A fortiori

I went to a Flea Market a bit unwillingly but then when nephews call to spend time with you, you hardly have a choice. I was supposed to meet them a little early for a Sunday morning but I reached in time. I called one of my nephews only to realize he hadn’t even started from home. He suggested that I go in and look around. I hesitated to take up his suggestion but the greed for materialistic possessions took over good sense and there I was just picking up whatever took my fansy! I infact had no cash with me and so installed PAYTM and paid! Nothing seemed to be a hindrance or a challenge! One prized possession amidst all the junk was a beautiful earthen pot and it had a nice glazed finish to it! I was informed that I could place it on a gas stove too for cooking! I picked it up thinking I had got it at a throw away price! The next morning as I placed it on the stove to make sambhar, I dreamt of the smell of sambhar in the purest and unsullied form wafting through my house! I was ru...

Happy women's day to all the women in my life! The women in my family have taught me and helped me to bring to surface the spirit of womanhood - Don't look for external support systems, you are the best and so help yourself is what has been the essence of their message to me through their lives. My grandmother who lost her mother in her childhood, who was brought up by a single parent and trained by the neighbourhood ladies was an epitome of self confidence, progressive in thinking and an all rounder!. She assessed the skill set of her daughter, grand daughters on the parameters like praying, cooking, organizing, maintaining the house and the articles therein, painting, embroidery, creative work, cleanliness, economies of scale, discipline of time and sense, literature reading, novels, special dishes, friends making, following processes in whatever one did in life, being the support system to all family members and helping them in all kinds of situations -the benchmark bein...