Explore, dream, discover

People nowadays are becoming more and more adventurous. The love for adventure makes them do daring things that only few others would dare to do.

Many such adventurers are seen every now or then performing stunts on land, in air as well as on water. I have also noticed that many of them celebrate holidays in a manner that is very different to visiting beaches. Many people do stunts on bikes while others somersault in the air either while flying an airplane or skydiving.

When these people are tired of such things, they try to perform stunts that they watch in the movies. Sometimes they even forget that such stunts are performed by professionals in reality.

However, the point to ponder over is why are people becoming so adventurous. There are various answers to this question. It might be because people are getting bored by their daily routine or maybe because they feel they are stagnating and need to achieve something more.

The other option could be loneliness. In this vast world, often people do not get time to be with friends or relatives. Due to this the colour of life starts to turn pale. Thus people try to add life to their lives.

But the most important reason perhaps is that a man is never satisfied. We human beings are those wild creatures who cannot be satisfied with one thing. Adventure does not only mean stunts but it also means every new thing that one likes to try. Yet some of these creatures have become tame and thus stopped craving for adventures. However, that does not mean the others shall also stop.

I remember a quote by Mark Twain on this topic, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

(Published in The Gulf Today on December 19, 2015)

Museum of the future

Qasr Al Muwaiji

Museums are known for preserving historical artefacts. But in the modern era, museums are also undergoing changes. The latest example is the Qasr Al Muwaiji, the recently opened museum in Al Ain.

Qasr Al Muwaiji had once been the palace for the royal family of Abu Dhabi. It was renovated and opened recently for the general masses. Soon after its opening, it has started attracting huge crowds. It was quite natural too. After all, it has introduced a new concept that is equally incredible.

For the first time, I saw a modernised museum showcasing the olden times. Various sections of the museum have been fitted with modern gadgets that provide information of the forgotten era.

There were tablets and touch screen computers to guide the visitors. The information stored in those gadgets was about the royal family, renovations of the fort and the artefacts found during the renovation. The introduction of gadgets to share the history has won the hearts of many tourists.

Photographs and short films are shown to highlight the life of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the UAE and the Father of the Nation. It also showcases the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s childhood, education and pastimes. The visitors were awestruck by the way the history of the palace was represented.

Many items of historical importance are showcased in transparent glass boxes. From Sheikh Khalifa’s golden dagger to signing pens to his falconry equipment, everything is presented in a way that attracts the tourists. The floor in a particular area is made of glass revealing the archaeological structures that lie beneath it.

Qasr Al Muwaiji is a hi-tech museum that has connected us to its past with the help of modern technology. It is a perfect example of such hi-tech museums that shall be popular in the future.

(Published in The Gulf Today on December 12, 2015)

Celebrating unity

Being a resident of the UAE is like getting special privileges in life. No, I am not talking in material terms, but the special privilege I am talking about is the “Unity” between the citizens of the UAE and the expatriates who have made this country their second home. 

There are many wonderful places around the world, yet I feel the UAE has those charms that make it one of the best countries. Emiratis and expatriates living together and working shoulder to shoulder to develop the nation is one of those fascinating experiences that bring people closer.

The unity shown by various expatriate communities, living across the UAE, during the National Day celebration proves me right.

This year, the National Day celebration was the grandest. The special show at the Zayed Sports City marked the Spirit of the Union and brought a sense of pride. There were also various other carnivals held at the Abu Dhabi Corniche to entertain the residents. Similarly, the National Day Parade was held at Downtown Dubai. 

There was also a National Day Heritage Celebration in order to show and promote the UAE culture.

But the residents also expressed their love for the UAE in many different ways. 

Some of them decorated their cars while many others bejewelled their houses with UAE flags and balloons. Many schools also organised activities to promote the Spirit of the Union among the students.

Although the National Day celebration is over, one should never forget the Spirit of the Union. 

The UAE has become the fastest developing country across the world due to this spirit.

(Published in The Gulf Today on December 5, 2015)

Unforgettable moments

The period of 1950s, 60s and 70s is said to be the golden era of Indian film music. The era produced some of the best singers including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey and Mukesh. They got this recognition because they gave us many beautiful songs.

But the essence of those songs is slowly vanishing into thin air. Due to contemporary film music, people are forgetting songs of the golden era. 

It comes as a shock to my friends when I tell them that I prefer olden songs over modern ones. Sometimes I feel that not many fans of those golden songs are left.

But, I change my mind when I see the crowd at “Lamhe,” Dubai’s longest running  annual music concert to pay tribute to legendary singers of the forgotten era. 

A team of young singers imitate the original singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh, so perfectly and flawlessly that the audience feel as if they are virtually living in those times.

This year too, some of the songs were sung so nicely that they sounded better than the original ones. For example, a popular song “Ek chatur naar” was originally sung by three veteran singers but at the concert it was sung by one singer. 

Despite being a solo performance, it was mind-blowing. It was very difficult to sing the song without forgetting some or the other words. Similarly there were other mind-boggling performances. There were songs from the films of Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor and other popular actors.

There were songs such as “Mana janab ne pukara nahin,” “Leke pehla pehla pyaar” and “Laal chhadi.” But the similarity between all the songs was that they all refreshed our minds.

In between the musical performances, the compere shared anecdotes from that era thus connecting us to those special moments of the film and music celebrities of that era.

Like its name, “Lamhe” gives us many unforgettable moments to treasure. It has already been 14 years of this concert and I just hope that it is held every year so that those evergreen songs keep inspiring youngsters like me.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 28, 2015)

Profession or passion?

Saamia with Durjoy Dutta

Is writing just another job?

This question has been haunting me every since I met Durjoy Datta, one of the most popular contemporary Indian authors, during the recently-held Sharjah International Book Fair.

Interacting with the audience at one of the sessions, the celebrated author said, “I never had a writer’s block because I used to write something every day. Writing is just another job.”

Since then, I have been trying hard to convince myself that yes, writing is just another job, but failed. I remembered how often I had writer’s block and failed to find a cure for it.

However, I liked his opinion of developing a habit of writing something every day, as it would be helpful for all those who wish to become a good writer.

I remember a quote, “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

Similarly, until and unless one starts to write he cannot understand what is useful for writing and what is not and what tricks are to be applied in a good piece of work.

But I do not think that writing is just another job. One is sometimes forced by others to complete their job, but no one can force you to write. The passion for writing comes from within and not by force.

If the writer does not have an interest in writing, the reader too shall lose the interest. Thus I feel that writing can be just another job only for those who are forced to write to earn their livelihood, not for those who have the passion for writing.

In other words, it can be a job for those who have adopted writing for commercial purposes. This is very much reflected in the recent trend of people leaving their lucrative jobs for writing books, mainly fiction, but failed to leave a lasting impression on the reader’s mind.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 21, 2015)

Bitten by the book bug

The majestic Sharjah International Book Fair is the best place for book lovers in the UAE. Literary celebrities from all over the world gather here in order to promote reading and also to inspire book lovers to go the extra mile.

During one of my visits, I met the famous Indian author, Durjoy Dutta. I was very pleased and considered myself lucky when I got a photo clicked with him. I was surprised to know that his first book was published when he was just 21 years old and he has written 11 books till now.

During one of his sessions at the book fair, Durjoy Dutta told the audience that he used to read something before sleeping. First it was a responsibility but later it became an addiction.

“Everyone must read a lot of books. My parents were also very encouraging and never stopped me from reading,” he said.

I realised that parents have the responsibility to inculcate the love for reading in a child. 

And it is quite common to see nowadays parents as well as the school faculty encourage children to develop the habit of reading good books. Reading is slowly developing as a hobby among youngsters.

I was thrilled to see a large number of young book lovers touring the stalls looking for titles that appeal them.

But I noticed something that put me off. Some of them were desperate to buy books of their choice but unfortunately couldn’t do so as their parents were not interested in books. 

I saw many of them bargaining for more discounts as they had very limited amount with  them. After befriending one of them, I came to know that their parents thought buying books was a waste of money. They were told to read books online instead.

Being a book lover, I know that smartphones are distractions. Although, you can buy eBooks, holding a smartphone you may start playing a game or chatting with your friends. On the contrary, while you have a book in your hand, it will attract you to the characters and their situation.

Durjoy Dutta was right when he said that the reading habit was declining. He felt that the main reason was the coming up of mobile phones.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 14, 2015)

Party animals

Youngsters have added a new item in their hobby list that is going out with friends. Nowadays, everyone seems to be going out with their friends for some reason or the other. 

Someone gives a birthday treat, while others just go for hangouts with their best friends. But I have often seen people forcing others to give them a treat. If someone doesn’t want to go along with them, they start pressuring them.

I often share with my cousins exciting things that happen during our hangouts or some treat. 

During one such chat, surprisingly everyone pointed out that the excitement turns into a headache if your friends keep forcing you to go out with them. 

Sharing her experience, one of my cousins said that she had decided not to celebrate her upcoming birthday with school friends. But her friends were so excited that they had even decided the venue and timings for their special treat two weeks in advance.

On her birthday, they paid a surprise visit to her house. Ultimately, she had to go as they were not ready to leave her. The result was that she couldn’t enjoy the treat well and felt it was a waste of time.

Sometimes, people get so crazy about something that they forget what impression they are putting about themselves. I hope they realise this and stop making such mistakes.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 7, 2015)

Scary souls

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Halloween is the yearly celebration usually observed on Oct.31 in the West to remember the dead. 

However, it has now become a popular culture and is celebrated all over the world, albeit for a different reason. Usually people participate in Halloween celebrations as a way to have fun and teach children to explore their imagination.

Once on a Halloween, I came to know that one of my cousins was scared of ghosts. So her sister and I together planned to scare her. One night, we switched off the main power supply. Then we went to scare her. She was frightened a lot. 

After switching on the power supply, we went back to her. She narrated to us how two ghosts came and she got frightened. We had a hearty laugh together after revealing the truth.

But there are many superstitious people who believe that ghosts are real. A few days back, my cousin sister narrated an incident. She and her friend were watching horror movies on a hot and humid afternoon. They were alone in the house.

In the movie, it was shown that ghosts resided mostly in mirrors and that they didn’t have any reflections.

Just then the doorbell rang. My cousin went to open the door. Suddenly there was a scream and my cousin rushed back to see what had happened. The friend was frightened, as she couldn’t see her reflection in the mirror.

My cousin laughed and then explained that she couldn’t see her reflection due to the sunlight reflected in the mirror. After the windows were closed, her reflection was clear in the mirror.

I think it is foolish to believe in ghosts. I hope that along with time, this belief also changes.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 31, 2015)

Heart of gold

Living a luxurious life outside India often makes us (the NRIs) forget the pitiable condition of a section of our fellow citizens of India.

During my recent visit to India, I met one of my cousins, who was visiting India after a long gap. She was surprised to find beggars almost in every village, town and city, because in the Gulf countries begging is banned.

But she was glad to help the unfortunate ones of the society and said that they accepted with grace whatever she gave them. However, she got irritated when a group of beggars followed her as she came out of a holy place.

“The situation was such that we had to give money to them just to get rid of them and not out of pity,” she said.

Another cousin told her that she cannot generalise.

Recalling her experience, she said that once she and her friends went out cycling together. They were so much engaged in chatting that they failed to realise that they had come out of the city. Suddenly my cousin’s cycle hit a person sitting off the street.

As she went to apologise, she found out that he was very friendly and even shook hands with her. 

But later when she reached home, she realised that she had lost her gold ring. She thought that the person who shook hands with her must have cleverly slipped off the precious ring from her hand.

After a few weeks again she went out riding her bicycle. Suddenly she collided with another cycle and fell unconscious. When she regained her consciousness, she found herself in a hospital. She was told that a very poor man helped her.

She realised that it was the same person whom she had hit earlier, and assumed that he would have stolen her gold ring. She was embarrassed thinking that a man with a heart of gold cannot steal a gold ring.

It is rightly said that only a few people do wrong things and others just suffer the consequences.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 24, 2015)

Out-of-the-box approach

I had never thought that anyone would love to read the plot of a movie before watching it, until one of my cousins shared this secret with me recently. I realised that there are many such people out in the world.

“Did you see the recently released Hindi movie ‘Singh is Bling’?” I asked her.

“No. But I have read its review,” she said.

I asked her about another movie, but got the same reply. I was very surprised with the answer and asked her why does she read the story before watching the movie.

“I can never watch a movie before reading its story. I get tense whenever the plot takes a twist. That’s why I feel it is better to read the story before watching the film,” pat came the reply.

I didn’t find this idea so interesting, though.

Today, people have contrasting opinions about different things. Everyone sees things from his own perspective. The same is the case with movies. The critics put their own thoughts while reviewing a film. 

It might be helpful for those who read reviews to decide whether to watch a particular movie or not. But on many occasions, the critic and the reader share different opinions. 

Sometimes one may decide not to watch a movie after reading the reviews. But later it might turn out that the movie was an epic. Similarly when one reads that a movie is a hit and that its story is out of the box, it might not be so.

I would prefer watching the movie rather than reading about them. I would not like my views to be influenced by others.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 17, 2015)

Seeing is believing

This summer vacation was probably the best one of my life. I always wanted to visit the tourist attractions at my native place, Patna in Bihar, India. But I never got the opportunity. This time I was very pleased as my wish was going to come true.

There are uncountable locations where one could visit such as Tara Mandal (the planetarium), Gol Ghar and the two museums that showcase the specimen of archaeological importance found during various excavations. They reveal the historical importance of Patna, which used to be called Patliputra and was capital of the Maurya and the Gupta Empires, and the Sur dynasty. 

Later, the city was renamed as Azimabad during the eighteenth century, prior to the British Raj.

The best place for me was the museum. I love history and always read stories of the olden times. One of the main reasons for visiting this museum was to see different paintings, olden clothes and weapons that existed during the Mauryan Dynasty as well as during the Mughal era. I had only read about them in school textbooks, but seeing them in reality was a great experience.

And due to the same reason, I enjoyed the trip to the Gol Ghar. It too was related to history in a very important manner. It is actually a granary built in British India when a famine had hit the area. I was interested in this piece of information. Walking up the stairs, I could see the whole great city.

The next was the Tara Mandal or the Indira Gandhi Planetarium. It is one of the largest planetariums in Asia. It attracts a number of people who are interested in astronomy and science. It shows a short film at regular intervals based on the topic. One gets to learn a lot through these shows. And I enjoyed it a lot. I got a very close look at the planets and the most special stars that are scattered in the universe.

After touring these special places, I believe that one has not seen anything special in the world if he has never explored the hidden aspects of his own native place.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 10, 2015)

I love the rain

The best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain

“The best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain.” It was such a pleasant quote made by famous English author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that it starts ringing in my ears as soon as I see dark clouds hovering in the sky.

I also love rains and I believe that most of the people in the world love it. I wish it would rain much in the UAE too, just like in India. In India, when it rains, it rains for hours. And I am very happy that this monsoon, I am in India.

Among all other seasons, I feel that rain is the most welcomed. As it comes after summer, it brings relief to many people across the country. Everyone is filled with joy. Even the old and the youth become cheerful. I often stand in the balcony to feel the great blessing bestowed upon us. 

I like to bathe in the cool shower that brings delight in the hearts of people across India. I love to support the tiny drops of rain on my hand. I enjoy making paper boats and sailing them in the turbulent ocean. But those unfaithful waves just turn them over and devour them inside their huge bodies. 

The best thing is to see those poor farmers who thank God for the gift He had given them and step out of their houses to see their farms full of dancing crops. It seems as if the crops are also welcoming the rain. Monsoon for agriculture is the same as food for human beings. It is so much effective that the Indian agriculture is said to be “Gamble of Monsoons.”

Sometimes when the rains don’t fall and the farmers are desperate, I feel pity on them. I wish I could command the rain so that whenever anyone was in real need of it, I could provide them. But nature is not in the hands of us, humans. We can only pray to God for it. Even then I wish I could do something about it.

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 4, 2015)

Vacation plans

A Family Vacation

I guess the happiest period of a student’s life is the summer vacation. Like other students, I was also waiting impatiently for this day. Just as the bell rang to signify that the last period ended, our summer vacation began. And it meant no homework for at least two months.

We all have certain plans for summer vacations that are often discussed among friends at school. Someone might be going to tour Europe while the other might be opting for Australia.

Many have even decided to stay back in the UAE and kill summer at the beaches. But the rest like to visit their hometown back in India and listen to stories from their grandmothers. Few of the students even prefer to go for camping with friends.

Do the plans always work? I don’t think so. Last year before the summer vacations, few of my friends had shared their opinion of hangouts and late-night sleepovers. After the summer vacations when I asked them about it, they said that their arrangement was ruined by their parents who had different ideas.

One of my classmates was planning to go to America. She kept bragging about it every time she got a chance. I did not pay much attention. Later, on asking her, I came to know that she had to go to India to see her sick grandmother and her trip to America was cancelled along with her high hopes.

Many times, when I had to stay in the UAE during summer vacations, I made lots of plans with my friends. But I became confused whether to go for hangouts first or to go out shopping with my friends. I became so jumbled up that I had to end up studying later.

In fact, I have realised that vacation plans are like New Year resolutions, barely anybody makes an attempt to follow. 

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 27, 2015)

Fast fortifies faith

After 2008, this is the first time that Ramadan has fallen during the school days. I was expecting that there would be extra holidays. When it was announced that the school would remain open, I was curious to know how would one feel to be in school while he/she fasts.

Many thoughts came to my mind. Maybe some girls would be feeling dizzy and get sick while moving out under the scorching sun during the long school hours. Or maybe they will feel strong as they are worshipping Allah while fasting and trying to please Him.

But I convinced myself that we would not feel dizzy as Allah is very merciful and He gave us the will and determination to fast. It is a sign of Allah’s mercy that even the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai, has instructed all schools to operate from 8:30am till 1:30pm, which also motivated students for fasting.

Many of my friends were thinking how would they manage without feeling hungry or getting tempted while watching other girls eating. But I believe that is the main objective of keeping fasts for Allah -- to test how strong your faith is.

Even though fasting is allowed in almost all schools, a few schools in London have banned the Muslim pupils from fasting. They said fasting risks the health and education of children. It wasn’t even obligatory upon them as they were too young. This decision was disapproved by many Muslim groups and parents who believed that schools should not interfere in the matters of faith.

I also find myself against this idea. When I was young, I always wanted to keep the fast and wouldn’t like it when I was told that I am too young for it. I am feeling very sorry for them. They should be allowed to fast so that they come to realise the problems faced by the poor every day and also because their faith gets strengthened

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 20, 2015)

Golden fruit

India has a large variety of fruits. Each fruit is of different shape, size and colour. Obviously they will also be having different tastes.

Today I woke up to find the delicious aroma of the national fruit of India. Not hard to guess, it was the mango. Mangoes can surely never be compared with any other fruit in the world.

Among all the other fruit delicacies, a special fruit is there which is liked by almost all Indians. Mangoes are common to find in this part of the world and are also enjoyed for their bright colour. The aroma and the flavour always lure someone or the other.

In my early childhood, I don’t know why but I didn’t like mangoes. But this season when I tasted the heavenly fruit, it took my heart away. Now without it, each meal seems to be incomplete. I definitely cannot stop myself from eating the “King of Fruits” or maybe I should say “The King of Hearts.”

I came to know that mangoes were even savoured and relished by Alexander the Great when he came to India and the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar had also planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, Bihar. The garden is referred as Lakhi Bagh.

For different people, the summer smell is different. For some summer smells like the time of beaches, while others feel it is barbecue time. But for me summer is all about the golden fruit.

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 13, 2015)

Travel secret

Touring the World...

With the arrival of summer, newspaper pages are flooded with advertisements from tour and travel agencies offering holiday packages. 

Some of them promise ultimate enjoyment in a three night-four day trip to Istanbul, others offer experience of a lifetime during the ten-day Europe tour. They offer various packages to suit different pockets. 

Going through these advertisements, I wondered what can a person see in a week or two. Soon I came to the conclusion that until and unless one wishes to explore something from the bottom of the heart, he/she cannot truly explore the world. And if one has the will to explore the unseen world, then one can even find interesting places in his surroundings.

Tourists from different parts of the world come to the UAE to explore this amazing country. But we, who have been living here for so many years, have not explored the country ourselves. We might have seen almost all the malls or landmark buildings here. 

But sightseeing in the UAE is not just limited to malls, towers and beaches. There is more to it that we need to explore.

While discussing this special topic, I remember a quote of Helen Keller, the famous English writer who had once said, “What I am looking for is not outside me but inside me. The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”

It is so true.  I have realised that one will not be able to enjoy a tour unless one has that vision. Make it a point to explore the world from your inner eyes during the next trip abroad.

(Published in The Gulf Today on May 30, 2015)

Leadership quality

Be a good leader always...

I was going through a book of inspirational quotes when I found this interesting quote: “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” 

This quote was attributed to John C. Maxwell, an internationally-recognised leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books.

These words reminded me of the recently held Students Council elections in my school. It was all about the young leaders of each grade, who had been selected for the investiture ceremony.

Every year our school forms a student council that acts as a medium between the students and the school authorities. Many students, who are unable to contact the teachers directly, can do so through this medium.

Although almost all of us wish to become a member of the student council group, only a few students who know how to convey their message to others get this opportunity. I too wish to become a leader, helping everyone in need, supporting the weak and encouraging the intelligent ones. 

I know that being a leader has never been a piece of cake. It needs those leadership qualities too. A leader is someone who does not only think about himself, but about all individuals who are part of his team. 

Yet many people become a boss instead of a leader. They must realise that a boss just supervises people, while a leader motivates them to do better.

I hope that these Students Council Members would understand the difference and try to be more of a leader than a boss.

(Published in The Gulf Today on May 23, 2015)