Ab to Jago

India is listed as second most terror affected country after Iraq.

The terror attacks in Mumbai were a real shock and at the same time an eye opener for the whole system. The terrorists have done their homework well and we were caught napping. The system as a whole was a failure but the ordinary people have emerged as real winners.

These terror attacks exposed the vulnerability of our politicians who instead of showing some grace were busy making whimsical comments. The handful of terrorist with a sack of ammunition and arms hold the Mumbai, the financial hub of India to ransom. Why our intelligence was not able to gather and share information more effectively? Why the hotel management did not pay attention to the warning of terror attack by Intelligence bureau? Why the ATS was not properly equipped to fight the terrorists? I hope this time govt is not just busy in setting up committees and passing bills but is taking some concrete actions.

The MEDIA totally lacked the sensitivity in handling such delicate issue. Channels were engaged in spreading rumors, making the whole event look all the more horrible and dramatic, revealing important information before the operation was completed; the list goes on and on.

But the good part is that the people were united. The terrorists may have got the world-wide attention by causing such havoc but the other motive of propagating hatred, communal riots was totally unsought.

I salute the NSG (National Security Guards)for their courage. And also the ordinary citizens who were busy helping the victims of terrorism without considering the personal risk involved.

Vishnu Datta Ram Zende used the public-address system at Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai’s largest railway station to guide and direct the travelers towards the safer exit when shootout began. The terrorists located him and fired a shot at him but he was unhurt.

The other two places where terrorists attacked Taj and Oberoi, staff members tried their best to rescue the guests safely from the hotel.

Though system has awaken, various steps are being taken and announced by our new Home Minister, but still the incidents from Chandigarh and Goa brings us face to face with the reality. The traffic cops in these places are accepting the money to let anybody pass through the check-post.

Goa has been worst hit by Mumbai terrorism. The global meltdown has already reduced the tourist inflow and now the terror attack is casting the spell on the tourism industry. Last week I was in Goa and could feel the blue.There were only one-third tourist of what was when I last visited goa three years back,(during the same dates in December) . It was bustling with the activity then. One of the shopkeeper said “Dec and Jan are finished for us.”

Let’s stay united and tell these terrorists that they have failed in their mission to divide us. Let's keep our system ready for anything. We have to be prepared as terrorists are not going to rest. Prevention is better than cure. So let's not loose the track again. The journey against terrorism has begun.....

Emotions wrapped

Come December and there are so many special occasions to celebrate. Anniversary and birthday of dear ones. There is nothing like a thoughtfully given gift to celebrate such occasions.

I love gifts. Somebody who said “gift is nothing much, but it’s the thought that counts” is right. But I think any occasion (anniversary, birthday, child-birth, new job, wedding ) or any feeling (luv, friendship, missing someone) becomes all the more exciting with a thoughtfully given gift. It is not that gift ought to be some expensive thing. Flowers are the best gift . They speak the language of all the cultures and can express joy, love or friendship. A hug is also a great gift. U give it and get it right back.

Gifts comes in handy when we cannot put our feelings in words. It’s the best way to convey what we feel for the receiver. Gift must affect the receiver to the point of shock. Gift is the "emotions wrapped".

In China clocks, umbrellas and books are a big no-no for a gift. In Japan gifts in black and white or in odd numbers are ominous. But, here in India books and clocks can be a good gift.

I love to read all the old cards and letters from friends and loved ones. There are no new cards and letters as now we receive e-cards and mails. But the pleasure which those paper cards and letters give is incomparable.

Life is also a gift from god. We are no one to abuse this great gift of his. Nor should we allow others to make our life miserable. As each day pass by, we don’t realize what we are losing. We don’t have any control over events but still we can try to make our life more beautiful.

I am again becoming philosophical. My sister always say that I am a preacher. She has to be credited for listening to my (sometimes boring or may be often) views related to any damn thing. First, that I am the elder one and secondly, the leo (always dominating)

Well, my sister is one of the precious gifts I have received from the god. I don’t know from where does she gets so much patience to hear whatever I have to say. If I would have been in her place, I would have really get bored. Well that’s what sister’s are for.She is the one friend who will stay forever in my life and with whom I can share my worst fears.

I was talking about the gifts (cards, flowers, chocolates, candles etc.) and while writing this blog I suddenly changed my thoughts. I have already got lovely gifts from god. All those loving people around me who makes my life worthwhile. My lovely daughter who always puts a smile on my face by her innocent talks and acts.
I really want to thank god for all these lovely gifts.

Navratra puja

Here comes the Navratra again, the festival which has crossed the narrow barriers of religion. The perfect time for indulging oneself in food, fun and revelry. I used to keep fast on navratra's and eat variety of food meant to be eaten in fast. It comprised of "sabudana ki khichdi" , shyamak ki kheer, kuttu ki roti and lot more. In the night we used to play dandiya. Everyone used to be in high festive spirit and nobody mind even getting hit by dandiya (till you do not break a bone or two). That was teen age. But now after having a daughter I have another role to play. Today I got up early and prepared puri, chola and halwa for prasad. After performing pooja I invited little girls nearby to eat the prasad. Nearby a Nepali family lives who work as a household help in the locality. They have two young daughters, I invited those children too. To my surprise they came and said that "we are Christians and cannot eat your prasad ". But when they saw other girls enjoying their meal they became sad. I convinced their mother to let them have it as it is just a food and no religion denies taking it. I don’t know whether she was convinced by what I said or she was taken by the sad faces of her children, she agreed.

But this incident has really set me into thinking that what we are teaching to our younger generation. We are poisoning their young minds and making them believe that some people are different due to their religion and so should be boycotted. People are propagating hatred. Vandalism and violence can’t be justified in the name of religion. Somebody is against Hindus, somebody against Christians, somebody against Muslims. Who this somebody is??? A faceless giant which has taken lives, shelter of many. The people who are trying to take revenge on people of a particular religion are not aware that in the end they kill only "humanity".

On this sacred occasion I pray to goddess to forgive us human and bless us with her wisdom so that we can let go the emotions of anger, distrust, hatred that we are holding on.

My birthday and 8.08.08

This time I was very excited about my birthday. It was on 08/08/08. It happens once in a century. The whole world was looking forward to this date as myth logically three times eight in a date is considered very lucky. Goddess Laxmi (symbol of wealth) sits on a lotus flower which has eight petals and Goddess Durga (power) has eight hands. That means I m going to be blessed by both power and money. And the planet ruling my sun sign i.e. Shani (thought of as angry god) will also be good to me. Even China decided to host Olympics on 8/08/08 as they consider it very auspicious figure and see Abhinav Bindra had fetch a gold medal for our country (so it has proved to be lucky for India too).

So, here I was all happy and child like waiting for the great 8/08/08. I was in great mood. Taking wishes from family and friends, jumping at every phone call. Then came the evening and we decided to go out for the dinner. Nothing better than this. We always prefer to go to open-air restaurants so that our daughter can run anywhere, shout and play (and no fear of her breaking the cutlery). Otherwise, I have to keep getting up from my chair to bring her back to the table (just like the "fevicol" ad). We went to our favorite restaurant and they had no outdoor arrangements for dinner as they thought it might rain. (Though I can't see a single cloud in the sky) Anyways we thought of going to some another place. We visited another roof-top hotel and the great 8/08/08 party was going on. We didn't want to sit in that loud music and search began for another open-air restaurant. But whoa there were two more hotels in the vicinity and there also this 8/08/08 party was going on. I was annoyed what is this gaga over 8. The world is crazy or what? Well people want a reason to celebrate and for hotels it was a good marketing gimmick.

Then we asked a friend if there were any other hotels (as we are new to Jaipur) and he told us of a very nice restaurant some 15 kms away. We went there (on 5th floor) just to find a bar and no restaurant over there. It was already 9:45 pm and I was losing my patience. I told my husband that we were going back home and I will prepare something at home. We saw a hotel on the ground floor and my husband insisted that we shall have dinner there and he will take care of the baby so she does not mess around. I loved the food over there; it was so delicious that I forgot my ordeal. Even our daughter was happy as the waiter took care of her.

So, all’s well that ends well making me remember the great 8/08/08

cont......

Nothing turned up as I have thought.Things are becoming muckier.When we reached there with so many gifts like cloths,jewellery,utensils and other household items (everybody has contributed generously) we came to know that she is not blind, she has got her vision in the operation (though it is good),but we were not told the whole story before.Then one of the members of our club was more inclined in giving her more help as they were of the same caste. I never thought that here also casteism would come in.Though I have been there only on two occassions but I feel ladies are also trying to show that they help more and contribute more then others.
Anyways, now other assignment is to help a cancer patient.This lady has five children to take care of.no husband.She is in hospital right now.Lets see what we can do when she gets discharged.I feel she is really needy.

In the name of social service

When anyone of us see someone less priviliged, we do at some point of time must have felt some kind of sympathy for them and tried to help them out.I remember as a kid,we use to visit "deaf n dumb" school and "school for blind".I used to distribute fruits and play with them.They all called me didi irrespective of their age.I used to like this activity,but it was just twice a year.When I grew up,my first job offer came from an NGO.They were paying 10,000/mth which was quite decent.But I opted to join a bank with the resolution of doing some thing for the society.In younger days we are so full of zeal to do something for our society but lucrative careers make us decide to do something else and to overcome the guilt, such kind of resolutions are taken.Now when I ve left my job,I once again thought of doing something like, social service.I joined an organisation working for this cause.Today,we went to distribute sugar,sweets and teabags to some slum areas.But some ladies(members) were more interested in photo sessions.I got mine also clicked.Maybe in tomorrow's newspaper our names would be published. But I didn't like it.Why all this hohalla.Maybe it will inspire others to join.Tomorrow we are going to give gifts for the marriage of a blind girl.May god bless her.Let's see how things take shape tomorrow.

Birthday

It was my husband's birthday yesterday.I had planned a surprise party for him and thought of baking a cake.It was for the first time I was going to make a cake.I got all the things from the market.But it was a total disaster. No, I did not burn it, neither I committed any blunders by mixing salt instead of sugar. But there was a power cut. Anyways , I went to the market and bought a pineapple cake for him.After that I thought of cooking. But first I called up his friends for the party. Oh! first one was out of station.I called up another, his wife was out of station.So here the party also gets cancelled.I was little upset as I was planning this day and night for the last week.In the evening we went to temple.It was good.I was happy then.We sat and chatted for 2 hrs ,this completely refreshed me and I was back to normal.Our neighbour came to wish him in the evening.She is a nice,old lady.She brought a cake for him which she has made.It was very tasty.So that made the day.

New start in the new year

Its a new year again. Renewed is the zeal and energy to live life. New resolutions are taken.
Though a person can start afresh anytime when he is determined and enthusiastic. But there is some magical aura in the new year eve which inspires a person to leave behind his past and start afresh.We cannot always sit back and bask in the glory of our past achievements. We have to move forward and there in nothing great then new year for a new start.Today I m also going to start a new assignment in my life. Let's see how farI go.