FORTY WINKS

RISE, MY TRIBE,  Hold my hand, take me along, and pick me up when I fall.  Roar hard when I charge to break the glass ceiling,  Be the comrade I can count on, saber to walk through obscure days.  And on those quiet nights, a salve to alleviate my pain. It isn't  time yet to raise a toast  to celebrate the hustle of  mothers, sisters, and daughters alike.  The clinking of glasses got to wait.  From the depths of slumber, I march on to awaken the latent feminism.  Of dismayed mothers feeling flawed for not birthing a son.  For she is a progeny, too.  Of braggart aunties who could have more than one.  For male is but a gender.  A highheaded senior relative quizzed about how she could afford an original Fendi.  For she, too, earns.  Of daughter's friends gauging their worth on the scale of pulchritude,  For looks only last for a while.  Of spiteful co–sisters ridiculing the new bride in the kitchen....

Yay, yay, yay, it's the 8th of March! My FB profile is updated & Whatsapp has changed. Send forwarded re forwarded re forwarded messages, wishing everyone a Happy Women's Day! Adrenaline is rushing through me, and  I've been waiting for weeks to flaunt those Zara dresses with mineral makeup in place. So much to do and so little time . I will probably skip the seminar on domestic violence and visit the rehab center, too! To attend a jewelry exhibition and have a free Mexican lunch. An all-women club social in the evening is where I want to win free passes to the movie Pink! Excuse me, what did u just say? How different is this Women's Day from the last several ones? Did I cheer, inspire, or promote at least one of my tribe? But why should I even try? I didn't spend my husband's money on grooming sessions for ground-level work. For that is the job of AN AVERAGE WOMAN!

  Presenting the complete article , part of which was published in  www.timesofindia.com  Hyderabad edition  on September 1st , 2021.   ONE CHANGE THAT I HAVE EMBRACED TO KEEP UP WITH THESE “NEW NORMAL” TIMES It was March 2020 when our country went into tizzy by corona-virus pandemic. It started as a region specific practical joke but spiraled into a un- ending ordeal. I had never comprehended that the stressful times would affect my psychological, emotional and physical well- being.  The first phase of lock-down impelled the apparently closest ones to switch sides. The masks started to fall off.  I learnt the harsh reality that my family did not figure in any of the schemes for folks whom I had spent decades loving and pleasing.   The big change that I have embraced is self-actualization . I emphasis more than ever on mental health. It’s high time we stopped glamorizing multi- tasking and over work. I pr...

  Presenting the complete article , a part of which was published in @timesofindia.indiatimes.com  Hyderabad edition on 15th August 2021. A truly independent individual is the one who has liberated oneself from the shackles of traditionalist mind-set the kind that impedes progression of community and society.  Independence means freedom from poverty , illiteracy and ignorance. The emancipation will take place only if we manage to unbind the conservative society from the politico- religious milieu.  Independence awakens the mind to follow the path of righteousness no matter what.  Independence is being able to charter the course of our life without having to succumb to pressure of irrational consumerism. To be able to chose a living  without conforming to the standards set up by previous generations. To be able to function through unprejudiced thoughts and actions where one  can exercise one's individuality. It also implies knowing ...

With article 370 a thing of past Ladakh has opened vistas for travel enthusiasts. Ladakh with its breath taking beauty, picturesque landscape, adventure spots, tranquil environs and religious tourism has much to offer to every age group. The up gradation of the Ladakh region from a division in J&K to Union Territory will be followed by pumping of funds for infrastructure expansion. A roadmap is in place to promote exchange between tourists and locals. But before embarking on the journey it’s imperative to ask yourselves - Why Ladakh? o  To get social acceptance from friends and relatives who have visited this destination? o  To extend the influence on social media. o  To tick off one more destination off the bucket list. The pleasure of travel gets diluted if any of the above holds true. It would be an understatement that tourism exuberance may weaken the delicate ecological ecosystem of the region. The onus lies with us to keep the youngest Union Territory...

न बाप बड़ा , न भैया  दोपहर का सूरज सिर पर आन पड़ा है लेकिन हमेशा की तरह छत का एक कोना धूप से परे  है , तीनों भाई बहन एक बार फिर उस  कोने में बैठे किसी चर्चा  में मशगूल हैं । सालों से इस कोने में बैठ तीनो ने कितने ही राज़ खोले और उतने  ही फैसले  लिए । लेकिन आज माहौल कुछ ज़्यादा ही संजीदा है।   बडे भैया धीमे से बोले-" मेरी मानो मत करो ये सब , सिवाय क्लेश के कुछ न हासिल होगा"। मझली बहन झट से बोली - "आप पीछे हट रहे हैं , मुझे  पता था , dad  के सामने बुरा नहीं बनना चाहते न "? छोटा भाई बोला - "भैया dad को tinder और  instagram पे मैंने  spot किया था , fake profile बना कर chat भी किया था । आप सोच भी नहीं सकते मेरी मनोस्तिथि , माँ को तो बताना ही होगा । पता नही और क्या क्या करते होंगे"? बहन जोश भरे स्वर में बोली - "बिलकुल  , कब तक माँ यों ही झेलती रहेगी , क्या कमी है माँ में - सुन्दर है, dad से ज़्यादा qualified है, high court के judge की बेटी है फिर भी पूरा जीवन केवल...

To Son, With Love Published by https://www.verseskindlerpublication.com/ Dear son, It's not every day I do this, Don't even know where to start and how to convey but I have waited long enough to say. Clichéd phrases you'd be anticipating ~ Grades don't matter, and your academic excellence doesn't define you. I want you to be a good human being, that is all. No, my son, it is all nothing but a lie. The world out there is hard and fiercely competitive, There are wolves to tear down before you realize, And hawks to drop into the abyss. You are either a winner or a whiner. It's OK to follow your heart and fulfill your passion, But there should be enough food on the table. Having a heart of gold is OK, but your pockets shouldn't be empty. It's okay to hold on to pride, but fortune comes at a price. It's OK to miss the bus, but heartbreaks aren't easy. Work hard, for there aren't any shortcuts to success.  My dear son - ...