Petals!

Yuvraj Singh’s book ‘The Test of My Life’ has been summed up accurately by ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar in two words – ‘Pure Inspiration.’ I can’t think of a better word for this book. Yuvraj Singh’s ‘The Test of My Life’ takes us through a tumultuous, personal account of Yuvraj’s life as a cricketer and cancer survivor. The best and most interesting part is where Yuvraj talks about his ‘deal with God.’ He told God something on the lines of ‘Take my life but give us the World Cup’ and it almost became true in his life, according to Yuvraj. ABSOLUTE HONESTY Throughout the book, you will marvel at Yuvraj’s honesty. It isn’t easy to write so openly about a difficult childhood because of parents who couldn’t get along with each other. It isn’t easy to confess how one’s parent would throw ice cold bucket of water on an early winter morning to wake up the child for ‘cricket practice’ or that a parent could become violent and dangerous if a cricket score wasn’t met...

The first time I saw Him, I had a letter clutched in my palm. I was eleven or twelve years old. He ignored me and did not accept my letter. He took my heart instead. Loving Him is enough – the ultimate experience in my last sojourn of this life. So many reasons to love Him: He is my best friend, the one whom I share every secret and emotion with. He laughs at my fears and says lovingly, “Why fear when I am here?” He has stood by me and showed me that nothing is lost when one’s life falls apart or when one’s trust in humanity crumbles.  He alone helped me see that God is Love and that in our veins that same love runs like an invisible channel waiting to be channelized into the Universe. He taught me that my pain is nothing but an inevitable awakening from the Universe – an awakening of love, compassion and awareness. Even in the midst of bone chilling pain, His smile appeared to me, He made jokes that I found myself smiling at and I found the ...

Your voice can be the hope of the blind. Your voice can help transform lives. It can bring hope and empower those who are feeling weak to soar and fly beyond their pain. Nope, I am not kidding when I say this.  Whatever you give the Universe, it will bring it back into your life manifold.  Here’s the action plan to get started: 1. Visit www.yourvoicetheirworld.com 2. Login with the credentials required. 3. Click on ‘Participate’ in the top menu. 4. Choose to record your own poem or one from the database. 5. If you choose the first option, you will have to submit and type the text of the poem you want to record. This can be a poem you read or somewhere by any poem. 6. If you choose the second option, refer to a list that you can pick and record a poem. 7. Take care to make sure that your environment is quiet and the microphone is turned on. 8. Once done, send out a thanks from your heart to the Universe that gave you this beautiful opportunity to h...

Today is my Dad's birthday and he is spending it just like any other day - working nearly 12 hours without rest. So today, I am going to get a bit emotional about Dad - who is always my hero, my best friend, my spiritual guide and mentor.  It's not been easy growing up as Dr. C.R.Raghunandanan's daughter because people have expectations that you will be a chip off the block - which turns out to be not the case when it comes to me.  No, Dad isn't a celebrity. He loves to travel and has a penchant for poetry, philosophy and adventure. But I think he is more of a doctor-turned-saint because he is well-known and highly respected for the service that he does.  If he isn't working 24x7 in hospital, you will find him going early to pitch in for medical aid camps to islands where villagers have no easy access to doctors or medicines.  On a Sunday when he can take rest, he sets out early morning to distribute the medicines and to serve those who are ill. He...

Shyamdhar's directorial debut '7th Day' starring Prithviraj triggered great expectations but it falls flat like cola without any fizz. While it is a well-packaged thriller movie, it does not impress. 7th Day Movie Review : THE STORY 7th Day begins with David Abraham IPS   (starring Prithviraj) who  is a special investigation officer with Crime Branch but he is under suspension.  While driving a jeep, he hits a bike with two bike travelers.  From their expressions and body language, this scene disturbs you. It is as though you can sense the conflicts between the two characters seated together and unexpectedly thrown off the bike. While the fall should have brought them in sync with each other, at least in defence of the stranger, it shows interestingly a clear rift between them.  This scene is well-shot and delivered. The two bikers are Vinu Ramachandran (starring Anu Mohan who had acted as rapist in Theevram ) and Shan (star...

If you choose to walk on your path rather than follow that of others, you are a path maker.  It means you are evolving rapidly into some one who can empower others.  That’s exactly why Subroto Bagchi’s   Zen   Garden   is a book you have to experience.  Published by Penguin Books India,  Zen Garden  is an inspiring compilation of real life conversations and stories that explore how these game changers CHOSE to overcome their pain by creating something meaningful out of it. You will look closely into the lives of path makers such as    Nandan Nilekani, Captain Gopinath, Dr Devi Shetty, Dr Sharan Patel, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw,    Kris Gopalakrishnan, Aamir Khan among others.  Path Makers from Subroto Bagchi's Zen Garden   Take the example of Dr. Devi Shetty, founder of Narayana Hrudayalaya, who was the eighth child among a brood of nine and came from difficult circumstances. He talks about how children ...

Time rolls by. Hard to believe that the tiny baby I held within me and got relentlessly kicked by through nights during the last trimester of my pregnancy - he is now 8 years old. The only thing that hasn't changed is my constant worries hovering around him and his constant kicking - it doesn't end:)   When I think of that beautiful morning when he was born, two little things leap to my mind. One, the fragrance of Shiva Ranjani (associated with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba) filled the room next to the Labour Room where I lay. I was holding my father's hand (he is a doctor in the same hospital and that allowed him to be with me till I was taken in) and both of us inhaled the fragrance.  My father asked the nurses where the fragrance was coming from and they said it is odd because the hospital does not allow incense sticks to be lit because it causes allergies in many pregnant women. She and a couple of other nurses searched nearby rooms to check if anyone had lit...