Growing up in a Gujarati Jain-Saraswat Brahmin household, my sister and I were exposed to a minimal amount of traditions and festivals. While this practice led us to become broadminded and less religion-governed, it used to be a great source of distress when we were younger. Living in Gujarat, a lot of my classmates were… [Read more…]
July 24, 2011
To get a background of this post, you may want to read the previous ones. My husband and I went to a waterpark with a few friends. Among our friends was a couple and their 6-year old son. Sid and I were left alone for a while with the handsome li’l boy. We decided to… [Read more…]
November 18, 2010
For those who know me, it will not be a surprise. I don’t like my name. EKTA. That is one of the reasons I chose to write under a different name. I live on the 2nd floor and he lives on the ground floor. The place where I park my scooter faces the back door… [Read more…]
September 11, 2010
This day has such a deep connection to childhood for me. I was born to a Gujarati Jain mother and a Saraswat Brahmin (Konkani) father. Eight or nine days before Ganesh Chaturthi would begin “Paryushan“. For eight days my mother would abstain from cooking green leafy thingies (Yayyy) and no onions, garlic, potatoes and the… [Read more…]
July 6, 2010
Moving to Besant Nagar has probably been the best thing that happened to me. It has put me in touch with myself. I guess part of it is because I am forced to live alone most of the times and introspect on the smallest experience that I have. About two weeks ago, I walked into… [Read more…]
March 18, 2010
I saw 4-year old Aditya dangling from his mother’s arms. I wondered why she would ‘handle’ a child that way. And I soon found out why. I edged closer to see that the boy was unkempt. Dirty clothes, saliva drooping, eyes crisscrossed…the works. He was mumbling to himself and walking, rather stumbling at every step.… [Read more…]
September 26, 2009
I watched her wither, I wished she died,And then I burned in shame, I tried to hide.I spoke to none, I knew I’d be shunned,In my own private hell, I began to reside. She knew me not, yet I wanted her to know,I was her little one, the one she bore.But she continued to fray,… [Read more…]
September 17, 2009
I like myself. I like that I can learn about life from anyone. No matter what their age. I like that I can respect even the youngest person I know Anoushka – my niece – she is my connection to childhood, to innocence, to experiential learning. A few minutes spent with her rejuvenate me and… [Read more…]
August 30, 2009
So it was again my time to meditate. It was raining. Pouring actually. Visibility was not even at 2 feet. But somehow there was something calming about the whole scene. I was just ending with my prayers when I heard the famous trio shouting. The school van had come and the brothers had to go… [Read more…]
August 23, 2009
I know several mothers closely. But closely cannot be considered as authentic, can it now? Yet, from whatever I see around me, I am convinced it ain’t easy. DUH. Bringing up one child in 2009 is bad enough, but someone who raises 2 surely deserves a medal, and someone who does it well, needs to… [Read more…]
August 15, 2009
I was browsing through the FICTION section at Landmark this evening, when suddenly just right down the aisle, I saw her glancing through the myriad genres. For a minute, I froze. Then I stole a glance at her. She was standing less than a few feet away from me. She wore a black t-shirt and… [Read more…]
June 16, 2009
How many times have each one of us thought we wish we had someone to walk with us, help us negotiate this complex world! Well, the Dream Mentoring Programme does just that. We may or may not have had the benefit of a mentor, but sure have a chance of making that difference. The Dream… [Read more…]
May 14, 2009
Will I be missed when I die? How many times have we thought about this? Some of us like to fantasize about the void that we will leave behind when we pass on to the next world. Some of us, very conveniently avoid even thinking about it, some others among us just don’t have the… [Read more…]
February 16, 2009
A hungry, naked child she saw, She bemoaned at this heartless flaw! “The world is so unfair,” she thought, And tears to her eyes it brought! Lonely and helpless she sat by the curb, Her heart sinking and state of mind disturbed. Then along came her friend, an angel in disguise, He had a strange… [Read more…]
November 29, 2008
Lord, I am little,Let me be a little reminder to the world that I matter Lord, I am little,Let me be the face of childhoods massacred in every place on earth. Lord, I am little,Let me be the one who survives this mayhem and let me be the messiah of peace. Lord, I am little,Let… [Read more…]
October 20, 2008
My 7-yr old niece, Anoushka, my sister and I were in the car yesterday. Anoushka sweetly asked my sister, “Ma, will you take me to see the Taj Mahal?” My sister was so moved, she said, “Yes, baby…I will surely take you to see the Taj Mahal”. She then took a right turn to come… [Read more…]
April 16, 2012
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