Mom, you are the only one

Mom, you are the only one... I moved to another city, She understood... I was too busy to call everyday, She didn't mind... When she cried, She cried alone... When I cried, She always cried with me... When I said, "Mom, this important", She prayed for me... My dreams are not mine alone... She always dreams through my eyes... I Love you mom and I miss you so much......

Love you Naani...

Two most important ladies in my life are: My Mom and My Naani.

“Naani” as we usually call our mom’s mom in India is often a friend to play with; a savior when mom or dad scold us; the best chef – who takes all our orders, without a question; the Piggy Bank, who drops in coins in our pocket while leaving for school; a guide, who makes us learn the difference between good & bad; a teacher, who makes us believe in God & prayer and a Philosopher, who shares her life’s philosophy whenever we need it.

In the initial years of my schooling, I had my Naani & Granny both at our home. My Granny always loved my brother, so I was more inclined towards my Naani. My Naani was my best friend; she was always with me whenever I needed her. She had the most beautiful eyes and used to express her views through her eyes. When she was happy, she will blink her eye lids with a sweet little smile, when she wanted to show her anger, she will make her eyes big and the lines on her forehead becomes more visible; whenever she will be sad, her eyes looked small with lot of thoughts in it. I used to sleep with her and get up with her, her mere absence made me go crazy. I was so dependent on her that, my whole world goes haywire without her.

I moved to mumbai for my MBA in 2007, and she went back to her own house. The only medium to get in touch with her was via phone. I spent almost an hour every day to tell her all the things happening with me in this City – My College, The People here, Travel by Train and my daily experiences. Years passed on and she grew old and older day by day…. the wrinkles on her face increased every time I saw her in a gap of 6-7 month. But her immense love and care was always there for me, for everyone… she spread as much as happiness she can… always.

One fine day, somewhere around June 2010 she called me and said – “You come home, I want to see you”, as usual I said – “Naani, loads of work in office, boss will not sanction my leaves, give me some time”. She waited for me, till the time I said “Naani, I am coming home this weekend”. She was happy; I could feel her happiness with the sudden change in her voice. I was visualizing her sweet little smile… and was equally excited to see her. I took flight on a Saturday afternoon and reached home in the evening, threw my bags and went to my Uncle’s place to meet her. I was shocked to see her, she had lost weight, was weak and lying on the bed looking at the door, as if she was waiting for me. I went close to her, touched her feet and embraced her in my arms, she cried and then smiled, it was a mix of emotions. I spent my evening with her and went back to my home at night.

Next day, early in the morning I got a call from my uncle; saying: "Naani is no more!"….. Drops of tears flowed down my chick; I couldn’t feel earth below my feet, it was painful… as if someone is hurting me hard. I went running to my uncle’s place with my mom. Saw Naani wrapped in a white cloth, I hold her feet in my hand and cried, don’t know how much and till when.

When I came to my senses, I couldn’t find Naani, on her bed. She had left, left her bed, left her home, left her closed ones and me far behind … forever.

It took me sometime to realize and understand that only bodies leave us, but our loved ones remain in our thoughts and emotions, throughout our lives with us.

Just want to tell Naani, that - I love her the most.

Love you Naani….

The New generation Indian Women

On my way to office today… I switched on my Mobile radio and instead of usual radio stations, I thought of listening the oldest radio station i.e. Akashvaani – FM GOld and heard the topic of discussion – “Women & Economy in India”.


Few thoughts came into my mind, which I would like to share with you… The birth of a girl, comes with a popular Hindu saying, is a kin to the arrival of Lakshmi - the four-armed goddess of wealth, often depicted holding lotus flowers and an overflowing pot of gold. The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India, women have adorned high offices in India including that of the President, Prime minister, Business Tycoons, Athletes and many more …. However, women in India generally are still exposed to numerous social issues.

According to a global study conducted by Thomson Reuters, India's women are discriminated against, abused and even killed on a scale unparalleled in the top 19 economies of the world. It won’t be wrong saying that, it’s a miracle, if a woman survives in India. Even before she is born, she is at a risk of being aborted due to our obsession for sons. As a child, she faces abuse, rape and early marriage and even when she marries, she is killed for dowry. If she survives all of this, as a widow she is discriminated against and given no rights over inheritance or property. There is a deep-rooted mindset that women are inferior and must be restricted to being homemakers and child bearers.

The new age women in Metro’s and II Tier Cities are coming forward to fulfill their dreams, to fight with the age old mindset of people and to establish their own Individuality. Their desire of becoming an Athlete, an Entrepreneur, a Designer, probably whatever you can probably think of, is taking them to the unexplored horizons. Some of the best examples are Indira Nooyi, Chanda Kochhar, Priya Paul, Swati Piramal and many more….

She is no more a Parrot, captured in a cage of albatross and agitation. She is a free bird, with the wings of desire and aptitude to conquer the most untapped uphill battles of the history and in the coming era.

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”