Weaving through the Religion of India

The recent rains had been ultimate relief from the scorching sun and the rising temperatures of Delhi. And to celebrate this beautiful weather, I made our way to Dilli-Haat for some shopping and fun with my cousin. It’s always been a favorite place for both of us to indulge in some shopping of ethnic and traditional stuff from all over India. As being a weekday afternoon, the place was less crowded and the shopkeepers were paying more attention to us in displaying their goods. There were artisans from Lucknow, Banaras, Bhagalpur, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and all the other places known as handloom hub of India. Soon my search for a specific material ended on the stall of Bhagalpur known for its silks sarees and dress materials. It caught my attention specifically due to the seller’s religion. As most of the shopkeepers here are belonging to one family, this particular shop had a Pundit and a Muslim as their owner which is not only unusual but rare. The place Bhagalpur reminded me of Hindu/Muslim riots during the nineties. As the bond between the two shopkeepers seems apparent, I just couldn’t hold myself from asking the reason behind. The reply which come was more of a comfort then surprise as they told “Yeh toh sab siyasi chal hai, nahi toh hindu muslim ek saath hi hai, ek kapda banata hai toh dusra karigari karta hai, ek ke bina dusre ka kaam nahi chalta” (these are political tricks, otherwise hindu and muslims live together in peace. One makes the cloth and the other does work on this cloth. They can’t do without each other) The neighboring stalls of Gujarat and Lucknow supported this statement by saying “Ek taana hai to dusra baana, kisi ke bina na kapra na kaam” (they both are like horizontal and vertical weaves that makes a cloth)
I wonder that if this simple fact is understood by every Indian (including Politicians) than definitely India will be shining as a colorful vibrant weave of various religions living in harmony together.

Maturing in Wilderness: Shobhaa De’

I was reading the book Spouse by Shobhaa De’ which I happen to purchased while waiting for the red-light to get over. I’ve read De’ novels, and seen a few of her tele-serials as well, but never admired of her works. More so because it has an overdose of high society life filled with artificiality and fictitious display of wealth. But also those characters had less or no substance in their life with no resemblance to reality. They were just social objects and nothing more to that. But new this book by De’ deals with the success, failures, setbacks and joys of married life enlisting instances of her experiences. As the book says it about trust, companionship, affection, sharing and claims to enlist how marriages work and why they fail. Apart from suggestions and practice leaning practices what makes this book most interesting is that it opens a window to De’s very own married life which is more real with less frills or drama of high social life. One can easily relate to similar instances in their own life. If not called as a complete guidebook of married life then at least it can be taken as a reference book dealing with a-to-zee issues relating to marriage. Another thing to look for in this book is its interesting tittles given to the various chapters.
This interesting book led me pick up another by De’ with the name of Speed-Post, which is a collection of letters written to her children on various time and occasions. It depicts her relationship with her children as a parent, and herself as a child to her own parents also taking into consideration her other relations. Shobhaa is unlike the normal mothers worrying about the class scores and the adolescent years of her children. She been keeping strict vigil on her children and also given them enough space to grow in life. It can be summed up in her words only as it is about ‘living, loving, caring and coping with the world’.
Both the books opens up De’ in a more transparent and honest and interesting manner. When it comes to portray of her characters it is herself only emerging as the most down to earth, mature, sensitive, emotional and strong person capable to enough respect. I must say that De’ had come a long way from socialite evenings to speed-post. I hope her characters in her soap-operas were hold substance as she is herself.

Human Vibrations and Well Being

Did it ever happened with you that you are stressed working on a solution on a complex problem and suddenly you meet some person and just this person’s presence make your worry go away and you arrive with ease to solving this problem in no time. Its not that you’re helped in any manner by this person or either discussed with him, but mere the presence made you feel light and happy. And when you don’t know the person well and you wonder how. Well, this is due to the positive vibrations the person has, which can be called as ‘AURA’. Every human being has got vibrations; they can be either positive or negative which determines the person’s activity and internal self. A person who thinks positively and have a positive attitude towards life and people have positive aura. Such people are generally happy and their surroundings are progressing and when they meet people they bring happiness to them also. A good example of this can be seen is small children. They are the purest form of life with no enmity or hard feeling s against anyone. They love those who love them. So when you come in contact with them no matter how tired you are you feel refreshed, recharged and happy. This is a same reaction which happens when you come in contact with a person with positive energy. On the contrary, while meeting a negative person you feel irritable, angry, directionless and resentful. It can also happen in the case the other person is positive and you’re towards the negative side. These energies not only affect our mental health but physical and social health as well. This not only affects the people around us but also us too. A person accumulating negativity by blaming people or self for their failure in life develops a headache and if it goes in a habitual manner then it can take the shape of disease like Migraine. Similarly a person who is develops insecurity towards their respective spouse or lack their support are prone to develop diabetics. There’s so much to it, but there is one cure to it is positive mind and lifestyle and of course meditation can help a great deal in curing what people think as a lifelong ailments.

Ps: if want to know more on mediation and healing process, you can email me.

Culture is what Media Says

In today’s media hyped world where the each and every trend, values, to-do and not-to-do, what’s cool and what’s not, the culture and society is dictated by media and the media persons it is very hard for a normal person to stay sane in today environment. The major pressure falls on to the parents of those children who are in the late teenage years and in the learning process of copycatting the so called youth icons of today like Asmit Patel and Imran Hashmi who not only project but also promote a reckless lifestyle. Their so called cool or I DARE and I DON’T CARE attitude had no space for culture and discipline. With discipline I don’t mean rigidity to age old beliefs and no enjoying life, but rather living life in a meaningful way. But who cares, cause such things are labeled and categorized as not-hot columns. More so most of the papers are eighty percent filled with page3 people with the promotion of their king-sized designer lives. Youngsters try to mimic and copy them and end up being alcoholics or drug addicts. Young girls more and more are shifting to lesser the better style of clothing inviting eve-teasers and people with wrong motives, Courtesy- The more aware and modern media persons. Recently a famous English daily was convicted of publishing pornographic material to which their reply were, we’re promoting a modern more aware society and this is to educate younger generation about sex and sexuality. Well Dear Editor, is your paper educating by means of demonstration and experimentation. And for couples married or in a relationship try something and this paper enlists various means of straying out of relationship. Well if you call it creative journalism then I am sorry the whole courseware needs to go through a revision.

The Rich Child’s Poor Life

Today on a visit to a friend I met her three year old daughter. Unlike any other child of her age she too was lovely and adorable and was enjoying her play of performing household chores in which she was imitating her mother. Her small play and her consoling to her doll was showing the agony of her staying all alone throughout the day with maid and missing the much needed company of her parents. Her wait comes to end when the parents come back but the loneliness had no end as they are so tired even to talk to her. They just pass by ignoring joy in her heart and twinkle in her eyes while she waits for her share of love and kind words. The little angel keeps standing still and blank in the same position looking blank, amused and hurt. When the pain become too much to bear she breaks into her routine to throw tantrums, making weird noises, sobbing and in the end crying. Now the parents come up to end this trauma, not by giving her share of love but by buying expensive certain toy or gadgets which is just in thing. I was feeling very sorry for the little girl who was day by day becoming very lonely and insecure, losing on her confidence and faith on love and understanding of a relationship. This incidence also reminded me of my mom who was always there for us. She listened patiently to all the gossips of school and college while serving us steaming hot freshly cooked food. Her presence and support imbibed so much of confidence and security in us that today we can face life and relationship in a better, unbiased and confident manner. I remember a particular incident when someone asked my mom what she does to which a quick reply came from my Dad “she’s housewife, cause she doesn’t need to work” Sorry Dad I’ll have to make a little correction to it as “my mom is a HOMEMAKER and its her efforts that her HOME and we are MADE in the most cared manner by giving us the most premium years of her life. I just wish every child is so fortunate to spend their childhood in the company of their parents.