'Recuperating' is an art. If utilized properly, it lets you introspect; about the life gone by, things that could have been, moments wasted, memories cherished. Most importantly, it makes you aware of your senses - a feeling that is so entirely our own when we are young and once we grow up, our senses become conditioned to think and behave the way we want them to.
Last evening, my dear childrood friend visited me with her 6 month old daughter. It was a courtesy visit to check on my well being. Looking at her daughter, I realized that a child is so pure and unaffected by social procedures, its a joy just watching them do things, absorbed in their own little world.......
Have you ever watched a child? Each child is born with beautiful senses. When he looks at something, he is so completely absorbd as if nothing else in the universe matters at that time, at that very moment!! When he looks, he becomes the eyes. When he hears, he becomes the ears. When he eats something, he just becomes the taste. His reactions are spontaneous, liquid, almost spiritually intoxicating.
See a child eating an orange - with what gusto and great energy......what delight!! See a child running after a butterfly in the garden - so absorbed that even if God were to pass that way, he wouldn't bother.
Such tremendous meditative state of being - and without any effort!! What lesson can one learn - Everything is precious when senses are alive, everything is worthwhile when senses are alive, everything is meditative when senses are alive..........................
Shafina
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Turn off the electricity, turn on the future
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating.
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.
Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice on the future of our planet and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for our planet.
A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.
It’s Showtime! Show the world what can be done.
Our Delhi
For ages, I have spoken to people visiting our country about Delhi as if I am an expert on the subject. Though I must admit that I have never really bothered to find out about the city where I was born and brought up, and today – make my living in. When you live amidst history, you often begin to take it for granted. Worse, I have often compared Delhi to World class cities and never felt guilty about doing so, until now, about a year and a half ago, when I was caught badly.
This happened to me on a flight back from Thailand. ‘I’ve heard so much about Delhi. I and my girlfriend are visiting Delhi for the first time’, said an over exuburant handsome young man sittting next to me on the Thai Airways flight from Bangkok. He was very attractive and I was hoping to strike up a conversation. So, the moment he said, ‘I’ve heard it’s an ancient city with a magnanamous history’, I replied enthusisitically, ‘Yes, very much’. And because I knew nothing about my ancient city with a magnananmous history, I tried deflecting the subject by saying, ‘Its also very modern like London’. ‘Really, is it!!’ He seemed crestfallen. ‘Oh yes! We are very traditional at heart, yet modern in our outlook’, I replied bravely, not knowing what else to say.'Well, I hope you are wrong', he said.
It was here that the conversation ended. He didn’t talk to me for the rest of the 5 hours. All my opening lines were met with a polite rebuff. The moment I landed in Delhi, I purchased Khuswant Singh’s Delhi and Pawan Verma’s The Millennium Book on New Delhi. And they were sitting in my study ever since.
So, while at home for the last 5 days, recuperating after the operation, I decided to devour whatever I could about my city through these forgotten books. And I must admit that I have read it – actually devoured it – with gratitude and happiness. The internet provided a lot of information too and now I can proudly say that I know how the city got its name, its history, origin and a lot more.
1. Once when the Ganges was in spate, she threw up the shastras. The site is marked by a temple which came to be called Nigambodh.
2. From this spot, the Nigambodh, according to the Indian scriptures, rose the magnificent and opulent Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas, in the Indian epic Mahabharata, founded around 2500 BC.
3. In Sanskrit language, Delhi was called Hastinapur, meaning the elephant-city. Archaeological evidence suggests that Indraprastha once stood where the Old Fort is today.
4. The name Delhi may be derived from the word ‘Dhillika’. It is also said that Raja Dhilu (King Dihlu) founded ancient Delhi in 800 BC.
5. Some scholars also connect the name Delhi, as pronounced by the literati, to the famous iron pillar close to qutub minar.
6. The modern city contains the remnants of several successive ancient cities including: Indraprastha, Dhilli, Lal Kot, Siri, Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah, Feroz Shah Kotla, Puran Qila, Shahjahanabad, Lutyen’s Delhi and Modern Delhi.
7. Delhi was the focal point for the first war of independence in 1857. Though the revolt did not reach its desired conclusion, Delhi became a thorn in the eyes of the British.
8. The ultimate goal of the Azad Hind Fauz during the freedom struggle was to capture Delhi and established Swaraj. The slogan 'Dilli Chalo' is still used by leaders and political parties when they oraganise any rally or demonstration. It was the hosting of the tricolour at Red Fort in Delhi which marked a chapter in the history of India.
And I have also learnt the names of all the monuments of historic significance in Delhi. I am sure I’d be able to strike a decent conversation next time with a handsome young man with ease. Afterall, Attithi Devo Bhaya!!
Shafina
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Waited
Do you not hear yet
That a throb of a time
Has been ringing ever since
Gazing at the searing rush in veins
Flooding alive each crevice
From a coast that’s nigh, but runs away often
Gleaming in a wondrous reverie
A battleground mutely waits outspread.
Along that wild black ocean
Stubborn, insolent, wrathful
As waves embark on a lone row
And you hone the burnished dagger once more
While raging flames swell to spew
Lilting, tunes dangle in a queue
Awaiting the rain; to cling to clouds
To twine with one other
Become that known song
But, hush, do not speak
The night is sure to rouse
Certainly still, secretly,
Steering this feverish frenzy
You shall come tonight destined
To meet, ruffled,
An earth ravenous of sky.
That a throb of a time
Has been ringing ever since
Gazing at the searing rush in veins
Flooding alive each crevice
From a coast that’s nigh, but runs away often
Gleaming in a wondrous reverie
A battleground mutely waits outspread.
Along that wild black ocean
Stubborn, insolent, wrathful
As waves embark on a lone row
And you hone the burnished dagger once more
While raging flames swell to spew
Lilting, tunes dangle in a queue
Awaiting the rain; to cling to clouds
To twine with one other
Become that known song
But, hush, do not speak
The night is sure to rouse
Certainly still, secretly,
Steering this feverish frenzy
You shall come tonight destined
To meet, ruffled,
An earth ravenous of sky.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
SILENCE OF THE SUICIDE TREE
I
Silence has set in like an old lorn cart
Horseless in the rain on some deserted village outskirts
The wind breathed strangely, and the leaves followed it all
As if to the gatherer did they belong – with all sportive eagerness,
As if life were some flotsam I found on seaside sands
sometime back – where is the dignity of a tree
when fallen leaves of its own don’t fall at its foot and cover it?
II
Blue hills under heavy rainclouds
Herons fly over the valley
Passing the calm smoke trailing up
From the cooling crematorium.
Thoithoi Pukhrambam
Silence has set in like an old lorn cart
Horseless in the rain on some deserted village outskirts
The wind breathed strangely, and the leaves followed it all
As if to the gatherer did they belong – with all sportive eagerness,
As if life were some flotsam I found on seaside sands
sometime back – where is the dignity of a tree
when fallen leaves of its own don’t fall at its foot and cover it?
II
Blue hills under heavy rainclouds
Herons fly over the valley
Passing the calm smoke trailing up
From the cooling crematorium.
Thoithoi Pukhrambam
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Udayan Care
Hi Everyone,
Further to Shafina's entry on Udayan Care, just thought of letting you know their website address. Udayan Care can be reached at http://www.udayancare.org/
With around 9 centres and more than 150 children in Delhi-NCR alone, we could surely do our bit for enlightening a child's life.
Thanks,
Anjali
Further to Shafina's entry on Udayan Care, just thought of letting you know their website address. Udayan Care can be reached at http://www.udayancare.org/
With around 9 centres and more than 150 children in Delhi-NCR alone, we could surely do our bit for enlightening a child's life.
Thanks,
Anjali
Udhyan Care, 9 March 2010
I and Anjali visited this NGO called Udhyan Care yesterday. We were a bit apprehensive before we walked in. The door at Udhyan Care welcomed us with the following word:
Change:
v/'chanj/ to make different in some particular way, to make radically different, transform, to give a different position, course, or direction, to replace with another, to make a shift from one to another.
Udhyan Care - Tiny Feet of a Giant Leap
We walked in and met the Volunteering coordinator, Gita. A simple women, she had a satisfied smile on her face that didn't seem forced or 'corporatish' in the least. We looked at her and thought,'Okay, is she the one who is going to explain everything to us?' We were not convinced. And then she started talking....in her own simple way she expressed the need NOT for money but for the time of people like us, who have a moral binding to return to the community what they have learnet but in the race of life, have conveniently forgotten the meaning of living and sharing.
Listening to her, Anjali and I realized that there was so much more to life than just presentations and corporate ethics.
That there were children living on the streets being sexually harrassed everyday with no where to go.......that there were kids like our own, whose parents were due to die in a few months of AIDS and there future was in total darkness.....that there was a small child waiting somewhere for a sucessful person like us to be his mentor, talk to him and guide him through various difficult phases of his life.......that money alone could not buy happiness because sharing a part of yourself, will bring much more satisfation......
It also dawnwed on us that forgoing a meal and round of drinks in QUBA could actually help us save a child from the red light area, that not buying just one dress in a year and giving away that amount to charity will educate a child, 5 years old, for an entire year and also give him food to eat, a blanket to cover his head and body in the winters......
And yesterday's visit taught us a very valuable lesson in life: We or our Kids could be where these children are today. If we join the chain of kindness today, someone will be there to answer our distress call when we need it. and to wrap it up: not everyone needs to wear a Gucci to make an impression. Sometimes, simplicity and passion for a cause are enough to convince the other person. Thanks Gita, for making us realize this simple truth of life......
Let's Volunteer - if not in cash then in Kind........
I'll keep you posted on how we are progressing with Udhyan Care and how we can make a difference to the lives of these children...in our own small ways.......
Shafina
Change:
v/'chanj/ to make different in some particular way, to make radically different, transform, to give a different position, course, or direction, to replace with another, to make a shift from one to another.
Udhyan Care - Tiny Feet of a Giant Leap
We walked in and met the Volunteering coordinator, Gita. A simple women, she had a satisfied smile on her face that didn't seem forced or 'corporatish' in the least. We looked at her and thought,'Okay, is she the one who is going to explain everything to us?' We were not convinced. And then she started talking....in her own simple way she expressed the need NOT for money but for the time of people like us, who have a moral binding to return to the community what they have learnet but in the race of life, have conveniently forgotten the meaning of living and sharing.
Listening to her, Anjali and I realized that there was so much more to life than just presentations and corporate ethics.
That there were children living on the streets being sexually harrassed everyday with no where to go.......that there were kids like our own, whose parents were due to die in a few months of AIDS and there future was in total darkness.....that there was a small child waiting somewhere for a sucessful person like us to be his mentor, talk to him and guide him through various difficult phases of his life.......that money alone could not buy happiness because sharing a part of yourself, will bring much more satisfation......
It also dawnwed on us that forgoing a meal and round of drinks in QUBA could actually help us save a child from the red light area, that not buying just one dress in a year and giving away that amount to charity will educate a child, 5 years old, for an entire year and also give him food to eat, a blanket to cover his head and body in the winters......
And yesterday's visit taught us a very valuable lesson in life: We or our Kids could be where these children are today. If we join the chain of kindness today, someone will be there to answer our distress call when we need it. and to wrap it up: not everyone needs to wear a Gucci to make an impression. Sometimes, simplicity and passion for a cause are enough to convince the other person. Thanks Gita, for making us realize this simple truth of life......
Let's Volunteer - if not in cash then in Kind........
I'll keep you posted on how we are progressing with Udhyan Care and how we can make a difference to the lives of these children...in our own small ways.......
Shafina
An Evening with M.N. Roy
It has been a long time since I wrote my last blog… somehow I was blank with content till the time I had this wonderful evening called “An evening with M.N. Roy.”
Travelling is always a good excuse to pen down my thoughts.
While I write this I am waiting in the departure lounge of the airlines I am going to catch, the weather outside is too misty and foggy and the captain of the aircraft is actually worried over the flying conditions. This gives a good time to write about my wonderful experience that I gathered the other evening.
It was a book reading session of one of our RIO titles called M.N. Roy by Kris Manjapra.
It was inaugurated by Dr. Sugata Bose, Director of the Netaji Research Bureau, Kolkata and also the grand nephew of the great Subhash Chandra Bose, the revolutionary and freedom fighter.
Netaji as we all lovingly call him…. his thoughts and his actions still remind us of our duties towards our nation and making it a young and a vibrant India. I am sure we all feel proud to be Indians. Though we would have been more happier if our Indian hockey team would have lifted this year’s World Cup.
Dr. Bose and Kris both spoke of M.N Roy, his swadeshi movement along with Mahatma Gandhi and about his contributions towards the modern day Socialism, Marxism and Communism. He had a certain vision and that how the communism can contribute to the growth of modern India.
Though today’s communism has a different perspective altogether and I don’t want to get into that. It’s really interesting to know how those great people used to perceive their thoughts towards our nation and the dreams they carried along within them.
We hardly get a chance to spend such a pleasant evening brushing shoulders with great people and listening to them about the great history of our country India.
Regards
Sanjay Dutta, Kolkata.
Travelling is always a good excuse to pen down my thoughts.
While I write this I am waiting in the departure lounge of the airlines I am going to catch, the weather outside is too misty and foggy and the captain of the aircraft is actually worried over the flying conditions. This gives a good time to write about my wonderful experience that I gathered the other evening.
It was a book reading session of one of our RIO titles called M.N. Roy by Kris Manjapra.
It was inaugurated by Dr. Sugata Bose, Director of the Netaji Research Bureau, Kolkata and also the grand nephew of the great Subhash Chandra Bose, the revolutionary and freedom fighter.
Netaji as we all lovingly call him…. his thoughts and his actions still remind us of our duties towards our nation and making it a young and a vibrant India. I am sure we all feel proud to be Indians. Though we would have been more happier if our Indian hockey team would have lifted this year’s World Cup.
Dr. Bose and Kris both spoke of M.N Roy, his swadeshi movement along with Mahatma Gandhi and about his contributions towards the modern day Socialism, Marxism and Communism. He had a certain vision and that how the communism can contribute to the growth of modern India.
Though today’s communism has a different perspective altogether and I don’t want to get into that. It’s really interesting to know how those great people used to perceive their thoughts towards our nation and the dreams they carried along within them.
We hardly get a chance to spend such a pleasant evening brushing shoulders with great people and listening to them about the great history of our country India.
Regards
Sanjay Dutta, Kolkata.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
National Sales & Marketing Meeting - What should be our theme this year?
Since I wasn't in yesterday, let me first take this opportunity to wish all the female colleagues in the office, a very Happy Women's Day.
As we approach another new session, I find that we are surrounded by a lot of activity and buzz all around us. Visitors, events, conferences, business deals and much more. Our sales people are travelling, recruitments are in full swing, we’re branding ourselves aggressively in the market and sharing ideas and ‘poems’ in-house. 2010 holds a lot of promises together and now that I can write my own entries through the blog, it will be easier to simply share my thoughts as and when they come to me.
Last year, we started the tradition of holding an annual sales & marketing meeting every year. Our theme for last year, which formed the essence of 2009 was Brand Building & Higher Visibility. This year too, we would like to work on a theme for the National Sales & Marketing Meeting. I take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the NSM 2010 – Theme, contest. Needless to say, the best entry stands to win a prize! Also suggest options for the venue where we could hold the meeting.
Since the meeting is to be held in April 2010, hosted by the marketing department, do send in your entries by the end of March.
Keep writing & connecting!
Shammi
As we approach another new session, I find that we are surrounded by a lot of activity and buzz all around us. Visitors, events, conferences, business deals and much more. Our sales people are travelling, recruitments are in full swing, we’re branding ourselves aggressively in the market and sharing ideas and ‘poems’ in-house. 2010 holds a lot of promises together and now that I can write my own entries through the blog, it will be easier to simply share my thoughts as and when they come to me.
Last year, we started the tradition of holding an annual sales & marketing meeting every year. Our theme for last year, which formed the essence of 2009 was Brand Building & Higher Visibility. This year too, we would like to work on a theme for the National Sales & Marketing Meeting. I take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the NSM 2010 – Theme, contest. Needless to say, the best entry stands to win a prize! Also suggest options for the venue where we could hold the meeting.
Since the meeting is to be held in April 2010, hosted by the marketing department, do send in your entries by the end of March.
Keep writing & connecting!
Shammi
Monday, March 8, 2010
It’s time and we should bother…
The willingness to listen, the patience to understand, the strength to support, the heart to care and just to be there… that is the beauty of a lady. And if we just held back one day out of the 365 to stop and appreciate the entity, the enigma and the enchantment of being a woman, we’re asking for only 1/365th part. Yet, we have to defend it to the world, provide a reasoning for having a day to ourselves in the first place. But the fact remains, it’s a privilege we are celebrating womenhood today—we can afford to.
For all those women we grew up with and the women we are surrounded with. Let’s spare a thought today for that fantastic woman who was behind you or beside you or maybe touching your life in so subtle a way that you never thought about complaining or appreciating. On that note, here are some lines which touched me.
Louise Otto
The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that ... women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.
Charlotte Whitton
Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
Rudyard Kipling, Author
A woman's guess is much more accurate than a man's certainty.
Margaret Thatcher, British Politician
In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
Nadia Boulanger, Conductor
[on becoming the first woman to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra] I've been a woman for a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment. As for conducting an orchestra, that's a job where I don't think sex plays much part.
And then again, Calvin’s mark on my life has been so profuse that I just couldn’t part without a touch of humour…
Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging, violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed: 'God, please give me the strength to cross the river’. Poof!!! God gave him big arms and strong legs... and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice. After witnessing that, the second man prayed: 'God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river' Poof!!! God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs... and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once. Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed: 'God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river' Poof!!! HE WAS TURNED INTO A WOMAN!!! She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards upstream... and walked across the bridge. Guys, if at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!
Have a wonderful Woman's Day !!!
P.S. When I asked about sparing a thought for that special woman in your lives do also spare a moment of prayer and support for Calvin’s mom, the lady has bravely withstood all trials.
Regards,
Rima.
For all those women we grew up with and the women we are surrounded with. Let’s spare a thought today for that fantastic woman who was behind you or beside you or maybe touching your life in so subtle a way that you never thought about complaining or appreciating. On that note, here are some lines which touched me.
Louise Otto
The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that ... women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.
Charlotte Whitton
Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
Rudyard Kipling, Author
A woman's guess is much more accurate than a man's certainty.
Margaret Thatcher, British Politician
In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
Nadia Boulanger, Conductor
[on becoming the first woman to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra] I've been a woman for a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment. As for conducting an orchestra, that's a job where I don't think sex plays much part.
And then again, Calvin’s mark on my life has been so profuse that I just couldn’t part without a touch of humour…
Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging, violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed: 'God, please give me the strength to cross the river’. Poof!!! God gave him big arms and strong legs... and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice. After witnessing that, the second man prayed: 'God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river' Poof!!! God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs... and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once. Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed: 'God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river' Poof!!! HE WAS TURNED INTO A WOMAN!!! She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards upstream... and walked across the bridge. Guys, if at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!
Have a wonderful Woman's Day !!!
P.S. When I asked about sparing a thought for that special woman in your lives do also spare a moment of prayer and support for Calvin’s mom, the lady has bravely withstood all trials.
Regards,
Rima.
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