Wordsmith at work

    On the 13 th of August this year, a friend texted me early in the morning, wishing me a “Happy Left-Hander’s Day.” “So you’re left-handed” is a remark I’ve heard a million times. It’s been said with disdain, surprise, or mockery. I’m grateful to my parents for not trying to turn me into a right-hander. Society demands that you give and receive with your right hand. This is one rule that I may break or not adhere to. An autorickshaw driver once refused to receive the fare from me because I was handing the money to him with my left hand. When I sit at the computer, I must transfer the mouse to the left side or learn to work it with my right hand. As a left-hander, I must position my book in a certain way and write. Some left-handers have their hand trailing across the page as they write, and thus, fresh ink may be smudged. Smudge, smear, or not, lefties are there writing their hearts out. The list of challenges is long. From scissors and can openers to musical instr...

  Let’s Learn   From the time we are born, we learn how to sit, crawl, stand, walk, and talk. Then we learn from school, from our parents, from tuition, and from friends and peers. It never ends. As long as you learn the positive, you’re good. You might even learn a few lessons from your mistakes. On this learning journey, is there anything that we might learn from Gen Z and the millennials that we interact with, or are they just 'young and restless' in need of guidance?  Well, there might be stuff that we learn from them. The millennial and Gen Z children that I’m a parent to have taught me a few life lessons.   Resilience They are a resilient lot. They suffer from peer pressure, academic stress, and job loss, but more often than not, they find a way out and bounce back, sharper and more determined.   Quiet Perseverance   “You must never disclose your plans,” says my twenty-six-year-old. Let the task be accomplished, and then shout it...

  Independence Day   2025 marks India's 79th year of Independence—79 years since she was freed from the shackles of colonial rule. It’s a holiday that everyone looks forward to, especially with a long weekend like this year. I am proud of all that my country has achieved in these past 79 years. She has come into her own. As flag-hoisting ceremonies are held and the national anthem, along with patriotic songs, are sung, I pray to God to bless her people with a stronger civic sense. - I pray that her children maintain her secular fabric and that all live in harmony. - That women are given the freedom and justice they deserve. - That education and literacy reach even her most distant corners. - May all her children learn to speak the language of love. - That justice prevails and corruption is thwarted. That the hard-earned freedom be used wisely. May our beautiful motherland continue to rise from strength to strength, and may God be with her always. Jai Hind! This post is par...