12 Golden Rules To Parenting In India

  The role of a teacher is just not transmission of subject knowledge, but it extends to making the child a complete individual, drawing out the best in the child's personality. This task  cannot be accomplished on its own; the role of parents play a vital part.  One of my moving complaints regarding parenting in India is that there is not much talk about it. Few parents read a book on parenting. Few attend discussions and workshops on the subject. Few consult an expert in case of a problem with their child.

This does not imply that Indian parents are miserable at the job of parenting.   Indians are righteous and upright people as a community . They are emotional and religious by nature. Hence there is immense love and attachment for family and children. But parenting is a complicated job. Behaviour of a child is unpredictable. The factors that affect a child's life are dynamic and a parent has to be aware about these before trying to find a solution. Because Indian lack the tendency of talking about parenting and bringing up children, these problems are left like open wounds, made worse by the nose poking society we live in.

Parenting is an art. To be good at any art, one needs to learn the basics, the fundamentals, the general norms associated with it. I have prepared a list of 12 golden rulew for Indian parents:

1.  Recognise your child as a different individual than you:

A child comes out of his/her mother's womb, and is a  different indivual. Treat him/her like one.

2. Do not try to live your life through your child's life:

Your parents night have made this mistake. It's typical in India. One must remember that we have a right only on our life and not somebody else's, even our children. We can offer advice and aid, but should not impose them.

3. Mind your language:

The is important for two reasons. First, you don't want your children to learn bad words when they are young. Second, saying bad things to your children when you are angry leaves a great impact on children. It affects their personality for years to come. So, mind your language when talking to your children.

4. Express your love
.
Indiams lack the art of expressing love. a kiss on the forehead or cheeks, a pat on the back, a simple hug can do wonders to the confidence of your child.

5. Understand their world:

Generation gap is tough to bridge. But as parents are gemerally the more experienced and learned people in this relationship , they should take the initiative of bridging it. They should be aware of all the factors that affect their children. But they should do so from a distance.

6. Motivate them;:

Go for positive motivation as far as possible. This would develop confidence in then. to direct yourself to the right girl.

7. Show confidence in their decisions :

Involve your children in decision making. Ask them for their advice on small matters like which colour should they use to paint the wall , or where to go for vacations. You may not listen to everything they say, but do explain to them why you sre rejecting their suggestion.

8.  Give them their right to err:

Especially important with teenagers. It is an age of storm and stress. Children can behav:e very weirdly at this age Try to understand them. Give them some space. Even let them make a few mistakes. This is how we all learn.

9. Avoid direct talks:

Never start a discussion with 'what is your problem?' They are children, not experts. Most times they lack the ability to know or explain their problem. So be wise, have develop an atmosphere of healthy communication where they express themselves and in that way, split out what is bothering them.

10. Take help if necessary:

As I pointed out earlier in this article, never shy away from talking about the art of parenting,   read literature associated with parenting and take expertise help from counsellors and experts in case of a problem with your child.

11. Set the right example:

Children look up to you as their role model. Be the person you want your children to be. If you expect your child to hsve healthy habits, you cannot be telling them so with a lot cigarette in your hand.

12. Love; the secret ingredient to parenting:

The secret ingredient to parenting is of course love: never shy away from expressing it.

Thank you for your love and support

Thank you for your love and support, has been a very frequently used line by me. The reason for that I know we live in a tough world where there is little value for what used to be the most valuable things . Poetry for instance, has a force that only your heart and soul can feel. When people appreciate my poetry, I feel obliged and a sense of accomplishment drives me. All is not lost after all, I feel. 

This Thanksgiving day, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude towards everyone who has read my book, followed my blog or facebook page and by doing so have encouraged me to pursue my passion. Thank you, thank you and thank you so much. 

I promise to keep you entrained with my poetry and wits. Stay with me. 

Love. 

Aman Arora

Top 10 interesting kids at school

Just one month into my internship at Bal Bharti Public School, I have had developed a strong indifference towards children that I almost consider the sterilization policy during emergency as the best one we had. It is because of the following type of children that my perspective towards children changed.

1. The speherical kid 

I enter class three and anmounce that it is arrangement. This kid does not conceal his excitement and goes 'Balle balle.' And as teachers, we are encouraged to surpress basic human instincts, so I decide to turn him out of the class. But he refuses my command. So I started pushing him out. But this kid is an 'all rounder.' He is the perfect example of a sphere. So I struggle to push him outside the class, much to the amusement of the third graders. I need to work out.

2. The Diva 

We all have seen teenagers with their out of place and overdone 'whatever's but this girl in class four could beat all of them. She did not use any urban slang or accent. She spoke nothing. Everyone had followed my instruction and took some work out, but this girl resisted my instruction. I tried taking to her. But she just listened, without an expression on her face. I swear even the 'tota' (the hottest babe) never gave me that look. She was like 'Who are you? Why are you talking to me. Go away.'
 I felt like bewaring boys about this heartbreaker in their class.

3. The well wisher 

'Good morning, Sir' this girl from class eight wished me in the corridoor. . It was nice. I replied with a smile. And them within a minute, she wished me a good morning thrice. . Everytime I pass through her way or she passes mine, she wished me good morning. . One morning I was waiting at the library. She saw me from outside and yelled 'Good morning. Sir.'  Finally I had to stop and ask her if the only purpose of her coming to school was to wish me good morning. They can make the next Conjuring movie on this girl. Imagine a girl popping out from anywhere and haunting you with those three words: Good morning, Sir.

4. The Pervert

He was short and tiny, hoarse voice, irksome laughter and a face only a mother could love (provided she has no other kids or pets.) But he had the guts to ask me to explain him that dream chapter for young boys who recently realised the presence of an organ in between their legs:  reproduction in animals . I asked this eight grader if he remwmbered what he had learned about this process from class seven: reproduction in plants. He said he did not remember anything from the previous classes. And so I explained him the process of reproduction in as vague terms as possible. (just the way we were taught.) But actually I wanted to say 'Reproduction is a process through which organisms give birth to their young ones, and also it is a process ugly snobs like you are incapable of.'

5. The back talker

A round of applause for me. I kept shooting at this eight grader to come out and stand at the front, and I raised my voice and anger to a level that he obliged. Sweet victory. Momma will be proud.  I sealed my victory with 'Are you moving yourself or shall I take you out physically?'
He got up at this, but murrurring 'Sir, physically? Can you also get me up chemically.?'
'I would spray pepper on your ass and when that reacts with your ass, and you bounce up from your seat, that would be a good chemical equation. ' I could never execute this comeback.

6. The 'You know who my mom is?'

It happens everywhere. The children of staff can be recognised from a distance. They fear no one. They are never on their seats. They are fighting. They are jumping. They are Monglis except that Monglis at least followed the rules of the Jungle. It is an irony that their mom is perhaps in the adjacent class commanding kids to be disciplined.

7. The athletes

They play sports and they are so much into it that they make a game out of everything. I saw this boy running from behind and sliding under the table. He did it so well that I was about to congratulate him when I realised that we were in a classroom and he could have banged his head doing that stunt. Imagine him going to his mom saying, 'Hey, mom. Look Sir gave me a gold medal for sliding under the table. Also Mom, could you please fix my bleeding head?'
And the parents these days are di competitive about their kids that she would have said, 'Yes, son, we will go to the hospital  but let's take a selfie first and find a spot to showcase the medal.'

8. The complaint box

You should think that they breed in primary classes only but much like micro organisms and Arijit Singh songs , they are everywhere. 'Look at him. He is not studying.' 'Look at her. She is beating me.' 'Look at Ram Leela. They are making out.' All these complaints and many more come simultaneously, so as a teacher you ignore a few and find quick solutions for others.
A quick study on how I resolve problems.

Not studying. Ignored. That's the tuition teacher's headache, not the school's.

The beatibg girl.  Ignored, if the aggressor is weak than the defender. Warning, if the aggressor is strong. And play a spectator, if they are equally matched, mentally picking up and cheering for one.

Ram Leela. Ignored. Privacy respected. Quick advice, find an empty room in the school and use protection. We don't need any more children in the world than we already have.

9. The Panchayati girls

A girl from a backward bench, fighting against the majority of the class, broke out, when the Panchayat (consisting of three girls, who for half an hour, listened to the two girls with their issue 'who will sit with whom.'.) But much like any other government, this panchayat was less concerned about the problem and made fun of the sufferers at their back. When I played the police, I was told to back of as they could resolve it themselves. You know what they say, children are future leaders and classrooms are their training centres.

10. The loudspeakers

I am someone with a feeble voice. My vocal cords much like my luck, cause me pain, when I try too hard. But there are children in each class with much louder voices, and the problem with super powers is when you don't know how to use them for good purpose. So these loudspeakers would scream at the top of their voice (without trying too hard) just to address the student sitting beside then. And I am wondering why God hates me so much.

...
Thank you for reading. I would love to know which type of kid you were and you are familiar with.

The BookWorm: 7 Amazing Quotes from The Aman Arora Anthology

The BookWorm: 7 Amazing Quotes from The Aman Arora Anthology: Poetry Lovers are always thirsty for amazing quotes. It is a normal tendency that others would not understand. Recently I read "The A...

Movie recommendation : Dhanak

Theme and Plot

Dhanak is a Nagesh  Kukunoor movie  which celebrates the spirit of secularism and  religious tolerance.  Two greatest religions of this country live in harmony.  The 8 year old  boy,  a Salman  Khan fan and his sister,  a  Shah Rukh Khan fan, shares a relation of immense fondness and compassion for each other 

The above lines were meant to be funny.  But this is true that Dhanak is a touching story of sister-brother love and  affection.  The eight-year-old boy has lost his vision because of poor nutrition.  His two-year elder sisters goes out of her ways to help him get his eyesight before his 9th birthday.  Her master plan is to seek the help of the good soul,  Bollywood  actor,  Shah  Rukh  Khan.  And so she takes her younger brother through a 300 km journey to Jaisalmer. 

Treatment

The story is a fairly tale set in a realistic setting.  What happens at the end,  whether the children actually get to meet SRK and whether  he helps them or not is not important.  What happens to the children as they undertake this odd journey,  is what is  worth watching. They have  good and bad experiences,  just like a fairy tale.  And much like any top class fairy tale,  this movie has got great humour and music. 

Acting

Excellent acting by the two child protagonist. I often find Indian child actors act in a very irritating manner  (That Piyu  girl in Yeh hai  mahabitein  and Bade  acche lagte hain)  is a prime example.  They are pampered,  over smart,  stupid and simply irritating.  But the characters of these two kids were believable.  Their.dialogue delivery,  expression and screen presence was commendable.  All the other actors,  not much to say about them,  acted just according to the script.  That guy,  who played Ishan's father in Taare Zameen par,  whom we hated so much,  plays a very nice guy (he is the uncle and  the guardians of the.kids)  And you like him in this character. 

Music

Music is a high point of this movie.  The songs take the movie forward and are not there just for the sake of it.  The fusion song is a treat to the senses. 

Discussion point

I would like to share an observation.  While watching this movie I was thinking that isn't it true that people living in cities,  the multiplex audience like films set in a.village or remote settings and the village people,  mostly the single screen audience like films depicting fast city lives? There is something about my notion,  no? Multiplex audience watches Anurag Kashiyap and Nagesh  Kukunoor  while single screen loves mainstream Yash Raj  films and Vishesh films.  We want to watch what we are not. 

Conclusion

You know a B.Ed guy always ends an article with conclusion. I can say: Watch Dhanak  if you like good cinema.  But people have different definitions of good cinema,  so I will break it up. 

If you enjoy movies with children playing the central characters like Rockford ,  TZP, Stanley  ka dabba,  Hawa Hawai,  this one is for you. 

If you like movies with clean and instinctive humour,  this one is for you. 

If you love fairy tales,  then this one is definitely for you 

If you want to watch a movie with your family and children,  there are not many options,  this movie is a great one. 

If you know me,  and trust me,  you know I recommend good movies without any favours. 

Thank you for reading.  If you watch the movie based on my recommendation,  do come back to thank me later.  Chao. 

Photo poetry: Baarish aur bachpan

Photography credits to my friend: Kaushik Paul

#MyList Top 10 Favourite Bollywood singers (Male)

  

Anybody who says that he does not like music might be an alien or someone having problems with adjustment. We all want harmony and so we enjoy symphony. I have grown on Bollywood songs and I have plenty of favourite singers and songs.

Today I would do a daring task to name my top 10 favourite singers and even more challenging task of choosing my 3 favourite songs of them.

10. Kailash Kher

I have heard stories regarding his misbehaviour from the time when he was learning music, but two things are very sure when you listen to his song; he is a very talented singer and has a great passion for music. He is the voice of 'small town lovers'. There is masti and notorious mess in his voice.

My 3 favourites

1. Allah ke bande haste from Waise bhi hota hai Part 2
The song that brought him into limelight.  He sang it very well. Matured voice,  intonation,  depth,  feeling,  everything. 

2. Teri deewani from his album  Kailasha.
Describes the strong passion of love,  the song  stays with you. It is immune to time and sounds as fresh even if you listen to it after a long time. 

3. Tere nishan  from OMG Oh my God. 
I like this movie,  what it stands for and this song in 3 minutes emphasises what this movie is about.  There is anguish in his voice for this song as was to be portrayed. 

9 Sukhwinser Singh

The rock star Singh. His heavy Punjabi voice has a lots of versatility  and he sounds just as good at higher notes.

My 3 favourites

1. Chaiye chaiye from Dil se
Legendary song.  It is famous mostly for his visuals,  SRK  and Malika 's high energy dance on the top of a moving  train.  But AR Rahman,  the composer, Gulzar,  the lyricist and Sukhwinder  are at their absolute best here 

2. Kava  kava  kava (Aaj mera jee karda) from Monsoon Wedding
This song defines the word' zeal ' in audio form.  It has the punjabi  beats you cannot resent  shading your feet to.  Very popular song. 

3. Jai ho from Slumdog Millionaire
The world has listened to this song and loved it.  Period. 

8. Mohit Chauhan

His romantic numbers appeal to me.  He enjoyed a good 4-5 years as a top singer after struggling a lot. In the present times,  not many singers have enjoyed as much success.  Mohit is good,  he is versatile,  he has a voice soothes you.  And what soothes you,  is music. 

My 3 favourites

1. Tum ho from Rocester
I love the lyrics.  I love the honesty with which Mohit sings this song. 

2. Kitne dafe  (Tani weds Manu)
Again the lyrics and the feel with which Mohit sings it 

3. Nadaani parindey (Rockstar)
Rocester is a great album with all songs sung by Mohit. Tough to look beyond it.  Special mention to Irshad  Kamil,  the lyricist and music composer AR Rahman.  This is a meaningful song and captures a lots of emotions which Mohit sings wonderfully well. 

7. Arijit Singh

Everybody's current favourite,  right?  He made his way to the top after struggling for some years,  participating in a singing reality show way back in  2005. And he came into Bollywood and has not looked back.  He is damn good.  He sings with a lot of feel.  He has a powerful voice,  and can do justice to good songs and good lyrics. 

My 3 favourites

1. Gulon mein rang bhare from Haider
I liked him before this song as well,  but the maturity with which he dang this Mehandi Hasan ghazal  made me realise that he is an exceptional singer and would go a long way.  He has sung this difficult  song with such a great ease, making it his own. 

2. Soch na sake from Airlift
Romantic song,  sung with feel.  It stays with you 

3. Humdard  from Ek villain
Good album.  This is a simple track and I love it for that.  There are many other such sings,  but this one is just lovely. 

6. Shankar Mahadevan

Known more for his compositions,  the Shankar  of Shankar  Ehsan  Loy.  He is one of the most amazing singers in the country.  His command over high notes,  which is the toughest to achieve for any singer,  is just incredible. 

My 3 favourites

1. Breathless from the album of the same name. 
I have grown listening to  this song on Doordarshan.  The lyrics are written by Javed  Akhtar  and it is so poetic . As the name goes,  there is no point of taking a pause during this song,  which is such a difficult condition.  Yet he nails it. 

2. Aasvasan  ke paar shayad from Rochford
Not just with the higher notes,  he is just as good with lower ones.  His voice is very soothing in this song and it is one of my favourite feel-good songs. 

3. Shri  Ganeshay  Deemahi from Virudh
I do not understand  the lyrics.  But this song is sung in a great manner and the music holds you 

5. AR Rahman

The Mozart from Chennai does not impress me only as a musician. His singing is great. I find smoothness in his voice, there is a sense of calmness that can transform you to another level. You can drown yourself in his music.

My 3 favourites

1. Dil se re from Dil se
This sing has great rhythm and passion.  Great composition and we'll sung by the great man. 

2. Maa tujhe salaam from his album Vande  Mataram
The best patriots  song perhaps  it makes you feel proud of your nation.  It is so full of glory and pride. 

3. Lukka chippi from Rang de basanti
Great album.  This song is pretty special.  It has a classical touch and a unique concept that an on screen mother and son are singing.  It is very emotional.  The lyrics by Preston Josh  are amazing  one of my favourite  songs of Lata  Mangeshkar as well. 

4 Jagjit Singh

If you feel your life is moving at a great speed and you feel the need to catch, just sit back and listen to Jagjit Singh songs. It works. There is so much calmness, composure and grace in his voice that you forget your troubles momentarily and feel good about life.

My 3 favourites

1. Hoshwalon ko khabar kya bekhudi kya cheez hai from Sarfrosh
Lovely lyrics,  picturised  on Naseeruddin  Shah.  Jagjit's voice is just amazing. 

2. Tum ko dekha toh yeh khayaal aaya from Sath Sath
Romantic song ,  sung from the heart. 

3 Hazaaron khwaishe aisi from Mirza  Ghalib TV film

This is a great kalaam  by Ghalib and Jagjit  has given it the voice it deserved.  Do watch this TV till directed by Gulzar where Naseer plays Ghalib  and Jagjit sings the ghazals.  Magic.

3. Kishore Kumar

If you love Bollywood, you love this man. Just think about it. He has given voice to superstars like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bacchan , who have so many fanatics. And the central trait of Kishore's personality is madness, something you can associate with Bollywood at any time. He gave the songs he sang a bit if himself, spontaneity, madness, humour, emotions.

My 3 favourites

1. Kuch toh kog kahengey from Amar  Prem
Lyrics by Anand  Bakshi,  composed by RD  Burman,  stars Rajesh  Khanna.  Super hit song,  sung by a musical genius.  Chingadi  koi bharke  is another brilliant song from this movie.

2. Pyaar deewana hota hai from Kati  patang
One of the best  romantic songs ever. 

3.  Jaane tu ya jaane na from Aa gale lag ja
A simple movie. This song is the highlight of this movie 

2. Sonu  Nigham 

Exceptional singer. He has enjoyed great success and has been very versatile,  something that helped him survive for so long.  Temperament problem at one point in his career.  But he has learned.  He has struggled in the early part of his career and is now quite humble. 

Top 3 favourites

1. Ab mujhe raat din from his album Deewana.
He has sung many romantic songs over the years,  but tough to beat this one.  His voice is so pure and natural  in this. 

2. Ye dil Deewana from Pardesh
Pardesh  is a good album and this song perhaps the best.  It has great passion and vitality.
.
3. Sadness  aatey hain
A patriotic song that touches your heart. Sonu  has sung with so much emotions that this sing gives me goosebumps at times. 

1. Mohammad Rafi

The fondness for Rafi is in my genes. My father loves him and regards him as the best ever and I follow his footsteps and regard him as one of  the best even though he was dead long before I was born. There is something about his voice and by the time he ended his career, he proved how versatile he was, singing all kinds of songs. He was the reason behind success of many actors. And I have this debate with my friends as to whom his voice suits more, Dev Anand or Shammi Kapoor. I tend to go for Dev Anand but then I listen to the sings of 'Kashmir ki kali'

Mt 3 favourites

1. Abhi na jao chorh kar from Hum dono
Classic romance.  So much simplicity and elegance in this sing.  Exceptional lyrics by Sahir  Ludhiyanvi.  Magical composition.  This song is for life. 

2. Ishaaron ishaaron mein from Kashmir  ki kali
Great album.  All the songs are my favourite .  Deewana hua badal,  Tareef  karu  kya uski,  subhanallah... These are the names of the song, and also can be used to praise the songs. 

3.  Yuh  toh humne lakh hasten dekhe hain from Tum sa nahi dekha
Op Naiyyar  special.  The sound of moving cart and this song,  great rhythm.  Sharma does his antics on Rafi's playful voice. 

..

This was a really difficult task.  I do not know how I missed some absolutely amazing singers from the past and the present,  but this was about the top 10. I would have loved to add Mama Dey,  Mukesh,  Lucky Ali,  Shafqat  Amanat  Ali,  Kumar  Sanu,  Shaan,  Udit Narayan,  Papon,  Hariharan,  SP  Balakrishna and many more. 

I hope you enjoyed the list and I would love to know your list of favourite singers. 

Keep listening to good music.

Cheers. 

#MorningWalk 02

I don't think one can plan a murder in a park, not in the morning anyway. It is too positive a place for that. Not just the chirruping birds and fresh air, but also the people around. Not sure if it is the case everywhere, but in the park I visit, I see a lot of elderly people. They are elderly, but not aged and some of them would have more stamina than me. It is a notion that the present generation is not as fit and healthy, and I truly believe in it. We have grown on machines and don't know the value of exercise and physical activities.

There is a group of people doing laughter yoga. I don't know the exact health benefits of it, but whenever I go walk around that group, I smile. There is a nice sensation in my chest. Laughter and smiles would forever remain the world's most desirable infections. There is a group doing a normal yoga as well. Occasionally I overhear a valuable health suggestion from them. They often chant a Gayatri Mantra or any other hindu hymm, which is always good to hear in the mornings. Thr familiar walkers also greet each other pleasantly, often with a 'Ram Ram' or 'Sat sri akal' or such greetings.  A few clap while walking, an action performed for better blood circulation. The sound is quite musical.

At another side of the park, children and young men play cricket or football, some of them come to the park with their whole family. Precious thing that  parents and grandparents give to their children; a healthy habit and a way of life.

A morning walk is like a 'difficult task we choose to accomplish. It teaches us that it is important to keep moving. One accesses his pace and does not mind being overtaken or boasts of overtaking others. That's how perhaps it is different from the outside world, where one is always and since forever competing. Here the challenge is only to improve on yourself. Wish we could take this practice into our actual lives,  just focus on our progress at all times. 

#MorningWalk 01

Thoughts pop up like sperns racing for life, when I abandon all the machines I make use of and complain about, and put into use my body and work it like the most imperfectly perfect machine; the one with mind and soul, during a morning walk.  Chin up, the whole body errect and walking as straight and steady and possible. There are not many pleasing things than to step out of your home and smell the morning, hear the birds chirrup; two signs that the life is still worth it, and see some of the finest people around, who understands and executes the idea that life is no fun without sound health.

The experience of a morning walk, have a proportional relationship with any 'difficult task' that we have to perform in life. The initiative to take the walk is difficult, the first couple of rounds are a bit challenging, but when the body gets warmed up, the speed increaes and we enjoy the body moments and want to continue as long as time permits. Similarly, while performing the task, at first, we are at self-doubt, whether we should take up the challenge or not. Then while performing it, we are very calculative and perform it according to prescription. There are difficulties and doubts, but they are overcomed, and we feel comfortable and soon we start enjoying it.

While walking, when I look at elderly people walking faster than me or jogging, I just whisper a 'wow' to myself. It i such an inspiring sight. And even for all the other walkers/joggers, the speed doesnt matter, the fact that they have come out and chosen a healthy way of life is all that matters. Just like in life, what matters is keep moving ahead, at rapid pace or slow pace, it doesn't matter.; what really doesn't work is relinquishment, giving up.

The pleasure doesn't end in performing the task, the satisfaction on its accomplishment is what we seek, and an initiative from the very beginning. The five minutes after walking continuously for an hour, the sweat, the feel of the blood circulation and coming out of all the oils and fats, that we unfortunately can't live without, in form of sweat is very satisfying.

I am an occassional Walker.  I wish to have a proper routine in my life and walking would be one of the most joyous parts of the routine as it is truly a great exercise for both my body and mind.

Syra Yousuf sketch

Syra Yousuf is a Pakistani VJ turned actor, and I think she is really pretty.

Rahul Dravid Sketch

Whenever I draw a sketch, I go defensive I say stuff like it is just my summer time pass time, I am not an expert or have enough experience. I take satisfaction in the fact that it looks similar to the subject I draw or at least looks like a human. (I draw just faces and upper body.)

But it is a time to move ahead. I did better on the cleanliness front. Some of my earlier sketches have lines visible. I drew this on a normal A4 sheet just like my earlier sketches. I would get myself proper drawing sheets soon. It is the first time i did my sign in s sketch.

Rahul Dravid is my favourite cricketer and I wanted to do this one well. I spent more than three hours on it. The face is stretched in the sides and I did the mistake of introducing 8B pencil too early in the process. It didn't have a proper form when I went for shading with 8B. J could have improved upon it if not for this mistake.

Okay, open for feedback.

IPL 2016 All Star XI

IPL 2016 All star team

Now that we are done with the 56 matches and have the four teams, Gujurat Lions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the play offs, it is a good time to discuss who were the big performers in the 9th edition of IPL.

I have made my all star playing XI for this purpose. I restricted myself to only 4 foreign players as is the rule for any IPL team. I considered the players who were regular in the team, consistent with their performances and had an impact in their team's performance. This is my team:

1. Virat Kohli (RCB)
2.  David Warner (captain) (SRH)
3. AB De Villers (RCB)
4. KL Rahul (wk) (RCB)
5. Yusuf Pathan (KKR)
6. Krunal Pandiya (MI)
7. Andre Russel (KKR)
8. Chris Morrs (DD)
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar(SRH)
10. Y Chahal (RCB)
11. Zaheer Khan (DD)

1. Virat Kohli

This was his tournament. His batting was mesmerizing. To score over 900 runs and 4 centuries in just 14 innings is outstanding, unheard of. He did this in T20 format which many regard as a lottery. You cannot expect to come every day and score, but this guy did just that innings after innings he came out and consistently got big runs. His fitness has been outstanding as well and has taken some great catches in the tournament.

2. David Warner

He has been a very consistent performer in IPL cricket and this was yet another great year. He is a match winner and got over 600 runs at a fantastic strike rate. He had an impact on Sunrisers' success in this season by his brilliant leadership as well. His work in the field is outstanding as well. He jumps like a rabbit in the field to take good catches and save runs.

3. AB de Villers

Not as consistent as the two mentioned before, but in the games he did do well, he had a huge impact. And when RCB needed to regain his form, he hit that brilliant 129*  an innings that gave momentum to his team. He is always a great fielder and has taken many safe and difficult catches this season as well.

4. KL Rahul

I like typing the name of a young Indian in the All star team. He deserves it completely. He has added a new dimension to his game; the power game,  fast scoring ability, the six-hitting ability. It was great to see him score consistently despite his batting position being dropped from opening to no4 whelooking  Gayle played. He played some outstanding shots and did a reasonable job with the gloves as well.

5. and 6. Yusuf Pathan and Krunal Pandiya 

Yusuf Pathan after having some below par seasons for KKR, finally had a good one, something KKR management would have been hoping. It was not just one or two innings this season but he was exceptional in the second half of the season when Uthappa and Gambhir lost some form.
Krunal Pandiya reminds you of young Yusuf Pathan. Similar story, his younger brother, a seam bowling all-rounder came to the limelight before him. And it was IPL that helped him gain attention. And K Pandiya has been the find of this IPL. His hitting is fearless and bowling has some control. He is perhaps the all-rounder India has been looking for.

7. and 8. Andre Russel and Chris Morris

Russel is my favourite all rounder from the West Indies. He has got quality. He bowls at 140+ km/hr and can hit really clean sixes. It was unfortunate that he got injured. But still he did enough to occupy the key no7 position in my team.
Chris Morris had a great season. He was the star for Delhi. His bowling has been outstanding. He has bowled with pace, great lengths, bowled the best yorkers in the tournament and the six hitting ability he showed in the 17 ball 50 he hit was just amazing. He did well in the field as well.

9.  Bhuvneshwar Kumar

I like his attitude and determination. He knew that he needed some pace to be successful at the big stage and he has made a constant effort to improve in this regard and has been successful this season. He often got a wicket in his first over and bowled some very consistent opening spells. He did quite well coming late into the innings and has bowled decent yorkers. I hope he gets back to all formats for India because he really has got some great ability with both ball and bat.

10. Y Chahal

Not a great season for spinners, but a few leg spinners including Amit Mishra and Zampa did well. Y Chahal bowled well right through and got into a great wicket taking form at the end of the season. He can spin the bowl, he does give it a little bit of air and has got variations. I would like to see him in the Indian team soon.

11. Zaheer Khan (DD) 

He had a good season after a bad start to it. I saw even Kohli misjudge the slower ball angling away from him. He was good, used his skills and experience. He did well captaining a young team, a job he has not been assigned much
...

Special mentions from oversea players 

Q de Kock (DD)
He missed a couple of games, had a few single digit scores, had bad luck with unoiring decisions, but scored runs and looked good at other times. He is so talented and sorted at 23. He is going to be a great cricketer.

Muztafizur Rahman (SRH)
He is going to be a great bowler. He has been unplayable at times. He is a thinking bowler. 

Adam Zampa (RPS)
His 6 wicket haul was outstanding. He is a real find for Australia as far as soon bowling talent us concerned. He bowling action reminds you of Shane Warne and that is a good start.

Special mentions from India

Karun Nair (DD)
I loved watching his shots and after Kohli, he was perhaps the most good looking batsman to the eye. Just missed the line-up. 

Amit Mishra (DD)
Just missed the team again. He bowled well consistently. The great thing about him that he is always attacking the batsman, bowls a perfect googly, bows it wide when the batsman is going after him.

Ajinkya Rahane (RPS)
He is always good to watch and played some very good looking innings for his team. But RPS didn't have the batting talent to support him. Too bad Kevin Pieterson and Steve Smith did not play all games.

Sandeep Sharma (KXIP)
Sandeep who has been regular and consistent just missed it to Zaheer Khan.  Line and length bowler, who bowls well with the new ball and coming in the death overs.

Murali Vijay (KXIP)

Talk about captains doing well. Since the time he was given the captaincy, he scored consistent runs for his team.
..

Can you beat my All Star 11?

Kohli and Warner as openers.
Abd and Kl Rahul, solid in the middle.
Yusuf and K Pandiya as hitters. Can bowl off soon and slow left arm orthodox.
Russel and Morris, more hitting. And bowls 140 km/hr with the ball. 
B, Kumar and Zack, right arm medium and left arm medium as opening bowlers.
Y Chahal as the leggie.

Event review- Poetry and the past

Event name: Poetry and the past
Organised by: Youth for heritage foundation
Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India habitat centre
Speaker: Saumya Kulusheshtra
Date: 21 May 2016

India habitat centre is a place to be for activities related to art and culture. The atmosphere is very promising to discuss creative thoughts that need stimulus to come into form. Youth for heritage foundation, a unique, unassuming and dedicated group of people, held another successful talk that provided rich knowledge of culture and heritage. The lecture was titled 'Poetry and the past' and having attended a lecture last year on 'the historic poets of Delhi' by young and talented poet Yaseen Anwar, I knew this one would be just as great.

Vikramjeet Singh Rooprai clarified the key difference between history and heritage at the very beginning. History is what has happened and heritage is what is left of it. We need to focus on the latter because that has more utility and hence it is the more sensible thing to do

Saumya Kulusheshtra began her lecture on the same lines, emphasising the purpose of this talk in the need to know two important things: what poetry is and from where has poetry come from. Of course the two questions are inter related. She touched on different myths that were associated with the origin of poetry. She believes in digging the roots of something to understand the whole and complete meaning. She illustrated how poetry existed before writing evolved as this was the medium that helped to convey 'more in less' . When printing had not evolved and people could not record as much, they used poetry. Also poetry has greater retention as it is in rhythm and meter; something which nobody in the audience could deny. She discussed how poetry evolved through centuries and how it responded to the changes in the society.

She discussed the need to understand the author and the time in which he wrote the poem to understand the poem. I completely believe in this ideology as well. The author is more important than his work. The author at his best is an extension of himself.  The teachers while teaching poetry must keep this aspect in their mind so as to make poetry more purposeful and meaningful to students.

Saumya also emphasised how poetry was taking a full circle and how we are focussing once again on performing poetry rather than just writing it. It is due to digital modernisation, where she also made a point that blogs are the literature for generations to come, something which I do not completely buy. In her words,  online medium is s democratic world without censorships, which it is, but I doubt it's credibility to ever be considered something more organised and authentic as literature is.

This was the second time that I acquitted Saumya. The first time was at Poets Collective group session last December where I got a chance to recite my poem and listen to almost two dozen fantastic poets. Saumya is a real social butterfly and she used her easy going and lively personality while delivering the lecture. She displayed her brilliant sense of humour and was candid in her interactions with the audience, something that made almost a two hour session very entertaining and thought provoking at the same time.

Tauseef Ahmed concluded the session with his few but precise words. I have heard some of the incidents and stories he shared, but just the way he presents them, they sound as good as the first time. He by the way gave the best advice to young and emerging poets: don't tell your parents about your ambition to become a poet.

Types of teachers

I respect teaching profession and all my teachers. This one is just for entertainment purpose. Let's shoot.

1. Domestic tale-tellers

These are generally the female teachers who just don't know how to differentiate home and work. They can relate any home affair with their teaching.

'You know particles in a solid stick to each other like a family. Every family should have a strong bond, and one should always be very cautious about the activities of your sister in law who can influence your mother in law to her side.'

' In case of substitute goods, if the price of one rises, the demand for the substitute increase. Like tea and coffee. Like my elder son used to like tea very much. He did not drink coffee at all. And then he saw Deepika in Nescafe ad shaking coffee in a tumbler, and he left tea and started drinking coffee.'

2. I don't give a damn types

They don't care. They just won't listen to you no matter what you are saying.

'Madam, I do not understand this point. Can you explain it again?'
'Okay, I will explain it. Now go back and sit on your seat.'

'Sir, Ram and Leela are making out in the last bench'
'What? Okay, I will see to it. You now go back and sit on your seat.'

Neil Armstrong, 'Madam, one day I will become the first man to step on the Moon.'
'That's good Neil. Now go back and sit on your seat.'

Issac Newton, 'Sir, this apple fell on my head. Do you think there could be a scientific reason to explain that?'
' Don't try to act smart Neil. Go back and sit on your seat and hand over that apple to me.'

3. Accidental teachers

They do not belong here. Unlike the 'I don't give a damn types',  they teach and teach. But when they try to explain a thing, you know that they do not belong here. They generally ask rhetorical questions after every teaching point. 'Got it?', 'clear?', 'understood?', and you end up thinking in your mind. 'Okay, leave us, did you get it?' Jokes apart, you do feel sorry about these teachers because they do try very hard but are just not meant to be teachers.

4. The conventionalists 

Generally the history or political science teachers. They are the heritage of the school or college. Their are the preservators of culture and tradition. Everything about them is old and wrinkled , their looks, their teaching style, their examples which are as ancient as them They probably do not know internet. They probably talk on a landline or use a pager, or worse, a blackberry.

5. Split personality type

On the first day, they have such an impression on you that you think they are the sweetest, the loveliest specimen of human beings.  When you discuss the new set of teachers with your friends, you tell them. 'This teacher is sweet. I am not worried about her.'  And the next day she punishes you for sneezing.

And this goes on during the course of your course that you do not understand their personality. They switch from being Amrish Puri to Alok Nath, and back again, in no time.

6. The duty bounds

They are good people. No matter what happens, they would be focused on coming to the class, and giving a lesson.

They also have this unique quality of converting every situation into a learning experience.

'Madam, it is raining outsides. Please don't teach today.'
'Alright. (Students about to scream with joy) but write a 200 word essay on why you enjoy rains.'

Someone comes from outside and informs
'Mam, emergency. There is fire in the school building '
'Don't worry. The fire brigade will take care of it. (Facing her class) Now who will  tell me what number do you dial to call fire brigade?'

7. The favourites

Everybody likes them. They teach well, they are sweet, they give you time to do your stuff, they make you laugh, they protect you from other teachers. But just in case, you do not like them like the rest of others, you become an outcaste. You are made to feel like a North East guy in North India or a Punjabi in South India, or worse a gentleman in Uttar Pradesh.

8. The English teachers

I think they are a special specimen. All the English teachers I have seen has some unique characteristics which are so particular to them. They have a wide smile, showing all their teeth.  They have a subtle humour and they follow it with a wide smile showing all their teeth. They are very polite. They would always greet you with a wide smile showing all their teeth. They are good listeners. They do not interfere when you are talking. And when you finish they give a wide smile showing all their teeth. Gosh, won't they make great models for tooth paste advertisements?

9. The motherly types

Your mother is your first teacher and your teacher is your second mother. These teachers take this concept just a little too seriously. They will always be giving you an advice regarding your ways of doing things.
'Do not drink cold water after sports
'Meditate for at least 10 minutes every day.'
'Please use some protection, Ram.'

And you are wondering in your mind that ' Babes, if I wanted to spend 24 hours with my mother, I won't have taken admission into a school.'

10. The lazy bums

Generally the Hindi or social studies teachers at primary level. They enter your classroom, sit on their chair. And they stay there till the bell rings. They would give you some work like copying from the book and would not bother with your lives thereafter. It suddenly becomes a recreational class. You can socialise with people, you can sketch your favourite cartoon character, Issac Newton can devise the theory of gravity and Ram and Leela figure out on how to get an abortion.

...

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do share in the comments section which type of teachers you acquitted the nost and the types I missed.

How to write exams in B Ed

The golden rule to remember while writing an answer in B ed is that you are not writing an answer,  you are selling a product.  Your knowledge about the subject matter need not be perfect,  but the way you  present it is is the KEY.

So here are few suggestions that can help you score good marks.

1. Beginning, middle and conclusion

No matter what is asked in the question, write an introduction explaining each word in the question, even if you end up explaining the various parts of speech used to form the question, so be it. Nobody is reading.
In the middle, you are supposed to answer the specific thing asked like the merits of that thing, but if you don't know that, don't worry and write its  nature,  characteristics, demerits, implications, related theories, unrelated theories, just write it under the heading 'Merits'
At the end do write the 'conclusion' : Here you repeat all the shit that you wrote above, but in a nutshell.

2. Calligraphy and designs:

It is how beautiful the dot in you 'i' looks like that would determine your scores. Seriously it is like a candle, as bright it glows as does your future. So don't stop at hearts and bindis, make that 'I' and all the alphabet look beautiful. It is all that matters.

3. Write everything in points:

I decided to write this blog in an essay form, but I follow what I preach.  It is the number of points that effect marks. It is the ability to break one point into two or three that can get you afar. Just like in cricket a batsman is advised to convert ones into twos, twos into threes. Make as many points as you can. At one point you can repeat the points from the top and nobody will notice. Remember nobody is reading.
Suggestion for more points:  Look at everything from all aspects:  physical, emotional  psychological . sexual, social, economic, political, cultural, and even in combinations like , socio-cultural, physio-emotional, politico-sexual and shit like that.

4. Use the golden words in B Ed

There are some key words that fit into almost every answer. There is no odd and even rule in their usage. So if you are answering a question that you have no damn clue about, use following glossary words in simple sentences:

A: all round development of the child,
B: behaviour
C: child centred education, creativity, counselling
D: democracy, development, discipline
E: education for all, emotions
F: flexibility in curriculum
G: generalisation, growth, guidance
H: health, heuristic method.
I: inclusive education, information, intelligence, individual difference
J: Jean Piaget (this dude is like Mahesh Butt of education, has something to say about everything)
K: knowledge
L: learning by doing
M: motivation, maturity
N: national feeling
O:operations
P: perception, personality
Q: questioning
R: role of teacher
S: stimulus, self discipline
T: thinking, time consuming (used as demerit for many stuff)
U: understanding the child
V: vocational education
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

Okay ,  remaining letters are in next semester.

5. Conclusion:

In B Ed, presentation is the key. You write beginning, middle and conclusion in good hand writing, point wise using the golden words (that's how you conclude), but if that is not enough,

Use crayons, water, fabric, acrylic colours to write answers 
Make bold margins and draw flowers and leaves
Submit your answer sheet in a wooden box, wrapped in shiny wrapping paper.
Tie it with a ribbon.
Put some scent on it.
Attach a card saying, 'Fuck you Indian education system

And this is just how we started

''When we meet someone, we do not just meet that person, but also their culture.""

This is a brief account of my AMD Raghav's  first meeting with our Trinadad friend, Fazeela Mollick. 

...
When we look at something we look from eyes, that is perspectives, we have formulated or accumulated from our experiences over time. But we are still just a minute unit of the whole creation and it is not feasible for us to have the wholesome and appropriate knowledge of all the elements or the perspectives through which they can be understood. So, when Raghav and I met Fazeela for breakfast in Khan market, the three of us were to begin a journey of learning about perspectives with which we looked at our culture and other cultures. Fazeela, being the more mature member and a little more travelled, bestowed upon us the knowledge about the oddly shaped buttery French dish, which Raghav and I were totally clueless about, when served. "What do I do with this?" Is what Fazeela suggested our faces read like. We laughed at this. And we laughed again when I asked with utmost sincerity, "No, seriously, what are we to do with this?" As if it was not difficult enough to comprehend what the dish was, its name "croissant" needed a heavy workout for our tongues to pronounce. Fazeela suggested that the French cook at L'opera had prepared the dish the way it should be prepared,  Raghav's taste buds wondered why didn't he rather experiment. I didn't mind trying something new. Fazeela sang a couple of lines in French for us in her melodious voice. She then requested a cheerful gentleman to click our photograph as she was not a great fan of selfies. A photograph of two Indians and a Trini having a breakfast in a French restaurant in India. And that is just how we started.

The idea of a perfect happy birthday

I don't know how to react on my birthday.

I am not a fancy person.  I never planned anything extravagant on my birthday, had a grand party or bought an expensive gift.  Mostly because I could not afford it.  And I never liked to rob my father's money for my pleasure.  I have been a good kid.

I believe that all days are alike and we should try to make every one of them special.  So why put extra emphasis on birthdays?  But much before the day comes,  I have an expectation in my heart that something special should happen on the day.  Someone must take initiative to make it special.  I expect phone calls and long messages wishing me well.  And recently on my 23rd birthday,  I realised that how more people come to know me every year but lesser people wish me on time anyway.  It is different that you wish someone via a phone call or even a message at 12 sharp and you post a half hearted 'hbd''  on their Facebook wall when Zuckerberg instructs you to do so.

I have to digest the fact that my friends are moving along in their lives  and are involved in activities,  work,  career,  family life and such  things.  It is possible to forget that the new date that has just come once held some significance in their life.

The thing is about expectations.  My parents would never forget my birthday.  My sister would want to try her best  to make it special.  A few friends would always wish me,  even if they do it later,  it would be from their hearts.  But I would not be grateful for that.

I would not accept the fact that people do not call anymore on birthdays.  WhatsApp has changed the tradition.  It is the emozies that are the perfect substitutes to express our heartfelt feelings for somebody.

I would not accept  the fact that I can never have as happy a birthday as I used to have till the number of candles on the cake were in single digits. Maybe birthdays are for children.. Because it is only children that can be contented on birthdays. They would not want everyone on their contact list to wish them to start with. They would enjoy the little toys they receive.  They would enjoy plying with balloons,  eating cake and chocolates.  They would enjoy running,  playing,  dancing, anything,  everything,

My idea for a perfect birthday would be pleasant weather and no mosquitoes..  But that is not in one 's hand.  On my 23rd birthday,  my internal examinations began.  I had to attend college. Again something not in my hands.  My idea of a perfect birthday would be to spend the day hanging out with people I feel comfortable with (termed as 'friends'  in common usage) ,  doing random stuff,  chatting,  maybe singing and dancing,  or anything fun that comes naturally to anyone. I would like to have one meal of the day with my family as I know they are the ones who would unconditionally stand there for me when i am in need.  And maybe when I sleep at the night,  I should have a smile of contentment,  feeling gratitude for the company I had.  That would be the last piece.

Do you have happy birthdays?  What is your idea of a perfect  happy birthday?

The stepping stone

I can recall that feeling.  Sitting on the first desk,  I felt challenged by my best friend sitting beside me.  There were mixed emotions.  I was proud of his effort and the praise he got for having written a poem titled 'Books are theeeeee  best  (the extra 'e' s were for emphasis,  he told me.)  But I also felt left behind as Nikhil and I were pretty competitive academically.  I could not let him get a lead over me.  I just wanted the day to end and get the scores levelled with him .

I don't remember what all ideas came into my end,  but I ended up writing a poem about a farmer.  I literally defined the term (as is the right way of introducing any topic): the first line I wrote was 'The man who works in the field is called a farmer,'  (the second line : he works there from January to December.)

For some reason I was very excited about this effort. It was the last day before summer vacation.  I could not wait for two months to share my effort.  I telephoned Nikhil but could not reach him  I called our mutual friend Keshav,  who listened to my first poem very carefully.  I don't remember what he said,  but it was not discouraging,  at least audibly it was not.

This was the stepping stone.  This ordinary effort and many others got encouragement from people who were close to me.  It took me years to compile poems which conveyed deeper meanings,  were  written in a particular style,  provoked readers to think.

Looking back these ten years,  I know I have enjoyed the process.

Aman Arora writer (29 April 2006-Present)

Life of a regular B Ed guy

Today the first  question I was asked in my viva  for art and drama practical  was how I was coping with b Ed.  'Not so bad,'  I replied,  'although I have lost some weight ,'  was my reply.  The next question was directed  especially  at my gender.  While looking at my art work and artifacts,  Sir asked if I did it myself.  'I took help,'  I confessed.  To this Sir mentioned that if I knew how to manage help,  I could do just well in B Ed.' -  a statement that could have multiple meanings.  

Mine is the first batch to study B Ed as a two year course (DU  excluded where the course was 2 years even before) ,  and common sense would suggest that double the time period,  half the workload.  But NO!  in B ed,  this theory does not imply.  Two semesters have gone by,  and I have realised that B Ed is like signing a Yash Raj Films contract:  you are bound to work only for them,  and have no life outside of it.  

If B Ed was a feast,  there would have been assignments in appetisers,  main course and dessert.  No matter where we go,  what we do,  we have to write a report on it.  6 pages.  8 pages,  10 pages.  And they count both sides of a sheet as one page.  What kind of logic is that? We are so scared when they announce that we have a field trip or someone is coming  for a guest lecture  because the event will go on only for an hour or so but we would have to write it in 5 pages, (both sides.) 

And there is one thing called 'conclusion'  which we have to write after every report, every assignment,  every answer,  I was so absorbed by this that I started writing conclusion even for my fb status.  

Entry into a B Ed classroom for a guy is like the official entry to the first coach of Delhi metro.  The penalty is not 200 bucks but even more.  It can cost you your dignity.  Tie and die,  block printing, soft toy,  designing stuff with paper flowers and butterflies was something we ended up doing for our art and drama practical.  And the events in our college included rakhi making competition on rakshabandhan,  mehandi  competition on karwa  chauth ,  but there was no rawan  making or cracker making on Dushera  and Diwali,  something the guys would have enjoyed.  I was carrying RDX  in my bag the whole month in expectation.  We would have had such  a blast. 

Our boys gang end up entertaining ourselves by playing short pitch cricket or football or 'maaram pitti'  with the rubber ball.  We need something to protect our sexual orientation after all.  

What is to come?

A big hey to everyone using the world wide web!

I have been told by a several people to start blogging, and I reject the plea on the ground that I have nothing important to share. But, I realize that in the world of blogging, you sometimes have to take it easy; plan less and execute more. So, I am not going to do a lots of planning and thinking and coming up with nothing to share. I will just blog!

Although I have planned a few categories that my blog would have. These are.

• Straight from the heart posts: This is going to come. You know I am a poet. I have a lots to share about a lots of stuff. I would share an unaltered version of what comes to my mind and heart. Honesty guaranteed.

• Picture poetry: I have friends who are photographers and I have friends who draw, sketch or paint. A good picture speaks a thousand words. And I like adding a few words of myself to them. This experimentation can provide results I myself can't imagine. Visual beauty guaranteed. 

• Announcements and Updates: I would use this blog to make announcements and sharing updates about my writing projects. My first book, Aman Arora Anthology Volume 1 just released this April. Holding the book was like holding my baby. The only difference is that it took several years to come since ihe point of conception. 

• Book Recommendations: I am not a hardcore reader, but I have read a few quality books in my life. i would tell you how I liked them.

• Movie Recommendations: Not a big movie maniac either, but I have seen a few good English and Hindi language films. i can recommend a few.

• Me and Teaching: I have chosen teaching as a profession. It is a noble field and there is so much to learn about teaching. I will share about my experience as a B. Ed student, teacher-training and actual teaching experiences. 

• Sketches: I draw sketches occasionally. It is the only artistic thing I do. I am not great at it, but I do it anyway. Visual beauty of this blog might suffer perhaps. 

•  My random lists: That is what bloggers do primary, right? I am going to share a few lists about things of my interest. 

• Lot more stuff I am not aware about right now: Let things flow, baby. 

You can tell me what would you like to read. Stay tuned. 

Aman Arora Anthology Introduction

Aman Arora Anthology welcomes you,

Childhood fantasies, 

memories of yesteryear,

bliss of being,

and a few pretty and noble thoughts.

I contribute my bits 

into an immortal ocean. 

Let's start this journey of blogging. Stay tuned.