Wordsmith at work

    As a schoolgirl, I received feedback from my teachers on classwork and homework. It was either an appreciation of the work or that there was room for improvement. I took the feedback very seriously, as my parents did, and acted upon it accordingly. “Keep it up” meant I was to continue producing work of the same quality or even better, and "could do better’ and “room for improvement” meant I had to still get my act together. I appreciate the dedication of my teachers, who so painstakingly read and corrected my work and gave me feedback on it. (I have preserved an answer paper marked by a favourite teacher and proudly display the picture.) Well, the concept of judgement or criticism never occurred to me. Whatever they said was Gospel truth. The feedback continued in college and even when I was training to be a teacher during our practical lessons. All remarks, whether it was school, college, or the B.Ed., were made with that dreaded red ink pen. Today, feedback has t...

   Book Title: The Simplest Guide to Religion Author: Tomichan Matheikal Number of pages : 147 Genre: Spiritual/ Religious       I did not know what to expect when I began reading this book. Mr. Tomichan Matheikal, an educator and writer known for his frank and forthright views, suggested I read the book because I’m of a spiritual bent of mind, and hence I read the book, and I'm glad I did so. A lot has been packed into the 147 pages. It is by no means a light read.  Here are my thoughts: Despite the title, the book is not a guide on how you must pray or when you must pray, nor is it a preachy kind of book on religion. Rather, it seeks to examine how religion emerged, evolved, and has endured through the ages. Mr Maitheikal examines religion as a deeply human experience that is used to find comfort in a chaotic world. It dwells extensively on what we believe and why we believe it. He presents well-researched thoughts, facts, and opin...

  Brring! Time to greet the day. Ha! The snooze button Is in the way. I look it in the eye And bid it a tearful goodbye.   Morning concoctions, And coffee bubbles away. I must not delay.   The doorbell rings. I hurry with the garbage bin. The breakfast menu I must decide: Paratha or dosa With chutney on the side.   Household chores Are a mighty bore. If not tackled, They’ll pile up. As tall as the door.   The maid’s on time. I thank the Lord Divine. She’s as quick as an arrow Much to my sorrow. Gone, before I could say hello!   Lunch and dinner: Clean and chop, Sizzle and pop, Sauce and gravy, Simmer away in the pot.   The afternoon arrives Singing a sweet lullaby Slowly, but surely, I succumb to a shut-eye.     Evening unfolds: Time to hit the jogging track. Temptation wins: I curl up with a book and snack.   The darkness of night Slowly co...

Life throws quite a few challenges at us, and many of those challenges require us to make decisions, but may leave us feeling overwhelmed. There are the minor decisions that we must make regarding what to wear or eat or how to spend the day, and then there are the big ones. The big ones are major life-transforming decisions. We are called to weigh the pros and the cons very carefully, and seek advice before saying the all-important yes or no. We are not bound by the advice. The big decisions may include opting for a certain line of medical treatment, the sale or purchase of property, marriage, academics, choosing a career, or making major financial commitments. They may call for greater thought and planning before they are executed. They involve risks, the outcomes of which are not guaranteed.     Being spiritually inclined, I first generally whisper a prayer before I have to make a decision on a really important matter. Then I may turn to family and friends for advice,...

    I watched the movie Bookclub a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie follows the lives of four women who have been meeting for forty years as book club members, bonding over the books they read and becoming friends. When they read Fifty Shades of Grey, they begin to view their lives from different perspectives. Well, this is not a review of the movie but about my foray into the world of book clubs. A friend recently started a book club but has slightly tweaked its format. I was quite reluctant to join at first because I don’t consider myself a serious reader, and I'm trying to read more. I declined the invitation but, on second thought decided to dive in, and I wasn’t disappointed. The tweaked version of the book club saw us not reading and discussing a single chosen book but instead following a topic or theme. This time, each member told a tale from Aesop’s Fables together with the moral, after which a short discussion on the moral ens...

Hey, Dad! I've been thinking about you. You’re always in my thoughts, Dad, but this letter is a special Father’s Day tribute to a special dad—you. Thirty-five years ago, you passed away on your wedding anniversary, leaving a big hole in our hearts. Now, you have Mom to keep you company. How I wish you had met your grandsons, Dad. You have six of them. They are all wonderful boys, shining and sparkling in their own right. One grandson shares your passion for music. I‘ve inherited your booming voice, Dad, but not your singing voice. I croak. It doesn’t matter. I sing anyway. You were too kind and generous for your own good, and despite being cheated, you never stopped being so. And the Lambretta scooter… you’ve helped so many avoid the inconvenience of public transport and helped folks get to their destinations on time. I can vividly recall the rides you gave me on that scooter—to school, college, here, there, and everywhere. You were quite the bookworm, and yes, your...