The RK Laxman Museum and Art Gallery.

I was so happy to have had the opportunity to visit this wonderful museum in Pune, in February this year which is a must-see for all RK Laxman fans.  

The single artist, one-of-a-kind RK Laxman Museum and Art Gallery in Balewadi Pune is dedicated to the works and life of the renowned cartoonist RK Laxman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Museum, which is a collaboration between the Government of Maharashtra and the Pune Municipal Corporation in March 2022.

The museum features an 8-foot bronze statue of the common man, atop the museum roof welcoming visitors.   Inside visitors are taken on a well-curated tour of several galleries showcasing Laxman’s career from illustrating books written by his brother, Rk Narayan to his caricatures of famous personalities, sketches of Lord Ganesha, cartoons of children and his favourite bird the crow. Additionally, some of Laxman’s work that couldn’t be accommodated indoors is exhibited on the walls outside the gallery in the museum’s compound.

An audio-visual room provides a commentary on the life of Rk Laxman, narrated by the ‘common man’ character.  The ‘common man’ was a cartoon character created by Laxman. Clad in a dhoti and plaid jacket the common man was a silent and puzzled spectator, registering the political events occurring in the country. The ‘common man’ represented the hopes aspirations, troubles and fears of the average Indian. The same was carried in a daily comic strip in the Times of India from 1951 and lasted for over five decades.  

The second audiovisual room features snippets of stories from Malgudi Days, written by his brother, RK. Narayan brought to life. The show concludes with the spotlight on a wax statue of RK Laxman sitting at his workstation.

Laxman’s last cartoon was created on December 20^th, 2014. Laxman passed away on January 26^th 2015 at the age of 93. His granddaughter Remanika carries forward his legacy by making the character of the common woman. 


This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon2024 challenge. 

Image credit - from my personal collection
                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

Habits to Start Your Day With.

 Habits to start your day with

 

How you begin your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. Incorporating a few good and effective habits helps you have a more positive and productive day. Here are a few habits that help you with the same. One size doesn’t fit all, so find what works for you and incorporate them into your lifestyle.

 

·       Connect with nature - Open the blinds and look outside on waking up. Connect with the peaceful morning hours, letting in the fresh air and natural light, weather permitting. Resist the urge to grab your phone.

·       Prayer – Whisper a prayer of gratitude. Be thankful for the big and small blessings in your life. Repeat positive affirmations to motivate and boost your confidence for the day.

·       Make your bed – Making your bed sets your tone for the day. It is the first task of the day that you have accomplished which in turn will help you with other tasks. A well-made bed gives your room a neat, clean and relaxed look.

·       Hydrate – Drinking water the first thing in the morning, refreshes you. Reach for water before you can reach for your cup of tea or coffee.  Water also flushes out accumulated toxins and aids digestion.

·       Exercise – Getting on the treadmill, early in the morning might not suit everyone. You need to do just 5 minutes of stretches and bends to get yourself moving. Something is better than nothing.

·       Meditate - - Practice meditation or mindfulness. Meditation reduces your stress levels and calms your mind. It takes you to a place of peace.

·       Wake up at the same time every morning – Everyone is not an early bird but find a time that suits you and try waking up at that time every morning and going to sleep at a set time every night. The body gets into a rhythm that impacts your health positively. Waking up at different times will throw your day into disarray.

·       Reading – Reading is a great way to start your day. You could be inspired or informed thus boosting your creativity levels.

Setting a morning routine need not be challenging. A few do’s and don’ts in the morning will help you take on the day and make it a productive and positive day. Taking baby steps and gradually building up a routine would do you well. Experiment with different habits and find out what works for you. 

Which of these habits resonate with you or do you have another habit that works for you? 

This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon2024

Image credit -From the personal collection of yours truly. 

Embracing Physical Imperfection: Turning flaws into strengths

 

I was born with a flawed right side – a pronounced limp in my right leg and a right hand that has very little strength to grasp and grip. So that makes me a southpaw for which I have received flak. Many are scandalized by the fact that I eat with my left hand. A cranky rickshaw driver once asked me to hand him the fare with my right hand and not my left. I take it all in my stride now. 

As a child, I was terribly conscious and embarrassed by the flaw, but that never stopped me from playing and running around.  I lack coordination of movement and hence have two left feet which means I cannot dance and just sit quietly at parties. I was also always eliminated from Sports Day March Past practice which made me feel bad. As a lector in church, I have to climb a couple of steps to reach the lectern and there again the limp is remarked upon.  I type with only my left hand and I’m doing well. Even today, I have people asking me about the limp and I patiently answer them, “No, I have not sustained it in an accident but it is a birth impairment."

 Nobody escapes being imperfect. Perfect pictures of men and women on social media could be the result of camera filters and other modern-day technology. Even if the pictures were real we do no need to feel insecure about our physical flaws. Instead accepting and embracing our flaws is a step in the right direction. We just have to change our perspective of looking at our flawed selves.

Time and the wisdom of age and self-acceptance have helped me come to terms with the flaw. I no longer feel the need to be perfect and am no longer embarrassed by the barrage of questions I am subjected to. It’s my life, and I’m living it well with my imperfect self. Perfection exists only in the dictionary of fools. To be human is to be imperfect.

 

How to Embrace Your Physical Flaws:

 

Don’t compare yourself to others

 Society is fixated on perfection.  that can make it challenging to embrace and accept your flaws. Comparing yourself to others is one of the worst things you can do to lower your self–esteem. Every one of us is different and unique. There very well could be an insecure person hiding behind that mask of perfectionism. Take stock of the things you don’t like about yourself and look at them differently. Flaws and struggles help you build character.

 

Practice Self-acceptance

 

Acknowledge your imperfections without judgment. Recognise that they are part of your unique self. Learn to accept and embrace the diversity of the human form.

 

Positivity is the key

 

Engage in positive affirmations and self-talk. Understand and know that your worth is not defined by your physical appearance, but rather by the person you are. Connect with positive people who accept you unconditionally and recognize your true worth.

 

Engage in self-care practices

 

Practice self-care to boost your confidence. Dress in a manner that makes you feel confident and secure and look good.

 

Shift Focus

Shift your focus to things that you love about yourself. Celebrate your talents, your values and your contribution to society.

 

Embracing your flaws is a journey of self-acceptance and loving yourself just the way you are. Fat or thin, lame or balding, each one has been blessed with qualities and talents that go far beyond physical appearance. Don’t care a dam about what society thinks or says. I'm grateful that my in-laws accepted me for who I am and my spouse and sons are pretty cool too. 

 

This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon2024.

Image credit: picture from my personal album and creation on BE Funky by 'yours truly'

 

 

The Things I Love About Life

 The Things I Love About Life

 

Despite the many forms of ugliness prevalent in the world and the curve balls and lemons that life throws at me, testing my resilience and strength I love that life is still good to me and offers me so much in terms of beauty, joy and connection which makes the journey worthwhile. I enjoy all the material trappings that life provides, but there is so much more that doesn’t’ cost a penny, that life allows me to enjoy.

"What do I love about life?"

 

Family and friends:

I was born into a family that loved and cared for me. My parents inculcated values that have held me in good stead. I have been blessed with a good spouse and two great children. Despite the many challenges that we have faced, we are still family. I can boast of some beautiful friendships that have stood the test of time, distance and other factors. Life is beautiful. Besides loved ones, life sometimes sends strangers in strangers to help you. Such memorable moments. 

 

The beauty of nature:

Life has allowed me to enjoy the beauty of Mother Earth. From the oceans, forests,  mountains, flora and fauna to the trees outside my window, it truly is a beautiful world. It’s lovely to wake up to sunshine each morning or to gaze at the silvery moon and the stars at night. I love the walks I can take in the numerous parks and gardens, as I commune with nature. 

 

Learning and Growth:

 Life has presented me with quite a few lemons, but with each lemon, there has been an opportunity for learning and growth. Each challenge has made me wiser and stronger. Life does not stunt my growth. It allows me to forge ahead, to try again and try the new.

 

Food:

I’ve never gone to bed hungry. Besides home food, I  also enjoy the luxury of trying out various cuisines at home and when dining out.

 

Adventure and travel:

I am a travel buff and life allows me to explore my motherland and beyond treating me to scenic beauty, monuments, adventure, new cultures and perspectives.

 

Creativity and Expression:

Life offers me mediums to create and express my thoughts. To name a few, there is art, music and writing through which I can convey my thoughts and emotions to the world.

 

Laughter and Smiles:

Life ensures that precious moments bring a smile to my face or big fat guffaws of heartwarming laughter.

 

Hope:

When I plunge into darkness and despair, life sends me those precious glimmers of hope which help me stay afloat. These beacons of light guide me during the fiercest of storms and give me the courage and strength to keep moving.

Books 

life has provided for the bookworm in me. There are so many books and so little time. A book a day keeps the blues away. Life has given me books in all forms. I'm spoilt for choice. 

Only focusing on the difficult parts of life, is miserable. Finding joy in life is going to make me happier and healthier.

 

What are your favourite things about life? 

This post is part of the BlogChatterHalfMarathon2024

Image credits : picture gallery of ' yours truly.' 

 

Decoding Self-love

Best–selling author, Robin Sharma, drives home the importance of self-love when he says, “It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself can you truly love others. "Some folk opine that self-love may have a narcissistic quality, but self-love is certainly not narcissistic. It is an ongoing journey, that one must embrace for all aspects of self-development. 

Defining self-love:

 

Self–love is the practice of accepting, embracing and treating your flawed self with kindness, compassion, understanding and recognizing your worth, values and weaknesses while nurturing and maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with yourself.  When you love yourself, you will take steps to care for yourself.

 

Self-love incorporates practicing:

 

Self-acceptance-Embracing and accepting the whole package that is you which includes your uniqueness and strengths together with your imperfections and flaws. You leave regrets behind and concentrate on building yourself up.

 

Self-care –You practice self-care by taking steps to improve your physical, mental and emotional health only when you love yourself.

 

Self–compassion – Treating yourself with kindness, compassion, patience and understanding, while not berating yourself but forgiving yourself for mistakes and not being judgemental of yourself is another aspect of self-love.

 

 Self-awareness – When you love yourself, you will attempt to understand your thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions and come to know how others perceive you. You will be a happier person and enjoy better relationships.  

 

Self–love then is no narcissism. It is as essential as the air you breathe and the food you eat. Embracing self-love requires patience and dedication. When you love yourself, you will see a reflection of that love in your relationships and the world around you. Never stop loving yourself and embracing all that is you.

 

images credit : Pixabay

This post is part of the #blogchatterHalfMarathon2024

                                                                        .

  

Forty Four Years Later: Celebrating the Spirit of an Enduring Friendship

 

Forging Friendships

 

Once upon a time, in 1980, in Jamshedpur, a bunch of girls graduated from different high schools in the town and enrolled in the local women’s college to pursue a degree in Commerce.

As they transitioned from school to college life which was an entirely different culture, the girls were drawn to each other and friendships that have spanned distance and time were forged over Mills and Boon and mutual friends.

 

A Treasure trove of memories

Their college years were marked by unforgettable moments and adventures

 

Bunking class for movies

They sneaked out of class to watch the silliest of movies at the theatre a stone’s throw away from college.

Chai and Confessions

Gorging on devilled eggs, Jhaal muri and drinking endless cups of chai in the college canteen while making true confessions and having deep conversations marked those happy years.  

Rotary Phone conversations

Endless conversations on rotary phones, letters and postcards written during the month-long vacation. The girls were bored and eagerly anticipated the reopening of college.

 

Homework and exam cramming

Cramming for exams and hurriedly completing homework assignments in college strengthened their bonds of friendship.  

 

Shopping expeditions

Then there were those shopping expeditions, which turned into an adventure for the girls and a nightmare for the shopkeeper where almost the entire gang would storm into a single store for a single purchase.

Gatekeeper gratitude

A small bribe of one rupee to the gatekeeper to be let out of the college premises for that little bit of freedom.

Rajasthan Excursion

 The college excursion to Rajasthan, for which my father had to be convinced by another parent to permit me to go. We had to rough it out but never complained. The sight-seeing and shopping kept us on our toes and we didn’t even notice the rough side.  

 

Riverside Picnics

The highlight of the four years was the picnics to the riversides. The entire class travelled to the picnics in huge open trucks which again was quite an adventure. Despite having to battle motion sickness, I never missed a picnic.   

 

As these four years flew by in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the girls embarked on their paths.   Forty–four years later, the memories of those four years remain vibrant and cherished.

 

Reflections on an Enduring Friendship

The friendship built on shared experiences, innumerable adventures and simple joys has created a foundation that has supported them through the years. As they reconnect and reminisce they celebrate not just the past but the power of friendship. Those four years were some of the happiest years of my life.

 

Describe a fond memory of your college days.

This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon 2024

The Esssential Accessory: A Love Affair With Bags

 

“Seriously? Do you need yet another bag?  Get rid of one before you buy another," is my significant other's constant refrain. He cannot get over my obsession with bags. "Why do you need so many bags?" he says. That a woman will always have a reason, or no reason at all to buy a bag is beyond male comprehension.  Except for a few, this is a precious accessory to most women. 

Choosing the perfect bag

So much care and attention goes into choosing a bag. The colour, the shape, the size, the length and thickness of the strap,  the number of pockets, and the kind of closure are all to be considered when choosing a bag. A woman's bag must complement her physique, her clothes, and the occasion.

He doesn’t need a vast array of bags

 A male will put his money, and keys into a wallet and he is ready to move.  He may carry a satchel, briefcase, or ever-popular backpack to work. The backpack is now a unisex accessory. I am reminded of the khaki-coloured backpacks that we carried to school.

Her array of bags

It is a bit more complicated when it comes to women.

They need to have a purse, a sling bag, a handbag, a tote, a clutch, a shopping bag and what have you as the occasion demands. I prefer cross–body sling bags.

Purchasing the bag

Some women swear by designer bags while others are happy to pick them off street stalls as long as it suits their style, need and personality. 

Besides the brick-and-mortar stores, one is spoilt for choice by portals who fiercely vie with each other to bring the best bargains to the women. I have done my fair share of scouring on the internet for bags that suit my budget and taste and have come away mostly confused.   

Lead us not into temptation
At the same time, I can't but help steal furtive glances at any bag that is up for sale anywhere. 'Lead us not into temptation", I mutter under my breath and walk away. A few years ago a famous Bollywood film star gifted his sister a hamper of designer bags for her wedding. What more could a girl ask for?  

 

A Peek Inside My Bag

On a normal basis, my handbag would contain a bunch of keys,a wallet containing money and identity,  a handkerchief, the all-important tube of lipstick,  a book, (if I have to wait or I am travelling by train or plane) a comb and my cell phone.  
I have noticed that gentlemen are greatly amused when ladies frantically rummage through their bags to locate and attend to a ringing cell phone. Well, gentlemen are generally amused and puzzled by most things that a lady does or doesn't do or wants or does not want. Hence it is but natural that he will wonder about her obsession with bags. 

Some Trivia

The world's oldest purse was discovered in Germany in 2012. It was studded with dog teeth and dated from 2500 and 2200 BC. 

 A700-year-old clutch discovered in the city of Mosul in Iraq is said to be the world's oldest handbag. 

Medieval purses were used not only to carry money but also to symbolise marriage and betrothal hence there were embroidered to depict love stories. 

Even though the handbag is an accessory popular with the ladies, it started as an accessory for the gentlemen. 

https://www.theswaddle.com/a-history-of-the-handbag-from-a-practical-necessity-to-creative-canvas

 

So what is your favourite kind of bag ladies?

 

This post is part of the #BlogChatterHalfMarathon Challenge

image credit : from my own collection