ನನ್ನೊಳಗಿನ ಹಾಡು ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ - ನಾನು ಓದಿದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ

ನಾನು ಓದಿದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮವೆನಿಸಿದ ಒಂದು  ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಜಿ ಎನ್ ಮೋಹನ್ ಅವರ ನನ್ನೊಳಗಿನ ಹಾಡು ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ. ಓದಿದ ನಂತರವೂ ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಕಾಡಿದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೂಡ ಹೌದು. ಎಷ್ಟೆಂದರೆ ಹಲವು ದಿನಗಳ ಕಾಲ ನನ್ನ ಗೂಗಲ್ ಸರ್ಚ್ ಕೇವಲ ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೇ ಇರುತಿತ್ತು.ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ನ್ಯೂಸ್ ಕಾಣಿಸಿದರೂ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ತಿಳಿಯಲು ಜಿ ಎನ್ ಮೋಹನ್ ಅವರಿಗೂ ಫೋನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಅವರಿಂದ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಂಡೆ.

ಇದೊಂದು ಪ್ರವಾಸ ಕಥನವಾದರೂ, ಕಾವ್ಯಮಯವಾಗಿಯೂ , ರಸಮಯವಾಗಿಯೂ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಇದೊಂದು ಕೇವಲ ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ ದೇಶದ ಪರಿಚಯವಲ್ಲ!ಕ್ಯೂಬಾದ ಜನರ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನದ ಹೋರಾಟದ ಮಗ್ಗುಲುಗಳನ್ನೂ ಮತ್ತು ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನೂ ಹೃದಯಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿಯಾಗಿ ತೆರೆದಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ ಎನ್ನುವ ಪುಟ್ಟ ದೇಶದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೇವಲ 136 ಪುಟಗಳ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗಾಧವಾದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯಶಾಹಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜವಾದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳ ಬಣಗಳು , ಅವುಗಳ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟ ಮತ್ತು ಈ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಡವಾದ ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ ಇದೆಲ್ಲದರ ಚರಿತ್ರಾತ್ಮಕ ಪರಿಚಯ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ.

'ಮಣಿ' ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾದ ಮಗ್ಗುಲಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಇದ್ದು 'ಮಣಿಯಲಾರೆ' ಎನ್ನುವ ಕ್ಯೂಬಾ -ಈ ತನ್ನ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ತೆತ್ತ ಬೆಲೆ - ಇದರಿಂದ ಪಟ್ಟ ಮತ್ತು ಪಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಪಾಡು ಇವುಗಳನ್ನು ಎಳೆ ಎಳೆಯಾಗಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಲೇಖಕರು.

ಬ್ರೆಡ್ ಗಾಗಿ, ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹಾಲಿಗಾಗಿ, ಬೆಂಕಿ ಪಟ್ಟಣಕ್ಕೆ, ಅಡುಗೆ ಎಣ್ಣೆಗೆ, ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ಗೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ದಿನಬಳಕೆಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಕಷ್ಟಪಡುವ ಈ ಜನರ ಬವಣೆ ನನಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಭಾವುಕಳನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿತು. ಆಫೀಸ್ ಕ್ಯಾಬ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವಾಗ ಓದುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗಲೂ, ಕಣ್ಣೀರಿಟ್ಟಿದಿದೆ.

ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆಯಿಂದ ನಾನು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು…ಚೆ , ಫಿಡೆಲ್ ಕ್ಯಾಸ್ಟ್ರೊ, ಹೆಮ್ಮಿಂಗ್ವೇ , ಗ್ವಾನ್ತೇನಮೇರ ಹಾಡು..ಹೀಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವಾರು..

ಒಂದು ದೇಶ , ಅದರ ಇತಿಹಾಸ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಜನ ಜೀವನ ಅದರೊಂದಿದೆ ವಿಶ್ವದ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಹೀಗೆ ಹಲವಾರು ವಿಷಯಗಳ್ಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಅಚ್ಚುಮೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.

Safar Mein Dhoop To Hogi - सफर में धूम तो होगी - Vai's Picks

One of my favorite ghazals in Hindi is सफर में धूम तो होगी by Nida Fazli. I heard this the first time when Modiji recited this in the parliament and was smitten by it. I have tried to interpret this ghazal in English the way it sounded to me.

सफ़र में धूप तो होगी, जो चल सको तो चलो

सभी हैं भीड़ में, तुम भी निकल सको तो चलो

On the journey, there will be sunshine, if you can still walk then come.

There is a crowd, if you can emerge out of it, then come...

 

किसीके वासते राहें कहाँ बदलती हैं

तुम अपने आप को ख़ुद ही बदल सको तो चलो

Where does someone change their path for others?

If you can change yourself then come...

 

यहाँ किसीको कोई रासता नहीं देता

मुझे गिराके अगर तुम सम्भल सको तो चलो

Nobody gives anyone a way here.

If you make me fall and still handle to walk, then come...

यही है ज़िंदगी, कुछ ख़ाक चंद उम्मीदें

इन्ही खिलौनों से तुम भी बहल सको तो चलो

This is life, some ashes, and few expectations.

If these toys entice you as well, then come...

Please listen to PM Narendra Modiji reciting Safar mein dhoop to hogi which is just superb👌

Lyrics in English : 

Safar mein dhoop to hogi jo chal sako to chalo

Sabhi hai bheed mein tum bhi nikal sako to chalo

 

Kisi ke waste raahein kahan badalti hain
Tum apne aap ko khud hi badal sako to chalo

 

Yahan kisi ko koi rasta nahin deta
Mujhe gira ke agar tum sambhal sako to chalo

 

Yahi hai zindagi kuchh khwab chand ummidein
Inhin khilono se tum bhi bahal sako to chalo

This season is for Cool Hair styles!

Up until now, YoungMM always preferred short hair.  From the time lockdown started last March, she changed her mind and wanted to grow her hair. It gave me an opportunity to try my hairstyle skills. I always loved French plait and I use it in multiple combinations. 

Every day I put her different hairstyles and YoungMM enjoyed it. It was also a good time to bond. Though she hates the way I comb the hair, she loves the finishing.  I also found innovative ways to decorate it. I used Tumbe Hoovu (ತುಂಬೆ ಹೂವು) from my garden! 

Last week I had been to a friend's house. Her little daughter also has grown long and amazing hair these days. I could not resist my urge to put her some hairstyle. When I asked her if she wants any hairstyle, she came with her box of hair bands and ribbons. 

I used her craft stickers for decoration and this is how it came out. It was a delight to see her joy! I bonded with her through this Hair Style! Isn't it Cool!😎

My Childhood Google - The Central Library

The library has been my favorite place ever since I was little. One of the first places I started to visit ever since I started cycling was the Central Library at Hassan! My father made me two library cards. For me, my bicycle and the library were intertwined.

It was a very serene place in my hometown. As you enter there was a large hall, with a huge table. There were newspapers all around the table, on either side of this hall were racks of books segregated according to the subject. There were many people who visited to sit and read the newspaper. But there were hardly any ladies in the library. That was a huge letdown.

There were all sorts of books in the reference section. Particularly many fat ones. My favorite among them was Children Encyclopaedia, Balaprapancha – Makkalavishwakosha by Dr. Shivarama Karath. Other books were arranged on neat shelves. There were books on different subjects. Religious, spiritual, literature, history, culture, and many more. If there was any competition at school, the first stop would be the Library. 

This Library was my childhood "Google”.  I have spent most of my holidays here. The librarian here was Venu, who had a good taste for the books. He helped me with identifying good books by his review before checking out. Since I was very new to English books those days, the only source of the review was the scribble that was done by the previous readers. I have issued books many times based on these scribblings only. I have thanked the writer if I found the book good else of course criticized it!

I can never forget Central Library at Hassan since this place brings out many tender memories and made me an ardent reader!

Learnings with LittleMM - A Recipe For Adventure

My daughter LittleMM when she was 5-6 years, loved cartoons on the TV. I on the other hand had never watched cartoons before. So I got exposed to them through LittleMM.See my post here about how much I found cartoons fascinating!

Those days, on rare occasions, when I found myself alone with the TV, I would switch to Pogo since I found everything else boring!

One of her favorites was Sofia the First. She liked the show so much that we had bought her Sofia's Magical Amulet which she wore everywhere. Sofia the first was a musical (I am saying "was" since I don't know if it is still aired on Pogo or any other channel!) . 

Few lines of a song are something I remember to this day. It goes like this:

You just need two cups of courage
And a little pinch of pluck
A quarter pound of cleverness
A dash of plain old luck
Then you mix them up all together
Into one tremendous stew
It's a recipe for adventure
Cooking up inside of you
So put on your thinking helmet
Like adventurers must do
I have no doubt
You'll figure out
A great idea or two
Cause the key to finding what you want
Is knowing where to look
And you've got all the ingredients
So now it's time to cook…

I love it so much. The lyrics touches upon courage, thinking, and direction that's all which is needed for anyone to reach their goal...but in such a playful way!

Random Records - Story of Face Mask - Discomfort to Comfort and vice versa!

It happened about ten years back! I had a colleague who was also commuting a long distance with me on the office shuttle. He was super allergic to the pollution in Bangalore and was in persistent cold throughout the year. As per his doctor’s advice, he started to wear a Face mask during the commute. Firstly, in those days the face masks that were available for general use were not aesthetically good. Secondly, people were not used to seeing people wearing face masks outside of hospitals. Bus mates thought it was usual. Some were very amused by his face mask also sort of made fun of him and thought it is like using a sword in place of a needle. Some got awkward to sit next to him. The discomfort was mutual for my colleague as well as for others.

2020 surely reversed this situation! Now it awkward, offensive, and of course unsafe if someone does not wear a face mask.

I had two such experiences this week. In a Doctor's clinic, A lady was sitting with her helmet on. This looked strange but the fact was that she had forgotten her face mask at home, and this was her only alternative. Else she was not allowed to walk in!

I went for a 'just in time' shopping to a nearby shop in my two-wheeler. Since it was close-by I did not use a Helmet, but I had forgotten my face mask as well! I did not want to go back home, so I used the cloth bag as a handheld face mask while walking to the shop with much discomfort avoiding stares from other people and security.  Alas! the security caught me and asked me to wear the face mask. He let me in only when I convinced him that I will buy one at the shop and wear it there.

I bought one immediately in the store and wore it in a jiffy. That is when all around me felt comfortable!  what a change in perception!

ಸೊಜುಗದ ಹಾಡು - Sojugada Suju Mallige - Vai's Picks

“Sojugada Suju Mallige” is a beautiful Kannada folk song. This was made famous by her rendition by Ananya Bhat. I must say I am smitten by this song and her singing as well! 

This folk song is in a simple language that brings out various emotions and philosophy as well. The song is truly mesmerizing and bewildering as Suju Mallige flower.

This is a composition on Lord Shiva who is worshipped by other names Mahadeva and in Kannada, he is also worshipped as Maadeva.

A lady devotee sings to Mahadeva as she is worshipping Mahadeva whose abode is on Male Maadeshwara Betta or Hills. She has reached the top of Maadeshwara Hills with much hardship to worship Lord Shiva. She has come during the annual fair or festival (also called parashe in kannada) that is held on the hill top.

I have tried to broadly translate it to English.

Mahadeva,

I offer various types of Jasmine flowers by placing them upon your head .

She says she has got sooju mallige - a variety of jasmine which is sharp, dundu mallige- round jasmine.

And then various types of Lotus flowers.

Tavare in Kannada means lotus.

And a beautiful garland of Vilva leaves, O Mahadeva.

A beautiful garland of Vilva and Tulsi leaves.

O Mahadeva, I came to your worship

Vilva leaves are believed to be very pious for worshipping Lord Shiva.

I have washed and polished the brass vessel, and heated Ghee.

And have brought oranges for you, O Mahadeva

To your festival where people flock

Those days making Ghee starting with milk was a real herculean task and getting it to the hilltop placing it on the head in an earthen pot without breaking it or spilling is further tough.

Why should those who climb the hills aspire/worry about the house(hut)? She goes on to say that as she has submitting to the Lord of the Hills as her ultimate Resort she need not worry about the house(hut).

These are the most beautiful lines of this song I feel. The devotee says when I believe you are my ultimate resort, I am sure you are going to take care of my resort which is her hut.

Song lyrics goes like this:

Maadeva… Maadeva…Mahadeva… Mahadeva…

Sojugaada Sooju Mallige Maadeva Nimma Mande Myaale Dundu Mallige.

Andaavare Mundaavare Matte Taavari Pushpa Chandakki Maale Bilpatre Maadeva Nimge Chandakki Maale Bilpatre Tulasi Dalava Maadappna Poojege Bandu Maadeva Nimma

Tappaale Belagivnee Tuppaava KaaisivniKittaale Hanna Tandivni Maadeva Nimge Kittale Hanna Tandivni Maadappa Kittaadi Baruva Parasege Maadeva Nimma

Betta Hatkondu Hogorge Hatti Hambalavyaaka?Bettad Maadeva Gatiyendu Maadeva Neeve.. Bettad Maadeva Gatiyendu Avarinnu Hatti Hambalava Maretaaro Maadeva Nimma

Maadeva… Maadeva…Mahadeva… Mahadeva…

Lyrics in Kannada is below - 

 

ಸೊಜುಗಾದ ಸೂಜಿ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮ

ಮಂಡೆ ಮ್ಯಾಲೆ ದುಂಡು ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ||ಪ||

ಅಂದಾವರೆ ಮುಂದಾವರೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ತಾವರೆ ಪುಷ್ಪ

ಚಂದಕ್ಕಿ ಮಾಲೆ ಬಿಲ್ ಪತ್ರೆ ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮಗೆ

ಚಂದಕ್ಕಿ ಮಾಲೆ ಬಿಲ್ ಪತ್ರೆ ತುಳಸಿ ದಳವ

ಮಾದಪ್ಪ ಪೂಜೆಗೆ ಬಂದು ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮ||1||

ತಪ್ಪಾಳೆ ಬೇಳಗಿವಿನಿ ತುಪ್ಪವ ಕಾಯಿಸ್ಯಿವನಿ

ಕಿತ್ತಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣ ತಂದ್ಯಿವಿನಿ ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮಗೆ

ಕಿತ್ತಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣ ತಂದಯಿವ್ನಿ ಮಾದಪ್ಪ

ಹಿತ್ತಾಡಿ ಬರುವ ಬರುವ ಪರಷೆಗೆ ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮ||2||

ಬೆಟ್ಟ್ ಹತ್ತ್ಕೋಂಡ್ ಓಗೋರ್ಗೆ ಹಟ್ಟಿ ಹಂಬಲವ್ಯಾಕ

ಬೆಟ್ಟದ್ ಮಾದೇವ ಗತಿಯೆಂದು ಮಾದೇವ ನೀವೆ

ಬೆಟ್ಟದ್ ಮಾದೇವ ಗತಿಯೆಂದು ಅವರಿಂದು

ಹಟ್ಟಿ ಹಂಬಲವ ಮರೆತ್ತಾರೋ ಮಾದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮ||3

 

 

 

Cool Kiddos - My Nieces and Nephews - Amazing People in My Life

I am blessed with cool and charming Nieces and Nephews! Apart from all the fun I have with them, I keep learning a lot of cool things from them.

My elder nephew 'Super S' is a highly organized person. I saw his dedication towards work while we both were volunteering at an NGO. The amount of preparation he does for everything small or big is truly commendable. He is a gentleman!

My younger nephew is 'Amazing Ammu' and he is absolutely amazing. His passion for learning Kannada is cool though he is not even living in Karnataka. He has a positive outlook towards things, and he gives out words of wisdom every now and then... One of them is about competitions. He said to me one day that "if you do not participate you can't win!". He is a born entrepreneur!

My first niece 'Magnificient M' is a bundle of joy! She is a magician who with her presence transforms people and places. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She is self-reliant, organized, and a small, tiny encyclopedia! I am enthralled by the way she explained about shares being a kid of eight. She is a superb singer and artist. She creates art out of anything and everything! She is a kindred spirit! 

My youngest niece is 'Dashing D'! Well, I started to use the filler word "well" looking at the way she uses it so gracefully! The integrity she shows at this tender age of five is too impressive. Her love for the family is just adorable. She is a Gentle power!

 

Lockdown Diaries - Lockdown#1

This is a write-up from the lockdown dairies that I wrote during Lockdown #1 back in 2020. 

Side effects of Covid - The Changing Landscape

While taking a stroll on the nearby roads yesterday I could not miss noticing the change in the landscape. My neighborhood is packed with PGs and people who stay single. This basically means that they do not have functioning kitchens or no kitchens. These people depend on the number of small and medium-sized restaurants for the food all three times a day. 

There are the restaurants that normally serve Idlis, dosas, vadas for breakfast and chapati and rice varieties for lunch and dinner. Also, there are many North Karnataka-style hotels that served Jovar roti. There is nothing fancy about the place as such. But they just do what they need to do. Serve good food at a reasonable price. There were also Chinese fast food places that had tasty noodles, soups, and Manchurian options.

One of my favorite places was a healthy and tasty place called 'Just Food' where every dish was made from millets. The guy who ran the place was very passionate about the millets and traditional varieties they were making at the shop. He had transformed a very small 10ftX12ft shop into a beautiful kitchen with decorations and paintings. The millet Dosa, idli, and Rotti were just like home-made. They also made different millet rice varieties which were all fresh and tasty. Whenever I went for a walk there or went to buy from their shop, the welcome smile of the hotelier and the chitchat with their family was truly pleasant. The glaring thing that I noticed was that the place where this shop was there is now replaced by a mewa store which seems to be the trend.

Not just this but the Chinese restaurant also has got closed down. This I say is a side effect of covid since the crowd moved out of Bangalore after lockdown and the small businesses could not sustain during those blank lockdown months. Now when the situation is coming back to normalcy, there are new and bigger shops, restaurants that have mushroomed. The void this small yet fine place has created on this road is huge.

Happiness , Coursera and ALOHAF meet-up

From the time I was introduced to Coursera by my husband MM, I have been a good user of this MOOC platform.

I joined the " A life of Happiness and Fulfillment" course back in 2015 as I liked the topic and at the end of the day that is truly longing for me as with everyone as well.

Dr. Raj Raghunathan has designed it so well that the course becomes an experience in itself. He goes into detail about 7 sins to Happiness and 7 Habit to overcome these sins with Exercises.

Sin #1 - Devaluing Happiness

Sin #2 - Chasing Superiority

Sin#3  - Being Needy or Being Avoidant

Sin#4 -  Being overly control - seeking

Sin#5 -  Distrusting Others

Sin#6 -  Distrusting Life

Sin#7 -  Ignoring the 'Source within'

Though it is a 6 weeks course, I would have taken about 6 months to complete the course. That's because of the intensity and the transformation that happens through this course. This course is highly impactful if accompanied by self-introspection and reflection.

Even after 5 years of doing this course, the ideas and concepts that were covered are still fresh in my mind. Importantly I got convinced about the role of  "Trust" in life. The MBA (Mastery, Belongingness, and Autonomy) for Happiness is a profound idea that is a strong driver for me personally. 

After listening to Dr. Raj for months on my laptop, I met him and spoke to him at the Bangalore Alohaf meetup in 2016! 

That was cherry on top!

Learnings with LittleMM - Chota Bheem - I Love My Daughter’s TV Cartoons!

This is my Toastmasters Speech from 2016.

I got first place for this speech in club level contest which qualified me to participate in Area level contest....

When I Think of summer…I think streets busy with children playing. The lovely fragrance of mangoes and the soothing lap stories of my Grandma…

Those were the days when children spent their summer vacation with their Grandparents.

I would pester my Grandma to tell me a story...

With my Ajji’s imagination and powerful narration, I will be taken to the land of Raja, Maharajas, to the fierce fight of ten headed Rakshasa, Ravana with Rama, to the tender tale of a cow …Punyakoti.

All the stories of course were loaded with moral values. Fast-forward to a couple of decades and here comes the summer again!!!

Who is telling stories today?? Just peep around the houses. ..if you can.

You would hear TVs screaming with a chirpy chorus...

“Bheem Bheem Bheem Chota Bheem Chota Bheem"

Yes!..you have guessed it right. I am talking about the Indian Televisions superhero Chota Bheem.

Let me tell you how my fascination and association with him began about 4 years back...

It was a lazy afternoon.

On such days… my husband who is an avid philatelist opens up his huge collection of stamps and spends hours studying them.

If something interests him, he would share it with me and we would pick up a discussion.

One such stamp was about Gladiators…We were in the middle of a deep discussion.

My daughter who was about 4 years old was hovering around, proudly announced...

“Amma… I know about Gladiators….

I felt happy that she has started picking up a lot of new things from school and patted my back for putting her to the right school with a hefty Fees.

I asked “Maithu, Who told you about Gladiators?”

My little daughter said that Chota Bheem has gone to Rome and met Gladiators… That made me speechless.

From that point on, be it for Pyramids of Egypt, samurais of Japan or Kumari’s of Nepal, or

beautiful islands of Bali, the cowboys of US, Tribals of Africa…she knew it all...

 And every time it was Chota Bheem who had been there or done it.

I was amazed to learn that her source of intelligence is a cartoon...

So I decided to watch Chota Bheem with my daughter LittleMM.

I was confused..from anything I had ever heard, watched, or read, Bheem has always been one of the five Pandavas and who was shown as a big man with a big mace.

You can imagine my perplexity when I saw this nine-year-old boy with no sign of brothers or a mace..

His companions are, a 7-year-old brave girl called Chutki, Raju a younger boy of 4 years who runs around in his diapers, and Jaggu, a monkey who speaks like a human being are his companions.

If you ask me what links the mythological Bheem to Chhota Bheem is the character’s legendary physical strength. Just like Bheema of The Mahabharata, Chhota Bheem can lift enormous boulders, fight giants, and save lives. But the similarities end there.

Usually, Bheem is busy fighting with evildoers who visit Dholakpur often. When Bheem is not busy fighting evil, he excels at various sports, winning various titles and contests held in a different part of the world and that’s is how my daughter has got exposed to the world at large.

Apart from this Bheem is virtuous and highly principled. All the stories of Chota Bheem are packed with tales of courage, loyalty, and honor... Of course, is important for boosting the morale of our children.

There are cartoons on TV that teach values like

friendship,

teamwork,

courage,

helpfulness,

Kindness

love and determination to kids...

and more importantly Imagination...

And that’s why I say, I love my daughter’s TV Cartoons. I enjoy every bit of it while I watch it with her.

Someone has said...

There are no perfect parents, And there are no perfect children...

But there are plenty of “PERFECT” moments along the way...

And I believe..watching cartoons together is one such “PERFECT” moment.

Learnings with LittleMM - The Charisma of Ramayana & Mahabharatha

Often it comes to mind that whether Mahabharatha and Ramayana did it really happen? If it has not really happened then why it is so much popular and still alive in this geography and in our culture.  I contemplate about it every now and then.

I read a lot of stories to my daughter LIttle MM. Little Golden Books, The Berenstain Bears which had nice illustrations. Dr.Seuss - Cat in the Hat books which had books based on age, etc etc.  These books had a lot of information as well as they taught values to the kids. I would read a story and then we will discuss the value which is brought out in the story till we sleep off. However, advice from one of the educationalists struck me. He said reading books for children is good and to teach values we should always read the stories from Ramayana and Mahabharatha since it is time tested and will always remain so.

This is when I picked up to read these classics myself. I read Ramayana and Mahabharatha by C. Rajagopalachari long years ago. Though we buy and give away many books these books are always there on our bookshelves! Later on, I also read other and retold versions as well. The charisma of reading and rereading is enigmatic. 

Every time I read, I discover a new thing, a new question arises, a new thought springs up...Well, this may be the reason why so many writers have gone back and retold these stories... as books and movies. The concepts, values, predicaments, emotions which come out here are Universal and valid even today even though it happened thousands of years back!

That's why there is a saying that -  there is everything in Mahabhartatha that can happen in the world and anything that can happen in the world, is found in Mahabharatha.

Random Records - Lockdown and Hole in the Wall shops

The lockdown of 2020 brought an unknown fear in me. I imagined that walking on the road, shopping and eating out is going to go away.. Not only that, but because people will not go out for work, it may create scarcity... Like the olden days of 80s.. Where people had to stand in lines for ration and all that.. 

This was an irrational fear since I had discounted the power of technology. The fact that internet and offshoots of it like Amazon, big basket, Facebook, Paytm were the new norms. Like everyone else, I too shopped online than never before in 2020.

Meanwhile, there was another thing that was finding the light of the day-the hole is the wall( small shops) which had almost died with the advent of Malls.  Near my home many such shops reopened and sprang to business. These small shops which were now using digital payment boosted their business..I always liked the personal touch of the small shops. In last few years I missed it so much since all the shops nearby closed down.. the Big Mall fishes were eating the small fishes..

It may be a way nature balances everything and tells us that there is a place for everything and everyone here.. it's so amazing..

Spirited Susheela Madam - The Amazing People in My Life Series

I am fortunate to know an incredible and spirited person, Susheela Madam. In a single sentence if  I have to describe her - she churns cream out of every situation.

Susheela Rajaram is a retired Bank employee who wears various hats. She is a singer, a music teacher, an artist, grows beautiful plants, knits wonderful sweaters, a painter above all a wonderful and dedicated Mother. She is eyes to her son Vivek who is a great singer. 

Susheela madam also wholeheartedly took care of her parents-in-law and stood by them during their last days. All this in her packed day and still she finds the energy to do more! Last year when she found some time she fulfilled her long-time dream by learning to stitch. 

The grit she put in for making her son pass MA and Music Vidwan is an incredible story. Madam is a Tamilian who hails from Hyderabad. She learned to read Kannada for the sake of her son. She has read to him each and every page of the MA and Music exam syllabus.

The resources and the motivation that she provides for her son with a single-minded dedication are beyond words.

I got to know this incredible person when my daughter Little MM of 5 years joined their music classes. Mam assists Vivek Sir with his music classes. The way she introduces kids to music, the encouragement she gives them, and the love she showers on them is again incredible. This connects the kids to Carnatic music very naturally. Kids look forward to going to their classes. This certainly is a big feat!

When the lockdown started as with everything, the music classes also stopped abruptly. This created much void in them and to compensate for this Madam came up with a new project. She started creating YouTube videos for the Youtube channel called Raaga Swara Thaala. 

Her elder son Karthik Rajaram and daughter in law Shweta Karthik help with editing, uploads and managing the YouTube channel.

Now she is always busy recording, re-recording music from Vivek. Initially, when she bought the smartphone, I showed her some basic operations and how to use WhatsApp. She explored and expanded it so much that now she can create great videos with YouTube!

Her child-like enthusiasm amazes me every time I meet her. I am a huge admirer of her and in many ways, she is a Mentor to me. I wish her energy boost every day and spread joy to her and all of us!

Random Records - The need to talk and 3Cs

Of late, when I meet people  (face to face) one thing is coming out loud and clear. Everyone seems to say that there is "no one to talk". I heard this in the houses with two, four, and even six people.

With so much technology around us, how is it that there is no one to talk to??? Everyone is just a video call away! A Facebook post away or a WhatsApp message away...

So why are people complaining about "No one to Talk"

When I reflect on this, I presume that it's the people with common interests and "responsive" - will only make it a wholesome conversation.

3Cs - Common theme and Common thread and Compassionate ears are all that's required for everyone to feel belonged. The lack of someone to talk to is one of the side effects of the pandemic as well.

Sankranthi and Sprawling Rangolis

I always loved Sankranti festival. Mainly the distribution of Ellu Bella( ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೀರುವುದು) has always been my favourite activity. Since this is one of the ways we go and visit our near and dear ones and we bond over the act of giving and receiving the Elly Bella. This was the highlight for me till I realised it is just not that after I moved to Bangalore.

During my initial days here at Bangalore I was at Koramangala. Considered to be the posh locality it was more Western thank indian and more so not South Indian. During any festivals I felt a gloom on my face which I could not explain. Though in the hostel we had fun and good food but I was not cheerful during festival. Ofcourse I missed my family and my Mom.

After a year of starting in hostel I moved to my sister's house which was in Vidyapeeta. Even here she would have gone to the native place for festivals and it was mostly me and my brother at home. But I felt cheerful and 'at home'. So the missing piece had to be something else..For my surprise it was not just food or fun.. Suddenly it was revealed to me from no where aaaaannnndddd it was the Rangoli which everyone put in front of the houses everyday and specially on festivals.

I click pics wherever I see unique Rangolis. Since this feels like "home" and connected to the place.

Today also I went out and captured few pictures of freshly put Sprawling Rangolis near my house.

Wishing that the rising sun of Makar Sankranti fill our life with Bright and Happy Moments..

Happy Sankranthi to all..