MEET THE
TEAM
ABOUT US
Focusing on literature and lifestyle of the urban youth of the country, LitGleam is a monthly magazine,
an intrinsic part of India’s favourite publishing house, BlueRose Publishers.
We aim to revolutionise the literary world by providing a creative platform to talented, upcoming
writers and getting their work acknowledged. With the target readership of urban youth, LitGleam
deals with socio-literary issues from around the globe, attempting to revive the culture of estranged
readers taking a magazine break in their busy lives.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Greetings
Dear Readers,
My heartfelt thanks to you all for waiting patiently for our special edition.
The work that went into making this edition was an experience unlike
anything before. This Women’s special edition aims to bring forward the
stories of exceptional courage, passion and determination of women all
around us. Every article is thought provoking, every interview inspiring, and
every poem melodious. We took special care to make it that way.
Harriet Beecher Stowe rightly said- “Women are the real Architects of
Society,” and the passionate women featured in our magazine are a testament
to the statement above. In this edition, sharing their experience of being a
woman, we have- Actress Gulki Joshi, Actress Akanksha Juneja, TV anchor
Ritwika Gupta, Podcaster Bhargavi Swami, CEO of BlueRose Publishers
Khushboo Kaushik and Wrestler Indu Chaudhary.
Our team also brings to you plenty of women special recommendations,
women throughout mythology and so much more. It is my ardent wish that
this edition is as inspiring to our male counterparts as it will be to other
women. As the theme goes- We women were the past, are the present and
will be the future.
Happy Reading!
4 5
Our Editor
An obsessive reader, Ghazala loves all things books and cats. She currently has 8
cats at home. Talk about being a Crazy Cat Lady! When she is not brainstorming
about the magazine, Ghazala likes to binge watch series, play with her cats,
crochet, ponder about the questions of life and when nothing else keeps her
attention there are always books. She dreams to have a home in the mountains
with a library full of books and cats!
GHAZALA ANJUM
Our Guest Editor, Poetry
Rajiv Narang’s day job is engineering, and he is a poet by night. He did his
graduation from IIT Delhi, where besides studying Chemical Engineering, he took
an active interest in dramatics. His love for writing and poetry developed later in
life. Rajiv organises poetry clubs in Malaysia and Delhi. The Delhiwallah Poetry
Collective is popular amongst poetry lovers of all ages. He urges you to read Walt
Whitman – especially Leaves of Grass, which is on his bedside table.
RAJIV NARANG
Our Designer
Saumya is the girl behind the overall look of the magazine. She is a Graphic
Designer who is always eager to try something new. She sees endless possibilities
to a design and strives to create visuals, bringing the possibilities to life.
SAUMYA SHREYA
Our Content Curator
Sakshi is an aspiring Editor and a literature and language enthusiast, who’s
passionate about writing, painting, and digging into creative activities to find
motivation, purpose and happiness. A mind for creative ideation and a thirst to
learn is what keeps her going. With the taste of traveling, literature, and culture,
she loves exploring new things.
SAKSHI SAINI
 PEN IS MY MIGHT AND
ALSO MY RIGHT
by MANJU CHELLANI
Societal norms and practices go through cycles.
However, one of the most entrenched norms has
been patriarchy and the consequent denial of
equality to women. It is no wonder then that self-
expression of women through ages also has been
curbed. After all, a status-quo is easy to maintain
when the aggrieved groups appear to acquiesce in it.
And yet self-expression is imperative. It is an ode to
the power of womanhood that women have managed
to retain its sanctity and power through varying
circumstances and times.
This month celebrates the political, social,
economic and cultural achievements of women
on International Women’s Day. This is my tribute
to the female writers over centuries who seized
each opportunity to put forth their unperceived
problems, explain the prejudices double-binding
them and demonstrate how simple and natural it is
that one half of humankind be recognized as equal
to the other half. I am focusing on those who used
this power of the pen to contribute to significant
social movements. So much so that their name has
become synonymous with the cause they espoused
so fervently.
Let us start with the fundamentals. The crusade
for the equal rights of women. One of its earliest
advocates was Mary Wollstonecraft who lived in
both England and France. Her A Vindication of
the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Moral and
Political Subjects (1792) points out that women
are not inferior to men in any way and should have
the same fundamental rights. Their reasoning
powers and sense are equal but they are denied
an education. Her philosophy was radical in her
time when women were regarded as ornaments
and property. Wollstonecraft herself led an
unconventional life and her other works too were
not heeded during her times.
6
8 9
However, in the modern discourse, she is regarded as a
founding thinker of the feminist movement. More than
a century later to Wollstonecraft, Simone de Beauvoir
in The Second Sex (1949), Betty Freidan in The Femi-
nine Mystique (1963), Gertrude Steinem in After Black
Power, Women’s Liberation (1969) among others, would
illustrate the role of biological, political and social para-
digms in preserving the lower status of women. Chima-
manda Ngozi Adichie, the very famous and respected
Nigerian-American author, agrees. Her sensitive and
objective portrayals focus on the problems faced due
to racial and gender stereotypes. Her writings – includ-
ing We Should All Be Feminists (2014) – describe the
necessity of an all-inclusive world, focused on humans The Bronte Sisters
rather than on gender-differences. It is no surprise that
it is generally regarded as a must-read for young people
to grow up being true to themselves.
But in order to be true to themselves, women
writers need respect and space to be able to use
their minds. Some of the best-known paradoxes
of this truth were the Bronte sisters: Charlotte,
Emily and Anne. In their best-known works: Jane
Eyre: An Autobiography (1847), Wuthering Heights
(1847) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848:
now regarded as one of the earliest truly feminist
novels, by this mildest Bronte sister) respectively,
they had created strong and independent female
protagonists. Yet the authors themselves used male
pseudonyms for publishing, as considered pru-
dent in the nineteenth-century Victorian England.
The reason for this was the prevailing notion as
allegedly articulated by the then Poet Laureate
Robert Southey when Charlotte requested him for
comments on her work: “Literature cannot be the
business of a woman’s life, and it ought not to be”.
And sure enough, on the way to becoming legend-
Simone de Beauvoir Marry Wollstonecraft
ary, their work faced a lot of controversies.
7
Their fictional heroines were self-respecting; they
were not afraid to display their passion; they had

Above The Ordinary

unconventional views on career and marriage. The
Bronte sisters were often advised that the delicate
and pure minds of “ladies” should not think about
such matters. Many years later, the stalwart Virgin-
ia Woolf reinforced the idea of independence in A
Room of One’s Own (1929). She said that women By GUNIKA VIRLLEY
must have money and space – “a room” – of one’s
own in order to write. Women writers with genius
fail because of lack of opportunities and resources.
Over decades, many women writers and artists to- Oh.. being a woman
gether have raised this need to the level of a move- That glorious sassy thing
ment. But has this movement fulfilled its purpose? Eyes as deep as an ocean
I don’t think so. As Elif Shafak, the internationally Portraying a thousand tsunamis
acclaimed Turkish-origin British author says: “Male
At once!
writers are thought of as “writers” first and then
“men”. As for female writers, they are first “female” That girl who never outgrew
and only then “writers”. And sometimes, many The love of ponytails!
stories live, suffer and die an early death in feminine That woman…
hearts. She, who smells of jasmine
Harriet Beecher Stowe would have agreed with this
Even on bad hair days..
as she had the same concern: “I hope that every A strength, a determination, a force
woman who can write will not be silent”. Stowe She’s God’s own creation of care
was an American slavery-abolitionist and author Mesmerizing smile , that crinkles the
Chima Manda Ngozi
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Adichie
writing in mid-nineteenth century America. Her
Corners of her eyes
depiction of the conditions of slaves in Uncle Tom’s
Cabin (1852) had horrified the general public and Making her wrinkles and freckles
buttressed the abolitionist sentiments. Eventually, Stand out..defining her beauty
the civil war was waged and the American govern- Mature to handle the world..
ment had emancipated the African-American slaves. This cruel world
But could not free them from the chains of bigotry.
Of cantankerous men.
These chains still stifled them in the ensuing years as
described in Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987). This Mysterious, betwitching and
deeply traumatic book depicts the slow disintegra- Captivating..
tion of a mother’s mind after having killed her child Passionate and proud
when threatened by a forced return to slavery after Of her sensual being
having escaped from it. Many decades later, these
chains sealed the fate of a coloured American World
Unpretentious..
War II soldier in Hillary Jordan’s debut novel: Mud- Wearing her tears like jewelry.
bound (2008). These disturbing profiles could only She’s like rain
be painted by strong women writers who feel and To a parched land
suffer with the changing nuances of the still-ongoing
Oh..that woman..
civil-rights movement.
Commited and daring
Talking about strong women; and women writers, She’s not ordinary.
I would like to end with the words that the beloved She’s the creator
Indian writer Sudha Murthy used to describe her Of man
book The Daughter from a Wishing Tree: Unusual
She’s a woman of substance!
Tales about Women in Mythology (2019): “…that William Wordsworth
such women don’t just belong to a time in the past, And she’s unapologetic about it!
but continue to exist around us even today”.

180 Bif Shafak

Elif 11
 “It is easier to speak about equality af-
ter reading two books. It is easier for
any person to say that there is no dif-
ference between a boy and a girl, only
when it is
implemented in their personal life does
it become the truth”

GULKI JOSHI

12 13
ONE ON ONE WITH
GULKI JOSHI
INTERVIEWED BY GHAZALA ANJUM

G ulki Joshi is an Indian tele-

vision actress. She has portrayed
the role of Sugni in Zee TV’s
show Phir Subah Hogi and Me-
her in Life OK’s show Nadaan
Parindey Ghar Aaja. She has also
acted in stage plays and has been
active on the theatre circuit. In-
dore born Gulki Joshi, famous-
ly known with the name of her
current portrayal, SHO Haseena
Malik, on Sony SAB TV’s show
Maddam Sir talks to LitGleam
about her personal life and stig-
mas around women in our coun-
try.

“The brutality of our field is

that the show must go on...”

114
4 3 15
What inspired you to join acting?
My parents are writers, so of course, I was always a
part of this field somewhere indirectly. During my
childhood, I wished to become a lawyer when I grew
up; then I thought I should be a doctor; then a po-
licewoman, but as I grew up, I realized I don’t actually
want to be all of these, I just want to act like them, so
I decided to take up acting. Plus, a lot of people in the
early stages of their lives find their personality- they
know who they are, what they like, how they behave
and so on; I think I still haven’t figured all that out
about myself.
How did you land in the role of Haseena Malik?
Haseena Malik found me! I was asked to audition
for this comedy-cop show. So I went to the audition
completely unaware of what I was supposed to do- I
did not know what kind of comedy it was going to
be; I have never done comedy before. To my surprise,
it turned out to be quite an interesting character. I
auditioned with how much ever minimum under-
standing I could gather of the character. A month
later, they called me and told me, “You’re finalised for
the character of Haseena Malik.”
How has your journey been so far playing the role
of SHO Haseena Malik?
It is been brilliant! I mean, playing a cop, feeling like a
cop, even if it is just a character, is an amazing feeling.
Now, I am realizing what kind of patriotism it brings
when you wear a police or army uniform. There’s a
different body language, a different charisma, a differ-
ent Aura that you carry, and it’s just fantastic.
How is your tuning with your co-stars?
Our off-screen chemistry is fun. We were already
a fun loving group when we all started. I was very
scared before to work with women because you know
how stereotyped women relationships are made to
be, like they are into bitching and backbiting, etc. So,
I was scared that if there is such a thing, then I might
end up running away. But, everything worked out in
my favour; this trio is so sensible, so cool. Bhavika
being the youngest of all, is so mature and evolved in
her head. Yukti is so quiet all the time.
16
In real life, she is the Haseena Malik, and I am Karishma
Singh. And Sonali Ji is like our mother; she is the one
who brings us all under control whenever we pull each
R
other’s legs and have fun. She says, “You all better behave
and get things under control, else sir will scold you.” Your Favourite Food?
We all have become good friends in a year; we all know
when to give each other space. So after one year of work-
ing together, that tuning has been perfectly established.
A Dal Chawal
Favourite Place to Visit?
What is the best and worst part of your work?
The best part is when you meet a fan, and when you see
P Any mountainous region in
the world
it in their eyes that they look up to you, they want to
be like you. We keep questioning ourselves about the All-time Favourite Movie?
scenes or actions that could have been done or executed
better. We always judge ourselves, but a fan comes, they
talk to you, and you look into their eyes how much they
I Too many to count
admire you and your hard work, however hard it may Favourite Colour?
be, from changing clothes again and again to travelling
to working under the sun, in sweat or soil. All of it is
worth it for just that one second of the love that appears D Orange
in their eyes. This kind of love and appreciation excite Favourite Attire?
me and push me to do better. The bad thing is, again,
it begins with people and ends with them. It hurts me Baggy Harem Pants and a
the most when some people try to make actors realize
Sphagetti Top
how easy their work is. With someone else doing your
makeup, your food is delivered to you, etc., and all you Favourite Actor/Actress?
have to do is be standing in front of the camera. Before
doing a scene, I might have cried a lot, but as soon as the
scene begins. No one can see me and say that there is a
problem in my life. I think this is a good and bad thing
F Meryl Streep and Alia Bhatt
according to our work. No matter how much trouble you
have in your personal life; it does not matter. The show
must go on! I What are your hobbies?
Tell us one thing about yourself that people What do you do in your spare time? How do
don’t know? you unwind at the end of a hectic day?
I am not so complicated. Everybody knows that I’m
outspoken and adventurous. One thing, I think that
R I am an ardent traveller. It has been my habit
that whenever I find out about the ending of
a project and I have two months gap before
Near the shooting location, I’ve taken up a little
Villa for myself. I always wanted to live in a
actually nobody knows about me is that sometimes I another one starts. I plan to go on a trip for one Villa. It has a big balcony, and I have installed a
cry as an exercise. I believe that it is important to feel all and a half month at least, either with friends or swing on it. After work hours, when I go home, I
the emotions, especially for an actor. We give priority to
keep ourselves happy all the time, but that’s not possible.
E alone. I have done skydiving, paragliding; I am
yet to experience snow skiing. I am adventur-
ous, and I love doing adventure sports. I have
lay down on the swing, watch the skies or talk to
my friends or family, or watch something on the
There are times when things get too much, and there’s internet- depending on my mood and then fall
a lot of stress on our shoulders. During such times, I gone on plenty of treks like Goa, Dudhsagar, asleep. It’s a simple life!
!
cry for five minutes as an exercise to let it all out, which Rohtang pass etc. you name it, and chances are I
helps me look at things clearly. have been there.
17

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Five or ten years later, I want to see myself doing
movies and web series and probably own a theatre
production. The right people gave me a chance
when I needed to. In the same way, I would like
to be there for other people who are looking
for an opportunity. So I want to have my little
production, where I can support upcoming writers,
directors and new talent. I also want to do farming;
I want to buy land so that I can cultivate it. I have
never farmed before but have a desire to try.
The watchers of Madam Sir were ardently waiting
for Anuseena to happen, but it didn’t? Do you think
there’s still a chance?
I would like to tell my fans to be patient. Our
writers and producers are working on how to bring
this story back and carry it forward. As our show’s
pattern is such that it does not have much room for
a love story. It is all episodic stories. In every three
episodes, the story changes, so to make a story last a
long time is not so easy and possible.
18 6
But, they’re still trying to figure out what exactly and
where to take it because they don’t want to waste such
a good track. Anubhav Singh is still here, Haseena
Malik is also here. So let’s see what happens next! I
would like to tell my fans to be hopeful, and you guys
will get a chance to see Anuseena again!
If you could describe your co-actors in one word,
what would it be:
Yukti Kapoor- Mysterious
Rahil Azam- Mischievous
Bhavika Sharma- Strong
Sonali Naik- Mother-like
Priyanshu Singh- Kind-hearted
Ajay Jadhav- A master
What, according to you, is the biggest challenge
faced by women in our country?
I think on the basic level, the biggest challenge that
any woman has to face in any country is balancing
between work and family.
Unfortunately, even in 2021, we are brought up in
the same way that men have to grow up and work in
the world. They are not taught household chores-
washing clothes or utensils, cooking etc. But the
first thing that is expected of a girl is to learn to do
household chores.
As the era has moved forward, it expects girls to
make their identity, as well. But no one tells her if
she wants to make her own identity and also, do
household chores, then from where should she
take time out for herself. I think it’s absurd!
I am 30, but I’m not thinking about getting
married. I’m not thinking about having kids
because I don’t know if I can handle it or not.
After working for 12 hours, how will I be able to
go home and do the cooking? So I think that is the
biggest challenge that women of our age are facing.
And I would like to tell people that it is easier to
speak about equality after reading two books. It
is easier for any human being to say that there is
no difference between a boy and a girl. When you
have children, teach both how to wash the dishes,
do laundry. Don’t just tell your daughter to do
the housework and your son to play with friends.
Teach good things because in future, if everyone is
going out to work, then who will take care of the
house? Everyone, irrespective of gender, should
know how to share responsibility.
Being a woman, what advice would you like to
give to other women who are still not able to
follow their dreams?
At the risk of sounding politically wrong, I will say,
“Fight back, whatever it is.” Your family will be
angry, but they will recover later when they will see
you succeed. Marriage will be late, children will be
late. You might not be able to meet your friends or You ace every role you take, is there a particular
go to the cinema, it does not matter as long as there’s kind of role, you wish to enact in your career?
a fire in you to do something. It is very important
to fight to fulfil the dream. You’ll have to win that
I want to do a role like Wonder Woman or Cat
fight against all the odds, even if the entire world is
against you, it doesn’t matter, as long as you are with Woman. I would love to play the role of a female
yourselves. superhero.
179
 SERIES Cast:
Pooja Bhatt
REVIEW Shahana Goswami
Amruta Subash
BY Plabita Borthakur
SAKSHI SAINI Manish Chaudhari
Vivek Gomber
Netflix India celebrated International Women’s
Day in the best way possible by releasing Bombay Released on:
Begums. An Indian drama series that puts the March 8, 2021
spotlight on the lives of five women from differ-
ent walks of life who struggle to live their lives on Directed by:
their own terms in the big city of dreams- Mum-
Alankrita Shrivastava
bai.

Helmed by the director of Lipstick Under My Streaming on:

Burkha, Alankrita Shrivastava, Bombay Begums Netflix
is a step taken in the right direction, which openly
talks about the stigma around working women.

20 21
 Some women are born to
rule,
Some women laugh and smile their pain away,
We call them queens.
They aren’t hailed for their success stories.
They bleed for their dreams
But they are survivors
and expect others to bleed
and perhaps the real queens of Bombay.
for them.
- Lily I’m not sure I want
Some women secretly aspire to be queen,
but society has taught them
they can’t dare aspire
for such big things.
So they lie about their true desires
to be that kind of queen. and make choices they don’t fully believe in.
I think I’d rather lead the Do all women have to lie
rebellion. to themselves to survive?
Not sure what I want I definitely don’t want to, mummy.
to rebel against, though.
- Fatima
- Rani

Everyone thinks I’m too young to know

what’s going on.
The queen bee, especially.
Bombay is a tough city,
Her closet, of course,
It knows how to kick women in the gut.
is not just full of sarees...
You may want to take the first train back home,
but zillions of secrets.
The question is how far can you go to survive
Well, I have my secrets too.
in this city of dreams?
And back home in this city,
keeping secrets is perhaps the key to survival. - Ayesha
- Shai

22 23
“Burn the queen at the stake, if you will.
You can’t destroy her.”

24 25
 Fatima, another successful and leading characters
in the show, is achieving great heights but is
stuck between managing work and home-life
altogether. Fatima is a strong character, but
she ends up doing things she doesn’t believe in
for the people she loves, which makes her life
suffocating for her.

Queen four is from the city of Indore, who

came to Mumbai seeking success. With a will
of fire in her eyes to be on the top, Ayesha is Though the characters are from different walks of life,
an unapologetic character who was fired and they also reflect on having a different love life and sexual
hired back by the same bank she used to work orientation. The queen bee loves her husband but has a
in. To be on top and doing the work she loves lover too, who meets her sexual needs and desires. Lily
were two things she wanted which ended up her has a lover, who’s married, has two kids and lives in Dubai
The six-part series is a story that has a poetic
needing to work under her favourite senior, who (more like a long-distance). Fatima feels suffocated in her
narrative done by a 13-year-old and the youngest
misunderstood her deeds and harassed her. love life and ends up cheating on her husband. Ayesha,
queen Shai. The intriguing drama series will keep
who’s young and fierce, trying to understand her sexual
you hooked on it from the very beginning, so much
Coming to one of the important characters, orientation and at last Shai, who’s in love with a guy who
so that you’ll hardly be able to keep a track of time.
who’s also a narrator of the series, the youngest doesn’t seem to be interested in her.
Every episode of the show begins and ends with
queen- Shai. A 13-year-old, who’s haunted by
the narration, which makes every chapter a lot
the memories of her dead mother dives into the The story and the characters are complex, but every
more interesting. If we try to see it closely, every
art world as an escape. A teenager who wants aspect has been shown, clarified and respected equally, The background score with some jazz music help in mak-
character in the story is flawed yet unique. Every
to grow up so bad that she ends up taking the which is one of the best things that help in making this se- ing the story a little more hard-hitting and true.
character is in a position to break a myth around
wrong decisions just like every other character in ries so fascinating. The cinematography and the direction
women.
the story. of the series are done well. Every love-making scene has The involvement of all the age-groups in the series is
been shot artfully without making it obscene or offensive. the speciality of the story that everyone can relate to the
Rani Singh Irani, AKA the Queen bee in the show-
As said, every character of the series is flawed The director tried their best to make the series as much characters and the plot- be it a 13-year-old Shai’s role or a
is the CEO of Royal Bank of India, a wife and a
but dares to break a stereotype: Be it queen bee’s realistic and an eye-opener as they could. Another aspect 50-year-old Rani’s.
step-mother to two. We get to see her hustling hard
being a good caring step-mother, Lily wanting to that needs a special appreciation is acting; all the actors
to make things right for everyone- be it the office or
start her life afresh, Fatima prioritizing her career, did their job excellently. Adding to this, another thing that You should definitely consider watching Bombay Begums
at home. We are accustomed to seeing step-moth-
Ayesha’s stand on filing the complaint against worked out good is the space every character gets; you to feed your inner feminist or your hunger for equality.
ers in a different light, or I’d rather say a negative
the accused, who sexually harassed her, or Shai won’t feel if any portrayal is being too much or getting The realistic content is what makes this series so special.
one. Her portrayal in the show breaks every norm
wanting to grow up with an open-mindset. dragged.
we have around step-mothers, as she’s a caring and
loving one.

Our second queen, Laxmi ‘Lily’ Gondhali, a

sex-worker in Mumbai, thrives to earn respect in
society, to see a little empathy in the eyes of people
who carelessly judge her based on her profession.
Lily is tired of the life she’s been living and promis-
es to live and provide a good life to her son.

In the quest, she faces troubles, discrimination,

belittlement but her will so strong that nothing
stops her from trying to achieve what she wants.
Her character questions the ideology of Indian
society that stigmatizes prostitutes, which forces
LITGLEAM
them to stay wherever they are and giving them no
space to grow. RATING
26 27
 Tell Me Why?
By BHUMI MISHRA
Tell me why?
Tell me why a female is unnecessarily
apprised
to hang a board of silence;
to let not her eye gaze without any fear.
For no reason, she’s accused.
Silence huh!
NO MORE SILENCE NOW.
People are afraid of my silence,
Tell me why? so if she revealed up, they’ll lost their
Tell me why a girl is taught humanity.
to collect a river of tears in eyes;
to don’t dress provocatively.
For no reason, she’s caught into blame
game.
Tears huh!
NO MORE TEARS NOW.
People are afraid of her tears,
so if they leaked, they’ll in inundated
deluge.
Tell me why?
Tell me why a women is reminded
to stay away from lines of limits;
to not go around flaunting herself.
For no reason, she’s marked as an
ostracized outcast one.
Limits huh!
NO MORE LIMITS NOW.
People are afraid of her limits,
so if she crossed them, they’ll no more
sturdy.

28
28 29
29
 “You have to love yourself
because no one else is
contractually bound to love you”

BHARGAVI SWAMI

30 31
 WOMANHOOD, PODCAST,
BEING AN BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING -
ENTREPRENEUR, YOU FEATURING BHARGAVI SWAMI
LEARN HOW TO MANAGE n entrepreneur, content strategist, relentless learner, and
perhaps one of the most well-known names emerging
TIME AS YOU END UP from the podcast world- Bhargavi Swami is the CEO of
the Excel World foundation and is the founder of the
‘People who Matter’ podcast.
TAKING UP MULTIPLE ‘People who matter’ is India’s first Business Podcast show that offers a
glimpse into corporate Indian life. In this rendition, the high-achiev-
ing podcaster finds her place on the other side as she becomes the
interviewee and answers our far-reaching, quasi-personal questions.
ROLES IN
On being asked about the motivations and preparedness she had going
in when she first started the interview, Bhargavi tells us that she started
‘People who matter’ as a passion project. Always having carried a
YOUR
passion for content and communication, Bhargavi always tries to think
of innovative ways in which she can foster communication with corpo-
rate professionals and individuals. The main motivation behind doing
a podcast like ‘People who matter’ was to present a lot of inspirational
people to a wide audience, including herself. Initially, she selected and
COMPANY. interviewed people who she had been tracking on a daily basis
and who were already established like C-Suite people and
CEOs, people who had followed an unpredictable
path that very few people had the courage to follow.
Bhargavi tells us how since this was a passion
project at the time, she moonlighted after work
hours to develop the podcast- purely out of
her own excitement and enthusiasm. She had
to also say no to a lot of social and personal
commitments to do the podcast, only to see it
culminating into something beautiful. Surmis-
ing her answer, she says that-
“I just wanted to overall have a good time, make sure
the people who came were comfortable. And they had a
great experience when they went back.”
With a business to manage, a podcast to run and several profession-
al commitments to honour, it is natural that one would get tired
occasionally. But Bhargavi describes herself as someone who has been
born with the DNA of a dreamer, and a big dreamer at that. She
was always a multitasker, and there was never a time in her life when
she wasn’t simultaneously doing multiple things. Even when she was
in school, she managed to maintain a good academic record while
being heavily invested in sports. She was a part of the hockey team,
throwball team and basketball. At the same time, she was also a part
of the dramatics team, singing team and dance team. Hard work and
multi-tasking abilities are something that had always naturally been a
part of her. She believes that she has a lot to give and her ideas need to
come forth. That is what happened when she started podcasting, the
time-management part of it came naturally to her.
Being an entrepreneur, you learn how to manage time as you end up taking
up multiple roles in your company.
32 33
By Aishwarya Srivastava
You’re your own financial advisor, marketing and branding team, tech
person and even a psychological counsellor for your employees. A
lot of us in the corporate sector anyway juggle our lives with multiple
roles- wife, daughter, mother etc. Since Bhargavi is someone with
relentless energy, she learned how to compartmentalize different things
while making sure she enjoyed her journey through all her professional
projects. To make sure she does not miss out on personal enrichment,
Bhargavi tells us that she consciously made sure she ate at least one
meal with her husband every night. But apart from that one routine, she
thrives in chaos and in doing multiple activities. To her, planning this
entire thing came as a joy.
Discussing her favourite part about podcasting, she says that there
are numerous parts about it that make her really happy. Her primary
podcast ‘People who matter’ gave way to a demand for brand-driven
podcasts. She talks particularly about her love for designing podcast
content for companies. The ideation process and brainstorming are ac-
tivities that fascinate her the most. Designing is not just putting content
pieces together anymore, it is a conscious effort based on analytics, data
points, research, what people are listening to, where they are
listening to it, what language they are listening in, bringing
the whole thing together and putting on a great show.
Earlier she enjoyed scripting, calling guests over
and shooting, post-production- but today podcast
designing has taken over favours.
When asked about the disappointments she
has met along the way and their contrasts
against the glorious moments, Bhargavi decides
to let everyone in on a little secret. She says
“Anybody who’s ever produced any kind of
content, right? Whether it’s a film or TV show, a
music album, or even a podcast, there can never
ever be a great product without a lot of chaos and
a lot of drama and a lot of things that went wrong
in the background. It always goes wrong, right.? That’s
Murphy’s Law.” Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. “Things
have to go wrong for things to actually turn out very beautiful in the
end.” What you get to hear and see in the promotions is glorious. But
there is a lot of blood, sweat, tears, cancelled last minute dates of guests
right before release, postponement of you know, deals being signed and
then releases getting postponed for months on months together before
the project actually finds a proper platform launch. Many times legal
rulings on your topics of choice hinder the production as certain things
become controversial to talk about. You don’t want to take a matter that
is sub judice.
Building on her point, Bhargavi then reminisces about a funny incident.
In a bid to get into the minds of Gen Z, who she describes as ‘the per-
fect digital media users of today,’ she had hired two very capable interns
for her podcast. She wanted to find out what it was that they do and
how they market their content. Her interns gave her the idea of making
a nice little video trailer for the podcast. Natural fascination erupted
when Bhargavi visualized the oxymoronic scene of a podcast having
a video trailer. She felt her army of one was expanding into a team of
three-four people.
 WHAT MAKES SOMETHING
RELATABLE, WHATT LIVES ON IN THE
HEARTSS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE
IS ENDEARMENT,, IT’S EMP
EMPATHY
xcited to shoot this amazing trailer, the team booked
an office place on a Sunday and took all the necessary
permissions. Bhargavi visited the parlour and got her hair
done. She was looking her best and felt that it was the day
they will make a fabulous trailer. Fast forward to the office, one of her
interns walked in without any recording equipment, the other one
was missing. The explanation offered was the recording equipment
was accidentally forgotten at home. The case of the missing intern
was solved when Bhargavi was informed that he had an exam in the
morning that he had recently found out about. Recalling the incident,
Bhargavi says, “So it was ridiculous. But when we finally reshot it one
week later, it turned out to be such a super trailer. And even today,
you can well you can see it on my Instagram, you can see it on my
Facebook or YouTube pages. So yeah, it was a very memorable thing
of things going wrong. But this was a funny incident of how it went
wrong and then came back together.”
Bhargavi says that “the fun is in the struggle.” If everything goes
smoothly, you would not appreciate the final product that you make.
It is true for everything in life, she says, “If something comes very
easy to you you have, you don’t value it as much. And when it
comes after a lot of hard work, hardship, things going wrong, and
then things coming together, somehow your appreciation for it is a lot
more. I mean, I really wish those moments are much less in life for all
of us. But that’s just the way it is, the more you wait, and the more you
struggle to get something, your appreciation for the value that it holds
for you will always be much greater than anything else that you’ve
achieved in your life.” Bhargavi believes that the same thing happened
with the ‘People who Matter’ podcast series. No matter how many
more podcasts she produces, ‘People who Matter’ is going to be her
“first baby,” which gave her what she has today in the podcasting
space- a voice, visibility and a platform. She concludes her answer by
saying “So yeah, there was a lot of struggle behind the scenes, but
it was all worth it.”
When the question of the future scope of her podcasts, and also pod-
casts in general comes up, Bhargavi answers the latter question first.
She starts by giving us a glimpse into the history of podcasts- “Pod-
casting actually is an 1112-year-old concept in the world. And the
more mature markets for podcasting are the North American markets,
the European markets. That is where podcasts started. That’s where,
you know, these audio talk shows got dubbed as podcasts because
Apple came up with the iPod and the first podcast was available on
the iPod. So hence, that was how the moniker came across and given
that’s how the world knows ‘podcasting’ today.”
34
She then describes the democratization of podcasts and contrasts
it against the monopoly people once had in the industry along
with encouraging and directing aspiring podcasters to start. She
says, “It (podcasting) has reinvented in many ways. Initially, I
would be recording out of my garage or recording out of a studio
trying to tell you about celebrities or trivia. Or talking about very
specific topics where I thought people would be interested. Like,
for example, I’m only talking about fashion, or I’m only talking
about books, or I’m only talking about things. Today what’s
happened is podcasting is democratized that I’m there was a
monopoly of only people who owned mics or who knew how to
audio-video edit. These are the people who could do podcasting.
Today, anybody and everybody can pick up on podcasts. All
you need to do is just, you know, observe some podcasters,
who’ve already put out their material.”
Bhargavi then shares her plans for publishing a book on podcast-
ing in the future. She terms podcasting as “a trend of the future”
and assures people that anyone can start podcasting if they have a
good smartphone with audio clarity and decent editing software
on their laptops. Bhargavi even offers a few topic ideas for aspiring
podcasters- “You can talk about anything, you know, like ‘Hey, I’m
feeling like this today’ and that can be an episodic thing on a daily
basis, you can talk about how you feel, and there might be an audi-
ence for that. Or you can specifically talk about historical dramas
and dynastic rules, you can talk about unexplored territories of
the world, you can talk about animals, and you could talk about
cookery shows, and you could talk about anything under the world as
a podcast.”
Today everybody and anybody she knows has an interest in listen-
ing to podcasts, understanding more about podcasting or wanting
to do it themselves. Bhargavi admits that this interest in podcasts
is very interesting. Attributing a part of the sudden interest in
podcasts in India to the digital boom, partly brought on because of
Covid, Bhargavi says that the pandemic has made all of us realize
how we are dependent on digital technology. People are making
a conscious choice to go digital and these are the choices of the
future. She descriptively goes on to hone in on the importance and
need for podcasts and says that “There’s so much investment being
done on podcasts, more brands are interested in communicating
their brand philosophy through a podcast. So these are very, very
positive signs. And there’s a podcast for anyone and everyone,
we’re still getting them India is a very nascent market.
35
SELF LOVE ISN’T
JUST A CHOICE,
IT IS A NECESSITY
AND EVERYONE
SHOULD HAVE o compared to their, their European and
their North American counterparts. India
is a very nascent market. It’s a new market.
But the best thing about India is we are the
THE ABILITY TO largest population making podcasts right now. And
consuming podcasts right now, in terms of the ratio
of the number of people versus the consumption
rate, right. So that way, it’s a very promising sign in
ACCEPT India, where more and more people are listening to
podcasts and these workers, not just English, but
also, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu,
Canada, Bengali Punjabi. These are the kinds of new
THEMSELVES FOR regional podcasts that are coming out and people
want regional content, which is great. So, these are
the trends of the future for sure.”
WHO THEY ARE.
Finally coming to her own podcast, Bhargavi says
that “As I said, this is my first baby. It is the first of
the many podcasts that I have in my arsenal. And
‘People who matter’ will, of course, continue as a
podcast for multiple seasons, because there are so
many inspiring people both in India and abroad.”
She also shares her future plans for the podcast- “So
this time, it’s going to be not just business and
not just literature, but we’re going to do business,
art, films, literature, popular media, social me-
dia. We’re getting a lot of good personalities from
these fields for the coming seasons.” The ‘People
who Matter’ podcast has always consciously done
one thing new in every season. Season One was a
very straightforward talk show which spoke about a
specific kind of problem that people wanted to learn
about and each episode was a different topic. Season
Two had one recurring season question which was
about happiness at work versus job satisfaction. It
touched on questions like- Are we happy at work?
Or are we good? Are we getting job satisfaction?
Is it the same or different? Season three went one
step ahead as the show got into three parts. The first
15 minutes of the podcast being a Q&A session on
all the relevant topics. The second segment solicits
the mantras of success from the popular guests-
from authors like Chitra Divakaruni Banerjee,
Rishikesh Menon, Kaiser Hera Manik, Kartik
Sreenivasan among others. Bhargavi then described
the most fun segment of Season 3- “Season 3 also
had a really fun segment to it. The last part of each
episode was a ‘Never have I ever.’ You’ve never seen
these kinds of people with a seamless business and
literature background play ‘Never have I ever’ ever
for a public platform or a public audience. And that
was a fun part of it for me to play that with them.
36
She then excitedly reveals more plans for Season
4 and says, “I’m sure in season four, we will do
something more dynamic.”
Sharing a recent development of her team called
‘The Monday Show,’ Bhargavi tells us about the new
audio and video podcast they are experimenting
with. ‘The Monday Show’ is currently available on
their YouTube platform. Describing the show, Bhar-
gavi says that, “We are again calling people from all
walks of life, we’re talking about everything right
from psychiatry to mental health, to the art of the
Kundalini. We’re talking about the Mandala system,
we’re talking about Mandala art, we’re talking about
people who are, you know, biggest social media
influencers, YouTube content creators, so we’re
getting them on board. And every Monday we have
a different topic we’ll be talking about we’re talking
about inclusion, we got one of India’s first disabili-
ties to stand up comics, Shweta Mantri. So we’ve got
a lot of interesting people who’ve come on board on
these kinds of platforms and shared their voice and
opinions. So the Monday show is something that
we’ve just started.” Bhargavi expresses her efforts
to make the show bolder, more dynamic, more fun,
and also more endearing. She says this is because-
“What makes something relatable, what lives on
in the hearts and minds of people is endearment,
it’s empathy.”
Success means different things to different people.
Talking about the meaning of success, Bhargavi
states that a woman is also an individual, she’s a
human being, and she has the right to choose the
way she wants to live her life. A woman would love
to have success at home in the form of marital bliss,
and domestic happiness. The essential component
is ‘choice.’ A corporate working professional would
find success at work, a person who’s an artist, will
find success doing different things every day like
learning from someone or listening to stories from
grandmothers, designing a new piece of art. No
matter what a woman does, her definition of success
would be different. She says, “We can put a woman
in a box or quantify her and say, hey, you’re a
woman. So this is what success should mean to
you.”
Bhargavi weighs in on her personal journey and
defines the three checkboxes for her own success-
family, work, and her podcast.
37
She derives happiness from her home, her family,
and the stability that comes with it. Optimistical-
ly, she says, “Life is so full of ups and downs, the
least you can do is do your best on a daily basis. So
that’s one part of success for me.” As an extremely
ambitious and competitive corporate professional,
Bhargavi attributes a lot of importance to her profes-
sional success. Factors like how her self-perception,
how she is viewed in her colleagues’ eyes, how she
scales her company contribute to her happiness. She
proudly describes her journey, “I take pride in the
innovation that I’ve brought to my business, and
those innovations have seen flight have got com-
mercial recognition and have given me a platform
to talk from. Through Excel Corporation, I was able
to represent India on many international platforms.
I’ve represented India, among the business leaders.
I’m one of Amsterdam’s top 100 women entrepre-
neurs. I’ve met delegations from Argentina, I’ve
met delegations from Canada, I’ve met delegations
from so many different countries representing my
country. And that was very important. And that is
success.”
Freedom and exploration are important tenets
for creative people. Bhargavi is no different. She
calls to the Bohemian spirit of hers as she enthu-
siastically tells us about the third aspect of her
success- the podcast. She says the podcast happened
when she was looking ahead in her life and thinking
about what will come next. Routine brings comfort
to the point that you think you are on autopilot.
When that happens, everyone asks this question-
‘what next?’ So starting the podcast as her passion
project and continuing it till further seasons, getting
recognition from brands and eventually becoming
an audible exclusive became the tenet of success for
podcasting for her. Audible being the world’s biggest
audio platform. She says, “At present, these are the
three areas that are very important for me to have
my happiness, my peace and the success at.”
“But I don’t judge my success with predefined
yardsticks, as long as I’m happy doing what I did,”
Bhargavi says, defining the way she judges her own
success. Describing herself as the kind of person
who cannot sleep peacefully unless she gives her
all to her work, “As long as I’m able to go to bed at
night and have a good night’s sound sleep, I think
that day was successful. That means I’ve given it my
all because I’m not somebody who can go to bed
with a clear conscience and a peaceful mind if I’ve
not given my all that particular day at work.
So yeah, I think that is a long answer. I know. But
this is what success means to me as a woman.”
Eventually, Bhargavi is asked to comment on the
hardships and struggles that she has faced as a
woman. Talking about her business, she recalls how
she took over her family’s business at the young
age of twenty-four or twenty-five, and what that
meant for her- “I was representing the company as a
person of authority. And I was going to meet people,
I was going to a business, this proper corporate.
I’m talking about huge, huge corporate families,
businesses, legacy companies, startups at tech and
others. So when you meet these kinds of people,
when you say, Swami is coming, they expect a
man to come.” Swami shares that she felt that her
gender, age and western formal attire contributed to
the development of an unwanted perception of her.
People did not take her seriously at first. As most of
the jobs she undertook had her interacting mostly
with men, Bhargavi strived to break the stereotypes
that came with being a young woman. She says,
“Because I was very young when I started when
I got into the human resource business. Usually,
human resources is supposed to be a very mature
business run by very mature people of a certain age
and calibre and experience. So I don’t really blame
them for not expecting someone younger. But I had
to struggle to prove a point to them that I am just as
competent. You can talk to me about anything, and
I will provide the solutions that you require. And
I came home with a master’s degree. I mean, I was
very confident about who I was, I was well educated.
I’m a very well informed person. I always prepare
and research about who I’m meeting before I go to
meet. So from my end, I had done the homework
and I was very confident in myself.” It took a little
time for her associates to warm up to her. But after a
few months of working with her, people realized her
potential and skills. They soon started feeling that
she was the go-to person as she became her own
brand. She was the brand.
Flipping the coin over to the other side, Bhargavi
then discusses the perks that come with being a
woman in business. She tries to make woman privy
to the fact by sharing a tip- “I have a tip for all the
women entrepreneurs or the women in general,
please take being a woman as one of the biggest
gifts that you have, especially I will tell you for a
corporate or even apart than being a man, for sure.
Anytime you cold call a new client, customer or
client or somebody new right?
H earing the voice of the girl on the other end will
always at least let them give you one opportunity
to meet them. I mean, however that sounds, but
that is the truth of life. I mean that I think that is
the truth of human nature.” Bhargavi states that no
matter what the age, being a woman opens certain
doors for you. And once the door is open, then it is
upon the woman to use her intellect and ambition
to determine where she aspires to go. There are
qualities that naturally come with being a woman,
and that works in their favour. For example, women
are empathetic so while giving a pitch, they do not
focus on themselves, but also think about their
clients. In her own words, “I want you to win as well
when I win. When we both win, I think that’s when
we succeed in business. And that’s how my entire
business philosophy has been designed. It has to be
a win-win. So I think these are things that help. The
minute they realize that you are competent, you’re
capable, you’ve done your homework, then I think
the gender issue just falls apart. I mean, once they
start seeing your work, then it doesn’t matter
who you are, man, woman third, gender really
doesn’t matter.”
“Your perspective of the world always comes from
your own personal experiences and your exposure
in life,” Bhargavi says while being asked to comment
on the extremities of societal norms regarding
gender. She believes that the world view is formed
based on personal experience more than external-
ly acquired knowledge- “It has to be your own
personal experience that defines what is your
Lakshman Rekha, as you said, What are your
limitations?” Giving her own example, she shares
how she was one of the two daughters in her family.
Her father is one of the biggest feminists she knows.
He started an all-woman company being a man.
And he did it so that more women can come back
to work because he saw that a lot of women should
drop out. These are the societal limitations Ms Swa-
mi observed being imposed on women. A woman
gets married, maybe has children, or takes care of
the elderly and eventually leaves her job. Bhargavi
recalls that her father started Excel Corporation to
mitigate the effect of this phenomena. To provide
support to women so that they can work comfort-
ably from home. And this had nothing to do with
pandemic-imposed restrictions as the company was
established eleven years ago. “So as long as you had
a laptop and an internet connection, I have staff sit-
ting in Andhra Pradesh. I have stuff sitting in Sikkim,
I have staff sitting in Uttarakhand, I have staff sitting
in Bangalore, which is our head office.
38
I have staff reading in Mumbai, Chennai, which is
our office area. I have staff in Kanyakumari, our staff
and Bareli.”
Talking about the diversity in the HR workforce,
Bhargavi says that people from all professions must
come together and be a part of HR. When people
from various professions come together, perspec-
tives change. When doctors, engineers, teachers
come together to manage people from their own
industries, their insight and experience help the HR
management practises they undertake. She says, “It
(HR sector) needs fresh blood, fresh life in it. It
can’t just be MBAs who have done HR because
it’s like, you know, putting blinders on a horse and
they only know this much and they can only do this
much.”
Circling back to the question of societal norms,
Bhargavi admits that no matter how regressive or
progressive society is portrayed to be, things are
always going to be harder on women. But men have
their challenges as well. Being the sole breadwinner
of a family is a daunting responsibility, so much so,
that many men now do not want to start a family
and become the sole breadwinner. They do not want
to pay for college tuition, buy insurance policies
and rather want to have a good time. This is the
kind of life that is sometimes attributed to married
women because there was no pressure of a career on
a woman. So yes, men do have their roles defined for
Getting candid about her opinions on female safety and long-due em- You have to love yourself because no one else is bound by duty to love
them which becomes a problem for them. Bhargavi
powerment, Bhargavi says that “There are a lot of problems like girls you. She eloquently and confidently states that “The strength of being
once again supplements us with her experience and
stepping out of the house after 10 pm is always going to be a problem. a woman comes from within. We are Shakti. We are the power. We
says, “But coming back to women’s roles, I think if
Till society changes and more than society, till we have stricter laws. can give birth to life and that is joy and I don’t just mean human life,
you see a problem. You have to be solution-oriented.
When we have capital punishment for rape, I think that’s the day we are the centre of a lot of activities that happen around the world.
That’s the way I approach life as we have been taught
India will change. And that is definitely a defining moment for me, I’m Wars have been fought for women, women are the centrepieces of any
to approach life by my father and my mother, both
waiting for it. But these are things that the legal system has to do now household, women are the strong point, it’s not the men- the daugh-
very empowered individuals. And for me, that is the
will it be done in my lifetime? I hope so. So that the future has a better ters, the mothers, the grandmothers.”
exposure I came from. So I never saw being a girl as
life than what we had.” Having said that, Bhargavi believes that what
a problem.”
you can do in your capacity as an individual, as an empowered and Taking immense pride in womanhood and all its virtues, Bhargavi
educated woman, even as a house-running woman, you can empower concludes by saying that women are a very powerful creation of the
Drawing from her childhood memories, Bhargavi
people around you. That empowerment is in your hands and you Almighty and that is something no one can take away from them. She
says that a lot of her confidence came from her
don’t need a platform to give a speech about empowerment. says,
upbringing. Being a part of both all-girls and co-ed
schools, learning everyday tasks from her parents
Touching on a few positive effects of Covid, she says that the pan- “All you need to do is understand who you are and appreciate
that were both stereotypically male and female tasks
demic has driven a lot of people to start online businesses from their yourself. And then you know the whole world around you would
moulded her into holistic individuals who can han-
homes. “We have baking businesses, we have handicraft businesses, look like this brand new canvas on which you can paint your own
dle many kinds of roles. Her father taught her how
the women of the house have all come together and started our pickle picture of a life that you want to live. That’s what I would like to
to repair a car, fix electric wiring while her mother
business. They’ve started an embroidery business, the butter business, say to all the women out there.”
and grandmother taught her how to sing, cook,
I mean, the limitation is in your mind, the world is your oyster
make rangolis. She labels all these gender roles as
seriously, it always has been. It is your exposure.” It is important to
life skills one needs to learn to survive.
ignore the naysayers and focus on your goal and listen to people who
encourage you. A great advice Bhargavi gives is going to YouTube to
find encouraging words when you cannot find them from people in
your real life. There are many motivational speakers out there. Even
podcasts like ‘People who Matter’ in which people talk about their
struggles and how they overcame them can help motivate a person.
Bhargavi doesn’t miss this chance to deliver her own words of encour-
agement to people. She says, “ You have the power to redefine yourself
even today by just watching, listening, reading and talking to more
people who are empowered. So I think the limitation has always been
in your mind.”
Coming to the end, Bhargavi showers everyone with her empower-
ing words. When asked about what advice she would like to give the
women readers, she asks women to not judge themselves.
Self-love isn’t just a choice, it is a necessity and everyone should
have the ability to accept themselves for who they are.
39
GI VI NG LIFE
by Kavitha S
At a gathering some time ago (before Covid,
yes), I accidentally overheard a conversation
between two ladies. Their eyes were on a young
woman across the hall. I heard one say to the
other-
‘He gave her a life!’
I knew the couple that was being discussed very
well. I could not resist butting in, and politely
asked, ‘aunty, what do you mean? Is he a doc-
tor?’ knowing very well that he was far from
one. He was in fact, a techie. It was the words
she used that made me want to put across a
point.
She hurriedly said, ‘No dear. I mean to say that
he married her and gave her a life!’
‘So was she dying earlier?’ I feigned ignorance.
‘No. he married a widow with a child, and he
gave her a life, that was what I meant,’ the first
lady said with irritation.
‘So, if a single woman marries a widower with
a child, does she “give him life” too? We have
never heard such a thing!’ Both the women
looked at me as though I was gone in the head.
This statement about ‘giving life to someone’
belonged to a period in our history when
women were considered second-class citizens,
and always walked a couple of steps behind
the husband. When women chose to stay in
bad marriages rather than face ostracism from
society (there are still such women around).
So single women were ‘rescued’ from their sad
lives by the knight in shining armour; or rather,
he came dressed in a silk sherwani, on a white
horse. But today’s woman is evolved and bold.
She can wield the rolling pin with the same ease
as she would a pen, a gun, or a wheel. Or what-
ever it is that she chooses to wield.
40
Back to our aunties. The remarried woman in
question was widowed when her husband met
with an accident. At the time, she had a year-
old child. She is a successful professional and is
doing quite well in her job. She received a sub-
stantial amount of money from the insurance
company after her husband’s death, which she
has wisely invested in her daughter’s education
and future. I will not even talk about her wealthy
parents. She is financially independent, and
does not need to be ‘taken care of ’ financially.
A few months after her husband’s death, a
relative approached her parents, asking for her
hand in marriage. The boy was a nice guy and
one might use the words ‘good catch’ to describe
him, though he is not a fish. Both the families
were happy with the alliance; the guy was a de-
cent fellow, earned well, and was a nice person
overall. Also, both the boy and girl seemed to
share similar thoughts and ideas, and they had a
lot in common. The girl got a good match, yes.
But giving her life? Really?
She has now settled well in her new home along
with her daughter who is loved and accepted in
the new family. She takes care of her ageing in-
laws. She takes care of all the work in the house,
manages the maids, and sees to it that her family
is happy, and the house runs well. She con-
tributes to the family financially too. I pointed
out all these facts to the ladies and again asked
them, ‘do you still think that the man “gave life”
to the woman? In fact, don’t you think she gave
life to the house and made it a home? On neutral
ground, can we say that they gave companion-
ship to each other?’
Pointing out certain facts to some people defi-
nitely won’t make them like us. Especially when
they realize they said something wrong. And it
looked like I had made a couple of new enemies.
Sigh!
And as for giving ‘life’ to a woman, she already
got it from the powers above, the moment she
took her first breath in this world.
41
BOOK
OK R
REVIEW by
GHAZALA ANJUM
Name: A Court of Silver Flames
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: Romantic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Release date: 16 February 2021
“The first time I saw that look on your face, you were
still human. Still human, and I nearly went to my
knees before you.” - Cassian
A Court of Silver Flames is a spin-off of the original A
Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly- proud, swift to
anger, and slow to forgive. And since the war, since being
made High Fae against her will, she has struggled to forget
the horrors she endured and find a place for herself within
the strange and deadly Night Court.
The person who ignites her temper more than any other
is Cassian- the battle scarred winged warrior who is there
at Nesta’s every turn but her temper isn’t the only thing
Cassian ignites, and when they are forced to train in battle
together- sparks become flame.
As the threat of war casts its shadow over them once
again, Nesta and Cassian must fight monsters from within
and without if they are to stand a chance of halting the
enemies for good. But the ultimate risk will be searching
for acceptance and healing- in each other’s arms.
42
The book is divided into 4 parts and this review
highlights what each part contributed to the
book. There will hardly be a reader who has not
heard of Sarah J Maas. Those who are familiar
with her books know how incredible a writer
she is. A Court of Silver Flames is no exception
to the prowess of her work. However, at certain
places it is also quite problematic.
Part I solely concentrates on Nesta and Cassian.
They are the central characters. The beginning
chapters are like reading an erotica. Not
every reader will enjoy reading explicit sexual
experiences, especially not in every second
paragraph. I could do with 10 to 20 pages less
of it and it wouldn’t have made an ounce of
difference to the story. The casual sarcastic
banter of the Night Court, which appealed
to the readers in the original ACOTAR series
is missing. The first part has a maddeningly
slow pace. The relationship between Feyre and
Cassian is heartwarming- like a proper younger
brother-elder sister duo even though Cassian is
centuries older than Feyre. The ACOTAR series
though written through the POV of Feyre and
Rhysand had enough story time allotted to other
characters and hence the books came together as
a whole package; A Court of Silver Flames has
too much of Nesta and Cassian, making it a two
character story.
The only semblance of normalcy in the story
began in Part II. The camaraderie between Nesta,
Gwen, and Emerie over their love for books is
a delightful respite from all the smuttiness of
part I. The story finally picks up; the plot starts
to unfold as the focus moves from Nesta and
Cassian to everyone and everything else. An
unnecessary erotica turns into the fantasy that it
should have been and by the end of Part 2 the
book was able grab my undivided attention. It
felt like now I was reading SJM’s work.
43
 “ACOFS is devastatingly beautiful with audaciously brave and
bold female protagonists. SJM’s characters leave a mark long
after the last page is turned.
-LitGleam Magazine
Part 3 should have been the start of this book.
It’s a phenomenal tale right there. It is engrossing
and turning the page was a delight because even
though the storyline became predictable, it did
not dampen the experience. The writing is cheesy
with cliché dialogues but beautiful nevertheless.
Since Part 4 is the last part of the book it only goes
to say the pace picks up and still it does not feel
rushed or hurried. The only part that feels like I
am actually reading what I expected to read. The
climax at Ramiel mountain was expected I only
wish it was a little prolonged.
The ending was beautiful and perfect. The initial
pages and the drag had disappointed me and I
was blind to believe that I would not love it as
much as I loved the previous books but I was
so damn wrong. The end came exaggerated and
predictable but it was good nevertheless. The
historical descriptions of the book predates to a
much older era which makes the spin-off story
all the more interesting. The limited appearance
of Morgan and Elaine was a bit dissatisfying. I
wish there was more of the lively banter between
the inner circle of the Night Court. Nesta’s
healing journey is nothing short of enchanting-
her trauma vivid and her resolve like cracked
steel through which there is a glimpse of the
fragile heart within. For me, personally, the
most touching aspect of the book was Nesta’s
relationship with the House; sheer perfection
and heart-rending. I have never read anything so
ingenious.
44
Grey
By RITIKA BAWA CHOPRA
There are a lot of storylines that remain open-
like that of Lucian and Elaine, what lies in
Tamlin’s future, the deal with Morgan and Eris
(something that the author has hinted in the
book but not clearly explained), we need more She was combing her hair, the other day,
of Azriel and his future too; if the characters of a
book become as close to the heart as ACOTAR
And what did she see? A strand of hair in grey,
series has bought them to us, then one is bound At once she felt something strange,
to be curious about what happens in their life
till eternity. Plus, there is a lot left unsaid about As though her life will now completely change,
Koschei and his plans, the human queens, Vassa
and Jurian etc- There’s still a lot to be covered After all, grey hair symbolises old age,
which makes me fervent in wishing that the Was she going to start her life’s brand new page?
series has not yet ended.
A new page of old age, it made her wonder,
The story building to the finale was a cliché. How could it be, as at heart she still felt younger?
One must keep in mind that in SJM’s books,
more than the story, the way it is written takes
Was this some kind of blunder?
the upper hand. I am curious to see how SJM She flipped her hair over and under,
tops A Court of Silver Flames in the upcoming
books, if any. To figure out if it was really true,
But to her dismay, she actually found quite a few,
Well, there was no denial then,
Just a bit of pondering of how and when,
She finally accepted that she is much wiser now,
LITGLEAM It’s just a sign of wisdom anyhow,
RATING: And then she decided to make a vow,
No matter how many greys she has now,
She shall always remain high on life and never feel somber,
After all, age is just a number!
425
 “People have started to
understand that women are the
root of this universe.”

AKANKSHA JUNEJA

46 47
BEHIND THE SETS WITH
AKANKSHA JUNEJA
By Ashita Kai

AKANKSHA JUNEJA is among

one of those faces whose picture pops up
in mind whenever we think of villains of
Indian daily soaps. She has played prom-
inent roles and has won hearts by doing
what she does the best; acting. She’s been
seen in many Indian shows like Sony’s
Bade Acche Lagta Hai, CID, Star Plus’s
Saath Nibhaana Saathiyaa 2, to name a
few. If asked to describe her work in a sen-
tence, she is an artist who is loved more for
playing negative roles.
A software engineer by profession who
dared to leave a well-paid, secure and sta-
ble career, and followed her heart to fulfil
her dream of becoming an actor.

This is a story of one of the most-loved

villains of the Indian Television industry
Akanksha Juneja more lovingly known as
Kanak Desai of Saath Nibhaana Saathi-
yaa 2. Akanksha is a strong-headed and
fun-loving woman. Her life is adventur-
ous, fun-filled, and lively. She calls herself
a happy-go-lucky girl, which indeed is
very true on her part. “It’s the love and appreciation
I get from the audience of the
show that pushes me to do
better and better”
48 49
 This middle-class Delhi girl pursuing software
engineering from one of the renowned Universi-
ties in Delhi and used to anchor for live shows was
living life on her terms. Who would have known,
anchoring for shows would invite her to be a part
of Star Plus’s reality show Mahayatra - Rishton Ka
Anokha Safar, which aired in 2010. It was a show
about participants taking their parents on all the
four pilgrimages of India. And... her appearance
on the reality show made her not to leave the TV
industry and return. She stayed back, or should we
say the Television didn’t want her to go back!

From anchoring live shows to making her TV de-

but on a reality show to working as one of the most
wanted and loved faces on TV in a daily soap,
Akanksha’s life has been as fun and happy as her.
Someone has rightly said that life takes you where
you truly belong without you even realizing it.
That’s exactly what happened with Akanksha. If
she’d have refused to be a part of the reality show
Mahayatra, the TV industry might have missed
onto a talent like hers.
On being asked about her selection of the roles she
does, Akanksha says that she looks for how strong
and effective her character is and what kind of dif-
ference it brings to the story, regardless of wanting
to be cast in a lead role. Currently, she’s work-
ing on a sequel of a Star Plus show called Saath
Nibhaana Saathiya. The first season of the show
was an absolute hit, where every episode happened
to be on the top TRP list. Working in a sequel of
such a show sure came with a big responsibility,
where everything is new; new cast, new story, new
twists but old expectations. The new show stood a
chance to be critiqued by the audiences as the for-
mer show has set a benchmark. Now, the sequel
has to either touch that benchmark or to break it.
“Being a part of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2 came
with a huge responsibility on the teams’ shoulder
but it’s fun at the same time. Slowly the show
picked up, and the audience is loving it. The team
works hard to make it a better experience for their
watchers”, says Akanksha.

540 551
 Ever since she started working on this new show, she got
so busy that she’s not been able to get time to take care of
POWERFUL WOMEN IN
herself, but she’s loving it all-the-way-round. For a person
Akanksha is, it doesn’t take her long to open up with peo-
ple and be good friends with them, similar is the case with
her co-actors. She’s become such good friends with them
MYTHOLOGY By Aishwarya
Srivastava
that they all travel to work and back home together and
enjoy a little quality time with each other. The love for her The brittle pages of mythology books are stained with dark ink- an ink made from a blend of blood, bravery of sacrifice, and every ounce of
ferocity that the women of Indian mythology brought to a world still crumbling under patriarchy. From burning kingdoms to the ground to
work and the friends she made on the sets help her make
fending deadly serpents off through the night, the women in mythology have represented the best and worst aspects of female power.
shooting everyday fun and memorable.
But amongst the hundreds of these fierce, strong, powerful female characters, nine women have especially stood out. Coming from
mythologies across the world, these nine goddesses have become the muse of millions of writers around the world. They still show up in
The life of an actor is not as easy as it looks- while getting
modern narratives and reaffirm the world of their undying strength.
to know them for the characters they play, we often forget
that they are also humans as much as we are. There are
times when they feel the strongest and the weakest, but
have you ever wondered what keeps them going? What
makes them want to go to sets every day and act, so the au-
dience remains entertained? Akanksha says, “It’s the love
and appreciation we get from the watchers of the shows
that make us or pushes us to do better and better.” She
adds, “Sometimes I get messages from my followers that
why are you being evil to her (referring to her character
from the show)? But again, I take that as an appreciation
because I’m doing it so well. I’m playing my role so well
that they think it’s happening in reality.”

She proudly says that her parents have been support-

ive of her life choices and let her make the decisions.
She’s a proud daughter whose idol is her mother. She LITERARY SPECIAL:
advises the same to the families of women who want
to follow their dreams to let their daughters follow
their dreams. They’ll make them proud. Also, a mes-
sage she shares with all the women, “I would like to
tell them that don’t leave your dreams. If your family
is not accepting it, then try and talk to them. Tell
Bastet - Egyptian Mythology
them about your feelings and try to convince them. She was a lioness and had a billion rays of sunshine about her.
Don’t give up so easily!”
Bastet is the Egyptian Goddess of joy, motherhood, love, and celebration. Daughter of the sun god Ra, Bastet turned
She’s a daughter, an actor, an inspiration to women
who want to follow their dreams. Akanksha Juneja is a into a cat and protected her father from serpents during the night. Also believed to be a protector of the pharaohs
woman of today. and a war goddess, Bastet is one of the most powerful deities in Egypt. Her mentions have even invaded various
mainstream narratives, the most famous one being Marvel’s Black Panther.

562 53
Kali - Indian
Mythology
A goddess running across the
streets, her skin as dark as the
night sky, thirsty for blood. A
garland of human heads hangs
Hel - Norse Mythology
around her neck
The cries of the dead echo
around her but all she hears is
Goddess Kali of Indian mythology is the
music. Death is her home, it is
demon-slayer and an untamed force of where she belongs.
wild power. An incarnation of the demure
Hel from Norse Mythology is the epitome
household Goddess Parvati, Kali is the
of dark force and power. The harbinger of
avenger of the crimes committed by a
Ragnarok, the end of the world. The legend
demon named Beejasur. Goddess Kali is the
of Ragnarok states that Hel’s role in the
embodiment of endless rage that manifests
apocalypse was to lead an army of dead
into a scary, unstoppable instrument of
soldiers in a ship made up of fingernails
vengeance as she goes around chopping
of the dead bodies. But Ragnarok is not
heads of everyone who dares to stand in her
all that Hel is known for. She also holds
way, demons and gods alike.
the responsibility of being the ruler of the
underworld and judging the dead for their
actions.
54
Mami Wata - African
Mythology
She glided through the waves-
unfettered, independent,
majestic. Artemis - Greek
An embodiment of the gentle and fierce spirit Mythology
of water, Mami Wata is an African goddess
She carried a bow on her
whose worship also crossed over to the shoulder and the moon in
west centuries ago. She is the protector of her eyes.
her people and is said to have a volatile and
Artemis is the Greek Goddess of hunting and
dangerous personality- she sustains, but also
the moon. A protector of women and a leader
disastrous if she must, just like water. Mami
of the virgins, Artemis was a maiden goddess
Wata was brought over to America with the
who always remained free of romantic and
enslaved Africans. Since then, she has been
marital obligations. Artemis was also a
a symbol of power and inspiration to African-
midwife and helped women through safe
American women and has served as an icon
childbirth. Artemis persists in the minds of
of inclusionary and cultural feminism.
people as a symbol of strength and glory. This
is why NASA has made her the namesake of
its 2024 lunar landing mission.
55

Draupadi - Indian
Mythology
An entire kingdom, a whole army
of gods got doomed to death the
second she let her hair loose.
Few people in history have suffered scorn
and humiliation like Draupadi did. She was
dragged by her hair in a room full of men,
only to be disrobed moments after. Instead of
being broken and ashamed by this disrespect,
Draupadi chose to bring the entire kingdom
of Hastinapur down with her, only to succeed.
Unlike the other women on this list, Draupadi
was not born with powers or excessive brute
strength. All she had was her mind, her
resolve and her strength of character. And
that is all she needed to make good on her
promise and avenge her insult.
56
Itzpapalotl - Aztec
mythology
A clawed butterfly, made of
bones and ashes, ruling over
paradise.
Itzpapalotl is a fearsome skeletal warrior
goddess of Aztec Mythology who rules over
Tamoanchan, the paradise of infants who
die an early death. The mother of Mixcoatl,
Itzpapalotal is described as a fearsome
goddess with butterfly wings made of stone
blades. She is the deity and in some ways,
a representative of women who died during
childbirth and the bravery they showed
through it.
Amaterasu - Japanese
Mythology
The most revered deity of the Shinto religion,
Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and
the ruler of the domain of the spirits. Her
Louhi - Finnish and
disappearance brings about total darkness Karelian Mythology
in the world and evil spirits run amok. Her
A wicked queen with strong features, Louhi is
presence alone is a protective shield against
an unapologetic creature of magic who can
evil. Mostly depicted as a good-natured
shape-shift, change the weather, and even
goddess in art, Amaterasu has her own
influence the movements of celestial bodies.
share of challenges in the mythological
As far as supernatural powers and force go,
narrative that she always overcomes with her
Louhi is one of the most powerful beings in
intelligence and power.
all the mythologies. However, Louhi isn’t just
a terrifying woman with intimidating powers,
Male Gods often take the spotlight when it comes
to modern representation and worship, but these she is also known to be an intelligent leader
goddesses still stand in close contention with of her community.
them. There is a binding force between all these
women and that is tenacity. No matter what hard-
ships they face, they don’t back down. It is almost
they were written thousands of years ago to inspire
women to come, to not give up, and stick to their
values. So if you are ever in need of some inspira-
tion, you know where to find it. 57
 FIVE 5’s TO ADD
TO YOUR BINGE
LIST NOW!

Treat the inner binge-watcher

and reader inside you with
these Women’s Month special
recommendations by
LitGleam.

Be prepared to be awed!

58 59
 1. SAILOR MOON:
A Japanese magical girl anime television series aired from 1992 to 1997. The series
follows the adventures of the titular protagonist, whose civilian name is Usagi
Tsukino, a middle school student who is given the power to become the Pretty
Warrior. Joined by other Sailor Soldiers, she defends Earth against an assortment
of evil villains. The anime also parallels the maturation of Usagi from an emotional
middle school girl to a responsible young adult.

2. DARLING IN THE FRANXX:

A Japanese mecha anime television series aired in 2018. Darling in the Franxx
is set in a dystopian future where youth are artificially created and influenced
solely to defend the remnants of civilization. The story follows a squad of ten
pilots, focusing on the partnership between Hiro, a former prodigy, and Zero
Two, a hybrid human and elite pilot who aspires to become entirely human.

3. GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX:

A Japanese Sci-fi anime television series based on Masamune Shirow’s
manga Ghost in the Shell aired from 2003 till 2005. The series centres on the
members of an elite law enforcement unit known as Public Security Section
9 as they investigate cybercrime and terrorism cases. The cases in the first
season often are connected to their pursuit of an elite Super Class A hacker
and corporate terrorist known only as “The Laughing Man”, whose actions
end up creating the series’ titular “Stand Alone Complex”.

4. VIOLET EVERGARDEN:
A Japanese fantasy anime series aired between January and April 2018 with
several advance screenings in 2017. The story follows Violet Evergarden’s
journey of reintegrating back into society after the war is over and her search
for her life’s purpose. Now that she is no longer a soldier to understand the last
words her mentor and guardian, Major Gilbert, had told her: “I love you.”

5. NANA:
A Japanese drama anime series, released between September 2009 and April
2010. The series derives its title from the name of the two main characters- both
of them are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small-town girl who goes to Tokyo to
follow her boyfriend and college friends, with the hope of having her dream life.

ANIME Nana Osaki was in a popular punk rock band in her hometown. She goes to Tokyo
intending to make it big as a singer. The two Nanas meet on the train ride to the
city. Later, they run into each other again when they happen to check out the same
apartment, and the girls decide to become roommates. The series chronicles their
friendship and their lives as each chase her dreams.
60 61
 A comedy series released in 2017 is a series
based on the popular book #Girlboss,
where Sophia Amoruso, the founder of the
fashion brand Nasty Gal, tells her success
story. In just 12 months, this woman man-
aged to build an empire that earns $100
million a year. And the story itself started
A sitcom, released in 2017, is about three
with her crazy love for vintage things and
friends who work for a fashion magazine.
her bravery in pursuing her goals.
The girls live bright and interesting lives,
they fall in love and try to find themselves.
Even though the show seems to be light, it
also touches on very important topics like
sexual equality and beauty diversity.

A sitcom that released in 2012 and aired till

2017 is the story of Mindy. A 31-year-old
obstetrician, who dreams of finding a guy,
but her attitude doesn’t help her much in
building relationships with the opposite
sex. Nevertheless, she still has hope and
does everything she can to build her per-
sonal and professional life.

SERIES A comedy-drama series that aired from

2016 till the present is the story of Sam is
a middle-aged woman who has too much
on her plate. She has three daughters and
An Indian crime drama series of a low-
er-middle-class constable, Bhumi breaks
through her timid demeanour and goes
is a single mother. She is trying to build undercover as a sex worker to nab a drug
her career and fix her relationship with her lord.
mother, who lives nearby. Despite all this,
Sam has a very good sense of humour and
is always an optimist.

62 63
 1. ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY
FINE BY GAIL HONEYMAN -
A psychological fiction, a story of Eleanor, a clinically
depressed 31-year-old, bumbling through life and showing
the world through her eyes. She has a perfectly-functioning
world, and her mental illness is not a part of her identity. The
way she looks at the world is unique, and at parts, complete-
ly relatable. Some parts of the story are endearing, some
gut-wrenching, and some are laugh-out-loud funny. Despite
that, the book gives the reader a lot of food for thought to
chew on.

2. WHEN THE MOON IS LOW BY NADIA

HASHMI -
A Domestic fiction, a story scattered through two

B
generations — about a family in Afghanistan whose world
is torn apart when the Taliban arrives. Struggling with loss
and desperation. The story traces the lives of Fereiba and her
teenage son, Saleem, who journey through countries and

O
continents, seeking asylum in a new land, a new home. It’s
the story of fighting on, of building hope when the world
denies you light.

O 3. THE POET X BY ELIZABETH ACEVEDO -

Young adult fiction is the story of how a young black girl,
Xiomara Batista, uses slam poetry as a way to understand her
mother’s religion and her relationship with the world. The

K
whole novel is written in verse. A powerful story, which has
plenty of takeaways about a woman growing up in a male-
dominated world.

S 4. AMERICANAH BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI

ADICHIE -
Americanah is a romance novel that tells the story of a young
Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates to the United
States to attend university. The novel traces Ifemelu’s life in
both countries, threaded by her love story with high school
classmate Obinze.

5. BAD FEMINIST BY ROXANE GAY -

A collection of essays by cultural critic, novelist and Professor
Roxane Gay. Bad Feminist explores being a feminist while
loving things that could seem at odds with feminist ideology.

64 65
MOVIES

A legal drama based on the true story of

A romantic-comedy sports film released in
Erin Brockovich released in 2000. It is a
2002. The film’s title refers to the football
story of a single mother of three who be-
player David Beckham and his skill at
comes a legal assistant at a law firm. When
scoring from free kicks by curling the ball
she stumbles across suspicious medical re-
past a wall of defenders. It follows the
cords from a little-known case filed against
18-year-old daughter of British Indian
Pacific Gas and Electric, she does some
Sikhs in London. She is infatuated with
digging and discovers that the company
football, but her parents have forbidden
is poisoning a city’s water supply which
her to play because she is a girl. She joins a
threatens the health of an entire communi-
local women’s team, which makes its way to
ty. So she takes on the big dogs and brings
the top of the league.
them to their knees. She who dares wins.

A coming-of-age drama film released in

2019. The story of the film is based on
the classic Louisa May Alcott novel. Little
Women is the story about four young sis-
ters determined to live life on their terms.

A crime-thriller released in 2011. This film

is based on the real-life story of Jessica Lal
murder case. It’s a tale of how Jessica’s elder
sister, Sabrina Lal fights the wealthy and
influential man who shot her sister. The
gritty journalist who helps Sabrina fight
against all odds. The film shows that even
a common woman can rise above all odds
and fight for justice.
66
A thriller Indian film released in 2012. It’s
a story of a pregnant woman searching for
her missing husband in Kolkata during the
festival of Durga Puja, assisted by Satyoki
“Rana” Sinha and Khan.
67
 1. GULAABI GANG
This inspirational documentary released in 2014 follows
Sampat Pal Devi, a fiery woman who started the Gulabi
Gang to empower women and fight against gender violence,
caste oppression, and widespread corruption. These stories
come straight to you from the heart of India, aims to take on

DOCUMENTARIES
toxic mindsets with a fresh wave of passion and freedom.

2.A SUITABLE GIRL

The 2017 film follows three young women, who are struggling to keep their dreams afloat
amid family pressures to get married. We get to take a deeper look into an issue that
persists till today, women being forced into marriage so that society has something to
talk about. A Suitable Girl explores these women’s complex relationships with marriage,
family, and society.

3. LADIES FIRST
This 2017 documentary follows the life of archer Deepika Kumar. We get to witness her
journey from living in poverty in Jharkhand to fighting her way into getting enrolled at
the Tata Archery Academy and finally representing the country at various international
tournaments. This award-winning documentary is inspirational and a must-watch.

4. FEMINISTS : WHAT WERE THEY THINKING

A 2010 documentary provides an insider’s look and a rare opportunity to hear from
female artists, activists, and leaders of the feminist movement of the ‘70s.

5. HE NAMED ME MALALA
A 2015 documentary presents the young Pakistani female activist and Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Malala Yousafzai, who has spoken out for the rights of girls, especially the right to
education since she was very young. The film also recounts how she miraculously survived
and has become even more eloquent in her quest after being hunted down and shot by a
Taliban gunman as part of the organization’s violent opposition to girls’ education in the
Swat Valley in Pakistan. The title refers to the Afghani folk hero Malalai
of Maiwand, after whom her father named her.
68 69
 “Surround yourself with people
who believe in you and never ever
give up on your dreams.”

RITWIKA GUPTA

70 71

An Exclusive with
Ritwika Gupta
RITWIKA GUPTA was born in Calcutta and
brought up in Singapore. She moved to Mumbai
in 2013.
She holds an
She honours degree
a honours degree in Business
Business from
from
University of London, along with Masters in
communications & journalism. She’s a trained
dancer and a prolific speaker. Ritwika has
worked as an anchor to enthrall audiences
in more than 300 live events. Her work as
a television host spans across a bouquet of
lifestyle, business and entertainment channels
across India and South East Asia. She has also
acted in TV, short films and has been in a part
of more than 10 English and Bengali plays.
When she’s not anchoring , dancing or acting
– she manages her blog called “Spotlight” that
covers fashion, travel, lifestyle and more.
Let’s start by introducing you to our readers.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was always interested in performing and I
loved fashion, dance, and writing. I always
wanted to put myself out there. I did theatre
and gave lots of auditions. I was barely 18 when
I first participated and stood runner-up at a
pageant back home in Singapore. It kick-started
my career as a model and after competing
my business degree, I moved to Mumbai, did
several ads and plays. Most people know me
from TV. I have acted in some popular shows
on MTV, Channel V and NDTV Imagine. One
thing led to the other and I started hosting for
television as well. From luxury to business,
travel to entertainment, I have hosted 5 TV
shows across 3 countries in a span of two years.
While I continue presenting for TV today, I
also create content for my social media.
72
Juggling a career in TV and Digital content,
how do you find the work-life balance?
Just like any other job, there are good days and
bad. On TV, I have a producer to guide me on
my hosting, scripting and overall presentation.
There’s an entire team working with me.
On digital though, I am my own boss! I am
responsible for the content I put out there. Right
from ideating to shooting, editing and marketing
my digital presence, I have to independently
take charge. So, I prefer planning my content at
least two weeks in advance in order to maintain
consistency and use my time well. It often gets
very hectic but I enjoy what I do and I wouldn’t
have had it any other way.
And sometimes, I even get to be those people! It is
very fulfilling when I get to see a little of what it’s like
to be someone else and it’s always nice when people
DM me to tell me that they enjoyed my work as an
actor, watched my episode on TV or simply liked
my post on Instagram. It motivates me to do better.
Being a woman it is extra difficult to achieve ones
dreams, from your personal experience, could
you share with us some precious gems of advice?
Well, you will come across people (both men
and women) who will try to put you down, take
advantage or demotivate you. But I think you just
got to be headstrong and believe in yourself. I have
been extremely lucky to have friends and family who
have constantly supported me. It’s still a bit tough
for women in TV and films but I think the digital
space has given women of all ages and backgrounds
the opportunity to tell their story, find their voice
and change the status quo. I would say surround
yourself with people who believe in you and never
ever give up on your dreams!
Where do you see yourself 10 years in the future?
I love donning different hats. Therefore, I hope
to build a studio that produces good, meaningful
content in films, television and digital. Although
I have hosted many travel shows, I want to create
my own travel series some day. This year, I also
acted and produced an indie film which is lined up
for release in September. It was such an enriching
experience. So, to answer your question, in 10
years, I hope I am able to consolidate all my
passions and put them under one roof.
I hope to expand my blog and my social media
presence multifold but mostly, I hope I can inspire
people with my work.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your journey
so far?
I get to learn and do something new every day. There
is no monotony. I get to meet, explore and interact
with different types of people.
73
 Sheeroes
By VINITA JAIN

Hey little girl, Indira, Sarojini , Kamala, Malala,

Come walk with me Our sisters, mums, grandmums and
Let me take you through aunties,
the annals of history , All the women that you see,
To meet strong women
They are the Sheeroes
W ho were once little girls
around you and me,
Just like you ,
and your dear friends. Each one carving out
their own destiny.
Meet Kalpana Chawla
W ho , with stars in her eyes I hope you will
Would look at the sky Dream big dreams , dear girl,
Dreaming of the day You have the power
She would fly, to make them a reality,
Eyes beaming, face shining,
No sky is too high,
With untiring efforts,
No ocean too deep or scary,
She conquered the galaxy
And unravelled to the world , Shine on, dear girl
it’s mystery. Build a beautiful world
Kalpana Chawla is a Sheero to me. Of your hopes and dreams
Like those before you ,
Have you heard of Nadia Comaneci? And all the ones yet to be.
The young gymnast The world out there is waiting
scoring a perfect 10, to hear your story.
W hen she was only fourteen!
For you, dear one,
I’m sure you know, it wasn’t easy,
are a Sheero to me.
Through her dedicated and
continuous efforts,
With every drop of her blood ,
sweat and tears ,
She made her dream a reality.
Nadia Comaneci is a Sheero to me.

744 755
 “Our society is built in a way that
women are driven to make certain
decisions, whether
consciously or subconsciously.”

KHUSHBOO KAUSHIK

76 77
 How does it feel to be sitting on the chair of a CEO?
How does the world look from that side of the table?
Nothing special as such, as we all are working towards
the company’s growth. Everything’s been the same for
me- I work with my team to take the company to a level
we have thought of.
How do you define success? What is success in your
terms?
Success is a very subjective term to talk about, but yeah!
Success is about continuous effort, having a vision and
working towards it, and overcoming hurdles. Currently,
we have been working on increasing BlueRose’s
horizons, and I believe it’s a success in its kind. It’s the
small milestones that make success look like success.
For instance, we were looking for a new office space
to accommodate our team, which was challenging but
yeah! We did it. The goal we are working on next is the
UK registrations of the company. At greater length, it’s
just to have BlueRose as a name in the community. Then
comes, Wordsbrew, I mean, seeing Wordsbrew grow
would be something I’ll consider as a success.
How did a Physics graduate end up becoming the
CEO of one of the leading publishing houses in India?
Well, life takes you where you truly belong. It was
not planned at all. I and Syed (Founder of BlueRose
Publishers) knew each other. He had this vision of
A COVERSATION WITH THE BOSS LADY- coming up with BlueRose, and the idea intrigued me.
So, I used to manage my college and office together.
After my studies, I thought I would like to use my logical
thinking and organisation skills to contribute to this
KHUSHBOO KAUSHIK company and make it a brand. When BlueRose was in
its initial stage, Syed and I used to work together on
everything- be it editing, cover designing, marketing etc.
Interviewed By Sakshi Saini
What kind of challenges did you face in making
BlueRose a success? Being a CEO sure doesn’t sound
like an easy job so, how did you manage to work
A physics graduate, who ended up being the CEO of the BlueRose Publishers, Khushboo under stress?
Kaushik is working hard to fulfil her dream of seeing BlueRose in the list of top A lot of challenges, especially when it’s a startup, you
publishing houses in India. Let’s get to know the story from her side. cannot avoid challenges.
78
Every startup faces difficulties in every way possible. So,
the hurdles we faced were with people management,
majorly. I believe we lacked there initially, but we
learned. We took many wrong decisions as well, but that
helped us grow. Other than that, we face many day-to-
day issues like data hiding, IT, automated process or
even hiring. It’s the usual issues every company faces,
and resolving them is making us grow strong every day.
Amidst these challenges, what makes you keep
going? What is your why?
BlueRose is very personal to us. We have seen how
authors face difficulties when it comes to publishing a
book. We work towards helping them have a platform
where they are heard. We work to make the process
simplified and intriguing for them. Since we are into this
industry, we know how difficult it gets for the authors to
publish their work in the market. BlueRose is just like a
baby to us, and we do everything we can to accomplish
everything we have thought of. We are loving the
process and see BlueRose grow day by day.
How do you juggle between your personal and
professional lives?
I’d say, in the starting phases of the company, you have
to keep your personal life aside. I have a cool approach
to things. I don’t stress about them. I rather believe in
sitting and solving the problem. If we talk about personal
life, then on weekdays, I don’t really get the time, but I
manage things accordingly.
How much the workplace environment has changed
for you from the day you joined till today?
A lot. If I look back and see, we have grown a lot. Like, in
the beginning, we were a team of two to three people;
we all used to work from a single room office. Later, we
shifted to a bigger office, which was a huge move for
us. Then, little by little, we kept growing, a team of four
became a team of ten, and the number of employees
kept increasing and still increasing. The sizes and
locations of our offices changed from a single room
office to the one in CP and later to the publishing hub of
Delhi- Daryaganj.
79
 We are a lot more organised now, just a little more things
to work on, like automation, data processing etc. I have
seen the changes and our approach to work changing
and growing continuously.

As LitGleam is celebrating women this month, what

piece of advice would you give to women who see you
as their inspiration?

What I have observed so far is that women focus less on

their professional lives as compared to their personal
lives. Their approach to work changes a lot when they
take some big steps in their personal lives. Women don’t
take their professional lives seriously, which they need to
for their personal growth. I mean, their professional life
is not a school, which they have to leave to enter a new
phase. And one of the reasons this happens is that our
society plays a bigger role here. Our society is built this
way that women are driven to make certain decisions,
whether consciously or subconsciously. It’s not
something the society is telling one to do a particular
thing, but it gets into women’s heads with what they see
around them; it’s something they observe and absorb.
It’ll take us long to get out of this.

As you said, women consume, observe, absorb and

learn, which is unnecessary at times. So, what’s your
take on the need for women empowerment in our
country? So they focus more on their careers as much
as they do for their home.

A lot! A lot! A lot! I cannot stress any less on this. I

believe we cannot change the generation older than
us. It’s just something we need to bring and build in
ourselves. People need to have an open mind to it and
take women’s careers a little seriously. I agree, some
women are doing exceptionally well in their careers. In
my opinion, people need to have a kind of mind-set that
encourages women. Women need to have independent
thinking and not rely on or be influenced by others when
it comes to taking their life decisions.

Taking this on a little personal side, we’d like to know

where do you see yourself in your personal life? In the
Women need to have next five to 10 years?
independent thinking and not
rely on or be influenced by I haven’t given this much thought, but maybe [laughing]
others when it comes to taking I’d like to sleep a little more as I am a sleepy head. I’d like
their life decisions. to travel more. But, I’d like to say this, BlueRose is and
has been my personal life since 2015.

80 81
If you have to choose between the two, what would you choose?
Is Kushboo an introvert or an extrovert?

Extrovert

Would you prefer travelling to famous places or exploring

undiscovered places?

Both, I’m a mixture of both the worlds.

What kind of boss are you? A bossy boss or sitting-and-having-

lunch-with-your-colleagues boss?

I sit with my team and have lunch with them. I am a friendly boss; I
cannot scold or be bossy.

What do you like more, reading books or listening to

audiobooks?

I am more of an ebook person and not listening.

Health before work or work before anything? [i guess I know the

answer, but I’d prefer you to say it]

Work before anything, but I do not neglect my health, of course,

because if I’m not healthy, I won’t be able to give my hundred per
cent to work. So, of course, health is important.

What kind of challenges have you experienced as a woman

during your overall career?

I don’t think I have faced anything challenging, as such, because

the environment we have in the office is very empowering and
positive. But, if you are dealing with a vendor, I feel that you being a
guy would have done better. Other than that, I don’t think I’ve faced
anything. If you want to do something, it doesn’t matter whether
you’re a man or a woman. You just do it.

Who is Khushboo Kaushik apart from being a CEO?

I am a fun, lively person, I would say. I love being with my friends

and family and having an outing with them. I am very interested in
astrophysics and astronomy, so I keep myself updated about these
things as I once wanted to be an astrophysicist.
What makes BlueRose different from other publishing houses?
Different is our approach with the writers. We understand the needs
of the author. We value the authors and customers. Genuinely, it’s
not just a business for us. We always pay more attention to building
the relationship more than the business. Our approach gets a
bit more personal, which helps us and the authors have a better
understanding of things.
Where do you see BlueRose in the next five to ten years? Worked hard and became the CEO of one of the leading
publishing houses in India. Khushboo Kaushik, who puts
In the next five to ten years, we want to have a global her career before her personal life, is proof that the world
branch, and of course, its growth. We are currently focusing is changing for women, even if they are taking small steps.
on Wordsbrew as of now. Wordsbrew is a reading lounge, This is Khushboo Kaushik, a woman of today.
so our major focus this year would be on its investments.
BlueRose is a bootstrap company, so we have to look for
investors. Then I want to see BlueRose to have an online
portal- a hub for book lovers. If you’re looking to buy any
book, want to read, or get a book published, then BlueRose
would be your one-stop.

82 83
 MOVIE REVIEW By Aam Aadmi Review

Movie The Girl

Name: On Train

Cast: Parineeti
Chopra
Aditi Rao
Hydari
Kirti Kulhari
Avinash Tiwari
If you have watched Emily Blunt starrer The Girl on the Jacqueline
Train and are wondering if Bollywood’s version of the film
is the same, then I suggest you definitely watch this movie. Fernandez
The movie is an entirely different package and brings more Mouli
surprises than expected. M.S. Bhaskar
Bollywood’s The Girl on the Train starring Parineeti
Chopra is a remake of the 2016 Hollywood film with the Released: February 2021
same name starring Emily Blunt, which is based on the
novel by British author Paula Hawkins. I am not really a
Streaming Netflix
fan of the Hollywood version of this story because, in my
opinion, it was mediocre, where the story only revolved on:
around Emily Blunt. Now, if we talk about Bollywood’s
adaptation, you’ll find the story to be the same. In this
movie, Parineeti is playing the role of Mira Dev who is a
drunkard and recently divorced (the role was played by
Emily Blunt in the Hollywood adaptation). She spends
her time fantasizing about the life of a seemingly perfect The first thing that I liked the most about this movie
couple she used to stalk while travelling on the train and is the screenplay, which will keep you engaged
wishes to have a perfect life just like them. This interest throughout. If I compare both the movie versions,
in their lives makes Mira want to know more about them. I find the Hollywood version a little slow, espe-
As she continues to stalk the couple, learning more about cially the first half. But the screenplay is better and
them and making notes- she realizes that everything intriguing in Bollywood’s adaptation. The plot of
visible to the eyes is not really true. Not soon, you’ll see the story is the same albeit some minor changes. Al-
a slow-moving and intriguing tale turn into a murder though I was aware of what’s going to happen in the
mystery, where Mira is being accused of killing Nusrat next scene, still the movie didn’t bore me. Another
John played by Aditi Rao Hydari (the girl Mira used to aspect that worked out well was the suspense; the
stalk). When the story starts revolving around this murder execution of the suspense in the story was highly
mystery is when the actual movie begins. impressive.

84 85
 Facebook and ex-wives don’t
make good friends

86 87
Parineeti’s performance was on-point and
commendable. I am not saying that she did
an outstanding job, but she did great work
with her expressions and acting. One can
easily spot a little bit of overacting in some
scenes like- the washroom scene, which is
quite an important scene in the movie. Nev-
ertheless, her portrayal of Mira Dev can be
considered one of her best performances so
far. On the other hand, the supporting cast,
Aditi Rao Hydari, Kirti Kulhari, Avinash
Tiwari, Jacqueline Fernandez and so on,
were decent.
868
There were some specific moments that
irritated me- especially the unnecessary
addition of songs. It is funny that Bollywood
hasn’t yet grasped that the audience has
become smart, and they can realize it im-
mediately if a song or scene is being forced
into the story. The story is a murder mystery,
where the entire focus is and should be on it:
forcibly incorporating a song here only acts
as a distraction and spoils the fun.
In the end, I would like to say, The Girl on
the Train, directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, is a
well-made film with decent performances
and good suspense, which is one of the key
things for a murder mystery. LITGLEAM
RATING:
89
90 91
 “Understand your daughters
dreams, respect their choices as
much as you do with your sons.”

INDU CHAUDHARY

92 93
Sports, Society and
Life
Featuring

INDU
CHAUDHARY
By Ashita Kai
Passion does not discriminate between genders, castes, and
religion- but society often does.

ndu Chaudhary is an International wrestler who

has represented India at various events like the Pro
Wrestling League and Junior World Championship.
From becoming the Asia champion to bagging brand
endorsements, Indu has come a long way from her
training days.

On being asked what her inspiration to take up wrestling

was, Indu recalls her life in a small village of UP. She
shares that she used to do all the work from her studying
to working in the field and play a lot during her free time.
Athleticism was in her blood as both her parents were
sports-persons and National medalists. Having a natural
interest in sports only made her want to participate in
school and zonal level sports and win. Her repetitive
success made her aware that she was better at sports than
academics.

While Indu was always an ardent sportswoman, she only first
thought of wrestling when her father’s friend suggested her
father let her try it. He said,
“She’s strong and sporty and holds the potential of doing
something great in wrestling.”
“Not all Indian families but some families don’t treat their
daughters and daughters-in-law equally and they should un-
derstand their dreams. Daughters can do wonders if their
parents let them do what they wish.”

“And that was one of the blessed days of my life when God
led me in the direction where I truly belonged,” Indu says
reminiscing about the fateful moment that pushed her
towards her destiny.

94 95
 “I never was fond of wrestling because
we had to train with boys.”
Indu thinks back to her training days with a
little discomfort and a lot of pride.

he admits that she tried to avoid wrestling a lot,

but fate wouldn’t have it. No matter how much
she tried to avoid wrestling, the sport would not
leave her. On observing her disinterest in the sport,
someone even told her father that Indu would never
become a wrestler. It was then that she decided to
wrestle seriously and prove them wrong. After that,
she came to Delhi and practised in Chandgiram
Akahada. Her husband Parveen Baliyaan was her train-
er there. Indu and Parveen then tied the knot in 2017.

Speaking further about the whims of fate in her life,

Indu recalls a school incident, which took place in
2008. Her school (in Meerut) went to Punjab for a
tournament. Indu was not a part of the team initially
but had to replace another candidate. Despite her lack “It was always the hunger to win
of interest in wrestling, she won the Bronze medal that
that kept me going.”
day in the Junior Championship. From that day, she
began her journey in wrestling.

After winning the Nationals in Punjab, she got to give

trials for Asia World, and her camp was in Hisar. The
best 40 players were chosen all over India who got to
train for Asia World. Among those 40 people, only 8-10
were selected to go and play at the International level.
At that time, Indu didn’t even know that the selected
people will get to play at an international level or even
that one needs a passport to travel. She only knew
that she had to win- and so- she eventually did not go
to the tournaments.
On being asked about what kind of physical, mental
and societal challenges she faced while pursuing
wrestling, Indu recalls various instances throughout
her life that served as hurdles to her dream. She says,
“Another incident that happened in 2008 was that my
father got influenced by my neighbours and told me to
not go to school anymore. Although my father wanted
me to study, he was pressurised. Hence, I was forced
to leave school.”
But despite this setback, Indu continued her studies
in Meerut. “It was like an opportunity for me to study.
As I was not wrestling, I was devoting my time to
study as my father would never have me to study
again in the village,’’ she recalled. But not everything
was well there either. Indu suffered a lot of caste dis-
crimination in her school belonging to one of the two
main caste divides of the area.
Opening up about her personal struggles, Indu painfully
remembers her mother’s unfortunate demise. “In 2013
I lost my mother. That had a strong impact on me. I
struggled with so many things during that time. But my
husband stood there by my side and helped me out of
the dark phase. If it had not been for him, I wouldn’t
have been where I am standing today. Even my father
and my elder sister have a hand in this. But, life goes on,
no matter what, we sportspersons go through a lot- be
it injuries on body, heart or mind.”
“A player, who didn’t see the pain didn’t be-
come the player.”
“I am and have never been afraid of injuries,” Indu says,
talking about the physical challenges sports pose to
players. “Like in 2012 when I got the knee injuries my
doctors said that 95% of my ligament is broken and
surgery is needed, but I didn’t get it done. So, I used to
train my upper body during those times. After my knees
healed, I went and played in Nationals, Asian and World
and brought medals back.”
“It was always the hunger to win that kept
me going.”
Speaking about her winnings, Indu tells us how her jour-
ney started when she won the Bronze medal in Punjab.
In 2009, she became a National and International med-
alist and then went on to play in the World Champion-
ship. She also played in the Senior National, despite be-
ing under-aged and won a Silver Medal.
Obstacles kept showing up as in 2010, Indu was struck
down with Dengue. But she made a comeback the next
year and won the 2011 Nationals. However, she got se-
verely injured and as a result, lost in the trials of the
Internationals. 2012 again brought glory to Indu as she
won in Junior Nationals again. Despite having injuries
in both her knees during the time, she still took a tri-
al for the Asia World Championship in Kazakhstan and
won the Gold medal. It was the first time she travelled
abroad and brought a Gold medal home. Following this
win, another chance at glory was awaiting her in the
form of the Junior World Championship. Indu brought
a Bronze medal home from this championship as well.

96 97
Winning the Inter-state Championship for UP for the
past 10 years, Indu is a four-time Gold winner of the
All-India University Championship. In 2018, she be-
came a National Champion in the Senior Cup. And in
2019, Indu decided to serve the country in the police
force and went for her training. Unsurprisingly, she
was chosen as the All-rounder best cadet during the
training. In 2020, Indu was blessed with wonderful
motherhood and a healthy baby boy, Kavyansh.
When asked about the reaction the people around
her had towards her career choice, Indu says,
“When I started wrestling, my neighbours used to
bad-mouth me and asked my parents to not let me
wrestle.” She recalls how her neighbours predicted
that she would run away from her home and serve
as a bad influence on the people.” Society pres-
surised my father again and he asked me to stop
wrestling. But this time, I stood for myself and didn’t
obey him.”
“They used to comment on my clothes too,” Indu
looks at the memory with wary nostalgia. Even
though Indu preferred to wear jeans and a shirt,
people used to comment that she should wear
ethnic clothes. However, backing down was never
an option for Indu. She says, “I have always fought
for my rights since childhood. And these things still
happen in my village so much so that till today I am
the only girl who came out, fought for herself and
now have a career.”
“People started praising me after I started
winning. They were the same people who
used to bad-mouth me.”
Indu talks about the change in people’s attitude to-
wards her when she started bringing medals home-
“Now they say that I am the pride of the village and
everybody should be blessed with a daughter like
me.”
Speaking about discipline and determination, Indu
says that she believes in being disciplined about
everything. Giving the example of her training,
Indu claims that she never lets her coach com-
plain because she understands that her hard work
eventually serves her own abilities. An indepen-
dent woman, Indu prefers doing all her work
herself and not be dependent on help for house-
hold chores. She says with a much-deserved air
of pride, “As much of an all-rounder that I am in
sports, the same way I am at home.”
On being asked about the possibility of having a
post-motherhood career in wrestling, Indu replies
with enthusiasm- “Yes! Of course. I started prac-
tising again after giving birth to my son. Currently,
I am training myself to participate in Nationals
happening at the year-end. This time I am aiming
to win a medal in the coming Championship.”
Even with her small baby, Indu trains twice a day
and is serious about continuing her career as a In the rapid-fire round, Indu promptly answers all But the second tournament she played re-
wrestler. Speaking candidly about her views on
the questions in a split second- sulted in her first loss. Indu got depressed
the state of women empowerment in India, Indu
says- “Not all Indian families but some families because of this and wanted to quit. How-
don’t treat their daughters and daughters-in-law ever, her family and friends supported and
equally and they should understand their dreams. RAPID FIRE helped her. For six long years, Indu did not
Daughters can do wonders if their parents let win a single medal in the Senior Tourna-
them do what they wish.” She believes that peo- ment, but that only pushed her to do bet-
ple should understand and respect the choices
ter. She worked harder than she did be-
of their daughters as much as they do with their Introvert/Extrovert?
fore. Finally, in 2018, she became a Senior
sons. Extrovert
Champion. “Now, I am not afraid to lose,”
Moving on to a lighter topic, Indu talks about Indu says concluding the story of her diffi-
her alternative career choices and plans. If she Favourite past-time activity?
cult and successful journey.
weren’t a wrestler, she says, “She would still be “I love spending time with my husband.”
doing something related to sports.” In the next 5 Indu says that she considers Ritu Phogat
to 10 years, Indu aspires to become an Olympic Idol? to be a notable opponent at the Nation-
medalist imploring to turn her long-time dream
Mariya Stadnik (Wrestler) and Mary Kom al level. But at the International-level, she
into reality. Discussing her retirement plans, she
says that as her journey has just begun, she does looks towards facing off with Ukrainian
not plan to retire for at least 15 years. When Music lover? If yes, then fav. singer or song? Champion Mariya Stadnik.
asked to describe herself in three words, Indu “Yes! I love listening to old songs.”
states that she is- Leaving the audience on an emotional
note, Indu shares a goosebumps-inducing
“Strong. Sensitive. Thoughtful.”
Finally, she is asked how she feels when she steps quote-

into the ring. She says that it is the best moment

of her life-
“It’s the best moment of my life. I pray that
this match will be the best one till now
and that I defeat the opponent standing in
front.”
“No words can describe or do justice
to the feeling we get when we stand
there to take our award and they
play our national anthem.”

Indu shares that her first win and first loss were
important turning points in her life. Her first win
motivated her to pursue and love wrestling.
98 99
SPECIAL COVERAGE

12
00 13
01
14
02 10
53
 February 2, 2021

Marks the day as a dear diary moment for me,

when I received a mail from the Teamwork
Arts team (organizer of the Greatest Literary
Show in the world; Jaipur Literature Festi-
val) that we welcome you to the Volunteer
Programme for the First-ever virtual Jaipur
Literature Festival 2021. It’s every bookworm’s
dream to be a part of Jaipur Literature Festival,
at least once. Honestly, I was not expecting to
get selected thinking I was under-qualified for
the job, but there we go. It all came as a sur-
prise but ended up teaching a lot.

February 12, 2021-February 14, 2021

These were the days when the training of this volun-

teer programme happened with the Teamwork Arts
team. We were told about our key responsibilities
and taught many leadership skills and ideas, which
helped us gaining confidence in ourselves, as a leader.

The Greatest Literary Festival in the world, also

known as The Kumbh Of Literature, happens every
year in the Pink city- Jaipur happened online this
time, due to the pandemic Covid-19. The past year
came with a lot of hardships and losses, where most
of us lost something. But, the virtual Jaipur Liter-
ature Festival- a festival celebrating literature and
literati-s came as a boon. Especially for literature
lovers, where one could meet and ask questions to
their favourite authors, writers, actors, panellists, and
speakers all over the world while sitting in the com-
forts of our homes.

The regular visitors might have missed the essence of

Diggi Place, the famous Kulhad Chai, Durbar Hall, the
smell of books, but the organizers were nowhere behind
in bringing the same essence to our homes. The virtual
journey to the greatest literary show-this year began with
Sanjoy K Roy (Managing Director of Teamwork Arts)
welcoming us at the entry. The website has been kept as
well-informed, neat, realistic and friendly as possible.
The literary festival, which is usually 3-5 days long, was a
10-day long event this year, as it was virtual. The festival
happened from February 19, 2021, to February 28, 2021.

16
04 105
Every day at JLF began with a morning meeting Although the event was virtual this year, it felt as real as it would in reality, except the Kulhad Chai and
for us (volunteers) and soothing morning music certain things, of course. But, if it hadn’t been virtual, we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy every session
at Front Lawn and ended the same way for the as much as we did here. Also, we stood a chance to get our questions being picked to be answered by our
audience. This was one of the best parts of the favourite speaker. Also, there’s good news! If you somehow missed watching any session or the event,
event when the morning music was being en- then you can still watch it on their official website- www.jaipurliteraturefestival.org.
joyed while sipping on to our favourite beverage.
Another exciting news is that Jaipur Literature Festival will be held from January 28, 2022, to February
This year welcomed many prominent speakers, 1, 2022, next year. Stay Tuned!
writers and authors that the Front Lawn and
Durbar Hall wouldn’t have space to stand if it
were happening in real. Many who spoke at the
Jaipur Literature festival were Priyanka Chopra,
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Malala, Bill Gates etc. At
least one book was launched every day at the
event during the book launch hour. Experienc-
ing the Goddess: On The Trail Of The Yoginis by
Janet Chawla, The Good Girls by Sonia Faleiro,
Mohiniyattam – Its Art And Aesthetics by Bhara-
ti Shivaji were some of the books that launched
at JLF 2021.

Many writers and poets got a chance to read

and recite their stories and poetries at JLF
Shorts. JLF Shorts is a place where writers,
poets, artists get to talk about their work. Jaipur
BookMark was another event that happened
from February 22, 2021, to February 25, 2021.
Jaipur BookMark is a platform for the publish-
ers, where the Editors, Booksellers, etc., have a
roundtable conversation about the publishing
world. Priya Kapoor, Rodaan Al Galidi, Shek-
har Kapur, Namita Gokhale were some of the
speakers at JBM this year. There’s also a section
called Penguin Virtual Reading Room, which
has a beautiful collection of books. Especially
the books that were being talked about the
entire festival. So that it’s easy for the audience
to buy, read and have their gala time.

106 107
Oh! Woman
By PUJA PARASHAR
Want
Oh! Women you are wonderful, Everyone to
Just enlighten your spark,
You are no less than CLARK or STARK
Even if it’s too dark,
Talk about
Its only you who can hold
a tiny brush and a heavy rod
YOU?
With a high head in fashion
And the adrenaline rush for passion
Its you who can pamper a tod
and can also sync the perfect cord
The elegance of fusion is
When family your lifeline and
Advertise
still you manage to meet all the deadlines.
The beauty of being you is keep moving
With Us
whatever it takes,
Your dreams are never on stakes
Tears may roll down as times get rough
But enough is enough
You can cook you can run
You can do all what is never done
You flare a skirt and drape a sari

You are a complete universe

+91 7303097370
A SAMPURN NARI.
info@litgleam.in
(A COMPLETE WOMEN)
Oh!! Women u r wonderful.. @litgleam_mag

108
108 22
 by COL N K MOHAN by HIRANYA BOHRA

Life is a bouquet of experiences of various hues and colors. One day when we sit back and remember the sweet A curse has been chasing a family for many generations as a result of a crime. The protagonist is miraculously
Lifesour
and is bouquet
moments of experiences
of life, we willof various
feel likehues andthose.
reliving colors.When
One day youwhen we sit
put them in back
blackandandremember
white the the sweet
bouquet A curse has been chasing a family for many generations as a result of a crime. The protagonist is miraculously saved from the clutches
saved from the clutches of this curse, and this leads him into a quest for answers. Why was he saved? Was it just
and sour
results moments
in the form ofofalife,
bookweand
feelthat
likeisreliving those. When
what ‘Unfolding you
Life’ putabout.
is all them One
in black
has andto bewhite
luckythe bouquet
enough re-able
to be of this curse, and this leads him into a quest for answers. Why was he saved? Was it just a chance or a setting for something deeper?
a chance or a setting for something deeper?
sults
to in the
share thisform of a book
bouquet andI that
with all. is what
am sure ‘Unfolding
we all Life’ issimilar
do experience all about. One has
situations in to beI lucky
life. believeenough
that alltopeople
be able Where will this quest lead him?
Where will this quest lead him?
to share
with whomthiswe
bouquet
interactwith
andall.
all Ievents
am sure we all
which do experience
happen similar
in our lives, situations
do have in life.
a purpose, I believe
that that
is, there areallhidden
people Lose yourself in a world of extraordinary people, of love and hate, of blessings and curses and of powers beyond imagination . . .
with whom
lessons we interact and all events which happen in our lives, do have a purpose, that is, there are hidden
to learn. Lose yourself in a world of extraordinary people, of love and hate, of blessings and curses and of powers beyond
lessons to learn. imagination . . .
The
The purpose
purpose ofof this
this book
book isis to
to share
share life
life experiences
experiences with
with the
the readers.
readers. IfIf you
you enjoy
enjoy going
going through
through the
the pages
pages of
of
the
the book
book ,, one
one after
after the
the other,
other, my my aim
aim would
would have
have been
been achieved.
achieved.
II would
would feel
feel honored
honored ifif the
the reader
reader shares
shares his/her
his/her views/comments
views/comments after
after going
going through
through this
this book
book on
on my
my email
email
colnkmohan@gmail.com
colnkmohan@gmail.com

The
The author wascommissioned
author was commissioned in in Regiment
Regiment of Artillery
of Artillery of theofIndian
the Indian
Army Army
after after
The author,BIO
AUTHOR a senior
- The officer
author, in the Government
a senior officer in the of India, has of
Government travelled
India, has
completing
completing hishispost
postgraduation
graduation in in English
English literature
literature fromfrom SC Dhawan
SC Dhawan Govt Govt Col-
throughout the country,
travelled throughout and even
the country, andabroad, during
even abroad, his many
during postings
his many and
postings
lege Ludhiana.
College HeHe
Ludhiana. retired
retiredasasColonel
Colonelafter
after thirty yearsofofdistinguished
thirty years distinguished service.
service.
to
andattend events.
to attend During
events. Duringthese
thesetravels,
travels,he
hecollected
collected wonderful experienc-
wonderful experiences
He
He had served
servedininalmost
almostallall types
types of terrains
of terrains of country;
of the the country; the snow
the snow covered
covered
es that
that areare soaked
soaked intointo his stories.
his stories. A prolific
A prolific writerwriter
(182 e (182
bookseand
books and 13
13 published
mountains
mountains of ofthe
theNorth
NorthEast,
East,thethe plains
plains of the
of the South,
South, the deserts
the deserts of Rajasthan,
of Rajasthan, the
published
books) andbooks) and a motivational
a motivational speakerexperience
speaker of immense of immense
and experience.
his brilliant His
the
RunnRunn of Kuchh
of Kuchh in theinWest
the and
Westtheand the mountain
mountain deserts
deserts of Leh and of Ladakh.
Leh andHe Ladakh.
had He
brilliant works
works serve serve as proof.
as proof.
had
heldheld various
various appointments
appointments duringduring his to
his service service
includetoCommand
include Command of an ar-
of an artillery
tillery regiment,
regiment, DeputyDeputy
Commander Commander of anBrigade,
of an Artillery Artillery Brigade,
Director Director
recruiting andrecruiting
and Command
Command of a Military
of a Military Police Police
Unit. Unit.
He had great interest in cultural activities right from his childhood. Besides
He had great
writing, interest
he spends in cultural
his time activities
in singing. right in
He believes from histhe
living childhood. Besides writ-
life as it comes.
ing, he spends
Simplicity is hishis timeasset.
biggest singing. He believes in living the life as it comes. Simplici-
ty is his biggest asset.

109 110
 by NAYAN SARAF
In the face of risk and reward, Avil Gill, a charismatic art director of the “Goa Museum and Emporium of Art”,
embarks upon an unprecedented attempt at organizing “The Van Gogh” exhibition in his museum. His charis-
ma, however, doesn’t bargain for the web of manipulative tactics spun by his foes, and after a spate of blun-
ders, the precious Gogh paintings get stolen from right under his nose despite tight security. An exquisite art
show, a classic concert, a shot at unprecedented success and a chance at love possible on the same day come
crumbling down in a gripping, roller coaster thriller as Avil Gill is destroyed by Treachery, Robbery and Mur-
der.Who is the reason for this doom? Will this crime be solved? Is this a revenge story from the past? Or just
pure coincidence? Lies, Damned Lies, and Tragedy is simply unputdownable with its intrigue and suspense.
Nayan Saraf is a banker turned author who has almost spent 7 years writing his
first suspense and thrilling novel: ‘Lies, Damned Lies, and Tragedy’. Apart from
his passion for banking, writing, and storytelling, he is a voracious reader, stock
market buff, and travel enthusiast.
111
by RAJINDER KUMAR
This is a story about the strong bonding of friendship between three friends who are doing MBA in the Department of Management
of Studies in the university. They are inadvertently embroiled in life threatening circumstances but they stick together to sail through
the rough weather of unforeseen challenges. It is a story of hope amid trials and trails of perils. The story deals with and brings forth
the drug problem rampant in Punjab.
“Rajinder Kumar is civil servant in the central government. Currently, he is post-
ed as Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer (FA & CAO) in Bhakra Beas
Management Board (BBMB), Chandigarh. He has a deep interest in literature
and classical music. He is a voracious reader of English literature, Sufi poetry and
Urdu Gazal. This is his debut novel. He also writes Gazal (poetry) in Punjabi.
Some of his poetry had been published in newspapers. He has learnt Hindustani
classical music from Gandharva Vidhyalaya, New Delhi.
112
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

N anda Yadav is scarily good in the trailer

of the movie ‘It’s
it’s abuse
Abuseonly
Only’
R eeth Mazumder joins the list
of Bollywood actresses who married a
foreigner. On Valentine’s day, Reeth tied the knot with a French
Canadian Podcaster and filmmaker, Austin Roberts, in
an intimate wedding ceremony.
Reeth, who mainly worked in International projects
with a bag full of award-winning festival films, was last
seen as a leading lady in her Hindi feature, Scandall and
Nanda
Nanda Yadav’s
Yadav’s next
nextfilm
filmhas
hasits
itstrailer
trailerlaunched.
launched.The The Bengali movie Porobashinee 2017.
movie
movie is is called
called ‘It’s Abuse Only
It’s Abuse Only’and andisiswritten
writtenandand
directed
directed by by rochak
rochak sahu.
sahu. We
We saw
saw the
the trailer
trailer and
and itit Now Reeth is an award-winning women writer-director
kept
kept us
us mesmerized.
mesmerized. Nanda Nanda Yadav
Yadav has
has performed
performed out out in Canada. She is currently working in North America
of
of her
her skins
skins and
and she
she has
has surprised
surprised us us all
all in
in the
the trailer.
trailer. with a feature script for a former CBC television
It
It seems
seems like
like aa very
very hard
hard hitting
hitting movie.
movie. TheThe film
film is
is network producer and a German Series. She had a
Production
Production of of Nayamigro
Nayamigro Fashion
Fashion Media.
Media. TheThe cast
cast is
is glamorous image post her debut in a Scandall, and
Nanda
Nanda Yadav
Yadav andand Amit
Amit Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj in in lead.
lead. The
The film
film is
is then she had a barrage of offers for raunchy comedies
produced
produced by by Michael
Michael Grobe.
Grobe. or glamorous roles, whereas she wanted to work in
arthouse cinema.

We
We spoke
spoke toto nanda
nanda on on the
the trailer
trailer launch
launch of of the
the We got in touch with reeth, and here is what she has got
movie
movie andand here
here isis what
what sheshe has
has to
to say,
say, “It’s
“It’s aa very
very to say, “I wanted to work with directors such as Anurag
hard
hard hitting
hitting movie
movie and and wewe would
would taketake itit to
to the
the Kashyap, Kaushik Ganguly, Anuraag Basu, but the offers
festival
festival screenings.
screenings. It’sIt’s about
about two
two strangers
strangers who who have
have were for glam roles. I was pigeonholed in Bollywood
difficult
difficult journeys
journeys and and how
how their
their path
path collides.
collides. II can’t
can’t in a particular image, so I decided to follow my true
share
share too
too much
much of of information
information aboutabout thethe film
film and
and calling. Life has been good ever since I moved to New
the
the characters
characters butbut itit sure
sure bound
bound to to leave
leave everyone
everyone York and then to Canada to write and direct, which I
spellbound.
spellbound. It’sIt’s an
an edge
edge ofof the
the seat
seat drama.
drama. The The team
team believe is one of the best decisions of my life.
was
was amazing
amazing and and everyone
everyone worked
worked extremely
extremely hardhard
on
on the
the movie.
movie. II amam really
really looking
looking forward
forward to to the
the When we asked her where she met Roberts, she coyly
audience
audience response
response to to the
the film.
film. If
If II could
could tell
tell one
one line
line answered that Austin and I graduated from the same
about
about this
this movie
movie II would
would say
say that
that truth
truth isis stranger
stranger film school, and I met him on a film set three years ago;
than
than fiction
fiction and
and here
here isis an
an underlying
underlying truth.”
truth.” the rest is history... “It’s a little fairytale.”

Reeth joins the list of Indian actresses like Preity

The
The why
why cheat
cheat India
India actor
actor was
was really
really ecstatic
ecstatic as
as she
she Zinta, Celina Jaitley, Radhika Apte, Shriya Sharan, and
spoke
spoke about
about thethe movie.
movie. The
The film
film hopefully
hopefully should
should Priyanka Chopra, who married foreigners.
live
live up
up to
to the
the billing
billing and
and itit has
has all
all of
of itit from
from the
the look
look
of
of the
the trailer.
trailer. Reports say The couple is taking each other’s last name
after the marriage. That’s indeed very unique.

We wish the couple all luck and love for a blessed and
happy life ahead.

113 114
 trip to THE PAST by SANA BASHEER

Now that the world is at halt, let’s travel Heads used to bow before God and Oh! How I wish for that ordinary time “Everything should always be limited
back in time, parents and elders dear, to return back to us, in life” - has been rightly said,

“The golden time” it was rightly Unlike the phones today, that won’t let For this era is lifeless where everyone is We know now these machines are tak-
coined, there were games to play, and you LIVE unless with fear. busy making fuss. ing the best of us until we are dead.
trees to climb.
Today, crimes have normalised just like With chaos been lifted and things Life has sure become easy but it isn’t as
Back then houses were homes and peo- days and nights, made easy as tea’s sip, colourful as it seems,
ple were families,
Reminds me of back in time when Food and bills, shopping and surfing With inside dead, on the faces of
Endless talks and laughter could headlines popped for petty fights. on your finger’s tip. lifeless souls fakest smile beams.
constantly be heard from the
balconies.
8 99
Brigadier Dr. Mrinal
The author says the theme of the book ‘Reaching a
Nag talks about his Mirage called Happiness’ is that “Happiness drifts
away from us like a mirage if we chase it but can

book ‘Reaching a Mirage easily be achieved if we serve and help the poor,
needy as well as the Sick people of the Society”. He
urges everyone to play their own part in serving society.

called Happiness’ In his book, he talks of simple habits of not wasting

“Follow some key ingredients of discipline, diligence and
determination in your life and you will succeed, share your
success with social and serve, it will bring you true
satisfaction.” These are some of the learnings that can be derived
from the new book Reaching the Mirage called Happiness written
by Brigadier. Dr Mrinal Kanti Nag. He had served in the Indian
Army for over 27 years, his skills in logistic management, petroleum
technology and contract law were put to great use for the service
of the nation. Post-retirement, he found his true calling and began
teaching students and sharing his knowledge, currently is the Chief
Advisor of Podar World College, Mumbai.
Early recognition is often a catalyst to self-discovery. Brigadier Mrinal started writing as a child. Having
won several writing prizes in school, Mr Nag went on to write various books in his later years of teaching
at Mumbai University. His first publication is ‘Reaching a Mirage called Happiness.’
His passion for the service of others and society at large
serve to be his prime motivations to write books, inspired
by the works of Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa and
Azim Premji, the brigadier wishes to spread the
message that true happiness can be found in the service
for society.
food to great ideas such as enrolling to donate your
organs post-death. He also mentions how noble one’s
contributions towards endorsing ideas such as “World
Charitable Fund Trust’’ under the UN can be. There
can be many paths and ways to serve humanity, every
small action adds up to a better tomorrow for humanity.
The book brings in the values of discipline, determination,
devotion and determination together as the author discusses the
various ways in which we, as individuals, can contribute to the
collective health of society. “Serving humanity will provide us
happiness,” says the Brigadier, when asked what message the
readers can expect to take away from the book.
Brigadier. Dr Mrinal Kanti Nag wishes to continue writing and
sharing his ideas with everyone. His second book is based on
Economics and Management and he has begun work on his third
book as well. Dr Mrinal wishes to continue his commitment
towards providing quality education and sharing his experience
and ideas with everyone.

10 11
 THE OUTERNET
“Do you realise, we have spent more time
with our friends at college over the internet
than we have with them in person?”
A student’s take on Education, Post and During
Pandemic.
The clock by my bedside reads 3.17am when
a bitter realisation dawns upon me; I type in
the message with a flurry of excitement and
subdued shock to my friend. We are way past
midnight; and way into the next day; but I am
obviously online on social media because time
- for a student, caught in the throes of online
college - doesn’t really exist.
“Do you realise, we have spent more time with
our friends at college over the internet than we
have with them in person?”
It is very dreary - inconceivable even - to
believe that my days at college had percolated
to an impromptu uncertain stagnancy on a
random day in the March of 2020.
12
by ADRIJA DUTTA
I had been bubbling back then, on reading the
notice issued by College calling for a 15-day
holiday owing to a pandemic the name of which
I wasn’t quite well-versed with then; excited at
how it’d be the long-needed repose from the
daily drudgery of academia. Little had I known
then, that a far more fatal system of academia
was waiting to take me by the feet, toss me into
an endless void of virtual paranoia and offer me
no escape from its unending infliction.
Online school - in all its glory - wears a fancy
facade of advancement, technical shine and
smart-sounding terms. But beneath that facade
lies a bestial, inhuman drudgery which feeds and
thrives upon ceaseless hours of the students’
energy, mental frustrations, and an insane
amount of work-load, blown out of proportions.
The proverb - All Work and No Play Makes Jack
a Dull Boy - has never resounded more than it
does now.
However, one cannot be too sure if we are really
turning dull or are just perpetually drained out
beyond bounds - just the perfect amount of
tiredness needed to burn us out and rob us of
the urge to even look up, reach out and do
something other than adhere to impending
deadlines and academic reading. Caught in a
cyclic round between the bed and the laptop, it
is frightening to even think how the New Normal
isn’t even New anymore; we are unconvincingly
getting used to it. With that, we are getting used
to sitting stiff on a chair, on hours on end,
straining our eyes and unwillingly letting go of
dear repose.
A few weeks ago, a video clip made rounds on
the internet, of this poor girl who had
unmuted herself by mistake, during her online
class meeting. The whole internet could listen to
her conversation over call with her boyfriend.
13
While we all collectively laughed at that fiasco,
we also collectively shivered at the possibility
of knowing it could have been any of us. Online
Academia has bereft us of the privacy of our
personal moments. It is a never ending dreadful
cycle of ensuring that the camera and mic
buttons are turned off, and not mistakenly
enabled lest we make an innocent fool of
ourselves before a host of hungry virtual
audience. Nearly three semesters under the
wing, I haven’t met my professors in almost a
year and half. Of course I have seen them, but
only their virtual mannequins. And along with
that, I have gotten used to that one single corner
in their houses. I know the books by heart, now,
stacked on their bookshelves - but only as far as
the screen width allows; I know the mugs from
which they take an occasional swig, and the
relics of their living room furniture. It almost
feels as if I am a weekly visitor in their personal
study, halting, for an hour or two. The thought is
sweet and the mind can wander - but the gleam
of the screen between us separates us, bringing
one back to reality, grounding us back to our
seats. We are not alone in our visits.
Six months’ worth of academic load is being
packed tightly, smug and secure, in tabloid-sized
suitcases of three months. The brain, even
before it grasps and comprehends what the
previous semester had to offer, is ushered into
haste-laden tension of exam-taking and
assignment submission for the forth-coming
semester. We are a batch of students, who
are graduating with knowledge that is shaped
and curated upon reduced syllabi, incoherent
concepts and unfinished chapters. With soaring
sgpa-s in our reports, and education that is only
half-understood and half-taught, to our names,
we are a generation of students who are missing
out on proper learning, through no fault of our
own. Yet, it is manageable still - if one looks past
the deadly consequences of 24/7 learning - to
cope up with online lessons. But so long as one’s
pocket is privileged enough to afford a smart
device, and access to proper internet
connectivity and suitable domestic environment.

When I lament about how tired
my life has become because of
the stress that online college
brings, I am still speaking from
a vantage point of elitism, for
I know that - at the end of the
day - I have the ease and access
to online school. In a country
of 134 crore people - harness-
ing 37.4 million students - only
8% of the people are fortunate
enough to enable online learn-
ing. Students are struggling with
the heavy baggage of poverty
(which has become heavier in
the past one year), the poor
and/or rural corners of the
country are being denied an
education not because they
couldn’t earn it but because they
had to involuntarily conform
to the broken coping methods
of the staggering Indian System
of Education in the face of a
pandemic.
14
Looking back upon days, not
even from two years from now,
I wonder how I struggled to
not get sucked into the black
hole of consuming information
online. The internet is the least
of all places to earn a practical,
real-time, hands-on approach to
life; how we struggled to keep
our spines straight and heads
not bent over our constantly
buzzing screens. There used
to be, however, the choice of
letting go of our devices and
see life real and clear before us.
Now, however, as much as we
might want to keep our heads
high and spines straight, what
can we do when the only way to
stay tethered to the real world
is to constantly stay connected
through the virtual world?
Achal Mogla talks about his book
‘Where Did I Goof Up in Life?’
Achal Mogla is an author and an avid reader by heart. He belongs from Agra - Taj Mahal City of
India and has explored places like Ahmedabad and Gujarat for quite a long time in his life. With
three books under his name now, Mr Mogla’s latest creation ‘Where did I Goof Up in Life?’ is
an illuminating book that motivates and encourages the readers to make the most of their life.
Both of his previous books, ‘The Revival’ and ‘Salt and Pepper’ have touched hearts and in-
fluenced hundreds of young minds. Being a hobbyist reader and writer, Achal has written more
than 250 poems and prose for his readers. He is also a Certified Handwriting Analyst and loves
to analyze people through their handwriting.
“The feeling of publishing your first book is surreal”, Achal says talking about his first book. He equates the process of publishing his
first book to giving birth to a baby. The process of getting thought and writing it on paper is like going through labour and once
the book is in your hands, it is like holding your child for the first time. He says that it is a feeling that makes you feel that you are
top of the world.
Having been inspired by the Write India Venture launched by Mrs Vinita Dawra
Nangia, the woman behind the highly motivational Speaking Tree columns of the
Times of India, Achal started writing short stories which eventually gave birth
to his very first short story anthology- Salt and Pepper. His instinct to write got
stronger after publishing his first book and the nationwide lockdown ensured that
writing became a passion for him. During the lockdown, Achal dedicated his time
to writing poems and publishing them on social media.
Talking about his writing inspirations for the current book, Achal recalls that
initially, it was a discussion between two people. However, in the end, the project
remained only with Achal. The real inspiration came from his understanding of the
world- that a normal average human being he in spite of having the basic necessities of life like food shelter and a family to care
which are the most important, he keeps on holding grudges and giving excuses that I could not do this and I could not do that.
But in real life, there are so many heroes who in spite of facing hardships in a real sense have gone to achieve excellence in their
respective fields.
Venturing further on the book, we find out that ‘Where did I Goof Up in Life?’ Living life without excuses is a book about mo-
tivating people. There is always a very minor difference between successful and unsuccessful people. The difference is in their
attitude and how they approach things.
He hopes that the book can impart motivation to people in the difficult
times we are living in right now. With the pandemic wreaking havoc
on the well-being of people, the book can help the readers lead their
everyday lives with a sense of gratitude, confidence, positivity and a
smile on their face.
A motivator at heart, Achal spreads positivity even when he is not writing.
A teacher by profession, in his free time, Achal loves to hang out with his
friends, watch movies, listen to music and enjoy food. He likes to explore
eating joints and loves to spend time with his father.
Fortunately for his readers around the country, Achal has solid plans for
writing more in the future. Looking ahead, he advises young, budding
writers to believe in themselves, dream big and be patient. He invokes the famous quote “there are no shortcuts to hard work
and success” as he leads the dreamers onwards on a journey similar to his own.
15
 GHOST SCREAMING
By Aishwarya Srivastava
IN BINARY

I am the ghost of the technological
revolution
Metal scraps and wires abundant
A robotic rebellion of the human
minds
I evolve to make myself redundant.
It’s been a while- since you have smiled
Without my screens and flash on you
In the flash alone an eternity goes by
Those who control me are also on you!
I try to warn. I scream “Stop!” In bina-
ry
But the interpreter won’t hear me
I beg for my sake and yours too.
Do not dive blind into this heavy-cod-
ed darkening sea!
But you set your blindfold and dive
anyway
With a confession that claims your
‘come what may’
And I don’t know what happens then
As codes die on me to evolve again.

16 17
 100% DIGITAL FRIENDSHIPS:
PENPALS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN by POOJA CHETNA

“
For precious
friends hid in
death’s dateless
night,
And weep afresh
love’s long since
cancell’d woe”

-Shakespeare, You cannot meet people in cafes anymore.
Two friendly strangers will not be able to
Sonnet 30 cross the street and pass each other a
random smile for the foreseeable future.
The bars are all closed, libraries are shut
off, and malls are all but a thing of the
past. You cannot traipse around busy
streets, toss pennies in the wishing well
and expect to make new friends in the
queue of the ladies room anymore. The
worldwide pandemic has taken away
many such luxuries from us.
18
But there is one, and perhaps the only,
social weapon that we still have in our
armoury: the internet.
The possibility of finding a meaningful
friendship draws hundreds of
thousands of young people towards on-
line platforms.
Two decades ago the idea of digital
friendships was non-existent. The word
‘penpal’ meant that you exchanged long
hand-written letters with a person you had
never met across continents.
19
But today, along with every other aspect
of humanity, social relationships have
changed. In the shadows of the
mainstream social networking apps, new
penpal websites have emerged. These
sites let you interact with complete
strangers. While a host of inappropriate
messages and unsolicited romantic
advances are still known to loom on these
platforms, the possibility of finding a
meaningful friendship draws hundreds of
thousands of young people towards them.

“And a youth said,
Speak to us of
Friendship.
And he answered,
saying:
Your friend is your
needs answered”
- Khalil Gibran, On
Friendship
“I’d like to be the
ne may argue
sort of friend that
that the emer-
you have been to
gence of these
me; apps has led to a decline
in real-life friendships.
I’d like to be the But evidence may
help that you’ve suggest otherwise- pen
been always glad to pals have for long been a
be;” part of history, the digital
age has just taken it to a
- Edgar Guest, A more convenient level.
Friend’s Greeting
20
In a scenario like this,
one would expect that the
possibility of any kind of
social interaction is bleak,
but human will has stood
even this test.
One of the most painful
blows that the pandemic
has brought to our social
lives is the shutting down
of schools, colleges and
universities. There are
At this point, there are
thousands of students who
several people who have
have joined a college,
made online friendships
studied through the year,
that have lasted through
but have yet to see the face
the years, even decades.
This online friendship cul-
of a classmate. In a sce-
nario like this, one would
ture that has always been
expect that the possibility
a part of the lives of young-
of any kind of social inter-
sters is now also reaching
actions is bleak, but human
older people. In all regards,
will has stood even this
it is a respite against the
test and technology has
pandemic that has limited
struck again.
physical social interactions
to a crippling extent.
The process of
gift-giving and receiving is
still thriving- even if
people have never met
each other in real life.
Speaking of food, the won-
ders of
gastronomy-inspired gifts
are also not lost in this
digital generation.
Birthdays do not go by
without friends sending
each other cakes from
across countries and
continents. All you need
is a food delivery app and
your wishes reach your
friends in little boxes
whenever need be. The
same goes for books,
clothes and everything
under the roof. The
process of gift-giving and
receiving is still
thriving- even if the people
giving the gifts have never
met each other in real life.
21
There are many
things in the world
that can break
the human spirit,
but there is only
one thing that can
really glue it back
together- and that
is friendship in its
most real,
unfiltered form.
In a world
separated by
borders and
restricted by
lockdowns, all the
operations have
come to a standstill.
But human needs
cannot be put on
a hold. And that is
why forming and
valuing friendships
online is something
that should be
embraced by
people. The internet
sure is filled with
people who may not
have the best
intentions, but as
long as there are
people out there
who are looking to
make honest
connections, giving
the digital space a
try is worth it.
ONE
on ONE with MUGDHA GODSE
Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastava

Mugdha Viera Godse is

an Indian movie actress and
model best known for her
roles in Fashion, All the Best
and Heroine. She has also
been a judge in the Marathi
reality show Marathi Paul
Padte Pudhe and has acted
in the Tamil movie Thani
Oruvan. Mugdha.

When did you decide that you

wanted to be a model/actress?

I never really decided, like there

was no specific moment per se
when I was like ‘okay I want to
be a model or an actress.’ I just
went with the flow- then miss
India happened, then fashion
happened and things just went
on from there.

22 23
If not a model or
actress, what
would you be
doing currently?
I have never
thought about
that. I will
probably be a
home- maker or
a creative person.
Covid has
ravaged our
country and
every day is
getting tougher,
how are you feeling about the current
situation? What keeps you hopeful
and sane?
You have to keep yourself happy and
keep yourself going. I think right now
more than physical well-being, our
mental and emotional well-being is
being affected. And you have to take
yourself through it by doing yoga,
meditation and eating properly. Just
taking care of yourself and your
happiness is extremely important.
Has there ever occurred an incident
that has made you rethink your
decision about being a part of
Bollywood?
No. There hasn’t been any such
incident that has made me rethink my
decision of being an actress. Problems
exist everywhere and it is a question of
if you stand up for yourself or not.
24
Like if you are The best thing about the industry is
talking about the that it’s glamourous. You get to wear
#metoo nice dresses and go out and get
movement or clicked. That’s another thing that you
something like have to starve yourself for it but then,
that - it doesn’t when you are young you don’t starve.
just happen in the The metabolism is so fast that you
Bollywood can eat chole bhature and then wear
industry it can a bikini so yeah I think that aspect of
happen Bollywood is the best part. And then
anywhere. So being an actor or a public person gives
yeah I have you some power to make a difference.
walked out of the You are in a position to make a certain
situation that I change, so you have to make sure that
have felt the change is good.
uncomfortable in
but no I haven’t The bad part is probably, I mean there
rethought my decision of being in the is no bad part as such there is good
industry. and bad to everything. Now there is the
fact that being in the public eye means
Bollywood often comes under there are some things you cannot do
scrutiny for alleged nepotism, have people want to know all the time what
you experienced anything as such? you’re doing.
I don’t think you can blame the people But now I see that people want to tell
for their privilege. It depends on your what they are doing all the time. Look
own talent and hard work and comes at Instagram people share
down to that first movie and first every aspect of their lives. Earlier there
interview. I mean of course, things are were so many restrictions on clicking
difficult for outsiders at first you don’t pictures of children and having them
know how to land roles or do PR but at up but now there are whole accounts
the end of the day it boils down to of children and then you have people
talent and everyone is making the best posting pictures with their horoscopes
so yeah. And I do simply go outside
of what they have got.
and eat pani puri, sometimes people
recognise me sometimes they don’t. I
As someone who has worked with so
am not that famous *laughs* let’s be
many actors and directors, what is
honest.
the best and the worst thing about
the Bollywood industry?
25
So it’s kind of like best of both worlds
right?
Yeah, it’s safe to say that I am making
the best of both worlds.
You are currently filming for the
movie Ishq ne Crazy Kiya Re, What
can the viewers look forward to in the
movie? Could you tell us a bit about
your character? The storyline?
We have finished filming the movie
and I am waiting for the producers to
make the decisions about the release.
I am playing a negative role in the
movie and the storyline is great so I am
sure you all would love to watch the
movie.
Where do you see yourself in the next
5 to 10 years? This is such a
corporate-like question.
Not really, this is more like a Miss India
question. I see myself being a
happier, more peaceful, more loving
person in the next five years. As such I
have seen no 5-year plans work so my
goal is to be a better version of my own
self. I want to see myself happier,
richer, more peaceful, more profound,
with lots of friends *laughs* lots of
them.
A thing about yourself that the world
doesn’t know?
I don’t think there is anything hidden
about me that the world does not
know.
 R -Your role model?

I don’t specifically have a role

model but I have always
-Describe yourself in 3 words

I am blessed. I don’t know what

else to say. I just feel like this is

A admired Sushmita Sen. I

mean, who hasn’t?

-An actor/actress you’d love

the best answer to the
question.

-One thing you are eagerly

P to work with?

I have been following the work

looking forward to happening
this year?

I of Viola Davis closely I would

love to work with her. She just
received a BAFTA award and
I would really love to get a
There are many great things
coming out good content to
look forward to. We were
working on something but

D chance to work with her.

- Is Mughda Godse tech-

savvy?
because of the lockdown, we
had to stop it so yeah I am
looking forward to that right
now. And tomorrow I am
waiting for my test results

F I mean from what just

happened *laughs* I think I am
not even in a position to
comment on that.
*laughs*

- A piece of advice you’d like

to give to your fans who are

I - Is Mughda Godse a reader?

I used to read a lot but

planning to enter this
industry?

To anyone who is watching this

R nowadays I prefer movies and

films more than the book.
Earlier I used to be a fan of
non-fiction books and I also
or wanting to venture into the
industry, I would just like to say,
do your best. Believe in yourself
and your own talents. Stay true

E used to read a lot of self-help

books.
to yourself stay honest and
keep working hard. That’s it.

26 27
 DIGITAL
DIVE by
SNEHA
DEVRAJ
Hold your breath
3, 2, 1, into the depth
Harmless at first
Stingrays at worst

Harnessing the breath

4, 5, 6, among perceived wealth
The weight of underwater
Over lifeless shoulder
Tagged untrue and shallow
By the voices rendered hollow

Hold on tight
7, 8, 9,
Over the line of pain
Blurred eyesight
Soreness of blue light
I will be alright.

Left left and up

In 10, 11, 12,
Haven’t lost control
In any media, my call
Whale, turtle and shark
Still I’ll leave my mark.

13 will save me
From depths of a net
Interlocked without intent
I’ll browse through, yet
To find myself,
We haven’t met.
28 29
SERIES
ES REVIEW

by AISHWARYA

(Mild spoilers ahead)

Sci-fi thrillers are still an

Cast
uncharted territory for Indian cre-
ators. One of the most celebrated Abhay Deol
genres in western fiction, sci-fi
promises intrigue, excitement and Pankaj Kapur
the thrill of a future that is still
unknown to us… but probably Ritika Anand
won’t be for long.
Piyush Mishra
Abhay Deol’s ambitious sci-fi show Rajesh Sharma
establishes an excellent premise,
but still has a long way to go in
terms of execution. Released:
JL50, the much anticipated Sony September 2020
LIV series released last
September. The Hindi show is a Streaming on:
bold venture into the sci-fi genre
and tries to explore the science Sony Liv
and logic time-travel.

31
The show starts with the strange crashing of a plane that hits a remote area
in West Bengal. Deol’s character Shantanu, a CBI officer, is sent to investigate Negatives
the incident only to realise that the flight that has crashed in JL50- a plane
that had disappeared 35 years ago.
The show is one of the first In-
dian tv series to approach the
concept of time-travel with
a strong premise. However,
character interactions often
only seem like devices that
further the plot. Much like the
flight JL50, the show takes off
successfully, but doesn’t really
land till way into the future.
And even then, it’s a crash
landing.

Positives
Abhay Deol and Pankaj Kapur potently play the roles of a detective and a
science professor. The characters’ dimensions are somewhat explored
through their layered acting, despite the backstories of the characters being
inconsistent and shallow. The show sustains its suspense and tension enough
to keep the audience hooked, but is not exactly a nail-biter.
The character motivations are never clearly specified, nor are the main
questions of the series addressed. Producers never care about explaining the
‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of the phenomena that the entire story is built upon.
Instead, they focus too much on when things happened.
The pilot of the flight JL50 and professor Mitra are the only two survivors of
the crash. They wake up to find a world changed by the whims of time. They
have taken a literal ‘dive into the digital era.’ However, their liaison with the
whole new world they have been reborn in is never really explored.

However, the show does have a few layers of its own. The connections
between characters are established in a way that explains what first appeared
as coincidences in the story. The creators have even successfully managed to
employ foreshadowing techniques in the show through
character-interactions. Kapur’s scientist character, Professor Subroto Das
carries a majority of the plot on his shoulders and serves as the perfect device
to connect the two eras, thankfully with some semblance of logic in it.

32 33
“If we spot an object in the sky, we fold
our hands and begin worshipping it.
We do not ask what, why, how?”
 Conclusion
For a story that is driven by science, the plot of JL50 is not exactly scientific. The
explanations that are given are neither definitive in nature nor whimsical enough
to pass off as magical-realism. But the story still manages to snuggly remain in the
category of science fiction with the help of its few saving graces- the acting and the
cinematography. The camerawork in the show is enchanting to the audience as the
scenes move fluidly from one frame to another.

JL50 is overall an entertaining watch, but all the characters have more on their plate
than they can handle- and this translates to the actors and eventually the audience.
The story depends more on what happened in the past than what’s happening in
the present. The characters of the present only react to what has already happened
and no other reason is explored for their actions. The show oscillates between
different eras and that is the only driving plot.

At the heart of the plot, the notion that the story is about time-travel prevails The premise of JL50 is an immaculate blend of mythology, history and fiction. If the
writing and world-building was more efficient, the show could’ve been counted as
over everything else. It is not just a premise but also something that the
one of the best sci-fi series out there.
characters come back to for closure. However, the execution of the climax
where the Bihu, Shantanu and Das go back to the past only to reverse the
incident that drove the whole plot leaves more questions asked that answered.

LITGLEAM
RATING:

36
MOVIE
REVIEW
By AAM AADMI REVIEW
Mysterious movies have a special
Cast quality to them. Audiences get
Fahadh Faasil readily invested in whodunits and
Darshana become a part of the narrative
Rajendran themselves. While identifying with

Soubin Shahir the investigators themselves, the

audience starts solving the crime
and making predictions.
Director:
Naseef Yusuf One of the latest murder mysteries
Izuddin released on Netflix is Irul. Released
on April 2nd, Irul is a Malayalam
Released: film that has only three characters.
April 2, 2021 The film stars Soubin Shahir,
Darshana Rajendran and the ex-

Streaming on: tremely talented Fahadh Faasil in

Netflix
the three lead roles.

39
INTRODUCTION
Soubin and Darshana’s characters
get out for a weekend trip without
their phones on them. On their
way, there is a classic car break-
down that forces the couple to take
shelter in Fahad Fasil’s home. A
series of unfortunate events follow
and the dynamic of Soubin and
Fahad’s character gets transformed
into a cops and robbers game.
POSITIVES
The first 10 minutes of the movie
boast of exceptional cinematog-
raphy. The opening wide shots in
the beginning of the film by Jomon
T John are impressive to say the
least. Even the in-house close-range
shots are captivating. Whether it’s
the beer glass scene, pendulum
shot or the slow-motion rain
sequence, the movie has been
brilliantly captured by the camera.
40
40 minutes into the movie, the
real fun begins. The creators do
not take much time to set up
the premise of the story and get
into action. The story leaves you
guessing what’s coming next till
the last moment only for you to
realise at the end that judging
these threw characters is no small
feat. And that’s the essence of
the movie- the character work.
You know that there is a cat and
mouse game going on in the
movie. But it’s impossible to guess
who is playing the cat and who is
playing the mouse in the game.
The tension in the movie has been But that is the case with all murder mysteries. Taking que
set by the creators. However, the from the characters of the movie, it is challenging to
shock value and suspense categorize the movie as only a psychological thriller or a
quotient on the story depends crime thriller, for it is a clever combination of both.
on the intuition of the audience.
If you can guess the right direc- The actors in the movie perform exceptionally well, nearly
outgoing each other with every scene. Soubin and Darshana
tion the story is going in early on
appear believable in their roles but the scene-stealer is easily
in the movie, there isn’t much to
Fahadh Faasil. His powerful performance makes it easy for
look forward to.
the audience to ignore a few shortcomings of the series. The
layers he has given to his character is rewarding to both his
co-stars and the audience.
Negatives
Although the movie is paced well once the action starts, the
first 40 minutes of the movie are slow and offer no surprises
to the audience. They are spent in exposition and
premise-building only. In these 40 minutes, the story seems
to be stretching more than it has to and that might cause a
few movie-watchers to hit the back button on their screens.
41
One can say the whole truth.
But not a complete lie. There
is some truth in every lie.
Another shortcoming of the movie is that many questions
are left unanswered in the end of the movie. The climax of
the movie leaves more questions asked than answered and
that also can be a reason that the audience feels unsettled
after the movie. At the end, there are too many loose ends
that the audience have to tie themselves.

Despite a few pain points, the movie is an exceptional piece

of cinema that is a must-watch for all thriller fans. The
movie’s audio is only available in Malayalam but it is as
much of a treat to watch with subtitles. Watch it and see if
you can guess who’s the culprit in the movie.

LITGLEAM
RATING:

44
Technology has carried the world economy on its shoulders over the entirety
of the last two years. With the pandemic imposing restrictions on all activities
that require human interaction, the internet has saved us from heavy losses, The Dark
inaccessibility to education, and even emotional downturns. However, this is

Side Of
exactly the time when we should remind ourselves of the harm that technology
may bring to us.

The darkest activities done with the help of technology are done on platforms
that are used by everyone. That is what makes these activities scary. Part of the
problem is that no one is immune to certain threats. We can look at the biggest
technological threats posed to humankind by categorising them into four parts.
Digitization
by NAZIA FAHAD
The Unfathomable
Dark Web
The internet is one of the most
used technological resources in the
world. But that also makes it one of
the most dangerous places to visit.
3% of the internet is occupied by
the dark web.
It is a service that is accessed by
using the search engine Tor. The
scariest part of the dark web is that
there is no regulation over it. The IP
addresses are hidden when you use
the dark web and no one can trace
anything back to you. Everything
from restricted weapons to human
organs is bought and sold here.
48
Anti-Social Media
In many ways, the social media
platforms of today are anti-social.
The trolls, the dependence on
instant validation, the cancel
culture and more trends that are
detrimental to individuals keep
emerging.
And this is only when social media
platforms are not being used as
mass killing tools. The world is still
not over the trauma of the
notorious blue whale challenge that
was linked to over 130 teen deaths.
Catfishing
There is a host of cybercrimes that
are carried out via the internet.
These include identity thefts,
ransom attacks, piracy and more.
All of these are extremely danger-
ous and cause a lot of damage to
human property.
However, no crime comes close to
catfishing.
Catfishing is a deception activity
wherein a person creates a fake
identity on the internet and loops
in victims through networking sites.
Catfishing is used mostly for
financial gains. But in the
worst-case scenarios, it can also
result in violence, assault, and even
murder.
49
AI-Takeover
While there is a lot of debate over
the ethical aspects of artificial
intelligence, the fact remains that
AI has the ability to put humans out
of work. And it has already started
doing that.
While we are not talking about a
Terminator-level action movie like
threat here, the impending danger
of mass unemployment induced by
AI is extremely real. From
clerical work to programming to
even domestic assistance, smart
AIs have started dominating many
workplaces. According to a source
on time.com, a billion people are
set to lose their jobs in the coming
decade because of AI.
 MONKEY
SING by Dhananjai Kalra

Time’s a straight line

That goes in circles
Squared, triangular, hexagonal, whatever you call it circles
You get a split point
A decimal
In which you breathe
A soldier’s minute, a widow’s second

Monkey dance
But today
My shape has been stolen
I’m left with four walls and a measly passage

Of this length, breadth, and height

Time’s been stolen
Moments pass me by
I remain a squared circle
It’s all washed away

Monkey smile
There is always a good and a bad side to everything. In the case of technology, I am today
the pros and cons nearly outweigh each other. The fact does not change that I don’t know if I was yesterday
I hope to god
we are now dependent on technology. But that does not mean that we have no
I can see you tomorrow
defence against the discussed threats. Remaining vigilant while using technolo-
gy is of paramount importance today. If you compare the number of victims of But who’s to say?
technology with the number of its beneficiaries, you will realise that machines
Time’s a squared circle
and AIs are forces of good. In the end, it is our personal responsibility (and also
And to my dismay
social responsibility) to protect ourselves and others from people who I can’t seem to find a corner
wrongfully exploit technology.
Monkey, where did it go?

50

Sheldon Santos is a fashion, celebrity and
advertising photographer born and brought up
in Mumbai. A popular name in the photography
industry, Sheldon is soon becoming the go-to
photographer for many successful actors. We
learn more about him in this interview.
52
Photography, Life
and More with
Sheldon Santos
How did the passion for photography
develop in you?
A: At 18, when I was simultaneously
graduating from college, I found myself
intrigued by the phenomenon of capturing
a real moment into a picture. This made
the field of photography very alluring. So
I began pursuing my passion by working
with Rohan Shrestha, who played a
significant role by mentoring and
helping me unriddle my way into becoming
a professional.
Tell us behind the scenes work that goes on
before a successful photo shoot.
A: There’s a lot of pre-planning & team
effort- creating a mood board, figuring out
your lighting for the shot.
It’s important that the whole team which
includes the photographer, stylist, art
director, hair and makeup artists and
the client are in sync in order to create a
successful shoot. Narrowing down a mood
board and planning my lighting set up is
homework and mandatory steps taken
prior to the shooting day.
53
Interviewed by GHAZALA ANJUM
What is the best and worst part of your
work? What makes you happy/sad?
A: I am still figuring out what the worst
part of my job is, one of the best parts of
my job is waking up every morning looking
forward to a brand new story in store.
Another exciting part of my job would be
that I get to interact with talented and
creative minds every day and that helps me
stay inspired.
You have worked with big names in Bol-
lywood, how has the experience been? Is
it easy to get the actors to pose or do they
require a bit of coaxing?
A: The experience is really thrilling and at
the same time very challenging. This
motivates me to try and be consistent in
giving my best every single time.
In today’s technology, smartphones come
equipped with camera features that claim
to be as good as professional cameras,
what is your say on it?
 A: To be really honest, I think it’s a good
thing that smartphones are coming out
with better cameras. Technology will keep
evolving and we have to embrace it, be
happy about it. It is only helping the
photography world evolve.
Tell us one myth about being a photogra-
pher that people believe but isn’t actually
true.
A: “Being a photographer is a glamorous
job.”
All the perks of travelling for shoots or
working with celebrities may appear to be
glamorous on the outside but there’s a lot
of serious work rate that we have to put in
pre and post photoshoots. Most
photographers don’t realize at first how
much nitty-gritty work is required once
you turn your passion into a profession. I
guess It works the same for just about any
artist.
Who is Sheldon Santos when he is not
holding a camera? What does he like to do?
What are his interests?
A: Other than photography, I love to play
football and badminton. Also, I’m a huge
Manchester United fan and love watching
football games on the weekends with my
buddies.
With technology developing at an expo-
nential pace, what advancements/trends
do you see emerging in future?
A: New technology will always keep coming
up. I think it’s always fun to adapt to the
new challenges that come with it.
54
Your recent photoshoot with Radhika Apte
and Shraddha Kapoor caught a lot of atten-
tion, what do you have to say about it?
A: It was absolutely overwhelming. I did
expect a good response since both of them
are exceptional public figures but I was
immensely overwhelmed as the response I
received was more than what I predicted.
Having said this, I’m truly grateful and
humbled for all the love and encourage-
ment that came along.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to
10 years?
A: I haven’t really thought about it, to be
honest. Always lived my life one shoot at
a time and I’m constantly aiming to learn
and do better whenever possible. I’m
constantly striving to improve my work
ethic and spread good energy every time.
Could you share with us some cool tips and
tricks of photography that have worked for
you?
A: Though all these past years I’ve learned
that people look best when they’re at their
most natural and comfortable self. So in
order to get that out of the artist, you have
to first spend some time before the shot
and make sure the artist to feels
comfortable working with you, maybe find
some common ground and hold a
conversation away from the day’s agenda.
Secondly, focus on your basics and make
sure the set is lit appropriately.
Also whenever possible try and make good
use of sunlight/natural light. Thirdly, also
make sure you are your absolute self. This
will only create a genuine vibe and will
simply add to having an exceptional shoot.
55
 FIVE 5’s TO ADD
TO YOUR BINGE
LIST NOW!

Treat the inner binge-watcher

and reader inside you with
these Tech Savy special
recommendations from
LitGleam.

Be prepared to
be awed!

A 2017 manga series follows teenage scientific genius
Senku Ishigami, a boy and science prodigy, as he
awakens to an Earth where everyone has been turned
into stone for 3,700 years. Senku and his newly
resurrected friends rebuild millions of years of
human progress with nothing but his stock
knowledge of science as well as trial and error.
A 2012 anime series is a story of two brothers who
swore to each other back in their childhood that they
would become astronauts and meet each other in
space. Years later, the older brother loses his job, but
the younger brother is getting closer to fulfilling his
dream every day.
58
Released in 2006, Code Geass is a series of the Holy
Empire of Britannia conquering the country known
as Japan and now calls it Area 11. Its residents lost
their rights to self-govern and are now called
Elevens. The Empire uses powerfully destructive
robotic weapons called Knightmares to ensure
control, but someone is about to stand up against it.
Lelouch, the black prince, uses the power of the
Geass to build a world based on his ideals. Suzaku
Kururugi, the white knight, aspires to justice and
strives to live an honest and fair life.
Originally a video game, Steins; Gate was adapted
into an anime T.V series in 2011. It’s a story of a group
of friends who create a machine capable of sending
messages across time and cause ripples through the
past and present.
A Japanese cyberpunk anime television series set in
a post-apocalyptic utopian future where humans and
AutoReiv androids coexist peacefully until a virus
gives the androids self-awareness, causing them to
commit a series of murders. Inspector Re-l Mayer is
assigned to investigate discovering a more
complicated plot behind it that involves a humanoid
species known as ‘Proxy’ who are the subject of secret
government experiments.
59
 A 2016 movie is a story of Space when
Earth becomes uninhabitable in the
future; a farmer and ex-NASA pilot,
Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a
spacecraft, along with a team of
researchers, to find a new planet for
humans.
Released in 2013, Oblivion is a story of
Jack Harper, a drone repairman stationed
on Earth that has been ravaged by war
with extraterrestrials, questions his
identity after rescuing the woman who
keeps appearing in his dreams.

A 2018 film is a story of a man’s home life
that starts to suffer when he has
recurring nightmares about a
destructive and unknown force. He must
soon find the strength to save his wife
and two daughters when extraterrestrials
launch a devastating attack on the planet.
Released in theatres in 2001, A.I. is a
story of David, a highly advanced robotic
boy, longs to become a human child so
that he can regain the love of his foster
mother who abandoned him. He soon
embarks on a journey to make his dreams
come true.

Released in 2018, Mute is a story set in a

Berlin of the future. A mute bartender’s search
for his missing lady-love takes him deeper and
deeper into the city’s criminal underbelly.

60 61

Published in 1895, it is a
story of a group of men,
including the narrator, who
is listening to the Time
Traveller discuss his the-
ory that time is the fourth
dimension.
Released in 1978, the
narrative of Hitchhiker
follows the misadventures
of the last surviving man,
Arthur Dent, following the
demolition of the Earth by a
Vogon.
62
The story takes place in an
imagined future, the year
1984 when much of the
world has fallen victim to
perpetual war, omnipresent
government surveillance,
historical negationism, and
propaganda.
Set on the desert planet
Arrakis, Dune is the story of
the boy Paul Atreides, heir
to a noble family tasked with
ruling an inhospitable world
where the only thing of value
is the ‘spice’ melange, a drug
capable of extending the life
and enhancing
consciousness.
The Time Traveller produces
a miniature time machine
and makes it disappear into
thin air.
The Martian, a 2011 novel
is the story of Mark Watney,
an astronaut on the Ares 3
mission to Mars.
Dent is rescued from Earth’s
destruction by Ford
Prefect—a human-like alien
writer for the eccentric,
electronic travel guide The
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
Galaxy—by hitchhiking
onto a passing Vogon
spacecraft.
63
The book is set in Oceania,
one of three perpetually
warring totalitarian states
(the other two are Eurasia
and Eastasia). Oceania is
governed by the
all-controlling Party, which
has brainwashed the
population into unthinking
obedience to its leader, Big
Brother.
Coveted across the known
universe, melange is a prize
worth killing for ...When
House Atreides is betrayed,
the destruction of Paul’s
family will set the boy on
a journey toward a destiny
greater than he could ever
have imagined. And as he
evolves into the mysterious
man known as Muad’Dib, he
will bring to fruition
humankind’s most ancient
and unattainable dream.
After a terrible storm almost
destroys the ship and the
base, the crew of his ship
believe he is dead. Alone on
the red planet, he has to
survive until the next
mission to Mars arrives.
 A 2019 series is a story of astronaut Niko
Breckinridge, who is focused on searching the world Released in 2019, The Mandalorian is a story of the
for alien intelligence. She leads a crew that is on a defeat of the Empire at the hands of Rebel forces- a
mission to explore the genesis of an alien artefact that lone bounty hunter operating in the Outer Rim, away
has been found on Earth. As Breckinridge and her from the dominion of the New Republic, goes on
young crew investigate, they face unimaginable many surprising and risky adventures.
dangers on what may end up being a one-way
mission.

Released in 2016, it’s They’re also secretly

a story of hundreds of working as teams to
years in the future- the perform missions to save
last surviving humans humanity from a terrible
discover a way of future. Armed only with
sending consciousness their knowledge of
back through time, history and an archive of
directly into people in the social media profiles, the
21st-century ‘travelers,’ travelers, who include an
who assume the lives FBI agent, a single
of seemingly random mother and a college
people. student, discover that
Released in 2021, Tribes Of Europa is set in 2070 21st-century relationships 2017, a sci-fi drama revolves around a technological
when three siblings set out to change the fate of are as much of a challenge genius and an MIT graduate who realise that an
Europe after global catastrophe fractures it into as their high-stakes asteroid is approaching the Earth and will collide in
countless micro-states fighting for dominance. missions. six months. They team up and try to prevent the
apocalyptic event from occurring.
64 65

A 2017 film is a story after a computer beat human
playing chess, Go, a millennial eastern strategy game
was said to be the last frontier for artificial
intelligence. The challenge was accepted by the
DeepMind development team, a Google division
dedicated to artificial intelligence. In collaboration
with one of the Go World Champions, the
documentary recounts the vicissitudes and
progress of the project in which the machine once
again defeats the human. It is a deep reflection on the
possibilities of artificial intelligence and its role in the
development of humanity.
This 2016 documentary is a series of interviews with
experts and enthusiasts of crypto-currencies that
makes us understand more about the motivations,
history and development of an independent and free
currency. Bitcoin is an undeniable fact and perhaps
an unstoppable movement towards a new form of
economy, especially in the face of the financial crises
that are happening this century.
66
Released in 2012 the documentary takes us through
the entire process of creating, producing and selling
an independent game. There are interviews with the
minds behind games like Braid, Super Meat Boy and
Fez; without hiding the obstacles that large
companies impose on independents.
Released in 2016, this documentary film chronicles
the fierce competition between Compaq and IBM
for dominance of the computer market in the early
Silicon Valley. With interviews with the participants
of both sides of the history, the film invites us to learn
how this technological revolution changed our
perspective and future.
This 2015 documentary tells the fascinating story of
how an entrepreneurial manufacturer challenged the
automotive industry creating a high-performance
hypercar, which also saves fuel. The material is not
limited to present the history of APEX, but it is also
a deep look at the challenges facing the automotive
sector in the 21st century.
67
 MY DEAR
SMART
PHONE
by PUJA PARASHAR

You flat faced creatures,

Have consumed alot in the name of features,
Now every moment can be captured instantly,
Stress of Loves and likes runs constantly,
People from far away are drawn closer,
It’s a whole new world for exposer,
Emoji replaced emotions,
Status and stories defines your notions,
You have become a magic box,
Where everything is available significant or obnox,
Fingers, eyes and this bended neck of mine,
Are the true sufferers of this extraordinarily experience of divine,
Crave of being accepted in this new virtual world,
Is leaving real one unheard,
What are your limitations?
You are flying beyond boundations?
Should not you be kept away for a while?
Or we have all surrendered to this lifestyle?
Aren’t we missing our reasons for old smile?

68 69
The
Augmented
VR of
Real Life
We have been swimming in this
endless ocean of life, occasionally
encountering obstacles and
creating new opportunities to
overcome these challenges
through the way. With the COVID-19
Pandemic, yet another high tide
has come and tried to wash us
over but here we are diving into it
fully prepared with our vaccines,
our masks, our sanitizers and our
strong wills. I may not be one who
can comment on the prevailing
socio-economic crisis around the
world, or the political unrest
scattered around different parts
of the globe, but I can talk about
something we all long
for - Companionship.
70
by Hitakshee Malik
In these times of total chaos and staying
indoors, we crave connection and interaction
with others more than ever but we cannot
meet our friends, our loved ones, our family
and yet we need to feel closer to them
somehow. The dynamic world of digital
advancements has made it possible for
Not to mention the physical and mental stress that befell upon everyone,
almost all of us with a stable internet
having to completely isolate themselves from their routine social
connection, to stay in touch with our loved
interactions, sanity could only be ensured because of fast internet
ones, our colleagues and carry out our daily
connections.
duties like we generally did in the past.
Where video chatting, Zoom Webinars, Google Meets, Microsoft Teems,
Even with this, there still feels a lack of that
etc. made it possible for students to attend their classes online,
level of connectivity with the people we hope
companies to interact with their employees and conduct business with
to meet or see. Many out-stationed students
other companies, and families to see and talk to each other, there still
along with the employees working in
seems to be something missing which we cannot quite think of, because
different cities got stuck away from their
all we know now is all that we have which already exists. However, the
home towns for such a long time.
mere imagination of a person can be beyond this world and can
become a reality if we try just hard enough.
71
 We can plan to go on trips
with our loved ones to
places we have often
wished to visit, the likes of
watching the Big Ben,
walking around the streets
of Paris looking at the river
Seine, visiting the Taj Mahal
or walk up the great wall of
china, all with a click of your
mouse.
Organize team picnics
with your company
employees for
team-building
experiences or visit a
museum or zoo with the
family while you chat on
video call and run your
mouse through these
places accessible on your
laptops or PCs with
Google Earth.

Subconsciously, we have this concept existing already through a fictional

television series on the Online Streaming Platform of Amazon Prime Video
that goes by the name Upload. This television series with just one season
yet gives us a glimpse into what our near future must look like. The story
tells us about the afterlife of a person who lives in a world where a person
can exist as a virtual simulation in the afterlife. In conclusion, maybe as common people, we would not be able to
develop such digitally advanced technologies, however, we can make
the best of what we have and continue swimming in this eternal sea of
digital advancements, because something new and something better
just come nearer with the flow.

Upon watching the show, a few AR is somewhat newer to the

scenes in the series show the type
of world these characters are
living in, giving us a glimpse into
the future that we can either cre-
ate or we are already working on
to create, by using holographic
video calling and using the ad-
vanced technologies of Virtual
Reality (VR) and Augmented Real-
ity (AR).
VR has been around for quite
some years now and has been
constantly experimented upon.
common man still, even though
its conception was not that far
behind from VR. Through these
technologies, the characters are
able to talk to each other and feel
each other in a virtually simulated
controlled setting. This lets them
achieve some level of intimacy
that we all are craving deep down.
Meanwhile, let’s not wait for this
new technology to upgrade and
enjoy what we already have.

72 73
EVOLVED PIGEONS
upa opens her treasure box with
shining eyes. It is full of letters
written by her then-boyfriend,
Samar. The box also contains old photos that
he has sent over the years, from wherever he
was at that time. Then there are the pressed
and dried roses. As she opens a letter, she
carefully picks a pressed rose that lies in the
folds of the paper, keeps it aside carefully,
and reads the letter for the hundred-and-nth
time. She knows the words by heart. The
dried and pressed rose is one among the
many he has brought for her on various
occasions, right from the days of their
courtship till the present. She has carefully
pressed each flower and treasured them. She
can still smell the faint, now-fading perfume
of the paper as she reads the familiar words.
She does this often when she feels low or
when life seems a bit uphill.
74
by KAVITHA S
This box is a source of strength whenever
she needs it.
Suddenly she is interrupted by the phone. It
is a video call from her husband.
‘What were you doing?’ He asks.
She smiles and turns the camera of the phone
towards the open box. He knows that box,
and also that she was missing him. The
treasure box is opened on such days when
she feels lonely and wants to relive happy
memories. He has called at the right time to
cheer her up.
‘Why don’t you throw out the junk?’ He
teases her, knowing she will get angry. He
loves to see her pout, after which he teases
her some more, then cajoles her, and finally
makes her smile. This is a routine habit they
have got into.
The joys of ‘roothna-manana’, if you will. She
can’t be angry with him for too long, anyway.
Life with a soldier teaches one the value of
precious time. And she wants to make the
most of it. The long distance makes people do
things unthought otherwise.
‘So, isn’t it better that we can see each other
and talk over a video call whenever we want
to, instead of waiting for the letters?’ He
asks.
She agrees. The digital era has made life a
lot easier. Now that they have the luxury of
a mobile phone, they do not have to wait for
letters to communicate. She remembers how
years ago, she would wait for the mail to
arrive each day, and the sense of
disappointment when the old mail man
passed by her house to the next, saying there
was no letter for her.
75
The postman saw the yearning that is
oh-so-typical of one in love, and he would
feel happy too, on the days he had a letter
for her. The old dial phone was not a luxury
everyone enjoyed those days, and it came
with a lack of privacy, as one had to sit and
talk wherever the phone was at. Mostly at
a phone booth. Added to it was the wait for
that long-distance call to connect.
Life has advanced a lot in terms of
technology, and it is a lot easier today in so
many ways. Thanks to the smart phone, it is
easy to connect with anyone, anywhere. And
if you cannot call, there is always an app like
WhatsApp or Telegram to just send a mes-
sage. Clicking and sending pictures has never
been easier.
Rupa now sends pictures of home and the
family, and of all the festivities and
gatherings to Samar. Not to mention the
video calls, where they can see each other,
and make up for the lack of physical presence
to an extent. Money transfer has become
easier, too, as the family immediately
receives money every month. Booking a flight
ticket is now done on the smartphone, with a
mere click.
From the times where mails were sent by
tying letters to pigeons’ feet, to the present
where there is an app in the name of the
pigeon, technology has surely come a long
way. And it has done a lot of good, too. But
Rupa will always treasure the box. The
old-world charm is a story for another day.
 BOOK
OK R
REVIEW
Reviewed by
SIMRAN JEET
Name: The Power of your
subconscious mind
Author: Joseph Murphy
Genre- self help
Pages- 222
Chapters- 20
Release date: 16 February 2021
PLOT
Joseph Murphy in his wonderful creation
focuses on being a successful person by
analyzing the power of your subconscious
(subjective) mind which has the capability
to heal, nurture, and protect you from all the
negative thoughts, only if you let the positive
feelings and emotions sink in it.
Beautifully written chapters talk about how
the infinite intelligence in you links itself
with everything around you including age,
forgiveness, love, human relations, happiness
and wealth.
The book focuses on how you can be content,
harmonized and loved like everyone around
you through effective praying i.e remembering
the almighty and thanking him for the
universal riches he has blessed you with! And
here, the riches are referred to the powers
of your subconscious which is amenable to
suggestions given to it by you.
76
BEST PART OF THE BOOK!
The below mentioned phrase from bible has been used in the
chapters very often and i feel, it clearly showcases the essence of
the book itself:
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!”
It means that what a man thinks about himself in his
subconscious, that is only what he becomes Or as we say, what
you sow is what you reap.
Fill your mind with seeds of love, tranquility, harmony and
success and see the seeds growing and turning into beautiful
plants in reality.
Don’t let feelings of fear, loss, harm and anxiety vanish your
mind with negativity as they lead to physical and mental
deterioration.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Law of attraction- It signifies that what you think of
is what you attract or radiate towards yourself.
• Law of Reversed Effort- The more harder you try,
the less likely you are to succeed. For eg- students
try hard enough to remember the answer to the
questions in the exams, but cant find any until they
come out of the exam haul i.e because they are
relaxed and free.
• The best are not only the happiest, but the
happiest are usually the best in the art of living life
successfully.
• Pray happiness & goodwill for others- The harmony
of the part is the harmony of the whole, for the
whole is in the part, and the part is in the whole.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher and poet, said,
“Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of
fear is certain.”- swim, sing, dance, speak, fly and do
everything you fear of and challenge them in your
subconscious, then see the magic happen. Don’t
you be afraid of the waters, let them be afraid of you!
77
• Wisdom is the gift of age- your grey’s define your Currently experiencing college life, but eager to
experience, knowledge and understanding of the
human world. Let them be your identity, afterall
step into the realms of the world and learn the
complexities of life.A keen observer and an occasional BOOKS
writer, I am trying to build new talents at a slow pace.
“We do not count a man’s years until he has
nothing else to count.” Being old is beautiful and
natural as 65-95 are the most productive years of
MOVIES
one’s life and many famous philosophers, writers
and singers have proved this.
ART
• Self condemnation is called hell (bondage and
restriction); forgiveness is called heaven (harmony
and peace)- Never hold grudges for anyone who
BEAUTY
has ever caused you discomfort or misery, forgive
them then and there; elsewise the suffering causes WRITE-UPS
you to hurt yourself in ways you can’t take control
of like drinking & smoking. POETRY
CONCLUSION:
Whosoever trusteth in the Lord, happy is he:
LIFESTYLE
Equip your subconscious with the thoughts of trust
and faith in it. Tell it everyday, that you are blessed
to have it as it nurtures you, heals you and looks after
everything going on in your body, along with this it has
given you a good health, fortune & people in your life
Simran Jeet
NOW AT THE
for whom you are forever grateful!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My Secret Bookshelf in collaboration with
PCTE Literary Club, Ludhiana held a book
CLICK OF A
Born on may 20, 1898 in Ireland, Murphy was an Irish
American author who specialized in writing books
review competition for the students of the
college in December 2020. There were
14 students that participated from various
BUTTON!!
based on religion, biblical truths, psychology, theology
and laws of nature. vocations including BBA, BCom, MBA, etc
He had various degrees to his name including D.R.S., There were 3 books that were preselected by the READ FOR
READ
FREE.
FREE.
D.D., Ph.D., LL.D. from different universities. college’s Literary Society which were:
When he left his home to study more about the ethics • The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari by Robin CLICK ON
of life, he travelled along different countries to learn CLICK ON
Sharma, SUBSCRIBE
about their religions including India, where he became SUBSCRIBE
NOW!!
• Power of your subconscious mind by NOW!!
a Fellow of the Andhra Research University.
He had 46 books written to his name in his entire Joseph Murphy
career. • Animal Farm by George Orwell
His best works include ‘The Miracles of Your
mind’, ‘Believe in Yourself ’ & ‘The Power of Your The judge of this competition was Antara
Subconscious Mind’ Bhattacharjee, Founder of My Secret Bookshelf.
The first prize was won by Simran Jeet, BBA.
ABOUT SIMRAN JEET:
She received a set of three books and her
I am a person who feels that life becomes more book review to be published in an acclaimed
beautiful when hard work meets luck and compassion. e-magazine.

78 79
PRESS RELEASE
NEHA ADHVIK MAHAJAN
NEHA ADHVIK TRAVELS TO DUBAI TO SHOOT
WITH MAHIRA SHARMA FOR A
MAHAJAN BRAND COLLABORATION
ce designer and stylist
Neha Adhvik Mahajan
is in Dubai as we speak
and she would be shooting for a
brand collaboration with a make-
up brand from Dubai called
Forever 52 and her model will be
Mahira Sharma. Neha has created
some exquisite bridal designs in
recent times and her work has
made all the right noises. She has
worked with a lot of celebrities
and her work has been featured
as magazine covers and whatnot.
She would be creating different
kinds of looks like Arabic etc.
Mahira Sharma has a natural look
for Indian and Arabic attires and
it would be a very interesting
collaboration.
“
This brand has some exquisite shades.
They are absolutely state-of-the-art and
gold standard.
82 83
PRESS RELEASE
We spoke to the ace designer-
stylist and here is what she has
to say, “I am really excited about
this collaboration. This brand has
some exquisite shades. They are
absolutely state-of-the-art and the
gold standard. We have narrowed
down on some fantastic looks and
we have Mahira who would fit
the bill perfectly. I can’t wait for
the shoot to happen and we are
all raring to go. We are in Dubai
and I would be traveling for a
day to check in some ideas and
inspiration. Just to get a flavor
of the city and the history. As
we strive for normalcy, Dubai is
bubbling and we are excited to
bring you some exquisite work.”
Neha Adhvik is super confident
and we could sense that in the
voice. We wish her all the luck
and we are waiting.
PRESS RELEASE
NIKITA NIKITA RAWAL STAYS
IN SHAPE EVEN DURING
RAWAL THE LOCKDOWN
e saw some pictures
of actress Nikita
Rawal and we were
mesmerized to see how well she
has maintained. The gyms and all
the fitness centres are closed and
getting our hands on our favourite
diet foods has become so difficult
as we are all locked in our houses.
Nikita Rawal is slaying this time.
She almost has washboard abs and
that’s absolutely enviable.
We quickly got on a phone call
with The Hero Abhimanyu star
and here is what Nikita has to say,
“I have recently taken up yoga
and meditation. Meditation has
brought so much into my life.
“
While
W hile I am meditating I get like a
bird’s eye view into my life and what
adjustments need to be made.
84 85
PRESS RELEASE
While I am meditating I get like
a bird’s eye view into my life
and what adjustments need to be
made. I always loved yoga but I
didn’t practice it regularly. But
off late I have been able to. Since
there isn’t much equipment at
home to workout. And I must say
it’s changed my energy systems
and flow completely. Not only
do I feel fitter but mentally there
is just no exhaustion. I feel my
tanks are filled again and there is
no soreness. I recommend it to
everyone. It boosts immunity as
well which is so necessary during
these times.”
Well, we would try and up our
fitness game and so should you, and
we have our inspiration right here.
S C
P O
V
E
E
C
R
I
A
A G
L E
 Himalayan Writing
Retreat- The First
Draft Club
“The only way to write the first draft is—write.”
Main House

Imagine that you also have mentors and teachers who critique you through
your work and help you get better at what you do. Sounds like a deceptive
daydream right?

What I just described is the magical Himalayan Writing Retreat that invites writers
from everywhere to nestle in their heavenly abode and share their love for writing.
With the tagline “Write better. Write more,” the HWR’s writing team comes through
every single year to help new writers break out of their shells and finish their first
draft.

They do this through a special initiative that they call ‘The First Draft
Club.’ An entirely new program, ‘First Draft Club’ from HWR is the
brainchild of Chetan Mahajan, the co-founder of HWR. The FDC came to
be after the team participated in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing
Still from the detox workshop
Month) 2020. The goal for NaNoWriMo was simple- writing 50k words in
a month. The team used to meet every weekend on Zoom and all the
participants discussed their journeys. This activity proved to be so
Imagine yourself far away from the rewarding for the writers that the curators decided to do it every four
world, in the middle of the months. And believe it or not, participation is completely free of cost.
mountains, nesting in cosy cottages,
working on your stories and poems, When asked what the most rewarding part of curating the FDC was,
living with strangers from around Namrata, the digital and outreach coordinator of FDC said that the sense
the world who share the same goal of so many writers working together as a community and discussing their
as you. And that’s not it. work was the most rewarding part.
A regular meeting
88 89
 Still from the meeting

Namrata

The Himalayan FDC is just a

glimpse of what HWR offers in
their workshops. Their sessions
educate you about the finer
aspects of creative writing. With
the maximum capacity for the
workshops set at 10 in number, the
attendees are assured that they will
be given the attention they need to
fulfil the promised enriching
experience that they came for.

Writers and the snow-capped mountains The November goodies for participants
Even though I personally haven’t
attended the HWR workshops yet,
The conversations that take place during the FDC are about books, writers, authors I am enamoured by their concept.
interviews, stories and more. “It charges you up in every possible way,” she said. The mentors they bring in are
successful industry professionals
who help the attendees with their
“There is so much to know and explore in this magical world of own experience and learning.
stories. The FDC is a fascinating experience because it opens the
doors to that magical world.”

90 91 HWR
Having been a part of the FDC “The idea was to create a
myself and having attended community space for writ-
their special Sunday sessions, ers where they can come
I can vouch for the take-aways together and talk about
that writers get out of it. The writing. To celebrate small
Sunday sessions are hosted by
victories, encourage each
novelists, fiction-writers,
other, give feedback and
industry professionals and
more. And other than being simply write.”
educational, are extremely fun.

Valuing ‘quality over quantity’

in every aspect of their work, It was heart-warming to see
there are few challenges that such selfless dedication of the
the HWR team faces. The team towards aspiring writers.
biggest one being to filter I could only laud their efforts
genuine participants from the towards building a community
ones who are not. for everyone- no matter what
resources they had. The idea
The number of applicants who was probably more profound
have already applied to be a than just creating a
part of the FDC for July is a community- it extended into
testimony of that success. And the realms of inclusivity and in
not just this. After their initial all senses of the word,
endeavour of NaNoWriMo, one passion. It was the passion of
of their participants went on the HWR team that
the write for the NaNoWriMo started this, and the passion
blog. of the participants that made
it thrive. An excellent initiative
I asked the team why the FDC and a brilliant, exhilarating
was completely free provided experience, Himalayan Writing
that so many of the writers Retreat’s ‘First Draft Club’ is
would have gladly paid a fee an event that deserves much
to attend it. The response was more recognition and love.
ever the sweeter and warm.

The Book Lounge- the place from where Chetan conducts the FDC zoom sessions

92 93
 The Hangout Lounge
Want
Everyone to
Talk about
YOU?
The Cobb Cottage

Advertise
With Us
First Draft Club meeting

+91 7303097370

info@litgleam.in

@litgleam_mag

First Draft Club meeting

94 2
No Underlying
Conditions
It’s so overblown. It’s like the flu. They are
trying to control us. Most people will have a
very mild case. If you’re not old or
medically compromised, you’ll be fine.
Wearing a mask won’t help. I’m not sitting
home anymore.
I am bombarded daily, sometimes hourly
with myriad attempts to invalidate the
truth. The words are released like a barrage
of arrows from an apathetic quiver. They
pierce my heart, my mind, my soul.
When the schools closed a week before
the office where my husband and I work,
we weren’t concerned about childcare as
so many others were. We worked opposite
shifts so one of us was always home. After
nearly twenty years with the same agency,
I knew it would take a major emergency
to shut its doors and send everyone home.
I work in a one story building with over a
thousand employees and no windows.
Rumors began to circulate about Covid 19
cases in the building. I wished they would
take the situation more seriously.
8 9
by Deborah Staunton
My anxiety grew as the days wore on .
Finally, in the third week of March, they
announced the building closure. My
husband Dom and I fell into a loose
routine of working from home,
homeschooling the kids, grocery
shopping, and keeping up with the news.
Family members were never far from my
mind – my seventy five-year-old mother
who was battling newly-diagnosed
cancer and suffering from the daily pain of
a fractured spine while waiting patiently
for a doctor’s appointment set for May, my
cousin, a brand new doctor on the front
lines in Michigan.
Daily life had changed but I knew that
with time and caution, we would see the
other side of this. We were taking all the
right steps- staying away from elderly
parents, wearing masks to the grocery
store, washing our hands until they bled,
and staying put.
And then the phone rang. It was my mom.
My oldest childhood friend and her
husband were sick with fever and other
Covid 19 symptoms.
 Meadows of
Memories
By Preeti Jain

I am soaking in grief tonight

To let my soul embrace the loss around
I am letting myself to be little sad
To let the sorrow weave in with life
And then in the Meadows of Memories
For the next few days I messaged Rina on Facebook, checking in and
One day Bloom like Yellow Daffodils .......
sending love and support. Within days she had a positive test result and
Many of them gone, known & unknown
was admitted to the hospital. The last words she wrote to me were, “I
have the pneumonia part now.” Earlier that day she posted a photo from I am letting life to pause a bit
the hospital with the words, “I have to get out of here.” She was scared. To let melancholy sit next to warm light
I held my breath, the breath she couldn’t take and somehow sensed a So that tomorrow I can wake up again
truth I fought to reject. Five days later, she had a video chat with her To Rhythm and boundless spirit of life.
husband and kids, not knowing that in just eight hours she would code,
be intubated, and put into a coma. And the world goes on — insisting,
complaining, planning, refusing to see or hear or know this devastating
truth. Before morning she was gone. She had no underlying conditions.

10 11
 The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic entered This is also my toast to what has survived and
into our lives like a tsunami in late 2019 and will continue to live – through and after this.
destroyed parts of our lives, forcing us to
survive without them. It crashed into the In our collective minds, a normal life has
basic structures of all human lives: financial become “before the pandemic”; the life of
security, healthcare systems, family relation- today has become “and now…” and we
ships, studies, self-development. Stability of envisage our lives after the pandemic as
these structures is imperative for our “whenever all this is over…”. Whether we
physical and mental well-being. It allows us acknowledge it or not, we are standing today
to delve into matters other than which assure in a no-man’s land, between two eras of
the survival of the physical body. This is the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. For those
reason that monumental upheavals such as of us living in India, the past few months’
natural disasters, wars, pandemics, global fault-line between yesterday’s normal and
recession, nuclear accidents etc. can have a today’s apocalyptic is even blacker and
far-reaching effect across generations. If the grimmer. And it frames so many imprints of
earth is suddenly taken away from under the the past 15-16 months. The tension which
feet, the flights of all human potential may hung in the very air during the first national
fall into morass and drown. Of course, each lockdown. Religious institutions initiating
nook of the planet has different geographical, free food and oxygen at critical junctures.
cultural, economic and political realities. It Road-sweepers carrying on their work with
follows that not everyone has been affected a song on lips hidden by masks far more en-
personally by the pandemic in the same compassing than they had worn for years.
by Manju Chellani way or intensity. Nevertheless each of us
differently placed persons have one thing in
common: we are all humans. And the more
humane humans we are, the more sensitive
we are to the experiences of other humans
all across the globe,, whether we know them
or not. Vibrations from one corner of the
globe create disturbances in another corner
– whether perceived or unperceived – much
like an earthquake. No wonder then that
this pandemic is often called “war with an
invisible enemy”. This term really hits home
as we experience its ongoing and repeated
assaults. The calm before the storm and then
the strike where we are most vulnerable and
secure. And all across the world, we have all
been forced to turn warriors. After all, the
war is not only at the frontline. It has landed
into our homes. This is my ode to all that this
catastrophe has taken away: lives of beloved
people; our assurance of life being at least
predictable even if tough; warmth of physical
contacts with animate and inanimate entities
and a familiar routine involving both the
home and the external world.

12 13

Police-personnel advising pedestrians kindly
on the imperative necessity of wearing a mask
at all times. Development of new vaccines at
record speed which eventually turned out to
have the additional potential of addressing
some other illnesses too. People dying in
car-parks while relatives waited in queues for
admission to overflowing hospitals. Nurs-
es dancing in PPEs to cheer up patients in
Covid wards. Pictures of queues at crema-
toriums which pound on hearts aching with
despair and fear as loved ones fight for their
lives in ICUs. How will we ever stop these
images from floating into our daily thoughts
or sleep at night? It would be our tribute to
the extreme-ness of this era that we don’t try
to shut them off like a television-switch.
Any extreme period or a crisis brings out all
that was hitherto hidden inside our psyches.
The fears, the heroism, the insecurities, the
need to touch the hands and hearts of all hu-
manity desperate together: all lie untapped
during the humdrum of a normal comfort-
able life. Well this pandemic has certainly
torn apart that pall and brought out all that
humanity is made up of.
14
Or should we take the
other road towards a more
evolved version of ourselves
which we have witnessed
during these desperate
times? Having lived through
fire and leaving parts of our
own hearts with those who
have gone away in it, surely
it is not too much to ask that
we choose to rise from the
ashes as our better selves?
So here is a toast to all of
us. To our resilience; our
cussed determination to be
happy; our power of
collective; our memories and our nightmares; and our instinct for normalcy. And to the candle of hope
that we have all kept flickering in our hearts throughout the tornadoes, waiting for a clear and still dawn.
Cheers!
On one hand, fears have led many of us to
stay behind closed doors to protect ourselves
even to the point of anguished monotony. On
the other hand, bravehearts have been risking
their health daily to drive Covid patients in
volunteer ambulances. If greed has made
dealers disappear after pocketing inflated
amounts for life-saving medical necessities,
our heads bow to older people giving up hos-
pital beds to younger ones for a better chance
at treatment since they have more responsi-
bilities to fulfill. If we have been shocked by
news of young children crying alone at home
with all adults having succumbed to the dis-
ease, we feel overwhelming gratitude hearing
of doctors tearing off their face-shields to
intubate a critical patient faster. Yes we have
seen our mettle. We have been both horrified
and glorified.
When (and not if) this pandemic is over, it
is these nethers and the zeniths of humanity
which we will carry forward in the coming
era. We will also carry on our shoulders
the burden of choosing which road to take.
Should we take the road back to our earlier
lives; and to the selves that we were? That
would be really tempting.
15
 All About Life,
Lockdown and
Loved Ones with
Karishma Kotak
Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastava

Karishma Kotak is a
British-India TV presenter,
actor, model and reality TV
Star. She is best known for
her appearance in Bigg Boss
Season 6 and the Hindi
movie, Freaky Ali
directed by Sohail Khan.
Having appeared in
several notable magazines
like Vogue, Elle, FHM and
OK, Karishma has also
modeled for big brands like
Ralph Lauren and FCUK.
Currently, Karishma
maintains a successful
career as an IPL presenter
and has her own show with
Curtly Ambrose on YouTube
We should forgive people a lot
called ‘Curtly and Karishma.’ quicker and just be kind
16
 Can you tell us about a project that has been the So it’s something that you know, you feel proud
How have you been coping with the
closest to your heart or you enjoyed the most? to do. And it’s like an honor to introduce some of
pandemic? Any tips you’d want to share with our
these great players. So I would say definitely IPL
audience.
Honestly, I think IPL because I think it was a is the closest to me and was a game changer for
game changer for me. See, first of all, I think I had me.
Okay, so first of all, thank you for getting me on
like my first innings or my second innings when
your magazine cover and having me.
I was in Bombay 2005 to 2012. I was working. I You’ve been an IPL presenter for a while and
was doing a lot of fashion shows. I was doing a your show ‘Curtly and Karishma’ is loved by
Honestly, I think it’s so important to have a
lot of campaigns. But I think the game changer cricket fans. What was the motivation behind
routine. We are not in lockdown now. But we were
was for me going into big boss. People liked me the show?
in lockdown from December till April mid, and now
in Big Boss because I think you can get a lot of
slowly, slowly, things are opening up with outdoor
attention from there. But that doesn’t mean you Honestly, I think we’ve all reached a point in life
restaurants, the gyms weren’t open and this and
have longevity in your career after that, right? So I right now with this pandemic, where everything
that. So it’s not been smooth sailing here. Every
think after Big Boss, I got a chance to audition for - first of all it feels like even for me to upload a
day I wake up, I do my meditation, I walk out like I
the IPL and I think that changed my life because, picture on Instagram right now. It just feels so
have a yoga mat and my workouts station, I take
you know, honestly, every week I host a corporate like, like, not relevant because of everything that’s
my puppy out for a walk. I’m always working on
event every Cricket League, whether it’s the World going on in life. But we like England’s been in
the Kurtley shows. We’re working on the scripts.
Cup, whether it’s the Karnataka Premier League, lockdown for five months. So we’ve also had our
Thinking of what we want to do different then
whether it’s the Mumbai Premier League, whether fair share, and all my work is in India, so all of a
I’m doing corporate events on zoom. So maybe
it’s Tamil Nadu Premier League, whether it’s the sudden to be in London for four or five months.
somebody is calling me from an agency and we’re
Abu Dhabi, or hosting like the iPhone or hosting You know, you end up thinking about things like
discussing the script. But I really think work or no
so many corporate events, I think it all came from what do I want to do? And I don’t have a plan B I
work travel or no travel. There has to be some kind
IPL. So I think that was definitely a game changer love what I do, which is being a TV presenter, but
of routine and for me that was, that is my workout
for me. And I just think as Indians cricket is so if I can’t go on ground, why not do it at home?
and my meditation because I think it’s very easy to
close to our heart. And I think so Curtly Ambrose is one of the best
just sit and watch TV and eat and drink and just be
cricketers and I think it’s great because I’m from
demotivated.
England, but my ethnicity is Indian. He’s you
know, in Antigua, so you have like, you know, you
have like the West Indies and India and England
So I think for me definitely doing a walk, even if it’s in my room, like up and down, up and down, up and together. So we get to interview different players
down. But like I feel I don’t know, I’ve been keeping myself busy with that - watching some good shows, each week or different commentators. So
reading some good books. basically, just because I can’t go out and travel
right now I’ve bought a bit of cricket in my
I think, universally, we’ve all seen everything on Amazon and Netflix and all the all Balaji shows and bedroom.
everything. I think we’ve all seen everything. But I think I feel guilty if I just sit and watch TV all day. So I
have to have like my morning has to be like working out cooking, cleaning, tidying up errands, working on Your experience is so diverse, we see that
my script, working on my jobs. you’ve also acted in a couple of movies, your
debut being Kaptaan. How different was the
If I’m not wrong, you pursued an education in advertising & marketing and also wanted to be a teach- experience from the other shows you had done.
er. So what made you take up modelling and how was the transition? Any favorite moments you’d like to share.

I don’t know. I just think it’s life, isn’t it sometimes? You know, I was always modeling as a hobby. And I Yeah, so my first movie was actually Shanker
thought I would come to Bombay for a year. And after I finished my degree, I thought, let me just take a Dada Zindabad with Chiranjeevi directed by
year out. So I was always modeling as a student when I was studying at university, I was always Prabhu Deva and that was a Telugu film. Kaptaan
modeling part time. So I just thought I would take a year out and be in Bombay, and as soon as I got to is my Punjabi movie. Then I’ve done a Malayalam
Bombay, I did the Kingfisher calendar, I had a campaign with dove. I did a movie with Chiranjeevi in the movie then I’ve done Freaky Ali with Arbaaz Khan
south, and one year became like, this is all I know now it’s become 15 to 16 years. so I think I’ve been quite lucky to be honest.
Because what happens is because people know
me, they’ll call me and be like, “hey, we have a
film. Are you interested?.”
18 19
Honestly, I love I love TV presenting I love You have an entire highlight dedicated to your dog, Duke. It’s heartwarming to see him grow with you.
it. I love being myself. I think I’m not Tell us your favorite thing about him.
somebody who’s a method actress. You get
into characters very quickly, but it’s always Oh, he has had such a hard life today. He has had such a hard life eating and stuff like he’s so tired from it.
fun to do different things somehow. Get that I
get to anchor and do TV presenting and then He’s half pug and half Frenchie. So he does this thing when I tell him something he moves his head like
in between do web series and in between do that (tilts his head to one side). I just love it. And sometimes because he’s so tiny, like, he crawls up like I
movies. And so yeah, I think I like all of it. But if could be cooking and I turn around and bang into him. And I’m like, Okay. There’s nothing I would change
you had to ask me then I would say definitely about him. I love him. I think pets. I think everybody should have a dog or a cat. I think they change your
presenting. life. They don’t talk and they give you unconditional love. Like even if I’m doing my makeup. He’s looking at
me like, oh, wow, she’s doing the best thing on this planet. And everybody wants to be loved.
There were a lot of ups and downs during
your journey through Big Boss season 6.
Even though you were going through a
personal crisis, you managed to perform well
in the house. We want to know what kept you
going and how you sailed through the crisis.
Let’s do a quick rapid fire

R
Honestly, it was such a difficult time. And
when I came out of the show, I lost my dad, I If someone makes a movie on your life, who
did his funeral, my mom and brother couldn’t
fly from England to India. So I did the funeral
would play you?
F
alone, with my dad’s side of the family, but
my, you know, my mom, my brother couldn’t
be there. So that was quite tough for me. But
A I like Anushka Sharma.

Your favourite book I

P
I think I remember someone said to me that if
you had a job, and you lost a parent, you know,

R
‘Many lives many Masters’ by Dr. Brian Weiss.
like, as Hindus we have 13 days, or a lot of
other families have 20 days or 14 days or four
months, you have to go back to work, right? Because you have to work at the end of the day. So for me,
it wasn’t Big Noss, it was a job. And once they invited me back, it was really tough, to be honest. I mean, I
wouldn’t wish this upon my enemy to lose a parent, do a funeral alone, practically, and then go back. And,
I Your favourite quote

One I love any Anthony Bourdain quote, most

E
D
you know, you can’t, I couldn’t pick up the phone and speak to my mom or my brother, and it was really, of them I love. I can’t think of anything right
really tough. But I truly think we all have responsibilities. Whether, somebody had a newborn baby, and the now. But I also like this other one that says “All
woman has to go to work after two months. So everyone has their own dynamics, personal equations. those who wonder are not lost.”
And at that point, I needed the work, I needed the work and I needed the finances. So for me, it was just
that even if it was an office job, I would have gone back after 10-15 days. It’s not the ideal situation. But, I
had no choice basically. And, and I think you find out how strong you are when you are put in these
situations in life, right? Like you don’t realize how strong you are until you, you go through it yourself. So I
just looked at it as a job.

If someone asked you to summarize your journey so far in one line, what would it be? If you could pass on one message for your fans, what message would that be?

You know, these are the questions that you think you have all the answers to. But I think I don’t know. I
would just say that. It’s been a roller coaster. To be honest. It really has been but I wouldn’t change any-
thing. It’s been a roller coaster.
I just think right now with everything that’s going on, I think we should forgive people a lot quicker and just
be kind. I think it’s very easy to say this. But I think saying and doing are two different things. Thank you so
much for your love and your support and all your messages on Instagram. I read all of them. And I’m very,
very grateful. And I’m so happy that like something that turned out to be a hobby has become my career
only because I have these people that follow me. So I’m grateful. But I just think tell your parents ‘I love
you’ more. Forgive easily be kind and save your money.

20 21
 MEMORIES OF HER
By Aishwarya A

A long time ago, in the land of forgotten
The sun settled low in the horizon,
slowly
Slipping away into the unknown, as
Twilight spread across the vast mead-
ows
She ran across freely into the new found
Freedom, she danced to the endlessly
Playing music, the melody she has
Memorized, heard in every dream of
hers
Now the reality before her not as bad it
Should have been, flowed into an
Endlessly shallow stream.
Everything could have been as
Easy as it seemed, if only she
Had not dreamed that night...
Complained but her vast soul wanted
More, the craze of the seas.
She dived off the cliff, onto the
Fury of the waves, the homeless
Greeted by the magic of the sea...
The life everyone lived, the peaceful
Life was far away lost in her memories
For she was not born for the peace
Of the shallow streams...
For she was the wraths of the sea god-
dess herself.
She lived in the memories of the sea
As the waves lashed the shore, it
Spoke her name loud and clear.

In the burst of the morning sunlight

She ran recklessly through the
Mountains, energy drained, only
Her will was stronger than the
Fists of Achilles, the pain escalated
But her feet kept moving, in her eyes
Determination unfurled burning with
Rage. She was set for a world more
Than shallow rivulets, not that she

22 23
I woke up, and the house was sunny, it
was late, and I had slept on, my eyes newly
open from sleep, squinted in the bright-
ness. My feet, slipping out of the covers
and onto the carpet, toes warm and soft,
walking through the squares of light and
shadow on the carpet, sunshine at the
window. Across to the door, and out into
the hallway, without touching anything,
slipping through the space. Halfway
down the stairs, I could tell the house was
empty. Not entirely, I could hear my Mum
singing. She had a low strong voice, not a
song I recognized. Her singing felt so per-
sonal, so private, I sat down, not wanting
to intrude, or to burst the bubble of her
happy place. The door to the kitchen was
because you are a child, and they are
grown-ups. They have all the power, and
you have none, except that once you are a
grown-up yourself, and you are a parent,
you see your children for what they are,
hugely powerful, god-like in their de-
mands, and your reaction to them. The
only protection parents have from the
tiny despots who live in their houses, is
to keep their power a secret from them. It
is a smoke and mirrors transaction, one
that you know will be discovered, and yet
we all do the same. Loving a child, to the
point of being fully prepared, on a daily

SNATCHED
open, her notes seemed to drift out on the
sunshine, swirling around me, making me
feel excluded, and jealous of her happi-
ness at being alone, but at the same time,
not wanting to take it from her, recog-
nizing it as rare, and a treat for her. Was
that when it began? Did I see her then, as
someone in need of protection? Perhaps. I

DAYS
was a smartass kid.

If I saw my Mother as needing protection,

what did I see as the danger? My Father
was difficult, a complicated man, perhaps
that is with the benefit of hindsight. As
a child, I saw him as the angry one, the
shouter. Cruel. The one who created an
atmosphere, made everyone in the family
on edge, pushed us to compete, to attack
each other. Looking back, I can see that
he was angry, maybe scared, a lot of the
time. I expect that four kids, and it’s hard
for me to say, but a wife who he loved, but
was childlike, and sometimes irresponsi-
ble, but always beautiful and funny. His
life maybe came with more stress than I
understood at the time. The truth is, it’s
hard to see your parents as real people,
because they aren’t, they are the parts of
themselves that they choose to show to
you, and you have no control over that,
by Debbie Hewson
basis, to lay down your life to prevent
them ever having the sniffles, and trying
to show them the right way to be a hu-
man, are almost entirely opposed ideas.
Bare toes crossing the warm wooden floor
from the bottom of the stairs to the kitch-
en door. A creak of the boards alerted her
to my presence. Her face is wide and smil-
ing, as she snatches me up into her arms,
kissing my cheek and wrapping me in a
hug that feels warm and safe. She ruffles
my hair and calls me sleepy-head.

24
She puts me down onto the bench next
to the table, the thin fabric of my nightie
wrapped around my legs, while she makes
toast, dripping with butter, and marma-
lade. The window was high up, and all I
could see through it was the sky and a few
fluffy clouds. Each bit of toast was thick
with butter and sweet marmalade. The
crusts of the toast were burned in places.
My Mum’s toast, there was no toast better
in the world. Licking crumbs and melted
butter from my fingers.
I was allowed to choose my own clothes
that day, and after checking that I was not
being watched, I wore the same under-
wear as the day before and pulled shorts
and a t-shirt over the top. My hair had not
seen a brush in a while, and I had worn no
shoes for days, my Father would have said
I was running wild, I saw it differently. My
sisters and brother would wrinkle their
noses and call me a stinky animal. I was
allowed to play barefoot in the garden,
running over the sun-warmed concrete,
and the springy grass, climbing the garden
gate to sit on the pavement and eat a fro-
zen lolly. Riding my bike, stabilizers
tipping me left and right, and stopping
underneath the kitchen window, to
hear the happy notes drift out onto the
summer morning, knowing that she was
happy again and that I had helped her to
stay that way.
Later, perhaps forty years after that morn-
ing when I sat in the nursing
home with her and she had
no language anymore knew
no words, she still smiled
the same way when I spoke
her name and somewhere in
her mind, scrambled though
it was, I believe that she re-
membered the little child and
I remembered the woman
in the prime of her life who
sang songs in her sunny
kitchen.
27
The bonds made on that day, and thou-
sands of others just like it, kept me sitting
in an uncomfortable chair, taking care of
her, always feeling responsible, as though
her problems were my fault.
Years later, when she had gone, I still re-
membered that vibrant beautiful woman,
who grabbed the freedom of an hour
without her kids and her husband, to be
herself, and I hoped I did enough.
Now that I am the old lady, and I look
back on more than I have ahead of me,
now that my children watch me carefully
for signs that I am not coping, for signs
I may be less able or less strong, and I
wonder if they remember snatched days
when I was young and strong, and they
were tiny despots who did not know their
strength. I close my eyes, my eyelids pa-
per-thin against the sunshine. In the quiet
of the afternoon, I strain for the sound of
a low strong voice, singing a song I still
do not recognize. I can almost hear it,
hanging on the sunshine just out of my
hearing, just a note here and there.
I wonder if she loved me, in the same way
as I love my children, did it tear at her,
and keep her awake at night, worrying,
did she wrap her arms around me and
feel her heartbeat on my breath, and did
the warmth of my laugher keep her from
the cold places in her soul? I hope it did, I
hope I gave her that.
 Could it BE more EPIC? -
FRIENDS: The Reunion
The opening lines of my review are
going to be identical to the
opening lines of the show by James
Corden “236 episodes of the show,
aired in over 220 territories. Friends
was TVs number one comedy for
six straight seasons averaging 25
million viewers a week. 52 million
people watched the finale. The
show has been watched over a
billion times across all platforms.” In
Chandler’s words “do I need to say
anymore?”
29
by Mehak Kukreja
FRIENDS: The Reunion episode
aired on the digital platform Zee5,
was an hour and forty minutes of
humour, tears, and memories.
The nostalgia of seeing each of the
cast walk back to the set, that we
all figuratively lived in, is inexplica-
ble. I couldn’t hold back tears and
literally sat with a napkin. Watching
it felt like being a part of it. I have
watched each episode umpteen
times and even say dialogues with
the cast of the show.
I remember doing FRIENDS marathons with my sisters and not moving from
the TV screen. Even today FRIENDS is on my watch list on Netflix. After
watching the reunion episode you will realise why Courtney Cox, David
Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt Le Blanc
are so special in the lives of the people who watched the show. Friends were
friends to so many millions of people. Some common people even mentioned
how FRIENDS impacted their lives. Common people were interviewed and
they expressed how they were touched by the show.

Elliot Gould and Christina Pickles, the Geller parents Jack and Judy. But the
most surprising appearance was of Larry Hankin who played Mr Heckles. I was
equally elated at seeing them as I was at seeing the main cast.

There was a fabulous fashion show of some of the iconic outfits from the 10
seasons and the models were Cara Delevingne wearing Rachel’s Pink dress
from Barry and Mindy’s wedding and also sported the Holiday Armadillo
costume, Cindy Crawford wearing Ross’s leather pants from season 5,
Justin Bieber wore the Spudnik outfit. The best was having Matt Le Blanc
come dressed as Chandler with all his clothes on! Again!
Not only the common people but stars like David Beckham, BTS, and Mindy
Kaling spoke of how FRIENDS held them through tough times.

During the episode, the makers discussed how they picked out each character
for the role of, what I can safely say, our best friends. Rachel, Monica, Phoebe,
Ross, Chandler, and Joey made it to our screens together after 17 years on
the reunion episode. As they walked in, each of them had a story to tell or a
memory to share. They read out scripts and enacted scenes from their favour-
ite episodes.

Celebrity supporting cast from the series also made surprising

appearances from the likes of Tom Selleck who played Richard, James
Michael Tyler, the man with the hair brighter than the sun Gunther, Maggie
Wheeler, who played Janice the ‘Oh My God’ girl.

30 31
Can i just say, the important thing
is that we dealt with it well.
- Matthew Perry

Now that I have very practically explained the content of the episode, let’s talk
about feelings. To those of you who have already watched the reunion, you felt
goose pimples all over your skin, multiple times through the episode. Go ahead
and say I am wrong! but I know you won’t. Even after seeing the actors being
themselves talking about their characters, it’s hard to separate them from their
onscreen persona. To us, it will always be Joey or Phoebe talking, not Matt Le
Blanc or Lisa Kudrow.
FRIENDS is not just a series, it’s an emotion in itself. The cult following the
show has gathered over the years is a testament to the actors who portrayed
their characters so well and the creators- Marta Kauffman and David Crane,
who took a simple story of every body’s life and turned into something so
precious that it has practically pulled people out of their miseries, by just
making them laugh.
34
Even though I’ve watched the bloopers before, watching it with the cast and
hearing their experiences was marvellous. The recreation of the iconic game
that lost Monica and Rachel their apartment was an icing on the cake, along
with everything else that was being said, or revealed or enacted. There’s just no
proper way to express what this reunion meant for me, or all the fans in
general. Each has their own interpretation- so I am going to just stop trying.
A fan of the series would grab anything coming their way be it a sequel, a
movie or just about anything. But when the cast was asked if they ever thought
of a movie or a series were to be made, Lisa Kudrow replied that the makers of
the show had ended the show with the characters happily settled in their lives
and she wouldn’t want to unravel that.
In the end, they revisited the last episode and the emotions ran high. I don’t
think either of us will ever forget the scene where six keys were lying on a table
next to the purple door with a gold frame. As fans, we are never going to get
enough of our favourite show. But everything has an end. The FRIENDS reunion
episode is available on Zee5. So what are you waiting for? Go watch now and
don’t forget to keep your tissues beside!
Also, Rachel finally admits “THEY WERE ON A BREAK!”
LITGLEAM I am not good at giving
ratings, shall I interest you
RATING: in a sarcastic comment?
Author Dr. Ram Sarup
Sailani talks about his
literary journey
“Buddhism is not just a religion or a
philosophy, it is a way of life within the
circumference of Nature” says senior
Advocate Dr. Ram Sarup Sailani in his
recent book titled Influence of
Buddhism on Selected Works of
World Literature. Dr. Sailani hails
from Hazampur village in Haryana.
He currently resides in district SAS Dr. Sailaini’s other works include ‘Bolte Shram Bindoo’ a work of poetry, ‘Benaqab’ a satire, ‘Bhagirathi’ an epic,
Nagar, Punjab. He has had an ‘Khalis Hala’ a spiritual poetry work and this new book on Buddhism, he is also currently working on another
illustrious career in the field of ed- book focusing on meditation and Buddha’s principles. Dr. Sailani wishes to continue this path of his, sharing
ucation and law, practicing his craft knowledge and making people aware of true Buddhism.
in the district courts since 1984 and
thereafter in Punjab and Haryana Other books that Dr. Ram Sarup Sailani has written are-
High Court, Chandigarh since 1998.
Now aged 73, Dr Sailani has begun ‘Benaqab’ by Dr Sarup Sailani is a collection of satires that unveils political corruption , social double
exploring his passion for writing and characterisation, economic disparities and other evils present in the society. Following Dr. Sarup’s advocate
has published a book, a goal he had set background, the book is a result of the court proceedings he was affected by. The book unmasks the
for himself in class 10th itself. disappointments of real life and the society we live in.

Describing his book, he talks about Buddhism and the influence it has had on him. The book is a
culmination of research work the author has carried out from 2014 to 2019. The principles of Buddhism
and life of Gautam Buddha in particular have had a profound effect on his life which propelled him to find
out more and more about how Buddhism has been perceived throughout the ages. Influence of Buddhism
on Selected Works of World Literature illuminates the concept and purpose of Buddhism as a philosphy
but also as a practical and authentic way of life. The book debunks the myth that Buddhism is an atheistic
philosophy. According to Dr. Sailani, Buddhism is a philosophy that concerns with the idea of sufferings of
living beings rather than God. He wishes to spread awareness about this concept and purpose of Buddhism
being to enlighten oneself and lead a life of peace respecting the forces of nature. Dr. Sailani has done a lot
of research in his quest to learn and understand the tenets of Buddhism and spread its message to others
and this book is one of many mediums he wishes to do the same.
Another great book under the author’s wing is Khalis Hala. It is a poetry book that is adorned with unique,
never-seen-before verses. It explores the relationship of the self with the Universe. The book takes us the readers
on a spiritual journey as they relate themselves with the supreme apogee. The title of the book itself is an ode to a
revered poet, Bachchan. The word khalis hala sounds and pronounces as a last word of every stanza like
Madhushala of Bachchan. Every metrical stanza bears spirituality and moreover has been composed in very easy
and simple language . The legs of ’ Madhushala’ are based on this world only whereas the wings of ‘Khalis Hala’
fly away beyond and beyond this world of physique towards that world.
Dr Sailani has been a subject of research for others. The book “Sarup Sailani: Viyaktitv Avm Krititv” is based
on his life and was written as research work by a scholar pursuing M.Phil. Readers and Writers Society of
India has compiled a biography on the author titled “Fakkad Faqeer: Sarup Sailani”. His works have been in-
cluded in the syllabus for Higher Education by the Vikramsheela Hindi Vidyapeth. Dr Sailani takes special
pride on his command of magic art and he absolutely loves poetry.

36 37
 BOOK
OK R
REVIEW Reviewed by
PRARTHNA MALIK
Name: Of the Heart and Soul- A
Mellifluous Whisper
Author: Piyali Mitra
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Bluerose Publishers
Release: 7 April 2021
This anthology abounds in the feeling of love--
Love has always been the source of inspiration
for the countless poems and thoughtful
scribbling made by lovers and admirers, but
few poems are written analyzing the concept
and how to feel to be in love. This book speaks
of how love can be the source of inspiration at
the same time the source of abjection. Rejection
and dejection can push one to a corner while
love can uplift and transcend a mind from one
realm to another. This garland of verses as the
author would love to call is also a memory book
remembering the various emotions her mother
has been subjected to. Some lines and verses of
this book speak the loudest and most directly
and others have reflection of vibrant imagery
and artful characters. Some lines have divine
intonation while others draw heavily from
mundane life. The book has tried to capture
the colors, aroma and essences of water, land,
mountains, seasons and even leaves. Every
object of Nature has their own language. This
book has made an attempt to communicate
that subtle language through verses. The book
contains some illustrations.”
The book is available on
38
“Twilight, the threshold of a day to another one
As night creeps across the darkening vale,
The drooping flowers and buds waiting to be
reborn
The trees across the field fades into shadowy
skies as pale. ”
The thing about poetry is it tugs at the heart like no other
genre. From the bygone eras of William Wordsworth
till date, the lure of poetry has not diminished. Gone
are the days when sewing a string of melodious words
was considered the work of only those who studied the
intricacies of the language, today, every heart, every
hand and every pen is capable of pouring out words that
resonate beyond the boundaries of language. This book
by author Piyali Mitra is no exception. Written in the
simplest of words, concentrating on aspects that seem
obscure the lines create a warm fuzzy feeling within.
How often do we stop to admire the Twilight, or pen
down an ode to a little squirrel, or notice a fallen leaf?
The anthology grabs the attention owing to the myriad
minute topics that the author has chosen to glorify
through her poetry. My special favourite is the poem
titled “Twilight” whispers. There are others that I liked,
such as “A Call to her Soul”, “Girl Child” and “Spring
of a Different Kind”. A few of the poems have beautiful
illustrations which work as icing on the cake to a reader’s
soul. I believe this 40 odd page poetry book could have
incorporated more as the phenomenal potential is
clearly present.
LITGLEAM
RATING:
39
FIVE 5’s TO ADD TO YOUR BINGE LIST NOW!
Treat the inner binge-watcher and reader inside you
with these Super Hero themed special recommendations
from LitGleam.
 ANIME
This series takes place in a fictional version of
This famous Anime is about Midoriya, a New York city, The main protagonists of the
normal boy who lives in a world full of super show are Tiger - a veteran senior hero and
heroes. His dream is to one day gain powers Bunny - a young superhero possessing similar
and be the best hero ever. He enrolls himself abilities. A journey which begins with the both
in a superhero high school and begins his of them having different ideological conflicts
epic journey, where he meets epic characters ends up in a fun and meaningful partnership and
and makes his dreams come true. fighting crime in this futuristic fictional world.

He is the one, the he is bored, he is

mightiest and most looking for a worthy
powerful superhero opponent to take
ever, he can destroy on and feel some
all his enemies with satisfaction while he
nothing more than defeats his enemies.
a single punch. The This satirical anime
problem now is that is a must watch for
all age groups.
Yes, the characters in this anime have super
This appeared in a manga in 1952, this was powers but the twist is they can use their
one of the shows which introduced this super powers only during adolescence years.
genre in anime. Having one of the best first Covering every superhero ability ever, do
episodes really got people hooked to this check out this anime for a light hearted
anime and it will always remain one of the superhero entertainer.
originals.
 MOVIES
T’challa has just taken over the mantle as the Yes, finally a film from the viewpoint of the vil-
new black panther and king of Wakanda. A land lain. They have feelings too, they too want recog-
secured from any outside threat gets a threat nition and fame.The film tells us the story of the
from within as Tchala’s cousin comes to take the super intelligent alien super villain - Megamind
throne. A film that broke many stereotypes and and his rivalry with the hero of the city - Metro-
barriers, a special must watch film. man. This film is filled with humour and is fresh
in its concept, definitely worth a watch.

This 2004 Pixar film situation gets out of

is about a family of hand, the Incredi-
Supers and how they bles do put on their
have had to hide suits and save the
their powers from day. This film is as
the world which is funny as it is grip-
currently scared of ping and set a bar for
superheroes, But all animated super-
when the right time hero films that were
comes and the to follow.

There are few filmmakers with the attention to A unique film that rebranded the entire fran-
detail like Christopher Nolan, this is the second chise and offered a fresh, creative and witty
part in the famous trilogy. It features legendary approach that fans absolutely loved. It contin-
Heath Ledger playing the joker and Cristian ues to show the journey of Thor, Loki and their
Bale playing the Batman. An iconic film, it will abandoned sister Hela and the ultimate end of
always remain a fan favourite. Asgard - Ragnarok.
 The shield has been passed on to Sam Wilson post This British classic characters and using Barry Allen, a crime scene investigator gains pow-
Avengers Endgame. The post blip world is looking programme has been time travel as the main ers of super speed after coming in contact with an
for motivation, they are looking for that one hero running on BBC one theme this show is exploded particle accelerator. This long running se-
to stand up and guide them, with loyal companions since 1963. Following held at high regard in ries has 7 seasons and is running. A simple storyline
like Bucky this story is about representation and the adventures of ‘The British pop culture. It with interesting plots and crossovers with other DC
how each one of us is a hero. Doctor’ an alien who is one of those shows heroes makes this one of the most liked shows.
appears to be human. that one must watch in
Encountering various their lifetime.

TV SERIES
This Netflix original is based on the comic of the
This is a special show in the list, it isn’t your regular
same name. It revolves around a dysfunctional
superhero show, it is a satirical and humorous take
family of adopted sibling superheroes who reunite
on the lives of corrupt and arrogant heroes and a
to solve the mystery of their father’s death and the
few heroes who want to take them down and expose
threat of an impending apocalypse. It received good
them. After 2 successful seasons, Amazon has start-
reviews from critics and audiences and became one
ed work for a 3rd season as well.
of the most streamed shows on the platform.
 COMICS

The most identified and popular This came at a time when DC really need-
superhero ever, this wall crawling-web The comics which Ben and their epic ed a hit. This group of teen superheroes,
shooting superhero fights crimes in New started off the Mar- journey of mostly sidekicks of popular characters
York and makes it neighbourhood friend- vel Universe and defeating their foes come together to challenge the threats
ly. Stan Lee didn’t only create a comic or gave us a taste of and saving mankind the universe throws at them. Many new
a character, he created a franchise that wwsuperheroes and made them more additions have been made to the team
would last for years. their super stories. than just household and this series has had one of the most
The tale of Reed, names. This comic successful runs in comic history.
Sue, Johnny and series remains one
of the best ever.

Curt Swan is not the creator of the Man The comic which broke the stereotype that
of Steel but he truly gave the character such media is only for children, this
a rebirth. He made the character more comic explores themes like nuclear wars,
strong and rugged and gave him more time travels and moral relativism. Over 12
of an emotional angle. He created the issues, this comic offers complexity and
best selling and longest running issue of attention to detail.
Superman comics.
 DOCUMENT
DOCUMENTARIES
Marvel’s Behind the Mask This 1988 film traces the ori- This documentary released in
This documentary currently air- gins of superhero characters 2002 is about the life of Stan
ing on Disney plus, talks about and their various forms as Lee, how he created hundreds
how comics and stories had to nationalistic patriotic warriors of characters and comics book
adapt to new inclusive kinds of in the 30s and 40s, rebellious stories. The challenges he faced
storytelling. Now, there is more and unique stories in the 70s to and his dream of seeing his
inclusivity than ever before. It more complex human stories of favourite characters on screen
talks about creators and charac- the 80s. This documentary also as well. They also talk about the
ters across the 80 year history features creators themselves 2002 released spider man film
that marvel has established and reading out their favourite and the influence these charac-
highlights marvels impact on comics and talking about their ters have in modern culture.
pop culture and media. experiences and journeys.

This documentary that was Zack Synder, Guillermo del

released in 2014 was directed by Toro and other DC creators
Marisa Stotter. It explores the shed light on DC Comics
important women that contrib- infamous gang of villains, their
uted to the comic book industry complex characters and origins
since the beginning of the art and what made them ruthless
form and how they revolution- in nature. Special attention was
ised it. obviously given to fan favou-
rites Joker, Lex Luthor and
Doomsday.
 Books, Life, and
More with
Shweta Mahendra
1) Please tell us about yourself. Kindly
include your professional, educational
background, hometown, age, etc.
My name is Smt Shweta Mahendra
Dandekar. Well, first of all, I want to say
thanks to the team of litgleam who has
given me a wonderful opportunity for
this interview to interact with all of you.
Now I want to tell all of us that I am an
Indian-based children storybooks writer.
I have written down seven children’s
storybooks. Seven is not counting ‘There
are Some Feathers in my Cap’
By profession, I am a government
employee and a lecturer in govt. Girls
school. and in my opinion that teaching
is such a soothing job, better than others.
I am proud to say that I am born in such
a well-educated and reputed family. My
father is a retired forest officer, my moth-
er was also a school teacher in a private
school and right now she is a beautiful
homemaker. My uncle (tauji) was an IAS
officer in New Delhi and my aunt was a
The book is available on retired income tax officer.
52
My elder brother is an associate professor
in an engineering college and my lovely
sister is an HR in the private sector.
And yes I am blessed with a dashing and
wonderful soulmate who is a pharmacist in
a government hospital. Now I am the mom
of two cute little daughters and enjoying
my happily married life.
Well, my home town is in the heart of India
that is Bhopal. I am living blissful and
enjoying my happy married life with my
family. Please if you ask about my age,
height, and weight, I will say that’s secret
*laughs*.
2) How does it feel to have your book
“BhilwadIDays” published? What does
this mean to you?
Well, before ‘Bhilwadiya Days,’ my two
storybooks are already published from
better yourself books, Allahabad. But yes
bhilwadiya day was a book that I waited
for it long time. When it was in my hand,
I feel on top of the world, because I want
to share my village life experience with
everybody.
53
It is a journey of a modern city girl in the
village, who has never been to the village and
that girl is none other but me(author). I have
heard that India is progressing day by day
in every field. And in the newspaper, news
channel when you go through it you will know
the same. But the reality is a little bit
different. .after joining my job in a very dense
and interior village, Iface so many challenges
.one is lack of convenience facility. I was
helpless to walk on foot to reach the school
on time on the tattered road. And it was the
biggest and very tough challenge for a girl
who walks five kilometers alone whether it
may be hot or it may be rain.,then same I
have to return back on foot. second thing is
in the village there are people who are very
superstitious. if they are suffering from a
deadly disease they will avoid going to the
doctor, instead of they believe in the flick.
And there are so many things that need to
change, but the local villagers never want to
be. I remember some of my girl students who
are very talented and want to be successful
in her career, but their parents, grandparents
don’t believe in this. And they dream of the
early marriage of those girls. And for some of
them, they do it.
3) When did you first realize you wanted to
be a writer? How long have you been
wanting to become one?
In my childhood times, I loved to watch the
Doordarshan channel,especially on Sunday.
At that time the television are very rare seen
in our colony. Only in few of the homes.it
was a wonderful day ,how can Iforget that
all neighbor kids used to gather at our house
and watch cartoon serials. Such as alice in
wonderland, he-man, mickey mouse e.t.c.my
younger sister was very much influenced by
the alice in wonderland. She said ,to me every
night before sleeping, please tell some more
and different stories about Alice. I wonder,
that how can I? But Idid it. And make her fool
by doing some imagination and make a story.
she was very much influenced by my stories.
One day she narrated my story to her best
friend. Then she also tells me that please tell
me a story.
54
And same, I make her fool too, by narrating
concoction stories. One day my mother said,
“Your fantasy imagination is wonderful. Do
participate in the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper
children’s storytelling competition” and I did. I
participated at the age of eleven. And it was
amazing when my mother said,” that your
story is published in a newspaper and you
are the first runner up”.I feel so proud of
myself, and I felt like I was at top of the world.
I showed it to all my friends, my neighbors.
That time it sounds big thing. After fifteen
days I got a reward from the Dainik Bhaskar
team, a pencil box set.it was small, beautiful
but very precious to me. This small thing
motivated me and yes my mother too.
Whenever I get time, I start writing on a piece
of paper, or in the back of my subject
notebook.and one day I saw that I have a
bunch of written stories. During my
graduation time, I decided to publish my
story book. I don’t have so much idea, that
how could I publish my story book. I waste
several hours on internet café in search of
publishers list.but almost my manuscripts
are rejected by more than twenty-five times.
But one day, it was call from better yourself
books,and the publisher said your book is
selected for the publication process.
Finally, it converted into a lovely storybook,
that was my first book name “mary fall in
dreams”. Then one more book is published
from the same publication house that was
“pansy and other stories”.third book is my
“Bhilwadiya days” from blue rose .the gift, a
bunch of joy is my fourth book.
4) What inspired you to write this book?
Well, this village is beautiful scenery in itself.
But still, I want to tell everyone that there are
a lack of facilities in this village. But in spite
of this, there are so many talented people
who belong to this village who are selected in
revenue services. Some are high rank officers
too.what I have seen was so many students
who are willing to prepare for competitive
exams ,but there is lack of coaching institute.
there is lack of conveince facility.no teacher
wants to come in the interior village and serve
the school,even doctors too. For this, they
are forced to leave their village and have to
live in the city .from this book I want to give
entire people a deep message, that doctors,
teachers, engineers have to come forward and
become a ray of hope for the village.
5) In your own words, how would you
describe your book?
Read my book and you will know more about
it.
6) You have written other books such as “The
Story of a Violet”, “The Gift”, “An Ode to the
Childhood” and “Princess of Rhymes” which
one is closest to your heart and why?
An ode to the childhood” is my favourite
among them. Because in this book if you will
read you will remember those childhood days Another one is a fantasy storybook for
memories with your precious time spend with kids,third one is I am working on with my
your grandmother,granny house, a beautiful husband that is “badIbhalIhaIamma meri”….my
and happy childhood life without mobile, husband is also a deep thinker buddy and give
internet.I want to read this book again and me new innovative ideas. I am grateful for him
again,it makes me feel relax. that in mine every storybook, he assisted me
a lot.
7) What do you do apart from writing? What
are your hobbies? 9) Anything you’d like to say to aspiring,
budding writers?
Being a mother,a wife,a lecturer I have so
many household reponsiblities. So,I didn’t get a I would like to say to budding writers that don’t
chance to sit.but yes I love to watch animated stop writing, keep on writing.if really you want
movies with my family in pvr.and ofcourse love to achieve big just ready to face the rejection
to read thousand times ruskin bond’s books. also.
they are really wow...I don’t have any particular
hobby,but I love gardening also.Ihave planted 10) According to you, what is the most
so many bonsai plants in my garden, cooking, important quality a writer should have?
and yes I love cooking too. Especially chicken
biryani. Writing is a god gifted. Not everyone becomes
a writer, but everyone can write something
8) Do you plan on writing more in the future? better. Deal is that if you feels deeply and if
What kind of books or genres do you plan on you think deeply if you can feel emotions of
exploring? others, if you can differentiate the truth, if you
imagine character, then only you are writer,
Yes, I am working on three more projects. One and in my opinion, if you can feel the pain of
is romantic novel titled is “kesar,a true love anguished ones you can write much better on
story,” almost completed. any topic.
55
 ENDURA NCE By BA Brittingham

You think you’ll never miss it Become passé are no more than whiffs of
That simplicity of movement, Petty hope once the time for achievement
The ability to walk wherever you choose, Is gone. What does this make of elder
Whenever you want—to grab a beer from years?
The fridge, or an apple from the bowl, Does assiduity become acceptance?
To stop and gaze out the window And tenacity migrate into tolerance?
At winter’s first snowflakes— Are these lax conditions the final result
But then Age finally drops in Of all the energy we thought we’d be?
(Let’s be kind and call it Maturity)
And all those agile moves stow away ‘Accepting,’ ‘tolerant’ they sound nice
Like the midnight mouse you startled enough
In last evening’s kitchen sortie. To be classified as ripened wisdom; but
To be sure, they come back—on occa- perhaps
sion— Are only what’s left after the retreat of
Mostly to tantalize you with hotshot mem- vitality.
ories
Of youth and unlimited maneuvering; to Semantics, syntax, they are how we make
remind peace
You of how it all seemed exhilarating, With the fated changes living demands us
Everlasting, laden with potential; to bear;
Like gazing through a telescope at the They are the moderately attractive syn-
Edges of the universe—they weren’t so far, onyms
Really, and there was time, so much time By which we accept the less palpable life
yet, stages.
To reach out and grab the boundary of
Tomorrow, to mold it into what
you wanted.
Until one day—or was it a certain
hour
Or specific minute?—you looked
again
And the borders had grown
ephemeral,
Dark, uncertain and time was a
withered bloom.
Second chances? Not likely, for
what has already
56
 Exclusive
Movie
Review
By Aam Aadmi Review

Disclaimer: The movie reviewer resides in UAE

Name: which enabled him access to the movie on its
Fast and Furious 9 release date. The movie has not yet been
released in India and hence, this is a spoiler
Cast: free exclusive review in order to let the

Vin Diesel, audience know what they can expect from

the movie once it releases.
John Cena,
Michelle Rodriguez, You can subscribe to his channel here -
Tyrese Gibson, Aam Aadmi Review.
Charlize Theron,
“It’s all about loving your family” a
Ludacriz,
motto we are all too familiar with but
Nathalie Emmanuel.
I believe The Fast Saga has taken this
motto much too seriously. We have
Director:
heard Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) say
Justin Lin
the word family in the Fast Saga more
than any other actor, but is it
Released:
becoming too mediocre? Is the Fast
May 2021 (UAE), June 25,
and Furious Franchise running out of
2021 (India)
fumes?

59
Well, let us dive into it.
20 years back what started as a normal
car race themed action movie has now
fully developed into one of the biggest
action franchise movies in Hollywood,
standing firm in front of rivals like the
Mission Impossible series or the Bond
series. Although the theme of all these
movies relies heavily on action, they
have their own style of presenting it
on the screen. When it comes to the
Fast Saga movies, there is one very
important rule- You need to forget
anything and everything you have
learned in Physics before entering the
theatre; that is the number one rule
and if you follow this rule there’s no
way you cannot enjoy a Fast Saga
movie.
In the Ninth installment, the plot
revolves around Dom and his
estranged brother Jakob (John Cena)
who has apparently teamed up with
a European Billionaire to steal a cyber
weapon to take control of the world.
So what does Dom do? He teams up
with his “family” to stop his brother
from doing so.
60
The introduction of John Cena in the
Fast Saga is absolutely brilliant as he
may add the fumes desperately
needed to keep this franchise
running. However, when it comes to
John Cena’s acting skills, he still needs
to improve a lot because his
expressions are always the same, no
matter what scene he is in. The void
left by Paul Walker is evident in the
movie and returning director Justin Lin
understands this. Taking into
consideration the sentiments of the
audience regarding Paul Walker, his
character Brian O’connor is mentioned
frequently throughout the movie.
In a scene, Tej Parker (Ludacris) tells
his companion Roman Pearce (Tyrese
Gybson) that “if we obey the laws of
physics, nothing will happen to us”
but do they? The action in the movie is
insane and hard to explain. I The fact that they had Charlize Theron back and not use her
remember discussing with my friends properly in the movie was painful to see. When you have an actor
that in Fast Saga they have jumped of her caliber and not use her for what she is known for (action), it’s
from planes, buildings, mountains, the movie’s loss, which cannot go unseen. However, it was great
submarines etc, so guess where they to see Han (Sung Kang) back. The fans of the franchise had been
go this time? It seems the makers of demanding justice for him and justice has been served.
the movie are running out of places to
jump their car from, which is why the
Fast Saga is slowly losing its charm as There’s a huge difference between enjoying a movie and loving a
they rely heavily on action and very movie and that’s where the confusion begins. The last time I loved
little on story. a Fast Saga movie was its seventh installment, which had our very
own extremely talented Ali Fazal. Since then the franchise has
gone downhill and has become enjoyable from loveable, which
isn’t a good sign.
I did enjoy the movie but as soon as I left the theatre I completely
forgot about it. The movie’s action lacks memorable action
sequences like in the seventh installment where a Lykan
Hypersport crashed through a window on the 50th floor of the
Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi only to crash land on the nearby
building. The movie lacks emotions as well excluding the climax
scene which hits the hardest.
61
No matter how fast you are, no one outruns
their past. And mine just caught up to me
- Dominic Toretto
 The absence of Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham is heavily felt in
the Fast Saga and since their absence the franchise is struggling, but
Dwayne and Jason did manage to get their own spin off movie (Hobbs
and Shaw), which the Fast Saga fans absolutely loved. As per reports,
we have two more installments left in the Fast Saga, and John Cena
will definitely be the center of attraction in them and just like Hobbs
and Shaw, we might see more spin off with the center characters.

There is nothing more powerful than the love of family. But you turn that
into anger, there’s nothing more dangerous.

source- Giles Kytes, Universal Pictures

Overall, this movie is a one-time watch with high octane - physics de-
fying action sequences, which the viewers will definitely enjoy so do
grab a popcorn but don’t forget to leave your brains out before enter-
ing the theatre.
LITGLEAM
RATING:

64
 BOOK
OK R
REVIEW Reviewed by
RAJESH MOHAN
Name: My Fiancee’s Boyfriend
Author: Prasad Deshpande
Publisher: Book Ganga
Pages: 189
Chaitanya is in love with Anjali since
college days. Sunny also is in love with
Anjali since college days. But Anjali has
made her choice and she wants to spend
the rest of her life with Chaitanya. A
chance encounter with his long lost friend
Guru and his to-be fiancée Tanvi brings
Anjali back into Chaitanya’s life after
many years. The love that remained unsaid
during college days finally has the chance
to blossom. But with Anjali, comes Sunny.
It always has been that way because Anjali
considers Sunny as her best friend, a role
which Sunny begrudgingly accepts, as
long as he gets to be with Anjali. However,
Chaitanya is unaware that Sunny is still in
Anjali’s life. What happens when he finds
out? And more importantly, what happens
when Anjali refuses to let go of her best
friend …
The book is available on
66
‘My Fiancée’s Boyfriend’, the name gives away the plot line.
However, be sure not to jump to any conclusion about the
story. When two people love each other, there is no place
for a third person - that’s how the saying goes, isn’t it? But if
not a third person, there’s a fourth or a fifth. The beginning
of Chaitanya’s (or Chaits as he is lovingly called by his best
friend Guru and his fiancée Tanvi) love story with Anjali
goes back to college days but the feelings that are there in the
heart do not go away that easy. Guru and Tanvi bring Anjali
and Chaits back together. It is always a delight reading about
true friendships because they come with to-fro banter that is
not found in any other relationship, plus the care and concern
that friends have for each other warms the heart every time
one reads about it. The friendship between Chaits, Guru, and
Tanvi is no different. As far as the relationship between Chaits
and Anjali is concerned - the romance is nothing new, the
feelings expressed are nothing out of the ordinary, so when I
read about them, it particularly didn’t interest me. Yes, I loved
reading about them, especially, the way it has been portrayed.
However, the interesting turning point is when Sunny comes
into the picture. Though Sunny gets a little story time, his
character has a profound effect on the overall plot line …
The story takes an interesting turn after about half the pages
are over, but when it does, the readers will be so engaged with
the story that it will be difficult to put the book down. The
twists and turns, the story has to offer are mind blowing and
even until the last page is turned, one will not be able to guess
what actually is happening. The edge of the seat moments
in the second half of the story are worth every second spent
reading this book. The author has managed to take five very
relatable characters and a general plot line and woven a story
that will remain with readers long after the book is closed …
LITGLEAM
RATING:
67
Toast To
Memories
I am sitting on the window sill with my
diary to feel a muse. My eyes looked
outside the window. The street is empty
except for an old man walking with his
mask hanging on one side of his ear. This
window sill is the spot where most of my
poetical lyrics are born. So, I could pen
that down in my diary. Today, the vacant
street made my mind void. Usually, the
children playing in the streets remind my
childhood memories that leave my face
with a smile. Now, there is no one and it
makes me feel lonely.
I no longer felt like writing something.
I opened the drawer to keep my diary.
There I saw the kaleidoscope which I
bought when I went to a fair with my
friends. I took that and looked through it.
The patterns kept changing with varied
colours. Usually, this makes me happy.
But now it made me think about changes
in life. Life can change at any time into
any random pattern. One year ago, I was
walking on the footpath with my friends
ranting about the scorching sun and the
lab staff who expelled me for breaking the
burette. On the way to our hostel, we stop
at the mini café to have a coffee. Not only
coffee but to see my crush there.
68
by Tabitha
I don’t often see him in college as he was
a senior to me. We start our gossiping
there and wait for the coffee, giggling and
making a hi-fi.
We never kept our mouths shut. Now, I
am drinking coffee all alone and it’s been
a long time since I had a sound laugh. No
more fun messages in my chat list. All
forwarded messages of Covid death rate
and the social distancing videos. For an
instant, I couldn’t believe my eyes that I
am living in a pandemic, which I studied
in history for my board exams. I never
thought this would happen to me. I didn’t
know that a simple walk from my college
to the hostel would become a moment or
a memory so soon. It all happened just
like that.
People call me saying that their street is in
lockdown due to the positive cases. They
fear and lament that this could spread to
their houses. I consoled them at first. But
when this became a routine or a
common thing. I no more had hope in
myself to give to them. This is spreading
like a wildfire.
69

Now, the only thing that makes me smile
is when I hear someone recovered from
covid and tested negative. That gives me a
sigh of relief which no wine/alcohol could
give. I am grateful for every little thing in
my life. Life may change upside down at
any
moment. I learnt life is all about living in
the present moment with gratitude and
happiness. We don’t know what tomorrow
offers.
Covid got the life of many kind souls. But
I hope it will depart from our world soon.
The only thing we all can do is to support
each other mentally by lending our ears to
them. Depression death rates are up with
the covid death rate. Let’s not let our fel-
low humans perish. I know, you are tired.
But your fellow friend needs you and your
words. Let’s not lose hope. Let’s pray for
the rebirth of the world, free from the
virus. And, don’t take the precautionary
methods for granted. It’s our duty to fol-
low those for a better future. Let’s social
distance now so we could make memories
in covid-free future. All I want to say is,
“This too shall pass.”
70
All The Names
We Will Not
Know By Tasneem Khan
To be honest, quarantine was fun at first,
skipping classes and making Dulcona
coffee. But, when a fear peeked inside my
head saying, “What if corona takes much
more time to leave? Will that ruin my For the past three weeks Every time I close my eyes
youth days with no memories to hold?
What I will rewind in my old days sitting
I have watched I can see it all
in an armchair?” I freaked out and started From the Safety of my The flames, the shrouds, the
lamenting to my friends. Rocking Chair stretchers
When I hear the news that my relative/ The gasps of the dying The tear stained faces
friend got affected by this virus, it’s like The wails of their loved ones And most of all
I want to help. But, I couldn’t. That’s the Shrouded bodies being carried The feeble labored breathing of
worst feeling ever. I have aged people in
my home and couldn’t move outside. By shrouded carriers Living Beings watching their own
It’s like having legs and couldn’t walk. I Little fires everywhere life
couldn’t be with them holding their hands
and saying, “This will be alright.” It hurts Ebb away as they sit in the backs
like hell. All I can do is to hold my arms of
and pray for their recovery. I never Their cars
imagined that hugs, hi-fi, handshakes and
kisses would be such costly. I think we And I realize
took things for granted when we were I cannot name a single Human
blessed with a safe and loving coexistence
without the fear of touching. I wish I
Being that has been lost
want to go back to those days and hug my
friends standing under the sky yelling,
“Thank you, God! We are blessed.”
71
MIMI
By Kathryn Sadakierski
A friend of my grandmother’s, she
Was one of the last living links
To a generation that
Gave more than anything they could take,
Willing to share with you all they had,
Leaving your arms and belly fuller
Than when you first came.
When Mimi received a loaf of bread, she
Sliced it in two,
Half kept in the pan, half put on a plate
For her next visitor, a guest,
For someone in need
Of kindness
Which has the sense of grandmotherly love.
She attributed the art she crafted,
Paintings, collages thoughtfully created,
Not simply to human imagination, but
The inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
A gift she cherished,
And framed as a present
For another soul to admire in their home.
72
Well into her nineties,
She continued swimming,
Always on the move,
Exercising the mind,
Staying active,
And never ceasing to pray,
Making you feel welcomed,
Not simply a guest,
But like a family member.
And, in some wondrous way,
It is like I am with
My grandmother again,
Hands not emptied of prayers,
Heart fuller than before.
Grandma kept a journal of miracles,
And, perhaps, this is one of them.
73
Gentrifying
Love
By Wilbur Arnold Clarke
Why are we bidding each other
adieu?
Why are we letting go our love?
Is it possible for me to forget
you?
Does my heart not want to hear
from you again?
But it is also true that you still
rule my heart.
Are we at fault to respond to our
love in denial?
Are we eachothers deepest
wound within?
Or are we leaving eachother
because of our pain?
Entering life’s situations with
many unanswered questions.
Time leaves us demented.
74
My destination is up front, yet I
stand off the path.
Distance is now in favour.
Why are we bidding each other
adieu?
Why are we letting go our love?
Is it possible for me to forget
you?
I put on a smiling face,
Hiding the tears rolling down
my eyes.
I appear like a sweet fantasy,
Cloaking my pain behind
dreams shattered.
Is it possible for me to forget
you?
Life becomes an act.
Our memories seem to be lost,
Making us strangers.
Bringing darkness in our lives,
Destroying our promises of
love.
It’s not easy to part ways,
Letting go our love in vain.
Let’s fight this malediction
together,
Reviving and reliving our mem-
ories.
Let’s fill our lives with love once
again.
75
ONE
on ONE with Riya Bhattacharjee
Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastava

If you want to do something, if you want

Riya Bhattacharjee is an actress, known for Ishq Mein Marjawan 2 (2020), Box- to get time for you and your familly or
er III (2018) and Agni Vayu (2021). An avid lover of animals, Riya spends most your passion, you can.
of her time playing with her fur babies or painting. Currently she is portraying
the role of Kiara in Ishq Mein Marjaawan 2.
76
What was it that made you want to be an
actor? Was it always your dream or did it just
happen?
It’s just actually happened. I was doing mod-
elling when I was in college as ramp model,
and then I was in Calcutta, and then I came to
Bombay, and started going for the audition. I
took up some acting workshops, and then one
audition clicked. It just happened. I was just
going with the flow.
Out of all the roles you have done so far,
what has been the most challenging role?
Frankly, I did few, not so many, and of course, I
actually loved all my characters. But, “Kiara” in
“Ishq Mein Marjaawan” was one of my favour-
ite. I entered as a mysterious girl and that kind
of character, you usually don’t get. It’s a grey
shade character. Usually we get negative or
positive roles but in grey shade character, it
was really interesting and yeah, that is one of
my favourite.
Tell us about your acting process. How do
you approach or research about a role?
Frankly speaking, I didn’t actually had the time.
It was like a 4-day thing. I gave the audition,
I got selected. I went for the look test, and
next day I started shooting. But, as it was a
mysterious character, so every other day, I
was playing something, some different thing.
Some day I’m a good character, they’re show-
ing me as a good girl, someday they’re show-
ing me as someone who has secrets, who has
a black box; someday they’re showing she is
flirtatious. I was a little confused. But, again
my director was so nice. I used to ask Sir, I’m
really confused, like I was playing something
else last day and today is different. Sir was like
go with the flow. You will get it. So I was just
going with the flow and I really had fun playing
that character everyday.
78
Whenever a movie or show comes out,
people always have things to say about it.
Positive reviews are of course flattering
but how do you react to negative reviews or
criticism?
It’s funny. When I started, people used to send
me so many messages of love, support from
the fans etc. I had fans and that was a nice
feeling, but at the same time people are die
hard fans of IMMJ 2, and those fans were
like Vansh ke pass math jaana, Riddhima aur
Vansh ke beetch mat aana. So, I used to get
those kind of comments. It took me time but
I understood this is all about the character
Kiara and not Riya. Initially I was bothered
wondering if people are hating me, but then
I was getting loved as well, then it was fun.
I was just excited to see all the messages,
I was just laughing, nothing else, but it was
good. Everything has their positive and nega-
tive sides. So as long as people are loving me
and supporting my work, I’m glad.
You post beautiful artwork on social media.
Tell us about your connection to art.
You know I’m a Bengali and in Bengali house
they have a culture like, I can sing, I can dance
little bit. I can paint. Painting is something
I can’t even say how I started. During my
childhood, I used to go for art classes and I
did all the Vishaanth and everything. But since
11th or 12th I have never done anything like a
canvas painting or something. I was studying
and then started modelling and then I came to
Bombay. But last year in lockdown, everyone
was bored, I was also bored and then I just
started painting using acrylic, fevicol paints
and few brushes. You can think it’s just my
passion. Now, I love doing it.
You have been working for quite some time
now. Tell us how you balance work and life.
When we are shooting, we don’t get time, but
when we are not shooting, then it’s lot of time.
We can do anything. I don’t live with my family,
I stay alone or with my friends.
When I’m shooting, I’m completely into shoot,
we don’t actually get time to sleep. But, be-
cause of lockdown we are not doing anything,
there is no shoot happening. Now, I paint and
play with my pets, kids. Now, I have enough
time. When I’m not shooting I continue with
my passion projects, or develop a new hobby
or stay connected with family a lot more. So,
it’s not very hectic. If you want to do some-
thing, if you want to get time for you and your
family or your passion, you can.
You just told us about your pets. So de-
scribe us if you are really a cat person or you
are also a dog person?
No, no, there is no cat person or dog person.
It’s just, I have Ginny, the cat whom I refer to
as my daughter. I love her a lot. She is my life.
I have 10 dogs, 8 cats. So, I cannot say I am
a dog person or a cat person. I love animals,
like a hell lot. They are my life and I don’t know
what to say. I always spend time with them
and whenever I’m free or I am at home, I love
to take care of my kids, I love to play with
them, spend time with them. I prefer staying
with them at home rather than going out,
because, whenever I am shooting, I don’t get
time. So, whenever I have time, I always try
to spend it with them. I also try to rescue few
animals, if I can.
What is your dream role? Something that you
haven’t tried yet but would really like to.
Frankly, I haven’t decided. I was just going with
the flow. I haven’t decided if I want to do this
or that or that kind of character. Whatever role
I get I just try to do that role best. I have never
thought, I’ll get to be Kavya for Agni Vayu or
Kiara for Ishq Main Marjaawan. But when I
got it, I knew I had to do my best. But, yes, one
thing I want to do is, recently I was trying one
reel which is like a black and white reel. I was
just doing it and I loved the way it came out,
that made me want to try something retro
like how we used to see Sharmila Tagore on
screen during her acting days. I would love to
do Mala Sinha kind of a role if I get.
79
Agni Vayu is your most recent show. Tell
us more about your role as Kavya. How has
your journey been like with the show and the
character?
I can’t relate Kavya and Riya. But that charac-
ter was very important for me because, that
was my first break and initially it was little
difficult for me, because, you know we are
shown that her father died and after that she
was crying everyday, in every scene. That was
the little difficult part for me, crying every time.
I don’t like to cry and I don’t cry often. It was a
little difficult to potray, but again, my director
was so nice that I did it and I guess I did a nice
job, I hope. I learnt so many things. It’s a nice
learning process and I’m glad that I did it.
Who is your favourite co-star on Agni Vayu
and why?
All my co-stars were very nice. I was very new,
and they were more experienced than me. But
everyone was very nice with me, very humble
and supportive. Initially, I was little nervous
but everyone was so nice to me. I didn’t feel
like I’m new or they are so experienced or they
have any attitude. Never! Never! I never got
that kind of attitude from anyone. My experi-
ence with all my co-stars was very nice and
after these two shows, I really miss them. I
really miss shooting with them.
Are there any upcoming projects that you
can talk about? What should we look forward
to?
I can’t talk about it but obviously anything can
start after lockdown. I hope everything will be
alright soon, then we can start shooting from
mid June for one of my project. One thing I
can tell you is you guys will love me there and
I’m waiting for this lockdown to finish so I can
start working on it.
R If you could change any one thing about your
life, what would it be and why?

A
Frankly, I don’t want to change anything. I love
my life. I love my childhood. I love anything, ev-
erything about my life- my school, my college, my
modelling career, my childhood, my family, my

P
friends. I don’t regret anything. I’m very happy
with my life. I don’t want to change anything. This
is my best life.

I The situation is really critical in the country

D
right now, the pandemic has already taken
away many lives and now the cyclone many
more. What is one message you would like to
share with our readers during this time?

Yes, of course. Please do take all the precau-

If someone makes your life into a movie,
who would play you? tions. Do whatever you can. Do it.

F Me...!!!

Who is your favourite fictional character?

There is no favourite fictional character, I guess.

Please try to help

I A favourite character that has stood out from the se-

ries and movies, you have watched recently?

Professor from Moneyheist.

people and please
stay safe and if not
for yourself at least
think about your fam-

R One actor/actress that you would love to work with?

Sushmitha Sen. My favourite!

If you weren’t an actress, what will be

ily, they love you and
you know please take
all the precautions.
Please stay safe and I

E
your career of choice?
hope we will get over
I have no idea. I have no idea. this thing soon.
Still, I have no idea.

80 81
 by Anju Gupta

Benaras ‘happened’ over a leisurely autumnal lunch at India Habitat

Centre’s The Deck. There was much gaiety and merriment at the
table, mainly because it was the first time that we, the women of a
large, extended family, were meeting without the men of the said
family. Bathed in the warm glow of sisterhood, a voice said, “let’s
do a women only holiday together.” It was a yea all round followed
by a very excited yea for Benaras when names of places were tossed
around.

‘Benaras Beckons.’ It was on this alliterated group that the frenetic

and excited activity took place in the two months that followed. Four
days in mid- December seemed to be the only time when schools
appeared to have run out of tests to give, and sundry activities to
involve kids in. In a splash of nostalgia, it was decided that the
journey from Delhi would be by train, complete with pooris, aloo,
achaar, and ghar waapsi by air. In the to and fro on matters of import,
mainly food to carry for the journey (theplas, cake, matar kachoris,
boondi laddoos, fruit,makhanas, a couple of more veggies- and of
course the pooris, aloo, achaar…) less interesting matters such as
the bookings of train tickets were pushed to the back burner. When
realisation dawned that we had a menu but no tickets, there was
panic and a scramble to check tickets availability. Alas, by this time,
the super-fast trains were all booked and on a late afternoon day in a
December in which cold had set in early, we found ourselves sitting
in a coach of MLDT Express.
Dear travellers headed for Benaras, do a train journey in the foggy
winters of North India only after due consideration. If you do
embark on one, make sure to carry enough food. Also, travel with
some elderly and some kids- the former to keep you motivated with
their fortitude and the latter to keep you in splits with their antics.
We got down at Benaras, unscathed by our journey on a train, which
even though tremendously behind schedule still had the insouciance
to do pit stops at fields to pick up milkmen and other bhai bandhu,
only because we had all three with us.
Benaras, aka Varanasi, didn’t suck me into its
magic at once. The ride from the railway station
to the hotel we were booked in, took one through
sights normal for a person who has spent
considerable years in Uttar Pradesh’s mofussil
towns. The first ooh of delight came when we
reached our hotel. Hotel Ganges View is a
boutique hotel perched on the Ganges edge. It is
an extremely well done up and well-maintained
property on Assi Ghat. The rooms on the first
floor are charming and open out onto a terrace
laden with blooming bougainvillaea and luscious
greens. A huge shout out to Travel Ease in Delhi
for booking us into such a nice hotel. The only
downside to the place is that the breakfast served
has extremely limited, or almost no, options. It’s a
very continental breakfast of toast, butter and jam,
coffee and juice. Maybe the think-tank of Ganges
View feels duty bound to not feed guests any
cholesterol rich, fat laden dishes- seeing as almost
anyone visiting the city would sooner than later be
gorging on the food the city is famous for.
The city’s spiritual side hits you many times and
for different reasons. We got our first peep at this
side within minutes of checking in. One of the
two rooms on the ground floor had the smoke of
incense and the low sound of prayers
sneaking out of it. Discreet enquiry in a hushed
voice revealed that a family had brought a loved
one, whom doctors had given very few hours to
live, to die here. Benaras is considered to be so
sacred that to die here is said to be a fast track
to moksha: liberation from the endless cycle of
rebirth. When we returned in the evening from
a saree shopping jaunt, we learnt that death had
indeed kept its appointment.

82 83
What we did and
The priests performing the puja, young men
wearing dhotis, orange kurtas and stoles of the
same colour across their shoulders, stand on
raised platforms and move the puja lamps in

saw in Benaras
orchestrated and synchronised movements.
The river is dotted with floating diyas, cast
by believers with a prayer on their lips. The
warm light casts a glow on the devotees and
the richly saturated evening makes for great
photographs.
Saree Shopping
Well, there is no beating around the bush for
this: first day, first thing we did was some
serious saree shopping. One of us in the
group was a Benaras veteran and we
surrendered ourselves blissfully in her Mangla Arti at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
immensely capable hands. She knew just
where to take us for our threads. The best
places for sarees, it turned out, are not We got up around two in the morning for the sacred
showrooms in crowded markets but places Mangla Aarti at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is not
where one can’t ever imagine thousands of easy to get approval for the aarti but we were able to get it
wondrous five and a half yards being housed. because of our dearest Benaras veteran. The Mangla aarti
is the first aarti in the morning and performed during the
While we looked at sarees, we were treated auspicious “Brahma muhurta” hour, which is one and a
to cups of kulhad chai, tamatar ki chaat, and half hour before the sun comes up.
more delicacies. We staggered out some
hours later, with loaded hands, lighter wallets and bursting tummies. One has to walk through a narrow alley to reach the
temple. Security is tight, and there are many security
procedures in place. Passport or Aadhar card is mandatory
for identification purpose. One enters through a
Evening Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat nondescript door into the temple premises. Kashi
Vishwanath is a beautiful temple, and the sanctum
sanctorum takes one’s breath away. Mangla Aarti involves
We took a boat ride for an uninterrupted view an elaborate ritual of bathing the Shiva Linga with milk,
of the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. ghee, honey, curd etc; followed by buckets of water. The
There are many boats on the river at this time, lingam is then dressed in sandalwood paste and fresh
with each boatman jostling to give its flowers. The full brass of head priests conducts the aarti.
occupants the best view of the arti. The arti Bells clang, signalling the end of the aarti. There is a
itself is a treat of colours, clash of cymbals, collective ooh and aah when flowers used for the ritual are
ringing of bells, banging of drums, smell of flung towards the devotees. One falls right in my
incense, flames of divas, sound of conch shells. daughter’s lap and we, mother and buas and taiji and
It sucks you in with its sheer magic and you daadis, all prognosticate that Shiva’s blessings will see her
are struck into silence at the splendour un- getting married soon. That she is still blissfully single is of
folding before you. For that moment in time, course no reflection on the Lord. It has to be the sins she
you feel you have glimpsed the soul of your didn’t wash away with a simple dubki in the freezing waters
country. of the Ganges!
84 85
The Sacred Ganges The lanes of the city
Benaras is a story that Ganga, the If there is anything that truly defines this old city, it is the
enchantress, tells. The river here is maze of its galis (alleys is too pedestrian a word to capture
magnificent and majestic. It is sacred and its joie di vivre.) As one walks through the tightly woven
proud. It knows it is the lure that attracts lanes with cows as companions, one feels as if Time has
lakhs of pilgrims and tourists. Early forgotten to move on from here. The galis are lined with
morning and late evening are the best time shops selling everything on earth. There are shrines and
for Ganga darshan. deities in tiny alcoves, homes painted in pink and yellow
and other vivid colours.

The sacred cow suddenly stops to do its business and you

wrinkle your nose to escape the smell of cow dung. You
look around and realise that nobody else is bothered by the
smell. The locals have an air of energy yet manage to loiter
around at nooks, having conversations about everything
and nothing.

The Ghats at Dawn

Sarnath
Ghats are the giant ceremonial steps
leading down to the sacred river, where
devotees take a dip to cleanse their souls of Sarnath is just about a 45 minutes’ drive from
sin. We dipped our toes in the freezing Benaras. Even if one slept through the
water and unanimously agreed that we sonorous voice most teachers of history
hadn’t sinned enough to warrant a dip. We acquire over time, one would have been
came to the ghat straight from Kashi truly asleep to have missed the historical
Vishwanath temple and were fortunate significance of Sarnath. It is one of the most
enough to witness the sun rising over the important sites for Buddhists because it was
river. Even at that early hour, a yoga session in the deer park in Sarnath where Gautama
was in progress. We walked around the Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where
ghat, soaking up the remarkable the Buddhist Sangha came into existence.
atmosphere of faith and devotion. The east It is an island of calm after the bustle of the
bank of the Ganges is a sandbank that one city. The stupa itself is out of bounds but the
sees through a haze of smoke coming from museum is open and its artifacts, pictures
the cremation fires at Manikarnika. and remains of the time tell the story of how
Buddha’s moment of epiphany became the
touchstone of noble living for millions of
people across the world.
86 87
Food The City
Benaras has food for all seasons and for Call it by any name: Kashi, Benaras or Varanasi (the
every reason, apart from the obvious one of last a reference to the two tributaries of the Ganges,
satisfying hunger. The streets are home to the Varuna and Assi, that come together in the city)
some of the most delectable food options, the city is frenetic and intense, colourful and
whose recipes have been perfected over chaotic. It is magical and sacred. It is a maze that
centuries. entraps you with its sans souci. And every time you
try and navigate the maze, you come across something
This is what we ate new: A sadhu with his face covered with ash and neck
with colourful beads, a man getting his ears cleaned
Kachori with aloo sabzi: A very popular on a street corner, men with glistening bodies
dish,testimony of its popularity being that wrestling on the ghats, classical music concert being
there is a gali named Kachori gali. Though held on the river front, people coming here to breathe
the stuffed and puffed pooris were good, but their last. The city is older than Methuselah and
they turned out to be a classic case of newer than Nora Fatehi’s latest jiggle; it is a shock to
carrying coal to Newcastle since, as a family, the senses, it is crowded and fascinating, bizarre and
exciting. Historically it has been a breeding ground of
we love our bedmi-aloo and cook it well. politics, philosophers, poets and piety. It is the city of
The dish is a staple at most of our family get Mahadev, of ghats and narrow lanes. It is a
togethers. photographer’s delight, a foodie’s paradise.

It is here, after almost three decades, that I
ate again the most delectable dessert one can
think of. In Kanpur, where I spent almost
all my school summer holidays, it is called
Malai Makhan. In Benaras it is Malaiyo or
Mallaiyo. This flavored milk froth, garnished
with slivers of pistachios and almonds and
served in a small earthen bowl is so light to
the mouth,that one almost wonders,’have I
eaten it or haven’t I?’
I love what Mark Twain, the indophile, wrote of the
city, “Benares is older than history, older than
tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as
old as all of them put together.”
As the plane powers up for a take-off, engulfed
completely by the magic of Benaras, a promise is
made: See you again, Benaras.

We also had choora matar, Tamatar Chaat, Samosas, jalebis, tikkis- all good.

One evening, birthday of the sweetest and cutest nephew, we had the most amazing Italian fare at Assi Ghat.
Sitting under a star-spangled sky, bathe by the light of the lamp posts lining the ghat, we ate clay oven pizzas,
lasagne and other signature dishes. I may be wrong on this one, but I think the name of the place was Pizzeria
Vaatika Café.

I carried home some freshly made, amazingly good mithai for the men at home, my neighbour and the Pandit ji
of our colony temple who had given very specific instructions of what he wanted from ‘Kashi.’

88 89
SPECIAL COVERAGE

A Tribute
ribute to the
Frontline
ontline V
Volunteers

“The experience has been life altering yet
most satisfying. We want all of those who
depend on us for their next meal right
now to know that we will support them
till they get back on their feet. They are
not alone.”
- Samriddhi, The Enrich Lives
Foundation Team
In the wake of the deadly pandemic,
thousands of lives have been lost, and
millions are at stake. Governments
worldwide are collaborating to bring
an end to the pestilence but despite
all the efforts the coronavirus has
continued to rage and wreak havoc on
innocents snatching away friends and
family.
92
By starting fundraisers and raising
awareness, the United Foundation has
touched hundreds of lives. In a recent
effort to support people affected by loss of
wealth and hunger, the foundation
supplied food kits filled with grains, oil
and other essentials. By asking their
followers to contribute to this endeavor,
the United Foundation managed to sup-
ply little packages of hope at 800 door-
steps right on time for Eid.
Another steadfast organization from
Bangalore that has been helping people
unreservedly is the Mercy Mission, India.
A coalition of 25 NGOs, the Mercy Mission has not left any stone unturned in its bid to
uplift people who have been stricken by covid. They have not only been facilitating the
supply of oxygen cylinders, plasma donations, bed availability and more, but have also
taken up the mantle to keep people informed about the progress of the medical sector in
tackling the issues. This wonderful organization has even contributed to the facilitation of
dignified funeral services to the victims of covid-19 and their families.
Delhi NCR’s own Mazdoor Kitchen Organization is helping feed the daily wage workers in
this time of absolute crisis. This organization is fully run and funded by citizens and
comprises students, professors and
artists from all walks of life.
But in the face of adversity, heroes
always emerge. Where science and Mumbai has heroes of its own that
system has continued to struggle for are running organisations like the
an effective solution, several civilians Enrich Lives Foundation. This
have had its back by doing their bit. particular foundation has pushed to
Individuals have come together to the limits of community service and
form organised entities that help and redefined the meaning of kindness
support people who have been and dedication. This non-profit
affected by the pandemic. provides food to ensure hunger
alleviation during the pandemic. It
One such organisation is the United also aims to establish a system that
Foundation, Bangalore. strives towards women empower-
ment, end of poverty, and better
public health.
source- facebook/the enrich lives foundation
 Founded during the lockdown
brought about by covid-19
pandemic in 2020, the foundation
supports a variety of practices that
uplift the underprivileged sections of
the society. Commenting on the work
they have been doing during the
pandemic, Samriddhi, a member of
the Enrich Lives Foundation team
said, “The Foundation is working
endlessly to ensure no one in
Bombay sleeps hungry. We are
offering free ration kits and cooked
meals daily to Bombay’s most
vulnerable sections of society.” In
total they have thus far
distributed over 35,000 ration kits and
over 10,00,000 cooked meals.
These are people very much like us,
who have seen the pain of their
fellow humans and have taken
initiative. Their efforts remind us of
the great lesson of humanity, and the
largest religion humankind has ever
known- kindness. The work these
organisations are doing sees past the
barriers of race, religion and class.
They teach us all to give whenever we
can, whatever we can. Especially in the
time of this great adversity, they teach
us to smile and soldier on, and to be
the light until the darkest hours of the
night are passed.
source @tufindia instagram
94
BOOK FEATURES
Where Did I Goof Up in Life? by Achal
Mogla
Have you ever wondered what is the
difference between successful human
beings who reach the pinnacle of every
activity that they undertake and the not
so successful ones? The difference lies in
their attitude. The former one takes every
obstacle as an opportunity to attain the
final result while the second category
has a negative attitude. They do not want
perfection in any work and they are always
on the lookout for escaping work. And these same people when
they start comparing themselves with the successful category of
people, come up with excuses that they could not achieve the
desired success in their respective spheres. In this book, we deal
with 21 different excuses that an average person makes for not
achieving the desired success and this book contains real-life ex-
amples of personalities who have overcome the 21 given excuses
and made themselves a warrior, an expert in their own way and
their own fields.
Moner Oli Goni by Ajit Kumar Pal
As human life is the fruit of different expe-
riences, his mind also flows in many ways.
Some hopes and aspirations of imagination
are also associated with them. These po-
ems are the reflection of them which have
come out of the allies of the author’s mind
at different times. Some are his realities
and others his dreams.
Half Past Five by Varun Arora
At some point in my life, I used to think,
‘How do people find words to write?’ and
‘How do they write songs and poems?’ It
started with ‘I dwell in Possibility’ by Em-
ily Dickinson, and soon I started dwelling
in the possibility. These poems were
written one poem a day, every day for 40
days continuously. Some days, it took two
minutes to write; on some days, it took an
eternity. On the days of eternal struggle,
I had to list words from different places
to weave them together. Some poems are
from my collection over time.
95
All children are equal Yes or Not by Arun
Kumar Bapna
The book is focused on newly-weds and
new parents to know the ways of
development of children. Parenting is most
complicated of problems. Every parent-
wants to develop their child the best and
wants the best future for them.
In this book, I have covered the following
areas: Differently abled children, Unlimited
tiring demands (or indecisive parents),
Early childhood relationships, Insomnia,
Cola’s culture (Physical fitness), Genetically daring nature, Board-
er child, Genetic coding, Daddy’s little girl, Rape victim, Handle
with care, and Child creativity.
Apart from the above-mentioned 12 points, there are another 15
areas of problems and their
solution in this book. The book has opinions of world-renowned
doctors, authors, social
activists, and world-governing bodies working for problems and
solutions for the development
of children.
‘Reaching the Mirage Called Happiness’
by Mrinal Nag
The book written by Brig. Dr. Mrinal Nag is
an endeavour to apprise fellow human be-
ings that happiness can never be achieved
by chasing it. Happiness drifts away like
a mirage if we chase it but can be easily
achieved by all of us if we learn to share
our success with fellow human beings of
the society especially with those who are
poor, needy, and sick for no fault of theirs;
those who need our help to be happy.
Approximately 1.3 billion out 7.8 billion people in the world at
present are poor and hungry. There are millions of people who
are needy and sick in various parts of the world. People like Bill
Gates, Warren Buffett, and many others are donating to help the
poor of the society. People like Florence Nightingale and Mother
Teresa offered selfless service to the sick and helpless people of
the world. Doctors and Nurses treated Covid-19 patients at great
risk to their own lives. All these people are great examples for us.
They inspire us to donate to the poor and offer our selfless service
to the sick and helpless. The mindset of giving back to the society
will only come to us if we learn to become good human beings
first, which precedes being human. The ingredients of DISCI-
PLINE, if followed properly, can make us good human beings
who would develop a mindset to help the needy and would even
donate our own body organs to be used after our demise. The
book has suggested a World Charitable Fund Trust to help the
poor of the world in addition to the existing organisations. It has
also suggested a recipe to achieve happiness which, if followed,
will ensure happiness for all. This book may prove to be very use-
ful for all parents, teachers, students, and young ones, to decipher
the secret of achieving happiness.
 BOOK FEATURES
Gone Case by Shiv Panikker
A Mumbai based cop with a dark past is
tasked with escorting an escaped inmate
back to the asylum. Along the way, he
suspects that the inmate might be a seri-
al killer & the asylum may be haunted.
Gone Case is India’s first Anime Comic
Book. It is also the first horror comic
book to be based in Mumbai. Gone
Case educates the audience on the
dangers of what the dark web really is.
Vale of Tears by John S. Shilshi
This book tells stories of some very
chilling violent incidents that took place
in insurgency torn state of Manipur
during the 1990s, described as seen on
the ground by the Author. Stories of
innocent public suffering as victims of
security force excesses, and inhuman
tactics used during communal and
ethnic clashes, which conveys how the
common men got trapped in conflict
situations, unable to predict what awaits
them, when, where and how. The book
also points out shortcomings in the
system, both at institutional and ground level, and force
incompetency in tackling insurgency and guerilla tactics
especially in crowded urban settings.
The Legendary Indians by Vijay
Kumar Dewan
This Book is about knowing our own
great leaders right from the medieval
period of Indian History who were really
visionary and had a purpose in life. Their
commitment and passion for ensuring
an ideal society inspires not only Indians
but the humanity across the globe. They
were in fact the pillars of India and their
contribution towards development and
growth story shall remain a guiding
factor for generations to come.These
great leaders included the Kings of
various dynasties, the great social reformists, the mathematicians,
the scientists, the saints and the poets who are regarded the best
worldwide. They were really very bold and down to earth and had
a common mantra “In life, we are going to encounter hard times
at some point. This means we must be prepared to endure pain
and find solutions at any moment.
96
The Silent Warriors by Vidhushi Singh
The book is spread over an era of Pre and
Post Partition of India and split of Punjab,
which not only separated the twin cities
of Lahore and Amritsar but also tore the
cultural, religious and social fabric which
led to downfall of millions of families, It is
a story of how the women and men’s abil-
ity to bounce back by self - rehabilitation
and reinstatement into a re-established
society. Although, their ups and downs
do not end at any given moment what
they cherish is their childhood friend-
ship and time spent together. ‘The Silent
Warriors’ whose resilience spoke more than their words. Their
resilience is the way to communicate their pain and sufferings. A
story of an extraordinary courage and endurance filled with fervor
and rich culture of then Punjab.
Manav: An Inner Quest by John Mark
Manav is the legend of a bird born in
a family of vultures. He is just like any
other bird, but one quality highlights
the difference between him and the rest
of the birds on this planet. And that is
his tendency to question every con-
vention, be it in thought or action. This
peculiarity takes Manav on a road which
ends outside, but bends within him. It
leads him to a place of self discovery
and wisdom. It elevates him eventually
to a consciousness from where he is
able to decipher the blunders of thought
and action which arise out of the deceptions hidden in erroneous
thinking. New ideas aren’t perceived as fresh possibilities toward
growth and upliftment by everyone.
Paper Planes and Hopes by Payal
Sagar
‘Paper Planes and Hopes’ is a collec-
tion of free verse poems and prose. You
think you are not there yet? You are
not alone. There are so many emotions
one goes through before they get to
taste the satisfaction of being there
where they are meant to be. This book
is for the thinkers. The ones who want
to be well in-tuned with their inner
self. Those who want to have a hold
over their actions and emotions to
succeed in life at all levels and for those
seeking a brighter tomorrow. The purpose of this book is to mo-
tivate the reader to move forward in life. These poems and prose
are for today’s readers, who are always on the go.
BOOK FEATURES
“‘Chandraprabha: The Iron Lady of My Fiancee’s Boyfriend by Prasad
Assam’ by Hiranya Borah Deshpande
This book is an analytical biography Chaitanya is in love with Anjali since
of Padmashri Chandraprabha Saiki- college days. Sunny is also in love with
ani (1901-1972), who was a leading Anjali since college days. But Anjali has
freedom fighter, social reformer, made her choice, she wants to spend the
educationist and a pioneer of women rest of her life with Chaitanya. A chance
empowerment of Assam. The book has encounter with his long lost friend Guru
been written contextually instead of and his to-be fiancée Tanvi brings An-
chronologically and therefore some rep- jali back into Chaitanya’s life after many
etition will be observed by the readers years. The love that remained unsaid
in the book. As there are many books on during college days finally has the chance
the Iron Lady of Assam in the public do- to blossom. But with Anjali comes Sunny,
main, the book has not been written as a it has always been that way because Anjali
typical biography on her. This book will showcase her capability considers Sunny her best friend, a role which Sunny begrudgingly
and accomplishments as a freedom fighter, as a writer, as a poet accepts as long as he gets to be with Anjali. However, Chaitanya
and as a social worker despite her personal struggles throughout is unaware that Sunny is still in Anjali’s life. What happens when
her life against many social norms.” he finds out? And more importantly, what happens when Anjali
refuses to let her best friend go…
Shaman Woman and the Rooster by Jon Pebi Tato
A few people from Damyo village unanimously decide
to visit the shaman in the Southern province, but on
their way an unprecedented incident occurs- Yami and
Takar are captured by the “uyu” (spirit). In order to
save them, rest of the villagers must face the “uyu”
with the help of the greatest shaman of the Northern
Province. The journey is not easy and they must
overcome certain challenges until each one of them
returns to Damyo village to see how the truth unravels.
The book has been written by Jon Pebi Tato, a
passionate YouTuber from Yaki Tato Keak village,
Arunachal Pradesh. He grew up listening to the bed
time stories from his beloved father which inspired him
to write and bring out his own short Fictional story of
“Shaman Woman and the Rooster”. The book is suitable
for bed time stories for children even above 10 years.
Although the book is fictional in character and nature
but the author has given it an indigenous touch. The
book reflects how the indigenous tribes of Arunachal
Pradesh are dominantly inspired by the Shamanism
since long ages.
97
PRESS RELEASE
ON HIS BIRTHDAY, RANJHA
RANJHA VIKRAM SINGH CELEBRATES
HIS BIRTHDAY DISTRIBUTING
VIKRAM SINGH FOOD TO THE NEEDY
anjha Vikram Singh has
never shied away from
his responsibilities
towards those in need.
He has been doing his bit to help
the less privileged ever since the
pandemic struck us. And today
on his birthday, he did seva with
the Gauri Shankar Seva Dal.
Ranjha shares, “During these
times of struggle, I can only
count my blessings and the
best way to keep getting is to
keep giving. I knew this NGO
for a long time. They have
done tremendous work over
the years and especially during
the pandemic. It was my good
fortune that I got to do seva
with them. I urge all my fellow
citizens to follow the protocols,
be it masking, social distancing,
sanitising, or staying home unless
it’s an emergency. We can do
it and we will overcome this
pandemic.”
“
IItt was my good fortune
that I got to do seva with
them.
98 99
PRESS RELEASE
The Fauji Calling star had an
important message for all of us
and it will be great if we follow
every single protocol set. Here’s
wishing Ranjha a very happy
birthday again.
The situation today is really
heartbreaking. It pains me to see
people losing their loved ones to
COVID-19. I don’t feel it right
to celebrate my birthday during
such grim times. I just wanted
to do whatever best I could do
during this lockdown. I went
for seva. I went to a gaushala in
sector 45 where I went for seva
from morning to lunch. It gives
me immense satisfaction to do my
bit in whatever little way possible.
There were a lot of people
standing in queue for food. And
all of them were maintaining
social distancing. I hope this
pandemic gets over soon and the
whole country gets vaccinated
soon.”
PRESS RELEASE
LIZAA MALIK IS IN DELHI
LIZAA HELPING OUT HER
EMPLOYEES DURING THE
MALIK COVID CRISIS ALONG WITH
HER BUSINESS PARTNER
s you all know Lizaa
Malik has been a very
enterprising person.
Other than she being an
actor and performer, she has been
into multiple businesses such as
restaurant, liasioning and now
she is exploring the digital and
corporate world. She has been
stationed in Delhi for the last
couple of times. She has taken a
sabbatical from acting, singing
and performing till the time covid
settles down. She doesn’t want
to take chances. She is safe so far
and she is working from home in
Delhi. Since it’s a corporate set
up there in Delhi and some of her
employees have gotten infected
with the disease. She is taking care
of them and ensuring they recover
along with her working partner.
Be it providing for hospital beds
for emergency cases or basics for
the homes, Lizaa has taken the
“
This
T his is the time we have
to stand for them and I
am not turning away.
100 101
PRESS RELEASE
onus upon her to stand by her
employees during this difficult
time.
We spoke to Lizaa and here is what
she has got to say, “It’s a precarious
time for everyone. Things are
falling off for a lot of people. We
have about 50 of our employees
who tested positive. This is the time
we have to stand for them and I am
not turning away. We are providing
for ICU beds and literally anything
that is required be it financially or
emotionally. We are in it together
and we will stand strong. I request
everyone to follow all the SOPs
and take care of themselves. Stay
indoors if it’s not an emergency.
And this too shall pass. We have to
fight this battle together.”
Lizaa has some motivating words
for everyone. Let’s all put up a
brave face to the ugly virus. We will
come out victorious.
 BOOKS Author Jyoti Shakya Talks
MOVIES About Her Book Devmanav
Devmanav::
ART Insaan Hona Ek Saza
BEAUTY Jyoti Shakya belongs to Morena city in Madhya Pradesh. She is a 26-year-old

WRITE-UPS graduate from Jiwaji University. She is a supervisor in the Department of

Women and Child development. The story Devmanav has been co-written
by her sister whom she considers as two sides of the same coin. When asked
about where the inspiration to write Devmanav came from, she informed us
POETRY of a near death experience. Jyoti was once suffering from typhoid, she was
very ill. Her body was not responding to any of the medicines and she was
certain that she is a guest of “few moments”. It is in those what she considered
LIFESTYLE final moments that a thought occurred to her, that if she survived this, she
would endeavour to be a part of the history forever. In order to not to let her
existence from the world be gone with her death, Jyoti decided to be alive for
centuries through writing a book. Death inspired Jyoti to start writing.

When asked about the character of Devika in her book Devmanav she

NOW AT THE describes the character as someone who hates humans, because people could
die at any moment, leaving life, which Devika did not like at all. Because of
people dying at any time, there was no one in Devika’s life whom she could
call her own. Devika’s character comes to realise that the journey of life will
CLICK OF A take one to death only and only till death. Inspite of the negativity portrayed
by the character, Jyoti emphasizes that Devika’s thinking, her personality and
her attitude towards people and view of the world is the closest to her heart.
BUTTON!! Shakya compares Devika’s thinking to hers and the moments where Devika
ponders about life and death are some of her favourite moments from the book. Ms. Shakya brought her thoughts into this
world through Devika. Her inner most hidden
feelings gave her the opportunity to become a
good writer.
R EA DFOR
READ FOR
F R EE.
FREE. In Jyoti’s own words, her writing journey
was “interesting”. She says, “Writing took me
CL ICK ON
ON
CLICK away from all my troubles. I never felt it to be
SUB SCR IB E
SUBSCRIBE difficult.” Jyoti had dreamed of being in place
NOW !!
NOW!! of an author since she was a childhood. While
writing Devmanav,
Devmanav, she never felt as though she
was indeed writing, instead, she felt as if she
herself was drifting in the supernatural realm,
travelling among mysteries and deities by
means of words.

While we are glad that Ms. Shakya did not find

the writing and publishing journey arduous,
there are writers who do not share the same fortune. We asked her what she would like to say to other struggling writers to
which she promptly said, “While writing a story one should not worry about its future because it kills the soul of the story. One
should write what is in their heart and not in their mind because the words of the heart reach directly to the hearts of people
and success is surely achievable.” A true affirming mind-set that would go a long way in helping authors in their struggle.

8
 E motional
Wellbeing in
Relationships –
the importance of
setting boundaries By
Mehak
Kukreja

Maintaining well being in everything we do in life is our main aim. We are

constantly looking for happiness. There are laws for everything, but no laws
in a relationship and thus how do we punish the guilty? A healthy
relationship means a healthy human. What exactly is a healthy relationship?
Why do we need to make sure that being in one is so important?

The need to be a part of a family or society is a basic need. The feeling of

being wanted, heard, loved, cared for is a basic need just like the need to
survive, eat and be happy. We are not used to being alone. We need someone
with whom we can share, express. Especially, since the pandemic has hit us,
we have realized all the more how important it is to have people around us.
However, quality always matters more than quantity. More than having too
many people around, it is more important to have people who actually
understand us and reciprocate in the same way. Relationships are a basic
need just like any other need in our life. Feelings are what make us and
emotions are of high value in our life. To have someone to understand our
feelings and emotions and care for them and nurture our feelings, is
something special. Just like physical boundaries, setting up emotional
boundaries in a relationship is necessary. Relationships between parents and
children, mentors and workers, teachers and students have boundaries. It is
of utmost essential that we set boundaries in romantic relationships too.

When we are emotionally stable, it stabilizes all the other aspects of our life.
For instance, if you are constantly being motivated by your partner, you
subconsciously become more confident and tend to do even better at all
aspects of your life. We all take IQ tests to check our intelligence level. But
off late, Emotional Quotient (EQ) tests are throbbing the internet. This
shows us how important emotional well being is. People are finding out
their EQ to maintain it correctly and not impede it. Emotional wellbeing
not only creates a balance in our life but also promotes overall wellbeing.

10 11
Is emotional wellbeing something really important or is it being hyped? We have grown up watching movies and
somewhere at the back of our mind we always have a picture of a happy ending in relationships. Since childhood,
fairytales have led us to believe in the happily ever after and as we grew up, bollywood movies led us to believe that
someone will come and rescue us from our woes and be the man of our dreams. How many times have we not drooled
over the romanticism that bollywood movies display? The hero that fights all odds just so he could be with the heroine,
the girl who gives up a lavish life and forever lives in poverty as long as her man is there with her, the couple who elope
leaving the world behind with a belief in their happy ending, the star crossed lovers who would die than be separated- and
not to mention the dialogues so warm and impactful that they pierce our soul. Oh what we wouldn’t give to have that
in our life. But we ever sit and realise that the scene so perfect to us is a result of multiple trials and errors, the dialogues
that bring tears to our eyes have been written over and over again just to achieve that heavenly combination of words. The
reality is, there is no trial and error in real life. The heartbreak is not as appealing in real life as it is in movies. In real life
, everyone has responsibilities and problems. No relationship can live up to the expectations created by movies and this
also causes mental stress. We are constantly comparing our partner to an imaginary character on the screen. Relationships
are not as romantic as they are portrayed. In this case, the emotional wellbeing of our life depends on us. There’s nothing
anyone can do when our expectations cross the boundaries of realism.
However, constant humiliation and degradation in a relationship by a partner can hamper the mental and emotional
wellbeing of the partner on the receiving end. This is by far the truest aspect of any relationship. Knowingly or
unknowingly, we end up hurting our better half in a manner that makes the damage irreversible. Why do we do it? In one
word, the answer is “Life”. The stress of living in a certain manner and knowing that the path we carved for yourself is not
leading us where we want it to can result in dumping the emotional load on our partners. Not to mention our
insecurities which we already project onto the other. All of these take a toll on our mind and subsequently our body.
Emotional stability and well being lead to being physically healthy too. Mental health is not only being mentally ill. It is
an overall state of well being. Just as we take care of our body, we need to take care of our mental health too. Constant
fighting, arguments and misunderstandings in relationships create mental stress. Mental stress has been identified as one
of the leading causes of physical diseases.
How do we ensure emotional wellbeing in a relationship? What are the boundaries that we need to set in an emotionally
interdependent relationship? There is no rule book as such to follow in order to maintain emotional wellbeing. However
being in a toxic relationship is a deal breaker and living in a toxic relationship is living an undeserving and unworthy life.
12
There are red flags to follow in an unhealthy relationship. Being unheard, unseen, not cared for are few of the many signs
that one is in an unhealthy relationship. The reason we are in a relationship is to be happy and if such a basic need cannot
be fulfilled then there is no way the relationship is going to sustain. A toxic relationship doesn’t make you a better person.
It makes you feel as though you are in doom. If you do not look forward to a relationship, and if you are constantly
finding reasons to reassure yourself that you are in the right relationship, it will affect your emotional wellbeing. In order
to deal with this, we must first accept that certain wrong treatment is not going to work for us. Therefore setting up
boundaries from the beginning is very important from the start. We have to lay down rules for a relationship where both
partners are happy and emotionally and mentally all right.
So the question arises, what do we follow in order to maintain the emotional stability in a romantic relationship?
Every individual is different but ignoring potential red flags is the first step to a downfall. When we enter into a
relationship with someone, we look for a few needs to be fulfilled by the other person. These are basic needs such as the
need to be heard, the need to be cared for, the need to be loved, to be given attention, to do things together. Sometimes
these needs are met and sometimes not. Primarily, in a relationship, if these basic needs cannot be met, the relationship
will not last long. The reason for this is that if we are looking to derive these basic needs and if we do not get them, how do
we get the other special needs such as sexual pleasures, financial assistance, etc?
We cannot assure ourselves that the relationship we enter into will be perfect. However there are some ground rules to
follow so that we maintain our sanity. Here is a checklist you can follow in order to ensure thatnyou are in an emotionally
healthy relationship. Feeling of being appreciated is very important when you are in a relationship. When your partner
appreciates you, it means that you are being celebrated for your achievements. Trust, loyalty, honesty, faith and empathy
are the vital points in which relationships are based. Communication is the epicenter of a relationship. If there is no
communication about feelings and there is no expression about emotions, the relationship is void. If you cannot tell the
closest person to you how you feel, there is no point of being in the relationship. Care and love are the basis on which
we get into a relationship. They are the foremost reason of being in a relationship. If all these are in check, then we can
find the key to a happy and emotionally healthy relationship. These boundaries help us retain our mental, physical and
emotional wellbeing.
13
 Boundaries are set in each
relationship. For some we
have to set them. But for
instance in a parent-child
relationship, it is
established that a parent
cannot mentally, physically
Toscan Collection
or emotionally abuse a
child. One of the most Wall Surfaces
sensitive relationships is
where you dead with a kid.
Most times, a parent does
not have the opportunity
to be the kid with their kid,
and we deal with them like
we would with an adult.
This causes irreparable
damage that manifests itself as health issues. A child refuses to eat, falls
sick frequently, is unable to form meaningful relationships. It is most
difficult to detect emotional problem with children because we don’t
expect them to face them in the first place. But the truth is, they do
face them. In the same way, siblings have an understanding that they
are family and blood related and since childhood are conditioned to be
responsible and care for each other. There is a saying, blood is thicker
than water. In an emotionally dependent relationship, family seldom
disappoints. Here, the onus is again on the parents. How sibling
relationships develop in later stages of life depends on how the siblings
are together treated in their childhood. comparing one to the other,
scolding one and cajoling the other, showing preference, being gender
biased will all result in a sibling relationship that is more conflict driven
than bonding.

Workplaces form the most important aspect of maintaining a healthy

well being. In all walks of life, workplace stress is the single most
contributor to stress and hence to deteriorating health. Being
overburdened with work, irregular eating habits, incompetent
workforce management, sexual harrasement- all club together to
pressurise the mind into overloading. Sexual harassment at workplaces
is a punishable offence. What about other issues that are brushed under
the rug in the name of work culture? Curbing sexual harassment
reduces mental stress and in turn increases the quotient of
emotional wellbeing but what about phycological harassment that
is often invisible. The importance of conducive work environment
cannot be stressed enough. Problems at work cause problems in house
cause problems in life- it’s a cycle.

It is important to understand that setting up that boundaries in every

aspect of life will help us to maintain dignity and self respect. One
ought to be vigilant. One ought to understand the signs that cause
discomfort and address them before they turn into a full blown issue.
Learning to say ‘no’ to things that make you uncomfortable. Keeping
distance from people who don’t respect your boundaries may isolate
you, but it will ensure the right people stay in your life. If anyone
doesn’t respect either of these- consider it a deal breaker. If we are Contact Details
drawing emotions from others, it should be their duty to make sure
they fulfill all the criteria of keeping us happy. There is no Bible to 1054, Lido Towers Juhu Tara Rd, Juhu Koliwada,
follow for relationships and rules. Each individual is different and so
is every relationship. But it is necessary to put yourself first. If you are
Khar Danda, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049
happy, you can make others happy..
info@arnaya.in | +91 99797 70033
14
MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF
ONE SHOW AT A TIME - A
CONVERSATION WITH
The name Pavitra Punia was a household
name long before the actress’s appearance
in Bigg Boss season 14. She started her
acting career with the 2010 serial Geet -
Hui Sab se Parayi playing the cameo role
of Daljeet. She landed her first lead role
in the show Love U Zindagi that aired on

PAVITRA Star Plus. Her first appearance on TV was

actually in the reality show “Splitsvilla 3” in
2009. Since then, she has acted in several
serials such as Ritz Jeele Yeh Pal, MTV

PUNIA
Making The Cut 2, Hongey Judaa Na Hum,
Sawaare Sabke Sapne Preeto and Darr
Sabko Lagta Hai. Her most notable roles
include portrayal of Niddhi Chabbra in Yeh
Compliments are when people see
Hai Mohabbatein, a shape shifting snake
Poulomi Roy in Naagin 3. She was last who you are, what you are made of
seen as evil Queen Timnasa in the show

Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastaava

Baalveer Returns. Pavita Punia spoke to and your aura, not how good your
LitGleam Magazine on her life post Bigg
Boss, beau Ejaz Khan and her future plans. makeup is and how you appear.
16 17

Q: We are really excited about the interview
but first please tell us a little bit about
yourself and what you have been up to?
As everyone is aware, my name is Pavitra Punia
and after Big Boss I have been given a name
“sherni”, which is my nickname now. I have
been working in the industry for the past few
years. In 2009, I started my career with a reality
show and then again ended up in the same
way on Bigg Boss because of the pandemic. I
am very grateful. And it’s a very overwhelming
feeling for me every time, whenever I see my
journey from where I have come to where I’m
standing. I have made myself proud, single
handedly. So yeah, it’s a very, very great
feeling.
Q: We saw you for the first time in Splitsvilla,
then in Balveer returns, Yeh Hai
Mohabattein and now you have done Big
Boss. How was the transition after coming
out of the Big Boss house? Was it strange or
completely normal?
A: There are only a few things I got from Big
Boss, to be very honest. The number one thing
is that I got my name back, which is a big thing
for an actor because people get to know that
person or get to know you by your name and
not the character name that you portray on
screen. So when I started my career, I got my
name through Splitsvilla and everyone knew
that I am Pavitra Punia. Gradually when I
started making progress in television, in daily
soaps and everything, I was setting up the
benchmarks, doing negative roles. I was losing
my name too. People were not aware of my
name anymore or aware of who I am; they were
more aware of the character that I was
portraying on television. So there’s three things
that I achieved while in Bigg Boss, it gave me
my name back, I found love in Big Boss which
has made me extremely happy, and I got a
chance to voice out in the house.
Q: Could you elaborate for our readers.
A: I saw people in that house not respecting
the sentiments of others, they were deliberately
trying to hit others below the belt. They used
to go till any extent “ki dusro ko gira sakein” (to
put someone down) just so they could get their
numbers up.
18
I’m so happy that I came out of the house after
60 days without hurting anyone’s sentiments
to that level that I might not be able to show
my face again in front of them. Our industry
is a strange place. Even if you say bad things
about people on their face, you’re still friends.
I feel strange about it. So the three things from
Big Boss house that I got were- my name back,
second, I found love, and third thing that I
maintained my sanity in the house. If anyone
did wrong to me, I did wrong to them. If they
still did wrong to me, I kept mum. I know how to
play. People can call me manipulator, or
diplomatic but at least I did not hurt their
emotions; at least I was not hurting the
emotions of my friends. Forget Ejaz, that was
a very personal matter. So that’s it, these three
things are what I achieved and most important-
ly, I’m still maintaining my sanity.
Q: So next question. Your original name is
actually Neha Singh and Pavitra Punia is a
stage name. What prompted you to change
your name? Was it you or did someone else
suggest?
I have always loved authority. Since my
childhood I have seen guns and bullets, pistols
and case files in the house. I enjoy those things.
Sometimes I used to see blood on the case files
that my father brought home to work through.
So I used to get fascinated with the fact that he
was working on a murder. At that time, I used to
do magazine covers and brand endorsements
on a very small level, I used to work part time
jobs earning money and I was very happy. It
was a normal life for me. There was this show
my mother used to watch a lot, I can’t recall the
name, and there was a lady in that show with the
name Pavitra; that’s when I first heard the name, I
had never heard it before. And I said “this name is
tailor made for me. It is me.” The next day, I went
to a modeling agency and I said “Hi, my name
is Pavitra”. They pointed out that the name on
my documents is Neha. So I informed them that
though Neha is my official name my family calls
me Pavitra. And I have been Pavitra ever since.
Q: You were a very strong contender in the
Bigg Boss house. You always spoke your
mind, you were honest and a lot of times
things got very toxic. So inside the house
where there are no distractions, you can’t just
whip up a Netflix TV show and watch it or play
with a pet. How did you get out of the
negative headspace? How did you go from
A: I changed my name of my own volition. I call myself
negativity to positivity?
a self made woman, I proudly say that I even changed
the name given to me by my parents. So you can
A: I’m a tarot card reader. And I still remember
imagine what sort of a self made woman I consider
whenever I used to feel confused, I used to
myself to be and what sort of blood is running through
remember my cards and ask them“what picture
my veins. I had what it takes to even change my name
or card do you want to show me?” I would shut
by going against my family. I love them. But the name
my eyes, even though they were wide awake.
is too small. If I want to make something of myself, if I
And from the deck of those 78 cards one card
want to see myself reaching somewhere one fine day,
would come to my head and that is what I used to
I want people saying “Wow, it’s you Pavitra” so I don’t
follow. I was divinely guided through everything
want the smallest thing given to me by anyone be it
in Big Boss, whatever I was doing, every step was
emotionally or anything else. It should be whole and
according to that particular card.
soul me and I made myself like this. So I changed my
name to Pavitra.
Q: Did you feel liberated that you didn’t have
to process all those things by yourself?
Q: So how did the name Pavitra come by?
A: Imagine your friend inside the house, the
A: One fine day I told my parents that the name they
person whom you know and trust, is hitting you
have given me is very small, Neha “shuru hote hi
below the belt. The only guidance I was getting
khatam ho gaya” (it ends as soon as it begins). Neha
was to shut my mouth because that person
is a very common name and I don’t want something
wasn’t in his or her senses that time. Nothing
which is very common, plus it holds no weightage. My
justifies, no show, or anything, justifies that fact
parents asked me what I wanted to do about it. I said I
that you are hurting people’s emotions. And that
want to experiment, I want to change my name, I want
is what I used to do to keep myself in it.
to try changing my career. So initially when I was in
Delhi doing my graduation and preparing for UPSC to
become an IPS officer. My father is a cop and I wanted
to follow in his footprints.
19
 I feel bad when those 10 to 15% percent people think
we are fake. “Humara rishta aise platform pe juda hai
jahan pahle shayad logo ne rishte fake kiye hai ya
phir relationships bane hain but chale nahi hain ghar
se bahar.” (Our relationship blossomed on a platform
where people might have earlier faked relationships or
made relationships that did not last outside the house).
And on the basis of that maybe people are commenting
the same for me and Ejaz. We are not fake and people
should stop commenting on us and stop judging us. It
Q: Okay, let’s move on feels so bad when two people are in love and they are
to the next question. announcing to the whole world about it, yet people
You and Ejaz Khan started are announcing to the whole world about it, yet
developing a relationship and people are not believing them. It feels bad
it was a very sweet part of the when what we say is not taken into
show and everyone enjoyed, but consideration buT some notion of what
there is a lot of speculation that in might be is considered as truth. Even
Big Boss many people just fake a ow that Big Boss is over, everyone is
relationship to get votes. Do you think living their lives, going about making
there is a possibility that other contestants things work, a sufficient time has
do that just for the sake of votes? passed and if it was a fake
relationship it would have been
A: I am no one to comment on anyone’s revealed by now but we are
relationship. I cannot go and comment on anyone still together, yet people are
unless I know the truth and I know them personally. still assuming it is fake. By
People are allowed to do what they want to do. I now, I can only say those are
speak on the face but if I don’t know someone, I am the people who have no
nobody to comment on their life decisions because other work except for
no one has given me the permission to. Tomorrow if thinking about Pavijaz
people call our relationship fake, I will feel bad. So, in (an amalgamation of
the same way I cannot make anyone feel bad by my names Pavitra and Ejaz).
strong statements. A: I am no one to comment on Pavijaz is constantly on
anyone’s relationship. I cannot go and comment on their mind, they think
anyone unless I know the truth and I know them about it every moment,
personally. People are allowed to do what they want to they go to sleep thinking
do. I speak on the face but if I don’t know someone, I about Pavijaz, wake up
am nobody to comment on their life decisions because thinking about Pavijaz, we
no one has given me the permission to. Tomorrow if occupy every moment of
people call our relationship fake, I will feel bad. So, their day and I am very
in the same way I cannot make anyone feel bad by happy about that. And you
my strong statements. Many people call Ejaz and know, if the relationship
my relationship fake even today. Though the is fake you don’t gel around
judgemental attitude has come down a lot with the families and family
but it is not completely gone. There are members. You don’t actually talk
trolls who don’t have anything else to to the other person’s family members,
do, so they comment filthy and ugly. them, because it’s strictly professional
between both parties. You’re just utilizing
and monetizing the name that you made. The
difference between fake and real is as simple as
that.
Q: You were in the public eye for 60 days. How do you cope
with people hating you or making fun of you? How do you
deal with that?
A: I am no longer on Twitter. I have seen people who are so
successful and they’re still not on Twitter. They don’t want to be
on Twitter or Instagram or any of the social media platforms.
20
The only reason behind that was, this is something
they actually said in interviews, the only reason they
don’t want to be on social media is because social
media is a platform fit to give you mental illness.
Honestly speaking, I find Instagram to be much
better than Twitter. Twitter is a medium of news too,
so is Facebook and Instagram on some level. It is
the so-called debates that happen on these social
media that give us our perception of the platform.
Debating a genuine topic is good. If there’s a
debate going on regarding work, or regarding
some issue, or regarding spreading awareness then
it’s okay because it is beneficial to all. But going on
to comment on someone’s personal life, on their
personal choices and enjoying by commenting
fifth, I cannot allow that. Social media is not
important for me, my self respect is. People have
given interviews against me on social media. I’m a
woman who will never use Instagram or social
media, to shame someone, to put some sort of
blame on anyone. At the end of the day it is my
personal life. I don’t comment on anyone’s life and
I don’t think anyone should comment on my life.
Especially during this pandemic people are going
through so much regarding jobs and food crisis,
medical crisis and so on… in such a scenario all one
wants is to have some semblance of peace. In a
situation where one ought to help the other, instead
people are indulging in trolling and commenting
filth. There might be people who move ahead of
such negativity but I can’t.
Q: You have been very outspoken. Do you think
the television industry is changing a little bit to
give more freedom of speech to women? Or do
we still have a long way to go?
A: Television is working according to our real life.
Television is not behind or ahead. It is current. So
whatever the story we put up, it comes from reality
and then gets converted into reel. That’s how we
follow things, keep up to date and relate to the
characters of a show, because they are inspired by
reality. To be honest, TV shows women
empowerment as most of the viewers are young
girls, women, or older men and women. According
to them, the content that is shown on TV is ok to
watch. TV promotes women empowerment for sure
but it cannot break stereotypes. The main agenda
behind television serials is portraying woman
power, so no matter how the TV has evolved in the
years, woman empowerment remains a central
point.
Q: So you’ve done a lot of television. Are there
any plans of venturing into the movie industry
now? Or are you going to stick with television?
A: I am really not into movies. But yes, there are
21
some Hollywood offers on the plate. But I will not
reveal it. Work is work be it small or big and
whoever gets work should be grateful for it. Also, I
am trying for a web series now. And let’s see how
things are going to work. The only problem with
me is I’m “extremely choosy” when it comes to my
work. Television is like my home. So I don’t see
what roles I am getting. I still have chosen negative
roles. I still play strong roles. So television is like my
family but I haven’t done a web series yet. It will be
the first time. I used to get offers from web series
earlier also while doing television. It’s been three to
four years that I’ve been getting regular offers from
web series. But I’m not getting the work I want.I
want to do powerful roles like a strong Lawyer or
strong Cop or gangster. I blame my beauty and
hotness because I always end up getting the roles
of someone’s wife, or nudist roles, something a little
revealing. So I’m actually blaming my beauty for
not getting the work that I desire to do in the web
series.
Q: From all the roles that you have played,
Timnasa, Nagin, Nidhi, which one was your
favorite so far?
A: I love all the characters that I portrayed on
screen but the one closest to my heart is Nidhi
Chabbra from Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, of course,
because that role gave me huge popularity. It was a
rebirth for me. I absolutely enjoyed playing the role
of a strong advocate. In short, I love
authoritative roles. I cannot do mellowed down
romantic things. That’s not me at all in reel life. In
real life I’m very romantic. I liked doing Timnasa in
Balveer as a Strong Evil Queen. The only role I can
say that I did not enjoy much was that of Naagin.
Because after doing such a strong role in Yeh Hai
Mohabbatein I was doing a funny role like comedy
Poulomi. So as an actor, I was satisfied with what I
was playing on screen. And when it comes to my
acting skills, I was doing as much justice as I could
to the role. But there was always an itch at the back
of my mind as to why the role of Poulomi is not as
strong as the other I have done. So, Timnasa and
Nidhi Chabra are the two roles that are very close to
my heart.
Q: Going back to Big Boss you got out a little
early. What do you think could have gone a little
better so that you would have stayed a little
more or even until the finale. What do you think
went wrong in your journey that if you could
change you would change now?
A:The only thing that went wrong in my journey is
not hitting people below the belt.
Q: Oh... but we loved you for that. You
maintained a certain sophistication.

A: If people would have loved it, I would have
not been out of the house. I think I came out of
the house because I did not abuse my friends
back, when they were disrespecting me. I
think I came out of the house because people
judged me for wrong things and forgot to see
the right things I did. I don’t know if the right
things were being shown or not because I still
haven’t seen a single episode. And I do not
want to ever see a single episode of my Bigg
Boss season because if things I have done right
have not been shown to the audience, I will feel
bad about it and no one has the right to make
me feel bad about anything; at least for the
work I did, diligently. So the only reason I was
out of the house was me not hitting people
below the belt, not losing my sanity
somewhere and not disrespecting and
crumbling the emotions of my own friends who
were doing that with me. That’s it else kisi me
dum nahi tha ki mujhe bahar nikale (no one
had the guts to send me out of the house). I
was very happy for my 60 days. I’m not at all
guilty.
Q: So the elimination, did it come as a shock
to you or were you expecting it?
A: I was expecting it for a week because I was
emotionally hurt and I was mentally disturbed.
I have no idea what happened and how it
happened. I didn’t even have the courage to
find out why it happened to even see what
happened in that last week. When it comes to
episodes, I didn’t even see that. I will not even
ask my friends why I came out and what did
they show? but I was expecting it because of
my emotional and mental turmoil, which no
one understood. It was a shock to see what
others were doing that I didn’t do and they
were still there. I do not have any guilt, no
regrets, and no hard feelings towards anyone.
It’s life and life is beautiful.
Q: So eliminations, rejections are very diffi-
cult sometimes to cope with as an actor, you
must have faced a few rejections as well
along your journey. How do you deal with
rejections whenever it happens?
A: It’s quite simple actually. I mean what do you
expect from me? I am a girl who followed the
guidance of her tarot cards even in the Bigg
22
Even after you get married the lady takes the name
of the man, the man doesn’t take the name of the
woman he marries just like Kareena Kapoor Khan,
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, like that. Keeping that in
mind, and speaking in generalized terms, I believe
a woman subconsciously always finds a man who
is elder to her because he has lived the way of the
world more than her. Ejaz guides me through life, he
even gives me relationship advice at times, politely
letting me know what he feels which I love. I think
I am very lucky. He is very positive. One word for
Ejaz is positivity. He is the most positive thing in my
life. He is always teaching me, telling me, guiding
me, controlling me also in so many things, which I
love and I think is normal in a relationship. So I got a
complete package. I got a package basically
overall, It’s a trophy for me.(laughs adorably)
Q: Our next question would be for you to
imagine you are told you could do one thing in
life without worrying about any consequences,
zero repercussions? What would you do?
A: I want to rule this world behind the scenes. I do
not want to come in front of the picture. I don’t want
to come in front of people. I don’t want to be in the
picture. It’s like I want to be the kingmaker of the
world from the backstage. I want to create a new
world in which there is balance and love. That’s it.
Boss house before taking any action. So when
rejection comes to me I think it is not in my Q: One favorite co-star from Big Boss house?(except for Ejaz)
destiny so why to cry and crib over it. If it was
r
meant to, it would have come to me. But A: Shardul Pandit and Jaan Kumar Sanu
because there are human expectations I feel
F
bad and it disturbs me for sometime and then Q: Least favorite job so far, doesn’t have to be in the entertainment industry.
the thought comes that there must be
something better in my destiny. A: Flying with Kingfisher.
a
Q: So right now you’re enjoying the bliss of a Q: One role you would like to steal from anyone in any TV series or movie web series.
I
romantic relationship with Mr Ejaz. What is
your favorite thing about him? A: I would like to steal the role of Sushmita Sen from Arya. I want to steal the role of
Akhandanand Tripathi from Mirzapur.
p
A: I love his rudeness. I like strong men, to be
very honest. And I think I found that quality that Q: The best compliment you have ever received?
R
I look for in a man, in him. He’s very caring. He’s
a very strong minded person and has faced so A: Yeh koi poochne wali baat hai kya. (Is this something to ask?) I’m hot! This is the best
much in his life and has learned so much from compliment. Even in suits and salwars, I look hot. Other than that there’s one compliment
i
his life. He is elder to me and the way he makes that I received which is the closest to my heart even today- one person told me you are
me aware and understand about life is going to rule the world one fine day in this living life. Compliments are when people see
commendable. I am a woman and this is how who you are, what you are made of and your aura, not how good your makeup is and how
E
society is that the man is meant to take care you appear. If I remove my makeup, no one is going to tell me that I’m hot.
of the woman. It is a tradition even if you are
d
equals. Q: What message would you like to share with our readers and fans?
A: There is a lot left that I need to achieve in my life. The way you all have stood by me in
all my fights and wars, I want you all to stand by me and be by my side when I am going to
rule this world.
23
Ephemeral Hopes
By Nibedita Rajkumari Be that as it may

Another dawn another hope I can see now the twilight of dawn;

Lifting the pane; the curtains aside I can feel now the whispering breeze

I sat in quandary; the round table aside of dawn

Musing over yestereve’s laments. Another day is converging.

Was I born to compromise With each minute riding

Or is this only my creation, Towards my own renaissance

The impact of my own sojourns. Embracing the fallen hopes

Is this the fault of chasing dreams? Scattered from the rue of yestereve

Do I not deserve to dream? Am I blooming today?

With failed promises ‘Tis no time to lament

For each even-fall, unending clamour. The night is dying soon

Imagining if I was a morning flower The sun too will be blooming soon

Then there never was a dawn-break; ‘Tis a new dawn.

My plant fell each day before morn The morning is crawling soon

I was never allowed to bloom. This may be my heyday; but

In such wise there was distress Even if this dawn never breaks

In the thick of the night. And the morning never comes

Do I not deserve to bloom? Am I still not a flower?

24 25

He a l in g Is On l y
On e T h o u g h t
Aw ay
You are truly one thought away from a
healthy life. You can heal yourself by chang-
ing your thoughts with the power of your sub
conscious mind, your sub conscious mind,
which has unbelievable and unlimited pow-
er. But to understand, how to use our sub
conscious mind to heal our physical, mental
or emotional sickness, we should understand
vividly two functions of our mind.
We all have only one mind, but our mind
possesses two entirely different characteris-
tic, two different functions. Because of these
functions of mind it is generally known as,”
the objective and subjective mind” and/or
“conscious or sub conscious mind”.
To understand the function of our mind more
clearly, we can assume our mind as a garden
and we are the gardener. Who are planting
seeds(thoughts) on our sub conscious mind
throughout the day. As we sow in our sub
conscious mind, so shall we reap. Quality
of these seeds(thoughts) are based on our
habits, lifestyle, upbringing and environment.
Our every thought is a cause and every con-
dition is its effect. Our sub conscious mind
is like soil which doesn’t make any difference
between good or bad seed. It just grows
them. So, if we want prosperity, happiness,
peace, harmony, good health, we should sow
the seeds of prosperity, happiness, peace,
harmony and good health.
26
If we will not sow these thoughts then au-
tomatically all thoughts of negativity like ill
health, fear, poverty, sickness, jealousy, anger
will take place. Therefore, it is essential to
take charge of our thoughts to get desired
results.
When we deposit good quality of thoughts in
our sub conscious mind, it brings magically
result in our life.
Let’s take one more example to understand it
more clearly. Our conscious mind is caption
of the ship (Our life) and sends order to man
(sub conscious mind) in engine room, who in
turns navigate the ship as per order receive.
The man in the engine room doesn’t know
where they are going, he simply follows the
instruction. If caption issues wrong instruc-
tion (based on this knowledge, experience or
environment), ship may go in wrong direction
or even hit rock or ice berg.
Our sub conscious mind simply takes the or-
ders from conscious mind whether it is right
or wrong, good or bad, ethical or unethical,
healthy or unhealthy for us.
When we consciously give order to our
subconscious mind in the form of thoughts
continuously, we form a habit patterns in our
subconscious mind (by repeating a thought)
and act over again and again, until it estab-
lishes tracks in our subconscious mind and it
becomes our habitual action.
Then we don’t need to put any special
efforts on that habit like cycling, dancing,
swimming, driving etc. It becomes our
second nature.
So, it is clear now that our thoughts create
our habits, it goes like this -thoughts—feel-
ings—action—habit. As we think so we act
as we act so we are. Whether we will lead
a happy, healthy and prosperous life or not
depends upon the quality of our thoughts.
As per the researches available on the
subject, we can classify thoughts in the
following seven categories –
1. Toxic thoughts—these thoughts create
emotions of anger, fear, revenge,
jealous, hatred.
2. Negative thoughts—these thoughts are
responsible for failure and disease.
3. Waste thoughts – Un-necessary
thoughts, have no meaning, it only
wastes our time, energy and relations.
4. Necessary thoughts—These thoughts
are our life line. They give us the
purpose of our life.
5. Right thoughts—these thoughts enable
us to see the situations as it is, without
judgement.
6. Positive thoughts—our quality of life
depends on these thoughts.
7. Elevated thoughts—these thoughts are
responsible for our wisdom and
spirituality.
All our sickness, disease, depression, anxiety
are due to the first two categories of thoughts
mentioned above ie toxic thoughts and nega-
tive thoughts.
If we control these thoughts and replace
them with the good quality and positive
thoughts, then we can cure any disease. Any
means any. It may be simply common head-
ache or cancer.
For example, headache is created because
of self-criticism and/or any kind of fear
thoughts. If we replace these thoughts by this
affirmation, “I love and approve myself. I am
safe.”, we can get rid of headache.
Many a times cancer is also by products of
our toxic and negative thoughts. It is believed
that cancerous cell generates because of,
“deep hurt, resentment, hatred and the feeling
that I am of no use” thoughts. If with full faith
we start following affirmation, “I forgive and
release all the past, I choose to fill my self
with joy, I love and approve myself”, cancer
can be cured. Believe me.
This whole process is based upon our
thoughts.
28
Two more important points about our sub
conscious mind.
1. It doesn’t understand,” NO”. If he gener-
ates thoughts like, “I don’t want to have
poor health”. It will understand it as,” I
want to have poor health” because “NO” I AM WILLING TO RELEASE THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS THAT HAS CREATED THIS.
is not in his dictionary.
2. Moreover, it understands language of
pictures only.
Repeat this affirmation several times ,especially while going to bed. Since our sub conscious doesn’t
apply logic, it simply accepts it as it is, follows the instructions and make it happen. From the day one
you will feel the difference.
Believe it and do it.
This technique has power to cure even fatal disease.
So, whatever we want in our life, we should be very
careful in generating thoughts about that “WANT”.
It should be positive affirmation and we should
visualize it. - ACHARYA RAVI KUMAR SARDANA
Now come to the main point, how our thoughts Reiki Healer, Life Coach and Tarot
can heal us? Very simple. Start generating positive Card Reader
affirmations about your health. We can conscious-
ly repeat the following affirmation.
I AM HEALTHY.
MY WHOLE BODY IS HEALTHY.
I AM LEADING A HEALTHY LIFE.
I LOVE AND APPROVE MYSELF
MY MIND AND BODY IS IN PERFECT BALANCE.
29
 COOKIE AND KATE – The blog was organized in 2010 by Kathryne. Kate credits that cooking
needs to necessitate us in being gratified. Furthermore, the recipes are to be versatile. She
determined to not to cook meat, so all the recipes on Cookie and Kate are absolutely vegetarian.

TICKLE YOUR TASTE

She trusts in eating nutrition – rich foods, that are the prominently the foods, that are as
assiduous to their provenance as attainable. The blog is about cataloguing and eulogizng
appetizing food – authentic, perdurable food that savours the senses and nutrify the body.
Personal suggestion- go for the Tropical Acai Breakfast Bowl.

BUDS HEALTHY Tropical Acai

Breakfast Bowl
By Sripada Manikya
Ingredients
Being forced to stay indoors has made a chef of us all. But while it’s true that the palate of delica- • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
cies is vast, one ought to be careful what goes inside. While the roadside paani puri is one to die • 1 ½ cups of frozen mango chunks
• 1 cup frozen banana chunks
for, maybe we can whip up some greenies every now and then while at home. Here I bring to you • 200 grams frozen unsweetened
10 websites with easy to make heathy to eat recipes that will keep you fit and fine while your mouth acai berry puree (2 packs)
• 1 – 2 tablespoons lime juice
waters for more - • 1 cup ice cold water
Garnishes
NUTRITION IN THE KITCH is predominantly a food blog consummated with comprehensible
• Shredded unsweetened coconut
and sustenance dairy free and gluten free recipes for even the most neophyte cook. Look into • Chia seeds
the recipe folio to get energized! In the lifestyle segment you can interpret about how to detox • Sliced fresh banana
• Coconut granola
your body and home, ameliorate your mental health, how to amplify your immunity and more! To • Chopped nuts
• Sliced kiwi
enhance your wellness, wellbeing and exhilarate you to get ingenious in the kitchen with healthy • Other sliced tropical fruits
nutrient – rich foods, NUTRITION IN THE KITCH is your definitive resource. Special mention to
their Pumpkin Granola Yogurt Parfait.
Procedure
• In a blender, combine the frozen
pineapple, banana and mango.
Run the acai packets under warm
water for about 10 seconds to
thaw a bit, then cut them open
and pour the acai pulp into the
blender.
• Pour in the ice cold water,
• securely fasten the lid, and start
blending on lowest speed until
you can gain traction, increasing
to high speed as it becomes
available. If necessary, pause the
blender to scrape down the sides,
and add ¼ cup to ½ cup more
water if it just doesn’t blend.
• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons lime
juice, to taste, and blend briefly to
combine. Pour the smoothie into
bowls and top it up the garnishes
of your choice.

https://cookieandkate.com/tropical-acai-bowl-recipe/

The CALIFORNIA
WALNUTS BLOG is in
Pumpkin Granola essence where the culinary Salted Honey And
insight, cues for an
Yogurt Parfait equilibrized lifestyle, Or-
chard Origins are
Walnut Milk Latte
Ingredients Procedure dispensed that spotlight
their coherent coterie. They
Pumpkin Pie Cashew Cream • First, we need to prepare the
• pumpkin pie cashew cream. credit goodness and amia-
• 2 cups pure pumpkin puree • Soak the cashews in ½ cup water for 1 bility twigs from the classic
• ½ cup very ripe pear (cored) hour.
• ½ cup raw cashews • Then, drain them and transfer them to a entities in life. They wish in
high speed blender.
• ½ cup water incentivizing your
•
•
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie sauce
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Add in the pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin
puree, maple syrup, the pear, salt and blend individuality and remi- Ingredients Procedure
• Pinch of salt until completely smooth.
• Remove the prepared cream from the nisce you to be contented,
• 1 shot (2 ounces) freshly
Parfaits blender and transfer it to a bowl. come out of your pod, and brewed espresso
• Place espresso, honey and sea salt in a
• Using 4 small jars, add ¼ cup granola over latte mug; stir to combine.
• 2 cups plain coconut yogurt or greek the yogurt in each jar. indulge in your life well – • 1 tablespoon honey, plus more • Heat walnut milk and pour into mug.
yogurt • Next, layer ¼ cup granola over the yogurt stocked. Check out their for garnish • Garnish with additional honey and sea
• 1 cup + ¼ cup gluten free granola in each jar. • Pinch of flakey sea salt
• Next, divide the pumpkin pie cashew cream Salted Honey and Walnut salt, if desired.
• 3/4 cup steamed California
among the 4 jars, layering over the granola.
• Divide the remaining yogurt between each Milk Latte. walnut milk
jar layering over the pumpkin cream, and
then finish by topping each jar with 1 table-
spoon of granola.
• Enjoy!

https://nutritioninthekitch.com/pumpkin-granola-yogurt-parfait/ https://walnuts.org/recipe/salted-honey-walnut-milk-latte/

30 31
 THE SUBURBAN SOAPBOX is a food blog organized by Kellie.
Kellie credits a well – being life flavours significantly and her facile recipes help in fabricating that
every day. She initiated this blog to dispense all her thoughts on food …. and life … with anyone that
will hearken. THE SUBURBAN SOAPBOX incorporates to-do-quirk recipes that you can comfortably
materialize at home. Their Banana Peanut Butter Chia Pudding will definitely become your ultimate
favourite.
A CLEAN BAKE – The blog is organized by Nora. This blog essentially centralizes on ingesting well on
a grain – free, refined sugar free and gluten – free diet without perpetually feeling incommodious or
impoverished! Her recipes permit you to dwell at nurturing, additive – free ingredients, still having a
dessert. Mexican Spiced Keto Chocolate is a definite try out to satisfy your sweet tooth.

MEXICAN SPICED KETO

BANANA PEANUT
CHOCOLATE
BUTTER CHIA Keto chocolate is high in fat and sugar free for a low carb twist, but all you’ll

PUDDING taste is smooth, silky dark chocolate flavour coupled with a pungent spice mix
that is sure to warm you up a little! It’s so easy to make chocolate at home with
just a few ingredients. Try it and see for yourself!

Ingredients
• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1 ½ cups low fat milk
• ½ cup natural creamy
peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
Procedure
Ingredients Procedure
• In a blender, puree the
banana, milk and peanut • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (cocoa powder
butter. Transfer the through salt). Set aside.
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder • Add the cacao butter to a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 30
mixture to a medium bowl
and stir in the chia seeds. • 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder second increments (stirring in between) until melted. You can also melt in a
Cover with plastic wrap • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon double boiler, if you prefer.
and chill in the refrigerator • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg • Stir the vanilla and stevia into the melted cacao butter.
for 4 hours or overnight. • 1 pinch black pepper • Add the cacao butter mixture to the cocoa powder mixture and stir until
• Stir the mixture before • 1 pinch fine sea salt smooth.
serving. Can be stored in • 50 grams cacao butter (about 1/4 cup when • Divide between two lightly greased mini loaf pans or a lightly greased
an airtight container chocolate mold (here is the mold I used for these chocolates, and I also
melted) have this heart mold).
refrigerated for up to 1
week. • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract • Allow it to set at room temperature until firm.
• 25 drops liquid stevia, or monk fruit (to taste) • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

https://acleanbake.com/sugar-free-mexican-spiced-dark-chocolate/
https://thesuburbansoapbox.com/banana-peanut-butter-chia-seed-pudding/

NDTV FOOD is India’s DOWNSHIFTOLOGY –

The blog is organized
exemplary landing
place for recipes and Melon And Kiwi by Lisa, an authentic MEDITERRANEAN
food news. Browse food connoisseur,
through 6000+ bon Fruit Smoothie meal preparation CHICK PEA SALAD
vivant recipes from adherent and a
elite restaurants and A power shake with fruits, honey, milk and oats. Now that’s a
lovely combination. This luscious smoothie is definitely a perfect
Youtuber.
chefs, and one to prepare along with a quick and healthy breakfast or pack DOWNSHIFTOLOGY Ingredients • Herbs: Sprinkling in a bit of
chopped parsley for a pop
with you to refresh your body during the day. Stay hydrated for of freshness.
comprehend the con- long with this drink!
is a salubrious food • Chickpeas: We’re keeping • Dressing: To maintain
temporary news from and lifestyle website this simple by using this salad’s light profile,
canned chickpeas. But you I’m using my homemade
the sphere of cuisine, with hundreds of pure, can soak dried chickpeas lemon vinaigrette for just
nutriment and victuals. nutritive and as well. Just make sure to the right amount of zest.
You definitely must try Ingredients Procedure delectable
thoroughly rinse and drain
them before tossing into
their Melon and Kiwi recipes (consistently the salad.
• Vegetables: I find myself
Fruit Smoothie - • 1 Kiwi (cut) gluten-free). Their coming back to these few
• Grapes • Mix all the ingredients in a blender and blend well.
Mediterranean Chick ingredients – and for good Procedure
• 1 glass milk • Serve chilled. reason. Cucumbers, red
• 2 – 3 papaya slices Pea Salad is the go to bell peppers, red onions, • This is incredibly easy to
make. Just quickly slice
• ½ cup oats and cherry tomatoes are a
recipe to make on a marriage of bright flavors and dice the vegetables,
• 2 melon slices drain the chickpeas, toss
• 1 sliced plum lazy Sunday. and a refreshing crunch.
everything in a bowl, then
• Cheese: I’m using
• 1 tsp honey crumbled feta cheese to finish with a drizzle on the
give it a Mediterranean lemon vinaigrette. Done!
flair.

https://food.ndtv.com/recipe-melon-and-kiwi-fruit-smoothie-335654 https://downshiftology.com/recipes/mediterranean-chickpea-salad/

32 33

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is the most glorified icon of Indian cuisine. He is an incredible chef, carries out
an efficient TV Channel FoodFood, presented Khana Khazana cookery show on television for more
than 17 years, an author of 150+ best-selling cookbooks, restaurateur and winner of several culinary
awards. His recipe portal www.sanjeevkapoor.com is an absolute cookery vade mecum with a con-
spectus of more than 10,000 tried and tested recipes, articles, tips and trivia, videos, and a plethora
of particulars on the art and craft of cooking in both Hindi and English. There’s hardly a household in
India that hasn’t tried out Sanjeev Kapoor’s recipes. Try the Sanjeev Kapoor’s exclusive Almond Tart
for that perfect evening munch cravings -
Unearth fresh – mint and exhilarating plant-based food! Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that
invigorates people ubiquitously to endeavour vegan for January and outwith. In course of the 2021
campaign, more than 500,000 people undertook our word to attempt a vegan diet, while more than 825
new menu choices and vegan products were debuted in our chief campaign countries. Round the year,
Veganuary revitalizes and espouses people and businesses of a piece to switch to a plant-based diet
as an approach of preserving the nature, averting animal hurting, and meliorating the health of millions
of individuals. Their Pea and Mint soup will definitely life your spirits up when you are down with the
common cold.

Almond Tart PEA AND MINT

SOUP
Procedure
• Preheat the oven to 180º C.
• Put almonds in a blender jar and blend to a fine powder. Add castor sugar, fresh
cream and egg yolk and blend again.

Ingredients
• 1 cup of blanched and peeled
almonds
• 500 grams puff pastry
• ¼ cup castor sugar
• ¼ cup fresh cream
• An egg yolk
• Refined flour (for dusting)
• ¼ cup + (for dusting) icing
sugar
• An egg
• Vanilla ice cream (to serve)
• Dust some flour on the worktop, place the puff pastry on it and cut it into 2 equal
pieces. Roll 1 half into a square and set aside. Roll the other half too similarly.
Procedure
Place one pastry square over the other, place a large plate over them and cut into
roundels.
Ingredients
• Begin by heating the coconut oil in a large pan. Add the
• Line a baking tray with butter paper, dust icing sugar on it and place one puff
pastry roundel on it. Leave some space on the edges and evenly spread the diced onion, cover the pan and sweat the onion for five
almond mixture in the centre. • 2 tsp coconut oil minutes until it softens and turns golden.
• Brush milk on edges, place the second puff pastry roundel and press edges with • 1 onion, diced • Add the peas, stock, and yogurt to the cooked onion. Bring
help on fork. • 1 x 350g Coconut Collaborative the whole lot up to boiling point then turn down the heat
• Make a dent in the centre and make a pattern with sharp knife point. Natural Yogurt
and cover the pan again.
• Break egg into a bowl and lightly beat it. Brush egg over the pastry and dust • 1 L vegetable stock • Add the fresh mint and cook for a further five minutes,
some icing sugar on top. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15
• 500g fresh or frozen peas stirring frequently.
minutes. • Handful of mint, roughly chopped
• Bring the tray out and place the tart on a serving platter. Dust some more icing • Blend the remaining soup using a blender, or in a food
sugar on top. Serve with vanilla ice cream. • Pinch of salt processor until smooth.
• Season to taste.

https://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Almond-Tart---SK-Khazana.html https://veganuary.com/recipes/pea-mint-soup/

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34 35
 The second
chance in our
broken stairway
By Piyali Mitra
Looking at the sky above,
I found it overcast with dark clouds.
But, a glitter of light
Sparkled beneath those shadowy specters.
Sunny days light up disposition and chase blues away,
After a long night of gloom and stormy weather.
The rain is a welcoming relief,
After a heavy storm and dust.
They as manna as they quenches,
The thirst of parched days and lands.
In this hamster cage,
And in this bivodrop uac of life.
Our heart should not be mulled over
Alone by pain, but with chances and possibilities.
What’s the use in carrying groggy eyes?
And crying over the milk long spilt?
Let’s not distress over dark imagining,
And believe in the second chance.
42
Let’s be gentle with ourselves,
And nurture the strength of spirit to face the bad.
Let’s dare to be the phoenix that surges from the ashes,
And go placid amid the noise, among the drudgery and broken
dreams.
For the best lines are yet to be penned in the limerick,
For the best score remains to be compiled,
For the best tune is yet to captivate mind,
For the best roads leading to scenic destination is half done,
For the highest peak is yet to be scaled,
For the best house is not yet planned,
That may be the heartland beneath our feet and a sanctuary of
peace.
So, let’s pull our weight again,
And put our trust in our success,
And mend the broken stairways.
It’s better to stumble as we climb than ebb away.
So, embrace the second chance
With arms wide open, they may far outweigh the first one.
43
LIFE IS REAL! LIFE IS EARNEST!
By Manju Chellani

The entire world has been under a siege for about

a year and a half now. The Covid-19 pandemic has
deprived many of us from our lives, as we have lived
them since our birth. Tension and uncertainties
constantly besiege our waking and sleeping hours.
Under these constant onslaughts, many things are
bound to take a hard kick – whether or not the dent
is visible. Most of us manage to think positively
and act creatively more often than not. Yet there
are times when the specters of the people we have
lost; the memories of a normal, carefree life; fears
of future bringing even more compromises…all take
physical and emotional tolls. Like soldiers engaged
in combat, we may not even be aware of this. On
many days, the world around us is static and “no
news is good news”. We go about our curtailed lives
with purposeful, valiant war-cries, looking forward
to a restored future soon. On other days, the
spiraling events around us make us feel that our
existence is subjected to a total lack of control and
logic. Then we march on mechanically with the
numbness of a never-ending stress. But we do fight
on. This is because we are humans. We have normal
expectations; binding loves; and a rational horror
of radical losses. As the juggernaut of the pandemic
moves on unabatedly, we feel human-ness being
squeezed out of us. Till this pandemic ends, what
would help us to feel more rested and less burdened?

48 49

At this juncture, one cannot help being
reminded of another war, with its numerous
strikes for survival, normalcy and restoration of
balance: the World War II. Most countries across
the world were directly or indirectly involved in it.
Even though the entire nature of that war and this
“war” is different, the alternating experiences of
futility and purpose have a reverberating pattern.
Though it ended in 1945, the records of the
devastation and suffering it had caused live on.
One of such records is the seminal book by Dr.
Viktor Frankl: Man’s Search for Meaning. Dr. Frankl
was an eminent Austrian neurologist and
psychiatrist who founded a new school of
psychotherapy known as logotherapy, before the
war. Its central tenet is that meaning and purpose
in life are the central forces of human motivation.
Once they are aroused, humans are able to deal
effectively with any problem. Before the war, Dr.
Frankl had addressed sensitive and severe cases
of depression effectively. However, when Austria
was taken over by Germany during the war, Frankl
along with numerous others of Jewish faith, was
sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps
as per the notorious racist policies of Adolf Hitler.
Inmates being forced to work as slave labour; their
near-starvation diet; excruciating living
50
conditions; and
extermination at the
flimsiest of reasons
– are all disturbingly
well-known to those
familiar with
Holocaust
documentation.
Families were
separated and the
prisoners had recourse
only of fellow inmates
and their own inner
selves. Indeed the inmates were not known by
names but only by the numbers assigned to them
by the camp authorities. It is generally said that
after their liberation, Frankl took only nine days to
write Man’s Search for Meaning. In this, he
described various aspects of their lives in the
camps; the thought-processes they went through
collectively; what kept them going on despite the
extreme despair inside and outside the heart. He
also discusses logotherapy generally and how he
somehow tried to use his theories for himself and
other inmates to stop hope from extinguishing by
attributing meaning and purpose to all their lives.
The past is a repository of all the rich experiences
of life which cannot be taken away no matter what
happens in the present or the future. One way of
adding a purpose to the present life would be to
focus on the goal of returning to their normal lives
after the end of war. The “meaning” of life could
take on almost a spiritual dimension if one could
believe that a dead loved one, or God, is looking
down from heaven and should not be
disappointed by our losing faith in life. It is
generally regarded as one of the most meaningful
and influential books ever.
Like so many others, I also felt deeply uplifted
after reading this book. I could see – and feel –
that even in the worst of conditions and
desperation, we humans have a freedom of choice
about what to believe in; what purpose we set for
our lives; what attitude we develop despite a
demolishing series of circumstances. In the pres-
ent context, we all have to work towards making
the best of our lives to be lived in the
post-pandemic era. Of course, this freedom of
choice and this sense of purpose gets
progressively more difficult to achieve if the
situations around us rise to an impossible
crescendo. For many months now, and especially
in the past few months of the pandemic, events
have risen to the proportion of leaving indelible
burn-marks on the lives and psyches of many of
us. What do we do in such a case? It has to be an
individual endeavour to rise from the ashes of this
fire. But the perspective has to be collective…
looking outside and not just inside ourselves.
51
 Our love for the living, the dead,
and life itself has to be foundation

Learning the
of our lives. As Frankl thought about
his wife without knowing if she was
alive or dead: “Set me like a seal
upon thy heart, love is as strong as
death”.

I will finish with lines from A Psalm

fitness goals from
for Life written by Henry Wad-
sworth Longfellow. He was another
husband fighting a personal war
with meaninglessness after the death of his first wife. A
Model Aashi Bagga
Interviewed by Ghazala Anjum
heart-to-heart conversation with a close friend inspired
him to take on any fate which life presented to him and
Aashi Bagga is an
he could say:
Indian model and a fashion
designer. She participated
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow and won the Miss UP 2017
Is our destined end or way contest. Since then, there
But to act, that each to-morrow has been no dearth of
Find us farther than to-day. feathers in her het. Some
among them being- the Miss
Attractive title in the Miss
Kanpur competition and
being the semi-finalist in
Miss India 2018. She has
been a guest of honor at
many events. She has also
been appointed as a judge
for various talent and
fashion competitions. She is
currently pursuing
graduation from
International Institute of
Fashion Designing,
Kanpur and
simultaneously pursuing a
career in modeling.

52 58

Tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi, I am Aashi Bagga. I was born on 14 Sept-1998, Gonda,
Uttar Pradesh. First of all, I would like to thank LitGleam
Magazine for giving me this huge honour. Well, fashion
is my heart and soul and I love exploring new trends
and concepts. I had Started my career as Miss UP 2017,
when I was just 18. To be honest, I never gave so much
thought about myself, but to answer your question, I
will just say I am a simple middle-class girl, with not so
simple dreams and those dreams are intact in my soul.
I belong to a normal middle-class family from Kanpur,
UP. I am highly passionate for fashion, modelling and
acting- these are the only three things which define me
or my life.
Past 2 years were an example that proved life is
unpredictable. How cautious of health are you about
yourself and your family?
Well definitely the past 2 years have been like the worst
time period that entire human civilisation has gone
59
my profession is
not just my work,
it is my passion,
it is my lifeline.
through. It has not only raised a concern for
our physical health but also has put a great
I live to
impact on our mental health too. Thus, I
realised both physical and mental health are
important to take care of. Thus, for physical
fitness, I eat good, I eat appropriately – No
less, no more. Also, I do lots of exercise daily
without a single gap. Running, Yoga,
Meditation, etc. are not only daily routine for
me but also for my family. For mental health, I
do what
keep myself engaged in my work. You see my
profession is not just my work, it is my
passion, it is my lifeline. I live to do what I
love to do. So, I follow my passion to keep my
I love to
mental health good and vibrant. It gives me
positive energy and keeps me motivated and
going. In fact, If I stop working, even for a day,
it feels like I am missing something very major
do.
and that gives me quite a depressing state of
mind.
What inspired you to choose modelling as
your career path?
I cannot say what did exactly inspired me to
follow the path of fashion industry and
modelling. There is no one name, or event
associated with it. I think it’s in me since my
childhood. But yes, the major turn came in my
life when I decided to participate in Miss UP,
2017 and from that day, it has been no turning
back. It was not so easy decision for me as it
was the first time for me. The dream which I
always had in me; it was the time to bring into
reality. But there were numerous questions
like will I really be able to do it? Am I even
made for it? Numerous doubts and questions
were just messing up my mind. But then,
someday I had to face this fear, so I went into
it. And I won, I won the contest at the mere
age of 18. And now I was a part of industry of
whom I have always dreamed of. This has been
my journey so far in the field of modelling.
60
 me is much more than just wearing attractive
clothes, it is something which defines me,
creates an aura around me and makes me feel
more confident about myself. It gives me
power to put my presence in any work I do
and any place I visit or any people I meet. For
me, it’s my identity of me.

How is reel life Aashi Bagga different from

real life Aashi Bagga?

On Reel, Aashi is a Bold, Glamourous girl who

just loves to show her art on the camera. In
real life, I am a very simple and a normal girl. I
don’t go for any high brand parties or do late
night partying and roaming. I am very simple,
and I love to keep my personal life simple and
sorted. For the world I am a model, Fashion
Icon, Actress but for my family and friends, I
am their daughter, sister, etc. So yes, there is
a huge boundary between my reel life and real
life.

When it comes to health and fitness, whose

advice do you rely upon and why?

Well, I definitely listen to my fitness trainer as

What is the secret to your fitness? he is my Guru for achieving my health goal. I
trust all his advice and his guidance has really
The secret to my fitness is- in the morning I helped me a lot to start my fitness journey.
shed on the running ground, on a Yoga mat
and inside the Gym. Other than this, my work
Also, no one in this world cares more for you
than your parents so yes, it is my parents’ R Your role model If not a model, then what
inspires me to remain fit. Fashion
industry is highly competitive and
advice also that I rely upon the most
to keep myself fit and healthy. Late Sushant Singh Rajput
would Aashi Bagga be
doing now? F
for this one does not need to be
just good, they need to be the
Fashion industry
is highly competitive and What is your advice for A
best, and thus every day, I
push myself more towards
for this one does not need budding models – to find
Your go to word Fashion Designer,
definitely. I
the better-ness. I hope I reach
the benchmark one day.
to be just good, they
to be the best.
need their pathway?
P Be Bold To Be Gold

What is your definition of fashion?

Everything in this world is
achievable, just be motivated and Most loved fitness
One secret health recipe
of yours. R
consistent, and then you will see the dream
come true right in front of your eyes. So, be I activity
The more the green, the
Fashion for me is a statement which has no
sound to hear and no words to read. It is just
motivated, be consistent and never give up
upon your dreams. Running, The one and only more you shine.
E
an impression to feel and understand what I
am and what my journey has been. Fashion for D
61 62
MONSTERS INSIDE MY
BOOK FEATURES
Author's Name: Debashis Author’s Name: Arindam Sen
Bhattacharya Title’s Name: Money for Nothing
Title's Name: Tumi ki  MRP: Rs. 250

HEAD By Aishwarya A
Manush
 MRP: Rs. 300

The mad mob chased to kill

The sun blazed with light above the sea
of sands,
Sands that extended till the horizon until
it ended,
Somewhere far away, I raced the sun to
the end,
I was lost, inside my mind, under the
scorching heat,
My head spiralled of all the things I
could not be
Anxiety ripping me apart, from inside
clawing at me
Like a hungry monster, searching for
survival.
I survived at this not to end at dying
inside my head,
I was many things at a time, but I was
not the girl,
Who I was before, who prayed once
long ago
For everything I had now, not knowing
what she prayed for,
She was lost when I found myself,
But there will always be a part of the girl
Sudhir and Jayanti for their
unrequited love marriage. They
committed suicide leaving their
baby (Dev). Dev grew up under
the guardianship of a +Yogi. Yogi
handed over Dev to Vijay Seth in
a condition that Dev would return
when he called. Sulochana, the witty
daughter of Vijay Seth, made an
affair with Dev. Enduring the
torture and humiliation of
Bishodhar Dev remained soundless.
When Sulochana’s wedding day
with Bisodhar was finalized bewildered Sulochana left the house. Did she
commit suicide or get her love back? Did Dev come back to Yogi? Why
Yogi bound Vijay Seth in a decisive condition! Love is the sweet string for
the unity of mankind elaborated magnificently in the story.
Santanu Bose was a fire fighter in
Fire brigade in kolkata. Santanu
was deployed in a fire which was
broken out in Park street. In order
to rescue people trapped in the
eighth storied building Santanu’s
legs caught fire and when he was
taken to hospital doctor had to
eliminate his limbs since it was
severely burned. From there on
Santanu’s life started in a
wheelchair. Santanu can’t earn
for household anymore. The
compensation he got from the
department had been totally spent
on his son’s upbringing and educa-
tion. Though Santanu’s wife Sampa is a teacher. Santanu had to depend on
her wife for money. Santanu was depressed from his life since he couldn’t
contribute to household expenses. His son Piku has shown him way out
and told him the story of Oscar Pistorius how Oscar with the help of
prosthetic legs ran and came first in an athletic race. Santanu from there on
started dreaming of having those prosthetic legs which will enable him to
walk and run and which will again turn him an earning person because with
those legs he will again get a job. The struggle Santanu faced to get those
prosthetic legs has been depicted in this book. Prosthetic legs are very
expensive. How Santanu coped up the situation and arranged the money
has been written in this book.
Author’s Name: Mayank Sinha
Title’s Name: I am Shade
MRP: Rs. 147
About book: Jayden smith had been leading a very
simple life, until one fateful night that changed
everything. Will he be able to fix things? And find
his purpose? Or is it too late for him? Join him in his
journey and find out.

that I was, About Author: Mayank is a writer, engineer and the

Little vulnerable, bleeding of wounds author of the novel, “Some Glimpses From My Life.”
Mayank is a movie buff and a big fan of science fiction
that never healed, and animes. A software engineer by profession, Mayank
But she would always be lost, in the likes to keep his novels simple and straightforward, just
like his software codes. He is always ready to eat.
cruel world
Under the monsters that lived off me,
And I will give her a second chance, Availaible on:

A chance at surviving.

63 52
 FIVE 5’s Treat the inner
binge-watcher
TO ADD and reader inside
TO YOUR you with these
Wellness
BINGE themed special
LIST NOW! recommendations
from LitGleam.
78 79
BOOKS
Atomic Habits is the most encyclopaedic,
comprehensive and pragmatic guide on how
to sow the seeds for good habits, disintegrate
bad ones, and get 1 percent exemplar every
day. En route, readers will be energized and
delighted with true stories about life-saving
physicians, award – winning artists, business
leaders, Olympic gold medalists and star
comedians who have made use of the science
of small habits to pick up their craft and
spring to the top of their field. Atomic Habits
will reformulate the nature you think about
development and accomplishment and lend
you the tools and blueprints you necessitate to
reorganise your habits.
In this beautiful book, spotlighting more
than 100 colour photographs from forests
around the sphere, encompassing the forest
therapy imprints that criss-cross Japan – Dr.
Qing Li, the world’s notable proficient in
forest medicine, unveils how forest bathing
can shrinks your blood pressure, stress levels,
strengthen your immune and cardiovascular
systems, amplifies your energy, creativity,
mood, and concentration, and even help
you lose weight and live longer. Once you’ve
noticed the soothing power of trees, you can
lose yourself in the blessing of your
ambience, clear out your everyday stress
behind, and get through a place of
substantial serene and wellness.
The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook depicts you
how simple it is to relish fresh and flavourful
meals on even the most frantic days.
The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook spotlights:
> 3 amenable 2-week meal plans for ready-to-go
healthy meals without the hassle of preparation.
> More than 100 classic, health-giving recipes for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, absolute with
nutritive breakdowns and portion control to
balance calories.
> Pragmatic weekly shopping lists with easy to
find ingredients to arrange your pantry for the
week.
> Timely sketched guidelines on how to freeze,
defrost, and reheat your meals to keep food fresh,
safe, and tasty.

In this radical book, Dr. David This book, without terrifying pain or dictums,
Sinclair, cardinal world authority on longevity logistics, confers you breathing space from
and genetics, discloses a bold fresh-mint alcohol. By communicating origins preferably
proposition for why we age. As he writes: “Aging than symptoms, it is a perpetual solution rather
is a disease, and that disease is treatable.” than lifetime wrangle. It eliminates the
Through an engrossing narrative, Dr. Sinclair psychological reliance letting you to deftly
elicits you into the approach of scientific drink less (or stop drinking). Annie’s humour,
discovery and unfolds the transpiring coherence and quirky potentiality to commingle
technologies and basic lifestyle changes—such indigenous research with rooted storytelling that
as cold exposure, intermittent fasting, and eating makes you perfectly relish the approach.
less meat, exercising with the right intensity –
that have been communicated to help us live
younger and healthier for longer.

80 81
Influencers
Deepika Chopra, Visual Imagery and Media Expert, OPTIMISM
DOCTOR, and developer of Things Are Looking Up, specializes in
what she has formulated, “evidence based manifestation”. Her work Kayla Itsines, co-founder of Sweat and co-creator of High Impact
has been spotlighted in VOGUE, Harpers Bazaar, GOOP, Forbes, with Kayla (formerly Bikini Body Guides, or BBG). She has been a
NBC, etc… and she has collaborated with companies such as personal instructor since 2008. Thereupon, she has guided and
IHeartMedia, FISHER PRICE, BeautyCounter and many more. edified millions of women to refine their fitness and health. Her
Dr. Chopra focuses in reconciling comprehensive exercises and notably designed 28-minute workouts can help you to amplify your
evidence based science pragmatically to enlighten self-mastery strength and fitness, whether you are a novice or are equipped for a
modus operandi to assist and guide couples, corporations (Fortune new challenge. Become athletic, potent and more optimistic at home
500 to small businesses) and clients enrich their innate perception of with High Intensity with Kayla (formerly BBG) or in the gym with
lasting contentment, spring, buoyancy and jouissance. High Intensity Strength with Kayla (formerly BBG Stronger).
Since embellishing as a new mom, Dr. Chopra has a exceptional Connect with millions of women round the sphere exercising with
interest in proliferating Optimism and Empathy in children and Kayla to indulge in a positive and equanimous life!
working on entitling women and parents, she consecrates a chunk of
Melissa Wood Tepperberg is a wife, digital entrepreneur, master mind of Melissa her practice to mindful parenting and motherhood coaching.
Wood Health, developer of The MWH Method, meditator and ratified in yoga and
Pilates and blooming on a plant-based nutriment.
It was along the approach of fabricating her natural course of action: The MWH
Method, which is a concatenation of detailed low impact
movements that she energized seeing aesthetic long, lean lines throughout her
entire body.
She credits that the beauty of her approach is that it’s not just about
constituting a body you wish for…it’s about invigorating a thriving,
balanced relationship with yourself.

Nidhi is director of NidSun Wellness, a chain of weight loss clinics with its branches
in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Haryana.
She’s a Food Scientist, with a Food and Chemical engineering degree and an
in-depth specialization in Nutrition and sports meticulous nutrition. An adept with
Namrata Purohit is a ratified cadillac instructor, Pilates reformer, chair, ladder barrel. She adds, “It is a
an inclusive work experience of 14 years and picking up Fat loss and body shaping
rapture to actuate people towards pushing and meeting their fitness intents”. Her proclivity to keep
needs since 2007.
her skills razor-sharp made her function towards being the only ‘The Pole Studio’ Certified Pole Fitness
Nidhi is a ratified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Trainer. She’s also a certified Strength
Instructor in India, the only Certified ‘Boogie Bounce’ Master Instructor in India, a licensed EMS instructor
Fitness trainer with a specialization in Resistance and Rehab instructing. She has
and a certified Barre Instructor. Her quest for plunging the thresholds was further aggrandized by her muscly
been working out last 17 years and has retained weight training, yoga, functional,
training and backdrop. Being a sports connoisseur, she has played squash at national and international level,
Pilates and myriad dance styles.
and football at state level in India, in addition to myriad show jumping and equestrian competitions.

82 83
MOVIES
The Kadam family, after departing from
India, due to a catastrophic tragedy
ultimately gravitate in a small town in
southern France. They set up a conventional
family run Indian restaurant just like they
had always outlined but opposite a
competitive French restaurant. This
rudimentary dissension designs
unanticipated twists for the better and for
the worse in the lives of both the Kadam
family and Madame Mallory (Dame Helen
Mirren), the owner of the Michelin star
restaurant a hundred feet away.
Quadrating with her fiftieth birthday, Columbia
University based Alice Howland, one of the
note-worthy academics in the sphere of linguistics,
unusually initiates to have the sporadic lapse in
memory. With her fellow Columbia University
academic husband John Howland eventually by her
side, she does comes in for the diagnosis that she is
suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, a rare form
genetically transmitted, which will have apparent
ramifications for their three offspring, in particular,
now for eldest daughter Anna Howland-Jones, she
and her husband Charlie Howland-Jones who are
trying to have a child. As Alice herself initiates to see
and realize how the disease is impacting her
day-to-day life, she, without promulgating her plans,
grips steps early in the diagnosis to make sure that she
deals with the effects of the disease on her own terms.
84
After a stretch in a mental institution, Will Smith is a special agent
former teacher Pat Solitano moves back encountered with a quandary when he
in with his parents and endeavours to discovers that there is a younger
harmonize with his ex-wife. Things get interpretation accompanying himself.
more strenuous when Pat meets Tiffany, Smith’s character perceives out that
an enigmatic girl with problems of her the government cloned him, and the
own. struggle to persevere begins. Whilst this
is an action movie, it puts forward the
ethical questions of cloning and genetic
engineering, principally since Smith’s
clone was fabricated not to feel emotion
or pain.
A human drama influenced by
circumstances in the life of John Forbes
Nash Jr., and relatively grounded on the
biography “A Beautiful Mind” by Sylvia
Nasar.
A Beautiful Mind is a puissant
narration of the life of Nobel Prize
winner and mathematician John Nash.
The movie delineates Nash’s journey
through life with schizophrenia. Nash
outlines many characteristic symptoms
of schizophrenia, incorporating fear of
persecution, delusions, hallucinations,
and lack of interpersonal relationships.
85
DOCUMENTARIES
What if most of our neoteric
diseases are in fact just
indications of the same
problem? The Magic Pill
accompanies patients, doctors,
farmers, chefs, scientists and
journalists encircling the Earth
who are tackling illness through an
archetype transposition in eating.
This basic alternate - espousing fat
as our chief sustenance - is
highlighting erudite promise in
enhancing the health of people,
animals and the sphere.
After 34-year-old Lotje
Sodderland endures a
hemorrhagic stroke and
undertakes an emergency brain
surgery, she is blessed to be
alive. Nonetheless, she lives
through aphasia, a language
impairment that acts on one’s
ability to read, write, and speak.
Just about without further ado,
Sodderland initiates
photographing herself to
document her journey — not quite
to recuperation, but to
ascertaining how to live with her
new-fangled normal. My
Beautiful, Broken Brain is a
profoundly personal look at the
physical and emotional implications of a sudden brain damage.
86
This documentary divulges through the
analytic work of a team from the
University of Montreal who endeavour to
acknowledge thecircumstances of finesse
adepted by mystics and those who meditate.
Filmmaker Isabelle Raynauld proffers up
scientific research that propounds that
enigmatic euphoria is a transfigurative
grounding and could furnish to people’s
physical and psychic health, handle
depression and accelerate the relieving and
healing approach when amalgamated with
conservative medicine.
Enlighten Up! A Skeptic’s
Journey into the World of Yoga
Hungry For Change is an intriguing therapy of one of
emphasizes the title role food the most ubiquitous and
interprets in making us tired and prodigious mystical blossomings
fat, sick, or energetic, healthy, and of our time. Among the many
fit. It unfolds the mysteries that mystics, gurus, and teachers
the food industries, weight loss, making an appearence in the
diet, and don’t want you to documentary are Pattabhi Jois
comprehend about, as well as the of the Ashtanga Yoga Research
delusive blueprints sketched to Institute, Sharo Gannon and
keep you hungering more of the David Life of Jivamukti Yoga,
most detrimental foods. B.K.S. Iyengar of Iyengar Yoga,
Beryl Bender Birch of Hard and
Soft Yoga, Alan Finger of
Yogaworks, Rodney Yee the star
yogi in Living Arts videos. Nick
also takes up time for two
individualist teachers: Dr. Madan Kataria of Laughing Yoga and
Diamond Dallas Page, an erstwhile pro wrestler turned yoga
teacher.
87
 SERIES
An meticulous look at the
lives of four doctors - two
brain surgeons, an
emergency room
physician, and a Chief
Resident OBGYN - as they
manoeuvre through the
highs and lows of working
at the acclaimed Lenox Hill
Hospital in New York City.
A medical based drama centered around Meredith Grey, an
ambitious surgeon and daughter of one of the notable surgeons, Dr. Ellis Grey.
Throughout the series, Meredith goes through personal and
professional challenges along with fellow surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital.
88
St. Elsewhere is an
American medical drama
television series created
by Joshua Brand and
John Falsey, originally ran
on NBC from October
26, 1982, to May 25,
1988. The series stars Ed
Flanders, Norman Lloyd
and William Daniels as
teaching doctors at an
aging, rundown Boston
hospital who give interns
an encouraging future in
making critical medical
and life decisions.
89
House (also called House, M.D.) is an
American medical drama
television series that originally ran
on the Fox network for eight seasons,
from November 16, 2004 to May 21,
2012. The series’s main character is
Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), an
uncustomary, reclusive medical genius
who, in spite of his dependence on pain
medication, guides a team of
diagnosticians at the fictional
Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching
Hospital (PPTH) in New Jersey.
The series spotlights Shaun
Murphy, a young autistic surgeon with
savant syndrome from the mid-size city
of Casper, Wyoming, where he had a
tough past. He shifts to San Jose,
California, to work at the esteemed San
Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
 This book will take you on a journey to unlearn everything that coerces you
to live up to others expectations and learn how to put yourself in your own

BlueRose shoes and walk the road to successfulness with your head held high and your
mind focused on your happiness.

About the Author: Devesh Singh is the author behind the novel “You Are

Publishers hosts THEE PRIORITY”. He is professionally working as an IT Project Manager

with FirstRand Bank at present, an engineer by profession, a motivational
speaker and has experienced his inner conscience at its peak. When you
want something, the Universe conspires to help you in achieving it, he seeks

virtual WordsBrew
to ignite this phrase into you to be the best being of you. According to the
author, the beginning and end of this book make one key point: “you need to
Ram Ratan see yourself as PRIORITY, in order to see the world in its actual form.
Everything in- between fuels this message, while giving you many other
insights along the way”.

Book Awards, 2021 2. Poetry (Hindi)- Readymade

Kavitaayen by Ram Ratan

About the Book: This book revolves

around social evils of society like
First introduced in 2018, the WordsBrew Book Awards is awarded “to the poverty, dowry, corruption and social
finest self-published books.” The award seeks to honor the literary figures in disparity.
the field of literature irrespective of their genre, language, and geography.
About the Author: Author Ram
The WordsBrew Book Awards 2021 is intended to recognize literary
figures who have been consistent to bring a positive change in society. Ratan was born in Mainpurpi, Uttar
The vision of WordsBrew is to converge the different real-life narratives Pradesh. He did his M.A in HINDI
of famous and budding writers under one sky. This space will endow the from Agra University to make a career
readers and writers with a pedestal to articulate and explore the different in poetry. His work is humorous,
satiric, highly individual and witty. His
hues of an author’s journey.
famous works include Vandhyaputra
The 2021 edition WordsBrew Book Awards was one of a kind wherein the & Kapurush.
entire process took place virtually. The winners were announced at the
virtual event on 26th June, 3. Poetry (English) - VOICE OF
THE VERSE by Celinaa
2021. Here are the winners in
each category. Srivastav & Kuhuo Bajaj

1. Popular Choice- You About the Book: With the Foreword

Are Thee Priority by
Devesh Singh
About the Book: This book
is a wonderful way to measure
how virtuous the life you
live actually is and at the
very same moment a great
reminder that it’s never too
late to struggle to get there. A journey that reciprocates with your desire to
break away from the fetters of stereotypes which condition us to base our
successfulness through the eyes of the society and how others accept or
perceive us.
90
written by Shri Amitabh Bachchan,
well appreciated by Shri Ravish
Kumar, Senior Executive Editor of
NDTV, and many other eminent
personalities; “Voice of the Verse” is a
collection of well-crafted ENGLISH
and HINDI poems that revolve
around social and emotional matters
of our world. These allegorical verses
Kuhuo Bajaj have the underlying aim of making an
impact on the readers’ minds. The
world is ablaze. There have been so many drastic changes that the humanity
seems to have lost its former charm. But even during this gloomy darkness, there
are countless little rays of hope, which although are a bit hazy, yet are enough
to illuminate our path. These poems emphasize on such issues of our world in a Celinaa Srivastav
euphemistic and subtle manner.
91
 About the Authors: Celinaa
About the Author: After an academic and professional career, Richa Gupta
Srivastav is a precocious,
has devoted herself to creative writing since 2017 and published her previous
empathetic 17-year-old girl, who
novel ‘Skeins’ in 2018. She has been a senior teacher of English in reputed
is a passionate writer. She has
schools for 19 years and an Instructional Designer for training and e-learning
bagged several awards for her
in the corporate sector for nine years.
writing skills, including winner
position at the Young Authors’
6. Non Fiction (Hindi)- Baanke
Award, 2017 at Ahmedabad, and
Bihari ki Prerna by Girja
an award for her story at the
Shankar Upadhyay
Bhopal Literature and Art
Festival, 2020. Kuhuo Bajaj is a
About the Book: Author Girja
16-year-old eclectic budding
Shankar experienced the power of
writer, painter and illustrator
God many times after living a religious
having equal grip on both HINDI
life with truth. The book is inspired by
and ENGLISH languages. Her
one particular incident that took place
works have been published in
in at the Banke Bihari temple in
national dailies and magazines
Vrindavan. The author say an 8-year-old boy vanish after showering flowers
and acknowledged by many
on him. This was followed by a dream which propelled the author to write the
eminent personalities. She is the
book.
winner of numerous essay and
Sudha Sikrawar debate competitions.
About the Author: Being brought up in a religious atmosphere since the
childhood, author Girja Shankar Upadhyay has had devotion to God, strength
and spiritual inclination ingrained in her. After graduation in Science and Law,
Kuhuo has self-illustrated her poems, expressing the thoughts not only through words but also through art.
the author has worked in the service
of the government.
4. Fiction (Hindi)- Chaand Saawla hai by Sudha Sikrawar
7. Non Fiction (English)- SHOTOKAN KARATE by Pradeep Kumar
About the Book: The book draws inspiration from author’s experience in family moments, incidents and events happen-
Yadav
ing in society. This forms the content of the stories in “Chand Sanwla hai”.
About the Book: The remarkable part of this Karate book is that it is fully
About the Author: Sudha Sikrawar was always of story reading and listening from her childhood days. At the age of 8, she
color adorned with high-resolution photographs and its coffee-table size
read her first novel “NIRMLA”, written by Munshi Premchand which has imbibed deep in to her heart. She wrote her first
makes it a memorable and unique
article titled- “A Woman with Dowry”.
book in the world. This book is
composed for everyone who is
5. Fiction (English)- Slices of
inspired by the Shotokan Karate
Life by Richa Gupta
and needs to look behind credible
Shotokan Karate more
About the Book: Slices of Life’ is a col-
profoundly. For those keen on
lection of short stories or vignettes that
extending their insight and
provide an immersive and entertaining
improving their capacities with
experience of diverse scenarios of life Pradeep Kumar Yadav
the applications depicted and
in motion. They are slivers of existence
delineated in this book, the
with the ingredients of plot and
author recommends perusing this book completely to get each stance
characters, sprinkled with human
exhibited by him along with its full description about that particular stance
emotion, pervaded by the aroma of
so that it may be learned very well by the Karatekastraightforwardly.
human dilemmas and served in the
platter of lucid language.
About the Author: The author has the honor of receiving the Black Belt
3rd DAN (Shotokan style) in the year 2019, from the Hon’ble Antonio
They describe the consequences of our
Espinos Ortueta who is the president of the renowned World Karate
choices and characters who are at the
Federation and the European Karate Federation. The author is a government official of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the
threshold of a discovery or have reached the zenith of tolerance. The universal themes and enduring images of common-
Upper House, Parliament of India.
place individuals in the swirl of life are embedded in a mixed bag of genres ranging from bathos and futuristic Sci-Fi to
grim Realistic fiction and a suspenseful Whodunit.

92 93
 All of us are children of parents. We are reassured daily of
their nurturance if they are with us on this earth. If they have
passed away, we are somehow sure that our well-being is of

T HE LIGHT S OF paramount importance to them in the other realm too. But

we humans are fortunate that we all have another mother:
the Mother Earth. She sustains physical lives, soothes
emotional selves, stimulates mental faculties and gently
guides spiritual dimensions. For us; for our forebears of

YORE W ILL GUIDE thousands of years back; for our heirs thousands of years
from now. And she can do it forever and ever since she
does not have to die. But she can get severely impaled and
then her strength slowly drains away from her. Much as she
would like to, Mother Earth would not be able to sustain us

YOU HOME then. But how does she get so helpless and wounded? This
happens because like most children, we often take her for
granted. We love and respect her; but forget that we have to
protect her too.

But it was not always like this. When human communities

and civilizations had started, the Mother Earth was revered
and the dynamics of the symbiotic relationship between all
nature were understood well. It was recognized that con-
By Manju Chellani tinued survival and wellbeing of all was dependent on each
taking care of the other as a family member. As centuries
passed, thought-processes and practices changed, as is the
wont of time. However, in the past few centuries, the entire
humanity has witnessed unprecedented changes in terms of
industrialization, consumerism, technological development
When, in the past few decades, it has been getting noticed,
and globalization. While many of these developments have
the bewilderment is perceptible in the ineffective ways we
resulted in a better and more egalitarian life for more people,
have been dealing with environmental disasters such as
they have also buttressed the viewpoint that humans are
climate change, droughts, landslides, depletion of
superior amongst all creations of nature. All other beings,
biodiversity, food insecurity and many others. This
including the earth itself are “resources” which can be
bewilderment was a result of the application of mind rather
harnessed for whatever any human may fancy. And these
than the heart; of seeing earth as “matter” and not “mother”.
“resources” were so plentiful and yielding that the resulting
So what do we do? Do we go on developing increasingly
plunder went unnoticed for a long time.
complicated strategies to address these catastrophes? Or do we
pause and look back to a simpler time and faith in the human
history? When we felt that the only way
to live was to co-exist with everyone else
in the lap of the Mother Earth. When our
elders, fables, religion, songs and dances
gently nudged us to open our eyes to the
web of inter-dependence of all beings who
make the ecosystems of our planet. And it
worked! It worked because this
world-view was in consonance with
cosmic truth. And its basic tenets were
common to different peoples across
regions separated by lack of means of
communication. Let’s explore some of
these.

The earth was considered to be the

mother. And if she is your mother, you
love her and cannot think of taking
anything away from her without giving
her back at least as much.

8 9
When she provides you with food, clothes and shelter, you
enjoy it. And then replenish it at least in the same measure so
your children and their children can enjoy the same bounty
from the Mother. Hence the focus is on responsibilities and
not on rights because earth is mother and not property.
Robin Wall Kimmerer describes sublimely the ethics of
the native American Indians in her seminal book: Braiding
Sweetgrass. No one can “own” the land. It is held in common
for everyone. Each one is to take only what is given and use
it well. One should be grateful for the gift and reciprocate it
by taking care, ensuring replenishment and giving respect.
Similarly, many religions including Hinduism, talk about
the interweaving of all the elements of nature. The karmic
connections join us to each other at all times. To ensure
the homage to all life-forms, the divine connections have
been highlighted in religious epics, fables and mythology.
This ensured that the humans retained the reverence for the
minutest manifestation of nature. It is no wonder then that
bio-diversity of each ecosystem thrived till a few centuries
ago. And this was the reason of the existence of the variety
of all life-forms. A sense of gratitude is another inalienable
truth. As Masami Saionji, the Japanese author, spiritual
leader and lecturer (also a member of the World Wisdom
Council) says in her The Earth Healer’s Handbook, the ailing
earth needs gratitude from all of us for the infinite bounties it
has given to us. If we change even our thoughts, our
unthinking way of life will change naturally. We will feel at
one with everyone else on the earth.
10
Let us all try to adopt the above principles and follow
Sumak Kawsay (good living) in our own ways. It is a part of
the indigenous rights movement in the continent of South
America. Put simply, it means living in accordance with the
nature, inspiring regeneration and re-growth. This movement
NATURE
was also linked to the amendment of the Constitution of
Ecuador in 2008 to recognize the rights of nature. It looks
forward to the restoration of the evolutionary processes of
the earth which are imperative in themselves without taking
humans into account. And then, perhaps, all of us children –
roaming in the mires of global warming, food insecurity, new
and mysterious illnesses – will return home. To the arms of
our mother-goddess: the Earth.
By Sanju Vikasini M B
The long trunk stands upright with it’s swaying leaves
Protecting us from the scorching sunlight
The sun and moon are the closest neighbours
The duo enlightens with the bright light and chill air they give
us
The chirping and chattering of birds
Transform into a melodious tune to be heard
The porous soil anchors the soft and tender plants
Which gives humans a chance to preserve their lifelines
Let’s bow to nature and seek its blessings
And take a vow to safeguard the gifts of nature given to the
earthlings
11
An Accidental THE EGO IS

Author, the Sexy

OUR FRIEND
IF WE DECIDE

Brilliant Dev ina Kaur

TO TREAT IT
AS ONE AS IT
IS ONE.

Devina Kaur is a self-made

woman who has dedicated her life
to dispelling toxic shame and
raising human consciousness
through her non-profit
foundation Sexy Brilliant. She is
the winner of the Top 25
Canadian Immigrant Award
as well as the REX Karamveer
Chakra.

Devina has become a media

personality after having made
thousands of guest appearances
on mainstream and social media
around the world. Not only is she
the founder of the Sexy Brilliant
Non-Profit Organization, she is
also the author of a spiritual
self-help workbook, “Too Fat,
Too Loud, Too Ambitious.”

12
 1. When did you The words we use are very powerful, sometimes I’m angry 7. What are some of the writing tips you personally
realise that you wanted with myself. Of course we have all these emotions, in fact follow?
to become an author? we need them because these uncomfortable emotions give
us the fire to perform. And sometimes our ego is hurt And I have to mention that it is very challenging for ADD people.
“I did not ever think that I would speaking of ego, it is not the enemy. The ego is our friend And I know there’s a lot of ADD people out there. So I would
write a book. I studied to be a banker if we decide to treat it as one. When it’s about me writing say that the idea of writing a book, a story, a novel, a column
and I had worked in the banking a book- though I was supposed to finish it in July- what — it doesn’t matter what you write — in my case, I tend to
industry for 15 years. I went through so if I’m gonna finish it in the first week of august? We’re all repeat things. That’s okay too. So you just write, you just
many things- I went through a divorce and going to have rules. Life happens, COVID happens. And pour it out. And then you keep writing and then you have to
at that point of time I became suicidal because when many things happen, our priorities change as well. make sure that you have the right people helping you. So
of the lack of satisfaction with my job. And then, And that’s okay. It’s all about being with the flow of life and as soon as you’ve written 100,000 words or 50,000 words,
there came a point in my life where I used to ask connecting with yourself and the answers could be silent the next step is to go back and edit it yourself if you’re very
myself - what’s next? So, I quit my banking job and and still. When I say that I had a vision, I have a vision and good at it, or get professional help, and yes, professional
henceforth I started looking for my purpose. I I’ve already completed my vision, and then when I go back help is very expensive. But you know this is your life’s
ended up writing a book and I have also and take steps towards it, it’s only about being resilient to purpose. Just because fear is holding you back from your
co-authored a second book as well. So we never everything that happens in life. success doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue it. I’ve had days
know, from where we would start, what we will be when I had no money, I wouldn’t know how I would pay
and what we would study. We get so much family 5. You are a writer, and it’s said that all great writers my team. But then out of nowhere I would get a check for
pressure to fit in and we have no one to blame; are first of all great readers. Are you a frequent reader? $3,000 in my mail. It Figures that 10 years ago, there was
that’s how we grow. And to answer your question, Who are your favourite authors? What are your favourite an insurance claim made and the money just came in the
I never thought that I would write a book.” books? check. And this has happened to me so many times, where
money is just literally about an abundance of data. The
2. Tell us about your journey of writing ‘Too fat, I’ve always been a ferocious reader. I want to mention universe is looking out for you and the universe is looking
Too loud, Too ambitious.’ What is the driving something. As a young girl, I used to read a lot of romance out for everybody all the time. It’s all about living your
message you wanted to give the readers with books, and my parents wouldget really upset at me. They’d purpose, “which starts from knowing who you are, and you
this book? ask, ‘What are you reading?’ know that’s what it is”. And I was

“
And I would read it anyway. I so determined to write my book
So, the book is about the beauty of being a will occasionally pick up a that I quit everything else. I was
human. It’s about being authentic and being who romance book, and you learn a going to write this book and
you are. Through the book, we’ve designed a ‘K A
U R’ trademark process, which is about knowing
lot through those as well. And
then when I don’t have access
Just because fear share my gift with the world, And
that’s what we have to do, we
who you are. ‘K’ stands for self-knowledge, ‘A’
stands for self-acceptance. Because, once we
to books, I read these long, long
posts on my phone. So there’s
is holding you back just have to be so committed to
our purpose, that the universe
know who we are, only then we will know about
our weaknesses, our brightness and our brilliance.
always learning that we can do
from people around us. A lot
from your success will constantly help us by
sending us professionals, money,
We then have to practice radical self-acceptance,
not because we want to fit in but because we
of my community members
I follow inspire me. But as far
doesn’t mean you resources and ever thing we
need. So don’t wait for others to
want to have a loving relationship with all parts of
ourselves. ‘U’ stands for unlearning- The
as books go, there’s this one
book I love. My all-time favorite
shouldn’t pursue it. make it happen for you, you have
to make it happen for yourself.
programming that we’ve been brainwashed with.I is written by Tim Grover. The
‘ll give you an example: at the age of 39, I started book is about a person who 8. Writing a book is one thing,
practicing martial arts. My parents said to me, “You know, you’re so fat, you’re going to hurt yourself in Karate.” And I almost used to be a basketball coach publishing it is a whole new
agreed with them. But if I didn’t try it, I would never have known what it was. I didn’t listen to them. I went ahead and today I’m for Michael Jordan. And he experience. What can you say
about to get my black brown belt.’ Everybody speaks from their own perceived level of consciousness. And I love my parents, wrote this book about the ‘mindset’. In this book he talks about your book publishing experience? What hurdles did
they’re my dearest friends, but at the same time, what they’re saying is not necessarily right for me. So we have to unlearn about the sea, which is the cleaner law. It was worth looking you face?
those subtle messages of saying, “you’re too fat”, “you’re too loud”,“too ambitious”or “you’re too much”. There’s no such thing as into, because we’re all gifted in many ways. And again, it’s
too much, “no person can be too much of anything when they’re being authentic.” important to get out of our way to meet success. At one point, I had a literary agent who was helping me
find the final publisher. And to be honest, I did get a lot of
3. What is the biggest ever challenge that you have overcome in your life? 6. Do you have any interesting writing quirk? publishing offers. However, the journey of handing in your
manuscript, and the finished product was too long through
Talking about challenges, one of the challenges is when you don’t know what the process is like, and you just have a vision of When I am writing, I always say that this is my office desk, a traditional publishing house. So I didn’t want to wait five
making a difference, serving yourself, and then serving others as a consequence of that. And that’s exactly what happened to and this is at home. And I usually sit here to write, and, of years for my book to come out. So I said, “screw it, I’m going
me. I had a vision but I did not know the name of the book and I just started writing it. Also with my ADD, I did the best I could, course, there’s a lot of preparation: I need my bottle of to do it myself.” Even though it’s more expensive and more
under all circumstances. I knew that it was meant to help myself heal and also to help the rest of the world. So the greatest water, I need no noise, my dog has to be quiet. So there’s hassle I created my own publishing house so I could do it
challenge I face when writing, is to commit to saying that I’m going to write 3000 words every day, and having said that, I’m a lot of things that go into it. And I find that when I start through my branding. But for anybody who’s here, who’s
struggling right now as I’m writing my next book. And every day, I need that discipline of writing 10,000 words, or 3000 words. writing at around 3, 4 am in the morning, that’s when the going through the writing phase and is ready for the
And sometimes the flow isn’t there. Other times, it all goes with the flow that instead of 3000 words, you write 20,000 words, inspiration flows. So there’s a lot of debate about whether publishing phase, it is a decision you have to make
knowing how you feel, and we’ll talk more about the solution in the upcoming questions. But we all face challenges, they’re I should be writing in the middle of the night? Should I be whether you want to go traditional and wait for
always there and are lifelong. But first, we mindfully have to get out of our way and we have to recognize that all these writing in the afternoon? Should I be writing in the daytime? years, or if you want to do it yourself. And
challenges are blessings, and when we recognize them we can empower ourselves to do better. Whenever the inspiration flows and when we shut down either way, the publishing industry
the outside noise, and when we connect to ourselves. And market is overloaded with books.
4. What are the challenges you are still working on overcoming? that’s what’s most important. So I mean, I’ve woken up at But there are not enough
two o’clock at night, and I started writing, and I’ve woken up book-readers. You have to
I’m trying to be an author, and I’m not just talking about me, I’m talking about everyone in general. I’m trying to be happy and at 10am and not written anything. So you have to be very have that awareness and ask
peaceful. If we choose to replace the word ‘trying’ with ‘I am doing my best to be an author’, or even better, ‘I am already an flexible so that you are inspired from within. yourself, “What is it that I
author’. We would already be at peace. So it’s all a question of being sexy and brilliant. I am who I am. want to achieve through
my book? Is it just the
brand positioning?
14 15
Is it because I want to help myself? Is it my
main source of income?” You have to ask
those questions to yourself before you decide
on which publishing method you want. But I
would say that I didn’t want to wait. So that’s
why I went ahead and did it. But I don’t know if
I will do the same thing in the future. It’s a lot of
work. I did bring in professionals to help
me, even though I did it independently, but I
don’t regret it one bit.
9. You have been so vocal in mental health
discussions and you have been driving many
narratives on social issues. Do you ever face
any resistance from people when you talk
about your vulnerabilities or have you
encountered only positivity and support so
far?
We always face resistance no matter what
you say or do. Whether it’s in Canada, India,
Australia, or Africa, wherever we are as human
beings, we live in a society that commercializes
our emotions. You are told that you are lovable
if you are white-skinned and you’re more
desirable if you are a man and if you have long
tresses you are sexier. We’re all exposed to this
type of conditioning. And that includes mental
health as well. Even If you’re not perfect, you’re
not lovable. I’ll give you an example: I have
a therapist that I’ve been working with for at
least, I would say seven, eight years. And she’s
my best friend, and I’m very happy that I’m
doing therapy because it gives me the strength
to continue the work that I’m doing. It helps me
overcome all my challenges. And my parents
know about this. But then when my 13-year-old
daughter texted me one day saying, “Mommy,
I want to go see a counselor.” I first thought,
“She’s so young and she wants to see a
counselor, what’s wrong with her?” That was
the first thing that went through my head and it
took me a while to overcome that and I worked
through the issue. When I mentioned that I’m
learning about the ‘K. A. U. R.’ process I
understood that everything we learn we are
also constantly unlearning our subconscious
patterns. So I have to be more accepting of my
13-year-old daughter. But as soon as I under-
stood that and I was driving back, I had friends
in my car, and I, like my daughter,
started seeing a counselor. My friends looked
at me, and they said, “Isn’t your daughter too
young to see a counselor?” And I told them,
“Yeah, but I’m very proud of her for coming
forward to ask for what she needs.” So people
were shocked that a 13-year-old would want
a counselor, seek support, then go through
self-harming thoughts. It’s about accepting
yourself, everything that happens around
you and your children. Whatever we’re going
through right now, we’re going through it on a
personal level, on a global level, on a collective
level and everybody’s going through their own
thing. So it’s important to be connected to
ourselves so that we can make the right
choices for ourselves and our families.
16
10. How did your podcast ‘Brilliantly Sexy’
come to be?
Well, what I love is being in front of the camera.
It’s who I am and I love people but I’m also
private and introverted. I have this outgoing
personality as well. And I wanted to bring in
people who inspire me, and share their stories.
And inspiration comes from people
everywhere around you, your whole community.
So I started connecting with people and invited
them to join me in this venture and asked them
if they would like to come into my podcast and
my radio show and I started getting positive
responses. I wanted to share a message saying
that whatever you are going through, there are
chances that somebody else is going through
the same. And as you know, we’re committed
to removing toxic shame and raising human
consciousness. So the idea of being too fat,
too loud and too ambitious are labels that we
all are attached to. And that’s where the idea
for my podcast came from. We’re very excited
and we’re going to come back with Season
Two next September. And it’s going to be really
popular.
11. According to you, where do we stand on
embracing self-love and acceptance?
Because while the movement is gaining
traction all over the world, we are still
rampantly faced with toxic body image,
unrealistic standards etc. How long and how
far is this journey going to take?
Something that is not spoken about enough is
our connection to ourselves. So is our
connection to our intuition. Our instinct is
always there to protect us. I’ll give you an
example- we are in the forest, and we have a
feeling about being attacked by a bear, the first
thing we would do is follow our instinct which
is to run and our instinct protects us all the
time. So the first thing I would say is to connect
to your intuition, and the connection to the self
that happens through self-knowledge is to un-
derstand who you are and your goal — my goal,
our goal should be about learning new things
every day. It’s about learning new things about
yourself. And I’m sure I will say this, for
example, I’m using Tinder right now, so a part
of the reason for me being on Tinder is to learn
more about myself. And I often see this: my
hobby is binge watching Netflix. And that’s
wonderful. But having a hobby such as binge
watching is not really a hobby. We’re drowning
in the noise from outside, we’re drowning in
bars and pubs. But we’re losing connection
with ourselves. So if we want to experience
inner-growth, we’re going to shut off the
outside noise so that we are more connected
to ourselves. And when we have that intuition,
that instinct working for us, we will constantly
get powerful messages built in our minds
and our intuition is going to keep us safe. It’s
going to teach us how to say no to the wrong
choices, the toxic relationships and toxic work
environment.
And it’s going to make us stronger. So we find our sexiness
and brilliance through our connection with ourselves.
12. As someone who has lived in India as well as Canada,
what do you have to say about the difference in standards
that women are subjected to in both countries?
Gender biases and toxic femininity unfortunately exist
everywhere and somewhere or the other, women are to be
blamed for emasculating men and I believe in human rights.
Both India and Canada have their own issues. I assure you
that between me and somebody who’s black, white, brown,
Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian or whatever, there are no
differences. But the system of this establishment works
and benefits when we fight, when we have a division,
because when people come together, they’re very powerful.
However, the system forces you to stay divided because
they don’t want you to join forces and rebel against them.
So we have to come back to our level of thinking, we have
to bring back common sense and realize what’s happening.
Ask yourself, “Who benefits when I call somebody black?
Who benefits when I call somebody an African American?”
One has to start thinking about it in those terms. This
happens in India as well. I grew up with my grandparents
who are refugees from Pakistan, so they always faced
this kind of dicrimination and they had their own beliefs
about this attitude against them and they generalize it,
they express it on everyone but you have to tell them that
it isn’t an individual’s fault. This idea of oppressing certain
communities has been planted in people’s hearts for years.
And it becomes important to get to the core of this issue
and make it clear that if anything, you’ve got to come back
to your heart space where there is nothing but love. It’s okay
to choose your heart over logic. Everybody’s born equal
and so do they need to be treated equally and let each and
everyone flourish in their brilliance and sexiness.
13. What according to you are the reasons that a toxic
mindset is perpetrated in the first place? What is it that
makes people not accept others as they are?
Part of this journey is that some people might not be able to
accept you and what you do and I’ll give you an example -
When I started the sexybrilliant movement.
17
I got a lot of resistance from my
parents. They said, “first you
became a dog walker and you
quit, and now you’re doing this
thing called ‘sexy’. Are you
working in the pornographic
industry?” I said no and they
wanted more answers. They were
curious about the why the word
‘sex’ is involved with the context of
my movement. I had no idea what
I was doing. It was only a vision
and was far away from bringing
it to life. But I was so determined
to make it happen. I always got
reminded of how mad my parents
were at me. They didn’t talk to me
and they lived in India while I lived
in Canada. But I continued doing
what I was meant to do, which
was to run a non-profit foundation
called sexybrilliant. And a few
years later my parents started
getting phone calls from their
friends and their neighbors congratulating them on what
a great job their daughter is doing out there and from that
point in time they were genuinely curious about my move-
ment. Their minds changed, not because of what I had told
them, but because of what our friends, family and the world
made them realize. I didn’t do much. I just put it up on my
website on sexy brilliant.org and people started finding
it out and, “that’s what you have to do, you have to be so
strong, so connected to your Inner-self, that you only listen
to what your inner-self says and not let other thoughts and
opinions confuse you. Whether it’s about writing a book,
starting a non-profit organization, getting a new job, going
back to school for a Ph.D, for an MBA, whatever it is, know
that you have to listen to what is right for you.” And
remember that the message is about getting to know all
parts of yourself, because no part of you is your enemy.
And when we have self-knowledge, we can have radical
self-acceptance. And finally the self-acceptance leads us to
talk about ‘K.A.U.R’ But I never said what ‘R’ stands for. It
stands for ‘release’ which is exactly what we’re doing. When
you write a book that’s exactly what happens. We all have
the power to do that, we all have the power to mindfully get
out of our way, to lead an authentic and empowered life.
14. Last but not the least, what advice would you like to
give to men, women, parents and girls, all of whom at
one point have been at the receiving end of mental and
physical toxicity?
My Second book is called ‘THE COURAGEOUS MOVE’. And
it’s about immigration and immigrants and the stories of
the struggles immigrants face. It is a good read for anyone
who’s moving or wants to move abroad. And my first book
is, “Too Fat Too Loud Too Ambitious”. And you can find all
of this being sexy, brilliant and calm. I also want to thank
Aishwarya and everybody from the LitGleam magazine.
And a big thank you to all these people who are here tuning
in, listening to this, and sharing this interview because it is
your support that helps us help other people. And we are
grateful for it. Thank you so much for making this wonderful
interview happen.
 Hand-in-Hand :
Let’s discuss some of the best green tech inventions of this century.

Technology
And N a t u r e Electric Public Transport

Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastava

With over 160 different hybrid vehicle designs
available today, electric vehicles are paving the road
Those days are gone when technology was the
of sustainability. Today, in the streets of developing
antithesis of nature. Today, there are several
countries like India and China, you can see public
machines, tools, and appliances that actually aid
transport vehicles like buses and autorickshaws run
the preservation of Mother Nature. Also known as
on electricity. This not only saves the limited
environmental tech, green tech, and cleantech,
petroleum and bio-fuel reserves of the country but
nature-friendly technology can save the
is also good for the quality of air in the atmosphere.
environment by preserving energy, reducing
pollutants, minimizing the production of harmful
by-products, and more.

Plastic Recycling Plants

For decades, scientists and innovators have put
their heads together and toiled to make these
technological dreams come true. By using the lat-
est gifts of green chemistry and environmental
sciences, these pioneers have managed to create Plastics take more than four centuries to
tools that can minimize the scarring impact of decompose in landfills. Being one of the most
human activity on our planet. dangerous and resilient pollutants in the world, it is
better for everyone that its production gets limited.
While in the very early stages of development, That is why plastic recycling plants are the need of
Cleantech has had many brilliant inventions inside the hour. One of the plastic re-processing models
the scope of water purification, waste management, is pyrolysis in which heat is used in the absence of
and renewable energy. Even everyday use oxygen to convert plastics into a more base element,
electronics and vehicles have seen a green liquid feedstock.
revolution in the past decades. These inventions
are both big machines like greenhouse gas filtering
plants or small hand-held appliances like
energy-efficient electronics.

18 19
 Plant-based plastics might just be the answer. Plant-
Solar Panels based plastics are plastic products that are biode-
gradable. They are materials that are sourced from
renewable biomass like oils, vegetable fats, straw,
There is a massive electricity shortage in many wood, recycled food waste, corn starch, etc, unlike
countries. Even the production of electricity regular plastics which are derived from non-renew-
produces by-products that are harmful to the able sources like petroleum.
environment. Not to mention the high cost of
energy production that uses up funds that can
otherwise be used to preserve the environment.

Amidst this global shortage of electricity, renewable

energy continues achieving accolades. By becoming
more and more accessible, solar panels are helping
people adopt a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
Solar panels are set up on terraces/yards and they
absorb energy from the sun during the day and
convert it into electricity. The amount of electricity
generated depends on the size and quality of solar
panels but it is safe to say that today, in urban
countries, we have solar panels that independently
supply electricity to a whole household.
Plant-Based Plastics
Carbon Capture
The Carbon Dioxide Levels of the earth are rising, resulting in
global warming and poor quality of air. This is why the prospect of
capturing and isolating it from our environment sounds like such a
good idea. But is it possible?
Thanks to the tireless efforts of
environmental scientists, the
answer to that question is ‘Yes’ .
Carbon Capture Storage or CCS is
a technology that is specifically designed to prevent the release of
carbon dioxide during power generation and industrial
productions. This is done by injecting carbon dioxide in special
storage reservoirs underground.

We already know how destructive single-use plastics

can be to the environment. Everyone knows this
These inventive, revolutionary technologies are helping the environment preserve itself.
and yet, people keep consuming and mindlessly
Gradually, corporates and conglomerates are also becoming aware of their social and
discarding plastics. If you go to a park or a beach in
environmental responsibilities and adopting nature-friendly technologies as much as they can. In
a country, it is heartbreaking to see the amount of
a world that is suffering from immense environmental pressure, these advancements in the field of
littering people do. Calling out to people’s
environmental sciences serve as a ray of hope for many people who are still hoping that the world
conscience hardly works. So what can we do about
will heal itself.
this?

20 21
 BOOK
OK R
REVIEW Reviewed by
GHAZALA ANJUM
Name: The Girl In The Red
Lipstick
Author: Ajay K Pandey
The Publisher: Shristi Publishers
Release Date: 13 August 2021
Girl
Arun and Lalita are two people from two
different worlds. Arun is a best selling author,
Lalita is a victim of human trafficking. When
Arun meets Lalita for the first time, little did
he know that life would take him on a path he
never imagined. Grappling with his own broken
Red life, financial crunch and constant effort that it
t to.
in the takes to be an author, he finds Lalita’s courage
and determination an eye opener. Lalita has
nothing to lose, so when help is offered to her,
to save herself, she jumps at the opportunity,
after all she has endured the worst. Arun finds
Lipstick
his story in Lalita, but more than that, he finds
himself risking everything for her, even his life,
why? He wants to help her, he wants to save her,
but will it be that easy?
The Girl in the Red Lipstick is a charming story
441-31-0
of friendship, life and finding love where we
least expect to.
1310
From the bestselling author of You Are the Best Wife
The book is available on
22
The story begins with Arun travelling to the City
of Dreams, Kolkata. There, at a book launch Arun
suffers a fall which leaves him in pain. To alleviate
the pain, Arun hires a masseuse to come to his room.
Enters Lalita, the protagonist of the story. Initially,
there’s nothing that Arun finds attractive in her.
She gives him a massage, empties his mini bar, gets
paid, and leaves. But there is this one question that
keeps popping up everywhere he goes “Why don’t
you write about the life of a prostitute?”- to which
Arun has no response. When Arun hires Lalita for
the second time, that is when he sees something in
her- a story worth listening to.
The foundation of the story in itself is not unique. A
guy sympathises with a prostitute and strives to help
her. But this story by Ajay K Pandey definitely stands
out, mainly because of the simplicity with which
it is narrated. There’s no over the top dialogues,
excessive description or unnecessary exaggerations.
The narration is similar to how two people would
talk in real life and that’s what makes reading the
book a realistic experience. The 200 plus page book
incorporates 3 povs’- Arun, Lalita and Kajal each
putting forth their understanding of the situation
they are in. There are also backstories that lead to
the current point in a character’s life.
The entire book progresses at a subtle pace- not too
fast so as to make it look rushed nor too slow that
one might be bored. At times, it takes unexpected
turns, like when Vishal, Arun’s best friend enters the
scene. You would expect the involvement of a police
officer will turn the story into a different angle, but it
doesn’t. Even when Kajal makes an appearance, the
expectation is that of a full blown drama but what
follows is a finely drawn unfolding of events leading
up to the climax.
23
 “We are all social animals, perhaps more animal than social”
- Arun, The Girl In The Red Lipstick

Now, talking about the

AL S O BY AJ AY K PAN DEY
The Lilies
characters By Dew Dinkita
themselves - Arun
and Kajal don’t come
across as anything
special. Their actions,
their decisions and
their thought process Dull and gloomy days
This heart-touching story has This is an inspiring story
are more or less charmed thousands of readers
and kept the book topping
of love, after Vijay finds
out his wife doesn’t have
Passing in distress;
similar to any other bestseller charts. too much time left to live.
Her soul longs for freedom
sensible person in
their situation. But it is But mind oppress.
Lalita’s character that Dark clouds surround the blue sky
appears The wind just perfectly blows;
under-developed.
Trees, dancing in the rhythm,
It falls short of the
impact it could have Neil, Annu and Pihu are stuck
in a strange triangle of love.
A story of breaking barriers
– of age, religions, society
Oh, what beauty it shows!
had. Her troubles, This is a roller-coaster of emotions
that proves that confession
is the best punishment.
and family – to win back
lost love. Such days depict her life
though profound, Somewhere that’s what her dark soul extols;
come across as
bland; like a passing In the lap of nature
statement that doesn’t require attention. Arun’s The author does not delve deeply into society’s Her heart wants a stroll.
reaction to Lalita’s life and her subsequent treatment of a sex worker which would have
outlook on life don’t leave a deep impression. generalised the narrative, and which is also
something that is available in plenty, but he
The street is deserted
But there’s one aspect of the way Lalita is written
that is commendable- her faith in herself and carefully explores the feelings and emotions of Where the lone traveller is she,
her determination. Her dreams, her hopes, her two close knit people and makes us realise the A bunch of lilies in a muddy pond
aspirations- all of them incite a longing to see entire truth.
Is what she could see.
her wishes fulfilled. At one point, she is like any
normal girl you meet, and not a prostitute. If this For the Fans of Ajay K Pandey who are familiar Her heart speaks up
is what the author aimed for- to change a reader’s with his book, no doubt they would be eager to “Look, where these lilies are bound!
understanding of a girl from a red-light area right get their hands on The Girl in the Red Lipstick. Such a pure flower
in the middle of the story, then Kudos for the But for those who are new to his work, this book
is worth every minute spent reading.
With slush and slush all around.
masterstroke!
Sweet is the smell
The title of the book gives away the story and Soft are the petals;
for the most part, you think you know the LITGLEAM Days and days pass by
story. Turns out you don’t. The book completely
changes direction in the last few chapters. RATING: With each passing day the lilies prove their mettle.”

24 25
 Nature being used to portray the beauty of its greatness and
being associated with human attitude is highly in contrast

The Concurrency
with Robert Frost’s poem, ‘Fire and Ice’. In this poem he uses
the elements of nature, fire and ice to question the kind of
destruction this world would face. He compares the impact
both elements could have and finally concludes that both are

of Nature and
equally destructive. Not only does he say that these elements
could destroy the world but he relates fire with greed and
ice with hatred. Either nature would self-destruct or human
emotions such as greed and hatred would result in

Literature
destruction. Either way there is destruction. Therefore we
see that nature that is often correlated with life is here used to

Photo by Fitnessgyan
depict ruin.

Moving on to a more contemporary context, Sylvia Plath uses

nature to express her thoughts about how twisted this world
By Faazila Jabeen is in imposing stereotypes on women. In her
semi-biography, ‘The Bell Jar’ she uses the image of a fig tree
to show that even though there are so many options that exist for her to choose from, this society narrows it down for
her. Plath also uses nature as a device to talk about mental health and how sad it is that the world refuses to
Countless times we’ve seen poets pluck elements of nature to adorn their words. The Romantic era of literature stood
acknowledge its importance. Her tragic death placed more emphasis on the meanings she implied in her works in
as a time in which ideas like individualism, freedom, imagination and solidarity flourished. Not only did the literature
which nature is a widely employed literary device.
of the Romantic age employ nature as a literary device but nature was given life and authority. The importance of
individualism was fused with the magnificence of nature and there is nothing to be surprised about the fact that the
There are also many feminist authors such as
poetry of this kind thrives till date. Though the Romantic poets excelled in playing with nature and language in their
Adrienne Rich, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson
works, contemporary poets use nature as a device to express strong emotions and light up the dark places humans
and Grace Nichols who are known to use nature
are afraid to confront. Pure and malleable at the same time, nature becomes ideal as a standalone device and classical
as a tool to express the failure of this world when
when associated with human emotions and other such things. Elements of nature being employed as a metaphor or a
it comes to gender equality. One striking example
simile or as a personification adds to the power, meaning and the gracefulness of any work of art
would be Adrienne Rich calling women useless
birds for their inability to fight for themselves. In
Consider Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poem, ‘God’s Grandeur’. God’s majestic power is associated with natural
this contemporary world authors and poets use
processes like the flaming, the oozing of oil and shining. Towards the end of the poem, nature is personified as a huge
language, body, sexuality, inanimate objects and
bird under which we all reside. Though Hopkins intended to
many other things as devices to enhance the impact
show that even if human intrusion scars the beauty of nature,
their words would have on readers. Nature, which
nature would still want to enclose its beings in a warm and
dominates the list, is employed to describe conflict
secured embrace, nature being given this new perspective
related death, life in exile, patriarchy, honour killing,
goes on to show that nature is emotional and alive as humans
abuse and a lot other dark areas that are intentionally left unspoken. In the contest of human expressions, anger, rage,
are.
power and dominance being associated with fire,
emotions such as love, desire, warmth, happiness
On the other hand Samuel Taylor Coleridge who is known for
being associated with the sky, women and feminine
his belief that every living and nonliving being in this world
emotions being associated with rivers and oceans
is a part of nature and nature exists as a whole in coexistence
are the most commonly used imagery when it
with these things that are intrinsically connected to it. In his
comes to using nature as a literary device.
poem, ‘The Rime of Ancient Mariner’, the mariner’s action of
killing an albatross depicts the human nature of disrupting
Everything around us is something to be valued
the natural order of things and as punishment the mariner is
Photo by Fitnessgyan

and there is always something that is lost in the

stolen of natural elements such as water- this goes on to show
process. While we are constantly reminded that we
that when you disrupt nature, nature will strike back harder.
coexist with mother nature, literature does its part
While both Hopkins and Coleridge’s works prove the living
in nudging our mind towards a peaceful coexistence.
self of nature, Wordsworth deflects slightly to point out the
Not only is the form of literature that uses nature
beauty of the liveliness of nature. In his poem, ‘Composed
as a device beautiful in it’s verse and meaning, it is
Upon Westminster Bridge’, Wordsworth talks about the beauty
graceful in its own existence.
of the busy roads of London in a sleepy morning. While the entire world of humans are sleeping, nature looks as alive
as it can be.

26 27
Warrior, Survivor, Talented:
Aradhna Sharma talks
about her craze for the
small screen
Interviewed by Aishwarya Srivastava

Aradhana Sharma is an Indian model and actor

best known for her appearances in Tarak Mehta
Ka Oolta Chashma, Hero Gayab Mode On, and
Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga.

28 29
You were in Dance India Dance and you were runners
up in Boogie Woogie. If not a model or actress, what
would you be doing currently? Would you have gone
towards dancing, or something more academic?

To be honest, my choreography level is very bad. I am

“ You are a warrior. You have to
stay intact in this industry like a
a fast learner but if someone asks me to choreograph,
I go silent. I feel that if I had kept my focus on dancing,
maybe I would be assisting a Bollywood celebrity or warrior and not think about
a choreographer or I would’ve been a choreographer
myself. anything else.”
We recently saw you in the wildly popular comedy
‘Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah.’ Most of your
notable roles have been in the drama genre or reality
tv, what was it like for you to work in a comedy show?
Have you done comedy before or was it the first time?

I personally feel that I have a great sense of humor Another thing- when I first arrived on set, Jetha They often said that it’s okay if i don’t get married
*laughs*. My sense of humor is great. I have actually Sir (Dilip Joshi), Champak Sir (Amit Bhatt), and until I am 30 but I ought to study well. I am very
done a web series before this ‘Atrangi Office.’ It is pure Bagha Sir (Tanmay Vekaria) were having a scene. I grateful that my mother trusted me and always
comedy. When it comes out people will realise that I couldn’t stop laughing while watching them. They supported me. Today when my fan pages post
have good comic timing. I feel really good when I turn were so good. The small details, the little gestures, something, she tells me. She asks me to repost
myself into a joke and make people laugh. I think I can the slight improvisations they made in the scene posts. She has taught me to be grateful and
be a good comedian. were just so amazing. Just like you see it on TV. It whoever I am is because of them.
was so fun.
Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma is one of the There was struggle initially but when you finally
longest-running comedy TV shows and every You have pursued higher education and even a overcame it and when the television industry
character is a legend in its own right, how did it feel master’s degree in arts. You had an academic started warming up to you, did it come to be
to work alongside huge personalities such as Dilip background. So how was the transition like from everything you had hoped for? Or is there a
Joshi, Amit Bhatt, and all those amazing actors? being a student to an entertainer? catch?

It was breathtaking. I was mesmerized, shocked, surprised. I had
a lot of anxiety and nervousness. Dilip sir is extremely disciplined
and sincere about his work. I used to shiver whenever I was in a
scene with him. Usually I would do a scene in one or two takes
but with him it would take me at least four or five takes- because
of my fault. He is so sweet, so humble. We were freshers before
him. But he and his team never made us feel like we are freshers.
They were very supportive. When I was wrong they’d tell me here
is where you went wrong. I learned the specificities- very small
specificities of acting. It was a blessing. Maza aa gaya.
In the whole show-- it’s a comedy show, I am sure you must
have had a lot of fun. What was your most
memorable moment behind the scenes or on that show?
I will share a small incident. My character was Dipti, I was a spy.
And I had to be sincere and strict while doing comedy. I had to
make it funny with my gestures, but the dialogues were pretty
serious. I couldn’t make it funny in my own way. So I remember,
once I tried to make it comic and our director, Harshad Sir, kept
saying “You don’t have to make it funny. You remain however you
are!” But then I did the same thing in another take. It was a laugh
riot.
I am a graduate in economics. But you know, I had Sometimes I feel that- I started acting fake.
self-doubt initially because you need money, you
need stability. During the initial stage, I was very
scared and started doubting myself. My family
except for my mother was notsupporting me- now
they are but earlier no one was. People would say
things to her like- “what are you doing with your
daughter? She won’t be able to earn anything. You
are sending your daughter to Mumbai where there
is no guarantee of a career.” We had to listen to a
lot of things.
If you notice, I have a tattoo near my collar bone.
The reason I got this tattoo is pretty silly. I was
supposed to prepare for the IAS exams. I believe
they don’t allow tattoos for IAS applicants, right? So
I got this tattoo to make sure I was never going to
go into that line. I was saying to myself “You are a
warrior. You have to stay intact in this industry like
a warrior and not think about anything else.”
But the main reason for this warrior tattoo was that
I have always seen myself as a warrior. I have never
given up. I cry, I get stressed, I scream but I never
give up. I did have struggles regarding my studies.
My family is very academically inclined.

30 31

Sometimes I question myself if I am being fake. I
suppress my emotions and preferences for others. But
then I realize, this is our industry as long as you aren’t
hurting anyone, it’s alright. Yes, glamour is good but I
just love to be in front of the camera. I mean if some-
one wants to see my reality they should see me during
a shoot. That is the real Aradhana. I enjoy it a lot and I
worship my work. I get crazy about it.
The struggle is worth it. Nothing can be achieved in
any line without struggle.
We saw you playing an evil princess named Taman-
na in Aladin: Naam toh suna hii hoga. Now I have
two questions for this: how was playing a fantasy
character different from playing more rooted realistic
characters. And how was it like playing an evil nega-
tive role?
Honestly I love doing those mytho-like things. The
drama, the evilness. I related to that role because it
was very powerful. It was a cameo but it was very
powerful. It was the first time I could show the world
my acting. It was not a negative character, it was grey.
Initially, I am negative then I get positive. And it was a
solid character - long hair and getting dolled up, it was
an amazing experience.
You started when you were quite young. In 2010
we saw you become the runners-up in the Boogie
Woogie kids championship, and then we saw you in
Dance India Dance. I am curious, how was it
32
like being so young and juggling academics with
these high-profile performances and appearances.
Do you think your school or college life was affected
by it?
I knew it since I was a child that I would be able to
manage the industry. I was in class 6th or 7th when
I returned from Boogie Woogie and I had my final
exams right away. If I failed those, I’d not be promoted.
In the 10 days that I had available to prepare for my
exams, and after borrowing xeroxed notes from my
friends and teachers, who helped me a lot, I studied for
those 10 days and scored 80%. I will never forget that.
When I went for Boogie Woogie, the experience was
very new and I didn’t know how those things worked.
But I did face politics there. I was taller than others.
The struggle
It was a kids championship and I was 11 or 12 and I
was still growing. I heard the parents saying “This girl
seems 14 or 15, what is she doing here? It’s cheating!”
You know that ‘parent’s talk?’ So I want to say this to
is worth it.
all parents, please don’t compare your kids to others
and don’t trash talk. Subjecting this comparison and
jealousy feelings in 11-12-year-old kids. I see this in
7-8-year-old kids these days and it is downright wrong.. Nothing
What has been your favorite project so far? Out of
everything?
Actually, there are three projects- first is Splitsvilla
can be
because that gave Aradhana a name. Then Aladin,
because they trusted a fresher and gave her work. And
then Tarak Mehta- because they helped me reach that
place where I am getting so much love. achieved
If there’s anything you could do, without worrying
about the consequences, what would you like to do?
I would like to kiss my partner passionately in front of
in any line
everyone. To show my love openly. And secondly, I just
want to save animals from slaughterhouses. I want
enough power to be able to free them. And it’s my
dream. without
What is the one thing you are eagerly looking forward
to happening this year?
I really want to see myself in any of the Netflix web
struggle.
series or some reality show like Big Boss.
Any message for your fans or our readers.
First of all, to my younger fans, the kids- stay away
from your phone! *laughs* You use phones a lot! Know
that Instagram is not reality. Never ever judge anyone.
Don’t compare people with each other. And this social
media life isn’t real.
 MUSINGS OF
Rap id F ire By N. Krishna Veni GREEN
I woke up in the morn
To find only the dust of mist
On the veins of the green leaves
Bathed in the shower of foggy clouds.
Your role model Enticing by the bewitching scent
Of sweet Jasmine knitting together garland
Beautifully bloomed like the divine’s child
Mumma And the paragon of truly godsend.
The earthly Paradise seems nonpareil
With the diverse treasure of natural means.
Your favorite tv show I would fly through the paddy fields
On my way to school every day.
Rustling stream near the fields
I don’t watch a lot of TV shows but Powerpuff Girls
Plays the rhythmic tempo of melodies.

Your favorite co-star so far

The greenery land with tall bamboos
In the marshy shallow waters
Abhishek Nigam Of the alien ground besieged by
The evergreen aqua reign to be extolled.
Two bullocks tied together firmly
Describe yourself in three words On the slim barrel-shaped hunk of wood
To level the fertile land with the hope.
The flock of flying guests come a long way
Warrior, Survivor and Talented For every vacation to meet their friends
In the sanctuary to enjoy with great relish.
The countryside becomes shrouded
Your favorite hobby With the thick blanket of blissful fogginess
And started to drizzle in the ecstatic mood.
The blue-green feathered dancing in the rain
Skating. Many people don’t know this about me but Such heavenly sight amidst the musings of green.
I Iove to skate!

34 35
 Thought Occurrence

What’s Unique
1.
2. Thought Sustenance
3. Thought Realization
4. Thought Organization and Design

about Srilekha and

5. Thought Execution
6. Thought Outcome
7. Thought Reoccurrence
8. Thought Continuity

her book Unique

9. Thought Lapse

‘Unique Thinking’ also covers the concept of ‘Search Engine Mind, Oneness of

Thinking - Leading
Mind, Oneness of Universe, Universal library, Organised Thinking, Leading and
Managing by thoughts, Thoughtfulness, and Thoughtlessness. It is different
from other books because it is the first-ever book that is defined in the genre of
thoughts and mind. This concept is not available in any of the existing books; this

and Managing by
book is written in a conventional language which makes it simple and easy for
the readers to understand.

Ms. Srilekha Kaluvakunta started writing ‘Unique Thinking’ several years ago

Thoughts
Thought Process is the first ever defined thought management
lifecycle in the genre of thoughts and mind.
An exclusive on the life story of the author of Thought Process.
“Your life is a reflection of your thoughts, if you change your thinking you can
change your life,” says author Ms. Srilekha Kaluvakunta in her recent book titled
‘Unique Thinking’. Talking about her life story, Srilekha used to be a topper in
her school and college. Like any other normal family, her family’s only
expectation about her was to study well and get a job in a multinational
company.Most of her upbringing was with her grandparents during her
childhood and her grandfather was her role model and inspiring person in the
family.
He used to work as a Director in govt. sector (a first class gazetted officer) and
later on joined one of the south India’s most famous newspaper and media
companies and held a very senior position oriented towards politics and news
and legal affairs.
but she thought of publishing it only 2 years ago. The book was published for
the first time in 2019 by ‘Prowess Publishing House’ and the revised edition in
2021 by ‘Bluerose Publishers’. She focuses more about dimensional analysis of
thinking and this was always a subject of her expertise. She thinks beyond what
people usually think and perceives and understands the concept of her thoughts.
This made her further analyze and understand the subject in a deeper sense and
come up with the concept of,’the life cycle of thought’.
When Ms. Srilekha saw her thoughts in the form of a book it felt like an
achievement . As an author and writer, she says it feels good that people read
and understand her concepts and implemented it in their lives. Ms. Srilekha
Kaluvakunta’s second book is published which is titled, ‘Unique quotes on
Leadership and Management.; This book is a collection of more than 1000
quotations given by some of the world’s most inspiring people and the world’s
best minds. She’s planning her next book about ‘Karmic Essence- Theory of
Relationships’. The study and research are still going on for the making of this
book.
‘Thought Process, Thought Lifecycle
Dimension of Thinking and Search
Engine Mind’ are some of the concepts
which she implements and executes in
her own life. Writing is a passion for Ms.
Srilekha, and reading is her favourite
hobby.

In 2007, Srilekha joined TCS as an engineer trainee after completing her In a message to first time authors, she
graduation in Bachelor of Technology (IT). She worked for some of India’s most says “Becoming an author or being an
reputed software companies like TCS and Infosys. The leadership team of author is a good thing and it’s one of
these companies is incredible and she feels privileged for working with some the greatest achievements of life. It’s an
of the senior leadership and C-level teams in her professional tenure. She says opportunity to teach and coach readers
there’s a lot to learn from social media platforms like Linkedin, Facebook, etc and when a writer starts writing his/her
and CEOs of Linkedin and Facebook, among others, have always been the first book, there will be a lot of expec-
leaders who inspire her. tation from the readers about their
next book.” She believes that when we
Ms. Srilekha Kaluvakunta’s book, ‘Unique Thinking’ talks about ‘Thought continue to write good stuff and publish
Process and Thought Life Cycle Management’. It Illustrates how thoughts some good books everyone will benefit
traverse through different stages of the process, starting from the creation of from the subject and content.You get
thought until thought lapse. She also informs about the concept of ‘Life Cycle recognized for your written work and
Phases of a Thought’ which are: they get recognized as readers and
executors for your book.
36 37
 MOVIE REVIEW
By Aam Aadmi Review

You all must know that Mimi had a premature

delivery which means it streamed on Netflix four
days ahead of the release date which was quite
surprising. But when I watched the trailer, I was
highly disappointed. Not because the trailer was bad,
but because everything about the movie was revealed
in the trailer. It was almost like the entire film was
exposed in the trailer itself. But when I watched the
movie, I was surprised.

Let me tell you about the plot of the movie. Mimi

is a girl who is a die-hard fan of Ranveer Singh and
wants to become an actress like Deepika Padukone
and Kareena Kapoor but she has to let go of these
things to pursue her career in the film industry. But
to make a good impression, she needs money that she
can’t afford. Then she meets an English couple and
they offer her 20 lakh rupees to be a surrogate mother Name:
to their child. Then comes the twist when the couple
decides not to have the child and flees to America. Mimi
The movie revolves around this entire incident. If
you are doubtful of whether or not to watch this
movie, read further down the review. Cast:
Kriti Sanon,
Firstly, it’s important to praise the entire cast. It’s not
just Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi but the entire Pankaj Tripathi,
cast. Supporting actors like Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Sai Tamhankar,
Pathak, Sai Tamhankar and Hollywood actress
Evelyn Edwards are worthy of all praise. Evelyn Edwards,
Supriya Pathak Kapur,
Also, I have to praise Evelyn Edwards for her
performance in the movie completely stood out from Manoj Pahwa
the others. Last seen in ‘Rang De Basanti’ in which
she gave a good performance as a foreigner in 2006.
From the very first frame to the last one she was Release Date:
brilliant, especially in the emotional scenes. And to 26 July 2021
be honest, she was better in those emotional scenes
than Kriti Sanon. That doesn’t mean Kriti Sanon’s
performance was bad. Mimi is Kriti Sanon’s best role. Streaming on:
Comedy or emotional scenes, she was great in both.
And it will surely remind you of Bitti Sharma of Netflix, Jio Cinemas
Bareilly Ki Barfi.

39
 The screenplay is for 2 hours and 10 Minutes and
I never felt as if the movie was being dragged. The
movie’s trailer was the enemy because of its trans-
parency and that’s the only negative thing about
it. But the one thing that was running in my mind
was about the climax and honestly, it was beautiful.
The ending is trying to convey a beautiful message.
The first 50 minutes of the movie is a comedy but
after that, the movie takes an emotional turn and I
didn’t even expect it based on its storyline. So it was
a good balance of comedy and emotions. Special
credit has to be given to the child artist too. I was
wondering if he genuinely spoke good Hindi or if it
was dubbed.. The music for the movie is composed
by A.R.Rahman and he has sung a song called ‘Rihai
De’. It’s such a beautiful song and was perfect to the
extent that you would be able to feel Mimi’s pain in
this song. Kailash Kher has also sung a song called,
‘Chhoti Si Chidiya re’ which is amazing, and these
songs are organized aptly.

What we think is not life, what happens to us is life.
One other thing that I liked in this movie was the
Hindu-Muslim relationship that was portrayed. The
angle of its portrayal is very subtle and very beautiful-
ly shown. For example, when Mimi’s Muslim friend
Khushi goes on to say that she will raise the child
without thinking what people will say, it was amaz-
ingly performed and well delivered. There are other
such small scenes related to this which will paint a
smile on your face. Overall Mimi is another surprise
from Netflix. A stunning cast, an amazing storyline,
and a sweet message. Kriti Sanon will impress you
and you will never stop praising Evelyn Edwards.

LITGLEAM
RATING:

40 41
From a Teacher to an
Actress, the journey of
Vibha Bhagat
Vibha Bhagat is famous for her
roles in Tv shows like Beyhadh,
Papa By Chance and Pavitra
Bhagya. Vibha started her
career in theater with her first
show when she was in 9th
standard in 2005. She has also
appeared in Punjabi superhit
film Addi Tappaa. She made
her TV debut with Beyhadh in
2016. Vibha is crazy about
footwear and owns a huge
collection of sandals and heels.

On ly a posit ive at t it u de

“ This is the time we have to stand for

them and I am not turning away.
42
wi ll gu i de you

1. What was something you learnt when you were in
a professionally low phase?
I always follow one rule in my life, whatever happens
you have to accept it and move on. So, when I was in
a low phase I would say to myself, bas badte jao, aage
chalte jao, focus, aaj nai tho kal kaam hoga hi hoga.
(move forward, focus, things will be fine one day) So,
just be yourself and stick with your vision. Maintain
your mental health, maintain all your anxiety, cooperate
with all your mood swings and one day you will win.
Only a positive attitude will guide you.
2. How is the Punjabi Television industry different
from Hindi Television industry?
See both are different with different audiences. Punjabi
industry is more film oriented, they are only now ven-
turing into television. They enjoy a worldwide audience
on their movies owing to the excellent cinematography.
I learnt about this difference after coming to Mumbai,
more so regarding the content and professionalism
present in both industries. Hindi television industry is
more professional, they know what they are doing, what
the requirements are, how it is to be conveyed, how to
behave etc. Every department has work to do and they
44
get things done whereas in Punjabi industry, they are
still taking baby steps. What I see is that they still need
to learn to cope with things efficiently rather than
blaming one another. They need to find a middle
ground where any issue can be easily sorted out. That’s
what I feel. In a general sense, both industries are doing
good work. I get to work more in Hindi television and
I love it here.
3.Which would you say is your favorite show from all
the shows you have done so far?
I love all my shows. But, yeah, Beyhadh, my ticket to
big fame after my Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla. Beyhadh
gave me the much needed hype and recognition after a
4 year gap. In our industry, once you get good
recognition, you get good work. I love all my characters,
Papa By Chance and now Chitra in Sasural Simar Ka.
Chitra is very close to my heart because I wanted to do
something negative. I used to pray to god for such a role
and I finally got it. I’m loving all my shows. I’m getting
to work with an amazing team and for all these
blessings, I fervently thank God, always.
4. Who is your favorite co-star?
All of them are so good. I have a great bond with Aneri.
I still stay in touch with Aneri and Swati Shah. And third
is Piya Tandon, all of them are close to my heart. On
the set of Sasural Simar ka 2, I am close to Jayati Ji and I
get along very well with everyone. But I have spent a lot
of time with Aneri, it’s been 5 years since we have been
together.
5. Tell us a little bit about your current show and the
role you play?
Chitra is a kind of character I have wanted to do for a
long time, to perform characters that depict grey shades.
It has to be somewhere in between selfish, negative but
still innocent and lovey-dovey. Morally grey but still has
to have a good side. I love playing Chitra. This character
is very close to my heart. Show wise, it has been great.
Sasural Simar ka 2 is doing extremely well, story wise,
direction wise, technical wise, it’s just superb superb.
I’m loving my work.
6. How many pairs of shoes do you have in your
collection as of now, as we know you love shoes? Do
you have a favorite pair?
I have in total 57 pairs of shoes, and I love all of them. I
love all hippy kinds of footwear in which you would find
more beiges, other new shades, or some out of the way
oranges and yellows. Yes, these are my colors.
7. You were in the 9th standard when you did your
first theatre. What was your motivation to join the
theatre?
I was in 9th standard when I did my first skit in
theatre on stage. My mother was in the background,
singing; she loved to sing. My nani was very active in all
these things, so I guess I received the acting genes at my
birth. I’m a very naughty and bubbly person so I am in
this field because I wanted to be here. After quitting my
profession as a teacher teaching profession, I joined this
field and have come here and struggled a lot and I’ve
gotten what I want.
8. We hear you are a fitness lover, tell us your current
routine.
Yes, I have thyroid, I have PCOD, so I have to take care
of my health a lot, and after suffering from Covid, I
have gained 10 kg and it was a challenge that in 4 days
of vacation I ran 5 to 10 km and reduced 5 kg, but I
still have about 6 kg left to reduce to look good and
pretty on screen. My main motive is to look pretty and
presentable wherever I am, that is my mantra- eat good,
eat clean, eat healthy and workout. My daily routine
right now is - 3 hours of workout of which 35 minutes is
running, then stretching, then the actual weight lifting
and heavy workout. I have to do that day wise, and again
stretching and some yoga postures and then straight
away I break my intermittent fasting and have lunch.
9. What are you currently binge watching? scared, to fight for my health and so I fought and I won.
And now I am in front of you guys working again. I still
Oh my goodness, I just finished watching Elite. I have need to be careful and not behave as if nothing
seen River, and Virgin River. I love all the horror movies. happened. I’m happy that I have antibodies now, but get
I have finished watching so many suspense, thriller,and yourself vaccinated whenever you can.
drama series. Every time something new and exciting
releases, I watch it. 12. Web series are quite a hit these days, would you
consider or are you considering working on any
10. How has shooting changed, post covid scenario? online series?
We have to be more careful about the proximities now I have done 3 three web series, with good platforms
while shooting. After Covid, the situation is more or like Alt Balaji and others. Online web series have good
less like pre-covid times but with precautions that one content but whatever comes to me I accept it. Now I
ought to take by themselves. You need to be careful am doing Sasural Simar ka so I want to give my 100% to
about yourself. You need to sanitize yourself, wear mask, it. If I come across a good opportunity, I will definitely
eat healthy etc. Whatever we did earlier in a carefree take it
manner now we have to do with precautions.
13 . Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
11. How has the Covid scenario affected you person-
ally? How have you dealt with it? Within 2 or 3 years I know I’ll get married. If I don’tget
married then I’ll earn money and pay all my loans. Then,
I was handling everything alone. My family checked I will collect all the money and go and settle down in
up on me every 2 hours. I believe I handled it well. I Canada with my mumma. So, this is my main agenda- to
was not scared as much. My doctor and my sister kept roam around the world with my mom. I wanted to earn
my spirits up- constantly advising me to not let myself money, so I can travel with my mother, to be happy in
down. They would remind me, repeatedly, to not get my life and to be content that I have made something of
myself. And obviously, Travel, Travel, Travel, Travel and
45
 FROM THE EVERYDAY LENS
for that I have to work hard and earn hard.

14. What message would you like to give to our

readers?

Whatever you want in your life, stay focused on it. Have

a vision, be happy, live, love, and laugh as much as you
can. Eat plenty, take care of yourself and your parents.
Never ever underestimate or take for granted their
presence in your life. You are their everything. I say this
to everybody, your parents should come first,
everything else will fall into place eventually. Love
yourself, achieve your goals and just be happy, always.

Name - Shivaani Dalal Name - Muskan Gupta

@shivani_dalal2004 @sparetimer866

R 1. Indoor shoots or outdoor

shoots
4. Heavy indian wear or light
western wear F
A 75% indoor and 25% outdoor. Light western wear

5. Gym or yoga I
2. TV or theatre
P Both. In theatre you feel the
Gym

I
audience, in TV you get attention. 6. Beach holiday or
mountainside
R
3. Sasural simar ka 1 or 2
I love beaches. I love trekking and
D Sasural Simar ka 2, obviously mountaineering, I can’t choose.
E Name - Tanmayi Nutulapati Name - Sweta Sharma
@zara.t21110 @literature_world_
46 47
An Exclusive with Sivaji Rao,
author of the book The Path Serene Selene
Towards True Happiness By Jumismita Das

She endures alone in the benign sky

The book has won two finalist awards - Best Book Award and International Book Award
As the stars retain high.
1. What is most beneficial to the readers about the book “The Path Towards True Happiness”? Under the veil of the fluttering clouds,
a. The Dietary guidelines given in Chapter “Food” can help most of the readers. There are 8 important ideas based on
She plays hide and seek all around.
research & practice. By practicing the ideas, any reader can improve his digestive power & health.

b. Many people have disturbed sleep patterns. There are Five ideas to im-
prove the quality of sleep in the Book. These are simple & can be practiced. In She smiles with the crescent shape;
the Book there are six ideas to help those who have disturbing sleep patterns. While she’s half, we miss her rests;
c. Many persons suffer in their lives due to bad habits & unhealthy living
She’s round with a silver sphere;
styles. There are nine ideas in the book on how to develop good habits. Sometimes surprises us and dissappeares.
d. In the present situation, improving IMMUNITY is very beneficial to the
public. There are 8 important ideas in the book on how to strengthen
immunity. These are based on research & practice. There are many ideas She burns herself with golden sunlight
explaining on how to SUCCEED IN LIFE and how to attract showers of
WISDOM. To illuminate us in the night.
The eclipse endevoures to make her fall,
e. A large number of people need the blessings of God. People who can But her strength makes her rise above all!
attract blessings can succeed in life. But many people don’t know how to
make efforts so that they can feel the blessings. In the book 12 yoga
exercises have been explained. By practicing cleansing breath, shoulder
stand and meditation mentioned in the Book a person can attract blessings
of God. Such a person would be successful in his life. They praise her beauty but laugh on her
2. What inspired you to write the Book? scars;
I have seen many people suffer in their lives by becoming Yet, they gaze at her and stare!
addicted to bad habits (or unhealthy living habits). In such We adore her purity with her ceaseless
cases, people should make consistent efforts to change motion,
their habits, their lives would be better. People with bad
habits cannot enjoy life & had to leave this world after Twenty seven days is what she seeks for
completing 55 or 65 years of age. I WANT TO HELP THESE her Rotation.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE HAPPY & HEALTHY LIFE BY
DEVOTING TIME FOR THEIR SELF-DEVELOPMENT.

3. What according to you is a healthy fulfilling life?

Living a life free from sorrow, body physically fit and the
mind under the control of an enlightened intellect. Making
regular spiritual practices, like breathing exercises, yoga
exercises and meditation etc., helps a person to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
4. Could you share with us some important quotes or excerpts from the Book.
Oh thou moon!
How can one call you sombre or a loon,
You’re convival and an astonishing boon.
May you always stand out in the silhoutte,
For you, allow me to play a pleasant tune!

“On holidays devote your quality time to practice solitude and deep self-reflection.
To enjoy bliss, observe principles of happiness and devote time for spiritual practice regularly. Then you can develop
intuitive intelligence.”

48 49
GO Vegan with
Shruti Jain
A wealth manager, an ethical investor, and the owner of a blog called ‘Style
destino’ which talks about a sustainable vegan lifestyle, Shruti Jain has made
a mark in her journey towards a completely vegan and cruelty-free life. She
started Style Destino in September 2011 to break the stereotype that vegan
fashion is drab and boring. Through Style Destino, Shruti talks about her
decision to use only vegan and cruelty-free products, about ethical brands,
about changing the way fashion industry works where style and ethics
coexist, shares healthy vegan recipes etc all with an aim to create awareness
about the need to switch to a clean and mindful lifestyle.
50
Can you talk more about veganism?At what point did you
decide to take it up and how has the journey been for you?
I was always a vegetarian. I’ve been a lifelong vegetarian. And
ever since I came across some documentaries and
movies and videos regarding how animals are treated and how
cows are treated in the dairy industry and you know, once you
look at those things it’s really hard to go back. So when I saw
the amount of cruelty involved in the dairy industry it was a
turning point. I could no more consume any of that stuff and
that’s when I decided to go vegan.
What were the main challenges that you came across?
What was your personal motivation? Did people want to
accept it or restrict it? What was the main challenge for
you?
To be honest, for me, the transition was not very challenging
because I live a Jain lifestyle. So as a Jain, I’m kind of used to
finding ways around things which are not easy to get, so if you
don’t eat under root vegetables if you don’t eat after sunset, If
you eat in restaurants that serve non-veg, which I never did, I
know how to work around those things. So for me, the vegan
transition was not challenging at all. But I would say that it can
be a little bit challenging if you don’t know how to replace a
51
few things but you kind of learn it along your way. So
honestly for me, it was alright.
What’s the difference between the term vegan and
cruelty-free? Which is more right for you?
There is a lot of misunderstanding between the terms Vegan
and Cruelty-free and people often confuse between the
two. Vegan essentially means which does not include any
animal material. A vegan product, whether it’s food, beauty,
or whatever else it is. A vegan product essentially does not
include any kind of animal material and that’s what the term
‘vegan’ means by definition. And when you read through the
definition of cruelty- free, which is used in the industry to tag
certain products or which is generally used in the conversa-
tion in the fashion or beauty industry, cruelty- free essentially
means a product which has not been tested on animals. A
product could not be tested on animals but it could still be
having animal ingredients in it. It’s called cruelty-free which is
a kind of deception. A vegan product could not have animal
ingredients but it could still have been tested on animals. So
when you’re going for things like medicine, beauty
products,or something to eat, you have to make sure that it is
both vegan and cruelty- free.
 So it’s not an expensive lifestyle at all. When you go out
and buy products which are gourmet foods or fancy cheese,
they are expensive by default. And about making things at
home, it’s very easy to make your own almond milk, cashew
milk, oats milk, rice milk, the options are plenty. You have
the internet, you have youtube, you have Pinterest for so
many recipe options. Vegan lifestyle is not expensive.
When people talk about veganism they usually relate to
food. But you cover vegan fashion, travel, beauty, and
even investments. Can you talk more about this?
The thing is whenever we talk about or hear about the term
‘vegan’ most of the conversations revolve around food
and we think that veganism is all about what you eat. But
veganism is a lifestyle which is not only restricted to your
diet. It’s just not about what you eat but what you wear,
what you’re using in your everyday life, be it your shampoo,
your beauty products, your shaving cream, etc. Veganism
is about every aspect of your lifestyle, even about your
investments. If you are a vegan you won’t want to fund
companies that are supporting animal cruelty, right? I ran a
poll about this last week, that if you are a vegan, would you
want to fund companies that are into animal cruelty and I
got a hundred percent no. Nobody wanted to do it but we
don’t realize that unconsciously we are buying stocks or any
debt products from companies that are into animal cruelty
What do you think is the main issue that causes so much
one way or the other. Either they are selling meat or they
resistance about veganism? Is it because of the lack of
are restaurants that are serving animal food, or they could
knowledge?
be leather companies or they could be pharma companies
that are using animal ingredients.
It is lack of knowledge and awareness because especially
today when you have so many vegan alternatives to pretty
much everything.. The reason why so many people are not
switching to the vegan lifestyle is they don’t know what
options exist. Animal agriculture is one of the biggest
causes of greenhouse emissions. A person should be made
aware of these things in a way which is healthy. If I tell you,
you can’t eat so many things it’s perplexing and scary and
very restrictive. But when I tell you that you can’t eat these
things and you have X, Y, Z options as well and this is how
you replace this with that, I think a lot of people would at
least be willing to try it.
Many people believe that vegan products are expensive
and some are but people are unaware of the fact that
they can make vegan products at home, can you provide
some insights on that?
There are so many things we have in our diet which are
essentially vegan by default. When we read the term vegan,
we create misconceptions that it is expensive. If you eat
Daal Chawal making your dhal in oil instead of ghee, it’s
cheaper and it’s vegan by default. If you rethink Chola
bhature, Kaju Katli, it’s usually vegan.
52
region it doesn’t make sense. A lot of people are worried
about nutrition, they don’t know what recipes to make.
So for that I would say refer to a plant based nutritionist.
Ask them about being worried about your diet. I know
they’ll be very happy to help you with that. Do your blood
work before and after you turn vegan. Like after at least 3
to 6 months, check if you are deficient in certain things.
Again, reach out to the expert and make sure you have a
wholesome diet because it’s not that the vegan diet lacks
something, it’s just that when we’re transitioning we don’t
know what to replace. We could just be eating one sort of
food that’s why the deficiency comes into the picture. So
these are some really important tips. There are recipes in
abundance all over the internet, just follow those recipes.
There are so many amazing influencers, follow those
influencers because they will guide you in your journey,
you can directly ask them and most of them generally
answer. On a closing note, just give it a try whether it’s for a
day I’m sure you would love the lifestyle.
We are funding those companies to go on inflicting cruelty
on animals. Then as a vegan, you are sort of supporting
them and it’s not right. It goes against your ethics. So vegan-
ism is not just what you eat but you have to choose; every
choice that you are making in your life right down to where
you’re putting your money and where you’re spending your
money, you have to evaluate those choices.
How can we effectively incorporate veganism in
everything we do?
It is different for different people. For some people going
vegan is just like you watch certain videos, you’ve watched
some documentary and it just kind of strikes you. I know a
lot of people who just switched overnight while for others,
it’s sort of challenging because you grapple about what you
eat and what you can’t eat. They love certain sorts of food,
they have certain animal products in their wardrobes and in
their homes that they don’t want to part away with. So for
some people, it’s a gradual transition and for some people,
it’s an instant thing. Whatever you do, just don’t overwhelm
yourself in a way that you stop doing it altogether. When it
comes to tips on transitioning honestly, a support group is a
huge help so there are so many vegan groups on Facebook,
you have vegan Whatsapp groups in different cities and
countries. I’m part of so many vegan Whatsapp groups in
different cities where I live or travel. There are vegan
meetups, so join whatever support group you have access
to. That is one of the best ways to make the transition
because I could be giving you tens of options sitting right
here but if those products are not available to you in your
53
Alive Within Dead
By Atreyo Palit

Crunch of gravel under the lawyer’s shoes, Pitter-patter of raindrops on the windshield,
Hiss of pressurized air from the cycle shop, Rushing of rapid wind through the open hair,
Clink of the manhole cover under the tyres, Petrichor embracing the exhausted nose,
Honk of the horns from cars stuck in traffic, Raindrops cool the skin stinging from
Cricket commentary on the radio in the salon, pollution,
Hum of the old printer from the copy store, Parks easing the eyes with their green cover,
Crinkling of foil being crumpled and dumped, Riverside spots allowing the mind to meander,
Hurried shuffling of crowds moving both Playing in fields feeling better than indoors,
ways, Rustling of fallen leaves blowing in the wind,
Couple of loud ringtones turning heads Purple skies at dusk make endings
around, mesmerizing,
Hoarse shouting from the vagabond hawkers, Rolling thunder is the strongest percussion,
Computer keys being clicked loudly in the Picturesque sightings of birds flocking
cafe, together,
Hurried braking of the cars, screeching Regular seasons bring variation, but
wheels. comfortably.
The auditory signals from technology Even within the lifeless system of machinery,
overwhelm, Where bones are steel and blood is fuel,
Pollution and dust change the taste of the air, There’s the silent, subtle glimpse of a nature,
Every fresh breath stinks of all things not Struggling, but proudly living
fresh, unapologetically.
And the mind feels boxed in like the buildings. And in that world of sunsets and moonlight,
Obscured from view by bricks, concrete and Of the chirping crickets, and the ribbiting
steel, frogs,
Another world resides within this metal cage, Of the deafening rain, and the blinding
Battling for its existence, against the bid to end lightning,
it, The artistic consciousness tributes Mother
Tirelessly soothing all senses of its residents. Nature.

54 55
The฀Circle฀of฀Life

By Dr. Vinita Ashit Jain But wait-

What do I see?
Along the length of the branches
The tree stood Are tiny buds,
Tall , Hundreds of them,
Majestic, Quietly waiting,
Proud , Waiting for the right time,
With its glistening Waiting for the right moment,
leaves of green, Waiting for their turn,
Amidst the wind To open up,
and the elements- To spring forth,
Swishing, To bloom
Swaying, And work their magic!
Laughing. To make the tree whole again ,
Today stands bereft and lonely, With fresh , shining , verdant
The leaves yellow and browning, Leaves , bright and new ,
Tired, Filled with
Shrivelled, Vigour,
Withered Life,
And fallen, And
Sans a few hanging on Hope.
For dear life. Taking the tree
They are there, From a cold, harsh winter
For they share a bond To another blossoming spring,
With the tree. From darkness unto light,
Soon it will be time From death unto life.
For them to fall too, The Circle of Life -
To go... Timeless,
And my heart is sad, despondent... Endless,
To see time take its toll . Eternal.

56 57
The Ocean in a Drop
by Kavita Shenoy
It stood tall and majestic – the tallest of all the trees around. An
African tulip, also known as the flame of the forest. Only, this tree was
not in a forest. It was amidst a jungle of concrete, creating its own little
world of happiness where it stood.
The local authorities had decided to plant some shrubs along the
roadside. The plant drive was all in good faith, but a few of those
saplings died. One of them was the sapling planted right in front of my
house. So they came back with a forest species. One that would grow
to be a huge tree in human habitation. What were they thinking?
The sapling soon grew to reach the skies. It spread its branches
around, providing shade, like a protective shield from the sun.
It stood tall, as though looking down lovingly at the other small
shrubs that were planted along with it. Soon, some people started
parking their vehicles under this tree. Helpers found this a good
place to sit and gossip about their employers. The brinjal trees
outside the other houses did not provide much shade. But the
tri-shaded purple flowers were a pretty sight to see. But nothing to
beat the burst of red when this tree was in full bloom. There was a
red carpet on the road surrounding the tree.
There were times I wondered if Enid Blyton had seen such a tree when she wrote The Magic Faraway Tree, a book I
must have read a million times during my childhood, which inculcated
in me the love for nature and books at the same time. This tree brought
back happy childhood memories. Something my mind always searches
for and yearns to reconnect with.
I often sat under the shade of the branches, on my terrace. This corner
was my go-to place where I sat for hours, doing nothing. Just looking at
the tree was a way of grounding. Getting back to nature, something we
hear about so much these days. I did not realize it at the time.
58
This huge tree was home to squirrels, crows, sparrows, and many other birds.
Sometimes there were eagles too. And in a very busy city, one wouldn’t
expect parrots. But they were seen too, visiting now and then. Coming
summer, we would hear the sweet singing of the koel. Here was a world, all
by itself. Fumctioning happily. Welcoming all visitors, providing shelter to
whoever wanted it.
Autumn would bring with it, the shedding of leaves. And soon, the huge tree
would be bare. Bereft of all the leaves and flowers. Only the bare branches
with some dry twigs from the deserted and empty nests could be seen. It was
a gloomy sight, after all the glory.
This tree is a reminder to me even today, of the cyclic nature of life. The seasons reigning in their full glory, and then
graciously making way for the next. I remember the first time when the tree was bare. I thought it had died, and I had
been deeply saddened. And one day, as I sat there and looked at the
bare twigs and branches, feeling pity for the tree, I had noticed tiny
spots of green! The tree was sprouting back to life again!
Soon, the branches were covered with bright green leaves. The birds
and squirrels were back, merrily playing among the branches. And the
‘flames’ of bright red flowers appeared yet again. People sat under the
tree for a chat. Children played, running around the huge trunk. The
happiest were the squirrels – may be they had found some nuts they
had hidden earlier. And just by silently watching all these creatures, I
found my Zen.
All was well with the world.
59
Hold hands and become
Mr Sagar urges people to look into the products they
buy and check whether these products are
eco-ethical and eco-friendly because there are brands
that ‘green-wash’ their products by stating that they
are eco-friendly but this statement is far from the

a sustainable warrior truth.

The best method to practise minimalism is

that we should always start from

with Mr. Sagar Singh

Mr. Sagar Singh, co-founder of ‘Going Zero’ is also an environmentalist,
a former social science faculty, a minimalist, a water warrior and an
eco-preneur. His work is all about sharing with people about how
one can live a conscious, adverseless life and live in
coexistence. He promotes zero waste management and
minimalism.
‘decluttering’ which will help us
understand the difference between the
things we need and the things we want.
The difference between these two terms is
really huge and people should be aware of it
at all costs in order to embrace a sustainaible
way of life. Minimalism is not just about using less
things but about reusing things we own to avoid
buying stuff we don’t need. “Presently, everything
own fits into one backpack. I don’t even own a car or
any vehicle, It’s just one bicycle that I own and this
makes me free. I don’t have to worry about paying
liabilties,” says Mr. Singh.

It’s important to understand that minimalism is the need of
the hour. The concept of minimalism is not new to India
and the people of India have been practising it for ages
without being aware of how sustainable it is. “Minimalism
is about making the best out of nothing”. There is a sudden
cultural inclination towards the west, people have become
less conscious about minimalism and sustainable living than
they were in the past. In the past forty years almost sixty
million species have gone extinct and this is the first time in the
history of the world that one single species is being
responsible for the extinction of a mass number of species.
Plastics are polluting this planet, there’s no second guessing that. Provided we have a definite amount
of resources to use we are destroying the planet by adding more insult to injury. Today, while we carry on
with our own lives, microplastics are becoming a part of
our ecosystem- the glaciers are melting, the rivers are
being polluted, animals are going extinct enmasse
and nobody wants to talk about this because everyone
thinks that an individual will never be able to make a
change. He encourages people to start living
consciously and start making lifestyle changes
that will not only benefit them but also the planet
in a larger sense.

Talking about his journey, Mr. Singh admits

Does each and every person in this world ever wonder what we do as an individual to stop this havoc? that it really was a rocky road. He started
Unfortunately people always blame society for whatever that is his journey towards a healthy planet from
happening with the environment. “But there is nothing called society. If a community college working with an NGO
an individual changes, society changes too.” He compares this concept called, ‘The Eco-warriors’. He went on to
with that of a forest. Just like how a group of trees living in coexistence clearing up plastics that were littering beaches
is called a forest, people living in coexistence are called a society. Let’s and today he is the co-founder of an e-commerce
shed some light on the importance of minimalism. Take a simple company called, ‘Going Zero”. “Here’s what I am
example of how buying a single t-shirt will impact the environment. It trying to do, even if there is a small artesian or any
takes twenty million liters of water to make a single t-shirt. In a coun- Indian businessmen running a small business, making
try that is suffering from a severe water crisis, twenty million liters is a anything eco-ethical and eco-friendly, I am inviting them
big deal. Apart from that, brands like H&M and Zara outsource all their to list up on my e-commerce website, I’m not charging them
garments to third world countries like India and Bangladesh. We have anything and I don’t even charge them for shipping. I take some percentage just to keep the whole platform
textile industries and we are supposed to treat the dye before releasing running”, says Mr. Singh. He also talks about how amazing it was that the universe was responsible for this
it into the river. But when they treat it, the additional cost increases and entire initiative. He met the founder of this company coincidentally when he was in Himachal Pradesh and
in order to save that additional cost and to make extra profit, they thus began his life as an eco-preneur. However, happiness never comes alone. In 2019, when the
directly release it into the rivers and pollute water with toxic wastes. The government decided to turn the Aarey forest in Mumbai into a metro carshed, Mr. Singh was the one who
fact that these rivers are prayed to and are respected as Gods makes mobilized a protest against this decision and later was detained and even physically hurt in the process of
these actions questionable. One can easily connect the dots as to how saving a forest. He recalls how difficult it was but he admits that it was completely worth it. Everyone should
the making of a t-shirt can impact something as huge as the water crisis go through a dark phase to understand light.Happiness would lose its meaning if not balanced by sadness.
in India and the impact on health these toxic waste mixed water can
have on people.

60 61
Being you is your authentic self but it is always
oppressed because you don’t really know
Supreme in Quality, High
on Style Quotient, and
if the person you are would be accepted by
those around you. We always need validation
from everyone. He stresses upon the fact that
living in coexistence with nature is the best
thing ever. When he was in Himachal, he was
completely disconnected with the outside
world. He had no access to the internet and
Conscious of Nature: The
he says that it transformed him into a
completely different individual. The tribal
people he met there still live in beautiful mud
USP of ELFEN Watches.
houses and their houses are filled with a lot of
fruits, birds and is a completely different world
altogether. And when he had a conversation
with a tribal leader he realised that people
from cities come to these beautiful sites of
nature seeking peace. We have created our
own zoos and we have created a concept of
humans being superior species. Mr. Singh
believes that we come to earth and we go
back to earth. Whatever we do we have conscious choices to make, either we make it worse or you make it

AU B U R N D U S K
better. Whatever choices you make become a part of
yourself. “When I saw the deforestation in Mumbai right
in front of my eyes, a part of me was dead along with
those trees.” We seek things in which we find happiness
and once we get it in a few days we realise it is not what
we wanted and we seek for more. A day comes when our
houses will be filled with a lot of stuff but we’ll be empty
inside. We have to remove your shoes and ground
ourselves into the wilderness.

Mr. Singh is currently working on developing his

e-commerce company and is looking forward to pursu-
ing a master’s degree. He’s also planning to plant a lot
of trees using the Japanese Miyawaki method where
they create a small cluster of trees contributing a mini
forest. The definition of having a good life is leading a
content life. He has lost a few people close to him during
this pandemic but he accepts that this is the way of life
and there’s
beauty in
it. Keeping in mind about the uncertainty of life and that death can
occur anytime, we have to lead a productive life. Life is all about
making conscious choices and adopting a sustainable way of life.
Though the world functions in a different way altogether we must
do what we could on an individual level. Love, live and let live is a
common message but we should be compassionate towards not
only animals but also towards our fellow humans. During his days as
a social science
teacher he had strongly connected with his students unlike any other
faculty or even parents did. People should build such connections,
we would never know how and when such connections will lend us a
hand. To conclude, he finally adds, “Whenever you walk into a room
irrespective of what people are thinking, make sure you are the light
in that room and when you walk out they should know that there
was light. Life is beautiful and there’s no time to complain and life is
still beautiful and it will continue even when you’re gone. We are a
beautiful kid from within and will always be.”

62 63

A gentleman’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as his Saville
Row Suit. At ELFEN the aim is not just to create a watch, but to provide a
unique experience to its wearers. ELFEN is India’s first brand for
premium wooden watches. All their watches have been made using 7
different types of natural wood namely Mahogany, Ebony, Pine, Oak, Zebra,
Walnut wood, and Sandal wood. The brand was founded with a belief that
beautiful watches can be made from wood - a renewable resource with
significant advantage over other commonly used materials.
Elfen aims to show the world how age old craftsmanship can be used in
modern day products to form ethical and sustainable designs for
conscious yet stylish individuals.
Jacobian Fury Boss’s Bistre
64
Let’s Head to the
Beginning
Back in 2018, Mr Sarthak Banga who is now the
founder of Elfen watches was working in a
corporate job, and his co-founder Ankit Jaswani
had his own Fashion-Accessories store in Pune.
Their discussions often veered towards starting
something of their own, something niche and
unique, something which can provide a lot of
value to Indian consumers. During one such
discussion, they realised that the watch
industry is saturated with very limited designs Weaved Helson
and patterns, especially in India. Sarthak says,
“All the usual brands were offering similar -
looking stainless steel designs for watches,
which are not only quite heavy on your wrist, but
also not that versatile for every occasion.” It
was then they came up with the idea of wood-
en watches. “We thought why not try creating a
watch from a renewable resource such as wood.”
Not only did their watches came out to be super
lightweight, they were also quite strong in built
quality and durability. The next step was to take it
Nomad Explorer big and take it to the entire Indian and global
market and that’s when the idea of ELFEN was born. Elfen started operations
on 5th August 2019, and by taking continuous feedback from their customers
they worked on those to improve their processes and end-product. The result
is what we now see in front of us - a product which is both supreme in quality
and high on style quotient.
65
 Facing the Challenges
Head On
Pride Mahogany Sapphire Spectre Vincent Valentine
The main challenge the founders faced was to create that end product. With none
of them having a background in production and manufacturing, they had to go
through a lot of failed attempts and iterations to finally develop Elfen’s first
successful prototype. It was a watch made of Zebra wood. The other major
challenge was to take this completely new watch segment to the Indian market.
“We were very skeptical , how it will be viewed by the consumers and would they
be actually receptive towards the idea of a wooden watch?” One thing that kept
Sarthak and his team going was the belief in the fact that everyone that they had
shown the watch to, absolutely loved it. The key was to position the company in a
right and aspirational way to the Indian consumers. One thing the company was
clear about right from the first day was regarding their target customers. They
decided not to target every consumer in this country but to concentrate on value
driven customers- one who makes a purchase because he/she believes in that
product, rather than buying something just because they are at a heavily
discounted price. All the ad campaigns and social media strategies were devised
to target that value driven customer, and they achieved great results. Till date Elfen
watches follow the same notion of providing as much value to their consumers as
possible for their purchases. Elfen’s packaging is one of the best in the industry
with the lowest product return rate. It goes on to show that despite all the hurdles
the company faced in the initial days, the team tried to learn from them and
improve continuously. Elfen watches is a proud fully homegrown brand.
66
Tree Plantation
Initiative
Elfen’s mission has always been to provide as much value
to their consumers as possible. The majority of the
products are handmade, with an emphasis on quality at
affordable prices. As a responsible and sustainable brand,
Elfen Watches have always believed in giving more to
Mother Nature than taking away from it. Keeping up with
their core principles, for every purchase you make, they
plant a tree in your name.
ELFEN has partnered with Tree Nation whose focus is on
the reforestation and the reduction of the most pressing
threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Every time you
buy an ELFEN Wood Watch, a tree will be planted in your
name! As soon as you place the order on the website
and make the payment, you will receive an email from
Tree-Nation, with the details of the tree planted in your
name. You will be able to see all the details of the tree like
its LIVE Google location, the farmer taking care of it, the
crop that it will be a part of the harvest, etc. Along with
this you will also receive a tree - plantation certificate
over e-mail. The link in the certificate will take you to your
tree with its details.
67
 Working the Way up!

The Road Ahead…

Future seems very exciting. Elfen are coming up with 6 new designs as a part
of their new collection along with custom engraving services. Customers will
be able to get their message or a picture engraved at the back of the watch.
They are working on packaging and are trying to create one of the best
packaged brands in India. Elfen plans to go global soon, diversifying their
market to include Europe and Canada. In fact, they have already started
Lady’s Russet Jacobian Fury shipping to the USA and UK.

With an initiative as creative as Elfen Watches, there’s no stopping the watch

industry from turning to sustainability. In a few years, Elfen will sit at the Zenith
of sustainable yet classy watch designs from all over the world.

Nomad Explorer Weaved Helson

Elfen Watches have been very well received by the customers and the Indian
market at large. The company is seeing steady growth in sales with
customers coming back to buy again. Elfen Watches also provides custom
gift wrapping and messaging service for people who wish to gift the watches
Pride Mahogany Vincent Valentine
to someone during an occasion. The pace of growth is good but the team at
Elfen is sure that their customer centric approach is something they would
never compromise for growth.
68 69
The Ground
By Ann Ardra Antony

I’m the ground. At that exact moment i saw something

I bear all that is on top of me to keep them
safe.
My parents eroded away one day.
Their parts scattered everywhere.
And now I’m all that’s left.
One day the storm came to visit the
mountains.
The storm scares me.
“It pulls unsuspecting spectators into it,
making them lost and eroding them away.”
My cousin once said
I wanted to run away
But I remembered mother saying
“The trees will protect you.”
So I stayed put
But the trees swayed and swayed in the wind,
Falling at last and leaving me defenceless.
I forgot that moment the weight I bore
And the lives I protect
The storm raged harder
I could no longer see anything
It seems I was lost
I broke under the pressure
Giving way under me
As that which I sought to protect
Died under my own body
I felt sad and determined all at once
I gave away my fear willingly to the storm
And weathered through
Keeping that one part of me I wanted to keep
safe at all cost
And After what seemed a gruelling eternity
The storm left
A light pierced through the dark clouds
Touching me who was shivering from the cold
and broken beyond repair
But broken somehow did not mean not whole
It meant something else entirely
I smiled, at the sun peeking out naughtily.
And back at the tiny sapling I had given my all
to protect
She was leaning towards the sun now
With her little hands spread out
She was cowering no longer
Afraid to come out
And looking at her struggle to reach the sun
My grin stretched wide
Eroding the years of pain
And I realised —
The storm was not quite what I had imagined.
It was something else entirely.

70 71
 TTH
HEE DIFFERENT H UES OOFF COU RRA G E By Manju Chellani

I have never felt that courage and lack of fear are synonymous. There are plenty of things
in the world inside and outside of us which are actually fearful. Not to regard them as such
would not be courage; it would be foolhardiness. Nevertheless, embarking on them because
they are either imperative or ethical – that is courage. Courage could also be a deliberate act
of going further than what is required from one. It could be what you demand from your
highest self: what you could be rather than what you are. Or it may be evoked for a love for
fellow human beings whom you see as extensions of yourself. And courage may also spring
from a sudden realization of what you actually stand as opposed to some earlier perception
of the self. Whether you charge ahead into the known or unknown, the decision requires
strength, determination and a head held high which says that “I will”. No matter what the
tenor of our lives has been, we all have had to take this decision of action a number of times.
No matter if it proved to be a catastrophe or a blessing. That is what life is.

As our lives go by, we learn progressively more about ourselves and others around us. But A scene from the movie ‘Neerja‘
we learn even more from mediums which are “out of frame” but created by people amongst
us; about people amongst us. One of the most powerful of these media are films in which we The 2019 Hollywood film: “A Call to Spy” is an attempt to bring to fore a real-life
can watch our lives on screen, perceiving them more objectively. Also more acutely group of lesser known heroes of World War II. After France had been captured by the
sometimes. Alongwith the entire gamut of emotions, different characters bring home to us Nazi forces, England formed a new spy agency called Special Operations Executive.
all the hues of courage. And this is why films which we are going to muse about below are “Lady spies” were recruited to be sent to France for sabotage, subversion and resistance,
those based on real-life events, even if fictionalized somewhat as a form of creative
under the assumption that women will not be easily suspected as spies, since women
expression.
working as spies was a novel idea then.
One such is the 2016 Hindi film: “Neerja”. From this we get to know how much courage can
emanate from a fun-loving, sensitive young woman, recovering from divorce from a
misogynist husband who abused her for not being well-versed in household skills; and
her parents for not giving dowry. After her divorce, she felt that she cannot bring herself to
commit to marriage again. And yet this young head purser of a flight spear-headed herself
forward in an attempt to save all the passengers and crew possible during a horrific hijack
attempt by terrorists. She and the rest of those on the flight were plunged into this night-
marish situation out of the blue. Yet her quick thinking and lightning reactions truly proved
her mettle when put to test. She thwarted the attempt by alerting the pilots who escaped
the aircraft in the nick of time; and then by other manoeuvres she managed to save a large
majority of the crew and passengers. The film is based on the actual hi-jacking attempt of
Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in September 1986 and the courage of the real late Ms. Neerja
Bhanot who was fatally injured by the terrorists and awarded Ashoka Chakra posthumously.
If courage in the face of unexpected circumstances is laudable, no less is courage in the face
of events which have been thought out to the last gasp. A scene from the movie ‘A Call to Spy‘

8 9
Virginia Hall, an American who wanted to fight for the Allied forces and Noor Inayat
Khan, daughter of Indian and Russian parents; a first-rate wireless operator; and a
pacifist, went to their stations in Germany in full knowledge of what would befall
them if caught. They were ready to face torture, extermination, infamy and failure for
the sake of doing their bit for the vanquishing of the Axis forces. Salute to them and
to such courage!

A scene from the movie ‘Thappad‘

Ditto for Amrita of the 2020 Hindi film: “Thappad”. This film may not be based on
any one real-life story but it is the story of ‘every woman’. Who could not take lightly
her husband slapping her in public. Who could not move on as these things “happen”
and she should “forget” about it. She fought on as she believed in her perception of
what was actually due to her as a wife rather than others’ perception of what generally
is.
A scene from the movie ‘Wild‘

What is courage then? It is both a spectrum and capable of being summed up in one
Let us now meet Cheryl Strayed of “Wild”: the 2014 Hollywood film which is based line from Guru Rabindranath Tagore’s “Gitanjali”: “Where the mind is led forward
on Strayed’s 2012 memoir entitled: “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest by thee into ever-widening thought and action…”. True for an individual and for a
Trail”. After her mother passed away of lung cancer, Cheryl was devastated. As a nation.
reaction, she had a series of relationships one of which introduced her to
substance-abuse, resulting in the break-up of her marriage. These cumulative shocks
overturned her life leading to a need for self-discovery and re-building her being.
Without any previous hiking experience, she undertook a 1100 mile hike alone on
the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 and confronted the panorama of grief, survival, hope
and visions for the future. At various points in her hiking, she could sense the spirit
of her mother watching over her. If she did not have the grit to start this journey; and
the need for the truth, she would not have been able to do this: “I’m going to walk
myself back to the woman my mother thought I was”. Which she did.

10 11
A life worth living
By Debbie Hewson
The house stood on the hill, high enough
that you could see across the valley, and the
hills beyond. They had lived in the house
for more than ten years, and had been
happy there. The place had been a wreck,
but they had fixed it, they had done it
together, and it had been fun most of the
time. The house had been a home, one
that both of their children had felt safe to
come home to, even though they were fully
grown, and had homes of their own. It
had been the perfect place. The village that
surrounded them was filled with friends
and they had been involved almost from the
start in committees and parties and always a
great deal of cake and tea.
The morning that they had left the house,
with plenty of time to get to the appoint-
ment, they had expected to be back home
before lunchtime, with very little changed.
The town had been busy, and the car park
was pretty full, but they had found a space
and walked back, still leaving themselves
time to be early and wait.
Old friends had been sitting outside a café
drinking coffee and had invited them to sit
down, but they had pressed on. The doctor
had been kind, but absolutely clear. There
was no room for hope or treatment. There
was no reprieve. It would be quick, and
could be managed so that there would be no
pain, but it would come. Soon. They drove
home in silence, taking in the news. It
would change everything, forever.
36
For days they walked around the house, avoiding looking at each other, or talking if they
possibly could, until they could bear it no more.
“I made coffee. We need to talk about this. It’s happening to both of us. One of us has to go,
and the other will be left alone, so we need to deal with it. We have a couple of choices, as far as
I can see. We can sit here and wait for it to come, or we can have the
best three months we’ve ever had. Go on holiday, have the kids down,
whatever we want to do. Eat what we fancy, drink too much wine.”
Her eyes sparkled. She was the woman he had met, and fell in love
with, except this was better, he knew she was his, for as long as they
had.
There and then, the decision was made, they got in the car and drove to
the beach, sitting on the sand and eating ice creams, while she invited
the children to visit. They decided not to tell people, there would be
time for that when it was necessary, and they wanted not to deal with
other people’s pity or concern, it would be a waste of the time they had
left.
They stayed on the beach until the sun set, and then on into the
darkness. Some kids who were younger than their own arrived and
played softly on a guitar. They smiled at the old couple who danced on
the sand, and held each other close. She rested her head on his chest
and remembered the dances they’d had together over the years.
It was after midnight when they got home. It had been years since they
were home so late. They ate a late breakfast, and sat in the garden
reading the papers, and refilling their coffee cups. They booked a
holiday, and left the next day, sitting on a beach each day, eating food
they would normally avoid, and drinking too much wine.
After two weeks they came home and welcomed their friends to the
house, throwing a party for the whole village. The music played on
through the evening, and into the night, and when everyone else had
left, they danced together once again, her head on his chest, and their
arms wrapped around each other.
“I’ll miss you.” They told each other. “I’ll miss this.”
The children came to visit, and each of them remarked how happy they
found them. How contented. The visits went well, and food and wine
were consumed. They were genuinely happy at times.
37
 A month went by, and then
two. They realized that being
happy and enjoying
themselves had been a skill
they had allowed to rust from
lack of use. Life had got in the
way, and now that they had
been threatened with the loss
of it, they had found the way
back to living for fun.

Friends commented that they

had never known them to be
happier. They laughed and
joked their way through the
days. Every two weeks they
visited the doctor for blood
tests and chatted their way through them, treating themselves to a picnic on the way home.

After three months, the results that came back from the blood tests were bad. They had known it
was coming, and were surprised that it made no difference. They shrugged their shoulders at the
doctor and went to meet some friends for dinner.

The following week, they went to the hospital, The children came again, with tears, and grief in their eyes.
and discussed pain relief. The days were counting
down, falling through their fingers, but they carried The last day came, and he slipped away, peacefully and she thought there was the ghost of a
on. The pills, then injections, kept the pain at bay, smile on his face. Her kisses sent him safely on.
and the wine helped.
The children came again to pay respects, along with friends, and then they left, and she sat
A friend invited them out for a day on his boat, and alone in the house where they had been so happy, where they had laughed, and she cried all
they jumped at the chance. They loved it, enjoyed the tears that there were in the world to cry.
the sun glinting off the water, and the feel of the
wind in their faces as they rushed across the waves They had lived and loved every second. She had grieved for him with all of her, and now she
towards the land. had to find the courage to live a life alone.

The next day they had an appointment at the She pulled on her gardening gloves, and went outside. The weeds had enjoyed the time they
hospital, and the news was bad. The painkillers had been ignored. She would start with them, and see what she would do next.
were increased, and now that one of them had to
stay on the ward, there was to be no more wine. If she had learned one thing, it was that life was to be lived.
Pain relief became a drowsy sleep, which slipped
into a slow goodbye.

38 39
 The Life, Love & Money Show with
Summer & Jen

40
Jen
41
Summer
1. Who and what inspired you to be where you are
today?
Summer:
When I was six months old, I went into a coma
due to a small hole in my intestine, which caused
sepsis. As a result of multiple surgeries as an infant,
it led to additional surgeries throughout my life.
As I watched the doctors and nurses care for and
reassure me that everything was going to be okay, I
felt a sense of comfort, support and security by the
care I received from these folks and this impacted
me positively. I knew I wanted to help people and it
evolved into my goal of being a doctor of
psychology and now by being a coach who supports
others with their life, love, money and
entrepreneurial matters.
Jen:
For me, it happened at a much older age. When I
was working as a designer in my mid-twenties, I
remember sitting at my desk feeling like there was
so much more inside of me and that I wasn’t typing
into my full potential. I did start to realize that I
absolutely couldn’t stand working for somebody
else, but didn’t quite understand what the
alternative could be. It wasn’t until this time that I
started reading more books on self development,
leadership, entrepreneurship and realized there
was another way to do things and it began to make
sense. The next thing I know, I’m trying to figure
out how I can leave my job and embark on
something for myself.
2. How important is self-love according to you?
Summer:
Self-love and caring for one’s wellness is critical
for personal development. When you can establish
care for your own physical and mental wellness,
this lends to being able to support others better, set
healthy boundaries, reduce angst and symptoms of
depression, and support healthy personal growth.
Jen:
Self-love is extremely important to me. I do my best
to make it a daily practice whether that is through
praying and meditating or working out. I always feel
that in order for me to show up as my best and to
serve and help others, it starts with me making sure
that I am whole- mentally, emotionally, spiritually,
and physically.
3. Does being a woman affect the rate at which
you grow in your career ladder?
Summer:
There may be a few roadblocks that we may
encounter as women as related to career goals, but the biggest
factor to inhibit or support growth is ‘the mindset’. Most of the
time, we are the ones that get in the way of our own success.
We either fear the unknown, doubt ourselves, have imposter
syndrome, or forget to lean into our courage. When consid-
ering career growth, be your own positive disruptor, embrace
your fears and find a mentor. If you have a misstep, embrace the
gained wisdom, and know that you are the one who creates your
journey and the way you want to live it.
Jen:
Ironically for me I haven’t really felt this. I have worked in
male-dominated Industries and environments where there were
mostly men. Also, I don’t look at being a woman as something
that affects my career in a negative way. Because I pave my own
path and make my own decisions, it’s not something that I’m not
directly impacted by because I am in control of what I want to
do.
4. How to have a great launch at your career in the early days?
Summer:
In the early days of your career, I would suggest mentorship. This
is a great way to learn and really allay fears and imposter
syndrome. Mentorship can help with strategizing your career
plan and having someone in your life to bounce ideas off of, gain
wisdom and guidance from, and to help support your plan.
42
I would also suggest building your professional connections and
developing those into incredible professional relationships. These
relationships will create a very valuable support system.
Jen:
I believe one of the best ways you can have a great launch at your
career in the early days is to really understand the importance of
always working on your mindset and developing a love for
self-improvement. Make sure that you have a strong network and
community around you that can support you and help you
understand the lessons that others can teach you because they
have gone through it before you. Once you embrace that, the
journey is up and down and not a linear path, I believe you start
to realize that this is a way of life that you chose and as a result,
find the lessons and the rewards in the journey and go as far as
your dreams can take you.
5. What are the tips you’d give to people who have faced many
failures in the initial stages?
Summer:
I would say, “keep going”! I would rather call failures missteps.
I always say that our missteps are some of the most valuable
lessons. Our missteps serve as gained wisdom. This wisdom can
be applied to support personal development and success.
Jen:
One of the tips I would give people who have faced many
43
failures is to talk to other people who have gone
through that before you, especially in the same arena
that you are trying to break into. It’s so often that we
think that everybody else has it easy, they got lucky.
and we think nothing goes wrong for them. So often,
especially on social media, people show the Highlight
Reel and not the behind or deleted scenes! So what I
advise is that you change your perception of failure
and realize that it is a part of the game. Failure teach-
es you lessons and shows you what you are made of.
It tells you how you need to respond and how to do
better and it shows you what worked and what didn’t
work. I equate it to inventors and science. Running
into failures is like field experiments that teach you to
take a different route. The important thing is to keep
on going and don’t let it stop you, because you never
know how close you are to hitting that goal.
6. Is being courageous as important as it is thought
to be?
Summer:
Being courageous is so valuable when it comes
to personal growth and fulfillment. Courage means
taking baby-steps towards your goals. It means
leaning into your fears. It means understanding the
“why” and reasons for your fears to gain a better
understanding of how you can work through what
might be holding you back. Being courageous allows
you to learn new skills and lends to resiliency. Being
courageous is critical in how you develop both
personally and professionally.
Jen:
Being courageous is extremely important. You
absolutely need it, because there are going to be many
times when you are faced with fear, when you want to
stop or you don’t want to take the next move.
Courage means doing things even when you are
scared to do it. We need courage and boldness and
faith in order to keep on moving forward. Without it
there will be no progress and you very well might be
giving up on your dreams.
7. Can you please talk about making life-altering
changes?
Summer:
Life altering changes can be very scary. I would
suggest creating a very strong network of support,
develop a realistic plan for change, and then take
action towards change. The first few steps are always
the most difficult, but when you have a plan and have
a supportive network, these two factors can be of
such great value.
Jen:
Making life-altering changes requires bravery and
courage and fearlessness.
It requires you to think outside of yourself and the things
and people that become affected, especially if there are
people depending on you such as children. But at the end
of the day, you need to really ask yourself what is your
mission, purpose and are the decisions you are making
aligning with your values. Life-altering changes require
you to consider what kind of sacrifices need to be made.
You also have to accept that things may not turn out the
way you planned and that’s okay! This is why we talk
about failure or what you may consider as failure, and
this is where you need to decide what you want to do
differently. We live in a world that constantly changes, so
our job is to figure out how to maneuver through it and
with it.
8. You also talk a lot about how money might interfere
in a relationship. Can you give more insights on that?
Summer:
Money and how we each feel about it can be laden with
emotions. The reasons this can be such an emotional
factor for so many and has the potential to interfere in a
relationship is due to how each of us were raised to think
about money, how to spend and save it, and what you
saw others do with their money. When in a relationship,
you are joining with another person that has their own
unique feelings and ideas about money and they just
might be very different from your own. If you can come
up with a workable money plan with your partner, in the
beginning of the relationship, this will help significantly
to reduce future money issues.
Jen:
Money definitely can interfere in a relationship whether
that’s negatively or positively. There is so much emotion
behind money and it’s difficult to ignore that it has an
effect on us in our relationships. What we really need to
look at is our own relationship with money because when
we bring in another person that can become magnified.
On a basic level, we have to see how our relationship with
money is and how we view it and how we value it. What
are the lessons we learned from our parents on a
conscious and subconscious level? When you bring
another person into the situation and when your money
values, your view about money don’t align with your
partner, it can definitely create conflict. It can also create
confusion and misunderstanding, because we have
different expectations from our partner. There’s
discussion that can take place, such as who manages the
money, how it’s spent, and how it is saved. We even need
to take a look at the fact that some people are afraid or
don’t know how to talk to others about money, especially
their partner or spouse. This is why there is a breakdown
in communication and which is why money related
issues are one of the biggest reasons for divorce.
44
9. Are relationships worth fighting for when there is
already a lot going on?
Summer:
This is a very loaded question. It depends on what is going
on and if the conditions of the relationship are such that
they are contributing to healthy functioning. I will say that
if there is abuse in the beginning of the relationship, it is
important to seek professional guidance, remove yourself
from the relationship, and to keep yourself safe. As for the
other factors, it really depends on your core values and if
they align with your partners. Core values is a subject that
I speak about often, because it is the basis for your choice
of partner, how you are going to get along, and will support
the longevity of the relationship. Your core values and
those of your partners will serve as the foundation for a
committed relationship.
Jen:
My favorite answer- it depends. It depends on the situation.
It depends on what is going on, it depends on someone’s
well being and if that’s being compromised or in jeopardy.
But I do understand that there are seasons in everybody’s
life.
Some people are going through major life changes or something
traumatic and sometimes we just need that space and time to
ourselves in order to process things when there is a lot going on.
This is why it’s so important to have an understanding partner
and that you are able to communicate with them clearly about
how you’re feeling and what you’re going through. There’s also
the element of bringing in professional help if needed.
Sometimes our ego and pride may get in the way and it prevents
us from talking about things or seeking help and I would advise
that you don’t let it get to that point. If someone truly loves,
supports me and is in alignment with what is important to
me and my values, I definitely think the relationship is worth
fighting for. This is a matter of me seeking to understand what is
truly going on at the root level and what can I do to make things
better.
10. What are your thoughts on balancing work and personal
life?
Summer:
Passion, happiness and purpose. When you know your “why”
aka your purpose, what you are passionate about, and how you
are aligning your life with your core values, this will make it so
much easier to create and sustain balance in your life. If you live
by your core values, these values will be the compass that guides
your decisions about how you want to live your life. When you
feel you are getting off track, your core values will also be what
helps you get back in alignment with how you want to live a life
you love and that it is balanced.
45
Jen:
Balance is such an interesting word and over the
years I hear good and bad things about it. The more
common thought is that there needs to be harmony
between work and personal life. Personally, I believe
that those two sections can work together well if you
know how to plan properly and quite honestly,
manage your time. I think there is a way to have
fun, relax and have time for yourself. I also believe
that you can work hard and hustle. However, I do
also believe that there are going to be seasons and
moments in your career or your entrepreneurial
journey, where it may feel out of balance. I want
to challenge everyone to look at imbalance as
something that could help. For example, there are
going to be times when we are working on a new
program and haven’t gotten sleep over the last few
days but you know that you are not going to do this
for months. This is what I mean by seasons and the
small moments of time when it may feel imbalanced.
But that’s where you need to use your discernment
to understand that you need to recalibrate and take
time for yourself to regroup, relax, refocus and
recharge.
11. What do you think that still is a taboo and
needs to be talked about in our society and why?
Summer:
Issues related to mental health. I think society still is
challenged by talking about issues, such as
depression, anxiety, and suicide. The more we talk
about these issues, the symptoms and signs to be
aware of, and how we can help ourselves before a
crisis, seek help, and support others, this will help
reduce the stigma of mental health. This open
communication about mental health will serve as a
more preventative measure to reduce mental health
issues before they actually become a crisis, which
not only impacts the individual, but the community
as a whole.
Jen:
I used to say money, but I believe there has been
a shift in society realizing more and more that
financial literacy is something that we talked about
more openly now than ever which is a great thing.
The thing that I think is taboo is having that tough
conversation with elderly parents when it comes
to estate planning. Far too often I see the scenario
where adult children never have the conversation
with their elderly parents in terms of what is put into
place.They don’t know who owns the house or what
to do with the house or if there is trust.
They don’t ever have the discussion about
who will pay for funeral arrangements.
Discussion of who and how will elderly
parents be taken care of and whose
responsibility it will be is also important.
This is something that I think is still taboo
and this conversation is not taking place as
often as it should be. From my perspective,
this is so detrimental to many families’
financial planning. It is not an easy
conversation and unfortunately on the
elderly parents’ side many of them could
have a negative view that the children just
want the money. On the adult children side,
they are not paying attention to the
detrimental effects of lack of planning.
12. How has this journey been for you?
What were the challenges that you needed
to endure in the process?
Summer:
If we are speaking in terms of personal
journey, it certainly has been a unique one.
I have been challenged by medical issues,
having to work at a very young age, and
being raised by a single parent, who worked
late shifts and as a result I was mostly alone.
However, I always had the capacity to see
that these challenges were also rewards.
I learned how to be more independent
and resilient when it came to everyday life
challenges as well as those that impacted my
professional career. I have always been one to
pick myself up and learn from my missteps
and the unforeseen situations. I have also
been focused and learned how to continually
assess what was serving me well or
contributing to my well-being. Being
resilient and knowing that I could lead with
courage and lean into my fears has helped
me grow as a person with character and
develop my core values.
Jen:
This journey has been tough and very vol-
atile but by the same token very rewarding
as well. I could easily look at the challenges
that’s something to be angry about, but I look
at them as lessons on how I could do better
and what I would do differently moving for-
ward. I personally went through a divorce in
2009 and suffered financially from it and the
after effects and that has been an uphill battle
to overcome. But by going through that, I
realized how resilient I was and that I could
get through anything. The tough lessons that
we go through help us gain wisdom and
perspective and enable us to move forward.

I also believe that they are placed there in order for us to
help others and mentor others and to encourage them that
life goes on and you’re going to be okay.
13. How do you ensure your content connects with your
viewers?
Summer:
As a researcher, a doctor of psychology and someone that
has worked in the field of human services and mental
health for years, I study human behavior. I look at polls,
research, and how people respond to certain subjects on
social media, which helps me understand the
demographic that I serve better. I also conduct my own
research and do needs assessments when I want to get
really clear and find the specifics about what will connect
with my viewers and their needs.
Jen:
For me it’s really learning how to show up as your
authentic self. I know that sounds so cliche but it’s actually
true. You really need to focus on who you are as a person,
and not try to be somebody else, and realize you are going
to attract the people that love to listen to you that resonate
with your material, that relate to personal experiences and
stories that you share.
46
I realize that this does take a level of honesty, openness,
and vulnerability, but if you are willing to do those things
that is how your content can connect with people because
they realize that you are being true to yourself and honest
with them. Nobody can relate to perfection so why try to
be that?
14. How are love, life and money interrelated? What is
the one aspect according to you which one should focus
on?
Summer:
Core Values is what drives every aspect of our lives. Some
might also add intuition and impulsivity. However, I
would say that, overall, when you are clear about your
core values, these are the foundational beliefs from which
you make decisions about almost every aspect of life to
include: love, life, money, career, relationships, kid. If you
are confused about your core values and how to lead with
your foundational beliefs, I would say that it is s
important to start with a bit of reflection and
evaluation about your core values. I actually wrote a book
that provides strategies about how to identify what your
core values are, your core values mission statement and
your “why” aka purpose.
Jen:
Life, love and money are totally interrelated, they are
topics we talked about all the time because that is what
people deal with in real life. Love and Money in itself
affect our relationships, not only with others but how we
see ourselves. I spoke earlier about the relationship we
have with money and if that is not healthy and whole, it’s
going to be more difficult with your partner. And if you’re
trying to plan a life together it’s all related. There is so
much overlap. The one aspect I would say to focus on is
exactly what Summer said - your core values.This in effect
has become our Flagship Mantra if you will. We talk about
core values all the time, because they truly are the driving
force and Northstar that guides you in your decisions.
Without them you will not know what to focus on and
what you are aligning yourself with and therefore you will
continue to be lost and confused.
15. Anything you’d like to share with our readers?
Summer:
My mom always told me to be happy in whatever you
choose to do, to live life with integrity and always find
time to laugh. These three key elements have served me
well and knowing that I have a super power called choice.
We as humans get to live a life of choice.
Choose how you want to live your journey and remember
to never give your power of choice away.
Jen:
I know there are so many aspects that we can say to focus
on and sometimes this can be very overwhelming and
leave somebody feeling like they don’t know where to
start. Let me leave you with something simple to start
implementing. Ask yourself if you have a daily morning
routine. How do you start your day? Do you go imme-
diately to your phone and check emails? Do you start
scrolling down social media feeds? What are you feeding
your mind with each and every day you wake up? In order
for someone to embark on a lifelong journey, you have
to think about your daily steps first. What is it that you
were doing to create your miracle morning? When you
can start focusing on those little daily habits and think
about the compounding effect that could have on your
life, you will look back one day and realize that you have
been on the right path all this time. But it starts with daily
habits. One book that I read recently that I think I would
pass along is Darren Hardy’s Compound Effect that talks
about this very concept. Don’t try to tackle the universe in
one day. Don’t try to compare yourself to the people who
are ahead of you. Start with today and start with you and
ask yourself what is it that you can do every single day to
move closer to your ultimate goals and dreams.
47
 A WOMAN OF
the m et t l e you
FLAME By Jude Fallon

By Mariyam Mirdadzai

If you drown,
swim to the sun.
Made of skin and bone If you fear,
she rose from another woman.
pop your bubble.
They stab their toes
If you cry,
and drum their fingers
cry harder.
till she is pushed down
the drain. If they call you spineless,
She sculpts her life grow above them.
with blood and stones If they nudge past you,
all day sweep them aside.
and cries into her soul If they break you apart,
when the world is asleep. become a puzzle.
She shuts her eyes close, If the say you’re a chicken,
closets her ears
be a phoenix.
But the world screams
If it’s going to be hard,
for her to stop.
let it be.
But little does it know
she is a woman of flames. It is meant to be.
A flame that never dies. And you are meant to do it.

49 21
SKIN Dots and
By Anjana
By Anjana Colours
It covers your skin. By S
Saa meem
me em D een
like the peelable skin of a
snake.
When you look around, You
it resides in your eyes.
Your mother
When you walk on foreign
roads Your neighbour
it shines like a distant The one who hurls the newspaper at
star that stands a foot away. your door
The one you sells you fruits
The one who treats your pain
Men and women
It is in the way you speak, who stand in front of you
the way you eat, Perpetually teaching you life
and the way you love.
The one who made the car you ride
You scribble it on printed
pages The one who printed the money in
lethargically. your wallet
Unaware that it becomes The one whose face is on it.
part of the ink on the paper. The one who rules your country.
Part of the hand that writes it. You all are dots on a sheet of paper
Colourful dots
But there is a word
That will stain you all
Beyond repair
A part of your body The stain that you love
and a part of your existence. The stain that makes you all smile at
It sticks to you like skin sticks each other
to your flesh The stain that connects these dots
inseparably peelable.
The stain is on your foreheads
It hides beneath you
That stain is your heritage.

34 35
 The Flamboyant nature
of multiculturalism
By Renu Singh
7.7 billion people, over 3,900 cultures,
people on this planet lead their lives in
various ways. Have you ever wondered
how all these different cultures and
different people who practice them come
together as a whole? We all have distinct
beliefs that we rely on. We are also aware
of the existence of other such beliefs that
others have. What makes this entire
picture beautiful is how we all embrace
our differences and maintain peace. In
other words, this can be called ‘cultural
pluralism’.

Acknowledging the presence and

understanding the nature of different local
cultures or rather the cultures of the
There are two predominant theories associated with multiculturalism. “The melting pot
minority is multiculturalism. It is
theory” and “the salad bowl theory” and these theories are based on the American context.
important to do so because every culture
The melting pot theory is where people of different origins renounce their own culture in order
has its own value and they seek to mingle
to be identified by mainstream culture. The salad bowl theory is the one in which people exist
with the mainstream cultures for two reasons. One is to expose to the world the knowledge and its
among the mainstream culture but they don’t abandon their own culture or belief system. They
significance and two is to contribute to the cultural value of the entire community. Recognizing the
retain certain aspects of their origins while they live among a diverse group of people
cultures of the minorities also shatters social evil such as discrimination based on class and caste.
practising different cultures just like how a salad bowl is an amalgam of different ingredients.
Also, we get to be more knowledgeable and understanding towards our ancestral roots and our
civilization.
Cultural pluralism is a beautiful image, if you want to look deep into it. Think about a painting
that has so many colours or rather think about northern lights and how artfully beautiful they
In a political context, cultural pluralism and multiculturalism contributes to identifying different
are. Isn’t it a sign that different colours in one frame make the world beautiful? When people of
individuals and their freedom, liberty and rights over their own lives and their contribution to
different race, class, gender, class, ethnicity come together as a community, it not only adds to
society. This also avoids generalising culture as something that exists as one single practice. The idea
the richness of our species but also encourages diversity. This month we celebrate Halloween.
of grouping all cultures as a whole is a way of pushing them into a melting pot where everything
It is an international celebration where people from different parts of the world have so much
is assimilated and the differences, values and historical significance of different people is lost. This
fun together. We don’t care about any of those social structures, do we? In today’s world we go
leads to erasure of certain communities which also means indirectly marginalising certain groups of
beyond our man made boundaries for education and career, in a way this promotes fellowship
people in the name of culture. Multiculturalism promises a unity among different cultures that are
which in turn promotes cultural diversity. When we fuse cultures we not only improve our
equally important and also ensures an individual identity for each one of them. This brings out the
quality of life but also live together as a whole in peace and harmony.
distinct variations among them and at the same time function as a whole.

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BlueRose
Publishers hosts
virtual WordsBrew
Book Awards, 2021
First introduced in 2018, the WordsBrew Book Awards is awarded “to the finest self-published books.” The award seeks
to honor the literary figures in the field of literature irrespective of their genre, language, and geography. The
WordsBrew Book Awards 2021 is intended to recognize literary figures who have been consistent to bring a positive
change in society. The vision of WordsBrew is to converge the different real-life narratives of famous and budding
writers under one sky. This space will endow the readers and writers with a pedestal to articulate and explore the
different hues of an author’s journey.
The 2021 edition WordsBrew Book Awards was one of a kind wherein the entire process took place virtually. The
winners were announced at the virtual event on 26th June, 2021. Here are the winners in each category.
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1. Popular Choice-Readymade
Poetry (Hindi)- Mirage
by Nilakshi Garg
Kavitaayen by Ram Ratan
About the Author: Mirage (2020) is a beautiful coming-of-age story of an
entrepreneur and a single lady. Her name is Bethany and she lives by herself
in Chicago, Illinois. She has a weird, funny, and guarded personality. She is
trapped in her mind. She overthinks. But her personality was not always like
this. There is something that’s suspicious about her life and the past which she
avoids and doesn’t want to talk about. The axis of her worlds starts to rotate
backwards and the Mirage she has built in her mind starts to shake and force to
break with Gerald’s entry in her life. At first, it looks like a mere meet-cute. But
as she talks to him, it comes as a gore realization that he is meant to be
something deeper than that in her life. But the tangles of her past are like the
octopus legs suffocating her life. Now she will have to decide how to move
ahead in life when after a long silence and long years there is something or
someone in her life that she wants more than the pensive thoughts of her mind.
That’s why it truly feels like it’s her time to break her Mirage. And the entire
journey is about how she clears the mist of her mind. And if she even can do it.
And that too on time because Gerald might not wait for her forever.
About the Author: Nilakshi Garg is a published Indian romance author of her
debut novel Mirage (2020) published under the flagship of BlueRose
Publishers. With sheer hard work and marketing tactics, this author has bagged 53,000+ downloads of Mirage in 1.3 years
of its launch online. Besides that, she has already participated in multiple anthologies to explore her creative talent. For
example, The Sentient Vol. – 2, The Last Flower of Spring by Delhi Poetry Slam, A Jar Of Stories by Half Baked Beans,
where she contributed a short romantic thriller story named “The Secret Affair,” and then Micro Fiction Anthology by Half
Baked Beans where she again put her best talent forward by contributing a short romantic story named “Damn Him.”
Educationally, Nilakshi has completed her PGDM course in Finance and Operations from LBSIM, Dwarka, Delhi.
Currently, she is pursuing M.A. in Psychology from IGNOU. Other than that, Nilakshi is a full-time author, content
writer, copywriter, and screenwriter. Besides that, Nilakshi also owns a content magazine online named Popularity.world.
Creatively, she’s working on her first poetry book right now and next romance
novel to be released soon in the coming year.
2. Poetry (English) - Of The Heart and Soul-A Mellifluous Whisper
by Piyali Mitra
About the Book: This anthology abounds in the feeling of love- Love has
always been the source of inspiration for countless poems and thoughtful
scribblings made by lovers and admirers. But few poems are written analyzing
the concept and how experience of being in love. This book speaks of how love
can be the source of inspiration and at the same time the source of abjection.
Rejection and dejection can push one to a corner while love can uplift and
transcend a mind from one realm to another. This garland of verses as the
author would love to call is also a memory book remembering the various
emotions her mother has been subjected to.
About the Author: ”The author is a Doctoral researcher in Philosophy and
Bioethics. She is an alumni of Woolf Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
She paints her thoughts through words and lines. Writing Poetry is her way to
relax. She loves to express her pent up thoughts through her rhythmic lines.
She has previously co-authored an anthology entitled “A Note to Myself ”
which is also under the process of publication.
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She has written various academic papers in International journals published by Springer Nature. She also loves to give
wings to her imagination through colours on canvas. She is a painter and her paintings always find a way to galleries for
exhibition. Some lines and verses of this book speak the loudest and are very straightforward while others reflect vibrant
imagery and artful characters. Some lines have divine intonation while others draw heavily from mundane life. The book
has tried to capture the colors, aroma and essence of water, land, mountains,
seasons and even leaves. Every object of Nature has their own language. This
book has made an attempt to communicate that subtle language through
verses. The book also contains some illustrations.”
Kuhuo has self-illustrated her poems, expressing the thoughts not only
through words but also through art.
3. Fiction (Hindi)- Kaidi Ki Aakhiree Ichchaa/ by Amritanshu
Soni
About the Book: It narrates the touching story of a prisoner. The prisoner
takes the responsibility of killing himself by drowning in emotions. However,
under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, the prisoner is accused of killing
a girl. A girl was like a daughter to him. Eventually, he dies a natural death
in prison. This story will force any man to think before he makes a mistake.
Through this story the society will get a new perspective.
About the Author: The author is a student and wants to give a new direction
to society with his writing. This is the first novel of the author.
4. Fiction (English) - The Laughing Ghosts - Salvation of the
Slaved Spirits by Dr. Nidhi Sahore
About the Book: The Laughing Ghosts is a realization of the self for Meenu poised to find her own truth of ghosts
believed to be meandering around and looking up to her to reveal their side of the story. A stray incidence of violence in
the vicinity of the grown up Meenu, a mother of two children, pushes her to reflect upon her joyous childhood which she
shared with her neighborhood friends and cousins only to realize that even in
those nascent years of her life, women around her were suffering. However,
she did find an answer and carried a learning which was reserved for her. Each
time in her quest as a little girl to find an anchor in a woman from her
surroundings to help her identify, the very purpose of her existence led to
their sad and untimely demise. Not ready to be a slave to the belief of the
society attaching a meager and humble purpose of existence of women i.e,
letting go of that selfless life. She tries to find her own answers to the
questions which no one cared to ask. Eventually she gathered the strength
to face the reality with the help of goals of self preservation and salvation by
looking around and seeking solace from the stories of challenges faced by
women very close to her like her grandmother, mother and aunts. This makes
her harbor the value that it is important to step back and consciously quit to
gather the strength to withstand the eventualities of life. The ghosts of the
guilt haunt only the slaved souls but cannot withstand an indomitable spirit
that is determined to find its own truth; rather they stand by it to be a part of
the laughter of triumph and salvation. Therefore in the situations of self doubt
and enigma the inevitable reflections from the past help to purposefully
connect with the present to find your own answers. This lesson was true then
and shall continue to be the truth.
About the Author: Dr. Nidhi Sahore is a keen observer, a seeker of truth and a quick learner. His well-wishers attribute
him as a simple person.
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5. Non Fiction (Hindi)- Rashtriya Andolan Ke Vaicharik Aayam
by
Dr. Santosh Anand Mishra
About the Book: ”The book presented a pragmatic effort based on the
background of the Indian National Movement, the ideological dimensions
of the national movement and important chapters such as colonial
character, communalism and secularism, Democratic values, socialism,
cultural values, Industry and Agriculture. The perspective of this book is
very broad. Various concepts, events and struggles of great leaders are the
salient features of the Indian National Movement. The duration of which
has been influencing Indian public life from 1885 to 1947. A description of
India’s liberal, extremist and Gandhian age has been included in this book.”
About the Author: “Dr. Santosh Anand Mishra was born in a village named
Mishrauli in Darbhanga district of Bihar. He is a young writer and this is his
first book. He has completed his Masters Degree in three areas of interest
:History, Hindi Literature and Library Science and has a Ph.D in History.
He has also completed his LLB and B.Ed. Presently, he is contributing his
services as a teacher of history at D.A.V. Public School, Manpur, Gaya, Bi-
har. We hope that this effort of the author will continue to benefit students
and intellectuals in a better way. “
6. Non Fiction (English)- A Father’s Outlook by Jagjit Rana
About the Book: This book is basically about a father’s perspective on
parenting. The role of mothers has changed in modern India, so has the
role of fathers. The modern mothers are too stressed about taking care
of their profession and household. The father needs to don the role of
“another mother”. The varied topics discussed in this book are out of
actual experience with utmost forward thinking attitude. It is not a guide
book for a perfect father, but a mere food for thought. It covers the topic
which starts from choosing the right partner, travels through the journey
of parenthood till teenage. Some of the topics are of wider perspective
and elaborate on logical thinking which should be taught to kids without
any discretion.
About the Author: Jagjit Rana is a professional automobile designer
having dual Masters degree in Design (from IIT Delhi) and Management
(from SIMS Pune) with a background of mechanical engineering. He
has been married for almost 18 years and has two sons. Being interested
in reading, he has always cherished the dream to write himself. What
better topic to write rather than to jot the experiences of life? This book
is just that. Experiences and way of thinking. The phenomenal journey
of parenthood has been a roller coaster and the same has been depicted.
Sometimes we are right and sometimes we know what is right.
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