ANAGHA

ANAGHA

The endless chatter

Trivial yet profound

Short lived yet life long

Those moments of mirth

filled with her laughter, uninhibited

As she brings back

my wandering eyes

on to her face

Our breathless giggling,

Baby steps to a friendship eternal

The range of expressions

 in her eyes, fleeting by the second

My heart tingles to immerse

in the music of her voice

My heart aches to pull back

the seven years gone by

in a flash

I see the world pass by

As I wish to hold the moment forever

A Mom who hid her deepest pain with a Smile, just for her Kids!

All right, we all know how important it is, but it was when I met her, I realised, she is living the word positive, really!!! Thinking positive affects how, how much and how soon our bodies heal themselves!! Meet Vibha, a woman of gut, gumption and much much more!!! She saw through her cancer and all that it brings along, with an unflagging determination to live. Read more about her here

The Gurgaon Moms Summit 2016 - A Gala Event

The day long awaited for, began with a splash of pink in all imaginable hues as I entered the main hall of Crown Plaza.

A rush of chirpy energy greeted me to the Gurgaon Moms summit. Now, this was going to be an experience, a summit, by women, for women, so immaculately put together, picking up and weaving into it just the right kind of threads, relevant to mommyhood, more importantly to womanhood. It was truly women ruling the roost.

The various interactive stalls adorned the venue. The prominent ones, the Horlicks, the Kunskapskolam with their ever smiling representatives were a visual delight, though the most sought after stall still lay ahead. One could hold a placard that one most related to and get clicked. Some of the captions that the placards spoke were “ multitasker”, “mend”, “fix” etc. Wow. Now that was a brilliant idea. The printed and framed result is an endearing keepsake.

The very multifaceted Vasu Primlani was going to keep us cracking every minute with her witty one
liners.

Neela, with her welcome address and the warmth of her voice, touched the chords of many a heart. #momsurecan #momhasdone

Supposedly close to every mother’s heart, the first session, a very meaningful one, was about regaining one’s identity without compromising on the title ‘mom’. The celebrated author Sutapa Basu, recited a poem in appreciation of the woman, indeed a very gladdening one.

The various moms cum professionals presented their valuable views about how they handled the various responsibilities. Something that stayed with me was how can one be a happy mom, a happy person, above all. It is so very essential to sometimes break away from those norms which limit us and soar higher, winning over our own selves each day.

True happiness lies in learning to enjoy and embrace what one does. As a mom, it is difficult to keep up to the challenges that one is faced with, but the word ‘woman’, itself exudes so much power, so much capability. A woman is able to take up so many identities, just what is needed is the determination to be stress free and taking it easy at times.

The next session about domestic abuse must have directly or indirectly imparted a lot of strength to the audience, without doubt. The experts, Dr Roma Kumar, a counsellor, Rajshri Sen from Breakthrough and our very own Gurgaon mom, Kanika Kush threw light on how domestic abuse stretches beyond physical boundaries to psychological and verbal fringes too. Kanika, a victim herself,  more appropriately a survivor, described her journey of victory over her own limitations and breaking the template. While most women keep struggling in an abusive relationship for the sake of their children, her child was precisely the reason why she chose to step out of her unhappy marriage and gave him a happy life. Advocate Sunieta Ojha aptly explained the legal aspects of the cases out of her own vast experience and emphasized on identifying abuse at the right time, while Dr Kalpana Viswanath, the founder of Safetipin, alongside stressed on how those little steps of humanity on our end can help many a women in their hour of need.

As all of us dispersed to attend the break out sessions before lunch. I entered Shilpi Singh’s session. Shilpi, who comes across as a very warm and affable person talked about creating an ecosystem to maintain a work life balance.  We racked our brains and thought of some creative solutions to the little everyday glitches that we face while managing the daily regimen of work and family. She brought our focus to the fact that with an effective ecosystem, a woman can aim to do whatever she wants. How heartening that seems !!

If it had not been for time crunch, we could have asked her to go on and on.

The lunch, needless to say was a well thought out, elaborate affair, the sumptuous desserts giving it a perfect finale. The obvious lethargy that it brought was effectively blown away by a refreshing drum
session that we undertook soon after. It completely replenished all the energy and brought back cheer in the hall.

How we, as parents can be control freaks when it comes to our children, it is tough to bring ourselves to believe that they have their own individualities. This session bringing to light, the funny side of parenting was just about that. The renowned panel members, recalled and shared with us incidences from their lives when they’ve turned serious situations around using plain humor. Bringing up children can be mentally and physically exhausting and that’s when humor saves the moment. Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director of Apollo hospitals, Dr Shelja Sen, child psychologist and the author of the book, “ All I need is love” ,as professionals discussed the technical aspects of the process. Shunali Shroff, who has compiled her personal accounts in her book, “Battle hymn of a bewildered mother”, gave us a sneak peak into her amusing anecdotes involving her kids.

Lt Rita Gangwani, a timid, soft spoken person, but strong willed deep within, firmly believes in giving importance and taking care of oneself every now and then. In her session about feeling good in one’s own skin, she talked about faith in the Almighty and how she has always placed her trust on the fact that we are all but parts of the larger picture, which is bound to be beautiful.

A thoughtful thank you poem by Upasana aptly culminated the summit. She took care to acknowledge all of them all who had been working hard to put the grand event together.

Soaking up all the wisdom from the meaningful interactions during the day, we stepped out to see some well known salons of the city, all set to pamper us with their alluring relaxation massages. An awesome ending to an awesome day!!!

How can one forget the goodie bag, a mark of our presence at the summit, a small bag containing just the kind of knick knacks needed by a mommy!!!

Unbelievably excellent!! Impeccable!! Couldn’t get better than this!!! A refreshing break from the monotony!!

More power to you Gurgaon moms!!! Kudos to the team !!


Photo Credits : https://www.facebook.com/momsummit/

The Gurgaon Moms Summit 5 March 2016

    The schedule of the summit dropped in my inbox just when I was frisking my wardrobe to decide my dress for the day. Booyaahh.. and.. it’s gonna be a delight to be there.. The schedule tells me..

Some great topics to churn the brain, some insightful conversations flowing, and some women of rationale. Can’t wait for Saturday...

I am sure there’s something that interests everyone of us.

Eager to listen to how these committed professionals, yet passionate moms speaking on how they managed to hold on to their true identity, that of a woman, in the discussion, “retaining the me in mom” and implement some of that in my own life. Maria Gorretti , I am sure, has managed some great experiences in her life as a mother, a celebrity and a wife.

How encouraging to see that who’s who of Gurgaon, the DC and the Municipal Corporation support our cause. Just this afternoon I saw a big hoarding in one of the prominent areas of the city. Felt proud to be a part of it.

The other very important panel discussion talks about a very sensitive topic, domestic abuse. An issue that has been brushed under the carpet for years, now thankfully is gradually coming out. Dr Kalpana Vishwanath, as a co-founder of Safetipin, an organization dedicated to building technological solutions for women safety, would be at the helm of the discussion. She herself, is strongly committed to building safer cities for women through various forums. 

Apart from the discussions, the pre-lunch session has something to lighten us up. Vasu primlani, whose cap has innumerable feathers, is going to entertain us with some witty humour. Apart from being a stand-up comedian, she is a triathlete..olaah…a ballerina, an environmentalist..pheww. This is just a little of what she does.

How important it is to find that one little thing in our lives and work on it for the unending dose of happiness all our lives. Expanding ones horizons and working to satisfy ones creative urges without feeling guilty is the order of the day. This is what our early noon sessions are all about.  .. We just need little reminders which help us to strike that balance and feel good about our achievements. There sure is gonna be some great learning for the mommies in us with these breakout sessions.

When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade out of them, Sylvies, the famous hair stylist, who is also a cross dresser, shows us how she has turned her life of misery around into a success story  The chat is going to be a window to her life and some lessons of life for us too.

Going further, we as parents think we are the bosses and sometimes take our kids for granted. Let’s see if we need to take a relook at or attitude with an informative session with the Dr. Anupam Sibal, the competent child psychologist from Apollo, Dr Shelja Sen, the author of the famous book on dealing with children, the only thing we need is love and the other experts.

 We need to feel good about ourselves before we hit back home and rejoin family, fresh and rejuvenated. So concluding the well spent day, we have Retd. Lt. Dr Rita Gangwani to instill in us the confidence to feel good in our own skin. I am sure we are a supaah confident lot, but it’s these lovely reminders in a low moment that hold us upright.

And, not to forget, something that is worth the wait, the spa sessions by the famous salons of Gurgaon, especially for the delegates. Its good to give oneself some credit once in a while, get pampered and show the glow ladies!!!!!

See you at the summit!!!!

Saturday is juzzt 3 days away!!!!

Summer Love

How I pretend that I love those woolies that wrap me thick through the chill that goes around in the famous north Indian winter. The vibrant mufflers, the irresistible overcoats, the chic boots swing in action. 
How I delight at the colour that erupts in my backyard and makes it's way to my kitchen. The delicate aroma of my homegrown greens, spinaching me completely, radishing me in their spell,  but really, how many clothes can one wear? The heaters, the warmers, the socks fail to keep me warm, the drink comes therein, finally with some merit to it's credit. 
When I really do a rethink in those sunless days,which never come in singles, rather multiples of two, make me crave long and hard for those summery days, when I am free from the layers of clothing that has kept me bundled up in the grey months, when I have lost those extra chunks of flesh that I got on me, during the ghee loaded days (wishful thinking), when I fight hard with that til ka laddoo, stare at it for 35 long seconds, and then dig in, knowing fully well that this laddoo, or rather one after the other, would find a place to settle itself somewhere on me long after they are gone.
I long for the watermelonish thirst and cucumberish hunger, to keep me going in those long, warm days without giving me pounds to worry about.
I long for a hearty swim in the pool, to come out of my hibernation and run an errand without thinking twice about going out.
Little do I realise that my fingers freeze while I write this one, and I doze off blissfully in my velvety quilt. It seems ages have passed by, cos it is the warm spring sun that came through my window to wake me up from my deep slumber.
Lo!!! Am I hallucinating? 
The flowers in my balcony suddenly sprung up! Who watered them all this while? The thoroughfare, bustling with people going about their tasks in the warmth of the weather. 
And I remember, this abruptly ended write up needs to be finished before I revel in the glory of the new season that has come by. 
Woaah!! My fingers are working! They are just fine. So I'll quickly give it a final shape cos its time to pack the woolies and fold away the quilt until signs of next winter show up. 
Till then, I m gonna go, fill my tub with bubbles, it is a long time that I looked at bath water with fondness ;), spruce up my summer wardrobe, make way in the backyard for summer creepers, while my summer salad waits for me at the table. I'm sure you have your plans too!!

Belonging...

A melange of emotions comes into play when I talk about the house that I grew up in.. An abode where my childhood still stays.. Each time I come here, a journey into my memories sets off..a stroll past the lanes of nostalgia. The house smells of bonds, that Ma and Pa formed over decades, bonds with their kids, with the extended family, with the people who come around as indispensable help. The small little joys are all over the place. Papa, his meticulousness speaks louder than his words. His organisation is so very visible to even an untrained eye. It is as intense as it was when I used to be at work, here at my table, in those days of yore. His morning rituals, we scoffed at them then, his dust cloth not sparing any nook and cranny. Though I was hesitant to express, but there was a silent sheepish thankfulness for my spiky clean book shelf and other paraphernalia in my room. A part of him was always thinking of means of polishing our academics, how those well planned hours over maths and science, those discussions on subjects of relevance that went on to shape us as individuals. Sundays were up for a rigorous schedule, we sulked and worked around excuses, forgetting that he too, was sacrificing his social life for us. Quite characteristically, he expects me to put in the same toil for my daughters. Try as i might, to fill  his shoes, I always fall a few step shorter. If I could do my smallest bit for him, it would be this, to give my kids, the sincerity and depth of the upbringing that he's given us. Living by the ideal " money saved is money earned", he made sure, we had abundance of everything that was important to us as students, simultaneously teaching us to exercise restraint wherever required.

My heart could delve deeper into its own crevices to peep into the years gone by, but my eyes wander around to  the shiny wooden shelf hanging on the wall, housing the smart snack boxes smugly sitting on their respective places, changed immediately at the outset of a crack or other minor injury, calling me to show the variety that they possess. Papa has had a penchant for snack boxes and wooden knick knacks for as long as I can remember. His almirah would put the cleanest of the lot to shame. With an eye for detail, he has maintained this house, that his father bought 70 years back. The air is rife with the smell of the freshly done paint along with the aroma of wood. It brings back all those times when the house exuded a rejuvenated charm. Needless to say, the house is ever so grateful for all that smothering and pampering.Its ample ventilation ensures that winters are tough and we hop about in caps and mufflers even inside, but the warmth of my lovelies has made many a winter worth its while.

Ma, a free spirited lady, spreads joys around in her own little but meaningful ways.. She knows how to weave happiness, the confetti of which floats in the air. Finding divine in the mundane, she leaves a story of her touch at every corner of the house. Her love doesn't give a damn about class, it just has to be. I once saw her hanging an unclaimed baby shoe in the house, which she found on he road by the riverside  and dreaded the idea of leaving it there lest someone tramples on it . The street children do not fail to wave at their aunty who gives them biscuits and chocolates while passing by.

  The money plant climber rolled around a string has grown up with us in this verandah.. not to mention scores of others, lending a woody, vintage character to the house, thriving on love for age.   There is always something or the other that it carries along, these days those Christmasy decorations and paper kites are lucky to have embraced the leaves for a few months now. The artist in her is deftly making paintings in all the free time that she gets after teaching drawing and painting to the various children of the town. A new technique is underway every other day, the web is to be thanked. The paintings are all over the place and beyond that may be.. For she gifts a painting to all those we've known, on occasions that are sometimes special and not so special at other times. I hope the people cherish her paintings as much as she cherishes them.She doesn't let me sell those pieces for they are too close to her heart to be sent away for money. A jiffy is what it takes for her to finish a task, a painting, a meal or a trip to thee market. She is always been nimble. I wish I could be half as quick as her. More than that I wish she is as twinkle toed till eternity.

Time flows by and the fondness for the house takes deeper roots. The house where my heart still thrives. Be it always blessed and prosperous, warm and benevolent, hospitable and pleasant.

JLF it was

Would you like to accompany me to the JLF? The question poppled my rather still consciousness and the struggling juggler in me was yearning to get the feel of what JLF had to offer. It was still time and I rushedly  got my tickets etc done, lest the family change their mind of letting me go. That my friend  stepped out of the plan thanks to other commitments is a different story altogether, but that she set off a spark in me to go ahead with the plan is what I’d be eternally appreciative of.

As I set foot at the venue, Diggy Palace, a huge surge of youthful energy welcomed me. “Wow”, I said to myself, “Let me see what else is in store for me”. Diggy palace is a story to behold. Each nook and cranny enchants you with a tale. A haveli turned into a hotel, with a unique antiquity about it.

Strolling past the delightful, multihued puppets adorning the place, I found myself in the midst of the intelligentsia with a spectrum of subjects unfolding in each session. What was largely unanticipated was that the various lawns were brimming with enthusiasts in their teens, 20s and 30 among the younger ones in their  40s and 50s. It was heartening to see the youth positively channelizing  their vivacity. 

Though much has been said about JLf and that too with great expression, I too, in my limited capacity, would love to collect  my thoughts and put them on paper, or rather screen.  

If I talk about attending a session with Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid, the speakers and the moderators were such that my disinterest in politics didn’t matter to me all of a sudden.

 Listening to Javed Akhtar talk about the intricacies of literature, poetry and cinema left me spellbound. Even more striking was the view around me, when Javed Saab uttered a beautiful line from one of his father’s poems, and the enraptured  pack cheered with frenzy, asking for more.

My experience of a lifetime was a live encounter with Gulzarr Saab, the distance between us,  turning immaterial, with the informal hums of his voice taking centrestage. The jovial remarks he passed every now and then kept us all upbeat. The hour and a half long session ended in a few minutes.. fortunate were those who got a personal signature from him on his latest book .

Besides literature, experts from the field of medicine, Dr Atul Gawande and Aarathi Prasad kept me completely hooked to their conversation addressing the issues of ageing, a good life, mortality, stories of his own patients and reading excerpts from his book Being mortal.

It was lovely to be a part of the various insightful sessions with Ronnie Screwala, Kajol, Karan johar, Sangeeta Dutta and the likes, who brought out Bollywood and its ways interestingly. The remarkable story of Rituparno Ghosh gave out the fact that his absence has been bitterly felt by the masses in Bengal.

The colorful venue got even more color with the variety of food and merchandise to buy. On the flip side, it carried more expense but that was the way it was.

Rightly described as the “greatest literary show on earth”, JLF has at its roots literateurs, William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale, who made sure, the festival was as structured as it could be. Great thought and effort had gone into designing the festival with humour, poetry, storytelling, children, partition, mythology, tigers  and food to name just a few of the subjects under scrutiny.

The brand JLF boasted of connoisseurs Shobhaa de, MJ Akbar, Ruskin bond, Manish Mehrotra, Avirook Sen, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Swapan Dasgupta and the list goes on as I shuffle my notes from the JLF. I am sure , I have not justified the grandeur and beauty of the event, but as I said earlier, this article is an offering of a mind of limited capacity. To soak oneself in the literary juices, I strongly recommend you to go and pay a vist to Jaipur next January.

By the way, already declared to the family about my plans for Jan 2017. Suggest you do the same!!! ;)