Saturday 21 November 2015

#MadeOfGrit and #MadeOfGreat

What would you do if you were married against your will with a person you didn't even know? What if you were asked for a dowry each day? What if you were criticized for your skin color or for gaining weight post pregnancy? What if you were tortured into killing your own child for it being a girl? What if there were attempts to kill you? What if you were uneducated and unarmed? I despite of studying to get a PhD degree would shudder at the thought, of a life like that and in some weak moment might run away from it, find some work to feed my children and leave a meager life. However an uneducated woman in a small town of Gujarat Shantaben Patel (name changed), did better. She today has founded a "mahila gruh udyog" (women's house based employment scheme) that supports multiple women like her. This is only possible when you face it all and despite of your circumstances fight for you are #MadeOfGreat.

Despite of ministers saying it out and loud women have never been equal in a society, the very mark of it was Shantaben's education, when she was forbidden to go to school beyond standard five, as the school in her village had only that much. It was not unheard of and most girls in her village didn't study much and were taught to do household chores, assisting their mothers early on for a career as a wife. Shanta didn't understand the impact of it then as she does now and stresses upon education of all women joining her and more on their children's. Shantaben married the man her father chose, the amount of dowry was decided and the man married all her and the things that she got from her parent's home. Not that it was for her to relish the joy's of the comforts being bestowed upon by her father. Her husband had no connect with her and did what his mother told him to. Shantaben saw many village girls having the same fate, so she accepted it all. She would wake up before dawn and do all the washing, cooking, looking after the cows and field work. After a whole day of serving the family, at night it was her duty to satisfy her husbands needs, as was taught to her, as she had witnessed every girl go through. 

She was indifferent to it all and accepted it as routine, the beatings for dowry, the non-stop complaints and the increasing demand for money or commodities from her parents. This continued as Shantaben cried and kept on, till one day when she knew she was pregnant a smile crossed her face. the face of a small child she thought would be something she would look at to cure her miseries. But alas! luck wasn't on her side and she gave birth to a baby girl, whose face her husband refused to see for months on. As if that wasn't enough she began to be ridiculed for post pregnancy weight gain as "fat" and pushed to conceive again and as if it was her wish by which these things operated, it should be a boy. Shantaben submitted herself to this need as well but yet again it was a girl. This time the 'mother-in-law" was determined to kill both the children. One day she beat them all black and blue and went ahead to drown them. That was when Shantaben's inner cool was lost, the mother rose above the obedient girl, the wife and the daughter-in -law she was. She took her children and left. There was no where to go. Her parents would be ashamed for her being discarded from her husband's place. It was then she decided to move to the city. She slept on railway stations and move from house to house demanding some work to be able to feed her children. Nobody came looking for her, not her husband who thought it was a better opportunity and married again for more dowry and a prospective male heir, not her parents who thought their responsibilities ended the day she left their doorstep as a bride.

Shantaben didn't let the emotional trauma affect her, her only concern was her girls should get a better life, education and a stand in society than herself. So she went ahead working from one house to another tirelessly making enough money for their survival and her children's schooling. One day at a place she worked the owner had too many visitors coming, she requested Shantaben to help in the kitchen and she readily obliged. To their utter amazement she could handle it all, the pressure of feeding multiple guests and everybody loved her finger licking delicious food. Her boss, the hostess had thrown the best treat ever and they employed Shantaben to cook for them with a better pay. This was the day Shantaben smiled after years of running away from her house. She now took cooking jobs, something she was extremely fast at and enjoyed thoroughly. Slowly she began making snacks at home in her free time and sold it to the people where she worked, friends of her children at school and her snacks began famous. She was earning well and having saved enough for having seen the dark days alone she decided to do it full time, as she could look after her growing daughters better. Soon party orders came in and many grocers agreed to put her make in their shops for it sold like hot cakes. Shantaben began to get more orders but she took only as many as she could manage. She never let her daughter's help, for her their education was of prime importance, she fought her battle alone. 

It was then when she reflected upon her life and how lucky she was to have survived it all, she thought what was the weapon for uneducated women like her, who suffer brutality each day, not being financially independent. She let the word out that she would take more orders if she would have more support but from women who really needed it to free from the bondage's that gave one only scars. To her surprise, even today women come to her from various corners of the state each with a story more disturbing that the other. Shantaben never say's no to anybody and thanks to her and her foundation "mahila gruh udhyog" no woman has to sleep on road or stations and starve or feel discarded, fee its the end of life only for Shantaben did not just think about herself.

Shantaben also does social work and gives 24*7*365 counselling to women suffering from all kinds of domestic issues. After all this all I can say is if I can be 10% of her even with my fancy degree, I would be someone. She is surely #MadeOfGrit and #MadeOfGreat.

To know more about Tata Motor's #MadeOfGreat initiative log on to: http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

Virgin Bond and Vaginal Emoji's

This has been the funniest week ever with the two most strikingly contrast set of developments in the world. One is Indian censor board has asked that the recent James Bond film Spectre be screened in India without the kissing scene and the other one which speaks about vaginal emoji's being created. Its not just that the galaxies in space move away from each bother but on the same planet life seems galaxies apart! Where the Bond film being censored created a funny hashtag following the wave of sanskar hitting the nation, #SanskariJamesBond, not many are aware that vaginal emoji's are just a beginning (thank God for that!). However there will be a ban on these, the apps that have them and we will soon have a make in India app (read Made in India app) to chat with people here with sanskari emoji's with you touching some old man's/woman's feet, with a tag line "Pai lagu chacha/chahchi/mama/mami +ji" (the ji being a reflection of our sanskar's). The app will probably be called Kem Cho to get an instant approval from the prevailing government.

However till that tsumani crashes over, lets focus on what is not yet banned and more interesting "vagina emoji's" or "vagmoji's".

These are artistically created by creators of Flirtmoji Katy McCarthy and Jeremy Yingling who try to make lovers far apart do a better sex chat or a sext. That is a huge undertaking. These therefore are the first in line of a full body pack that will include penises, butts, breasts and other “beautiful naughty bits,” as per them.


Who will use them first is yet to be decided may be because of violations of some laws in some countries, that is what I presume. For now, just let’s wait and wait and watch who dares. So now when you curse for the abrupt edit while watching Spectre, don't forget to thank these creators as well....till you can!



Wednesday 23 September 2015

India's entry for Oscars: Court

India has finally selected a movie for an official entry into Oscars and to everyone's pleasant surprise the decision this year unlike last year which was The Good Road(a Gujarati movie) over Ship of Thesus or the popular lunchbox, is the internationally acclaimed Marathi movie Court. It is the directorial debut of Chatainya Tamhane and post this movie he has been recognized as one of the most potential film makers of the nation under 30. 

The movie released in India on 17 April 2015, however it was first premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2014.  The movie is a courtroom drama, wherein a aging folk singer cum social activist is arrested for instigating suicide of a sewage cleaner, whose body is found inside a manhole. His singing is blamed to have inspired the youth to kill himself. As the movie unfolds it addresses real life problems in the Indian judicial system and most importantly the most critical question in the democratic nation of ours "the freedom of speech". 

The essence of the movie is clearly evident in this very compelling international poster of the movie, where the lead character, activist Narayan Kamble played by actor Vira Sathidar, emerges with a microphone from a pothole, with the background of a courtroom. 

The movie has been chosen from 30 entries, including Masaan,PKHaiderKaakaa Muttai and Baahubali. After Mother India, Lagaan, Black and Salaam Bombay failing to grab the Oscars, we wish we finally make up for all of it with a strong contender like Court. Wishing the team all the best, India shall be surely praying for you. For now lets watch this trailer (with subtitles):





Friday 11 September 2015

Outlier 1: Mr. Sumant Batra

Once upon a time…a solo traveler while travelling through the mystic lands of Himachal came across
a beautiful village, Dhanachuli. He stopped by to imbibe in its fresh air, its beauty within him to be able to deal with mundane life in the city amidst pollution later. As he climbed the ladders of his career, he kept going back to the place, now looking at it more closely, understanding its culture, its people and unlike a tourist thought of preserving and building upon it a centre that would help this little place stand proudly as one of India’s cultural hubs on the global map - Mr. Sumant Batra. He is a Corporate lawyer by profession and one India’s leading ones at that.  He was the founder and managing partner of one of the top law firms Kesar Dass B. & Associates till 2011, where he now serves as Mentor and Chairman. He is a writer, a poet, a museum curator, collector and now moves on the path to philanthropy. His vision and mission towards restoring and building upon our nation’s natural and cultural heritage is what makes him, the first “Outlier” to be interviewed.

Q: First of all thank you sir for your valuable time, having this session with us?
A: The pleasure is mine.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I am a corporate lawyer and believe in doing my best at what I do. I  took my career very seriously, and with God’s grace, very early in life, reached the top. There and then as I had decided right at the beginning, I left when I was right at the top; which was to live those hobbies that were left somewhere on the way. The other face of my persona is that of a collector, I preserve even an old matchbox I find artistic. That sums up most of me.

Q: Why have you chosen Dhanachuli as a base for all your activities?
A: For me Dhanachuli was love at first sight. The day I stepped foot on it, I loved it so much that I didn’t want to go back. I build a house there in 1997.  I first built a resort there and slowly as I started the process I understood the place, its people and their enthusiasm, needs, etc and decided to do something more. That is where I slowly started dreaming of my work being more of a platform towards development of a place I love so much.

Q: What is your vision with Dhanachuli?
A: I aim to transform Dhanachuli into a smart village where economic opportunities are created out of art, culture, literature etc. It began with my resort which was lovingly created out of every antique piece of furniture I collected over the years.

Q: You left your career when you were at the peak, how difficult has it been?
A: Well, to be honest it was a tough decision, surely for the lifestyle that came along with my position, the respect and attention but I always knew I would take a decision to leave things when at a prime position. I was conscious of the choice and the limitations that came along with it. But yes even then it did hit sometimes for example when you do not get invited to the conferences you have been keynote speaker at etc. or fly first class but I look at the big picture then and my aim of doing something for a greater benefit of society and in that moment this feeling evaporates.

Q: What are the events so far conducted at Te Aroha and how has the response been?
A:  We have done a series of retreats – painters’ writers’, food, tea tasting, bloggers and others. But KLF is the first mega festival planned.

Q: Why a literature festival?
A: I am a writer and a book collector. My next museum – The Room of Classics is planned around the art of book making; also, I love reading. I admit I haven’t read as much as I should have during my work days, but I plan to do that now. Literature is an intrinsic part of culture and serves as a powerful tool to communicate. India is going through a massive transformation and her youth need guidance to comprehend this change effectively.  Writers and poets play an important role in mentoring youth. Therefore I decided to do a literature festival.

Q: What are the USPs of the Kumaon Literature Festival?
A: First of all it is not just a literature festival, but a complete experience. Firstly, we do not have the authors brought in, give the talk and then taken away in separate hotels away from the crowd. We have arranged every event such that the readers get maximum interaction time with their favorite author. You will go for walks with them, have all the meals with them, in short spend the entire duration in their company. This is one thing I personally found lacking in all literature events and I was very particular to ensure we do not have barriers between the writer and the reader.

Apart from this, there is much more for everyone to savor, for example there is Balad by Basanti Devi, Sufi songs by Harpreet Singh, performance by Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, folk dance of Kumaon, for the music and dance lover in you. A trek to old Dhanachuli and Nainital, star gazing and astrophotography workshop for the nature lover. There are also cyles sponsored by Hero and one can just pick up one and ride around the region, and get in closer proximity of the natural surroundings.

Q: What were the major challenges in putting the lit fest together?
A:  To me the single challenge has been to convince people that a world-class event can be held in a remote village. Sponsors are hard to come by. Believe you me I have received an overwhelming support

Q: You have an impressive panel of authors for each session, including many big names, was it difficult approaching any of them?
A: Surprisingly No. All the people I approached didn’t show any hitch in travelling to a destination not directly connected by air. Some were even kind enough to tell us that they would reach on their own. The support from the entire community has been enormous and that is one more reason I would love to do this activity each year.

Q: Tell us a little about future events in the Kumaon that are being planned by you?
We will champion four major festivals that will become a regular feature – KLF, Dhanachuli Film Festival, a theatre and a poetry festival.

Q: What are your favorite books?
A: To Kill a Mocking Bird, Old Man and the Sea amongst the classics, and The Second Lady and Godfather amongst thrillers. They are embedded in my memory.

Q: You have been involved in so much, what is your time management mantra?
A:  It is simple. I am an early riser. I do most of my work in the morning. I am focused and determined. I do not go for parties much instead I enjoy spending that time with my family, especially my children. I ensure I spend as much time as I can with my kids, be it taking my son for cricket or reading a book to my daughter. I also ensure I spend one day of the weekend entirely with them which keeps me happy and energized.


Q: What has motivated you the most?
A: The mantra if you work passionately and honestly you can achieve any goal.

Q: In one line you call yourself as?
A: I enjoy the journey as much as the destination but I must keep moving and doing more and more.

Q: Complete the following line: The world would be a better place if…..?
A: Successful people were humbler.

Thank you so much for your time sir, we wish you and the festival all the best.

for more details on The Kuman Literary Festival please log on to http://kumaonliteraryfestival.org/



Thursday 10 September 2015

Save The Bhai

A lot has been said and debated about Salman Khan. Especially after the hit and run case. Not only are Salman Khan's movies being repetitive (save for Bajrangi Bhaijaan) but his strong fan following has not given up on him and the trend of each of his movies make it to the 100 Crore club continues. He is truly "The Bhai". So for the unintiated here is all about Bhai and why people really love him. The best video on Salman Khan ever! Kudos team Screenpatti.

Do subscribe to their channel once you have seen the video.



Wednesday 9 September 2015

Movie Review : Kick

Directed by:  Sajid Nadiadwala

Starring:         Salman Khan
                              Jacqueline Fernandez
                              Randeep hooda
                              Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Language:      Hindi   

Run Time:      146 Minutes

Salman Khan plays the role of Devi Lal Sigh, who is a care free adventurous lad and does only those things that supposedly give him a "kick" justifying the title of the movie. The hot  Jacqueline Fernandez who is a Psychologist in Poland meets him at a friends wedding. The wedding is where the bride and groom elope from home and marry. The first introduction of Salman Khan in making this wedding successful is the typical "Saloo bhai" scene that only his die hard fans would appreciate. For the rest of the audience this is the time to realize your error in deciding to watch this movie and run away. However if you continue the two do fall in love after much persuasion from Salman Khan.However, him being a rolling stone that gathers no moss, it becomes difficult to do anything at all and so the bride's father, a businessman doesn't agree to the match till he is capable enough to support his high maintenance daughter. So they break up.

She then meets Himanshu Tyagi (played by Randeep Hooda), as a prospective match.They share their stories where he is trying to catch a goon named "Devil" who like Don makes it "mushkil hi nahi namumkin". he is on the look out for him. The story continues till he faces Jacqueline once again as a psychiatric patient. How did he land up there? Is it another scheme y Devil? Why did a fun loving man turn into a goon? The answer to these questions is the crux of the story or really not because it wont surprise you. Bollywood always has a way to make the lead actor "a hero" as he is called mostly.

The writers which surprisingly also has "Chetan Bhagat" have tried to introduce novelty in the entire script only for it to be more age old, like the twist in 90's and the movie fails to entertain and surprise you.There is also use of advanced and modern animation in the film which was just not needed. Overall its a movie to not waste your time over unless you are "bhai's fan".

Rating: 1.5 stars on 5.

Movie Review: Dum Laga Ke Haisha




Directed by: Sharat Katariya

Starring:      Ayshmann Khurana
                    Bhumi Pednekar  
             
Producers:   Aditya Chopra 
                    Maneesh Sharma

Language:    Hindi  

Since its trailers and then the 90's theme based song 'dard karara" that stole my heart I was eagerly waiting for this movie to be released, and so I watched it yesterday. As the trailer suggests its a different, unusual love story. In rural India where arranged marriage is still the norm and so is following what your parents wish, Prem (Ayshmann Khurrana) the male lead is pressurized to marry Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar). 

The movie is set in the partly serene and mostly the lanes of Haridwar. Prem and Sandhya are opposites. While Prem fears English and has never cleared his SSC examination, Sandhya is a BEd and teaches in a school. Prem runs a cassette and recording company which isn't doing great, almost facing extinction with evolving CD world. Prem's family convince him to marry the overweight Sandhya as she is educated and employed, therefore a source of income. Sandhya likes him at first sight and why not, he is good to look at and marries him. Within a month they realize that it was a mistake. Prem's dislike of Sandhya prevents him from consummating the marriage. He avoids being spotted with her publicly, dislikes her looks and cannot go ahead. One day when at a friends wedding he insults her in front of his friends, Sandhya decides to take a call a "divorce". They are given the courtship period of six months before the court can give them a permission for divorce. 

It is in this period that Prem realizes he hasn't done anything with his life. The story takes further a lighter tome as "Dum Lagao Pratayogita" which is the centre of this film then begins.  Then begins the challenge of proving oneself in a game which is all about compatibility.  As he discovers himself will he also realize Sandhya's love for her? Will he find the compatibility with her and win the race? Will he find love for her. Well to know do watch this movie.

Its unique concept is certainly a breather in the romance category from the same old love stories. The unusual character of Sandhya will definitely draw the audience to theatres. It is a movie where even for a moment one doesn't get bored and the pace is maintain light and hilarious throughout. A movie after long one can watch with family. Bhumi as a debutante has done a fabulous job and Ayushmann Khurana is completely into his character. The supporting cast has done an outstanding job as well.

Rating: Overall this film deserves 4/5. Go watch it today!!!

Outliers

Everyone works for themselves albeit for many similar things, the most basic ones "food, clothing and shelter". However, a society as a whole doesn't progress with everyone just doing enough for their survival. We as a race, have progressed beyond all other species in the animal kingdom not just because we think, but for the fact that our thoughts are holistic, about making our lives, lives of our families and our society as a whole better. This altruistic sense of achievement has had a huge cost on the individual, like the father of Genetics Gregor John Mendel, dying of depression, being mocked for he could reproduce his experiments only with sweet pea. A more familiar example being that of Galileo Galilei being held in house arrest for entire life and his work being condemned for supporting Copernicus's heliocentric structure of the universe. 

Going by the 80-20 principle, this 20% of population in their small yet significant ways, do more than just for themselves and their families. They step beyond their comfort zone, sometimes struggle and even fight for what they believe is needed for a progressive society. These people are "Outliers". In this section we aim to write about their lives and work, for they inspire us in those times when we want to give up. This section will cover people from every walk of life, a housewife victimized by domestic violence, turning into an entrepreneur to support women like her; to the creative wizards who entertain us through youtube, taking over the giant television industry. It highlights a step taken for the society. With a hope that when the tenth experiment of your life has failed, this section inspires you to go do the eleventh, we would regularly bring stories/ interviews with personalities that inspire and motivate you. Summing it all up by the following lines by Steve Jobs...



If you know someone that inspires you, please do write to us at matrixlife01@gmail.com. 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Skyping Over Airtel 4G

Airtel 4G is something I have been waiting for since the time it was announced about six months ago. I am sure many of you are too. 3G has served us well but sometimes especially over the most used apps like Whats app  or Skype the connections go slow and you have an interruptions during your chat which is not what you want especially when you are talking with your loved ones and they have better connections than yours and lesser time.

Connections breaking up can also lead to bad mood and sometimes therefore I myself avoid calling someone over skype when the internet is not so fast, as from previous experiences though you are really eager to talk to someone and you find that person is online. You connect and after a few minutes it starts breaking down, the speed slows, leaving both the parties angry and disappointed. On one such incident when my son had won chess championship and call me he was so excited, but I could only see his happy face for a few minutes, the connection went bad and he was upset. On a later conversation on the phone, his pitch had dropped, his enthusiasm a little less and mine too as it was great to see his happy face and animated description of the match, voice could only tell so much.

So when Airtel announced the 4G, I got myself a smartphone which is compatible with the same. Luckily, Airtel had partnered with it and I got an Airtel sim as well. Now I just dream of the day I could talk to my children for as long as I want, stress free at their time. Also relatives abroad who always boast of a better connection and I hang my head every time a connection breaks as if it was my fault. No more now. India will no longer be behind thanks to Airtel.  If Tagore were born in the technology era he would have re-quoted himself for my situation “where the mind is without fear and the head is held high”. Thanks to only and only one connection – Airtel.

Are you someone with similar issues such as me? You want to Skype with your children living away from home? You wish to see every expression on their face as you, the parent know them better than anyone else? You have relatives abroad who have always boasted of being more advanced than you? Who always made you felt bad for a bad connection, each time proving their point that you made a bad decision of staying back in India? Well, if your answer is a “yes” to any one or more of the questions above then, it’s the time you buy a 4G connection. It saves time and you of all the embarrassment. All you have to do is log on to http://www.airtel.in/4g/, apply for one and get it delivered at your door step. It’s that easy. So what are you waiting for?



Sunday 19 July 2015

Parenting Gives "Khusi Ke Pal" Being Friends


I have cherished each moment being a mother with my son, right from his gurgling and making his first sound to his first laughter, even his cries, him coming running to me after winning a match of chess, I was his best friend and he told me everything first. Children get that naturally for their mothers I believe, for that is what happened to us. However parents treat their children as children more often and slowly as they grow they realize they are smarter and quicker in a lot of matters than themselves. That is point where it begins that parents treat children as friends.

To me it happened in the last few days before my son was to go away from home for the first time and live on his own in the hostel. I was not happy though I knew that was what he had worked the last two years for. Hardly slept both of us, for the dream was that he clears the entrance to one of the top institutions and secures a seat for Bachelors in Engineering degree. That came true and now the harder facts were pressing, my little child was to go off away into the hostel and live alone. I was worried about the smallest thing. How would he be there? What kind of rooms were they? Will he be able to tackle the bullies? Will he like the food?

All this was on my head and then a friend of mine told me to teach my son basics like washing clothes, making a little bit of instant food and a cup of tea or coffee for himself so on the worst days, in bad food conditions he doesn't starve. It was around the time when my son too realized that he was going to miss me and though acting all grown up boy, he didn't but he surely felt so. He would avoid his friends and spend more time with me. When I had to scream to get things done earlier over the loud noise of his computer games, my calls were answered in one go.

So I began teaching him how to boil milk, make coffee and warm up instant food packets. That was his limit. The next day I taught him how to wash clothes and then to iron them. But the day my lessons began so dis his. I wasn't aware my son had really grown up. He had saved through out last year and he gifted me a smart phone. He installed an app called skype and another called whatsapp. H also recharged it with a 3 months internet pack, knowing well that I would be slow at learning technology. Then he taught me how to use skype and video chat. While I would teach him to do the household chores he told me to take a selfie and send it via whatsapp. Though initially what I taught him was boring to him, later he realized that I was learning really well despite of being technologically impaired. So not only did he learn to do little things but helped me making all the snacks I made for him in the kitchen and trust me for us Gujarati's it is an endless list viz. papdi, gathiya, chevdo, chakli, puri, thepla, etc. In the last few days where my agenda was to feed him with as much food as possible, he taught me to be better at skyping, we found where the network was best at home and he learnt to make bhakri-shaak (Bhakri is a kind of Gujarati bread and shaak in Guarati means vegetables).  We became friends and that helped us understand each other better and enjoy our time together. Now looking back that moment when I was sad initially that my son was going away was as memorable a moment with him for it was our first moment of friendship.

So at last as we bonded over, with me packing his bag and he setting up the computer passwords to uncomplicated one so that I could use it, I slipped a box of Kellogs chocos that has been his breakfast and guess what the day his hostel food is bad he always skypes me with a bowl of chocos in his hand and he doesn't look sad, something I had been so worried about. I am happy we have the equation of friendship, try it with your parents/ children and they will learn faster, grow happier. Today I can write this blog for he taught me how to blog too, once I could skype and use facebook and I am glad I can. Its the second best thing I do besides being with my family. So Khuljaye Bachpan with Kellogs Chocos? Watch this video and you will know what I am talking about:



And if you are sad today, have a bowl of Kellogs chocos, its nutritious and chocolate always enhances the moos. Fore more information log on to https://www.facebook.com/mychocos.

Friday 10 July 2015

Diet with Balance

"Lets grab a burger or a sandwhich". "I am craving for pasta today and I have worked so hard", "lets just eat anything as long as it doesn't make us sleep, there is a lot of work to do", "Grab me that pepsi, I can't have my pizza without it". Can you relate to all of this at work. We just consume anything as long as we tick and suddenly when there is a friends wedding or some jeans to be bought you realize with shock and horror that within three months you put three kg's and then suddenly you stave yourself to death as guilt consumes you. Next day on you survive purely on coffee and that makes you tick, you avoid all kinds of fried and oily food and that's good, but you eat too less and feel low on energy. You are not as smart , attentive and focused as you only thing about the hunger pang in your being most of the time. Can you do this for long? No! So one day you realize much to your horror again that your performance has dropped and you are far from that promotion or the position you have been eyeing. Your career graph goes downhill and you think what for? You choose work over yourself and the result alarms you again into a crash diet. This cycle continues each time but you don't end up loosing weight, looking and worse feeling terrible about yourself. Sometime you develop deficiency when on diet. All of this just tell you one thing "Crash diet is not the solution".

Our body is like the machine and food is its fuel. It cannot function without food as that is our energy source. So stopping to eat altogether is the greatest punishment for your body and in the long run does more harm than good. So the most important thing to understand is to always eat a balanced diet. They tell you that low on carbs is the way to go , but have you ever thought why you feel dizzy when you are low on carbs or rather technically and accurately carbohydrates? That is because the fuel that can give you energy fastest are carbohydrates. Simple sugars like glucose and fructose. Therefore fruit juices are recommended. Think of this, when you faint or feel dizzy what do they give you? Glucose! So now I think the point is clear that you do need carbohydrates although you should avoid eating too much sugar as these later get converted into fats and are stored in the body. Eating at regular intervals also thus helps. 


So what should ideally be a healthy, wholesome diet? One that has Carbohydrates so cereals, protein therefore pulses, vitamins and minerals hence green leafy vegetables and nuts. Although apart from all of these there is also honey that should be included in diet. Honey is an instant source of energy as it has raw sugars. It has added anti-microbicidal, antibiotic activities. It can also be added to foods like your breakfast cereal, your fruit bowl or that lemonade. Some reports also suggest that about three weeks helps you reduce an ounce. 



To know more about the benefits of honey from a brand I have trusted always - Dabur, please visit their site http://www.daburhoney.com/ and do let me know in your comments if you now are convinced to have a balanced diet with honey.

Friday 15 May 2015

#MyAirtelApp

A smartphone is a gadget that helps to do just one thing, make your life easy. We download all the apps that make ours fast. We communicate with friends on facebook, share our thoughts on twitter, post our pictures on Instagram that can in turn put it on both twitter and facebook. We want to go fast as time is precious, rare and in-fact everything. So when you can use this time do better things, like play with your children, talk to your aging parents or perhaps cooking that satiating meal for you have only been eating out all day, all time. If you are a twenty first century professional, the next thing you need after a smart phone is the right app. Ofcourse assuming you have the right connection with great connection strength and speeds, courtesy - Airtel. 

So just log on to  http://www.airtel.in/myairtel, know all about the app, various benefits, download the app, save your time and money and hey, shake that thing! When you do that you get a lot of advantages, here are the three that tops my list:

1. Cool Offers:  Many a times it so happens that my data pack is expiring and I shake the app, sometimes it so happened that I got free data. Not just that at the end of the month when pockets are tight I have found full talk time for low value recharge which meant I can call my loved ones far away and talk without worrying about the balance. Isn't that a boon?

2. Contact Storage and Recharge: My parents live in smaller towns and the internet connection there is bad. They do not either have a smart phone. So mostly they ask me to recharge their phones. As I am always on the go professionally, I have saved all their contacts in one list and all I have to do is refer to that when I need to recharge their phones. This saves me from all the pain of going through the internet, then feeding their number etc. There are also express heck out options so that you do not have to feed in your credit or debit card 16 digit number again and again, etc. So you can practically recharge on the move.

3. Timely Notification and Check: You can keep a complete check of your usage and recharge with this app without saving a million sms that helps you keep a track of your mobile usage and expenditure. Also it gives you notifications when the balance is expiring, etc. so that you are never out of balance. This is especially important for women, working late, travelling alone, etc. A working phone is the first thing you need when in danger.

 So what are you waiting for? Downlaod the app today! 

You can also watch this video and decide:





Sunday 10 May 2015

#Sharing The Load

A son is a mothers pride. He is burdened right from the day he is born, to carry the weight of the surname, the reputation his father built or the success his father couldn't. In either case he is the one everyone's eyes are on. Its a proud moment when he does well for himself in his career but when he becomes a fine gentleman, a human being; a mother is more proud of her creation as that is what speaks for her upbringing. I am happy I raised a fine human being in my son, but the day I realized it was the best one of my life.

I had been feeling unwell for a week now. My son was coming back from the hostel after six months and I was spending all my time in getting his favourite things in place, ingredients for everything that was to be fed to him, setting up the wireless for he cant live without the Internet, cleaning his room etc. It had consumed me and just after the day he landed fatigue caught me. It was his first break after he had left home for the first time in the hostel, but like every mother I was fretting if he was getting well nourished for he had just lost much weight because of terrible food and bad hygiene standards there. I felt terrible the evening I couldn't get up from bed when I fell ill. He just told me to sleep and gave me medication. What he did next surprised me. With a little help from the aunt next door he managed to find, rice and lentil and made me worlds best khichdi ever as I wasn't able to eat much. He also made soup. 

Not just that when his father returned he ensured he was fed well, washed all the utensils, cleaned up the kitchen and everything was perfectly in place the next morning. I took ill for about four days in which he cleaned, cooked , did the laundry and everything. I never felt I wasn't the one running the house. His father was surprised too and helped him. I never knew my son was so capable, that he could manage a family and not just himself. When I told him I was proud, he just said my sister would have done so and I am no different, when we care we share everything.

For the entire break-time then he would spend more time with me helping me side by side and that is the time that we work together for our home is what we look forward to, each time. Now I don't worry about him that much. 

 “I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.” 

#ShareTheLoad With Love

The era in which we were born and brought up didn't have equality as a basic right for women. Women were left to the kitchen and had to ensure the needs of the family are met. Families, big and small; with lesser or many women was the women's problem. The men like bosses in a corporate office would only see if they got what they wanted, their comfort. Things have recently changed however. Not just the fact that women can speak what they want, men are now being very considerate and the couples now-a-days help each other with everything. Life is always better that ways.

My husband was brought up in a family where women were to do all the chores. I accepted the norm in his family as mine was similar. My daughter however had different thoughts. She was bold about expressing her opinion and as the time changed, she not only grew up to be responsible but trained my son (her younger sibling) to be completely independent. She could of course manage things more than he cool, be it food, cleaning or laundry but he could manage breakfast. When they left home for their careers no wonder they adjusted very easily to the surroundings. I always wanted to go and visit them but my husband being a doctor believed in serving more. He wouldn't take an off and he was dependent on me. He couldn't even make his own tea and so I couldn't go anywhere, not even to visit my children. Even for events, parties and weddings I had to ensure all his things are set and then I would go. I had to return back by night. My daughter was once visiting us and she me tired returning from a wedding and my husband said "I am craving for tea", I instantly got up to make it. Being someone who would never think of failures, she just told her dad "Let me teach you how can you make your tea, yourself". Fathers listen to daughters and she rarely came home, so he went thinking of it as time being spent with her. She however had other goals. She made her father learn to make tea in the next three days. 

It was the time when I could really get a break when I came from work as my husband would now not demand for tea. I could lie down, read , do whatever I wish to as compared to earlier when I had to do other duty, that of a provider. She also taught him basic cooking like instant foods and so now I can go anywhere I want and I am not complaining when I am back for my husband takes care of everything. I am happy though late even our generation has learnt to share life and the load. 

 “I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.” 

Sunday 26 April 2015

The Himalayan Earthquake That Struck Nepal, Tibet and parts of North India

 Nepal, parts of Tibet and several states in North India were hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on Saturday morning that has resulted in widespread devastation and loss of life. People are scared, there are many who are still alive but not yet rescued from rubble, others who might be safe but have lost contact with their friends and family.

At times like these, it is very easy for rumors to spread, especially through social networking sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. Immediately after the earthquake, there were rumors being spread which resulted in widespread fear which kept people out of their homes and offices. Here's the Indian Express Report on Rumors that were spread. Please do not spread rumors using social networks.

Instead let's use these platforms for aiding rescue and relief by spreading relevant information about helpline numbers, information about fund donations, donation of material, etc.

The most important and extensive information on everything that general public, rescue and relief workers, volunteers and government agencies would find very useful is from The Humanitarian Data Exchange website, which UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Asia and the Pacific is using to direct it's operations in the affected areas.

Here are few other options for you to support in rescue and relief:

1. All the relevant information about this earthquake on United States Geological Survey webpage

2. To locate or know about missing person, please follow The Logical Indian's FB post where they have compiled a list of things you can do if you are trying to know about a friend/family member or are looking to volunteer.

3. Here's Quartz India's post showing how you can help.

4. You can follow The Guardian's Rolling Report on Nepal Earthquake.

5. Here's MEA India's press release mentioning contact details of the Control Room they've set up in South Block in response to the Nepal Earthquake.



6. You can follow NDTV India's Live Updates on the Earthquake.

7. Indian Express's Report on Predicting quakes yet to come of age.

8. Here are some useful twitter accounts to follow regarding information related to the earthquake: Shiv Aroor

Narendra Modi

Vikas Swarup

Sushma Swaraj

Embassy of India Kathmandu

Asian News International

 Sitanshu Kar

Do follow the twitter hashtags like #NepalEarthQuake and #NepalQuake to keep receiving all updates and information about this earthquake.