tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31775038639401915832024-02-18T17:43:29.505-08:00Zindagi Ki Kalam Seyaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-42016237793393266492010-04-10T17:11:00.000-07:002010-04-10T17:23:08.811-07:00Curfewed Night : A memoir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRPoaklJcKLljKpaZ0kYExfXVQVa4xD1nvNGU2MObzlVUj8eRAnPDt_Rz_g0_PmV7m_uvD3Z32px9l3a7r6_GihI9IqJZVONddetKVIi0VVmVS12IEI76wcGLXMTKKeO35PdJhrkfqhg/s1600/curfewed-night-after-curve1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRPoaklJcKLljKpaZ0kYExfXVQVa4xD1nvNGU2MObzlVUj8eRAnPDt_Rz_g0_PmV7m_uvD3Z32px9l3a7r6_GihI9IqJZVONddetKVIi0VVmVS12IEI76wcGLXMTKKeO35PdJhrkfqhg/s320/curfewed-night-after-curve1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458668210615784274" border="0" /></a><br />I recently wrote a book review for my alma mater in journalism, The Kashmir Times. It appeared in the paper on April 10, 2010 and you can read it at: <a href="http://kashmirtimes.com/">What Went Wrong With the Place Called 'Heaven on Earth' </a><br /><br />It is a review of the book "Curfewed Night" by Mr. Basharat Peer. The book is a very impressive work, in terms of 'an eye for detail' that Mr. Peer shows throughout his growing up years when militancy and paramilitary forces became a part of life in Kashmir.<br /><br />If you can get a hold of the book, the book is worth reading!!!!yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-89623095325417055882010-03-11T21:07:00.000-08:002010-03-11T21:39:58.148-08:00'Road' to the Past.....<div align="justify">Have been listening to "<em><strong>Sar Jo Tera Chakraye</strong></em>" (remix version) from the film, "<em>Road, Movie</em>", which released last week. Didnt get a chance to watch the movie yet but the song has been making numerous rounds of television as well as radio channels these days.</div><div align="justify">It brings back memories from the Doordarshan days of my early childhood when "<em>Chitrahaar</em>" was the high-point in our mundane lives, telecast twice a week, till "<em>Rangoli</em>" came along to brighten up our Sunday mornings. Till then, we had only two days to look forward to our television-dependent lives, <strong>Wednesday</strong> and <strong>Friday</strong>. Rest of the weekdays passed in a blur.</div><div align="justify">The song in question is picturised on that remarkable comic actor of the golden era of Hindi Film Industry, <em><strong>Johnny Walker</strong></em>, who is shown moving around with his paraphernalia of "<em>oil-bottles</em>" and a jumpy gait, through a city park, calling out "<em>Maalish, Tel Maalish</em>" to all and sundry.</div><div align="justify">I remember this song, along with many more such gems from the B&W era of films, because it takes a very mundane activity in our daily life, applying oil to our hair, and connects that to all that is good or bad in our lives, in a subtle, yet forceful manner. </div><div align="justify">Remember, this was long before the present-day high-profile advertisements of "<em>Thanda, Thanda, Cool, Cool</em>" came along to take the "<em>tel maalish</em>" to just another level....</div><div align="justify">The song is from the film "<em>Pyaasa</em>", which is a masterpiece from Guru Dutt and is considered to be among the classics of old Hindi Cinema. </div><div align="justify">However, this song, written by the inimitable <strong>Sahir Ludhianvi</strong> and composed by the one and only <strong>S. D. Burman</strong>, stands out on its own. </div><div align="justify">I haven't seen the <em>Road, Movie</em> yet, so I dnt know what role this song plays in the movie, however, even before that, it has managed to refresh some pleasant old memories for me and others of my ilk.</div><div align="justify">One of them, I cant resist sharing with my readers: early mornings, getting ready for school, dad applying oil to my brother's hair and singing this song and my brother swinging his head lightly to the music. I can never forget this scene of my life.</div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Thank you S. D. , Sahir Ludhianvi and Guru Dutt for that...</strong>..</span></em></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-1443692868468268382009-03-26T23:08:00.000-07:002009-03-27T02:47:50.687-07:00From Navreh to Navratras!!!<em><u><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></u></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5AEKqlr5bFoeUZSd1TYFEh7bHyAfCYWmsZEC2o6bokcwqY7bNlt_Yxwmwsf1h1HJJzf82CL4twwPnRCyoYDj2mmIX9x_pwKebBKuBdo4TcqJQfDqowGcPw0IXbwjTxpsqVDcmhILpI4/s1600-h/navreh+thaal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317790365170212482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5AEKqlr5bFoeUZSd1TYFEh7bHyAfCYWmsZEC2o6bokcwqY7bNlt_Yxwmwsf1h1HJJzf82CL4twwPnRCyoYDj2mmIX9x_pwKebBKuBdo4TcqJQfDqowGcPw0IXbwjTxpsqVDcmhILpI4/s400/navreh+thaal.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today is a twin-auspicious occasion. On this day, the <strong><em><span style="color:#ffcc33;">Kashmiri Pandits</span></em></strong> celebrate the onset of the <strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">Kashmiri New Year</span></strong>, called "<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><u>Navreh</u></span></strong>" while Hindus, in general, start the nine-day long celebrations for the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em><strong><u>Navratras</u></strong></em></span> (in honour of the nine avatars of Maa Durga).<br />On the eve of Navreh (which literally means a ray of new light!!), the Kashmiri Pandit families observe a "<em><strong><span style="color:#ff99ff;">thaal-bharun</span></strong></em>" ritual, in which they fill a thali (metal plate) with uncooked ricegrains. Atop the rice, there is walnut (its four partitions representing the four Vedas!!! with and without kernels), curd, cooked rice, a piece of roti, a pen, a currency note (of any denomination), salt and fresh fruit and a gold ornament. Besides, a few petals of dry flowers as well as a few fresh flowers are also placed on the rice-plate. The reason why walnut (or akhrot) and the dry flowers are a part of this thali is that because of extreme harsh winters in the valley, there used to be no fresh fruit or fresh flower available in Kashmir at the time of onset of new year. That is why, the walnut and dried flowers were used.<br />But after migration, when KP families settled in other parts of the country and world, fresh fruits and flowers are included as per availability. In fact, KPs celebrating this day in Kashmir itself, can procur all these things from the market as well. That is the changing world and power of technology, I would say but I will come to that later.<br />Apart from the things discussed above, the two most important things that are placed in this thali are:<br />1) <u><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Nechipatra (or almanac):</span></u> The Kashmiri Pandit community's religious scholars undertake a tedious process to prepare an almanac every year, which is traditionally released and bought during the onset of traditional new year.<br />2) <u><span style="color:#33ff33;">Wye, a special weed:</span></u> Wye, a wild weed, resembling in shape to arabi, and considered pure, is also a part of this traditional thali.<br />This Thali is then covered with another metal plate for the night and early next morning, just before sunrise, a young member of the family, either boy or girl, takes this thali and circulates it among all the family members. In this way, the KPs welcome the new year, with the hope to receive and enjoy all those ingredients that form part of the thali and also as a kind of thanksgiving to the God Almighty, for keeping them safe and satiated in the year gone by.<br />Scholars put Navreh as the beginning of the lunar new year, which coincides with the onset of Navratras, celebrated during Chaitra (or spring) month. KPs celebrate their birthdays, death anniversaries, marriages and other auspicious occasions according to this calendar.<br />However, KPs are not the only ones who celebrate today as the onset of their new year.<br />This day is also celebrated as New Year's Day in Maharashtra (<span style="color:#ffcc33;"><em><strong><u>Gudi Padwa</u></strong></em></span>), in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (<span style="color:#ffcc33;"><strong><em><u>Ogadi</u></em></strong></span>), by Sindhis as <span style="color:#ffcc33;"><strong><u>Cheti-Chand</u></strong></span> as well as in whole of North India as <em><strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">Chaitra Shukla</span></strong></em>.<br />Now we come to <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Navratras</span></em></strong>, literally meaning "<strong><em><u>Nine nights</u></em></strong>." This festival, as told above, is celebrated to invoke the energies emanating from all the nine avatars of <span style="color:#ff0000;"><u><strong>Maa Durga</strong></u></span>. Navratras (or also called <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Navratris</span></em></strong>) are celebrated twice every year. One is celebrated during the spring time, which starts from today and the other one falls in the month of September, just at the onset of winters. Thus, twice every year, devotees celebrate the glory of the Goddess and her nine forms, during two different seasonal changes. Fasts are observed during these nine days and special food is cooked, which is devoid of onion, tomatoes and garlic.<br />Families plant "<strong><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Jow</span></em></strong>" (or unchaffed paddygrains) in earthen pots inside a mound of dry earth and sand. Along with the jow, a whole supari is also planted inside the pot. This pot is then placed at a pure and sacred place within the house, where milk and water is sprinkled on it every morning. Just as the paddygrains start sprouting, these are covered with leaves. By the end of the eighth day, the paddygrains have grown into blooming shafts, coloured greenish yellow.<br />On the ninth day morning, a pooja is performed, wherein neighbourhood girls, who, on this day, are referred to as "<span style="color:#33ff33;"><em><strong><u>Kanjakein</u></strong></em></span>" (little girls in reference to Goddess Durga's Mata Vaishno Devi avatar as a young girl), are served with Halwa (a sweet preparation) and poori (round wheatcakes deep fried in oil or ghee). Their feet are washed and then sindoor put on their foreheads, after which they are served the prasad (halwa-poori) and given gifts, etc.<br />The photograph above shows a thali filled with the Navreh items to give the readers an idea of what it exactly is.<br />Just one more thing, <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">my fasts</span></em></strong> also began today and I would be keeping some of them. So, here is for a happy and auspicious Navreh and Navratras for all of us!!!!!!!!!yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-43320555622696610262009-03-24T23:32:00.000-07:002009-03-25T00:28:28.022-07:00The Tale of the Royal Spring - Chashm-e-Shahi -<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb4PoHgZcCzY1ro7oHbo_aLwCmpa5Y2bgVt85GSlBy1Cp-w-XwiVY2sp2graSNquU9cOZr1D0Fv4Xpnl5PfKMI06d_zipvFwJTMVnyrGuPKgOztL_aG3ToPeRL11hHzBR1ThlpDoAme0/s1600-h/kashmir1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317018301315688754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb4PoHgZcCzY1ro7oHbo_aLwCmpa5Y2bgVt85GSlBy1Cp-w-XwiVY2sp2graSNquU9cOZr1D0Fv4Xpnl5PfKMI06d_zipvFwJTMVnyrGuPKgOztL_aG3ToPeRL11hHzBR1ThlpDoAme0/s400/kashmir1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hello friends, it is back to the <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/gar-firdous-bar-rooh-e-zameen-ast_19.html">Kashmir sojourn </a>after yesterday's halt at the picturesque <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/is-this-heaven-too.html">Billawar</a>.<br /><div>In this post, I will talk about Chashm-e-Shahi.</div><div>"<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Chashm-e-Shahi</em></strong></span>" or the <em>Royal Spring</em> is believed to have been discovered by the famous saint-daughter of Kashmir, <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Roopa Bhawani</span></em></strong>. Right after its discovery, the "<em>chashma</em>" (or freshwater-spring) was called <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Chashme Sahibi</span></em></strong>, after the saint's family name, which was Sahib. However, with the passage of time, the place came to be known more as Chashm-e-Shahi, obviously because of phonetic modifications that are inevitable during public usage and recording of historical facts. </div><div>The area around the mouth of the spring was developed into one of the three major Mughal Gardens of Srinagar, <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Chashm-e-Shahi Garden</span></em></strong> in <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">1632</span></em></strong>. It was a small but beautiful garden , 108 metres long and 38 metres wide. However, with subsequent changes and passage of time, the garden was expanded further and now stands as a major tourist attraction. It is located atop a hillock, overlooking the Nehru Park, <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/paani-ki-lehron-par-hichkole-khaati.html">Dal Lake </a>and Boulevard Road.</div><div>The <strong>Governor's House</strong> or Raj Bhawan of Srinagar is located just at its foothill.</div><div>Chashm-e-Shahi is distributed into three main sections, an aqueduct (the original mouth of the spring), fountains and waterfalls. Besides, the garden is planted with a variety of flowers and even fruit trees.</div><div>The freshwater from the spring is believed to be of medicinal value.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGc9SZ8m_Fpd-0OKPS2_-o6MuiVsluPgEweR8lZuniSWDM_8eyCp6LQPePKDP-qqX4ZPLtx44DasGLYXBIsueWGUOOqHsxzmn8BlsFzMNZhZezB00kHNaWAgDJLSCz6GEvGJFYG_gOjk/s1600-h/kashmir13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317023384361056930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGc9SZ8m_Fpd-0OKPS2_-o6MuiVsluPgEweR8lZuniSWDM_8eyCp6LQPePKDP-qqX4ZPLtx44DasGLYXBIsueWGUOOqHsxzmn8BlsFzMNZhZezB00kHNaWAgDJLSCz6GEvGJFYG_gOjk/s400/kashmir13.jpg" border="0" /></a>During the worse years of terrorism in Kashmir, one had to take special permission from the state police department to be able to visit this garden, however, with the lapse of time, improvement in security scenario and overall decline in terrorism, the security constraints have been removed so that more and more people can enjoy its beauty freely.<br />On our last trip to the garden in 2004, we saw a vibrant crowd of tourists, from various parts of the country and the world, enjoying a healthy diet of fresh air and sparkling sunshine as well as clicking photographs under the shade of rare trees as well as inside the flower-beds.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>So, come enjoy it!!!!!!!<br /></em></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;">P.S. - The first photograph is of the originating source of the Chashm-e-Shahi while in the second photograph, there is my brother, Prashant and me (facing the camera) seated atop the stairs leading to the Chashma.</span>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-67544165011666493792009-03-24T01:41:00.000-07:002009-03-24T02:32:27.211-07:00Is This Heaven Too???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zo3JPjTWoplDwpDg_Xu8n7zQMgSzJLdd8qA4XB2rpNc6-Vxc9dOXsMji7ULvSfQ-Q4H_YOler71j29CmJmLmN9NtPzBDt5xW0RieIggCT6CQlxzsk_XCzEJ8j3ZC3NkK8vgAwpEWQKI/s1600-h/billawar1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316682452894942210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zo3JPjTWoplDwpDg_Xu8n7zQMgSzJLdd8qA4XB2rpNc6-Vxc9dOXsMji7ULvSfQ-Q4H_YOler71j29CmJmLmN9NtPzBDt5xW0RieIggCT6CQlxzsk_XCzEJ8j3ZC3NkK8vgAwpEWQKI/s400/billawar1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>A very dear friend of mine sent me some photographs from his recent trip to Jammu and Kashmir and I thought I will share the same with you. Sorry for interrupting in my <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/gar-firdous-bar-rooh-e-zameen-ast_19.html">Kashmir sojourn </a>but I couldn't wait to share these pictures with my fellow bloggers. These pictures belong to the <span style="color:#ffcccc;"><strong><em><u>Billawar</u></em></strong></span> area of Jammu region, which is a very beautiful hill station located 66 kms from Jammu city, along the national highway.</div><div>As the photographs suggest, the virgin beauty of this place competes with that of <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/paani-ki-lehron-par-hichkole-khaati.html">Kashmir </a>but somehow, not many of us (even within J&K) are aware of it. Years ago, I had gone on a short trip to Billawar. It was during my days as a journalist and the trip had been organised by the State Cultural Academy. The purpose of the trip was to honour a local poet, Mr Romal Singh Bhadwal, for his lifelong contribution to art and culture in the region. The poet, well into his 80s, was felicitated in the presence of his family and villagers at Dadwara, one of innumerous lesser known villages in the state. </div><div>After the feliciation ceremony, there was lunch, cooked in typical village-style, on earthen choolhas (mud stoves) in huge utensils. The meal was basic fare of rajma (kidney-beans), chawal (rice) and the best of all, Amball {a sweet and sour side-dish prepared wiht pulses, Kaashifal (kind of gourd) and tamarind juice}. Just FYI, Amball is a staple side-dish in Dogri cuisine and is cooked on important occasions like marriage, felicitation etc. The lunch tasted awesome and eating it under an open sky increased its flavour.</div><div>Anyways, waking back from my reverie, let me tell you something more about the place. <span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong><em><u>Billawar was founded by a king called Raja Bhopat Pal in 1598-1614</u></em></strong></span> and it remained the capital of Basohli Rajas. The descendants of the Royal family are known as “<em><strong><span style="color:#ff99ff;">BILLAWARIAS</span></strong></em>”. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9aVBVtaH8TLlkgvIor487Q1Ku-Nza92kQryTILw2atlGAiRuhICpTPJHXDYfG-Uc_knonwQ-BL_f_oESXPUmkpOUmGsaYfDBKxhssedR7rLRBlBqF2WzHXU0BD5WHD3V8p6-lJE5ikY/s1600-h/billawar5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316681344121355202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9aVBVtaH8TLlkgvIor487Q1Ku-Nza92kQryTILw2atlGAiRuhICpTPJHXDYfG-Uc_knonwQ-BL_f_oESXPUmkpOUmGsaYfDBKxhssedR7rLRBlBqF2WzHXU0BD5WHD3V8p6-lJE5ikY/s400/billawar5.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div><em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Billawar town</span></strong></em> boasts of a number of ancient monuments, old temples, famous among them being Sukrala Mata temple, situated atop a hill and the Mahabilvakeshwar temple. According to popular belief, <span style="color:#ffff33;">Pandavas </span>visited Billawar during the last year of exile and were impressed with the <span style="color:#ccffff;">"Bill" trees</span>, present abundantly throughout the area. According to historians, Billawar-Basohli (another small town located near Billawar), along with Jammu and Poonch are the three original states wherein the Duggar or Dogra community thrived.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Wc3ATiR97vvmFVihVJWWvOLFfB2v4t2VMNV0zW5jgUk9xKypK_Je6YtOIYVLbHQ8rTdP9k_V8GTxYK32g79MQk-lHmOr9xU4FDuRlO2r-s1gx_6W_wEX2LfvtI82pfG6sCVCDUaelM/s1600-h/billawar4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316680269547508834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Wc3ATiR97vvmFVihVJWWvOLFfB2v4t2VMNV0zW5jgUk9xKypK_Je6YtOIYVLbHQ8rTdP9k_V8GTxYK32g79MQk-lHmOr9xU4FDuRlO2r-s1gx_6W_wEX2LfvtI82pfG6sCVCDUaelM/s400/billawar4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div>The pictures are self-explanatory and so is the scenic beauty. So, the answer to the title question is...........</div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#33ffff;">Yes, of course!!!!!!</span></em></strong></div></div></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-52612147016859951762009-03-19T22:41:00.000-07:002009-03-19T23:12:37.569-07:00Paani Ki Lehron Par Hichkole Khaati Naav!!!!!!!<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv__rZdHkq0ztxKGqj_-cJC9vlxknCEZwmVPxVh2h9-5_X-nP0DM-09VYhsNIzbdzDocgq2IngqBsaeZzZ3Rwl3oPP9AJQB2AuQ0WPyCMUQl1cJA2IaICjQetyi53_sx-tH6S8woZlxA/s1600-h/kashmir5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315146721342051330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv__rZdHkq0ztxKGqj_-cJC9vlxknCEZwmVPxVh2h9-5_X-nP0DM-09VYhsNIzbdzDocgq2IngqBsaeZzZ3Rwl3oPP9AJQB2AuQ0WPyCMUQl1cJA2IaICjQetyi53_sx-tH6S8woZlxA/s400/kashmir5.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hi Friends,<br /><div>Hope you enjoyed my last post and here is some more on Kashmir.</div><div>This time, I am talking exclusively about the houseboats, the miniature hotels, located on the periphery of the <a href="http://zindagikikalamse.blogspot.com/2009/03/gar-firdous-bar-rooh-e-zameen-ast_19.html">Dal Lake</a>, that have been there since 1860 and are now on the verge of extinction.</div><div>It is really sad to learn that the court has ordered the houseboat owners to shut their operations because of the rising pollution levels and depleting natural life within the lake. </div><div>According to officials, the <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Dal Lake figures among the 93 sick lakes of the world</span></strong></em> and the state pollution control board reported in 2004 that the level of pollutants in the lake was six to eight times above the permissible limit. Along with other factors, the houseboats are considered to be the cause, thus, the restraining order on houseboat operations.</div><div>However, those who have enjoyed a comfortable and interesting stay inside these houseboats are not happy to hear that, which brings me to a brief description about the houseboats.<br /><u><em><strong><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></strong></em></u></div><div><u><em><strong><span style="color:#ffff33;">Houseboats in Kashmir:</span></strong></em></u></div></div><div><div>After descending on the scene more than a hundred years ago, the houseboats have come to be an integral life of the valley, especially the Dal. The official records claim that the <em><span style="color:#ff6600;">first houseboat</span></em>, named Victory, was designed by a serving officer of the British Army, M T Kenhard. Since then, these houseboats were mostly used to serve as vacation homes for the British officers, who were then facing mutiny in the rest of the country.</div><div>After traversing a long course of history of pre and post independence India, the houseboats have become a signature of the Dal Lake. Among other things, their popularity is because of the comfort and real flavour of Kashmiri culture preserved inside thes dwellings. Houseboats are generally made up of <em><span style="color:#cc6600;">cedar wood</span></em> and contain of living quarters, drawing and dining areas. </div><div>The interiors of these houseboats are decorated with carved wooden furniture, embroidered <em><span style="color:#33ffff;">Kashmiri carpets</span></em> and rugs, as well as various hand-made items, including paper machie objects.</div><div>The windows offer a beautiful view of the mountain peaks lining the Dal.</div><div></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></em></strong> </div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#cc9933;">It is this piece of history, which is threatened with oblivion now </span></em></strong>and I fervently hope that that never happens. <em><strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">Pray with me friends.......</span></strong></em></div></div></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-74106041460839031602009-03-19T00:10:00.000-07:002009-03-19T00:26:12.394-07:00Gar Firdous Bar-Rooh-E Zameen Ast, Hameen Ast-O, Hameen Ast-O, Hameen Ast.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPlmOOfk4zPwFYlTuCuKmCdkmqRgH8tECaQa8m9jUdQ6TZEPYmn8LtR4aZWn-TCEv6vy2LEhp9rP4R5wJpD7xcMqrDOYQRQQrCREyY5lSCsc1fCmwVmOLkMvls9NOO8fnq6GQ0Gql8AA/s1600-h/kashmir3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314793392874350914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPlmOOfk4zPwFYlTuCuKmCdkmqRgH8tECaQa8m9jUdQ6TZEPYmn8LtR4aZWn-TCEv6vy2LEhp9rP4R5wJpD7xcMqrDOYQRQQrCREyY5lSCsc1fCmwVmOLkMvls9NOO8fnq6GQ0Gql8AA/s320/kashmir3.jpg" border="0" /></a>The words written above are believed to have been uttered by <em><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Mughal Emperor Jehangir</span></strong></em>, when he first set foot in the <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em>Kashmir Valley</em></strong></span>, so smitten was he by the exceptional beauty of the vale. Roughly translated, these words mean "<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc33cc;"><em><strong>If ever there was heaven on this earth, it is this, it is this, it is...</strong></em></span>" For the past two decades, however, the state of <span style="color:#ffcc33;"><strong><em>Jammu and Kashmir</em></strong></span> has been in news for all the wrong reasons (read terrorism, administrative incapacity, civil unrest, regional strife and political opportunism).I feel so bad even talking about what went wrong with J&K. Therefore, I have decided to celebrate the beauty of my state and all the good things about it to ward off any bad impact that the dismal news arising out of there might have had on its reputation. So, for the next few posts, I will treat you to some rare glimpses into some of the beautiful locations of the valley (to start with). Similar photographs of Jammu and other areas will follow soon. <span style="color:#6666cc;"><em><strong>So, enjoy friends.......</strong></em></span><br /><strong><em><u><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></u></em></strong><br /><strong><em><u><span style="color:#ffff33;">About the photograph featured above:</span></u></em></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The photograph featured above is a panoramic view of the world famous <em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ffff;">Dal Lake</span></strong></em>, which is located within the summer capital of J&K, Srinagar. It is the <strong><em><span style="color:#cc6600;">most favourite destination</span></em></strong> for tourists, visiting from within and outside the country. It is a naturally occuring water body and is famous for the <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">houseboats,</span></strong></em> vacation homes built during the British rule, that are one of the major source of revenue to the Kashmiris. Owing to pollution and overall negligence, the lake covers about 11 square kilometers of area, which is almost half of what it used to be two decades ago. It is divided into four basins called <em><strong>Gagribal</strong></em>, <em><strong>Lokut Dal</strong></em> (meaning Small Dal or Junior Dal), <em><strong>Bod Dal</strong></em> (Senior Dal) and <em><strong>Nagin</strong></em>. Tourist spots like <em><strong>Nehru Park</strong></em>, <em><strong>Char Chinar</strong></em>, etc are located as small islands within the Dal Lake.</span><br /><br />Some year ago, the lake used to freeze over completely during the winter season, offering the people a chance to enjoy another facet of nature. However, due to global warming and negligence, the freezing Dal is soon becoming a thing of past.<br /><br />Among other things, Dal has some interesting flora and fauna, including the lotus flower, Lotus stem (known as <em><strong>Nadroo </strong></em>or <em><strong>Kamal Kakdee</strong></em>, a popular Kashmiri vegetable), water lillies and water chestnuts.yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-51714460409401514172009-03-17T03:44:00.000-07:002009-03-17T04:27:20.753-07:00Million Dollar Question???????One of my friends, who is an avid blogger herself, set me thinking with her remarks on my last post, concerning the movie Gulaal and its realistic, hard-hitting concept. So, if anyone of my readers feels bored by the end of this post, blame her ;))<br />I have been thinking on the issue raised by <a href="http://delhiphotodairy.blogspot.com/">Priyanka </a>that "<span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><u>Does it make any sense that a person, already seeing a hell lot of reality in REAL LIFE, pays money to see more of it???</u></em></span>"<br />Well, I am myself a fan of movies that take me through the tear-drama, romantic escapades and stomach-aching comedy (a la Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Yash Chopra, Rakesh Roshan, Rajkumar Hirani, etc, etc, etc,,,). Believe me, I watch each one of them, as and when I get time and money (more important of the two!!!!)<br />I mean who wouldnt have laughed along with Munnabhai, Circuit as they went from ward to ward, curing patients and bringing a smile to their faces (to borrow a cliche!) even as Dr Asthana hemmed and hawed over their antics.<br />I am sure not an eye was left dry when Shahrukh Khan's tear-jerking look came onscreen as he explains to his mother, played by Reema Lagoo, why he cant reciprocate Naina's (Preity Zinta) love because of his heart ailment.<br />When Rakhee's earnest character of a mother, waiting for her two dead sons to be born again, says, "Mere Karan Arjun Aayenge..Zaroor Aayenge.." well, we believe her against all common sense, because we know "<em><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong>Ki asli zindagi mein bhi filmon ki tarah end mein sab kuch theek ho jata hai, aur agar sab kuch theek na ho, to yeh samajh lena chahiye ki picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost...</strong></span></em>"<br />See, films provide an answer to almost every situation, every question, every doubt of our life and thus, there is no overlooking the fact that cinema, in our country and our life, is basically a time machine that takes us away from our daily vagaries, into the arms of a life that we all dream of or strive for. You just have to travel to the southern part of the country and see for yourself, the idol worship that goes on for Rajnikant, Chiranjeevi, and others, who have passed away long ago, like M.G. Ramachandran and N.T. Ramarao.<br />But all said and done, is cinema just that??????<br />Should we, a nation of one billion and still poor to a large extent, allow such a costly mass medium to play only one role, that of helping us escape from what we, so fearfully, encounter in our daily life?<br /><u><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Sample a scenario:</span></strong></u> you are sitting inside your living room, switching channels with the remote, when, you come across an image from any of the three states of Rajasthan, Punjab or Haryana, that of an infant girl child, who is dead and has just been dug out from beneath a pile of earth, after she was put in there by her own father, grandfather, or uncle just because she was born a girl!!! I am sure you would keep thinking about that child for the rest of your day.<br /><u><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Sample another one:</span></strong></u> In 2001, the current chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M Karunanidhi (I hope he is not reading this) being bodily picked up, with his trademark sunglasses, his chappals and his hair in disarray, and taken to the police station on the orders of the erstwhile CM, Jayalalitha. The visuals shown on television at that time were enough for some of us to tut tut! at the degenerating standard of politics in the country while most of us just shook our heads in disbelief, wondering what lay round the corner for us, the lesser mortals.<br />These two scenarios, out of a million more, took place in two different corners of the country but people all over the country knew about it within hours, if not minutes, and an opinion was formed, which went on to contribute largely to the changing scenario of our country's social, economic, political, educational faces.<br />Such is the power of a mass medium and it is in this vein that I ask, <strong><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">should we not use this widely popular and all-encompassing medium to help ourselves get familiar with the brutally difficult life that breathes inside the conundrums that make up our underbelly, be it inside the economic capital Mumbai or the brackish backwaters of UP and Bihar or even our national capital, Delhi?</span></em></strong><br />My Gulaal post from last week was in anticipation of the release of the much-awaited movie by Anurag Kashyap, which was first conceived in 2001, about eight years ago. The movie deals with student politics and the crusade for the lost glory of "Rajputana", with both the issues getting intertwined by the end, which, I agree, was a little off-kilter (hope you read it Anurag).<br />I liked the movie, though, it is not without limitations but the question that arises out of this discussion is that whether movies should be purely escapist or should there be a balance of dreams with reality?<br />As far as I am concerned, it is important to balance the cinema of our times in terms of its content, which can be both escapist as well as realistic.<br />It is important to dream because unless you dream of something, it never happens. Similarly, the realistic cinema of our times is a means to make that dream come. After all, what do we dream of, a better social order, better opportunities for all, economic equanimity and an <em><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>ESCAPE</strong></span></em> from the bad things that <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>ARE HAPPENING</strong></em></span> all around us, isn't it??<br />So there, the cinema, whether escapist or realistic is not that different from each other. The only difference is that in the former, we continue to live inside that dream albeit hypothetically, while in the latter, we are shaken out of our slumber and goaded to make the dreams come true. The difference, however, lies in that some of us ignore that call while some of us accept it and set out to work......<br /><em><u><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Well, you cant make your dreams come true unless you work on them, right???</strong></span></u></em>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-19498374070325127652009-03-10T04:00:00.000-07:002009-03-10T04:13:07.550-07:00Aarambh Hai Prachand!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdMdDhfkxpGAsGCLNsEpCCS0reReamBW2ZJVkjaMVJj97VnwFK62agrrS3auYM_gWDn0qGo7o-E6AEyKuUOI6FEqbtZ4opDBM7VMMjd9oHBIaZC42FloFJTeMUIokmKq8Xdbwt1Tc-lg/s1600-h/gulaal.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311512673344262418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdMdDhfkxpGAsGCLNsEpCCS0reReamBW2ZJVkjaMVJj97VnwFK62agrrS3auYM_gWDn0qGo7o-E6AEyKuUOI6FEqbtZ4opDBM7VMMjd9oHBIaZC42FloFJTeMUIokmKq8Xdbwt1Tc-lg/s320/gulaal.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ff9900;">It is time to celebrate the festival of colours in India, called Holi, which most of the country will celebrate tomorrow, March 11, 2009, but the youngsters have already started celebrating about a month ago in most of the cities, towns and villages.<br />Colours, baloons, water-filled, coloured water, pichkaari, find their way into almost every other home in the country, children are found on most of the balconies, on the roads, inside the parks, splashing coloured water on each other.<br />While adults also enjoy in their own way, the holi celebrations are mostly meant for the young kids, who, for once, dnt mind getting up early on this day and getting drenched and, most importantly, staying drenched till well into the afternoon, when harried mothers, smiling behind their stern expressions, drag the kids inside for an elaborate bath to take off all the colour put into the hair, eyes, ear, etc, etc। Looking forward to enjoy the festival and its sights, though, I do not celebrate much of Holi myself.<br />However, there is one more thing that I am looking forward to this Holi (actually to be precise, after this Holi) and that is the release of film "<span style="color:#ff0000;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">गुलाल</span></strong></em>,"</span> filmmaker <span class="">अनुराग </span>कश्यप's first release after "देव डी ". I have put up a poster of the film, available on Internet, to give the readers an idea of what the film is like (though, I have a hunch that the movie will not be suited to everyone's liking, though I wish I am proven wrong).<br />The promos are available on Youtube and if anyone cares to watch, here is the link:<br /></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7KLVs1Ib4"><span style="color:#ff9900;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7KLVs1Ib4</span></a><span style="color:#ff9900;"><br />The promo looks explosive and I am sure that the movie will be an even better success than Dev D. It represents the struggles of the youth of today in the backdrop of regional politics (entirely my guess).<br />The actors are lesser known, except for Kay Kay of course but, nevertheless, their expressions say it all.<br />It is good that movies of today are ready to shed the burden of being a vehicle for escaping the harsh realities of life, which we simply cannot ignore anymore.<br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Corruption</span></em>, <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">political debauchery</span></em>, <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">regionalism</span></em>, <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">unemployment</span></em>, <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">lack of ideals</span></em> and <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">moral disintegration</span></em> are the parasites that are eating away into the foundations of our Indian society and <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">kudos to Kashyap</span></em></strong> and others of his ilk for briging them face to face for us. </span>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-87310975396842377512009-02-23T03:38:00.000-08:002009-02-23T03:56:53.021-08:00Jai Ho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<p>In an unprecedented show of any India-based film at Oscars in the recent times, 'Slumdog Millionaire' has swept eight Oscars at the 81st Academy Awards:</p><p>1)Best Adapted Screenplay<br />2) Cinematography,<br />3) Sound,<br />4) Film Editing,<br />5) Original Score,<br />6) Original Song,<br />7) Direction and<br />8) Motion Picture. </p><p>Musical genius (I refrain from putting in Indian now since he is now more than just an Indian music maestro, he has gone truly global in his art) A R Rahman won two awards with his Jai Ho... composition.</p><p>Ironically, it brought to fore an occasion to celebrate what India is (in)famous for but just to see the <em>proverbial silver lining</em> in the cloud, it also brings up hope out of despair, success out of failure and good out of bad.</p><p>That I guess, should be the mantra for life for all of us, hai na???</p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Jai Ho</span></em> then........</p><p> </p>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-71967639548293997922009-01-27T21:37:00.000-08:002009-01-27T22:07:31.247-08:00Slumdog Millionaire: The Quest Is Yet To End...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WsG_dFFu5MUv4ObE0n-6_ImCmY0L3GXlNPrlQsxuXjcS7LweHPP-ta5opl5iZbJIx9_2fD6JIxbcS6gMgAiRKu0LtUNfQJMOAZjKVp3GtlKkyv-66fz7lI8Q84lxVLHJ6-5ZRMTh-BI/s1600-h/slumdog_millionaire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296219525253549778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WsG_dFFu5MUv4ObE0n-6_ImCmY0L3GXlNPrlQsxuXjcS7LweHPP-ta5opl5iZbJIx9_2fD6JIxbcS6gMgAiRKu0LtUNfQJMOAZjKVp3GtlKkyv-66fz7lI8Q84lxVLHJ6-5ZRMTh-BI/s320/slumdog_millionaire.jpg" border="0" /></a>Much water has flown under the bridge and many a remarks, comments, compliments and opinions thrown about in the aftermath of <strong>Danny Boyle</strong>'s take on life in a Mumbai slum, <strong>Slumdog Millionaire</strong>.<br /><div>The movie is winning awards left right and centre and is headed to <strong>Oscars</strong>, with a hefty recommendation in the form of the <strong>Golden Globes</strong>.</div><div>However, the land, where the Slumdog Millionaire was born, is witnessing a debate of a different kind.</div><div>In this <strong>debate</strong>, one side is accusing Boyle of shamelessly cashing in on the poverty-stricken underbelly of India and not showing a more balanced and positive view of the country, which, by all means, is one of the leading economies of the world.</div><div>The other side is defending Slumdog by saying that the movie deals with truth and optimism and it is showing what already exists in the country.</div><div>The verdict is not yet out as the discussion goes on: over blogs, in the newspapers, on television channels, inside living rooms, on office balconies, inside buses and cars.</div><div>Everyone has something or the other to say, So, I thought, why not get together my blogger friends and have our own <strong>SAY </strong>in this matter.</div><div>So, the field is open, anyone wanting to have a say on this matter, is welcome to put his or her remarks, comments, opinion on whether <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">"Slumdog Millionaire is biased because it has chosen to be selective in its portrayal of reality or does it actually show the audience, worldwide and in India, a true picture of slum life in the country?"</span></strong></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">The discussion is open to all and anyone who wants to have their say can do so by putting in their remarks in the comments section and taking part in the poll survey that I have put up on the left hand side of the blog, just below the Blog Archive section.</span></div><div>I would be keeping a tab of the discussion and would put up the comments and counter-comments on the blog for everyone's perusal from time to time.</div><div><strong>Thank You!!</strong></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-35173420774399001012009-01-26T23:07:00.000-08:002009-01-26T23:33:40.528-08:00My First Award in Bloggers' World!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjxvWYvmabVueltpu31deWvRpIzdanaDB9UthrwHooSl1DWGMLrgyZouOxEhACwc6NgAWRwHE9C3ZdplyH64l_moUOmgd_pmoP9E9428I_Mai7B09iQrrTjq8DdnUQ4Uc1g8xjonMDlA/s1600-h/award7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295873043442789026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjxvWYvmabVueltpu31deWvRpIzdanaDB9UthrwHooSl1DWGMLrgyZouOxEhACwc6NgAWRwHE9C3ZdplyH64l_moUOmgd_pmoP9E9428I_Mai7B09iQrrTjq8DdnUQ4Uc1g8xjonMDlA/s320/award7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTHxu49bb2LH6iO75s7lyhSj0RCW6vqy6wCUHuaJ94eEUGKTzw9YH9QECKrrtfKk3corWFXk0OAYmnqN4CFhBpesSjYB2lVuahW8bIFNkjKreQRLS3fW_Yg2F__8aunJ6m_6I7D1hPuY/s1600-h/award5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295873042373389490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTHxu49bb2LH6iO75s7lyhSj0RCW6vqy6wCUHuaJ94eEUGKTzw9YH9QECKrrtfKk3corWFXk0OAYmnqN4CFhBpesSjYB2lVuahW8bIFNkjKreQRLS3fW_Yg2F__8aunJ6m_6I7D1hPuY/s320/award5.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I received my first blogger award from Priyanka Khot (from <a href="http://delhiphotodairy.blogspot.com/">Delhi Photo Diary</a>) recently. She (along with Charu) was the inspiration behind my blog and ever since I entered bloggers' space, she has been a constant source of encouragement to me to carry on. Therefore, my first thank you goes out to Priyanka for making a blogger out of me.<br /><div>Then, there are regular readers of my blog, including Charu (from <a href="http://chaipe.blogspot.com/">Chai Pe</a>) and Patty (from <a href="http://oldladylincoln.blogspot.com/">Old Lady Lincoln</a>), who keep posting their comments to egg me on to blog. Thank you both. </div><div>Last, but definitely not the least, are those who keep visiting my blog, either regularly to in between, and keep posting encouraging remarks on my write-ups. I thank all of them for making it possible for me to turn a blogger and stay at it (What an acceptance speech, Filmfare-grade, if not Oscar, you'd agree!!!)</div><div> </div><div></div><div>The rules for the <span style="color:#996633;"><strong>Friendship Award </strong></span>are simple:-</div><div>*Copy the badge and put it on your blog.</div><div>*Link back to the one who passed this tag to you.</div><div>*Spread this tag to at least 4 bloggers or more who you think you are friends with.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>On my part, I would like to pass on this special award to my friends who blog:</div><div>1) Charu for <a href="http://chaipe.blogspot.com/">Chai Pe</a>: I love his individual style of blogging and he brings a unique flavour to whatever he posts on his blog.</div><div>2) Patty for <a href="http://oldladylincoln.blogspot.com/">Old Lady Lincoln</a>: I really admire her zest for life and her philosophical anecdotes, hillarious jokes and crisp quotes that she puts on her blog.</div><div>3) Kris for <a href="http://thiswillhurtme.blogspot.com/">This Will Hurt Me</a>: I am a fan of his photo blog, his characteristically witty write-ups, AND his two sons (Henry and Ezra), who are the reigning superstars on his blog.</div></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-29577808817022677052008-12-30T20:50:00.000-08:002008-12-30T21:10:14.773-08:00Its A New Year To Live!!!!!Hi there,<br />It is that time of the year again when we exchange New Year wishes and look at life through new lenses or glasses (as you please...)<br />I have mailed my share of greetings to those who matter in my life and to others, whom I know through this blog or those who know me, here's wishing them all that they wish for in life. May your blessings come true for you in the coming year and may 2009 end at a way better note for you than 2008 did.<br />And last but definitely not the least, I wish peace and prosperity to be showered all over the world. May no one go hungry, lonely or destitute in 2009. May there be no more killings, bloodshed, pain, grief to anyone in the coming times. And, most of all, let love and humanity be the universal religion to be follow by all of us.<br />The past year has brought a lot of changes in my life. Right from professional to personal changes, I have tried to take everything in my stride, although at times, I have looked up to the skies and wondered, rather despaired, "Why Me???"<br />Sometimes, there have been answers and sometimes complete silence, but never has God let me be alone to face it. As we know from the "<em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Footprints In The Sand</span></strong></em>", I have found only a single set of footprints whenever I was bogged down with the weights of life, which assured me that I was indeed in lord's hands.<br />As 2009 dawns on us, I am going to take each day as it comes and would try to improve myself so that I turn out a better person than I have been in the past.<br />I dont make resolutions, especially during this time, because I find it very ceremonial and I have a natural aversion to anything ceremonial or binding, in any way (Does that make me an atheist?? well, that is some more fodder for thought for me but that would be for another day and time).<br />Therefore, I would just promise to live life in as righteous way as possible, where I don't harm any one either intentionally or unintentionally, (although, in the case of latter, I am not sure I would even be aware, but I can always be cautious, isn't it?)<br />Well, that is all from my side for this year. Hope to see all of you hale and hearty in the next year.<br />Till then, goodbye, drink (responsibly!!!) and be merry (with happiness, health and wealth).<br />Take care and god bless...<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff99ff;">HAPPY NEW YEAR To ALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></em></strong>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-51760833047420981042008-12-04T03:31:00.000-08:002008-12-04T03:49:36.189-08:00The cure of boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity...Nice thought that is, in the title but boredom in itself is not a nice thought to have, i think so. After the tumultuous and devastating week that went by, the dust is settling down on the days even as the sun keeps playing hide and seek through a "<em><span style="color:#66ffff;">more dusty, less cloudy</span></em>" sky.<br /><br />For the past many days now, I am feeling kind of bored of life. Dont worry, I am not having suicidal thoughts, I can't because for that you need to be really driven to death from boredom (how can that be???).<br /><br />My condition is a little different in that I really need a "<strong><span style="color:#ffff33;">zor ka jhatka</span></strong>" to get me out of my present slumberous existence.<br /><br />It is not as if my otherwise life is full of adventurous trips across the Himalayas or camping in the Terai. But the work has begun to get on my nerves seriously. So, I have been looking for some means to rescue myself from the all-encompassing slumber.<br /><br />Any ideas, guys?<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>P.S.: I hope I didnt bore you to death with this piece, I just needed to get it out lest I fell asleep at my work desk. Thanks for reading, by the way...</strong></span>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-31423189986993102912008-12-02T01:48:00.000-08:002008-12-02T02:02:13.373-08:00Not any more.....I dont have words to reflect on what happened in Mumbai in the past one week and what is happening thereafter. So, I choose to share with my readers a hard-hitting poem, "<em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is Baar Nahin</span></strong></em>", written by poet Prasoon Joshi, published in rediff.com. Please pay attention to the words and try to ponder over them because as Indians, we can no longer afford to be insulated to the bloodshed and grief pouring out around us. English translation is given along with it.<br /><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin,</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas </span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">apni kharonch le kar aayegi,</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga,</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Panapney doonga uski tees ko</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin</span></strong></em><br />(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow. Not this time.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga,</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Dard ko risney doonga, utarney doonga andar gehrey</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Is baar nahin</strong></em></span><br />(This time when I see pain on faces, I will not sing the song that eases pain, I will let the pain seep in, deep. Not this time.)<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar main na marham lagaoonga,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">gardan udhar kar lo, main dawa lagata hoon,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin</span></em></strong><br />(This time I won't apply any balm, Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes and turn your head While I gingerly apply medicine, I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds. Not this time.)<br /><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga, chatpatahat dekhoonga, </span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Nahin daudoonga uljhee dor lapetney,</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin</span></strong></em><br />(This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness, I will not run to solve the problems I will let them become complicated. Not this time.)<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Utarney doonga usey keechad main, tedhey medhey raston pe,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Is baar nahin</span></em></strong><br />(This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty, I will not make a new beginning Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job. I will not let life easily return to normalcy. I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths. I will not let the blood on the walls dry out Nor will I let its colour fade away This time I won't let it become so helpless That you can't tell blood from paan-spit. Not this time.)<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><strong>Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai,</strong></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><strong>Gaur se Thoda lambe wakt tak</strong></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><strong>Kuch faisley, Aur uskey baad hausley,</strong></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><strong>Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi</strong></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><strong>Is baar yahi tay kiya hai.</strong></span></em><br />(This time the wounds need to be watched Carefully For a long time, Some decisions are needed And then some brave moves to be made. We have to begin somewhere. This time this is what I have resolved)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>... Prasoon Joshi</strong></span>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-38430437048055372592008-11-30T20:25:00.000-08:002008-11-30T20:59:49.087-08:00Terror Strikes Again!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5o8b1FXqclGL89ZO62APYFuJTi1njblz20qVN5UmlcjdzamHZTXVorIEndS13QZp68azKXPjlDuQm8fG-CYEJtVlnaEesiWZUiNS_RClKqnfE4K497sqeH2Sz0o22bOlU4wUBbUwMGU/s1600-h/Taj_Hotel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274679198106002658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5o8b1FXqclGL89ZO62APYFuJTi1njblz20qVN5UmlcjdzamHZTXVorIEndS13QZp68azKXPjlDuQm8fG-CYEJtVlnaEesiWZUiNS_RClKqnfE4K497sqeH2Sz0o22bOlU4wUBbUwMGU/s320/Taj_Hotel.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I feel ashamed, violated, disturbed, anguished, disgusted, pained, grieved and much much more because of the recent terror strike in Mumbai, which left scores dead and even more wounded while rest of the public aghast.</div><br /><div>As the Taj Hotel, the Oberoi Trident and the Nariman House raged with gun battles, explosions, fire and deaths, the only question reverberating through my brain was <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><em>why should we suffer like this for no fault of ours?</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Why are we subjected to this violating humiliation year after year, day after day, minute after minute, while these good-for-nothing politicians keep up their charade of sympathy for the public while at their heart, </span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><em>they are as clueless about what is going on in the country as the man on the street?</em></span></div><br /><div>Terrorists, who strike at innocents on streets, take women and children hostage and kill without remorse or guilt, have been an almost accepted part of the life in states like Jammu and Kashmir. However, <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><em>what enrages me is that instead of curbing their reach and presence, almost nothing has been done to prevent them from spreading their deadly tentacles to other cities of the country.</em></span></div><br /><div>Although, there are some indications that things might be different this time and I am not talking about the political reshuffle, resignation of the Home Minister, talks about Maharashtra CM being shunted out, etc, etc. All this political white-wash makes me feel sick, really.</div><br /><div>I am talking about the public outpouring that one has seen, in the form of blogs coming up to denounce violence of all kind, keeping terrorism separate from religion, taking the responsible politicians to task and, last but not the least, <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><em>the angry outburst of the martyred Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father against the Kerala Chief Minister Achuthanandan, who was not allowed to enter the slain commando's house.</em></span></div><br /><div>Things might really be changing now, as we saw in the unprecedented percentage of voters coming out to cast their vote in the elections, in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Kashmir and other parts of the country. Perhaps now, people have realised the real value of their ballot and may be now we will see an honest leadership emerging at the helm, which would not allow its people to bleed to death while the terrorists, after being arrested, are allowed to live on inside the jails.</div><br /><div>I dont know how much of it is going to stay on and how much of it we are going to forget, but this time, i am sure, <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><em>we cannot afford to let go of the lessons that the Mumbai strikes have taught us because next time, we might not be alive to regret that.....</em></span></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-10871145255132416982008-11-17T03:53:00.000-08:002008-11-17T04:02:06.702-08:00Dasvidaniya!!!!I watched the movie, Dasvidaniya (The final goodbye) yesterday and was moved to tears on more than one occasion throughout the sensitive portrayal of a dying man. I recall another masterpiece movie, made a few decades earlier and telling the story of another dying man, Anand. Emotionally rivetting though Anand was, unlike Anand, Dasvidaniya leaves you with some tears and a lot of hope, to be able to see further than life, almost in a sublime manner.<br />I would not give out the story of the movie, because some of my blogger friends, who are movie buffs, might not take it kindly. But I cannot restrain myself from showering accolades on the main lead of the film, Vinay Pathak, who has reallllllyyyyyyyy come a loooooooooooong way from hosting Men In Black (the erstwhile countdown show on CHannel V, along with buddy Ranvir Sheorey).<br />Pathak has already shown his mettle in movies like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Bheja Fry, Dasvidaniya, which he has co-produced as well, will prove to be a significant milestone in his movie career.<br />I would advise all those who visit this post, to go and watch the movie, because it really teaches us how to take each day as it comes, instead of planning a to do list for inane things.<br />This is it for today then, take care, c u tomorrow, and God Bless....yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-72568639508644996442008-11-13T21:09:00.001-08:002008-11-13T21:25:45.685-08:00Happy Gurupurab!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Q1hsf35FJn1-CfjqTA74oWd76xX8LNttBPyhfQVNnkZ_V6LByspyWW4HgwkL_hxJA-1Cd_QspXq0gmsGypyH8wwksDOwDEB4myxK64lHB_GYuyhtEZqx-BBEi4WGkoMIAzxvyXGKdo/s1600-h/guru.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268379930408893618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Q1hsf35FJn1-CfjqTA74oWd76xX8LNttBPyhfQVNnkZ_V6LByspyWW4HgwkL_hxJA-1Cd_QspXq0gmsGypyH8wwksDOwDEB4myxK64lHB_GYuyhtEZqx-BBEi4WGkoMIAzxvyXGKdo/s320/guru.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Who among us does not like holidays? Tough question, I guess, because I dont think a single hand is going to be raised in response. Well, let me admit as well at the onset itself that I simply loooooooove holidays, whether it was the ones we got in school or college variety or the ones that we sometimes are able to snatch from our busy professional lives. It is really wonderful to be able to have some time to yourself and spend it as you would want to.</div><br /><div>Most of my working friends complain of only one thing that they never seem to have enough time at hand to spend, either with their families or with themselves. </div><br /><div>Unfortunately, my refrain is same as them, that the work-life is really pulling us down with longer hours and the time spent traveling to and from work. Well, cant do anything about it, can WE???</div><br /><div>No, i guess, so that is why we look FORWARD!!!!!!!! to the small nuggets of weekly offs and festival holidays to pull us through. </div><br /><div>Yesterday was one such holiday, on account of <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>540th Birth Anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev</strong></span>. </div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#cc9933;">Coming to the birthday celebrations, it was heartening to know that a procession was carried out in the Pakistani city of Lahore, for the first time perhaps, which marked the end of three-day long celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev's birthday. The procession was carried out on a specially-designed bus and it started from the Janamasthan Gurudwara (A Sikh temple) in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev to various other gurudwaras in the vicinity. In this procession, the holy book of Sikhism, the Guru Granth, is placed on a raised platform, which is carried around the gurudwaras, before being brought back to the Janamasthan Gurudwara.</span></em></div><br /><div>This sure is a news that would warm cockles of the hearts of those who are staunch supporters of the peace process between India and Pakistan. Such events need to be more frequent and should be responded well on either side.</div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Well, that is enough for today, i guess, so keep in touch and god bless.....</span></em></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-16893133494531959472008-11-11T22:59:00.000-08:002008-11-11T23:18:16.146-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu1rvew_Ffd6RIjGCwS7JsaB4Zg_SOw53q6UmobwFPEmZP7xMQp1kU1U0kEclY67FOoaUT4DXTFaiE2o4zhOkumyTc5YXdE0_SpdmrOx4ATWr1fPUacqHKkA_OI_6zvarZeY-gs5UbgY/s1600-h/IMG_9948b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267665387505078834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu1rvew_Ffd6RIjGCwS7JsaB4Zg_SOw53q6UmobwFPEmZP7xMQp1kU1U0kEclY67FOoaUT4DXTFaiE2o4zhOkumyTc5YXdE0_SpdmrOx4ATWr1fPUacqHKkA_OI_6zvarZeY-gs5UbgY/s320/IMG_9948b.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last evening, I paid a visit to the "world-famous" <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>Janpath</strong></em></span> (<em>translated, it means "People's Road")</em> market and came back with more than the shopping bags full of books, bags, chappals and other knick-knacks. Long after I had sifted through my loot of the day and stashed them away for future use, I just reminisced as to why was it almost always a more satisfying and rewarding experience to sift through the open market stalls than it was inside an air-conditioned mall. <div>Does it have something to do with the age-old human trait, because our ancestors have been dealing like this only, putting up their wares with least of pretentions, just like these are and the customers have been equally non-fussy to select their choice, buy it, have it packed and move on, to the next stall. Well, that is some food for thought but not now ;)</div><div>This time, I just want to talk of that gem of an open market called Janpath, which is etched in the heart and mind of every Delhiite as well as anyone coming here on a visit, whether brief or long.</div><div>The market is crowded to the hilt on most days and although, the general perception is that it is a favourite with the college crowd and tourists only, I have myself seen aunties, uncles, even grannies, coming in to pick up whatever caught their fancy. </div><div>It only helps that the market is located just next door to Connaught Place, which in itself is an all-season place to be in for all age and groups.</div><div>You come across real gems of bargains while scouring goods in these markets, i am sure many of the fellow readers would agree with me. Whether it is the sellers or the buyers, each one is trying hard to outdo the other in bargaining. Therefore, it doesnt matter whether you paid Rs 25 for a book, whose beginning price was qouted at Rs 500, the shopkeeper will still be a satisfied man because his margin is already calculated out of the product. Smart marketing, that is!!!</div><div>In fact, Delhi boasts of many such markets, which sell everything from books, readymade clothes, electronic items, shoes, watches, household knick-knacks to every imaginable commodity.</div><div>But that I will save for the next! For now, I can vouch for one fact and that is shopping never tastes as scrumptious as in an open market and for me, Janpath is just the right choice.</div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-38727509894328834522008-11-10T20:06:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:25:29.755-08:00More Than Just Cricket!!India lifted the <em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Gavaskar-Border Trophy</strong></span></em> yesterday with a 2-0 win over Aussies. The whole nation was elated for the cricket team had achieved this feat after eight long years. The whole series was in fact played in a charged atmosphere, whether it was the former <span style="color:#ff0000;">captain Saurav Ganguly's mid-series outburst</span>, <span style="color:#993300;">Test captain Anil Kumble's injury</span>, general sledging, doubtful umpiring decisions or <span style="color:#cc66cc;">Match Referee Chris Broad's controversial decision on Indian opener Gautam Gambhir</span>, the series had its more than fair share of controversies and media had a field day reporting events, that took place on and off the playing field.<br />However, the most profound outcome of this series is not the 2-0 score in India's favour, I think.<br />Well, before draggers are drawn out and pointed at me, let me clarify that I was equally elated at the Indian team's victory over Australia, which I feel was looooooooooong overdue and has finally come true, thanks to some deft captaincy by Mahendra Singh Dhoni (he ROCKS!!), before him Anil Kumble and coherent playing by all three departments of the team: batting, bowling and fielding. However, I am not sure that any other series, except one between India and Pakistan, brings out this much aggression in Indian players.<br />I have seen players of the like of Srinath, Kumble, Sachin, Azharuddin, Jadeja, smiling away the barbs thrown at them from the rival sides, be they Australians (during their glorious days) or Pakistanis. The scuffles were few and far between (like the (in)famous Javed Miandad-Kiran More or Aamir Sohail and Venkatesh Prasad spats).<br />It seems that Aussies have finally brought out the <span style="color:#ffff66;"><strong><em>worst</em></strong></span> among the Indian players, especially the young lot, in terms of verbal duels (although, Harbhajan Singh was a picture of patience during the second innings of the last match, even when Shane Watson could not help keep that sniggering look off his face while Singh went on to score a half century). The kind of aggression, which was visible in spurts under previous captains, has finally come of age under young blood Dhoni. The Indian cricket team today is capable of paying back in the same coin to any of the rival teams when it comes to sledging, it seems.<br />This, in my opinion, is the true outcome of this series and with the next series, with England, about to begin, the young turks of Indian cricket, would be going into it with much more on their mind besides just cricket.<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">P.S. I know I have disturbed the hornet's nest with my comments because just like everything else, cricket is more than just a game for us Indians. So, please feel free to post your comments on this piece</span></em>.<br />Waiting to hear from you........yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-43683958817728742232008-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:002008-11-09T20:56:01.151-08:00Run Lola Run!!!!The title, though, is borrowed from a much-acclaimed English movie, it is used here in relation to the Delhi half marathon, which took place yesterday (Sunday, November 9, 2008) in New Delhi, national capital of India. The event was dedicated to the spirit of running, which most of us grown-ups, seem to have abandoned in favour of the more brutal and "sophisticated" rat race in our professiona lives. Nevertheless, thousands of Delhiites ran in the marathon, which was flagged off by a host of celebrities, including film actors, sportspersons, politicians and businessmen. The event received much media coverage as well as public interest, which has encouraged the sponsors to come back with another edition of the marathon soon. <br />On a personal note, mom reached here on Saturday (Nov 8, 2008) and the last two days have been heavenly. No television was switched on and no books, magazines or newspapers were devoured. There was only mom, my brother and me, talking nine to a dozen and an outing to Connaught Place (I really love the place!!!). I plan to take mom more through Delhi in the coming week.<br />One more news, my best friend Harshpreet and her husband Arshvinder, celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary yesterday. Here's wishing them all that they wish, hope and pray from their married life and much much more. (I Love you both).<br />There is election time here in New Delhi and parties are doing their best to take up issues close to their, not the public's, hearts. After all, it is all about winning the coveted chair, ain't it? Who cares for a few million voters?<br />Things are beginning to get a little serious here, so will take your leave to calm down a bit. Will return with more tomorrow, till then, take care and god bless...yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-74403506533770619352008-11-06T20:23:00.000-08:002008-11-06T20:35:02.466-08:00Its cold here! brrrrrrr!!!!!Well, well, well! the winter has finally set in here in the national capital as the air was more than chilled this morning, when i left home for work. Since I am never able to decide when to start wearing the woolens, there are more than enough occasions on which I am caught unawares by the cold, like today.<br />As i began my journey to the workplace, in an autorickshaw, which is OPEN!!! on sides, with no cover at all, I felt the first cold pricking in through my face. It is good that I have the weekend off, so i can at least get the woolens out of the hiding and be prepared on Monday.<br />One more good thing that is going to happen tomorrow, my first weekly off in my new job, is that mom is coming down from my hometown, Jammu (<em>Yes, the Jammu and Kashmir one!!</em>!).<br />She will be staying for a week or so and I am already thinking of places to take her to. There are so many markets and places of interest around here in Delhi that I will have to think hard to chose a few.<br />Moreover, next month, one of my friends is also coming down from Pune, to stay with me and I am mighty excited about the whale of a time that we are going to have. She and I were together in our Mass Communication class in Jalandhar, the media capital of Punjab. We have now been together for nine years (<em>God!! how time flies</em>) and have seen each other through exams, heartbreaks (<em>only mine</em>), in short all the ups and downs in the life of an average Indian adult.<br />She is happily married now (<em>Touchwood!</em>) with a cute little son (<em>whom I simply adore</em>) and i am really looking forward to sitting down with her after a loooooooooong day of shopping and outing, with cups of coffee or tea between us and a lot of silly banter (<em>after all! that is what friends are meant to do, ain't it</em>?)<br />Well, I think I have really flown off the handle this morning. But kya karein? Jabbering on is the only cure for winter chill if u are not packed in woolens, or so says...... who else?? me yaar!!<br />That's it for now, c u later in the day...<br />Till then, Sayonara.....yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-69226090688823777832008-11-05T21:48:00.000-08:002008-11-05T22:06:16.419-08:00What Stirs You The Most???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSTYXXFtOWSht6oHC9vuMMklKTApwcO23jhxDtv2McoGpzNWYL9vkw1kmQrtDRO90NGkjXP0D5wTcCdU0-Z2cVv-zNGmk82rCd0Oyk_69Iuw7Qb8ij_FCEGfoHHta1vA0V_OM5m6riD0/s1600-h/25611.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265421737175074738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSTYXXFtOWSht6oHC9vuMMklKTApwcO23jhxDtv2McoGpzNWYL9vkw1kmQrtDRO90NGkjXP0D5wTcCdU0-Z2cVv-zNGmk82rCd0Oyk_69Iuw7Qb8ij_FCEGfoHHta1vA0V_OM5m6riD0/s320/25611.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0Ht8iAnMTDgjlLmHkE4VF5L6wmOYr5-CUGPtszMxm_C-3S9eQU4q9IISENgPVPdZPZKu_KnCJaCPA_Fhi9uF_vHjbHeTUfeaWYEQgOjhiJXAKMM5OCij0ERTVUyZ8GCdk_E2QlUZhn4/s1600-h/25611.jpg"></a>I was just wondering last night that why do books, all shapes, sizes and colours, have so much impact on us. Is it the man or woman, who has written the book, standing on the other end, calling out to us with their mostly life-altering experiences? Or is it the language, smooth-sailing and puzzling at the same time, which forces us to pick up a book and not to put it down till we have drenched it of all it has to offer? Well, I cant be thinking of it alone, ain't it?<br /><div><br /><div>So, I am going to pose this question to you guys, out there -</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ffff;"><strong><em>Pick up one book</em></strong></span> and get back to me with the name and the reason why you think it is life-altering for you.</div><br /><div>For me, it keeps changing every few years since I am quite a voracious reader and my taste in books also keeps changing. For now, it is <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>The Golden Age</strong></span>, written by debutante <span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Tahmima Anam</strong></span> and it describes beautifully Bangladesh's freedom struggle through a single family of a mother and two children, a son and a daughter. (<em><strong>I have posted a picture of the book for the visitors' benefit</strong></em>)</div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Bangladesh, as we in the subcontinent already know and many other might not be aware of, was earlier called East Pakistan and after a short but brutally blood-stained freedom struggle, aided by Indian Army, it gained freedom from Pakistan and declared itself a free nation.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffcc66;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffcc66;">So, hoping to listen from you soon,, till then, good bye and happy reading.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">P.S.</span> </span>I am reading My Country, My Life these days, written by senior politician L K Advani.</div></div></div>yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-27735311922499414802008-11-05T21:21:00.000-08:002008-11-05T21:28:52.384-08:00When will we change?Hi there,<br />Been away for long yet again. no use making excuses, so I will come to the point right away.<br />The winter is setting in with chilled air and welcoming sunlight. America recently voted a black man to the White House and the world rejoiced along with the Americans in their turning point in history. We all followed the presidential campaign earnestly, however we might deny it. It was a campaign, which we could learn a lot from.<br />Right from Obama's Kenyan descent to his skin colour, from american population's trust in Obama to his rival John McCain's speech after the results were announced. We should also be able to overlook the caste, religion, creed, social status while indulging in a political campaign. However, unfortunately, election campaigns in India are centred around these things only and in their worst forms.<br />The latest example would be that of MNS chief Raj Thackeray launching a tirade against North Indians in Mumbai, whatever his argument might be!<br />Well, a lot to learn then and hoping things would only be better in the coming elections....yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3177503863940191583.post-67507369473613594372008-09-01T04:22:00.000-07:002008-09-01T04:38:19.933-07:00Is It Really Communal???The weeks-old turmoil in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir was finally, and hopefully, laid to rest yesterday with the protestors and the government agreeing to some solution. However, the outcome of these protests is far-reaching as new loyalties have been formed and old ties forsaken. Being a resident of Jammu and Kashmir and born and brought up in Jammu region, I feel more of a Jammuite than a Kashmiri, although by birth I am a Kashmiri Pandit (somehow, I really dont have any faith in any particular religion or community, humanity should suffice for all the religions of the world, I think!!).<br />However, during the 60 days of curfew, killings, strikes, civil disobedience movement and public protests, I was forced to think as to where do I really belong?<br />Do I belong to Kashmir or Jammu? I know the question would be troubling a lot of other KP men and women just like me, because, if truth be told, there is no land that we can really call our own, as of now. So, where do we really belong to?<br />The question is unsettling but, the answer is still nowhere close by. It might take time for the answers to arrive, so meanwhile, I go by the city that has made me what I am and that is Jammu.<br />Speaking on behalf of people of Jammu, I can vouch for the fact that they are an unpretentious lot, who believe in working hard and earning their due from life.<br />In the peak years of militancy in Kashmir, I was studying in high school during those days, there were many instances wherein militants tried to foment trouble in Jammu and its adjoining regions as well. But the peace and tranquility of the city remained safe in the hands of the peace-loving Jammuites.<br />When more than four lakh KPs migrated from their ancestral land, most of them, (at least for the initial years) found refuge in Jammu and its outskirts. There were a few skirmishes regarding the clashes between the KP migrants and local population here and there, but the overall scenario remained peaceful and KPs found a favourable environment to thrive in in Jammu region.<br />During the following years (between 1990 and 2000), the KPs became a part and parcel of the public life in Jammu, so much so that in the company of KP kids, who were known for their inclination towards studies, the Jammuites also found their benchmark in education and started setting new targets for themselves. The economy also received a boost as there were more people to purchase goods in the markets, more people building homes for themselves and more marriages taking place.<br />Moreover, even with Kashmir continuing to burn for the next decade, Jammu continued to go about its business peacefully. However, that changed in June 2008, with the government revoking the land transfer order, earlier passed in favour of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.<br />The Jammuites, who had, during all these years since partition, kept the flag of nationalism fluttering despite all storms raging around them, were forced to come out on streets and make their anguish known throughout the country.<br />I ask you, the readers, were they not justified in raising their voice against 60 years of discrimination against the politicians, who kept exploiting them at the drop of hat? How justified is Article 370 which prevents other Indians from entering the state of Jammu and Kashmir and buying land or other property there while the Jammu and Kashmir people can do so at will in rest of the country?<br />These are a few questions which might bring the answer to the present turmoil, which is far from over, though, it might have receded for time being.....yaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042828077352635401noreply@blogger.com0