Precious Pearls

  Living Alternatively: A Blog Series with Those Exploring a Different Way of Life Caught in the midst of meeting professional deadlines, family and social commitments, and securing our future emotionally and financially, most of us seem to have embraced stress and the rising insecurities of modern-day life as the new normal. However, we try to walk that thin line; balance eludes most of us as life slips through our hands. While catastrophes like limited resources, climate change, conflicts, and the sword of war hanging between countries can strike us unheralded, a minimalist life or an alternative way of living seems like a myth. This new blog series seeks to interact with those who have been 'leading a different way of life.' Natural Rhythm of Life: Chitra Nandan Let's start with Chitra Nandan, a humble, unassuming person who loves to explore places, nature, and people. Self-proclaimed friend of nature, we would often mistake her simplicity and introvertedness fo...

Never judge a book by its cover! And don’t get awestruck by a man who’s reading it!! The other day, I happened to attend an event in a college about Vachan Prerana Din, the day that highlights the importance of reading. It is celebrated in the memory of former president late Dr Abdul Kalam. Some speeches bespoke their struggle of preparation to quote verbatim of renowned thinkers. While they were speaking, I could read their minds as their efforts of translating something into words which they had not experienced were visible. The most honest speech came from the anchor. She announced name of a girl to speak and the girl backed out. Oh, the anchor described the programme preparation process. “I asked girls who is the best speaker among you. They told each other’ names. Not one volunteered and I had to force them….” I could relate to the anchor as she was genuine and honest. Yes, in a flurry of wise words, her honest testimony stuck me because it didn’t come from the book… After ...

He was a man of myriad moods and yes, and some shoddy shades. Thus, making a biopic on someone like Sanjay Dutt would mean little more than a Bollywood business. Like his character was raising a question mark all through , a biopic on him raised many eyebrows. Why glorify a controversial character like him, many asked? A good family, loving and caring parents, a confortable shelter… Sanju had more than enough and still he got himself trapped into the dark side of life.   Drugs, sex scandals and trails and tribulations, Sanju’s story offered all the spice that a film would require. Nothing wrong for a filmmaker to choose a script that assures to be the next blockbuster. Nevertheless, making biopic on a man who is alive would be a tough ask. Like typical Raju Hirani films, this movie, too, is an eclectic blend of humour and emotions. While the movie effortlessly portrays shades of grey in Saju’s character showcasing things in black and white, the effort to remove that ‘t...

Finally I managed to take out those few moments with a book that was pending for years…flipping through a few pages, spending that maximum time gazing through the window side…I read little and still window gave a glimpse of the words written between the lines               Windows… they often offer vibrant hues and myriad moods of the world. Yes, the windows, the Microsoft giant Bill Gates refers to as something ‘to see through’. What is a room with a view without a wonderful window?   Sylvan surroundings, bountiful beaches, chirping sounds of birds or that beautiful full bloom, it’s a window wonder, right?     Anytime when you are little down or elated, just stand by the side of window sipping your evening or morning cup of coffee, windows are likely to have a calming effect on you. I have always found windows soothing. They are natural air conditioners. Allowing a fresh breeze of air inside, windows are the vigilant ventilat...

Beyond… Perhaps, a book could be judged by its cover, but not an artist by creative works, author by words, poet by verse and the least, a journalist by bylines! Of course, why should anyone judge anybody, this could be the fundamental question. Notwithstanding, by basic nature, a human being, being a critique, ends up in becoming a critic, unknowingly. You stumble upon some poetic lines which you find mesmerizing. Those prolific poetries can make you an ardent follower of the poet. You may long to see that poet in person and yes, s/he couldn’t be the person you could have ever imagined! In the age of digital media, social networking could have been a great leveller to bridge the gap that lack of interpersonal communication creates and at the same time, it makes you vulnerable to public scrutiny. ‘You are being watched’ is the feeling that often greets you when you are on the watch out for stories, as a journalist. There you are. Enough of generalisation, let me be more spe...

And the mystical monk landed on the shores of the Wiseland, which he had left four decades ago in the pursuit ‘Enlightenment’   A sea of people had come to receive him… what if ‘atheist’ government had issued orders to ban monasteries and forced many ‘monks’ like him to return to their motherland… This mystical monk was sure of the ‘grand reception’ in the Wiseland, his motherland… He had hoisted his sails when the wind was just right… The monk had harbored the thoughts of offering sermons and discourses to the men of Wiseland as he guessed they would be in the need of ‘Wise words from the mystical man’ He had prepared to talk about Life, God, Spirituality, Relationships, Meditation, Laws, Beauty and Death ‘Wait, hear us out before you speak, said the First Citizen of the Wiseland ‘We have heard a lot of discourses. We know Sermon on the Mountain. We have heard of Vedas and yes, also read the ‘Prophet’ by The Kahlil Gibran’…. ‘We are a civilized country. We are li...

Dan Brown Origin revisited God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor… And yes, Dan Brown, most certainly, has extended us this fervour with his latest title, Origin. And here goes my maiden book review. Let’s be clear at the very outset, I may not adhere to the norms (?) that go with the conventional book reviews and secondly, I am clear, Dan Brown’s readership doesn’t depend on my viewpoint! That frees me as a book reviewer and writer. Right from the word go, Dan Brown thriller is all here to ‘shatter the foundations of religions that have been haunting human race ever since its dawn’. The author does a remarkable job in delivering what he has set out for, ‘shaking foundations to the core’. As it’s an outspoken thriller, Origin is gripping and enthralling that keeps your curiosity alive till the last page of the book. ‘What Next?’ Brown doesn’t let you down on this. Brown must have given a rise to the new genre of fiction cal...

Am I a nice person? Oh, each of us is trying to be one. Let me tell you I decided to be one. After all, it was just a matter of decision. Of course, each of you, who knows me directly, is entitled to one’s own opinion. According to me, I had become a nice, ‘balanced’ and a level-headed (?) person! It might have taken some time for others to understand that degree of ‘transition’ in me yet it was evident. I didn’t throw tantrums. I never raised my voice out of anger. My voice pitch is naturally high, it’s a different story. I was always kind to both all sorts of people, nice and nasty. Yes, I returned nastiness with nicety. With the sudden change, it was nice to meet a ‘New Me’. That New Me was gentle, as fresh as daisy always. That New Me was smiling even things didn’t go the way she planned. That smile was like a magic wand as they say, smile and the world smiles at you. New Me didn’t blame others. Instead of asking “Have you not understood what I said?” she asked “Am I ma...

It was a big day for the family members of the little one.  The household had some get-together organised. Yes, it coincided with the result of the toddler! It was probably her first year at the school. Needless to say, like all, this baby had managed to pass with flying colours.  The scorecard was catchy. It enlisted little lass’ achievement. It also described in detail how the baby participated in school activities.  Come on, after all, it was a kindergarten. Grades don’t matter. The school knows. Parents know. Yet there was a scorecard. The family concluded that finally the little one had learnt to share and also acquired ‘necessary social skills’. As the guests arrived for the get-together, they also had a look at the scorecard. All of them said grades don’t matter. Yet they read it carefully. Some said it’s immaterial. Some said it’s a beginning of a bright future. Some had a word of caution, here is the real beginning and studies are tough now on. Yes, all of th...

What sounds logical? A.     ‘New mothers should quit their job and be with their children for initial years’  B.      ‘As expenses mount after child, a mother needs work even more post-delivery’ Was she right? A.      ‘In spite of being tortured, she pulled on with stressful marital relationship and things look alright in her life. She made a right decision’ B.      ‘Fed up with abusive relationship, she finally gathered courage to call it quits. She is more peaceful now’. Your answer decides what kind of person you are. A (in both cases):  You are opinionated and judgmental, conventional B (in both cases):  You are liberal If AB and BA: You have a personality disorder (?) It’s not a quiz, don’t jump to conclusions. Well, don’t merely dismiss it as some gossip. Perhaps, gossip is something that always happens to others. What happens to you is always a serious matter. In ab...

Sheer look can get you hooked! Though it holds true everywhere, we are talking about nicely displayed delectable delicacies. Mouthwatering dishes tempt you and it’s a temptation you would barley want to resist. Otherwise, why would Oscar Wilde say, ‘I can resist everything except temptation’? Of course, there are a few folks who are trying to resist everything in the enlightening enterprise called control. Thus, those who have exercised such control or mustered a greater courage of not surrendering to temptations will not be lured. More than exercising control, I am more into the natural side of the matter. Food temptation, especially dessert, comes intrinsically to me and any resistance is naturally ruled out. My love for ‘healthy’ food provides a thoughtful junk to chew along with its nutrients. Of late, my affair with smoothies lasted a little longer; rather it simply refused to die down. Smoothies! Connoisseurs know what I am talking about. A healthy beverage topped with ...

A few letters scribbled here and there, some blank spaces, many pauses…sentences evenly spaced out. So many smilies! I didn’t want to judge the book by its cover as it made a point through a refrain; read between the lines….    This autobiography by an anonymous author arrested my attention. I wouldn’t call the auto-biographer (a self –coined term) an author as the person made it specifically clear that his/her bonding with writing was strong but that person didn’t  want to be recognised as a writer. Perhaps, the very term writer denotes typical name and fame; the trap which doesn’t belong to writing. Writing throws light on innermost thoughts in the deep caverns of mind. Yes, a lot of this writing had rather come from an unconscious mind! No wonder the book had no specific structure, no theme, no characters. It wasn’t the story of anyone yet it was everyman’s narrative.    The autobiographer had a lot to tell. A few success stories and some were writt...

Practical makes man perfect! Lesser said the better on what theory does to men!! Yes, and it is hilarious when a high degree of theory is applied in ‘trivial’ experience. Yes, you win half the battle when you scale down enormity by calling it ‘trivial’. This is how it began for me when I lost a bag in a cab during my recent outstation family visit. First things first, no wallet, money or important documents lost. Thus, I didn’t understand the gravity of the lost bag. It was a busy day with me visiting my dear ones with my little daughter. Yes, it was a bagful of things, some gifts, some food stuff, clothes, my charger… At my cousin’s place, after settling down, I told her little son, see what I have brought for you…Alas, this was the point I noticed I had probably left the bag in the cab. Of course, we had a prolonged discussion, someone suggested to give it a try if I could spot the cab downstairs, as there were ‘some good cab drivers’ too would return forgotten things. While othe...