Much awaited evening snacks

During my school days there was one activity which increased my digestion. Whether I do it for half an hour or 2 hours, I would start feeling hungry. Neither it was sports nor watching television. It was studying. Even while doing homework, I would feel like munching within half an hour.

Every evening we used to study from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. During that time my mother, who was a teacher, would plan her next day’s classes. The table used to be full of books and other stationary. Mom, sister and myself would take one side each. There used be pin drop silence with all of us focusing on our work. Regardless of the food i had had till 7:00 pm, I would start feeling hungry by 7:30 pm. This used to happen only during studying. Every time I stood up mother would say “Have a fruit”. Overtime this used to get monotonous. My father used to go for walking at that time. He would return around 7:45 pm. He would always bring some or the other snacks. One of the things we used to enjoy was roasted peanuts. He would peel them, chop onions, prepare a nice mix and then serve us. Kitchen was next to the room where we used to study. If there was no sound of onion chopping we would start asking “Baba, what are you doing, there is so much silence in the kitchen”. But lo and behold he would bring something interesting.

Last week while returning from office, I saw a stall seeing roasted peanuts. It just reminded me of my school days and my father’s smiling face while bringing these snacks. Simple gestures like these make so much difference. They convince us that our dear ones are always with us. Here is another golden memory where my Baba(father) made things beautiful. Happy Father’s Day.

Embrace change for Growth

I was passing by a nursery when I saw a majenta hibiscus plant. This was new. I had seen Hibiscus in red, white and yellow. My mother remarked “You have grown up seeing hibiscus used in all the festivals, why is this so facinating to you”. But I was too captivated and could not help buying the plant.

We planted it near a large tree. The plant started dying within a week. So we started brainstorming on how to save it. We did a lot of research and applied different methods to save it but nothing seemed to be working. Then my mother came up with the idea of putting it in a separate pot. But the big question was it had been more than two weeks since we brought it, will the plant survive the relocation. Since it was already dying, this seemed to be the only option. The plant was relocated to a pot placed away from the tree. This part of the house received highest sunlight so we had to water the plant more frequently. To my surprise the plant started reviving and a month later a flower bloomed. This event taught me an important lesson. Sometimes our surroundings may seem too comfortable to others but that comfort itself maybe blocking our growth. We should start thinking about how to grow. Growth means taking challenges and moving out of our comfort zones. This means working hard and even facing failures which may be painful at start but if we stick to it, we will create a better version of ourselves. Just as the plant started growing when it faced the harsh sun.

Summer vacations are almost at their end. Every year on the first day of school the principal used to give a pep talk in the assembly which was around starting fresh and embracing the change. This plant managed to revise all those lessons. Next time when you feel you are too comfortable in your current situation, just do a rain check on your growth.

Railway learnings

Summer always brings a smile on our faces regardless of the scorching heat. It reminds us of the summer vacations which are a storehouse of golden memories of our school days. For many of us it meant travel to meet our relatives. We would plan for days in advance, connect with our cousins and list out the things we would do. On the day of travel, we would reach the railway station well in advance. Railway station is an amazing place to be with excited kids all over the place. The sweet siren of the approaching train would lift our spirits.

Recently while I was travelling, I learnt a lesson. My train was at 22:00 pm that is late night. Most of the passengers were in track suit or other comfort wear since the plan was to doze off after boarding the train. There came one group of men dressed in formal wear of black pants, black coat, white shirt and a black tie. Even in corporate that level of impeccable dressing is followed on special occasions. It was extremely hot yet they did not seem to complain about the tie and the coat. They were the Ticket Checkers. I realized the lockdowns had made most people so lazy that getting dressed was the biggest challenge when return to office started but the Ticket Checkers, they still continue to follow their uniform regardless of the time of duty.

The Ticket Checkers taught me to prepare for work with perfection regardless of the time of duty. When we prepare ourselves for work, we feel energetic and are able to take on any challenge and do well. On this Labour Day, this is my tribute to the dedicated Ticket checkers of Indian railways.

Mango care

The arrival of summer is indicated by the sounds of kids playing around and the sweet mention of mangoes by the fruit vendor. As a kid, we used to look forward to summers, regardless of the soaring temperatures. Vacations, no classes, no homework just playing around. One of the common problems was sun stroke, which would leave us weak. Still we would go out and play the moment we felt a little better leaving all the worries on our parents.

My mother used to make a juice from raw mangoes and ensure we had it everyday. It is called Aam-Panna. It had a nice sweet and sour taste. The recipe was passed on from my grandmother. It was ensured that we have it before we leave the house. After interaction with people of different regions, I feel Aam-Panna is also an emotion. Some have it sweet while others have it sour. It is offered when people visit each other’s house. We are reminded to have it right from the start of summers. A beautiful way to show care for each other. These simple gestures remind us one does not need big things to be happy just the care of near and dear ones can make your day.

My mother reminds me every morning that I should have Aam-Panna before leaving the house. I had a sun stroke a few days ago and after that I make sure I follow her instructions. The pandemic era reminded us of the practices followed by our forefathers. Recently some juice manufacturing companies also introduced packed Aam-Panna. I feel every season brings its own problems but with the support of our dear ones and simple lifestyle changes we can make the best of the situation.

Ironing out creases

The world is returning to normalcy. Work from home is going to be replaced with work from office. For me it means reviving one old habit, that is ironing the office wear. I had a habit of ironing the clothes for work on sunday. It started right from school days. It had taken a backseat with work from home. Seems like life itself had developed creases with the pandemic, its time to iron out the creases.

My father was very particular about dressing up for work. He used to iron his clothes every sunday. I learnt to iron my school uniform by following him. Initially I used to wait till he would finish his ironing and then request him to supervise me while I do mine. He was able to do it while watching a soccer match. At the age of fifteen, I tried to imitate his multitasking. So I put on a movie and went to iron. Unfortunately I burnt my uniform. I realized it was way too early to learn multitasking. Thanks to my mother’s expertise with needles, I was able to use the uniform for the rest of the year. I had received appreciation from a lot of friends for this habit. When I stayed with roommates, there would always be someone who would iron her clothes right before getting dressed for office. This room mate would often compliment my habit and end with an “I too should have ironed my clothes on sunday like you”. I would give the credit to my Baba(father).

The importance of neatly ironed clothes is always emphasized in all content associated with grooming and presentation. As a fresher, I used to feel an additional sense of confidence while giving presentation wearing clothes ironed by myself. They say certain habits should be developed without being told. This habit is one which Baba taught me without specifically mentioning it. I still don’t multitask while ironing since burning an outfit is almost equal to burning my hard-earned money now. This Father’s Day let us take an opportunity to thank our father who taught us so many things without saying anything. Happy Father’s Day.

Wrapping up 2022

The year 2022 has come to an end. The year started on a good note where most of the people were vaccinated and the covid counts had also come down. Students started going to schools and colleges. It was great to meet people in person. Tourist places opened up and festivals were celebrated with full enthusiasm.

The pandemic years taught me nothing should be taken for granted. One should not leave anything for tomorrow. So I documented my bucket list for the first time. One of the wishes was to write a book. I started writing. It is very easy to start on something but maintaining consistency is a challenge. There were days when I was looking for an excuse to skip writing. Thanks to my mother who always motivated me to keep going. She would say “This is the best opportunity to write since you are at home”. It requires efforts to fulfill a wish. Finally I was able to accomplish that. I was able to find a very good guide through my publisher. The book “Genie without the Lamp” was completed and published in October. It was a great moment for me and my family.

We should not ignore the wishes that come to our hearts. It is a good practice to write them down. Sometimes they give direction to our lives. Writing this book helped me avoid all the negativity around because it kept me occupied. I thank my mother and sister for being with me throughout this journey. This is my best memory of 2022. I pray 2023 turns out to be even better.

The Tenth day

Today is Dussehra or Bijoya Dashami. It is celebrated for the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur. The festival is also celebrated for the homecoming of the Goddess Durga along with her kids. This day marks the end of the nine day Navratri festivities. The house is cleaned early morning and special ceremonies are performed. We begin the day by taking blessings of our elders and wishing them Shubho Bijoya. We keep home made sweets ready for guests. Durga Puja is the biggest festival of Bengalis. This year Durga Puja of Kolkata was added in the Intangible Cultural heritage by Unesco.

This year was special since the Durga Puja was celebrated with all the rituals as it used to be done before covid. We met many of our friends after 2 years. The statement “We are fine” held a deep meaning for all of us. I have mixed feelings on this day. On one side its the blessings of the elders and on the other side the end of all the fun, festivities and holidays. The idols are immersed in water on this day which means the Goddess and her children leave on this day. It is gloomy to see the empty pandals. These events indicate everything has a beginning and end be it good times or bad times. Just as the artists and sculptors start working for the festival of the new year we should also look forward to creating new things. Just as we immerse the idol, we should also let go of our ego, frustrations, failures, etc and look forward to a new day with positivity. It may sound difficult and philosophical but if implemented, can make a huge difference. Last two years have helped us realize the importance of healthy relations and good habits. I hope this Dussehra, we are able to focus on improving our lives. Happy Bijoya Dashami.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations

Today is Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of 10 day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Lord Ganesh is the God of auspicious beginnings. It is celebrated at community as well as family level. One can see the preparations way before the festival. The markets are full of idols. Many organizations conduct workshops for making the idols at home with clay. People bring small idols for the ceremonies at their homes. The communities bring larger idols which are set up in pandals. We worship him by performing various ceremonies. Aarti is done in morning and evening and sweets are offered. There are fairs held at some places.

Socializing has reduced due to the pandemic. Negativity seems to be everywhere. These ceremonies bring a change to the otherwise mundane life. They give us an opportunity to meet each other. The sound of ceremonious bells and the fragrance of incense creates a positive vibe. I take this time to do a rain check on my resolutions. As the day of Anant Chaturdashi comes near, I get a feeling of sadness. The idols are immersed on this day. The sight of empty pandals reminds us that all good things must come to an end. One must be prepared for all kinds of situations. There are so many facts of life taught by the rituals of different festivals. If only we could incorporate them, life would be so much better. I wish everyone a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi. May Lord Ganesh bless everyone.

Discovering a Hero

For most of us, our father is our first Hero. How would you feel if you found your father had achievements in bravery. The wars (1962, 1965, 1971) fought by India after independence (15 August 1947) are present in our school history. As we study about these our hearts are filled with pride for the defence services.

This year marks 50 years of the victory of the 1971 war. Let me share my school story on this war. The teacher had given an elaborate description of the bravery of our defense services during this war. I was so moved that I repeated the same description to my mother in the evening. My father listened to all this with a smile. At the end, I said I wish we could have met a war veteran of 1971. My mother replied “Why only 1971, you can meet a war veteran who was in both 1965 and 1971 wars. He is sitting right in front of you”. She pointed at my father. That day I came to know my father had started his career from Indian navy and was a two time war veteran. I never heard him speak about this. He showed me his war medals after I insisted. I don’t have words to explain how proud I was of my father. It seemed like discovering a hero further. I have seen people talking endlessly about their smallest of achievement but my father never spoke about his achievements. He taught me “Actions are louder than words”.

I have met so many people in my life but am yet to meet another war veteran. True heroes never speak about their achievements. They just do their work with selfless dedication. The discipline and dedication of Defense brings out the best in people. My father taught me many things through his life. I hope these values remain in our lives. I wish everyone a “Happy Father’s Day”.

Memories with Tea

Today May 21, 2022 is International Tea Day. Tea is referred to as Chai in India. It is a beverage made from tea leaves, milk, water, sugar, ginger and is served hot. It is so popular in India that there is hardly any road which does not have a tea stall.

It has a special meaning in every person’s life. There are many things associated with it. It is a morning ritual in many families where everyone start their day by having tea together. We also have it with evening snacks which gives us an opportunity to have informal chat with our colleagues. Infact so many discussions happen with tea that there is a famous phrase “Chai pe Charcha”, which means discussion on Tea. It is the first thing served when guests arrive. The taste changes based on preference of ingredients especially the ratio of milk and water. It can be enhanced by adding Tulsi (basil leaves), cardamom, cinnamon, etc. These additional features became permanent for many people during the pandemic because of their benefits against cough and cold. There are some people who seem to have the ability to make amazing tea.

When you make tea for someone it shows you care for that person, which means a lot today. There are many stories associated with tea so I am very happy that there is a day dedicated to it. For me, tea is an opportunity to create memorable moments. Happy International Tea Day to everyone.