India marks History again

< 30-6-2014 > Wondering what's so special about this date ? Today morning India witnessed another  landmark in it's history . ISRO launched the PSLV C-23 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) in the air at 9:52 p.m. . It contained satellites from Germany, France , Canada & Singapore . The launch time was decided properly in order to avoid any space debris collisions . 

Out of India's only two launching stations , the one chosen for the mission was 'Sriharikota' in Andhra Pradesh . The PM 'Narendra Modi' graced the occasion with his presence . So far India has so far launched satellites for 19 countries including Austria,Belgium,Canada,France,Germany etc .

  The highlight of this success is that the whole mission cost amounted to less than the money expended to make the Hollywood epic fiction thriller 'Gravity' . This is because India is blessed with highly-skilled engineers who earn only a fraction of their foreign counterparts .

It's fascinating that so many countries trust our space agency for launching their satellites . Being born in a country like India , i had hundreds of reasons to be proud of my nation . I just got another one . Seriously , looks like the highly acclaimed 'Ache Din' have arrived .

Being Happy

Everyday our life puts us in situations when we are compelled to ask ourselves - ' How to be happy? ' . You can ask the experts for an answer . No wonder they come up with cliches like :-

' If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap.

 If you want happiness for a day—go fishing.

 If you want happiness for a month—get married.

 If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune.

 If you want happiness for a lifetime—help others. '

Helping others is fine . Heard this a 100 times ? Aren't there any other ways ? Sure , there are ! A few interesting methods proven to make one happy are :-

Writing notes of gratitude - Appreciate the people around you . Talk good about them behind their back . If possible , write letters to them . E-mailing is also an option .  You are never too busy to be in touch with an old friend .

Yawn - Believe it or not , yawning can help you chill out , stay focused and stay compassionate . It brings the mind to a heightened state of functioning . It stimulates the brain to generate empathy and social-awareness . It can help you be kind to others .

Have a job - Working under a boss will keep you grounded . You'll have to meet deadlines . There'll be pressure . If you can shine in those moments of distress , then you can prove your worth as a diamond .

Master a new skill - Learn a new skill . Do it with passion . It can be anything - Singing , dancing , cooking , blogging . Later on boast about it  :P 

Gossip - Gossiping has positive effects on men and women alike .  It elevates the levels of progesterone, a hormone that reduces stress and feels good . One year back when i got aware of this  , i was so happy that i dedicated a Facebook status update to the same .

Make a list of your accomplishments  - Whatever good you do in the day , write it down . It'll help you go through those happy moments time and again . You will relive the joviality . Do this on a daily basis .

Listen to upbeat music - Keep updating your i-pods with new songs . Even the most non-sensical lyrics can work  . Every song can work . Just that it shouldn't be  Himesh's 'Ice-cream'  . You might die .

Go shopping - Shop till you drop . Check out a million dresses & only then select the perfect outfit . Afterwards , you can rest . No , Wait ! You still have to buy matching  accessories  & shoes .

No 'Ole-Ola' or 'Waka-Waka' for India ?

' Put your flags up in the sky 

And wave them side to side 

Show the world where you're from 

Show the world we are one '

'Ole ole ole ola

Ole ole ole ola 

Ole ole ole ola' 

In case you are not aware , these are the lyrics of the official FIFA-2014 anthem . The spirit of the song as well as the game lies in being egalitarian  . The Football-fever has arrived in the form of FIFA-2014 extravaganza . The whole nation is spending nights watching the matches in Brazil . The sad part is we don't have our own team on the play-board . We are compelled to cheer for a third nation .

You might be surprised to know that the Indian Football team actually has a name - 'The Blue Tigers' . During it's peak time in 1950's , this team automatically advanced to play in the FIFA World Cup that too in Brazil but they couldn't go due to lack of funds , high cost of travel and other issues .

 No wonder a game like Cricket is so over-rated . It monopolizes talent , resources and attention nation-wide.The situation is self-defeating . In contrast ,States like Goa,West Bengal and Kerala  have been vying with each other to win the national competition , yet the tournament has not been able to produce good players  . From a population of 1.2 billion , we can't find 11 players worthy of international stature .

The Cricket frenzy leaves India perilously as been trade-marked as a one-sport nation . However recent successes at Wrestling , Shooting & Badminton  in the Olympics have provided some respite . 

Inspite of the growing interest in the game this year , the awareness regarding the game in India can be quite amusing . You might wanna check out the following video . 

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Fussing over a picture

I wake up with a dream in which i see my English teacher teaching us . Soon after she takes attendance . A girl gets up from her seat and asks for her number . After giggling , she agrees to give us all her number so that we can stay in touch with her . She takes out a pen and paper & starts noting down something . She asks each of us what our respective profile pictures are so that she doesn't have second thoughts accepting our requests  on Facebook . 

Everyone explains their dps . My best friend  folds her hands making a gesture of a flower with her hands indicating that her dp is of a flower . I find it amusing why children are so keen on adding an English teacher with an insanely long height  , specy eyes and lean frame to their Facebook profiles .

As i am busy contemplating my nonsensical thoughts , she turns towards me . It's my turn now . I fumble as i wake from my slumber and start murmuring something . 

She asks me to repeat . I don't want to have this kind of a silly discussion with her over a topic she is considering to be of paramount importance . 

Finally mustering courage , i begin talking . 

>Ma'm it's a picture of an actor and an actress  . You'll get to know . 

<Who are those actors ?

>No , ma'm actually it's just one actress . You'll get to know . 

<Who is that actress ?

As much as i want to avoid this silly conversation , it keeps growing . I could have ended this talk by lying about not having a profile . This wasn't an option as my friends don't like missing any chance of pulling my leg . So option one was ruled out .

I could have ended this by telling her the truth that my dp belongs to a girl who is standing with her face towards the sea . And that picture , for reasons unknown , is extremely close to my heart . I could have said this and snapped short the talk , exactly as i wanted , but i didn't .

Nobody likes invasion of privacy especially by teachers . Yet , i have to lie to make matters even and declare in a faint voice that there is a picture of Selena Gomez with her friend in the dp . I add that they are both dressed in black . The color is coherent 

with my cover which lovingly says 'Just smile black' . 

Ma'm smiles and i wake up to my brother's voice asking me to get up for my Maggi is ready with Paranthas . 

I smile back to myself . 

Anatomy of North Indian Summers

North India is blistering with heat with temperatures touching 46 degrees . The Meteorological Department says that there is no respite  from heat for the next few days also .

 Everyone is preferring to stay indoors with the Air Conditioners on for 24*7 . Resultantly , cities like Delhi etc are suffering from major power outages . The frequent power cuts and restricted water supply in such harsh weather have aggravated the problem . 

Due to the intense & unbearable heat , markets are wearing a deserted look . The traffic levels have come down drastically . The only people doing brisk business seem to be the lemonade , juice and ice-cream stalls . People are thronging these shops in desperate attempts to beat the heat  .

 Girls and guys clad in scarfs and gloves , having no alternative but to venture out can be easily spotted carrying umbrellas  . This heat is likely to continue till June 12 as reported by the news channels . 

Writer’s advice – It is preferable to stay inside in this lurching weather . Stepping outside ,  not to be done unless absolutely necessary .

Metro for my town too

Mumbai has got it's brand new Metro Train . Big cities like Bangalore,Delhi,Kolkata already have it . My city wants it too .

 Growing population has caused a shift from the private modes of conveyance to the public modes . We are tired of travelling by the cars , scooters and bikes . The most hated CTU buses don't arrive at time , are too crowdy and don't have good seating facilities. 


I went to Delhi and just to experience the much talked - about Metro , i went for a ride . It's speedy and air - conditioned - a perfect travel vehicle . No doubt the traffic levels have gone down manifolds in Delhi.


The Metro Chandigarh project talks are still in the pipeline . The Metro fever has caught up in smaller cities thanks to the success of the Delhi Metro . It might take around 5-10 more years to be installed here .


 Still , the residents are eager to be benefited by it's fruits . And the one waiting the most for it is me .