Friday 12 September 2014

A Realization!

Kapil Rajyaguru










    
Here's my list

1.         Skip the office cocktail dinners  to bicycle with my son. (Not once but always......)

Image courtesy




2.         Read my son bedtime stories, not just once, but on every night.

Image courtesy




3.         Give my wife company in her shopping sojourns

Image courtesy




4.         Be with my old parents in their grey years

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5.         Take my mother for a trip to a place she cherished to visited all her life, but never found time to go while taking care of me and my sibling.


Image courtesy


6.         Write a book – a science fiction

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7.         Say thanks to my parents. Say thanks to my wife. Say thanks to my children.……. Because without each of these people, life would not have been worth living.

Image courtesy




8.         Tell my wife that she was right……. most of the times. And it was my ego that I never told her this.

Image courtesy


9.         Jump from sky with a parachute

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10.                      Give up having regrets for not doing some of the things I wished to do in life!

Image courtesy



Thanks Kapil, for making me realize that the things which want to do before I die are the things I can do now….,  without waiting for anyone to tell me…..

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Tuesday 9 September 2014

The Books Which Shaped me!




I used to read a lot when I was growing up.  That’s why most of the books I have mentioned below are ….er…. kiddie novels and story-books.

I stopped reading around the age I stopped growing (say around the age of 14).…….

…And I stopped growing when I stopped reading……

1. Calvin and Hobbes
 By Bill Waterson


Image Courtesy Wikia
The Book still brings the kid in me out!


2. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
 By Jeff Kinney

Image courtesy Wikimedia


Whenever I read this graphic novel I feel that the 11 year old main character –Greg- is none but me. And sometimes I find myself living the character of Greg’s father….



3. Baal Bharati बाल भारती
 Hindi Textbook for primary school


Image courtesy Winztech
This book held my hand as I toddled my way into the world of learning at the age of 5.



4. The Three Fat Men
  By Yuri Olesha

Image Courtsey assets.com

An engaging tale written for children.  The book made me know what is Capitalism and what is Communism, at a tender age of 8. I must have read it a hundred times.



5. Raag Darbari राग दरबारी
By Srilal Shukla


Image Courtesy- Bookganga
One of the greatest book of Hindi literature. A satirical tale of reality prevailing in Indian society.

I read it in my teens and was overpowered by it!



6.  Don’t Say Yes When You Want To  Say No!
 By Herbert Fensterheim and Jean Baer


This book shook me, then punched on my nose.....
Then it changed my life!



7.   16 Personal Finance Principles Every Investor Should Know
By Manish Chauhan (Jagoinvestor.com)

Image courtesy Jagoinvestor.com

A shiver went down my spine as I started to read this book. I realized ‘This is how little I know about money….,  This is how I treat my money…., This is how I have been getting conned by so called financial advisors’.

However, with shaking hands I kept on turning the pages, knowing fully that I must not escape reading this till end.

The book shattered my wrong leanings about money and uncovered my common sense which had got buried beneath the scrupulous mal-advices about money and mis-learnings gathered over time.

Thanks Manish! For the a couple of hundred rupees I paid you for this book, you saved me thousands... or maybe more.


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This post is written for Indispire in Indiblogger.in



















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Friday 29 August 2014

The Candle-in-hand Protester!

Give me a candle, give me a place out,
Give me a reason to shout aloud!

Give me a poster, give me a banner,
And I am ready to protest in any manner!



What if a girl gets harassed on road,
She's not my sis, nor my miss.
But tell me when the protests erupt.
I'll be there with a candle in hand,
Posing for the media cam!



Accident victim on the way? I prefer to look away.
He is in a pool of blood, I watch from afar.
But don't take him in, Can't spoil my car.
But tell me when its time to protest,
I'll be there with a candle, looking my best!

A candle in one hand and a selfie cam in the other
Marching my way to Jantar Mantar!

Give me a candle, show me a place out,
Give me a reason to shout about!

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Wednesday 20 August 2014

My Humble Cup Of Tea!


My humble attempt to describe in words, my humble cup of tea!



Sitting at the coffee table reading my 7 am Newspaper, I hear the noises coming from the kitchen. In the morning hours, the scene at our home’s kitchen resembles the scene of Samudra Manthan done by the Gods and Asuras. The type of work my wife Anu undertakes in the kitchen every morning is no less than Samudra Manthan, especially since she has to make breakfast for two energetic kids and a foodaholic husband.

Image Courtesy staticflickr
The sound of water simmering inside the kettle resembles the sound of the ocean. When churned vigorously by the Gods and Asuras, the ocean too must have made such sounds.


The simmering grows louder and louder with an occasional stirring sound while Anu puts in tea-leaves. The Gods and Asuras might have, in the same way, poured offerings in the ocean seeking Amrit (Nectar) from it.


Then I feel the smell of freshly brewed tea. I inhale deeply imbibing the flavor, waiting for the nectar to arrive.


Then suddenly everything calms down. Looks like Anu has taken the kettle off the burner. Looks like the Amrit has been found. Looks like Dhanwantari has finally emerged with a pitcher in his hand before the waiting Gods and Asuras.


Oh! The sound of pouring of tea into the cups!  Like the sound of waterfall falling from a mountain, flowing down the rocky terrains!


The aroma of Darjeeling tea in the air, the clinging of cups and saucers, the stirring sound of metallic spoons, all these feel music to my ears.


Finally, Anu appears from kitchen with a tray  in hand. Like Mohini carrying the pitcher filled with nectar for distributing among the Gods and Asuras!


On the tray are four sets of cups and saucers and a kettle. The rays of Sun coming through dining-room window bounce-off the shiny surfaces of cups and Carafe, making them look celestial. The white coloured saucers look like galaxies containing millions and millions of stars.


Anu pours tea into my cup. A stream of warm whitish smoke rises up from the hot surface of tea and spirals upwards. It moves up like a cyclone of moist air, and then swirls in one direction without any reason before vanishing into the thin air above.

The intoxicating aroma of fresh Darjeeling tea fills the air.

The semi-transparent walls of the cup allow me a good view of my tea from all sides. The tea has assumed the shape of the cup, slim at bottom and wide at top, looking like some contestant in the Miss World beauty pageant.


The currents of hot liquid beneath create ripples on the tea’ surface, just like the warm undercurrents create waves in the ocean.


My cup of tea appears like a complete universe to me. Its warmth resembles the Sun, the nourisher of every living being on earth. Its round shape represents the shape of all celestial bodies. It’s ceramic represents the earth (Prithvi), one of the five elements of the universe. The white coloured saucer with spiral design on it looks like a galaxy.


The round cup is poised gracefully on the white saucer. A few biscuits placed on the saucer surround the cup symmetrically. The arrangement reminds me of solar system, with the warm cup of tea centered like the Sun and the cookies like planets around it.


The ripples on the surface of the tea resembled oceanic waves. The tea’s brownish colour reminds me of the sandy deserts. The aroma emerging from it reminds me of the air in the woods, full of fragrance from plants and herbs.


It’s our everyday morning ritual that during our morning cup of tea, Anu and I sit together at the coffee table silently, without exchanging a word. We just keep looking out of the window towards the rising sun. It’s the time when we silently thank God for all the good things in our lives- for the morning Sun, for our kids, for the beautiful house, for each other, and for the warm cup of tea we hold in our hands.


I dunk my piece of biscuit into the hot steaming tea and put into my mouth. The biscuit melts away fast. I lift the cup off the saucer and slowly pull it towards me. Its warmth feels good in my hands. The soothing vapours emanating from the cup begin to touch my face. Bringing it closer to my lips I gradually tilt the cup to take my first sip.


My lips kiss the warm surface of tea. It feels like a sip of nectar.  I allow the divine fluid to flow inside me. It enters my soul through my body.

Having finished my cup of nectar, now I am ready for my day, to fight the Asuras.

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Tuesday 19 August 2014

The Tirupati Laddu-An epitome of Faith and Beauty!



I come out from the sanctum sanctorum and join the queue for the Prasadam. I spread my palm in front of the person serving the Prasadam. With lightning speed, he places a small Laddu on my palm.


I look at the sacred piece of spherical beauty. Fresh from the Kadai, it feels warm on my palm. I want to bask in its beauty before it I savor it with devotion.


I wonder what, apart from the grace of God, makes the Tirupati Laddu so famous and revered? What is it that which makes it so unique?


I have only a few moments to think about this before I savor it completely.


The small Tirupati Laddu placed on my palm appears to emanate beauty and grace. It’s perfectly round in shape. Its impeccable shape appears to resemble the Godliness it carries by virtue of its being a Prasadam of the all-powerful God presiding there.


I balance the Laddu in my palm without taking my eyes off even for a second. We get various types of eatables as Prasadam in various temples- Fruits, Halwa, Flavoured Rice, sweet Rice, Kheer and many more. But how is it that none of them has acquired such fame as the Tirupati Laddu?.... I wonder.


The warm soft skin of the Laddu feels good in my palm. Its brownish yellow colour and matte texture makes it look like some artwork. I close my palm securing the Laddu surrounding with my fingers. I can feel a few embedded nuts feeling to my sensitive palm. As I close my palm, I can feel its softness. The warmth of Laddu flows faster into my palm. Small quantities of the pure ghee seep-out from the porous surface of Laddu and spreads on my palm.


I hold the Laddu nearer to me. The aroma coming from it feels divine. The colour looks brighter and lovelier from close. I think about the deft hands which gave the Laddu such flawless round shape.


The look and flavor of the Laddu promise sweetness, apart from the recognition of having accomplished the feat of having darshan of Lord Balaji, one of the toughest things to get. I was just wandering……  -This Laddu serves as a prize, as  recognition for thousands of people who travel thousands of kilometers to Tirupati braving all inconveniences, climb the hill, walk, stand in queue for hours, sometimes  with infants in arms, just for a glimpse of Lord for a few seconds. Although the time they get to see the Lard may be only a few seconds, the taste of Laddus lasts  much longer…… sometimes a lifetime.


Still lost in my thoughts, I take a bite on the Laddu. It melts into my mouth easily. I feel blessed by divinity.


Having finished my share of Prasadam, I am again standing in the queue, this time for the bigger Laddus, which my family, extended family, friends, colleagues, friends’ family, and colleagues’ friends have requested me to bring from them.


I know that these Tirupati Laddus issued at a price at various Laddu counters in Tirupati would be bigger than the one I got after the darshan. These come in sizes ranging from that of an orange to a muskmelon. To me these sacred objects in varying sizes resemble the celestial bodies, in various sizes- from Mercury to Jupiter and carrying the same divinity around them as the planets of solar system.


I handover the Laddu tokens to the gentleman across the counter and wait for the Laddus. The person behind the small window, picks-up six large Laddus in a tray and proceeds to handover to me. Ready with a paperbag in my hand, I slip-in four of them through the gap to the person. He places one Laddu in each and slides the dishes back to me.


Cong out, I open the paperbag to have a glimse of the Laddus. The Sunrays fall on their surface making them shine more. I had never seen Laddus of such large size. Their large size spells grace and magnanimity to me. Placed inside the container, they carry the promise to carry the God’s blessings to them who could not come to Tirupati.




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Wednesday 2 July 2014

The Tirupati Laddu- An epitome of Faith and Beauty!


The Tirupati Laddu-An epitome of Faith and Beauty!
I come out from the sanctum sanctorum and join the queue for the Prasadam. I spread my palm in front of the person serving the Prasadam. With lightning speed, he places a small Laddu on my palm.


I look at the sacred piece of spherical beauty. Fresh from the Kadai, it feels warm on my palm. I want to bask in its beauty before it I savor it with devotion.


I wonder what, apart from the grace of God, makes the Tirupati Laddu so famous and revered? What is it that which makes it so unique?


I have only a few moments to think about this before I savor it completely.


The small Tirupati Laddu placed on my palm appears to emanate beauty and grace. It’s perfectly round in shape. Its impeccable shape appears to resemble the Godliness it carries by virtue of its being a Prasadam of the all-powerful God presiding there.


I balance the Laddu in my palm without taking my eyes off even for a second. We get various types of eatables as Prasadam in various temples- Fruits, Halwa, Flavoured Rice, sweet Rice, Kheer and many more. But how is it that none of them has acquired such fame as the Tirupati Laddu?.... I wonder.


The warm soft skin of the Laddu feels good in my palm. Its brownish yellow colour and matte texture makes it look like some artwork. I close my palm securing the Laddu surrounding with my fingers. I can feel a few embedded nuts feeling to my sensitive palm. As I close my palm, I can feel its softness. The warmth of Laddu flows faster into my palm. Small quantities of the pure ghee seep-out from the porous surface of Laddu and spreads on my palm.


I hold the Laddu nearer to me. The aroma coming from it feels divine. The colour looks brighter and lovelier from close. I think about the deft hands which gave the Laddu such flawless round shape.


The look and flavor of the Laddu promise sweetness, apart from the recognition of having accomplished the feat of having darshan of Lord Balaji, one of the toughest things to get. I was just wandering……  -This Laddu serves as a prize, as  recognition for thousands of people who travel thousands of kilometers to Tirupati braving all inconveniences, climb the hill, walk, stand in queue for hours, sometimes  with infants in arms, just for a glimpse of Lord for a few seconds. Although the time they get to see the Lard may be only a few seconds, the taste of Laddus lasts  much longer…… sometimes a lifetime.


Still lost in my thoughts, I take a bite on the Laddu. It melts into my mouth easily. I feel blessed by divinity.


Having finished my share of Prasadam, I am again standing in the queue, this time for the bigger Laddus, which my family, extended family, friends, colleagues, friends’ family, and colleagues’ friends have requested me to bring from them.


I know that these Tirupati Laddus issued at a price at various Laddu counters in Tirupati would be bigger than the one I got after the darshan. These come in sizes ranging from that of an orange to a muskmelon. To me these sacred objects in varying sizes resemble the celestial bodies, in various sizes- from Mercury to Jupiter and carrying the same divinity around them as the planets of solar system.


I handover the Laddu tokens to the gentleman across the counter and wait for the Laddus. The person behind the small window, picks-up six large Laddus in a tray and proceeds to handover to me. Ready with my Borosil Smart Lid Dishes, I slip-in four of them through the gap to the person. He places one Laddu in each and slides the dishes back to me.


I close the lids. The Tirupati Laddus are now secured in Airtight containers.


I look at the Laddus. The Sunrays passing through the transparent walls of container fall on their surface making them shine more. I had never seen Laddus of such large size. Their large size spells grace and magnanimity to me. Placed inside the container, they carry the promise to carry the God’s blessings to them who could not come to Tirupati.


Visit http://www.myborosil.com/ and know how beautiful and soul sweetening the food could be.

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This post is written for the My Beautiful Food! contest by Borosil in IndiBlogger.


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Friday 30 May 2014

I Feel I am Rich When......


I feel I am rich when........

......I see my child win a prize in his school.

Iamge courtesy -source


….I see my son defeat me in a  game of chess.



Image courtesy dreamstime

.....when I bicycle with my kid in the evenings, even if it means missing the ‘networking' cocktail-meet at the office.

 Image courtesy amazonaws  and  breezetree


….when after an absorbing day at work, I juggle balls for the kids in the park, and watch their gleeful faces.



Image courtesy peoplenrg  and  http://2.bp.blogspot.com



........when I win an argument with my wife, without her losing the love and trust.


Image courtesy dailymail  and  theurbanwoman



I feel I am rich when I am able to remain by the side of a friend who needs me.



Image courtesy brta.in



I feel I am rich when I am able to stay by my old parents when they need me most, even if it means losing that foreign placement opportunity.


Image courtesy conviviumcare


I feel I am rich when I vote knowing that Its me who is making someone a king.

Image courtesy stockmarkettechnicals  and mowingthelaw



I feel I am rich when I am able to guard my values

Image courtesy desertmoonrising.com and thefinancialbrand



I feel I am rich when I am able to preserve my honour, even if it means loosing my temper.  


Image courtesy marketingforhippies



I feel I am rich when I know  that what I did today will bring me a better tomorrow.


Image courtesy mrwallpaper


I feel rich when I feel rich from within......


Image courtesy teamwildathletics


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This post is written for Indinspire edition 15 in Indiblogger on an idea  provided by Arvind Passey


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Images are symbolic, used for illustration purpose only. Source for images is  mentioned near the images with a backlink.




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