Tales of a Wandering Mind ....

Romantic Songs for the Valentine's Day

2012-02-13T19:25:00.014-05:00

Love is in the air and so in the music!!! I have picked up a bunch of lovely, soft, romantic love songs for you. Not the one's playing around on TV and FM channels; but some real romantic stuff. Here we go...

Roop Tera Mastana Film: Aradhana Singer(s): Kishore Kumar Music: S.D.Burman		Pal Pal Dil ke Pas Film: Black Mail Singer(s): Kishore Kumar Music: Kalyanji-Anandji
Jashn-E-Bahara Film: Jodha Akbar Singer(s): Javed Ali Music: A.R.Rahman		Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagi Film: One Two ka Four Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam Music: A.R.Rahman
Sason ko Sason Mein Film: Hum Tum Singer(s): Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo Music: Jatin-Lalit		Raat Akeli Hai Film: Jewel Theif Singer(s): Asha Bhosle Music: S.D.Burman
Chupke Se Film: Saathiya Singer(s): Sadhna Sargam Music: A.R.Rahman		Chura Liya Hai Tumne jo Dil ko Film: Yadon ki Barat Singer(s): Asha Bhosle Music: R.D.Burman
Do Lafzon ki Hai Dil ki Kahani Film: The Great Gambler Singer(s): Asha Bhosle Music: R.D.Burman		Kucch Na Kaho Film: 1942 A Love Story Singer(s): Kumar Sanu Music: R.D.Burman
Bahon Mein Chale Aao Film: Anamika Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar Music: R.D.Burman		Aage bhi Jane na Tu Film: Waqt Singer(s): Asha Bhosle Music: Ravi
Dheere Dheere Dheere Chori Chori Film: Imtihaan Singer(s): Amit Kumar, Alka Yagnik Music: Annu Malik		Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Film: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Singer(s): Mohammad Salamat, Kavita Krishnamurthy Music: Ismail Darbar
Tu Tu Hai Wahi Dil ne Jise Apna Kaha Film: Yeh Wada Raha Singer(s): Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar Music: R.D.Burman		Roz Roz Ankho Tale Film: Jeeva Singer(s): Asha Bhosle, Amit Kumar Music: R.D.Burman
Kya Yahi Pyar Hai Film: Rocky Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar Music: R.D.Burman>		Sama Hai Suhana Suhana Film: Ghar Ghar ki Kahani Singer(s): Kishore Kumar Music: Kalyanji-Anandji
Dird-E-Dil Dird-E-Jigar Film: Karz Singer(s): Mohammad Rafi Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal		Gum Hai Kise ke Pyar Mein Film: Rampur ka Laxman Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar Music: R.D.Burman

Now go grab these fresh daisies and you are all set to woo your Valentine!!!

A Treat for Music Lovers

2012-02-01T15:52:00.026-05:00

There is good news for all those music lovers who believe in meaningful lyrics, soothing melodies and some expressive soul stirring renditions. Folks, you do not have to wait too long. The year 2012 is going to bring all this to you.

This grand New Year gift is coming from none other than the illustrious playback singer of India, Mr. Amit Kumar. The magical voice behind many super hit songs including Bade achhe lagte hai from Balika Badhu, Yaad aa rahi hai from LoveStory and more recently Dil main baji gitar from Apna Sapna Money Money and the sizzling Dilrubaon ke jalwe from Dulha Mil Gaya. Not to forget the talented son of the greatest Indian artist Kishore Kumar!!!

This great singer has recently launched his website www.amit-kumar.in. The website will be featuring Amit Kumar’s own compositions. Apart from this, he also has plans to release an album comprising of some unreleased compositions of his father - the one and only Kishore Kumar. The lyrics will be written by Javed Akhtar, Sudhakar Sharma, Leena Chandavarkar – Ganguly and Amit Kumar himself.

Amit Kumar is a well-known name in playback singing arena but very few know that he is an accomplished composer too. Composing has always been his passion. He used to spend his spare time in composing since a very young age. There are many notable non-film Bengali albums to his credit. Parichay, Surer Raja, Tai Jodi Hoto, Cholun Beriye Ashi, Dui Kishore, Aamar Bhalobasha are a few to name.

Surer Raja was a tribute to R.D.Burman and has a different type of music. An interesting fact about this album is, Amit Kumar started working on this album the very next day after the sad demise of R.D.Burman. Within 10 days all tracks were recorded!!! The album got great compliments from critics.

He has also given music to a Bengali film Amaanat. Renowned singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar and Alka Yagnik have rendered his compositions. Music of Amit Kumar’s Hindi non-film album Mad was quite impressive and appreciated by critics as well. Unfortunately it couldn’t strike the chords with the audience.

It was rightly said by the great composer R.D.Burman that this music is at least 20 years ahead of its time. It was indeed different from what was playing around during late 80s and early 90s. The same album is going to be re-launched soon. Thanks to his Kolkata based fan club for the initiative. Oh! Sweetheart was another good album from him.

Music by Amit Kumar is quite fresh, innovative and versatile. All kinds of emotions are expressed in his music with the same intensity. Let it be a hilarious comedy song or soft romantic song or a philosophical one; you can find the same passion. It is really commendable for someone who is not a regular composer.

The tunes sometimes show an R.D.Burman influence yet they have a distinct Amit Kumar style. R.D.Burman was like a mentor – a guru for Amit Kumar. No wonder that his music has a R.D. Burman flavor. Apart from R.D. touch, Amit Kumar’s music has shades of Indian semi-classical and western classical music. His most recent offering was a Hindi non-film album Ley Chalo which is a must-have for every music lover.

Here I have attempted to get the ace singer / composer’s views on his latest project and his music -

Q.: Launching new compositions through website is quite an innovative way. How did you get this idea?
Well, the idea of launching my compositions online was suggested by my brother Sumeet. The idea was to create a website and connect directly with my fans and loyalists with the help of technology.

Q.: What kind of compositions are you planning?
There will be all kinds of compositions with different shades of emotions. For example – sad, romantic, philosophical, comedy etc.

Q.: What kind of music you personally like?
I like western classical, jazz of the older golden period and Indian light classical like thumris and ghazals of Ghulam Ali and Begum Akhtar.

Q.: You have many hit Bengali albums to your credit. Those compositions are pretty versatile. Fresh, energizing and soothing. Any plans to bring the same tunes in Hindi?
I might use my compositions from my past Bengali albums in Hindi.

Q.: Will you be writing the lyrics too?
I have already started to write. In fact, the first song which is coming on the web is written by me.

Q.: Most of the world knows Amit Kumar basically as a talented singer. But what is Amit Kumar at heart – a singer or a composer?
I honestly think I’m a better composer than a singer.
------------------------
Hummm, pretty difficult to choose for the music admirers. We have always got “The Best” from Amit Kumar whether it is as a singer or as a composer. I am pretty sure that this time also we will get some great memorable music from him.

Let’s wish him all the best for this venture….

A Musical Journey with Dev Anand

2011-12-05T19:55:00.002-05:00

It will be unjust to say that Dev Anand’s films are remembered only for his stylish acting. Dev Anand was an actor/producer with a musical ear. Music has always played an important role in the success of his films. According to Lata Mangeshkar, "Dev saab's songs have a haunting appeal, and they strike an instant chord with listeners. Dev saab had an excellent sense of rhythm and sur. Also, he had a fairly good knowledge of Indian classical music." No wonder that his films are a treasure of fresh, lingering and passionate melodies.

Dev Anand’s first hit film was Ziddi(1948). This film is rather a milestone in the history of Hindi Film Music. It brought three geniuses together for the first time; Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. Ziddi was Kishore Kumar’s first film as a singer. He sang a solo "Marne ki duayen kyon mangu” for Dev Anand in this film under direction of composer Khemchand Prakash. Kishore Kumar had always been a die-hard fan of K.L.Saigal. In this song he almost copied Saigal. It is very interesting to listen how the most versatile artist of India sounded in his first song. It is for this film that Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar recorded their first duet “Yeh Kaun Aya Re”.

Dev Anand released his home production Navketan’s first film "Afsar" in 1950. His co-star was Suraiya. Music was composed by S.D.Burman. It was a beginning of a thriving partnership between Navketan Films and S.D.Burman. This film has two evergreen songs of Suraiya – “Man mor hua matwala” and “Nain diwane ek nahi mane”. Another interesting fact about this film is, it also featured Kishore Kumar’s first wife and the co- founder of Kolkata Youth Choir Mrs. Ruma GuhaThakurta.

The year 1951 saw the release of Baazi. It was Navketan Films’ first hit film. This film gave Bollywood its all-time great director Guru Dutt. It was Guru Dutt’s directorial debut. Music was again composed by S.D.Burman. It has some hit songs of Geeta Dutt viz. "Suno gajar kya gaye”, "Tadbeer se bigdi hui", "Aaj ki raat piya", "Tum bhi na bhulo balam" and a peppy number by Shamshaad Begum "Sharmaye kahe ghabraye kahe”.

Dev Anand’s second movie with Guru Dutt was Jaal(1952). It was also a box-office hit. It marked the rise of a stylish superstar. Jaal featured a beautiful solo by Lata Mangeshkar “Chori chori meri gaali ana hai bura”. Other memorable melodies from this film were “Yeh raat yeh chandani phir kahan”, a solo by Hemant Kumar and a duet with the same mukhda by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.

In the year 1954 came Taxi Driver. It was a story of a taxi driver in Mumbai. Dev Anand’s wife- to- be acted in this film. They got married in the same year. Music of Taxi Driver was composed by S.D. Burman. It had a comic song “Chahe koi khush ho” by Kishore Kumar. By this time Kishore Kumar had moved out of K.L.Saigal’s shadow and had developed his own unique style. But the film’s most memorable song was Talat Mehmood’s “Jaye to jaye kahan”. S.D.Burman had got Filmfare Best Music Director Award for this song.

Munimji was released in 1955. It was written by Nasir Hussain, uncle of today’s Mr.Perfectionist Aamir Khan. Music was by S.D. Burman. The highlight of Munimji was the song “Jeevan ke safar main rahi”. It has two versions. The happy version is sung by Kishore Kumar and the sad one by Lata Mangeshkar. Kishore Kumar version was a super hit. Later on Kishore Kumar sang many super hit songs for Dev Anand. Though Mohammad Rafi also sang some memorable songs for Dev Anand, it was Kishore Kumar whose voice suited him best. When Kishore Kumar passed away in 1987, Dev Anand had rightly said “I have lost my voice”.

In 1956, Guru Dutt produced C.I.D. Here Waheeda Rehman was Dev Anand’s co-star. It was her debut in Bollywood. C.I.D. was a debut film of India’s finest costume designer Bhanu Athaiya too. The same Bhanu Athaiya who won India’s first ever Oscar for her costume design for Gandhi(1982). Music of C.I.D. was composed by O.P.Nayyar. It has two of the finest duets of Mohammad Rafi. The first is “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar” with Asha Bhosle and Shamshaad Begum. The Second one is “Ankhon hi ankhon Main Ishara ho gaya” with Geeta Dutt. Another release in the same year, Funtoosh is remembered for one of the best songs by Kishore Kumar, a sad one, “Dukhi man mere”.

The next year in 1957, Dev Anand produced Nau Do Gyarah. It was his brother Vijay Anand’s directorial debut. S.D.Burman again teamed up with Dev Anand for two evergreen songs in this film; a solo “Hum hai rahi pyar ke” by Kishore Kumar and a romantic duet “Ankhon main kya ji” by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. Dev Anand’s another hit film in the same year was Paying Guest. S.D.Burman made a lasting impression with the music of this film. Some chartbusters to mention – "Chod do anchal zamana kya kahega” and “O nigahe mastana” by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, “Chand phir nikla” by Lata Mangeshkar and “Mana janab ne pukara nahi” by Kishore Kumar.

In the year 1958 came another film with great music - Kala Pani. Music was again by S.D.Burman. It has the famous song “Accha ji main hari chalo maan jao na” sung in a honey laden voice by Asha Bhosle. The other two worth mention are “Hum bekhudi main tumko pukare chale gaye” by Mohammad Rafi and a super hit mujra song “Nazar lagi raja tore bangle paar” by Asha Bhosle. Around the same time Kala Bazar was released with some more treat for music lovers. Dev Anand – S.D.Burman duo again came up with some finest music. The gems included “Apni to har aah ek tuffan hai” and “Khoya khoya chand” by Mohammad Rafi, a beautiful duet by Geeta Dutt – Mohammad Rafi “Rimzim ke tarane leke ayi barsat”, a sweet solo by Asha Bhosle “Sach hue sapne tere” and a soulful bhajan by Geeta Dutt - Sudha Malhotra “Na main dhan chahu”.

By the beginning of 60s, Dev Anand was established as a romantic hero and had romanced on screen with almost all leading ladies of his time. Dev Anand’s first hit film in the 60s was Hum Dono(1962). The film was based on the backdrop of World War II. It has a super hit song “Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” by Mohammad Rafi, a very popular bhajan “Allah Tero Naam” by Lata Mangeshkar and an evergreen duet “Abhi na jao chodkar” by Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi.

He reached the peak with his all-time great film Guide. It was an adaptation of R.K.Narayan’s novel Guide. During the making of Guide, S.D.Burman fell ill. So he asked Dev Anand to rope in another composer. But Dev Anand rejected the idea and showed his willingness to wait till S.D.Burman recovers. His wait proved worthy. Each and every song of Guide is a precious gem.

After sad demise of S.D.Burman in 1975, Dev Anand continued his musical journey with young composers like R.D.Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji and Bappi Lahiri. The one worth mention here is Hare Rama Hare Krishna. The film was based on hippie culture. R.D.Burman did full justice to the film’s demand by delivering a vivacious number “Dum maro dum”. Asha Bhosle won the best female playback singer award for this song.

Almost all films of Dev Anand are a treat for music lovers. All of them cannot be mentioned here. But Dev Anand will always be remembered for his style, his romantic image and the evergreen music from his films.

Dev Anand: The Evergreen Hero

2011-12-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

We want some people to be always among us. Dev Anand was one such personality. My humble tribute to this evergreen, zestful hero. R.I.P. Dev Anand.

Why this Kolaveri rage?

2011-11-29T14:21:00.008-05:00

What do you think is the most difficult task in India now days? ………… Bingo!!! You guessed it right!!! Finding a youth who haven’t listened to the ‘Kolaveri’ song! I tried to figure out why everybody is so mad about it. Here is my take on Kolaveri….

• First thing is the catchy opening line. The word “kolaveri” is a highly popular slang among Tamilian youngsters.

• Very simple lyrics. Rather it is wrong to call it lyrics. These are just rants of a common young man the next door. In today’s fast paced world, who has the time to relax and enjoy some deep meaning poetry? Gone are the times when heroes used to do shayari upon heartbreaks. Cinema is the reflection of society. What a young lad will do today if his girlfriend ditches him? He will burst out in a “Kolaveri way”.

• Simple hummable tune. It is for bathroom singers. You need not be a pro to hum it. But still the beats are catchy. The rhythm hypnotizes you.

• Along with composer Anirudh, the credit goes to singer Dhanush too. His Tamil accent makes the song unique. Dhanush has penned the lyrics too.

• Audience can relate to it. No matter whether one admits or not; but almost everyone witnesses heartbreak at some point in life. The anguish of a commoner is reflected in his way. If one’s girlfriend is living him for some other guy, he will think the same; all fair skinned, good looking girls are bitches. They screw up your life. The emotions are caught perfectly.

The strength of Kolaveri lies in its simplicity.

Enjoy Kolaveri here!!

Beauty in the Mist - III

2011-11-27T09:13:00.001-05:00

The boat then slowly moves towards the Horseshoe Falls or Canadian Falls. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River flows over it. Much of this fall is located in Ontario, Canada. It has got its name from its horseshoe like shape. It is not very high. The depth of the river at the base of fall is actually more than the fall itself. The boat takes you as close to the base of fall as possible.

The closer you get to it, the more you fall in love with it. What a beauty!!! The water was plunging at the base as if it was eager to hug the earth below. The mist around was protecting their act of intimacy from the world’s sight. That is the moment when you forget the whole world; where you are, who you are, your existence. What remains is the thundering sound of water and the mystical mist. You become speechless and something in you starts melting in the falling water. You feel closer to God. If death has to come; it should come at this moment, at this place….

Now the boat was on its journey back to the port. The lady by my side said that she had bought a new DSLR camera just to capture Niagara from as close as possible. But she forgot to capture!!! Her next words –“I don’t need a picture of it. It is so embossed on my mind that I will not forget it even in my next birth.” That is what Niagara is. It is not something just to see, but also to feel.

Another thrilling adventure at the Niagara Falls is Cave of the Winds. It is for the daredevils. An elevator takes you down into the Niagara Gorge. Here again they provide you water-proof footwear and raincoats. The tour guide takes you several steps on the wooden walkway to the famous Hurricane Deck. Now you are just 20 feet away from the surging waters of the Bridal Veil Falls!! The thundering wall of water is in front of you splashing you generously. You can experience the full force of the falls from a safe distance. Sometimes the winds reach up to 68 mph producing a storm-like condition.

Slowly the night starts taking over. But that does not impede the celebration of this natural beauty. It is the time for illumination and fireworks now. The American Falls are illuminated from the Canadian shore. Morning’s snow-white mist now glitters in rainbow colors. The sight transports you to a different world. Illumination is year round. But fireworks are displayed only on Friday and Sunday night during the summer. You need to secure your place at a good spot well in advance to enjoy this stunning show.

The end of fireworks marks the end of the most memorable day in life. We bid a goodbye to the Falls with heavy hearts. But the history and folklores of Niagara were looming in our heads. Its beauty has made a lasting impression on our minds. It has something that touches you to the core and leaves you spellbind. It has to be experienced. No words or photograph can capture it….

Beauty in the Mist - I

Beauty in the Mist - II

2011-11-26T09:31:00.002-05:00

The next day we headed towards Niagara Falls in New York State. It was again a 6 hours’ drive. In addition to that the region was still recovering from the wrath of winters’ heavy snowfall. Roadwork was underway at many places which was hampering the traffic. But we had no complaints!!! The road was passing through the scenic region surrounded by thick forests and miles long farms. Wind mills and bright red cheese barns were aligned along the road. The region was looking like a deer den as after every mile the boards indicating deer crossings were put up. That was very typical of an American country side.

On the way we got to see one of the biggest lakes we have ever seen. It was in Erie county of Pennsylvania and the lake was one of the five Great Lakes – Lake Erie. For a moment I took it as a sea, but then thanks to Google, we came to know what it is. This lake is fed by Detroit River and its outflow goes to Niagara River and then to Niagara Falls. It is so huge that its shores touch the borders of 4 US states viz. Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. But surprisingly it is the shallowest of all Great Lakes. Its outflow generates hydroelectric power that lights up parts of the US and the Canada.

Finally we reached the city of Niagara Falls. We were so eager to see the falls that we just dropped our luggage at the hotel, freshened up a little and headed straight towards the falls. We could see the mist of the falls pretty high in the air as well as hear the roaring sound of the gushing water from a considerable distance.

We first decided to take the boat ride, the famous Maid of the Mist. It is a thrilling boat ride that starts from a calm port at the Niagara River near the Rainbow Bridge. One has to go down in an elevator to ride the boat. The elevator tower is pretty high and it offers a splendid view of the falls and the Rainbow Bridge. It is the same bridge that connects the US and Canada. The American and Canadian flags were flying high at their respective check posts on the bridge. It was for the first time that I was viewing some international border. Do not know why but I got a bit emotional upon watching this.

We wore the rain coats provided by the staff and boarded the boat. The boat takes you real close to the falls hence rain coats are must. It passes past the American Fall and the Bridal Veil Fall, both completely inside the US territory. The sprinkles caused by the roaring falls water and wind, had already proved the necessity of rain coats. The light passing through this sprinkling water was creating an amazing sight of rainbows. Till that moment, the rainbow used to be a distant object one can only dream of touching. But here it was so close…. Within the reach of ones’ hands!!!

Beauty in the Mist - III

Beauty in the Mist - I

Geeta Dutt - A Mesmerizing Voice

2011-11-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

Who does not know “Na jao saiyyan, chuda ke baiyyan, kasam tumhari main ro padungi”? It’s the girls’ favorite number in antaksharies. But very few know the heart melting voice behind this classic. The owner of that magical voice was Geeta Dutt.

Geeta Dutt, formerly known as Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri, was born into a rich family in East Bengal, now Bangladesh, in 1930. She first sang in a chorus song in 1946; only a couple of lines. But as the aura of diamond cannot be hidden; young Geeta got noticed by S.D.Burman. He made her sing in “Do Bhai”. Her singing style was totally different from the one which was popular during those days. But instead of copying the style of established singers, she introduced her own style – fresh and free flowing.

Her voice was full of expressions. She could be easily labeled as the first versatile female singer of Bollywood. Another versatile star in the category of female singers, Asha Bhosle, had yet to shine. She sang an array of youthful romantic songs. Let it be the warning in “Babuji dheere chalna” or the scolding in “Ja ja ja ja Bewaafa”; her voice was full of feminine youthful vigor. The film “Baazi” was a starting milestone in her career. Under the patronage of S.D.Burman, she sang many beautiful songs for this film viz. “Aaj ki raat piya”, “Suno gajar kya gaaye”, “Tadbeer se bigdi hui” etc. The year 1952 was the busiest in her career. During this year she sang for at least 31 different films.

Another genre of songs that Geeta Dutt mastered was the Bhajans. There was this distinct serenity in her voice that was best suitable for Bhajans. A couple of examples are – “Aaj sajan mohe aang lagalo” from Pyaasa, “Jai Jagdish Hare” from AnandMath and “Na main dhan chahu” from Kala Bazar.

On personal front she was an extrovert, a fun-loving person. She loved having people around and playing a perfect host to them. She was a doting mother. The famous lullaby “Nanhi Kali sone chali” from Sujata, is a testimony of a mother in her. God only knows, how many Indian kids were lulled to sleep by this lullaby.

Geeta Dutt has left her inerasable mark in the genre of sad songs too. Who can forget the emptiness in “Waqt ne kiya kya hansi sitam”? The ruthlessness of time is conveyed so deeply. The melancholy in “Mera sunder sapna beet gaya” is equally haunting. The reflection of pain, distress and helplessness in “Na jao saiyyan” is immortal.

In her small lifespan and career she has delivered many memorable gems. Even during the last year of her life, she delivered something as soft and romantic as “Koi chupke se aake” for the movie Anubhav. This enthralling voice, sweet like honey that explored an array of genre and emotions became silent in 1972. Geeta Dutt passed away at the tender age of 41. November 23, is her birth anniversary. May her soul rest in peace.

Beauty in the Mist - I

2011-11-21T13:57:00.001-05:00

It is the dream of every tourist to visit Niagara at least once. I was not an exception. My dream came true in the September of 2010 when we planned a road-trip to Niagara from Atlanta. It was a good 15-16 hours’ drive, so we decided to break it in two parts. In first part we decided to drive from Atlanta to Columbus, Ohio, take a night’s halt there and the next day drive from Columbus to Niagara Falls, New York.

We started early in the morning. The September weather was really refreshing. The thick foliage on both sides of the road was showing different shades of green. Suddenly we came across a huge water body. So huge that initially I took it as a river. But then the board ahead clarified that it was part of a lake – Lake Allatoona. It is situated on river Etowah and is a popular recreation site.

After entering into the state of Tennessee, we encountered an area of dense fog. All the vehicles were literally crawling in that area. After getting out of the fog, the lush green plains and the famous Tennessee cows greeted us. In Tennessee cattle are raised for beef production.

After travelling through the plains for some time, the road entered into the hilly region of Cumberland Mountains. It is the mountain range in the southeastern section of the Appalachian Mountains. From Knoxville in Tennessee towards the Kentucky border, the road cuts through some of the highest points of elevation in Cumberland Mountains. Though this twisty road was passing through some of the rough terrain, it was maintained in an excellent condition. Travelling on this road was a visual treat and an experience in itself. Some elevated regions were giving the feeling of flying as one can only see the sky above and the tree tops below due to the structure of the road.

After driving for hours through mountains and plains, we approached an urban landscape which was Cincinnati in Ohio State. The beautiful Ohio River runs between the states of Kentucky and Ohio. The Brent Spence Bridge connects Kentucky with Ohio. It is a double decker bridge with upper deck serving southbound traffic and lower deck serving northbound traffic. While travelling northbound, the bridge offers a breathtaking view of Cincinnati skyline. After an hour and a half’s drive, we finally reached Columbus. It was our night’s halt.

Beauty in the Mist - II

Shining Stars

2011-11-16T13:46:00.000-05:00

Loss of a young child is the biggest tragedy in one’s life. But there are people in this selfish world, who at such a heart wrenching moment too, think about others. Meet a couple from Pune who have helped to bring light in someone’s life; and their late son who is no less than an angel…

This couple lost their 2 year old son to pneumonia. At this tragic moment they took a decision that has brightened a life. They decided to donate their son's eyes. Today their toddler is not in this world but he is still among us in the form of his eyes. In a country where over 15 million people are blind, a selfless act like this is certainly commendable.

As per the World Health Organization report in 2007, 39 million cases of blindness are existing worldwide. If this statistics has to be believed, almost 50% of the cases are in India. 75% of these cases are of avoidable blindness. But in this country of over a billion people, there is acute shortage of donated eyes. While the country needs 2.5 million donated eyes every year, the country’s eye banks manage to collect a mere 25,000 eyes.

There is a vast gap between the number of patients needing specialized eye care and the number of ophthalmologists available. There is just one eye surgeon per 100,000 people. Only 10,000 corneal transplants are done every year. This figure is shocking considering that 26% of the blinds in India are children. The condition has changed a little in past four years. Cataract is still a major a cause of blindness followed by glaucoma and other causes.

The situation can very well be brought under control only if the resources are mobilized and used in their utmost capacity. Majority of these cases can be treated by corneal transplant. Unfortunately very little efforts are made to create awareness in society about eye donation. Many myths about eye donation are still prevalent. Those who are ready to step in have little information about what has to be done. But the picture is turning out to be positive now a day. An incident mentioned at the beginning is a good example of it.

Some facts about eye donation:
• Eyes should be donated within 6 hours of death
• Anyone can donate irrespective of age, sex, gender and religion
• People with past eye surgeries, wearing glasses, diabetics and hypertensive can also donate
• The donor need not be taken to the eye bank. The team will come to the donor’s home to collect eyes. The service is free of cost
• The procedure takes only 15-20 minutes
• There is no disfigurement of the donor’s face

Precautions to be taken for eye donation:
• Inform the nearest eye bank immediately
• Place wet cotton with ice over the closed eye lids
• Raise head with a pillow
• Switch off the fans

Death in a family is certainly an unfortunate event, but the feeling that a part of your loved one is shining somewhere is more satisfying.

World of Glass

2011-11-11T19:28:00.001-05:00

To enjoy Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG) you need not be a student of glass craft or a researcher in glass. From a pro to a novice, from artists to researchers - it offers something to everyone. The museum is located in Corning, a town in Upstate New York’s famous Finger Lakes region. Museum’s beautiful glass building gives a hint of an exciting world of glass it is holding in there. It has the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass objects exhibiting the history of glass spanning 3500 years.

We first entered into the Contemporary Glass Gallery. It exhibits various contemporary pieces of art crafted using glass. Along with sculptures one can see various tools and machinery used in glassworks. It showcases techniques like glassblowing, casting, stained glass, flame working etc. Each process and tool is described through animated narration which is quite informative.

The next in line were the Glass Collection Galleries. They show a wonderful glass objects collection from all over the world. In this gallery, one can explore the American, European and Asian glassworks from ancient times till present day. It has precious glass objects on display that have been discovered in different parts of the world and represent different eras of glassworks. It also has a full-scale model of an ancient Egyptian furnace used in glassworks. The sculptures, jewelry and vessels displayed here show us the creativity and skills of ancient glassworkers. The stunning glassworks during the roman period leaves one awestruck by its complex design and decorative work.

The glassblowing technique was invented along the Palestinian coast somewhere around 50 BC and got encouragement from Roman emperors. From there it spread to Egypt, Italy and present day Switzerland, France and Belgium. The Islamic world took the glassworks to the next level. They discovered the technique of staining. Most of their works involved gilding and enameling, cutting and engraving, mold blowing and mosaic glass.

The early European glass objects exhibited in this gallery include stained glass windows and various engraved vessels. It also focuses on glass making in Venice. Carved objects from China, blown vessels from Japan, beaded containers from Indonesia and precious glassware from India represent the glassworks in Asia. Coming to the recent history of glassworks, it showcases the earliest glass made in the United States besides international designer glass vessels, stained glass, furniture, lighting, and decorative objects and accessories.

The visit to the museum is not complete without visiting the Frederick Carder Gallery. Fredrick Carder was a gifted English glass artist. At the age of 14, he joined his family’s pottery business. Once he visited the studio of John Northwood - an innovator in his own regard, and became fascinated by his work. One year later he was working with Northwood as his chief assistant at Stevens & Williams – a well-known English glass making company. There he experimented a lot with glass colors and designs.

After moving to Corning, for almost 30 years he designed various glass products and invented hundreds of glass colors and techniques. He spent around 82 years of his life working with glass and produced hundreds of astonishing glass works. He retired at the age of 96!! No wonder the museum has a whole gallery dedicated to his works.

By this time we were amazed by the variety of the glass art. It was really amusing to know the history of glass. The intricate glass work found in various regions of the world belonging to different periods made us salute those ancient unknown craftsmen for their skill. The world of glass is not limited to just Art but beyond that it spans the science and technology domain too.

Glass has helped tremendously to make this world a better place. If one wants to see how, then it is must to pay a visit to CMOG’s state-of-the-art, interactive Innovation Center. Here one can learn about the striking innovations involving glass. The Optics Gallery unfolds the interesting aspects of interaction between glass and light. As it is interactive, one can dabble in telescopes, take a look through a periscope and point a laser through a stream of water – a good way to make your kids learn about internal reflection!! But the centerpiece of this gallery is the 200 inch glass disk which was casted for Hale telescope.

The Vessels Gallery is all about glass containers. From everyday containers like bottles, jars, bakeware, bulbs, and television picture tubes to specialized containers like fiberglass insulation, missile nose cones and heat and chemical resistant containers; all are at display. We discovered some interesting facts here – Until the end of 19^th century bottles were made by hand. The need of developing an accurate thermometer led to the invention of heat resistant glass. A housewife’s broken casserole was the beginning of Pyrex® Glass Bakeware. Need is indeed the mother of all inventions!!

The interesting live shows add another dimension to your experience. After going through this spectacular display of glass in art, science and technology; it is pretty much obvious for anyone to think how it is made possible? The live glass making shows try to give an answer to your questions. The Optical Fiber Demo explains how glass threads can carry huge amounts of digital information, how light can be used for communication. It is interesting to know that the first breaking achievement in optical fiber research took place in Corning!!!

In this heaven of glassmaking, one area is dedicated to glass breaking too!! Here the visitors are encouraged to break glass. The demo lets you know how bullet-proof glass is made, why a car window glass breaks differently than a house window glass. You can explore the space shuttle window glass and computer screen glass.

The Flameworking Demo and the Hot Glass Show are the spectator’s delight. The flameworkers demonstrate how objects are formed from glass rods and tubes. The rod is first melt in the flame. This softened glass is then can be shaped into variety of shapes like sculptures and vessels. The Hot Glass Show is the glassblowing demonstration. You can watch the expert glassmakers take hot gobs of molten glass at the end of a pipe and shape it in stunningly beautiful objects. It is wonderful to watch the glass going through various processes and turning out to be some spectacular object.

They have a lucky draw during these shows. While entering the show visitors are given a coupon. At the end of the show they declare the lucky coupon numbers. If you have the lucky coupon, you can take home some freshly crafted glass goodies!!! Even if you do not win any, do not get disappointed as the museum shop – the GlassMarket, gives you an opportunity to shop for glassworks ranging from accessories to jewelry and designer collections to housewares.

It is indeed a place worth visiting!!

Asha Bhosle - 78 years of a divine voice

2011-10-24T17:09:00.000-04:00

It was a regular weekday morning. After dealing with all the hustle and bustle, I settled with a cup of tea and opened an e-paper. Amongst the stories of bloody Libya and corrupt India, one story was standing apart as a cool moonlight – Asha Bhosle entered Guinness World Record as most recorded voice. No doubt that for any die-hard Asha fan it is enough to be on cloud nine!!! Over 11,000 songs in 20 Indian and foreign languages including solo and duets – what an achievement!!!

But this was not an easy journey. Born on September 8, 1933 in a Marathi family in Sangli, Maharashtra, India; she was blessed to have Master Deenanath Mangeshkar as her father. He himself was a renowned theater actor and classical singer. He used to teach the siblings. Besides Indian classical, Asha used to love singing in western style and for that she had to face her mother’s wrath. But that had made her voice extremely flexible.

Unfortunately her father passed away when she was 9 years old. Her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar began singing and acting in films to support the family. Asha followed her after sometime and sang her first film song for a Marathi movie in 1943. In 1949 came her first solo Hindi film song.

Quite shockingly, she married at the age of 16 to Mr.Ganpatrao Bhosle. Her family did not approve this marriage and hence stopped talking to her. This marriage was a big failure. After a few years of marriage when no other option left, she opted out and went to her maternal home with two children and pregnant with the third.

Now singing has become her need. She was singing to support herself and the three children; travelling in crowded local trains of Mumbai; running from one studio to other sometimes empty stomach. That was the time when prominent singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, and Suraiyya were ruling the music industry. Asha was mostly singing for B and C grade movies.

She was given her first big break by Bimal Roy in Parineeta (1953) and then by Raj Kapoor in Boot Polish (1954). 1956 onwards she teamed up with O.P. Nayyar and the duo churned out many memorable melodies. Her first grand success came in 1957 through B.R. Chopra’s Naya Daur. She also got patronage of S.D.Burman and Ravi. Later on she associated with R.D. Burman and they both created a history in Indian Film Music. From this point her career graph went just upwards.

And why not? She is the most versatile female singer. She sings cabaret songs and bhajans with equal ease. She does full justice to soulful ghazals. She performs her father’s Marathi drama songs with perfection. She is the undisputed queen when it comes to singing seducing bitchy songs. She handles pop and Ravindra Sangeet flawlessly. No Indian singer has handled western music as swiftly as she has done. She has also collaborated with foreign singers and bands like Boy George, Stephen Lauscombe, Michael Stipe and Code Red.

There are many singers who sing technically perfect; but Asha is among the few who sing technically and emotionally perfect. Let it be bubbly songs or soulful songs; happy or sad songs it always comes from her heart. The word “Impossible” is not in her dictionary. Only she can take up the challenge of crooning R.D. Burman’s westernized complex tunes and set the bar so high that is unreachable. Only Asha Bhosle, a school dropout, can sing western tunes with western singers in perfect accent.

The kind of voice flexibility and voice modulation that she showcases can leave anyone awestruck. Not just singing but other things involved in playback singing like saying dialogs or laughing are done to utmost perfection.

From perfection I remembered an incident read in some magazine. Asha was recording “O mere sona re” for Teesri Manzil with R.D.Burman. Somehow RD was not getting the required feel. Asha was giving takes after takes without even taking a lunch break. Finally in late evening the take was okay. Till that time Asha did not eat anything. The result of this dedication is in front of us.

The same kind of dedication and perfection is visible in her live concerts too. Even though she is singing live, moving on stage, dancing, mimicking; each note comes perfect. At the age of 79, she gives such power packed performances full of energy that a youngster should feel ashamed.

Her ventures are not limited only to singing. But she is an excellent cook. In one interview she has said “I would have been a cook if not a singer. I'd have cooked in four houses and made money”. Today she is a successful restaurateur and runs a chain of restaurants in Gulf countries called Asha’s. She personally trained the chefs.

This lady has seen so many ups and downs in life but her smile did not fade away. Her smiling frame clad in silk saree, wearing pearls or diamond jewelry and fresh flowers in hair is just enough to bring solitude just like her singing. No wonder that she was declared the most stylish people in music in 2005. She has changed so well with time that for over 4 generations she is the dearest Asha Tai / Asha didi (elder sister). At this age also her enthusiasm is so high that she is debuting as an actress in a movie called “Maaee” in a mother’s role.

She has proved her name correct. Asha means hope. Only God knows how many poor lives she has enlightened with her divine voice. May god bless her with good health for many more years to come.

Is India ready for events like CWG?

2010-10-06T05:13:00.009-04:00

A lot of brain-storming is happening on this topic since past few months. After watching the spectacular inauguration ceremony, the hype and hoopla seems to be settled down. There is no doubt that the astonishing display of India's culture and progress during the inauguration ceremony was breathtaking. But at the same time, it is difficult to forget the unfortunate events that have happened during the preparation. Even if one agrees to the fact that organizing such big scale events is always difficult, what have happened during the preparation of CWG is certainly not acceptable.

It was in November, 2003 that India won the bid for 2010 Commonwealth Games and Delhi was declared as the host city. Indian Olympic Association organized a study tour for senior officials to Sydney, Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, to learn from their experience. We had almost 6-7 years in hand for preparation. In spite of this, what we showed to the world that we Indians are unorganized, corrupt and incapable of executing big projects. This is what most of the world think about India. We had got one opportunity to prove them wrong, but wasted it due to poor planning. Supporters of CWG say that the things were not as bad as media has showcased. I do not think that the media is a culprit here. After all, the smoke is where the fire is.

India has made significant progress in past few years. But still we lack basic infrastructure like roads and bridges in major part of the country. The status is the same for education and health care. Electricity and telecommunication is still a luxury. Our children are dying due to malnutrition. Our farmers are committing suicides. Our cities are struggling to cope up with the ever increasing flow of migrants from rural areas. Many children have to stop their studies because there is no facility for higher education nearby and there is no transport available to commute to the place where it is available.

Can’t the government be as enthusiastic in solving these problems as it was in organizing CWG? CWG has its own benefits. But are these benefits going to be transferred to the deprived in this country? If the huge amount of funds that have been used for CWG, been used for providing health care or education facilities for the people in remote areas, we tax payers would have been happy.

Unless and until the infrastructure is developed, the needs of the needy are addressed to best possible level, India will not be ready for events like CWG.

What after Ayodhya Verdict?

2010-10-01T13:51:00.000-04:00

Finally, the most awaited verdict in India's history is out. This time the government had taken all the possible precautions to avoid any sort of unwanted incidents. Learning from the past experience, the common man has also shown a great level of maturity and accepted the verdict calmly. The government, the political parties, the media and the common citizens all played their roles with dignity. Right now, the environment in the country is of understanding, maturity and respect to each other's religion. Everyone is talking about forgetting the past and starting a fresh. Overall, the spirit is positive.

The court has tried to please everybody. It was a very difficult job. But they have succeeded in that to some extent. The real test will begin now - when it comes to implementing the court's decision. It is going to take a long time. The involved parties are planning to go to the supreme court. We will have to see what the supreme court says on that. In short, it is going to be a lengthy process. Only thing is, the kind of understanding and maturity people are showing now, should be maintained in coming days too.

The court has taken a very good decision by distributing the disputed land equally among all parties. It will be great if all involved parties broaden their horizons and take the decision of using this land for some good purpose.

Ayodhya has always been a place of religious interest for Hindus and it will remain so forever. Majority of people in Ayodhya depend upon this religious tourism for their bread and butter. Now due to this historical verdict, Ayodhya has attracted the attention of the world. The government should use it for the development of this area.

The disputed land can be used to construct a museum that shows a history of India during Vedic era as well as Mughal era. Besides that a symbolic all religion prayer place can be constructed there. That will surely highlight the secularism in India. I am sure that these things will increase the number of tourists visiting Ayodhya and will contribute to the development of this place and well-being of the people in Ayodhya who have suffered a lot in all these decades.

We can only hope for the best. After all, "Ishwar Allah tero naam. Sabko sanmati de Bhagwan...."

In the home of the Buckeyes….

2010-09-14T15:06:00.001-04:00

Do you love the snow? Do you want to get the all American Home Town feel? Then you must have to visit Columbus - the capital city of Ohio state. It is located at the confluence of the river Scioto and the river Olentangy.

I landed in this cozy city on last year’s Christmas Eve. The chilly winds gave me a welcome at the airport and they accompanied me for all four months that I spent there. The very next day upon arrival, I witnessed the first snow fall of my life!!! The soft white snow flakes were landing slowly on the ground as if some white fairies were landing on the earth from heaven. Within moments, everything turned white - the trees, the parked cars, the roofs… There was this white blanket spread all over. The sunset used to be very early, by 5 o’ clock. Compared to the windy, chilly darkness outside, the warm and well-lit hotel room was much cozy.

The super market was at a walking distance from where we were staying. Getting there was a tedious but amusing task. The sidewalks used to be covered with snow. So we had to be cautious while walking there. It really used to be an amusing site when we used to waddle through calf-length snow fully covered in warm clothes, just like clowns!! Basically this place sees a variety of weather with average high temperature up to 40 °C and average low up to -6.5 °C.

Majority of the population here is White. It seems to have an influence of European culture with places like German village and Amish Country in vicinity. The people here are warm, welcoming and friendly.

It has historical significance too. Here are some facts - The first water plant in the world to apply filtration and softening was constructed here. It saw the landing of world’s first commercial cargo flight. The birthplace of aviation - Dayton - where Wright brothers built the first ever airplane is about 75 miles from Columbus.

It has one of the largest universities in the USA - The Ohio State University - well known as OSU. Columbus is one of the most literate and best educated cities in the USA.

With many historical places in and around the city, good educational facilities, accessibility to major cities and rich cultural experience, anyone would like to make it a home !!!

Tips for an enjoyable weekend in office

2010-09-10T00:49:00.000-04:00

Hello readers!! Let me ask you a simple question - Does anybody enjoys working on weekends? No... I have not gone mad... and I am not kidding. Till date I have not found anyone who enjoys working on weekends except a few friends. Even I really used to hate working on weekends from the bottom of my heart. But things changed after a few weeks.

It happened so - When I was a new joinee, I had to spend a good number of weekends in office. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, there used to be no way out. So instead of complaining about it, we decided to accept our fate and started looking out for ways to make our office hours on weekends enjoyable. Here are a couple of positive(?) things that we discovered about working on weekends -

1. You can play music loudly on your mobile. Absolutely no need to worry about the volume unless people sitting around you belong to other teams. They are likely to pretend that you are disturbing them and try to show off how hard they are working.

2. You do not have to come to office early unless clearly told. So you can grab those extra two-three hours of sleep.

3. No formal wears!! Full chance to show off your new trendy casual wears.

4. Most probably the canteen will be closed or open for restricted hours. A good reason to head towards a nearby good restaurant. If someone in your group has a pending treat then this is the best time to go for it.

5. You can extend your lunch time beyond fixed hours. Your boss is not going to call you today when you are out for lunch.

6. You can work peacefully as an entity called "Boss" is not in the office. He will be calling you only once at the end of the day for status. (Why he does not do it on weekdays too?)

7. You can take a short afternoon nap without getting those nasty stares.

8. There will not be any queue in front of the vending machines and washrooms.

9. God knows how but all air conditioners will work properly. (Do they also enjoy working on weekends?)

10. The most attractive perk - you can claim a complementary off during a week for all the work (?) you have done on weekend.

So next time when you are working on weekend, do not complain... just chill !!

Statutory Warning: Do it at your own risk. Do not leave the planned tasks incomplete. That is for what you are in the office on a weekend.

In the land of Sand and Seagulls

2010-09-03T14:05:00.002-04:00

We were planning to visit some beach since last year. But due to some reason or the other we could not make it. So this time we decided, no matter what happens, we will make it. We had only two days in our hands. So I started to search for a nice beach not too far and reachable by road. While searching I stumbled upon a review of Carolina Beach in North Carolina, US. After going through a couple of more reviews and looking some snaps, I realized that this is the place we were looking for!! We did our last minute hotel reservation (as usual !!), packed our bags and left for Carolina Beach.

It was a good 8-9 hours drive. Carolina Beach is located 19 miles south of Wilmington, NC. The most memorable thing about this drive was the view of some huge rivers like “The Great Pee Dee River“ and “Cape Fear“. I had never seen this kind of rivers before. They were so wide just like the sea !! We also spotted a beautiful cemetery. Hey, do not get shocked !! I am talking about a cemetery only and it was really looking beautiful. A big ground with hundreds of fresh bouquets laid over. I could not believe that a cemetery can look so beautiful.

The nearest city from Carolina Beach is Wilmington. You enter this beautiful small city after crossing the grand Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. It is a vertical lift bridge - a kind of movable bridge. You can get the glimpses of crystal blue Atlantic water from this bridge. Wilmington is also known as the Port City as it is located between the Cape Fear river and the Atlantic Ocean. Many grand old homes and avenues proudly show off the rich history of this city. Many ships were built in the shipyards of Wilmington during World Wars. The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company was a leading company in this sector. The highlight of Wilmington is the lead battleship during World War II - USS North Carolina. It is docked as a museum ship at Port Wilmington. We could not visit it due to time constraints.

We were so eager to visit the beach that we just dropped our bags in hotel room, munched a few snacks and headed straight towards the beach. A typical beach fragrance was in the air. What grabbed my attention was the silver sand and a beautiful boardwalk. The beach was not too crowded. Most of the people were with families. The most enjoyable thing on this beach was the seagulls. It was very amusing to watch these birds. They were diving straight into the roaring sea waters and catching some small fish. Some lazy birds were walking on the shores in search of shells and other small creatures being flown on the shores. They were friendly and were not hesitating from coming closer to people.

The nights here are bright with many options to entertain yourself. Beach style restaurants and wine bars are available at every other corner. Most of them offer some kind of live performances along with specialty sea food. Gaming zones are available for gaming addicts. Romantic moonlight cruises are ready to serve the love birds. It was dinner time by then. But we did not dare to taste the sea food. So we decided to treat us with pizza.

The next morning we again went to the beach for a leisurely morning walk. On the way to beach a large brown Pelican greeted us. Morning on the beach was peaceful. Only the roar of the sea and sound of seagulls was scratching the silence. First rays of the sun were illuminating the Atlantic Ocean. Those were the moments to cherish for a life-time.

We returned to hotel after some time and started packing for our return journey. It was one of the few places that offers something for everybody and lets you enjoy the moments to the fullest. We started our drive home with a resolution to visit this place again with more days in hands to spend.

Are we killing our daughters?

2010-09-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

I am very upset today. Since yesterday, I read two news of dowry related deaths. Now you may ask "What is new in that? So many girls have become dowry victims in the past". That is true. Even today many girls are facing dowry related problems or even deaths. The situation is the same in rural as well as urban areas.

What made me worried in both these incidents is that these girls were highly educated. One was a doctor and another a software engineer. They were married to equally qualified boys from well-to-do families. Their parents have already given enough(?) dowry. Still these poor girls had such an unfortunate fate.

A few years ago in some seminar I had heard that illiteracy is one of the causes behind dowry related incidents. We need to educate girls so that they will become independent and that will reduce the dowry incidents too. But I can not see this happening. Every alternate day, we read the news of dowry deaths. Many of the victims and their families are well educated. It is contradictory to the theory of illiteracy-dependence-dowry.

Today people have recognized the importance of educating girls but in a wrong sense. Now it is being related to heavy pay packages. Every educated girl wants a life partner with handsome salary. There are people who educate their daughters only to find a wealthy groom for them. Parents often do not pay enough attention to other factors like culture, values of the family where they tend to send their daughters.

Social factors also come in the picture here. Right from childhood, girls are taught to make adjustments. So even if parents find something different, they feel that their child will adjust slowly. Spoken and unspoken demands of the groom's family are accepted due to society's fear.

Another big mistake parents commit is, thinking that their daughter is not their responsibility after her marriage. In many cases, even though the girls turn to their parents and brothers for support, they themselves take her to the in-laws and husband. I feel it like taking your own helpless cow to a butcher. No matter how educated people have become today, a married girl staying with her parents is still a topic of social criticism.

Our girls are educated today. They are financially independent. But what about the psychological support they need in their hour of crisis? Isn't it parent's responsibility to support them mentally? I request all the parents and brothers out there, do not turn your back at your dear daughters and sisters. Verify those complaints, keep in touch with her. Do not let her feel that she is alone and there is no way other than death. If the need arises do not hesitate to let her stay with you. Be her strength and help her to rebuild her life.

Do books have personalities?

2010-08-31T15:15:00.000-04:00

According to me - Yes, they have!! Let me explain you. Personality is something that defines an individual... their characteristics. In case of individuals we categorize personalities as pleasant, boring, strict etc. How do we label an individual of having a particular type of personality? By physical characteristics, the way a person communicates, the person's thoughts and opinions. You must be thinking that how these human characteristics can be applied to a lifeless thing such as books? But think twice before calling them lifeless!!

I remember my last visit to a book store. Books on different subjects were arranged systematically. While browsing through them, I reached the children section. Many colorful paper-friends were smiling on the shelves. The ones with hard cover were looking richer than those with paper cover. Arranged in different shelves, as if they were displaying their higher status proudly. Picture books for toddlers were really cute.

I always find the books on subjects like cooking, crochet and craft warm and homely just like some warm welcoming home-maker. Religious books seem serene and pure in heart. Even the old dusty books seem to be telling the unwritten stories of their golden days through yellow torn out pages. I find them closer to an elderly person narrating the stories of their good old days.

This is what I feel about the personalities of books. Do you have any different perceptions? I would love to hear from you...

Woods are lovely, dark n' deep...............

2010-08-21T16:54:00.001-04:00

Last week end, we visited the Amicalola Falls State Park. It is located in Dawson county in Georgia state. It is the tallest cascading waterfall (729 feet) east of the Mississippi river.

We did not know much about the area and the only help available was the Google map and the GPS. We started from Alpharetta which is located at around 20 miles from Atlanta. The climate was cloudy. There were short spells of rain while we were travelling on GA-400. The cool rainy breeze was really refreshing.

The conditions changed when we started on GA-136. The road was narrower and there were a lot of trees on both the sides of the road - almost like a forest. Sometimes we got to spot beautiful houses hidden behind the veil of these trees. When we were thinking how lucky these people are who got to stay in such a scenic place, the rain started again. But this time it was heavy. The situation was just like a horror film. A road winding through a dense forest, heavy rain and a lonely car... We were a little bit fearful for a moment as there was nobody else on the road within our view and the area was unknown.

But fortunately the rain stopped after a few minutes and we got to see some houses too. At the entrance of one house, a board was hanging - "Fresh Tomatoes for Sale". Somebody was selling farm-fresh tomatoes. That reminded me of the sale of farm-fresh veggies and fruits on the highways back home. A few miles ahead a herd of sheep was grazing on a beautiful green plain. We also saw a couple of churches. It was a lovely country side.

After a trip of around an hour and 15 minutes, we finally reached the park. We parked our car and headed towards the visitor center. Here again the light rain shower was ready to welcome us. The visitor center was equipped with informative material like posters and maps, nature exhibits and live animals. It also has a gift shop. We collected the map of the park from here.

By now the rain was stopped. The rain soaked trees were looking beautiful. The picnic shelters and cottages near the visitor center were full of people intending to spend their week end with nature. We headed towards the Reflection Pool. It is a lovely lake surrounded by beautiful trees. One can see the waterfall from here when the climate is clear. It was foggy when we visited. So we got only the glimpses of the waterfall. Some children were fishing in the lake. There were wooden benches to sit. It was a serene place.

After a short break here, we took the Appalachian Approach Trail towards the waterfall. It was a moderately strenuous trail going through the crowd of trees. A stream of water was accompanying us. It was producing a sweet, rhythmic sound. For people like us who are used to electronic music, this natural music was really soothing. We were looking for some wild animals. But unfortunately could not spot any except a few butterflies. I think they were hiding in their shelters due to the rain showers a short while ago.

We spotted some wild flowers, fern and mushrooms. Slowly we reached the lower observation platform. One can see the waterfall from here. But to get a more closer look, one has to go to the Falls Overlook Bridge. It offers a splendid view of the waterfall. One can see the water jumping down the rocks and then flowing down from the bridge. The waterfall has got its name due to this jumping or tumbling of water only. In Cherokee Indian language the word "Amicalola" means "Tumbling Waters".

After spending a few moments here, we started moving towards the top of the falls from West Ridge Staircase. It is a strenuous patch comprising of 425 steps. But the wooden benches in between and the breath-taking view of the surrounding forest keep the stress at bay.

When we reached the top, the only words we could utter were "Aah" and "Wow" !!! The view over there was so heavenly that we could not say anything else. In front of us was a beautiful fragile stream of water surrounded by a few trees as if the trees were guarding this princess. A few steps away was the green plain laying cozily under the blanket of fog. A few mischievous trees were waving from the fog. There were a few people but nobody dare to disturb the peace of that place. The only obvious sound was that of the moving water and the chirping birds. Heaven would not be any different than this....

We soaked ourselves completely in that peace and then started our return journey. While returning, hubby missed one turn :( But that was a blessing in disguise!! As we were moving ahead in search of a suitable place to take the U-turn, we spotted a beautiful ranch and a farm house. It was picture-perfect !!

This trip offered us a glimpse of American country life and I'm loving it !!

Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta

2010-08-16T16:14:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we visited the Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta. This temple is located at James Burgess Road Suwanee - around 45 miles towards north from downtown Atlanta.

When you enter the premises, the temple's size grabs your attention. It is big and beautiful. At the ground floor, an arrangement is done to keep the foot ware and to wash feet. The prasadalay (a place where the holy food is served) is also located at this floor. You can take the stairs to the sabhagriha (an open space in front of the deity) or you can go out and enter from the main entrance.

When you reach the next floor, you can see holy Hindu books arranged near the entrance. The arrangement for accepting donations is also made over here. A door will lead you to the sabhagriha. The sabhagriha is specious with line of windows to both its sides. A beautiful Shri Sai idol is placed over here. The rhythmic chant of Hindu mantras make the environment more tranquil.

It is a must-visit place for people in and around Atlanta. For more information please visit the temple website

http://www.templeofpeace.org/

A Cup of Life !!

2010-08-12T14:50:00.000-04:00

The morning ritual for many of us includes having a cup of tea. No matter whether it is green or black, with milk or without milk or in any other fancy form, but starting a day without tea is far from imagination - at least for me !!

Botanical name of this magical herb is Camellia Sinensis. Black and green tea both come from the same plant. The difference is, black tea undergoes fermenting process after the leaves are dried whereas green tea leaves are steamed after drying and are not fermented.

The origin of tea plant is in the region of northeast India and southwest China. Commercial cultivation of tea plants was started by the Chinese. Buddhist monks played a major role in spreading this beverage to other parts of the world like Japan, Korea and Sri Lanka.

Tea has got an important place in many cultures especially the Asian. Japanese and Chinese Tea Ceremonies are famous all over the world. Britishers introduced the western world to the practice of "Afternoon Tea". The term "High Tea" was tossed during industrial revolution. The Boston Tea Party triggered the American Revolution.

Health effects of tea on human beings is a controversial topic. It is said to be an effective anti-oxidant and reduces mental fatigue. It is hard to find a person who does not feel energised after having a cup of hot tea. However if consumed in excess the caffeine in tea can be harmful.

So be cautious while enjoying your cup !!!

Who created this universe?

2010-08-11T16:28:00.000-04:00

This is a fundamental question and many of the world's mighty brains have searched for its answer.

We know that this universe is full of chemicals - both artificial and natural. We know how these natural chemicals like oil and gas are formed in the earth's crust. We know chemical composition of the sun. We also know how our earth and other planets have formed. We know the chemistry behind many other phenomenon.

What we do not know is who initiated these vital chemical reactions? Who defined their rules? Who created the basic elements? ....... ? ....... ? Here we come to the conclusion that this universe is created by a super power - The God.

The sages in Upanishads (a sacred Hindu scripture) have named this super power as the "Brahman". According to these sages, "Brahman" is the cause behind the existence of this universe. A portion of this "Brahman" is existing within everything in the universe. That is why everyone should be treated equally. Suicide is an attempt of destroying a portion of this cosmic power and hence it is an extreme offence.

We should nurture this source of energy by following a healthy organic lifestyle rather than destroying it by consuming unhealthy fast food and following a sedentary lifestyle.

An Unwanted "Little Boy"

2010-08-06T13:59:00.000-04:00

Around 65 years ago - on August 06, 1945 8:15 a.m. - this "Little Boy" landed in Hiroshima, Japan. Yes, you guessed it right!! I am talking about the world's first ever nuclear attack.

The world has come a long way since then but it does not seem to have learnt anything from Hiroshima. Even after witnessing the horrible devastation at Hiroshima, the United States went ahead and dropped another nuclear bomb, stronger than the previous one at Nagasaki on August 09, 1945. Were the American leaders so numb that the destruction at Hiroshima and the stories of excruciating pain of thousands of innocent Japanese citizens did not force them to think over the second bombing mission again?

The picture has not changed too much even today. After the United States, countries like Russia (former Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, France and China have acquired nuclear weapons. India, Pakistan and North Korea followed them. Almost all major countries are involved in this nuclear weapon game by one way or the other.

Considering the increasing tension between North and South Korea, the war-prone triangle of India-Pakistan-China, unstable Iraq-Afghanistan and many other countries in the world that can be heaven to terrorists, the nuclear threat has grown up many folds over the years. One can not imagine the consequences of these nuclear weapons falling in wrong hands.

We as the common people through out the world can only pray for the best. Let us pray today for the victims of Hiroshima. May their souls rest in peace.....

*** Recommended Reading:- Death in Life: Survivors of Hiroshima by Robert Jay Lifton

Once upon a time.....

2010-08-03T14:33:00.002-04:00

It was a lazy afternoon and I was browsing eSakal.com just to check out what's happening in "Maza Maharashtra" - my native state. The news of good rainfall in Pune's dam region was certainly promising. The thought of Pune's rain brought back some sweet memories - the memories of my childhood rain....

I used to stay in a small town in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Being in Konkan region we used to witness heavy rainfall. My first memory of rain is that of a small alley flooded with gushing muddy water. We had this alley adjacent to our fence and a farm next to it. During other seasons this alley used to provide the shortest way to reach the bus stand. But during monsoon it used to be really useless as it used to get flooded with water. Watching the rising water level in that alley was my favorite activity. Sometimes I could find water snakes and crabs swimming in that water.

Oh crabs !! They remind me of another monsoon special. In C.K.P. (Kayastha in Maharashtra - a caste) households they are known as "chimbori". This crab curry is a special monsoon delicasy in Konkan region. I remember seeing the light of tribal people's torches at night when they used to wander for crab hunting. Another monsoon-only mouth watering dish in C.K.P. homes is a wild vegetable called "shevla". My mother used to cook it with spices or sometimes with prawns or dried prawns. No matter how it is cooked, it always used to taste awesome. I used to like it so much (even today I do !!) that I used to ask mother why don't we get chimborya and shevla throughout the year?

We had a pond a few steps away from our backyard. It used to get totally dried up during summer. But after the first showers, it used to become lively with the arrival of its singer guests - the frogs !! These used to be big yellow frogs. They used to gather around the water accumulated in the pond from first showers. It really used to be a funny sight. Our early monsoon nights used to be noisy because of them. But they used to disappear with increasing rain only to appear again the next year after first showers.

My primary school was at a walking distance from home. Sometimes while coming home after school, it used to start raining. In such a situation we kids never used to take the efforts of wearing a raincoat. Just hold the school bag on head and start running. Thanks to water-proof bags !!

When I was in 5th standard, I got admitted to another school which was away from home. I needed to walk for half-an-hour to reach school. But this was a blessing in disguise as it gave a new dimension to my monsoon adventures. There was a small hill near the way to my school (It's still there...). After heavy rain fall many small waterfalls used to jump on the road from this hill and the entire road used to get flooded with knee-length water. I really used to wait for that day. On a day when the road seem to look more like a pool than a road, we friends used to play in that water and the waterfalls for a long time. So long that we used to forget about the time and my grandpa used to come looking for me.

Our another favorite game in monsoon was walking in rain without opening an umbrella. We used to do this during heavy rain fall when the school used to cut short due to flood warning. We used to get different reactions from people walking on the road. Some used to scold us, some used to laugh at us and some used to join us !! Everybody used to be aware of the unavoidable scolding of parents and/or grandparents at home, but the heavy rain always used to be tempting.

Many things have changed over the time along with me. Chimborya and shevla have become rare (Thanks to the so called development). My maternal home is shifted away from the pond. So don't know whether those funny yellow frogs still come there. And last but not the least, even the monsoon has changed.....