e-Book Review-Girl From Fathepur

Title- Girl from Fathepur
Author- Sarita Verma
Publisher-Indireads
Genre- Romance

My view on PK

Off late I have been seeing many people criticising the movie PK, stating that the film makes fun of Hindu religion, that it has disrespected Hinduism. My question to those critics is - What is Religion?

Fear-Face it or Forget it

You can do any of the two things to fight with your FEAR either forget it or face it. Each one of us have different fear some fear darkness, some insects, some death.

From my childhood I had fear of various things, but my greatest fear was to stay alone. Whenever my parents use to go out for some work leaving my sister and me alone at home I used to cry, cry like a baby. I used to give different excuses to my mom and dad as soon as I come to know about they going somewhere.  I got various scolding, my father used to counsel me. Every time I used to promise him that I will stay calm and I will be bold, I will not repeat the same again. In short, I used to forget my Fear but then the story remained the same because I was running away from it.

Book Review-Fall Like a Rose Petal (A Father's Lessons on How to be Happy and Content While Living without Money)

Title- Fall Like a Rose Petal

 (A Father's Lessons on How to be Happy and Content While Living without Money)
Author- AVS Vishwanathan
Publisher-Westland
Genre- Non Fiction

Clean India, Safe India- Click for a change

With the Swach Bharath Abhiyan kicked off with great zeal by our honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, its time for us to contribute for the cause.

Hygiene is important both on a personal and social basis. It's an irony that in the land where cleanliness was once treated as godliness we can see every nooks and corners of our city to be full of garbage, waste, clogged drains etc. People have become so self-centered that it's not even a botheration to them if the barren land just next to their house has become a garbage ground. Their only concern is within their house everything should be dust free.

If this is the condition in cities think about those villages which are still deprived of the minimum of the basic necessity food and water. There are many places in India which don't have a proper sewage system. Seeing people behind bushes early morning if you happen to travel by train is a common sight.

If you ask those illiterate people about, why don't have a proper toilet, probably they will laugh at you. It's not their mistake; those poor people have never understood the importance of hygiene, the importance of having a proper sanitation not because they don't want to but because there is no money, they have more important needs and demands to be fulfilled rather than thinking of a thing which happens once in a day that too is being managed by them sitting behind a bush or in a field. And why they will understand when we the educated lot is peeing around on the walls of a big house or a gated empty plot. Sometimes I feel Indian men feel proud in excreting so promptly and openly.

What can happen?

In improper sanitary conditions water borne diseases like diarrhoea, respiratory problems, hepatitis, jaundice spread like an epidemic. It will not only lead to more of financial loss to the otherwise poor family but also sometimes loss of a precious life.

For females it is even more dangerous. If there are no proper toilets there is no privacy for them. It can sometimes lead to dangerous crimes if a female is seen all alone in an isolated area.

Talking about the health issues for women improper sanitation may lead to certain kind of life threatening infections. Imagine a situation when a women is having her monthly cycles and there is no proper supply of water, there is no toilet available for the daily routine and there is no proper place to dispose the sanitary waste.

Children in India suffer from malnutrition. The main reason behind this is diarrhoea which can even lead to severe disorders like pneumonia.

If these reasons are not enough for us to understand the importance of having proper toilets and sanitation facilities everywhere, here are some facts which I hope will open our eyes.

Some Facts-

1. Over 50 million people in urban India defecate in the open every day (Hindu-28th July 2012)

2. Eighty per cent of India’s surface water pollution is on account of sewage alone. (Hindu-28th July 2012)

3. According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) from a survey conducted in 2012, only 32% of rural households have their own toilets and that less than half of Indian households have a toilet at home.

This has again highlighted the sorry state of sanitation in India where there are more mobile phone users than toilets.

Please do your every bit in improving the condition of hygiene in India.One such great initiative is being done by Domex-You Click Domex Contributes.

 You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.

Please do this least bit to make a Clean India, a Better India.

Request all my blogger friends and readers to spread the word and make this campaign reach the maximum success.A click can change someone's life.

This post is written for Indiblogger and Domex

Book Review-Svaha- a battle of Epic proportions

Title- Svaha- a battle of Epic proportions
Author- Pratik Kamat
Publisher-Westland
Genre- Fantasy

Site Review- College Dunia, a virtual dunia for all students

How often we have faced the issue when we want to search different colleges relevant to our area of interests but somehow failed to get complete details of what we want?

I personally feel many times. In some sites the college we are targeting is not at all present, some cover only top colleges of India, some others have incomplete details about the same.

But then, when I came across this site collegedunia.com I was quite overwhelmed with the results. It is user friendly, easy to surf and has detailed information of everything which a student requires when he or she is finding his/her dream college.

Crowning Glory-Chapter 22

Life's Game- Read the previous part here

Cyrus could not dare to ask her anything. The fear, the Anger, the revenge was quite visible from her face. All on their way they spoke hardly anything except for the few lefts and rights for directions. Soon they arrived at their destination where Jenny would probably get answers to all her questions.

They pressed the doorbell and Tara Dutta opened the door.

"You, What are you doing here??" yelled Tara. Tara was expecting Shekhar and Roohi. Why this girl has come again, she thought and where is Shekhar , he is not even answering my calls.But nevertheless, Jennifer replied, "yes, it's me Mrs. Dutta. Hope you are all fine." Tara tried to hide her anger and irritation," Oh ya, but may I know what brought you here." Jennifer was about to reply just then Cyrus entered. Seeing him Tara felt uneasy. "Had this lawyer told everything to this journalist?" thought Tara worriedly. And before she could think of any other possibility Jennifer questioned her, "Mrs. Tara Dutta don't worry your image is not at stake because you filed a divorce against your husband. But worry more Tara as you have now everything at stake."

Tara frowned at this threat, "What the hell do you mean? Who are you to threaten me? I will call the cops. Have you forgotten who you are talking to? Tara Dutta, the CEO, the star of Page 3 parties."

Jennifer replied calmly," Calm down Mrs. Dutta else you will get fine lines on your smooth skin. And yes I have not forgotten anything. You wanted to call the cops you can, or if you insist I can help you in that." with that she pushed Tara hard onto the chair and Cyrus quickly tied her arms to the chair.

Tara shouted, "What are you both doing here? You people are taking a big risk." Before Tara could shout anything else Jenny flashed the Kolkata number and the card in front of her. "Do you remember anything", enquired Jenny. Tara refused to speak a word. She shouted," What do you think I am a telephone directory that you flash a number and I will display the name?"

Jennifer slapped Tara and played a recorded Voice in front of her. The voice which Tara had heard so many times, the voice which Jennifer recorded while she spoke with that kolkata number, the voice of the thief. Jennifer showed her hand to Tara, "Do you remember this?" Tara was shocked. She was not able to utter a word and then suddenly she gave a wicked smile," Not that easy Jennifer. The day I saw you I saw you as a threat but seeing your carefree nature I thought you will not much of a botheration. But you are too smart then I thought."

Jennifer interfered in between, "Yes, I am and now I will show you your true place and regarding Aryan don't worry about your dear friend." she turned to Cyrus and asked," Cyrus, have you done what I asked you to do last day." Cyrus nodded still not believing the action taking place in front of his eyes. He replied, "Yes."  Cyrus handed a list of documents to her. Jenny smiled, "Good, and now you Mrs. Tara Dutta, I hope all your doubts are clarified by now. See as you rightly said it will not be so easy to dig out the truth so I have some gift for you." She showed some documents which showed that Roohi was adopted by Shekhar and Tara and also some reports from a hospital which mentioned that Tara delivered a baby around twelve years back."Now if you can tell me without wasting yours and our time anymore, why did you sell your own kid to Bibiji, why? And let me warn you if you don't speak now a call and soon your family life, your divorce and your relationship with Ahuja will be out in all news channels. I have enough proof against you. And I would like to thank you because I learnt from you how to use the power correctly. You used your position and I used the name of my magazine, these days its very easy to lure people,just show them the limelight tell them that you will make them famous and they are ready to open all the locks. So Ms. Dutta the decision is yours you want me to tell what made you rise to the top in such short interval of time.

Tara by now was shattered. She could not believe that the image what she has created in all these years will break in seconds. She was so nervous that she cried and fainted.

Will Tara confess?? Has she really done anything??Read the next part here.

• “Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

Book Review-60 Minutes

 

Title- 60 Minutes
Author- Upendra Namburi
Publisher-Westland
Genre- Suspense Thriller

The Blurb- Agastya, the Chief Marketing Officer of one of the biggest FMCG companies, is ready for the biggest product launch of his career. But things soon spin out of control. In 60 minutes he must do everything he can to save his job and marriage. Maithili is both beautiful and intelligent, but she has never had much luck with love. When Agastya almost crushes her spirit by taking things too far, she must avenge herself. She has only 60 minutes to turn his life upside down. Sailesh doesn’t have an academic temperament suited to corporate rivalry and subterfuge. He has no choice but to retaliate when someone crosses the line. In 60 minutes he must destroy his enemy. A lot is at stake: high profile jobs, reputations, relationships, and marriages. Who is going to come out on top and who will falter? The action unfolds in 60 minutes and leaves readers glued to their seats.

Crowning Glory- Chapter 20

 Life's Game-read the previous part here

Crowning Glory- Chapter 14

 

 Life Game

Previous part here

Jennifer’s phone was ringing when she woke up from the nightmare. It was Cyrus. She picked up the call and before she could say anything, Cyrus screamed from other side, "Where were you? I have been trying to reach you for so long." 

Crowning Glory

 Life's Game

June'14, Delhi

The Conference hall of Le Meridian, Delhi was packed. Everywhere he turned, Cyrus could see the curious reporters with their microphones, media professionals with their cameras and cheering crowd of crazy fans. Cyrus,  tall, extremely fair in his mid twenties will soon be facing this crowd. He adjusted his collar as he let his eyes wander. He felt suffocated, as if the air was too thin to match the gathering.

Book Review-Private India

Title- Private India
Author- Ashwin Sanghi & James Patterson
Publisher- Cornerstone (a division of Random House, UK)
Genre- Suspense Thriller

Book Review- Love Lasts Forever: Only if You don't Marry Your Love

Title- Love Lasts Forever: Only if You don't Marry Your Love

Author- Vikrant Khanna

Publisher-Shrishti Publishers & Distributors

Genre- Fiction

Book Review- The Game of Life: Rise of Sun Prince

Title- Ramayana-The Game of Life: Rise of Sun Prince

Author- Shubha Vilas

Publisher-Jaico Publishing House

Genre- Mythology

Borosil-makes food tastier

One day I was all confused as a friend’s family was coming for dinner at my home.The confusion was not about what to cook, but about how to serve what was cooked.

Freedom-My Power

I choose Freedom.

to discover my life’s own reasons.

What The Black ??

What the Black is going on,

Surprises from dusk till dawn.

Book Review-The Devil's Gate-An Impossible Jouney

Title- The Devil’s Gate-An Impossible Journey

Author- Deepak Kripal

Publisher-Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

Genre- Fiction/Mystery

The Black, The Bold, The Beautiful

What is Black?

Black is a colour which absorbs all other colours. For me it’s inspiring, it’s something which has control, it’s dominating and empowering as well. When things or situation turns dark that means there is light not very far. So it is a colour of hope. It’s Bold and Beautiful. It’s dark and daring. It gives you power to dream, to think Big. It’s the colour of outer space. When you walk in dark you don’t know what will come your way. It is mystique and magical. It’s full of surprises. It is an impression of elegance, confidence and sophistication.

A perfect Meal-My Beautiful food!!!

What’s my idea of a perfect meal?

It can be anything anywhere I feel.

Ranging from spicey chats to sweet rasogulla,

Or those exquisite cuisines to home-made food, oohlala.

TGIF-Partyyy!!!

We are a gang of friends; and like every other we too love to party, infact party hard!!

Batman and Friends on a shopping spree @ BAGGOUT.COM

Zoutons.com- A way to be the Smartest Shopper!!

                                                       Zoutons-The Loot is ON

Book Review- Sita's Curse

About the Book-

Different in approach this book talks about a woman secret desires and emotions.

This is what the book says upfront.

Somewhere, behind closed doors, in her solitary world; somewhere, under the sheets with an indifferent lover; Somewhere, is a woman who will not be denied. Trapped for fifteen years in the stranglehold of a dead marriage and soulless household domesticity, the beautiful, full-bodied and passionate Meera Patel depends on her memories and her flights of fancy to soothe the aches that wrack her body; to quieten an unquenchable need. Until one cataclysmic day in Mumbai, when she finally breaks free.

Trapped for fifteen years in the stranglehold of a dead marriage and soulless household domesticity, the beautiful, full-bodied and passionate Meera Patel depends on her memories and her flights of fancy to soothe the aches that wrack her body; to quieten an unquenchable need. Until one cataclysmic day in Mumbai, when she finally breaks free... 

Bold, brazen and defiant, Sita's Curse looks at the hypocrisy of Indian society and tells the compelling story of a middle-class Indian housewife's urgent need for love, respect, acceptance - and sexual fulfilment.

My Take-

 The Author has given us a really provocative story of a simple yet beautiful middle class woman with her hidden desires and fancies. The book completely justifies the genre. The scenes described are prodigious and gives you a real life image. The book is definitely a breakthrough to the stereotyped novels in country like India. Hats off to the writing style of the author as it is really dangerous to write on such genre and in this regard Sreemoyee Piu Kundu has done a great job as none of the extracts described look offensive and obscene.

The book takes you through each and every emotion of a woman who is in urgent need of love, attention and care. It explains jealousy, sentiment of motherhood, feeling of attention and attraction, the desire to be taken away, the desire to get noticed, some superstitious belief of hypocrite Indian society, the fun and pain of living in a middle class family with hidden desires of love and lust, repentance and the emotions when you finally break free from all the bondages of a forced relationship.

But somewhere I was not able to fully convince myself with the title of the book. Sita and the protagonist of the story are nowhere related except for some instances in few chapters where the lady hero of the book ponders upon the occurrences from Ramayana. Also, the relationship that painstakingly beautiful village girl Meera shared with the so many men in her life was a bit unconvincing for instance her bond with her very own brother or her dance teacher at teenage. I felt some relationships were over exaggerated.

On the other hand I liked the philosophical touch given to moh and maya (love and greed), to life and death.

Read this book if you are liberal and daring enough to bear this unique and offbeat story. If you are someone who is a staunch supporter of Indian society its rules set for women then give it a thought as this book will definitely change your view about the desires of women.

About the Author-

Sreemoyee Piu Kundu is an ex Lifestyle Editor and former PR head, and now a full time novelist based in Delhi. Her next two releases are You've Got The Wrong Girl (Hachette) and Cut!. Sreemoyee is planning her fourth novel, a political tragedy, Rahula.

This review is part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers by Blogadda.

Participate now to get free books. 

Women- Another face of the divine Power

She will be the forte.

She will be your biggest support.

She will take care.

She will face and dare.

All be happy;

A Goddess is born.

Yes she is the daughter,

A family’s adorn!!

The Power of Her

There she stood, with fear and concern.

The betrayal that was evident;

From her form so numb.

एक आशा

सपने हैं उसके,ख्वािहश हैं उसकी;

िजन्हें वो पूरा करना चाहे।

Book Review- Prisoner Jailor Prime Minister by Tabrik C.

Title – Prisoner Jailor Prime Minister

Author- Tabrik C

Publisher- Hachette Book Publishing India Pvt.Ltd

Genre- Fiction

Limitless Love

For the love so pure,

For the bond de jure,

For the hope anew,

For the relationship so true...

A Holi Makeover!!!

Holi, the festival of colours is just a week away. With winter neatly tucked up in the attic, it's time to come out of the cocoons and enjoy this spring festival. This is the only festival which brings with itself the brightness of colours and brings together all the relation and religions. Celebrated for different spiritual and religious reasons this festival of colours is also considered as the festival of love..

I always wait eagerly for Holi not only because it is the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival but also it's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colours but this year I am specially waiting for it not only for revitalizing my taste buds and play with those vibrant colours but more so because it will be my first holi after marriage. I want to make this special for me and my hubby dear.

Though we are far away from our home but still I have decided to bring those colours in each and everything of my new home. I have decided to give a complete makeover to my house.

Since it is the festival of colours I want to inculcate the hues of green, the tinge of yellow, the vibrant violet and the radiant red in everything. Because of our busy schedules it is not possible to go and shop everything and also those varieties which I am looking for and hence I have decided to get this ethnic and vivacious look through my favourite site fab furnish.

 First step into the house should bring the feeling of the festivity and the piousness of this festival. Hence, I have decided to decorate the doors with these beautiful bandanvars with colourful mirror work and runjhun bells on it.

To give the relaxing and comfortable homely feel which will keep the spirits of this colorful festival alive I would like to place this pebble yard center table which will also represent the true colour of Rajasthan a state where Holi is celebrated with full vigour.

 The table will be incomplete if the delicacies and drinks like gujiya, dahi vada and thandai are not served. Needless to say when everything is colorful the servings must be done in these beautiful artistic blue pasley tray and the red and white dishes and bowls representing the  rich cultural heritage of India and its festivals.

                          

For the walls I have decided to place the alluring marble plate paintings and the pair of elephant to represent the strength in the relationship Holi brings and the uniqueness of this festival and those wall hanging pots that will symbolize the water balloon, the water guns of childhood the most cherishing memories of my childhood.

The multicolor cushion covers, the radiant maroon floral printed curtains for the doors and windows and the vibrant bedsheet will add flavor to the décor.

How can Holi be complete without the colors and gulal. This year I have decided to play Holi in complete traditional way with natural colors. The-

1. Orange and red

From the flowers of palash or tesu tree or the quick beauty remedy by mixing lime with turmeric powder.

2. Green

Mehendi and dried leaves of gulmohur tree offer a source of green colour.

3. Yellow

Haldi (turmeric) powder is the typical source of yellow colour.

4. Blue

Indigo, Indian berries, species of grapes, blue hibiscus are traditional sources of blue colour for Holi.

5. Magenta and purple

Beetroot is the traditional source of magenta and purple colour. Often these are directly boiled in water to prepare coloured water.

And to welcome the guest with the abir and gulal I definitely need these marble tray with boxes and the enamel painted metal bowl.

I am sure, by being part of Fab Holi Makeover contest and with these colourful home furniture and decor this Holi will be a complete makeover and will add several beautiful new colours in my new life.Waiting eagerly for this HOLIIIII!!!

Wishing all my readers a colourful, joyous and bright HOLIII!!!!