Take care of your bear

Most of us have spent at least a part of our childhood with teddy bears. No other toy could replace the warmth and affection radiated by a teddy.

Sleeping with the teddy bear. Cuddling on the couch with it. Talking to it like it’s your best friend.

Do you still have that charming toy with you?

If you do, then take it out, give it a proper makeover and go out with it while sharing interesting stories of your life with it. And thank this loyal companion for the company throughout your journey of childhood, for comforting you and for providing your childhood with immense fun.

And, don’t forget to apologise to it for all the rough experiences it went through when you were a child.

For Sept.9 is Teddy Bears Day.



The teddy bear was apparently developed by toymakers Morris Michtom in the US and Richard Steiff in Germany simultaneously in the early years of the 20th century.

And if the teddy bear has managed to survive for more than a century, that is because it has an appealing charisma.

This stuffed toy has even become the hero of children’s books. An iconic children’s toy, celebrated in stories, songs, and films. A companion to Mr Bean, a joyful character as Winnie the Pooh and as a living creature in the stories of Enid Blyton.

And above all, a best friend to you.

This charming creature has watched you all through its life silently and listened to your complaints without any say, it is time you understand its feelings. It definitely needs a better place to live than being left in a dusty corner of your house.

Take care of your bear, just like it did when you were a child.

(Published in The Gulf Today on September 10, 2016)

Make a difference

Ever helped a street beggar? Ever prayed for the unfortunate ones? Ever joined a fundraising drive for the differently abled? Ever... and so it continues.

But thinking about it, I realised that such small charitable acts give us heartfelt satisfaction.

A few days back, determined for a brisk walk, I came out of my apartment. The street was broadly lit. The breeze, caressing my face, invited me for the fantastic walk and the gratifying views. The mood was thus set.

Though the walk was pleasurable, it was pretty uneventful. All until my eyes fell on the latest issue of well-known British magazine,         Shortlist, displayed at the newsstand.

This issue was priced at Dh1. It was considered your contribution towards the betterment of the poor and needy.

One dirham. Not exactly special. You could have lost it while returning home. Or probably misplaced it among other things and you wouldn’t care much.

So why would a dirham be of so much importance? How could it possibly satisfy the people craving for food?

Think a dirham isn’t much? What if these single dirhams are collected together to create a huge sum? It would help those who lack even the basic requirements of life.

Thinking about the magazine’s initiative, I was pleased that many citizens of the world are still considerate about others. However, it would be better if everyone, not just a select few, paid attention to such things.

If all those walking on this earth, inhaling its oxygen and eating from it would do this, then they all can repay the favour bestowed by Mother Nature on them by bringing a smile to the faces of their co-citizens.

One should simply take an initiative.

(Published in The Gulf Today on September 3, 2016)

Role reversal

Last week, India erupted into celebrations as two of the brightest women earned Olympic medals while an Indian man won a beauty pageant.

Sounds ironic, isn’t it?

But that’s the truth.

On the one hand, Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu were receiving accolades for their victory in the Rio Olympics. On the other hand, Rohit Khandelwal was being cheered for winning the beauty pageant and earning the title, “Mister World 2016.”

“The times they are a-changin’...” as was once sung by Bob Dylan.

And in a country, where men usually returned with Olympic medals and women won beauty pageants, times have definitely changed.

These days, I have noticed many women searching for jobs in male-dominated careers while men are seeking “pink-collared jobs.”

A few days back, I met a man who was considering to start his own babysitting business. There are talks about many men who wish to stay “house-husbands” while their wives are out working.

On the other hand, women have proved their worth in sports once open only for male, such as wrestling and cricket. Recently, three women cadets of the Indian Air Force broke the barriers to etch their names in the history books, as they became the first women fighter pilots, a field once considered a male domain.

I had often noticed this interchange of roles but disregarded it.

But now that the victors have brought it back to my notice, I realise that the society has also changed along with time.

Where once people were discouraged and criticised for choosing professions dominated by opposite gender, they are now being supported and encouraged to go in for the same.

I wonder what changes we will get to see in the future!

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 27, 2016)

Let us be

We all are witness to the fact that one of the favourite pastimes of our elders is to point out negatives in us.

Agreed? If yes, let’s move ahead.

Socrates was in the habit of criticising the youth of his time. Yet the generation produced Plato, an equally great philosopher. Remarkably, Plato too criticised the younger generation of his time. But his generation produced Aristotle, a disciple of Plato. 

Aristotle, like his teacher, condemned the youth. However, Alexander the Great, who conquered a large part of the world, belonged to the same generation. 

Hilarious, isn’t it?

Here Bertrand Russell, one of the foremost philosophers of the 20th century, sees a pattern. The elderly have a tendency to berate the youth of their times. And they do it with great relish.

My grandfather often told me how he and his cousins were condemned by their senior relatives for slightest mistakes. My father too shared with me how his uncles used to lecture him.

Even today, our elders spare no chance to pontificate. Behave yourself. Rise early. Speak properly. Be the best in the classroom, brightest in the playground and smartest in the street.

As if...

People look down on our generation because we use WhatsApp and Facebook to communicate with family and friends. We write emails, instead of letters.

However, our elders should realise that our generation is using modern technologies. We also write a letter. And some of us write beautiful letters. Yes, the medium has been changed. We no longer use a pen and a paper. We shoot an email.

Sometimes my schoolmates and I get fed up with the rant: “hamarey zamaney mein to yeh hota tha” (Our times were so different).

As a matter of fact, every successive generation breaks free from the past. And creates a new path for themselves. This is how our civilisation moves forward and scales new heights. 

After all, there was a time when “mail-runners” used to dart to distant places delivering letters. Later, “post riders” (postal delivery system by horse-riders) were introduced and the population started to use them for communication. People stopped using these modes of communication once postal services came into trend. 

In fact, we try to adopt new modes, modern technologies and fresh ideas just like our forefathers did before in their own way.

So let us be. We won’t let you down.

We need to realise that our survival depends on how smartly we adapt. We have to move on with time and technology!

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 20, 2016)

Left is right!

Walter Benjamin, the German literary critic, essayist, translator and philosopher once said, “All the decisive blows are struck left-handed.”

Lefties. Left-Handers. Southpaws. They will be the same, irrespective of what you call this exceptional group of extraordinary people. Today, the 13th of August is a day dedicated to this unique set of people – the Left-Handers Day.

However, members of this exclusive group will always be odd-men-out, no doubt, as they are a minuscule minority in the world.

The concept of left-handedness seems to have been forgotten by the modern society. Awkwardly designed desks, modern gadgets designed for the right-handed and complicated scissors prove the point. Even the way some books are bound create hassles for the left-handed students.

Being a lefty, I would love to protest against this trend by punching my left hand in the air.

But at least this is better than the unfairness experienced during olden days when a lefty was considered a child of the devil. Being a left-hander could get you convicted for using witchcraft.

Parents used to tie the left wrists of children behind the chairs to discourage the use of left hands. Teachers smacked the wrists of students who used their left hand (thanks to God for not giving me such parents or teachers!).

Fortunately, these superstitions have subsided in the contemporary world. Probably that’s the reason today many famous personalities are lefty.

While surfing through the net on this topic a couple of days ago, I came across many internationally acclaimed left-handers. The list includes Queen Victoria, US President Barack Obama, Big B of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

The legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci was also left-hander. Some historians believe his left-handedness added to his genius, helping him observe everything from a different perspective.



After noting this quality among such great personalities, I am convinced that in today’s world, the “left hand” has the “upper hand.”

So Happy Left-Handers Day to all lefties in the world, which also includes yours truly!

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 13, 2016)

Expectation hangover

Expectations often hurt. Thus, one shouldn't raise it to unrealistic heights.

A parent, who wants his child to become a doctor, is bound to get disappointed if the child decides to choose another profession. Similarly, a student might get disheartened if he fails to score as much marks in a test as he had expected.

The other day, I noticed a waiter dashing here and there in a restaurant. He was trying to please his customers with impeccable service. However, he was a bit frustrated when they left without giving him a tip.

One can notice such disappointments among cine-goers as well. Fans of many film stars are often left dejected when a movie doesn't meet their expectations.

Recently, it happened with legendary Indian actor Rajinikanth’s latest film, “Kabali.” Although, the film did brisk business at the box-office, it failed to satiate the fan-following of the South Indian Superstar. They termed it “just another Rajini movie.”

This is what happened recently with many Harry Potter addicts as well.

As the much-awaited book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” was going to be released, many of them rushed to the nearest bookstore to claim a copy of the book. They waited for hours in the queue before the global release of the book.

The fans had been waiting impatiently for that remarkable moment. Everyone was curious to know about the heroic antics of an adult Harry Potter. They had been imagining the plot of the novel for a while.

But the “muggles” were disappointed when they noticed that the book wasn’t what they had expected. It was, in fact, script of an upcoming play.

Another disappointment came when they noticed that the super-wizard wasn’t the protagonist. It was his son who carried forward the legacy in the book.

Though the book was interesting to read, it lost the appeal as it failed to match the readers’ expectations.

William Shakespeare had rightly said, “Expectation is the cause of all heartaches.”

(Published in The Gulf Today on August 6, 2016)

So, WhatsApp?

WhatsApp. I wonder whether it has a secret enchantment to keep its users glued to it. No matter where you are, you would definitely notice WhatsApp users. Be it your house or café, school or a playground, office or a clubhouse, everywhere you would find people exploring this app for one reason or another.

No wonder, this app has gained more popularity than Facebook, Twitter and Instagram could ever reach.

But this was not the reason that fascinated me. I got awestruck when I came to know that its popularity has grown so much because it is used not just for socialising but also for professional reasons.

I had never imagined that tailors, mechanics and drivers would be using it for professional purposes. It was my cousin who brought it to my attention when she narrated her experience.

On Eid, she gave her festive dress to the tailor for stitching. Considering the unprecedented Eid rush, she was concerned whether the tailor would be able to deliver the dress on time. Worried, when she called to enquire, the tailor asked, “Do you use WhatsApp?”

Soon, she received a photograph of her dress on her smartphone.

My aunt too faced a similar situation recently. While moving to a new apartment, she contacted a shifting and transporting company. As she started explaining the location to the driver, he suggested, “WhatsApp me the location.”

After this experience, whenever my aunt needs to book a cab, she simply sends the time and location to the driver using this app.

These incidents constantly remind me how easy life has become due to the advancement of technology.

When my father came here, he used to frequently write letters to people back home in India. Calling every now and then was not affordable. Now it is a thing of the past, to some it may sound like I am talking about a bygone era.

The arrival of the new millennium has revolutionised the communication industry. I wonder what time will bring next?

Till then, keep WhatsApping!!!

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 23, 2016)