Dear friends

It gives me great pleasure to share with you a link to a blog by Mr. P. Venkataramana that will make each one of you proud to be an Indian. Do click on the link and leave your valuable comment.

http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/guest/entry/no_thank_you

Do spread the good word as the sad incident of 26/11 is about to complete one year. This blog is a dedication to those who lost their lives, their loved ones or were injured or affected due to terrorism. Kindly leave your comments on the link above, it will be a great pleasure. Thanks to all friends. Keep smiling and keep up the spirit!  

It has been a long time since I wrote or commented on iland. I miss scribbling on my board on rediffiland and miss all you wonderful blogger friends out there. I am sure each one is excelling in their field. I have been extremely busy with my web content writing project but I am enjoying the hang of work work work. The last blog that I wrote got an overwhelming response and all thanks to all my friends for taking out time and commenting on my blog. When I last penned my blog, iland went too dry…I witnessed many fellow bloggers leaving iland due to some reason or the other but now that I visited iland I was happy to see people back in form or atleast, half in form ok atleast the lazy ones like me showing up amidst my hectic schedule

(Big deal!!! everyone is busy, I know that’s what you guys might be thinking…) .

Today is friendship day and I wish all my friends on I-land a Happy friendship day.

Ocimum and Shivaja its really good to see you back, WELCOME!!!

What are friends for????

For being there at the time of need (even when not needed hehhehehehe just joking)

For pulling your leg (mind it, their intention is to see that you gain good height…)

For making you smile when days are blue (I see the blue sky everyday!!!)

For giving you a push when you are laid back (oooh who is this fella dishturrrbing me…)

For giving you lots of motivation even when they have none (boooooohooooo…m all sniff sniff)

Well well, jokes apart, all those who wish to do some writing on freelance basis send your resume to me. Though they are paying peanuts but will be a good start for those who wish to be writers. You need to copywrite for a Californian firm, based in Coimbatore. Its pretty easy and the salary will atleast take care of your basic phone bills :):)

I wish all the friends a HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY.

Treasure all your friends and stay happy always…God Bless All!

Misunderstandings come in every relationship but over a period of time we gain maturity to  avoid them or we empower ourselves with better understanding so that there is no room left for misunderstandings.

O God, may we all learn to overcome the petty and trivial tiffs, may we learn to keep quiet when another person is angry, may we not hurt others with harsh words and may we become more understanding and tolerant and see towards the brighter things in life. May the winds of happiness prevail…

Wishing you all, a bright sunshine, a rainbow, and a big big smile :)  :) 

-Shilpa

Picture courtesy: Suresh.

Dump it or make it Optional?

Mr. Kapil Sibbal suggests tenth class board examinations should be dumped! The news has spread like fire throughout India. The newsrooms, newspapers, etc. are all buzzing and debating on whether the tenth boards should be made optional or not! The main reason for scrapping off the tenth board is to reduce the stress but don’t you think we need to make our children mentally tough to tackle stress, which they have to face in later life? The idea of reducing trauma by bringing uniformity in all the different boards definitely makes sense, only one board should prevail, education ministry should do away with Bihar board, up board, Maharashtra board, etc. etc. But then what about the XII boards? If X boards will be dumped then XII boards will fall like an axe on the students!

It is commendable that Mr. Kapil Sibbal raised a voice to revolutionize the system of education in India, lets at least hope for some kind of logical changes and uniformity in degrees. But Mr. Sibal making the tenth board optional will create a big gap within the brilliant students and the weaker students! It will be very confusing and the education system will be topsy turvy, something like experimenting with student’s future.

Now talk about the results of XII boards. It has been remarkable but the cut off list of various colleges in Delhi seems to be out of bounds for the students! St. Stephens, L.S.R, S.R.C.C, HINDU etc. have come out with their outrageous cut off list, ranging between 92-98%. This is crazy! Only the school toppers and that too not all the toppers can dream of their choice of branch in their choicest college. And imagine the plight of those seeking admission in the hostels in Delhi! Oh my, I was lucky to get the first seat in my branch in English (Hons.) in general quota. Where will the average students go? Isn’t this traumatizing for students?

Though Mr. Sibbal’s intentions are good but making X th boards OPTIONAL will bring in a lot of disparity between the brilliant, average and weak students. Optional boards will only give birth to more cases of suicides in XII boards, utter confusion, and increased rate in corruption in form of bribery, bitterness and many psychological problems in the students. Anything working well, if fiddled with can backfire but then that’s what revolution is all about? I think instead of making it optional, only one rule must prevail for all and opportunity should be made available for all. Arjun Singh was regressive but Mr. Sibbal is progressive, some of his ideas are really good and speak concern for the youth.

Indians have always been envied for their brainpower and hard work so let us not make our kids delicate, let them grow strong mentally, emotionally and psychologically. Competition is growing tougher day by day but then the general IQ level of the children is also pretty high!  Let’s hope for logical and viable changes that can cater to all types of students. Let education be free or at least low cost and may there be fair grading and lot of options in the branches and more than that, lot of opportunities for our little buds to blossom happily and brightly!

P.S. This was  my take on this issue, I warmly welcome your views too. BTW, I won and defeated the virus hehehhehehe so will respond to your blogs soon.

Hello friends
I have not been posting blogs and even commenting much because my laptop is acting up! I have been busy with my job, guests, kids blah blah blah but when I got hold of my laptop, it froze!!!! Ah! these Gadgets can act pricey too! But the real problem was that it was badly hit by a virus, TROJAN! Surprisingly my anti virus failed , this Trojan was too powerful but but but , I ain’t giving up! And beware you people, now I am fully loaded with a deadly virus hehehhehehe
Please do not mind me not visiting your iland or commenting on your blogs or replying to your mails. My sincerest apologies. I have been able to post this blog as my laptop is on oxygen momentarily. I will surely reply to all, comment on everyone’s blog once all gets back to normal.
Keep writing and encouraging others to write!

MY CANVAS

Five minutes and let me just splash some paints on the blank canvas, paints of joys and sorrows of doubts, known and unknown…

One two three and go…

I am sad for a friend of mine who is undergoing chemotherapy. May God bless her with speedy recovery.

I am happy that I am busy with work, and I have work work and work to do! I like the kick I get from working so much.

Where is my life leading to? I hope alls well!

Hey, I don’t want to grow old, naaah I don’t want to be droopy droopy. I know ageing is inevitable and I will get to hear lots and lots of lectures that there is no escape but still, I am enjoying the way I am and hmmm whatever I don’t want to grow old! I am sure I won’t turn old even if I turn 100 years of age hahahahhahaha

I am still thinking about the little caterpillar who was growing on one of my plants in the pot, whose picture I captured, and the next day he vanished! booooohooo he was about to rest in its cocoon and then turn into a beautiful butterfly but maybe that little wormy became a prey to a bird boooooooooooooohooooooooo I miss him. I still have his picture. May God bless the little catterpillar.

I am thinking about the baby lemon which is growing in my potted lemon tree. God! its been over 5 years, the plant only flowered, but all the flowers would fall, very tiny lemons did come but they too would fall, but this time, though all the leaves have turned pale yellow, one lemon managed to show up, wowie! This is the same lemon tree whose braches were destroyed by the monkeys and then I bandaged it , instead of using ointment, I put lots of wet mud and tied the branch with a piece of cloth and voila! it worked. Yippie! I saved a tree!!!!!

A baby calf lost its way, lost his mom and guess where he comes for help???? yes yes you got it right, every evening he comes to my house (oooooooh I have a lover! hahahahhahahaha) I feed him with chappatis and boiled potatoes and tell the compounder to serve him water and my doc hubby says “Not again!” He has has already had one experience, I took care of one more calf earlier too. Oh boy! I am scared of animals remember the blog I wrote on my pet, Bruno? Nobody likes the cakes the cows leave but then my heart simply melts seeing a helpless being, be it a human’s or animal’s. The last time I served a calf , evreyone said he wouldn’t survive but we fed him well and fortunately he survived and later joined his band of friends hehehehehhe and now comes another one and hubby dear says ” Tumhare pichle janam ka ek aur lover” hahhahahahahhaha I am desperately waiting for him today evening too hehehehhehe

awwwwww! while tyipng this blog see what my daughter’s handed me, she just painted on a blank sheet. She painted my picture and wrote “I love you!” awwwww! and she has done the same for her father too! Kids are sooooooooooooo cute! She is just five and is very sharp.

I even yelled at my 10 year old kid to stop watching tv, he is been doing it all this while. He wants me to do his computer work but I insist that he makes efforts to research himself, write it himself and then I would edit it. It is important to be strict with kids at times, else they will get the habit of being spoon fed always, well ,no use… he still is spoon fed!!!!!! hahahahhahaha

Oooops I have crossed five, ten minutes!!!! Am too talkative, my hubby always says “kam bolo” well, I am thinking on those terms….main kam bolungi! It is my fav every New Year resolution, a resolution I never succeed in!

Ok before concluding I want to throw in a golden paint on this canvas of mine… I am content with what I have, reached a destination, found what i was hunting all this while. God shows me the way and I am thankful for the wonderful moments and people I meet. There is so much solace when you get what you were always hunting or waiting for. What joy, completeness and what Bliss! Thankyou God!

Love

Shilpa

Happy MOTHER’S DAY

Wish all the mothers a Happy mothers day! It is not necessary that only biological mothers are mothers, every woman has a mother in her, as a gift of nature. My daughter acts like a mother to her elder brother and innocently says, “Bhaiya main aapki choti mummy hoon.” The big bro smiles but then when she starts bossing then he yells, “Stop being my mom!” And at times the big bro acts like her father and then she says “Stop being my father!” Both fight like cats and dogs but they love each other a lot, can’t stay with or without each other!

I love to see my daughter play a mother to all her stuff toys and enjoy the most when both kids play “Mummy Papa,” its actually there, where we come to know our short comings.

A mother knows all, can see all, understands all, blesses all, looks affectionately always and even when she scolds the child , her heart hurts the most. She forgets her pain if the child is unwell, she toils day and night for her children. She tolerates and also sacrifices for her children. She keeps a happy disposition even if she is hurt deep just not to pass any worry to her kids. She gives her love unconditionally and generously. My heartfelt tribute to every woman, every mother and every girl of this planet. Keep smiling and spreading happiness!

 Happy Mothers day!

Though you must have read the poetry given below several times but I am putting it again just to make all you women smile :))))

Bloggers!

If that brain worm has crept in your head and you wish to read something different, something related to the call of this hour, POLITICS and politicians and country and betterment of country etc etc (mind you, I am not using blah blah blah because I read a few of them hehehehhe). So here I am suggesting you some good bloggers who are into serious writing and talking sense other than the usual love , romance , humour blogs blah blah blah ( I know I stand first in this category hehehehhee)

Try reading these bloggers on iland, they are exceptional when it comes to INDIA

http://vvvictoryman.rediffiland.com 

http://friendlyghost.rediffiland.com

http://dreamsindia.rediffiland.com

 Well there are many more who might be equally brainy and good but I have not read them.

For humour, my fav are 

auroraborealis.rediffiland.com/ (this one dares to bare so I recommend him for adults only)

Shivaja

Ant r

Nischalson crusoe (his yak and yeti cartoon strip, the R.K.LAXMAN of tomorrow)

Ocimum (who has not been blogging for sometime miss u!)

Tanushree (a cute little chic)

For religion there are:

Best friend (you will find the most wonderful quotions here)

ShivendraMohan Singh

Chandrakant parmar

Ram Sharma

propheticsoul

For love n poetry :

Nivedita (Nivia Dogra)

Shreya Tiwari

Vithal Patel Kanji (though nicely weird)

and for cocktails, who write on a variety of subjects you can read the versatile bloggers:

Ven, Moe M, Pradeep, Prashant shah, Hariom Chawla, karthikdexter, Samiran Sarkar, Tarun Singh, Anilairen, Manu Nair, and so many whom i forget to mention(i beg your pardon for my hopeless memory) Ah, see i forgot,  you can always read my blogs  too.

Thanks dear blogger friends for all the wonderful blogs that you put up.

Keep writing and reading and commenting!

A Tree, I want to be

A seed reminds me of Hope and Life.

The tiny coarse seed that appears lifeless mysteriously breathes life! It hopes that someone will bury it so that it finds life Even more mystifying is the amount of power the little seed holds, nobody except God knows the number of times it will procreate, the amount of fruits it will produce

The Tiny Sapling reminds me of Aspirations and Courage

The just emerged, tiny sapling's tenderness cannot be compared to anything in the world! Though the sapling is extremely tender, it strongly holds the ground and faces the storms and tries its best not to be uprooted by the fierce winds. This attitude reflects bravery and courage. Each day the sapling kisses the sun and enjoys the shower, it aspires to reach the sky; it gets bigger and unravels the deep rooted mysteries of the seed. It wants to grow fast and wishes to be adorned with lots of ornaments in form of leaves, flowers, fruits and also the thorns!

A Shoot reminds me of Beauty, Sensuality, Coquetry, Generosity and Nobility.

As the time passes, the tiny sapling steps from adolescence to puberty. It decorates itself with countless leaves; it keeps itself perfumed with the lovely flowers, which also exude glorious beauty. Its radiance attracts all the lovely hearts, the colorful butterflies, bees and insects and for the ruthless ones, the shoot uses its thorns The stem of the shoot curves subtly and the flowers and leaves bask in the sun and find joy in dalliance. I like the way the leaves and flowers dance with the winds, the way the bees and butterflies caress the flowers and the way the leaves display innocence through the dew drops The Shoot stands splendidly with pride and none can resist its beauty. Quietly it attracts and honors all! This beauty loves all Nobility, thy name is the Shoot!

The Tree reminds me of Experience, Patience, Endurance, Fertility, Humility and Stability

The Shoot further matures into a firm tree. It sheds its ego and pride with the stroke of autumn and rejuvenates in spring. It braves the fierce storms, tries its best to protect the leaves, the buds, the flowers, the fruits and also all those who take refuge. I am amazed by the patience of the tree. It stands in one place for years. O God, may I learn to be less fidgety and more patient like the tree!

It loves and gives its all with such kindness and generosity; be someone rich or poor, happy or sad, good or evil, human or animal It sees everyone with a loving eye! It endures all evil, and love and care is all it gives for every bruise given to it. Its goodness is bountiful even after it dies. It makes a beautiful home for the living as well as the dead! O Tree, a big salute to your humility and generosity! You see all and withstand all; you give all and stay rich always, you weep but still smile always, you are mute, yet you are the Speaking tree! Let me be more giving and forgiving and imbibe in me the wisdom and all the goodness from thee, O Tree!

Forgive me my friends if I hurt you

O God, how I wish, in one of my births, I be born a seed to eventually be a Tree!

- Shilpa Agarwal