Friday 31 January 2014

My earliest memory

My earliest memory

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I thank Bhavya who blogs at Iishithaa for tagging me.



When asked by WRITE TRIBE to go down memory lane and  write about 'my earliest memory' ,
I have many interesting and funny anecdotes to  share. But this particular one is closest to my heart . And why not , for every child loves to be showered with compliments.

My second standard teacher , Micheal teacher , while correcting my English book looked  up at me . I was a bit scared and wondering what was in store for me. She gave me a stern look and facing the whole class complimented me on my handwriting and further praised that she could correct my book with her eyes closed as she  could not find any mistakes. The class was a bag of mixed reactions. Some were happy  for me while a few of them passed snide remarks. But I was on cloud nine and the indifferent remarks made no difference to me but only made me swell with pride.


                                      

The next year , I was in third standard and Micheal teacher no longer taught me. But every time I met her in the corridor of the school , she smiled at me and returned it with a bigger smile. After our half semester exams were over , the Principal announced that Micheal teacher was no more and she had met her last by a freak accident in the kitchen. I wept uncontrollably. 

My child-like innocent mind could not understand the sudden turn of events. But today as I think about it ,  I question myself , was it really an accident?

I , now , hardly use  paper and pencil  for writing but whenever I do ,  I remember my Micheal teacher.

           I am tagging the lovely Kajal Kapur whose 
                Rainbow Hues spread colour and joy.
                                     Do hop over to her blog.


The earliest childhood memories will always remain  very special to each one of us. Please , dear reader, spare some time and hop on to the blogs of the Write Tribers  who have penned the memories. Read here.

Thursday 30 January 2014

She looked most beautiful................

Wednesday Prompt 2014 – 5

This prompt is from Shiva Kapoor who blogs at Where The Mind Is Without Fear.

Fiction -55

I/ She looked most beautiful…….



The scarf draped over her shoulders, her pleated 

gown nor the texture of her clothing suggested that 

she did not belong to an aristocratic family. Nor did 

she embellish herself with sparkling stones but she 

looked most beautiful with her only adornment , her 

smile. She is the most adored and photographed lady.

Aha, Mona Lisa.
















                                                 

(Picture courtesy : Google)



                                                             FOR : WRITE TRIBE


Wednesday 29 January 2014

Hunger

                                                         

Poets United Mid-Week Motif ~ Hunger


       Shaking its royal mane
Captivating the forest with its roar
 the King has doused the fires
             of hunger.
contended he drifts off to slumber.

         With guns and rifles
          hunger for a hunt
         he prowls for a sign
           of the beast.
        To display his valour
         trophy to showcase
  on the walls of the mansion.


                                                                                              



                                                          FOR : POETS UNITED


clove


History of Clove

                                                       


The aromatic spice , clove , is derived from the Latin word clavus which means nail as they have a hard exterior but their flesh contains oily compound which imparts the 
clove its nutritive value and flavour. Cloves are available all round he year like most other spices. 

Cloves are unopened pink flower buds of an evergreen clove tree. The buds are handpicked when they are pink and dried till they are brown in colour.

Cloves are native to the Moluccas, formerly known as the Spice Islands of Indonesia. They have been consumed in Asia for more than 2,000 years. Owing to their sweet and fragrant taste, they are kept in the  mouths in order to freshen the breath .  They were cultivated  exclusively in Indonesia, but today the leading clove-producing region is Zanzibar in Eastern Africa. In addition to these two regions, cloves are also grown commercially in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, India, Pemba and Brazil.

Culinary uses of Clove

Cloves are used in the kitchen to enhance the flavour of food. In Indian rices dishes like palao and biryani clove is a necessary ingredient.

Clove is also added to boiling tea.

Other Uses

Clove is also used in cigarettes known as cigars when sold in the US.

Clove oil is used in some toothpastes to alleviate tooth pain. Clove oil is also used in temporary dental fillings.

Clove oil is used in aromatherapy when stimulation and warming are needed for easing digestive problems.

Cloves are widely used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine.

                                         

Whenever possible, buy whole cloves instead of clove powder since the latter loses its flavor more quickly. 

Test of Clove 

When squeezed with a fingernail, good quality  cloves will release some of their oil. Alternatively, you can place a clove in a cup of water. Those of good quality will float vertically while those that are stale will either sink or float horizontally.
Cloves should be kept in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place. Ground cloves will keep for about six months, while whole cloves will stay fresh for about one year stored this way. Cloves can be refrigerated to extend their shelf-life.

Readers , does  this versatile spice form a part of your daily life?




                                          

                                  For :  ABC Wednesday



















Saturday 25 January 2014

dreams published.

100 Words On Saturday 2014 – 4


                                                        2d514474-672f-49c4-929e-6b3f8dc84559_zpsbca51962
The prompt is :   she had the last laugh
Jyothi K. Rao had very slim hopes of her dreams materializing on paper. Had she 

woven her carpet of dreams a size bigger than her abilities? She had started to have 

doubts but the other Gemini twin refused to be bogged down by rejections and 

failures and kept her adrenaline flowing.She continued to attend to her boring desk 

job that kept the wolf at bay.


She opened the envelope. She had the last laugh at the 49 publishers who had 

returned her manuscript emphasizing that the market for children’s books was not 

favourable. Today J.K.R. is an international best-seller.

                       FOR :  WRITE TRIBE

Friday 24 January 2014

mirror, image

                                                          


when I stare at my own reflection
the mirror asked , what is your intention?
to admire an imitation 
or peer into your real-self .

I am faithful and just,
quips the reflection silvery .
But are you? 
Yes I am , feebly I argue
Laughter resonates the mirrory frame.
tear down the mask game
layers of grease paint, peel
wash your face with the feel
of water of reality
and embrace a new you.

A new you 
and an old me
join hands together
like pals ever
play in the memory lane.

                                     FOR : POETS UNITED



                                                     

Thursday 23 January 2014

Malevolent : haiku.

                                                             


Malevolent, adjective: Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.

Probe, verb: physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument; [no object] seek to uncover information about someone or something; noun: A blunt-ended surgical instrument used for exploring a wound or part of the body; an investigation into a crime or other matter.

Repulsive, adjective: Arousing intense distaste or disgust.


the probe moved
over her body
making her repulsive

making her repulsive
her husband's malevolent idea
of female infanticide.

(Female infanticide is responsible for India's skewed sex-ratio. The government has banned sex determination but many doctors operate clandestinely. ) 


                                                   for : three word wednesday

The heart sees...........

             Wednesday Prompt 2014 – 4

The prompt comes from Kajal Kapur.

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.


         



I poured the ghee on the cotton wick in the diya (lamp) . The rose and jasmine 

flowers  sat neatly in the silver thali (plate). The haldi and kumkum  boxes too presented a 

colourful dual picture in the pooja paraphernalia. Nothing was out of place or unmatched in 

my preparations for the big day. The poojari (priest) would be rushing in, any moment to 

commence the rituals at the muhuratam( appointed time). I finished preparing the 'prasada' 

(offerings to God) ,  'saffron milk payasam' .


I admired Ananya in her long silk skirt , adorned with gold chains and bangles and the 

melodious sound of her silver anklets, filled the air as she hopped about , to help me with all 

the preparations. I was hard pressed for time so she got readied all by herself. Now I sat 

down and breathed  comfortably  , I stole a few glances to admire her. 


How fast times flies, I said with a sigh. I looked at the clock. 10.30 am . I was wheeled into 

the labor room , ten summers ago and at the stroke of twelve, when both the hands of the 

clock joined together to greet ,  I heard the first cry of my new-born .


A decade had passed by and another decade later , Ananya , my baby , would be on the 

threshold of marriage. Oh no! not so soon. After all she is my only child.

The priest lit the incense sticks and started chanting the 'mantras'.  Ananya obediently 

folded her hands and sat cross-legged on the mat.  I smiled at her.


At the stroke of twelve the priest asked for the  'prasada' to be offered to God . The mat 

adjoining me was  crumpled and its occupant was missing . Ananya must have gone to  

fetch the bowl. I got up  to go into the kitchen.  The kitchen was quiet and empty. My gaze 

fell on the kitchen window. I hurriedly came out in the open courtyard.


Ananya  turned around and facing me said ,"Amma , you had said that God visits us in any 

form and we have to recognize Him and feed  Him". I craned my neck over her shoulder 

and stretched my gaze to see a beggar relishing the 'prasada'. He blessed Ananya  and 

walked away. She was as tall as me but possesses  a bigger and a compassionate heart. I 

have sprinkled good values of her and she had soaked them and is drenched completely in 

them. My chest puffed up with pride at my up-bringing.


Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.


From the inside of the house I could hear the priest requesting for the offerings to be made 

to God.

HE had partaken the offerings.


                                                      FOR :  WRITE TRIBE

                                                               Cartoon__4_Wednesday_preview




Tuesday 21 January 2014

Bishnoi

B for Bishnoi community of Rajasthan.

                                               

                              Members of the Bishnoi community


Bishnoi is a community in Rajasthan for whom conservation of wildlife has a 

religious belief. In 1731 , Amrita Bishnoi led a group of 363 persons who 

sacrificed their lives , (by hugging the trees while the King's men cut down 

the trees  and beheaded them ), for the protection of Khejri trees. This shows 

the determination of some people to work for the conversation of their 

natural environment.

In October , 1996 Nihal Chand Bishnoi sacrificed his life for protecting wild 

animals .

The word Bishnoi is derived from bis (twenty) and nai (nine) i.e. followers of 

29 principles who believe that harming the environment means harming 

mankind. The principles were not only tailored to conserve bio-diversity of the 

area but also ensured a healthy eco-friendly social life for the community.

to preserve bio-diversity and encourage good animal husbandry. These 

include a ban on killing animals and felling trees, and providing protection to 

all life forms. The community members use firewood that are devoid of small 

insects. The members of the community are also forbidden to wear blue cloth 

as the dye used for colouring is obtained by cutting shrubs. 





Khejri Tree



The areas where the Bishnois reside is a thriving place for the Chinkaras 

(Indian gazelle) and Chowsinghas ( 4 horn antelope) who graze in their

fields. Bishnois even protect wild animals and hunting of animals is strictly 

forbidden.

Bishnois even bury their dead (unlike most Hindu communities) to save on 

the felling of trees for cremation.

The Government of India has recently instituted an 'Amrita Devi Bishnoi 

National Award for Wildlife Conservation' in memory of her.

( Information courtesy Goggle and NCERT book)


                                FOR : ABC WEDNESDAY
                             

                                 

Thanks Denise, Roger, Leslie, and the rest of the team of ABC Wednesday.

Monday 20 January 2014

Quaint

                                                              Trifecta: Week 110

                                                             

QUAINT (adjective) 1:  obsolete:  EXPERT, SKILLED

 2a:  marked by skillful design <quaint with many a device in India ink — Herman Melville> 

  b:  marked by beauty or elegance
 3a : unusual or different in character or appearance :  ODD 
  b : pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar <a quaint phrase>

 Remember: • Your response must be between 33 and 333 words. • You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post. • The word itself needs to be included in your response. • You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.




Sush, the new Miss Universe, admiring her reflection adorning  the gleaming crown, 

rubbed her palms in glee, when an quaint elf, popped out of her warm palms to land on her lap.

Taken aback, words just refused to flow out of her vocal cords. The elf bowed to her, 

“Your wish is my command, O! Beauty”.

“World Peace”, uttered the newly crowned Queen.

The elf’s face grimaced and said, “Impossible”.


My post contains  exactly 70 words.

                            For : Trifecta Writing Challenge.