3 recipes :)

Today --- I want to share my 3 recipes ---

( i hope my Noahy eats these soon made by me)

1) Khus - Khus ki Sabji with Bajre ki Roti &

2) Alu Mutter Paneer ( Punjabi sabji )

3 ) Bhure hue Karele

1) To prepare start with -- Bajri ki Roti ( Gujrati's call it "ROTLA "
Knead Bajri aata in clean water -- soft to touch -- & make thick Rotis & roast over heat from all sides.

2) Khus -Khus : ( which is poopy seed ;-)) Ya !! the same Poppy -- which is used in lemon / poppy seed muffins ) --

Soak 1/2 KG , of Khus -Khus over night in clean water. Next day , grind the Khus - Khus on stone grinder -- Save that pulp ---

Ingredients --- Mint [ a small bunch = around 20 leaves or so Green Chilly + Ginger = adrak ka 1/2 inch piece - Grind it
White Onion - Large one or 2 if small -- chopped fine in cubes

Method --- in oil put the Green chilly, adrak paste + diced onion along with CUMIN from your Spice box.

Fry until translucent & golden brown --- add the Mint leaves & the Khush -Khus Pulp -- stir thoroughly -- Lower the heat & add some water -

approximately like we add to Rice so it gets cooked . On Low medium heat let the mixture cook gentle -- Best if you can do this over COAL
Sigdi -- put a few Hot coal on the LID of the POT which is cooking the Sabji

ADD -- 2 BIG tablespoonful of fresh oil -- let it all simmer --- The Khus -Khus should be ready in 25 min.s -- Sprinkle fresh Corrinder leaves & red chilly powder on top & SERVE the HOT Sabji with the Bajre ka Rotla & Enjoy a most UNUSUAL Dish !! Bona pattetite !!

2) Punjabi -Alu Mutter Paneer

Ingrdients

Paneer 1 K.g. ---
Alu - 5 Large ones cut into chips size
Mutter -- 1/2 KG
Red Onions, - 3 big ones,
Garlic -- 4/5 Kalis
Tomatoes -- 5
Corriender Leaves [ Kothmir for Garnish ]
Green Chillies - 2 [ Cleaned from inside without seeds ]
& Yogurt --

METHOD ---

Dice Onions in small cubes -- add green chillies, Jira , Namak & a pinch of Suger, 5/6 black pepper seeds & garlic & Tomotoes & grind all this into paste over Stone grinder or in a mixture --- I prefer Stone Ground as it brings out the flavors -- add red chilly powder, Dhana -Jeeru powder & Turmeric -- Keep aside

Put Oil in a large skillet or heavy Brass pot or Kadhai --- pop Jeera & 1 Cinnemon stick [ Taj ] -- 3 Cloves

(called " Lavang" in Gujrati & "Laung" in Hindi )

& add some Ghee -- as it heats up add the CUT Potatoes -- let it fry gently -- take out --- then fry Paneer Pieces --
Add more Ghee if it is needed --- add to this same ghee the Above Ground Mixture of Onion / Tomato / garlic etc .

Fry until it is dry & gives off Ghee ---

[ It should get less & more condensed as it should be fried for a good half an hour -- jut like making Khoya from liquid milk ] --

The ART of a Great GRAVY is mainly in frying this mixture till it is deep red in color over gentle heat for quite some time
ADD the YOGURT to this hot mixture --- the Yougurt will evoprate leaving solids in the mixture & lending a TANGY = Sour = Khatta taste . Some also add Heavy Cream instead of Yogurt but that makes this Sabji very heavy -- I prefer Yogurt
Add water & Boiled Peas & let it all simmer -- Cover the Pot with a Lid.
When Serving --- add Garnish of Corrinder leaves [ Kothmir]
Serve this with Phulkas or Paratha Punjabi style ....Yummm !!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the Karele bhure hue ki recipe :

First : scrape the thorny out side of Karelas -- with knife -
empty the insides of Keralas , take the seeds out from the middle & save the pulp / flesh -- for later use --
then put them into boiling water with some salt & ajwain in the water -- let the kerals simmer for 5 min.s till they r tender - take out n let the water drain out --
Mix the stuffing -- some green Variyali , dhana & jeeru aakhu, red chillis, 6 pods black pepper , hing, haldi, aamchoor powder , 1 tea spoon chale ka aata roasted dry over skillet, half tea spoon anar daana --- take all this & grind it along with the flesh from the middle of Kerala , taste the mixture, add oil & adjust the Khatai, salt & mirchi part in it , then stuff it all this into the Keralas which r cut into middle & tie it up with a twine / thread --- so the Kerals do not open up & say tied -- now put them in hot oil -- take a good oil so the sabji smells good -- add some cashews & hing to oil & turn the kerals till each of them is golden brown & crisp --- eat with Roti or Pooris --- Enjoy -- yummm --- ;-))))

ye Zindgee ...

Ye Zindgee hai ...ye Zindgee ,

badee ajeeb hai ye zindgee ,

kabhee dhoop , kabhee chaanv

yunhee chalte rehte paanv ,

rasta khud hee bun jata ,

mujhko aage aage le jaata,

un hare hare kheton mein -

muskurata hai jahan mera gaanv !

* काव्यमय बानी *

from : left : Lata , me, Rachna in front row - Vasavi sitting next to me & Deepika behind the occassion was my 3 rd Birth day ! ;-))

~~~~~~~~~~~~ * काव्यमय बानी * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

मैँ जब छोटी बच्ची थी तब , अम्मा व पापा जी का कहना है कि, अक्सर काव्यमय वाणी मेँ ही अपने विचार प्रकट किया करती थी !

अम्मा कभी कभी कहती कि, " सुना था कि मयुर पक्षी के अँडे, रँगोँ के मोहताज नहीँ होते ! उसी तरह मेरे बच्चे पिता की काव्य सम्पत्ति विरासत मेँ साथ लेकर आये हैँ !"

यह एक माँ का गर्व था जो छिपा न रह पाया होगा. या, उनकी ममता का अधिकार उन्हेँ मुखर कर गया था शायद ! कौन जाने ? परँतु आज जो मेरी अम्मा ने मुझे बतलाया था उसे आप के साथ बाँट रही हूँ -

तो सुनिये,

एक बार मैँ, मेरी बचपन की सहेली लता , बडी दीदी वासवी, - हम तीनोँ खेल रहे थे. वसँत ऋतु का आगमन हो चुका था और होली के उत्सव की तैयारी बँबई शहर के गली मोहोल्लोँ मेँ , जोर शोरोँ से चल रही थीँ -

खेल खेल मेँ लता ने , मुझ पर एक गिलास पानी फेँक कर मुझे भीगो दीया !

मैँ भागे भागे अम्मा पापाजी के पास दौड कर पहुँची और अपनी गीली फ्रोक को शरीर से दूर खेँचते हुए बोली, " पापाजी, अम्मा ! देखिये ना ! मुझे लताने ऐसे गिला कर दीया है जैसे मछली पानी मेँ होती है ! "

इतना सुनते ही, अम्मा ने मुझे वैसे , गिले कपडोँ समेत खीँचकर . प्यार से गले लगा लिया ! बच्चोँ की तोतली भाषा, सदैव बडोँ का मन जीत लेती है.

माता , पिता को अपने शिशुओँ के प्रति ऐसी उत्कट ममता रहती है कि, उन्हेँ हर छोटी सी बात , विद्वत्तापूर्ण और अचरजभरी लगती है मानोँ सिर्फ उन्ही के सँतान इस तरह बोलते हैँ - चलते हैँ, दौडते हैँ -

पापा भी प्रेमवश, मुस्कुरा कर पूछने लगे, " अच्छा तो बेटा, मछली ऐसे ही गिली रहती है पानी मेँ? तुम्हेँ ये पता है ? "

" हाँ पापा, एक्वेरीयम ( मछलीघर ) मेँ देखा था ना हमने ! " मेरा जवाब था --

हम बच्चे,सब से बडी वासवी, मैँ मँझली लावण्या, छोटी बाँधवी व भाई परितोष अम्मा पापा की सुखी, गृहस्थी के छोटे, छोटे स्तँभ थे !

उनकी प्रेम से सीँची फुलवारी के हम महकते हुए फूल थे!

आज जब ये याद कर रही हूँ तब प्रिय वासवी और वे दोनोँ ,

हमारे साथ स -शरीर नहीँ हैँ !

उनकी अनमोल स्मृतियोँ की महक फिर भी जीवन बगिया को महकाये हुए है.

हमारे अपने शिशु बडे हो गये हैँ -- पुत्री सौ. सिँदुर का पुत्र नोआ ९ माह का हो गया है !

फुलवारी मेँ , आज भी, फूल , महक रहे हैँ !~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - -- लावण्या

EULOGY

EULOGY

Ah! You are so far away,

It almost feels unreal,

That I can love you so,

But you are nowhere near!

Yet, in my memories,

You'll always be mine ---

When I remember our love,

Only tenderness will shine!

With my slowly growing self

I still hide a light ---

That burns inside in me

And does not know no freight!

Go away my Beloved,

Forever denied to me

But make a happy life,

For the entire world to see!

This is my last farewell

In my silent thoughts,

A bow to our memories

A veil on our love!

NIGHT TRAVELER

NIGHT TRAVELER

Who walks the empty night?

As alone as I?

Whose footsteps clatter by?

Restless same as mine?

O my silent friend,

You too cannot sleep?

I know what the agony is

Of your tired mind-----

This silent you break,

Measuring with your walk,

But tread softly my friend,

For rest of the world still sleeps!

This loneliness and memories

Are all that we have?

This long night and darkness,

Are only ours to share!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~^*^~~~~~~~~~~~~

End
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

26th January --

Indian National Flag : On 26th January

The National Flag is a symbol of the Nation's respect and pride.

There is a liberal use of the flag on Independence Day and Republic day.

There is a new trend of selling flags made up of paper and plastic, which is incorrect. With a sense of national pride, people enthusiastically buy such flags but the very next day, we find these flags being trampled upon the road, in dustbins and elsewhere.

In this context, people forget that they are insulting the flag. Often, these flags are burnt along with garbage.

It is the duty of every individual to maintain proper respect of the National Flag.

From this point of view the following do’s & don’ts will prove useful.

Do's and Don'ts

Hoist the Flag at a height in a suitable manner.
Do not let small children use the National Flag as a toy.
Do not use or buy plastic Flags.
Do not use paper Flags to pin up on shirt pockets, etc.
Take care to see that the Flag does not get crumpled.
Do not use the Flag as a banner or for decoration.
Take care to see that the National Flag is not trampled upon or torn.
Do not let the Flag fall on the ground.
Do not join cloth pieces to resemble the National Flag.

इन्सा

इन्सा
तपती हुई धरती से,
ठहरे हुए सहरा से,
मुश्किल हर लम्हे से,
इन्सा ही बनाता है
हर राह नई नई
-जिन पर चलकर,
आई हैँ, पीढीयाँ,
इतिहास नया रचने,
सेतु समय पर रखने,
इस २१ वीँ सदी मेँ !
--लावण्या

Harshad ji has asked me for this poems' word INSAA --
Is the poem difficult ?
so here is a brief explanation --
INSAA = "इन्सा" means Insaan -Human

The poem says that from difficulties it is Humam = Insaan & his WILL - determination that keeps him going forward.
Every difficult moment creats a new road ahead.
Past generations have walked on that road to reach upto 21 st century thus creating new History by putting a BRIDGE = SETU - on this road.
This poem gives HOPE & prasies the hard work done by us = HUMANS
Thus it is about the HUMAN SPIRIT --
(In Gujrati I'd say it is an ASHAWADEE POEM )

Raining Arrows --

This picture has Shree Krishna , inside a special hall made up of arrows by the mighty archer Arjun during the Mahabharat war.

Sree Krishna who handled Arjun's chariot realised that all 4 horses were wouned by enemy arrows and were bledding from wounds and were tired.

so Sree Krishna ji requested his Sakha Arjun to bring forth water from the ground and make a special pavillion right in the middle of the battle field and expressed his desire to wash the wounds of the Horses & unshackeled them as Arjun got down & obeyed the command of Krishna bhagwan.

Arjun is the greatest Archer who ever lived on this Earth - his Archery is legendry. So he was able to fulfill such a request & he stood by & watched as KESHAV = HARI = Madhusudan = Krishna = Gopal = ( all names of Sree Krishna the Lord God who took birth to vanquish the bad & restore the kingdom of righteousness & preached the Divine knowledge of Bhagwat GEETA to Arjun before the WAR between Kaurava & Pandava began on the battlefield of KURUKSHETRA ! )

Sree Krishna ji , with sublime love, took care of the 4 Horses who could not speak -- of their condition but they were fortunate to be touched by the hands of Lord of the Universe HIMSELF -- in swaroop of Sree Krishna !

This incident has not been shown on any Drama / or / TV series but is among one of my favorite episodes from Mahabharat .

I recall, I had read Mahabharat published by Geeta Press Gorakhpur when i was barely 9 / 10 yrs old & till this day they ( i say " They " because there were 2 huge volumes bound in Gerua colored Khadee cloth -- these 2 huge volumes were in Hindi & had nice pictures narrating the story on each page each consisted some 1,000 = One Thousand + pages ) have left a strong impression on my mind.

I remember many such small kathas -- which I will share as time permits me !

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did !

Long Live our ancient Kathas .....may they enlighten us , always !

How times have changed !!

This is an image of a young girl casually

glancing, standing with a half leg up , supporting her stance , engrossed in her lap top !

How times have changed !!

The world is at her finger tips for sure ...

Q ...Y ...X ...

Sopan driving the speed boat with me & Deepak

Date Line : Jan/ 18/ 2005

well , we returned from CANCUN Mehico .....MEXICO that is,

.& ..

am wondering why we don't live there ??

It was almost picture perfect with BLUE of the Sea & soft white sandy beaches that stretched as far the eyes glanced in all directions....


Incidentally , the places / cities/ State etc had names starting with the most Exotic alphabets .....guess the seldon used ones are all in use Down South ! :-)

e.g. = Name of the Province we visited was from :~~

Letter Q = Quintaroo !
in,
Y = Yuctan Penninsula

& the Name of a city was,

X = Xil Ha

[ the Sweet & Salt water Natural Reserve where one swims with da Dolphins, Angel Fish & Parrot Fish & Multi colored Fishys ;-)) A real Cool place ! ]

Stayed @ Cancun Riviera - in the Royal Sands Resorts &
Saw Tulum the Ancient Mayan Ruins which r Calenders to read the Dates / movements etc of the Sun & the Moon :
&
saw Fight unto death of 2 IGUANAS - which are the slithering lizards that roam in the wild ------ shreeek ----

All in all, it was an awsome encounter with an ancient yet new Nation , trying to make its mark in this 21 st century among families of other Nations of this world.

Truly TRAVEL broadens one's Horizons !

'प्रवासिनी के बोल'

"Prawaseeni ke Bol " - is the first book published & edited by Dr. Anjana Sandheer who teaches HINDI @ Columbia Uni NY which consists poems / bio data of 81 poetess who reside in America with 4 poems each included in this historic first time effort !

I too have been included in it with my 4 poems in this --
One of them is here ~~~

"KAPIL -VASTU mein PRATEEKSHA"

Pawan Jyoti Parva mein Main,

Deep Utsav baaltee ,

Aangna ke dware - dware

Deepak Lau, prakashtee !

Pavitra mangal shubh prasang

Suman harshit vaartee

Kanchan thaal, kum kum le,

Main, karti unki aarti !

Path mein prabhu ke nayan mere ,

Dhyaan mein man leen

Aa jate yadi we aaj sammukh

Charan raj unse, maangtee !

Rahul, dhar ker hath tera,

Unhi per tumko, vaartee

Kyon gaye wo door humse ?

Ees ka Main uttar mangti !

Sharan hain hum aaapke

Hey Gautam , mere dulare

Buddha Tum hoge sabhi ke,

Yashodhara tumko pukare !

'प्रवासिनी के बोल' का विमोचन

'प्रवासिनी के बोल 'डा अंजना संधीर द्वारा संपादित अमेरिका की प्रवासी कवयित्रियों की कविताओं का पहला संकलन 'प्रवासिनी के बोल' का विमोचन शनिवार ९ दिसंबर को दोपहर ३ बजे 'क्वीन्स लाइब्रेरी' में होना निश्चित हुआ है। इस अवसर पर काव्यपाठ का आयोजन भी रखा गया है। डा संधीर व संकलन में प्रकाशित अधिकतर कवयित्रियां इस अवसर पर क्वींस लाइब्रेरी में उपस्थित रहेंगी। इस आयोजन में प्रवेश निःशुल्क है।

पुस्तक के प्रथम भाग में ८१ कवयित्रियों का सचित्र परिचय¸ कविताएँ व रचना प्रक्रिया दी गई है, दूसरे भाग में ३३ प्रतिभाशाली महिलाओं का सचित्र परिचय है तथा तृतीय भाग में भारतीय अमरीकी महिलाओं द्वारा अबतक प्रकाशित पुस्तकों की सूची दी गई है। 'प्रवासिनी के बोल' अमेरिका में हिंदी साहित्य का पहला प्रमाणिक दस्तावेज़ है।

Chai Masala mix in America !

A Lady & her maid --

may be, going off to prepare CHAI ??



The easiest way to mix Indian style Masala (Blend of dry Spices) is easy.


From any drug store buy 99cent jars of cinammon, clove , nutmeg etc. And buy Green " Ilachi" which is fresh cardamom pods from Indian grocery store. Grind the Pods. Now mix all the spices according to your taste. I like more ginger, cardamom, then cinamon and just pinch of nutmeg and clove.
To make tea, boil water adding Tetley tea. One package to one cup of boiling water. Add the blend of dry spices that you just mixed.When the mixture is boiling add milk.

One can also mix fresh mint leaves, fresh ginger( Crushed and Added) and if one can find then fresh green tea leaves= called " HAREE CHAI KI PATTEE " --- Or ---- some folks like the dry grounded Anise seeds ( Saunf in Hindi & Variyali in Gujrati language )

Variyali always makes me burst into this song :
" Ye Variyali aur ye Nashta " :)
instead of the original --
" Ye Hariyali aur ye Raasta ..." lol ...

Add suger or honey if you like it sweet.
OR
artificial sweetners ....it is upto you !

Enjoy the most satisfying and cleansing cup of tea that you ever tasted.
We at home drink at least 4 cups of the same tea every day!
You are all invited to try it.

From : A True Tea Lover. :-))))))))))))))))))

Nari 2001!

Women

( Woman's Day Special )

Nari 2001!

On March 8th, an all women crew will take off its flight! The historic team will consist, Captain Meena Pandey � Event Manager, Captain Sudha Bengari � Instructor, Captain Geetanjali Kudaria � Assistant Instructor, Madhu Sood � Engineer, Kanchan Singh � Technician along with all female flying crew!

What should be the role and the image of a female in 21st century and beyond?

Researchers say that the first female had made the transition from an ape to a human erectus who stood on her 2 feet and they named her 'Lucy' and she is the first female.

Judeo, Christian and Islamic religions teach us that Adam & Eve were the first from whom we all emerged.

Hinduism's Devi-Geeta has this - as Devi tells Himvan," Life begins with Ishwar. (Ahamvesha Purvim) I'm Para-Brahma in which Maya resides. I'm Chitta, Sam-vitta and Atma-swaroopini." Akash � Space is the male to the Earth as Female symbol.

Ancient Vedic lore fascinates us as we get 'wired' through the web in 2001!

Nari, the female remains as alluring, as mysterious and fascinating as she was in the pre dawn of civilization. The veil of culture only enhances her age-old mystique as she resides in her own personal 'Shangri-La'.

Women have taken great strides, on all the seven continents. Their achievements have been staggering in spite of obstacles and pitfalls.

Female's always had the additional task of 'child bearing' and 'nurturing' of family to solidify the unit in the parameter of yet another institution, which is Marriage. Civilizations, nations and cultures rest upon it.

Family values the much touted buzz word of politicians is powerful institution indeed!

Women who choose careers do an amazing balancing act by taking care of their own motherhoods, babies and mid career decisions within matrimony.

India is perhaps the fastest 'wired' nation where 60% Indian females, still remain illiterate.Those fortunate few who reach dazzling heights of pinnacles seem like beacons for future growth and potential.

Indra Nooyi, the management executive of Pepsi Co. has shattered glass ceiling for all females of all races.

Vani Kola, started her career in Sunnyvale public library in California, with an engineering degree, setting up the Right works Pioneer web based computing system.

Both of them have strong religious roots, balanced family life and values and thus carve the perfect role model as Nari-2001!


The perfection of Womanhood! The nurturing and conquering aspects of career success combined with motherhood is simply awe inspiring and awesome!

Looking at their glorious achievements we shudder when we look at the depths, far below the valley when we are faced with ICCW � Indian Council of Child Welfare which runs an orphanage for abandoned girl-child. Due to the gruesome practice of female infanticide practiced in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Bihar etc., the absent ratio of female birth, stops us in our tracks and makes us ask 'why?'

What is the answer to this social problem? A female is a burden to her parents and her marriage an expanse. So many dowry deaths, abuse and neglect, lack of proper nutrition and food, inadequate education, improper emphasis on a male child and desire for the same are all culprits in the unfair treatment and handling of a girl-child in modern India.

Western world has made much more progress in giving women their freedom and status but even then the comparison is still like that of an apple to an orange. Second class citizenship of females is a silent feature of society. Sad examples of injustices, perpetuated by females on younger females remains a by product of an orthodox mind set where bride burning can follow if she did not bring enough wealth to her in-laws and now her new home as she enters as a bahu, a daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law ill treats her.

To change this scene, women needs to be nurtured, given equal love and care as her brother in a family and given education so she can be self-reliant and confident about her future and has a say in her destiny with her choices and decisions. She should be taught to take pride in her femininity otherwise a lack of self esteem leads her into vulnerable and manipulative situations.

Every woman's liberation attempt, the world over, has had its own backlash. Patriarchal, male dominated societies have somehow deluded us all into believing that female is the weaker and an inferior sex. Even Mr. Freud is guilty of that. Gandhiji made a wise decision by assimilating women in freedom struggle, which made it feasible for India to have a female prime minister in Indira Gandhi whereas America still has not achieved it.

New theories are coming to light due to the research initiated by female scientists who are setting the records straight. Anthropologist Adrienne Zihlman's article in TIME magazine states that in the survival struggle of human species, 30 % food was gathered by males from hunting but females were gatherers from plants etc of 70% food source which enabled our survival.

The child birth discomforts and its associated difficulties actually provides mothers tremendous physical boosters as high Estrogen levels in the blood stream prevents many dreaded disease like Alzheimer's and even Dementia. The Fetal cells from a mother's off spring, survive in her blood stream, decades after child birth and provides resistance to many diseases and still we call women the weaker sex! Female as perhaps the 'less understood' species would be a more accurate assumption.

Aphrodite or Venus or a Laxmi emerging from an ocean along with wealth and breath taking sublime beauty is a picture for all art at all times. The female form has enchanted the eye since millennium and reached at the threshold of 21st century.

Nari, of 2001 is reshaping the world around her by entering all fields & endeavors. Along with men, she has emerged as a doctor, engineer, lawyer, astronaut, aviator, soldier, political leader, humanitarian, teacher, nurse, beauty queen, actress, singer, musician, poet, thinker and writer, painter etc.

Nari is the first teacher of an infant in most cases. A female plays many roles. She's a loving, daughter, sister, wife and a mother then an elder of a family as Nani Ma and Dadi ji fulfilling not only herself but also the society.

May the Nari of 2001, continue her struggle as she supports the male, in their role as their loving, nurturing and worthy counterpart. The two wheels of life are male and female which move the flow of time as it becomes, History, Civilization and Culture for us to glimpse and to learn from, in order to evolve as better human beings.

The opportunities for achievements accomplishments are manifold as we all come closer through faster mode of telecommunication medias and Internet, which is taking us at an alarming speed ahead! Fast-forward is here to stay! As we catch a glimpse of the emerging, beguiling swaroop of Nari 2001!

� Lavanya Shah
March 8, 2001

http://www.boloji.com/women/wd5.htm

America

America

Give me the quiet strength of your soil,

Give me the will to reach for the moon!

Give me the toil of desperate limbs,

Give me the shocks and horrors of sins!

Give me the bravery of your braves -

Give me the affection, for motherland!

A free nation! Undivided! And One!

From Alaska to Hawaii -

From New York to Los-Angeles,

From Mexico to Canada, you lie,

From Sea to shining Sea!

Give me your love, your benevolence --

Give me your true and Noble spirit !

America! The most wonderous land!

From New York to Los-Angeles,

From Mexico to Canada, you lie,

From Sea to shining Sea!

Old Glory flutters high up in the sky
Multitudes of masses go rushing by -
May God keep you, safe and sound!
No adversaries, nor enemies, come around!
Your wondrous Bounty,

may know no bounds!
Amen!

(c) Lavanya Shah -July 1, 2001

http://www.boloji.com/poetry/0400-0500/0462.htm

Avalon & Florida trip

our car : is a steel Grey / Blue Avalon ( Toyota )

- it is my Fav . as it has a huge back seat & enough leg room like First Class Plane Seats ;-)) & I chose this after Deepak decided to get it after his Accura !

I was sold on this vehicle when we rented it for 1 week during our trip to the Southern most tip of Eastern USA & traveled to Florida & saw CUBA - few kilometers away from -- mainland US of A !!

The southern most tip of Florida......

" KEY WEST "

...is that city on the edge of Floridaian penninsula ...

a " Conch Paradise " & with a free wheeling life style ...& white sandy beaches on the mighty Atlantic Ocean on its eastern side.

A great attraction here is ,

http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/main_menu.html

on a war story he had started on the passage to Key West. Hemingway worked avidly on his novel in the mornings. The novel, which was published in fall of 1929, Hemingway established his routine of writing during the early mornings when the temperature was coolest, while taking time to explore his new surroundings in the afternoons. He resumed work

which was

"A Farewell To Arms".

Other major Florida cities we saw were --

Miami :

Here we ate the best Italian style "Gelato = a softer version of an ice cream -- kind a like a cross btwn ice cream & frozen sorbet with unique , citrusy - fruit flavors & they were all yummm !! -- saw the infamous Palace like home of Italian designer Gianni Versace with its Black & Gold ornate Gates -- Versace was gunned down , on the steps as he returned after his morning coffee at that very spot ! )

Ft Lauderdale :

Zipped by to reach Miami en route from Boca & ate pizza & Green house salad at an Italian restaurant .

Palm Beach :

Many retired ( consider RICH ! as most American citizens who've worked hard all their life , saved have now reached this position & they choose to migrate to a warmer climate in Souther States & Florida is a magnet for most ! )

-- we disembarked on a bright & sunny afternoon

& immediately began exploring the vibrant city.

A short distance away we saw " Mar Lago " the BOND film look alike, vast

Beach front property of American enerprenuer Mr. Donald Trump which also hosts Pagents & parties & has a faboulous Spa within its magnificent premises.

Boca Raton :

( where a dear friend Mehul lives with his sweet family ) ,

& we drove by

Del Rey Beach, Pompano Beach to reach

ORLANDO

( the city has DISNEY WORLD , different from "Disney Land " which is in the city of Los ~ Angeles in the Western state of California )

then we met a friend after some 15 yrs. !

had a great Gujju dinner & paan grew in a pot @ their home which we relished with * fun *

the city is near Sarasota Florida named :

Bradenton

( where a friend has a dry cleaning business ) --- etcetc

( watch the location of Key west in Florida )

http://weather.sun-sentinel.com/radar/mixedcomposite.asp?region=d5&size=2x

‘Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim’

what must be the thoughts that Lata didi thinks when she reads the lyrics of a new song for the first time ?

What emotions must pass through her mind ?

How does she conjur up the pain, the longing & the pathos in her sad songs ?

Does she recall some painful memory from her own life ?
Or
does she think of the pain of others ?
Or Both ?

I've often wondered about that .

( i must ask her this Q. some day .............)

It has been my privilege to see a song neatly being written in her slightly rounded, curved beautiful hand writing which looks like a mix between Marathi & Sanskrit syllabals --

Every song , she begins with

" Shree Krishna " .................................

on top of an empty page & then, writes the lyrics herself !

She has also told me that when she reads a poets' hand written song, she understands the words / & / the lyrics better :)

I was fortunate when she told me this & asked me to send her, my poems
in simple , old fashioned "hand -written " way which I did !
&
Didi kindly read them !
&
Ooh i was over joyed to hear that --

Didi always does the right thing &
does not hurt any one . that is how she is !

Even Pt. Hriday Nath Mangeshker ji ( Baal for her & her youngest sibling )
read them & Didi told me that he liked my poems most of which are in pure /or/ chaste Hindi -- & -- showed them to his son Adi Nath & commented that "in this day & age , not many writers use such language"

My young friend who is a " True Latadi BHAKTA " Mr. Deepak Jeswal suggested this etheral Latadi song on his beautifully written BLOG :


Random Expressions

my new post on Lataji titled "Lata Mangeshkar - A Quest for Lifetime"

on my blog http://www.deepakjeswal.com/

‘Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim’ can be used effectively

& I had these thoughts :

Lavanya

” what a lovely number ” ” Rim jhim rimjhim ” —
one can alomst hear the rain drops falling in succession over everything in sight. Sigh !

Didi’s voice has that power to transport inanimate objects come alive with the sheer unearthly power of her soul force the way you describe ------------- " Dilware ke Dera & the intricate carvings hum along with Latadi’s voice " , yes , the Swar is keeping tempo & reverbrating on our heart strings.

I’ve experienced this too — zipping by on rural America’s obscure towns, in our car, or some times in a rented vehicle , i watch the mist laden mountains & valley’s and somehow they seem ALIVE with the songs of Didi.

Rasik Balma ….Dil kyun lagaya tose ….

as if a forlon figure …cries n the entire NATURE ..then,echos her song.

Manzil milne ki aas thee…
ye hum nahee jante the
rasta hee bun gaya tha,
unki aawaz se Manzil meri !

warm regards,
lavanya

Humaree Asha ji ....

what can we say about Asha ji ?
So much has been said already.
She still enthralls us with the verve and superb rendition of her classics like ...

" O mere Sona re Sona re ..Sona ..de doongi jaan judaa mat hona re
maine tujhe jarra der mei jaana, hua kasoor khafaa mat hona re ..
O mere Sona re sona re Sonaaaa .........."

&

Ab ke baras bhej Bhaiyya ko Baabul, sawan mei leejo bulay re ..
Lautengeen jab mere bachpan kee Sakhiyaan, deejo sandesha bhijay re

every time I hear the pathos woven into her voice it brings a lump to my throat & tears sail in my eyes ..Sigh !!

&

" Le gayee legayee ...Dil le gayee le gayee ///"
from DTPH brings on a mastee ka mood no matter what it was b4 !

A TRUE artist's caliber has this POWER over us
-- to pull us into their ORB of emotions , both happy or sad .
The quicker any artist can leave his / or / her imprint on our mind & soul and the quicker we react to it determines the GENIUS of that ART & the artist !!

B it a painting by Rembrandt, Piccasso or a poem by Shelly or Wordsworth or a Drama by Shakespear or Kalidasa ....

they all are "alive" even after their Century & time has passed because
of their Genius.

Thus i put our dearest ASHA JI ............Equal among the above.
With her Elder Badi DIDI = Latadi ! ( whom I adore & worship )

Welcome :)

Welcome my dearest Soni ~ Moni :)

On a lazy Summer afternoon ~ Sindur's back yard barbecue (veg ;-))

Our New extended family members : ~ Ameetaji, Me, Deepak, Mausaji, Naniji , Aneeta ji & Vanita ji.

SMILE ;-)

Atama -Deep

Aandheeyon mein jalta Deep,

ek, akampit
Ladta andheeyare se,

nanha sa Jeev akela
bolo jalta rehta ,

kiske sahare ?

Wahee Jeev ,

jeevit rehta hai

jis bal se,
Atam - deep , prakasheet ,

jis ka vardaan
Wahee Maha Tej Punj ,

jo sub ka praan !

रात को

रात को शबनम झरेगी,

जब महकते गेसूओँ पर,

थरथरायेँगीँ बाँहेँ, तुम्हारी

काँप कर वीराने मेँ....

कब हम तुम, एक साथ,

झुक कर, खिडकियोँ से,

देखेँगेँ,अश्कोँ को, बहते,

सुखते, एक दुजे के चेहरे पे?

बीती रात का सपना,--

बीती रात का सपना, छिपा ही रह जाये,

तो, वो, सपना, सपना नहीँ रहता !

पायलिया के घूँघरू, ना बाजेँ तो,

फिर,पायल पायल कहाँ रहती है?

बिन पँखोँ की उडान आखिरी हद तक,

साँस रोक कर देखे वो दिवा -स्वप्न भी,

पल भर मेँ लगाये पाँख पँखेरु से उड,

ना जाने कब, ओझल हो जाते हैँ !

मन का क्या है ? सारा आकाश कम है--

भावोँ का उठना, हर लहर लहर पर,

शशि की तम पर पडती, आभा है !

रुपहली रातोँ मेँ खिलतीँ कलियाँ जो,

भाव विभोर, स्निग्धता लिये उर मेँ,

कोमल किसलय के आलिँगन को,

रोक सहज निज प्रणयन उन्मन से

वीत राग उषा का लिये सजातीँ ,

पल पल मेँ, खिलतीँ उपवन मेँ !

मैँ, मन के नयनोँ से उन्हेँ देखती,

राग अहीरोँ के सुनती, मधुवन मेँ,

वन ज्योत्सना, मनोकामिनी बनी,

गहराते सँवेदन, उर, प्रतिक्षण मेँ !

सुर राग ताल लय के बँधन जो,

फैल रहे हैँ, चार याम,ज्योति कण से,

फिर उठा सुराही पात्र पिलाये हाला,

कोई आकर, सूने जीवन पथ मेँ !

यह अमृत धारा बहे, रसधार,यूँ ही,

कहती मैँ, यह जग जादू घर है !!

रात दिवा के द्युति मण्डल की,

यह अक्षुण्ण अमित सीमा रेखा है,

शुभम

लावण्या

Kavi Sree PRADEEPJI -- Amar rahein !

Kavi Sree Pardeepji @home with his wife & daughters

http://www.raaga.com/channels/hindi/movie/HC0000079.html

Click on the 'stars' below to rate a track.
TRACK LISTING:

Pinjare Ke Panchhi ( Re: this song ) Pradeepji had visited my childhood home & he sang this song in our drawing room once. He used to smoke

& i recall that he kept the pace & rhythem , drumming his thin, long , artistic fingers on his match box as he sang "Pinjare ke panchee re , tera darad na jane koyee..." in a soulful voice full of quivering sentimentality.

Aao Bachcho Tumhen Dikhaen

Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se

O Dildar Bolo Ek Baar

Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo

Yehi Paigham Hamara

Chal Akela

Dusro Ka Dukhada

Mukhada Dekh Le Prani

Tere Dwar Khada Bhagwan

Toot Gai Hai Mala

Upar Gagan Vishal

Aaj Ke Is Insaan Ko

Humne Jag Ki Ajab Tasveer Dekhi

Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon

Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan

Koi Lakh Kare Chaturai

Na Jane Kidhar Aaj Meri

AB's Rich Baritone -proclaming for all

This is a rare hand written letter of Sree Amitabh Bachchanji's father = Late Poet Sree Hariwansh Rai Bachchan ji to my father ,Late Pandit Narendra Sharma ............................................................................ & here is a splendid clip presented on Times Of India ..click & rejoice!


http://www.indiapoised.com/video2.htm#m1

&

http://www.indiapoised.com/

&

http://www.indiapoised.com/showmosaic.asp?id=4

Happy New Year !!

This is Noah ;-) My grand son riding his first car which has a Fan with lights & ooh sooo many sounds & a bobbing Tiger too !! LOL
Hope this Christmas GIFT proves a Joyful Toy for my Noahy :)
& I usher in this new year 2007 .....on that wishful note ...
will return with a long post on Arizona State .......till then ....take care
enjoy the ride ... &........ Cheers Folks !!

2006 - 2007 !

( I found this fascinating Pic. somewhere & saved it -- it has Feminine messages along side a demure bride )
After a long absence, I'm here again ! Welcoming the brand New Year 2007 ! Hope it brings Peace to this world of Ours !!
The past year ended with disturbing images of a pathetic figure with haunted eyes & noose around his neck :-(
I shudder at the sight which i caught just b4 boarding my flight from Phoenix, Arizona & quickly averted my eyes as if to shut the bad vibes off ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new year has already begun ...what will it bring ? I hope Peace & Joy & no more Natural calamities or disasters like the last year did. Enough !!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So here is my silent Prayer to the Almighty God who is the Creator of all -- Please God, show your kind & gentle side & bless the billions who reside
on this Earth !
Forgive our trespasses & guide us towards THY divine Light !
Amen !