Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Pleasures of Writing

                                                                


Writing has been my hobby  since   I was a student doing my graduation in Arts , but with the advent of internet and social websites like facebook and twitter, this has been my source of excitement and creative. satisfaction I love writing because it gives  me a medium to express my  thoughts, my opinions and my feelings. Probably the interest to write began seedling in me because of my keen interest in reading as I love reading  books, magazines and newspapers. Also , it has been my consistent habit of writing down  references or quotes from  my reading material onto my diary because I love the interplay of words  and  emotions expressed by someone and it fascinates me into deep contemplation.


Well writing has given me a lot of  recognition and  personal identity. I am not a writer by profession. Although I am not a compulsive writer,  but I love freelance writing and often try my  creative hand and talent at various contests on the facebook and twitter or any other media. And my efforts at writing or taking part in contests have borne fruit  and has fetched me many  rewards too. Apart from the material satisfaction, it gives me an expression to vent out my innermost feelings and  fears.  In fact writing has broadened my horizon, my outlook and my perception.of life and its various stages   Infact, today I am a  in a position to say that it’s  like a weapon in my hand albeit a healthy and a  safe weapon  Writing has given me lots of opportunity  to  fulfill my dreams and explore endless subjects. It has helped me to achieve a respectable standing in my society and   on social platforms.  In fact writing is the best medium to express oneself if one is  vocally challenged, meaning unable to express  in speech as much as they  do so in writing. And to compensate for this shortcoming as in my case, I took to writing and it has given me a lot of creative and mental satisfaction   Infact, it helped me   to reach out to a lot of people and also  to connect with them. Through my writing, I have  had the best opportunity of getting to know many people and interact with them and exchange my ideas with them. It has helped me to feel a sense of pride at my own achievement however, small they may be.

Finally, I would  conclude by saying that writing  has become my innermost and true friend , without which I would feel at a total loss.  Writing has developed my personality and I am utmost grateful to this wonderful expression of thought on paper  which reaches out to different people and helps them to  contemplate  and change themselves for their betterment. In fact, writing could change the world and it has. That’s the power of pen, more mightier than the sword.

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Suman Kamath




Tuesday, November 19, 2013

WOMEN ON TOP IN THE 21ST CENTURY


Women are shifting to new role identities from the relational mother to that of the provider, traditionally attributed to men. Globalisation has lead to women  moving into newer roles around the world as women are supposed to have greater efficiency as workers as they put in both their head and heart into it.  Women are undertaking new social roles but are often bound by traditional conservative roles which hinder them but yet they have emerged winners in all fields. Women are struggling to redefine their social and  business roles in relation to their self identity.

As mothers, we all have had the experience of having a life grow inside us.  And there cannot be a more revolutionary moment in a woman s life than this breath taking event and we  become an inseparable link to the human chain of life and  this quest leads us to live  a  good life. Women  can use their natural abilities as peace makers and mediators  to turn the tide against war and conflict and as harmony seekers and nurturers to raise a family with moral and cultural values.

The 21st century women have successfully carved a niche for them in their personal, business or political lives.  They are urging women to be tougher, to learn to fight and to learn to play the game in the world like men.  But the trip to the Top has never been easy  for  women especially in a male oriented workplace. It has only been possible  because they are willing to work with men and willing to change the work scenario by their feminine presence, charm and  hardwork.

The  woman of today is a far cry from the outdated stereotype and though the family expects her to settle down in a quiet manner, she is in no mood to do so even if she becomes a grandmother.. But today the fun of being a woman is the fact that she can combine a family and home  with  a  full time working life. She is also taking advantages of other things life has to offer be it travelling or doing some kind of social work.

 Women today believe that they cant live by the rule that they need to sit at home. It’s the age of women power. They also believe that a fit body along with sound mind are essential for a healthy and enriching  life. Many  women today, who are at the very top of their careers are more likely to be found in a boardroom than the kitchen. They are juggling their work and their homes with the deftness of a magician.  Women like Meera Borwankar [Police Commissioner Crime], Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Kiran Bedi, Ela Bhatt, Shobha De, Anuradha Desai [Venkys Group] are some of  the successful women who have reached the top on their sheer determination and hardwork.  Women personailities like Medha Patkar [social worker] and Taslima Nasreen [writer], Barkha Dutt [Television] have sacrificed the safe cacoons of their homes to voice their opinions and reach the social and work ladder.

In the end, howsoever successful a woman on Top is, she has to eventually return to her home and a family as career achievements rarely add up to the sum of a successful life.  We women need not give up having a family to pursue our goals.  The philosophy and wisdom of a woman’s value will not be in trying to imitate men but in honouring our womanhood and femininity.  In addition to bearing, raising and nurturing our children, we also share a united responsibility  to improve each of our home, towns, cities and nations.

SEEKING OUT THANE

SEEKING OUT  THANE            

The Lake city of Thane is the fastest growing city today  having undergone  a massive face lift from a mofussil suburb to the most happening place  running almost parallel to its twin  Mumbai city.  The city  boasts of as many lakes and green covers like  the  famous Masunda and  Upvan  lakes  alongwith  the most sought after Tikuji Ni Wadi  and Choki Ni Daani.  Besides, Thane also has a beautiful  forest cover, the picturesque Yeoor Hills where people come  to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of a hill station without moving out from the city.  Nature has been very  generous in greening Thane, hence every citizen  should shoulder the social and moral responsibility to  save and protect our greens against environmental threats.

Today, Thane is the most sought after residential hub with an excellent  infrastructure both within and outside the city, especially  the upcoming Ghodbunder area ,which makes Thane boast of having an unique advantage of connecting western  and central suburbs of Mumbai by road and Navi Mumbai by rail. Although local commuting problem is a major drawback, nevertheless positive efforts are bring made by  the administration. With the completion of STATIS, a novel transportation project by the TMC, the traffic bottlenecks would be considerably  evened out. The TMC is also implementing various  infrastructural plans to develop and beautify the city.  As land is cheaper, various commercial and industrial hubs alongwith shopping malls and hi-tech hospitals have sprung here. The city has some of the best schools which are  instrumental in  churning out merit rankers in the board examinations every year.

The most important facet of our city is the pulsating cultural spirit  of every Thaneite  which is visibly seen and felt  during the festivals and art and  cultural events.  Thaneites just love to attend every cultural event held in the city [ a visit to any event will vouch for this].  The TMC has recently thrown open Thane Kala Bhavan  a swanky four storied art gallery  to encourage the artists, scupltors and photographers to showcase their  respective talent.

But the most important aspect of the city is  the integrated effort of the people of  different communities and  the administration to come together in keeping the peace and  harmony intact.  Albeit a few and stray incidents of communal tension, the otherwise peaceful city of Thane is today enjoying a prominent place on the Indian map. No wonder to feel cool in Thane is the hottest trend.


Sunday, November 17, 2013

WHY DO WE PRAY - CYCLE AGGARBATHIES

                                    WHY DO WE PRAY
PRAYER IS BEING ONE  WITH THE ULTIMATE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR LIFE AND DESTINY. ITS AN EXTREMELY PERSONAL SPACE SHARED BETWEEN GOD AND YOU WHICH NOT EVEN YOUR CLOSEST PERSON HAS AN ACCESS.   PRAYER TO ME IS BEING ONE WITH GOD SHARING ALL MY PERSONAL HAPPENINGS AND SEEKING MEDIATION AND BLESSINGS ENABLING ME TO LIVE A FULFILLED LIFE.  WELL ITS  NOT JUST ABOUT ME OR MY CLOSEST PEOPLE BUT ALSO  FOR THE WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.  GOD IS NOT ONLY YOUR WISHING WELL BUT ALSO YOUR WELL WISHER.  WHEN I PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY, IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT, A FEELING OF SECURITY AND A REALISATION OF HOPE. PRAYING MAKES ME  HUMBLE AND  DEVOUTLY HUMANE AND MAKES ME REALISE THE VASTNESS OF THE UNIVERSE AND ITS CREATOR AND THE SMALLNESS AND VULNERABILITY  OF MY BEING. 
ALTHOUGH AT TIMES,MY PRAYERS SEEK BLESSINGS AND GRATIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN MATERIALISTIC DESIRES AS MOST HUMANS DO, BUT AT MOST TIMES, MY PRAYERS DO SHARE A TINGE OF SPIRITUALISM AND HUMANISM TO ITS COLOR AND IT SEEKS FOR THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME  AND THE WHOLE WORLD.  
CYCLE PURE AGARBATHIES THE BRAND LEADERS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DIVINE PERFUMED STICKS  LEND A DIFFERENT AMBIENCE TO THE DIVINITY OF PRAYERS WHICH MAKES IT A  SATISFYING AND A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE TO THE CONCEPT OF PRAYING.

Friday, November 15, 2013

WORLDS BEST ONLINE TRAVEL FAIR http://bit.ly/AirAsiaTravelFair

My Dream Destination would be  a trip to Bangkok the most favorite place of every holiday enthusiasts.  Bangkok being the closest and cheapest holiday destination to the Indians in the subcontinent, is an ideal dream destination for many as a place for its scenic beauty, divine temples, exotic beaches, pampering Thai massages, good food and a heaven for indulgent shoppers.

Having visited Bangkok a few years back, I still cannot get over the beauty of this place.  Its a perfect holiday destination with so many activities one can indulge  at a decent cost. Bangkok is so much similar to Mumbai. One feels so much at home at Bangkok because of similar weather conditions, the ever vibrant city life, the market roads lined with vendors and an equally large number of shoppers  wooing them with their bargaining powers. I can relate myself to the striking resemblance of  Amchi Mumbai  to the pulsating life in Bangkok.  I love everything about this place  as there is never a boredom moment here. I love their Thai Food sprinkled with the generous amount of  lemongrass and its aroma wafting all over.  The Thai cuisine is world famous and it finds a place on the menu of every eating joint or a hotel in the world.  Like the coastal southern India, Thailand also enjoys a summer temperate climate and one can find the rows of coconut trees lined up near the beaches and these coconut find their way into the delectable and delicious Thai  Cuisine. This makes Thai delicacies so much like our Indian food which gives one more reason to love their cuisine. It amazes me to find tourists sleeping or playing games and songs  in the bus between two holiday destinations when there is so much to watch in between. I love the beautiful countryside of Thailand and the houses with a small temple [like our very own Tulsi Vrindavan] in front of every Thai house. As the bus moves at a lesiurely speed, these beautiful landscape pass through at an inverse direction with the promise of more beautiful scenic moments.

Thailand has the most amazing beaches in the world like the Pattaya, Phukhet  among the favorites. I love the water sports and their amazing beach shops selling Thai memorabilia and souvenirs. The  Buddhist temples in Bangkok are world famous tourist spots especially the giant sleeping Buddha and the traditional dance dramas with beautiful Thai girls dressed like our bharatnatyam dancers add a distinct cultural value to our holidays. A trip to Bangkok is never complete without a great shopping agenda. So Bangkok to me is a great shopping destination where I can buy lots of latest fashion clothes at reasonable and  bargainable price  not just for me but also for relations back in India.  And not to forget the sweet tender coconuts in Bangkok which I have never tasted here.  They are simply amazing. And for the gem lovers,  a trip without the famous Thai Rubies would be incomplete.

Bangkok is an amazing place where one can soak in the tranquility of beaches, relax while the Thai girls treat you to their famous massage and then relish the exotic Thai food and return back with lots of shopping goods.  Do I need any other reason to say Bangkok is indeed my  dream destination !