Monday, October 25, 2021

Stories on Wheels- Take it Easy Uncle & Aunt set to fly

I never saw Mumbai airport at it's peak hours. All the people are flying to their work destinations, holidays and other places from Mumbai. It was all chaos. Amidst chaos, after waiting for ten minutes in the cue, we got a chance to put things out of our bag. As we stood keeping our laptop, camera, cables in trays. The trays were too many with a little conveyer belt to handle. We waited there 10 more minutes. 

As I sent all my belongings into the scanner and waited for four people to walk into the security scan to get scanned by the stern CRPF. I got my turn. I took a step forward, cutting the line and stopping me to move forward, came uncle who looked forward  and walked beside me into it. His walk flaunted the the confidence and casualty at the same time. I think the confidence let him to be so casual to think, he can cut the lines, ignore the crowd who're standing in queue. I was not angry but, curious of how innocently he was ignorant about all the processes.  

He walked with his waist coat on, a towel over his neck and a lot of gold he's carry. The CRPF thing got beeped. He removed some coins, some ring, each pocket he had some junk in it. 

At once, he was about to remove his belt and the pant was coming down. At ease, he was removing them and there were too many things that the CRRPF had to get the tray  to collect and send it in the scanner. I couldn't stop my laughing. I laughed a bit concealing my laugh through the mask. I though how innocent he seemed. Soon after him, joined aunty who came with a handbag on her shoulder. 

The uncle had to join the queue again sending the tray full of coins, trinkets, red towel and a lot more papers. 

 I could totally understand the plight of the new flyers. 


Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Soliloquies- Morning Pages again

During lockdown, I've started writing morning pages and I went on with the streak of 100 days and more. I  tried writing morning pages again. I used to write but, inconsistent at it. It's been four days since I started morning pages again. I could realize that there's a lot that I want to write as I put down my thoughts on 3 long pages every morning. 

There's a lot that's taken off from my the mind letting the creativity to churn. 




Soliloquies- Context pleas

 Comes the  white man asking for more

Greedyy to take things home

He made a ship out  of me

When I look at my journal at times, I'm surprised by what I write. Reading out the  below lines, I was surprised on why I wrote this. This is about nature but, very incoherent. Putting it here to reflect more in the future. 

Grazed out the house

And cleared out the land

As white man put the line on the roads 

He needed me to  support down

Didn't end with the down

But also covered everything with me

The cut the trees and drop away in Ganga

Jungle

If monkey eats one fruti

What should it eat the rest of the time. 


The scavengers  on road

The carcass is all there lying around

Graphic Musings- Stillness


 

Book- ART MATTERS by Neil Gaiman

When I went to crossword, I found a lovely row filled with cushioned seats. I searched for small books to finish them in one sitting. While I was browsing, I could find this ART Matters by Neil Gaiman illustrated by Chris Riddell. 

It is divided into two parts. One is on why we need to introduce books to children. Other is how to practice whatever art we're practicing. In the first part, Neil discusses about how we think, argue, debate, discuss through word. Be it any art, we can either agree, disagree, debate, argue, appreciate through our thoughts. The finer we articulate our thoughts, the better we can communicate with others. With this dialogue, communication, we can avoid other means(violence) when we want to disagree. 

In the second part, Neil talks about  why we need to create, how we need to look at our work. He also had a tip for  the free lancers. Neil talks about being artists, he says, "We do not know what's gonna happen and there's no certain pattern. That gives us endless possibilities. That's scary but, also fun. In other works, there's a certain pattern or limited possibility."

I like the way he described on what it is to be an artist.


Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Good Schools - Government Primary School, Dhaurabhata, Dhamtari, Chattis...



There's a lot of progress that's happening as well in our country. These good schools are the proof. Appreciate the foundation's effort to recognize and document the good schools. 

Thinking of good schools, it's more important on how we defined 'good' as well. 

Some of the 'good' schools, I think are the ones that has fear free learning environment, democractic process, child centric learning. 

Will have to reflect more on what's good. 

Friday, October 15, 2021

Soliloquies- As empty as it gets to be filled.

 On a festive day, I woke up late at 10.30 am, noticing the still fan. There's power cut in the house. For a long time, there seems to be a power cut in the house. Thanks to coal crisis. I got out of bed, freshen up  and after a long time, I felt I'm on a holiday.  Earlier I took two months attending family, leaving the professional work. In the span of those two months, I have seen a death in the family, fell sick, been with family and grieved through out, travelled to attend the work. 

After resettling in Jaipur after 50 days, this holiday seemed to be a proper holiday to spend time with myself, all by myself.  I looked at my long note book and went on with my morning pages. It's a good start on a holiday. Soon after some writing, I went on with painting. I forgot about the food and I painted for hours. 

Calm cozy holidays reminds me of friends who always insisted me to enjoy the calmness the holidays bring rather than buzzing around everywhere during holidays. Today, I'm all alone with my own company, enjoying to do things I enjoy to do, for the sake of doing it. Good day. 


Quote of the day- Conviction

 "Conviction drives us. Whatever we share, we become thus."

                                                                                                -Unknown 

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Zehra Naqvi's The Reluctant Mother

I met Zehra Naqvi in a story reading session where she was narrating a Ruskin Bond's story. We interacted through the session. Knowing more about her, I got to know about her new book and the blog. I enjoyed reading her blog. Honest and inspiring. Waiting for the book to own it. 



Here's the book link for pre-order. 

https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/9391067204/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=raghswebs-21&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=9391067204&linkId=362ccd8e615b384269c86e5479828688&fbclid=IwAR1oLenydIVpbpyHS0a_ol5RnwEuOjKEbcZVZCByFlB4NC__vdEPGthspNg


Thursday, October 7, 2021

Soliloquies- Music and Memories

A decade ago, I'd sit all alone in my room, close the door and bring the portable speakers near my ear to listen to the music at low volume. The nights I used to enjoy the music as a meditation was my favourite past time. After a long time, I find myself listening to music when the dark night has turned off the colors outside my house. I listen to music as a meditation but not as any passive activity. 

Focusing on the music, I enjoy every note, rhythm and the instrumentations of the songs. As I listened to SPB, Yesudas and others, I live the moment to the fullest enjoying the music and transcend to the states which only music can take me to. 


Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Jaipur Journals- The Rainy Days

It had rained for four days. "Iss saal toh bahut baarish horaha he." exclaimed friends at workspace. Is it not usual to have rains in rainy season I thought. No. They have responded. Last year, it rained twice. This year, it's more than that. 

Thankful to my neighbours, I was commuting in their car. Looking at the logged roads, I couldn't dare to get my cycle to ride through those roads. The water was flowing. 

It's been years but, I never got into a situation where I had to face these water logging issues, man hole issues. 

I always had a car to tuck in during these rainy days. I'm grateful for it. 

There was a young couple who got drenched in rain and closed her eyes trying to hide behind her partner. I found another guy in his formals with his helmet on, going against the rain. Bravo. 

No sooner we crossed Manasarovar, there was no rain. I wished to stand, right at the place where it's raining and where it's not. 


Soliloquies- Impactful words

Drew Dudley: Everyday Leadership

In a six-minute talk, he triggers a lot of memories that had impacted me in my life. Memories caused by people who may never knew that they had impacted my life just like, how Drew Dudley shares his story in this talk. Weaving the anecdote with the glittering finishes on leadership, this talk helps us to reflect on how we look at leadership and how we may impact a lot of lives by redefining the way we look at leadership.

Few stories from the memory Lane.

During my Engineering Days, many of my friends bought a laptop and they hardly used laptops for studying purposes. CAD, Katia and a lot of softwares can be learnt suggested seniors. But, I knew I was not keen to put extra efforts in learning those softwares. So I postponed the idea of buying the laptop. Buying a laptop worth 50,000 was a lot back in 2012. However, over the years, in 2014, I wished to have a laptop, as I began to work on various tasks and wished to own a laptop to increase the productivity.

“I need a laptop Dad.” I asked him.

Already I had a desktop which I got to watch movies, listen to songs and play NBA. I did everything except for any study purposes. I wished to have a mobile laptop.

“When do you want it?” He asked. Knowing the situation in house, I said, I’ll take my time. Dad interrupted me and said, “Dabbulu eppudaina vasthayi, if you want it, I’ll get it somehow.” He mentioned.

I was shocked by his words. Knowing the tough situation at home, it was tough for me to ask but, my Dad was ready to go for an extra mile to meet my needs. His words meant all the love and care he had on me. He wanted me to grow. I always had a respect. I could never live a life for him nor worked on his dreams. He was okay with it. I always made him feel compromised on his dreams. I wish I make him feel proud once.

 

 

 

 

Jaipur Journals – Mounika, Music & Melodies

On my visit to Udham Singh Nagar school, I met Mounika of Class 12. She has studied in Azim Premji School and attended Alumni meet in her school. 

"It's been two years since you passed out of school, what's a major difference in your thoughts? I asked.

"During schooling, I assumed that friends are going to be there forever and we can meet often but, as time passed, I discovered that we can't meet them often. It gets difficult to meet them and stay connected."

 During my childhood, I wanted all my friends to be at a place where I could meet them in an hour.  Everyone turned out to be busy in their lives including me. It's difficult to catch up often, I learnt it late compared to Mounika.

 “What kind of music do you listen to?” I asked her while walking along on a road. I’m on my feet and she got her cycle along with her, walking on the road.

“I listen to happy music.” She mentioned, “There’s no point of listening to sad music when you’re already sad.” I try avoiding sad music when I’m sad. She mentioned.

True, rather than delving too much into sadness, one can get along with sadness by coping with it and trying to come out of it rather than ignoring it.



 

Holiday with Harry- Less Stress More execution

I called up Harry to tell him, "I want to be there on Anjali's birthday."

"Yes. We can catch up. Come." replied Harry. Reading Anjali's' blog on her OKRs, I mentioned, "Anjali has written OKRs in a simple and clear manner." 

"Yeah, she's very clear about them. I like the way she's approaching it." He mentioned the process. "Anjali has thought of getting published. She recently got published in US based publication.

Her Objective was to get published. Key results were about daily blogging, writing poems and other things. Soon after I could see a lot of blogs of her to read. And also, slowly she began writing poems. She put efforts in getting published. At the same time one of her cousin was getting published. She managed to discuss with her and discussed. Sent it for review. Two of her poems got published in good publication. 

That's the key. She didn't wait for small tinkle you g world. She managed to e3ecectue and get it done rather than getting stressed for it. Time to learn from Anjali's and work on OKRS Thanks Harry and explaining. And Thanks Anjali for detailing it out. 




Thought of the day- Abstract is abstract in itself and complex in whole.

 "What's abstract?" I asked Malavika. 

"Abstract is abstract." she confirmed without a second of doubt. 

Before I could express my confusion, she walked to a near by painting and pointed out to a triangle. "It's a triangle by itself but, in context, it represents something. When it represents something, it stops to be abstract."

Anything that represents something can't be abstract in whole. I learnt. But, I'm not sure if I got it right. It's interesting to play around the abstract and realism stuff. 

Poetry- The Creative Chair


                                               Myriad could be the life experiences

Amazing could be the creative stimulus

At the end of the day

What it matters, is to sit and create


Day in Day out

We need to arrive at that chair every day, every night to create

Poem. Rhythm. Riff. Characters.

We need to discipline ourselves to create

The struggle to shatter all the judgements we've got and create, is LIFE.

Struggle. Sit. Create. 

and

Repeat until your creation lets you go off from it with a smile. 


Education- Why Libraries?

 Interacting with a few students in our school, I asked, "Why do we need libraries? What is it that we get to know other than what we learn from our text books."

Libraries are for general knowledge and text books are there to study. What is general knowledge that we acquire from Libraries, I asked another question. 

In text books, we read, write question & answers, do activities and get done with it. In libraries, we can get general knowledge. The famous conditioning that library is a privilege to attain GK. GK is usually something that you would be interested as a supplement. However, kids were still thinking about what is GK and what is common knowledge. 

Why do we have libraries in school? How can we leverage the libraries in school?

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Jaipur Journals- Fifty Day Break

I entered the home after 49 days of break. On August 16th, I left home for a visit and went Trichy to attend Andy. After a series of events, here I am at Jaipur on Oct 5th. As I felt happy to be back at home, I wondered how my brother and sister-in-law would cope up to go back to their home without Andy. A pang of sadness floated around. In the mix of sadness and gratitude, I called it a day and slept off to enjoy the sun through my window. 

Friends- A game after a long time.

Catching up with the gang after a long time, we spent a evening, taking our own time to warm up. After a long haul of events, Jaya and I hung out at his home. He choked me with his hospitality. A lot of food to eat. 

Jaya, Sam and I caught up at Retro discussing what's happening in our lives. Bala & Sunny joined. All of us played cricket for a while. Till we play the game, we were bit distracted. We were there but, we weren't really listening to each other. One hour of game gave us new memories to cherish and also relive the old memories where we spent time without a  worry of time schedules. 

Anjali & I- Birthday number 14





 I promised Anjali that I'd join her when she celebrate her 13th birthday. Due to COVID, I couldn't make it. This year, I'm glad I could make it. Just as I finished my work trip, I headed to wish Anjali. 

I walked into the spreading front yard and walked into the house. Little Anjali showed up with a beaming smile. Happy to see her after such a long time. Her favorite Jyo maushi was present. While the adults were engaged in the conversations. Anjali introduced Akela to me. I've been following the way Anjali met Akela, Zor & Zindagi. Finally, I got a chance to meet the mom, Akela. 

Anjali and I went on to prepare a drink for us. While I was enjoying the tang, Anjali caught up on phone talking to all her well wishers. Later, both of us sat to do a little sketching. Anjali with her waves and myself with the lines. 

Mansi, Anjali's best friend walked in to spend the day with the birthday girl. While Anjali and Mansi had their own time. Harry and I caught up in conversations. 

Anjali and Mansi were too involved to come out for a break. They were making soaps from the material they've ordered through Amazon. I joined them and made two soaps. Mix of Blue and green color, I made  two soaps, with lavender fragrance. 

Chimu and Anjali's Chechi joined us for the cake cutting. Sloka sent a cake. All of us gathered for the cake cutting and had a lot of laughs listening ABBA. 

Vajra, Mansi, Anjali and I caught up with series of Scotland Yard games.  Anjali won the first game. Mansi also did a great job. Vajra was gracious to let me be the Mr. X and win the last game. However, I messed up the game unintentionally. By the time, we were done with our celebrations, the time was already past midnight. 

Thanks Anjali for having me. Had a great time celebrating your birthday. 


Art- Empty Spaces-Flow

The abstract of the exhibition is out.  https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/communications/events/empty-spaces-flow-art-exhibition-abhinay-renny