ANOU’S BLOG

ANOU’S BLOG ARCHIVES

Rani – a lesson in compassion

Rani – a lesson in compassion

The very first day I started visiting the Kalka temple every morning at 7am, my attention was drawn to a woman many would called a beggar as that is how she supports herself. But I was drawn to her as to me she seemed regal and beautiful in a haunting way. On days...

One proud maam’ji

One proud maam’ji

Utpal won two medals in a skating event held by a  local skating club. It was a national (!) event as there were participants from other states. Utpal life on skates is a long saga. In the summer of 2011, when he was very disturbed and almost unmanageable, Radhey...

Buy me a ride

Buy me a ride

As always Nani was on ride duty yesterday evening! Rides at the Kalka Temple which are my grandson's preferred ones. And the all time is the 'jump jump' which is a big inflatable copy of a  Disney character. It is also Utpal's all time comfort    place...

Everybody Loves a Good….

Everybody Loves a Good….

Everybody Loves a Good Drought is a disturbing and thought provoking book written way back in 1996 by P. Sainath. One could substitute drought with flood or any other cataclysmic event. Just like the telling book about hunger, Ash in the Belly, that makes you...

a little box from way down under

a little box from way down under

It was hot and humid and I had survived a rough morning. The mood was definitely not the best. Things were not getting better as no one was answering the door bell. Someone finally did. But before I could vent my annoyance my eyes fell on a packet lying in on the...

who do they belong to

who do they belong to

[Saturday is the day I visit the Shani Temple in Govindpuri. I have been doing so for quite some time now. It is a quick ritual as one lights a lamp and bows one' head and scoots off. Last Saturday as I was wearing my shoes, an man entered the Temple. He must have...

A letter to Kamala

A letter to Kamala

Dear Kamala,It has been exactly 23 years since you left me. And every minute of those years I have missed you. I have missed your smile, I have missed your grace, I have missed your words that were always the ones I needed to hear. I have memories of you that go way...

It went from my head and out through my feet

It went from my head and out through my feet

It went from my head and out through my feet! Wonder what that means? I give you three guesses or maybe I should just reveal the meaning! But to get to that a little background. When my grandson left India a few months ago he spoke Hindi like a native, English with a...

being Nani

being Nani

My little grandson is back. He will fly in tonight and revive our home and hearts for the next 2 months and one week. The last months have been bleak for more reasons than one. Nanou has not been well, Nani has been running like a headless chicken not knowing which...

Heart has its reasons

Heart has its reasons

Heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of wrote Blaise Pascal. This saying often crops in my mind when I find myself doing something that defies my Cartesian upbringing and my ever questioning mind. Yet I often find myself sprouting out words that seem to...

Of childhood, siblings and valuing relationships

Of childhood, siblings and valuing relationships

I am hurt! I had thought that some passed aberrations that plagued my personal life for quite some time had been, if not healed, at least laid to rest. I had made my peace with all the ugly and unnecessary yet distressing events that shook the very core of my family...

You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed

You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed

“People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose” wrote St Exupery in the Little Prince, a book that I have always found solace in. To some it may just...