Mumbai Darshan - Thoda Hatke

When you receive an email from your boss requesting you to escort a senior colleague visiting India, for Mumbai Darshan ...one doesn't have a choice, right! So, when me and my colleague received the email from our boss, we had the typical expression of 'Oh no, please spare me from this' on our face. Not just because it will mean escorting someone you have not met before but also because you are totally not sure about what their interests are. But third and most challenging task being finding places worth visiting in Mumbai from a phirang's point of view.
But escort we had to....whether we liked it or not.

With 2 weeks in hand we had a relatively good amount of time to do our homework and figure out which places that could be deemed as worth visiting. Also, had enough time to drop her a email to know her interests and we found out that she was interested in Indian culture, its temples, monuments and history. Hmmmm.... this was getting difficult than expected. The choice set was getting narrower by the day.Having stayed in Mumbai for all my life suddenly I found myself in a tight spot. My colleague had the comfort of being an outsider (she is from Belgaum)with limited knowledge of the city so obviously she magnaminously bowed out of the situation and so the onus was on me to provide all the expert knowledge on the city. As always Google Maharaj came to my rescue and whipped out a handful of delightful places which matched our guest's 'requirements'. The Google list threw up around 25 places in Mumbai which were culturally and historically oriented. Felt a little a comforted and surprised at the same time.
Comforted by the array of choices available to me now and surprised with my ignorance... ignorance about my city's 'historical' side.
The tripadvisor website actually came up with 34 places related to our city's historical inclinations.
(Visit for more info - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g304554-Activities-c1- Mumbai_Bombay_Maharashtra.html#TtD)


After spending some more time going through the list I realised that out of the entire list may be only 5-6 places would be relevant and worth visiting considering the monsoons and time available with us.

The tourist's and my favourite Elephanta Caves was struck off the list almost immediately considering the rains and choppy seas, though it seemed the most obvious choice of interest for that day. Also some others could not make it to the list because of their far flung locations and time considerations.
After much head scratching the list was ready and which read as follows
Gateway of India
Price of Wales Museum (aka Chattrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya)
Jehangir Art Gallery
Colaba Causeway
Lunch at Leopold (an attraction post 26/11)
Fab India (for Indian shopping)
Rajabai Tower
VT Station
Asiatic Library
Flora Fountain
Banganga
Malabar Hill
Mahalaxmi Temple
Worli Bandra Sea link

With my borrowed knowledge of Mumbai city from my fave book 'Fort Walks' I knew I could answer any question about the city. Also,my experience of Mumbai with Odati's Mumbai cycle ride last year had equipped me with enough exciting dope about city's history and interesting trivia.
(For more info visit http://www.odati.com/viewactivity.php?id=s-14)

The day finally arrived and luckily for us the sun had decided to push aside the grey clouds beyond the horizon and make his warm and sunny presence felt. Good for us, as Mumbai rains are best experienced from the cosy confines of your home.

We finally met our firang guest ....yes, ....at the pre decided time at the hotel she was staying. After a brief exchange of greetings and introductions it was absolutely clear to us then onwards that our day was going to be enjoyable and pleasant. Our apprehensions were laid to rest and we knew that our anxiousness of so many weeks was completely uncalled for. She is one of the most pleasant and warm person I have met till now. She has the personality which makes you feel comfortable and at ease. Absolutely no hang ups and attitude issues. May be her job profile has shaped her personality or may be she is naturally like that....I don't know. But all I can say is the day was well spent and passed like a breeze.
We had our share of laughs and interesting moments which were amusing more so for her. We were at Jehangir Art Gallery, walking down the hall appreciating the unique art and displays. Suddenly a family with their little son and daughters swooped on Brantlee and requested her to pose for a photograph with their little son. It seemed a little awkward but flattering at the same time for Brantlee, we felt at that moment. She felt like a celebrity that we could tell from her brimming smile. After couple of pictures, this time the entire family wanted to pose with her. She readily obliged, again. And after lots of thank yous and byes we moved away from them. She could not get over the situation very easily and then I explained to her the fascination we Indians have for white skin. That explained her brief celebrity moment. I must say she had a very keen eye and great observation. She asked a lot of questions about things which seemed new to her and we were also stumped for answers couple of times.
When we told her about reincarnations of Gods in various avatars, she wanted to know about re-birth and whether we believed in it. If yes, then did we know who we were in our previous births. A typical question of a logical and agnostic mind unfortunately for which we did not have exact answers. Another time she asked us the relevance of the lemon and chillies weaved together and hung below the cars bumper. Then she saw a woman with a monkey and she wanted to know if we kept them as pets as well. I think after seeing the array of the animals with cows included on the road, she wanted to hear a 'Yes' on that probably but was clearly disappointed on hearing the answer. At Prince of Wales museum she was mesmerized by the innumerous gods we worshiped across India, more so with Krishna and why he was called the Blue God and how he died. She obviously had great fascination for Buddha, spiritualism and whether India had good relations with Tibet. We were not surprised to know that she practiced Yoga. But she definitely was shocked when she came to know that none of us in the India team practiced Yoga. May be she thought Yoga was way of life for us Indians, but she was mistaken. That's when I understood that as Indians we easily imbibe lot of unnecessary/unhealthy fads, habits from the West but the West however tends to borrow the best from what we have to offer.
She knew about the 26/11 terrorist attacks and wanted to know who was the main target for the attacks considering a lot of foreigners also got killed, especially the Jews. Being American, I think she was seeking some pointed answers.

Traveling in the car passing by rows of trees she was intrigued by the white and brown stripes uniformly painted on some trees and wanted to know why it was like that. She thought it had some religious significance. I must say she was studying the Mumbai city landscape very studiously and almost expected logical answers for every unique characteristic. I guess since it was her first time in India, she was hungrily devouring all the sights that the city had to offer not to mention the people and their clothes and wares.
And lastly on our last leg of the tour when we were going towards Banganga Temple she was approached by 2 young boys who thrust her with a piece of paper and asked her for her autograph. I guess by then Brantlee had got used to her fan following and 'celebrity' status so with great panache she signed off on the paper the boys had presented her and walked off with a bounce in her gait. What she didn't see was the disappointed expression on the faces of those kids as if they had expected something more. Well, expect more they did. As that the paper was not part of a autograph book but meant for donations collected towards some institution.

Thus with numerous such vivid experiences packed in our minds, the day came to an end quickly. A wonderful day which started with lot of apprehensions unwarranted but later made eventful and an absolute delight,thanks to our lovely guest Brantlee who we wish will come back again soon.

Conversation with GOD!

An interesting piece I came across which I would like to share with all...

Conversation with GOD!

God: Hello. Did you call me?

Me: Called you? No.. who is this?

God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something..

God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me: Don't know. But I cant find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.

God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can’t figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

God: Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: why are we then constantly unhappy?

God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty..
God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life becomes better not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God: Yes. In every terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test
first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why cant we be free from problems?

God: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to)Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading.

God: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God: Success is a measure as decided by others.. Satisfaction is a
measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than
knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the
clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have
to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?

God: when they suffer they ask, "why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I cant get the answer.

God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New
Day with a new sense of inspiration.

God: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts
and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to
resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."

A dedication to my dear parents (Aai and Pappa)

"If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging."
-Diane Loomans

A very sweet poem written by a parent who wishes she could rewind to the time in past when she first became a mother and do all the things differently.

Well, as for me I feel blessed that I am a daughter (count my sister in) of those parents who don't have to sit in a time machine and go back into the past and change the way they brought us up. Its simply been a wonderful journey...Our childhood...with both mom and dad (aai and papa as we call them)bringing up two daughters exactly as Diane Loomans (author of the poem) would have loved to bring up her children as conveyed through her poem.
I am sure all my friends will also agree to being lucky for being brought up the way they have been by their loving and doting parents. But how many times in our daily lives do we actually acknowledge this fact and give back at least half of what they have given till date.
Well....this post is exactly that..A dedication to my parents.

I am what I am today...thanks to my parents and their wonderful upbringing. We (me and my sis) are indeed lucky to have them as our parents. Life has been very tough for them like any normal middle class couple would experience but never ever did they make us (me and my sis) aware of that. There were more troughs than peaks in their life when we were young and growing up but they surmounted all of them with equal poise and a quiet strength. Whether it was about fighting against the builders/ promoters in the courts of law for many many years for the home which they had invested with their hard earned money and which was rightfully theirs...or battling with an erstwhile leading MNC where my father worked ( which later filed for bankruptcy), for the Gratuity sum from service of more than 20 years. The hard work and incredible courage which my father quietly displayed is something I will never forget.
Perseverance and dedication are 2 virtues which I realized in my early life thanks to them.
When my Aai and Papa recount those old days about what really happened back then...me and my sister are completely overwhelmed as they never made us overtly aware of the sweat and the tears of the trying times.
Also, whether it was illnesses and days when we were going through some what economically trying times, we still had our celebrations on birthdays or festivals and even indulged in shopping like any other normal family would. We went to almost all the beautiful cities across India every summer vacation. And if not a new place it was surely Goa (Mangeshi Temple) our native place which we all loved to go back to again and again.

If commuting in taxis was a comfortable mode of transport back then (30 years back) my dad would not hesitate to call for one in spite of the given situations. But all this while he used to work...work like a dog at office, come back home and still find time to take his wife and kids to the beach or park at nearby Shivaji Park or a movie theater or something similar.

Besides that they groomed us into good human beings who do not grow at the cost of others or stepping on others toes. They taught us the importance of hard work, integrity, sacrifice, self respect and sincerity. They also taught us the meaning of unrequited love and kindness. We understood from them that life some times throws at us difficult and sometimes happy moments but its important to keep our balance, be grounded and understand that this too shall pass.
They always encouraged all our fancies whether it was learning to sing, swimming, learning the guitar, joining sports clubs and many other extra curricular activities which we evinced interest in. At the same time they did not give in to many of our other undeserved fanciful demands.Value of hard earned money is what we learnt through them.

Not to forget the important lesson of using our heart when dealing with our near and dear ones and using our head in the professional world or strangers, which will remain with me forever.

Thanks to the wonderful upbringing inculcated in us by our parents, we strive to pay it forward in our every day life with people we know and don't know sometimes. Isn't that the most beautiful process when you can lead your daily life with a wonderful conscience and a warm heart.

As sons and daughters I am sure we all try to ensure that our parents get all the comforts which we can provide them, a helping hand when the situation arises and meet all their requirements which typically arise in the sunset of their life. But what we don't realize is that more than all the above, they just want to be heard, they want to talk to their kids who are now busy in their careers and have meaningful conversations just like they had in the earlier days.
Now when they are old, (not as old as they would like to think because 60 is the new 40)and have grown up children (we) all they look forward to is tete a tete with their loved ones. They seem to be so happy when you call them and share your daily experiences that it completely makes their day. So I have suddenly realized as I am writing this post that the daily routine (which we consider) of calling them every day is their much required dose of adrenalin. They really look forward to our calls and when it doesn't come through on a day they are worried sick about us whereas we are blissfully ignorant about their feelings.
Also, some times when they have to call us during our office hours, due to pressing demands at work we either let it go as a missed call or hurriedly cut short the conversation. For us it is just another call which can be answered later but to them it means the most sometimes. Nothing is more important than your dear ones, believe me! Especially when they are trying to reach you when you are busy, the least we can do is hear them out or politely tell them that u will call them back. They just want a kind hearing after all they have been patient with us for so many years when we were growing. This is the least we can do for them.

Also, a visit to their place brings such good cheer to them. You just have to see their beaming faces and it says it all. Even at their age they like to pamper us so much, it some times embarrasses me....do I really deserve this? They are ready to go on a limb to help and support us even at their age. Its truly amazing!

As parents don't most of us yearn for that special time with our kids which tends to make us feel younger and energized with the enthusiasm of the company, its exactly the same case here. So go ahead and make their day!

If you are happy for being who you are and look back on your childhood the same way I do, I m sure you will agree with me wholeheartedly.

If its been some time since you spoke to your folks, pick that phone and say hello or if possible, visit them, they will be pleasantly surprised. And if they stay with you, even better...just give them a big warm hug. You would surely give them a reason to smile. :)

Keep the faith!

Its 5 o clock on a Saturday morning and my eyes are already wide open. I can’t bear to see myself awake so early and hurting with pain on a weekend morning. From one side to another, tossing and turning, I am trying to make myself comfortable but as much as I try hard, the agonizing pain in my right shoulder seems relentless. Its not allowing me to sleep and I am wondering how someone who could wake up only with the sound of hundred trumpets and bugles is now up and awake even before the dawn sets in.
Devoid of sleep and tired of looking at the ceiling which has peeled off in the corner, I shift my gaze to the whirring fan on the ceiling. The sun’s gentle rays which are streaming in through the crack in the window are caressing the blades of the fan and are getting cut in a predictable manner with the motion of the fan. I am engrossed in this visual display for a brief time in which it allows me to escape from the unendurable pain of the moment. And lo, as if in flashback my thoughts take me back to the day almost 3 months ago.
It was a Sunday on 15th November and it was darker than it should be for a 5 am morning. It had rained the previous night which was quite unusual in the year for Mumbai. The sky was overcast from the night before with a few grey clouds still looming as if ominously. Today was the day when my parents were leaving for a 15 day holiday to Australia and I was only there since the previous night to help them do the last minute packing and to drop them off at the airport. It was unusual but I was a little anxious and nervous since the previous night and not just because of the unpredictable rain but as if something was going to happen, something not so good. I do surprise my self with my intuitive powers sometimes and when I look back now to that date of 15th November I was completely right about that anxious feeling.
I didn’t want my parent’s holiday to go kaput especially when they were looking forward to it since so many days. With all my heart, I wanted their holiday to go as planned and be an enjoyable one at that. But then this apprehensive feeling was completely overwhelming me. And then I knew exactly what I had to do. I had just mastered the basics of Reiki healing and it had taught me to use these prayers for healing of self or others or problem solving or for assuaging the fears of uncertain situations. And so I did. I fervently prayed using my Reiki mantras the previous night and went to bed. I prayed that my parent’s holiday be safe and enjoyable. The prayers helped me to reduce the uneasy feeling in my heart and I went to sleep with positive thoughts for company.
However what lay ahead does not surprise me especially when I look back. The flight was at nine in the morning on the day of November 15th and we had to reach the airport at least 2 hours early. So we had accordingly hired a private cab to pick us up at 6.30 am with the airport just half hour drive from my parent’s home. We were running 15 minutes late already and as expected my dad was seething with anger and excited at the same time but rightly so. The women had taken a little longer to get dressed than required. Stepping in the cab his temper continued. After a small argument with me and my mom he agreed to wear his seat belt. The driver was driving slowly as the roads had become slippery from the unseasonable rains and also the fact that the first rains are typically ominous for cars. We were cruising at 60 km per hour and were almost half way through the drive and when the car ahead of us came to a screeching halt out of the blue. Our cab driver luckily managed to stop the car within a hair’s breadth distance. But our sigh of relief was unfortunately short lived and within split seconds we all were violently shaken out of our seats and left shocked from a mighty blow from behind. A giant SUV was unfortunately trailing our cab at a faster speed and as luck would have it the driver could not get the giant machine to come to a grinding stop without banging into our cab from behind. After recovering from this shock the first thought that came to my mind was to check whether my parents were unhurt. Both were reeling under the shock but visibly unhurt. I was relieved to see my mom was not showing any visible signs of impact but was left with a bump on her forehead. My dad thanks to the seat belt was also fine and was now worried about reaching the airport on time rather than the accident and rightfully so. He saw the warring men outside pointing fingers at each other for the mayhem, so he stepped out of the car and did his best to calm the drivers. However when I look back, I wish I could have taken the SUV’s number down so I could sue him for the damage done to my right shoulder. Yes, in all this I had fractured my right shoulder and for the last 3 months have been nursing this slowly healing injury. It didn’t seem that fatal at that time and in fact I didn’t realize the pain till I dropped off my parents at the airport. Once home I suddenly started noticing the excruciating pain emanating from my right arm. So immediately was advised to go to orthopedic to rule out any internal injuries. So with my hubby in tow, I went to the doctor to realize it was a fracture of the right shoulder. This incident has completely changed my life and has forced me to become ambidextrous amongst many things. I have got the best support from my dear hubby and near and dear ones but most importantly made me realize that health is wealth and each of our organs if not in best shape can throw your life out of gear completely. We should be happy with what we have and make the most of what has GOD has given us. The only positive and most important aspect I could take away from this incident was that my parents escaped unhurt and could go on their holiday as planned. Was it because of the Reiki mantras I prayed that fateful night that my parents could enjoy their holidays, I don’t know, may be yes, may be no. But I surely would like to believe so and it as strongly reaffirmed my faith in this alternate healing process. After all faith does move mountains. But for now as I try to move my right hand it surely feels like a big mountain. May be not now but I know I will be able to move it like 3 months back very soon. Keep the faith!

face bhook!

Today I woke up to a news article in The Times of India on my favourite social networking site
(nowadays) take a guess which one!.....yeah you are right, Facebook. It says that India Inc. is facing a productivity loss of 12.5% per day thanks to the social networking sites. If translated into number of hours it means on an average, an employee works only for 7 hours out of the 8 hours at work. Rest of the time is spent on social networking sites. Chk the link for the article -http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Social-networking-plagues-India-Inc/articleshow/5429382.cmsms
Ofcourse there are those unlucky few (but thankfully not part of statistics) like me where the employers have banned/blocked usage of such sites in office. Did these statistics shock me...or anyone else for that matter. I doubt it very much. Isnt it that what everyone is addicted to for the last so many months. In fact if you are not yet part of the Face Book bandwagon you could be considered a social outcast and a not 'with it' person. Either you are sent a friend invite to join FB or you just join it to check what everyone's talking so passionately about. It would be difficult to meet one of your friends who is not yet been bitten by this worm. They say nowadays the social profile of a person is recognised as ' Either you are a Face Booker' or not. Its like either you have or you dont.
Well, one person will disagree and thats ur truly's husband, because he has not only NOT created a profile yet on FB but I doubt he will be doing so in near future, especially seeing me affected by this new addiction surely he thinks he can do without it. Also that when I am on FB, its as if he is not there...well, thats what he says. Since FB has become one of my top 10 activities in the day, it is almost one of the top 10 reasons why we fight. And I am sure he is waiting for the day when he can say,'I told you so....' and win the battle for him. I would not only like to prove him wrong but also get him 'FaceBooked'
So you FB is creating tremors not only at office but also at home. And taking a cue of this social phenomenon, rightly so in its usual 'Amul' brand of humour we saw this FB hoarding towering over us from various city buildings. When 'Amul's' ad propogates any brand, its a clear measure of its cult status and establishes its popularity.

And as my blog post title reads, I can safely say that we have indeed been possessed by this all 'consuming' brand so much so that we 'Eat FB, Live FB and sleep FB'.
And I am sure the increasing numbers of FB users which at last count was 350 million users worldwide will all agree with the above statement.
Whats more?
That I could meet my school friends after 20 years....was one of the biggest event of my life of 2009. 125 batch mates who would have never have dreamt of meeting up on one common ground after two decades and reliving the grand ol' memories of quarter century back. It was truly pure, magical, ethereal and almost unbelievable feeling when we had the Reunion bees saal baad . A special evening, moments of which I have been reliving almost every minute since that day. And all this thanks to FB.
Yes, truly its helped me and millions others across the world reconnect with long lost friends from school, colleges, office and how! Its just not a social networking site but a brand which everyone wakes up to and goes to sleep with. Can their be any other brand as popular and addictive as this...i guess may be Colgate toothpaste comes closest (just joking) but there again...one is by habit and the other is pleasure. You dont get excited looking at your toothbrush in themorning/night as much as you do by checking ur FB profile with the latest updates from your pals.
Also, there was another article which I happened to read today which does not directly relate to FB but it has the potential to be. It says the power of how a tighly knit group of enlightened people can bring about a positive change not just at a micro level but at a national level by having a common agenda. And I think FB has the power for that to happen. If all on FB from India believe that we need a stronger governance, no corruption, no land grabbing by builders, timely and appropriate justice delivered by the judiciary, no illegal encroachments,proper planning of projects, open grounds, no cutting trees and importance of education/infrastructure in eradicating poverty then our time has come to use FB in the right direction and make it a lethal tool to wipe out the thugs who are ruling the country in the name of politicians.
Why dont we use FB to pursue common goals such as these. As the cliche goes, its an idea whose time has come!

Read below article for the context -
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzAxLzEwI0FyMDI0MDI=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom
So you see its not just a social networking site to meet your old pals and get together for reunions but it could be used as a tool for Unions of a different kind, Unions of Intellectuals who crave for doing something constructive for their nation and community. As I am sure that there are hundreds and thousands of Indians who have always wanted to do something for the city and country but did not know what to do and where to go.
Thinking aloud....May be a National newspaper can tie up with Facebook and create a community online for such Indians which could be BIG force to reckon with. And why not, there are already many groups formed based on social issues but we need a consolidated group which will cover all the problems which we as Indians face day in and day out and members can then nominate themselves for sub groups within this group for issues which are close to their heart. And icing on the cake would be to have a social (genuine)celebrity to campaign for this National cause.
To conclude, all I can say is that Facebook has the power to become a 'socially' relevant brand!

A Reunion after 20 years! - A small tribute

As I am writing this post, the one song that keeps humming in my head and playing on my lips constantly is 'Summer of 69', the feelings are exactly the same. And undoubtedly what I am going to write is about 'The Best days of my (our)Life' with emotions running high just like Bryan Adams must have, when penning the cult song of our generation.


Its been exactly 6 days since I have met them, my ol' friends but the sweet taste of the hangover is still there and will savour it forever!


It was a reunion after 20 years for IES batch 89 and what a memorable evening it was. It still gives me goosebumps and my mind goes in overdrive as if its fed on endorphins, when I think about that special evening.





Days before Reunion

I had been eagerly waiting for the D-day to arrive almost akin to a kid's excitement waiting to unwrap his birthday gifts. Well, it couldnt have been any other way, as I was to meet my long lost friends after 20 years (phew!)and catch up with them on all those wonderful 12 years that had been spent at our dear school IES, Hindu Colony....in classrooms, in its corridors, labs, on the school ground, recesses, picnics, canteens, PTA's,school programs and the list is endless.


IES our school... an epitome of a school factory. A factory because it used to be (still does)always teeming with us...school kids. Whether in classroom, school buses, at school gates or just about everywhere...and it was like a real melting pot, a reflection of our city Mumbai, in a sense. We were from all cross sections of life, truly all kinds there... and importantly we loved it for its bigness and diversity....which had in its fold so many children who eventually were to become friends for life.

Such strong is our feeling and attachment for the school that one cannot leave without feeling fervently or impassioned for it. We love it, adore it, complain about it, we are passionate about it also sometimes (yeah, sometimes) talk disparagingly about it but at the end of it we are happy we are part of it and are truly proud of it!


So it was but obvious that the days spent before the grand day were spent in pure anticipation as to what will unfold on the D day. I was actually running in my head the sequence of events which were to take place .. A huge eagerness with a little nervousness and lot of excitement. Will they or wont they recognise me (classmates)...do I look old/young for my age.....have I put on weight...have I done well enough for myself in the last 20 years and what if my friends have done better (or worse). It was like all of a sudden, I was going through a self assessment at the 20 year milestone. But I am sure I was not alone.

But what the hell...there was even more stronger thought that plagued my mind...I was meeting my bunch after 2 whole decades and I was all gung ho for a Deja vu... memories 20 years old which I wanted to revive so badly...that I wanted to walk down that lane all over again...again and again!



I was to meet about hundred batch mates...some close friends...some few friends who I had lost touch, some I knew barely and still some I may not have spoken in school at all. But the common link being we were all a bunch of 35 years old who had for the last 20 years been strewn all over the city, country or world and were to meet again and renew the memories which we had saved in that special place (heart) and could only be revived by us...the batch of 89 by being there all together!




D-Day arrives


Date - 19th December 2009

Place - Worli Police Swimming Pool

Time - 6 pm

Setting - Reunion of IES 1989 batch after 20 years



Firstly, as I stepped on that turf and just being there made me feel 20 years younger almost instantly...it was like I had sat in a time machine and flown back to a place in time which I can describe as 'shiny and happy'..it was 80's remember.





It was the time of homeworks (not done), sitting on the last bench (and chatting during class), black shoes/white socks (uff!), red hairbands(never worn), crushes (and thereafter, feeling crushed), PT exercises (and the art of slacking off), short recess (biscuits) and long recess (chapati/bhaaji), the art of sharing dabba with your gang, being in classroom (but not really being there), being an outstanding student (for truly standing outside class), ranks and report cards (such a pain ) and many such wicked memories.





Coming back to the reunion...I was happy to meet all and mind you all...whether I had known them in school or didnt. It didnt matter. The whole atmosphere was so magical and pure that its difficult to describe in words.





It started with...'oh you havent changed a bit'...or 'you look just the same' and for the others who we knew by face, ' I know u, but cant remember your name'...and sometimes it was...'Oh my god,Is that really you...' . 'where have u been's and 'what are you upto's. The ice breaking continued a good amount of time till we had gone out and met every single (almost) school mate.





Some had changed fairly and most of us squarely (pun of course intended) but we still remembered the face as it was. Somehow it surprised me that I could still rememb most of my 60-70 odd classmates and more names by heart but now if you ask me names of my past office colleagues...well, I could do a lot good with a 8 GB memory drive for my brain. I guess the computers and cell phones have spoilt us rotten.





And to top it all, the event was made even more precious by the presence of a few teachers who we revered and adored (still do). Seeing them again opened the floodgates of memories of a different kind...it was indeed special moment for us to have them in our midst and we will appreciate that truly. Thank you, mams!





The party continued with gusto for 6 hours thriving on great conversation, good food, lively music, flowing booze and more importantly company of some amazing friends. The air was absolutely thick with choked emotions, familiar laughs and old sentiments of long lost friends. The evening just flew by ...and how....we wished it would never end. The buzz, the excitement, energy, nostalgia and vibes of friends thrown together again has renewed my vigour and made me feel young(er) all over again. Those 6 hours of that special evening truly encapsulated (almost)the fantastic 12 years of my school years, beautifully. And but naturally we have decided to meet again....cos' its obvious we dont want to lose this momentum again....we cant wait for another milestone (20 years) to bring this evening into our life again. In a small way or big way...lets decide that this evening shall not pass as just another special day in our life never to come back again. Lets aim for many more to come.





To all my dear friends who could not make it on this evening and for those who were not aware...we dearly missed your presence and hence we would like to do this again to make it even bigger and cherishable as the evening of 19th Dec 2009. Lets set the ball rolling!





Last but not least, for those who made it happen...Hats off to you all!....Jaydeep Palep, Anand Mhapralkar, Abhijeet Avarsekar, Mangesh Choubal, Vasudev Rane, Geetanjali Subhedar, Shilpa Tawte and I am sure I must have missed a few more names....Please forgive my ignorance. Guys, you made it happen!





Lastly all I would like to say to my dear school, teachers and schoolmates...a song which is a dedication to all those who shaped me into becoming what I am today.





You are the wind beneath my wings!!

Life is a slinging match!

Imagine a right handed person suddenly has to stop using his/her right hand for doing the daily chores and make do with just a left hand....how must it feel....restricted, cramped, uncomfortable, slow, handicapped. Yes! All these and more feelings...well thats how i exactly feel right now....because thats my situation-literally & figuratively for the last few days. Which i must add that few days already seems like a zillion years.
And above all that you can add a dash of pain and slice of extra discomfort to make it a complete story of my life in a SLING!
Yes...its a fracture! confirmed the doc looking at the x ray and then at me woefully....fracture of my right hand, i said to myself and then I realised that its not just my bone which had broken (thankfully in one place only)but also my confidence in a surreal way. I now understand the importance of the 'feeling of independance' in literal sense because life has become a real slinging match, with me fighting for every single inch of flexibility every single moment and my broken bone denying it by gnawing at my inner muscles tearingly.

We in our daily grind of life take so many things for granted that we fail to appreciate what we already have and then BOOM! It hits you from behind so suddenly and severely... just like the car that banged into our car, that you are forced to look at the rear view mirror of life to assess what happened.

Well, this fracture has brought into being whole lot of factors which I never knew existed or even if existed never surfaced before.
-For starters, life can change in seconds...and i m not promoting DOCOMO here
-I got to see Ashish's (my hubby of course) sensitive and caring side. I had no iota of doubt in my mind about his capabilities as being loving and attentive but this incident gave him a chance to display that in full glory.
-I realised with this forced break, how much I mean to my friends, relatives & colleagues...with their concerned phone calls
-Also, how much ever you think you are important at the place of work....life goes on...sadly!
-Importance of a good night's rest as the broken bone has somehow got the knack of giving me broken sleep every single night.
- To look at positive side inspite of the situation as it helps you to deal with the situation easily
- Last but not least, the importance of being ambi-dextrous. Isnt that obvious given the condition this thought should be foremost in my mind!

So on this note, I hope to recover soon from my discomfort and at the same time gain more insights to help me sail through life's ups and downs more bravely.
Cheers!

Weight Challenge or Wait Challenge

I am so full of shame when I write this post about the much blogged about weight challenge which me and my dear friends Anu and Shilpa took up in June. Not only did I falter within few weeks because a holiday popped up but after I came back in 10 days I completely forgot about it conveniently. Likewise my friends who I am sure have also given up. Moreso Anu, as she is enjoying a holiday for the last month and a half - so you can safely count her out. Because I cant imagine her on a diet in the most consumerist countries of the world- USA/Canada....where all the food portions are meant for people who are neither vertically or horizontally challenged. Moreover you can get the most variety and yummiest of peanut butter and also potato chips and also ice creams...yummm....the list goes on. And as regards Shilpa I dont want to call her up lest she says...which weight challenge? As there is a strong likelihood that she also must have got a amnesia attack like me did and prefers to forget that 'it' ever happened. So here I am, after more than 3 months (it was to be a 3 month weight challenge) that I am writing a post mortem of the challenge which never was...hence Wait Challenge....looks it will have to wait some more time till I become more determined and focussed about following it.
But I am not alone, I take comfort in the fact that there are many and more out there who have had this attack of taking up the weight loss challenge and have not seen it till its end, faltering mid way or losing interest. Well, thats what statistics say! I wish the activity of thinking about losing weight itself could translate into actual weight loss. Isn't what they say, Its the thought that counts. So it should be here as well!
Anyway, jokes apart. This is serious!
A small piece of good news though is....since June when I was around 62.4 ks I have become 60 kgs in 3 months...dont ask me how.
May be the new weighing machine is being nice to me or my vision is blurring and I am 'seeing' things or may be my walking up to 5th floor office has really helped (btw I didnt stop walking up during this period). If I assume the last part is true, but that alone cant help me lose weight.
So I am still wondering...how did this happen.

Since I cant expect another miracle for sure, here I am back again looking forward to brighter tomorrow with a fighting spirit in tow. Raring to go after the next 3 kgs like a cheetah after a equally faster deer...because thats how tough its going to be.
All detemined so that I achieve my objective of 57 kgs....at least in 6 months if not in 3 months.
Amen!

Few of my favourite things

These are a few of my favourite things...

- Waking up to the smell of just rained wet soil and then realising there is still one more hour for wake up time and getting back in bed with the cozy blankets for company

- Eating the delicious and warm, hand prepared meal by my Aai which makes me even more hungrier with its delectable aroma

- When my dear hubby runs his hand through my hair and kisses me on my forehead

-Watching my favourite films on tv with a hot batata vadas and poha all cuddled up on sofa while its rainin outside

- Going shopping for me and my family and returning with bargains which they all love.

- Surfing on ikea.com and also doing up the house

- Making a lovely meal for my hubby on sunday morning and he relishing it by devouring it and then showing his appreciation by giving his warm smile which says it all

- Being with my aai, papa, hubby, sis, niece and catching up on all the antics of my niece and listening to her non stop affable jabber

- Going to Goa, Mangeshi temple which brings back all fantastic childhood memories

- Meeting cousins/friends and chatting up with them nineteen to the dozen and catching up on all the news and gossip.

- Reading up on inspiring stories, fiction -mystery, thriler, romance and humourous and mgmt books

- Writing.. ..i wish someday i get to write for some popular magazines /publications

- Travelling to unheard of places india/ abroad....treks, cycling, walks, back packing...

- Watching Movies... with a good message whether animation, serious, thriller, romantic, romcom, tear jerker etc

- Sleeping till late on Sat/Sun

- Driving on roads with no traffic

- contribute towards society esp. for causes related to environment and education

- And other things such as green mountains, beaches in winters, light drizzle, walking barefeet on dewy grass

- Walking alone in the greens and listening to the natures sounds

- Listening to lilting old melodies when tired to soothe frayed nerves

Points to ponder!

Some Things I have learnt....
- Sometimes being by yourself helps introspection...and also take a long hard look at yourself.
- Be kind to yourself...its better late than never.
- Slow and steady wins the race...i learnt in school but understood only as an adult
- Life is 50% hard work and 50% destiny. Hard work is in your hands...if you realise that half the battle is won. Thats why its said..harder you work...luckier you get
- Positive thinking...2 most powerful words that can change your life and perspective.
- If you want something really badly and you have worked towards it...you get it when you least expect it.
- Its not enough to get recognised with just hard work...you need to write your own ad as well.
- In the race of life..some reach their milestones early some get there late. But whats more important is how you reached there and whether you enjoyed the journey.
- In this age of excess...its even more important to strike a balance.
- Be good...believe me you look good as well.
- Learn to give more than you receive (whole heartedly). Believe me, you get more than you give!
- Dont be judgemental...you never know when u may have to pass the same path
- Just like 'Things to do' list we make in office, its important for a personal 'Things to do' list.
- Health is wealth, another one I learnt in school but understood only as an adult
- Every crisis should be looked as GOD's way of testing us, the positive side is - It makes us wiser.

Ganpati -King of good times!

It's not unusual to write about Lord Ganesh or Ganpati with the season so thick in the air. It's so hard to get him out of the head. And hence a special blog for one and only Vakratunda, Ekdunta, Lambodara, Bhalchandra, Vinayaka, Ganjanan...

What is it that everybody, whether young and old, rich and poor, irrespective of any religion fondly pray, love, and adore this GOD. Of course, we know he is Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles) and Lord of Beginnings, so praying to him is something we can't do without in this age of stress and life-changing times.

But more than that, Ganpati holds such unparalleled love and fondness that it goes beyond the typical reverence associated with any other idol worship. He is a good friend, guide and confidante.

Through my personal experience in my last so many years of adult life, I have realized what it is to have someone like HIM in your life. And believe me, its not just when you are in low spirits and or facing a crisis. It could be just a typical day and a little prayer to HIM every day in the morning and before going to bed, puts me completely at ease and feel at home.

He is omnipresent, he knows, and most of all, he loves back. He is forgiving, nonjudgemental, and solves all your problems.

Undoubtedly he is brought home with much pomp and gaiety and with a heavy heart is bid farewell. With the same heavy heart, I write this blog as today was the day when we had to say Ganpati Bappa Morya...Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar ya.

We look forward to the year 2010 when we get him home again to bring good cheer and good times, which will continue to be in our hearts with his thoughts.

Bombay Meri Jaan - A 'historical' cycle ride (Courtesy Odati)

The name of the post is not a misnomer, its true and I mean it. I agree the city has gone to the dogs and beyond but thats now with intense urbanisation. If you read further you will realise that there is rich and interesting history behind our very own murky, slummy, concretised, flooded and crowded Bombay which it has now become. I keep asking why, why dont we Mumbaiites hold on to the few traces of heritage and greens which have become rarer than the white tiger.Why dont we all who care for this city either join an existing force which aims to save this city or create a new force to stop it from crumbling. The politicians here have used and abused this city like whore, milking money from any project that needs/does not need to be there. The hard working, salary earning huge middle class watches like a mute spectator and carries on his daily grind since he/she has got mouths to feed at home. First the delayed projects then the green cover which is vanishing into thin air and now they want to increase the dateline to 2000 for the slums for rehabilitation...all this for vote bank. No wonder then that 60% of Mumbai's population lives in the slums. It wont be far when all the intelligent, hard working, sincere and talented pool will leave this city for lack of quality of life..and not justfor another city in India but of out of India. Not that it has'nt happened already. Since the Government, whichever party it belongs to, does not believe in creating employment opportunities in multiple cities across India. So obviously everyone will jump on the bandwagon to come to Mumbai, Delhi, Blore or Hyderabad. Such a large country and only handful of cities for employment. Absolutely unfair and unjust distribution. Given the scenario there will always be pressure on water, electricity, land resource shortages in these cities because every city has its limit of taking within its folds a threshold population. And if that is violated there is disturbance and then chaos.

However I will come to the common man's problems later on.

But for now I would like to give some reason to feel proud for all those who have stayed in Mumbai for long as to consider its 'their own city'. It has such interesting facets to it which are not known to many which I would like to bring out in this post.

I would like to make this post in the form of a Did You Know Trivia about Mumbai which I feel will unveil its history in a dramatic manner.

1. What is Mumbai's original name?

Puri.

Apparently in old days, GharaPuri Caves which is known now as Elephanta Caves was very popular in those days and since Mumbai was closest land mass, it became a reference point for the same and hence named Puri.

2. Why is South Mumbai called as Fort?

You wont believe it but there was a Fort wall which actually ran from Lions Gate to Crawford Market with a gate in between called Church Gate. The Church Gate was situated where the Flora Fountain is currently. The wall was built by Portuguese to guard/protect them against any invasions from the Arabian sea. Also the Portuguese had a clear view from these fort walls on to the sea since the 3 popular maidans were on the outside of these walls. And guess which maidans were these...yes you are right. They were the Azad, Oval and Cross Maidans.

3. Where does Church Gate get its name?

There is a St. Thomas Cathedral which is still located close to Horniman Circle and since the Gate was located closer to it, it got its name from this very Church. You can still have a look at the actual gate picture which is being framed and kept inside the St. Thomas Cathedral as soon as you enter it. Do see it if you get a chance. And thus the station gets its name from this 'Churchgate'

4. Where does the BSE has its beginnings?

The Bombay Stock Exchange started its roots within Horniman Circle under a tree.

5. How did the Britishers get the islands of Bombay?

The islands were given to the English King Charles II in dowry on his marriage to Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza in 1662.

6. What does Bombay stand for?

Bom Baia means Good Bay in Portuguese, later the English anglesized it to Bombay

7. Which was the famous hotel where Jamshedji Tata was refused entry as 'Indians and Dogs were not allowed'

Its the Watson Hotel located at the corner opp. Kala Ghoda. And ironically its the oldest and most dangerous building in the city today. The entire building was in those days one of the rare buildings which was imported from UK and planted here as acast iron structure.
Its rumoured that from the terrace of this buildng one could see Matheran, which is believable considering there was no pollution and also no structures beyond it. The fact that there is a Bombay Point in Matheran also proves that if one can see Bombay from Matheran then vice versa could be a strong likelihood.
And thanks to this Watson Hotel where Jamshetji Tata was refused entry today we have the world famous Taj Mahal Hotel at Gateway of India, which was built to spite the Britishers.

8. The Gateway of India was rumoured to be built to welcome King George V & Queen Mary in 1921 for his grand arrival into the country but the Gateway could not be built in time and was completed only in 1924. Again ironically it was Gateway of India where the Britishers left the country in 1948 after India's independance.














9. Whats the story behind Rajabai Towers?

The Rajabai tower was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect. It was modelled on Big Ben, the clock tower of the UK houses of Parliament in London.
The foundation stone was laid on March 1, 1869 and construction was completed in November 1878. The total cost of construction came to Rs. 2 lakhs (Rs. 200,000), a princely sum in those days. This entire cost was defrayed by Premchand Roychand, a prosperous broker who founded the Bombay Stock Exchange on the condition that the tower be named after his mother Rajabai.
Premchand Roychand's mother was blind and as a staunch follower of Jain religion she was supposed to consume her dinner before evening. The evening bell of the tower helped her to know the time without anyone's help.
10. VT Station

Its the only UNESCO World Heritage Site which has utlity even now.
The building was inspired by a set of drawings for Berlin Parliament buildings (never built), St. Pancras Station and Victoria Terminus London.
Fredrick William Stevens, a very reputed architect designed and constructed the building based on a water colour masterpiece sketched by draughts-man Axel Herman. The construction of the building commenced in the month of May 1878, and was completed by the month of May 1888.


While still under construction, the terminus was opened to public on Jan 1, 1882.
During the Golden Jubilee of the Queen in year 1887, the terminus was named as Victoria Terminus.

In 1850, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway built its railway terminus in this area and named it Bori Bunder, because the area near the terminus was locally referred to as ‘Bori Bunder’ or a place where bories (sacks) are stocked. On November 18, 1852, a locomotive hauled some coaches on a trial run from Bori Bunder to Thana. On April 16th, 1853, an inaugural train with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests left Bombay's Bori Bunder Station at 15:45, for Thane, with a 21-gun salute.

11. Asiatic Library

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai was founded by Sir James Mackintosh, a distinguished lawyer, jurist and public figure in England who became the Recorder or the King's Judge for Bombay. Known then as the Literary Society of
Bombay, it met for the first time on Nov 26, 1804 and aimed at promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as its now immediately connected with India.The Town Hall which houses the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is heritage building, located deep in the city's historic
Fort area, shaped by colonial geography, architecture and sculpture. Built on the Bombay Green, it has an axial orientation and west facing view. As one stands on the top step of the main entrance stairway, the magnificent city vista spread out in front offers, if one looks carefully enough, a slice of history. It is rumoured one could actually see the sea from the topmost step of the Asiatic Library. The circular Elphinstone Garden ( now Horniman Cirlce) in front, St. Thomas Cathedral and Flora Fountain ( now Hutatma Chowk) beyond, Mumbai Samachar
building, the area's oldest Agiary and other beautiful residential and office buildings make a walk in the neighbourhood an experience full of interwoven textures of past and present. The dramatic flight of 30 steps up the Town Hall, the pedimented portico with its eight Doric columns, the wrought iron divided Regency banister leading up to the vestibule, the easy chairs in the Periodicals Room with the matching footstools that facilitate browsing and the majestic
Durbar Hall all combine to create and impression of the Society as organically connected through colonial history to its immediate environs, while yet remaining its crest jewel.

Weight Challenge Week - Week 3

Its been 3 weeks since I (we actually) started the weight challenge and 9 weeks to go. And i am wee bit lighter. I have been consciously trying to eat right food and also having light dinner with more salads included. The only thing I need to put in order is my exercise regime. The swimming sessions seem to be getting affected with the onset of rains and also the atmosphere not permitting me to get out of bed....its so, not a weather for swimming...u would rather go some place out of town and enjoy warm cup of coffee sitting in a open balcony overlooking a picturesque setting with ofcourse with your special next to you. But ofcourse i am digressing here...i guess the side effects of fresh rains has taken a toll on me.
Coming back to where I started, I am confident now that if I resume my swimming or brisk walking sessions will definitely have desired effect combined with my healthy diet.
The goal of losing 6 kgs does not seem unlikely as I thought earlier but may be possible in 4 months instead of 3 months due to a delayed serious start.
The weight check will happen tomorrow morning...watch this space. I hope I have lost some weight. Fingers crossed!

3 Month Weight Challenge- Continued

Today is the first week completion of my weight challenge which started on June 5.
Bad news first......as per feedback received from both my friends Anu and Shilpa, they have cheated on their diets...including yours truly. We could not control our respective nerves to resist the temptation of sweets that were dangled before us. And all of 3 of us gave in to the sweet temptation and committed the forgiving sin. Forgiving because we have the right to forgive ourselves in such moments of weakness.

But the good news is all 3 of us are still raring to go and have decided to let bygones be bygones and treat it like a warm up week where we were allowed to cheat and eat, which was forgiven if confessed. And all 3 readily confessed to each other, which means we go scotfree and can now look forward to the next 3 months witha fresh perspective.
On a personal note..I am confessing here that last week was not just the first week of my so called 3 month weight challenge but also the most excruciating. Because when I had that basundi and the ragda pattice not only did i cheat eat but I bunked my swimming sessions for 4 days of the week. I so totally failed the warm up round....that it felt like a cold shoulder given to weight challenge right at its infancy stage.
So here I am raring to go in my second week...where I am planning not to miss my single swiiming session, walk up the 5 floors to my office and also change my (and hubby's) dinner diets.
We realised we end up having dinner at 10 which is not good considering its beeen written somewhere that there should be atleast a gap of 3 hours before one hits the bed. Well, we dont hitting the bed at 1 pm nor can we have dinner at 8, so we are planning to alter the dinner itself.
It will be sprouts in the misal style and fruits (apples/oranges or seasonal fruit) and if still hungry then a glass of milk withut any additions. No chapatis and no rice. I am hoping this will work and looking forward to losing 1 kg every week with this diet.

Also, both of us have to take care of our Triglyceride levels which have gone thru the roof. Will come back and keep posted on whether there was indeed a weight loss observed.
My weight today was 62.4 kgs. I am hoping to touch 61.4 kgs by next saturday and so with my hubby who is 90 kgs today.

Watch this space. :-)

The 3 months Weight Loss Challenge

Today the date is 5th June and the first day of our diet. Yes, you read it right - Our diet.
Why? Because me and 2 of my friends Anu and Shilpa, we all three are going on a healthy diet combined with regular exercise to help reduce our respective weight.

Shilpa - Current weight 63 kgs and in 3 months wants to be 57 kgs - To lose 6 kgs
Anu - Wants to lose 7 kgs in 3 months
Myself - Current weight 62 kgs and wants to be 55 kgs - To lose 7 kgs in 3 months
We are not looking at joining any Talwalkar's, VLCC's or Kaya's of the world but tweaking our current diet by just eating what is right, nutritious and less oily/sweet. And ofcourse in moderation.
And our mantra henceforth will be
"Fitness is a journey not a destination, it should be continued throughout your life"
We will be analysing our weights every week/fortnight to check where we have reached in our endeavour and since we 3 have more or less the same kgs to lose it will be a good way to compare notes and also prove to be a interesting game where we can compete with each other. At the end of which we all will benefit.

We are hoping it works.
As for me, I am planning to eat less for dinner and eat only sprouts (make it interesting like harbara chana bhel)and fruits.
And either swimming or brisk walks and surya namaskar to supplement the healthy diet.
Keeping fingers crossed since I have this huge sweet tooth and have a habit of straying from such routines very easily. I am one of those who can resist anything but temptation. ;-)
So there you are...
I will be writing on the status as much as I can so its easy to follow on the path.
Keep watching this space for more ...

My first Bite

Yesterday I had my first bite of the King Alphonso.. mango ofcourse! It was reddish orange in colour with a sweet, warm and intoxicating aroma. I was tantalised with its sheer presence in my palms. And as I brought it closer to my nose & lips to smell the aroma, my olfactory senses went berserk. Its the same effect every year, on me and everyone else....and no doubt its called the King of the fruits. No other fruit has that impact on your senses like the Mango. No other fruit gets so much news space in the papers and coverage on TV channels. Imagine a banana (Aam aadmi ka phal) or even an Apple (which has a saying to its credit) does not get more or even equivalent share of voice. Come summer and the only thing which Indians look forward to besides the school vacations is the Mango. Also, earlier you have the Mango during the season you are looked upon as GOD! Most of us, will wait for the prices to come down...but still a vast majority cant wait. When you gotta go, you gotta go!
This fruit truly brings out the child in you....you are least bothered how you look when devouring this delight. The mouth changes its colour, the lips go slurping the juice right till the edges of your elbow (really..not exaggerating!..chk kids when they have it) and ofcourse licking off the last remnants of this fruit from the plate. Nothing gives more bliss than that.
Who cares abt your P's and Q's when King M is around?
Its been reported that the Mango is going to be expensive this season. So whats new I ask. Isnt it the same story every year. So who cares (again)..
So I say, Go Mango and indulge! Eat, drink and make merry (read:eat mango) because tomorrow you may diet. If you ain't eaten it this summer, it aint summer!

Elections... Lets make a difference.

The elections are around the corner and I am sure with so much campaigning this year by NGO's and also organisations such as TATA's, The Times of India which are urging all (eligible) to vote, this year is going to be different. We esp. the middle class which is big and burgeoning as years have gone by have been always been sidelined by the parties that come to power. Its either the poor or the very rich who have benefited while the hard working,sincere and tax paying middle class left to fend for itselves. (No offence meant to non midle class)

People like us who just ask for basic issues to be tackled such better roads, cleanliness, civic sense, water, electricity, foot paths for pedestrians, green spaces, proper drainage to avoid water logging, illegal constructions to be removed. Isnt this all something which we should get anyway but unfortunately much is left for asking . Hence very naturally we have never been excited about the voting process and many amongst us may have given it a miss in the past because it means choosing between the lesser evil candidate.

And less said the better about the candidates which stand for the elections because already much has been debated and discussed on TV channels, written about in newspapers and what have you.

But here I come across a website http://www.ppi.net.in which in its 'About us' section mentions that its sole objective is to improve the quality of life of every Indian. Check the Core group under tab 'Organsation' to know what kind of people are involved in this party.

The Professionals Party of India (PPI) is a new age political party that encourages the middle class to fearlessly participate in the political process to bring competent professionals into leadership positions in governance. Party believes that the change is possible only if the middle class comes out in large number to exercise their franchise.

They have put forth many issues which we all identify with and would like to put an end to or change it for better. They have mentioned their manifestoes on the site.

Since I stumbled on this website today, I immediately registered myself on it and saw that they have a a Open House on April 9th at Kora kendra Hall, Borivli West between 6 pm to 8.30 pm. So whoever can make it should go there to know the agenda, strategy and action plan of PPI.

Also more importantly the introduction of their party's candidates contesting from Mumbai constituency.

Since we always were lost in terms of whom to vote for, I think this would be an ideal platform to know that. Even if you cant attend for whatever reasons, during elections please keep in mind that you vote for such parties who are backed by educated professionals, non corrupt, neither religion/caste based nor believe in 'familial based' politics. Someone who would like to make our country a better place.

So in a nutshell, I would urge all to keep an eye open for such parties when you vote. Happy and fruitful voting! Also spread the message to all people who you know care to make our city/country a better place.

Jai Hind!

Friday the 13th

Unlike the name of the post, its not going to be about any horror stories nor is my life story turning to be one, at least right now. But, its about the fears each one of us carries in the back seat of our mind. Which when we confront its not such a nice place to be in, obviously. And since today is Friday the 13th I thought it would be an apt day to address this topic. Like today's Bombay Times cover story which talks about Preity Zinta and how she over came her fear of heights and did Bungee Jumping. Of course the article was not about overcoming fear or something which I am going to write about, it was more a subtle promotion for increasing tourism to New Zealand and self promotion for an actress who's not been in news for some time. Buts that's another story...

Anyway, coming back to where we started, at my company we had an interesting outbound session where we were made to do challenging activities which we would not do otherwise in our daily lives. Like rappelling from the 3rd floor or walking on a tight rope over a swimming pool and other activities such as these. Many who had vertigo problems and some who had hydro phobia overcame their fears to actually finishing these tasks successfully while others who had similar fears didn't.
And the joy I saw on the faces of those who had challenged their fears was nothing short of an expression which one would see on a child who has won his first race. It was a great achievement for them and gave them a great sense of accomplishment.
I for one, had this fear of driving a car which I over came by learning to drive - though I need to practice it regularly. Another fear is slightly funny and weird, when in the beauty parlor when your face is masked with the scrub and my eyes are closed I get claustrophobic. So I can never really enjoy my visits to the parlor especially when I need a facial. Or rather I have stopped having them. I used to have stage fear but which I over came by doing many presentations to a small group in college and in my organization and now i have learnt the trick. There is no better trick than be prepared about your subject completely, rehearse, deep breathing and drinking water to keep the throat from drying. Another fear I had though I love swimming and snorkeling was of white water rafting. But again, I did it not once but twice and I am hooked on to it.
One fear is of course which I am sure is quite common among all - fear of losing their near and dear ones. So I am not quite prepared to hear any news of about their ill health or something like that. I may put up a brave front if I hear it but in my hearts it will be difficult to bear it.
After writing all this I also wonder about little kids for e.g. My niece who is all of 4 years old and has such devil may care and fearless attitude that I am amazed. Its when we adults drill into their heads - 'Don't do this and that, or else the boogeyman will take you away or things like that.' - when they are introduced to fear when none exists.

Of course a little fear is needed to help us take cautious decisions without being foolhardy and foolishly brave. But fear needs to be limited since it obstructs us from going the whole hog and we miss many a opportunity in life. Fear is when we face it that we can actually overcome it which I realized in that Outbound session- Tapovan.
So lets abandon our fears and celebrate life with gay abandon. After all, one cant life to the fullest if we have these self created boogeyman lurking in the shadows.
Some interesting proverbs on why FEAR should be treated like plague.

Marie Curie - Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn By Living. 1960 - You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself. "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."

Eric Hoffer - You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

Bertrand Russell - To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.

Michael Pritchard - Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.

Anon -You don't face your fears, you stand up to them.

Ambrose Redmoon - Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, First inaugural address - The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Work Life Balance

Its been quite some time since I wanted to full comprehend the implications of work life balance. I can safely call myself a sincere and hardworking worker in office who finds it difficult to tear away from work if it demands it. Hence for the past 3 years of my married life I have been always at my tethers end to explain my dear hubby why I spent so much time at work (almost 11 hours) every day. And thats not good when you spend min 1.5 hours in traffic. So that would make it 13 to 14 hours away from home and family. That would leave me with 10 hours out of which 7 hours are meant for sleeping and just 3 hours for my loving hubby/family.
Is'nt that the irony of our lives nowadays when we are earning to have a better life but the most important years of our lives are spent not with them. And when we realise this and look back its too late to turn back the clock and remains completely non negotiable.

So I ask myself especially in these troubled times, when we are working hard to keep our seat relevant at the place of work and when working for pleasure is now become working for living, how do we try to get work life balance.
When bending over backwards to get work done at office was seen as a valiant effort by the stray workoholic in office now its what is expected of each one of us to remain relevant in the scheme of things. So that reminds me of an old adage Tough times dont last tough people do.
After much thinking and analysing the current scenario I have come to this conclusion thati ts God's way of telling us you have had the excesses now get ready for the scarcity. At the end of the day the universe always maintains a balance whether in nature or outcomes.
The cyclical nature of recession and boom period or what goes up must come down tells us that BALANCE in all respects is a must. Sometimes its within us and sometimes we are forced to earn it the hard way.
Those who move away from the balance and towards extremes have to face the outcomes.
So we need to prioritise and need to draw a line when work starts eating into family time and vice versa.
I have consciously decided to work 9 hours and if required work from home. Lets hope I am able to implement in successfully.
At the end of the day I cant let my prime years of my life go away toiling without my family next to me.

Life is calling..where are you!

I saw this line in one the liquor brand commercials and its so apt. I wonder why we ....(me & my peers who I may say have all the privileges such as a job, home, good health and good family) always crib about life and complain about what life has to offer.
We have it all on platter - the essentials its just we need to be more diligent and persistent in following our dreams.
We tend to digress or lose focus on what our goal is and hence don't always get what we set out to achieve
A simple case is my blog...which I started in 2006 but have not been able to devote much time to it. Not because there were more pressing things to attend to(that's just an excuse) but I could have very well juggled my timelines and managed to write a para a day but no! I lost interest in the novelty..the newness of blog concept and then it just fizzled out. I no longer updated my blog...now its been almost 2 years and here I am wondering why I could not do it.
Now that's this is just about a simple blog.
But in real life when we see some outstanding achievers what separates them from all the majority commoners like me is they have steely resolve, single minded focus and dedication towards achieving what they want to achieve. Well, it could be cricket, writing a book, becoming a successful entrepreneur or a professional or simply a great home maker.
The point of this post is we all have it in each of us but what separates the chaff from the wheat is how much YOU want to use the potential within you to be what you want to be.
Its simple and its straight. No magic formulas, no secret recipes and no inspirational talk.
And the ones who become legends practice it every moment of their lives.
So its not luck or fate which we keep bringing up as an excuse. The harder you work the luckier you get is not just another phrase but we need to remind ourselves that its the way of life.

So as my subject line says, Life is always knocking on our door with opportunities, its up to us to realize, wake up, open the door and embrace it.
So lets not complain...cos we may not see the opportunity that is about to pass by.
Cheers!

Back after a long time!

Hi,
I feel so good to be typing these words on my lil blog which I started with child like enthusiasm and stopped mid way because life was busy sorting itself out with mundane things.

Here I am....not in the way Air Supply says but just that I am looking at blogging at least every Sat or Sunday when work life is on Pause or at least it should be.

Well, my next blog will be about my Bucket List or rather I would like to call it 'Things I want to do before I turn 40'....They say if you write down things positive or what your life would like to offer you then one should internalise it or think/work towards it so passionately that it eventually fructifies. How much time it takes to realise depends on each individual.

And if I put it at 40 then....like a milestone I give myself a deadline to work towards it.

I must say the movie Bucket List was definitely instrumental in pushing me towards thinking abt this list. One gets so tied up in the daily routine of life that we keep pushing back our dreams on the back burner till we realise its too late.
Well, I for 1 have realised that its never too late and the best time to start something is NOW.

Till then I shall refine my list and make it more realistic rather than make it look like 1000 places to see before I die.

Cheers!

"Grass looks greener across the road" phenomena

A very interesting article forwarded by my friend. This is written by Dr. Gopalakrishnan, executive director of Tata Sons Ltd.,the holding company for many of the Tata blue chips like Tata Steel, TataMotors, Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Voltas etc.

"DESERVE BEFORE YOU DESIRE"The grass isn't always greener on the other side!! Move from one job to another, but only for the right reasons. It's yet another day at office. As I logged on to the marketing and advertising sites for the latest updates,as usual, I found the headlines dominated by "who's" moving from one company to another after a short stint, and I wondered, why are so many people leaving one job for another? Is it passé now to work with just one company for a sufficiently long period? Whenever I ask this question to people who leave a company, the answers I get are: "Oh, I am getting a 200% hike in salary"; "Well I am jumping three levels in my designation"; "Well they are going to send me abroad in six months".Then, I look around at all the people who are considered successful today and who have reached the top - be it a media agency, an advertising agency or a company. I find that most of these people are the ones who stuck to the company, ground their heels and worked their way to the top. And, as I look around for people who change their jobs constantly, I find they have stagnated at some level, in obscurity. In this absolute ruthless, dynamic and competitive environment, there are still no - short cuts to success or to making money. The only thing that continues to pay, as earlier is loyalty and hard work. Yes, it pays! Sometimes, immediately, sometimes after a lot of time. But, it does pay. Does this mean that one should stick to anorganization and wait for the golden moment? Of course not. After, a long stint, there always comes a time for moving in most organisations, but it is important to move for the right reasons, rather than the superficial ones, like money, designation or oversees trip. Remember, no company recruits for charity. More often than not, when you are offered an unseemly hike in salary or designation that is disproportionate to what the company offers it current employees, there is always an unseemly bait attached. The result? You will, in the long term have reached the same level or may be lower levels than what you would have in your current company.A lot of people leave their organisations because they are "unhappy". What is this so called unhappiness? I have been working for donkey years and there has never been a day when I am not unhappy about something in my work environment - boss, rude colleagues, fussy clients etc. Unhappiness in a work place, to a large extent, is transient. If you look hard enough, there is always something to be unhappy about. But, more importantly, do I come to work to be "happy" in the truest sense? If I think hard, the answer is "No". Happiness is something you find with family, friends, may be a close circle of colleagues who have become friends.What you come to work for is to earn, build a reputation, satisfy your ambitions, be appreciated for your work ethics, face challenges and get the job done. So, the next time you are tempered to move on, ask yourself why are you moving and what are you moving into?Some questions are:
Am I ready and capable of handling the new responsibility? If yes, what could be the possible reasons my current company has not offered me the same responsibility?
Who are the people who currently handle this responsibility in the current and new company? Am I good as the best among them?
As the new job offer has a different profile, why have I not given the current company the option to offer me this profile?
Why is the new company offering the new job? Do they want me for my skills, or is that ulterior motive? An honest answer to these will eventually decide where you go in your career to the top of the pile in the long term (at the cost of short - term blips) or to become another average employee who gets lost with the time in wilderness?

- Dr. Gopalakrishnan