Nature Diary


Sundays can be pretty boring at times. Especially when you are alone at home.The heat wave prevents any outdoor movement for a greater part of the day though late evenings are pleasant.

In my early morning walks, I find large number of peacocks and peahens in the colony. Generally I find them perched atop lamp posts with their beautiful tails hanging down or spread fan like. Looking at those brilliant colors I wonder at the artist sitting upstairs.What a difference it makes to our dry and dusty brown,yellow,mud color surroundings.
The pigeons of course take the cake, as far as their population goes here. Rajasthanis firmly believe that putting up bird seeds of all kind daily for our feathered friends adds to the 'punya'. I observe people regularly doing it besides filling the multiple water pots placed strategically. These birds being restless types rarely feed at long stretches and seem to be continuously moving in droves; taking a short circular path above the house,school and again settling down to feed.
As I sit on my porch with my tea, the red bottomed and yellow bottomed hoopees alight near me and start trilling; they are waiting for the biscuit crumbs. I like to think that its the same pair and they kind of recognize me.

I also watch some fellow walkers put sweets or sugar or molasses near ant hills. This ritual is  followed by many in other states also. When I first came to Rajasthan I  found one quaint custom.Housewives, on starting to cook first thing in the morning, would bake one chappati for the dog/cow/crow/any cattle and keep it aside. Thereafter food is cooked for the rest of the family.

The ideology of "Vasudeva Kutumbakam" encompasses not only the world and his family but also the other creatures in it.

Ides Of March


Every year around this time, I go through lot of suffering, mental and physical. The angst is so high that it affects me quite a lot. I run to the loo several times and lose sleep for many days, wake up suddenly at night, get restive, break into a sweat and what not. I curse myself, my colleagues,praise myself, my colleagues,get irritated, think of multiple ways by which I could have done this and that and so on and so forth. Now you may ask me what is so special during this period of time?

Well my dearies, its Result Declaration Time; an annual event when lakhs of students all over India are in state of flux.

To be true to them, they are appearing the schools boards once in their lifetime but I have been appearing the boards since 26 years!!!!!!!
Now I'm sure I have shocked you. You may look at me as a very poor student who could not clear the exams since when.............
Or you may commend  my tenacity of taking the boards every year....

What a situation to be in.

But I am gritty and cling on tenaciously; like a limpet.I am sure you have seen those small monkeys who stick to their mothers while she jumps hither and thither.The baby is sanguine that the mother will never let go and there is absolute blind faith and trust.

I likewise cling to the 'faith' that the result declaration day will bring forth laurels and every year move forward with 'trust'.


You see...............I head a school.

The Times of India GRAFFITI today read

"Kids disgrace us in public by acting the way we do in private"



I found it very interesting and revealing. It speaks volumes about us, adults. I do not know how many of you will agree with me or have the courage to admit this banal truth publicly.

To top it all we say that 'we' are the best parents,teachers,grandparents,relatives,mentors and so on.We also claim to have done many 'sacrifices' for our children. The important question here is not how many but how. 

My Pet Fears

I have always been afraid to face certain things in life and some of them are failure, loneliness and illness. People often say that God tests us by making us go thru many crises to check us out or to make us stronger. My question to the person sitting upstairs is- Why couldn't you choose someone else to make them stronger, brighter like steel? At times I feel that the theory of more-of-the-same-kind is good  is pretty flawed.Does going again and again through many problems make you stronger or weakens and kills you finally. It is hard to say for sure.

All books written by those know-all self development gurus( believe me the world is full of them!) assure you of success if you keep on trying. I also agree to it.
I only ask God
"Hey buddy, why do not you choose some other lucky guy?" "I could recommend some(sic)"
"What if you lessen the period and add a few rainbows to it?"
"What if you could just bypass me this time?"

All these and many more of the same kind. I hope you get my drift

I have often read the adage that if life has handed you lemons, make lemonade.

Ugh! Imagine sustaining oneself on lemonade only. Surely we deserve some wine now and then?
Also think what all these vast quantities of 'lemonade' will do to your 'insides'.

Dear Lord, pl send some apples once in a while and if you can add strawberries to it.............WOW

Sputnik: 5 WAYS TO RECOGNIZE A BULLYWe all have met bull...

Sputnik: 5 WAYS TO RECOGNIZE A BULLY


We all have met bull...: 5 WAYS TO RECOGNIZE A BULLY We all have met bullies sometime or other in life. Bullies have distinct characteristics and can be identifi...

5 WAYS TO RECOGNIZE A BULLY


We all have met bullies sometime or other in life. Bullies have distinct characteristics and can be identified by some intrinsic behavioral features. The class bully,the office bully,the family bully,etc all are present with us but we fail to recognize them early on in our interactions with them.

Bullying tendencies in children start very early in life. Nobody can say how and at what age it starts specifically. But I think the family environment plays a big role to its development. The child often feels sidelined when a sibling comes in to the family. He may feel unloved or neglected or worse still consider the new baby as instrumental for this new situation. He then deeply resents the brother/sister and simply takes to making it difficult for him/her.
Alternatively he may be from a dysfunctional family or have strong feelings of neglect for multiple reasons like poverty,constant strife in family,too little attention from parent,targeted in class for his race,color, physical attributes,etc

We need to recognize these kind of people. So here goes; 5 easy tips

1.Bullies love to 'talk down'
This is always the first aspect. Bullies love to talk big, throw their weight around, speak loudly, dress loudly,  posture aggressively and generally treat others as inferior to them


2. Bullies love to 'give pain'
Use of slang,twisting arms,heckling,pushing,organizing serious and harmful pranks causing physical and mental pain gives them a high. The feeling of distress to others makes them feel they are one-up


3. Bullies will always have ' groups'
Bullies will invariably collect a group of followers around them. Following is important for them both as a shield and as a means to cow down others outside the group.The adulation of  group members keeps them going.Its like a parasitic relationship.


4.Bullies generally will have 'disturbed family back ground'
Dysfunctional families, divorced,separated parents, strife in family gives rise to anger which the bullies pour out on others.Lack of appreciation from family and friends,school and work organisations tend to bring out the worst in them.


5. Bullies will generally be 'poor'
Poor student,poor employee,poor parent.......all are common to them.Poor academic standards lead to poor achievements in life. Bullies lack proper guidance, mentorship which makes them poor workers later. To hide all these, bullying becomes a way of social transactions both in personal and professional areas.


There are many other attributes which can be of higher level and more dangerous to the ones listed above. The important point is to recognize and take self-preservation actions at the right time.

When the world conspired to spoil my day 


Some days just start like that. It's like everything is destined to go wrong. You are late leaving the bed,late for your walk,exercises,the newspaper has not been delivered with the milk.And to top it all your maid, yes you have guessed it right, rings up to inform she is not coming for the next two days..................................did she have a premonition about the refrigerator breaking down the previous night?

Wow! what a start

You go to the kitchen and start thinking about breakfast and lunch, seriously now. You are absolutely clueless( I know what the self righteous do-it-yourself moms are thinking now about me!)

That nagging question, "Aaj kya banayein? Shall I manage with bread?Should I ring up and find out what is available at the corner shop?The kids will love it. Aren't they always nagging for something chatpata?"

You have now successfully negotiated that problem of breakfast. Now casting a dirty look at the sink and taking a deep breath you start attacking the dishes, all the while cursing your hard luck, the maid,your neighbors and the world in general.

Remember that question-aaj kya banayein still is bothering you, when you have brainwave, an absolute spectacular flash!
Wasn't chotu complaining about stomach ache last night and now see he has gorged himself of all that junk food, kind courtesy breakfast. REALLY.

You head into the living room and announce clear and loud

OK, EVERYBODY. ITS  KHICHRI  FOR LUNCH!!!!!!!!!