Sampradaa- a wealthy life

Sampradaa is sanskrit word for wealth.
Often the modern interpretation of wealth is limited to material wealth . The long race of trading our time and life to accumulate wealth, and give it away to buy stuff which has shelf life of a banana, the reality remains are we focused on only one kindf riches ?

Wealth is holistic and it encompasses everything that makes a rich life.

In ancient India the Goddess of wealth had many forms like knowledge, courage, victory, progeny, health, food, natural resources, animals to name a few.

In modern times wealth is equated to cash and assets, but what about the asset of a healthy mind and body?

We must aim to bring together the different kinds of wealth given to us -emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, relationships and financial. Would you add other kinds of wealth to it? Like that of patience, family , natural resources of our planet, the wealth of good memories, of positivity and most importantly the wealth of gratitude.
Can we truly enjoy all our abundance in the absence of gratitude?

When we start accepting with gratitude all that is in our life, we will step into a consciousness of next level.

Yes all wealth are important in the right balance to enjoy the precious journey on earth… and thus begins our journey with you.

Why can’t journalists handle public criticism?

Lately, I found articles by a certain journalist, rather ordinary -only stating obvious facts. The certain journalist in question is incredibly ingenious and has the ability to mingle with commoners to find stories.

UP elections make the state a battleground, a wedding and an examination all in one- also it makes journalists partisan.

The certain journalist until a week ago was saying Muslim voters are in favour of  BSP, then this week he attended a BSP rally and said Muslims are not in favour of BSP.

        As for his first opinion, I commented “it wasn’t true that all Muslims were supporting BSP”. Also that I’m glad actual voters don’t read his newspaper. For second article, I said “he doesn’t need to attend a rally to know this. It is “common knowledge”

The certain journalist, right there on social media posted “why are you being so condescending? You want me to block you?” I said “sorry for being condescending. Blocking is your personal choice?”  ( well do we ever ask permission before blocking someone?)

     Anyway out of curiosity, I decided to check after few hours, and the gentleman had blocked me.

I got a good laugh out of it,because journalists can’t handle public criticism. Cricketers, athletes, artists, actors,  even POLITICIANS can handle public criticism, but not a journalist. Pray tell me, why journalists can’t handle public criticism? Their articles are not holy grail that I have to abide by it as truth. I have a thinking mind, a questioning mind, and I shall use it, even if I offend a few!

BJP swiped a majority of seats in UP during LokSabha elections of 2014. However, what is under-reported is the margin of victory. The voters did not decide against SP, they decided against the Government in Centre. At that time SP under CM Akhilesh Yadav was only 2 years old. The seeds of development were already sown, and now in 2016 the fruits are here.

“achche din” vs “kaamboltahai” is the true match of election this year.

Achche din were a promise of hope, of change – a subconscious neuro-linguistic programming tool often used by Politicians, where nothing substantial is promised. However, CM Akhilesh Yadav has  acted upon his manifesto of 2012 and over-achieved. Here is a leader that the populace has started to trust. He is not selling dreams but making dreams come true.

UP for once is witnessing development as a political agenda and not just religion and caste based politics.

So, in February I will caste my vote- a sacred relation of faith and trust between me and the EVM.  The silent voices of UP voters will be heard when results are declared on 11th March. And no journalist can block it.

Do you “ask Siri” or “just google it”?

Pic courtesy- K.LeMieux

My daughter was telling my husband about Worli art & I was about to ask him to Google it( for visuals explain art better) but watching him patiently listen to our daughter , I stopped. Memories of reading books (sans illustrations) and imagining the features of characters, the scenery and so on flashed across my mind.
Can I let Google stop us from expressing ?
One morning before going to school I told my daughter to keep an extra jacket . Somehow it almost always rains around Indian Republic day. Before i could pass down my memetic wisdom , I heard the now familiarly annoying sound of Siri “how can I help you?”
My daughter told me weather doesn’t look good -Courtesy Siri.
In the world of “Google it” and “ask Siri” the questioning mind is finding answers without human interaction of the real kinds. We talk thru Facebook,watsapp, snapchat & Twitter.

The element of surprise when meeting Friends after long, is gone. Now we are already updated about our friend’s last holiday, the last movie they saw, also the last hot beverage they had -thanks to Facebook. Also the exotic holiday locations and novelty food you can barely pronounce is very familiar- thanks to google.
When running late for meeting, google maps is there to tell the alternate route ( come on we live in a world of alternate facts)
You no longer need to ask for directions unless you don’t know how to read google maps (I remember local press-wala (ironing guy) & paan ki dukaan were the traditional route teller. When at Uni in Melbourne we kept melway in the car for directions)

When was the last time you opened dictionary to look for meaning? I wonder how many out there still have a dictionary (the paper bound and not the app)
We learn recipes from blogs and YouTube – you also learn how to exercise there! Or just press the round button of your iPhone and be transported to “you in wonderland with Siri”.
Fashion is no longer discussed with friends rather searched in quite comfort of mobile-phone by visiting blogs and Instagram.
We would rather Google about the burning relationship trouble than talk to friends (in person)
Even cure for depression is available on Google and rarely in the comfort of your friends. Since most friends are rocking their life with awesome selfies and food clicks (even though a lot of awesomeness is fakebook )

Political opinions are formed on Facebook walls and long debates are published there while shorter ones are saved for tweets.
If you don’t understand fascist from pacifist and neo-liberal from epistemological nihilist – Google it !
I recently saw Britannica being used as objet d’art at a hip pub in Delhi’s Khan Market. When I was younger it was my go to book in quick need of research.
The only good humour was a note at our doctor’s wall “Patient will be charged extra for annoying the doctor with any self-diagnosis gotten off the internet”

About Author- do not Google as those who don’t exist on first page of Google- do not exist at all. No point asking Siri as she/he can’t pronounce the name

A house for everyone

Radha was particularly happy today. It was a mild autumn afternoon. The air was fresh with a slight chill that could only be felt on the tip of the nose. The leaves had started to turn shades of orange, sienna and amber. It was the incidental beauty of autumn when each leaf turned into the colours of spring flower. Radha’s children were playing outside, under a tree and the sounds of their laughter and crackling of leaves when crushed under their feet, was music to her ear, along with occasional beating of the hammer. The final repairs on her house were about to finish. Radha had helped her father-in-law and her husband all along the process from planning out the date of repairs, arranging the material and until today. Now they were fixing one last section of the façade of the house – a 6ft x8ft piece, which went on the front wall. Her father-in-law was inspecting it before it went on to finish the house-repairs.
Radha offered her husband water and said “ I’m so grateful the work is over before cold winters set in. I was worried about our children spending time in the house in its former condition.” “it was all possible because of you, esp. the money we saved on repairs due to your careful planning” spoke her husband, as he looked at her face,  the slight wrinkles that smiled with her smile.  The wrinkles that defined the smile in her kajal smudged eyes.
Her husband smiled at her and returned to work.

Radha watched her kids play near the house; they had mud all over them. An antic, which usually upsets Radha, did not bother her today. She was way too happy about what was being accomplished. She had requested her husband and father-in-law over a month ago for weatherproofing the house for the chilly winters.
Radha’s husband interrupted her trail of thoughts as he asked her to help hold the 6ft x 8 ft frame in the centre, while he and his father nailed it on both sides to the rest of the structure. The 6ftx8ft frame was the front wall. The side walls were 6ftx6ft.  The walls were wooden frame with plastic sheets tied and nailed on them. The plastic sheets were sturdy and durable. They were from the sacks used to sell dry cement and sand in, which was used for construction of permanent brick and mortar houses for most city dwellers. Radha got them from the construction site where she worked as a labourer. Usually the construction contractor sold the empty sacks for Rs. 15 each, but Radha got ten of them in exchange of one day’s wage. She thought it was a fabulous deal to get 10 empty sacks from the construction contractor , because if she went to the kabadi wala(junk dealer) he would charge her Rs 18 or Rs 20 per sack. For the rich it was the contents of the sacks that built their massive dwellings, For construction labourers like Radha the empty sacks were as good as cement to build her tiny box house. After all it sheltered her family- their dreams and disappointments.
(wrote it last autumn…. maybe now is the time to share)

Long queues and boots

Source- shutterstock

A short queue at security check in Delhi airport is a traveller’s delight. Because Terminal 1D lives up to its name-slow moving queue is an incurable illness.
There were 3 ladies standing before Sweet daughter & Me. Only to be told to remove boots- my 8 year old gave her boots to me and I removed mine- tip toeing on the cold airport floor because by some magic 18degrees always feels like 8 degrees to me.
Waiting again at security check for my number after putting our boots in for a scan, I couldn’t stop but wonder why such few security check counter for women?
Average ratio of security check counter is 1 counter for women, for every 2 counters for men.While our sex ratio is 940 females per thousand males.
Does our government believe that less women travel, less women work, empowerment is an urban legend & we have a skewed up sex ratio?

As I saw the boots pass thru X-ray scan faster than my number in this “oh-so-long queue” I wondered if they found any hidden candies in sweet daughter’s boots? After all it was the day after Christmas and perhaps Santa filled our boots too.Next Christmas gift us more gender equality .

 

Do you feel like a Goddess each morning ?

Each morning I feel like a Goddess!

You can imagine me with gorgeous long hair, looking stunning in a lovely dress,showing off flawless skin and prim manicured hands- a Diva- stop and wake out of your dream.

I rush thru shower, say my prayers, wake my daughter (after cajoling few times) and get her ready for school all this while I cook her two meals for school (the Mom-in-me doesn’t want kid eating at canteen). While she brushes her teeth & takes a quick bath, get her uniform out , pack her food, check her school bag , help finish any last minute homework, make her revise lessons all this while doing my morning jog not on a treadmill but between bedroom and kitchen. Sweet daughter has a bite to eat with much reluctance.
As we step out of the house I hold my purse, her ID, her comb( yes have to braid hair in car) , her school bag, her lunch bag, my keys, her extra things for school (book or project or sheets or anything- there is always something ) & of course my newspaper.
Now you know why I feel like a Goddess? Cause I feel I have many hands to hold things when I leave the house.
I have many hands to get things done in morning (except fixing my appearances early in the a.m. to fit a Goddess)Then I channel this Goddess throughout the day at work, at home, through multitude of emotions…

Since ancient times, the Goddess has been depicted with many hands showing all her special powers.The Goddess with many hands stands for every woman multi-tasking amidst chaos of life as though dancing to her favourite tune. Not just each morning to get kids off to school on time,but in life all thru the day,each day.

 

A woman handles more at work than men.
A woman handles more at home than men.
A woman handles more in life than men
She stands for all her friends, is the co-worker to count upon and shares a special bond with everyone in her family. She is the eye of the hurricane.

And to all my lovely ladies feel strong, be positive, stay energetic. You can juggle all your roles and still be you. That is the reflection of divinity in each woman . The multitasking is not only physical actions but at mental level when you are sorting tasks, compartmentalising to-do list & finding solutions.
You are a woman that secretly weaves magic whether it’s by sending midnight texts to friend in need, cooking a favourite dish for family after tiring day , buying a gift for someone else rather than spending that money on yourself, waking up early to find “my time” and going to bed last to give others “your time”

Channel the Goddess within you (fix that smile up, dress up & take over your universe)

Please be grateful for the Goddess within you

#goddess #women #empowerment #success #family #life #joy #happiness #multi-tasking #superwoman #gratitude #children #work

Akhilesh Yadav – It’s not rebellion but humble adieu to differences, to live greater vision

 A man with vision who took over UP by a storm, with wheels of his cycle Yatra & his promises for the underdeveloped state of UP. He won -first the elections and then the hearts of every one. He took oath as the youngest CM of Uttar Pradesh while many doubted him.

5years down the road the populace of UP is crazy about him, they admire his leadership, praise the development & are in awe of his humble disposition Shri Akhilesh Yadav changed the way UP worked, lived and progressed .

The initial year marked a phase of settling in as CM, understanding the current situation of State and modus operandi of the machinery . Then CM Akhilesh carved his own space with his style of working – nonchalant and focused. The old system revamped to catch up with his nouveau leadership. There was no place for mediocrity . 360 degree approach to development was the only agenda.

He became the first CM of UP who was reaching out in person thru janta Darbars and even digitally thru Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Justice became reachable with 1090 & dial 100. Youth adore him and elders bless him. Women feel gratitude for empowerment thru laptops, Vidya dhan, pension Yojana and safety. Construction of Agra- Lucknow expressway was win-win for farmers, workers and now for everyone. Metros came even before the cities experienced major grid-lock. Just when all was going smooth, the inner turmoil of party surfaced in public. However, it harmed everyone’s image except CM Akhilesh. By now the populace of UP knows if they want development and to achieve their own dreams – they need leadership of Sri Akhilesh Yadav. Each time there is a crisis, Youth is out in large numbers supporting him .

The bigwigs of era gone by do not understand the need of the millennials and elders. 21st century politics is not just governance- it comprises of good governance , accountability & progress. A leadership style tailor made by CM Akhilesh. He knows how to address the unique challenges and turn them around into opportunities. The populace looks up to him as a saviour. As a man who takes care of every section of society. He has the ability to transform society. He was elected due to hopes of change and he will be reelected due to the immense faith that UP has in him – because he has done more than promised.

CM Akhilesh has dealt with the crisis of past few months with unmatched dignity. Instead of rebelling he chose to exit gracefully. He has never said an offensive word for his elders irrespective of what may come from them. Such persona is exemplary of his leadership. Something each youth should look up to.

#akhileshyadav #samajwadi #uttarpradesh #rebellion #grace #elections

Don’t be afraid of Failure, be afraid of quitting.

There are moments of failures in everyone’s life. You should not let that fear stop you. When you started walking , you fell many times.

A baby isn’t afraid of failure.
Also the baby in its most pristine stage of life doesn’t know the concept of quitting nor does it understand failure. Baby only tries to walk and receives positive encouragement for that. Only thru years of human conditioning do we learn the concept to “failure”. Worst still we learn the option of “quitting”

It’s time to unlearn . Failure isn’t full stop to success. Rather it is just a diversion, the route taken didn’t work, we need to change something or just try harder. Quitting has to be forgotten. Quitting is not an option but an end to all dreams,hopes and possibilities.

Bring out the child in you again.
Believe without doubt in your ability to do whatever you decide- just take the first step

Never give up

The sea-Eagles at backwaters of Palolem . They dive to get the feed in rush to beat each other , sometimes their grip gets loose and they miss the catch mid flight. Then they Dive down again. NEVER GIVE UP .  Nature always teaches us resilience and to be stronger than what hit us last.

We stand alone- well there’s only one spot for Winner

We stand alone- with our deepest most personal emotions we stand alone. People can listen, say they feel your joy or fear yet they can’t. They are not in your shoes. Embrace yourself, have faith, believe in the divine universe being one with you and keep moving- thru fears, sorrows, joys and dreams