Last Christmas at Carmel, Rkl.....
Christmas time is the most exciting time for the whole school..winter vacations...new year functions....all were so exciting before that day..because that day .........it was hard to believe , it was time for all of us to leave the school. On 20th Dec., final performance by class X-B, for Christmas carol...was announced on stage...our hearts were heavy... we had prepared the carol - Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.... but our chords refuse to sing on stage...we some how managed this 5 minutes and rushed to our class rooms.
Carmel Convent School was a girl's school.... I was admitted in this school in Std. IV.. This school was so different as I used to study in a co-education school in Vizag until my Dad was transferred to this city and suddenly in a girl's convent I found myself alone...Time flew in an instance and today I am in my 10 th grade , would be appearing for my Mock Exams in Jan and Board exams in March created a commotion in my heart...I sat still at my desk..After a few moments I realized not me alone but every1 beside was going through this same dilemma. Its always the 9th grade who takes up the responsibility to get involved in the Inter School Christmas carol competition at German Club.. We felt like aliens ..sitting and observing...As if our school was discarding us...all 49 of us...with broken heart....trying to remember the fun we had in chemistry lab....the mistakes we purposely did in maths test....the ways we adopted to irritate our Hindi teacher..the list never ends..
We couldn't cry because we all had 1 thing in common that was our ego..Class X-A and X-B (98 students) .... We decided to speak to our principal about this and we all went to Sister Veronica....and requested for a night stay in school and a batch picnic which was accepted by her..
But something in me ..and ...in the rest made us behave very differently that day..as if we all were supposed to maintain some kind of distance from each other...and some invisible territories came up....we were all suddenly grown up girls.....in that moment..we were ready to face the challenges...accept the family culture...and suddenly so much ready to face this cruel world .........since that Christmas day....!!
Until that day...
Like everyday my day started with a rush to reach office as early as possible. For me office timing has never been any kind of issue as my day starts before office hour starts and ends far beyond any time restrictions. My Mother has been threatening me everyday for coming home and every day she tries new ways of convincing me to apply for a leave. My friends started saying that I am a machine and I under go no wear and tear.
Life had never been simple for me especially in Mumbai and adjusting as per the culture of the city I lost something called Myself...in the hustle and bustle. It was work in my mind all the time. My regular habit is to buy a cup of coffee from Churchgate station and walk outside..enjoy the sun for a few moment and then get going. I prefer walking down till my office at Fort.
At the footpath opposite to the Bus stop on Vitthaldas Marg, I realized someone was unable to take a step ahead. I turned back and my eyes caught a red and white stick and then a woman behind it. Her stick was stuck on the manhole cover and she was unable to move ahead. She was blind. I hurried up towards her and helped her stick out. Before I could even leave her and proceed she grabbed my left arm saying- Will you pass by the Canada Bank opposite to Church.
I said "yes".
"Lets hurry" she said.
I had no heart to deny helping her and I felt why should I . She is going the same way i have to and above all her spirit to be on time was something that touched my heart.
She must be in her mid thirties and she worked in bank. She walked matching my pace not letting her lack of eyesight keeping up with speed the world is heading forward. Her face showed how poised she was. When I told her that we are going to cross the road at Flora Fountain she instructed me to walk only when the green man signal was on..
"You young people only want to run , follow the traffic rules" she said.
She was swift in her movements. When we reached the Church I told her that we are about to reach the Bank. She stepped up on the first step and said "Thank you" and she moved inside the building.
I stood there for sometime saluting her courage and thinking how brave she was. My feelings that I had since the day I am in this city till date seemed nothing before her struggle. Where everyday is a new challenge for her. She taught me several things in that ten minutes of time which I did not learn in last two years.
She taught me to trust people.. like the way she trusted me and grabbed my arm..She left me speechless..She left me with a drop rolled out from my eye..
Life had never been simple for me especially in Mumbai and adjusting as per the culture of the city I lost something called Myself...in the hustle and bustle. It was work in my mind all the time. My regular habit is to buy a cup of coffee from Churchgate station and walk outside..enjoy the sun for a few moment and then get going. I prefer walking down till my office at Fort.
At the footpath opposite to the Bus stop on Vitthaldas Marg, I realized someone was unable to take a step ahead. I turned back and my eyes caught a red and white stick and then a woman behind it. Her stick was stuck on the manhole cover and she was unable to move ahead. She was blind. I hurried up towards her and helped her stick out. Before I could even leave her and proceed she grabbed my left arm saying- Will you pass by the Canada Bank opposite to Church.
I said "yes".
"Lets hurry" she said.
I had no heart to deny helping her and I felt why should I . She is going the same way i have to and above all her spirit to be on time was something that touched my heart.
She must be in her mid thirties and she worked in bank. She walked matching my pace not letting her lack of eyesight keeping up with speed the world is heading forward. Her face showed how poised she was. When I told her that we are going to cross the road at Flora Fountain she instructed me to walk only when the green man signal was on..
"You young people only want to run , follow the traffic rules" she said.
She was swift in her movements. When we reached the Church I told her that we are about to reach the Bank. She stepped up on the first step and said "Thank you" and she moved inside the building.
I stood there for sometime saluting her courage and thinking how brave she was. My feelings that I had since the day I am in this city till date seemed nothing before her struggle. Where everyday is a new challenge for her. She taught me several things in that ten minutes of time which I did not learn in last two years.
She taught me to trust people.. like the way she trusted me and grabbed my arm..She left me speechless..She left me with a drop rolled out from my eye..
Popeye...the sailor
Popeye the Sailor is a fictional hero famous for appearing in comic strips and animated films as well as numerous television shows. He was created by Elzie Crisler Segar, and first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929. Popeye has now become the series' title as well.
As of January 1, 2009, 70 years since the death of his creator, Segar's character of Popeye (though not the various films, TV shows, theme music and other media based on him) has entered the public domain in most countries, but remains under copyright in the United States.
Although Segar's Thimble Theatre strip, first published on December 19, 1919, was in its tenth year when Popeye made his debut, the sailor quickly became the main focus of the strip and Thimble Theatre became one of King Features' most popular properties during the 1930s. Thimble Theatre was carried on after Segar's death in 1938 by several writers and artists, most notably Segar's assistant Bud Sagendorf. The strip, now titled Popeye, continues to appear in first-run installments in its Sunday edition, written and drawn by Hy Eisman. The daily strips are reprints of old Sagendorf stories.
In 1933, Max and Dave Fleischer's Fleischer Studios adapted the Thimble Theatre characters into a series of Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoon shorts for Paramount Pictures. These cartoons proved to be among the most popular of the 1930s, and the Fleischers—and later Paramount's own Famous Studios—continued production through 1957.
Since then, Popeye has appeared in comic books, television cartoons, arcade and video games, hundreds of advertisements and peripheral products, and a 1980 live-action film directed by Robert Altman starring comedian Robin Williams as Popeye.
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Rangoli
Origin Rangoli, also known as Kolam in South India, Chowkpurana in Northern India, Madana in Rajasthan, Aripana in Bihar, Alpana in Bengal is the ancient Hindu religious floor art. According to a legend recorded in Chitra Lakshana, the earliest treatise on Indian painting, a king and his kingdom were steeped in sorrow at the death of the high priest's son. Everybody prayed to Lord Brahma, who moved by the prayers, asked the king to paint a portrait of the boy on the floor so that he could breathe life into it. And with that the art of floor painting came to life. And that is how rice, flour and flowers were transformed into picturesque offerings to God in the form of floor painting. Creative Expression 'Rangoli' is a sanskrit word which means a creative expression of art through the use of color. In ancient India, rangolis were used to decorate the entrances of homes, a floor-painting which provided a warm and colorful welcome to visitors. In Indian cultures, all guests and visitors occupy a very special place, and a rangoli is an expression of this warm hospitality. In particular, the Diwali festival is widely celebrated with rangolis, since at this time, people visit each other's homes to exchange greetings and sweets. In a rangoli, powdered colors are sprinkled on cleaned and dusted floors to form decorations. Rangolis can be vivid, three-dimensional art complete with shadings or they can be the traditional plain, yet as beautiful as, two-dimensional designs. The colored powder is usually applied 'freehand' by letting it run from the gap formed by pinching the thumb and the forefinger. In ancient times, rangolis were actually decorations made on the entrances and walls of houses to brighten up and add color to occasions being celebrated, like weddings, births and significant religious days. They also signified a warm welcome for visitors. In fact in Maharashtra, India, housewives make them each morning. The designs would be simple and geometrical but could invoke symbolic forms. Oil lamps (diyas) would be placed in the rangoli to give it yet another dimension. Thus, reflecting regional beliefs and aesthetics based on a common spiritual plane the art of floor painting is one which has survived all influences and retained and transmitted the spirit of Indian life.
Meera....
Mira was a queen of Rajasthan who is known more for her devotion than her political position. There are so many stories about Mira Bai that it is very difficult to tell the facts of her life from legend.
She was born about 1500 and was married at the age of 13. From an early age she showed more interest in religious devotions than to her worldly responsibilities. It is said that she neglected her marital responsibilities. When queried about it, she said that it was impossible for her to be married to the king when she was already married to Krishna.
A major change in her life occurred at the time of the death of her husband. It was customary in those days for a wife to commit satti. Satti is the self immolation upon the husband's funeral pyre. She refused to comply, whereupon her in-laws began harassing her. She then left the palace and began wandering throughout Rajasthan, preaching and gaining followers.
Mira is known for the many bhajans that she left behind. These bhajans are in praise of lord Krishna and held in great esteem for their high literary value.
She is believed to have died around 1550.
Vada Pao...
A vada pav is to Mumbai, what the burger is to the US and athough no one really has any clue of how it all began, the humble mashed potato packed into a bun has never had problems finding takers.
And if it was hygiene that kept this mouth-watering garibon ka pav-bhaji from making it big, the branded version of jumbo king definitely promises to take it to that league.
And if it was hygiene that kept this mouth-watering garibon ka pav-bhaji from making it big, the branded version of jumbo king definitely promises to take it to that league.
"Hygiene and cleanliness was something that kept most of us away from this wonderful thing called vada pav. What we aim to do is that through our common kitchens and high standards, not only keep it affordable, but also make it hygienic," says Dhiraj Gupta, MD, Jumbo King.
As much as the convenience of picking up a vada pav on your way to or from or between work, eating one also gives you the essence of being a Mumbaikar.
vermillion play
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Paani Poori
One of India's favorite snack. The word "Pani" means water and "Poori" is puffed Indian bread. It is surely an experience eating Pani Poori. This popular Indian snack is also called Gol Gappa. Usually enjoyed at many of the street vendors in India it is becoming increasingly popular in many restaurants.
The Poori is a 1 1/2 inch puffed Poori which is fried and filled with potato and/or green lentils and tamarind chutney and the Pani Poori water.
As soon as it is made you have to put the whole Pani Poori into your mouth expertly without squirting the liquid all over your clothes. The Pooris are always made bite-sized.
dark visions
We all have visions.. some times we see things with open eyes and sometimes in dreams... but are these DEJA VU's part of our lives are they really happening with us in real lives..
All we know is.. the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past), although the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain.....
The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity, and also a sense of "eeriness", "strangeness", or "weirdness". The "previous" experience is most frequently attributed to a dream, although in some cases there is a firm sense that the experience "genuinely happened" in the past.The experience of déjà vu seems to be quite common among adults and children alike. References to the experience of déjà vu are also found in literature of the past,indicating it is not a new phenomenon. It has been extremely difficult to evoke the déjà vu experience in laboratory settings, therefore making it a subject of few empirical studies.
All we know is.. the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past), although the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain.....
The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity, and also a sense of "eeriness", "strangeness", or "weirdness". The "previous" experience is most frequently attributed to a dream, although in some cases there is a firm sense that the experience "genuinely happened" in the past.The experience of déjà vu seems to be quite common among adults and children alike. References to the experience of déjà vu are also found in literature of the past,indicating it is not a new phenomenon. It has been extremely difficult to evoke the déjà vu experience in laboratory settings, therefore making it a subject of few empirical studies.
the lost spice
It was during the reign of Mughal Emperor Humayun that India saw a new addition to its heritage of miniature art. When the Emperor Humayun was in Safavid court of Shah Tahmasp I, he got introduced to Persian paintings. On his return to India, he began patronizing the Persian paintings with the help of two proficient artists Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad. Their discrete style along with the integration of the local fashion of painting gave rise to distinct style of art, which became renowned as Mughal painting. During the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan the Mughal painting refurbished and blossomed further.
Emperor Aurangzeb did not actively patronize the Mughal paintings but some of the renowned paintings were seen during his reign. Again during the rule of Muhammad Shah (1719-48), the Mughal paintings saw a short upsurge but slowly the art had began to downfall. An endowed artist of the Delhi-based court of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, Nidha Mal kept alive the saga Mughal art by painting in illustrious Delhi style after moving to Lucknow.Abu`l-Hasan, Bishan Das, Govardhan and Daulat are some of the celebrated artists of the Mughal period.
The Mughal paintings depicted events from the various aspects of the erstwhile Mughal Empire. These paintings portrayed the scenes from the battlefields, hunting sports, the wild life and animals and also the court scenes. One of the Mughal paintings illustrate a prince and his companions smoking a `huqqa`, in the presence of beautiful ladies in the lovely environs of a walled fort gardens. The hunting scene in the Mughal paintings corresponded to a classic genre that depicted royal hunts and the general portray of the royal life.
When Emperor Akbar was in power, the political, economic and cultural landscape had began changing. The Mughal paintings encouraged innumerable painters who further brought more rudiments of precision and practicality into these paintings. These renewed paintings also depicted the events from the epics of Mahabharat and the Ramayana. The animal fables, which are famous in India by the name Panchatantra, were also depicted in Mughal paintings. The portfolio of Mughal paintings is large and diverse involving the comprehensive countryside backgrounds and rudiments of individual portraiture.
The artistic scenario excelled during sovereignty of Jahangir (1605-27). The paintings emerging during his reign illustrated scenes and events from his life. A biographical portrayal of Jahangir known as the `Jahangirnama`, which was written during his lifetime has numerous pictorial idiosyncrasies paintings. The colors used in these paintings were lighter and the brush strokes were more intricate. Human figures, flowers, animals and birds formed the various themes on which the Mughal paintings emerged during Jahangir reign.
Musical events, lovers and ascetics formed the main themes of the Mughal paintings during the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-58). Shah Jahan is most distinguished for his architectural feat, the Taj Mahal that took 16 years for its completion.
Mughal Painting that emerged during the reign of Mughal Empire around16-19th centuries was limited to the images on the books and albums filled with paintings, calligraphic prints and ornamental borders. These splendid albums full of Mughal paintings were enveloped in leather, which was gilded, embossed and painted. In the initial phases the technique often involved a team of artists, one determined the composition a second did the actual coloring and a specialist in portraiture worked on individual faces. Probably the earliest example of Mughal painting is the illustrated folktale Tuti-nameh.
The value of these paintings and the painters are diminishing. Commercial art and artists have set a new trend in the world of Indian painting that essence of our heritage seems lost.
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