Dil hai ke manta nahin

I am disappointed. Disappointments are painful. But when your spouse disappoints you, your whole life appears to be meaningless and futile. ‘You are not the only one. They are so many couples who are totally incompatible, who are simply not made for each other.’ One of my aunts told me. ‘Then?’ I asked her. ‘Then they have children and they live together thereafter.’ ‘Happily?’ I asked thinking that my aunt had skipped the word. ‘That I am not sure of.’ She said shrugging her shoulders.

When it comes to the world outside we don’t have many expectations. Even if we harbour some, the resultant disappointment is not that painful. But when it comes to a family member, the disappointment gives rise to a range of emotions – anger, grief, feeling of being cheated and over all meaninglessness of life.

But sooner or later we have to come to terms with it. Who doesn’t know this? But the mind plays all its games. It does not readily accept the fact.

Yes the relationship may not be working the way I want, but there are so many things to be happy about. My books give me so much of happiness. Reading about others lives, especially their sufferings, gives me immense pleasure, may be sadistic. But I feel better. My bent of mind is more towards sorrowful tales. I don’t enjoy comic writing much.

When life takes away something from you, it gives many things in return. Meditations, yoga are immensely calming. So are strolls in the cold weather of early morning and late nights. The sounds are minimal. Apart from one or two vehicles, there is not a soul to be heard. The cold air caresses my skin. It gives a feel good feeling. Yes feeling. Feeling good is after all a feeling and we should be able to create it for ourself. Why to depend upon others? May be external stimulus like books, yoga and walks should be the only things which should be resorted to for feeling good. But what to do yeh dil hai ke manta nahin.

100 Great Events that Changed the World

It does not matter if you are a college going student preparing for competent examinations or a lay person interested in history, Terry O’Brien’s 100 great events that changed the world is indeed a treasure. It is interesting, exciting and of course adds to our knowledge.

The contents of the events are chronologically arranged, which makes it easier for students and academicians who have to remember the dates of these events.

The range of events selected for the book is indeed wide. It has got everything. Right from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to founding of Amazon.com. It lists death of prophet Mohamad as well as cloning. Selecting 100 events from the world history must have been a challenge. But the author has done a great job in picking up the events. As a result of which almost all major events which changed the world are part of the book.

The language used in the book is simple and to the point. The book is divided into small chapters which makes it an easy read. At the end of each chapter tit-bits are offered in boxes.

Go and buy this book. You will never repent buying this one.

The Temple Tiger and more Man-eaters of Kumaon - Book Review

The temple tiger and more man-eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett as the name suggests is about the man eating tigers in the Himalayan region. It is a collection of Jim’s hunting experiences of five man-eaters. Though all these are real life experiences, I prefer to call them stories. They have thrill, suspense and all other elements of a good story

The first story the temple tiger is different from all the stories written by Jim is very different from other stories written by him. Here he utterly fails to kill the man-eater. The man-eater escapes at the end. This shows his honesty. It would have been easy for a person like Jim to say that he had killed that tiger. But he tells the truth.

Jim not only describes the tigers but the life of people of the hills is also depicted very well in his stories. Thus in the Muktesar Man-eater he says in rural India, the post office and the bania’s shop are to village folk what taverns and clubs are to people of other lands, and if information on any particular subject is sought, the post office and the bania’s shop are the best places to seek it. Ignorance regarding leprosy finds mention in the Panar Man-eater.

Not only the men but he describes the vegetation and of course the wildlife very vividly. In the Chuka Man-eater he describes how the tigress trains her young cubs in a very poignant manner. He also adds to our knowledge by telling that monkeys are blessed with exceptionally good eyesight. In the same story the following line depicts the guilt which even a hunter faces. ‘The thought of disabling an animal and a sleeping one that, simply because he occasionally liked a change of diet was hateful.’

The font size used in the book is very small. As a result reading this book causes a great strain on the eyes. Also there are typographical errors at some places. I wish these were avoided.

My health in my hands

‘You have stolen my heart’ is a very romantic line. It is really nice to have a heartthrob. But when an attack robs the heart, it is definitely not welcome. India is on the verge of becoming capital of heart diseases. Awareness is the only solution. Let me share the simple steps which I undertake for staying active, happy and eating right which go a long way in keeping  my heart healthy.

1. Exercise regularly

I exercise regularly. I jog daily. Initially it was difficult. It was challenging physically and mentally. But I sticked to the routine and it soon became my habit. Walking, jogging and running is particularly good for heart. So is dancing.Most overweight people are prone to heart diseases. I have bought weighing scales at home. I monitor my weight regularly. Regular monitoring of weight does not always help lose my weight. But it always helps in maintaining it. The fear of gaining weight keeps me active. Seeing pictures of healthy well maintained people also gives a motivation to stay active. Reading other people's health routine too helps to stay active. I read books on health. That help me understand my body, my system better. All the health professionals agree on one point there is no alternative to being physically active. Sitting is injurious to health.

2. Relax

Life cannot be without stress. We must learn to manage stress. Some times by withdrawing, sometimes by confronting. Regular relaxation is a must. I meditate. I read books. I go for a walk. I talk to a friend. Some times I shout and let out my feelings. All these things take a heavy burden from my heart.  They make me happy. Most of the diseases have their origin in the mind and heart diseases are no exception to the same. Having a clear emotional system is vital for the heart’s proper functioning.

3. Diet

I try to avoid oily stuff. I eat ghee and butter but in moderation. I have a sweet tooth. At times I over eat then feel guilty. But I overcome the guilt and decide to stick up to healthy eating. Raw foods, sprouts do magic for the heart. The fibre present in these food prevents heart diseases. Also skins of vegetables contain both fibre and vitamins. I never peel them and eat fruits and vegetables with their skins.

4. Cultivating hobby

I like reading and writing. This hobby of mine keeps me happy. It helps me to keep aside all my burdens for some time. I feel good about myself. I feel happy. Reading and writing gives me a high. I am sure this happy temperament of mine will go a long way in making my heart healthy.

“I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association with BlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.”

Healthy heart

‘So and so had a heart attack.’ ‘I am a bypass patient.’ We hear such lines every second day. It makes me worry about the state of my heart. Unfortunately worrying only adds to the heart problems. But it definitely makes you aware and take a few steps to ensure the health of your heart. These are few of the steps which I have taken to stay active, eating better and being happy and ultimately  protecting my heart and keep it healthy.

Being physically active.

I exercise daily. I do yoga. I go for a run. I lift weights. Yes, like all of you even I feel like skipping my exercise on a day and I skip it. But I work out at least four-five days in a week. Research shows that even that is suffice for the healthy functioning of your heart. Otherwise also I am a physically active person. I don’t take the lift. I climb the stairs. I cover short distances on foot. Mind you I have a car and a two wheeler. But I enjoy walking. I am not much into sports but I like running. I am very careful about my weight. I monitor it regularly. Obese people are more prone to heart diseases. Being physically active, it is easy to maintain weight.

I eat healthy

I eat mostly home cooked food. Home cooked food is healthy and fresh. It is cooked in virgin oil, which means the oil is not reheated again and again. I eat raw vegetables and salads. It does not mean that I do not eat out at all. I eat out not more than once a week. Also at home my salt intake is minimal.

 For being happy 
Yoga and meditation

It would not be wrong to say that yoga and meditation are tonics for the heart. Yoga is known to calm the mind and body. Every pore of your body relaxes as you do the yoga. It has been my experience that no matter what is going on in the mind, once I start doing the yoga poses, the mind automatically calms down. The same is true with meditation. A tip for you. Meditation when done after yoga, is more effective. You easily slip into the relax mode.

No over thinking

I over think. This is the habit which have inherited from my mother. But when I realised the adverse effects which it was having on my mind and body, I started making conscious efforts not to over think. It definitely made me calmer and kept my heart healthy.

“I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association with BlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.”

It takes two to Yoga

Zubin Atre’s It takes two to Yoga is about partner yoga. The book starts with the author telling us about the significance of touch. Touch has many health benefits. Touch stimulates the brain to release endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers. The author tells us that partner yoga increases awareness, interdependence, trust building, intimacy and happiness.

According to the author partner yoga is not just for lovers. Nor is it linked to sexuality. It works within the framework of all associations intimate or platonic, formal or informal. Thus there is a chapter devoted to partner yoga involving parent and child. I immensely liked this section in the book. I liked the approach of the author which is evident from the following lines. ‘While practising yoga with a child, it’s important for moms to remember that the asanas may not be as beautiful or graceful as pictures make them out to be. But that hardly matters. The emphasis is tapping into the essence of yogic practice- which is bonding rather than achieving choreographed performances.’ I simply loved the shadow asana which is to be performed along with the baby.

The author enumerates the benefits of partnering yoga with colleagues and of course couples. While doing so he describes the underlying yogic philosophies and practices. Thus he talks about various koshas and various cleansing processes.

According to the author the key element related to touch, vital to a yoga session is proprioception- the ability of the central nervous system to communicate with and coordinate various parts of the body. The author offers simple exercises to experience proprioception.

The book contains a series of asanas which are to be done individually in the preparatory series. Thereafter the author describes the asanas to be done in partnership. I have been pracitising yoga since childhood. But honestly baring one or two poses, I found the partner yoga poses quite challenging. Perhaps they can be achieved by practice.

The book is a work of genuine devotion. It does not offer any quick fixes. Nor does it promise miraculous results. Zubin’s tummy is visible in many poses, including that on the cover page. Otherwise there is no dearth of six-pack yoga practitioners. Yoga cannot give you six packs, but it can definitely give you a healthy body and peaceful mind. The book indeed offers something new. I have started practising poses with my partner and I tell you even if you try one or two poses, it is fun. Isn’t that a good reason to buy the book?

The man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I experienced this while reading Jim Corbett’s the man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag. All that I knew about Jim Corbett was that he was a hunter who gunned down a tiger which had claimed many lives in Uttrakhand. Still he remained an enigma to me.

With the Man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag, I got an opportunity to be with him in his exploits. He builds the premise very well by exhibiting the terror of the leopard in the minds of the people. He tells us how the leopard got used to the taste of human blood. It is a practice in the hills to throw the dead bodies in the valley during epidemic. This is how the leopard got the taste of human blood. Soon the epidemic subsided so did the dead bodies which the leopard got to feast upon. The leopard started to invade human settlements to claim its share of human blood.

This leopard has killed more than one hundred and twenty five people. According to the author this was the most publicized animal. It found mention in the press of United Kingdom, America, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Malaya, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and of course India.

The leopard hardly made any noise while killing people. It would cross a hundred sheep and even humans, get its prey which was sleeping at the fag end of the crowd considering that he was covered, protected and safe. The leopard would even break open the doors and enter the houses. It would dig a hole into the mud walls and enter the house. The hillmen considered it to be an evil spirit, a Shaitan. They even burnt a Sadhu alive who according to them became the man-eating leopard in the night.

The author was not the only person who tried to gun down the man-eater. Some other hunters tried to kill it, but the leopard had a narrow escape. The author weaves the topography of hills very well. This book is not just about the hills and the man-eater, but also about men and women in the hills who lead a tough life. It is about their fears and hopes. The latter is exhibiting through the help which they offer to the author in his hunting parties.

This true story is a nail biting, hair raising thriller. You can feel the pit into your stomach and the raising pulse as the author approaches the man-eater. You feel disappointed when the man-eater has a narrow escape. This book was first published seventy years ago. The language of the book is old fashioned. The font size is very small and causes strain to the eyes. Yet this book manages to give you goosebumps. This is a book not to be missed.