Petals!

As we gear up to celebrate India's Republic Day on January 26th, the past beckons. It makes sense to look back and learn something new about the era that we know so little about. Not merely for the purpose of sending WhatsApp greetings or messages, the significance of Republic Day is definitely worth contemplating upon.                                                      (Image: Pexels) Significance of Republic Day Anyone familiar with India's history or law knows the significance of Republic Day. For a large section of the society, Republic Day is just another gazetted holiday, a break from a hectic work schedule and one of those rare days that can be enjoyed while watching every state showcase its unique cultural dimensions as part of the Republic Day parade. But so much of history, brimming with electrifying sentiment and passion for the nation's glorious breaking away from the colonial mould, is still unknown to many Indians. Constituent Assembl

The Mughals ruled India for more than 250 years but few of us know about Nur Jahan's remarkable political power and ambition that led to a series of pathbreaking changes in the Mughal Empire. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, grab a copy of Ta nushree Podder's novel, 'Nur Jahan's Daughter'.                                                  (Image: Amazon) This is a fascinating and never-before-told account of Laadli, the reluctant princess who lived in the shadows of the Mughal empire. While her mother ruled Hindustan for sixteen long years through her second marriage with Emperor Jahangir, Laadli remained hidden and almost unknown. Her hatred towards Emperor Jahangir, secret trysts that end in heart wrenching tragedy and her wise counsel to caution her restless, ambitious mother remain unknown to the world. Contrary to public perception, empresses of the Mughal Empire were known to wield strong influence over their husbands in the public realm itself.

Have you ever found yourself watching a movie after a decade and then feeling as though the movie had so many precious moments that you missed the first time you saw it? That's exactly what I felt when I watched 'Zindagi Na Milegi Do Bara' on Netflix this weekend. Here's what I had written the first time I watched the film in case you want to go through it before reading this post.                                                 [Source: Amazon] While 'Bagwati' and 'Laila-Majnu' dialogues made me smile, as did Farhan Akhtar's effortless charm and intelligent sense of humour, there are some scenes that stayed with me in a deeper way as I watched the film.  I liked the scene where Katrina Kaif tells Hrithik that he has missed something in life if he hasn't slept under the stars - this resonated with me.  When we were children, my dad used to always take us to the terrace of our home in Kochi and we used to look at the stars and

Woooohoooo, 2020 begins! How swiftly 2019 whizzed by! This is a good time to reflect on what the year brought for most of us.  For me, there were several personal challenges to tackle during the first six months. This required me to go deeply within to understand and identify 'triggers' and embrace 'shadow work'. [READ: A Powerful Lesson from the Mahabharata]                                                   [Image: Pixabay] Truth be told, I didn't even realize that I have embraced shadow work till much later towards the end of the year when I read several posts on social media by influencers on the effectiveness of shadow work and inner child healing, both of which I took very seriously throughout 2019. Reading the teachings of Sri Paramahansa Yogananda in his beloved disciple Sri Gyana Mata's book titled, "God ALONE" was a life changing experience. The book brought me closer to my Guru and  taught me t o confront the areas within me