Jai Durga Ma

The Durga Puja is synonymous with Navaratri, wherein goddess Durga battled and emerged victorious over Mahishasur to help restore Dharma.

When the festival starts, various messages start floating on social media comparing women with the goddess Durga. I just have one genuine doubt: why women are compared with a goddess and are expected to behave like a goddess. Why not compare men with Mahadeva, Ganapati, Rama so that they also start behaving like these deities? (As per Hindu Mythology, Purana, Dev were also cunning, that’s the other thing).

Celebrating womanhood now a days is very common and it is because of if you suppress anything it reacts with abnormal force. Why men don’t feel necessity of celebrating manhood?

Women are either treated as Goddess or like garbage. I would say, they should be treated as normal human. Women themselves should consider themselves as human, not superior or inferior to men. If women understand this, they will convey the same to the rest of the world.

Happy Navaratri!!

And The Show Must Go On

Now its been almost 6 months since the world is fighting against this novel virus, Covid-19. World wide economy is down, deaths in many families, people are jobless, some or the other day you get some or the other sad news form family and friends. It seems the natural calamities are less so China is giving war threats. I saw on post recently on Facebook, its seems now only alien attack is missing. These are the days where you should count yourself fortunate if you are alive, healthy and earning.

Yes, I am the one in this fortunate list having job and earning during this lockdown situation.

The other day I was so depressed, the cyclone was going on, heavy winds were blowing outside, raining heavily, life already at risk due to Covid being home in containment zone and I was engrossed in working on production issue, working day night without thinking of what is going on outside. I felt is that really what I should be doing. Later I consoled myself, what else I can do than doing work to keep things going as much as I can.

Every work, every person doing their best is what matters now. Healthcare people are hero saving other peoples life risking their own. People going out for work in lockdown for essential services are hero because of their services we can sit at home and eat safely. People working from home, your service is also important as because of your work economy is surviving. So guys, keep doing your best for your family and country.
I would also request to privileged people to shop something in this unlock phase so that the local shop keepers, hand loom workers, local producers can have some income. They are waiting for their goods to be consumed.

And yes, do take care of yourselves, take necessary precautions while doing your best for others. Live to your fullest while performing your duties. Lets contribute to make this world more beautiful and happy. 

Covid-19 v/s India and Food Habits

The entire world shattered with the outbreak of covid-19 in China and causing immense deaths. The infection spread in Europe, America and other countries causing havoc with many deaths.
Obviously how can India be the exception to it. I was very worried if the infection can cause so much loss to developed and less populated countries what will happen to India which is a densely populated and developing country with lesser availability of facilities.

The only hope I had, hot weather which is not suitable condition of the virus and better immunity of Indians which might respond well.

And yes, not sure what is exact reason, if all of the above, in last two months it has proven Indians responding well to the infection. Fatality v/s recovery rate is much lower for Indians than the rest of the world which is making us think what could be the reason.
May be our food habits and we getting exposed to infectious environment since birth building our immunity system better.

This covid-19 outbreak is really an alarm to us to go back to our basics and understand our traditions. As rightly mentioned by our PM Modiji, our Ayurveda has many remedies which we believe in but its time to prove it to the world by gathering scientific data for it and we should work on it.

Coming back to traditional food habits, here I am going to share some ayurvedic and scientific reasoning behind our traditional food habits.

Our traditional diet is basically roti, bhakari, rice, veggies and dal. Our diet should be balanced diet

perfect mix of carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, sprouts are rich in proteins. Rice, wheat roti, jawar/bajara bhakari are carbs. Bhakari is fibrous which is healthier than roti. Green vegetables rich in minerals. We get vitamins from fruit vegetable like Brengle, Pumpkin, orka, etc. Beans are rich in vitamins as well as proteins. Turmeric, ginger garlic are antiseptics as well as immunity boosters. The asafoetida (heeng), curry leaves which we use for tadaka is also good for health. Little use of spices is also beneficial not only for taste but for health. Use of coconut and oil to certain extend gives required fats to body. Coriander is good for urinary system. Our traditional food is based on Ayurveda and local crops. Butter milk after meal is digestive. Our full meal in comprising of all these items. Addition to it is raita, carrot beetroot salad, pudina chatani ( good for acidity) adds taste as well as are supplementary nutritious food. We should minimize intake of maida, sugar, salt and fried items in our food and increase seasonal local fruits.

Its time we should get back to our tradition, our basics and get away of the habits of fast food. Fast food, pizza, burger should be our occasional food habits. If we learn this even this from this covid outbreak, it will be an achievement.

Happy Women’s Day…. My mother my super hero…

8th May is celebrated as women’s international day. On this event I came across with many articles, advertises, posts but the one video I loved it. A small baby drawing pic her working mom in office attire dropping her in school being her superhero and that reminds me my childhood. Yup, my mother is my superhero.

My mother always was independent lady, she supported her family, she did not overlook her duties towards kids, husband, in-laws, siblings and friends. She was always asked ‘Oh! You don’t have son’, but she never had that question in her mind. She cultivated not only thought of earning bread butter for self but making our own identity which was her incomplete dream. She led by example. She faced lots of odds but never gave up on values.

Even now people don’t understand girls don’t want to work only to earn money that can be their passion. And I got it from my mother. Even at the age to 72, she is active social worker which she has been throughout her life. She has always been ahead of time.

If I can do 10% of what she has done I will consider it as my life time achievement.

And yes to add to it, she used to drive the car as well.

Blessed Parents

One of the greatest learning of Bhagwat Geeta is ‘Karmanyewadhikaraste Ma Faleshu Kadhachan’. Do your karmas without any expectations. It’s a belief of Hinduazism who follows this principle in life gets Moksha.

That’s why whenever a child is born in a family it’s always considered as blessing of god as parent most of the people invariably follows the principle of Bhagwat Geeta. They just do their best for the upbringing of the child without any expectation. Their happiness lies in child’s happiness.

Moreover, I feel daughter’s parents are most punyawans as they don’t even expect girl to look after themselves in their old days. They nurture their daughter so that she can take care of someone else’s family. They have great heart.

In India, its considered to have son as the blessed parents but I feel the real blessed are the one having girl child.

Achchhe Din Aanewale Hein

Today read the blog by Chetan Bhagat. He correctly said only good government cant bring good days;  good people, good society are equally responsible for it.
Today we easily find curruption, people breaking traffic rules, throwing garbage on roads, being irresponsible citizens, being selfish. I get depressed to watch news channels to see crime rate in our country.
But today's experince was different. I was at roadside sandwich stall and a family was enjoying panipuri at next stall. The two kids were struggling to have panipuri and they happened to make the area dirty. The mom took tissue paper and cleaned the road.
Dont you think we can learn from this lady? When I see such people around I see hope that this place can be a better place to live. Small things done by all can bring big change.

Its High Time To Change

The divorce rate is increasing in our country.

The first thing we will say its because girls are becoming economically independent.

But is that the real cause? Have we done introspection?

The time has changed, but we are still following the same old social rules. Nobody gets married to get divorced.

First question, why a girl has to leave her home and be a part of other family? Why not a boy? Is it simply because society is male dominated? Aren’t all customs in favor of boy’s family? Don’t you think girl’s parents keep following these customs so that their daughter can live happily and none from her in-laws should point at her or her family.

Now girls are educated and self dependent. But are not boys educated enough to understand that the old customs are wrong?

Why can’t two families stay together, especially if the girl’s parents are alone? Is that practically impossible?

The new trend if the couple not ready to stay with girl’s parents then not even boy’s parents and is this more accepted because its practically possible?

Why people are so narrow minded to stay together? If a girl can lose her identity why can’t people adjust a little to accommodate and help each other and live in harmony?

The list of such customs is very long...

Dil Hein Chhotasa Chhotisi Aasha

Everyday I commute to office using public transport bus service in Mumbai. Awesome public transport in Mumbai, one doesn’t need to have own vehicle to travel to any part of the city. The only pain is road traffic. On my route to office there are two types of busses AC & Non-AC. I prefer whichever comes first.

The other day I was travelling by Non-AC bus. Surprisingly there were no many passengers that day. The bus had stopped at signal on Western Express Highway and two beggar kids got in. Conductor asked money from them for the ticket. They paid the amount and rushed to the first seat of the bus. They were enjoying bus ride as it was new experience for them. They were actually jumping and running in bus as if they are enjoying in any amusement park. They asked their friends on the road to join them in bus while bus was passing by but the new kids did not have money to pay. As the bus was not much crowded conductor allowed them to get into the bus and enjoy the bus ride warning them this is the only time he will allow them to do so.

Everyone in the bus was happy to see the kids are enjoying, none took any objection. Those street kids with all dirt on their clothes and body were sharing seats with usual passengers and the office going passengers were enjoying their amusement.

Wow, That’s called Mumbai Spirit. Are people racist in India????

Lucky & Proud Girl Child

Lucky & proud girl child to be brought up and educated by parents without expecting their girl child will look after them in their old age, which is the reason in this country boy child is welcome in family over a girl.

Hats off to all such parents who did not kill their girls, who did not give birth to children longing for a son. 

It Happens Only in Mumbai

I got into taxi at Dadar station at 11:30 pm and reached home just before 00:00. The taximeter was showing 13.10. After increase in taxi and auto rickshaw fare rates I couldn’t calculate how much I need to pay for the meter reading 13.10. The taxi driver tried to look in his new rate card but because of darkness couldn’t read it properly so asked me to read the card. After having look at the card I told him its Rs 164 I will have to pay him and I paid the amount. But he got that I am making mistake in reading the card and asked me to read it again. He explained me that I should read regular column and not late night column. Now I read it again and told him the payable amount is Rs 146. He returned me the extra money that I paid to him.
Tell me can this happen anywhere else?
That's Mumbai Spirit. Every common person is responsible for it.

On the occasion of women's reservation bill

Women's Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies, is it really required?
Well, I am certainly not in favor of any kind of reservation. Capable people should be holding the deserving positions in any of the system of this country whether its parliament, defense, medical science, education system or in any other damn system.

I do agree in India still there are places especially in rural areas women are dominated by men. They are deprived of the opportunities. But reservation is not the solution for this. Running programs to encourage women to explore the opportunities, educating them, giving concessions or providing additional facilities, making them aware of their rights is the way to empower them. If they don’t have the potential to do right justice to their responsibilities they are going to fail even after reservation.

They might become puppets and someone else would operate them. Men who may not contest the election for being quota system ask their ladies to contest and eventually rule the world according to them. Do we want to see more Rabdidevis everywhere?

Reservation is not giving the right candidate right opportunity. It raises frustration in society, reduces efficiency of the system and divides the society in groups.

Reservation is certainly not the solution of empowering any group or any community.

The Changing Trend

Sometimes I wonder whether Bollywood influences the thinking of public or public behavor influences Bollywood.

Earlier movies used to show love between rich and poor. For the two lovers achieving their love used to be ultimate goal of the life. The commitment used to be default part of the love. Physical relation before marriage used to be taken as mistake of the life.

Now the trend is changing, people love each other but they are not ready for commitment, especially according to Bollywood movies males hesitate to give commitment. They don’t understand that they are in love. Physical relation before marriage is very common thing. I guess India is still not ready to accept girl getting into relation without commitment from her side. As of now in all movies like ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Love Aaj Kal’, ‘Paa’, ‘Salam Namaste’ females are portrayed to be committed.

Females are becoming independent economically and emotionally that could be the reason of this change. But I don’t understand changed behavior of guys of hesitating for commitment or they not realizing they loving someone. Why don’t they get ready to take responsibility? Somebody please help me out here to understand.

I won’t wonder if I get to see single females, single mothers living proud life. I wont wonder to see many divorcees. I wont wonder to see single fathers. I won’t wonder if concepts like ‘single woman man’ or ‘single man woman’ no longer exist in reality.

Don’t know the change is good or bad. But change is inevitable.

Mumbai & Bangalore

Heyyy blogigng after looooooooooong time. Many of you asked me for not blogging but there was no any topic which touched my heart to blog. But today I got the topic to and it clicked this way.

The TV show on CNN IBN and topic was Bangalore vs Karnatika. The occasion was Karnataka assembly elections. As I stayed in Bangalore almost for 3 years, I guess that’s enough time to fall in love with Bangalore, how can I refrain myself from blogging.

Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. Yup, now Bangalore is nomore only of Karnatakas, it has become Mini India. People from all over India are coming to this city. And I think its gona face same problems as that of Mumbai. Karnatikas are worried about the changing culture of Bangalore. The fear of losing karnatika culture, fear of karnatika population leading towards minority population in Bangalore, rallies against non karnatikas. Similar things keep happening in Mumbai as well by Marathi people, Shivsena and now MNS. Bangalore is on the same line.

I really don’t know what is right and what is wrong, Mumbai has lost its identity as Marathi Mumbai long back. People from all the parts of India come here and stay together. Same way I did not face any problem being non karnatika at Bangalore. But yes, Bangalore is changing rapidly. The change is inevitable but still I feel the city should not lose its own charm.

IT city is getting young crowd in the city, most of this people are staying without family, so no family restrictions on them. Bangalore is also getting famous for night life. But unlike Mumbai unfortunately the night life in bangalore is just limited to pubs and bars. IT industry has raised the living standards but at the same time the city is getting costlier. The other industries in city should also see growth along with IT industry.

I just know people in India people should live in harmony, we should not lose our culture, identity at any cost and the same time cast, religion, language, culture should not be bars in our growth as India.