A Portion of My Thoughts.....

Hey readers!! Apologies for not posting a single piece of writing  for such a long time! But today, I'm back with something which will make you ponder and spark a train of thought in your minds. India quivered with joy when "Thangavelu wins first gold medal at Summer Paralympics, 2016" was the blaring headline on every single news channel. With a contingent of 19 athletes, the largest delegation our country has ever sent to a Paralympic event, expectations of improving India's Paralympic medal tally had been roused. Their superb display of talent certainly outdid everybody's expectations! Citizens from all around the world go on a rave when the Olympics draws nearer, and it is fitting too; the prestigious event is hosted only once every 4 years! But how many of us; truly know and eagerly follow the proceedings of the event, equally as important as its predecessor, and which follows soon after it draws to a close? We know of Sindhu, Malik and Dipa Karmakar...

Since the summer of 2015, each person has been desperately hoping for some good rains this year. There were farmers by the dozen, committing suicide due to a bad harvest. People have died of sun strokes when temperatures had shot up to as high as 48°C ! We well-to-do people do not realise the agony and pains of those who need to survive as street dwellers! The heat trapped by the thin asbestos sheets must be causing unimaginable discomfort to those who have made a home underneath it! Poor vendors, security guards, construction workers, and not to mention homeless families and stray animals must be sweating it out and suffering the most! It was a massive blow to all Indian citizens when the rainfall was much lesser than was expected during the "monsoon" of 2015. Dams dried up and the gushing water flowing from taps reduced to a narrow trickle in many regions. Very few areas had 24*7 running water during the 2016 summer!. Due to a bad rainy season, the temperatures continu...

Fathers, an immensely important part of our life, who always bring stability and support all our endeavors. We feel safe when our father is around! He makes us emotionally secure! A father is one who puts away all his savings for the betterment of his children. He tries to arrange facilities for his children, which he himself couldn't avail of. An everlasting pillar of support- a father is sure to guide his child in the right direction. You can always rely on him to get your work done! We always say that a mother is the most important person in a child's life:- that an aura of love and kindness always glows around her. All these qualities are no doubt true, but I believe that a father is equally important. He too, makes sacrifices for his family's well being- perhaps in a different way, but that counts too! As young children, our first idol is often our fathers, and as we grow, he continues to inspire us! He backs our ideas, encourages us to make the most of opportuniti...

An opportunity to visit Pune and Belgaum always delights me;  as will any young adult feel when presented with a chance to visit one's hometown and grandparents' house. It also provided me with an opportunity to relax and get away from: stress, studies and most importantly, SCHOOL! Relaxation was knocking on my door and I would prove a fool if I didn't welcome it! Such happy thoughts coursed through my mind as I journeyed to Belgaum via Pune. A happy sight greeted me at the threshold of my grandparents' house. The smiling face of my grandma and the aroma of something delicious cooking in the kitchen! Aaji-as I call my grandma led us to the balcony and pointed towards the suspended washing line. Awe crept through me, as I saw a carefully woven nest, balanced precariously in the gap between the wall and the end of the washing line. A male bulbul sat in its midst, clearly offering warmth through its fluffy body to the eggs cushioned beneath. I was surprised to see the m...

Nature-it is such a vast world and has so much to provide to us. The Almighty has blessed us with this priceless gift and has placed upon our shoulders, the immense responsibility of caring for it. The trust placed upon us humans is huge. Nature has its own unique beauty, which any man-made thing cannot even hope to replicate. It has a wonderful spirit of joy to give us, and if we receive it with the same cheerfulness and respect, then it is we who will benefit. Nature resembles the Greek Cornucopia, an abundant supply of goodies and treats. It spews out innumerable supplies- energy from the sun, guidance from the moonlight, shade from the trees, rain from the clouds, water from the rivers; the list is endless. “With great power comes great responsibility” I feel this is rightly said! God has presented this gift to us with great generosity and expects us to care for it and not exploit it. If handled with the utmost care and kindness, we can profit from Nature’s treats; if not, th...

Recently, a friend sent a picture of an advertisement to me.The ad gave information about an upcoming book fair which was going to be organised for a week in Indore. It said that books could be bought per kg. Rs. 100/- for thinner books, Rs. 200/- for thicker books, and so on. I though it odd that books could be weighed and sold per kg as if they were fruits and vegetables!Nevertheless, I decided to pay the fair a visit. There is a small number of people whom I know in Indore who like reading. Libraries and bookstores are also fewer in number when compared to other cities. Thus, I was a bit apprehensive of the number, types as well as the quality of books offered at the fair. We paid a visit on the second last day of the fair.  As it was coming to an end, I wondered of the stock of books. It was being held in a room on the ground floor of a restaurant. On reaching, I noticed a poster hung outside the hotel, announcing the number of days left before the fair came to an end. A ran...

Recently, I got an opportunity to visit the Radio Mirchi Head Office at Indore. The Classmate Spellbee results were out, and I had found out that I'd qualified for the national semi-finals!! My head had exploded in dual-coloured emotions, surprise as well as delight; surprise, as I had most certainly not even dreamt of qualifying for India's most popular spelling competition; and delight, as being amongst the top 50 spellers in the city was an immense honour. Nevertheless, I was a bit apprehensive as I'd always imagined radio studios and newspaper offices as small, cramped and stuffy. When I entered the office, I received a pleasant surprise, as it far from what I'd imagined. It was spacious and very comfortable! RJ Kabir was greeting all the contestants and was warmly welcoming them. We were asked to wait in the adjoining room. While the preparations for the competition were being made, he was chatting with all of us amicably, trying to make everybody feel at home an...