Celebrating 100 years of Delhi------------

Yeh   Dilli   hai   mere   yaar-----------bas    ishq   mohabbat   pyar---------
These  lyrics are  most  suitable  to  the  sentiment  of   a  Delhite. Although  Delhi  has  changed  a  lot, especially  since  the  last  two three decades, the  soul  has not  changed. Delhi  is  a  rare  combination  of  traditional  and  modernity. You  can  find  ancient  monuments  alongside  the  modern  malls and  Metro.The wide  roads, the  greenery, the  many  huge  markets to  suit  all  pockets  and  the  glorious  cultural  and  political  heritage, there  is  no  limit. Then there is the  magical  and  ever  so  mystical  Connaught  Place. From  where  to  start  and  where  to  end !
I  still  cherish  the  sweet  memories  of  my  college  days---going  for  picnics  and  parties  to  Buddha  garden, Surajkund  and  Batkal  lake.  It  was  quieter  in  those  times, less  number  of  people  and  cars  on  roads. Delhi  winters  are   perhaps  the  most  enjoyable   times. The  food  is  delicious ,  whether  at  a  chaat  corner  or  at  a  kabab  dhaba.
It  is  very  difficult  to  describe  Delhi  in  few  words. It   is  an  idea,  a  concept,  a  sentiment. Those  who  have  lived  in  Delhi  might  perhaps  understand  the  nostalgic  feeling ,  which  I  have  for  Delhi.
Long  live  DELHI!
Chitrangada  Sharan

IT IS VERY HARD TO ACCEPT THAT JAGJIT SINGH IS NO MORE-----

Like  millions  I  am  also  a  great  admirer  of  the  ghazal  king  Jagjit  Singhji.
 There  cannot  be  anyone  like  him. He  sang  from  his  heart ,  so  his  ghazals  touched  our  hearts.
 I  am  his admirer  since  college  days.
When  me  and  my  husband  met for the first  time, his  ghazals  were  there  for  company. When  we  started  our  married  life, and  all  through  our  happy  and  sad  moments,  his  ghazals  have  always  been  our   companion.
His  soulful  voice  was  a  soother  for  the  nerves, a  true  example  of  healing  by MusicTherapy. Anyone who  listened  to  him  could  not  help  being  mesmerized  by  it.
 There  are  moments in  everyone's  life  when  you  feel  lonely, his  voice  brings  solace to  the  listener  then.
 He  may  not  be  physically  present, but  he  will  always  live  in  our  hearts  through  his  soulful  songs , bhajans  and  ghazals.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE!

The Tremor today!

Hi !
Once  again  we  felt  the  tremors  in  the  evening, at  around  6 : 10 p.m. The  second  one  in  less  than  fifteen  days. We  all  rushed  from  our  buildings, to  the  open  spaces. Slowly  and  gradually  we  started  getting  the  news  from  the T.V. channels about  the  epicentre  being  at  Sikkim, and  almost the  entire north India  had  felt  the  earthquake.

Each  time an  earthquake  happens, I  am  reminded  of  the  devastating  damage  it  had  caused  in  Gujarat, on  26th  January,2001. The  memory  is  still  fresh  in  my  mind.
It  is  a  matter  of  great  concern and  anxiety, as  to  why  the  tremors  are  happening so  frequently. Can  there be  any  device  to  predict  it , so  that  the  damage  is  not  of  such  a  great  magnitude.
For the  time  being  we  can  just  pray  and   hope  that  it  does  not  occur  again . In  a metro  city  like  Delhi, with  such  thickly  populated  areas , so  many  high  rise  buildings,  the  thought  of  tremors  sends  shivers  down  the  spine.
Time  to  pray!
Good night.

WHY I LIKE KBC!

                                                                            

Few years back an interesting quiz show was aired on Indian Television, KBC, hosted by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and it was a huge success. There have been reruns of the show since then and still it is the most popular quiz show, aired on Television.                                                                                                    

Now whats the reason of this particular show' s huge success--the host or the participants or the format! I think it is all combined.
I  like  the  quiz.  program  hosted  by Mr. Amitabh  Bachchan, because  of  its  simplicity.
The  participants  are  the  Real  people , from  amongst  ourselves. People  you  can  relate  to. Their  individual  simple  stories,  so  much  similar  to  our  own.
I  feel  particularly  happy, when  some  really  needy  person  wins  a  good  amount  of  money.
 Each  participant  has  an  interesting  story  to  tell, as  and  when  asked  by  Mr. Bachchan. And  Mr. Bachchan  makes  them  so  very  comfortable , with  his  non starry  behavior.
My interest in the show is more because of the participants and of course the format. Some questions are too simple while some do exercise your brain.
People  joining  from  different  parts  of  India, with  different culture  and  regions, is a true  representation  of  'Unity  in  diversity.' I especially like the exposure it gives to remote villages and towns of our country.
So far so good---keep it up KBC!

Chitrangada Sharan

Image source: Google images

Are We Really A Democracy?

Democracy ,  we  all   know  means ,  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people. But, it  is  so  important  to  choose  and  elect  the  right  kind  of   people. The  essence   of  democracy  is
lost  if,  people  vote  on  the  basis  of  caste,  religion  or  region. It  is  our  national   responsibility  to vote  for  the  genuine  candidate,  who are  committed   to  work  in  the  interest  of   the  country,  above  any  other  interest. Otherwise, we  ourselves  are  to  blame,  if   the  country's  affairs  are  mismanaged.
Another  big  worry  is  general  public's  lack  of  interest  or  careless  attitude  towards  voting  process.
Be  part  of  the  democratic  process  you  live  in!

Proud To Be Indian!

As  an  Indian,  I  feel   proud, relieved  and  satisfied  to  see  the  Parliament   proceedings  today-----the  people's  voices  are indeed  being   heard.
The  simplicity  of  Anna  Hazare's  personality  has  struck  the  right  chord  with  the  common  man (Aam  aadmi). It  has  unified  the  country,  irrespective  of  any  caste,  class, region,  religion,  race or age ;and  that  is  really  commendable.
Hats  off,  to  us, the  Indians, 'We, the  people----',  and   our  Democracy.