In the Bus of Fame on May 4, 2011.

Here's something I want to write about. Yesterday I did something that even I asked myself -'Woah Alifia, is that something you did!' Moments of such truth only geniuses face, though. Anyway. Read on.

During yesterday's bus journey, it was an awesome experience that I came face-to-face with. These days I take a bus to commute back from work. A difficult day that I anyway had at work, now I get into a bus that will take me to my haven, and I'm all set to unwind for the day, starting right in the bus, or so I believe.

Whilst seated in the nearly empty bus, I notice that two young-looking men, eye me with a slight look. For the purpose of ease, let's refer to them as one clad in white and another in black. For a good twelve-fifteen minutes, they are upto some strange behaviour- the white clad takes out a stack of 100 rupee and 500 rupee notes, finishes counting them, and puts it back. The black-clad meanwhile sizes up me and the girl sitting beside me from head to toe.

After a point, it really got so annoying, that this paved way for me to get determined about not sitting quietly in the bus. Spurred to take an action which i immediately did, I realised that I have an 'Eve-teasing Complaint Helpline number' on me. And with the ubiquitious mobile phone, to reach them was just a call away.

I give a call, not to my surprise,though much to the delight of the girl sitting next to me. She gets much alerted, when she realised that I made a call to an 'eve-teasing helpline'. Taking her positive vibes to my advantage, I make it a point that now together the two of us need to aware other fellow-travellers about the turn of events at this point. I find that I need to shout, and so I do. And the good bus conductor comes to intervene and eventually to the rescue of both of us. But after much hullabaloo, and frantic efforts by these by-chance taporis, we see them hanging down their heads in shame and waiting for the bus-stop where it is the easiest for them to get down.

I get down at my stop, with a thanks on my lips to the good conductor and that amazing girl who was sitting at my side, and with a heart swelling with pride. While I walk down, and quench my thirst at a coolbar, with a quick fig-drink, I remember to also thank the heavens, for being with me while I was at it!

Farewell Message.

This is my farewell message to my office on 15th of Nov in 2011 when I decided to move on.

I decided to publish this message here because I feel it captures my feelings during the transition very well. Take a read.

Dear All,

Wow! A good eight months have passed since I have been working with this organization. I feel so happy yet there is something in me which says- Alifia, with these good eight months having passed, it’s time to do something new.

How well have I carried out my tasks. A good bit of appreciation from my boss, interspersed with scoldings. So many people I have talked to on an everyday basis. In the process having gained an insight into my career and now with all these things it's time to move on.

I love this place, but now that I need to move I will have to say bye to you all. It was great to work here. I can’t believe I’m going to get one or two tears in my eyes.

Thanks to Murali Sir, Kaushik Sir and Suresh Sir, who have guided me through. Also Rajalingam Sir, Christina, Sakina and Manoj.

Also Rakesh, Magesh, Prakash, Parthiban, Arivolli and Saravanan and of course Ajay.

I also include anybody else whom I may have left out.

Here’s wishing All the Best to You!

With Loads of Best Wishes

Alifia.

The Sound of Music

Different kinds of Instrument for different Music.

Veena Nadha Samarambhaam

Murali Rava Prasadanaam

Vaadyavrinda Bhooshitam

Vanse Devam Jagat Gurum.

Starting with the resonants of the Veena's chords flowing with the mellifluence of the flute with different musical instruments, let me worship that God Lord Shiva). - so says the Holy Book of Scriptures.

Music is the nectar of life, and especially so in the context of our Indian Culture. A musical instrument can be described as an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music.

India has a rich history of music culture, and thanks to Indian sensibilities, it still exists because of the popularity of Indian music.

Our life is full of sounds, and why not - the cacophony of traffic horns, the jangling of vessels, all these add to the sound that is Indian essentially.

Take Ghatam for example. Ghatam is a unique clay instrument that can remind one of the 'matka' - which is essentially used for the purpose of storing water. The Ghatam, like all other instruments is beleived to have taken roots in that what we call the cultural aspect of India. Do we now understand the link between music and everyday life?

Now that brings us to how different kinds of music are created from different instruments? Like Veena's music is intrinsically different from that of guitar or piano's is different from tabla. How does that happen? A musical instrument, like everything else, has a nature that is uniquely own. That is because, everything has it's own natural frequency. This frequency produces sound. Therefore the sound of Veena comes from making the strings vibrate, by plucking them or using a bow. On the other hand, hitting drums and tablas with sticks makes them vibrate. Flute, a cylindrical tube is made of bamboo - and is one among all the celebrated musical instruments in our country.

The rich, deep and mellow tune of the flute id what makes it one of the most popular ensembles, even today.

Flutes made of bamboo are longer in the north than those that are used in the south. South India and Bengal are popular for horizontal flute.

Mridanga which means body of clay is the most ancient. This is ancient and the most common instrument used to accompany vocal and instrumental performance. Today the Mridanga is most widely used in Carnatic music performances. These performances take place all over Southern India and are now popular all over the world. As the principle rhythmic accompaniment, the mridangam has a place of utmost importance, ensuring all of the other artists are keeping their timing in check while providing support to the main artist. One of the highlights of a modern Carnatic music concert is the percussion solo (thani avarthanam), where the mridangam artist and other percussionists such as Kanjir, Morsing, and Ghatam vidwans exchange various complex rhythmic patterns, culminating in a grand finale where the main artists resums where he or she left off. Mrindangam is used as an accompanying instrument in Yakshagana Himmela (Orchestra) where it is called Maddale. However, Mridangam used in Yakshagana is markedly different in structure and acoustics from the ones used in Carnatic music.

Nagada are the kellte drums. It is very popular in the Punjab region. And Hindi film music has made the Nagada all the more popular, with hindi songs using it as a part of their lyrics - thus making it a household name. Today, this instrument is greatly used to accompany shehnai.

The Shehnai, a north Indian instrument, is considered particularly auspicious. It is found in temple musicals and is an indispensable component of any North Indian Wedding. The Shehnai thus has been part of the traditional ensembles of nine instruments found at royal courts.

Meet our Avian Friends

Bird watching is a good idea and a great way to meet our Avian friends. Tall buildings though obstruct the flight of these friends, it aids us in keeping our eyes on the variety of birds.

An amazing variety of birds are found in our city's skyline, and so are a growing number of bird lovers. Some bird lovers love to bring home these birds as pets. Others would like to feed and care for these birds than confine them inside a home.

Feeding is an interesting aspect of building a bond with our Avian Friends. Suitable food to put out is fruits, crushed biscuits, water, chappatti rinds and of course lots of love and care.

It's all very well when things are going good with our friend, but what can one do when the bird is sick and doesn't take too well to the food provided to it?

Khatija, who has been taking care of her Mithoo- a Parrot for six years now, says that "it is hurtful to see an otherwise perky and chattering parrot being dull because of sickness. Her experience with bird care-taking and her love for Mithoo has helped her to nurse Mithoo when it would fall ill earlier, but Khatija feels it is best to take it to a vet if you're not confident about it, since it may be a huge loss to bear if something happens to it."

Some bird lovers, because of their sense of attachment they have developed with their friends, find it needful to spend their time by talking and being there with them at the end of the day.

Zainab feels that "one is able to get a great sense of satisfaction when we are able to meet their basic needs of food, water and the humane touch of our friends by being there and feeding with one's own hands." Because feeding is an act which requires a lot of love and attention - one is able to build that special bond with their friend.

Birds, be it Doves, Sparrows, Koels, Parrots or Love Birds are an exotic breed by themselves. There are lots of them waiting to be your friends outside. So go outside, and spot those Avian friends of yours.

Reviving Thoughts - A Poem

This poem, on the crossroads between the transition from Matric school to Higher Secondary School has been written during then. My Teachers and Elders always said that this is a very important time. The impact of this has been really great on me.

Thus the poem expresses those feelings of mine.

The time had come

and the has now gone

When I left back

people, and a place

Where things had once begun

and now has ended.

But the moments did not stop back.

They only waited for me

To get along with them.

A dream lies ahead

Leaving behind a Reality

Often reminding me

of the magnanimous moments - a Time.

Roads of Life - A Poem

One Day

As I sat and dreamt

to write what?

My book told me

It taught me

To Live Life.

The Many wonders

of -

The Providence

Me

I am Itself.

A great wonder - indeed!

My mind, my thoughts

my soul, my heart

The minute cells

in me

Indeed tell

a marvellous story

and I keep wondering

that no matter what I may become tomorrow

but I can never comprehend

his Intelligence, (while he has made me).

He is a Genius!

Tomorrow I shall

Catch up with a new road

a new path

and reach a new horizon

Even then my ambition will be the same.

To be in a fascination

and in a passionate love

with my life

all over again.

A POEM

Imam Ali (A.S.) - The beautiful Shrine in Najaf, Iraq.

I have written this poem in summer of 2003 -a year since I had been on a pilgrimage to Karbala - in Iraq, to visit the Shrine of Imam Hussain (A.S.), Imam Ali (A.S.) Abbas Alamdar (A.S.) and Shohadaz (Blessed be their name).

The impact of the pilgrimage was very great on me, and a year later after my journey, I find myself sitting down to write my feelings in the form of my reflections.

This is poem I have written soon after finishing my X Std public exam. Enjoy it.

MILES ACROSS.

As I sit, a wind blows across my face,

across my soul

my heart dances with joy.

The ground below my feet

Is happy to hear the beating of my heart

My soul burns with Fire

The Fire which teaches me many things

The dew on the Grass

The pretty flowers in the Garden

The Mountain Stream

Or the River joining the Ocean

Everything teaches only one Lesson,

Has only one essence.

And then when the cloud is precipitated with a greyness

The silhouetted building

Standing against the clouded day-sky,

Even this seems to be telling me something

A cold breeze then blows across my face

And I am reminded of the wind

that blew on my face which picked up sand grains

from the vast wadi

those moments in Karbala.

Those winds and the sand grains

Really blow across

touching my vehicle

touching my soul

Telling me something

And then moves across

But the Best thing which

was shown to me was

The Direction Board

Which took me to a Paradise

Where I could forget

What had been left behind me

And what lies now beyond me

And just believe (in the now).

The glittering mirrors

Above my head

The smell of the sand-grains

Upon my feet.

It told me to

that it is really time now

to forget and forgive, and move on.

I wish that

One and All

Get the chance

to Experience this Glory

In life -

Over and Over Again!