An exciting Incident in my Life

I'm going to tell you about an incident which was one of the most exciting chapters which could be read out of the book of my life. It wasn't more like an 'incident' because it was planned much ahead of time and I was in all anticipation of the best moments of my life to come.

Yes it was a trip to some of my favourite cities in the North of India i.e; Agra, Delhi and Nainital. And being a total Nature-lover, I love to travel by train or by bus to discover and appreciate the natural surroundings around me.

So with these ideas lying at the bottom of my heart, I started my trip to Agra in the early September of a rather cool phase of winter that had just begun in this part of the country.

My exams had just got over and preparations for this trip were going on in full swing. So much so that even during my examination there used to be moments when I would be transferred to one of the mystical forts, Palaces or bazaars of Agra or Delhi or the beautiful snow-capped Himalayan peaks beckoned me while I tried to bury myself in my books. Anyway, so that arrived when I got into the train and waited to reach Agra to explore it.

We reached at four in the morning. We were taken to see the 'Taj Mahal'. I couldn't believe that I was going to see the Taj Mahal. I had heard so much about it's beauty. I used to sit for hours and gaze at one of the portraits of it my room and try to understand what allures people from all over the world to this architecture that symbolizes true love. It took me less than a minute to realize. The sheer radiance of 'Taj Mahal' in all it's magnificence didn't allow me to take my eyes off from it.

I sat at one of the benches facing the 'Taj' gazing at this human marvel and in an instant all the true stories of love flooded into my mind.

I am a romantic person and believe in love for eternity, now sitting in front of the 'Taj Mahal' once in my lifetime has removed even the tiniest ray of doubt I have ever had. I never felt like leaving that place. But the sun beating down on me in a scorching way took off all my energy and we made our way back home.

I still remember the 'Tonga ride' that I had way back home. It is etched in my memory forever associated with magical experiences of my lifetime. Taking these memories with me forever, I moved on to the next phase of my trip- Nainital.

I never feel more at peace with myself than being in the midst of nature. In Nainital I really felt as if I've been nestled in warm, caring bosom of Nature. I felt as if I really belonged to this place. It took great efforts on the part of my friends to mentally take me out of the place! It would just require someone to give me a chance and I will grab with both my hands to leave and stay close to nature.

The Naini lake - still remember it's tranquility. The mountains surrounding the Naini lake were just so beautiful. On the opposite, was a Temple 'Birla Mandir'. The balcony of this temple stood adjacent to the receding line of this lake. From across the lake, I imagined how it would feel like standing in that balcony and viewing the lake and the mountains from there. It would surely feel like Paradise! I've never felt so happy, and at peace and so totally gratified then during this trip.

Even as I write this now, I feel as if I've been transferred to this 'abode of Nature' where peace with oneself and tranquility of mind reigns supreme.

(I have written this essay way back in 2006 when in college and as part of a General English C.A. paper which tested our descriptive writing skills and so I was asked to write about an exciting Incident in my Life. My teacher Ms Lilian Jasper later felt that she actually experienced the excitement herself when she read my essay.) Through this write-up here, I wish to show my gratefulness to her.

Trends in Creative Pursuits

Art is a divine inspiration. And the artisans who are involved in the making of handcrafted products give shape to their inner most thoughts and desires in the form of the items they mould. This heritage that is passed down to them by their ancestors or that they have learnt by themselves, has a value in the form of a handicraft which is preserved and cherished by those who desire to own it.

Variety in Art

In India, there is no dearth in the way which a person can creatively express himself. Right from hand embroidery, to dexterous carving on a wood, there are many ways in which a person can express himself artistically. And in today’s commercial market, there is value for this. The country-folk engage themselves in handicrafts and a person who visits our country would want to take home a slice of this in the form of our many hand-made products such as a finely-woven hand-bag, or a mojri or pair of chappals with an interesting design. Today a person in an urban-setting, wants a handcrafted item to add a living touch in his space, or to simply feel connected to his past. And this need is well-satiated, be it an elegant piece of rosewood furniture or a mud-pot to accessorize your living room.

You may not even have to go places to search for a unique handcrafted product that you have a desire for. You can start your blissful journey shopping in the world of arts at your own convenience through an online craft shop. CraftsVilla.com offers you a world of convenience to shop for more than 20, 000 different products across different verticals such as hand-embroidery, metal-crafts, aromatic oils made from natural ingredients, to Indian paintings and even niche type of furniture.

I discovered a world of luxury handcrafted items which allow gifting to my loved ones so easily right from the choice of your favorite product to the delivery of your item. I enjoyed my shopping at Craftsvilla.com, and you can experience this enjoyment too. Visit Craftsvilla.com now.

- Alifia M.B.V

Dedicated to You

I would like to say, first of all - I want to say whatever I am today is due to many people and all the experiences and the time that they have shared with me. Owing to all these experiences, I am the person that you see in front of you today. Some have taught me love, some to stand up for myself, some to believe in something, some to respect work. And some have also taught me to hope. This Hope is not because of a positive experience. But this hope is not because of a positive experience. But this hope is because of a negative experience. By leaving me, alone, they have taught me the art of 'hoping' that someday they would be back. And so resilience too. After hardship, getting a good comment by my boss, has been the biggest achievement till now.

To Yercaud.

Starting by 6.45 am, on a still morning of 25th March, 2005. I take my dream trip to Yercaud, after a long struggle with Plus Two exam.

So we take the road from Chennai - Tambaram . The highway is well-maintained. And planted with trees. We come across two to three colleges - The Crescent College of Engineering and the Janaki School. Otherwise, mostly a wild cultivation occupied the vast lands.

We crossed Dindigul, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengelpet and other isolated establishments before we reached Yercaud.

Then we reached Yercaud by 5.00 p.m. The hill top is situated at 3000 meters above sea level. The steep hairpin bends, we could see even after we had finished its rounds.

Our Sterling Resort is just so beautiful. It is surrounded by greenery and bushes and the incense-plantations has had a profound influence on our spirits by now. It has awakened our mind and made us ask for more of such intense moments.

From a bird's eye-view, we can see the glittering of the evening skies - the city of Salem. This is a fast growing two- tier city of Tamil Nadu.

There is a very tiny toddler with us. She is Umme hani, my little niece. At four months, she makes her very first trip to Yercaud. Probably she is not conscious of the change of environment but for the rest of us she is a well spring of goodness and a far deeper link to Nature and the Divine force. We thank Him for this opportunity.

Description about Sterling Resort

This Sterling provides an exotically romantic view of the Yercaud hills. From the playground in the Resort, I can actually catch a glimpse of the misty hills. The Resort is a well-planned place. A walk around and I find myself refreshed in midst of the nature.

The Life of the People

The 'living' of the common people is very ordinary. The Bhavani Singh's perfume factory provides an insight into the rare gifts that nature provides. We touched and even smelled the various herbs that the Singhs' nurture in their botanical garden. The garden is a haven of various herbs those that promise relief through the natural way. There is this Black Panther oil for relief from common cold, peppermint to be used as a mouthwash, brahmi oil for hair oil, and one for preventing further deterioration from diabetes and many others. Altogether this turned out to be a very enlightening experience in the Singh's botanical garden. I ended up picking some exotic natural fragrance oils including Jasmine and Rose.

The Pagoda Point

It is a point which is spectacular and lifts up one's sagging spirit. You can get a complete view of the picturesque scenario of green teak trees, settlements, cultivated lands. And the lovely breeze adds to the mood.

The final day has come, when we have to bid adieu and go back to where we came from. So even though we had to leave, Nature beckoned us to stay back. The mountains around, the brisk air, rays of the sun, I felt had a poetic way of talking to us. And reminded me of Wordsworth.

Even as we drove past the calm and serene woods starting our fro journey from Yercaud, I felt I wish had a chance to escape back into them. But alas, my companions were leaving, and so I had too. So from the edge of the cliff, we bid our good-bye to the beautiful hills of Yercaud to come back again next summer!

(This trip is dedicated to my late brother Mufaddal M.B.V, who discovered the beautiful hill escape of Yercaud back in 1995. Whenever I visit a beautiful place like Yercaud, it enlivenes my beautiful memories of you, bro. I love you.)

The Big Business of Television

Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashma -  has celebrated two years of its presence on SAB TV, in the TV segment of entertainment. And the reason to be happy, 269 days of a year, this serial is tele-casted and Advertisements showcased during 15 mins of this serial, points out to its success. There is more to TV business than meets our eye. That is because there is minute detailing that producer has to be looking out for - right from bonding between cast and director to development of story line with each passing day, this while also keeping in mind audience reaction!

Finally TV has come a long way in becoming an entertainment right in the comfort of our homes! Today we also see the merging of TV and Cinema - with new releases being premiered on our home screens.

Rajneeti Movie Review

Rajneeti - Movie Review

A Prakash Jha film, Rajneeti explores politics in the Indian context finely well. It explores a little beyond the politics and that is the fine net of relationships that underplay the political scenario.

RAJNEETI is a story about many people. It is a story of Bhaskar, of Sooraj, of Brij Gopal to name a few. As it is a story of Verendra Pratap, Prithvi Pratap, Indu, Sarah and Samar Pratap. It is each one's personal bias, pointing to the way they behave with each other. This FORMS the theme of Rajneeti. And all this is placed in the context of POLITICS - and Indian POLITICS specifically. 

Let's look at, to take an example, into Brij Gopal's character traits. Played by Nana Patekar, Brij Gopal shuns all political ambitions. But it is he who becomes the GODFATHER of Samar Pratap. This is how he plays his game - In order to wield an upper hand in the game of power, he helps Samar Pratap expose dark and ugly secret of his No 1 enemy - Verendra Pratap's loyal man. Sooraj's character - another point in e.g; is as if he is rising from the phoenix, but the reality of his birth is never leaving him. He climbs up the ladder of political ambition with his strategical leadership.

The man with a heart of GOLD with his heart in its place is Prithvi Pratap played by Arjun Rampal but because of impatience in heiring his political legacy - leads himself to Doom, is another e.g. Manoj Bajpai plays the mastercraft - Verendra Pratap who will do anything to be on the throne of India's promising Empire. He plays his game along with Sooraj.

Samar Pratap (Ranbir Kapoor), an alien to this power politics, soon becomes an insider.

In order to save his family's political achievements - he becomes the man behind the reason of the CLIMAX of Rajneeti.

INDU (Katrina Kaif)- simple, beautiful and in love with life. Expects the same from it - but fate has something else for her - when the love of her life rejects her. She becomes the epitome of sacrifice, then. Later she accepts reality, and accepts it well. Determination to lead the battle to fight - makes her the herione of RAJNEETI. Making her deserve to be the talk of Rajneeti.

If the plot opens in the first half of Rajneeti, the strands come together in the second half of the film. A fine attempt, I'd say!

FASTING and Feasting

FASTING and Feasting

A beautiful day that begins with rising early, and praying and reading AL-Quran, and you know it is the time when we observe fasting.

Fasting is observed many times during a lunar year that we believe in and follow. Apart from the holy month of RAMAZAN, fasting is observed on many other days that are auspicious. Last week, me and my folks observed fasting for month of RAJAB, for three days. For RAJAB is the month when IMAM Ali's birth is celebrated by believers.

Fasting has its health benefits, apart from having its spiritual benefits too. Like this time I took up fasting of three days for RAJAB; (this is after a very long time), and I felt a new lease of life.

I realized the importance of food and water every single time even before I took up fasting. But the realization has grown more after I've taken up fasting. I feel that I am blessed, to be blessed with food and water supplied to me, whenever my body is in need for it.

Fasting is a food for thought. Since feastings' value emerges only when it is accompanied by a healthy dose of FASTING.