An experience to remember....

The last 1 week has taught me a very important lesson - Never go by what others say or what the hype is and form your views and opinions based upon your own experiences.. And that’s what I realized after coming to Kashmir.. I had heard soo much about what an unsafe, dangerous and life threatening place it is.. The people of Kashmir were made out to be a herd of cattle who were been shunned around by the militants and military forces.. It was made out t be a place which was perennially infested by the plague of terrorism and that it was in ruins..

But one visit to Kashmir, has completely changed my view and perception of the place and I carry back memories of a blissful, serene and peaceful god’s own paradise!! By just driving 15minutes from the Srinagar airport one starts realizing that really you are in a place that God has taken pains to create and that too with whole heart and soul… A place that can’t be compared to anywhere else in the world.. The pristine waters of the Dal Lake, the majestic magnificence of the Himalayas, the lush green meadows of Pahalgam, the ice laiden stark white mountains of Sonmarg, the gorgeous Gulmarg , forests which make excellent destinations for trekking, the grand Indus and lidder flowing through the various nooks and crannies of the paradise and much more that is yet to be explored by me….

But its not only the scenic beauty that cast a magical spell on me but the people of Kashmir… I really dint know what to expect as staying in Delhi I had interacted with very few kashmiris… But now I know for myself that the people of Kashmir are absolutely aaw - inspiring … Its not just their fair & pink glowing skins & sharp features that make them wonderful but how they are as people.. The people are soo polite and always ready to help. They make you feel soo much at home and are soo opposite to the myth that Kashmiri’s don’t like to mingle with non-kashmiris. Contrary to common perception, they are very tolerant towards other communities and respect the culture and tradition of every community.. But one striking feature that really inspired me was their ‘tehzeeb’.. The way they respect everyone, their hospitality and how they welcome everyone with open arms… This was one of the reasons why I felt soo much at home throughout the trip… At times while visiting places one feels an alien to the place, bt that’s not what happened here….

Kashmir is the ultimate destination for hopeless romantics like me… The place infuses in you the spirit to love.. and love you will… The shikaara ride in the Dal Lake under the moonlit sky with that special someone is one magical experience no hopeless romantic would want to miss… Others things like walking through the forest reserves of Dachigam, the mughal gardens which are the abode to a riot of colourful flowers and fountains, and just sitting in the balconies of the houseboats in the Dal Lake overlooking the lake and the surrounding mountains can be very romantic moments… If someone is not in love then he/she would wish to fall in love and visit the place with that special someone… And all this is actually what I felt.. Now u may find it very fairytalish nd unrealistic but trust me the place really possesses that power.. Away from the hustle and bustle of Delhi, Kashmir provides an ideal destination for lovers to spend some quality time and feel the peaceful bliss of each other’s company..

Another feature of Srinagar that really did something to me was the pious callings of God, the Namaaz and Azaam whose chants permeate throughout the city 5 times a day and create an enchanting atmosphere..

I was told by someone and felt it right too that I should spread around the message that the mytical aura of Kashmir and its wonderful people who are our own are waiting eagerly for all of you to visit them.. I would urge everybody to go their atleast once, which I’m sure wont remain once because the experience is such that you would want to visit again and again… This place has soo much capacity to spread love and peace. Lets shun away all the fears and suspicions regarding Kashmir and so we must give it a chance to do so.
Really experience the place and then you’ll know what god’s actual paradise is…

~ ~ Highlight of the last 2 Months ~ ~

Its going to be exactly two months since when i decided to tackle my over- weight problem. No it wasnt the first time in ma 8 years of being overweight that I thought of doing something about it. But i guess the difference bewtween all the past attempts and this one is that this time I seem far more resolute and finally it came from within. Till now it used to be my Mom putting in all the hardwork to try and make me follow some means to lose weight.. But others always said "its ok, she'll lose weight when she really wants to!!" N i guess they were right.. This time it really did come from within me... I had had enough of this freakingg problem.. Though everyone made me feel it was not a big one but still somewhere it did pose many chain problems and effects.. like those of lack of confidence, poor self image and the likes... The biggest reason for ma extra pounds was that i was a very lazy kid.. i hated to excercise n ma Mom used to try all tactics to drag me outa da house but I used to be one indoor freak!! I finally joined the gym on 25th Dec, Christmas!! But the most mportant motivating factor was that i wasn't the only one trying but my best friend was wanting to lose weight too.. I finally had someone my age trying to tackle the same problem along with me... It sounds all perfect.. v both are like each other's inspiration.. !! For the 2 months v hav followd a very rigorous routine by gyming 5-6 times a week for approx 2- 3hrs a day, comprising of all forms of work outs like cardios, weight training n evrytin one can think of. Looking back at these two months.. its been one hella va ride!! many ups n downs- emotionally!! our trainer calling us the most hard working people in the gym is one of the ups but the most crucial one is that I have kind of got addicted to working out!! If one day I dont go to the gym I feel im missing sumtin!! My mom has done it all her time and this was one feeling she always used to tell me about.. Initaially it can be tough but as she put it one has 'push ourself over the hump' n that is what has happened.. But the low was that I havnt lost a single kg. agreed that theres this spring in ma steps bt still i would certainly want some visible changes.. just a week bak I was at ma all time low in the last two months... it was coz hadt lost a single kg but only an inch from evrywhere!! my mom too had been a lil worried seing that even though all the hardwork we had put in v dint seem to show any chnges... soo i sure did need some pep talk.. generally im a very positive person n if im ever depressd then at takes me just a few hours to get over it n cheer maself up!! Thats what happened this time too... but this time it were the books 'Dicover your Destiny ' & 'The Monk who Sold His Ferrari' that did the trick :).
Below are the two pieces from each of the book that really inspired me:

" You are far greater than you have ever dreamed of being. And no matter what you are experiencing in life right now, trust that all is good and unfolding in your best interests. It may not look pretty, but it is exactly what you need to learn for you to grow into the person you have been destined to become. Everything occuring in your life has been perfectly orchestrated to inspire your maximal evolution as a human being and bring you into your true power. Learn from life and allow it to take you where you are meant to go - it has your highest interests in mind"
- 'Discover your Destiny' by Robin Sharma

I totally believe in God n the fact that there is someone looking after me from up there n that evrytin is really happening for the best!! soo after reading this i thought of just putting in my best n not worrying about the end coz whatever has to happen, will, weneva it has to... :)

The second clipping is:

"Sure I am that this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond my endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied to us"
- Winstn churchill quoted in 'Monk who sold his Ferrari'
These lines were more than enough to charge maself with invigorating energy and a zest to continue until 'victory is achieved' !!!
Now Im back to ma putting in ma best n just freaking out in the gym by kicking ma big fat ass!! Its actually fun pushing yourself harder n harder n just dreaming of that end that I have always wanted but its now that Im really doing something worthwhile towards achieveing it!!

Foodie's Paradise!!

I am a total fooodie!! N along with that i love to cook too!! But keeping in mind my weight i constantly try new healthy dishes which along with being tasty are not 'junk'... lol

So here goes a salad recipe which i ate at 'All American Diner' and then tried to recreate it at home... unfortunately for Diners, my version was quite close to theirs soo now there is atleast one dish less for which il go to Diners...
MUSTARD HONEY SALAD
Preparation Time: 15mins
Cooking Time: 10mins
Serves 3
Calories per serving: 175

Ingredients:
~2 Cucumbers chopped with the skin on into 1 inch cubes
~3-4 Red Tomatoes chopped into 1 inch cubes
~1 Green Capsicum thinly sliced
~2 Spring Onions finely chopped
~Greens of the Spring Onions Chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
~5-6 Iceberg Lettuce Leaves, each leaf torn by hand into 8-9 pieces
~1 can of Corn Niblets (Green Giant preferably)
~8-9 black pitted olives split into halves
~8-10 Slices of Jalapeno
~4-5 gloves Garlic, finely ground
~Freshly Ground White Pepper
~ 1 teaspoon Parsley leaves(fresh or dried)
~1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
~2 teaspoons honey
~2 teaspoons french or english mustard
~2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
~2 teaspoons White Vinegar
~Salt to taste(Note for the beginers: Don't put more than 1/2 teaspoon salt :)

Ooohh god that was some long list! Now that ive sat down to write it, do I realize how many ingredients go into it!! phheeewwww

Now for the Process:
1.In a pan, heat the oil, add the garlic and spring onions(both white and green parts) together.
2. Saute constantly until they are glazed. Add the parsley, chilli flakes, corn, salt, pepper and honey.
3. Just stir the mixture for 2-3 mins until corn's juice dries up.
4. Now in a mixing bowl, add the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, capsicum, olives, jalapenos and vinegar .
5. Cool the corn mixture and then after it cools down add it to the vegetables.
6. Now add the Mustard in the end and mix everything well.
7. The salad is ready and perfect for a Summery Lunch!!

Pointers to keep in mind:

*The Lettuce should not be cut using a knife, it should be done by hand. Its then only that the proper look of a salad comes.
* One can use regular red onions instead of spring onions.
* Instead of Honey you can use 2 teasepoons sugar
* Its very important not to over do the garlic & onions, keep them a very light glazed pink.
* Instead of chopping the cucumber and tomatoes into chunks you can slice them and cut the slices into Halves like a half moon.
* If u do not have a liking for spices then cut out the chilli flakes or pepper.

For now hvnt taken a pic of it bt surely I'l post it soon!
Hope u try it out n like it!!
Cyaa for now, will b bak with more relicious recipes!!

Killer Bluelines' Continued Menace and Beyond....

New Delhi, January 31 2008

10:35am, 24th January 2008, the killer Bluelines had another victim to their name. Munesh Devi, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was on her way to visit a doctor in Sainik Farms when blueline bus No. 34 enroute to M.B. Road crushed her to death right in front of Gate No.1 of Sainik Farms. One of the witnesses present rushed her to the AIIMS Trauma Centre where she was declared ‘brought dead’. As told by her son who filed an FIR at the Malviya Nagar Police Station, the bus driver and bus had been taken into custody. But the driver has been released on bail under chargesheet 279/304A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code).

On 1st February, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the spate of accidents caused by Blueline buses in the Capital resulting in the loss of many lives. According to data given to the Court by the Delhi Government, as many as 488 persons have succumbed to such bus accidents in the past three years. The Delhi High Court had earlier issued directions to the Delhi Government to phase out Blueline buses in the city, withdraw licences of faulty drivers, commence criminal proceedings against drivers who were found unfit, impose hefty penalties on the owners of the vehicles and to set guidelines for all bus operators including DTC.

With all these orders coming in, Delhi’s Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf had ordered all Blueline buses to undergo a fitness check- up and install speed governors. He had also said that new DTC buses would be launched shortly. But one still finds Blueline buses running in a very bad condition and the speed governors are non existent. The only redeeming feature is the launching of the new High Capacity Bus Service which also seems to give the Delhi Roads a face lift. But what remains to be seen is the whole functioning and safety of the new bus corridor for the HCBS.
Moreover, the citizens cannot rely just on the government for their safety as Delhi Chief Minister, Smt Shiela Dikshit said in her response to the continuing danger of bluelines, that the “People should take care while moving on the roads.”
The whole debate regarding the safety of buses will continue until something drastic is done. But lets go beyond that. What happens to the victim’s family after the accident and the whole struggle that the family has to go through to get justice? Munesh Devi’s son, Sarvesh, got his mother’s body from the AIIMS Trauma Centre a day after the accident. He got a copy of the FIR after being pushed a lot by the Police. The AIIMS Trauma Centre is taking their own sweet time to prepare the post mortem report and instead of the stipulated 2-3days, they asked for a week. Its already been a week and now the hospital says it needs another week. As Sarvesh discloses, the hospital said that the doctor is not present and so no report can be prepared for another week.
Is the loss not enough that the hospitals and other officials create further anxiety by giving a ‘classic run around’ for every small document that needs to be collected by the family.

Another reason for the family’s grief is that the bus driver has been released on bail even though his bus is still in police’s custody. The son speaks out, “such a gruesome act of crime should not be made a bailable offence. It definitely deserves a stricter approach. If the punishment is so lenient then we cannot expect the bus drivers to mend their ways. They will continue on the same track of carelessness and indifference. ”

The law regarding this offence must be looked at in detail and all he three working bodies of the Constitution must awaken to the present state of affairs. The police and hospital officials need to rise to the fact that the family needs some support and would be best provided if they would mend their lackadaisical ways.

Long Lost Dream Coming Back to Life.....!!

28th January, started like any ordinary day... College at 9, IT classes n then off with my mum to shop for ma czons wedding... the day din't seem very special or extra ordinary.. But while i was out shopping, looking for saris for my mom, there was a couple with their 1 yr old baby girl... The couple was busy going thru saris n soo the baby was getting neglected n so was a lil cranky... I have been one kids-loving freak!! I just love babies n small children like crazy!! n evrytime i see one, it make me wanna spend time n play with them all day long... Similar wishes arose when i saw this cute baby!! She had such chubby n soft cheeks n her smile was soo aaaawwwww!!!
I told my mom dat i wish i could play with the baby! She said the parents would be more than happy coz then they could fully concentrate on shoppin!! soo I just walked up to the lady n asked if i could play wid their daughter!! the mother was initially taken aback but then realizing my enthusiasm and sheer glee she decided to give the baby to me to play for a while!! the next half an hour cant be described in words.... The baby was just soo adorable.. incase ur wondering y im caling her 'baby' n not by her name..she had not been given a name till now!! She had the most gigliest smile, n everytime i looked at her she would start nodding hr head as if agreeing with sumtin im saying!! I tickled her, played hide n seek by covering her eyes with my hand, n ol sorts of antics I could think of... Anything I did made her smile n laugh... I thought to maself, I must be having some kind of a connection with kids coz kids have always smiled n laughed in my company!! Since childhood I always wanted to open my own creche or do something around kids... N again that dream came back to remind me of my immesnse love for kids!!

That very night I saw Taare Zameen Par which sort of ignited that spark in me, telling me to do something for children with disabilities.. I have seen that I have patience and the will to deal with small kids n if i can club that with my passion to help people then surely i can do something worthwhile!! Just a day before there had been a workshop in colg about children with disabilities.. The guests from a few NGOs looking after this cause were soo passionate about what they were doing to help such children! I felt I had been so insensitive and indifferent towards these children. I knew they are very much like us, needing just love and care like we all do..
This shows how much a movie can inspire someone!! Certainly Aamir Khan would be proud to hear that after seing his film I have made it a point to help such children!
I just hope this new ray of light really does direct me to my 'Real Calling in Life'

COMMON YET NOT SO COMMON!!

Walking down the road, I saw a Mercedes pass by in which a businessman, sitting in heated comfort in the bitter cold was busy working on his palm top… Just then my attention got diverted to this old, haggard man drawing his food hawker… Something that has always perplexed me is how in one society where there is supposed to be unity n diversity, there are absolutely contrasting lifestyles, needs and values and people are oblivious to others’ ways…. So what unity in diversity do we talk about?!! People hardly care how the other sections of the society are living. Yes, there are a few groups who have taken up the social challenge of creating awareness about the various sections but these groups are a minority…

I would like to contrast between two types of people, both of whose presence is very predominant. First of all lets take the likes of the businessman. Highly successful, either a self starter or runs the legacy of his family business, lives in palatial houses in posh colonies, a few luxurious cars, children going to the best private school, wife rolling in diamonds and gold, state of the art gadgets and gizmos and all that one would want to lead a grandiose and extravagant life… But if one would go below the surface and all the materialistic superficialities, unearthed would be a constant feeling of emptiness and vacuum.. Even though that man and his family would lead such a life, its not certain that they would feel and kindle a euphoric happiness and feel emotionally complete and satisfied. Because of having so much material pleasure, they forget to enjoy just the simplest moments in life, always in search of something ‘greater’ and ‘grander’, which at times, I feel doesn’t exist and its just the overworked mind running ‘wild’!!!

On the other hand, a middle class common man, simple means of livelihood, either working under someone or owning a small shop, hawker, or road side vendor.. The old man I mentioned above, fits this category best. I really did want to go into the depth of their ways of livelihood and their lifestyle.. so I did! Baijnath Bangali, a 65yr old man, has a hawker right outside Palika Bazaar in Conaught Place and has been selling some simple, common man dishes for the past 36yrs. Now he sells chole kulche and he takes pride in the fact that he has satiated several appetites.. He lives in Paharganj with his wife, 5 daughters and 1 son. I was really amazed to see glee and pride on his face when he told me that he had 5 daughters. Opposite to the common perception, this man seemed really delighted with the fact that he had 5 daughters and he even sends them to school. On being asked the essential question if he was happy with the kind of money he earns and the job he does, he frankly replied “Ji dekhiye, humne zindagi guzardi logon ka pet bharne mein aur jo bhi kaam kiya who sachhai se kiya, toh dil mein koi gunjaish nahi baki hai. Yahaan sab mujhe jaante hain aur baba kehke bulaate hain. Sabse mujhe kafi pyaar mila hai”(yahaan referring to the road he has his stall, where there are several other vendors) . This showed how important it was for the common man to earn his livelihood in a fair and honest way and nothing else mattered more. His conscience was clear and that itself gave him immense satisfaction and a reason to be content with life, not bothered by the fact that he was just a roadside vendor. He had friends who admired him for his exemplary character and respected him.
This is exactly what I am talking about… He got simple pleasures from having 5 wonderfully caring daughters, he working with utmost self integrity, earning money he hard way, enjoying everlasting moments with friends and family!! Then it struck me, let me at least know how well he does economically i.e. how much he earns and his standard of living. With a satisfied look on his face he told me that he earned a profit of either Rs.100per day or a max of Rs. 200 on a very busy day; lived in a 2 room house which barely had the basic necessities of water and electricity. Oh my god! This man and his family don’t relly want any materialistic gains other than safe water and electricity!! Some simple living!! But its this that helps them stay grounded, true to life and really understand the essential purpose and meaning of life. Might sound a little too philosophical, but then that’s the truth. This man saved penny by penny to send his children to school and is ecstatic about the fact that 2 of his daughters are now working and stand on their own two feet. Imagine a rich father being soo passionate about sending his children to school, sounds funny!! Sending children to school is just taken for granted! He won’t waste even a second pondering over how much joy he gets by sending his children to school.

If one is just so engrossed in the acquisitive pursuits, then its life that we lose out on, we loose out on the great moments that define our life.
Here I may quote Hans Hofmann :
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak……..
Wake up!!.. you, me , we al l need to learn from these people.. They seem so common, but their thoughts aren’t. They need to be appreciated and along with that follow their foot steps, understanding what LIFE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT!!

In-no-sense (Innocence) - Today's Child

Aghast after reading and hearing about the student murders taking place all over India, I decided to understand in depth about what is going wrong with the children of today... It all started with reports coming in of a student in class 8 being shot by two of his classmates via an automatic gun in a Gurgaon School. Then came reports of such happenings in an Engineering Institute in Noida and the third one from Satna, Madhya Pradesh. The MP incident involved a 15yr old boy who used his landlord father's 'Katta' to murder his junior. Up til now such gruesome acts were reported only in the US, made possible by the prevailing 'gun culture', whereby students could buy arms with ease and it was quite common for everyone to own a gun. But now its increasingly becoming a Global phenomenon.....





Reflecting on what has been happening I realized that some children have somewhere lost the sensibility and the conscience of the limit and boundary that must not be crossed, be it to take revenge or just to as a dare!! The preposterous reason that the accused gave for the killing in the gurgaon case was that the victim had been bullying him for a long time and so he wanted to take revenge.





I have completed my schooling just a year ago, and soo am quite aware of the ongoing state of affairs in schools. Coming from a reputed private school in Delhi, I too have personally witnessed cases of violence and fights between students, reasons ranging from petty issues like girlfriends, bullying or just irreconcilable differences. In the fast paced and competitive lives where every student is fighting for the top spot, at times there is disregard for the other persons feelings. This can be seen right at the school level where I myself have seen great friendships break due to competitiveness. Some children do not seem to value precious lives that God has bestowed upon them and think its a joke to take away a life.... But i would like to go into the psyche of the children and understand how in their conscience, they justify the gross and grim act... The justification given by the student of the gurgaon killing was that it was a revenge for the perpetual bullying by his classmate... What harm does bullying do?? A child who is bullied for a long time and is traumatized may have psychological effects.. Bullying may victimize the students and effect their capabilities to concentrate on studies and acquire knowledge... soo when a kid is made to feel inferior there is all this pent up emotions which are bottled up inside him/her and due to being either afraid or physically weaker and not able to reply back on the spot and so have to swallow all the insult.... If there is continued emotional upheaval of such kind anybody would be devastated leave alone a 12yr old kid... But this does not warrant such a disgusting fightback!!



What is needed to keep in check such distress?? Here is where proper parenting and the role of a good school comes in.. First of all, Parents need to provide their child with a stable and harmonious home with unconditional love and 'Quality Time'. If there are any apparent changes like loss of appetite, depression, nervousness, lack of concentration, etc, the parent should try and go to the depth of the matter... There should be open lines communication between the child and the parents and the they should have such a relationship that the child is comfortable telling all that is happening.. Most of the times what happens is that parents cannot comprehend whats wrong with their child and think that by giving things time the matter will be resolved... But no, the solution is sitting with the child and having a heart to heart discussion as to whats wrong and by offering any help that could solve the problem... Parents talking to the classmates might not always be the best option as it could cause repercussions later... There can be an exactly opposite case where the parents are too concerned and anxious and so need to give the child his/her own space. Another solution is that the school should take responsibility of ensuring congeniality amongst all students and if any cases of fights or disagreements are reported then the school's counsellor should try and resolve the matter with the students... So a psychological counsellor in a school is a must!!!



The cause of such behaviour by the child should be understood.. Many child psychologists have researched in the field of child crime and the glaring fact is that disturbing family relations like differences between parents, with siblings or any kind of unstable environment at home is a major cause of such actions. So, a happy and progressive home leads to a mentally healthy child. Such unresolved psychological complications can result in an unhappy and traumatized adulthood too.. The reason behind the drastic rise in Child Crime can be the increasing amount of violence and brutality being depicted on TV and in Cinema.. Here is where the MEDIA comes into picture!! Young children are being exposed to programmes like CID, CSI and movies like Saw, Hostel, Fight for your life, Island of Death, Mark of the Devil!!! Many studies have shown that movies and TV are considered to have a great impact on a young child's mind... see the names, they itself are soo outrageous, what do you expect the children to learn and do!! The latest craze is of Video Games and Play Stations where kids are constantly fighting the cops, killing opponents, etc.... Such violent activities are bound to have several backlashes.... So parents need to be careful regarding what their kids are viewing and doing with their valuable time...



I can conclude by proposing what actually my teacher said, that being a Parent should not be a right but it needs to be considered a privilege. Parenting is the most toughest and challenging job and every aspect of it can either make or ruin a life!! So to avoid Child Crime what is utmost important is Counselling for parents at all stages of raising kids..!!! Ultimately it all boils down to how to raise a child!!