lore informing me of the cardiac arest my dad had suffered in the early morning on 14Nov'96.Though I started at 7am, believe it or not I could reach B'lore only at night 11pm,though there are innumerable road/railway n air conenctions between the two cities! The city,its people & few so called relatives didnot add much to my experiences & no wunder that I agreed immediately to the idea of a official transfer to Mumbai!Good riddance!Hats off 2 d people living there!!
PONDICHERRY: yup shameful na, that I got to visit pondi only once!That too witha few collegaues when I was working in Chennai for a twodays-one night stay ata sea resort.Woooow,all that we did was be drenched in the sea, oogle at all the gorgeous goris who came along & drank pots n pots of beers,whisky n u name it!! Think I shud plan a trip soon...to enjoy the rest of the place...like the Aurobindo Ashram, Orevilles( exclusively for the foreigners..)
KOLKATA: Hv been there a few times between 1995-2000 when it was still called CALCUTTA.Every time was there-luved it more! The sweets , the language, the life styles, the place....isn't it reason enough for em return there more often??!!! lol, but seriously I would love to go here during the Durga puja...have seen it on TV n have been totally intrigued by the festivities.The Nteaji Subash Chandra Bose Airport, The SaltLake-Science City,D Nicobar Lake-Park, VICTORIA MEMORIAL under lights, EDEN GARDEN packed to capacity (ya was lukcy to watch a India v/s South Africa one dayer that India won!!) ,the old Howrah & new Hoogly bridges, the Hoogly & the catamarans , the rickshawallas,the Taxis, Writers building, Subash chandra bose's house,Ramakrishna ashram/Vivekananda piligrimage center, Birla planetorium, the festivities & traditions at the famous Kali Temple, RabindroSadan(I gave my 1st television interview after watching a play..though know not if that was ever telecast), the METRO ,Tollygunj and the TRAMPS , CAMAC Steert...all have a special place in my heart.
DELHI:Holala!!I cant seem to get enough of this place!Luved it BIG TIME!Spent some real memorable moments at all the must see places around town!Added to the fun was my close pal,(more of a lil borther-Jassi-Jaspreet Singh Randawa) & his family made it all the more pleasant .It was like home!I spent majority of 1995-1996 in Delhi!Just adored the aristrocracy of the place! I can wirte a whoel big blog on Delhi....So the experiences will be shared in a different post!
Dwarka & Probandur:Had read a lot about his place!More so in d various AmarChitra Katha comics ,as Lord Krishna's place!So was all the more hyper to explore that place.Sadly!Anticlimax,as I could stay just one night n 2days at this palce..during my onward journey towards Mitaphur ona official visist to the Mitapur Cement factory!Saw the Krishna Temple from far,was not lukcy enough to enter it!Blame it on time!Was intrigued by stories as to how majority of Dwarka & its palaces are now beneath the sea.What I remember vividly about that place is the yummy Katiayavadi Gujarati Thali..dinner.phew!never have I eaten such a variety..at suchha low cost! Probandur is a sleepy coats town and a irony of our times.Gandhi the preacher of peace haisl from here & this place is notorious of its gangwars, landlords, kidnapping & arson!Shame that such a nice place at the edge of the kutch is vasted in poverty & garbage everywhere! Never ever woudl I viist Porbandur again!
AGRA:Wow....Was like a dream come true!D TAJ MAHAL..in all its glory!Found it much better than what I had expected!I felt connected to a higher entity with the sheer splendour of the structure.Something deep within me made it a very divine experience.Felt light and empty after going through the place.Just dindt feel like moving out!Clicked a few snaps & was left awestruck with the efforts that had gone to make the place what it is!!No other monument has moved me the way this TAJ did!Time stood still as I just couldnt get enough of the gardens, the fountains..all made me feel very very emotional & touched! Sadly ,I can not say the same about AGRA!AGra n the way to the TAJ hurt me!Ya,was hurt with the poverty, uncleaniless,the slums,the narrow paths,the taunts trying to make a fast buck,etc and only two things that I liked about the place was AKBAR'S FORT & the yummy vegetable salad comprising of raddish,carrot,beetroot,cucumber ssplashed with salt,pepper that helped soothe the pangs of seeing the chaos in AGRA!!
MATHURA:Phew!!That was a unepxected stop enroute to Agra from Delhi!Was so curious to see the shrine.Felt humbled and privileged ot have the darshan amidst tight security!Yes,for the 1st time felt how it was ot visit a place of worship with guns,troops at the background.The mosque built by Aurangazeb shares majority of the complex with thie Lord Krishna shrine!The campus was vast & full of people...or shoudl I call it security/army men keeping a close vigil! The NandanaVan, the Vridavan with its shares of cows/calves were all a soothing experience(though I had expected a lot more of these places).Something deep within me told me that I might not come again to this place!Yes, 1st time I felt as if I was tryingh to get more of the place & time was slipping away from my hands to see more of the place.
MYSORE: A sleepy ol' town!Thats my 1st impression of dis historical town since my 1st ever bike adventure to the famous Chamundi Hills way back in 1994 with my cousin! My impressions have not changed ever since! Been there a few times with fmly on holidays & few official visits.The only difference noticed over the times is the cropping up of a decent industrial area housing the famous Infosys campus & a few other leading industries .The Mysore Zoo(could spend the entire day there), the Palace(awesome under lights!),the Brindavan Gardens, the KrishnaRajaSagar Dam, Chamundi Temple & few drives around the town with its lush green trees are worthwhile. Offlate in Bahrain , been hearing a lot more of the different shades this sleepy town through some new friends from Mysore .But frankly going by my own experiences , feel that the town has a lot of potential & will be a lot more fun exploring with a few local guides,thrown in for local flavor!So luking forward ot more of the city in future!
SriRangapatna:A quiet,quizzical town off Mysore .Surprised to note the massive muslim tradition co-existing with the Hindu customs at this once stronghold of TippuSultan & HyderAli.The SeshaSayana Venkatswamy temple, the bathing & burial ghats, the TriveniSangam ,the Rose Garden & Tipu's tomb are a few of the must experience sites there!
COORG: Wow!Watta place!! I luv it!Though had bene to this palce in 1994 with my engineering classmates enroute our project work ,got to experience the real delites of this place only when my mom was officially transferred there for 2years in 2003.Been there thrice & each time fallen in luv with its loft hilly terrains, drizzles, kool clime,narrow winding roads, d lifestyles, the estates & generally the holding up of the Colonial ways of life-even of a common man ! D' Drives to & fro Talacauvery,the dip in the pond at Talcauvery, the misty Bhramgiri mountain from where you can actually see the Arabian Sea on a clear sky day, the RajaSeat ,the Abhey falls, the nearby Kushalnagar with its Buddhist colony & temples around , the bamboo gardens at Nisargadama & the river Kaveri , the khaddas /elephant training centre, the dense forests & greenery around,the wildlife, the eating habits with the pork & wine are all memories that are hard to erase once experienced!I do not mind settling down in Coorg ,once retired!!
Cochin: Hmm...picturesuqe!Have been a few times to Ambulmugal -industrial belt from 1996-2002.Imemdiate recollection is the lovely sea food & quiet intellectual in the fact that I noticed everyone tucking a rolled newspaper under their arms , reading something or the other..even in busses,bus stands,boats .I enjoyed the city more on a personal level with a boat ride on d Arabian Sea.Would definitely like to explore more of Cochin & all of Kerala...especially in the rains!Allepey-the boat houses, kovalam,Wynad, Idukki,Munnar,Trivandrum,Kannur,Bekal fort are the places that I have read about a lot & dream about visiting someday!!
Vizag: I know not ahy I luv this place! I hv been there twice,both of official duties but ended up extending my stay over the weekends to explore more of the place. Just enjoyed my visits to the serene Ramakrishna beach, The Venkatagiri/ShivGiri hills overlooking the bay,The ashram,Vizag Steel Plant, Naval academy ,etc.The best facet about this place is that its soo friendly n relaxed.Would like to take my family once there,sometime!
DHANBAD,Bihar: Hate that town! Coal town & full of guns wielding thugs!I happened to stay over at that God forsaken land over two nights & never have I felt so unsafe! I ws fleeced off all my cash & transport from the moment I got down the train at Danbad. Strongly recommend none to visit that place!Wonder how the locals live there,for ever under pressure from local politicians for ransom & even private cars!!
OOTY ,CONOOR & KODAIKANAL:Memorable & pleasant memories associated with these places Was almost a honeymoon getting drenched in the perennial drizzles even in April & felt kinda filmy romancing through the vastly famous must visit-sites , made famous by the advent of bollywood!Can never have enough of these places ,especially the sights onboard the tarin journey from Conoor to Ooty made famous by the Shahrukh-Mallaika jig in DilSe!. Strongly recommend the stay at the cosy wooden cottages over looking the coffee/tea estates across the LADYHIll VIEW......amazzing experience dat!!
AURANGABAD/AJANTA-ELLORA: Hmm,one gets caught up in the glorious past & the advancement in explicit expression vide sculptures even in those days!Symbollic are the caves and buddhist monastries that leave a lasting impression!Should mention the special PAAN packaged in silvery foils & rose petals that are absolutely a delight!Strongly recommend these paans for experience!!
GOA: Sun, sand, sea, fennies, old churches, foreigners in semi nude dresses prancing around..is not all that is there to GOA!I used to frequent Gos ona official visits to industries far flung & isolated from the now world famous reasons what Goa is known for!I had the privilege of biking alone in the long curvaceous orads,tarvelling on boats across small tributaries,eating from roadside hotels & at same time experiencing the best of 5star hotels & massages!phew!! This place has so much resemblance to Mangalorean way of life! Some day want to holiday there with family & freak out!!
BARODA: Colorful to say the least!Especially during DASARA is ultimate experience with the night out dandiyas and all the splendour associated.Was lucky to experience Dasara twice-1995/96 at Baroda amidst the various other offical visits made .Developed a strong friendship with a few locals who helped me roam around and fele the city at its best..at the University campus,palace, army jawan park, etc..The chaats available at Baroda are ultimate!
AHMEDABAD/Surat/Rajkot/Jamnagar & Bhavnagar: You get the same feel as if in Mumbai!Dasara is stand out attraction but more bollywoodish!Countless visits from Mumbai to Baroda,Surat Ahmedabad, Shipping building at kasar, Reliance Hazira/Jamnagar & ONGC Mehsana have left a impressionable impact with the causal way in which people cary crores worth diamonds in their pouches is amazzing! Gujarat rocks & how!!
DAMAN N DIU: Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat-the state of Gandhi!Hence people make short binges to Daman & Diu the closest union territories where liquor ie easily available!People make a living out of selling liquor here!Funny it is to observe people cross the checkpost..enter the closest cottage & guzzle up all they can & return bakc dead drunk bakc acros sthe post on the highway!! This in no way diminshes the great beauty of the sunset & sunrise at these pictursque islands .The best of resorts & massag centres are available here!!
Udupi : Lord Krishna's & Dasa's place!STrnagely have bene there oncly twice though it is so close to Managlore.Plan to explore more of the place sometime..
Dharmastala : Love the aroma of the food served at the Manjunatha temple.Adore the Gomateswara idol & serene banks of river Netravathi.
Kukke Subramanya : Finally,was able to a make it to this sleepy town of Subramanya for a visit to the temple in 2003!Always had heard a lot of his place & so enjoyed the experience!typical small town amidst the clods filled western ghats!
Katil : Been there only once!Freaked out at the river waters gushing aournd the small island where the Katil Mookambika temple is!!
Chitradurga : The fort!!Yes Obavva's cave is the stand out!Yet to fathom how the Britishers managed to crawl through that small opening in the FORT's wall & not be noticed by any one else!!Perfect excursion spot for shcool going kids from Bangalore
Places where I would like to go....someday....
Rajasthan: I am a very colourful person...n don’t think there is any place in India with so much of colour. In particular I want to visit Udiapur, Bikaner, Mount Abu and Jaisalmer. Those sand dunes, colourful outfits the dances...everything sounds so beautiful.
Punjab: Want to go to the golden temple @ Amritsar. Wanna do the bhangra with the people there n ofcourse wanna eat those yummy parathas n tandoori chicken ( ya ,ya its avialable everywhere...but comeone I'm sure it tastes different in Punjab!!!):):).Not to forget the glass full of yummy lassi & rotis with all their exotic dhaals.
Shillong: "The scotland of the east"--had some juniors @ our college from here n they forever told me that the place was amazing.
Himachal pradesh: Kulu Manali, Shimla, Chamba...all these beautiful places are in Himachal. I also have an obsession with snow...the only snow i have seen till now was @snow world , Genting and Hyderabad:):)...I need to see real snow people!!!
Darjeeling, Leh Ladak: Snow being a major factor here :):)
CHEERAPUNJI:
SRINAGAR:
CHANDIGARH:
KANYAKUMARI:
Also want to go to endless:):):) other places...........to be continued
Sunday, September 7, 2008
For now & Forever...................
I see you for a split second as my car passes the country cemetery. Dark, foreboding clouds hang low in the sky, somewhere in the distance are the echoes of a faint, rumbling thunder. The sky is turning from an angry blue to a sooty black even as the last rays of sunlight flee in face of the emerging storm. You stand in rumination at the foot of a grave, bright gerberas in hand; your back to the road, the rest of the world passing you by in an oblivion. The road opposite the cemetery meanders back to the town square where families and mothers and daughters have gathered around polished, wooden tables with checkered table-clothes, for someone's death anniversay- luncheons. Strings of ribbons and gauzy wrapping paper dot the family landscapes, there is much laughter and mirth hanging heavy in the air. And yet, around the corner, up the path, with a bouquet of red gerberas for company, you stand by yourself because the other half of your share with that person dead is missing.
What kind of a person was he/she? I want to ask. Did you ever laugh long into the night, did he/she teach you to name the stars as he/she pointed out the night sky to you? Did he/she make you the bestest birthday cake ever, with frosted sugar icing and pink roses? Did he/she sing along in the car as he/she drove you to places, hold your hand perhaps as you both waited to cross the street? Did you spend lazy afternoons making daisy chains with the sun tickling your necks? Did he/she make you drink water on a hot day when you had no time to stop even for a minute, as summer coloured your holidays with all his/her glory? Were you allowed to get up only after you had finished everything on your plate, did he/she cut your food into bite sized pieces as he/she raced the clock for you to win?
By virtue of his/her role, he/she became your best friend, your confidante, your cheerleader and your worst critic; a quirk that he/she perhaps had is now yours to keep through a series of genes and family history. Perhaps you have an old sepia photo of his/her somewhere, tucked away in a drawer, safely hidden away from the ravages of time so that age and death can no longer get through to you and to what he/she left behind. Perhaps you have his/her eyes, his/her smile maybe, a gift from one generation to another, another example of his/her giving you a part of herself, a presence that talks to you every time you see yourself in the mirror. The red gerberas tell me that there is no weather beaten hand to guide you any more, there is no quickening of the steps down the hallway as you ring the doorbell. There is no one else that quite understands the unsaid words in the crevices of your heart. There is quite likely no one else with whom you can begin a phone conversation with the words “Its me”.
I don’t know what he/she was like, this person that you are now grieving, but in a strange way I hope you are celebrating the birthdays and the songs and the laughs, the time-outs and the arguments even. I hope you have enough memories to last you for the journey, and to protect you for what lies ahead. I know that somewhere above your head hovers a cloud of memories so real that is almost tangible –good old homespun memories mind you, not necessarily important milestones. Just fragments of time, where you remember him/her laying the table for dinner or humming above the static of the radio on humid afternoons. I know that if you strain your ears you can hear his/her voice mixed with the smell of washing liquid, billowing through freshly laundered sheets on stooping clotheslines, and you can conjure up his/her magical and far away tones that permeated the blankets on lazy Sunday mornings as you fought bravely to hang on to the last remnants of sleep.
I am going to drive away with a burning feeling in my throat, though really I would like to come in and stand with you awhile but this is your moment and hers. You must know that death is too feeble to get into the way of something as powerful as someone's love. You are here today, flowers in hand, celebrating a person who is no longer around and yet all that he/she has done for you is stronger than the moments he/she will never get to share with you. Eternity is a two way street : when you realize that the moment doesn’t last forever, but that a memory of that moment does, you have created your own eternity. And people hwo matter - are powerful that way, for whenever things like death and loss and separation get in the way, they merely take you back to a childhood road that time forgot to visit. Dark, foreboding clouds hang low in the sky, somewhere in the distance is the gentle patter of autumn rain. The sky is turning from a sooty black to an inky blue even as the last rays of sunlight step out from behind the clouds.
Now that a reality that no one can escape..........u, me or anyone..............................Only time keeps changing our roles form the person who is on this side rememebering the past or as the other persom who is dead & whose images/memories that linger on in someone alive.................
For now & Forever...................
What kind of a person was he/she? I want to ask. Did you ever laugh long into the night, did he/she teach you to name the stars as he/she pointed out the night sky to you? Did he/she make you the bestest birthday cake ever, with frosted sugar icing and pink roses? Did he/she sing along in the car as he/she drove you to places, hold your hand perhaps as you both waited to cross the street? Did you spend lazy afternoons making daisy chains with the sun tickling your necks? Did he/she make you drink water on a hot day when you had no time to stop even for a minute, as summer coloured your holidays with all his/her glory? Were you allowed to get up only after you had finished everything on your plate, did he/she cut your food into bite sized pieces as he/she raced the clock for you to win?
By virtue of his/her role, he/she became your best friend, your confidante, your cheerleader and your worst critic; a quirk that he/she perhaps had is now yours to keep through a series of genes and family history. Perhaps you have an old sepia photo of his/her somewhere, tucked away in a drawer, safely hidden away from the ravages of time so that age and death can no longer get through to you and to what he/she left behind. Perhaps you have his/her eyes, his/her smile maybe, a gift from one generation to another, another example of his/her giving you a part of herself, a presence that talks to you every time you see yourself in the mirror. The red gerberas tell me that there is no weather beaten hand to guide you any more, there is no quickening of the steps down the hallway as you ring the doorbell. There is no one else that quite understands the unsaid words in the crevices of your heart. There is quite likely no one else with whom you can begin a phone conversation with the words “Its me”.
I don’t know what he/she was like, this person that you are now grieving, but in a strange way I hope you are celebrating the birthdays and the songs and the laughs, the time-outs and the arguments even. I hope you have enough memories to last you for the journey, and to protect you for what lies ahead. I know that somewhere above your head hovers a cloud of memories so real that is almost tangible –good old homespun memories mind you, not necessarily important milestones. Just fragments of time, where you remember him/her laying the table for dinner or humming above the static of the radio on humid afternoons. I know that if you strain your ears you can hear his/her voice mixed with the smell of washing liquid, billowing through freshly laundered sheets on stooping clotheslines, and you can conjure up his/her magical and far away tones that permeated the blankets on lazy Sunday mornings as you fought bravely to hang on to the last remnants of sleep.
I am going to drive away with a burning feeling in my throat, though really I would like to come in and stand with you awhile but this is your moment and hers. You must know that death is too feeble to get into the way of something as powerful as someone's love. You are here today, flowers in hand, celebrating a person who is no longer around and yet all that he/she has done for you is stronger than the moments he/she will never get to share with you. Eternity is a two way street : when you realize that the moment doesn’t last forever, but that a memory of that moment does, you have created your own eternity. And people hwo matter - are powerful that way, for whenever things like death and loss and separation get in the way, they merely take you back to a childhood road that time forgot to visit. Dark, foreboding clouds hang low in the sky, somewhere in the distance is the gentle patter of autumn rain. The sky is turning from a sooty black to an inky blue even as the last rays of sunlight step out from behind the clouds.
Now that a reality that no one can escape..........u, me or anyone..............................Only time keeps changing our roles form the person who is on this side rememebering the past or as the other persom who is dead & whose images/memories that linger on in someone alive.................
For now & Forever...................
My Resolutions....
One of my new year resolutions was to post once a week, you have to believe me on this one, people. Anyhow I will go back to my trademark dialogue that life has been getting into the way of living too often and therefore I have been busy doing other things. Thanks are in order to the lovely conscious soul /heart within who tagged me and poked me out of my self imposed dormancy. My heart /soul loves to dig depe on me/my thoughts n be very very provoking to do my best (hint, hint to all those that have been checking on me and have been questioning me about my dull face sometimes...ya my soul/heart asks manya questions that leave me reeling with no answers ..heheheh) and belive me,my soul/heart can not be bribed by consolation words....They hurt me more when I try to give them excuses & exaplanations.They are real tough hard taskmasters.They listen to no sounds/acts.They want action-now & results!! Most times, anyways I have to make some efforts or else.they just dont let me sleep............(Yes, now the secret is out ..as to why I dondt sleep deep & long..!!)
Without further ado, here is the tag that soul wants me to take up. So the rules go thus :Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given : family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.
Family- Hmmmm. As someone that uses the term family, very loosely, to refer to my nearets/dearest ones & not anyone in extended family and friends.Yes for me my family includes those not necessarily related to me in blood (My strong belief that these bonds of love are not always with people of our own flesh and blood) but also a select few wonderful people that have made a difference in my life, a quick walk down memory lane (this blog) indicates that the usually loquacious soul /heart has been rather reticent in this instance. But there are someo people that stand out when I mention the word family & they are listed in the "PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY WORLD"
Friends- There are those that stayed when others left. There are those that are a phone call away, an email away and those that I haven’t seen in ages. There are sepia memories and stolen fragments of time of a life and a time far away and yet there are friendships that are a part of who I am and who make me what I am. They are friends separated by time and distance and yet all I have to do to reach them is to take a walk down memory lane.
Love - Kavitha,my wife is a romantic. Enough said. Somewhere along the way, I learnt that the season of red roses gives way to the cycles of nature and fate and human frailities but sometimes, just sometimes, you find a love that stays for all times and all seasons. So I have loved and I have been loved but I am a believer and an optimist enough to believe that there is mad, irrational and overpowering love for those that choose to recieve it. And that keeps me going and keeps me a romantic.
Myself - Really, this is a bad, bad idea. Anyone who knows me would vouch for the fact that Kavi does not need any more prodding with this particular topic. But since you so patiently have gone through my long & boring post so far, I shall be my usual humble self and merely point to this tag that you cna feel free to read at some stage. There are not many other posts on myself (yes, it is hard to describe myself in words) but this pretty much sums my philosophy in life.
Anything - I scrolled through all my posts but then I decided to settle on a personal favourite, just because in my mind’s eye, the whiff of a summer afternoon soothes and heals me like no other. And when we talk of afternoons and seasons and the whole cycle of giving and receiving and loving and leaving love behind, I decided to end with the feeling of relief that comes from knowing one’s role in the grand scheme.
Phew that took time but it was fun. Thanks to my heart/mind/soul . I'm somewhat honoured that I felt good writting this post.
So who do I tag [insert evil grin here]?? my wife Kavitha, My sister, My Prakash Maama, My cousin Ganesh Prasad?? & please, please take up the tag because I would love to hear your take on things. I Know many of them dont even know what is a blog or what might me written here ...& I consider this as their ways to turn my tags down all the timeHence I need you to convince me that you are indeed my dear familiy & read through all the efforts I have put in & if possible let me know...what you think of all these?
Have fun, people. I would love to hear from you as I know heat of hearts...... no one is gonna read this !! & More os, even if theyr read....woudl not care ot write back............Sigh..does that make enough garbage of my time/efforts to key in this post????Only time woudl answer that!!!.
Without further ado, here is the tag that soul wants me to take up. So the rules go thus :Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given : family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.
Family- Hmmmm. As someone that uses the term family, very loosely, to refer to my nearets/dearest ones & not anyone in extended family and friends.Yes for me my family includes those not necessarily related to me in blood (My strong belief that these bonds of love are not always with people of our own flesh and blood) but also a select few wonderful people that have made a difference in my life, a quick walk down memory lane (this blog) indicates that the usually loquacious soul /heart has been rather reticent in this instance. But there are someo people that stand out when I mention the word family & they are listed in the "PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY WORLD"
Friends- There are those that stayed when others left. There are those that are a phone call away, an email away and those that I haven’t seen in ages. There are sepia memories and stolen fragments of time of a life and a time far away and yet there are friendships that are a part of who I am and who make me what I am. They are friends separated by time and distance and yet all I have to do to reach them is to take a walk down memory lane.
Love - Kavitha,my wife is a romantic. Enough said. Somewhere along the way, I learnt that the season of red roses gives way to the cycles of nature and fate and human frailities but sometimes, just sometimes, you find a love that stays for all times and all seasons. So I have loved and I have been loved but I am a believer and an optimist enough to believe that there is mad, irrational and overpowering love for those that choose to recieve it. And that keeps me going and keeps me a romantic.
Myself - Really, this is a bad, bad idea. Anyone who knows me would vouch for the fact that Kavi does not need any more prodding with this particular topic. But since you so patiently have gone through my long & boring post so far, I shall be my usual humble self and merely point to this tag that you cna feel free to read at some stage. There are not many other posts on myself (yes, it is hard to describe myself in words) but this pretty much sums my philosophy in life.
Anything - I scrolled through all my posts but then I decided to settle on a personal favourite, just because in my mind’s eye, the whiff of a summer afternoon soothes and heals me like no other. And when we talk of afternoons and seasons and the whole cycle of giving and receiving and loving and leaving love behind, I decided to end with the feeling of relief that comes from knowing one’s role in the grand scheme.
Phew that took time but it was fun. Thanks to my heart/mind/soul . I'm somewhat honoured that I felt good writting this post.
So who do I tag [insert evil grin here]?? my wife Kavitha, My sister, My Prakash Maama, My cousin Ganesh Prasad?? & please, please take up the tag because I would love to hear your take on things. I Know many of them dont even know what is a blog or what might me written here ...& I consider this as their ways to turn my tags down all the timeHence I need you to convince me that you are indeed my dear familiy & read through all the efforts I have put in & if possible let me know...what you think of all these?
Have fun, people. I would love to hear from you as I know heat of hearts...... no one is gonna read this !! & More os, even if theyr read....woudl not care ot write back............Sigh..does that make enough garbage of my time/efforts to key in this post????Only time woudl answer that!!!.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
MOM - MY BREADTH (Silent & Deep, Short yet Tall & Soft yet Strong!)
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." - Abraham Lincoln
Where do I start & what do I say? Anything that I can ever say will pale into triviality when compared to what my mother means to me. The entire blog space would not be able to do the fullest justice to my MOM.
"The mother's heart is the child's school-room." Henry Ward Beecher
Yes indeed!like any other child -my 1st teacher & school was my mother!I saw her love, her acts, her words & I knew instantly that it was meant for 'our' good & my 'own' good! Family & kids were more important to her than she herself ever was! She saw in us-her children,a dream-a better future for her family!
Silent & Deep, Short yet Tall & Soft yet Strong-That's my mom!! She strived hard without excuses & undertook all the pains & ridicules to pave the way for what her kids are today!
My mom is a person of few words,yet her emotions & mind runs deep! She is short & thin in stature yet tall in her ethics, standards & thoughts.She is soft as a person yet strong whee it matters the most-her mind! All these qualities are what I wish I could emulate as she is a role model who inspires & motives my every word,action & deed!
My earliest memories of my mom is the fact hat she would wake me up early morning at about 5.30am & get me ready. She used to take me walking come summer, winter at sharp 6am to her class-her typing & shorthand classes. I used to be standing outside her class, playing & watching the world start their daily activities .At 7am she would finish her classes & drop me at my school at 7.30am. Sharp 11am she would come to pick me from school for home. Evenings 6pm to 8pm she would again go to her SSLC tutorials leaving me with my neighbour family. I sued to wonder what my mother was so busy with always. She used to always ensure that our family had never any dearth of any good food at home & so she used to prepare most of them herself staying awake late into the nights. I always found it tough to understand what m mom was doing away from us-kids whenever I used to see my friends/neighbours moms whiling away their time together chit chatting. She always seemed to be running against time ,but yet she always had the time to take us to a park or a movie or a temple & a occasional evening stroll for chaats that we used to adore as kids. I used to wonder if my mother was normal.I used to see her execute all her tasks without a question asked or a lazy procrastination at home,cooking,running household chores,ensuring the shopping requirements,teach us kids & help with our homework, spend time with our relatives,etc.
Now looking back I understand & appreciate what she was doing then..She was gearing us to face life....Mom,I cant thank you enough for all that you have said and done for us! If at all there is anything called rebirth, I just pray that I'm always blessed with you as my mother .
I began to appreciate her silent and hardworking ways as I grew older.I could understand what she went through when we were ill and needed her .She was always there for us..ALWAYS! Yet, she did a wonderful job of balancing her work and family needs.She is silent yet strong within.She does not speak much but her silence conveys a lot.
Strange are the ways of nature! Whenever I fall sick, she falls sick too. Whenever she is sick I feel uneasy within myself. My mom would instantaneously know what we are going through and what is bothering us,without even having to say anything.This divine bond is such.Even now being... 1000's of miles away from her & yet she knows what me going through when I say a HI on the phone!That's nature unique bond called MOTHER!
She is strong, yes indeed!When my dad had a cardiac arrest and I was away in Chennai & my sister in Hyderabad, she managed everything herself! I could see the same resilience when she was transferred to COORG for two years and yet her heart was at home.
Where do I start & what do I say? Anything that I can ever say will pale into triviality when compared to what my mother means to me. The entire blog space would not be able to do the fullest justice to my MOM.
"The mother's heart is the child's school-room." Henry Ward Beecher
Yes indeed!like any other child -my 1st teacher & school was my mother!I saw her love, her acts, her words & I knew instantly that it was meant for 'our' good & my 'own' good! Family & kids were more important to her than she herself ever was! She saw in us-her children,a dream-a better future for her family!
Silent & Deep, Short yet Tall & Soft yet Strong-That's my mom!! She strived hard without excuses & undertook all the pains & ridicules to pave the way for what her kids are today!
My mom is a person of few words,yet her emotions & mind runs deep! She is short & thin in stature yet tall in her ethics, standards & thoughts.She is soft as a person yet strong whee it matters the most-her mind! All these qualities are what I wish I could emulate as she is a role model who inspires & motives my every word,action & deed!
My earliest memories of my mom is the fact hat she would wake me up early morning at about 5.30am & get me ready. She used to take me walking come summer, winter at sharp 6am to her class-her typing & shorthand classes. I used to be standing outside her class, playing & watching the world start their daily activities .At 7am she would finish her classes & drop me at my school at 7.30am. Sharp 11am she would come to pick me from school for home. Evenings 6pm to 8pm she would again go to her SSLC tutorials leaving me with my neighbour family. I sued to wonder what my mother was so busy with always. She used to always ensure that our family had never any dearth of any good food at home & so she used to prepare most of them herself staying awake late into the nights. I always found it tough to understand what m mom was doing away from us-kids whenever I used to see my friends/neighbours moms whiling away their time together chit chatting. She always seemed to be running against time ,but yet she always had the time to take us to a park or a movie or a temple & a occasional evening stroll for chaats that we used to adore as kids. I used to wonder if my mother was normal.I used to see her execute all her tasks without a question asked or a lazy procrastination at home,cooking,running household chores,ensuring the shopping requirements,teach us kids & help with our homework, spend time with our relatives,etc.
Now looking back I understand & appreciate what she was doing then..She was gearing us to face life....Mom,I cant thank you enough for all that you have said and done for us! If at all there is anything called rebirth, I just pray that I'm always blessed with you as my mother .
I began to appreciate her silent and hardworking ways as I grew older.I could understand what she went through when we were ill and needed her .She was always there for us..ALWAYS! Yet, she did a wonderful job of balancing her work and family needs.She is silent yet strong within.She does not speak much but her silence conveys a lot.
Strange are the ways of nature! Whenever I fall sick, she falls sick too. Whenever she is sick I feel uneasy within myself. My mom would instantaneously know what we are going through and what is bothering us,without even having to say anything.This divine bond is such.Even now being... 1000's of miles away from her & yet she knows what me going through when I say a HI on the phone!That's nature unique bond called MOTHER!
She is strong, yes indeed!When my dad had a cardiac arrest and I was away in Chennai & my sister in Hyderabad, she managed everything herself! I could see the same resilience when she was transferred to COORG for two years and yet her heart was at home.
I know not if you would ever read this! But I hope u do! For only then u would know how valuable you are to this loving son of yours! I can never ever garner the nerve to express all my gratitude 2 u in person as I'm sure I would break down!I don't want to ever feel weak & cry in front of u mom,as I'm sure U always dreamt of yr son to be a strong & never buckle down to anyone or anything!Not even emotions & that is what I'm moulding myself to be-even now!!
I learnt what it is to be a shinning example of "Silent & Deep" , "Short yet Tall" & "Soft yet Strong ".Your silent,hard working ways helped camouflage the deep ambitions you had dreamt for your kids ,silently swallowing all the ridicules/sarcasm & taunts that came your way as you built your way through life. You are slim & short yet stand tall in my eyes for all that you have achieved & the way you have conducted your life. You have been the best mom any kid could ever have by being soft yet your mental strengths is what I notice as you faced life & grew to become my idol/my breadth!
Dearest mom, for me-you are my God!I have seen ,felt,experienced, heard & realised what all you have gone through because of this son of yours!Today, when I recollect my entire life....all I see is what you have done & prayed for ! Your are my strength & your are my breadth!
As a squirrel service of gratitude to your unselfish love & care,I wish to dedicate this heartfelt few lines from the depths of my heart in your honour mom.....
Thank you my dearest mom.....
I know, often I took you for granted when I was growing up.
I always assumed you'd be there when I needed you...and you always were.
But I never really thought about what that meant till I got older and began to realize how often your time and energy were devoted to me.
So now, for all the times I didn't say it before,thank you, Mom.... I love you so very much!
I cant do the fullest justice of what you mean & what you are to me,yet this was a humble attempt to share this pure emotion that I carry deep within my soul as a salutation to my IDEAL WOMAN.....!Take a bow mom!
Jia-my new awakening: Learning Life all over again!!
"Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express." ~Joseph Addison
How true!! Pure,true slefless love is what I experience when around my litle angel.No words can do justice to the warmth she cause to my being. I adore just being with her & noticing her talks,acts & sheer display of raw innocent emotions!Time stands still & everything else seems trivial.The sheer joy on her face ,the glint in her eyes & the smile on her lips convey what she tries to convey.
It’s strange how events turn into memories and memories fade so soon. I know I have said this before, but it’s just the mystery of it all that makes me wonder again and again. Jia is now almost 3years, come Jan1’09 and the memories of her first few days/months are slowly fading away. It sounds shocking, I know. But I don't remember what all happened distinctly now. I remember the progress that has happened, but I don't remember what happened each and every day. It’s like the sand in the hourglass is falling and there are some specks I remember, but most of the specks of sand have drifted away to be lost in time.Well, I didn't really start writing this post with all that in mind. This was supposed to be an account of the progress of Jia as such, but my thoughts also have a habit of drifting away:-D.
I've said many times that it’s been a pleasure watching her grow, but haven't really explained how it all comes about. The changes are so noticeable that it’s like it was not there yesterday, but its there today. And that’s the part that’s astonishing. I always had this idea that as parents we'd "teach" stuff to the baby and what I've discovered is that we don't really need to "teach" her anything. It’s like you do what you do normally and she learns everything slowly all on her own. And the whole thing is oh-so-gratifying :).
My connection-real connection with Jia dawned d day I saw her during an ultrasound at a maternity clinic in Dammam, SaudiArabia. Kavi was 5months pregnant then.It was 5.Sept’05 &a lazy evening! I was shown the baby growing with her heart, brain, and hands n legs! Something suddenly inside me snapped! I felt a unique divine connection with d LORD! His creation, his blessing of life! Pearls of tears rolled down my cheeks & for once in my life I was speechless…Yes! Speechless! It was just soft prayer to the LORD for showcasing his creation! I could not sleep a wink all night! I was just recollecting what I had seen & it enabled me realize that soon enough I would be a father!! First time in my life, I wept like a little child…wept in happiness that soon enough I would be seeing a part of me & kavi in front of our eyes.Eversince life has been different!! My life changed that night!! A new sense of responsibility & care took shape deep within me! I have never been the same again!
Dec 28’05,Kavi was suddenly told by the gynac that the baby was a standing breach & hence would need a cesarean section .We were asked to choose the day & lo,I jumped at the idea of Jan 1st as d day Jia would come into our lives! God willed it so too! Kavi was admitted on Dec 31’05 & all night I could not sleep! I was praying like crazy, all trough the night for a healthy, normal baby with no complications to either Kavi or the baby! Jan 1’06!!Yes I lit the morning lamp at the LORD’S alter & rushed to Kavi’s side. Bingo! 11.08am, my sis Suji who was allowed to assist the operation came out with thumbs up sign & said “congrats!!She is just like an angel-pink n cute”! Phew!! My heart started thundering with happiness and only HE knows the nos of grateful thanks that I said to myself!!
Jia’s 1st sight –all pinky, cute rolled in a soft blanket being carried out of Operation Theater by my sister & Kavi on a stretcher is a sight I would never forget. First thing I did was hug Kavi & hold our little baby & soak in all the divine vibrations I was experiencing at the mere sight of this sweet little bundle of joy. My 1st impression was that she looked much like Kavi!!
When Jia was born, as it is with all babies, she was silent, meaning no activities most of the time. Yes, she'd cry when she was hungry (I still can't get over the idea that doctors call it the not-so-developed stage despite the fact that her-stomach in empty -> it-sends-a-signal-to-her-brain -> her-brain-sends-signals-to-eyes-and-mouth-for-crying -> she cries and as soon as she's fed the crying stops! If this is "not developed", what is? :-p) but most of the other times, she'd sleep.
Slowly, things started to change.She started smiling first sometime in her second or third month. This was random and with no connection to anybody/anything whatsoever. Some people even say that these might be due to gas bubbles ;-). But soon, she started to focus on faces and smile. Then slowly went on to laugh. I remember the first time she laughed loudly; she was alone in her crib. I thought she was crying and came running and discovered with wonder that she was actually laughing! And yeah I promptly ran back to get the camera to record this "achievement”:-D. Now-a-days she recognizes faces and smiles widely, laughs when tickled or when the person she's watching is laughing :).Another progress that people usually keep track of is the movement. At first she stayed where she was (Obviously, she's not a calf to start running as soon as she was born:-p). Then one fine day, in April, when we were in India, she rolled on to her stomach from her back (we never "taught" her how to:-D). And the thrill was memorable. From then on she'd fall on her stomach whenever and then cry as she still didn't know how to roll back. At first she'd do this only during the day, so we'd be around to lift her back onto her back. Still later when we returned to KSA, she started doing it in nights too. So she'd cry in the middle of the night and we'd realize that she has rolled onto her stomach:-D. She was like Abhimanyu, knowing only to enter the circle and not get out :-D. But suddnely one day she tried and tried and rolled back to laying on her back all on her own :)). And she's been on a roll eversince, excuse the pun ;-). At first her rolls would be haphazard, as in she'd roll under a table/to the edge of the sofa. Now she has learnt even to target her rolls. I have to narrate this incident - recently Jia was lying in the center of the hall and I had my laptop open in one corner. She saw the laptop screen and then aimed her rolling in such a way that she ended up peeping right at the screen of the laptop! she was trying to lift her stomach. Previously she used to be supported by her wrists while on her stomach, but now she has graduated to palms. So we were looking forward to her sitting up/crawling soon :-D.She dindt disapooin for log.Aug'06 she sat n started crawling!I was there nex to her when she did it for teh 1st time! Euphoria was my feeling!!
Other than these, her voice which was previously only for crying has advanced to different tones. In addition to laughter, there is a tone for protest, one for response, a squeal, and various other "Ha"s, "Tha"s, "Ma"s and "Dha"s. Now she cries if strangers get too close (happened at her last check-up where she cried at the touch of the nurse and the doctor) and cries if my voice raises a bit in volume/tone :-D. In other words she recognizes a scolding I give her ;-) :-D. She also cries at the bang of utensils (if they fall down or make sounds when they are being rearranged) and at the whistle of a pressure cooker :)). Slowly, she's learning fear and its a fascinating thing to see the changes :). She loves watching moving people and now recently, moving cars.But the best of all these, according to me, is the grasp development I've been noticing very closely.
Before we left to India in Sept'06, I bought her a smooth rattle. She wasn't really able to hold it in her palm then. Later she learnt to hold it with both hands and still later went on to holding it in a single hand. It was then we tried squeaking toys (in her case a squeeking toy bear). It was so different from the rattle that she wasn't able to hold it even using 2 hands. Slowly she learned to. Till one day when I discovered her holding it in one palm! Then she learnt to pass the toys from one hand to another, to hold soft toys and later bigger toys. Just yesterday I was really surprised to see that she was squeezing the squeeking toy and making it squeek! She wasn't able to do that a few months back!
Times have rolled by, she is now a baby grown enough to attend school in next few months! Her growth, her acts, her expressions, her talks, her games, her dances, her smiles have all touched the innermost corners of my heart. I can’t seem to enjoy anything else but Jia’s company! She is my de-stresser! I can’t wait to rush back home to be with her at the end of stressful days at work! Jia is all entertainment! Amidst all these are forgotten the pangs of pain when she is ill or quiet! I can’t bear it when she is silent or not her playful smiling self. I jump to soothe any of her complaints or questions. Fatherhood! Yes the experience is what no words can ever describe! Fatherhood-has changed me! It’s blissful & all I ever pray is now for this feeling to last a life time!!
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. ~Irish Saying. I did not beleive it till recently.Now my little angel-all of 2years 9month,suddenly makes me realise that this great words are but true! Even at this tender age ,she leave aside all that she is engrossed-playing with & rushes to our sides whenever me or Kavi play act or say something is hurting or bothering us! Jia immediately kisses that part & says "dont worry, I hv given u a kiss n u will be ok soon"! She tries to do equal justice to both me & Kavi & you can actually feel the gush of happiness she gets when both of us huddle upto her whilst she sleeps blissfully like a princess between us!
I can't really explain what a thrill it is to see these so-called minor changes. It’s like, each and every hour of the day she's learning new things. Her brain is assimilating new information every minute and it’s an absolutely amazing phenomenon to watch as parents. I don't even have the words to describe the joy I feel whenever I see a new lesson learnt :). And imagine, this is only the beginning. There's so much for her to learn, so much more to do. I'm sure it'll all not be easy, but oh man, its gonna be so much fun. And I'm already looking forward to the whole thing :) a NEW AWAKENING…A NEW beginning…..A NEW LEARNIN OF LIFE..ALL OVER AGAIN….THROUGH THE EYES/EXPERIENCES OF MY LITTLE ANGLEIC PRINCESS.
Jia beta, Dadda luvs u like no words can do justice to!!! U r indeed my new awakening
sweetheart!! Amidst all these,my own childhood memories run through my eyes & now realise what/how my parents might have felt when I was small & dindt understand why/what they said & meant.Now I realise, learn,understand & hence there we go.....a new learning all over...understanding my own parents..thanks to Jia.....the cycle is coming round-all over again!Life is repeating history!A new beginning taking shape yet again......
"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself "~John Gregory Brown
How true!! Pure,true slefless love is what I experience when around my litle angel.No words can do justice to the warmth she cause to my being. I adore just being with her & noticing her talks,acts & sheer display of raw innocent emotions!Time stands still & everything else seems trivial.The sheer joy on her face ,the glint in her eyes & the smile on her lips convey what she tries to convey.
It’s strange how events turn into memories and memories fade so soon. I know I have said this before, but it’s just the mystery of it all that makes me wonder again and again. Jia is now almost 3years, come Jan1’09 and the memories of her first few days/months are slowly fading away. It sounds shocking, I know. But I don't remember what all happened distinctly now. I remember the progress that has happened, but I don't remember what happened each and every day. It’s like the sand in the hourglass is falling and there are some specks I remember, but most of the specks of sand have drifted away to be lost in time.Well, I didn't really start writing this post with all that in mind. This was supposed to be an account of the progress of Jia as such, but my thoughts also have a habit of drifting away:-D.
I've said many times that it’s been a pleasure watching her grow, but haven't really explained how it all comes about. The changes are so noticeable that it’s like it was not there yesterday, but its there today. And that’s the part that’s astonishing. I always had this idea that as parents we'd "teach" stuff to the baby and what I've discovered is that we don't really need to "teach" her anything. It’s like you do what you do normally and she learns everything slowly all on her own. And the whole thing is oh-so-gratifying :).
My connection-real connection with Jia dawned d day I saw her during an ultrasound at a maternity clinic in Dammam, SaudiArabia. Kavi was 5months pregnant then.It was 5.Sept’05 &a lazy evening! I was shown the baby growing with her heart, brain, and hands n legs! Something suddenly inside me snapped! I felt a unique divine connection with d LORD! His creation, his blessing of life! Pearls of tears rolled down my cheeks & for once in my life I was speechless…Yes! Speechless! It was just soft prayer to the LORD for showcasing his creation! I could not sleep a wink all night! I was just recollecting what I had seen & it enabled me realize that soon enough I would be a father!! First time in my life, I wept like a little child…wept in happiness that soon enough I would be seeing a part of me & kavi in front of our eyes.Eversince life has been different!! My life changed that night!! A new sense of responsibility & care took shape deep within me! I have never been the same again!
Dec 28’05,Kavi was suddenly told by the gynac that the baby was a standing breach & hence would need a cesarean section .We were asked to choose the day & lo,I jumped at the idea of Jan 1st as d day Jia would come into our lives! God willed it so too! Kavi was admitted on Dec 31’05 & all night I could not sleep! I was praying like crazy, all trough the night for a healthy, normal baby with no complications to either Kavi or the baby! Jan 1’06!!Yes I lit the morning lamp at the LORD’S alter & rushed to Kavi’s side. Bingo! 11.08am, my sis Suji who was allowed to assist the operation came out with thumbs up sign & said “congrats!!She is just like an angel-pink n cute”! Phew!! My heart started thundering with happiness and only HE knows the nos of grateful thanks that I said to myself!!
Jia’s 1st sight –all pinky, cute rolled in a soft blanket being carried out of Operation Theater by my sister & Kavi on a stretcher is a sight I would never forget. First thing I did was hug Kavi & hold our little baby & soak in all the divine vibrations I was experiencing at the mere sight of this sweet little bundle of joy. My 1st impression was that she looked much like Kavi!!
When Jia was born, as it is with all babies, she was silent, meaning no activities most of the time. Yes, she'd cry when she was hungry (I still can't get over the idea that doctors call it the not-so-developed stage despite the fact that her-stomach in empty -> it-sends-a-signal-to-her-brain -> her-brain-sends-signals-to-eyes-and-mouth-for-crying -> she cries and as soon as she's fed the crying stops! If this is "not developed", what is? :-p) but most of the other times, she'd sleep.
Slowly, things started to change.She started smiling first sometime in her second or third month. This was random and with no connection to anybody/anything whatsoever. Some people even say that these might be due to gas bubbles ;-). But soon, she started to focus on faces and smile. Then slowly went on to laugh. I remember the first time she laughed loudly; she was alone in her crib. I thought she was crying and came running and discovered with wonder that she was actually laughing! And yeah I promptly ran back to get the camera to record this "achievement”:-D. Now-a-days she recognizes faces and smiles widely, laughs when tickled or when the person she's watching is laughing :).Another progress that people usually keep track of is the movement. At first she stayed where she was (Obviously, she's not a calf to start running as soon as she was born:-p). Then one fine day, in April, when we were in India, she rolled on to her stomach from her back (we never "taught" her how to:-D). And the thrill was memorable. From then on she'd fall on her stomach whenever and then cry as she still didn't know how to roll back. At first she'd do this only during the day, so we'd be around to lift her back onto her back. Still later when we returned to KSA, she started doing it in nights too. So she'd cry in the middle of the night and we'd realize that she has rolled onto her stomach:-D. She was like Abhimanyu, knowing only to enter the circle and not get out :-D. But suddnely one day she tried and tried and rolled back to laying on her back all on her own :)). And she's been on a roll eversince, excuse the pun ;-). At first her rolls would be haphazard, as in she'd roll under a table/to the edge of the sofa. Now she has learnt even to target her rolls. I have to narrate this incident - recently Jia was lying in the center of the hall and I had my laptop open in one corner. She saw the laptop screen and then aimed her rolling in such a way that she ended up peeping right at the screen of the laptop! she was trying to lift her stomach. Previously she used to be supported by her wrists while on her stomach, but now she has graduated to palms. So we were looking forward to her sitting up/crawling soon :-D.She dindt disapooin for log.Aug'06 she sat n started crawling!I was there nex to her when she did it for teh 1st time! Euphoria was my feeling!!
Other than these, her voice which was previously only for crying has advanced to different tones. In addition to laughter, there is a tone for protest, one for response, a squeal, and various other "Ha"s, "Tha"s, "Ma"s and "Dha"s. Now she cries if strangers get too close (happened at her last check-up where she cried at the touch of the nurse and the doctor) and cries if my voice raises a bit in volume/tone :-D. In other words she recognizes a scolding I give her ;-) :-D. She also cries at the bang of utensils (if they fall down or make sounds when they are being rearranged) and at the whistle of a pressure cooker :)). Slowly, she's learning fear and its a fascinating thing to see the changes :). She loves watching moving people and now recently, moving cars.But the best of all these, according to me, is the grasp development I've been noticing very closely.
Before we left to India in Sept'06, I bought her a smooth rattle. She wasn't really able to hold it in her palm then. Later she learnt to hold it with both hands and still later went on to holding it in a single hand. It was then we tried squeaking toys (in her case a squeeking toy bear). It was so different from the rattle that she wasn't able to hold it even using 2 hands. Slowly she learned to. Till one day when I discovered her holding it in one palm! Then she learnt to pass the toys from one hand to another, to hold soft toys and later bigger toys. Just yesterday I was really surprised to see that she was squeezing the squeeking toy and making it squeek! She wasn't able to do that a few months back!
Times have rolled by, she is now a baby grown enough to attend school in next few months! Her growth, her acts, her expressions, her talks, her games, her dances, her smiles have all touched the innermost corners of my heart. I can’t seem to enjoy anything else but Jia’s company! She is my de-stresser! I can’t wait to rush back home to be with her at the end of stressful days at work! Jia is all entertainment! Amidst all these are forgotten the pangs of pain when she is ill or quiet! I can’t bear it when she is silent or not her playful smiling self. I jump to soothe any of her complaints or questions. Fatherhood! Yes the experience is what no words can ever describe! Fatherhood-has changed me! It’s blissful & all I ever pray is now for this feeling to last a life time!!
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. ~Irish Saying. I did not beleive it till recently.Now my little angel-all of 2years 9month,suddenly makes me realise that this great words are but true! Even at this tender age ,she leave aside all that she is engrossed-playing with & rushes to our sides whenever me or Kavi play act or say something is hurting or bothering us! Jia immediately kisses that part & says "dont worry, I hv given u a kiss n u will be ok soon"! She tries to do equal justice to both me & Kavi & you can actually feel the gush of happiness she gets when both of us huddle upto her whilst she sleeps blissfully like a princess between us!
I can't really explain what a thrill it is to see these so-called minor changes. It’s like, each and every hour of the day she's learning new things. Her brain is assimilating new information every minute and it’s an absolutely amazing phenomenon to watch as parents. I don't even have the words to describe the joy I feel whenever I see a new lesson learnt :). And imagine, this is only the beginning. There's so much for her to learn, so much more to do. I'm sure it'll all not be easy, but oh man, its gonna be so much fun. And I'm already looking forward to the whole thing :) a NEW AWAKENING…A NEW beginning…..A NEW LEARNIN OF LIFE..ALL OVER AGAIN….THROUGH THE EYES/EXPERIENCES OF MY LITTLE ANGLEIC PRINCESS.
Jia beta, Dadda luvs u like no words can do justice to!!! U r indeed my new awakening
sweetheart!! Amidst all these,my own childhood memories run through my eyes & now realise what/how my parents might have felt when I was small & dindt understand why/what they said & meant.Now I realise, learn,understand & hence there we go.....a new learning all over...understanding my own parents..thanks to Jia.....the cycle is coming round-all over again!Life is repeating history!A new beginning taking shape yet again......
"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself "~John Gregory Brown
Kavitha....my anchor, my heart, my soul & my wife!
A wife is the joy of a man's heart.-- Talmud
Being a wife can be a challenge and one of the biggest roles that a woman can take on. It's easier to be loving during the early years of a relationship where everything is fresh and new. It takes commitment and dedication to remain loving in a long marriage, especially one where the busyness of daily life and children can be overwhelming at times.
It's a wonderful thing whenever I'm to come across scrapbook layouts where a loving wife splashes out her loving thoughts towards her husband, their marriage and their commitment to each other even after years of marriage. I thought it befitting that I should let the world know about a wife & who better than my own wife-Kavi!
Being a wife can be a challenge and one of the biggest roles that a woman can take on. It's easier to be loving during the early years of a relationship where everything is fresh and new. It takes commitment and dedication to remain loving in a long marriage, especially one where the busyness of daily life and children can be overwhelming at times.
It's a wonderful thing whenever I'm to come across scrapbook layouts where a loving wife splashes out her loving thoughts towards her husband, their marriage and their commitment to each other even after years of marriage. I thought it befitting that I should let the world know about a wife & who better than my own wife-Kavi!
Meanwhile,I realise its not easy to write about your life partner.Like life,there are possibilities that we tend to take our life partners for granted & realise we never give them enough credit for what they bring to our life & who thay are.Hence this exercise to key in about my life anchor-Kavi.
I have seen Kavi evolve-from the loving girl next door, to the beautiful girlfriend , interesting housewife & a awesome mother! All these bring a little smile as some of the incidents shared with KAVI till date are quite amusing. Inspiring, funny,thought provoking.....and lot more...as she never ceases to impress me with her growth....through her acts,talks & ways......
Hence this endeavour to express myself about my dear wife,Kavi – my anchor....
Well Well Well, I understand suddenly what is called pressure when I know that my wife Kavi has been waiting anxiously to read & know what I had to say about her & her impact in my life ,all along.
But then, I know not how to frame into words the exact value Kavi has brought into my life ! For the 1st time in my life, I feel short of words! I’m sure anything/everything I say would be dissected to the core & envisaged in different shades .Suddenly I’m realizing why they say that a written word can either be a life saving nectar or the poison of death.Yet I want to lay to rest once for all what it is write of someone closet to you.Kavi knows me inside/out & much better than anyone else! Sometimes I feel she knows me better than me myself (wink , like all wives do!) !
Its often said that the purest & deepest of emotions are to be felt & not said! I would like to take refuge in those lines as I know for sure that no words can do the fullest & real justice to what you mean to me Kavi & what you are in my life!!
Hence, let try to convey whatever I can with this small poem that I conjured in my heart on 19th Sept’08 having known Kavi as my love, wife & now mother of my angel,Jia …..
To My Wonderful Wife - Kavi
How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am to have you in my life?
Well Well Well, I understand suddenly what is called pressure when I know that my wife Kavi has been waiting anxiously to read & know what I had to say about her & her impact in my life ,all along.
But then, I know not how to frame into words the exact value Kavi has brought into my life ! For the 1st time in my life, I feel short of words! I’m sure anything/everything I say would be dissected to the core & envisaged in different shades .Suddenly I’m realizing why they say that a written word can either be a life saving nectar or the poison of death.Yet I want to lay to rest once for all what it is write of someone closet to you.Kavi knows me inside/out & much better than anyone else! Sometimes I feel she knows me better than me myself (wink , like all wives do!) !
Its often said that the purest & deepest of emotions are to be felt & not said! I would like to take refuge in those lines as I know for sure that no words can do the fullest & real justice to what you mean to me Kavi & what you are in my life!!
Hence, let try to convey whatever I can with this small poem that I conjured in my heart on 19th Sept’08 having known Kavi as my love, wife & now mother of my angel,Jia …..
To My Wonderful Wife - Kavi
How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am to have you in my life?
I'll start by saying what a gift you gave me the day you became my wife.
You're my best friend in the good times and my rock in times of sorrow.
You're the reason for sweet yesterdays and my promise for tomorrow.
I never thought I could feel this loved until you became my wife.
You made my life and I could not ask for more!!
Kavi, you came into my life out of the blue like a comet & have revolutionized it ever since! I vividly recollect you having come home with your dad as a cute, sweet ,pinky doll who would sit silently with just a few smiles thrown in. It was my 1st ever notice of you & it has stayed with me till date! I see a mirror image of that bygone kid of yourself in our little Jia ,sometimes! That is when,I go speechless & start smiling to myself……. Thanking God for bringing you & subsequently Jia into my life!
Lot has happened ever since I 1st ever saw you years back & lot is yet to happen in our lives, together…….& I know deep within me that you were always meant to be –my soul mate/my wife !
We have seen various shades of life in the last 6 years of our married life,together! You have been my shadow in facing all the challenges hat life throws at us & giving your shoulder gamely each time to surmount the odds life has been teasing us with .Amidst all these ,with various turmoil in our lives ,I could not sleep one night and these are a culmination of the words that were in my head.
Lot has happened ever since I 1st ever saw you years back & lot is yet to happen in our lives, together…….& I know deep within me that you were always meant to be –my soul mate/my wife !
We have seen various shades of life in the last 6 years of our married life,together! You have been my shadow in facing all the challenges hat life throws at us & giving your shoulder gamely each time to surmount the odds life has been teasing us with .Amidst all these ,with various turmoil in our lives ,I could not sleep one night and these are a culmination of the words that were in my head.
My Life, My Wife-Kavi
I always felt You were the one I'd be with all my life.
I always felt You were the one I'd be with all my life.
We met, we loved,We lived romantically &
then you became my wife.
We shared some great times, Good and bad!
We shared some great times, Good and bad!
We laughed when happy ,Cried when sad.
As time went on,Our hearts did lift
As time went on,Our hearts did lift
When we were blessed with god's greatest gifts.
Our child Jia too brought a wealth of joy we never knew.
That's when life got in the way,the stresses of work,
the fickle ways of life And not enough time to play.
I carried on a futile quest chasing dreams and happiness
Our child Jia too brought a wealth of joy we never knew.
That's when life got in the way,the stresses of work,
the fickle ways of life And not enough time to play.
I carried on a futile quest chasing dreams and happiness
Trying hard to do my/our best
But ended up with so much less
It's not that easy
It's not that easy
As we now know It never was, right from the start
One thing we learned, as we did go
Is happiness Only comes from the heart!!
Must confess here that you have been all heart!You have given your heart,mind & soul to our relation .You have given it a deeper meaning & stature with your selfless love & charming ways.
Its often read n said that life of a man is anchored around his wife! Nothing can be further from the truth. I’m a live example! I’m not easily impressed! I never was contented with anything in life!But then,it changed! It changed when you came into my life! Thanks to you Kavi,I found Happiness & at ease with what HE has chosen for me & blessed me with ,as my life partner-you!
Its often read n said that life of a man is anchored around his wife! Nothing can be further from the truth. I’m a live example! I’m not easily impressed! I never was contented with anything in life!But then,it changed! It changed when you came into my life! Thanks to you Kavi,I found Happiness & at ease with what HE has chosen for me & blessed me with ,as my life partner-you!
My Greatest Happiness
This is my greatest happiness--
This is my greatest happiness--
To spend my life with you,
Sharing trials and triumphs,
Joys and problems, too,
To see your smiles in the morning
And hold you close at night,
To know we'll be together
Whether days are gray or bright,
Sharing all the little things
That make our daily life
. . . This is my greatest happiness--
To have you for my wife.
Hey dearest Kavi , You never cease to amuse me with your words, thoughts , ways & acts. Amidst all these you continue to impress me every single day with your own unique brand of ideas/innovations & hidden talents. Keep it going sweets. My Expectations are beyond boundaries for your success & growth as a person. You sure are capable of much more than what you know about yourself!
You have excelled as a wife & as a mother! I have seen the metamorphosis from the girl whom I romanced prior marriage to the wife of today & the mother of my baby.You have been awesome! You have far exceeded my expectations & am sure you are doing your parents proud! My humble salutations of your dear parents to nurturing you with all their goodies & & making you the person you are! I’m proud of you sweetheart!
We have a long way to go ahead of us.We do not know what life has in store for us,together .But I’m sure ,with you as my anchor & strength , we can & we shall succeed in all our endeavours through various kolors of life ,together with your unflinching support, pure luv, genuine care & active participation !!
I’m glad & feel privileged that you are in my life……as my anchor & luv you for whom you are….& much more than any words could express......
Together through life!
Hand in hand we walk together,
Together through life!
Hand in hand we walk together,
God's grace warms us from above.
It's him I thank each day
I wake for blessing me with all your love.
The sunshine in my morning and
the bird that sings my song.
In this life when I am troubled ,
through God it's you who keeps me strong.
through God it's you who keeps me strong.
The wind beneath my wings
as this bird of life takes to flight.
You are the stars that brighten up my sky in the darkness of the night.
The mother of my child-Jia and
the air that gives me life.
My truest & best friend of all...
my heart, my soul, my anchor…..
my wife Kavi.!!
Thank you sweetheart for everything & due heartfelt apologies, if whatever I say & do hurts you ever!! Just want to let you know that these immortal words by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy are what I have always prayed us to be..... "My best chosen friend, companion, guide, to walk through life, linked hand-in-hand, two equal, loving friends, true husband and true wife".
On your part, you have been much more than what a ideal wife is supposed to be.I can now exclaim as I have & completely agree with what was stated by Harold MacMillan " "No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed".I feel that I'm blessed indeed & thank God for that!!
yours, forever & always (without a shadow of doubt!!)
(I do not want to say I love u dear, as I want u to feel that in my words, actions, thoughts, looks & irrespective of what phase of life we are in & what people have to say!!)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
To Ma'am with Love...
With the light of knowledge, with the light of loveThe light of good deeds to show me the right pathWho is the one who lit my lamp?
First day in my school,
In the midst of unknowns,
Who is the one who hugged me and blessed?
An immense inspiration,
A spring of encouragement,
Who is the souvenir of my vision and strength?
“My child” she said, “Do your work with mastery”,
No issues she had, her pupils made her history,
Cancer stricken her last days, her death’s a great misery!
She is the one …Yes, She is the one,
The one I look up to, the one I adore,
The one I admire for all her endurance and assistance…..
Words are not enough to define the bond we shared .The legacy she left with me, is an over all feeling, indefinable and indescribable, to be carried with me throughout my life. The news I got about her death made me recollect our good old days.Her soul to be rested in peace, indeed a great teacher with a great smile…
First day in my school,
In the midst of unknowns,
Who is the one who hugged me and blessed?
An immense inspiration,
A spring of encouragement,
Who is the souvenir of my vision and strength?
“My child” she said, “Do your work with mastery”,
No issues she had, her pupils made her history,
Cancer stricken her last days, her death’s a great misery!
She is the one …Yes, She is the one,
The one I look up to, the one I adore,
The one I admire for all her endurance and assistance…..
Words are not enough to define the bond we shared .The legacy she left with me, is an over all feeling, indefinable and indescribable, to be carried with me throughout my life. The news I got about her death made me recollect our good old days.Her soul to be rested in peace, indeed a great teacher with a great smile…
A Great Writer#
Anything and everything under the sun, and beyond it, qualifies as a subject to write. When we speak about writings, the aim is not to be comprehensive or exhaustive, but to give an idea of how a subject may be treated - how to begin, how to develop the theme, and how to end.
It has always been an inner urge to write something whenever the streams of thoughts flow. Sometimes, we feel it vital to preserve our thoughts and assemble those. He writes nothing whose writings are not read :). So, got a few postings.
I remember a young man who professed a desire to become a “great writer”. When asked to define “ great”, he said “I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, wail, and howl in pain, desperation, and anger!”He now works for Microsoft, writing error messages :-))
It has always been an inner urge to write something whenever the streams of thoughts flow. Sometimes, we feel it vital to preserve our thoughts and assemble those. He writes nothing whose writings are not read :). So, got a few postings.
I remember a young man who professed a desire to become a “great writer”. When asked to define “ great”, he said “I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, wail, and howl in pain, desperation, and anger!”He now works for Microsoft, writing error messages :-))
1st April-April Fools Day!!
Fool's day $...
April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day is a notable day, celebrated by the execution of hoaxes and practical jokes of varying sophistication with the goal of having fun.
The custom of playing practical jokes on April Fool's Day is very widespread and of uncertain origins. The victim of a joke is known in English as an April Fool; in Scots as a gowk (cuckoo or fool); and in French as a poisson d'avril (April fish). It has been suggested the custom may have had something to do with the move of the New Year's date, when people who forgot or didn't accept the new date system were given invitations to nonexistent parties, funny gifts, etc. Today, observed almost by all age groups to take a break from the busy schedule & rejoice.
A "for-fun-only" observance., Pranks performed on April fool’s Day range from the simple, such as saying, "Your shoe's untied!” or setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour … Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"
"Back to the memory lane, I remember an April fool’s day when I was in my Engineering ,preparaing for our exams in the Bangalore University.I had a few friends in the male hostel ,where it was widely understaood that the liley question papaers for the exasm would be leaked & available. So my hostel mates were quite intelligent who were aware of the next day gimmicks. The previous day itself, were posing challenges to each other …they couldn’t be fooled ever. Next day morning, all of us had breakfast together in the mess, & left the place. I remembered, I haven’t had tea as it was too hot & went back there to have one. The mess boy returned Rs.50 & notified, the monthly mess fees which were paid the previous day were slashed since this month, so inform others too to collect the money from me. I shook my head, & came back to my room with a new scheme to make this fool’s day momentous. I informed one of my neighbors seriously, “the mess fees we paid yesterday are increased as of this month. I paid my money. You people are asked to pay immediately.”This guy knocked each door & the news spread like any buzz, all the guys formed meeting & collecting the money headed towards the mess. I was waiting in my room for my roommate (who was my best friend too), to tell these funnies but before I said anything, he too ran away to mess with 50 Rs. I dint stop…one more feather in the cap:))I was waiting for the blast when the guys arrived, but amazing! No reaction. They behaved normally. “Did u pay?”, I asked. All shook head. Guess, the mess boy was clever enuff, collected money & sat quiet. Then, I confessed, “U people are fooled, we don’t have to pay ...but we are to get money back as the mess bills are slashed from this month.” Shock! Surprise! & Tension!...all fools have paid money & the lad has kept it with him.Hustle and bustle …all guys formed a mass, ran down to the mess, found him out & asked the money back. Warden was there itself…& he gave each of them Rs. 50 back. “the other 50??” they yelled . “It’s only 50 to return” he said. Warden was watching.... “only 50/ to be given back…he has given that, right?”. Guys anxiously… “No Sir he has to give 50/more which we paid some time ago because of our buddy’s “April Fool” passion. There loomed the boy; laughing & blaring …returned the bonus :)
Guys, Warden & the boy…couldn’t resist mirth … the fun was pretty memorable.
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."-- Mark Twain . Hmmmmm…quite true ;)Could not agree with him more
& & & how on earth can I not mention dat APRIL 1st is my DAD's B'day too!Watz more interesting is d fact dat its my Mother-in-law's B'day too!?? To my amussement I seem to have a real bondage with April1st as most of the mother's of the females who I was closest during my growing up years were all April1st born!! ya..its true! Belive it or not!!!
Dat reminds me 2 add a titbit: My dad was the 6th child to my grandparents.Those were the days without phones or cell phones! My grandma was pregnant with my dad & was ideally expected to deliver a baby sometime in May'1940! She had gone to her relatives house on 1.April'1940 by walk climbing up the hills in Bayer,a suburb of M'lore. All the other siblings of my dad were mostly grown up & alsmot into employment,higher studies etc as there was a long gap between this prgenancy & the ones earlier(was told that my grandpa was busy travelling those e years of separation..hehehe).So when my dad was actually born on April1st no one belived it as no one expected my granny woudl deliver a month in advance.On top of it,my grandma was quiet a happening lady & was famous for playing practical jokes on others.So when she was actually crying out aloud in pain,no one bothered ot go near her at her friend's place as they thought my grandma was playing her APRIL FOOL Prank!!! sigh...........
So 3 cheers to April Fools' day!!
April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day is a notable day, celebrated by the execution of hoaxes and practical jokes of varying sophistication with the goal of having fun.
The custom of playing practical jokes on April Fool's Day is very widespread and of uncertain origins. The victim of a joke is known in English as an April Fool; in Scots as a gowk (cuckoo or fool); and in French as a poisson d'avril (April fish). It has been suggested the custom may have had something to do with the move of the New Year's date, when people who forgot or didn't accept the new date system were given invitations to nonexistent parties, funny gifts, etc. Today, observed almost by all age groups to take a break from the busy schedule & rejoice.
A "for-fun-only" observance., Pranks performed on April fool’s Day range from the simple, such as saying, "Your shoe's untied!” or setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour … Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"
"Back to the memory lane, I remember an April fool’s day when I was in my Engineering ,preparaing for our exams in the Bangalore University.I had a few friends in the male hostel ,where it was widely understaood that the liley question papaers for the exasm would be leaked & available. So my hostel mates were quite intelligent who were aware of the next day gimmicks. The previous day itself, were posing challenges to each other …they couldn’t be fooled ever. Next day morning, all of us had breakfast together in the mess, & left the place. I remembered, I haven’t had tea as it was too hot & went back there to have one. The mess boy returned Rs.50 & notified, the monthly mess fees which were paid the previous day were slashed since this month, so inform others too to collect the money from me. I shook my head, & came back to my room with a new scheme to make this fool’s day momentous. I informed one of my neighbors seriously, “the mess fees we paid yesterday are increased as of this month. I paid my money. You people are asked to pay immediately.”This guy knocked each door & the news spread like any buzz, all the guys formed meeting & collecting the money headed towards the mess. I was waiting in my room for my roommate (who was my best friend too), to tell these funnies but before I said anything, he too ran away to mess with 50 Rs. I dint stop…one more feather in the cap:))I was waiting for the blast when the guys arrived, but amazing! No reaction. They behaved normally. “Did u pay?”, I asked. All shook head. Guess, the mess boy was clever enuff, collected money & sat quiet. Then, I confessed, “U people are fooled, we don’t have to pay ...but we are to get money back as the mess bills are slashed from this month.” Shock! Surprise! & Tension!...all fools have paid money & the lad has kept it with him.Hustle and bustle …all guys formed a mass, ran down to the mess, found him out & asked the money back. Warden was there itself…& he gave each of them Rs. 50 back. “the other 50??” they yelled . “It’s only 50 to return” he said. Warden was watching.... “only 50/ to be given back…he has given that, right?”. Guys anxiously… “No Sir he has to give 50/more which we paid some time ago because of our buddy’s “April Fool” passion. There loomed the boy; laughing & blaring …returned the bonus :)
Guys, Warden & the boy…couldn’t resist mirth … the fun was pretty memorable.
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."-- Mark Twain . Hmmmmm…quite true ;)Could not agree with him more
& & & how on earth can I not mention dat APRIL 1st is my DAD's B'day too!Watz more interesting is d fact dat its my Mother-in-law's B'day too!?? To my amussement I seem to have a real bondage with April1st as most of the mother's of the females who I was closest during my growing up years were all April1st born!! ya..its true! Belive it or not!!!
Dat reminds me 2 add a titbit: My dad was the 6th child to my grandparents.Those were the days without phones or cell phones! My grandma was pregnant with my dad & was ideally expected to deliver a baby sometime in May'1940! She had gone to her relatives house on 1.April'1940 by walk climbing up the hills in Bayer,a suburb of M'lore. All the other siblings of my dad were mostly grown up & alsmot into employment,higher studies etc as there was a long gap between this prgenancy & the ones earlier(was told that my grandpa was busy travelling those e years of separation..hehehe).So when my dad was actually born on April1st no one belived it as no one expected my granny woudl deliver a month in advance.On top of it,my grandma was quiet a happening lady & was famous for playing practical jokes on others.So when she was actually crying out aloud in pain,no one bothered ot go near her at her friend's place as they thought my grandma was playing her APRIL FOOL Prank!!! sigh...........
So 3 cheers to April Fools' day!!
Ture Essence of Love!!
The Essence of Love*
A Heart touching mail, I received from a friend. …it’s truly evocative. The times when we are in a relationship…be it friendship or having found our soul mates, when we are concerned about & are proud to be with them in the present state when we cheer around celebrating Valentines Day… how long do we last in the relationship? How far we take care of each other’s feelings? Do we sense beyond gifts & partying that how strong is the base of our relation? We need to pose ourselves “Are we committed for long”?Just check the mail unfolding the relation between 2 lovely, innocent birds…It was a gloomy Saturday afternoon. A flock of birds was spending great time searching for food and playing on the main road. Out of the sudden, a big truck sped through... sad thing had happened again. Birds can feel too. Although this bird had already died, another bird flew over to her immediately, just like a family member, unable to accept the truth.
Not long after that, another car stormed in causing the dead bird's body to whirl with the wind. The spouse noticed the movement. As if she was still alive, he quickly flew beside her again.
He stayed beside her and yelled ... "WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING UP!?"
Unfortunately, she's no longer able to hear him. In the meantime, he's trying to lift her up.
He, of course, was unable to bear the burden. Another car soon passed by. He quickly flew off. Once the car had gone, he came down again.
Although other birds told him it’s useless, he never gave up. He was trying his best to lift her up to see her flying again. Another car passed by, her dead body whirled again as if still alive and trying to fly.
He had used all of his energy, however... The photographer said he couldn't shoot any longer. The photographer was so worried that the living bird was going to get hurt by passing cars. So he picked up the dead bird and left it at the roadside. The live one still lingered at a nearby tree as if crying with his singing and refused to leave.
Do humans have the same feelings nowadays? I wonder.
If Some Body has fallen who cares....?????
Yes, it’s true. And if the person is our own, it takes a little time to replace the person….we humans! How easily we let go somebody for silly reasons, tiny misunderstandings, lack of adjustments & sometimes for our self-centered desires.That somebody may be a family member, a friend or a person we preferred as soul mate. Becos of Ill health, loss of wealth, sometimes to shape our career, sometimes to escape society tittle-tattle and sometimes to maintain our prestige & we are sometimes just helpless to bump into some circumstances and we finally let them go ... just let them go. We forget that love, that faith & that commitment & the feelings we had shared once.
Guess, these birds are invoking in us the real meaning of Love!
A Heart touching mail, I received from a friend. …it’s truly evocative. The times when we are in a relationship…be it friendship or having found our soul mates, when we are concerned about & are proud to be with them in the present state when we cheer around celebrating Valentines Day… how long do we last in the relationship? How far we take care of each other’s feelings? Do we sense beyond gifts & partying that how strong is the base of our relation? We need to pose ourselves “Are we committed for long”?Just check the mail unfolding the relation between 2 lovely, innocent birds…It was a gloomy Saturday afternoon. A flock of birds was spending great time searching for food and playing on the main road. Out of the sudden, a big truck sped through... sad thing had happened again. Birds can feel too. Although this bird had already died, another bird flew over to her immediately, just like a family member, unable to accept the truth.
Not long after that, another car stormed in causing the dead bird's body to whirl with the wind. The spouse noticed the movement. As if she was still alive, he quickly flew beside her again.
He stayed beside her and yelled ... "WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING UP!?"
Unfortunately, she's no longer able to hear him. In the meantime, he's trying to lift her up.
He, of course, was unable to bear the burden. Another car soon passed by. He quickly flew off. Once the car had gone, he came down again.
Although other birds told him it’s useless, he never gave up. He was trying his best to lift her up to see her flying again. Another car passed by, her dead body whirled again as if still alive and trying to fly.
He had used all of his energy, however... The photographer said he couldn't shoot any longer. The photographer was so worried that the living bird was going to get hurt by passing cars. So he picked up the dead bird and left it at the roadside. The live one still lingered at a nearby tree as if crying with his singing and refused to leave.
Do humans have the same feelings nowadays? I wonder.
If Some Body has fallen who cares....?????
Yes, it’s true. And if the person is our own, it takes a little time to replace the person….we humans! How easily we let go somebody for silly reasons, tiny misunderstandings, lack of adjustments & sometimes for our self-centered desires.That somebody may be a family member, a friend or a person we preferred as soul mate. Becos of Ill health, loss of wealth, sometimes to shape our career, sometimes to escape society tittle-tattle and sometimes to maintain our prestige & we are sometimes just helpless to bump into some circumstances and we finally let them go ... just let them go. We forget that love, that faith & that commitment & the feelings we had shared once.
Guess, these birds are invoking in us the real meaning of Love!
Ture Essence of Love!!
The Essence of Love*
A Heart touching mail, I received from a friend. …it’s truly evocative. The times when we are in a relationship…be it friendship or having found our soul mates, when we are concerned about & are proud to be with them in the present state when we cheer around celebrating Valentines Day… how long do we last in the relationship? How far we take care of each other’s feelings? Do we sense beyond gifts & partying that how strong is the base of our relation? We need to pose ourselves “Are we committed for long”?Just check the mail unfolding the relation between 2 lovely, innocent birds…It was a gloomy Saturday afternoon. A flock of birds was spending great time searching for food and playing on the main road. Out of the sudden, a big truck sped through... sad thing had happened again. Birds can feel too. Although this bird had already died, another bird flew over to her immediately, just like a family member, unable to accept the truth.
Not long after that, another car stormed in causing the dead bird's body to whirl with the wind. The spouse noticed the movement. As if she was still alive, he quickly flew beside her again.
He stayed beside her and yelled ... "WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING UP!?"
Unfortunately, she's no longer able to hear him. In the meantime, he's trying to lift her up.
He, of course, was unable to bear the burden. Another car soon passed by. He quickly flew off. Once the car had gone, he came down again.
Although other birds told him it’s useless, he never gave up. He was trying his best to lift her up to see her flying again. Another car passed by, her dead body whirled again as if still alive and trying to fly.
He had used all of his energy, however... The photographer said he couldn't shoot any longer. The photographer was so worried that the living bird was going to get hurt by passing cars. So he picked up the dead bird and left it at the roadside. The live one still lingered at a nearby tree as if crying with his singing and refused to leave.
Do humans have the same feelings nowadays? I wonder.
If Some Body has fallen who cares....?????
Yes, it’s true. And if the person is our own, it takes a little time to replace the person….we humans! How easily we let go somebody for silly reasons, tiny misunderstandings, lack of adjustments & sometimes for our self-centered desires.That somebody may be a family member, a friend or a person we preferred as soul mate. Becos of Ill health, loss of wealth, sometimes to shape our career, sometimes to escape society tittle-tattle and sometimes to maintain our prestige & we are sometimes just helpless to bump into some circumstances and we finally let them go ... just let them go. We forget that love, that faith & that commitment & the feelings we had shared once.
Guess, these birds are invoking in us the real meaning of Love!
A Heart touching mail, I received from a friend. …it’s truly evocative. The times when we are in a relationship…be it friendship or having found our soul mates, when we are concerned about & are proud to be with them in the present state when we cheer around celebrating Valentines Day… how long do we last in the relationship? How far we take care of each other’s feelings? Do we sense beyond gifts & partying that how strong is the base of our relation? We need to pose ourselves “Are we committed for long”?Just check the mail unfolding the relation between 2 lovely, innocent birds…It was a gloomy Saturday afternoon. A flock of birds was spending great time searching for food and playing on the main road. Out of the sudden, a big truck sped through... sad thing had happened again. Birds can feel too. Although this bird had already died, another bird flew over to her immediately, just like a family member, unable to accept the truth.
Not long after that, another car stormed in causing the dead bird's body to whirl with the wind. The spouse noticed the movement. As if she was still alive, he quickly flew beside her again.
He stayed beside her and yelled ... "WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING UP!?"
Unfortunately, she's no longer able to hear him. In the meantime, he's trying to lift her up.
He, of course, was unable to bear the burden. Another car soon passed by. He quickly flew off. Once the car had gone, he came down again.
Although other birds told him it’s useless, he never gave up. He was trying his best to lift her up to see her flying again. Another car passed by, her dead body whirled again as if still alive and trying to fly.
He had used all of his energy, however... The photographer said he couldn't shoot any longer. The photographer was so worried that the living bird was going to get hurt by passing cars. So he picked up the dead bird and left it at the roadside. The live one still lingered at a nearby tree as if crying with his singing and refused to leave.
Do humans have the same feelings nowadays? I wonder.
If Some Body has fallen who cares....?????
Yes, it’s true. And if the person is our own, it takes a little time to replace the person….we humans! How easily we let go somebody for silly reasons, tiny misunderstandings, lack of adjustments & sometimes for our self-centered desires.That somebody may be a family member, a friend or a person we preferred as soul mate. Becos of Ill health, loss of wealth, sometimes to shape our career, sometimes to escape society tittle-tattle and sometimes to maintain our prestige & we are sometimes just helpless to bump into some circumstances and we finally let them go ... just let them go. We forget that love, that faith & that commitment & the feelings we had shared once.
Guess, these birds are invoking in us the real meaning of Love!
Think it over....
Hiii folks,
Here’s something to say about our thoughts and actions. No…this isn’t an essay but a few encouraging words to put those wonderful thoughts of us in right actions.
“I think therefore I am” said Descartes, the famous French Philosopher. For him, our thoughts determined us as entities. This is true to a very large extent, as our actions are preceded by thoughts, either at the conscious or sub conscious level. In a somewhat different context, the German playwright had said." There are two kinds of men in this world, men of thought and men of action. Think like men of thought, act like the men of action." However, thoughts being at an abstract level are not tangible enough to take notice of. Hence, we are judged only by our actions.
There are people who before starting any project, often say “If I had money, if I had more support, if I had…”and so on. Such persons are involved in so many If’s that their projects are never given a start. Despite providing all basic needs, you hear them saying, “Yes, it’s there, but still I think if…” These people termed as negative thinkers never achieve their goal in life. Even God never supports persons who do not help themselves. We need to think positive, know our power of thinking, Know who are we and what can we do.
Every morning when we wake up, we have a new day ahead of us in which we can be whatever we choose. We can recreate ourselves daily, especially when we consciously choose to let go old resentments, grudges, patterns and fears. Affirm yourself, “I choose to be loving, peaceful, joyous, prosperous and patient with myself and others.” Once we make our intent known to our subconscious by that affirmation, it will co-operate in helping us create the reality. Make sure, you are affirming what you want to create, not what you don’t want.
Right thinking always helps in achieving our goals. When we begin to think right, objectively rather than emotionally, positively rather than negatively, we can resolutely take corrective action. Since a thought is something that goes on in our mind and something that we can control if we have the will to do so whereas discouragement is an accumulation of gloomy thoughts, we can chose to either entertain these thoughts or throw these out. The best way would be to bring out our right thoughts and put it in the right way of action as it is mentioned before, we are judged by our actions, not thoughts.
Positive thinking is vital to the processes that one guaranteed, to keep our spirit high, so high indeed that discouragement cannot break it. The positive thinker is a creative thinker, a cool, objective thinker in whatever situation he finds himself. Every obstacle is a stepping stone to a miracle. A problem for him contains the seeds of its own solution. As it is said, that in difficulty there is buried some great possibility. Problems are not inherently something to flee or avoid. Stand up to it; believe it may contain amazingly great values in it. Keep a watch on yourself, your thoughts and actions.
Marie. T. Russell has rightly said, “We are all great actors and we are free to play any role we choose. So, if the role you have been playing is not bringing you joy and happiness, look inside, see what role would make your inner child happy and make your heart sing. You are free to be …..Let your heart guide you to be who you want to be at this moment, and then the next…”
Here’s something to say about our thoughts and actions. No…this isn’t an essay but a few encouraging words to put those wonderful thoughts of us in right actions.
“I think therefore I am” said Descartes, the famous French Philosopher. For him, our thoughts determined us as entities. This is true to a very large extent, as our actions are preceded by thoughts, either at the conscious or sub conscious level. In a somewhat different context, the German playwright had said." There are two kinds of men in this world, men of thought and men of action. Think like men of thought, act like the men of action." However, thoughts being at an abstract level are not tangible enough to take notice of. Hence, we are judged only by our actions.
There are people who before starting any project, often say “If I had money, if I had more support, if I had…”and so on. Such persons are involved in so many If’s that their projects are never given a start. Despite providing all basic needs, you hear them saying, “Yes, it’s there, but still I think if…” These people termed as negative thinkers never achieve their goal in life. Even God never supports persons who do not help themselves. We need to think positive, know our power of thinking, Know who are we and what can we do.
Every morning when we wake up, we have a new day ahead of us in which we can be whatever we choose. We can recreate ourselves daily, especially when we consciously choose to let go old resentments, grudges, patterns and fears. Affirm yourself, “I choose to be loving, peaceful, joyous, prosperous and patient with myself and others.” Once we make our intent known to our subconscious by that affirmation, it will co-operate in helping us create the reality. Make sure, you are affirming what you want to create, not what you don’t want.
Right thinking always helps in achieving our goals. When we begin to think right, objectively rather than emotionally, positively rather than negatively, we can resolutely take corrective action. Since a thought is something that goes on in our mind and something that we can control if we have the will to do so whereas discouragement is an accumulation of gloomy thoughts, we can chose to either entertain these thoughts or throw these out. The best way would be to bring out our right thoughts and put it in the right way of action as it is mentioned before, we are judged by our actions, not thoughts.
Positive thinking is vital to the processes that one guaranteed, to keep our spirit high, so high indeed that discouragement cannot break it. The positive thinker is a creative thinker, a cool, objective thinker in whatever situation he finds himself. Every obstacle is a stepping stone to a miracle. A problem for him contains the seeds of its own solution. As it is said, that in difficulty there is buried some great possibility. Problems are not inherently something to flee or avoid. Stand up to it; believe it may contain amazingly great values in it. Keep a watch on yourself, your thoughts and actions.
Marie. T. Russell has rightly said, “We are all great actors and we are free to play any role we choose. So, if the role you have been playing is not bringing you joy and happiness, look inside, see what role would make your inner child happy and make your heart sing. You are free to be …..Let your heart guide you to be who you want to be at this moment, and then the next…”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
