When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

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Where is our education system heading?

I am really perplexed and glad at the majority number of people in India (youth to be precise) who are gaining MBA's,engineering and all other masters degrees and whose education degress outpar their peers in most other countries of the world.Firstly lets get into a bit of stats here and there.There are 175 MBA colleges in Delhi alone and there are scores and scores of them in the whole of India.Engineering colleges are growing in leaps and bounds that with the numbers crossing 1000 in Maharashtra and Tamilnadu alone.Oh,literacy programmes in our country are a huge success man.Good!
But does education only mean attaining degrees with zero level IQ?
Global experts are startled that a country of massive potential, has one of the largest populations of poor people in the world. Isn’t it baffling that despite almost everyone agreeing that things should change, they don’t?
So what's that which is really stopping our youth from winning the big battle.Guess!! Well I checked it all (to the best of my knowledge,though).Forget corruption,forget procrastination in the governmental systems,forget our wonderful errant politicians,forget about all these nonsensical external sources which are readily available anytime for blame game.But now isn't it time to look back at our basics and see if they are really right.Have we laid the real foundation for our kids.How about our class room spoon feeding system, which doesnt give us much scope to think beyond the text material which is thrusted upon us.How about the fact that we have a kind of education system which asks us to shutup and not question anything and rather use that 'valuable time' for rutting some more and reproducing in the exams. How about the fact that we are shutting down the creative pool of a kid right from his childhood.How about the fact that our education system is hammering out our individual voices and killing our natural sensitivity,turning us into servile coursematerial slaves.Our kids are not encouraged to raise their voices in class, particularly when they disagree with the teacher. And of course, no subject teaches us imagination, creativity or innovation.So it is time the education system becomes more real,more open and let the kids think and develop their individual thoughts on the subjects.So this is the major reason why the youth of this country is still behind the progressive growth cycle and is still chasing a highly paid job, waiting patiently in the rat race just like they did it, for ranks during their childhood days.Is this a curse to us, for being such a highly populated country??
No.Not if our mindset changes.On a personal note, I think it is the responsibility of both the teachers and the parents to get the basics right for their children right from childhood.So next time when your kid asks you to buy her a Dairy milk or 5 star explain her why it is not good for her teeth rather than just saying that she is not allowed to eat chocolates the whole day.Tell her how a home made paratha is always a better choice than Maggie or Yippie,anyday.Kids love being responded back,no matter how little they understand.Do answer all their whys and whats and let their creative juices flow.
So anyone up for it???

Nature's Fury!

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Once again nature has gotten against mankind.The kind of devastation Japan has had is something which reminds us of how small and petty we still are no matter how advanced or hi-fi we might call ourselves.This kind of mass destruction is totally unpredictable.Last heard on Tv that this could have been predicted by Astrologers(oh really!After its all over?)Forget Astrologers but how about the fact that we do know whats going on this planet and what are we up to, in the name of technology and nuclear development.I think its high time we really sat down and thought about how we can get close to nature and understand its predictions rather than letting the astrologers do the saying.Its time we stop this unnatural advancement to the maximum extent possible.This pretty much sums up to all the countries.This disaster is a warning and a clear signal to think of the alternatives which are more safe and less destructive.Lets save the Ozone layer.Lets lessen the warming effect.Lets be a little more considerate and let our kids also have a bit of this planet.Lets save our Earth.And for now lets pray for Japan.

Little baby hands

This one is for my kiddo : )
Little dimpled baby hands grasp my finger tight
While mama rocks him, humming, deep into the night.
Those hands of his will grow all too soon for me, I know,
So mama rocks him, humming deep into the night.

Little dimpled baby hands exploring all they see,
While mama gently guides him, he is trying to run free.
Those hands of his are busy, grabbing all they reach,
So mama guides him gently, for it is my job to teach.

Bigger little boy hands, with dirt under his nails,
Bringing mama presents of flowers, frogs and snails.
Those hands of his, though dirty, are growing up so fast,
So mama treasures the gifts, and hopes these moments last.

Slender young man hands slam the bedroom door,
convinced his mama doesn't understand him anymore.
Those hands of his are nearly grown and eager to be free,
So mama hugs him anyway, my little man so much like me.

Strong grown man hands turn to wave good bye,
My baby boy is all grown up and mama wants to cry.
Those hands of his have things to do. He'll find his way I know,
So mama wipes the tears away, and lets her baby go.

Little dimpled baby hands, grasp his finger tight,
While daddy rocks him, humming, deep into the night.
Those little hands he holds will grow all too soon for him he knows,
So daddy rocks him, humming, deep into the night.

YAY!! WELCOME ANOTHER YEAR

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A year has passed by and made way for another one.New resolutions,New ideas along with experiences from the past year and things to continue in the coming year.Infact a new decade has started so to say.So much to speak of about the past decade,so many learnings from it... some to remember and many to forget.I am truely amazed that my life's most important changes have happened in the decade goneby.From a student to a mother I think I have had the most important memories one can have in the last decade.From a girl dependent on her parents to a woman on whom a husband and a kid depended on.
Ten years is indeed a long time.Well,may be I will have the privilege of making some observations of my life in these 10 years.
Firstly I have come to understand relationships.Not that I did not know them before but knowing them in the real sense is what I mean.I have started looking at the positive side of them.Every relation is wonderful and it is only when you see the positive traits in it will it survive and succeed.The success of a relation depends on how well you ignore the negativity in it ( true dear,nobody likes being pointed) and afterall to err is human.So forgiving is what a relationship should learn.So just relax and hang on..why waste this beautiful life in petty trifles( sahi hai na??)
Reading has always been my favourite pastime but it is only lately that I have understood how much I love doing it.May be because I am so stuck up in my personal life (all thanks to my kiddo) that I have started missing it so badly.So my own library someday is on my wishlist(hmmm..) and a book is still a best gift one can give me (ahem!!so which one are you planning to gift me : ) ).
I was never a tea or a coffee favourite since childhood but dont know how it got onto me.May be this is one of the toxicating effects of a job(stressful one,mind that).So now I am like always 'ek garam chai ki pyali ho' atleast 3 times a day(not too heavy though).And then even I join the average Indian who would not start his day without a cuppa.Okies for this.So anyone for ginger tea??

Social responsibility and macro level thinking(cant help,was a business economics student) is something I have started to believe because I know for sure that it is going to help us in the long run.But the conviction to put it in action is still missing in me.Well,may be in the next decade I will be able to do something about this.(eyes rolling!!)
The kiddo!!My centre of the world and the gravitational force who taught me so many new things.Yeah he did and he does it everyday.It is now that I have started scanning my roots and my principles which have been passed on to me from my parents.It is now that I understand how my mother has so much patience and how my father stood brave despite all the odds in life.My love and respect for them has grown ten folds because I am now a parent.

Mama

great moments for parents when their little brats call them mama and papa.I am yet to experience one since the kiddo has just started saying papa in a very sweet little tone but fumbles when saying mama(ugh!not that tough though).well,will keep updated when he calls his sweet mama.life really starts blossoming once again and you start looking around( and yourself too,literally) when kids start walking and understanding things.And one thing I have observed is kids can make you friends with everybody around you.Be it at a mall or a train or in your neighbourhood.People start coming just for seeing and playing with the kiddo and I being reserved person till now realise that i have started speaking to everyone around me(ooh! how privileged )in this locality.Guess thats how friends are made with your neighbours(provided you are a full time mom).The kiddo has just crossed one year and is able to understand (in his own way)every thing we speak(and things we dont speak too i guess)!!

My kiddos' fav ads!

If not for my baby I wouldnt have even thought about the existence of the ad world.Dont understand why the kids are so very addicted to ads and jingles.May b that is music to their ears.The kiddo can watch ads without even blinking his little eyes.oh what concentration I must admit.All for a one year old.I think he particulary likes the cadbury dairy milk silk ad where Shobhana and an other dancer keep licking the chocolate endlessly.He points out at the TV and makes some funny quacking sound.My favourite is also the cadburys dairy milk shubh aarambh ad where just a plain looking girl and a normal looking boy emote cute expressions in an innocent way.That is one gud ad.Not to forget Happy Dent "Mera dil roshan" ad which still continues to run successfully.Such an amazing ad with an overwhelming visual treat.What creativity!! Such amazing attention to detail.
You can watch the ad here:

The drizzles

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It has been drizzling since morning.. seems like the rain god has heard the endless prayers from each and every corner of the state.Unlike last year, this year I am sure everyone is content with the amount of rains.Such a nostalgic state I go into watching the showers from my balcony.The pleasant smell of the first rains,the urge for endless drenching in the rain water all through the school life and the cozy sleep one can always have when it is raining and raining.My heart goes out to the so called downtrodden class who just have to make do with the pleasure of a one room shabby dwelling.Nothing more said..may be even their prayers will also be heard one day.Getting sympathetic doesn't work here.Let me get nostalgic for everybody's good.

Its sleep time baby!

As of now, I believe I am the one person who is totally sleep deprived…hmm.. something I wouldn’t give up for anything else on this earth. Something totally unthought-of of until my baby arrived. But the little one doesn’t know that he is not supposed to wake up and make noise at 2 a.m.That comes with time…All babies are special and they are all different. One thing which pacifies me is every parent has to go through this and make the way for a good nights sleep for their babies. People say that we can take a nap when the baby is asleep.Belive me that is not practical …I think we have to go by the fact that sleep has to take a secondary place when its comes to bringing up kids. After all no amount of sacrifice is greater when it comes to our loving kids. Any thing for their cute expressions,innoncent looks and unconditional love.

Life on a rollercoaster!!

Atleast for me... for now...I knew i would get busy once my little one arrives with us but never expected that life would completely revolve around him.It is just The kiddu.. all the time.He will be one by next month this time.So soon.I still feel like me and The Dude are having long drives on each possible moment of the week.Phew!!!Getting nostalgic once again.I am surprised at how life can be so full of surprises.Conceive.Deliver. The Dude's Transer and life has taken a 360 degree full turn.This is where I understand the thinker has taken a place in my wild running imaginations.So this is now when things I have not even tried to understand look like philosophy to me.Baby food,numbers of clothes,labels,baby accessories,feeding bottle,sterilisers,potty,sleep time,feed time,playing,singing to the kid et all.New words,life's on a rollercoaster with them for me ..for now.