Inspirational

Surprised or Shocked

/ dinah1995 / 3 Comments

After all the Pandemic pressure and freedom to find myself on a deeper level, I was struck by something very unexpected.

It was the last day of August when I decided to go to a gynaecologist to check how my Polycystic Ovarian Disease, or PCOD was doing. I was unwell for a while and the situation was such that we thought it was Covid. Well, guess what, I had already come through my first trimester by then!

The scan which was supposed to be done to check how my PCOD was, ended up showing me that I was five months pregnant! Surprised or Shocked? I couldn’t decide then.

I was absolutely not ready to be who I was going to be, who I am today. I remember being completely shut down, spoke quite little, contemplated how it is all going to be, how I am going to transform, whether I was indeed ready for this transformation; angry at myself for not knowing my body well enough, happy that I was chosen despite having severe PCOD issues – a lot of different thoughts.

I suddenly matured – started constantly keeping the room clean, folding blankets, keeping the house tidy, behaving responsibly with medication, took more care of what I ate, how much water I drank, basically took more care of myself. It was a mixture of emotions, good, bad, ugly, satisfying, parallel – mood swings like never before, tantrums so childish, cravings of shawarma like never before, fear, anxiety, heaviness along with smiles, eagerness, excitement of some sort, joy, I don’t know what not!

I still can’t decide – Surprised or Shocked?

To be continued…

Read Part 1 – How it started

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Scars are Beautiful

/ dinah1995 / Leave a comment

Scars…they are beautiful. They mark us for who we are and then define us who we are. They show us what we have come through and definitely help us recall what battles we have prevailed. They remind us we are stronger and robust than anything that has tried to hold us down.

Scars are good. They are part of our precious history. They speak of our experiences and share to this world what brave lives we’ve lived. They speak of hours which are dormant within our lives; times that perhaps not many would know of. Scars bring about courage – courage to face unfair realities. They bring power to withstand obstacles and hustle through hurdles like a champ.

Scars are important. They show us how committed, consistent and reliable we have become. They pave the way to a new and brighter understanding of how far we have come and how much strength it has taken.

Scars are reminders of how life was, is and is to be lived. They fade with time. Oh yes, however they never disappear. They are engraved in us for a reason. They are there for a purpose. They speak truths and explain efforts taken. They come, impact and remain; for they are what they are – TEACHERS who teach us life.

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Travel and Unwind

/ Pozicool Raga / Leave a comment

Summer blues hitting you! Time for a quick getaway from the hot city. Enter: you zooming into the cool climes of a hill station, chilling beside a river bed, or going river rafting with friends and enjoying the rapids of the river. You may even visit a serene hill station, be in a resort – a pina colada in hand next to a beautiful swimming pool, a quiet, shady spot to sleep next to it. Another option is to tread the adventure path: pack your bags, go to the hill, trek to the deep forests and cool off in a treehouse with the birds and animals? All this sounds boring! Time to give a peppy twist to the hot, boring summers!

“Unexplored paths lead to undiscovered treasures” is so true! Post the pandemic, the aim of travel lust folks is more for fulfilment vis a vis the mundane sightseeing and selfies. Everyone seems to have reached a saturation point and wants to break free from the routine and regular work. The pandemic seems to have become a “predestined” way of changing the course of life. The quirky seems to be the preferred way of living life. “Do things differently” has become everyone’s mantra now – including travel ideas too!

Travelling has become a part of most people’s lifestyle. An escape from the boring routines and the madness! And most of you would be having a bucket list that normally starts at the beginning of the year. Penning them down, pinning it to our soft boards or sticky notes on our laptops – we have them all! The list is ready. But we are not. Such people are called virtual travellers who gaze lovingly at their computer screen wallpapers. Most likely, they would have researched where to go, where to stay, and explored possible hangout zones near their chosen spots too. I know the extremely meticulous travellers – right from their passports, documents, travel accessories to clothes – everything would be planned and kept ready a long time ago! 

Then there are the backpackers or impromptu travellers who just pick clothes, accessories, and everything needed for a trip and dump them all in a travel bag and just stride off the doors, choosing the quickest available transport. There is a third category – a blend of both. So which category of travellers do you belong to?

Get as quirky as you want when you plan your travels. Here’s what you can do to make your travel interesting! Discover the wanderlust in you!

Start a Travel Bucket List
So, what is a bucket list? A list of things you want to do. Having a bucket list in every walk of life helps! A travel bucket list can have the locations you want to visit and logistics for the same. So, a kind of a brain map for travel. Each time you spot an interesting place to visit, write the name of the place in a journal. You can even add “things-to-do” there too. Don’t wait for a very long list. Keep it short lest you only spend time planning (and end up in virtual travel). Have short term goals accordingly so you can start marking your calendars and plan leaves accordingly.

Ensure safe travel
Thanks to the pandemic and fear of acquiring the virus, people started restricting travel (also thanks to government guidelines). But gradually, various places have opened up. You can choose safe spots for travel. Do enough research on the location to find hygienic places to stay, local specialities and hangouts too. Make sure that the rooms are cleaned and sanitized thoroughly. Find safe food spots to sample local flavours instead of the regular restaurant food.

Do Vlogging
The latest travel lingo to be added to the vocabulary is V logging. Thanks to social media, people love to share travel stories with their friends on their social media handles. You can record your voice while shooting videos of interesting locales and upload it on a travel website/social media handle. These memories you make will  remain forever. Though it may be lost in the world wide web and for others, they will remain with us every time we watch them. As years pass by, we will need to look back, so make memories for yourself. 

Locales, off-beat
A quirky traveller will always choose destinations that are lesser known and off the “tourist” maps. You will get the feel of the local culture and place much better. With so many companies going hybrid, this seems to be a great time for travellers to step outside the four walls of the house and search for remote locations to work and have a vacation too! The locations can range from a simple jungle lodge, a beach shack, or even a homestay beside a river bank. There are many who love traditional houses and rural settings. There are many people who have started their own farms with animals, plants and growing their own foods. They even organize guided stays for the public. Almost every city, there are entrepreneurs who have opened up farm stays – a great place for children to discover the farm-to-plate food.

Travel, reset sleep cycles
The pandemic took a toll on most working folks. With the work-from-home routine, companies overloaded employees with work that was almost 24x7. As a result, insomnia set in with late night work routines. To reset sleep cycles, people started thinking of travelling and working simultaneously. Choosing a remote destination that has wi-fi as well as other good amenities – renting out service apartments, people sought a change in food and sleep routines too. Choosing to work at their pace is the solution most people have found to alter unhealthy lifestyles. 

Family time back!
Those with families started going on short vacations too since schools had gone hybrid as well. Travel also ensures spending quality time with the family, talking, playing games and eating meals together. This had been missing in the last decade. Family members and children seemed in parallel zones. The pandemic seems to have acted as a pause button on busy lifestyles. Search engine traffic became higher with people looking for shorter getaways with families as well as working remotely. In other words, it became akin to “targeting two birds with one stone”.

Finally, travel is also a way of going back to the roots. I have always discovered tiny facets of me that were undiscovered during my growing years. Each trip has been a joyous journey down the memory lanes. I still have old photographs of various travails and escapades with friends. The wanderlust in me is forever alive and keeps my creative juices flowing just like all of you will discover for yourselves once you begin travelling.

I love this quote: “I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel’s sake! The great affair is to move”. So, cheers to new destinations, new journeys, and travails! Happy Holidays, folks!

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How it Started

/ dinah1995 / 4 Comments

I have never understood life so deeply. It’s been months since my baby boy came into this world and I still am not over the fact that I was a completely a different person just a few months back.

To begin with, I was not ready – leave alone ready, I was quite sure I was going to be just a dog mom for the rest of my life. This was not because of anything else but the sheer fact that I believed I was just not a very responsible human being. I took too long to learn myself, unlearn things about myself and appreciate who I was. Well, as I swung through my days like that, I was taken by surprise when my gynaecologist said that I was five months pregnant.

Five months and I did not have a clue? I was asked this question so many times by so many people including myself. Am I even a “girl” for not knowing my body? Am I so irresponsible and naive to not know what my body was going through? I can only blame my ridiculously irregular cycles throughout my life that I was just so casual about the whole thing.

Though an inexcusable statement, my Polycystic Ovarian Disease, or PCOD did make me believe everything was normal. The year before, I was losing weight, was wearing clothes I’ve always dreamt of, was posing for pictures like a queen, was basking in the glory of shedding pounds which I have always wanted to. Then I hear the news and I go blank. I was not ready. I was not prepared. I shut down from everyone and everything. All at once.

Nothing was the same. I was not the same. I changed. Not every woman wants to be a mom. Maybe hard to hear, but not every woman wants a baby to take care of. I was a woman like that. Perhaps, I was just too scared of the responsibility. I was overwhelmed by the fact that someone was going to rely on me. I am going to have to be there for someone. Real-time.

My journey from an easy-go-lucky, fun-loving, carefree, always on the run girl to a MOTHER was not planned, thought of, expected, or oh-so-happy in the beginning.

Things changed.

Part 2 – Surprised or Shocked

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A Teacher, Historian and Critic

/ Chippy Kurian Chacko / 2 Comments

Presenting to you, Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat M.A., M.Phil, Ph.D.,
Art Historian, Art Critic, and Independent Curator,
Former Head and Associate Professor,
Department of Fine Arts, Stella Maris College,
Chennai, South India.

Ashrafi desires individuals to feel differently about Art, and in her lectures on Art History, she told her students, ‘without Art History, creativity will neither be born nor happen,’ and her research and her life prove it. Ashrafi has written sizeably about Modern and Contemporary Art for years in India.

On invitations from various artists and art galleries, Ashrafi has curated exhibitions, held numerous lectures on Art, authored over 200 exhibition catalogues, essayed issues of Modern and Contemporary Art, and, was published in various publications in India and overseas too.

She is a published author and her books are ‘Madras Modern: Regionalism and Identity’, ‘Framing the Regional Modern’, and, ‘Hariraam Veeraraghavan – A Metaphoric Self in Abstraction.’

Ashrafi was the recipient of the 2016 Brew Magazine’s ‘Women’s Achievers Award.’ This was for her contribution to Art History and Art Criticism. She was the Guest Editor for a special issue of MARG Magazine, Contemporary Art in South India. She was an Art Critic for ‘The Hindu’ from 2001 to 2011.

She is no ordinary woman, Ashrafi is one in a million. Meet the legend in Art History,
Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat. Discover more on Ashrafi’s life, work, and the path she took to shape a career in Art and Art History. 

A conversation with Chippy & Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat.

Chippy————— Welcome to The Conversation Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat. It’s an absolute honour to have you here.
AshrafiWell. I am happy to be here.
ChippyLet me just jump straight. If somebody asks you who’s Ashrafi, how would you describe yourself?
Ashrafi‘Who is Ashrafi?’ Well, Ashrafi is… I am really stumped by this because I have never ever thought about it. Well, I would consider myself first a teacher, who has been passionately interested in art, art history, and design. I mean, everything to do with art. So, that’s how I would consider myself, a teacher first, because that’s my passion.
ChippyThat’s the fact.  What if you take out the professional aspect out of it, how would you see yourself? Who would you say who you are?
AshrafiWell, as a person, I am quite a softie though I appear to be a hard nut outside. There is a different world within me. I have love and passion for many things as a person. I had an incredible childhood and it all started there. I am a Bohra Muslim who grew up in a joint family. There were seven of us in the family, four of us girls.

I grew up in the 70’s and fortunately, for me, my community was always quite open minded. And especially my father, I would give all the credit to my father who was very keen that all his girls were educated. My mother was a very creative person and my father cared for all of us and thought deeply about our future.Unfortunately, my eldest sister couldn’t do much. Though she had a lot of talent for languages, my grandmother never allowed it. By the time I joined College, my grandmother was no more and my father could take his decision. I was very fortunate in that respect. 
ChippyYour father’s support, which is very crucial in what you are now, you know. Because of that you became what you are today. 
AshrafiI need to mention this, ‘how important it was that he supported me’. Initially, I joined as an economics student in Ethiraj College. After a week I said, ‘I am not going back. I just don’t like the subject’. At that time I also got to know about Stella Maris College and its Fine Arts Department. I told my father, ‘I want to do fine arts’.

So, my father said, ‘you are going to college. You will finish this one year. Next year, you can do what you want’. If at that point in time my father had said, ‘okay, do what you want’. And had I stayed at home for one year doing nothing, my life would not have remained the same and I would not be who and what I am today. The support he gave me, the push he gave me has always helped me to be a better person and I strived for more.
ChippyDid you have any ambitions or dreams growing up? What did you aspire to become?
AshrafiYes, I did have one dream.  I always wanted to be a teacher. Always. It was during grade seven that I realised I wanted to be a teacher. I had some good teachers in school who inspired me. My seventh grade teachers had an impact on me, especially my brilliant Geography Teacher and another Teacher, she was an all-rounder and a strict disciplinarian. I picked up discipline from her. And it was during my one year stint in Ethiraj College doing Economics, that I had History as an allied subject. I had a fantastic History Lecturer and that’s how I developed a love for history. Dedicated, passionate and strong Teachers from my life inspired me to follow that path. 
Chippy—————So did you follow your passion for Fine Arts?
AshrafiOf course yes. After I completed my first year in economics, I joined the Fine Arts Department in Stella Maris College for my FIne Arts degree. 
ChippyYou were very clear how you want things in your life to be. So, how was your life in Stella Maris as a Fine Arts student?
AshrafiIt was fascinating and interesting for me. I loved the subjects. The Lecturers were very exceptional and they again inspired me. I was so inspired by them that I joined for Post Graduation and later completed my M. Phil in Fine Arts too. I was actually blessed to have such good Teachers, who really inspired me. So, I was very firm that ‘come what may be, I am going to come back to Stella Maris and will teach here’.
ChippySo did that happen?
AshrafiYes it did materialise. It was after my post graduation that I decided to teach Art History and be part of this institution. I did approach my Head of the Department with my interest in teaching and she said, ‘we’ll look into it’. So, this gave me some time on my hands and I joined Max Müller to learn German. I realised the fact that I had no flair for languages, none at all.

It was during one of the German classes that I got a call to meet the former Head, and the Founder of the Department, Dr. Sr. Edith Tömöry immediately. During this meeting she said, ‘I am revising my first edition of the book, and need someone to help me with research for my book. And I think you are the right person. So will you assist me and help me?’. I said, yes. And that’s how I joined Stella Maris in August 1977 as Sr Edith’s Research Assistant. I helped her with research, did illustrations, and more. In 1978, at the beginning of the next academic year, I was offered a teaching position. And the rest is history.
ChippyThus began your career in teaching, A dream come true.
AshrafiMy first job. Obviously, my first and only job. Oh yes, it was a long time. From 1972 to the day I retired in 2012. 
ChippyWow. I am speechless. Take me through that time when you first started your job as a Lecturer? How have things progressed in your life? How have you grown over time in your profession? 
AshrafiWell, it’s a long journey. I started off with a lot of interest in Art. One thing about me was that I was not simply happy reading about a work. I was always interested in knowing what it is which made them create art in such a way? So, initially, my interest began with Indian Art. Soon I found that the books were not very inspiring, that were written on Indian Art.

I found that Western Art History had very good books written by scholars and felt the reading was made easy and understandable. It was at this point, around 78-79 that the Time Life series, came out with Great masters. And I got interested in that, and I started collecting books on Art. I collected the entire series, and I started reading from these books. And these books gave me much more additional information than I could have got it from any other source. So, the cultural context of a work of art is what actually made me very interested. And I wanted to know as to how an artist from a particular context, from a particular culture, from obtaining a certain patronage, how did they survive. 
Chippy—————That’s fascinating. So how was your growth in the department? 
AshrafiI had to earn my way. I started as a Lecturer, later became Senior Lecturer, Associate Lecturer and in 1991 I was made an Undergraduate Head and progressed to Postgraduate Head. And finally I became the Head of the Department of Fine Arts and retired as Associate Professor. 
ChippyBeing a teacher helps you enhance your knowledge. Reading, researching…
AshrafiI carried this reading into my class. And my students found it very interesting. And for me, it was a passion and I used to read and deliver it to the class. And at that time, the students were equally interested.This is how I developed my interest in art, developed my interest in collecting art books, various kinds of art books, and I was slowly building up a library.

Then it became inevitable in the mid-80s, I have to go beyond my post-graduation degree if I have to go up the ladder in my profession. And that I was required to do my MPhil. So, I did a part time M. Phil from the University of Madras, and my M. Phil thesis was based on “Changing Concepts in 19th century European Art” and this made me extremely interested in Modern Art. Then 10 years went by, and then it fell on my head that I have to do my Ph.D. Now, Ph.D. was something I was terrified about. 
ChippyWhy was that?
AshrafiI had no choice but to do my Ph.D. Now, I did not want to do it in the department. I had told myself that I will never do another thesis after my M.A. dissertation, but I did an M. Phil thesis. So, when I was left with no choice because I was heading the department and it was a requirement, which the university had brought in that the head should have a Ph.D. degree. 
ChippySo off to complete Ph.D. 
AshrafiI didn’t know what subject I would actually work on. Folk-art tradition fascinated me and I told myself, ‘I am sure that there is something in art, where the folk-art tradition is’. I had minimal knowledge about modern art in India as my whole focus was always in the West. I did a research proposal. And I went to University of Baroda for registration. Of course, there was a panel meeting. And was put under such scrutiny that I felt crucified. I was asked so many questions for which I had absolutely no answer. 
ChippyOh dear!
AshrafiOh dear indeed but then somehow, I was fated to do my Ph.D. in Baroda. Dr. Parul Dave Mukherji. I wanted her to be my guide. Initially, she was a little reluctant, because she said, ‘I have no knowledge’. There were many other guides but I didn’t want to work under any male guide. I was clear about that from day one. So, after much consideration she took me on. I registered myself, I went on two years sabbatical having been awarded the Teacher’s Fellowship by the U.G.C. and started my doctoral studies. 
ChippyExciting times and excruciating stress. How did these two years fly by? Were there any hurdles and how did you overcome them? 
AshrafiOh no! Absolutely painful times. This was a period which I thought I would not survive. I thought I may have to give up my teaching also in the bargain. It was so difficult for me. I can’t tell you how difficult it was because I never understood any theories. I found it very difficult. I said, ‘how do I survive? How do I read?’ 

Thanks to my guide. She’s the one who opened up many windows for me. I was willing to work to any extent. To my bones, I was ready to work, but I needed guidance. The direction which came from my guide Parul Mukherji was exceptional. She opened up so many possibilities. Once I was level headed, I said to myself, ‘I will not take this stress anymore. Rather I will enjoy the stress’. The moment I changed my attitude to enjoying my stress, you know, it became something different. Of course, I was able to finish my work in two years. My viva was in 2004. And I got my degree.
ChippyAmazing journey. How did you get into Art Writing?
AshrafiIn 2001, while I was doing my doctoral studies, Ms. Sharan Appa Rao of Apparao Galleries, approached me and requested to write a catalogue essay for her exhibition. I responded, ‘I am not capable of writing exhibition catalogues’, and for that she said, ‘ for your Ph.D., you can write thousands of words but for my catalogue essay you can’t write some 2000 words’. She’s the one who actually initiated me into writing on Art and on Artists. Then she’s the one who slowly introduced me to ‘The Hindu’, a daily newspaper as an Art Critic. 
ChippyApart from your teaching job you also diversified into Art Curator and Critic. 
AshrafiYes. I became an Art Critic for The Hindu for almost 10 years from 2001 to 2011. And that’s how, you know, my journey began in this arena.When I wrote for The Hindu, I used to get very positive feedback from many of the readers. I was approached for writing catalogues for the artists’ exhibitions. And slowly my career picked up.

It’s now 20 years since I’ve been in this field. And for which I would say thanks to my guide, Parul Mukherji. Every time when I tell her thank you, she says, ‘what are you thanking me for? You don’t know how hard you worked to get your degree’. I always said, ‘true but without you, your guidance I couldn’t have done it’. So, that’s how I’ve gone through my journey. It wasn’t a bed of roses at all.It’s going to be 10 years of my retirement and I have been an Art Critic now for twenty years. 
Chippy—————That’s your professional journey. Over three decades of teaching career and now this. You are truly an inspiration. In the meantime you started a family too. 
AshrafiYes, I got married. But I was not blessed with children. While keeping my job, I took occasional leave from work and spent time with Shabbir, my husband who at that time was working outside the country. And at one stage, I almost gave up my job. I thought I had the possibilities of working where my husband was stationed. I did get a job there, then they said, ‘you’re not a citizen. So, we cannot give you a job’.Once again, thanks to another man in my life, my husband, who said, ‘you will not give up your job. We’ll see what the future holds for us. But at the moment you just continue with your work’. 
ChippyYou were thinking of relocating to be near your husband.
AshrafiRelocating. Yeah. But Shabbir said not to sacrifice my career. I continued with my job. Frankly speaking, this gave me a lot of space for myself, to think and to do exactly what I wanted.I had good family support from my husband’s side, who were very supportive of my work. I am truly blessed that way.

My mother-in-law who never interfered, my co-sisters who never bothered. Although they were all homemakers, I was the only one who was working. But they were all supportive and understanding. They never judged me, let me be who I am. It was a happy ambience, which also helped me in my teaching because I didn’t have to go through any stress or tensions or anxieties from my home front. So, 100%, I would say I was dedicated to my reading, to my teaching and pursuing my passion. Truly blessed.
ChippyHow did you meet Shabbir?
AshrafiShabbir Bhagat was a good friend of my brother. They were in college together and he used to come home often. I was in school and science subjects, physics, chemistry and maths were all Greek to me. Shabbir was good at science. So, whenever he came home, I used to ask him doubts and he used to clarify, he used to actually teach me. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have never cleared my school as a matter of fact. I just managed to scrape with a third class. But I managed to finish my school. 
ChippyHe liked you. Didn’t he ?
AshrafiI was not even aware that he was interested in me. He didn’t tell me. He was so afraid that I would say no that he sent the proposal through my brother. My brother brought the proposal and I was quite excited about it. I liked him too. And finally when he proposed to me, I said, ‘yes’, so that’s the story of how we met. We had a long engagement. I met him around 1969 and we got married in 1979. For 10 years, we got to know each other.
Chippy10 year engagement. Quite unusual for the times.
AshrafiAbsolutely. That’s why I keep repeating, I am blessed. My family was open to that. Otherwise, you know, the next thing is to get married. So, that’s why I say, my father played such an important role. And my husband was instrumental in pushing me into doing my Masters. I was really happy with the bachelor’s degree. I didn’t want to do my masters because I was scared of the idea of doing a thesis. I dreaded it but I did it. Fortunately, the two men in my life have played an instrumental, significant, and very seminal role in moulding me, in making me as a matter of fact what I am and who I am today.
ChippyBeautiful story.  A lot of love stories don’t have good endings.
AshrafiThat’s why I always tell myself, I am the blessed one. I am really blessed in every way, every day.
Chippy—————Moving on. It is a fact. You were instrumental in the growth of the Fine Arts Department at Stella Maris College. In your career spanning 34 years, you have helped shape a department that now is truly remarkable.
AshrafiAbsolutely. As a matter of fact, we were the only institution and department in an institution affiliated to the university which had a three-year degree. Normally, all fine arts degrees were for four years. One year is the foundation, and then the other three years of specialisation. But that was not the case with Stella Maris. 

That is when I decided along with my colleagues and with the support of the Principal whose support was very instrumental, In 2008 we changed over from a three year course to four years and renamed it Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) degree with two options in specialisation, Painting or Design. And a BVA degree came into existence within four years. Our first batch passed out in 2012. And it continues to date. I feel very happy that I worked towards establishing a four-year course.

When I was a student, we were just 25 in a class. In the mid 80s, it was about 35 and then gradually the strength went to 40, 45, 50 and by the time I retired the strength was almost 60. To undertake a course in Art History, one needs dedication, passion and above all interest. I found that many of the students thought it was a waste of time until I reminded them ‘without art history, your creativity will never be born or happen’. I said, from where will you get your ideas, unless you go back to your past history and see the artists how they have worked? Some of them were sharp enough to realise this and made a career and profession out of this.
ChippyYou are also the person who introduced travel as a way to learn Art.
AshrafiThe other area I help curate is exploring. I tell my students reading alone is not enough. You have to encounter art. And for that you have to encounter architectural space, art galleries, spaces. Our Founder, Sr Edith always said, ‘travel child, travel. You will learn a lot by travelling’. Sr Edith also made it mandatory for the art students to travel every year to the places of historic and artistic interests. We used to take students to Rajasthan, Khajuraho, and to South India. I have travelled extensively with my students throughout India. And I was fortunate enough that the students gave me an opportunity to travel with them. 

When I was teaching Western Art History, there were few students who wanted to travel internationally. It all began in 1989. Every time I took Art History lessons starting with Egyptian Art, ‘Ma’m, let’s go to Egypt.’ Greek History, ‘Ma’m, let’s go to Greece.’ ‘Let’s go to Turkey’. But travel never materialised until 2006 when one day I decided, ‘I will take my students to see work of Art.’ 

I opened up to the whole department and started taking trips with my students. And our first departmental trip was to France and Italy in 2006. Then more and more students got very interested. So, till I retired in 2012, we went across Europe looking at museums and architecture and culture, and nearly saw all the countries and all the museums. So, that one on one encounter and experience with art is breathtaking. 
ChippyYou love travelling and have travelled extensively. Share with us your favourite  places in India and overseas?
AshrafiI think that’s a very difficult question to answer. I found Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in India very fascinating. I thought I was looking at art completely every way, and everywhere.

We travel extensively as a family. We had taken European trips. The Christmas festivities there, especially in Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Prague were amazing. It was like being in a fairy land, happy atmosphere.The cold, of course, was killing but when you see people so happy, radiant, joyous, and then that spirit of Christmas, it was a sight to behold. The Christmas festivities in Europe, I found it really very, very fascinating. And I just loved it. Even today when I have to relive some of these you know, I go back to this Christmas time in Europe.
ChippyIs there anyone else who inspired you?
AshrafiMy mother. Without her support, I don’t think anything was possible. It’s her creativity, which all of her children have got. I inherited her creativity. She was an extremely talented woman, who did almost everything except paint and draw but I could draw and I could paint. My mother encouraged me and let me pursue this side of my talent and due to this I was able to get into Fine Arts History. 

Oh! My mother was a strict disciplinarian. This was another important aspect. Whether we liked it or not, she would make us sit by her and she would be telling stories about her life. I used to tell myself, ‘do I have to hear all this?’  But now I realise how important stories are in our lives and those nuggets of philosophy that she imparted actually came very useful and very handy for me, especially in my teaching career. 
ChippyIf you ever get a chance to go back in time and meet your 18-year self, what would you tell young Ashrafi? 
AshrafiI don’t think I have any regrets about anything. I was happy doing whatever I did, at every stage in my life. And so, at 18, wherever I was, whether the crossroads or a direct road, I seem to have chosen my path and have travelled it the way I wanted it, supported by my destiny, and by the almighty.
ChippyWhat advice do you have for a person who’s looking to get into Fine Arts? To break into the industry as an Art Historian or become an Art Critic.
AshrafiI would say only one thing. That is only hard work please. It’s 99% hard work, and it’s 1% what do you call inspiration. And that has been my philosophy. I don’t consider myself as a great intellectual but I found that consistent hard work is the only option. This has been my mantra, and I have always conveyed it to my students. Even today, I have the same suggestion, do whatever you have to do but unless you work hard and it is not consistent hard work, nothing will materialise. 
ChippyThat’s a good message. I am honoured to have you with us today and truly humbled. It was a true delight talking to you.
AshrafiI have never had an opportunity to talk about my life as such, which you gave me an opportunity that in the beginning, you know, like I was frozen. I didn’t know you, as to where it has to begin and what it has to be. So, thank you very much. Yeah, thank you for making me realise what I have done in my life. Otherwise, I don’t think I’ve given it a second thought either.  

I am really blessed that I always tell myself, every morning I get up, I say thank God for whatever you have given me and made me. So, I mean, without the support, I don’t think I would have been able to achieve what I was able to do.
ChippyI think it’s been such a beautiful conversation and thank you so much for the time that you’ve given me. 
Follow Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat
With former students.

Beat the Blues with Music

/ Pozicool Raga / 3 Comments

Music has an innate connection with our souls. Each time a tune reverberates in our vicinity, we unconsciously sway to the beats. The sensation we get with each sound-wave is intense. The sound waves transcend the body and pulsate in our senses. They say music has this power to calm you.

Many of you will have their own ways to calm themselves – some may go into silence, some use water as a medium for therapy and some may use simple meditation techniques – there are many techniques. Each one must find their own way of calming the body and healing and see what works for them, rather see how their body reacts to each technique.


Music has another magic altogether. It has no language. It simply communicates signals to the body to create cells to heal. Many even say plants respond to music and grow well. As they say it is a matter of faith and when you see it happen in front of the eyes, experience it yourself, it is even more magical.

Great legendary musicians like Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bruce Springsteen and many more have described music as food for the soul, magical and something that can transform the world. One of my favourite singers in the country music genre is Bob Marley. His words – “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” – still resonate and echo whenever I am low and all down!

Such is the magic of music. It lifts the soul and helps you transcend
all barriers to reach your destination – work, love, dreams and life itself!

1. Creating a musical routine

This helps a lot. Start making a routine to incorporate music in day-to-day life. You can have your favourite playlist, plug it in and dance. Choose one part of the day for the same.

2. Recognizing an emotional trigger

This is important so that you know which music will calm you down. Choose your music and segregate your playlists accordingly in the phone. Plug in the moment you know you are about to be overwhelmed by emotions – that point where feelings hit the peak and you cannot feel anything around you, you are all numb! Then there is an outburst – recognize this sign. Music helps you calm these nerves.

3. Music, you heal me!

Read this somewhere: “Music has the healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a little while.” How true this is! Music draws people out of their comfort zones to do things they never did – shake and sway to beats even in the middle of nowhere, perhaps even walk with a pep in the strides. People have changed their patterns and ways of behaviour.

Negative statements turn into positive affirmations. Despair turns to hope and optimism hits the peak. Scientifically speaking, hormones get altered and our brain sends positive signals to the body! Music has been found to benefit health greatly! So up your wellness quotient now!

4. Music helps you express!

I love Victor Hugo’s quote: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Many cannot express emotions succinctly as most do. Music as an art helps them describe emotions well. There are many certified music therapists who recommend their clients to learn a musical instrument or any form of vocal music as part of the treatment plans.

Learning how to play various musical notes helps keep the brain active and helps a great deal in healing a traumatized mind. Clients have been known to show a large difference in their demeanour, body language and social skills too. It helps the most non-expressive people (who are unable to verbalize their feelings) to express themselves well. Some have taken to journaling as well. Hans Christian Anderson sums it up well: “Where words fail, music speaks.”

5. Sleep well with music

If you are someone with sleep issues, music is the best cure. Listening to some amazing meditation music at bedtime will help you snooze into deep sleep. Music improves sleep quality too. Research even found out that music reduced the time taken to fall asleep vis a vis a normal bedtime routine. So, browse some great music online. Ancient Tibetan sound healing is yet another popular therapy recommended for insomniacs. It is a combination of playing various ancient instruments producing varied sounds and music, inducing people to sleep deep and peacefully.

A word of caution by therapists is not to listen to music on headphones/earbuds while sleeping as it can affect the ear canals. Instead, you can find a convenient spot in your room to place the music system and adjust volume settings to a minimum. It must be ambient and low just for your ears to tune in and not disrupt the sleep rhythms. The music must be ideally neutral/positive like meditation music. Avoid loud songs at bedtime lest the purpose to sleep gets defeated.

6. Healthy Me!

There are myriad health benefits as well. Music improves blood flow, and balances hormones well. It is known to reduce stress levels considerably and helps in managing pain as well. Workouts have the best results when music is playing in the background. It helps pump in adrenalin and boosts performance during a workout session. Apart from physical wellness, fitness levels, it also boosts mental and emotional wellness. Moods get alleviated listening to good music and ensures a healthier you!

7. Brain stimulator

Music has the capacity to stimulate all the areas of the brain viz., memory, emotions, learning, cognitive functioning, and many more functions.

Enjoy your Sundays. Listen to your favorite songs, relax and let the music set you free.

Follow Priya Rajendran and The Word Route

The Writer

/ Chippy Kurian Chacko / Leave a comment

Introducing Lakshmi Sreenath, an Author, a Motivational Speaker, a Nutritionist, a Certified Yoga Trainer, and an Entrepreneur, 
Cochin, Kerala, South India. 

Growing up in a traditional home, Lakshmi believed in magic and, was entangled in a world of mysticism and mythology Her childhood was filled with tales of Gandharva’s (celestial beings) and Nagadevatha’s (snake Gods). For Lakshmi, writing is natural. She wrote her first poem at the age ten. Scribbling her thoughts and emotions has always made her stronger as a person and kept her at ease. Unaware of her calling, she toiled in the world of atoms and particles, numbers and graphs, for more than a decade. And she felt forever lost in expanse. Nothing fascinated her until she found herself through nature and her writings. 

Once Lakshmi started making her own choices in life, she uncovered her potential and thus began her entrepreneurial journey and growth. Her passion for all things natural and handmade led her to launch an artistic bath and beauty essentials firm named Herbal Sutras. Lakshmi’s love and dedication to her writing lead her to author her first book. She is unstoppable now. 

Join us in conversation with Lakshmi Sreenath,
Author, ‘The Sparkle-Eyed Photon, The Missile Man and the Mystic Me’ & Founder, Herbal Sutras. Let’s discover her journey into the world of words and entrepreneurship. 

A conversation with Chippy & Lakshmi Sreenath.

Chippy———————–The Sparkle-Eyed Photon, The Missile Man and the Mystic Me. Wow.
Lakshmi, What an incredible title for a book, welcome to the conversation.
LakshmiThank you so much. It has been years since I wanted to publish a book, become an author, and I am glad it’s now a reality. I am excited.
ChippyAnd first of all, congratulations on your book.Yeah, it’s not easy getting a book out. You know, it takes a lot of effort, it takes years of prep, a lot of affirmations and manifestation.
LakshmiYes and yes, it was very difficult to get it out because first I had to have the conviction that it was possible for me to write. And only maybe a few of the people have just commented in the same way as you have done.

It’s a fact, it is difficult to bring out the book. ‘Self Publishing would have been easy for you?’ ‘Oh, you just self-published on Amazon, it’s just nothing. Too easy.’ These are some comments I heard from near and dear. People tag self publishing as an easy way to be an author.The fact is the writing definitely wasn’t easy. Getting out was even more difficult for me but at last it’s out, that’s one thing so now it’s out but then people just start reading it so that’s the second thing.
ChippyThis is your debut book. A combination of poetry and philosophic dialogues with two departed spirits. Did I get that right?
LakshmiIt’s a mix of fact and fantasy. A cluster of 17 poems with illustrations and story lines. Each poem flows smoothly, with readable stanzas and sonnets, entangled with imaginary conversations with Dr Kalam & Sushant Singh , where they speak about all things under the Sun, which point towards love, betrayal , emotions, relations, social issues, philosophy and mysticism. It’s metaphysical and sometimes, seems to be of not this world. 
ChippyWhat is our takeaway from this book?
LakshmiThere are deep underlying messages and analogies of important life events , which the readers will easily relate to. There is history, epic-rewritten, movie adaptations, a mother’s plea, nature’s wrath, the mockery of death & funeral and the zen moment, where my poems give the readers the realisation of who you actually are. There are analogies, smilies and satires that bring a smile on your face. In fact, you may periodically find yourself in my poems. 
ChippyThis is incredible. Was there a writer in you always? How did this happen?
LakshmiIt was during COVID. To be precise, June 2020. I started re-writing my book. The idea originated in 2018. That time it was a 50 page book. And with those 50 pages, I went to my Professor, she said, ‘Lakshmi you will have to polish it.’ She loved my idea and pointed out some issues with my take on it, made suggestions and asked me to work on it.’  

So, I brought it back and kept it inside my cupboard and locked it and said to myself, ‘this is not going to happen.’During June 2020, death of Sushant Singh caused a void and it reprised me to open my cupboard and start jotting down my thoughts again. The book starts on that day. I had writer’s block for a few months and then started writing again in September 2020. Ultimately, my 50 page book expanded to a 200-page book.
ChippyAnd it’s self published.
LakshmiEven though I have been an avid writer since age ten, I didn’t know the nuances of professional writing, hence I researched how to write professionally. I wanted to learn how to write effectively and interestingly. I learned from Reedsy. I learned there the art of publishing, self-publishing, and even how to write a book. So, I did study, I have notes, how to write similes, how to write sentences, how to make a page interesting. How to make your reader go forward. I have literally learned writing from the internet. 

Let me be open, all this was possible and still is possible because of Sreenath. He was my support system through out, moral & emotional support and also financial help, he spend for the entire work, he lost sleep to learn with me about publishing a book and he is the reason my book is now out there for everyone to read, I just did the writing part. My son Maddy was understanding and absolutely rooting for me and still does.
ChippyWorld has changed, we can learn everything if we set our mind to it. And now you’re a published author. 
LakshmiYes, I have a journey in front of me. Yes, I have a journey. A very long one.
Chippy———————–I know you’re going places; you’re going places and you will go. Where did Lakshmi begin? 
LakshmiI was born, brought up in Cochin. I went to school, did my pre-degree, undergrad and postgrad, all my studies and certificates and everything in Cochin. 
ChippyLet me guess, you majored in literature. Am I right?
LakshmiOh dear. Don’t ask me that. I will cry. Even though I used to scribble and jot down my thoughts, write poems and literature pieces, I was not sure what I wanted to choose for higher studies. The pressure from family was huge and therefore I let my Achan (father) choose for me. I know. I was young and clueless. 

I did Science, Maths, Chemistry, Physics for Pre-degree, I enrolled for B.Sc. Physics for undergraduate studies, and along with this I also completed the GNIIT Program from National Institute of Information Technology.

I was literally flooded with studies and my life was not going anywhere I wanted, I danced to the tunes of others and I let that happen for a long time. Then I decided to attempt to be a Chartered Accountant. (C.A.)  In 2001, I did my articleship and in 2004 I got a job offer with a bank, I took it and after one year in the bank, too much cross selling and sales and targets I decided, I’ll do one more try for C.A. before I decide on a different path or anything else. So finally in 2006, I cleared C.A. Intermediate. When I entered into the final year I realised this is not what i want, I felt if I completed my C.A. I will remain a Chartered Accountant throughout my life, and there will be no looking back and that was not the life I had wanted. 
ChippyFirst, this is a shocker. Second, WOW, you did all this. I cannot imagine doing all this studying.  Did you find the missing piece? Why was that you were never content in any field you ended up in?
LakshmiSimple. My heart, it was set. Literature. Chippy, I always wanted to be a writer, I wanted to write. I always wanted to do literature. I wanted to pursue arts but I let others dictate and decide my life for me for a long time, for almost a decade or more. 
ChippyWhen did love for literature begin? Let’s hear the origin story.
LakshmiI remember in fifth grade summer break, Achan, my father out of the blue said, ‘why don’t you write something?’ I said, ‘write?’ What should I write about?’ I didn’t know how to write. But my fathers push got me writing. Then one by one I started to fill my books with poems and started scribbling down my feelings and I kept my notebook closer and when a thought pops up in my mind I jot it down. I wrote poems about rain, seasons, feelings, and my dad just gave the key to the door, he opened a door that I didn’t know could be opened. 

I  lived in Fort Kochi. Rain Trees everywhere, and my class overlooked Santa Cruz Church. I lived in the past, and present in Cochin. The old Portuguese and Dutch buildings, the streets and the pathways, the beach, I lived in a space that was apt for a writer. So, you can imagine the feelings I lived with and within. 

So that was the beginning of my writing journey. In sixth grade, watching the rain, I wrote my first poem and I kept on writing the next poem, and it went on and on.
ChippyYou are a dreamer.
LakshmiTrue. I love to dream. I dream and then I used to write about my dreams. I think I started scribbling everywhere. You know, jotting down small, small snippets of poetry. And then I remember in seventh grade, school said we’re publishing our first school magazine. You’re supposed to send us a poem. And then I wrote a poem about ‘Amma’. (mother)
ChippySo is that your first published poem.
LakshmiLet me tell you Chippy. I gave the poem I wrote to my teacher, and unfortunately the school magazine did not come out and thus I lost my poem. I was a child and I didn’t know that I had to make a copy of my poetry that I wrote. Poem lost forever.
ChippyMust have been devastating. 
LakshmiIt was a huge lesson I learnt. I learned my lesson and I kept writing and didn’t let this affect me at all. I started joining for essay competitions. I said okay, I loved writing because it made me express more. I used to vent my feelings, emotions. I am a very emotional being. I become angry fast. I became sad very fast as a child. Yes, I used to cry a lot. With a lot going on in my life I wanted to write.

So, I bought a 300-page book to make my diary and I started writing the diary every day. Literally, I will journal everything I did from the moment I wake up to the end of the day. I didn’t know how to journal, so I just wrote everything I did. One day Amma asked, ‘who’s Ashwini?’ And those days writing in your pen name was popular and I gave myself a pen name too. End of each day, I signed ‘by ASHWINI’. I don’t use that name now. It was a phase. I was 100% sure my Amma read all my writings. 
ChippyHow was the transition from school to college?
LakshmiAfter 10th grade, for the next five years I lived and breathed Cochin College. Cochin college was Cochin college. The campus, the mates, the professors, all were exceptional. I had a great time there. Once during a routine lesson we were asked to write a story by Prof Anitha Menon, our English Language Teacher. Immediately on to pen and paper, I started to write.

That time I was influenced by O’Henry a lot and he always had an anticlimax to his story. I wrote a story called ‘Fly Allergy’ and this story got published in the college magazine. So, in that year’s magazine I had a Hindi poem, a Malayalam story, and an English story. Even though my studies took me to a different headspace, my sanity remained as I was able to write and I felt good being recognised as a Writer those days too. 
Chippy———————–Was there a time you lost grip on writing ? Did studies, and Physics take up all your time?  
LakshmiPhysics was hard. I was not able to relate and I had to work harder than everyone else. I was not happy at all. But I still wrote, and there were reservations on writing in depth. I was very…let me correct myself, I’m still a very romantic person. A very hardcore romantic duirng college days. I used to write about small, small crushes and small, small heartbreaks. Because at that point of time, you can’t confess your love to somebody or you’re so reluctant, you can even open your mouth. And I’m afraid to jot down because my mother reads everything, and she will question everything. 

So, writing down was a very difficult part for me because every diary of mine would be read by Amma. So, writing actually started slowing down because, one, Amma read everything and second,  Physics- it was getting a toll on me and because of that I really didn’t have a dream as to what I should become. That’s when Sreenath came into my life. And the best part, and the only reason why I think that I went to Cochin college is because I found my life partner there.
ChippyDetails please.
LakshmiFor me, I could not do an arranged marriage. I didn’t believe in it. I wanted to know a person, speak to him, understand the guy, you know, at least fall in love here and then get married. And I wanted to have those butterflies and you know how a writer can be. And I’m so hardcore romantic person. I wanted the butterflies. I wanted to feel it. 

For Sreenath too Physics was Greek. We were buddies always, initially we became friends and from then onwards, we did all the studies together. We were good friends throughout. But ultimately, it’s like marrying the known Devil is better than marrying an unknown angel. So, we decided on mutual agreement that we vibe okay. And let’s get along and make a life together.
Ultimately, when I was of the marrying age, my mom started  looking for some other alliances. And I was so reluctant because I wanted a love marriage. Fortunately my grandfather was very fond of Sreenath. 
ChippyLove is a dream and a dream that can happen anytime in our life. Right. Have you written poems about Sreenath?
LakshmiIn my book, there is one, which is called ‘Mine’. The smallest poem in the book. We are poles apart still we are best for each other. He is very practical. I am not practical. But I think that keeps me balanced. 
ChippyYou are not a writer alone, you are an entrepreneur too. 
LakshmiTrue. Small scale entrepreneur you may call. I have been making homemade oil for my son Maddy since 2014. I found the store bought oils not suitable for my child’s skin and hair. In 2015, I wanted to make a change in my life and so I decided to enrol for a course, Master of Science in Nutrition. While pursuing this, I also completed my Certification in Yoga and I started Tapasya, a Yoga Centre. 

One day my friend requested an oil for her because she has hair loss issues. So, I told her, I have this formula at home and let me see what I can come up with. I made oil and bottled six in total. After giving my friend, there were few left. So, I asked my yoga students if they wanted the oil I made, they said yes.They insisted that they pay the cost for it. So I priced it at Rs. 200/ 200 ml. So, they used it and the feedback was incredible. One friend said ‘we loved your oil. I really want you to make more. So, again I made a bigger batch. My Yoga students and friends referred me to many others and I was getting more orders and kept on receiving more. It was not intentional at all.  
ChippySo, word of mouth.
LakshmiYeap. I received requests from friends and strangers. ‘Lakshmi I don’t like oil on my hair. Can you make something else for me?’ So, I made a hair toner. And by that time, Ambika Pillai had come up with C serum also. So, I was formulating an identical exact formula. I put in the formula and put-up herbals, herbs and essential oils.

So, I had three products by now. Then one day a friend suggested I showcase my products in Kochi Info Park. Sreenath immediately suggested ‘first thing, you need a brand name. You need a logo. You need stickers and you need good bottles and packaging is vital.’  Then I started thinking about it. So, at that point I was learning Yoga Sutra. I named my brand Herbal Sutras.
ChippyAmazing. How did it take off?
LakshmiI went to the first exhibition at Info Park. It was actually a hit, everything sold off. And the first day I actually made about 20-25k return. I was like, oh my god, this is good. This is good money in one day. Like, it’s really good money. And a second exhibition happened. In August 2017, Flea Kochi happened. Flea Kochi is a posh flea market in Cochin. I had a stall at their second edition. Herbal Sutra kept growing.  

Then a friend asked ‘Lakshmi why don’t you make soaps? Please make soaps at home because my child has eczema.’ I said okay, even my child has eczema. I will, all right. Then I started reading, researching and I started learning aromatherapy and not everything is available, when you do small courses. I started doing herbalism. I started to read Ayurveda. And developed a formula for a soap.I read a lot and so, each product evolved. There was a time when I had 42 products. Sreenath said, ‘42 products. You cannot make it on your own. Not possible.’ So, I scaled it down for 20. And so now I make soaps. I make artistic soaps. I enjoy making soaps, and oil. 

Chippy———————–During Covid you not only managed to write a book but also completed a postgraduate degree in Nutrition.  
LakshmiYes, it was a challenging time. Yet, I completed MSc in Dietetics and Food & Service Management in June 2021. I want to bring out a book that can generate awareness on nutrition, for sportspersons, especially in India. The children who are coming into sports are not aware of what they should eat, how they should and when they should eat. So, I did my research thesis when I did my PG. 

My aim is to create awareness on eating healthy and wise, what do you eat before a match? What to eat after your match? What do you eat before your training? There is no awareness. Bad nutrition actually affects a child’s growth, no matter the training. So, I am thinking of bringing out a book, it’s not a detailed book. It’s more like a manual, a kid can take it and then refer to it before a match or before a training session or during recoveries, so it’s like a small guide. ‘How to eat like a Sports Pro’, that’s how I’ve titled it as of now, because my presentation which I had done for the children has the same name. 
ChippyYou are literally, “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” person. An Author, an herbalist, a nutritionist and an entrepreneur. 
LakshmiI will be juggling between things. And I will not be restricting myself to a single thing. Because I am an Aquarian so I get bored fast.
ChippyAny upcoming books?
LakshmiYes, yes and yes. I love to write and I aspire to be known as a Writer more than anything. I have a vision board and I hope to reach my goals soon. My next hopeful project is a series of poems. I am excited about this and cannot wait to share with the world. I have plans for fiction too, a long way to go on it. Another one I wish to do is a book on nutrition. As I said, I just completed my studies and I have a lot of work to do on it. 
ChippyOne final question. If you ever get a chance to meet your 18-year-old self, what would you tell her?
LakshmiOh Chippy, please don’t ask such a question, there are so many things I would have wanted to reverse. But as seen in the movie Navarasa’s Project Agni using a Time Machine the protagonist altered just one thing from his past and in the present his wife never existed. So, I will not change anything. But I will tell myself, ‘Lakshmi, pluck up courage, please leave Cochin. Go abroad, find a course, study something that you really want to, nutrition or writing, go to Oxford, or Harvard, See the world, and go find yourself, “jaa Simran jaa, jee le apni zindagi”. (‘go girl go, go live your life.’)’. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone places. I would have loved it. 
ChippyThankyou Lakshmi for this amazing conversation. I wish you all the best for the new book and the  upcoming books. You have lots to do and achieve, and I am sure you will always discover a path forward because you have the determination and drive.
LakshmiThankyou and thank you for having me. 
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Lakshmi Sreenath
 Herbal Sutras
Lakshmi Sreenath, Author

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‘The Sparkle-Eyed Photon, The Missile Man and the Mystic Me’

Go quirky on your Birthday

/ Pozicool Raga / Leave a comment

Birthdays are days when we stay up till midnight, wait for the clock to strike 12, cut the cake, and burst the confetti! Friends troop in, ringing the bell and screaming “Surpriseee”! No better way to kickstart the birthday. Isn’t it?

How many of you have gone through this? Being lifted by friends and swung in the air the same number of times as your age and an extra swing and crash on the floor for the next birthday? Those infamous birthday bumps are still memorable as much as our bums got sore after being dumped on the ground. Sweetest memories are those doing the same for all friends as well.

Quirky traditions are followed in different countries. Historically they say, it was the Egyptians who began the birthday celebration while crowning Pharaohs. Greeks believed in celebrating birthdays because it brought one closer to the spirits who were present at the time of our birth. Even the pagans believed in being close to the spirit world by celebrating the day of one’s birth.

Pop a bottle, Toast to new memories

Thanks to the pandemic, the last two years, all birthday plans were awash! Finally, people are coming out and celebrating again. Back then, it was hard sitting at home and having virtual celebrations with our best friend – the screen! Now no more excuses for not celebrating thanks to the vaccine.

As we age, many of us stop wanting to celebrate birthdays. We often whine about turning a year older and sulk too. Well, birthdays must be a time to feel good, pop up a champagne bottle, toast to a long life, and perhaps go on a roller coaster as well! Just don your best clothes, dress up, go shopping, climb a mountain…the possibilities are endless! 

Create memorable moments that you will cherish all your life so that people can write on your epitaph: XYZ had a rocking life! Life is to live in the moment.

I have seen people write countdowns on their social media profiles a month before the DAY. It gives a feeling of anticipation, butterflies in the tummy, excitement, and endless memories! Best friends will keep reminding you about “the day” and plan to demand treats from you. Families will plan surprises (some open too!). 

Some make bucket lists of what to do on their special day. Each one has its plans. Make yours, if you haven’t! 

1. Get yourself Ink-ed

Get a tattoo with inspirational words/art. It is fun when you are crossing a milestone.

2. Ramp show at home

Plan a house party with your gang. Dig up your wardrobe. Wear what you haven’t worn. Turn on the music and walk the ramp in style! Ask your friends to do the same. 

3. Take off on the adventure route 

If you are the outdoor type, go hitchhiking, scuba diving, bungee jumping, and more. Give it a shot if you believe in “Zindagi na Milegi Dobara” (life only happens once!).

4. Plan a fun trip with buddies

Choose an off-tourist spot (not off the maps, okay!) with friends. Nothing better than a little adventure!

5. Book a ticket for a music concert/play

This is if you know a lovely place for a live gig, go for it or an actual concert. Else treat yourself to a nice play in town. If you don’t have either option, create a mini-concert at home. Ramp up some speakers and play songs by your favourite artists and sing along at home with your friends.

6. Pamper yourself in a spa; get a makeover

Nothing better than getting a makeover – a good haircut/a new look altogether, and a good body massage. Treat yourself to a day there.  

7. Go clubbing

Friends, good food, spirits, and your favourite club – all you need for a good birthday nite!

8. Retail therapy; gift yourself something nice

Spend some time with yourself, shop for an exciting birthday outfit, and get yourself a good perfume/accessories. Tadaaa…you are ready!

9. Theme birthday & dance party

Some of you may want some novelty. Choose a crazy theme and dress code for the party. Invite friends and dance away!

10. Yes, Blow the candle

Ask for the craziest wish, make the weirdest toast, and pole vault and dance (literally!) into a new milestone!

So, what are you waiting for? As they say – Smile as long as you have teeth, Celebrate until your last breath! It’s your birthday. So crash and wham-bam into a new year!

Follow Priya Rajendran and The Word Route

Bring Me Back

/ dinah1995 / Leave a comment

Where did the poet in me go? Where did the warrior hide? Where has time taken me? Where am I?

It’s been too long since I poured out what I felt into a piece of writing or poetry. There used to be days when I wrote at least two poems a day and now I am empty. This emptiness! It puzzles me. Where I am today, was my choice. And why I don’t feel the joy now, is unaccountable.

I am not strong enough or was I never? These are the questions that creep into my brain when I lay void of what is called sanity.

No, the stars don’t seem to amaze me anymore. Friends, they are all taken away. Smiles, seem very artificial. I question myself, why am I this way? Who do I go to? Who do I talk to? If I were any different, why do I need to?

Gone are the days when little things made me smile. Perhaps even those little things are desperately moving away from me leaving me in tranquility. This empty space, this time zone where nothing seems to be real anymore is the reason why poetry denied entry into my life. This is flawed.

The scattered ideas of what my life should have been are more painful than the heartache that slides in every now and then when I think of what exactly I am doing with my life. The ideologies that I shared a few months back, the reasoning I gave to people who were actually inspired by me, nothing seem to make any sense to me anymore. Is this what they call “losing oneself “?

I want those days back when I could smile despite things troubling me deep down. I want that me back who could calm a noisy room with the loud, powerful, daring words that came out of my mouth. I want those days back when more people around me believed in me. I want it all back. I want that day back when I foolishly made choices and now- now I want to change it all. I want to go back and reprimand myself real hard and talk to myself and explain to myself that life is more than what I thought it was.

I have to do this for the bard in me to wake up and drag me to a pen and paper and force me to jot down that melody that no one but I can write. I want that impossible flow of ideas and words to fill me once again. I want that passionate lover of arts to come back to me. I want that DINAH to regenerate herself inside me. She is the only one who can find and rejuvenate what I have lost. I will bring me back. I will.

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Heal Wholly

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Isn’t life equally about sunshine and twilight? Isn’t life about glee and gloom together? Why is it so difficult to trespass the feeling of hurt and sorrow, the heartache? Maybe we all need a moment of understanding.

We are a generation who have experienced yet not experienced life to the fullest. So here it is, the days that seem not so great are to perhaps rejoice and to learn from.

One of the biggest life lessons is to learn to heal. Heal from scars that may or may not have been the outcome of our actions. Yet, many do not understand how to heal wholly.

The first step is to accept. Accept that everything happens for a reason and we do not always have to understand. Things may not seem to fall in place at the moment but hey, Pause. Breathe. Smile. Maybe count to ten. There’s always tomorrow and there’s always a way.

Uncertainties are just as part of us humans as feeling hungry! If we’re uncertain or worried about something, talking to ourselves can be where we start. Feeling comfortable in talking and understanding ourselves is one step towards better mental health.

Unfortunately, we have created a vaccum within ourselves, trying to pretend that we’re fine, smile throughout the day, talk nicely to others, be the social media bomb, and influence others around us to see just the “good part”. And it’s normal. It’s what we’ve been doing for so long. But the question is, why? Why is it so difficult for us to let people (at least the ones we claim to be dear) know that something is not alright? Think about it!

The second step towards being a better version of ourselves is to open up. Having one person to whom we can open up and share what we feel is a great way to heal emotionally and mentally. Letting out what is bothering us will help us ease the situation inside our heads.

The third step is to smile. Yes, as simple as a smile! Smiling and knowing it’s just a phase and things are going to be fine is so comforting. May not be the easiest of solutions, but it does work. Looking into the mirror, and witnessing the greatest creation of God, it is next to impossible to not value our inner and outer selves. If we are not able to do so, we must practice the art! It’s huge, it’s life-changing.

Be grateful. Yes, for what we have and have not, let’s begin by being grateful. That’s the next step to becoming wholly us. It’s not always easy to let go of what our heart desires. However, it’s not all we are. We are way above our desires and wants. We create them inside our heads and look for them, not understanding that searching desperately only makes it difficult to obtain. Therefore, one at a time. Something’s not happening, it’s alright! The universe has its own time. Things are going to be just fine.

So hug life, smile, rejoice each day, feel and believe, hope and inspire, create and experience… Life is too short to not give ourselves a second chance, even if it does not make sense to anyone else. Make hay when the sun shines but don’t lose hope when it’s not as sunny as you want it to be!

Heal. From within. So we can live. Wholly...

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