We love you Darling

Dearest Son

One fine day Lallan calls me and gives me the onerous task of writing something for
You. From where do we begin baby? Can we ever put into words our feelings for you? But Lallan won’t let us off so easily. So let us try!

It was a pleasant morning of Friday 17 December 1993. At 09:17 Hrs a Pink Baby was brought to me. So delicate with eyes closed. I still wonder what you had in your mind “Sleeping, Dreaming or in Deep Thoughts to Ponder the secrets of this world”. You held my finger tightly, our first connection in the world outside.

Your have still not told us…..But we both understood.

I laid my eyes on you and our lives were not ours anymore. You had made us Mother and Father, the greatest gift in our lives and the word ‘love’ transformed to a whole new dimension.

From a tiny bundle with tightly squeezed eyes to an obstinate child with a mind of his own. From a fiery teenager to a handsome young boy with such aesthetic tastes. It’s been an amazing journey, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Are we proud of you the way you have turned out? Do we get tears our my eyes when people say ‘what a beautiful child both from inside and out’? A lovely boy with deep set morals and values in life? Did we get emotional when Baa, Nana Nani, Dada Dadi, Mama Mami, Masi Masa, and everyone around called just to say ‘that children are a reflection of their parents and yours is just like you’?

YES, YES, and much more!!! We can go on and on.

Today you are on the brink of adulthood and yet another great laurel for us. It is a moment of happiness for us all, an occasion to be proud of, a moment to be cherished. It is an achievement for you in curriculum as it has always been while on cricket grounds or synchronizing fingers on the piano.

Your strokes were always lofted over the head coupled with perfect Yorkers below the belt. The harmonious symphony and Sound of Music inevitably tempted even the most introverts to the dance floor.

But for us you will always be our baby, our wonderful child, who we hope would still come crying to us whenever he would feel the need for someone to dry his tears, even if they don’t roll out. They say a child can be someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves – a special kind of double and you have proved to be that double in more ways than one.

You are our shadow – In you we see our reflection and to this lovely reflection we give all our love. We know we have been harsh on you at times, many times and we know you have been hurt at times. Our apologies for the same.

We wish we could hold your hand and lead you through life always, just like when you were little. But that does not be.

Today you step out and we are a little scared, but then we are also confident that you have it in you and are ready to face any challenge that life may throw at you, with your intelligence and above all with the values that are so ingrained in you!!

May god be with you and lead you through life… always. May you remain the way you are… always.

You will always be our seasoned Tendulkar, Dhoni & Pathan; Our Rehman and no less than our handsome Baazigar Badshah, dressed in schezwan sauce.

This is our wish for you today....and will be every day.

God bless you...

Mumma Pappa

Special Thanks to your all your lovely friends, Teachers, your mentors and coaches and everyone you inspired you and everyone you got inspired from.

Children, Television & Advertising

The third commercial of Ramayana. This time a melodious song from a child.

E Ganpat chal daru la.
E Ganpat chal daru la.
Are Sada thoda kam soda thoda pani mila.
Are Sada thoda kam soda thoda pani mila.
Thoda tere liye bacha thoda de na.

Literal translation in English means:

Ganpat get me a drink. Ganpat get me a drink. With little soda, simple soda get me a drink. Some for you and some for me, get me a drink.

Television advertising has been an established form of advertising and it reaches children too. In some countries there are laws which say

“A commercial with advertising that is broadcast during commercial breaks on the television must not have the purpose of attracting the attention of children under 12 years of age.”

It is ironic or rather unfortunate that here children are in lead roles.

In India also there are certain codes of ethics for commercial broadcasting, issued by the advertising council of India, specially when it involves children.

Indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes or treatment has to be avoided in all advertisement.

I believe media should not make it such a melodrama, and the same thing can be put forward in a better way.

Why blame only the media, we all are responsible, specially parents who encourage their children. Don't they realise, the damage they are causing to their children, and if they do understand and realise this, they have no right to pass on this to the teachers and society.

We all have to think, seriously before it is late.

What is a Good and Effective Parenting?

It reminds me of the extract of letter, which was written by Abraham Lincoln to the Headmaster of the school where his son was studying.

”And we think are we”

"He will have to learn, I know, that all men just, all men are not true. But teach him also that in every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.

Teach him that a dollar earned is of far more value than a five found.

Teach him to learn to loose and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can.

Teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Teach him the wonder of books; but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and to be tough with tough.

“Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today”.

Invitation to watch Ramayana

We all in family too watch it regularly. All the characters are very well choosen..I was going through one of the comments posted on "LIVEMINT.COM THE WALL STREE JOURNAL today.

At the same time, I also heard "Garam Khoon Hai Na, Kahan Jaayegi Kalmuhi, Subah Tak AA Jayegi...
Kutta Kamina, Kanpati Par Doonga,
Chup Kar Kamine!

Kya seekhenge Ye Bacche... Watch Ramayana Ek Accha Adarsh!
This is the latest advertisement of Ramayana, on Television.

What are we teaching our children here? What messege, is media trying to convey through this invitation to watch Ramayana on TV "IMAGINE"?

Is media only to be blamed here? Not Parents?

We, as parents, don’t want our children using such language, do we?

Are parents not aware of such scrip before it goes live on the "IDIOT BOX" or have we become so enthusiastic that we can go to any extent and extreme to see our children on screen?

The soap (opera) route, "IMAGINE", taking the mythology route in the form of Ramayana through this invitation of young children working? We have to think for a while..