Ambassador of smiles

Modhesh, the Ambassador of Smiles

Cartoon characters are loved by everyone. While children won’t get tired of talking about their favourite characters, even a casual mention of different characters would bring smiles to the faces of older people, though the choice might be different.

My friends and I would often discuss our favourite characters. The choice varies from Pink Panther — the hero of a TV cartoon, to Hello Kitty — the female white Japanese bobtail cat.

“I love Hello Kitty, because she is cute,” says one.

Another prefers Ninja Hattori, while someone else mentions Shaktimaan, the hero of Indian children.

When it is my turn, I’d proudly say, “I am a great fan of Modhesh, the Ambassador of Smiles.”

I also tell them about my collection of items of Modhesh which includes toys, diaries and other entertainment products. On seeing the collection, my friends would wish to be in my place.

My dream came true recently when I shook hands with Modhesh during a surprise visit to the Modhesh World in Dubai, where Modhesh has brought many new games, attractions, rides and shows to keep children entertained all summer long.

I wanted to chat a lot with him, but he replied only with heart-warming smiles.

During the visit I realised that my collection is still incomplete as Modhesh, meaning ‘amazing’ in Arabic, has become a premier entertainment and educational brand with an established portfolio of over 1000 products.

But I am glad that my favourite character is now competing with all the other cartoon characters popular in various parts of the world. If Hello Kitty has made thousands of children her fans, India has created its own character Shaktimaan and America’s Superman has been the idol of many children, Dubai has its own character, Modhesh — the true Ambassador of Smiles.

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 23, 2014)

Friends forever

“A friend in need is a friend in deed” is an age-old saying. But nowadays many people say that it’s not easy to find a true friend and that friendship between two people is short-lived. Friends leave as soon as their interests are fulfilled.  

Some of the observations made by modern-day thinkers still ring in my mind. One writer observed that friends are like balloons, if they are left to go once, you won’t get them again. He also believed that friends are like a cup of coffee, warm but sweet and bitter at the same time. And also compared friends with air – “precious, always there and priceless.”

 Someone has rightly said, “Friends are like money, easier to make than keep.” So true indeed! I realised that we should make friends and care for the special relationship.

 Friendship Day has been celebrated with joy and happiness all over the world. While Friendship Day for everyone is celebrated on the first Sunday of August, the third Sunday of August (tomorrow) is celebrated as the Women’s Friendship Day.

My Friendship Day is dedicated to my sister-like friend. When I joined the new school, I was alone. I didn’t know anyone, thus felt shy to talk to my fellow students. Then she gave a helping hand. She invited me to her group. She gave me confidence. She introduced me to everyone. To make me cheerful she gave me gifts on such special days. She has a big contribution in my life. I don’t know what would have happened if she wasn’t there with me. I will never forget her all my life.

A Happy Women’s Friendship Day to you and to my sister-like friend too.

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 16, 2014)

Mobile manners

You got to praise both of them

Nowadays praising the features of one’s mobile phone has become a social etiquette. Many people keep buying mobile phones of the latest model in order to show off. Many a time, if you don’t admire or comment on the new phone, they might get irritated. 

I realised this when one of my aunts visited us. When I asked about her new cellphone, she explained every feature in detail, and stopped only with a comment about her neighbour.

“My new neighbour is very ill-mannered and backward,” she said. 

Explaining, she said, “When I went to her house to have ‘a pleasant talk,’ she didn’t ask anything about my new phone. Instead she kept talking about my family all the time.”

 There I realised that, it is fine if you don’t ask someone about his family. But you shouldn’t forget to ask about the features of his/her new mobile phone and the deal he/she got it for. 

 I have also noticed that if someone keeps his mobile in his pocket, it means that he owns a very old phone. Because, no one keeps a Dhs3,000 worth phone in a pocket. So if your guest keeps his phone prominently on the table and keeps checking it every other moment, it needs your instant attention (read admiration.)

Whatever be the cost or the type of the mobile, you have to praise everyone for their choice. I have noticed that many people change their words according to the situation. 

 If the mobile’s cost is below Dhs500, they would say, “This is a good choice. Why to waste money on mobiles.” 

If the price revolves around Dhs1,000, they would say, “It’s a good choice. Your phone has got every feature that a costly phone will have. Why spend more.”

If the mobile costs above Dhs3,000, they would say, “You only know the true meaning of life. We spend so much time with mobiles, why shouldn’t we spend on it?”

Watch out when you meet a friend with a new phone. 

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 9, 2014)

Power of humour

Jokers make us laugh even when we are quite disturbed. I was awestruck when I read about Joker’s Week, to be celebrated from Aug.1 to Aug.7. I was surprised because so far I had heard about various DAYS celebrated on special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, Republic Day, Independence Day. But here, there is a celebration for the clowns, which will last an entire week.

However, I changed my thoughts soon. Why should the news surprise anyone? They well deserve it. After all they prove themselves a fool just to make us laugh and to earn their bread and butter. I can understand that making others laugh is not an easy work. It would be too hard for me if someone asks me to make a crying person laugh. That’s exactly what the jokers do.

In the past, people have shown their respect to jokers in different ways. Many movies have highlighted their life and the hardships they have to suffer. One example can be India’s great showman the late Raj Kapoor’s hit movie “Mera Naam Joker.” The movie has portrayed the life of a clown who must make his audience laugh, despite deep sorrows in his life. After all, they must follow their motto  — “the show must go on.”

Charlie Chaplin made this art more popular through movies. He did similar things that a clown does in real life to make us laugh. Everyone’s favourite Mr Bean too has made great efforts. How can a child forget Ronald McDonald, the famous clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain?

I was sad to read that the number of people opting for this profession is on the decline, just because they are considered a laughing stock. People shouldn’t forget that “Humour is serious business.”

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 2, 2014)

Befitting Dubai

Today, most of the people are aware of gaining extra weight due to a lavish lifestyle. Many of them also wonder that it may make them obese. Yet the tempting junk foods like pizzas and burgers as well as lack of exercise prevent many of them from getting slimmer.

Realising this, the Dubai government launched a campaign, “Your Weight in Gold” a year ago to encourage maximum number of residents to lose weight. Encouraged by the immense success, the Dubai Municipality has started a similar drive this year under the slogan, “Your Child in Gold,” as this year obese children can also participate.

I was surprised as well as amazed when I heard about it. The government wants us to be fit and fine. They are sure that people would lose their weight in order to claim the gold. I was astonished when I came to know that more than 15,000 people have registered this year, which is double than the number of people who participated in the campaign last year.

They are encouraged by getting two benefits – getting gold as well as getting slimmer.

I hope that the Dubai government achieves the objective within a few years, so that there would not be a person in the city who is fat. This wonderful city will also be known as the healthiest city, if this continues. I am also sure that every participant will get enough gold coins to keep them motivated to stay healthy.

I just wish “All the Best” to the people who are participating for the gold as well as to lose their weight. Also wish Dubai to become the healthiest city.

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 26, 2014)

Food for thought

Do you waste food too?

Ramadan has started and so have begun the Iftar parties and Suhour gatherings. Recently, I was overjoyed when we were invited to a wonderful party.

I enjoyed a lot there. Everything was exciting. The food items were delicious. A raffle draw was organised too. The fortunate ones got gift vouchers, a few others got expensive gift hampers and the luckiest one got a Sony Bravia TV. It was an evening full of enthusiasm and one of the best and unforgettable moments in my life.

Yet I was sad as I saw a lot of food and drinks being wasted. People stuffed a lot of food on their plates but they ate only a little and left the remaining food on the plates. The waiters came and threw the food in the dustbin. The drinks met the same fate. A big amount of food and drinks on the table was wasted in a similar manner.

It would have been better if the money spent on parties would have gone to charity. It’s the month of Ramadan and the organisers would have got big rewards from Allah for the charity. In Ramadan, the rewards gained by giving charity are multiplied too.

Alternatively, the amount of food wasted could have been offered to those who couldn’t afford it. The money spent on the expensive gift hampers could have been donated to a country or city whose inhabitants are suffering from a lot of difficulties.

Or simply this money could have been donated to the UAE Suqia, the Water Aid campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the first day of Ramadan, to provide access to fresh drinking water for 5 million persons around the world.

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 19, 2014)

Bright side

Is your glass half empty or half full?

It was another difficult day for me as I was pondering over a topic for my weekly Short Take. When I couldn’t think of anything worth writing, I wished to skip one this week. Thus I forgot about it and went on with my other work.

Soon, I started the filing of old articles which I had forgotten to do for the last few weeks. While doing so I came across many of the articles that were most appreciated by readers.

I smiled seeing them. I realised that I should continue writing to reach the heights of success and should try not to skip one just because I can’t get a topic. 

After all, even Sachin Tendulkar had a bad patch in his illustrious career. 

The most successful captain of Indian cricket,  Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also lost a few important matches. 

And most recently, one of the most triumphant soccer teams, Brazil, also got out of the World Cup with a humiliating defeat.

After finishing the filing of my latest articles, I brought the file of my old articles out of the cupboard.

Soon there was a visitor. Without realising what I was going through, he commented, “You shouldn’t rest on your laurels.”

I wanted to reply that he was wrong. I was going through my old work, which had won me much praise and helped me get inspired and motivated to produce much better work than those.

It is rightly said, “The glass is never half empty but always half full.” Why do we need to see the negative side and not the positive side?

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 12, 2014)