Good Bye 2020

 Just a couple more hours of 2020. Here's reflecting on the year gone by.....

By far an unpredictable and an unique year. Looking back, it helped me appreciate grace in various facets of life.

It pushed me, tested me yet blessed me in more than one way. We learnt to co-exist, to show our vulnerabilities, to persist, to survive, to love ourselves and truly count our blessings.

Amongst other things it gave me an opportunity to once more learn and experience Sanskrit language.

Under the partnership of ICEDC and Rotary India I trained over 500 school teachers in personal and professional development program.

I had friends who kept a check on me and help me keep my sanity. Khyati Thakkar, Hitu Khera, Rohini Venugopal, Aradhna and some others.

I now release this year with loads of gratitude and love.

Bring it on 2021.....what magic will we create together? RWGBPPA9SBAB

Wish each of you a happy, prosperous and a BLESSED New year!!

India is My country – Jaisalmer

So this story started when I was in the seventh standard! In Geography we had just about begun learning about the Indian terrains – different types of mountains, plains, oceans etc.. Yeah! India has it all. I was both, fascinated and afraid of the deserts. Yet, I did want to see the Thar Desert. My interest was fuelled by the stories of Alladin, Arabian nights etc. The desert, camel, oasis, no water, no vegetation etc… was very mysterious to me. Somewhere in the rut of life I forgot all of this.

India is My country - Benaras

Benaras, Kashi OR Varanasi, a rose by any other name………..well you know the rest. But, this was a magical trip to say the least. So, something about this city was inviting. And an almost impromptu trip was planned to this magical city.

Nope, wasn’t meant to be a religious trip by any stretch of imagination. Most certainly a gastronomical one and perhaps indulgence in street shopping. With that aim in mind, three idiots set out on an excursion. We landed at the Lal Bahadur Shashtri airport. We had a rough outline of what we wanted to do, but by and large we were on a ‘what else is possible’ mode.

Benaras, is located in Uttar Pradesh. And it is not, your regular ‘Oh so beautiful’ kind of place. The terrain is rough, dry and rustic. It is easy to completely reject it in the first sight and wallow in – ‘Oh bad decision’ kind of thing. But give it a chance, and it slowly grows on you. YES, it does.

Miracle Garden

My son wanted to participate in a story telling competition in school. The Only condition was that it should be self-written story. I discussed with sonny boy and he wanted to write something about trees/nature. And so we started…..

There is this divinely beautiful miracle garden I saw. It had tall huge gates made of gold. Solid strong brick walls layered with colourful creepers. This mesmerised me. I lightly touched the gates and it opened welcoming me inside. Oh! What a sight to behold.