Monday 3 December 2012

Miracle!


Hey! When I talk 'bout' this dears I get goose bumps ! Believe you must!
 A couple of years back I was going through a personal crisis of the worst kind.. My life was in doldrums , I was in a mess and my world was crumbling apart! One  day as usual I took the daily bus to work.After sometime a girl in her twenties occupied a seat in front of me. I gave her a wide smile and she complimented me profusely on it! .We continued traveling and I dozed off. As I opened my eyes , after a while, I found  this girl reading a book by Sri Sri. I said.. "My smile is beautiful because we share  the same Guru"...in return ,she smiled  back and we started to talk . Out of  context  she told me a personal  story of miracle.
It was like-

"Two years back one of my friends was doing an advanced course with Sri Sri and on his  last day of the course I had asked him to convey a personal message to Guruji on meeting him, but he forgot.As he  sat on the floor repentant  he saw a pair of feet  next to him. It was non other than Sri Sri..he  simply patted my friend on his shoulder  and said 'Tell your friend , that I am taking care of her.'  My friend... could not just believe that Sri Sri had read his mind and conveyed a message about me!" 

Amidst other gossip...The girl  recounted how she had to chase the bus for a good half  hour, on a bike  with her cousin to take it ! How she was 'hell bent' on taking the same bus instead of the next!  I knew somehow in my heart that I will never  ever meet this girl  or  will be able to strike a chord  with her !But after this incident , I was able to overcome my personal crisis and life has come back to normal!

Moral of the story-Its a Miracle!? Any doubts?

Sunday 25 November 2012

WRITER'S BLOCK....



Anu's Chatter.........



What is a Writers block?
Over the years that I am a writer now ...I cannot write for some days...some days I just flow ... when I cannot( Write naturally) I panic ....I am restless....I want to know the reason ...I try different methods to motivate myself....after much introspection, I realized that the reason I cannot is the reason I am not motivated enough.....  is the Famous Writers block!!!? But motivation I realized comes not always and comes from another space..what is it?That space I know now is the  lack of ambition! Surprised ? But it is true...... the reason is you do not care much ...you are indifferent wether you want to have a vision or not...what ever..now I am pepping myself up and writing and doing my bit for the day...presto! I realize that  after I started to write this blog all my blocks have melted and  I am much motivated enough, energized enough, to write the whole day...is not it dears called as your true calling? Your work gives you the motivation to live and vice-versa?...oh I don't care ..whatever...I am writing soooooo I am living! 

Tuesday 21 August 2012

The Art Of Doing Nothing.....


Its like the Art of Living.... I have often heard from women about this !As  every day I  hear  someone say "I am bored because ...I have nothing to do." I wanted to find more on the topic of 'Doing Nothing and Getting Bored' syndrome. So I fished some women and went asking! The first was  a  friend of mine who is earning a five figure salary but did not have the time to look else where but work..... so I figured she must be 'Not Bored' types! Little into the convo...I found her  envying housewives! "What an amazing life they have.... all the time with their families. I am really bored of working!" 

So, next I visited a housewife friend of mine who took a sabbatical from work  to be with her kids. Now she is a 24 /7 mom, turns out her boys are rowdy do not listen to her! She is all  admiration for working women. "Those are the lucky ones and those were the good days when I was off to work from morning till night! I am just waiting for my second one to grow up,so that I can go back to work." "How long that will be?" I ask. "Maybe three maybe four or more..its very boring to be a home maker!"Yes yes." I chip in. 

 By this time I wondered if there was someone out there  'Not Bored'types.  So I went to a lady professor who seemed to be  having time for  herself and her family!  She was like--  what a pain the paper corrections were for a teacher and the she complained about teachers being paid very less etc .  I  protested "You get time with your family don't you in this profession?" "Where?" "They pay less and half of the vacations call us to the university with some pretext  or the other for extra corrections or work. On the pretext?" My eyebrows escape into my hairline. "Is.... that the government  is paying good salary to us teachers with the implementation of the sixth pay.... harassment I tell you." She continues...like her lecture for 40 odd minutes..."I need more money  less corrections and more vacations ...anytime , office goers are much better off!" "Why?" I rejoin.... "They have fixed working hours, no taking work home and salary is good...oh yes they get to dress well too" She said it , as if it was a qualification! Has somebody heard of- 'The other side is always the greener one?' "Yawn I am bored!Please save me !"

Monday 20 August 2012


Jennifer Lopez's Beauty Dos-

The singer is famous for her glow, but it's not all about access to the best makeup artists. "Beauty comes from inside," says Lopez. "It's been said many times, but I believe it's the truth." She offers tips for being your own radiant best:Take time for yourself. When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you are a better person and parent." That doesn't require a week at a spa: When Lopez has a moment, "I just breathe and clear my mind. Sometimes we just have to do nothing, just breathe."Let whimsy be your stylist. "In terms of style, I encourage other women to first be comfortable but have fun. Life is meant to be fun!"Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. "When I am with my girlfriends, sisters, and cousins, we just say and do ridiculous and silly things. We are Puerto Ricans with a lot of energy. Sometimes it gets loud!"Take to your bed. "Sleep! I think sometimes we get caught up in what we need to do next and forget about what are the very essential and important things in life. I treasure my time to sleep. It's just as important as eating or Exercise."Care for all aspects of your well-being. "I believe that life is a balance of mind, body, and soul. As I journey through my life experience, I have a better understanding of how true this really is. When your life is balanced, you are happy and excel in everything."

TRIVIA-

Forbes estimated Lopez' earnings in the past 12 months at $52 million (32.67 million pounds), and her top ranking is powered by her lucrative gig as a judge on popular television show, "American Idol," a new clothing line at Kohl's, a top-selling fragrance and millions of Twitter and Facebook followers.

Saturday 18 August 2012


NOSTALGIA HITS......


Guys there is a feeling deep in the pit of your stomach , when you come across somethings from your past ..well they can be a few letters, e-mails or any thing that was dear to you in the past...today.... I was browsing the channels and came across the news about Kaka and Dimpi's marriage saga( Dimpi as in Dimple Kapadia)  nostalgia hit me. It was being announced as the best romance of Bollywood and how the couples marriage was 'THE NEWS' across the nation in the 70's...it was the first thing that was shown in  the theaters to the public before the actual screening of the film... the feeling hit me along with the memory..... as a child I remember going to the cinemas with my parents and watching the wedding film of Kaka and Dimple....That done when I opened my machine to check mail and was browsing though my files guys.... I came across a couple of leads that I had compiled three years back that became popular cause of the words  I used and the way I had written .....My Anoo's mag( On Line Lifestyle magazine) went on to became one of the most popular online mags that got rave reviews..as  the nostalgia begets I wast no time to share and post them-

The making of Kabini    (By: Dr Anuradha Prasad)



“Kabini is still untouched, serene and natural, transports a hungry traveler to the heights of divine quality of human nature. Because it connects to a part of his natural origin that is ravaged by the advent of civilization, a visit to the place brings back the hidden primal emotions that could be primitive yet natural, exotic yet divine! Basically visiting Kabini was like going back home to the humble beginnings of the man kind!”


FASHION   ( By: Dr Anuradha Prasad) 

I bring to you my all time ‘fav’ Indian designer……..who has given the traditional style a glamour exceeding the excellent , wove Indian rustic designs  into sophisticated chic fashions……. she gave  boutique prints her own characteristic appeal … which were otherwise relegated to the back lanes of Calcutta only used by a few rustic artisans nobody cared to look…Indian fashion Industry thrived under her creative scalpel and a new designer in the global market was born….As she stands today at the helm of Indian fashion Industry after five decades as a doyenne of designs …nothing less or more can describe her  fashion-fiesta like her own designs can….. She is Ritu kumar… 

















Thursday 16 August 2012



Guys sometimes you are 'Maha proud' to have  done something exemplary...in my case it has to be writing and what else?Written something... .....one hell of a note  for a  college mag as  'The Editor'......that I am so very proud of! So I just wanted to share! As they say ..... "Success however small might be is ...you know what!  No marks for guessing that one!


It goes like-

EDITORS NOTE- 

In the last few years, India has established itself as the premier business hub for the world…. and the recognition is validated by the growing number of countries investing here. This further encourages us to make enhancements within and outside of our country. As a rebound   the Indian Markets feel a continuous pressure to perfect their products in the global markets. The percolating pressures are felt at home like never before and    a work scenario that demands a twenty four seven service has taken birth along with it.. a cut throat market competition . One  cutthroat corporate battle  between the two global outstanding soft drink companies of our country,that caught the eyeballs recently and went on to become the ‘Benchmark in the Managerial Competencies’ was of Pepsi and Coke! TheYoung Corporate's first issue brings you the ‘Real story of the case that moved the Nation!'  The word young... brings to me the work at hand ….after years of writing and editing high-end lifestyle magazine articles, when I took up the job of editing a college magazine my mind raced! Should it be peppy? Should it be colorful? We wanted it to be both… It is young; it is peppy and in no lesser word a firsthand highflying corporate college magazine so it is simply called as the ‘THE YOUNG CORPORATE.’ This new year someone had spoken to me about some unusual  professions possible after management studies…..so we wasted no time to find one-‘Wine Management.’ Read on to know all about it! ‘Money Matters!’  An inspirational story of a bank that emerged from the ashes to be resurrected back . Management articles…Creative fiction…poems and  a few musings on being a nature lover…. and  some rampus on the campus…. all in this edition of  THE YOUNG CORPORATE! In the same gusto I wish to thank everyone who made it possible! Happy Reading!






     

Dr Anuradha Prasad


Tuesday 7 August 2012

 A writer with a block-Sorry a blog....

Block meaning a writers block. On the first of Jan, every year I resolve to write everyday but it does not happen that way at all. I start suffering some days, with a writers block like any other road block. It just persists for sometime and vanishes! I am back in my form and start writing..the idea guys is always to sharpen my talons. You understand talons? I suppose like a tigress sharpens her nails.... (sorry Talons) like a lion does the same guys.. I need not go further into the 'Cat Family' you must have understood by now what I mean. The idea is to write something original everyday. Original as in no cut paste business please! Like most of the writers today do! Steal! I do nothing of the sort! .  This is my style guys I do not know how I discovered it !It just happened! I guess I wanted to use my strange sense of humor , to write with! People read cause, there are so many problems in this world.The bottom line is... people are reading! 

 One inspirational story about a great painter Picaso comes to my mind! It goes somewhat like -Once in the public square a woman met Picaso the great! She totally went crazy on meeting the celebrity and asked him to sketch something for her. He scribbled 'a something' on a tissue in matter of seconds and gave it to the woman. She was ecstatic. she was about to leave when...Picaso demanded for 300 bucks. She was aghast ..she said "I thought it was free!" He rejoined "I took thirty years  to get where I am mam..... it does not come free." "But you just scribbled something ?!"  The woman protested. "But it is still mine" said Picasso! So I am still writing guys ..... still blocking sorry blogging.Still.....Chug ......Chug making my style!

Friday 3 August 2012

The Loser!


The morning shows the day! Rather every morning   paper makes our day! For all the obvious reasons I have stopped reading the times main pages and Mumbai Mirror...For all the other reasons I read only the entertainment pages. Guys for some reason the news on the first page of Mumbai Mirror Wednesday 1st August caught my attention.....The Raj tours and travel founder jumps from the Bandra sea link .....I of course know Raj tours and who does not...so I read on? The details were of course shocking the 56 year old guy ..committed suicide cause he could not repay loans he took..he had a court case on his head... he faced an arrest, his house could be mortgaged so was his office and the case was coming to a hearing at four that afternoon!!!!  Is it reason enough for someone to kill himself and in such a cruel way ? He being a magnate should have started from scratch and worked on to establish himself! loser! Yes is what exactly I felt about him.....I happened to share this news with someone from my friends circle who happened to have a small time business( A parlor)...but makes comfortable amount to sustain her husband who is jobless, three sons ...two married and did not stay with her or support her...the third one is still studying and not settled ...hundreds of other problems  in her life including a cancer in her youth  ..(chemo took her hair and she was bald)...she lost her figure to a bad menopause well into her fifties  fights hot flashes every minute ....she was  and is in the beauty business..... did not know how she would progress as she felt she could not convince her customers......with a bald head..and no moral support .....but she fought back made herbal hair oils to combat baldness ..(today she has a hair oil by her name that grows hair on  bald heads...hers grew back healthy!).... she is back to making a 400,000 a month....she does not have a big name like Shehnaz Hussain but she is a fighter....after I shared this suicide case with her she was like what a loser ...his soul will never see heaven ....he will be a haunted soul for a thousand years....Oh really? Was all I could say ..but who wants losers  to haunt the heavens as well !  I repeat what a loser!

Happy Raksha Bandhan!


'Raksha Ka Bandhan' to be precise  .....is the holy tread that ties a brother and a sister in the divine relationship of love, trust and protection.... has changed over the years......there was a time when Raksha Bandhan was a national fest, there was a lot of furor over it, the bhais or boys would spread the word  that they were not available on the day..as they had to travel to  different parts of Mumbai ( in case of a married sis) to get that sacred thread tied to their wrists ....this scenario went on through my childhood i.e in the eighties and well into the nineties ! Typically on the day of the bandhan the bros came to schools and colleges at least with a dozen to half a dozen Raksha's like- oversized watches tied to their wrists  ... understandably ....along with the blood sisters a guy had many other sisters too?!They were called  as  the 'Mu..Bola' ones .......(I feel guys... in those days.....most girls/women took advantage of this festival to tie a Rakhi on a guys wrist.... who was interested in them before he could propose and make the situation awkward !) Coming back to the point 'More  Rakhis' on a guys  wrist of course meant more  masculinity. ( protecting  many women at all times meant great strength! )Tah! Tah!

Over the years ,the size of the Rakhi as well the number on a guys wrist have dwindled. Where the fairer sex  looked at men in a different light ,walked straight , tied Rakhis to every guy in the Muhalah made him a bro( today they make out) and dutifully married  men their parents got for them, today .... youngsters  have embraced American culture on the rebound, date guys by the dozen! Rakhis have changed to friendship bands and love  bands....... guys..... I do not mind the later but I miss the previous...The feverishness of the festival ! Oh! Happy Raksha Bandhan !

Monday 30 July 2012

Cleaning...your home...NO finger prints please!

I watched my mom closely as she cleaned home..it was like Vidya Balan cleaning everything that she touched in Kahani......it is just a habit my mom retorted as I looked at her critically...a major arthritis patient and suffering from constant bouts of  Osteoporosis she has a cleaning madness! Then comes my sister back from work..I find her cleaning the cleaned bathrooms and toilets again arranging and re-arranging the house that her mom-in-law did earlier in the day shouting out to her child about how messy her room was...oh  these women I think.. are mad really ...then back in Mumbai from my adventure trips (these are my regular trips to my dear kith and kin)I went to my friend who was not keeping too well while coming back from work...I found her fretting over the dirty fan above her bed....'Oh it looks dirty I had no time to clean it now that I am lying on the bed it is visible to me'... sigh....sigh..."Even in your sickness you can think of the fan?" I complain Oh God...  women!

I come back home and the next day  was  a holiday......I take Mr Muscle toilet cleaner, Mr Muscle furniture kitchen and tile cleaner and am at it!......I had also called the pest control fellow barraging him that I am finding one small cockroach almost two days even after his pest control........the pest control-wala gives me a lecture as to how the medicines work for the insects.."The insects 'Madam' are actually attracted to the medicine come out eat and die so you can see the cockroaches in your kitchen otherwise they are hidden....that means you do not have many but one or two here and there that also they might be visiting your kitchen  from the flat below you"....
"Good, good" I say "but I do not want to see any in my house".....In the meantime I clean the house spick and span and finish arranging things after the pest fellow signs off ........ satisfied. My kid comes home as usual she is high in energy ...I go to the kitchen to serve her lunch after which I start cleaning the slab again....'Oh mom an interesting piece of research says that -'women have a fetish for cleaning their homes'..I give her a look.  'Yes this they have got from the Stone Age days .....she persists ...'What?' I exclaim...' Yes like you have a problem here you are always cleaning'.....'Oh! Oh! I am not' I protest!

 Important lesson 'when you are pointing one finger at others three are pointed at you' I am no different...I accept! So Vidya( Balan Of Course) nothing unusual ..is shown in the movie! 




Monday 23 July 2012

Satyameva Jayate!


This program guys is really taking the country by storm.......when it started I was a little skeptical about it... I even felt Amir was a little frigid in conducting it.....but as the program  progressed  the positive side to it  took the chunk.....unlike the other programs that always make money by creating a hype from the negative  news.... Amir did different! 
 He proved to us that  a positive change was round the corner ,  if the issues are TAPPED POSITIVELY ... 
 take the simple example of the latest episode---that dealt  with the water problems in our remote  villages......the solution give was so simple and easy ----to store  rain water for the future.....the process explained was also so simple that I ended up giving a lecture to my maid servant who lives in  a nearby slum and always complains about how hard she has to work everyday to fill water .......I simply lectured her Amir Khan style ---how to save rain water in huge tubs Bla bla ,clean, save and use. 

What I also like is ---- Amir lamely does not give advises ! Besides,the best part of the program.....  is  that- the examples of the people who have made it possible are always cited.The story of one such Village in Orissa was inspirational guys. In the times when  farmers are committing suicide by dozens Amir ..... has connected them  to the simple methods of existence  and to life! 

Now I know people ....what to do if we want water in Mumbai? You have to simply pull a bucket and place it  under an overflowing roof ? Only in the rainy season guys! Jokes apart Amir Khan and Staya Meva rock ..... this program  I am glued to  every Sundays without fail and mind you as long as it lasts nobody can distract me. 
Sadly,I hear it is going to end next week! Sad Sad...! But  that  is Amir khan for you....take him or leave him...
 I must mention  That the  episode on OLD AGE too  rocked guys. Now I  also know  what to do when I grow old....? Simple according to  Mr Khan every old person has to take up a cause fight passionately.
...and if one is  too Old then?   I don't know. I might get a solution in the next series!? Maybe!
Ok guys .....On that note ... be positive live your best life.....till my next mill! And, and, as  a last note Indians have matured I must say, to accept such a  truthful program on National Television! Bharat Mata ki Jai,,SATYAMEVA JAYATE!

Saturday 21 July 2012


Hey!
I am a big fitness fan more than fitness I am more of a figure fan....it might be true for most because the people like me who are experimenting with food and with themselves and how their figure looks are very common  today ....The other day I was avidly reading some article by Rujuta Davekar( hope the spelling is correct) the reason for Kareena's Size zero figure after which.....I was concentrating on my digestive juices...She says eat whatever you want to but the quantity must be decided by you..and don't concentrate on the food but on your digestive juices...what does it mean folks...now a days I am not feeling very hungry does that mean I should not be eating.....and according to one fitness site that says 'Please eat small mouthfuls and with your mouth closed otherwise air will  enter your system and you will look fat and bloated....now I am confused ....one asks me to eat whatever I want by concentrating on my juices and the other asks me to eat little morsels concentrating on my mouth so that I do not gulp air in? Oh God I..  let the fitness go for a toss... I decided in the end to  eat and forget about how I looked  and  not to take chances with my health was my final philosophy. Surprise,surprise.... after eating for a month to my hearts content I didn't put an ounce of weight so better make merry and eat ....what say  take care guys till my next meal....sorry next churn.... yawn ...G Night!

A Super Star... No More.....
I was never a great Rajesh khanna fan...but as the news about his passing away came about and  percolated into my consciousness much after the afternoon he breathed his last I switched on the T.V to follow  the news......... the mega- euphoria of the yesteryears... the songs from his films were playing on all the channels and the mad fans were crying at  Ashirwad ( His Home)to have a glimpse of the remains of one of the Bollywood’s all time greatest  SuperStars(a tag which was invented and created solely for him)... ....I was slowly pulled into the madness  ....... AND realised..With Kaka’s death.... another of the superstars came and went taking along a chunk of the Super Stardust....this man ruled the Hindi Cinema for ten years.....and his charisma was pulling the crowds  in lakhs..that was the power  of Kaka!( His fans lovingly called him as) A man who saw it all...been there... led a sedentary life ...  lost in himself as he lost his family and fans so we thought  it was heartening to see them back on his death of course ! A reminder that he was never forgotten in  the first place!....I on my part , for the first time saw his chiseled features  in Aradhana ..and of course as numerous of his fans will agree ...how palpitatingly  Kaka did a  Roop tera Mastana ....and girls swooned from multiple orgasms of mixed euphoria and feelings of unknown romantic visualizations in those days...  ...and Amar prem brought a different orgasmic sadness of love expression.........so rare in todays  young Superstars! Now I am mad for this man who brought the nostalgia alive in me that might have been ......if not while living but through death!   A great star fell and never  rose ... but on the hind sight ...... he will be always remembered for the Rajesh Khanna... he was!  His power lives on...!THANK YOU KAKA FOR BEING U! 

Friday 9 March 2012

Finally...Colours...

Nine colours of the rain bow and Ninecolour of rangoli seven coulours of Holi... wow.. Great!
After Holi the real festival of colours I heard a beautiful piece of poetry that tells you of.....this-


Seven  colors that define life….
White for your complexion…
Pink for your cheeks…
Black for your hair …
Red for your lips…
Green for your life….
Maroon for your moods…
Yellow for the prosperity….
Happy Holi……N wish U a happy Women’s day….