If I do a mistake I don't think twice. If you do a mistake you are experienced and wise. If I am used to something you call it a vice. If you are used to something you say it is nice!
If I break a promise I am heartless and take you for granted. If you break a promise you understand the situation and are sainted. If I am judge-mental I probably don't know the world's way. If you are judge-mental you know it all and hence you dare to say.
If you pass on an opinion you are true, frank and honest. If I pass on an opinion I am rude, thoughtless and blankest.
For once If I were you, will you be me ? For once if we shift our roles will we have a new way to see?
If you cut jokes on others and mock them you love having fun. If I cut jokes and laugh I am just not fair to that person. If you talk and talk and not listen to me, you have better things to speak. If I talk and talk about me, my monologue is boring and may also reek! If I shed tears uncontrollably, I am just being cynic and weak. If you shed tears in fear and pain I should understand and you need no critique. If you don't stay in touch and cannot talk to me you are just being busy. If I have a reason for not talking to you, I am just acting and being lousy! If you shut others mouth when you open yours you are speaking with heart. If I try to open my mouth you think I talk with anything but heart and you retort! For once If I were you, will you be me ? For once if we shift our roles will we have a new way to see?
" Every dawn has a dusk and every dusk has a night. To watch the changing sky in different shades is a delight. Every man has a life and every life has a wrong and a right. To be or not to be is the biggest question and the longest fight!"
Its the era of digital revolution. The world has traveled from the pigeon to post card , from All India Radio to Ipods and tablets and from telegram to twitter. There is no need to write pages on how digitization influenced every one's life.It is the era of tablets and smart phones. Every one wants to finish a task easily by flicking the index finger on their smart phones. The number of people using smart phones and apps is rising as days pass by. People may not be aware of AAP but evey one is aware of an app :)
Click on the image for a better view
It is not an exaggeration if I say that some of our youngsters are laid back. They prefer being couch potatoes and staying blissfully unaware of what is happening around them, playing games on the same smart mobiles rather than thinking of the productive ways of using it. Politics is a bigger thing , many especially those who are working in I.T. are not even aware of a fellow colleague's name. We are so entangled in the social web that we don't have time to actually socialize and think of smaller and bigger issues in front of us.
I am guilty myself as I don't think much about the importance of Voter id, voting and how a huge difference can be brought if all the youngsters can vote! I voted twice till now after I turned 18 (the eligible age to vote). Reasons are many like not being in the city during that time, having exams, so on so forth. I first sensed the importance of social mobile apps and social network during Nirbhaya's case. The candle light marches and fight for the justice continued with anger, fervor and seriousness with the help of the social mobile apps. I got many smses and also messages on FB. Many groups were formed during that time. People fought for justice endlessly. Many foot in mouth statements uttered by the brigade who live in fools paradise were also criticized and they were put to shame with the help of social media and its easy accessibility on mobiles, tablets, ipods and anything which is smart enough to help us get in touch with the big Bad(good) world outside!
Whenever I think of social mobile apps, the only app which comes to my memory is the facebook app. It is the widely used app to spread opinions , angst , share the views from anywhere anytime ,to change something and also to not change something. Facebook is the messiah to many. Needless to say it revolutionized life. Second comes twitter. For those short sweet or may be sour, bitter and hot statements twitter can be used. I never felt like using it a lot as the 140 characters limit my expression but I keep seeing the tweets. Twitter helps many politicians to stay close to people and influence them. Check this to see the twitter profile of Aam Aadmi Party. How ever twitter is not efficiently used by all the politicians in India. I wish that the leaders who actually want to involve the young people in their movements and let them know their ideas and ideologies should use twitter. Below is the snapshot of world famous politicians from the U.S.A. using twitter for power including Barrack Obama
Few politicians like Narendra Modi took twitter's support to involve youth but many still are not aware of it ! I came across an interesting article which gives the six reasons why Indian politicians should tweet. Use of social network apps definitely helps to know peoples' pulse. It makes them feel that they know their leader thoroughly and personally. After Facebook and Twitter, I feel other social mobile apps which we can use to involve and influence youth are the chat apps like Whats'app , we chat and also you tube and Google+. How ever one should use the social media marketing effectively to get great results. Too many apps some times spoil the broth :)
A boy helping a politician
Click on the image for better view :)
To the question how I will influence India's youth to vote in General elections 2014? the answers are many and they are not so simple and easy. While many of the youngsters and also elders are hungry for the change- (the recent win of AAP goes to prove this) few are still reluctant to change. Those few are too lazy to think on serious matters like politics , corruption, power , leadership and whys and whats of it! No need to dig in to the matters deeply but it is highly important for the youth to equip themselves with current affairs and happenings across the country.
Given below is a sample conversation which many adolescents keep having !This is my own chat thread. Names are changed for convenience. Due to education, jobs , marriage and various other reasons all the friends stay away and can get in touch once in a while only with the help of social mobile apps like Gtalk, Whats app or we chat.
On one fine evening Leela pinged us to inform a good news on WeChat.
I got a notification as I was wrapping up the work at office. Leela broadcasted a message to the group.
Leela: "Hello all. I have a great news to share."
Rakesh , Jeena and Siva immediately replied while few others were dormant.
Rakesh: "What ? What?"
Jeena: "Spill the beans babe. Is it marriage on cards?"
I yawned thinking, when will Jeena come out of the marriage matrix.
Leela: "Hell. No. Who will get married so fast? I am going to the U.S. of the A. man. A long term onsite opportunity. I finally got VISA."
Me: "Wow Leela. That's indeed a great news. We should celebrate. When are you going to join?"
Leela : "Thanks for the wishes. September 2014. Why?"
Me: "Oh. Great. If its sep 2014 you will still be able to vote in April-May 2014 for Indian General Elections."
Every one typed at a time.
"What ? Are you serious?" "Have you lost it?" "You kidding buddy :P ?"
Leela : "I thought you wanted to plan a trip or some thing Afshan. So funny you are. Nothing can happen to this country. No one can change it. That's why I am going to the U.S.A. lady. The freedom one experiences in that country is matchless to any other country." pinged Leela in our group chat window.
One minute every one was calm. I typed.
Me: "Every country has its pluses and minuses Leela. It doesn't mean there shouldn't be a miniscule effort from our side to make it better."
Leela : " Uffo. Ye lo. Rang de basanti ki Madhavan aagai. Now don't lecture me O.K.?"
Me: "I am not lecturing yaar. I am just trying to educate and motivate you and trying to let you know the importance of the votes. We don't play a role in selecting our constitution and we blame it. Its not done. Do your duty. At least try and then blame. That is my policy."
Leela : "So , what do you want me to do madam?"
Me: "Know your right. Use your power. The voting power. I don't want you to be a social activist or a politician but I just want you to vote. I think that much you can do. The nation is changing. At least I can see the border of the horizon. Can you guys see that?"
As no one typed I sensed two possibilities. Either every one is listening with rapt attention or they must be ignoring me.
Leela : "So you say that just by my vote I can change the nation :P ?"
Me: "What if ten other people think just like you Leela? I am saying about the possibility of change. Change is inevitable if you want it. Like Gandhiji said why don't you try being the change you want to see? We appreciate the cleanliness of the U.S. roads but we dirty our own roads. We appreciate the freedom there but we don't speak a word when some one opposes some one's freedom here."
I went on
Me: "Many organizations have been formed to involve the public in general and specially the youth via social media and social mobile apps Leela. Just check this out- "iforIndia' . They have a facebook page too where you can voice your opinions on political leaders and the constituency. Check it out. There are many members in it."
Me: "Also all of you, if you are not a part of Change.Org do register now and see how many are struggling for a change there. You can do it from mobile as well. It just takes a minute."
Leela : "hmm"
Jeena : "Fine."
Rakesh: "O.K."
Me : "There are many such organizations which are trying their best to reach out to huge number of people. If you don't use a smart phone you can still access them from your laptops and desktops."
Rakesh : "Good to know all this Afshan but do you think our votes and involvement will bring a good time in the country!"
Me: "It will definitely bring. Like its said in the image I shared above. You can expect a change for sure and fight for it confidently only if you are involved. Every one does day dreaming Rakesh."
Leela, Jeena , Rakesh , Siva: "OK Afshan. After talking to you we all feel that we should really give it a try. Thanks for this."
Me : "I am so glad to hear it. Not only this I am planning to start a FB page just for friends where you can be part of it too, share your opinions , gain knowledge and know others thoughts and decide firmly as to whom you should elect and why. 18 doesn't mean you are of marriageable age. It means you are a major and you reached the vote-able age!"
"Aye Captain!" Every one replied in unision.
Me: "And this time you can use the NOTA option (None of the above) which is also known as "against all" or a "scratch" vote. If there are majority NOTA votes variety of decisions will be taken . You can read it all at NOTA. Read about the NOTA usage this year here."
Leela : "By the way. Why don't you think of forming a party. You are so passionate and I feel you sure will be a ray of hope to the nation."
Me: "Ya. But I singly can't . People like you , me and many other youngsters can surely bring a change if they join hands :) "
Siva : "I feel like dedicating a song to you from YUVA. Here you go and I promise to use my voting right :) "
I was happy that day. I am sure they will definitely use their voting right in the coming elections. I will for sure spend time to remind them. To motivate and inspire few friends from closed circles I will follow the below steps
Create a facebook page or group to increase the awareness among friends and others.
Send them reminders for the last date of registration of voter ids (which as of now is over) and remind them to vote on the election day and let them all know about the elections schedule.
Broadcast messages using chat apps like WeChat and request them to not forget their right to vote. Send inspirational forwards which can increase the awareness
Simply use every opportunity available on the mobile to inform , inspire and encourage as meeting in person is tough in the day to day rush :)
Last but not the least I will try to voice my thoughts and opinions using twitter and the hash tag #VoteForIndia. Do check my tweets @afshu18
Now if you have really read my post do acknowledge it and share your views rather than just blindingly #votingforme on Indivine. India needs votes and not me :) I am content if my post has slightly created awareness!
Thanks for reading this.
PS: The cartoons above are made with the help of toondoo.com and bitstrips
The clock is ticking away. 2012 ."OOPS! I mean, 2013 so far has been a good year". Even
before I say this , the year is about to end. I am writing this article
before the clock ticks 12midnight on Dec 31st 2013 to prove that I can
run a race along with time. Hence this extra effort in writing this blog
post before 01-01-2014 even if having a fistful amount of time is
getting tough these days. I wrote a post "The Gurgaon Diaries" sometime early this year but it feels like
yesterday. The Gurgaon Diaries post summarizes my stay in Delhi in 2012
just after my wedding. Now that 2014 is nearing and my wedding
anniversary is just round the corner I thought, why not summarize the
year 2013 in a different style :) I never take resolutions on Jan 1st as
I love doing random things. I always pray to God for good health and happiness the way it is mentioned on any new year post card on the day 1 of every year
:) But 2013 has been a good learning year for me. The lessons learnt
and the realizations I had may turn to resolutions for the coming year.
The top ten happenings and few lessons learnt in the
year 2013 are like below. If you strike a chord with them I would be
glad. This post has both optimistic and pessimistic stuff which happened
in 2013 blog-wise and otherwise ;) . If you are a highly optimistic
person and can't read a serious note on the eve of new year's day you
may skip the post!
The opinions and views expressed in this post are purely mine and most of this post is about me!
1.)
We flew to Bangalore with lot of dreams soaring high in the sky and I
fell in love with the city, climate and the frequent drizzles till date.
After many years I didn't even switch on the fan in the month of the
May!
We had a bad owner experience in the first week
and didn't like the rent policies, heavy movie fares and regional
feelings few have here.
2.)As always my
blog was my savior and this year has been special to me as I was added
to a group on FB - "Indibloggeshwaris"- women of tough-stance!I realized I can be
both sane and insane here and was super glad to see that there are
actually many people like me around! I got my daily dose of gyan , fun
and sense from this group. There usually are good vibes and warmth with
in the group.
I got emotionally attached to one or
two bloggers which didn't do much good and I realized I shouldn't draw
conclusions quickly(both good and bad) and I shouldn't get carried away
and cling to them emotionally!
3.)This year
is again special as I won a couple of prizes on Indiblogger and some
other blog contests (by Jabong and Purplle.com ) . I was overwhelmed as I
left the thought of bagging the prizes. Competitions always keep me
going when ever I have writer's block but winning was like icing on
cake.
I witnessed too many bloggers blogging about
the contests .Many declared that the process of selecting the winning
entries is all bogus. I too nod at this as I felt the same at
many junctures. A recent winning entry on blogadda.com strengthened the
feeling. But few bloggers took an extra mile and passed the commandments
and the fundamental rights of blogging that people who blog for
contests should quit blogging. That definitely was a bummer and I
realized there can be many complications in people who seem sweet and
warm outward. Even the congrats conveyed by few was stifling! I
personally liked Indiblogger's TEDx Videos (Franklin Templeton) , My
Yatra and futuristic shopping contests! I like the contests where I can
write and it helps me put a full stop to writer's block most of the
times even if few contest topics are lame!
4.) Sadly I didn't do much of reading this year as most of the year went in settling down, trying for a job and freelancing. Planning
a reading schedule this year as I realized I shouldn't link it to all
other issues. Planning to be more productive and to make myself more
useful in whatever possible way :)
5.)
I knew too many bloggers this year. Each came in a unique package with
their own baggages. I was loved and liked by few which made me feel
good. I loved many of their write ups. I participated in the April A to
Z challenge and was overwhelmed when many showered their praises on me
(I never had so many visitors on my blog) .I felt -
"May be I really do write good :) :)" . I wrote a total of 164 posts
this year (including this) which is double to what I wrote in 2012- To me it is a Biggg achievement !
Too much of
love is always jinxed. It didn't take me much time to realize this. The
stark fact which almost gave me a halo around my head is that , "People who appreciate you in a second can also depreciate you in a nano second."
6.)
A bitter taste still lingers in my mouth when I remember an interaction
I had with a renowned blogger who treated me extra warmly till that
date. I also came across few old and few good friends behaving in a
formal and a weird fashion all of a sudden. May be all are fighting
their own demons or may be the number 13 is not auspicious as per the
age old belief Taking things easy became an every day practice to me. I was
pleasantly surprised when many new/old bloggers and new/old friends
stood for me. I don't want to tag any but my heartfelt thanks to all of
them!
7.) We celebrated our first anniversary in 2013 but we didn't travel as much as we did in 2012. This definitely disappointed me. The visit to Wonder la , Nandi Hills and ShivanaSamudram made me glad. I fell in love with Bangalore yet again.
Beautiful , foggy Nandi Hills
GaganChukki Falls of ShivanaSamudram
8.)I was told , "I write heart felt posts. I have good sense
of humor and my randomness is my USP by many "good" bloggers and was
encouraged by many to kick start the process of getting my poetry book
published."
I gathered the information for getting my
poems published but haven't kick started the process. Hopefully I will
budge this year :( !
9.)
Tooooo many weddings happened this year. The songs which are playing in
my mind are - Band Baaja Baaraat, Saajan ji Ghar aaye, Didi Tera Dewar
Deewana, Dulhe ka sehra suhaana lagta hai . Gud naal Ishaq mithaa
ohooooooo :P and many more:) I am still in celebration mood. I am
attending weddings since the month of March. May God bless the new
couples( My bro and My husbands' brothers and few friends and cousins
got married this year). Heartiest congrats to all who became Mommies and
Daddies too!
I hogged and hogged on food which is bad :( ! The time has come for self control and hitting the gym back in a vigorous mode.
Our Flat decorated on my brother's wedding
10.) Last but not the least- Something which was uttered
by my Mom after her recent visit to Ongole( the town where I spent my
childhood) and after facing few folks with Jalebi feelings in heart -
She was saying that some 15 years back, houses were small and hearts
were warm and big . Now houses are bigger and hearts have become narrow !
Even if I felt it was cinematic then I later realised it's a harsh fact
! May be it is lack of time or the competition in life or the
overpowering jealousy but many peoples' hearts have become narrow! Great
expectations from others and least responsiveness from their side.
Crying over others victories and never acknowledging them during their
happy moments are few other symptoms of HNS- heart narrow syndrome !
There are many other symptoms which I am skipping for now . Final
thought is that emotional detachment is needed as and when time demands
it or else you will live in the caves of the past and never see the
light of the future!
Yes few hearts are narrow but even in the present time and age few warm and empathetic hearts mesmerize and inspire me!
Finally
I want to end this note on a good note. You might have got it by now ,
what I am trying to convey here. I will just say it anyway. Where
ever there is good there is bad in the waiting list and vice-versa.
Pros-Cons, Good-Bad, Beautiful-Ugly , Honest-Dishonest(fake), Love-Hate
are all intertwined.
It may sound philosophical but yes that's how it is.
Whenever
you feel too good about yourself or about something you did, be sure
that few will be just lurking behind you to pull you down. When ever you feel beautiful , be sure that ugly hearts try to spread their disease rapidly. Whenever you love some one don't think it will always get reciprocated. Where ever there is pros there is cons too. Where ever there is new , there is some thing old too.
Be
thankful for whatever good happened to you in this old year -2013. Do
not get worked up about 2014. By the end of next year the problems of
the year which passed by will seem trivial , funny and may be not like
problems at all! Keep smiling to keep going.
It is the finale day. The
counting of votes started on facebook. Rahul was praying since morning
and kept all the good luck charms near to him.
Geeta was getting hyper due to his feverishness.
Geeta: "Rahul, You want Maggi or bread omelette for breakfast?
There was silence. She turned around and saw a stern faced Rahul staring
earnestly at the monitor.
"What's wrong with you Rahul? I am talking to you!"
Rahul: "Nothing. I am just waiting for the results. Today is the last
day.”
Geeta: "You are behaving as if it is your Engineering entrance exam
result. You are getting on my nerves now yaar! "
By the end of the day Rahul was walking on his toes waiting for the results.
Finally the moment came and results were declared on the T.O.S.S.'s facebook
page.
Rahul screamed, "Nooooooooooo. How is this possible? Your friend
Pavan won the contest."
This time even Geeta was taken aback.
Geeta: "What the hell? There must be some mistake. Check properly!"
Rahul stormed out of the room, grabbed the mobile and shouted at the
T.O.S.S. folks.
Rahul: "How can you do this? He
joined the challenge late and I have more votes."
T.O.S.S Person: "Sir, but you did not wear the T.O.S.S. badge yesterday
and day before. Also we observed that you had light stubble 2 days back."
Geeta opened the website to read the details.
It was written, "Pavan with a
clean shaven look grabs the T.O.S.S.'s bumper prize. Heartiest congrats to him.
Let us hear what he has to say."
Pavan: "I am thrilled by this win. This prize truly goes to my girlfriend
Nisha. My true victory is the fact that my clean shaven look bowled her
over. Thank you T.O.S.S. team!"
Geeta avoided Nisha's continuous phone calls.
------ THE END ----------
Word count : 300
PS: The cartoon is made with the help of toondoo.com
I want to acknowledge Manjulika's tag in this post. Thanks for this fun opportunity BA team :)
God cannot be every where and hence he created mothers they say.
A mother's job is tougher than a God's as a child needs her every minute of every day.
We seek God to fulfill our wishes and join our hands to pray.
A child searches for a parent when ever he has wishes and even when he has to play!
In future when I become a parent I want to gift my kid a life with happiness to the brim.
He would be a toddler when I would love to sew a colorful sweater for him.
I would love to gift him books at an early age and educate him the good and bad.
I would teach him the values which may not be in books and always cheer him up when he is sad!
I would not want him to study for exams and score marks , ranks or get a medal.
Instead I would love to gift him the best education which makes it easy to solve the life's riddle.
I would want my kid to be the one who takes a stand and decide the best for him/herself.
While doing it I will give him freedom but will not mind being a secret elf !
Gift of love. Gifts for eternity. Image source : here
He might demand for a bike or she might demand for a piano or a guitar.
She might want to plan future investments or he might want a fancy car.
I would love to gift them the courage to dream big and to strive to make it true.
I would love to see them crossing big milestones of life in joy and hue!
I would love to gift them kindness and generosity by which they can succeed.
At the same time I would teach them to say "No" when ever there is a need.
I want them to be strong and also soft at heart and deal with mind-heart conflicts.
I want them to remember the lessons learnt in life and be equipped to face the tricks!
I want to gift them great health, important than wealth and see that they always remain fit and fine.
I want them to wear a smile, release the stress and learn that a stitch in time saves nine. :)
If wishes are stars I want to gift them a galaxy where they will always be intent.
On one fine day I want to look back at my life, smile broad and become content!
For the Indibloggeshwari's secret elves activity, I got Prasanna Rao's blog to review. She blogs at Life Under Microscope .Indibloggeshwaris is a group I love hanging around ,hence when I got this opportunity I just had to take it as it is the group where I always come across many interesting , creative , intellectual , humorous , emotional and all kinda ladies. It is not an exaggeration if I say "It is the best ladies hang out in the world."
Oops I am drifting away from what I have to do. I am supposed to review Prasanna Rao's blog here. So let me do it with out delay :)
Firstly I love the blog name as it describes what she does on the blog aptly. We watch life under a microscope and reproduce the image with better resolution on our blogs and hence the title is a good one! I read Prasanna only during some contest where she was one of the runners up on Indiblogger and didn't get a chance to read much after that. Thanks to this activity as I got an opportunity to again read her writeups!The way she has written on various prompts is interesting. I have read most of her december prompt posts. My most favorite post is the one written on the prompt - Music
Her posts with the tag love and under fiction are interesting. You have good imagination Prasanna. Keep them coming :) I loved the platinum story narration. God bless your family with love, happiness , success and prosperity:). I see so many book reviews on the blog. So book lovers this is the right place for you all where you can get first hand reviews of all the new releases! The way you imagine and write for the contest prompts is also commendable. I liked few posts written for Blogadda's WOW too. Keep them coming and I wish that your creative juices should keep flowing ! The toondoo cartoons and stories are also good. Do make more of them!
How ever I have few observations to make on the look and feel of the blog.
1.) It would be good if the back ground is little dim so that the font stands out. It will be soothing to read. Fonts should be slightly large.
2.) You may create more pages on top, like you have done for the recognition and contact me. Create a page for your most favorite posts like say for books and stories. That will help the readers to easily browse and read.
3.) The labels can move to the right hand side bar of the blog where one can prominently see them.
4.) Include all the winning badges in the recognition page or some other awards page , again for easy viewing.
5.) Maintain atleast 2-3 posts per page. Clicking on older to read another post every time will be tough as many don't usually click to read the previous post even if they want to! Its your wish if you don't want to maintain that way but ideally 2-3 posts per page will be good!
6.) A cool back ground and a neat header will beautify the blog !
Try to change the look and feel this newyear and I am sure you will love it!
Lastly I want to say that I am glad to know a blogger whom I didn't read much. Thanks for this opportunity my dear bloggeshwaris. You ladies rock. Hop on to Life Under Microscope for interesting views, travelogues, stories , book reviews and many other simple anecdotes expressed in a colorful way.
Forgot to add that she clicks great photographs too. Check out the posts with label photography! Keep them coming :)
Lastly I want to wish Prasanna and all the Indibloggeshwaris a merry christmas and a happy and prosperous newyear well in advance. Wish you good luck for all future endeavors.
You all Rock. Merry Christmas to all unique and talented Bloggeshwaris
