SYDNEY MAY JOSH BARKARAR !

Dear Boys In Blue,

I trust you are fit and in fine spirits.Out here, down under and elsewhere your fans are doing good. It's summer in India and stores are doing brisk business. Blue Jersey No7 and India theme world cup saree are in fashion.How is the weather In Sydney? What does Rainman predict? Are Duck and Lewis going to play today? Who's going to rain on whose parade? Where's the party tonight ?

You are duty bound and nation comes first. In the interests of the bleeding billions who stand by you at this hour, it is my duty to tell you that butterflies have entered our stomachs and I fear they may become pigeons.

May the best team win and may you be the best team. Just a request "Can you restrict them to a score below 270 ?"

I do not wish to burden you with unnecessary trivial matters that may stand in the way of your thinking process and the crucial game today,Yet ! I am compelled to bring this matter to your notice immediately.Trusting that my pleas will reach your ears and believing that the bearer of this message will inform you before the match begins, I write this post.Please check your inbox.

You are true professionals,masters of the game and currently in form.May your good run continue.

I know you not.You know me not but as a parent who prays for the welfare of her child, I pray for you. I am that caring aunt who loves her nephew.I am that sister remember who shares a rakhi bond with you.I am your contemporary,the mad youth the cricket frenzy boy girl or a kid and I am way too excited.

Dear Boys,the crowd will be packed to capacity with three fourths in blue who will be cheering for you. Back at home billions have started their akhanda prayers. The country is in the grip of acute coconut shortage.Coconut and flower prices have soared on low supplies.

Today morning, I checked what the stars had to foretell for my team.They augur well. If positive vibrations in my altar are anything to go by, seems likely that we have a bright chance of retaining the cup and as a friend remarked.."We Indians do not have the habit of returning back even pens,pencils or rubbers.Forget the cup."

I offered flowers to my favourite deity. What will I get out of all this ? My love is unconditional. I have no advice to give you except to remind you just in case you forget, "Please keep the worth of a duck and a lewis in mind while playing and emerge victorious."Just in case it happens to rain....

Please do not let us down.I am that caring aunt who loves her nephews.I am that sister, remember who shares a rakhi bond with you.I will rejoice when you win.

Its a funny feeling but I have to tell you what I think.I am worried about the sledging.I am truly concerned.I am pretty sure that the man at the helm is cool but some of his other brothers are not........Keeping my fingers crossed

An ardent fan

FIRSTHAND FROM AUCKLAND !

She writes a review in a limerick

about the seam and the snick.

She looked into the window.

On the sill was a tiny sparrow.

She captured it with a smart click.

She refreshed the sports page,

the final result she tried to guage.

Days such as these are hard to come by.

"Could the match end in a tie ?"

The match was gripping at that stage.

It was a thrilling seesaw ride.

Fifty - Fifty for each side.

Duck and Lewis came into play.

Cricket was the winner today.

For the top slot, two teams vied.

Today's match was pretty close.

Day after's outcome no one knows.

The finish was nail biting.

Proteas were again choking. 

They walked back in tiptoes.

The match was evenly placed.

A beat skipped, hearts raced.

The Vettori look is the in thing.

Grant Elliot pulled a hamstring.

A target of 298 the Kiwis chased.

The streets wore a deserted look.

Nobody was on Facebook.

Eyes were glued to the screen.

Curtains were closing in on CWC15

in the backdrop of a ‪#‎bleedblue‬ outlook.....

A TAMBONG WEARS A BLUE DHAKAI FOR GOOD LUCK !

All that one has to do, is to make a cup of filter coffee and start tapping on the keyboard.That is exactly what she is doing right now as a flood of thoughts inundates her mind. How does a Tambong woman who has spent her first twenty three years in the City of Joy feel ? 

What was she upto, the same time that, day, that year ? Was she playing with paper boats during the KaalBoisakhi? No ! Though she did get a sense of being in Venice many times in those 23 years.Was she scared to go out ? Oh ! Yes you bet.! Those were the black out days, days of aggression and she recalls friends across the borders and the sound of war sirens.Was she playing para and gully cricket ? The tomboy did .Will the rains interrupt today's match ? she pauses to think.

As she goes back on a flash back, she remembers the pujas, her school, the ice rink, her friends, her birthday bashes, her vacations, the picnics and the movies. She strains her grey cells a little more and vivid pictures of South India Club, Lake Gardens Ram temple, Hanuman Temple, Kali Bari, KC das and Mouchak appear in front of her eyes.A little more musing and her thoughts are in Dhakeswari, Traders Assembly and Tantuja. Just a little more and the birdie is travelling by a doubledecker bus or a tram all the way from Tollygunge to Lake market via Deshapriya park and Triangular Park upto Gariahat. 

Just in case she forgets, she remembers the huge grey iron gate of the primary school that showed the way to freedom. On the way she stops by Asha Bros, Junior Bros,Gupta Bros, Southend stores, Dr Bolai Mitra's eye clinic and The Jebson's Watch Co. This is all happening on that day, that year on Rash Behari avenue.

Lined with trees on both sides, the arterial road of South Calcutta hold precious memories for her. She remembers fondly the water cleaned streets and the nine o clock siren. She clearly remembers Rani Rashmoni bungalow on RB avenue and wonders if the heritage structure is still in place. From Gariahat, where the tram turned towards Syed Amir Ali avenue, that day, that year, dressed in white and white, she gets down at Birla Temple and walks into another school. From there, a mini bus takes her to ParkStreet, enroute Gurusaday road and another day, another year, she has secured admission in a prestigious college on ParkStreet.

Friends are destined to meet they say and the fortunate are blessed to have childhood buddies as friends for life. She had an awesome childhood and youth in Kolkata. How can she ever forget the cha ghughni, puchka, jhaal muri, luchi, aloo dhom, rosogollas, chumchums, mohunbagan, mohammedans and the vegetable rolls.

Today, she has to meet an acquaintance or a stranger who knows Bengali and she will not stop chatting. The fifty year old becomes a teenager again.When she is down or feeling low she just has to go on a nostalgia trip. She converses in chaste Bengali, that is what she believes, her happy hormones are elevated and she is in a state of Euphoria. She  impresses mute onlookers as she guides the young Bengali who is new to Chennai, Mumbai,Virginia, Jaffna, or Timbuktoo.

Now why is she saying all this? She is travelling on a memory trip. So if you happen to be a person with an oriental connection, you have played outdoor and indoor games every day, you drank water from the gushing spring on the road just outside your home, you had breakfast, lunch and dinner at a friend's house on a bandh or a holiday or because you simply wanted to, you were certainly in Kolkata, that day, that year and you will relate with equal nostalgia whatever she says today.

With neither television nor the internet to interfere, this day, that year, meant more interaction with friends and family. A visit to the Lily pool, lakes, Anderson club, Kali temple and the vegetable market was a daily routine. A trip to the Victoria memorial, Dolls Museum, Birla Planetarium, New Market, AC Market was a monthly affair. Dhakshineshwar and Belur Math was a must trip when relatives came visiting. The rest of the year, when she was not writing an exam, she was attending birthday parties, bengali weddings or simply admiring nature as she strolled on the banks of the Hooghly. When was she studying ? That is a million dollar question! Anyway! That was an awesome those days, those years indeed..

Well ! why is she saying all this ? The Tambong is just on a memory trip. Ignore and read on. She will tell you that Bengali women have a great sense of dressing up.You have to agree with her that Bengali women are very beautiful. It must be because of the fish and the mustard oil they consume.They have glowing skin and great hair. Now why would she say all this now? Simply because she has seen them this day that year, still seeing them this day this year and no ! she is not biased. Ask her and she will tell you a true story about their dreams and drapes, her love for the cotton and the sheer bliss in wearing the tangail and jamdani sarees. She will convince you that the Bengal cotton is the best and has no competitor.The grace in a Bengal cotton saree is unmatched to any other saree not even to the Kancheepurams and the Silkcottons. That is her strong opinion and you have no option but to agree.

Draped in a white starched Dhakai that day, that year she packed her lunch for the day. Her mother called out to her..."Hey girl come soon.We will miss the toss." Many a cricket crazy family lived in the city of joy who followed every single ball. One could identify a fan from his body language. 

An ambassador was waiting for her and she stepped out in style in a grand Dhakai saree.......She was headed towards the Eden gardens.

Playing outside the subcontinent this day, starting as favourites, India plays her neighbour and listens to Shoiab, Kapil and Ranbir in the studio .We care for our neighbours with whom we share a love hate story. Don't we truly find them to be inspiring also, they the people with whom we share common interests and love for sarees, food,music,movies and sport ? That day, that year and this day, this year why does religion and petty politics always have to play spoilsport ?

Baangla Players ! they are our neighbours, they are good too because they have made it to the quarter finals.They are our friends coz isnt that how we grew up, taught to "Love Thy Neighbours". They play against a formidable India today and I have mixed feelings,strong emotions of patriotism with a sincere prayer for peace to return in the subcontinent on this day The 19th march of 2015....

The Bangladesh National Anthem brings a lump in my throat and tears to my eyes. Leave the chokers for now. I am choking listening to AAmmmaar shonar Banglaaa!Aamee thomai Bhalobhasheee....Heavens ! Still ! I will bleed blue !

Pick IT up. Pin IT up. All day,you Will Have Good Luck !

Please read "IT" as " it "

Much though I would I would like to be independent of IT , I cannot. Much though I would like to lead a simple life without IT, I cannot.We are all physically attached to IT ,at sometime or the other and little wonder that, IT has always been as integral part of our daily life.

I was born a little more than four and a half decades back and my association with IT started the day I was born.Nearly half a century and the thousands accumulated over the years,if available with me today, could, when joined, one with the other, also be a few miles long.

Whenever and wherever I set my eyes on IT ,I am tempted to pick IT up and also ensure that IT is kept in safe custody. Yet ,when in dire need, I am searching for IT.

Mayawati is my trusted servant.Anything of value,other than IT, lying on the floor is promptly handed over to me...I noticed this just a few days back.No wonder they went missing.

I keep IT in my handbag and my little purse.I know IT will be of use and I take pride in donating IT generously.That's an act of plain kindness ,where everybody is free to borrow without any qualms and nobody minds lending either, without any regrets.

Whenever I go shopping,it's on my TO BUY list.When I am done with my shopping ,IT is still on my TO BUY list.When I need IT, I go crazy searching for it.I make franctic efforts to locate atleast a couple of them,and that's maybe just a couple of days after I had filled my cart.The older women,like my mom and mom-in-law have a ready stock.So when the search options are exhausted,help is always near ,as the last alternative.

Coming to the efficiency part of IT, ofcourse,none of us could ever do without IT. Over the years, we would have accumulated a few thousands and lost them too. I had decided one fine day,many many years back,that I would keep one in all the vantage sighting spots. Yet ! they dissappear. I have also tried to take stock of the situation,why they dissappear repeatedly, periodically and why I continue with the same probe always.

When I am no longer able to change a situation,I am also challenged to change myself and after a thorough examination of my routine activities ,I have come to a conclusion that I can not change.....all for the sake of a SAFETY PIN......

s

SIX CHICKENS HATCHED ! THREE TO GO FOR THE GOLDEN EGG !

His first ton in this world cup helped India to win against Zimbabwe. Raina came good on a day when the middle order was under pressure playing against a determined Zimbabwean team. Inspite of Raina's stellar performance that won the match for India, the player of the day was certainly Taylor and the way he went on to build a strong total for his team, considering the circumstances under which he came in to bat, is commendable indeed.

Starting out as clear favourites, the balance tilted in favour of the Zimbabweans when Rehane was run out and Kohli walked back to the pavilion with a grim look on his face and a sense of despair as if to say "Well ! I could never get out like this."  When it seemed that Indians were on a slippery wicket, the dropped catch gave a fresh lease of life to Raina and altered the fortunes in favour of India once again.

Due credit must be given to the Indian bowlers who have been able to contain the batsmen in all the matches they have played so far. In that sense, India is doing pretty well, inspite of opinions that each time India has won in the last six encounters, the opponent team was certainly not performing at their best. How a winning spree changes the outlook towards the victorious team in general, is clearly evident from the early reports which stated that the bowling was weak in contrast to the most recent reporting which speaks highly about India's bowling strength. Personally, I do feel that the bowling has improved considerably from the tri-series where our bowlers were hammered left, right and centre.

His strategy in bringing about the correct bowling changes as and when he deems right, has been effective so far and due credit goes to Dhoni who is as always very proactive on the field. He is cool, thinks differently and his natural instincts augur well for the team. Getting wickets in the middle overs is crucial and Dhoni has managed to motivate his bowlers to do just that.

Where teams like India seem to have an edge above the other teams, is that Dame Luck has a place in this incredible playing eleven. Fortune favours the brave, a valiant Dhoni is winning the tosses and has been able to motivate his bowlers to restrict the opponents to a score within 300 .

Our batting line up has talent and the depth. Six consecutive wins in a row has lifted the morale of the team in general.There is no reason why they do not stand a good chance to lift the cup again. They look to be favourites to progress to the semifinals. Indians are certainly playing like champions. Storming away to possible glory, winning has become a habit and, ofcourse not ! we the Bleeding Blue Fans do not want them to give it away...

For the moment though, not yet in a mood to celebrate, as a patriotic fan, calm and composed, I will wait. I count the six chickens that have already hatched and I keep my fingers crossed.....

WON'T GIVE IT BACK !

ऑकलॅंड मे है उत्सव का माहौल ! 

बडिया होता अगर, वर्ल्ड कप आयोजित होता हर साल ! 

आज, फिर से, बल्ले को होने लगा है गेंद से प्यार !

बल्लेबाज़ ने खींच के मारा गेंद को सीमा के पार !

बड़ा ज़बरदस्त है, ज़िंबाब्वे गेंदबाज़ों की चाल,

शमी और यादव का भी बुरा नहीं है हाल !

आज चटारे की तेज़ की रफ़्तार है कुछ धीमी,

आखिर मुक़ाबले मे दलों ने अपनाई है कैसी रणनीति ?

ज़िंबाब्वे की फीलडिंग तो है बेहतेरीन ! 

स्टेडियम है नीलभरा और हराभरा है ज़मीन !

रोक नहीं सकता कोई फ़ॉर्म मे जब हो कोहली !

शायद वो सोचे कब लाऊँगा अनुष्का की डोली !

जब वापस नहीं है करना तो फिर कैसे बहाने ? 

नज़र मेरी लग गयी, रन आउट हो गये अजिंकय रहाने !

कौन खेलेगा आज भारत के तरफ से एक बड़ी बारी ?

कौन दिखायेगा अदा अपना ? तो फिर जीतना रहे जारी ! 

बैठी हूँ, निपटा के, घर का सारा काज काम,

धोनी, रैना या टेलर, दिन होगा आज किसके नाम ?

AN ODE TO A WOMAN !

Resilient in strength and character,

resolute and steadfast in thought,

brimming with confidence, she announces,

"None is equal to me."

Committed to the creator's order,

at peace with herself and her God,

Selflessly she serves and proclaims,

"None is equal to me."

To live a life of purpose,

is her cherished dream.

"I am the light that shows the way," she says,

"None is equal to me."

Endowed with multitude of skills,

logic and decisiveness is her forte,

thinking rationally she declares,

"None is equal to me."

I have the power to create,

to nurture, transform and embolden,

Endowed with intuitive skills, solemnly she speaks,

"None is equal to me."

Undeterred by disappointments,

she is too strong to be broken,

"I will keep inspiring," she says,

"None is equal to me."

Stare at her in awe !

Wonder where she got all that grit from !

"That is courage running in my blood," she reveals,

"None is equal to me."

"I revere my acts and my expressions,

I accept love and I stand for modesty,

Challenges make me stronger," she says,

“None is equal to me.”

"I am remarkable," so they say,

"I am witty, smart and charming too,"

"My smile conceals my tears," she says,

"None is equal to me."

STYLE - HAVE PLAYERS BECOME MORE FASHION CONSCIOUS ?

Owing it's popularity to patronage by the great cricketing nations of the world, indebted to a sub continent where the game since inception, has been considered as religion and cricketers looked upon as Gods, it is but natural that inspite of controversies that keeping rearing their ugly heads now and then, the Gentleman’s game continues to evince keen interest amongst people of all ages even today. 

Awarded celebrity status for not only being outstanding sportsmen, who play for the honour and prestige of their respective countries, but also for being influential brand ambassadors, cricketers have come a long way and have evolved from being just sporting idols to style icons. Games that gentleman play today is all about big bashes, big entertainments, big values and the latest fashion trends.

He steps out in style waving to the crowds. The flamboyant opener walks with confidence, with one hand  on  the handle of the willow, with a firm grip on the lower end of the bat, he stretches out his arms, takes a few warm up steps,  jumps a little, bends his body sideways, first left, then right, looks up towards the skies and prays for divine intervention. This is just one such act on the field that is enough to send crazy fans into a frenzy or one could cite the presence of the dashing cricketer on the boundary line, the tall six footer who leaps upwards with an arm stretched out to hold on to a priceless catch or who falls flat to save the fours even as female fans swoon in the stands.These acts have been there for long now and as long as cricket continues to be played, such acts will be replayed again and again much to the delight of the fans. 

So what's new ? The handlebar moustache is in with the likes of openers like Shikar Dhawan and bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja sporting it for sometime now. So now we can expect the opener to walk into the ground twirling his moustache and twirling it again when he scores a ton.The bowler will get his chance too. All he needs is a couple of wickets and a few maiden overs. Swirling the ball, twirling his moustache, on completing his quota of overs he will walk to the deep with a smile on his face.

Does being an all rounder help in gaining an entry into the national team today? Oh! Yes, it does. Today's fashion savvy cricketer dons different roles on the field as and when the situations demand and off field takes on the bigwigs of the modelling world. He plays under pressure, looks good always and when he is not at the nets or playing for his country you could spot him either at a school for acting taking a few tips on how to walk the ramp and look suave on the silver screen. 

Many years back, when there were no endorsements, fashion was not in the minds of the players though we know of cricketers of yester years who are still talked about today for their dashing image, good looks and charisma. In the absence of commercialisation, the onus was only on performance and not on fashion. There were neither investors nor sponsors seeking to derive mileage from the game or from the cricketers. Hence the players were not fashion driven.

As I write this blog, funny thoughts crop up in my mind.What if we had a pot bellied Prasanna around today ? He would be rejected outright despite being capable of bowling vicious offbreaks whereas the less talented but fashion conscious Jadeja would make it to the team and in the process also bag a few modelling assignments. How about the specially abled B.S.Chandrasekar, a leg spinner par excellence, a genius who could confound the best batsmen. In his heydays when Chandra bowled with his polio stricken arm he was faster than a pace bowler.With almost no batting skills and a possibility of achieving the dubious distinction of taking more wickets than scoring runs in his entire career, would he be in the reckoning to make it to the national squad today ? Would he be sought after by the glitzy fashion world if he were around today ? Seems highly improbable. As opposed to the olden days when looks and appearance hardly mattered, this is just an example to show that today it is undoubtedly the survival of the fashion fittest. I imagine a Prasanna in cool denims and T.Shirts. I imagine a tall lanky Chandra or a Venkataraghavan with gel styled spiky hair and I chuckle.

The batsman, bowler and the fielder today are all rounders of the game and pin up boys of the modelling world. They are the twenty first century cricketing heroes who sign up for the 1000 CC Motorbike commercial, endorse the efficient performing gear oil and the family sedan, dance a salsa while shooting the shampoo commercial and show off a set of sparkling teeth for the toothpaste ad. As companies make a bee line for them, they are compelled to look smart. Being fashion conscious, they experiment with different kinds of hairstyles and sport them with elan.

A Vettori in glasses looks cool today. Is it possible to be bespectacled and make hearts flutter? It is possible  if the cricketer is a Vettori . What comes to my mind immediately is the wounded warrior from Gaekwad, who stood ground on that fateful day patiently even as he bled profusely. A plain looking Anshuman was often seen sporting black goggles though it never became a style statement. It's as simple as players today cashing on their fashion style to gain more popularity and make their presence felt both on and off field. Of course the opportunities available today are tremendous as compared to the good old days.

Today's cricketer works out, he has a well toned body and he likes to flaunt it. He  could be the shrewd middle order or tail end batsman with a clean shaven look, the dreaded bowler with the funky hairstyle or the discerning wicketkeeper with the long hair. Each one is an icon worth emulating for the Whatsapping and the Liking generation. He is the one who flaunts trendy goggles, classy shoes off field and is a picture of cool, calm and poise on field.Contrarily when he blows his top,as other team members rush upto him to appease and calm matters down,the scenario is any photographer's delight. The photograph of the angry young man is liked, commented upon and shared.

Billion hearts skip a beat each when he hits a ball high up in the air or spins an off break, drives a ball straight through the covers  or bowls a googly. Each and every action of his is a style statement which is as important as contributing for the team. The crowds go gaga over him when he hits the ball over the boundary for a four or a sixer. They sigh in unision when the style icon is dismissed.

The fashion savvy cricketer has to  perform and also look good on the field.With multiple sophisticated cameras installed in the stadiums, he is aware of being watched 24X7 around the globe and to be fashion conscious is indeed the need of the hour. The fans are also responsible for the metamorphosis and this explains the evolution of the cricketer from being a plain sportsperson to a fashion symbol.

Hearts flutter and fans now bleed blue, maroon, green and yellow.Traditionally he was viewed as a hero on the field. The modern day willow wielder is a superstar off field.The 21st cricketers are the most sought after icons. Over the years he has evolved from being a plain looking guy to the exuberant handsome man who has an image and a personality to maintain. He is fashion sensitive and rather than he endorsing a brand, the brand becomes synonymous with him.When he is not at the crease or running between wickets, when  he is not giving a shine to the ball on his trousers or counting his steps for the bowling run up, when he is not talking to the media, he is walking the ramp somewhere.

Ideally suited for mainstream cinema, but tied down to cricketing tournaments throughout the year, he is spotted as the face that can launch a thousands products and once in, there is no looking back. He has to look good and endorse the products he believes in. Cricketers are changing the way the world views fashion today. If  Kapil Dev's Palmolive “Da Jawab Nahin” and  Sachin's Boost “Is The Secret Of His Energy,” Kohli's The Flying Machine’s collection which has unveiled  denims, casuals, T.Shirts, cargoes, shorts and sneakers is “The New Cool.” He looks damn good today. That also explains the pressure on him to maintain his public image, how to dress dapper is always upmost in his mind and hence he has no other option but to stay updated with the latest fashion trends.

While he was wearing whites with no endorsement pressure, it was the game alone and his performance on the field that mattered. The copy book style, the perfect bowling action, the keen eye fixed on the ball in the air or the ground, the safe pair of gloves behind the wickets, the arms that hurled the ball from the covers or the deep made headlines. Not that these actions no longer assume significance but what has changed drastically is the increased reporting of the off field presence of the cricket superstars who are constantly under public glare that keeps making Fashion news.

On field, the guy with the coloured hair flexes his muscles and immediately he is on the spotlight, on the radar of commercial establishments waiting to sign him to give their products a big boost. His tattoos, mohawks and hairstyle make for important discussion topics on the social media as well as on news hours.Well ! The fans like them the way they are,different every season. Now you can't blame the players, can you ?

Conscious of being watched by National & International Fashion Houses, either during the course of the game during the day, under flood lights or off field while facing the arc lights, he knows fully well that he has created a fashion statement for  himself and a new gen of younger fans.

When teams started playing in coloured kits, that was when fashion first got added to the gentleman’s game. This innovation changed the appearance of the game, the lifestyles of the cricketers and as finances started pouring in, the commercial viability was exploited to the maximum advantage of the businesses and the players. Big businesses, sponsors, designers and fashion houses were quick to jump into the colourful format of the game. The players now sport designer wear off field and their on field jersey with logos are also specially designed by top designers or fashion houses. Now the world wants to see Greek Gods on and off field. Necessarily the players have to be fashion conscious to stay in the race.

The game has come a long way from being a five day long drawn out monotonous game to a single day faster version and recently to the shortest entertaining glamorous version which in turn has opened up the gates for a new generation of fashion crazy young fans to enter the stands, cheer and emulate their fashion conscious super cricketing heroes...and I now wonder, if, to be well groomed is a prerequisite to make it into the playing eleven......

This blog is part of Blogger Dream Team.

OM ! SHANTI OM !

Now you must understand why I keep emphasing that FB is not bad at all.It becomes imperative for us to become selective,more choosy and stay focussed.This post of mine is again for my girl friends but after reading it, I can imagine the smiles on the faces of all my brothers and uncles..Meshos,kakus,braathars,cheles,annas,thambis,mamas,chittappas....

Think ! ponder !..It is a fast world out here and everywhere..The girls are racing ahead..Well ! If you wish to atleast keep pace with them,work more and talk less....

Oooops ! I meant work more and talk less at home smile emoticon

Now ! instead of the roundabout way ,that I usually prefer , here's a direct post.
There are shortcuts to work,however difficult they may be...if only you care to stop to think.If you wish to get something done in real earnest,there should be a way.

इतनी शिदात से मैं तुम्हे पाने की कोशिश की है,
ही हर ज़ारे ने मुझे तुमसे मिलने की साज़िश की है !

कहते हैं की ......
अगर किसी चीज़ को दिल से चाहो तो पूरी कायनात उसे तुमसे मिलने की कोशिश में लग जाती है.

I remember watching a video about an easy way to remove the kernel from the coconut.The kernel was removed in its proper shape from the whole coconut..I tried it.It didn't work.So I adopted with modifications and this time it worked.

Grating a coconut is a painful job and inspite of the modern implements that one finds in the stores, the task is still arduous.

As times changed,and technology entered the large kitchens,industrial graters were put into use..I am not too informed about the extent of onslaught of technology into the kitchens/langars that cater to thousands of people.But certainly,man is always trying very hard to simplify his way of working and this I am sure everybody will agree with me..How else does one explain the availability of fresh grated coconut on the shelves ?

So before I deviate from where I was.....hmmm...I think I was mentioning about coconuts and grating.....

Anything you try for the first time is bound to be difficult.Any task attempted in an innovative way,may not have too many takers and if one wishes to do it in a particular way,one should be unmindful of any words of discouragement or ridicule..
Enter procedure without further ado..

Break the coconut.

Put it into the baffle tray under the freezer compartment of your refriegerator.

Keep it there for 24 hours.

Remove it the next day.

Take a strong screw driver.Any strong implement with a broader base at the end will be better..Say ! spade shaped should be ideal.Now I am not here to tell you where you could possibly get such an implement.I have seen a similar one at the dentists.It has a strong wooden grip fitted to a stronger metal, shaped like a small ruler.I believe dentists use it for making moulds for dentures.

Hold it at the rim of the coconut ,push it in ,and let your hand come around the rim as if you are removing the kernel,something like removing the idli from the idli plate..No ! its not that simple !.It is just an explanation so that you may get the hang of it and start showering praises on me instead of pouncing upon me..

Warning : It is not as simple as it seems,but it is not impossible either.Take care not to hurt yourself.Parental discretion is advisable 'if kids may want to try it out.

The key to success is the strong and blunt instrument that serves the purpose of a flat spatula so the kernel comes out as a whole and you will be pleased..

Depending upon the usage,you may either opt to grate the brown covering or use it as it is...

CAN YOU SEE A BIT OF CRAZY BEHIND MY SMILE :-)

I simply dote on them,they, who make me smile.
They who have not forgotten to smile ,
are the reason for my natural smile .
It's not just about how often I smile.
It is heartening to say that, then, all day I smile.
A joke gets replayed and I smile.
I see a beautiful picture and I smile.
Beholding nature in all her beauty, in sheer delight ,I smile.
I see cheerful faces and infected ,I smile.
I feel,I touch,I give a hug and I smile.
I see diamonds ,drapes and I smile.
It becomes a habit,hard to shrug off and so I smile.
Losing myself to good thoughts ,positively I smile.
I go to bed with an innocent smile.
I must be dreaming with a Piscean's smile.
So I wake up with a dreamy smile.
I look at the mirror and I grin with a toothy smile.
It reflects my emotions and another naughty smile.
Seated inside the altar , fervently I smile.
With folded hands , humbly I smile.
With eyes closed ,gratefully I smile.
I am contended and spontaneous is my smile.
I offer the cuppa with a gracious smile.
It comes back to me with a pleasing smile.
I hum with a smile.
I cook with a smile.
I look at greens and I smile.
I greet with a wide smile.
I shake hands with a smile.
I work with a small smile.
I appreciate with a generous smile.
They thank me with a smile.
I goof up,and stupidly I smile.
with tears in my eyes,I put up a smile.
I say sorry and with remorse overwhelming,I smile.
They forgive me and I smile.
I accept bouquets and I smile.
I ignore brickbats and I smile.
The impact is therapeutic,I talk about the smile.
It travels miles,Yes ! That is indeed a warm smile.
So I love people who make me smile.
Thank God for the small mercies,
Thank God for the Smile....

A WORD, A TWEET OR A PROVERB CAN TELL A FUNNY STORY !

Now does it really matter that Mala ended up without getting any prize on that day? "Participation is more important ," saying, she consoled herself and at the end of the day, it was yet again, time to reflect upon her strengths and weaknesses.

It was the beginning of Women's day celebration at work.The celebrations were kicked off with a series of competitions.The auditorium on the seventh floor was not packed to capacity. It was an all woman gathering and needless to say , the ambience was simply divine.Thirty, all women teams of two members each were participating in the competitions.

The first event was to solve three jigsaw puzzles of 25 pieces each in 5 minutes.To work on one puzzle together at a time and to move on, to the next one only on completion was the condition. The team put in place two puzzles and 5 pieces of the third one. A point system was followed to evaluate the score. The team comprising of Mala and Rama were awarded 25 + 25 + 5 = 55 points.The top scores in the event were 61,59, 57,and 55.

Here one should clearly understand the importance of staying calm while working in a pressure situation.Panic can mar performance and it is absolutely imperative to stay cool headed, shut one's ears to any external sound, including the ring of the bell that indicates the Start and the Stop and lend a deaf ear to any prompts in between, that keeps one informed of the time remaining.

Just remember that while staying focussed, with the mind concentrating on just the completion, speed is gained naturally. It is when, one gets diverted or tends to panic that pieces begin to fall out of place.This is exactly what happened when the Mala-Rama team began to work on the third puzzle with one minute remaining. As Mala brought relevant pieces together, Rama was separating them.They could have completed the third one and romped home victorious.Or did they lack the killer instinct? It was certainly not their day.

The next event was "What's the good word ?"

Find the word in one minute with three clues, all one words was the condition It was Rama's turn to pick up a chit.

She opened the chit with much enthusiasm.It read "Receipt".

Her first clue to her partner was " Payment"

Mala said " Salary,"

She posed the second clue " Acknowledgement,"

Mala said " Receipt."

Bingo it was done in just two clues.

Their score jumped to 55 + 25

"What's the proverb?" was the next.

This was a Dumb Charade round.To find out the the proverb in one minute was the condition .

Rama continued to be on the posing clues end. Mala stayed on at the answering end. Mala was fantastic with her responses and Rama was simply amazed at her partner's razor sharp memory.The much needed answer was still eluding Mala and a visbly upset Rama tried her best to motivate Mala.

Maybe Rama was not aptly expressive enough to explain to her partner the proverb "A Penny saved is a penny earned " though she did try her best to emote well. In a half packed auditorium, not realising that she was acting dumb, Rama was performing a solo mime show, much to the amusement of the audience.

Mala did understand that the proverb contained the word "penny." She was quick to grasp, build upon it and started firing proverbs one after another. She said "Penny Wise Pound Foolish," "A penny in Time is as good as a dollar," "In for a Penny in for a pound," Penny for your thoughts," "cost a pretty penny ," "be ten a penny," ...........and the hall was reverberating with laughter .

As a helpless actor exclaimed in sheer frustration, showed signs of despair,expressed her desperation with random hand movements, a mute Rama was signalling to Mala in all possible ways. She made an effort to show that she saved and she earned. She made the picture of a piggy bank in thin air, formed a line with two volunteers, stood in the make believe queue, pushed a hand into what she wanted Mala to believe was the cash counter of a bank and collected the cash. Rama counted invisible paper money, she waved , she showed her partner that she felt on top on the world but alas all to no avail...

The proverb sealed their fate and the score of the Mala-Rama team stayed at

" 55 + 25 "

On an otherwise warm and sultry day,the break was welcome for the cool headed women employees. It was an enjoyable afternoon inside a freezing cold auditorium. The atmosphere was electric and hilarious .Some teams had opted for Thamizh. The expressions were simply priceless ,especially " Kaiyukku etinadhu vaayukku yettalai" when the actor jumped ,skipped with her arms stretched out, bending alternatingly ,with fingers close to the face but away from the mouth and finally waving her hands together in criss cross fashion to show the inability of the hand to reach the mouth. In a sides splitting scenario, the audience went hysterical as someone in the audience commented rather loudly....This is certainly a case of

" Hand in Mouth ".

SHAMITABH A REVIEW !

Pura naam Amitabh Bachchan !
Baap ka naam Harivansh Rai Bachchan !
Ma ka naam,Teji bachchan !
Shaher Mumbai !
Umar Bahathar saal......

But for the wall that keeps prodding me to write, I would have found that bit of solace in silence.Thank your stars that none of you can hear me.

That sums it up.Our hero Daanish played by Danush is mute and dreams of becoming a superstar.

He travels from Ikatpuri to Mumbai with a trunk box and a Pan Parag tin, containing some cash which a poverty stricken mother had left behind for her son on her deathbed.

Daanish enters the Filmcity and hides in a vanity van.The movie is about super stardom,a true reflection of the state of Bollywood,how a billion hearts beat and only a few make it,the struggle for the No 1 position, the fear of a fall and the connected emotions of greed,selfishness,jealousy and ego.

This is the 21st century and a futuristic world out there.We are made to believe that , if mainstream cinema says so , it must be true , if not now maybe some day
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Brace yourself to , also believe that , a pretty assistant director attired in black ,who dreams of making her own movie some day with the mute actor as the hero, is compassionate enough to help a stranger,a struggling newcomer who does not have a voice of his own.

She stands like a rock behind him,gives him the much needed support to aim for the stars and gets him a chance to work as a hero with a renowned director.

If all this stupidity was not enough,the casual telephone chat between a physician and his friend an Otolaryngologist had me totally flabbergasted.Anyway,on the advice of the friend ,Daanish is packed off to Finland for the latest voicemaker implant .This is a recent marvel in the field of layringitis and Daanish is a recepient of the power of vocal chords.The donor has a baritone and has to coexist with the recepient.

Daanish and the debutant assistant director played by Akshara Haasan meet a drunkard who growls within the confines of the cemetery walls.The contract is signed and the protaganist says that his voice which sounds good even from the mouth of a dog had been rejected earlier when he had aspired to make it big in tinseldom.

The lighter moments in the film come in the scenes where Big B is at his expressive humorous best.He lends his voice much to the irritation of Daanish whose lip movements fail to sync with the baritone.In these scenes,Daanish manages to emote his helplessness quite well.

The second half is utterly disappointing and one gets to realise that Balki is also confused.Not knowing how to build upon his brilliant idea,clueless on where to take whom,he throws in the towel ,and the movie goes wayward.One thing this movie will be remembered for is the style and the sophistication that Big B exudes.He is formidable and carries the entire movie on his acting and voice alone.

Rejected in his early days for his unconventional looks, old,wrinkled and haggard looking ,smothered in mud and dirt he is still a class apart.It was a night show that I was watching and the saving grace was the growl of the baritone,but for which the sound of snores would have been echoing within the hall...............

STAY FOCUSSED AND KEEP TIREDNESS AT BAY !

What I say is nothing new and each one of us knows it too well.I keep repeating it because it reinforces my faith in silence,in the benefits of hard work and strengthens my belief that in order to stay motivated one should be usefully engaged.

People ask me whether I never get tired. Of course I do and I tell them that middle age anxiety only worsens it.Yet ! it set me thinking also.Maybe my attitude helps. Immediately what cropped up in my mind was, what about the elders,distinguished luminaries,eminent persons,contemporaries and those younger to me who are fruitfully occupied ,work much more than me and are healthy in body and mind, not to forget our own hale and hearty PM.

That's when a flood of thoughts invaded my mind and as always it was an

irresistible urge to put it down in paper and then post it on a wall. Writing is meditation. Writing is therapeutic. Writing heals. So where's the question of getting tired. ? Writing puts me back on my feet.

Let me begin with Passion.Once you give your heart and soul to a work, you can never be really tired. Our day begins with a glass of water, a cup of coffee or tea or maybe honey and lime or anything else. So once you get up,if coffee is the first thing on your mind,just go and get it. Naturally you have fine tuned your mind to think only about coffee and how to go about making it.The mind is focussed just on the cup without any other thoughts. On consumption of your favourite drink, the mind is appeased and you are energised. It's more about the positive attitude in play rather than just the caffeine. As you complained of aches a little earlier, tiredness, that had prevented you from getting up from bed has disappeared.

Mind you ! the disappearance is temporary though, and not too far away from you .From here onwards, it is going to be just you, your tiredness and how you are mentally prepared to tackle it. Caught in a crossfire of lethargy and activity, if you choose to remain active, you will be spared and tiredness will be forced to take a back seat. Procrastination is permitted if the activity is not priority and if there is a sense of urgency. delegation is allowed and troops may be deployed.These are just some tips to keep tiredness at bay 

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Once the coffee ritual is over, if it is the urge to pick up the newspaper, nothing on earth can prevent you from indulging in such activity. You are going to feel good.Go ahead ! Then ,go get those good hormones to work. As a result, the mind is going to be steadfastedly concentrated on thoughts of the newspaper, if the delivery boy has not yet arrived or buried within the pages if you have got hold of it. Here the time spent on waiting is clearly not whiling and reading is a useful activity. As you get engrossed in the news of the daywho is making headlines and who is not, the mind will fall silent yet again only to contemplate on your area of interest and ponder at leisure sometime later .Lost in the world of newsmakers and events,when the focus is entirely on imbibing and retention being the sole objective, the mind on its own has attained silence.This is how energy is conserved and entry of tiredness is thwarted.Now you are ready to take on the world with it's challenges.

One could cite innumerable examples, people from various walks of life,mothers,fathers,brothers,sisters,sons,daughters,friends,scientists,engineers,businessmen,

doctors,auditors,bankers,artistes,musicians,filmamkers,story writers,actors,homemakers,teachers,students,sportsmen ,helpers,maids,technicians,plumbers,carpenters,blacksmiths.....One could go on and on and realise that inspite of different ways of working ,socialising,serving......goals being different, there is one thing in common.When it is the passion that keeps one going ,doing what one loves to do, one is busy in what keeps him/her happy.This in turn builds concentration and while engaged in any such activity,the mind is free of clutter and is silent.Happiness wards off tiredness with ease.It's all in the mind they say. As opposed to treating fatigue, I would suggest ,to stay happy is a solution.

What is significant is that, inspite of any tiredness that will try to creep in,when passion is always uppermost in mind,there can be neither room for negative thoughts nor for tiredness .Hence it is is of paramount importance to love your job,develop a hobby,be engaged actively,stay strong mentally and not succumb to diversions which may cause the mind to be cluttered with unnecessary thoughts .A mind that is trained to be silent will ensure freedom from fatigue for the body.

Keep watching this space for the next update on how to stay bubbling with enthusiasm and vitality and why a cook at home woman who behaves or rather acts like a five star chef is absolutely relevant to this topic...