Lighting up the Hearts

Hello friends, I wish health, happiness and prosperity, for you all, on the after eve of Diwali. As far as Indians are concerned, this festival of light, needs no introduction. However for those who have no idea about one of the most important festival of India, I must tell them that on Diwali each and every Hindu homes are thoroughly cleaned, decorated with colourful fairy lights, rangolis and diyas (earthen lamps). People welcome Lord Ram’s arrival back to his capital Ayodhya along with his wife Sita and the entourage after spending fourteen years in exile.

 

 He also killed the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, who had arrogantly dared to abduct Sita, to make her his wife. After a fierce battle, the latter was decimated by the former, which we celebrate as Dussehra, twenty days prior to it.

Rangoli at our doorstep

 

Diwali is mainly celebrated as victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The cleanliness and light are symbolic of dispelling the darkness and gloom residing in the corners of the hearts of people. We also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesa, the deity siblings, for wealth and prosperity. In Bengal Goddess Kali, the fierce form of Goddess Durga is also worshipped during the auspicious moonless night of Diwali.

 

Friends, one thing associated with Diwali, which is quite hazardous and harmful to environment, that is bursting of firecrackers in every household. I own that the fireworks provide a rush of adrenalin and excitement to the revellers, but there were countless instances of people getting injured playing literally with fire, crackers that is. The toxic fumes releasing into the atmosphere, used to engulf all the cities and towns of India, spreading a blanket of smog for days, afterwards. Thankfully not anymore.

 

Due to raised awareness towards environment protection, strict vigilance on the part of administration the practise has currently come down to a great extent. Some green crackers do come up in the market which is said to be environment friendly.

 

Un-fortunately in other part of the world, live bombs are still being dropped to destroy the infrastructure and kill innocent people. A forecast of a bleak winter, when a large part of humanity might have to withstand chilly condition without proper heating system could become a harsh reality.

 

Let’s pray that good sense prevails and the mindless war comes to a stop. Wishing peace and prosperity all across the world, I fold my today’s edition. See you again with another of my post. Do keep reading and stay connected.

Adieu for now.

Cover photo : Lakshmi -Ganesha Pooja at our home.

 

 

Sharing and Caring

What topics do you like to discuss?

Caring just a little about our loved ones and making them feel special by small gestures on our part make life beautiful.

A little effort to share all the happiness and trouble one might be facing at the time does wonders if we pause to care.

Looking at the expressions and gauging the state of mind of a dear one and then devising  ways to solve the problems, if any, is a very important part of sharing and caring.

Sometimes, a little intervention is necessary to peek into the lives of persons close to you. Talking and discussing lessen the burden people carry in their heart.

Let’s make our lives less stressful.

Playing straight cut

Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

In each and every step of your life, somebody out there would intend to take advantage of you. If you are mellow and compliant in nature, then there is every chance that you will feel used as I previously did.

I have learned the lesson the hard way after making a fool of myself of running errands for other people.

Some people feel smug and their right to order others to do the job assigned to them. If you just nod your head in  acquiescence, you are stuck.

In my case, they will just remark how guileless I am and then pile up their work on me. Now, I have found ways to bypass those undue requests.

It’s better to play a straight cut than beating around the bush due to the inability to say no on the first place.

Now people have got the message and think twice before trifling with me. I found my peace of mind back.

A Sense of Belonging

How would you improve your community?

From the beginning of life, evolution is the inherent nature of living beings. The theory of natural selection emphasizes that the ones who have a better ability to fight and skills to struggle for existence have a better chance of survival.

As for living in a community, the skills for peaceful co-inhabitation are very important.  The constant squabbling and the feeling of animosity weaken a community.

If we think from a larger perspective, all living beings on this planet belong to a single community. The welfare of each and every one can make it ideal.

Just a little care and compassion for other members can make any community stronger. Helping out people in distress and standing up unitedly against the wrongs committed by the perpetrators can flush out the evils from society.

If we see any person from the community suddenly veering towards the wrong path, we can at least give it a try to correct them without infringing on their privacy.

A little bit of counseling sometimes does wonders.  

Caring, sharing, accommodating, and non undue-interferrance should be followed to improve the community we belong to. We have to create a sense of belonging so that nobody is left out alone and lonely.

Adapting in the New World

How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

When I looked through the window during the early stages of the pandemic, a deserted road, an eerie silence used to feel me up with acute desolation and terror. A fear of invisible but living ghost particles lurking all around.

What a mighty microscopic organism it was!! The Covid-19 extended its powerful reign all across the world in a matter of months. The mankind was devastated, reeling under its ominous spell.

Television was replete with the vision of numerous bodybags. The health care soldiers were waging the war relentlessly, putting their lives under risk. Many of them succumbed on the line of duty. The fatigue and pain of being quarantined from their loved ones were forcefully left aside. Had to fight and defeat the enemy, no matter what.

Waves after waves, the tsunami was never looking to relent. Scientists were desperately working on vaccines, the time constraint notwithstanding.

Me and husband got it during the second wave. It was the nightmare we couldn’t forget. One day, he returned from the bank feeling feverish. In no time, I was also infected. Got hospitalized. The cases were suddenly turning to worse.

My husband had to be put into ICU.  My children and I were scared to death whenever the mobile rang. We were eating and sleeping like robots.

The God, Almighty, showed His immense kindness and the prayers of the loved ones bore fruit. He was gradually but surely became successful in exorcising the menace with the help of diligently working medical fraternity.

We might have come out of the deathly clutch, but are we safe? I thought that after the pandemic, the world would unitedly work towards making the Earth safer and more sustainable planet to live.

Instead, the insane war mongering in so many parts of the world is really a pathetic sight to behold.

The health care sector is waging another war, but this time, the ghostly particles are relegated to obscurity.

The man is hellbent to wipe out its own kind. People are getting adapted to live with the devastation along with the onslaught of searing summers in general due to global warming.

To be worthwhile

What’s something most people don’t understand?

In this materialistic world, most people are all busy working hard and earning more. Money and physical comfort are very important. But if we go on worrying to have more, then when shall we learn to be happy with whatever we have?

If we are contented, it will bring happiness and peace.

Life is precious. Live it to the fullest. We should learn to utilize our lifetime to do something meaningful, too.

If we can bring a smile to the people and try to make the world around us beautiful and genial, it would be worthwhile.

A little words of assurance and small deeds to comfort bring a lot of positivity and hope.

Road to the Destination

How has technology changed your job?

When a layman or rather a lay woman is asked to sit in a cockpit and fly the plain, what would be the consequence? Certainly not very hard to imagine!

Handling computer technology is not very different to me than flying a plane! When I took the job of a teacher at a fairly later stage of my life, I had no idea that I had to contend with operating a computer and other modes of information technology.

My children, especially my son, are quite proficient in computers as they are functioning in it from a very young age. But I used to stear clear from learning even the basic procedure, leave alone the standard one, despite the gentle reminders from them to get acquainted  with it.

My erstwhile homemaker self had never obliged. Rest assured that I was never likely to confront them in my life. But you can’t be too sure of anything!

By a stroke of luck, I got the chance to become a teacher. As a fresh appointee, the ignorance of computer applications made me disconcerted while negotiating online mode of teaching (at the time of pandemic), preparing Excell sheets, question papers, and result cards.

I stumbled, took the help of my children and  colleagues, got up, proceeded, and then fumbled again. Some of my younger workmates used to sneer, even exchanged looks, ridculing my sloppy efforts.

Instead of getting bogged down by the adversities, I was determined to establish a working relationship with my bane! Slowly and steadily, I began befriending the stranger.

The patience of children and perseverance of mine had ultimately begun to bear fruits. I can’t boast to have become a master in computer technology, yet I have learned enough to get on with my assignments seamlessly without taking much help from others.

People who had doubts about my abilities were forced to sit up and take notice of my newfound skill and confidence.

When you start walking through the unknown lane, move ahead fearlessly. You might be lost and get confounded, but moving ahead resolutely, the path gradually becomes familiar, and one day, it might lead to the destination you were always looking for!

The writer within!

What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

Sometimes, we know a person, yet an inherent part of their persona remains hidden to our knowledge. When it is subsequently revealed, we start seeing them in different light.

Suppose you know a reticent person, then one day learn that he or she is a very good singer or dancer or having any special skill. The unssuming one suddenly becomes fascinating, awesome!

As far as my skills are concerned, most of the people of my acquaintance do not know that I write blogs. Few people who know or happen to read my blog are just plain indifferent.

I am quite contented that I can connect with my blogger friends through WordPress. It gives a great satisfaction to me when you read, like them, and leave a comment.

Right from my adolescent days, a hidden wish  lying unattended in the corner of my heart is to become a published writer. I’m quite aware of the fact that it requires a lot of rigorous hard work, patience, and perseverance on my part.

Writing and connecting with you gives me a lot of happiness. So, for now, touching the publish button in Jetpack is enough to pacify the writing urge within me.

I would very much like to know your feedback. Feel elated whenever you care to drop one!

The Beacon of Light

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

In this era where the so-called social media influencers are increasingly directing our lifestyle, it has become imperative to keep our counsel to our own self.

Instead of getting swayed  by the  people, looking to further their own selfish agenda, we must look for the real teachers.

The great teacher is the one who shows us the  proper way to proceed in life and points out the right direction when it has turned to the wrong bend.

For me, the most influential teacher is my mother in law, who is more than ninety years old. She has fought all the battles in life courageously and has amassed a lifetime of wisdom.

I consider her as my true teacher upon whom I can always rely. I genuinely value her affection, guidance, and friendship for life.

After losing my own mother more than a decade ago, she had never let me feel the void. I can talk to her and take advice in any matter, and she always readily tells me the right course of action.

As the old age is taking hold of her, still she strive to keep herself mentally and physically fit. Though she has to  spend most of her time in bed, the zest for life is still kindled inside her. I still draw inspiration from her.

Whenever we go to meet her, we always entreat her to stay among us for as long as she can. Because she is indeed the beacon, showing us the correct way forward.

When I put her frail hands into mine and looked into her eyes, teardrops started rolling through my eyes and said, ” How could I let you go, mother!”

I am not born to her yet don’t know why I feel a connection, a unique attachment linking her soul to mine.

Remaining silent, she told in a low but firm voice,” It’s your affection, which is keeping  me from going away.” and it is true.

Deliberations on the To Do List

What do you wish you could do more every day?

Life is a priceless gift bestowed to us. Have to do whatever we want to do in the limited span accorded to us by God, the Almighty.

Keeping something to be done in the future when we get enough leisure might deprive us of the joy of doing it in the first place.

For example, I would very much like to write a blog post every day but couldn’t due to time constraints.

Still, I have always tried to sneak in one post here and one post there. May be their scheduling is erratic, yet it gives me the satisfaction of expressing my thoughts.

Another thing I like to do every day is spending sometimes with the plants we are rearing in our small garden. The appearance of a new twig, a bud, a flower, or a fruit provides me pure bliss.

Taking a night walk at the rooftop after the dinner is very much in my agenda of the to-do list. But after wrapping and cleaning up the dinner things, I become so exhausted that in spite of my mind and spirit willing, my body fails to  comply with the dictat.

Hope, one day or another, I will have some energy remaining to undertake the feat!

The elusive spectacles

Have you lost or misplaced something at your home or office? The confusion and agitation it entails stump out some.

Their impatience seem to allow no respite to the people around them until and unless it’s restored to them by any means. The one of this kind was my late father in law.

He was a tall and lean man, more than six feet tall. As straight as a pole and as upright in his principles and beliefs. His favorite and staple attire was dhoti, kurta (he was a follower of Gandhian school of simple living and high thinking)and lungis and half sleeved vests. He never wore shirts and trousers all his life.

The unique thing about him was that he was very particular about washing his own clothes himself and then keeping track of it  until they were dried, neatly folded, and safely kept in his personal box.

As there was no washing machine at the time, the rooftop of our joint family home was replete with hanging laundry of various shapes and sizes out to dry under the sun. 

The task he put the most priority upon was to retrieve his clothes lest it got mixed up among the varieties of clothes hanging along the wires. He used to take special pride for being so self-reliant.

So far, so well. But the problem arose whenever one of them disappeared inadvertently by the gust of wind or tugging along with the clothes of other family members, which were rather many in numbers, including children of different age group.

The entire household couldn’t rest in peace until the lost piece of clothing was found and duely handed over back to him.

Once he paid a visit to our place.  My husband and I were living in another town where he was working. Owing to my newly married status, I was very eager to please him. Giving his all vegetarian meal on time, serving him health drinks instead of tea, and listening devotedly to the advantages of being a tea totaller!

I always remained very alert to prevent the catastrophe of any of his clothes from going missing.

One day, the inevitable happened, but this time, it wasn’t any of his clothes. He came rushing to the kitchen very flustered, an open newspaper between his fingers, informing me that he couldn’t find his looking glass.

I was genuinely perturbed, immediately switched off the gas oven, and hurriedly  began searching for it.

I looked for all the likely and unlikely places alike, but the specs were nowhere to be found.

When my husband returned home, he found two despondent and lost warriors, one of them on the verge of weeping.

There was no reaction from him. He just silently moved forward towards my father in law who was still complaining about how he was going to manage without his spectacles!!

I suddenly noticed that the old and angry man had stopped speaking

I saw my husband gently raising his hands on his father’s head, plucked something out, and nonchalantly put it on his nose. It was the spectacles!

Me and my father in law stood speechless, dumb founded, and both the mouth opened in disbelief. The elusive spectacle was resting on his head all along while we ransacked the entire house looking for it