PK he kya?...

In Munna Bhai MBBS he interrogated the medical system, in Lage Raho Munna Bhai he introduced Gandhigiri and in 3 Idiots he questioned the education system. Now Rajkumar Hirani takes on the much hyped Godmen in India. If I had not seen Oh My God (2012) then PK would be a pleasant surprise but that doesn't take away anything from this masterpiece. The similarity is just in the idea but Hirani's PK is another level all together.

Who PK? What about him? His quirkiness…relation between a radio and nude Aamir… Is he a part of band?… Is he an army man? and a lot more. All these questions are appositely answered in the hilarious yet thought-provoking invention of Raju.

The film starts off with PK (Aamir Khan), an alien, landing on earth, in the desert of Rajasthan, to study about human begins and life on earth. Arriving stark naked on a earth, PK has a rough start on the planet when his tracking remote, that helps him send signals back to his spaceship, gets stolen. He now has to find the remote to contact his spaceship and till then survive on earth on his own. Unaware of human mannerisms, language or life in general on earth, PK finds it difficult to adjust. However, fate brings him in touch with Bhairav Singh (Sanjay Dutt) who becomes his dear friend and helps him with life on earth. But destiny takes PK to Delhi. From here on starts a whirlwind story of a stranger in the unknown city of Delhi asking questions that despite their innocence hold a valuable and deep meaning. Aided on by Jagat Janani (Anushka Sharma) who teams up with him on this journey, PK challenges some of the oldest rituals of religion that are ruling life of people on earth.

One more interesting thing was the justification of female character in Amir’s movie. For the very first time actress has done something else apart from just looking awesome in Amir’s lead. The movie has neck to neck coordination between Amir and Anushka. Boman’s role cold have been much more interesting and challenging if he would have been in the negative character of Baba instead of having him as a media person. Sanjay dutt’s character was too small, as in I don’t know why that role was needed. May be the role had been abbreviated.

All in all, the impeccability of Aamir and individuality of Hirani with zings of Anushka makes for an interesting watch in the year end. Go for it...

REAP what you SOW...

And again terrorism has dazzled one more country, the one that sown terrorism over decades, the one that did not utter a word when India got victimized in September, 2002; again in July, 2006; again in November, 2008 and so on… I think now the so called democratic nation, Pakistan, is fed up with the things ensuing with it… At least it seem, when we see some of the editorials in Pakistan media. One of the editorials is from the leading newspaper of Pak.. The Nation…

Have a look….

16 December 2014 is one of the worst days Pakistan has had to live through since its inception. This national tragedy, which has caused unimaginable grief and pain across the landscape, will not and must not be forgotten anytime soon. Muhammad Khorasani of Jamat-ul-Ahrar, also known as Omer Khorasani, of the Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan led by Mullah Fazlullah, has accepted responsibility for the attack on the school. In his statement given to the media, the militant commander termed the attack as retaliation for the ongoing military operation in FATA.  

Some say that at a time like this, it is not wise and appropriate to blame the government or state institutions. Such a tragedy calls for unity, and criticism doesn’t help to achieve that purpose. But no consensus can be built, no wrong can be corrected, no problem can be solved by deciding against speaking the truth. And the truth is this: Not just terrorists, but everyone, from the wider population to the civil and military leadership is responsible for the barbarity our children were subjected to.  

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, your government has contributed absolutely nothing towards building a narrative against extremism. Operation Zarb-e-Azb started without your permission, and it continues absent meaningful political ownership. You have refused to act against seminaries funded through Saudi money, which are poisoning the minds of our youth and turning them into zealots. Instead of putting them behind bars, the Punjab government protects sectarian elements as they return the favour by not attacking you and taking out rallies in your support.  

Chairman Imran Khan, you are the most mainstream and consistent Taliban sympathiser in the country. Despite the murder of 132 children in the capital of the province where your party is in power, you couldn’t muster the courage to name the Taliban. You have done a great disservice to this nation by repeatedly justifying the murder of your fellow countrymen and pushing a toxic narrative based on factual inaccuracies and ignorance.  

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, despite all that has happened, despite the many sacrifices of the brave soldiers who have died fighting terrorists, you refuse to employ a blanket policy against non-state actors. While the military conducts operations against bad Taliban in FATA, it continues to protect sectarian elements in Quetta, the Afghan Taliban and other ‘jihadi’ organisations such as Jamat-ud-Dawa. The country is reaping what it has sown over decades. 

Citizens, you seek comfort in conspiracy theories to avoid facing the ugly truth. What will it take for you to unite against extremism unequivocally and without provisos?  

The idea is not to berate or discourage, but to offer a reality check and prompt change of policy for the sake of our children, for the sake of our country’s future. Only the truth will set us free.

Hope Pakistan will also "stand united with INDIA" against terrorism...

Being lefty...

So finally I end up with those frustrating 4:00 am to 2:00 PM morning shift days and obviously with some unpredictable way of taking out my frustration (Some of you have thoroughly observed it). Again I am searching for some crap thing over net(this bing search engine is too unnerving). This time it is something that make me feel how outstanding I am!! 

One really interesting factoid that I picked up was that left handed people tended to be more independent as a result of having to adapt to a world which is largely built for right handed individuals. Haha… Did I? May be it was not a big deal for me!!

BTW something problematic for me are struggling with binders, bumping elbow with righties at dining time(it is indeed too irritating), school desks, dealing with scissors, butter knives, f**king right sided number pad on keyboard and most importantly the shocking scientific facts that lefties are prone to dying sooner. WTH..

Whatever… Even if the world is cruel to us, my B positive blood group made me transpire some advantages of being lefty.

So here we go....

• Left-handers are more likely to pass their driver's test on the first try. (Except for India driver’s test is actually the driver’s test so don’t mistake this fact for lefties having good relation with RTO officers.)
• They are also more apt to be a part of Mensa, the world's largest and oldest high IQ society. This is because studies have shown lefties are more likely to have an IQ score above 131. (as in Pune-times Mensa... right??)
• Lefties are great at competitive sports. They make especially good baseball players, tennis players, swimmers, boxers and fencers (OK… this is not for me but... ya I may have been a international level polo player (I wish I were allowed...))
• Left handers recover from strokes faster. (OMG…) And are also more likely to pursue creative careers (Shit... IT professionalism is not at all. )
• Of the seven most recent U.S Presidents, 4 have been left handed, including Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and Obama.(No comments... who knows some day India will have Krishna!!)
• Left handed college graduates go on to become 26% richer than right handed graduates. (Haha... 0.74*mySalary= (how do you manage guys?))
• Lefties can clearly see the world underwater. Scientists think it has something to do with a different part of the brain being central in left handed individuals. (Ya that is indeed true. BTW what does that mean?)
• Research shows lefties are smarter in math because their brains are more flexible.(Here it is…)
• Left handers process things faster than righties and can multitask easier thanks to connections between the right and left sides of the brain being faster in left-handed people.(Yeah engineering taught me to message and make professor feel that I am getting him at the same time. I guess this has nothing to do with being lefty…)
• Left-handed people easily hear rapidly changing sounds. (Righties... don’t you??)
• And left-handed individuals have better memories. (Of course  that is not advantageous quite often…)

Reasons to eat Banana...

Googling every time leads me to some diverse things. Today also I actually was going through “the banana Republics” and it don’t know somehow lead me to “The Benefits of Banana”… Strange, isn’t it?…!!

But ya… for the people who are too lean, as I was; want to gain weight, as I wanted; are pure veggie, as I am, should know the paybacks of Banana as the best alternative for gaining weight easily. (Of course not the muscle building but the carbohydrates which at some extent not bad and ya too important for weight gaining)

Apart from attaining weight which I have thoroughly observed and experienced, following are the banana benefits which I was not knowing (and may be you too)

Blood pressure: Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, however increasing potassium intake may be just as important because of its vasodilation effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2% of US adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.

Also of note, a high potassium intake is associated with a 20% decreased risk of dying from all causes.

Asthma: A study conducted by the Imperial College of London found that children who ate just one banana per day had a 34% less chance of developing asthma.

Cancer: Consuming bananas, oranges and orange juice in the first two years of life may reduce the risk of developing childhood leukemia. As a good source of vitamin C, bananas can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. High fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables like bananas are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.

Heart health: The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and B6 content in bananas all support heart health. An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium intake is the most important dietary change that a person can make to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

In one study, those who consumed 4069 mg of potassium per day had a 49% lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium (about 1000 mg per day).

Diabetes: Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One medium banana provides about 3 grams of fiber.

Preserving memory and boosting mood: Bananas also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that studies suggest plays a role in preserving memory and boosting your mood.

So stay boosted.. and I again get into where I started from.. " Banana Republic "

Three thousand ducats...

" I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes?

Hath not a Jew hands,

organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;

fed with the same food,

hurt with the same weapons,

subject to the same diseases,

heal'd by the same means,

warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is?

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

If you tickle us, do we not laugh?

If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, do we not revenge?

If we are like you in the rest...

...we will resemble you in that."

These are the words from tormenting and tormented Jewish moneylender, Shylock, one of the most complex characters of The Merchant of Venice – and arguably of all of Shakespeare's work. The words that truly justifies Shylock’s cruelty, anguish and vengeance. If I were in place of Shylock, I would have done the same things. For sure…

Coming to the title… I used to think that after the titles like Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet why not the play titled ‘Antonio’? But the title is truly warranted as the play’s main character… at least for me was ‘Shylock’.

Racism, love, secrets and loans. The play strikes true to certain parts of the modern world (at least the modern India) as well as the time it was set and written. It is compelling that Shakespeare was able to write about such things. Even though it is called The Comedy… To a modern reader, it isn't so much comical but instead a tragedy and something that shows all the things that are wrong with the world. I will not get deep into the modern and the ancient world hitches like Racism, love and all as we all are well aware of it.

The drama of the play begins after Bassanio, in need of money to woo the heiress Portia, asks his friend Antonio for a loan. Antonio has bailed Bassanio out several times before, and is happy to do it again. But this time, because his ships are at sea and have not yet returned with their riches, Antonio has to ask Shylock for a loan.  

Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian, and because, on one occasion, Antonio spat on Shylock for being a Jew. To take a measure of revenge, Shylock forgoes charging any interest on Antonio’s loan and instead sets the bond at one pound of Antonio’s flesh. When Antonio's ships are lost at sea and he is unable to pay, Shylock demands that pound of Antonio's flesh and brings him to court in order to be repaid. 

The trial in the court of the Duke of Venice contains the great climax of the play. Unwilling to simply nullify a contract, the Duke calls upon Portia, disguised as a male lawyer, to argue on behalf of Antonio. When Shylock refuses to show mercy, she finds a flaw in the contract: Shylock’s agreement with Antonio mentioned flesh--but said nothing about blood. If, in the process of collecting Antonio’s flesh, Shylock were to be guilty of shedding Antonio’s blood, then Shylock’s property would have to be confiscated by the state of Venice. 

Portia even goes a step further, and points out that Shylock is a Jew (therefore an alien) who has attempted to take the life of a Venetian citizen, and this crime is punishable by death. While the Duke pardons Shylock's life, he forces him to convert to Christianity and leave his entire fortune to Jessica, Shylock's daughter, who had recently converted to Christianity.

Again coming to Shylock.. His character is complicated. Even though we can see that Shylock is a victim of bigotry, he often makes it hard for us to pity him entirely. Shylock is often rude and base in his interactions. He's abrupt with his daughter and mean to his servant, and his house is described as a "hell" on more than one occasion. Plus, he wants Antonio dead and doggedly pursues his "bond" (a pound of Antonio's flesh) when the Christian merchant is unable to pay back his loan.

Even if all have different views on how to interpret Shylock, one thing is certain: the man is an outsider who is alienated from just about everyone – even his own daughter, who can't wait to run away. By the end of the dramatic courtroom scene, Shylock is a broken man – he's humiliated in court, stripped of much of his wealth, and forced to convert to Christianity. However his character may be, how are we supposed to see this? Are we meant to sympathize with Shylock? Are we supposed to think that his forced conversion is a good thing?

For me.. Shylock was correct at all occasions whether it be asking for the flesh of Antonio or hating the Christians more than anything else. Obviously if someone or the mass is spitting on you, would you willingly be able to exonerate them? What do you think? 

That's why I wear it...

It was two years back when I was about to wear a tattoo and that too in the form of trident as being a Hindu mythology aficionado, I came across cool significances of the Trishul.

Trishul has great connotation in Hindu Religion, it is in the hands of almost all the deities, but the significance is even more when it is held by Lord Shiva. Now why Trishul has been given so much of significance in our culture does have a very deep meaning which is beyond the apparent.

Trishul is polyvalent and rich in nature.  Polyvalent means having the property of counteracting several related poisons or giving immunity against many different strains of a microorganism. But in our case it has the capacity to remove our many different negative qualities which inhibit us to be one with the almighty so helps to makes us rich at spiritual level. Ignore the spiritual level enrichment and all. This is the symbol of positivity. Sounds good..

The three prongs of Trishul represents —

• Trinity -brahma , Vishnu , Mahesh ;sarasvati , lakshami and kaali
• 3 -modes of nature --creation, maintenance and destruction
• The 3 -kaala -past, present and future
• The 3 -Gunas -sat, raj, tam
• 3 -lokas -swarg , bhu and patal
• 3 -powers -will , action and wisdom
• 3 -types of miseries -physical, mental and spiritual

Lord Shiva’s Trishul is supposed to destroy -the physical world -attachment to gross the illusionary world which seems so real; the world of the mind -the Ahamkaar or ego which is a barrier between Me and HIM -thus transforms to be in the third world that is the world of spirituality -thus leads to oneness Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone.

SHIVA HOLDS THE HANDLE means Lord is BEYOND ALL THE TRIGUNAAS means HE is NIRGUN(really??.. )

Yogic symbolism:

The trishula also represents the nadis or energy currents within the subtle body. The ida (feminine, passive) and the pingala (male, active) channels spiral upwards like a double helix, crossing for the last time at the Vishuddha or throat chakra.  These are normally represented as snakes. The central channels or sushumna nadi goes straight up the spine, continuing up through the crown chakra where the other two channels terminate. The channels in this area form a trishula-like shape. 

(Courtesy: Speakingtree.in)

Kingly Breakfast...

Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a Pauper..

well-known but the most neglected fact right?.

During a busy morning, it's easy to let breakfast fall low in your list of priorities, but taking just a few minutes to have something to eat can really make a difference to your day. Every one of us might have heard that a healthy breakfast is the key to start your day with a bang.

After eight hours of starvation, our body needs adequate nutrition to initiate its regular activities. And quality, complex carbohydrates give us the energy we need to start the day. A healthy breakfast not only helps in weight management but also maintains your blood sugar levels. The NHS says...

"Eating breakfast has long term health benefits.  It can reduce obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes."

Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast - that's where its name originates, breaking the fast!  Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the car with no petrol!

Something which I just read when I was searching for the benefits of breakfast is as follows.

Breakfast benefits: Source of Energy

Nutritionists advise that breakfast should be eaten within two hours of waking and a healthy breakfast should provide calories in the range of 20-35% of your guideline daily allowance (GDA).

Apart from providing us with energy, breakfast foods are good sources of important nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins as well as protein and fiber.  The body needs these essential nutrients and research shows that if these are missed at breakfast, they are less likely to be compensated for later in the day.  Fruit and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals so try to include a portion of your daily five at breakfast, whether that be a banana or glass of fruit juice.

Breakfast benefits: Weight Control

Breakfast can be good for waistline too, research shows those who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight and more likely to be within their ideal weight range compared with breakfast skippers.  If you skip breakfast, you're more likely to reach for high sugar and fatty snacks mid-morning.

Many studies, in both adults and children, have shown that breakfast eaters tend to weigh less than breakfast skippers.

One theory suggests that eating a healthy breakfast can reduce hunger throughout the day, and help people make better food choices at other meals. While it might seem you could save calories by skipping breakfast, this is not an effective strategy. Typically, hunger gets the best of breakfast-skippers, and they eat more at lunch and throughout the day. 

Breakfast benefits: Cognitive function

Breakfast also restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function.  Many studies have shown how eating breakfast can improve memory and concentration levels and it can also make us happier as it can improve mood and lower stress levels.  In studies amongst children, breakfast can improve attainment, behaviour and has been linked to improved grades.  Just like any other organ in the body, the brain needs energy to work at its best!

Click here to know why breakfast is must. And..

Enjoy Breakfast..

Continue Running...

So here I finally am finishing my consolidated list of "Start Running" tips and Hope these tips may help you in your Running, which I am sure you are going to start from tomorrow morning.

• Ease it back

"After a run, don't rush back into life. Take a few minutes to walk, stretch, relax, and meditate." —Runner's World editors

• Break the circle

"Quality counts, if you want to stay fast. Don't do all your workouts in the comfort zone." —Ken Sparks, Ph.D., top masters marathoner

• Observe certain rituals

"Once you find a warmup routine that works, repeat it as habitually as possible."—Ted Corbitt

• Finish it off

"To develop your kick, finish each repetition faster than you begin it. For example, if you're running 6 x 400 meters on the track, start off at a steady, controlled pace, then subtly shift gears in the last 100 or 200 meters." —Robert Vaughan, Ph.D., coach and exercise physiologist

• Take baby steps

"You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your goal too high and don't fulfill it, your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it." —Emil Zatopek, four-time Olympic gold medalist from Czechoslavakia

• . . . . Anyone . . .(applicable for workout too)

"Never underestimate the value of a good training partner, even if it's your dog. Training allies will get you out the door on those days when exercise might otherwise be reduced to a finger on the remote control button." —Runner's World editors

• I have to do it..

"If one can stick to training throughout many long years, then willpower is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I'm tired? That's beside the point. It's simply that I have to." —Emil Zatopek 

Click here to check for some basic running schedule. Hope it may help you. 

Finally few motivational words from my site. "You can do it. Believe me, anyone can run. Even if you are the laziest couch potato, you just need to hit your tipping point and decide to try it for real. One of the reasons I love running so much is because it provides me the way to surprise myself by accomplishing things that I honestly thought were impossible, even a short time beforehand. It’s an amazing feeling and I genuinely hope you get to experience it too."

So Enjoy Running..!!

Keep Running...

Firstly an apology for dividing this post into three. I thought like me, you all too may find it little boring to read 21 points in a single shot. So here we go with 2/3 of the “Start running” post.  

• Warm up then stretch

"Try some light jogging or walking before you stretch, or stretch after you run. Stretching 'cold' muscles can cause more harm than good." —Runner's World editors

• Stay hydrated

"Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate! In cold weather and warm. We use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs. I work all day at hydrating." —Dr. Alex Ratelle, former masters running great

• Listen to your limits

"You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance, but not through pain." —Dr. George Sheehan

• Every mile is important

"So-called 'junk miles'—those slow miles done on easy days or during warm ups—do count. They burn calories as effectively as fast miles; it just takes longer. Regardless of pace, each mile you run burns about 100 calories." —Hal Higdon, runner/writer/coach

• Go for the goal and compete with yourself

"I believe in using races as motivators. It's hard to keep on an exercise program if you don't have a significant goal in sight." —Bob Greene, personal trainer of Oprah Winfrey

• Consistency (yeah again!!)

"Day to day consistency is more important than big mileage. Then you're never shot the next day." —John Campbell, former masters running star from New Zealand

• Tune in to your body

Once you hit a pace that feels comfortable, tune in to how your body feels. How hard are you breathing? How quickly are your legs turning over? How do your leg muscles feel? Getting a sense of how your comfortable pace feels will help you lock into it on every run.

So..keep youself updated for the final segment of "Start Running" posts. Till then..

Enjoy Running..!!

(To be continued..)

Start Running...

For most of us, running for beginners is quite a challenge. That’s why I have been searching some tips from many days. I put something to the test the other day and entered into Google "Tips of running” and started getting too many. So, I thought I would put together a list of it, which would stand up to the test of research and I was left with this list which I also have applied successfully to myself.

• Inception

As a new runner keep to less than 5 runs a week, have one complete day of rest and also have the odd lighter week when you do less mileage than normal.

• Increase minutes not miles

"The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments—1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles." —Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach

• Shoes matters

"Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make." —John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner

• Talk test needed

"The 'talk test' means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner—but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera." —Runner's World editors

• Relax

"When running, let your jaw hang loose, don't bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed." —Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist

• Hand position matters

"Don't clench your fists in a white-knuckle grip. Instead, run with a cupped hand, thumbs resting on the fingers, as if you were protecting an egg in each palm." —Runner's World editors

• Not time but consistency matters

"If 15 minutes is all the time I have, I still run. Fifteen minutes of running is better than not running at all." —Dr. Duncan Macdonald, former U.S. record holder at 5000 (set when he was in medical school)

There are many more tips that am going to post over here. So stay tuned.. 

Enjoy Running..!!

(To be continued..)

I'm Feeling Lucky...

One more hectic day and what the hell I am Googling instead of getting into bed. Haha.. Luck is always underrated to hard work in every quote, every slogan. Wait a minute. This is interesting. I have just come across a cool article by Wiseman and I surly am going to share it over here.. 

Of course I am also going to underrate luck but this time it is not just the hard work that de-emphasizes it but many more and somewhat logical things in day today life that will share the luck. 

So Prof Wiseman has identified the four basic principles that lucky people use to create good fortune in their lives.

Principle One: Maximize Chance Opportunities

Lucky people are skilled at creating, noticing and acting upon chance opportunities. They do this in various ways, including networking, adopting a relaxed attitude to life and by being open to new experiences.

Principle Two: Listening to Lucky Hunches

Lucky people make effective decisions by listening to their intuition and gut feelings. In addition, they take steps to actively boost their intuitive abilities by, for example, meditating and clearing their mind of other thoughts.

Principle Three: Expect Good Fortune(This one I have successfully tried)

Lucky people are certain that the future is going to be full of good fortune. These expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies by helping lucky people persist in the face of failure, and shape their interactions with others in a positive way.

Principle Four: Turn Bad Luck to Good

Lucky people employ various psychological techniques to cope with, and often even thrive upon, the ill fortune that comes their way. For example, they spontaneously imagine how things could have been worse, do not dwell on ill fortune, and take control of the situation. 

Thats it.. Aren't they cool and somewhat logical also as compared to saying.. Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect..  Atleast for me they are.

Good night.. 

Raiders from the North...

So one more weekend went on with the thing I usually do every weekend.. "Nothing". And finally I am going through that horrible feeling again this Sunday night as I just realized what tomorrow is.. 

Review

“God helps those who help themselves..”

Any ways finally I am writing about the book that I finished two weeks back. If I am not wrong, I wanted to read the series from last two years but on the other hand I was a bit worried about the historical fiction's cons. I had once tried to read Chava the historical biography of Sambhaji and I was truly disappointed from the book. But finally as the Fifty shades darker was not available I had to and thank god I finally started Babur's story, "Riders from the North".

When I picked up this book, I expected revamped history, I expected battles, I expected a fun read. Well, as much as those elements were all present, this book is first and foremost a stunning insight into human nature, into short-term escapism versus the vivid reality of everyday life. I truly am confident that this series is not going to disappoint me as I will go ahead.

The book starts with little Babur admiring Timur's ancestry and learning things from his father. The novel begins by introducing Babur, its progenitor who came from a humble kingdom called Ferghana in Central Asia. It describes Babur’s childhood and teenage years as he’s suddenly put into the spotlight after his father’s death due to a freak accident. This event starts a calamitous series of events which sees various factions within the court strive to put their chosen parties on the throne. Thus begins Babur’s education in to what lies ahead and the brutal realities of ruling a kingdom and keeping it. The book narrates many ups and downs in Babur's life which inspires a lot. 

Another particular note is the ease at which the book uses a straight forward approach to tackling Indian History. Those that are less familiar with the historical context will have no problem following the events that are describe within this novel. One more good thing was the notification of the fictitious  characters at the end of the book which will make us understand the reality of the events explained in the book.

So all in all the book is awesome. This is an inspiring tale of courage and resilience, framed by a beautiful and truly touching historical fiction. Go for it.

Water basics...

Daily water intake required

Another tough workout.. A 5K warm-up followed by 60 minutes of weight lifting and completed with 10 minutes of active stretching. Now where is my water bottle? Although I do not know if I can find it with this mess.. I am seeing everywhere.

Well.. maybe this fictional workout is a bit overzealous, but I am sure that everyone can recall finishing a tough workout and reaching for that cool sip of water that seems to satisfy you to the very core of your soul. Why does that sip of water feel so satisfying and why is water so important anyway?

Surely I am not going to give a long scientific lecture on water intake but will just copy-paste-modify some of the water related things that I found are too important for all who actually somehow somewhat gets involved in fitness training..

Water sure does a lot, which is why when the body has too little water the effects are devastating. Water loss, dehydration, occurs when the loss of body fluids exceeds the amount that is taken in. The symptoms of dehydration are varied but include increased thirst (your brain telling you your body needs water), dry mouth and dry nasal passages, weakness, dizziness, palpitations (due to the subsequent electrolyte imbalance dehydration causes), confusion, inability to sweat, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and if ignored long enough, death.

Physical activity, such as bodybuilding, exposes people to a variety of influences like..

• Duration and intensity of the workout
• Environmental conditions in which it was performed
• Type of clothing worn
• Individual's physical characteristics such as body weight, gender, age and metabolic efficiency

.. that can lead to water loss

Moreover normal diet for a bodybuilder is very high in fiber, but even more likely protein. With such high levels of protein there can be excess nitrogen and urea, which will be cleared out by extra water. Water also helps the kidneys do their job.

When you become dehydrated, you are not able to lift as much and workout at the same intensity as you would have if you were not dehydrated. It's estimated that a 2% reduction in body fluids can result in performance decreases of up to 15-20%. To have the best workout you can possibly have, you need to stay hydrated.

To maintain proper hydration,

• Individual bodybuilder must consider their own water balance defined as how much fluid is consumed versus how much is lost
• Pre-hydration should be considered based on urinary output and color (darker indicates improper hydration) before beginning your workout,
• Goal should be to prevent excessive dehydration during your workout,  
• Frequently drinking during the workout is recommended at a rate of 0.4 - 0.8 liters per hour.
• Post workout, the goal should be to fully replace any fluids. If time permits, consumption of meals and beverages will restore the proper fluid balance. If the food or beverages have sodium in them, it is even better.
• Eating fresh fruits and vegetables contributes to your water intake. Drinking milk, fruit juices and caffeine-free teas and coffees are also good alternatives to plain tap water
• Caffeinated beverages on the other hand present a bit of a conundrum. Caffeine is a diuretic and promotes water loss. Yet beverages that contain caffeine can be considered adding to your fluid intake, albeit to a lesser extent

And finally something interesting I found which may help us to drink more..

• Have a beverage with every snack and meal. 
• Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
• Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
• Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.

of course beverages above doesn't mean soft drink or alcohol.

Chutzpah like none other...

Picture Courtesy: Mausam Champaneria

“ To be or not to be ”

Hands down, the most ENJOYABLE movie I have watched this year. Yes a bit slow but the real Vishal Bhardwaj one. 

I always think that if I would not have been an engineer, I have gone for BA literature with Shakespeare as my main subject. Even if, if..then has put me to the least coveted option, I finally have somehow somewhat managed to learn the Shakespeare tragedy especially from VB movies, wikipedia and few articles. Ya I have never dared to start learning Shakespeare dramas may be because of it's length. Bizarre huh...!!   

Anyways... Before starting anything, I would like to show my courtesy to my cousin, Mausam, for his courtesy to me, for the extraordinary creation, which I - without courtesy of asking him - have put as the face of my blog. Ya the poster above that you obviously have mistaken for some googled image is actually a drawing. I am sure he won’t mind for using it. 

You must be thinking that I am writing about this movie after a long time of its release but after watching it for the second time I couldn't resist myself. Talking about movie.. The main idea is to show the calamity in Haider and his mother’s life. The story unfolds with Haider feeling betrayed, by his paternal uncle Khurram, for luring his mother to fall in love and ends extenuating the most famous Hamlet quote “To be or not to be”. The thought is truly justified from Haider’s character. Even if it could have been better, the psychic character of Haider is vindicated by Shahid. One more interesting part of the movie was its plot which set amidst the insurgency-hit Kashmir conflicts of 1995 and civilian disappearances. Ya because of that many a times I found the movie getting a bit diverted from its main idea of familial tragedy but on the other hand the Kashmiri mentality can rightly be learnt from many scenes and dialogues. The satire which depict a guy who is hesitant  to go inside his own house without search is truly comic but the heart-rending one. 

The tipical Shakespeare signature, as was there in Omkara and Maqbool, is there in this movie too. A critical woman character that throughout is veracious but the actor(in this movie Haider) finds it to be erroneous. Ghazala played by Tabu has various shadows. At one point she is the helpless woman because her husband is picked up by authorities and her house is blown up in front of her eyes. She is a half widow as they address the women whose husband are missing. But at other point this half widow is not just sitting and crying but also trying to enjoy her life with her brother in law.

Apart from Ghazala and Haider, other characters are also well justified. Khurram played by Kaykay is impeccable. The only problem with Haider is it's length. It could have been much shorter with as much impact. At one point I started feeling the movie too slow. But these are tiny ripples on this filmy lake. All in all, Haider is superb, witty and violent tragic-magic. It’s a sure shot winner!

May we would have the Indian adaption of one of Shakespeare's better-known play, which is still regularly performed in the theaters "The Merchant of Venice" soon. 

The fire-born princess...

"Revenge is not always better, but neither is forgiveness; learn to know them both, so that there is no problem." 

The great Mahabharata has always been the most interesting topic to read. Many of the characters are the fields of research. Whether be Karna, Draupadi, Bhishma, Duryodhana or the most fascinating and my favorite Ashwathama.

Beautiful, brave and controversial, the heroine of the Mahabharat, Draupadi has made Mahabharata an out of the box epic.

The woman who heartily loved Krishna and had crush on Krishna but always known as the best friend of Krishna, Draupadi had once asked Krishna to marry her when “swayamvara” was arranged. Krishna had told her that he would get up and marry her if the hardest task given to the princes present is not achieved by a single prince. But Arjuna did the needful. It was the day that underway the destitutions in Draupadi's life. She reached to her mother in law for blessings and got gifted with exceptionally unexpected gift; the blessings that totally changed her life; the blessings of polyandry.

The idea of one woman having many husbands makes most men feel inadequate, not least her husbands. Little wonder then Draupadi is one of the most popular and controversial heroines of Hindu mythology. A woman who knows her mind, speaks her mind, refuses to be cowered by her husbands, asserts her will and admonishes them when they fail her. A woman who bravely scolds even Krishna and asks about the problems she had faced for her entire life. A woman who satirically reminds Duryodhana that he is a son of the blind. She is, in many parts of India, a goddess, worthy of sacrifice. 

But Draupadi is not the only polyandrous woman in Indian mythology. Her mother-in-law, Kunti, knew many men: four gods (Surya,Yama,Vayu and Indra) besides her husband, Pandu. But unlike Draupadi, her association with the gods was not public knowledge. It was whispered in corridors, not announced in courts. And they did not really count as they were not husbands, just child providers. Whatever it may be, the action was polyandrous.  The scriptures refer to other women who had many husbands: Gautam-clan Jatila who married to seven Saptarishis and Hiranyaksha's sister Pracheti who married to ten brothers. Thus there was more open attitude toward polyandry in Vedic society.

In early societies with high infant mortality rates and short lifespans, polygamy was preferred to polyandry. When a man had many wives, the family could have more children than when a woman had many husbands. This is one of the reasons why women were usually kept away in seclusion and safety, a practice that eventually led to the throttling of women rights.

In temples, one does see gods with many wives: Shiva with Gauri and Ganga; Vishnu with Bhoo-devi (Goddess of Earth) and Sri-devi (Goddess Lakshmi); Ganesh with Ridhdhi and Sidhdhi. This is either accepted rationally or elucidated using metaphysics. But there are no images of the Goddess with multiple husbands. Usually her doorkeepers, such as Kala Bhairav and Gora Bhairava, are described as her sons or servants. The idea of the Goddess with more than one husband is unacceptable. Even suggesting it is sacrilegious. 

Draupadi with her five husbands and an entire epic revolving around her stirs the imagination - makes us think of things that we otherwise dare not think. How did she rate her husbands? Did she have preferences ? By what criteria? Nakula was the handsomest but Bhima was the most passionate and Arjuna,he was skilled but insecure. Did she actually like Arjuna the most as depicted in at the end of an epic; the thing finally led her to the door of hell?

One hears of co-wives fighting over their husband's affection. Did the husbands fight over Draupadi? The epic does not explicitly discuss this, but the possibility of jealously tearing the brothers apart is repeatedly alluded to. The sage Narada warns the Pandava brothers of conflict that can destroy their bond. Narada suggests that they make careful bedroom arrangements to allow equal and exclusive access to each husband for a limited period of time. Any brother who enters her chamber when she is with another husband will have to perform penance. Arjuna does stumble in once while she is in the arms of Yudhishtira and so has to go on a pilgrimage to atone. During this 'pilgrimage', he ends up with three more wives. 

Kunti asked Arjuna to share Draupadi with his brothers. Did Arjuna felt hesitated to share one of the most beautiful woman with his brothers? If so, why didn’t he utter a word? Did Draupadi feel bad with this thing? Epic even doesn’t discuss the thing unambiguously. May be Arjuna was the most cultured guy and it was not good to oppose mother in law in the vedic time even if you feel something wrong.

Every brother has exclusive rights to Draupadi's chamber for a year, and then has to wait for four years for the next turn. Why one whole year? Perhaps because it gave Draupadi enough time to bear a child for that husband without any paternity issues. She bore each of her husbands a son. 

Before she moves to the next husband, Draupadi walks through pyre to regain her virginity and purity. Such rules were never placed before polygamous husbands. But Draupadi had a rule of her own for her husbands. The same rule as was applied by lord Rama in Ramayana.

She makes it very clear to her husbands that they cannot bring any other wife into the same house. Thus all the Pandavas have other wives, but these wives stay with their parents and the Pandavas have to travel out of the city to visit their other wives in the four years that Draupadi is intimate with the other brothers. The only exception is made for Krishna's sister, Subhadra, who marries Arjuna. 

Stories are told of how Draupadi came to have five husbands. Explanations are needed for a culture desperate to explain such a discomforting practice. One story goes that in her past life she was a sage's wife; her insatiable sexual appetite led him to curse her that in her next life she would have five husbands. Another story tells us that she asked Shiva for a husband who was noble and strong, skilled with the bow, handsome and wise. Since no single man could possess all five traits, Shiva gave her five husbands, each with one trait. 

Yet, This woman with five husbands is dragged into court and disrobed in public. She wonders why this happened to her. Folklore states that Krishna had sent the perfect husband for her - one who would love and protect her all her life and be faithful to her. His name was Karna, but she rejected him because of his low caste. So, she ended up marrying a man who shared her with his brothers and failed to protect her when she needed him most. Some states that Drupada asked for the most difficult life for her Yaganaseni.

Whatever it may be but the Draupadi’s character is always an inspiring one for all women. The character that makes woman the sturdiest, the strongest and the toughest in any circumstance.

-(Inspired from an article published in the Hindu)