Wednesday, 2 April 2014

bol terey merey

बोल तेरे मेरे

चूप रह के बहुत कूछ 
खो हम चुके
अब बोल के शायद पा लें कुच्छ


कुच्छ बोल "तेरे हो मेरे ही लिये "
मीठे न हो ; कडवे ही सही
जो बोल मेरे कानो मे पडे
है पुष्प वो "नीमो का ही सही "

दिल करता है तुम अ जाते
साथ बैठते और करते बाते
आंसू तेरे भी कुच्छ होते
जो अश्को से मेरे मिल जाते
फिर हर गिला यु धुल जाता
जैसे शिकवा तो था ही नही

फिर खिल जाती एक नयी सुबह
नभ मे नयी आभा को लिये
लालिमा क्षितीज पे छा जाती
जब हम और तुम फिर मिल जाते

अब बोल के शायद पा लें कुच्छ
चूप रह के बहुत कुच्छ
खो हम चुके

*************************
कुच्छ बोल मेरे है तेरे ही लिये
आ बैठ मेरे संग
सुन ले तू
वो क्षण हमने जो साथ गुजारे
आ बैठ मेरे संग चुन ले तू

ये पल खुशिओ से है जो भरे
वर्षो से इनको है हमने संजोय
हर इक मोती को साथ बैठ
हमने माला मे है ये पिरोय

**********************

कुच्छ बोल तेरे है मेरे ही लिये
ये सोच के मैं खुश होती हूँ
ये बोल जो मिश्री घोले है
इस बोल को यु ही संजोती हूँ

हर दिन आती है नयी सुबह
हर बोल यु चीनी घोले है
रिमझिम रिमझिम और झूम झूम
आशा के मेघ बरसते है

जिस मधुरता से ये बोल भरे
वो रस है अपने जीवन का
वो असमान है पूर्ण अनंत
जिसमे है ये मृदु मधु भरा

**********************


ब बोल के देखो पा हम गये
रुठी हुई उन खुशियो को
जो बंद थी
किसी कमरे मे कही
चुप्पी की चादर ओढे हुये














Chup rah ke bahut kuchh kho hum chuke
Ab bol ke shayad paa len kuchh!!

Kuchh bol tere ho mere hi liye
Meethhe na ho; kadwe hi sahi.
Jo bol mere kano mein pade
Hai pushp woh !!, neemon ka hi sahi..

Dil karta hai tum aa jaate
saath baithate aur karte baaten,
ansoo tere bhi kuchh hote
jo ashko se mere mil jaate.
Phir har gila yoon dhul jaataa
jaise shikwa toh thhaa hi nahi !!

Phir khil jaati ik nayee subah
nabh mein nayee aabhaa ko liye
Lalima kshitij pe chhaa jaati
Jab hum aur tum phir mil jaate..

Shayad!! shayad
Ab bol ke shayad paa len kuchh
Chup rah ke bahut kuchh kho hum chuke..

***********

""Kuch bol mere hain tere hi liye""
Aa baith mere sang soon le tu
Woh kshan humne jo saath gujaare
Aa baith mere sang chun le tu..

Yeh pal khushio se hain jo bhare
Varshon se inko humne sanjoye
Har ik motee ko , saath baith
Humne mala mein hain yeh piroye..

***********

""Kuchh bol tere hain mere hi liye !!!!",????
Yeh soch ke mai khush hoti hoon
Yeh bol jo mishri ghole hai,
Is bol ko yuoon hi sanjoti hoon..

Har din aati hai nayee subah
Har bol yuoo cheenee ghole hai
Rimjhim,rimjhim; aur jhoom jhoom
Asha ke megh baraste hain.

Jis madhurta se ye bol bhare
woh ras hai apne jeevan ka
Woh aasmaan hai poorna anant
Jis mein hai yeh mridu madhu bhara....

******** ******** ********
Ab bol ke dekho paa hum gaye
Roothi hui un khushion ko
Jo bund thhi ;
kisi kone mein kahin
chuppi ki chaadar odhe hue..

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Dil ka mamla -------


the story of a couple who were sent to earth as there was space shortage in hell 





"Hi good morning ?? "

"Good morning --but what are you smiling about?? "

"God has ---oh sorry !!   the Devil has granted your wish !! 10 more minutes and you and me will be reborn --will be sent back to earth in our present avtars --and then you and me can HUG each other as much as we want hmmm !! muaah. "

"But how did it all happen ?

"You do know that Dracula sir was having a lot of space problems ---what with the number of sinners growing by the millions. This place was being over flooded ---so a committee was set up and a delegation was sent to the Gods to ask if they agreed to send some of us back to the earth as living beings.---As usual the Gods wanted some time (they can never decide ) and their letter of acceptance has just reached our office.""

"Ooh !!I am soo...  excited !! will get to see our family and our long lost friends . "

"Yeah!! me too am looking forward.

Just then Draculla arrived with all his usual fanfare of horse carriage and bells and dust-storms etc. 


Hmmmm--here,s a bit of a news
 
for you both .'

SIR!!!???( both feigned ignorance)
"Yes we have decided to send you back to the earth kicking and alive .---arent you happy ??---why are looking so dejected??? ---I was expecting some smiles.... 

"We don't want to leave YOU and go away Sir you looked after us so well !!

hmmm.... thanks . anyway get ready 1...2...3...a--n--d.

and they landed on earth


"hey its beautiful  book at the sunshine !!! "

"Yeah its glorious isn't it this was one thing we never could get down there in Hell "

suddenly they see a crowd gathering around them ---bho---ooo---t.  bhoo----ooo---t

No  no  we are back see we are not ghosts ---  we are alive again!!! please don't run away

""how come   !!!   we saw you turn into ashes before  our own eyes.I was the one who lit the pyre for both of you . "" said one from the crowd.

""But we have been sent back to you ---aren't you happy to see us ?? Ramu  my son !! wait I will give you proof
see this cut mark on my eyelid I had got it when you threw that stone at me ---and ,and this cut on the wrist when you held my hand so tightly in that frightening movie ---see sonny please believe  us .
ok!!! let me tell you about one thing else which only you and"I" !!! your mom ,know about --what happened when that girl ----

"ok!! ok!!! though I don't believe you   !!! you can come along with me .... "

"hahaah thats better !! "

"psst !! ,what is it that I dont know about him and you know???

""shhhh.....!!! I will tell you later" .

                                          *********

""Radha ---aa ---open the door we have some guests ... they say they are my parents

"but you said they were dead !!"

""yes bahu we have come back to life --you are so pretty""

""are they really your parents ...???""

""yes by some miracles they have come back to life ..and its true ..because she knows things about me which only my mom knew . ""
                                     **********

As the news of THE RETURN OF THE DEAD  spread around ; people thronged  Ramus place , media , police , NRIs, society for eradication of superstitions et etc .  and though Ramu and family did not like this intrusion into their privacy but the lure of the cctv, cameras and also the coverage by the media compensated well for the disturbance ---and ,like they show in movies  stalls of chaiwalas etc sprang up in short a small 'mela ' sprang up .

People brought gifts for the LIVING DEAD ; you can visualize all those scenes from the movie GUIDE when the fasting Dev Anand is turned into a SWAMI the same things were happening here, only Dev Anand was not alone he had his better half too in fact SHE was the one who was answering all those questions -- and the believers were bringing in offerings in cash as well as in kind . There were invitations from places far and wide .   The department of tourism  too  !!    was trying to bring about a collaboration
.
.Ramu who was now on leave without pay and who proved himself an excellent secretary managing his parents P. R.  work accepted these invitations but--- for after 6 months when he knew  the rains will come and the number of devotees would dwindle .
He  discontinued  his kids schools so that his whole family could accompany his now CELEBRITY  parents . Ticket expenditure was no problem as he was working with the INDIAN RAILWAYS  --and as for school !!!???? ----He had enough money now ;to send them to the most expensive  schools after paying a handsome donation and he also hoped to provide them with seats in whichever college they  wanted to because he knew money would buy the best degrees and qualifications for his children.

He was banking on some foreign T V channels who were extending an invitaion to lands across the seas .for world wide coverage and wanted to put up LIVE SHOWS in many countries --but there was a slight hesitation on Ramu's part regarding EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS AND PAYMENTS . It clicked and Ramu was overjoyed.--this meant a life long source of income .


Meanwhile  both our central characters who were now not only getting tired of  being transported from place to place and of those interviews  where every one asked the same questions ---they were even dissapointed to see all the chaos that ran round on the earth forget the sins and the sinners but even nature was not doing its duties the clouds played truant during the monsoons , the rains played havoc after the monsoons ---winters brought ice and summers burnt the earth .scientists were experimenting with the mere existence of the human race --all in the name of development --the whole concept of GODS earth had been destroyed ---flora and fauna were on the brink of extinction ----GLOBAL WARMING  was there but for burning human relations and destroying the ecology ---not for thawing international animosity --there it was all GLOBAL FREEZING  not even a hand extended .


Both  our "living dead" thought  Hell to be a better place; at least there was a brotherhood among'st all the inhabitants --who always showed solidarity  to each other whenever an intruder arrived ---even if from heaven .


They were wanting to go back ---but the love and greed of being with their son and his family held them back from sending a request to the  'Prince Of Darkness ' but  one day ---when they asked their son to go slow and stop all these  visits and shows etc as they had become tired, what their son said was  heart breaking ---

"Now look here mom and dad or whoever you are  We are letting you stay with us and tolerating you only because you are contributing to the families income ,otherwise you may please go back. We are also tired of all this commotion  we have lost all peace from the day  you have come. I have even lost my job had to take that long leave only to look after you .I am tired and sick of all this --you don't even know how to pull small magical feats  or miracles how long do you think will the people continue to look at you two as museum pieces??""

The two "sinners from hell" were heartbroken  couldn't even utter a word

They just held hands and hugged each other, tears rolling unabashedly from their eyes .In a few minutes the silent tears became wails and the DEVIL and his son the 'Prince of Darkness" couldn't bear to see their subjects in such a pathetic state --they immediately sent a request to the Gods to arrange for the duos return .This the GODS  granted at once because they too were ashamed of all that was happening .


Both our protagonists were informed of this . 

They  went to love and kiss their son and  grandchildren but met with a rebuff so they just looked into each other' eyes held   each other into a tight embrace went out into the sunlight and then disappeared .NEVER  to come back --

As they entered the supernatural world their  embrace broke but they knew they were in a better place.


.AND ALL HELL BROKE LOSE TO WELCOME THEM 





This story is about a couple ---Neera and Amar who were ghosts and who were sent to the earth as there was space shortage in Hell 

Thursday, 16 January 2014

alwida winter ---welcome summer

 * It was jittery cold till the day before ---and life was miserable for me who is allergic to cold --but today its bright and sunny and warmer ---hence this ---hope you all like it



Ah !!! I 've bade adieu
to winter
No not with a heavy heart!!
I am so happy
to see those heavy woollens
and gaudy colours
finally depart.

khaane mein bhi ab mazaa aa raha hai
gobhi matar se peechha hai chhoota
ab toh rasoyee mein hai khushboo
kathal , parwal, aur bhindi ki phailee
kachche aamo  ka banta hai koocha


aam ,tarbooz ,kharbooz ,aur phir lichi
 In phalon ki aa gayee hai bahaar.
 rich aur affluent ko
entertain karna
ab padega na mahnga --meherbaan
unki life style wali diseases
wahi !!hypertension aur diabetese.
ko nimbu pani lagega lazeez
baakiyon ko toh  sharbat hai kafee
snacks ki rahegi na khit khit
dinner mein bhi
fresh fruits ka dessert
low fat ,low cal, aur healthy.

shaam ko "unke" saath
sair pe jab main jaoo
lucknavi chikan aur organdy pahan kar
thaam leti hoon yu hi chalte chalte
kalaf lage kurte wali unki baahein.

mogre ( beli) ka gajra ya veni
ya juhi chameli ka khushboodar guchchha
the evenings are filled with such fragrance
ki unke jaisa nahi koyee dooja



bas aise hi har mausam
lajawab hai
bemisal hai aur hai
anokha
garmiyo ke baad
barishon ka rahta hai intezar
and then we wait for winter.

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Its never too late




"Get your hair recharged "-----says the contest ---"tell us the coolest  reason why you need to recharge your hair and how it will recharge your life".

A topic after my heart ---I have the unruliest hair any woman can have and I have tried every gimmick to keep it under control but alas !!! No one can understand the  agony of unmanageble hair and the resultant tragedies


They range from kindergarten days to your wedding silver jubilee and beyond ---I say this because I have experienced it .


In K.G. you have other kids touching your hair out of curiosity and then ending up pulling at it and tearing it making you hate school and giving your parents nightmares as to how to continue sending you to school.






.Though there was one plus point resulting from this agony I used to get the bribe of one  chocolate every morning .Just  as I would start crying and refusing to get down from the car my mom  would push one chocolate into  my mouth and drive away before I could start my tantrums .

Then came school and adolosence --a nightmare for nearly all girls ---wanting to be recognized by and yet scared to be associated with ,boys  , I was no exception ,with the added agony of  my unruly hair which would scare away even the bravest of boys.


Oh !! you wouldn't understand until you have gone through it yourself !!!

College, though, was not all that agonizing. With no set rules about uniforms and hair dressing as in school , I was free to make a style which would suit me , so I used to hide my tresses under the most beautiful head gear, scarves and flowers etc like the following






glamorous aren't they ?( but till date I have not been able to fathom the reason why none of the boys  felt attracted !!! sigh!!!Or may be because I had a more handsome guy waiting for me ( hubby ) .Now you would wonder how come he fell for me ?!.Well simple, Thanks  to the Indian system of arranged marriages and the system of covering your head  when the prospective in-laws came to "SEE" (inspect) you . So I had my head covered with a dupatta and  my in-laws were so happy to find such a docile and cultured girl !!






.Another reason why my hubby did not complain was that he himself was fully aware of his receding hairline fast leading to baldness.

All this was disclosed to me after marriage . 

Later on, though more than happily married we always had tiffs when it came to my unmanageable hair ---be it a romantic night or a picnic or a party  my hair always was the center of 'attention' snatching away my moments of glory .

My kids too were not always very proud of my hair styles but being my offsprings they learnt how to cope with and even boast of, their darling mother's hair .So much so that none of their friends dared criticize me and my crowning glory.

Now came the grandson who dotes on me But this is how he told his mother about one of his friends " Ma I am talking about the boy who has hair like Nani's" my daughter smiled ,I grimaced and my hubby enjoyed. And my granddaughter!! she  is so sweet and straight forward she always tells me to cover my head with my 'sari pallu' whenever I go out with her .

So all these agonizing moments  want me to do something for my hair and I would like to try some of these 'Sunsilk' products ---What ? if I  am no longer young? but then like they say one is as young as one feels and age is no hurdle if you want to enjoy life .As it is I colour my hair which reduces my age by  at least ten years but all the pallu covering pulls my efforts back by another ten years so I am left at square one ---but now that this SUNSILK product will give my hair a new lease of life I will do all that which I had only wanted to but was unable to because of my hair.I will ride pillion with my hubby on his favourite motorbike ,which we had to abandon and buy a car ,only because I would start looking like a wild cat as soon as the bike took speed and all my mates romantic intentions would stay put. 


   We who used to look like this 




would now look like this



 isn't that reason enough to get my hair recharged ? !!!!---to be able to live those moments of  our life which were lost due to a thing as trivial as my hair --if  these Sunsilk products would have been available in those days life would have been so much more sweet and romantic ---because unlike these days where romance is depicted by breakdance and loongi dance --- our days used to be full of songs and ideas which revolved round the heroine's eyes and hair. Romance would flourish under the lustrous curls of the girlfriend or the wife and every female used to dream of her "reshmi zulfein "(silken hair) the men would sing songs like --
                            
                                        "ye sharbati aankhe yeh reshmi zulfein " 
                                            these drunken eyes these silken curls
                                           in glorification of the girls beauty

 and here was this couple (my hubby and I ) missing out on all  that ---culprit MY Crowning Glory because though my eyes were and are a real beauty but the zulfein !!! leave much to be desired " -- .

 Again like they say 'its never too late' so Thank you Sunsilk for introducing this product I am waiting eagerly to try it ---recharge my hair --and start life all over again . So that if and when I will lie in my hubby's arms  breathing my last he will be singing ....

                                    "teri zulfon se judayee  to nahi mangi thi 
                                   quaid mangi thi rihayee toh nahi mangi thi "
                            I never wanted to be separated from your silken tresses 
                             I wanted to remain enmeshed in them and not set free

                                      (a la hindi film style, my 'Bible' for romance )



this is my entry for the recharge your hair contest organized by Sunsilk and indiblogger and the link is http://www.sunsilk.in/


all the pictures are from the net .



Sunday, 22 December 2013

To DOVE with LOVE




My cell phone played  ---- the tin can tune----and an unfamiliar  number flashed ----"-Hello who is this ?" said I

 "Hi guess who?
said a voice on the other end  and jolted me  back on to the pillow that  I had just risen from .


"hello! hello  Rajs can you hear me ?"
"a..a... yes"  I replied ,  my voice sounded feebler than what the attack of viral fever had made it .

"Hi sweetie I am in town and am coming over to your place keep lunch ready and don't forget my favourite masalabhindi and boondi raita --no one can make them  like  aunty does -...and blah blah blah....and blah blah blah ...."she went on  I was hardly listening to her and then the connection snapped .What was it? had she disconnected or had my phone played truant ?

I rang her back and asked what had she said before the conversation had ended  " I said I am coming over to your place for lunch and I also said save this number its my new connection only for very close friends---got it ?" 

"Maa Anita is coming over for lunch " and I sank into the chair 

"Good she's your best friend and she will cheer you up --you look so drab and down after this fever it was a little bit too nasty" 

"yes mom and that is what I am worried about you do know !! how particular she is about her skin and hair and looks and all that , what will she say when she looks at this  dead skin of mine ?uff I am sacred of her reaction she can be bitchy and catty both ,"and I looked at my mom with desperation .

" Rajni  I think its you who is more bitchy and catty, talking about your best friend like that ---she has always been a good influence on you, had you not become friends with her you would have remained the tom boy you were it was her friendship that taught you how to take care of yourself and look more lady like ---my  Asha parekh ( that was my mom's compliment for me because Asha Parekh  the  actress of yester years in most of her movies used to be a tomboy in the begining of her role and then would become absolutely coy and ladylike and pretty )

Well if she was coming she was coming and I had to prepare  myself for her onslaught .

My fears were not unfounded the deluge of her inquiries and reactions came in torrents .Mom said "don't Anita don't harass her she has just recovered from viral fever and hence this state give her a weeks time and she will be okay "this calmed her  down like the day after the tsunami i.e. after having caused all the emotional damage ,madam began to apologize . 

But her buoyancy returned and she said "don't worry honey ab mai aa gayee hun na sab theek kar ke jaoongi --but lets have lunch first hope the boondi raita and bhindi are  ready ?...."and she began to sweet talk my mom "aunty aapke jaisa khana koyee nahi banata" etc etc No doubt she is my mom's favourite .

After lunch as we sat in my room with our favourite dessert 'caramel custard  with cream' she told me that she had come to invite me for a get together that she was planning the coming Sunday. I said I would have loved to but was in no mood to join a group of known and unknown people with this kind of scaly skin. As it is I was no beauty queen and with this frightening look I didn't want to be the target of curiosity , ridicule and sympathy .

Anita looked at me menacingly" how dare you refuse ----and what have you to worry, mai hun na ? your fairy Godmother my CINDERELLA "

"But what can you do?"

"Why? don't you remember how I worked at your skin with besan and cream and neem and tulsi to get you ready for the college annual function after you had ruined your skin playing holi with the worst of colours and varnish,   you wild cat !!!!!"

And we burst out laughing .

She had been a big source of help whenever it came to my looks --and she and me together had played pranks , harassed our teachers ,bunked classes to see cricket matches and movies ---in fact did all that which gave our teachers cause to worry .Once it so happened that just as  we came out of the movie hall it started to rain and we couldn't get any transport so by the time we reached home it had become very late and we were  completely drenched , my mother was at the door worried and anxious but the only thing she said was ---" in future please let me know of your escapades so that I will be able to tackle any  situation arising --there is n't any harm in bunking classes etc we have all done that but don't make it a habit " and this reaction of her's had both of us floored" 



"What a sweet mother you have  "  Anita had said  with moist eyes  ,she had lost her mother when she was about four years old .

""But there's very little time between Sunday and today Anu!!! and no amount of your LOVE will bring back the shine on my face "

"Come on shut your eyes and sit still as I work on your face and she brought out  a white pouch with a pink ribbon and two soap cakes of DOVE 

She applied dove soap on one of my cheeks   and after  gently massaging it for some time she washed it and and asked me  to see and feel the difference between the two cheeks   ---and GOD !! I just couldn't believe what a lot of difference !!!! this cheek which had received the DOVE treatment  was smoother  and softer  and glowing 

"So Madam !! how does it feel ? .

"Unbelieveable Anu what a difference this soap has made"  I said as I kept on touching and admiring my cheek and comparing it with the other one   

"I had said na ab mai aa gayee hoon sab theek kar ke jaaoongi" she winked and gave me a wicked smile .

My mom came in on hearing my shrieks and giggles ,one look at my face and she immediately noticed the difference ---she touched my cheek and exclaimed at the softness  --she was full of admiration for Anita " thanks Anu you do love her better than any other 'best friend ' you have always helped her ---see Rajni this is what is called LOVE"

"No Aunty this is not called LOVE
It's called DOVE"

She took out  the pouch with the two cakes of sweet smelling beauty bars and when I asked her what was the pink ribbon for she said" it was actually to blindfold you while I played the "guessing game " so that you wouldn't  know which cheek was washed with Dove  but we  didn't need it because I wanted you to see the miracle with open eyes ---you doubting Jane"



( Jane was her female counterpart for doubting Thomas. She had this habit of  changing the gender of all characters in proverbs eg peeping Tom would become  peeping Jane )

If one wash could do this !!! one week  of regular treatment would surely work wonders --and I began looking forward to attending the get together .

I hugged Anita as she handed me the white pouch with the soap cakes and the ribbon "you don't have to blindfold yourself with this ribbon instead use it as a hair band while washing your face hahahah"

As she left us ,I waved at her with GRATITUDE and LOVE and also two beauty bars of DOVE ,eager to face the world  armed with beautiful skin .


And  the miracle did take place my skin was soft and glowing and some old friends complimented on the improvement they said my skin looked better than always .


Thankyou Dove
with lots of Love


this is my entry for the http://www.dove.in/en/Products/Bar-Body-Wash/default.aspx---contest on indiblogger


#DoveFaceTest  --------is the hashtag















Thursday, 21 November 2013

An Immune India

Indiblogger has again come up with a blogging contest this time it is titled -----An Immune India ---and is in collaboration with Dabur Chyawanprash -.

First of all I must thank Indiblogger for conducting these contests because they not only provide us bloggers with opportunities to write, but more importantly when people in hundreds  write for the same topic  we  come to know about  many factors  which were hitherto unknown to us .enlightening us about that product .

So I must thank Indiblogger and the many sponsors for holding such contests ---in today's case its DABUR that I am thanking

Thankyou Dabur ,Thankyou Indiblogger...

The topic this time is IMMUNE INDIA and deals with the benefits of increased immunity in children against certain ""diseases which weaken a child and hence make a whole nation weak""Our body has to face attacks by different kinds of virus , dust ,weather changes etc daily and these cause many diseases which can be and are being fought by the ingredients of Chyawanprash an ancient ayurved health tonic . Dabur Chyawanprash has an edge over other brands because ---

  • Dabur is the first branded Chyawanprash in the country
  • It is the highest selling Chyawanprash with more than 60% market share
  • It is scientifically proven to provide 3 times more immunity that helps fight virus, flu and infections
  • Dabur Chyawanprash has been consistently voted as the power brand of the country and is a trusted remedy for cough and cold for a majority of Indian household.
  • It has been endorsed by celebrities like Sreeram lagoo, Amitabh Bachchan, Vivek oberoi, Virender Sehwag and now MS Dhoni
  • Has a sugar free variant for calorie conscious people
  • It is also available in 2 new exciting flavours Orange and Mango
  • It contains natural Ayurvedic ingredients, which are being consumed safely for ages.



I have grown up watching people, specially the old, use chyawan prash as a tonic  .My grandfather used to have chyawanprash with milk every morning, in fact till late in life I used to think that it is actually a tonic for senior citizens only and used to think that I will definitely include it in my diet once I reach that age :) in fact those were the days when people (the generation of my parents ) in their desire to  become modern and more westernized had started going in for tonics etc and had stopped believing in ayurved ---which practice thankfully has started to change now and the age old tried and tested methods of healthy living are again gaining recognition and authenticity. Thankfully indeed  

I have always loved the smell and taste of Chyawanprash and my daughters too used to love their spoonfuls in the morning before leaving for school ---but that time the mixed fruit ,mango and orange flavours were not available so initially I had to bribe them with sweets if they took their chyawanprash  but after a few months chyawanprash became the bribe for getting a lot of things done .and I had to tell them that 2 tsp spoonfulls per day was  the  recommended   dose .

Chyawanprash as we all know has anti-oxidant properties which strengthens our  body's immune system thereby protecting us from day to day infections. It comprises of Amla ( that wonder fruit ) together with some other  herbs which  strengthen the body's natural defence mechanism by increasing the NK cells ( Natural Killer Cells). In an in-vitro study conducted on Dabur Chyawanprash, it was found to have increased the NK sells levels up to 3 folds .

Now of course a very  good news is that we get sugar free chyawanprash which can  be taken by diabetics too and I am happy that I will not have to forego my daily dose of Chyawanprash as and when I get diabetes which I hope I do because after all  it is a lifestyle disease and happens to the rich and affluent and I surely wouldn't want to be left behind in that race would I ?


By the way while still at the topic of "" The  Immune and Immunity""" I have  news to share ---studies have shown that we Indians are fast developing Immunity against diseases like rape .bride burning ,scams ,corrupt politicians and corruption of all kinds in all fields .

You don't believe this ? then here are some facts 

1.we see rape being committed on the roadside and walk away turning our faces or drive away increasing our speed ( its another matter that we come out with  placards shouting slogans and holding candle marches after  the rapists have successfully accomplished their job.)

2. The moment a bride is burnt we start contemplating getting our daughters married to the new widower --another groom in the market and we form a queue in front of his house with the biodata of our unmarried daughters and  the dowry amount  increased .

3.Scams ---the less said the better 

4. corruption --well that is the way of life. You don't want to be looked down upon by your neighbours in the race of affluence .

5. corruption of all kinds in all fields ---what do you think are all these sex scandals and anti national activities ---corruption is not only financial to be corrupt means to be doing something wrong. 

And aren't we immune to all these ??

May be the fact that for a certain period in the  history of our society we had begun to disown our heritage and our ancient methods  of living ( as cited by me in a paragraph above which says that I used to believe that chyawanprash was only for the aged) and may be this gave rise to unhealthy attitudes in life .


Well, then lets hope that the consumption of Chyawanprash by our children will give them a healthy body which will host a healthy mind and help them to differentiate between the good and the bad and our country will become not only healthy physically but morally and mentally too ---a nation which will boast of a people with a healthy outlook towards life and who will bring laurels to the motherland and to themselves .

Jai Hind ----Vande Matram


this is my entry for the "An Immune India" contest on indiblogger and the link is www.daburchyawanprash.com











Saturday, 16 November 2013

traditional knowledge ---natural growth

Dabur Lal Tail

"Adam just see what is happening to the baby ?he just wont stop crying ---what do we do? don't just keep snoring  do something..."

"Stop making all that noise  ---and do something he is the result of your labour don't harass me..."


"my labour ?? and what do you ,mean ? as if you didn't have anything to do with it !!!!"


"no you were the one who tempted me to eat the apple its all your fault..."


"and were you a  baby to give in to my temptations you could have refused!
but yes you are right ;he is my labour you MCP......" and Eve started sobbing 

"ok ok don't start that all over again  let me see what I can do...."   and Adam got up with a yawn


.




 His hands touched the honeycomb he had been devouring the previous  night and he dipped his fingers in the honey that had trickled out --he then put the finger into the baby's mouth --"if some thing tastes good to my tongue it may taste good to him too" and yes the baby stopped howling in fact he started licking his lips and demanding more ---now this was a miracle and EVE  hugged Adam.  They now started  giving a dash of honey to the baby whenever he cried -----after a few days Eve noticed that  the baby had stopped coughing and his bowel movement too had improved he looked healthier too .
       
     



This was a dream sequence which had appeared on the panorama of my sleep when I thought of writing for this contest on indiblogger about TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE---NATURAL GROWTH  in collaboration with Dabur Lal Tail


I went straight to the computer  as soon as I woke up -and here are a few excerpts from GOOGLE SEARCH about HONEY



""""The health effects of honey have long been noted. The nutritional and medicinal qualities of honey have been documented in Vedic,GreekRomanChristianIslamic and other texts. Physicians of ancient times, such as Aristotle (384–322 BC), Aristoxenus (320 BC)HippocratesPorphyryCornelius Celsus (early first century AD) and Dioscorides (c. 50 AD), and Arab physicians have referred to the healing qualities of honey.




 Over four thousand years ago, honey was used as a traditional ayurvedic medicine, where it was thought to be effective at treating material imbalances in the body.
In pre-Ancient Egyptian times, honey was used topically to treat wounds.1.
Egyptian medicinal compounds more than five millennia ago used honey.
The ancient Greeks believed that consuming honey could help make you live longer.
Even the Prophet Mohammed glorified the healing powers of honey.
The Quran also praises honey's healing ability:



Current Eye Research (Vol. 36, No.9) documented that honey has anti-inflammatory properties that can be explored in several corneal inflammatory and infectious conditions. Researchers at the International Bee Research Association also reported that honey is a better natural eye cure for dry eyes than artificial tears. Though the solution used contained only 20% honey, it was found that honey could treat eye infection even when diluted. American Apitherapy Society showed a significant improvement in a corneal ulcer condition with topical honey when antibiotics, antiviral agents and corticosteroids had no effect----

Though scientific arguments have been made for use of honey in modern times, its use is still considered part of alternative medicine.[1][2]Honey contains powerful antioxidants with antiseptic and antibacterial properties .""""


In the very recent past we were suddenly made aware that honey was not to be consumed and specially by infants  because --


""""The spores of the botulism bacteria are found in dust and soil that may make their way into honey. Infants do not have a developed immune system to defend against infection, says Jatinder Bhatia, MD, a Georgia neonatologist who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Nutrition..Bhatia has never seen a case of infant botulism.""""


But then  neither do infants have a developed immune system against so many other diseases ranging from simple cold to typhoid to etc etc there  are many air borne or water borne diseases  But have we stopped breathing or have we stopped drinking water  ?? NO  BECAUSE we know that  WE CAN NOT DO WITHOUT EITHER OF THESE TWO  so we try and work out other ways ---similarly Honey is not all that dangerous for infants as it has recently been made out to be in fact here is an excerpt from google again



"""" E. Haffejee and A. Moosa reported in the BMJ on a clinical study in which they used honey in oral rehydration solution in children and infants with gastroenteritis. Their aim was twofold:

  • Determine whether honey might affect the duration of acute diarrhea
  • Evaluate honey as a glucose substitute in oral rehydration
They found that honey shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhea in infants and young children.4 They added that honey does not prolong non-bacterial diarrhea duration, and "may safely be used as a substitute for glucose in oral rehydration solution containing electrolytes."""""




Please don't think  I am writing an article on Honey I did all this research just to prove that traditional knowledge is very useful and at times better than modern medicines ( because it has no side effects ) for the natural growth of children .

LETS not forget a very important TRUTH that man came first and then  came discoveries and inventions and science and research .That which was good for our ancestors cannot be bad for us --there may be some irregularities  but we cannot straight away write off  old tried and tested methods of rearing children In fact honey helped me clean by daughters tongues when they were babies I would apply a little honey on a  piece  of cloth wrapped round my fingers and insert into the baby's mouth nicely cleaning her tongue while she would be enjoying the sweet taste :otherwise a dirty tongue could give rise to so many diseases .and we all know how difficult it is to clean a baby's tongue.

Similarly we give a warm mustard oil massage or a bit of Jaifal (nutmeg) in milk and the baby is cured of the severest of colds without any side effects .A spoonful of water in which Ajwain has been boiled is also a good cure for colds and stomach aches .


We have all seen that home remedies are better substitutes for children as compared to some allopathic medicines simply because they don't  have  any side effects this is because they comprise of those things which are natural  and not chemicals  -eg-ginger which is absolutely harmless is a good cure for cold , coughs and even stomach disorders whereas a simple cough syrup can cause drowsiness in children and in adults too which can be very dangerous .

 In fact we are discovering the importance of old traditional methods and advocating their use too ---clove oil is a component in so many remedies for tooth trouble  the old and simple gargle with warm water and salt is the panacea for all throat infections irrespective of the fact that the patient is taking antibiotics or not 

we find toothpaste companies asking  people ---kya apke toothpaste me namak hai ? nimbu hai ?

now aren't nimbu and namak traditional methods of cleaning teeth  I remember as children we used to clean our teeth with salt and mustard oil , my mom used to rub her teeth with left over lemon peels from her plate after every  meal this to make her teeth shine --and boy did they ? yes they sparkled always .


I need not keep visiting Google to corroborate or prove my points  --we all know that Diabetes and  Cardiac problems are all lifestyle diseases and can be cured by making changes in your food habits and some exercise ---and aren't these traditional methods we used to eat missi roti (roti made of flour which had horse gram added to it ) modern day cardiologists advocate this kind of flour because it has a lot of fibre 

Doctors are prescribing  garlic  to reduce cholesterol  
.
Yoga again comprises of asanas which are a traditional form of exercise and doctors from across the seas are prescribing YOGA for cardiovascular ailments .





We all know that strong medicines affect the liver ----drug induced liver diseases are those that are caused by physician -prescribed medications , over the counter medications , vitamins , hormones etc Thankfully this knowledge has put an end to the trendy practise of popping vitamin pills into your mouth for breakfast A very trendy scenes in all affluent MODERN families used to be the wife asking the hubby and kids " tumne apni vitamins le li ?" before they left home for work or school :)


Coming to simpler things a hair dye has the capacity to whiten even that hair which can be black for another 2 or 3 years whereas henna and amla mixture if applied regularly can make your hair retain its luster and blackness for years and years and it gives a natural shaded look if its regularity is not broken even after your hair has started greying .And the kidney and eyes too remain safe 

Baby soaps are harsher for baby's  skins as compared to besan and haldi combined with milk , "ubtan"--ubtan even rids the baby of unwanted body hair gradually



Oh yes and don't we remember that the Americans wanted to patent the turmeric and the Neem


Google to my rescue again 

By October, 1996 when the prestigious New Scientist magazine wrote under the title, "Pirates in the garden of India", India's sanguine magnanimity was to end. A crisis was brewing. India had to do something.
Abduction of turmeric:
The war began thus: In May, 1995 the US Patent Office granted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center a patent [#5,401,504] for "Use of Turmeric in Wound Healing."
Well, well, well. Some discovery, that. Indians grow up with a constant awareness of turmeric. It permeates their life. It is an easy and generous plant [curcurma longa] that grows throughout the sub-continent. The tuber when dried keeps practically forever. Its decoction is a stubborn dye. It is a condiment that adds character to Indian food and helps digestion. Turmeric powder heals open wounds. Drunk with warm milk, it stems coughs, cures colds and comforts throats.
. Indian physicians had always packed their kits with turmeric. Now West's formal research was confirming many of its virtues. It is now believed to be able to treat dysentery, arthritis, ulcers and even some cancers. It is also found to protect the liver. 
Turmeric's grace is stunning cancer researchers. COX-2 inhibitor drugs have been known to block an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 which aggravates arthritis. Dr. Mitch Gaynor at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center, New York uses these drugs in cancer treatment to impede this undesirable enzyme. Turmeric goes one step further: Dr. Chintalapally V. Rao of American Health Foundation, Valhalla, NY believes that while COX-2 inhibitor drugs battle the enzyme, the curcurmin element in turmeric prevents even the formation of the enzyme


The patent was promptly challenged by Dr. R A Mashelkar, an Indian scientist who has done much to awaken India to Intellectual Property Rights issues. After four months of submissions it was established that the use of turmeric as a healing agent was well-known in India. For some centuries, one is tempted to add. The patent was annulled. But there were more battles ahead.
In 1996, Vandana Shiva -- an icon for Third World Knowledge Rights -- began to challenge the patent granted to the firm of W.R.Grace & Co by the European Patent Office, Munich for 'fungicidal uses of neem oil'. Now, it so happens that neem is as much a divine object in India as turmeric is. With far less education than modern scientists the Indian farmer over the ages had integrated neem into his work. It is a part of India's religious life, to sublimate anything of value to divine levels in order to engender an esteem and sensitivity for it. Shiva and Ajay Phadke [who had researched neem for Rhone Poulenc in India] flagged ancient Indian texts for their eminences in Munich to convince them that there was no 'novelty' factor in neem's magical properties that Grace had unveiled-- Indians had known them for long.

 This patent too was vacated.


I am using these excerpts from google just to prove  the authenticity of my views 

What do all these battles prove --that modern and the scientifically aware westerners too have discovered the benefits of  our own desi knowledge .Whereas we are busy immitating and apeing them and providing  them with a dumping yard .

I would request all aware Indians to preach and practise our own traditional methods as far as possible 
I don't say that modern medicine is bad it is also very important but not for every small ailments because all that glitters is not always gold .

Let not history repeat itself let not nimbu and namak come to us as salt and lemon like Yoga and Sitar came to us via the USA .




This post is written for the contest ---traditional knowledge natural growth on indiblogger in collaboration with Dabur Lal Tail








p.s---all pictures and material typed in red have been taken from the net