Mary's Mamma Mia!

So, yesterday was Mother's day.
My way of making her feel special- giving all respect that's due to her ( which means I ran to shop thrice between twelve in the noon to six in the evening. Without murmuring- that's the big deal here!)

Although my mom was aware of the day being celebrated as Mother's day, still she didn't even ask us to wish her or do something for her. She continued with her Sunday chores- which means spending more time in the kitchen cooking special dishes for my sis who spends her entire weekdays away from home. That's mom. Irrespective of the day, season, time, mood- she continues to give her best to her kids- Selflessly.

Few things about my mom-

Little did she know that the kids of her elder sister that she playfully used to toy around with will one day be entrusted to her with the priced emotional crown of foster motherhood. Earlier, she must have blown thousand kisses to us playfully laughingly, but all of a sudden after being called as "mommy" by us, her kisses changed- they became hard pressed and very close and intimate.

My sister and I were quiet involved in most of the co-curricular activities in school and were always among those getting prizes. During those days I used to observe how other students parents' were more worried and pushy to get their kids on top and how they failed miserably. I specifically remember how a guy named Amit Telang's mom used to even do all her son's project on her own so that he could score more, but unfortunately he never did. My sister and I were skilled in doing our projects on our own and also had a sense of presenting them nicely. All of this with a mom at my home who was quiet simple- who was educated in her regional linguistic which was not applicable in the state that we were living in. Well, I mentioned her weakness first. Her strength - "Encouragement". If we came back from school worried about something new; a skill that we were not equipped with, she would simply quip by saying- "You can do it! No excuses! It's in your genes!". She used to tell how my mom was very talented as a kid in telling stories, painting, sketching, drawing etc. And when it came to studies, she would tell stories of how she had heard (from my biological mom) about my dad being good in sports and  excellent in studies and esp. mathematics as a kid. These stories will make my sis and I go - "Oooooohh............." with our mouth wide open as if some magic spell was cast on us. To top it, she would open Bible and ready out how God's children were born to be the head and not the tail. We would all of a sudden feel like some special kids meant to do something great!  Since primary school we were more of DIY kids! I am proud of my mom making us these kind of kids.


She easily morphed into a father effortlessly. As we were growing up, we never saw her a damsel-in-distress kinds single mother. We saw how for her our protection was of utmost importance and for that she single handedly changed our residence in fortnight's time co-ordinating with our lawyers and the real estate brokers and negotiating a decent deal all by herself. I learned Negotiation.

Growing up, we would keep asking her to tell us more about the love story b/w my mom and dad as we get to hear bits and pieces of the passionate story from our other relatives. She would tell how my dad chased my mom for four long years and how he begged my grand dad to approve. When my maternal grand-dad gave a green signal to my dad but asked him to wait till my mom became 21, from that day on bang till the date my parents wedded, my dad and mom wrote letters to each other.  Interestingly, my dad used to write more letters to my mom. My mom was not able to match my dad in reciprocation as she had an obstacle of handing over the letter in the hands of her younger brother to go and post. My younger maternal uncle was a naughty young chap and would ask for something in return for doing the favour and all this process would consume time and meanwhile, my mom would have already received the second letter of the week from my dad. By telling such stories time and again to us, she instilled the hope that there exists some good interesting men in the world...

As much as she reinforced the hope of true love to us, she also told this awakening truth to me when i got this small crush in my second year of college. She told how in eternity, even the husband and wife won't be husband and wife. Marriage which is an amazing relationship also considered as honorable by God and that which prunes and brings the best in us- When even the best relationship as marriage does not hold its stance in eternity, then a trivial thing as crush is just a futile happenstance which definitely should not be consuming my time and energy and emotions. It's better to be prepared and conscious and not allow one's emotions and feelings to be controlled by another person in whom you have got a simple crush. Result- I never got entangled in any relationships that would have gone that far to have made me cry or depressed.

I would like to go on and on and on about her...but I better pause!

It's such a blessed feeling to know that God has more than compensated in His mysterious ways in the form of one kindness or the other... I've got mom! I feel blessed!

That's her, her and her!!!

With younger bro- her favourite!

With her brood-threes shades of Kids

  

Doing what she is best at- preparing delicious food loaded with 'love' ingredient.

The BEAUTY Bubble

So here’s my take on the topic “BEAUTY”- a very tricky subject to discuss! A few days back I was reading an article in the tabloid where the infamous Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway commented that how she dealt with the issue of being comfortable in her own skin. She candidly said that throughout her 20s she had been struggling and trying to make peace with herself about the way she looked and she still felt nervous in Hollywood inspite of having a svelte figure and a gorgeous face . This reminded me of the article when in my teens as I looked upon Britney Spears for a while was shocked to read in newspaper where she had commented how she wished she could change her nose. (Well, that’s possible with the technology! But my questions are directed to the subject of viewing oneself as beautiful!) A few days back I also went through the ELLE magazine in which Katy Perry was in the front cover page posing with oomph and inside the magazine in her interview she didn’t shy away from mentioning her struggles with accepting her body type in the so-called ‘zero sized’ crazy industry. She indeed would get disturbed by the gnawing feeling quiet often. But hey! Little did she know that I always considered her a really curvy and sexy woman. Surprisingly enough, the result of a general poll showcased how nearly 75% of the human race view themselves as ‘not’ beautiful! It seems that the human race which happens to be an interesting species has found it so very difficult to be able to recognize their own beauty. The reason behind it so-

I think that the topic Beauty and the self esteem issue are intertwined and both are tricky topics! Every person has a personalized set of theory with specifications for considering a person as beautiful. If we ask whether a random walking person is beautiful or not to anyone, then that anyone will scan the random walking person and see how many specs does he match with the mould set that he has in his mind. If the random person fails to score not so many marks as per their specification- then that person becomes ugly for us. If the person of talk scores all the points as per ones specifications then, that person becomes beautiful! Correct me if I am wrong!

Here’s my opinion on why a person finds it difficult to consider oneself beautiful: Being able to recognize our own personal beauty becomes difficult because it has very little to do with our actual physical appearance/ face value but everything to do with self-value! Valuing ourselves is a decision we need to make daily! I had also heard it once from the pulpit about how valuing your life as being perfect and gorgeous is an act of worship! (it was connected to love-your-neighbors-as-yourself which means simply that LOVE ONESELF first!) Why did God say that He formed us out of His own image? I believe He said that to remind us...it's not possible for us to not be beautiful!! It's a sham and actually rude on our part to think and constantly think horrible thoughts about yourself, and then worship the Lord and tell Him how perfect He is! Everything He created was perfect...therefore you = perfect! Basic mathematical equation with all Constants no Variable.

It's also a scientifically proven fact that people who viewed themselves as good-looking had something more about them- something like more of a glow to their skin and brightness in their eyes. Those who viewed themselves as ugly and hopeless had duller skin and darker circles rimming their eyes. I also believe that the more beautiful you think you are, the more beautiful you actually will look! The feeling just doesn’t stop to yourself. It transcends on how you view other things as well. Things I never considered beautiful, are suddenly stunning in my eyes. Places I thought I could never find hope, are now overflowing with restoration and promise!

Some people view as accepting GOD into their life as so seriously to an extent that they set some self-imposed rules about the way they look. They say that why do we want to feel beautiful? Well, it’s a natural and holy emotion! No, not conceited or haughty. The Bible clearly states that acknowledging your own beauty is a rejuvenating process! 

Psalm 34:5 says, "Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." How could you be ashamed of your appearance if you're acknowledging the fact that God made you?!

Psalm 139:14, "I praise You, I know that I am fearfully and beautifully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Hello??? It means that your SOUL should know how perfectly He created everything, therefore how perfectly He created you!

Here’s my picture- 

I got that scar as a reminder from an accident that took place when I was five-ish. My visit to one of the excellent cosmetologists in the city proved to be an interesting visit. The surgeon told me how a super model called “Padma Lakshmi” too has a scar on her forearm from an accident that she met with during her childhood and she still has the scar on her forearm without undergoing any operation. My scar condition was the same as hers. I anyways am not that disturbed by my scar and to top it the testimonial of a high-profile supermodel just backed my thought about how I viewed myself with the scar.

So, I challenge you, beautiful friends, to take the time to tell yourself the things that make you beautiful! It sounds ridiculous, cheesy and goofy, but am sure it’s worth it. And while doing so, don’t you forget to give some hope to someone else in a day about how good they look. You might make someone’s day!

Have a wonderful time feeling beautiful!

Blessing it is, the so called "Suffering"

A few days back a friend of mine said that he had picked up the topic "Suffering" to preach at his church on Sunday. During my discussion with him on this topic, I realized that suffering differs from culture to culture. The meaning of Suffering would vary from one who comes from a third world country and one living in NewYork. Anyways, the usual displays that I see that of suffering ; in streets, the suffering that we experience on loss of a person, the kind of suffering that a family endures to fill each others stomach etc..all of these raises one question- If life is a gift and meant to be lived to the fullest, then why this suffering? This is not the question of the 21st century man but this question has prevailed since a long time- the quest to know more about suffering led prince Buddha to abandon his life in palace and to follow a life of a mendicant. The craftiness of Karma-logy fails to address a way out of suffering. It sure talks about the cause of suffering ( karma & the previous birth deeds)and its manifestations ( failure, suffering in life in spite of your present good deeds). Karma wants you to accept suffering the way it is stating that 'you' deserve suffering because of your misdeeds. I say, what good is a religion when all it can offer is no hope to  mankind, but forces you to take it for granted that you deserve it! Forget about hope on the spot when you need it in a situation but it doesn't even talk about a ray of hope in the end of a dark tunnel. 

So, my question is: are we meant to suffer in life when we are actually called to enjoy life? Honestly speaking, even if I were a person who didn't believe in the true living God still I would have never bought the idea that I suffer coz I'm born to suffer and it's a curse that I carry from my previous birth. Maybe I was a frog in my previous birth?! YUK! Oh, you might as well become a lizard in your next birth. Run............this is not life is meant to be...naah! I'm sure there is much more to life.

Coming back to the central theme - Suffering, I have a take on this topic and it sure stems from the fact that it is rooted in the beliefs that I'm convicted of. Here's my poem that talks about how suffering came into the world. It sure has some resonance with the term 'curse' like other religion does, but how it differentiates is the conquer upon suffering and a promise to eternity. I talk about its origin and the reason why it came into existence and it's entire meaning changed after Christ's death on the cross. Suffering actually prunes a person to his/her maximum limits and helps in making a person more Christ-like. Sufferings checks and constantly reminds us to cling to Him and there is no other better way. As a Christian to share in His suffering also means that we will share in his glory one day (refer Rom 8:17v). So, here's my poem on Suffering:

What’s in a bite of Eden’s forbidden apple,

that they were left with misery & Suffering to grapple.

Suffering partnered with generations of mankind,

As it took over Adam’s body, soul and mind.

Adam looked upon God looked upon Adam,

as suffering traded with virginal Birth.

And when the last drop of innocent blood was shed,

Suffering suffered its own death.

Now through the cross did Suffering take another step,
Oh, what joy it is to bear our suffering
when it can bring us closer to our Father's doorstep!

Here's an answer put forth by a friend of mine based on the topic 'Suffering':

Q:Whats the difference between a Christian and non-Christian suffering?

A:  My immediate answer is that there is no difference, except a Christian can use suffering to draw deeper on God's Grace and therefore become more Christ-like. I'm not sure if that's the whole answer though. There is a lot in the New Testament about healing, and poverty relief, and actively working to stop suffering. So there is that as well. Also, Christians are called to suffer for Christ - not to intentionally suffer like some monks used to do by whipping themselves, but when we proclaim the Gospel, if we encounter suffering, it is a good thing.

Bottom line: Suffering is not a Curse, but a Blessing in disguise*

So, much did the Father loved us that even when he gave suffering to mankind, He designed it in a way that it would serve as a channel to draw closer to Him and experience His love. Ain't He wonderful?

Lady Jane, don't go by my words. I love you still!

I watched 3 movies related to Lady Jane Austen and I have mixed feelings towards her. I wonder how she could write such great all time romantic classics when she herself was engaged once for a brief period to our dismay. May be it's the dearth of so called man-woman "love" in her life that kindled her thoughts, fantasies which eventually resulted into every woman's all time favorite characters like Mr. Darcy, Capt. Wenthworth etc.

Here's my heartfelt tribute to Lady Jane. Wait! by the end of the poem one would think, how can this be a tribute when it is so much like a complaining rant. But that's what it is: a heart-to-heart conversation with the Lady I respect, adore and also complain for instigating the love-wave in me.

So, here we go:  

Lady Jane! I thought of you today

How would have you been if you were born yesterday?

So, “Unreal-ism” is the key of your romantic stories’ plot:

The patient-one’s love last and others’ love rot?!?

Bust isn’t unleashing a bit of one’s insanity

a necessary dash to be added in one’s love-life’s recipe?

Tell me honestly, don’t you write such good-character-always-wins books,

Because you being the Reverend’s daughter?

What if you were someone else’s?

should you have taken the side of Mary Anne’s cheer & laughter?

I don’t like Emma and I guess I never will

Even as I grow old & am on a medication of a hundred pills!

Do you even know why Col. Edmond fell head over heels for Mary Anne?

Not because she was young, played piano & would look like a deer when she impulsively ran!

Ah, what a treat to watch!

To see for Darcy’s sake; imagining myself treading Liz’s path!

So, Mr. Darcy he is!

Why not? Why not?

Handsome and young

So mysterious & mum!

I didn’t like you for a while Lady Jane

After the movies, the memories were making me insane

What joy do you get by knitting such romantic stories together?

When in life, a man’s love is something that you could never gather?

But how could I be so ungrateful in my speech?

When you were the only one to give birth to such classics which are beyond our minds’ reach?!

Artificial Life?!?! You mean 'playing God'????

The subject above is the same headline which was flashed on Sunday Times dated on 07/10/07. This might be a meaty boon for the intellectuals all across the world who are rattling their minds to match steps with a Divine entity! Being a news with global consequences, am sure it must have made headlines in all tabloids. But for all those for whom its going to be inconvenient going through the newspaper, I’m going to present the article in the exact intact but precise form!

“On Saturday, American biologist-Craig Venter told the media that he has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals. A few days from now he is expected to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on earth”.
To get sense of what this really means, a quick primer on genetics is called for. Every cell in the human body contains a copy of the genome. Venter sequenced the human genome in 2001. And now his claim is that he & his team have figured out the mystery. This is the kind of knowledge that will allow him to create life. Simply put, ‘play God’.” That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before”, he said.

Venter used his knowledge to create Mycoplasma laboratorium, a chromosome that is 381 genes long. When transplanted into a living cell, it is expected to take control of that cell & become a new ‘life form’. Until now, scientists have managed to take the genome out of one cell, put it into another cell & create another new organism. But nobody knew how to create the genome itself. Venter apparently just did that.

Pat Mooney, the director of a Canadian bioethics organisation, said, “Venter is creating a chassis on which you could build almost anything.”

Realizing your stand as that of a mere layman as compared to these so called ‘word-ly and worldly wise’ scientist & his team, how would you counter his school of thoughts?? What are we looking at?


When Craig Venter announced that he was going to unravel the human genome, it sparked one of the most bitterly contested races in the history of science and compelling me to pen down a article. Now, the same Craig Venter who had once contended with the United States government and led the private effort to map the human genome, is back again hitting the headlines and savouring the attention given to his pursuit in the genetic field. Here, in an extract from his new memoir, he describes the acrimonious sprint to the finish.

Craig Venter, the much acclaimed controversial DNA scientist, has claimed that his team has constructed a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to declare the creation of the first artificial life form on planet Earth. Undisputedly, if Venter and his team deliver on his bold promise, they will be credited with the breakthrough of creating an almost completely new life form for the first time. Apparently researchers hope that the discovery will contribute to developments in bioengineering, to help deal with climate change or provide alternative energy sources. Venter said that creating the new life form would be ‘a very important philosophical step in the history of our species.’

This discovery will be a giant step forward in the development of designer genomes. A team of 20 top scientists chaired by the Nobel honoree Hamilton Smith, has constructed a synthetic chromosome that is 381 genes long and contains 580,000 base pairs of genetic code, using lab-made chemicals at the J Craig Venter Institute. It will be then transplanted into a living bacterial cell and in the final stage of the process, it is anticipated to take control of the cell and in effect become a new life form.

The new life form will depend on its ability to replicate itself and metabolize on the molecular machinery of the cell into which it has been shot, and in that sense it will not be a wholly synthetic life form. However, its DNA will be artificial, and it is the DNA that controls the cell and is credited with being the building block of life.

The above written words have been extracted to put forth the factual happenings involved in this case sans any garnishing job done by me.

To get a sense of what this really means, think of the genome as a book - a blueprint - that comprises of details of what each individual ought to be like. Now, each genome contains one or several chromosomes - which is a long chain of DNA that ‘tells’ the cell what kind it is, what to do and when. Each chromosome contains several genes-specific and unique stories told by each chapter. DNA is composed of sugar, phosphate and different combination of four nitrogen bases - Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Thiamine (T) and Cytosine (C).

Genome-> Chromosomes -> Genes-> DNA-> Nitrogen base

Venter believes designer genomes have enormous positive potential if ‘properly’ regulated. In the long-term, he hopes they could lead to alternative energy sources previously unimaginable. Bacteria could be created, he theorizes, that could help clear up excessive carbon dioxide, thus contributing to the solution to global warming, or produce fuels such as butane or propane made entirely from sugar.

But surprisingly, he failed to discuss the negative effects of this kind of research. He didn’t discuss the effect of human intervention in the natural process of life creation. He didn’t discuss that what does it mean to create new life forms in a test-tube and what would be the reverse effect of replacing the entire genetic code of one microbe with that of another.

Venter’s genome-swapping technique is, without question, the most morally challenging issue faced by man. Although Venter’s goal of creating new species of life holds great promise, of making life on this planet much easier and much more pleasurable for everyone. But if the power to create new life forms is not responsibly managed or worst, then it will be the worst imaginable nightmare for humankind. So I am not sure that it is a wholly ‘good science’, as claimed by Venter and this genome-swapping technique should be rigorously debated. No matter the creation of a synthetic chromosome would revolutionize bioengineering, to help deal with climate change or provide alternative energy sources. But are we ready for artificial life forms?

We all know what will happen if we play God.

My Dream Box

This song is about a five year old, who has this peculiar habbit of placing her dreams every morning in her dream box and then releasing them in the evening, until one fine day.... she forgets that rut!
Once forgotten, seemed as if forgotten forever.
The girl is grown and is nubile to face the world. She lifts the box to walk out, and......alas! she feels the weight of the box pulling her down. She realizes her mistake of not releasing all the dreams on that very evening. But like it is said - " Better late than never", she walks out into the world with the Dream-box...



I rub my eyes and walk around
the bedsheet sways in the sunshine as I croon
I surrender to the simplest practice that I'm bound
to lift the Dream Box as a toast to the moon.

It takes care to open the lid of the rusted box
put my dream inside and behold the rocks
tie my shoe lace and run to the docks,
then release my dreams in the air,
as I foresee life's untying knots.

I feel addicted carrying the box every dusk,
dreams that smell bitter, and dreams that smell musk.
Dreams ought to be released, or else inside the box will they rust,
dreams as soft as feather and as hard as elephant's tusk.

A routine that I'm obsessed with,
to rise up in the morn and place the dream in the box before my eyes
Dream-box's treasure for me is no longer a myth
But it, in its own way makes me feel rich.

My wrinkles look at me when I stare the mirror
My hair reminds me of the days gone by
I'm no longer the five year old but a face of yore
all because the box was kept aside in a sty.

I run and open the box to fill another dream inside
just to find the old weighing dreams wrestling with their beside...

Will complete the poem by tomorrow.

To all forsaken, with Love

Handpicked this poem from my old records. Wrote this poem some years back...I hope the poem and the title convey it all...
Happy reading :)



To all forsaken, with love.



For all those who seem to know,

that to drift afloat was better than to row.

Life behind closed doors was all unknown,

far from those in the blistering cold.

Life shut, seemed to take a toll,

couldn't refrain, but was there to behold…..

But now I say that- all is not lost or forsaken





If the power can send this beauty to us,

If chance Christ than to live by our trust,

If light can reach far and guide us all back,

If hope, dreams and love can keep us on track,

Then all is not lost or forsaken.





O' forsaken, can you see the light gleam in the distance beyond?

Shall we answer the call of the light's siren song?

Let's follow it now to the cottage we see,

Come in from the darkness and let the light spread free..

For I say that- All IS not lost or forsaken.





To eternal home, that is the dream,

Op'ning the door and letting Christ in,

Cozy and comfy, warmth and good cheer,

Relatives close and friends that are dear,

I believe that t'was NEVER all lost or forsaken.