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Don't do this, don't go there, don't chase the butterflies...! Santosh Bakaya spots a bunch of confused dogs with their equally confused masters where everything that the dogs attempt to do was something which is not to be done.
To celebrate the World Poetry Day, two of my poetic offerings with diverse and dynamic themes, the first one inspired by a painting of a woman and the second one, a poetic summation of my sense of spirituality.
Saving the head here and mending the arm there, Santosh Bakaya encounters a bunch of adventures on her morning meanderings.
Ai mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aayaa - a Shakeel ghazal is one of the best on the point of failed love, rendered timeless by Begum Akhtar's gaayaki. Vijay Kumar translates it into English.
Valentine's Day, the day of love has come and gone. But hope stays alive of a utopian world where love rules and hatred gets a drubbing every day.
Every relationship is a potpourri of similarities and differences. Ramendra Kumar muses about why his marriage is considered a runaway success.
A brawl peppered with resounding bawls and supported by a background chorus of barks greets Santosh Bakaya as she steps gingerly out in the foggy morning. But soon it turns into a happy song. :)
On a cold, foggy morning, when the masters walk their dogs in the mist, Santosh Bakaya goes for a reluctant walk only to find a friendly tug at her heartstrings.
A wistful poem celebrating the all-encompassing beauty of friendship and togetherness amid the peaceful and tranquil beauty of nature.
While the inviting warmth of the quilt makes you snuggle in deeper to beat the cold, the world outside is waking up to a brave new beginnings. Santosh Bakaya crawls out to find that spring is round the corner!
A spate of thefts in school disturb everyone's life, puzzling everyone. Do you know who could be stealing from the students?
Two children, Charu and Raghu, dodge a dozing dad to skip out of the house on bright sunny afternoon and explore the world of animals all by themselves.
The girls featured in all the stories are like Kintsukuroi Dolls; they're all broken, but are slowly putting themselves together.
Stories of Resilience written by Ramendra Kumar showcases how adolescent girls battle the toughest of odds with the help of Protsahan India Foundation, an NGO fighting against Child Abuse, and emerge triumphant. It retells stories of dogged determination and unmatched resilience.
Ishika Kiran reviews Stories of Resilience.
Aamir learns the art of public speaking from an expert Richa Tripathy. Ramendra Kumar's "Friends Forever" journeys on with Aamir and Sagar.
Innocence has the unfathomable power to make any inhibitions or fear crumble. Our little people give us big lessons of life, from their innocent hearts.
Cricketers go for the great HUDDLE to strategize how to beat the opponent. The great CUDDLE is to strategize about how to beat the cold.
The ordinary man's extraordinary mission suddenly made Santosh Bakaya realise there is so much yet to do and so little time.
Nature is all powerful, and an antidote to the ill-effects of science and technology. We need to resurrect the pristine glory of nature if we want to survive in this materialistic world. A wistful, touching poem by Anagha Rajesh.
As the glistening curtain of the fog slowly lifted up, the New Year just waited in the shadows sheathed in the shimmering glow of love and peace.
In these days of cut-throat corporate competition and hostile business feuds, two tea vendors prove there can be friendship above business interests.
Every room has a story to tell. This wistful poem by Anagha Rajesh, a budding poet from UAE, wonders about a room that has seen many an experience pass by it.
As the wasteful Dirty Dozen find their lost helmet in a sink with a bag of uneatan food, Santa caps bring in the Christmas cheer for the ragpicker kids. Its Christmas and you celebrate it the way you wish to.
The pestering milkman of "Ekbar try maar lo, madam" fame has a daughter who rekindles Santosh Bakaya's faith in humanity with her compassionate gesture.
An innocent 5 year old's disgust at the big fat Indian weddings and their unabashed show of wealth holds up a mirror to the sad paradox facing us today.
It takes a certain ability and concerted efforts over a period of time to build up an awe inspiring mess. And to live in it with attitude!
A child's innocent smile that is free of the baggage of unpleasant memories can light up your clouded sky like a rainbow, when you are grappling with your inner self.
The exhilarating feeling of the first shave is a boy's big step into adulthood. For Bimal Chadha, it is a Battle of Panipat every time the razor meets the cheek.
As human beings, we impulsively feel the need to connect sometimes with total strangers. A mystical affinity builds up instantly and the stranger becomes a friend.
A young girl gives Santosh Bakaya her own mug of tea and happily picks up an 'ordinary' cup for herself. The warmth in her gesture makes the author forget the winter chill.
Children never lose their knack of conjuring moments of pure joy from thin air even as another grueling daily routine begins.
An incessant drill in our mind that runs a hyperactive parallel line of thought, keeps feeding us everything from comic relief memories to panic button anxiety attacks in nano seconds.
Struggling to shake off a nightmare? Rewind to love, which has the power to banish all demons, the worst of nightmares and negativities.
“I think that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” Vincent Van Gogh's words ring true as the lights of Diwali spread love and affection, bringing on the smile on every face.
A tribute to Gautam Buddha and his Lotus Sutra, as my contribution for the poetry movement titled '100 Thousand Poets For Change', a global poetry and art initiative.
Songs of freedom are all around, we just need to listen. Santosh Bakaya enjoys the redemption songs that float in the air, in animals, plants and people.
Rats are part of every day life. From chasing rats and catching rats to being part of the rat race, there is no escape from them, physically, metaphorically or literally.
Home sweet home is where you belong. Those who are away pine to go back. Those who don't have a home, make a home wherever they are. And there are many for whom the sky is the roof.
The yawners and their yawns, the back-slapping workers getting ready for a day of back-breaking work - every morning is a new rising.
In India, we are known famously for our unmatched 'jugaad' skills or the ability to fix up a solution out of nowhere, which are often wildly creative.
The nip in the air and the azure sky take Lekha Sengupta back to her childhood days of Puja festivities. A short, ruminative essay on the auspicious occasion of the upcoming Durga puja.
Innumerable unsung freedom fighters and martyrs had given up everything to win independence for our country. The need of today is to invoke the Gandhi within. A special story by Ramendra Kumar on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
A fistful of happiness can really make a difference, be it a hungry old man or a baby sparrow lost in the storm. Lend a helping hand when life offers you this blessing.
A dream keeps us moving ahead. And "hope springs eternal" in the human heart and says, my time will come.
A deeply touching story about the inexplicable bond between a father and a daughter.
A Daughter's Day special story by Ramendra Kumar, this is excerpted from the anthology of 5 stories, titled Different Shades of Eve.
Love is indeed all that matters. Let us all be love mongers and go where love is!
Dogs can show off their power at a noisy war and yet can also be shooed away by cawing crows. Its a strange world.
A poet is forever wondering, the heart pierced by the injustices and unfairness of a topsy-turvy world. In these lines, we see the reflection of a sensitive heart.
Being positive is a choice. You can be a little lake, rippling with water even in the midst of dull and dry land if you decide to hold the rainwater.
Having lost a little lamb, a sad and lonely goatherd finds empathy in a stray pup who has had a close look at the hard world in its young life.
Two poems by Dr Ampat Koshy on the Sakhi that modernize the concept. Translated into Spanish and Hindi.
It is human nature to jump to assumptions, conclusions and pass judgments in nano seconds. A small incident can reveal many facets of the human character in the space of a few minutes.
A crowing rooster sends Santosh Bakaya down memory lane, recalling the morning wake up calls and cock-a-doodle-doos from back home in Kashmir to present home in Jaipur.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊
There are thousands of obsessions. Santosh Bakaya discovers two - one of Kanchan's and one of her own as the amused Bulbuls chirp and sing in merriment.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
A man trying to keep his balance on his ramshackle bicycle sings the philosophy of life. Another one cribs and curses to balance his cycle. Its up to you to add coloured feathers to your wheel or make do with rusted spokes in the cycle of life.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
A chance meeting of a young boy and girl at a bus stand seems to be brimming with the lethal(?) ammunition of upsetting the apple cart, in a big way. Read the love story 'I am Your Man' by Santosh Bakaya, from Bring Out the Tall Tales, a collection of short stories by Santosh Bakaya and Avijit Sarkar.
In the backdrop of the spirited Ganpati Celebrations of Pune, Aman and Sahil find themselves in the middle of a whirlwind of adventures. One Modak box goes missing every day in one of the popular pandals of Pune. Racing against time, with credibility at stake, Aman and Sahil find themselves in a nail-biting chase to find the Modak Thief.
The sketches are courtesy 10 year old Varun Narayanan.
Building a school for girls in a village is a cause many cherish and laud but very few take the initiative to turn it into reality. AK Nanda recalls an inspiring memory of a struggle of a rustic, illiterate farmer to build a girl's school.
"Both my daughters are very intelligent, very fond of books. My husband says, we will make them study a lot, I don’t want them to be illiterate like us.” Little dreams have the power to grow big and become beautiful reality when you cherish your daughters.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
A typical line in mystery stories will be something like, "The scream tore through the stillness of the night." But have we read, "The snore tore through the stillness of the night" too often? Both are impactful sound effects but while the former creates suspense, the latter tickles you pink. Santosh Bakaya looks at the vicissitudes of the power-packed snore.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
There are moments in life when freedom can come to you in one spurt, leaving you free of all doubts, apprehensions, cynicism and misgivings, even if for a split second. Enjoy that moment in time! Happy Independence Day!
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
An Independence Day Special Children's story by Ramendra Kumar that explores the richness of diversity, culture, traditions and values India stands for.
The rain has a tremendous ability to bring back a flood of memories, be it a drizzle or a downpour. Elvira Fernandez loves being transported back to her childhood watching the rain fall pit-a-pat.
Simple by choice is a story that espouses the virtues of simplicity. It highlights how resources can be best utilised for everyone's needs and consider simplicity as a mission to be protected and spread all around. It shows how two committed professionals can make a positive difference by being simple by choice.
A tribute to God’s own country, Kerala in short verses, inspired by the memories of our honeymoon almost 14 years back. This series of short poetic vignettes are part of the author's book 'Woman And Her Muse' (Authorspress, 2016)
A hole in the bucket is not just about a hole but reflects a whole lot of holes that need to be plugged in life - from potholes to manholes to pocketholes... And there are some holes that should happily stay that way. Santosh Bakaya goes on an expedition to understand the whole thing about holes.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
The chattering classes love to whine about all that is wrong with the world including garbage pile ups and the next moment add their bit to the increasing waste wealth.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Just like King Dushyant saved Shakuntala from the bee, a daring young man saves Santosh Bakaya from well, not a bee, but a tadpole. And before the tadpole could turn into a prince, her saviour sends it off on a new journey. Life is all about misses and saves.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
August is green, and the heart is now a lush garden, where even the frogs and the grasshoppers smile at you, only if you stop to notice their joy.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Being happy means different things to different people. The real thing for Santosh Bakaya is to soak into the magic around and breathe in the fragrant air.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
The world is fading away and if we don't understand this now then there is no tomorrow. Hope you all get to see humanity lying in the dirt as I did! Its time we pick that up and make this sooty jewel a beauty jewel. #LetsTalkHumanity
It rained and rained and they danced and danced, sloshing in the puddles that had soon formed all around them. The Ragpickers Rain Dance lent a sparkle to the morning.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Every one of us carried a typical “Shaukat Ali stamp” on our heads (as per army regulations). Shaukat Ali cast his impressions deeply not only on our heads but also our minds as school children.
A jaadu ki jhappi is enough to wash away the blues of life, if even for a few seconds. A handful of love, a fistful of warmth, a guileless smile, a shoulder to cry on and the golden shower from above is all that one needs to get through in life.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
“Madam Ji, aapney socha kya, try maarne ke baare mein?" Santosh Bakaya's aspiring milk vendor has been driving an aggressive sales campaign to make her his customer. His latest sales pitch ends up like a fielder diving to catch the ball.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Dreams are touch and go for people who toil with blood and sweat day and night. They can break like fragile glass and the next moment can burn bright again as a newly formed wax candle.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Two poems by Anindita Bose, depicting various emotional nuances of humans with mountains in the backdrop.
Everyone in India is a cricket expert. Team India may have tumbled out of the World Cup 2019 but there has been no slowdown in the postmortem being done by devastated fans. On the flip side, gully cricket continues at fever pitch. "Howzzzat?" resounds.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Summer of 2014 was the time when the strongest man of my life (Biceps measured at 16") looked at me like I were one lost cause but I didn't understand why. After a long night full of WHYs, an inexorable me stopped pretending what I was not. This Ballad helped my Dad learn 3 things - I am instinctive, I love him, and hell yeah, I can rhyme.
A bunch of happy faces make the morning brighter. The cheerful camaraderie all around shows the way to a good day.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
The rain clouds have put everyone in a romantic mood. Santosh Bakaya wonders at the beauty and romance all around, even on the back of a rumbling truck.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Grandparents are the go-to people, the quiet, unassuming support system that works on its own autopilot, untiringly, opening up the blocked channels so that the children can have a better life.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Aman had met Sahil by chance in Matheran about six months ago and solved the mystery of a stabbed horse. Fate brings them together again as they embark on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and this time the mystery of the lost boy makes them go on a hunt.
The sketches are courtesy 10 year old Varun Narayanan.
And sometimes when the night is slow
The wretched and the meek
We gather up our hearts and go
A thousand kisses deep.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
No one plans to fall in love, it happens like poetry. Well, the writer too happens to fall in love during a visit to an animal shelter. And while the world may think the object of his affection is a jackass, the author doesn’t.
From disrupted and dislodged plastic bags to ritual circumambulation of the tulsi plant, from walking the dog to a dog and hen collision - a rainy morning wrapped in humidity, has a collage of colourful, freshly washed sights to offer.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
Glowworms abound around us, reinforcing our belief that it is a beautiful world we live in, but only if we care to see. Clasping two glowworms to her overwhelmed heart, Santosh Bakaya gets ready to conquer another day.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. 😊 ☕️
What feline grace! How unfazed! How cool! Ah, had Macavity been finally found? Santosh Bakaya finds out.
Enjoy Morning Meanderings with a hot cup of tea or coffee and some cookies to munch on the food for thought. :)
Entertainment is all around us, in small measure and big dollops. Even a simple game of cards can turn into a wrestling match in no time.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
All your spite and power, can get soggy in a moment's shower. Nature is the great equaliser.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
The bond between a mother and child is inexplicable. It transcends all barriers, obstacles and situations. Santosh Bakaya realizes how a few moments of separation from her child can make the world collapse for the mother.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
A Hungrysaurus is a sub-species of animal who has the most doleful eyes that seek you out and try and hypnotise you into doling out inappropriate amounts of food. Hungrysauruses have hungry eyes!
There are unsung heroes around us who are relentlessly waging a lone and courageous struggle to get through life. Most often we don't notice them.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
Three wistful poems about remembrance, forgetting and memory by Amitava Nag.
The reprimand of fathers is often enough to shake kids out of their reverie and make them dive for cover. A cute incident sends Santosh Bakaya on a trip down memory lane, recalling her childhood escapades of trying to avoid the chores and getting nicely pulled up by her father.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
Amid the jungle of concrete and two little children fascinated by a shard of glass, Santosh Bakaya's mind floats back to the memories of hillocks, big and small that made a perfect picture postcard scene just a little away from the boundary wall of her University campus.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
Who is the real ghar ka chirag? A post-doctoral scholar may not be half as educated as an illiterate housemaid when it comes to deciding who is the 'light of your family'.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
Is Churu hotter than Jaipur? As the cities sizzle, people try to beat the heat in whichever way they can and sugarcane juice comes as a much needed relief.
Morning Meanderings is a musings column by Dr Santosh Bakaya. Enjoy her jottings with a hot cup of tea. :)
Rajinder Krishan could pen songs for all seasons, his repertoire was huge and varied. Born on 6th June 1919, he was not only a song writer but also a successful story and screenplay writer and dialogue writer. In a tribute to one of the greatest lyricists in Hindi film songs, I pick one song that has stayed nearest to my heart forever.
