A New Beginning

They reminded me of the umpteen mistakes I have made-
the hurt I have caused by calling a spade a spade!

They pointed out my incomplete tasks & what's to be accomplished,
and also that things this year have not turned out the way I wished...

She Walked That Path

She had visited many lands & had travelled to the world’s edge.
She had lost a lot & had quit material objects in pursuit of knowledge.

The brilliant light of enlightenment was her joy, desire, aim & plan.
People warned- “Don’t even try walking that path! You’re a woman!”

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright -Björn Rudberg

How To Create Menu Tabs In Blogger Blog

Three months ago, I was delighted to receive the following comment from a Blogger-friend:

"I am fascinated with your blog design. I want to do something with categorizing my blog posts and have them in a menu like you have on top of your blog. Do you have tutorial on how you set up categories? I am really interested in streamlining my blogging. Any tips you can give will be appreciated."- Mary Hill

I had shared the info with Mary via email.
Today when I received a similar query from another Blogger-friend, who wants to display the following Tabs on her Blog just like my Blog:

Poetry
Fiction
Travel
Personal
Social
Movies
Food

I decided it to share the "How To" info via my Blog :)


1. First, we need to add the required Labels in all the posts published in our Blog.
For example, if our post is about Travel, then we need to add Travel as a Label by editing our post.
Similarly for the other posts related to Movies, Fiction, Poetry etc.

Christmas Present

He found her abandoned that cold Christmas eve and sensing a glimmer of life, he brought her home.

He was amazed that despite his blindness, her glaring aura attracted him and filled him with bliss about companionship...

Source

Bread

I went across the border to earn my butter & bread.
Monsters bombed & targeted & hunted down the suspected.

The killings scared, bleak future, web ahead; I'm glad I fled...
My family was relieved to see me back alive; not a bug dead...  

Used with permission- PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy

Twitter, Abuse And Swachh Bharat

I love Social Media (SM).

I feel SM has tremendous power viz. the recent Elections 2014.

 

I feel SM needs to be "Swachh" (clean) of the ills plaguing it. 

In this post, I have shared my experience about Twitter (to illustrate SM)! 

Some Twitter-users like me have faced abuse. 

Fake profiles, anonymity & virtual interaction gives a cloak to people to act dirty.

- There are "trolls" that target our tweets, especially those having the trending hashtags. 

- Congratulate a winner & the losing candidate's fans question your choice & whether the result is ethical!

- Post anything against important people- X-Y-Z & their supporters hound you!

- Post appreciation about something good that's happening & haters of that person/policy attack you!

Let me take the example of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. 

What's My Crime? #PeshawarAttack

16th December 2014 morning,
I was snug under my blanket,
Peacefully sleeping and dreaming.
Mom woke me up saying we'll get late...

The first day at school for me- a 5-year-old!
Mom made me wear my new dress.
Also my warm clothes lest I feel cold.
Papa said his little princess looked fresh!

The entrance of the Army Public School in Peshawar. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images; Source

Wish Joy And Warmth!

People ought to have hearts of gold!
Why is everyone's behaviour so cold?

Is it tough to adopt warmth as a habit?
Can't we be warm people, bit by bit?

Unfortunately, many haven't any time to stare,
Won't we try to incorporate some care?

Time is ticking, someone wishes joy now.
Can't we afford some warm-wishes anyhow?

Pic from Poetry Jam

Safety Begins With Me

Simba: “But you’re not scared of anything.” 
Mufasa: “I was today. I thought I might lose you.” 
–The Lion King

My hubby bought a bicycle for our daughter last week.

He also bought a helmet for her.

I appreciated this a great deal and understood his concern for our child's safety.

I remembered cricketer Phillip Hughes recent death then. Had he been wearing a helmet, he'd have been saved.

Also Minister Shri Gopinath Munde would have been safe had he worn his seat-belt...

I also thought of the myriad cases in which youngsters don't wear helmets, speed their bikes, flout traffic-rules... 

Source

In the Hindi movie- Andaz, the hero is happily singing a song and travelling on a bike with his girlfriend (both are not wearing helmets) when they meet with an accident and the hero dies...

Safe Reflection

It was raining heavily. 

I was driving my car on the National Highway to Bhubaneswar.

I was returning home from the Cuttack High Court after having successfully defended a case in favour of my client. 

I was happy & thrilled, yet I wasn't driving speedily.

Normally, I am a very safe driver who obeys all traffic-rules, including maintaining the speed-limit.

I am extra careful when I have to drive on wet roads.

Suddenly, I found a truck headed in the wrong direction, direct on course of head-on-collision with my car...

I had no time even to curse or think- "the roads are filled with idiots".

I applied sudden brake. 

I thought of my spouse and all the important moments of my life played in flashback in my mind...

Photograph by Robert Doisneau ; used with permission from Magpie Tales

Drive Safe

Driving is a responsible activity.
People are yet to realize; it’s a pity.

They indulge in what they think is cool.
No seat-belt or obeying traffic-rule…

Talking over phone while driving,
Listening to songs or trying to sing!

Creative Power

All she wanted was to be calm in a quiet place.
She made her own nest by the bridge near the river.
In her own world, she moved at her own pace.
She never thought her happiness made others quiver!

Pic with permission- PHOTO PROMPT - Copyright – Sandra Crook

Banega Swachh India

'Banega Swachh India’- In Hindi it means– India will be clean.

Will be reality if for a Swachh Bharat we all work & are keen…

'Banega Swachh India' is a positive statement that fills us with hope.

To make #SwachhBharat vision & mission true, we need to cope.

Note- Swachh means ‘clean’ in Hindi

‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’.

‘Charity begins at home’.

Sanitation And Hygiene #SwachhIndia

Sanitation means the facilities and services enabling the safe collection & disposal of wastes- sewage, garbage, wastewater etc. 

Hygiene means conditions & practices necessary to maintain health and prevent diseases through cleanliness. Aristotle used the Greek adjective of hygiene as a noun to imply “health”.

Sanitation maintains the hygienic conditions.  

My Midas-Touch

I jumped with joy when realized I had the Midas-touch!
I was overwhelmed that I'd now be able to do so much!

Household goods became the target of my experimentation...
Applying my mind, I avoided food-items for the transformation!

My TV, fridge, cupboard, bed, shoes... all had turned golden!
My home was a treasure-house- like Alibaba & 40 Thieves' den!

All the Midas-touch excitement had made me terribly hungry!
But, the socially responsible soul in me won over the foodie.

Fancy The Trust!

The best-of-breed fresh MBA had landed a lucrative job that people fancy!
He had impressed all with his knowledge, thought-process, transparency...

Source: dVerse

Hand-In-Hand

As she woke up, she felt great & grand. 
He handed her a bouquet & kissed her hand.

His strong hands had rescued her years ago,
When their boat capsized, he didn't let her flow.

They had exchanged rings & got married that winter.
Hand-in hand; the heaviest snowfall didn't deter.

PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright Janet Webb ; Pic from Friday Fictioneers

Yes or No To Pre-Marital Sex

This Post won a Grand Prize in the IndiBlogger Contest.

Pre-Marital Sex, sexual activity or relations between unmarried persons, is not acceptable, considered taboo & even a sin in many cultures, religions & countries worldwide.

Saying Yes or No to Pre-Marital Sex is dependent on personal attitude, values and beliefs. 

In today's "modern" world, pre-marital sex is fairly common, especially in the "developed" nations. 

Under-developed & developing nations are also catching up.

India, the land that gifted the world Kama Sutra, is no exception.

Udaygiri Caves depicted in Durga Puja 2014 Old Station Square Pandal, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Saying NO to pre-marital sex, means 'sexual abstinence before marriage' or Virginity.

Virginity is considered pure & sacred as per traditional culture and religions.  

My First Interview As A Blogger or Freelance Writer

I was pleasantly surprised and felt honored when Gowardhan Doddi contacted me wanting to feature my interview on their site- careerteacher.in -:

"Your blog is highly interesting ! I understand you are very passionate about writing. We want to have your interview."

Of course, I am very passionate about writing! I have been writing from my school days. We all write at school, right? :D

I was seriously writing stories & poems & sending with hopes for publication. My dream to get "published" has kept me going...

Though I have been into freelance-writing for long, I have started Blogging two years ago. I consider myself a newbie & a learner. There are far more experienced and very famous Bloggers in India & in the world. 

Gowardhan had a questionnaire for me that I sincerely filled up and sent across.

My interview is now on Career Teacher- 

Anita shares what it means to be a Blogger or Freelance Writer in India

Unique Monkey Play Pics

A few weeks ago, we visited the Maa Tara Tarini Temple in Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India.

We were treated to a unique sight.

Some monkeys had united to play together.

They had managed to catch hold of a Saree (an Indian costume worn by ladies).

They were finding the yellow Saree a precious plaything & a useful source of enjoyment!


It was evening and the light was fading.

Still, I couldn't resist myself & clicked some pics.

Top Management Colleges In New Delhi

My father's friend visited our home the other day just to speak to me. His daughter is interested to pursue her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in New Delhi. As I have studied Management from New Delhi, he wanted my opinion about the best MBA College in New Delhi. 

As soon as he asked me about the best MBA College in Delhi, I answered - Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi. I know this as my cousin had studied from there and also from my knowledge from newspapers and magazines.

"Which are the Top MBA Colleges in New Delhi?" he asked.

"Uncle, I have done my MBA more than a decade ago! We need to look for the latest information. These days, answers are available at the click of a mouse-button!"

I logged on to the Collegedunia website.

We can choose from 20000+ Colleges & Universities in India from this site.

Collegedunia