Strange !!! This is something that happened to my friend Jayta and Devang Mehta. Devang with his family was on a trip to Bokaro for a friends marriage which literally turned nightmare for them in all possible ways. His wife lost her diamond mangla sutra from the hotel room, little did she know that this incident will probably change all her perceptions about the administrative set of the state. Jayta did manage to find the culprit and after some harsh action the 15 yr boy who worked as sweeper in the hotel did confess his crime. Till here, everything seemed alright. But the whole seen changed when the police arrived for investigation. The boy was taken into remand.  What followed was total inefficiency and corruption beyond imagination. For the next three days Devang visited the police station (sector 4 ) and only managed to receive big statements on why there cant be any action taken against the thief. He was a minor, was the call. What further made things worse was when the police brigade asked for a share he would give in return for the diamond necklace. Oh well, the mangal sutra was never to be returned. It was a racket, which probably involved the 15yr old thief, to the hotel manager to the police. Everyone wanted to have a share of the price that would be receive once the necklace is sold out. Surely, not everyday people can put their hands on to something worth 60k. That is indeed a fortune for anyone.

Jayta and Devang with their three yrs old daughter left Bokaro after three days, feeling absolutely miserable. A trip to their best friend wedding which was to be memorable account turned into a nightmare in more ways than one. Perhaps something which will hunt them forever.Today when they sit and think back about the whole incident, Jayata feels pines for her mangal sutra. After all it was her wedding gift !! It was priceless !! But what probably hurt them more is what followed. In this whole episode probably the biggest mistake was made by Devang. Yeah, because he choose to go the righteous way. He choose to seek administrative help and call the police. He believed what he couldnt do, the police would. He believed he was safe in their hands. Jayta did loose her priceless mangal sutra  but what they lost more was the faith they have in the administration. The fact that being  Indian citizens they are safe and secured went in vein. And what they were left was with a bad taste in mouth. And all they could say ” Bihar police sucks” !!!

The incident may not be one of those incidents involving the police which would have priority. It would definitely not be in headlines. May be because this is one of those petty errors in the part of the Indian police which doesn’t have any significance. But what it damaged was the faith we common man have in them. And as I close this post all I am left pondering….. Who next, who will be mere puppets in the hand of our very own police brigade? Whom to turn to when we are unsafe with the people who are supposed to be the custodians of our safety. Unfortunately I don’t have any answer. Do you ???

Loving you means the world to me. I love you because loving you makes me happy and complete. Love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person and I feel the same for you. Love is about trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, and I never felt more secured when with you. I love you for the moments you gave me. I love you for all the yesterdays memories, today’s love and tomorrows dreams. I Love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life. I want to let you know that if enduring pain, braving shame, despising one’s self for the sake of affection and accepting misery without question is the definition of love – then, I LOVE YOU to death.” Love is what you mean to me and you mean everything. The fact that you are the first person I’ve ever loved and the first person who ever truly loved me makes you indispensable in my life. The amazing way you always seem to be able to read my mind and you bring out the best in me. We can talk about everything or nothing–it’s always okay with you. I can feel your love, in the warmth of your touch, ’cause it touches my heart and soul. I just can’t imagine being me without you. Just a smile…and I lose my heart all over again. You have given meaning to my existence..You are the only one who can make me smile even in my deepest sorrows. I respect the faith you have in me and the faith I have, that you are by my side no matter what. You are far or near, your thoughts linger around me like the warmth of summer time. I love the fact that you love me for what I am. And did I tell you loving you is the best thing ever happened to me ??  Happy Valentines day dear !!!

Falling in love with someone doesn’t need reason. Someone  said,” I honestly don’t know why I love, but I love her to death.” Moral qualities of a person of course mean a lot but when we love someone we usually can’t define and give a name to that something special in that person that makes us feel this way. The more you ask yourself, the more you are without an answer. Love is irrational and very seldom bound by reasons. Love is magic. And you need to be in love to feel the same, to see the magic.

Defining love is barely possible. Many people believe that it’s a divine magical power that connects two loving hearts. Some put it as the one and only selfless act on earth and some put as the the most painful emotion. But in each case seeing the other person happy becomes the most important thing in life. One voluntarily gives up a great part of his/her own freedom or desires just the see their love happy. Love is giving by it’s nature. It is very rightly said  “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”

Love is not perfect and neither it is bed of roses. And love is not love until it hurts. And trust me love grows more when pain flows in. We all should accept this fact that love happens between two human beings and not heavenly angels. And to err is human. To stress out a relationship with the weight of expectations is very common. So the mistakes, problems and conflicts in love are obvious, they all come from our human’s nature. But the clear feeling of love is worth all the troubles one has to walk through to gain it. There is no perfect art of loving. It’s always a road laid with compromises, everyday battle – not with the one you love, but with yourself. That’s how love makes us better. And no matter what, the magical power of love have all the qualities to overcome any difficulty in life. All you have to feel is the strength of this emotion and the fact that you are not alone in this world.

So all you guys out there who have not yet experienced this magic, go and find the one who will cast this magic spell on your life. And for all those who are swinging deep in love….Wish you all a very happy valentines day !!!

Cut to 2010. “Phir mile sur” was revealed worldwide on Zoom TV  on the 26th January. Taking us down the memory lane, it was  refreshing, but disappointingly not as much as the previous one. It was nostalgic but failed to create the ripples it did twenty years back. The music was good, the marketing was even better. Each artiste speaks of a cause and the video is shot at places which have historic value and significance. But what went missing was a complete participation of India. It was predominantly the bollywood way of things. Out of 65 celebrities, most of them were from our very good old film industry. Which does make me think, what wrong did people like Sachin Tendulkar and Leander Pace do , not get featured in this prestigious promotion. I wonder if people like Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Pudukone who have barely been around, can make it, why cant we have some eminent sportsmen or  price winning literary personalities featured? What about people like APJ Abdul Kalam and olympian Raghavendra Rathode who have made us proud in all possible ways!  Well, there is no answer to these questions. The overdose of bollywood is obvious and sadly the makers of this video believed that presence of the Bachchan clan and the Khans have  huge impact on the audience more than anything and anyone.

The music was definitely good. Both vocal and instrumental renditions were impressive. A blend of classical and modern music does manage to create the magic. But at the sometime can’t deny the fact the older version is a cult classic.. It was soulful, it was melodious. It touched your soul and  above all it made you feel proud- proud to an  Indian. Patriotism was subtle but well defined. This time,  good effort though, but could have been much better with some intelligent choice of faces. Nevertheless, always a treat to have “mile sur…” back with us…..if not as glorifying video, but definitely a melodious musical number.

Krish and Ananya finally get married and they live happily thereafter with their kids……!!!  Feels as if I have just finished watching a bollywood flick. Well, not exactly !! But have just finished reading 2 States by chetan Bhagat, which is  going to be another hit bollywood flick for sure. As I was moving ahead in the novel para by para, page by page, the only thing that crossed me, am I watching yet another hindi movie? 2 States is bingo !!! There was little disappointment with his last novel, 3 mistake…. But in 2 States he has hit the right note in all the departments – story line, wit, emotions, sex and melodrama. It is indeed a treat of those who love reading light hearted youthfull novels.

2 States is about Krish and Ananya. Set in the backdrop of IIM Ahmedabad, this novel is essentially a love story. A north Indian boy falls in love with a south Indian girl.  They decide to get married and families approval is mandatory. But the problem is India’s rich cultural diversity. Well, is that a problem? Oh yes, especially when the difference is as great as north and south of India. The plot revolves around how this madly in love couple decide not to elope and make this happen with their parents’ consent.

It wont be surprising if I put it as a screenplay of a wanna be movie than a novel. Right from the beginning till the end it simply seems as if you are up watching a nice romantic movie. The culture difference in north and south India has been portrayed with great effectiveness and sheer honesty. The “larger than life” life style of punjabi’s and the mellowed down south Indian lifestyle has been put with lot of sincerity. Chetan Bhagat is always credible when it comes to humour and his choice of one liners. And this time too they are highly appreciable and probably boosts the readability of the novel to a large extent. Touting it as semi autobiographical, Chetan Bhagat’s characters are sumptuous enough to make one feel “I wish I was Krish or may be Ananya.” They are typically boy next door types and easily identifiable. Perhaps one of the best things about all his works.

2 States has a much better narration than “3 mistakes of my life”. Though his writing style is largely similar in all the first 3 novels, in 2 States, his attempt is much more sensitive and realistic with acceptable gestures of love and emotions. Unlike his last flick, 2 States doesn’t go overboard in sex and exgaerting melodrama which makes the novel a very interesting read. Its a story where the protagonists never let their parents’ decision influence their choice and at the same time manages to understand their sensibilities. A good attempt to convey some serious message as well. The situations acts as fodder for arguments and drama, and Mr.Bhagat conveniently wraps them in his wit and humour and presents before us. Needless to say his distint style which is his hallmark.

Chetan Bhagat is indeed a smart writer. He nurtured the dream of being a writer right from his IIM days. And why not, this former investment banker has made India read like never before. He understands the youth pulse. And more than that knows what sells. Chetan Bhagat certainly knows to wield his pen. He knows what to talk and how to talk. His earlier books have been acclaimed and consequently made into movies. Whenever he comes out with a novel, it creates an unprecedented ripple in the market. Literary profoundness is not his forty. But what he has is mass appeal and an inexplicable aura.

With 2 States selling like hot cake, I guess all izz well for Mr. Bhagat.  Now all we need is to wait and watch who grabs 2 States. A sure shot bollywood blockbuster, hopefully duly credited to this fantastic writer. Bravo !!!

After a lot of discussions, I decided to start schooling for my son. They call it “playschool”. I stared sending my son to playschool near my home when he was just about two years old. Appropriate choice of the playschool is probably the most important thing to be kept in mind by all the parents. My choice was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Bal Mandir.  I reviewed couple of more school before zeroing down to this, but most of them did not meet my criterion. The distance from the house, the environment, the teachers and most importantly the money. When I met the principal of this school, I was sure I was choosing a right place for my kid. She knew what  small kids need and subsequently how well they can deliver it. Perhaps, patience, compassion, understanding and a uncanny knack of dealing with children are the primary requisite for any school. And today after sending my son there for two months, I am sure that I have given him a good start in life.

Starting days were difficult , both for him and me. A friend of mine asked,  “was your son crying?”  I happily replied, “No!!!”  Then he added,  “and the mother?”  I was choked ! I did missed him a lot. But I kept telling myself it was for his good. But within a week everything fell into place. The changes  I saw in him left me in awe. His energy is channelized in a positive way. He picked up language both at home and in school very fast. He is learning new things be it rhymes or animal names. Though his speech is yet to be clear, but in his own sweet way he is able to express himself distinctly. And above all, I see him happy. He loves his kool (that is the way he spells for school)  and he loves his teachers. Needless to say, there cant be anything more satisfying and joyful for any parents than to see their kiddo smiling  his way to school.

Playschool is relatively a new concept in India. And like me there are many parents who feel starting so early is unnecessary. But then my experience now says even though its early,  its good. A good school, with a healthy environment can definitely give a good start and a firm foundation to a child’s life. But do make sure the child is happy and is taken good care….for anything else let the child smile or frawn do the talking

Diwali is the most important festivals of our country and it goes without saying that the funfair involved is infectious. The way you cannot avoid the festivities in the same way its nearly impossible to avoid the smoke and pollution – it’s going to be anywhere and everywhere – but what is needed is that extra care that can prevent wheezing and other related complications. It is also advisable that patients should take preventive medicines well ahead of Diwali – mild precautionary inhalations and medication prior to the prolonged exposure to smoke and fumes. One should limit exposure to smoke as much as possible, not only on the diwali day but also few days after that till the air is totally clean and smoke-free.

The level of suspended particles in the air increases alarmingly during Diwali, causing eye, throat and nose problems.Suspended particulate matter exposure to the level of 100 ppm results in headache and reduced mental acuity. The effects are more pronounced in people with heart, lung or central nervous system diseases. Sulphur dioxide is readily soluble and dissolves in the larger airways of the respiratory system. At higher concentrations severe contraction restricts the breathing process. Nitrogen dioxide is less soluble and so penetrates to the smaller airways and into the lungs, thereby reducing the intake of oxygen for the body. These cause respiratory allergies like asthma especially to the susceptible population. It causes throat and chest congestion, and are likely to aggravate problems for those already suffering from coughs, colds and allergies.

I am not one of those who ever advocated green diwali. But my son’s suffering because of the heavy cloud of smoke after diwali celebrations left me thinking. This article may hold no meaning for many because diwali is gone this year. But at least we can pledge to make things better the coming year. No celebration is good at the cost of our health. And more if it has to so with a child. Yeah..these words are straight from a mom’s heart who have see her kido suffering. Diwali is for all of us to enjoy…..can we leave aside the smoke please, green diwali ???

Dreams are very much a way of our lives. Even though we don’t know anything specifically, but dreams are important and always get our own interpretations. When we dream about anyone close to our heart, we love to believe that we are being thought of. At the same time when we encounter nightmares, we consider it as a bad omen. Knowing unknowing we do decipher dreams in our very own ways, according to our convenience. But scientifically, dreams do have theories with them.

It is said that if we have happy positive expectations we have happy dreams, but, when this system is overstretched and the dreaming process cannot cope with the amount of negative expectations (as when people continually worry), sleep balance is disturbed, dreams are miserable, even nightmarish, and depression can set in. An extreme stress overload can interfere with the process to such an extent that psychotic symptoms arise. And that is precisely when we say that we dream bad and consider it as a negative premonition. Our dreams are governed predominantly by our thought process and our daily lifestyle. Also dreams are metaphorical translations of waking expectations and it is said that only expectations that cause emotional arousal that are not acted upon during the day become dreams during sleep.

Dreams share many qualities with hallucinations also. They are the hallucinations we all experience. Both dreams and hallucinations involve intensive activation of the seeking system. Dreaming is the deepest trance state we go into and there are essential principles to understand them.

I have gone through a lot of theories which have different things said about dreams. But to me what I thought the most fascinating one was the Cayce theory. Let me briefly take you through what Cayce’s experience states…

Cayce’s Experience

When it came to the idea of dreams having purpose, Cayce’s theory was a bit different than the others. He believed dreaming to be the bodies way of “self edification,” which is the building up of the mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. It was a way of quickening the dreamer to his/her own human potential. By getting a good nights sleep, any person could develop more mature values, stretch their thinking, and right one’s self.

According to Cayce, there are five different levels that dream’s stem from. These different levels are the body level, subconscious level, level of consciousness, level of super conscious, and the level of the soul. What they can do for you is anything from presenting messages of your body calling for aid during sickness to stating problems which must be solved within the conscious.

Cayce believed that if you were to interpret your dreams correctly you must thoroughly study yourself. Once you know how you feel about dreams and what they can do for you can you begin to study your dreams. If you have a dream, according to Cayce, it’s primary focus is to either solve problems and adapt to external affairs or awakening and alerting the dreamer to new potential within the self. The first step to Cayce’s method of interpretation is to determine which of the two major functions of dreams is the primary focus of the dream.

The second step is the process of taking inventory. You need to know your conscious and subconscious mind inside out. Know future plans, goals, interests, stances, and decisions. Know your hidden fears, longings, dependencies, and defenses. Know the cycles, needs, habits, and stresses of the body. Once you finish with these two steps you can begin to interpret your dreams and decide how they can help you better yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Nevertheless, dreams will always remain an enigma. To me dreaming deactivates that emotional arousal by completing the expectation pattern metaphorically, freeing the brain to respond afresh to each new day. Although dreams have different meanings for different people, the society we are a part of does impact on our dream imagery.We all collectively respond to aspects of life similarly. We are all concerned with our relationships with people, our general survival dealing with problems in our life, happy sad moments and our triumphs and tribulations.These are common to everyone.Thus, when these issues come into our dream life, there are common ways in which we all tackle them. But what remains a fact that our dreams does fulfill many of our lives’ unfulfilled dreams. And dream gives us our much needed hope !!! I read a quote which says, ” If only I could be with you in my dreams….let me sleep forever…..!!!! So true

Humor is infectious and it can change the whole graph of ones face. It is truly said “a smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.” The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough or sneeze. It has been proved by sociologists that when laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use. A daily dose of humour is said to be quintessential in developing a health body, mind and soul.

Laughter is strong medicine for mind and body

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. When ever I am depressed, stressed up or in a bad mood, I always choose to talk to people who can make me laugh. And believe me it works wonders. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Laughter is good for your health

Though for us it is just a sweet simple or a simple laugh, but do you know how much a good laugh can do to you?? First and the foremost thing is that laughter relaxes the whole body which is very very important in this age of mounting stress. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter boosts your immune system and decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. It has been medically proved that laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. And last but not the least a good hearty laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. Thus laughter indeed proves to be the best medicine.

Laughter help you stay emotionally healthy

Laughter makes you feel good and relaxed. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss. a gentle smile along with few good words can do wonders when you are down and out. And needless to say that there is absolutely nothing that can natch the beauty of a gentle simple or a heartfelt laugh.

Not only that, just a respite from sadness and pain is not all that a laugh can do. Laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh or even simply a smile can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in on the band. Even remembering someone smile or a funny incident can pep up your spirits. So much so is the power of a good laugh.

Link between laughter and mental health

We know that laughter does lot of good emotionally and but hardly we realise that laughter has direct relation with mental health as well. Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing. Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more. Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, more positive and constructive and surely less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological edge, which can help you avoid feeling stressed out or nervous.

So, always remember to be happy because you never know who’s falling in love with your smile and then say again….I see stars when you smile !!! I wish we all laugh our heart out and fill this universe with smiling stars. As they say, “A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life’s worthwhile.”

What is Fresco ??

Fresco is any of several related painting types, done on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Italian word “affresco” which is derived from the adjective fresco (“fresh”), and has Latin origins. Frescoes were often made during the Renaissance and other early time periods and was highly refined form of artistic expression appreciated by diverse cultures for thousands of years.

Fundamentals of Fresco.

Fundamentally, fresco is the art of painting in which hand ground natural earth pigments are put onto a damp lime plaster wall. As the painted plaster wall dries, the lime in the plaster carbonizes and absorbs the particles of painted pigment into place. The chemistry that occurs between the lime as it calcifies and the earth colors as they are absorbed into the plaster creates an effect of inner light and luminosity that only intensifies over time. Rather than being an image made of colored pigments that sit on top of a surface, the fresco painting becomes part of the structure of the wall. This is why, in many climates, frescoes can be installed indoors and outdoors.

In fresco painting, it is necessary to have a well-thought-out design prepared before hand, as the medium does not permit experimentation or changes in drawing as is possible in most other ways of painting. If the plaster dries before it is completed, or if you have made a serious error, start over again with a new coat—a little bit of plastering experience will convince you that it is wiser to do the best you can with the piece before you—as plastering is really the only hard part of fresco painting.

Light, space, air and architecture are all determining factors in how the fresco shall be painted. The carrying power of the painting must be experienced in the actual setting, and it usually takes one patch, or less in establishing the right key. This is one reason why a fresco is painted directly on the wall, where it will always be seen, has a better chance for being right than anything painted on canvas in the artist’s studio, and later glued to the wall.

On a large fresco toward the beginning of the work it is sometimes difficult to key the color. The first sections are so high and isolated that there is nothing to which to key the color, value and intensity. In addition as the work progresses the fresh new plaster is darker than other previous (and dry) patches next to it; it takes experience to trust that each daily section will match the previously completed ones.

Here are some sites where you can get more info about Fresco Paintings.

http://truefresco.net/

http://www.truefresco.com/

http://www.italianfrescoes.com/