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)

Shocks and aftershocks

Disastrous Earthquake

A few important topics or news spread like wildfire. Slowly it becomes a major issue and gets on the lips of most people in the world. 

A recent example can be seen in the disastrous earthquake in Nepal. It has claimed thousands of people and injured uncountable number of the residents. It is said to be the most disastrous earthquake after the Nepal-Bihar earthquake in 1934.

I was stunned when I heard about it. I couldn’t stop thinking about the people who lost their lives and children separated from their parents. I wanted to do something but except praying, I couldn’t do anything.

However, I am happy that many countries are sending relief material after supporting Nepal in rescue operations. India and China, the two immediate neighbours, have been helping Nepal. Similarly, the UAE and many other countries too are making all efforts to provide relief material to the survivors.

The best thing I have felt was that many schools in the UAE have also launched a drive to collect relief material to send to Nepal. 

The drive has motivated students to get involved in bringing relief to their brethren in Nepal, for whom it is quite difficult to get out of the shocking incident.

Talking about the shocks, people in various parts of India were terrorised more by the aftershocks. The fear increased to such a level that many people were found relating normal happenings in their daily lives with an earthquake.

A few days back, when one of my neighbours in India felt dizzy, he thought there was an earthquake and started shouting ‘Everyone get out of the house’.

One of my close friends also narrated a similar incident. The fan of her house back in her native place was creaking very badly. Seeing this, her grandmother fainted. On coming back to her senses she said that she thought there was an earthquake.

(Published in The Gulf Today on May 9, 2015)

Something unusual

Many people are there, who just keep walking on the road without noticing anything.

Sometimes even if their relatives or friends turn up, they will just cross them without seeing them.

They wouldn’t even realise whether a person they just passed by was looking peculiar or not because they do not observe much.

I too thought it to be weird going on noticing people.

I thought it would not help in any way.

Thus I concluded it was useless.

But I had to change my thoughts after I viewed the special website or blog, Humans of New York (HONY).One of my close friends had suggested me to visit this website once.

When I asked the reason for visiting this particular blog, she kept mum.

It made me curious, when I visited the site, found the content quite surprising.

The blog was about different people either visiting or living in New York.

He had asked everyone the reason of visiting this great city and if they had a special experience in their life that can be shared.

The author of the blog is a photographer who roams around the city, meeting people whose photos are taken and put up on the site along with their stories.

It was interesting.

Whoever the author found unusual, he asked them about the reasons.

For example, a man featured on the website was laying bricks on the pavement by himself because he loved to do work with his own hands.

My friends and I were greatly inspired by it. Obviously, having more than eight million followers is not a piece of cake.

There must be something unusual about it.

And he found that new concept.

(Published in The Gulf Today on May 2, 2015)

Nature’s law

Birth and death define the lifecycle. Whoever comes to this world, sooner or later, has to leave this mortal world. Despite being aware of this fact, everyone celebrates birth of a human being. Birth gives us joy, while death of a person makes us sad.

Today, I am writing about life and death because I have realised that expatriates live twice in the same lifecycle. An expat’s arrival into a foreign land brings joy to the family, and for the person it is like born again. Everything is new for him and he struggles to adjust himself/herself in a new place just like a growing child.

Similarly, his/her return to his native country makes his fellow expatriates sad, as if he had come to settle down in the foreign land and no one had expected his return to the native land. I used to wonder why, because everyone who goes to a country for work or business knows he has permission to stay for a limited period and he has to return, sooner or later.

But, I came across this situation recently when my uncle’s family returned to India after spending about 20 years in this country. It was painful to part with them, although I knew that they are here for a limited period, just like me. And there was hope to see them again during my visit to India.

Yesterday I was at the airport to receive my aunt, who has come here to work with a multi-national company. It was a joyous occasion. I celebrated it like addition of a new member in the family. I promised her all the help in settling down in a new place.

I was wondering at the nature’s law, if it takes something, it gives something back, too.

(Published in The Gulf Today on April 25, 2015)

Growing up

Birthday celebrations are an occasion for enjoyment and excitement. It is the time when our relatives and friends gather to wish us and offer their blessings with a special present. My special day was Friday (April 17). It is a day that I look forward to every year because birthday teaches me the essence of growing older.

After the cake-cutting, when everyone was chatting on different issues, my cousin started a discussion on birthdays. 

He said that birthdays also remind us of our responsibilities that come along while growing older.

Just then one of my uncles got up and replied, “It is true. But in order to take care and fulfill such responsibilities, one should not only grow older but grow up as well.”

We all were surprised as what was the difference between growing up and growing older.

I had often heard people telling children, “You can keep growing older but you need to grow up” or “Grow up,” but couldn’t ask anyone to explain the difference. 

Since it was my special day, I asked him to explain the difference between the two.

He said that growing older by age is not in our hand. But we have to grow up by becoming more sensible. As the time passes, we have to become more mature than before.

I agreed with him. I realised that until and unless we grow up, we cannot realise the purpose of life.

It is rightly said: “Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.”

(Published in The Gulf Today on April 18, 2015)