Antarman BY MHC _ Fab February 2023

ANTARमन

BY MOTHERHOOD

CLUB

FAB

FEBRUARY

SERIES 3- VOL 2

Mrs. Ila Pachauri Chief Happiness Officer

Mr. Mukesh Bhatnagar Co - Editor

Mrs. Akta Sehgal Founder , Chief Strategy Officer & Editor in Chief

Mrs. Pooja Dixit Chief Content Officer

Akta Sehgal

Anuj Sehgal

Apna Ghar Welfare Society

Archana Joshi

Aruna Sirohi

Dr Richa Jain

Good Works Trust

Ila Pachauri

Kamal Nimodia

Mukesh Bhatnagar

Neeta Manwani

Nidhi Bansal

Payal

Poonam Bhatn

Rakesh Pachau

Ranjana Majum

Ripa Mehta

Sarmishtha M

Suraksha Prut

Swetha Sunda

Tapasy Sureka

Umang Sarin

Vandana Chaw

Vaishali Sisodi

Vaishali Tamb

An Appeal

Ummido ka indradhanush an anthology of poems initiated by Motherhood club and compiled by Mrs Akta Sehgal Founder Motherhood Club and Manas Wealth, Mrs Ila Pachauri Chief Happiness Officer

Motherhood Club and Founder My little greens, and Dr Indu Bansal Director Radiation Oncology Narayana Hospital.

The book is a poetic expression of hope by 101poets across the globe for Cancer warriors, caretakers and anyone in despair

This anthology is a way to raise funds for Cancer patients from humble background who are not only a victim of the disease but also financial toxicity.

Each book bought gets us closer to bring hope and cheer in the life of one, if not many.

The book can be bought by paying a nominal sum of Rs 250, all the proceeds shall be used to support Cancer warriors from humble background. The amount can be paid via paytm/google pay at 9971477004, along with your address and courier charges on actual

Akta says, its not the money but the intent with which you shall buy this book and that shall make all the difference.

Editorial

Dear Members,

At the onset congratulations to each one of you on the 4th Anniversary of Motherhood Club. As we entered the fifth year many wonderful things happened. We celebrated our Anniversary along with an offline award function “ Illuminating the Path” and felicitated 21 awardees along with 15 Patrons of Motherhood club. We took on us to felicitate those , who have been doing amazing work and some of them who were yet to receive any recognition.

We received CSR support for two of our quality education partners amounting to Rs 9 lakhs , there by truly illuminating the path of our future generation. A unique concept of ummedo ki gullak was kept at our event, where guests contributed generously and we were able to collect Rs 11,000 to support kids from humble background.

February also saw many members participating in our campaign #walkformindbodyandsoul. Would like to make a special mention of Mrs Jayashree Sriram , Mrs Swetha Sundar , Mrs Ila Pachauri who with full passion , perseverance and panache completed the 21 days challenge.

An online poetic celebration was also done to celebrate our anniversary for all outstation members. more than 20 members participated and made us experience the bouquet of words.

Motherhood club through our members contribution , is creating that ripple effect which is impacting the masses and becoming the change maker . With our dedicated focus on Health Wealth and Happiness , we are being recognized and NGOS and other social help groups wish to collaborate with us.

The 5th Year has a lot in store and it wont be possible without your support to take that big leap of faith to continue to progress in the space we already are and uncharted territories too.

In this edition of " Fab February" 2023, you shall see the bar has already been raised and some quality content is coming your way. Your feedback and content contribution can be shared at antarmanbymhc@gmail.com.

We are also thankful to our social partners and a few members for their testimonials there by motivating us to do even better

Happy Reading

Best Regards

Akta Sehgal Editor In chief

Motherhood Club 4th Foundation Day Celebration

By Mukesh Bhatnagar

Journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And that one step makes all the difference. Ms Akta Sehgal Malhotra took one such step in 2019 to empower women through her Health Wealth & Happiness sessions and went on to bring a change in society. Her acumen in financial mentoring and passion to bring out the best in women, soon roped in three other women, and the birth of Motherhood Club took place. Ms Ila Pachauri, Monika Goel Dewan and Pooja Dixit became an integral part of the Club, and together they are illuminating the path for many, spreading sunshine all around.

Celebrating its 4th Foundation Day Anniversary on 25th February 2023 at the Shantiratn Foundation complex in Chattarpur, Delhi saw a galaxy of social workers, social influencers and change makers, engaged in bringing discernable change in the society.

The theme of the Function cum Cultural Evening was befitting the pristine objective of Motherhood Club - 'Illuminating the Path'.

21 persons were conferred with Award of Honour in Achievers Category with a memento, medal and gift hamper, for their exemplary, dedicated and selfless work for the betterment of society and 15 were honoured with Patron Award for their belief in Motherhood Club's social activities and other literary activities.

Their commitment, dedication and devotion for a cause, demonstrated what the change is all about and what it means. Change is not an event, it is a process. A continuous process that needs to be maintained consistently . Writing about the achievers individually, may take a good number of pages, suffice to say they are the path finders and an inspiration for all.

Akta Sehgal Malhotra and Ila Pachauri, the soul sisters, hosted the event with utmost precision and perfection. Little Vanya Malhotra gave a stunning performance followed by Chiraag Biswakarma, Neeraj Biswakarma and Mayank Kumar's melody dance performance. It was later learnt they belong to humble background and were mentored by Ms Madhu Sehgal. The star attraction of the event was Muskan who with her spectacular dance and play act brought tears to the audience and got a standing ovation. A product of the Shantiratn Foundation, a deaddiction camp, she not only got herself transformed but is illuminating the path of those who fell prey to addiction. She won the heart of everyone around and is an inspiration for misguided youth.

Dr Priya Kaul gave a pep-talk on the 'Power of Manifestation' while Ms Gurrit Kaur Sethi talked about the need and importance of emotional health.

To continue its campaign of 'Illuminating the Path' and encourage people's participation Motherhood Club placed 'Ummidon ki Gullak' towards voluntary contribution.

Motherhood places its gratitude for the immense love and blessings of all. The memorable event was widely covered by print and electronic media.

A heartfelt ode to MHC

By Swetha Sundar

MHC, you have turned four today. Such a success story you are, in every way. Be it contests, talk shows, motivational sessions or poetic evenings.

MHC houses superlative talent and is a club that enriches, entertains and awakens with musings.

Thursday Thoughts, Friday Funda, Mighty Monday, Wise Wednesdays each has a flavour new.

The Antarman anthology, Ummedon ka Indradhanush and the Cancer walks and social initiatives are added hues. The faces of MHC- Akta, Ila, Monica and Pooja are like sturdy pillars of the MHC foundation.

They bring to the table unity of purpose, groundedness, vision and abundant hope and determination.

The club has grown by leaps and bounds and thousands of new members have joined the family.

The MHC is like the Sun which radiates warmth, light and hope , this is the perfect simile.

The only wish for MHC is for it to spread its wings further and beyond more. And wishes and congratulations to the MHC team and family to become phenomenal and in the skies, continue to soar.

A heartfelt ode to MHC

By Mukesh Bhatnagar

It was my fortune to hear Ms Akta Sehgal Malhotra in an online program sometime in 2021 and she instantly touched a cord. Hesitantly, a little later I asked - Are the fathers too eligible in your club as a member?

That was it, I got inducted and soon realised that Motherhood Club not only represents what is ideal and good for Health Wealth and Happiness but is genuinely practicing it. Its 4th Annual Function and the very first off-line event gave a true picture of all that it stands for, works for and encourages those who are working for humanity.

Personally speaking, my 2-3 years association with it brought a sea change in my outlook towards life. Accept and Appreciate whatever is happening around and be happy. Only a happy and healthy person can think, and do good for others.

A heartfelt ode to MHC

By Suraksha Pruthi Khurana

I feel proud to be the part of Motherhoodclub. I had been invited in 'Open Mike', 'Kavi Sammelan ' many times. There is one live programme of story reading. I had the honour to read my story. I thoroughly enjoy all the activities of MHC and I am among regular participants.

Illaji hosted me for a programme "Journey of Motherhood". I am so thrilled to tell through this forum that I have been awarded with a trophy of 'Super Mom'. My family and myself are grateful for this wonderful appreciation. Motherhoodclub made me mom to Super Mom.

THANKS MHC.

Glimpse of our 4th Anniversary

वशष चतन। का सह "अतमन" लब क सदय म क मन स ई अकरत, कसर वारयस क सहायताथ "उमीद का

Generous support from Motherhood Club made significant transformative impact in the life of underprivileged children. They understood the needs of children and ensured that there will not be any fund paucity for our children to learn with self belief and pride

.Motherhood club arranged bridge fund required for complete school uniform for 300 students. Also, arranged grooming sessions for faculty to equip them with suitable teaching techniques and methodology for effective learning.AGSWS expresses gratitude towards supporting us in the endeavour to make world more egalitarian .

Malvika Singh Principal Apna Ghar Social Welfare Society

We are an NGO which has been working with the limited capabilities since a long time. At GoodWorks we were offering educational and moral guidance to the marginalised section of people living in nearby slum areas spread across the city.

It was always challenging to address issues at such a vast scale with the resources that we own. Although, there were people who have been supporting and kind enough to be a helping hand in our cause, but Motherhood club has really helped us with a huge support that we were always seeking for. Facilitating from the very first introduction to the final fund allocation, Motherhood Club was always there as a Guide to take us to the entire journey for our first CSR.

It was a Gurgram based MNC who were willing to support an NGO under their CSR program.

Akta and the entire team of MHC mentored us from the very beginning starting from the introduction to discussions, legal procedures up till the fund allocation as if they were working on our behalf itself. We are here thankful from the entire GoodWorks team, kids and other beneficiaries for their high spirit and support

Thank you again Motherhood Club for this kind gesture for your help to the organisations like us working for the social causes.

We can together make changes for a better society.

Smriti Mishra Co Founder Good Works Trust

Sneak Peek March 2023

Memories of February 2023

The three pillars on which Motherhood Club stands tall. All our conversations and social drives are around these themes

HEALTH CORNER

ART AS A THERAPY AND MOOD BOOSTER

By Swetha Sundar

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

This quote pretty much sums up the influence and impact of art in our lives. As an artist, a poet and a writer, I look at art as a release, catharsis, expression and therapy. It has been proven and I have myself experienced the restorative powers of art. Through various forms of self- expression like sketching, doodling, painting, writing, singing, dance, pottery, sculpture or even gardening, one can hear and express oneself through unfiltered responses to an art or a muse. Sometimes you don't even have to be an artist.

Merely viewing an art can hone your cognition and creativity. I will take my own example. I was always good with art but started sketching, painting and mandala afresh in the Covid lockdown, around March 2020. I am a self taught artist who strives to become better with each work. In making mandalas I discovered the process of finding myself in the seamless, unimpeded flow of everything around me. The mandala is a map for spiritual transformation.The mandalas challenge my creativity, concentration, meditative and design skills. For me, each concentric circle I draw and embellish in a mandala is a metaphor for me stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing my limits. It has worked as a great stress buster for me and I intend challenging myself with newer designs and learnings everyday.

By sticking to the designs and color schemes and then gradually breaking free to play with the colors and contours, I have felt the rush of endorphins and adrenaline in my system. The moment you create a new art is akin to delivering a child after labor. Every art form is a labor of love . By being in harmony with ourselves through our creativity, we can take our mind and bodies to a whole new enlightened state capable of making ourselves feel better, stronger and more connected to ourselves, each other and our surroundings. So art can make us more mindful and connected.

What I paint, is my poetry in pictures while my poems are my verbal sketches. Sometimes the boundaries blur between the two. Writing, journaling and poetry can help in enhancing communication and self expression and are especially useful to keep dementia and depression at bay.

My grandmother used to say that the ladies of our earlier generations used to engage in arts like rangoli/ kolam making, embroidery, knitting, stitching and cooking to keep themselves young and also bond with their sisters and friends. Art inspires positive action in our own as well as other people's lives. By providing a positive distraction, art helps to alleviate pain, trauma and neglect and channel one ' s energies and talents towards creating a thing of beauty which can be joy forever, for yourself and others.

FIN - GURU - CONTRIBUTION IDK

By Anuj Sehgal Founder & Portfolio manager of Manas Asian Equities Value Fund

My daughter turned 13 a few months ago and got her 1st smartphone recently (delay it as much as you can!). The new thing I learnt while chatting with her on Whatsapp recently was "IDK". To a lot of my questions to her, her reply would be IDK (“I dont know”). That got me thinking. As an investor most of the time my answer is also IDK when people ask me whether the markets will go up or down or when will the war in Ukraine end or how will it impact our portfolio companies or will our portfolio companies benefit from Covid or suffer from it or will there be another wave of Covid or not?

The point is we humans always have questions and expect answers to those questions (even though in our heart we know that if were asked the same questions we would struggle to give an answer) and as such people make up answers while in reality, most of the time they have no clue. There's an army of analysts, commentators on CNBC and so-called experts on TV who claim to know answers to all the questions and more so forecast things while in reality they have no clue. These commentators rationalize all the market/stock moves post facto and put a narrative to every thing. As famous investor Li Lu recently said, humans are good at rationalization but not very good at being rational. The quest amongst market participants to know what's in store in the future is just amazing for obvious reasons. Companies also oblige by giving guidance whereas in reality barring a small number of businesses who indeed have some visibility it is almost impossible to predict sales forget profits.

Given the IDK answer to most questions about the future, my approach to investing is very simple but difficult to implement. Just buy good businesses that I can understand run by good managements at a good price and hold them for the long term. I call this goodness of an investment. Only sell them if the original investment thesis changes and you are wrong or the valuations become exceptionally expensive. Quality of a business can be ascertained by its longterm track record, its return on capital, earnings power and free cash flow generation ability. A good business might not remain good hence it is important to keep assessing if the business is continuing to expand its competitive advantage.

That brings me to good management. This is the most difficult to figure out but once you have done it successfully you just stick with them because there are very few of them. One of the hallmarks of good management apart from allocating capital prudently and a long term approach is that they are honest, nimble, resilient, open to learn and change and have respect for all stake holders including minority shareholders. Such management will usually take timely steps to mitigate any potential risk of disruption. It is extremely difficult to figure out people in general and a good management in particular but there again I believe one should not just depend solely on your own judgement about a management but cross check with people you respect. People behave differently driven by incentives so it is always a good idea to ascertain good management over cycles.

The final piece of the goodness of an investment is the price at which you buy. That is a function of valuation, margin of safety, temperament and the longevity of the investment horizon but always remember the price you buy something at determines what returns you will make assuming you are right in your investment thesis. It pays to be patient and disciplined.

CORPORATE GYAN

Importance of FOLLOW-UP within a team.

By Rakesh Pachauri

Follow-up is a frequently used term amongst Team, Management, and Leadership development in any corporate set up .

While most of us talk about the importance of FOLLOW UP, we don't seriously work upon it. It is imperative to follow-up with sub ordinates / associates to assess the progress of development goals. We confuse following-up with negative terms of management, whereas follow-up at every stage of one project helps in seamless summation. Follow-up lays stress on the fact that each task is important, and it allows the manager to predict better workflow and long-term goals that keep the company and team working in sync. Management needs to know if the teammates are doing what they are supposed to be doing and, if they are not, what can be done about it. How does a good manager / team leader follow up with his team? While the teammates are doing what they are supposed to be doing; the purpose of follow-up is to maintain performance by providing honest feedback and reinforcing good performance by communicating with them and also letting them know that their good work is also being noticed. This will build a trust flow.

A fine balance of Critical feedback and praise will take your team to new heights. While follow up should be done with the whole team present in the room, it doesn't harm to occasionally spend time with team mates on an individual level if their performance needs to be improved. In case, team mates are not doing what they are supposed to be doing; , if they lack the discipline ,the purpose of follow-up is to improve performance by asking, “How can I help?”. Assess the situation and step in. As a manager, you have more responsibilities on your shoulders. Give feedback and redefine clarity on the goal.

Try finding out why things are not happening the way they have been envisaged. Try to get obstacles out of the way... Train your team to set priorities and stick to them. Try to eliminate negative consequences for good performance and vice versa. Working around personal problems on humanitarian level helps build a bond of trust that goes a long way in maintaining credibility. We come across certain team members who think they know it all.

Regular Follow ups with such people help us mould them well. Follow ups must be firm yet gentle. Follow-up is meant to get to the person before the problem reaches the next level, and you find out at the nth hour that the deadlines shall be getting delayed, the quality of project/ product is substandard or may be the budget has overshot. Timely Follow ups can save us from lots of displeasure and embarrassment. It can also serve as an opportunity to train your team to deliver the desired results.

FOLLOW UP is the key to the success of any project, process and overall success of the organisation.

CORPORATE GYAN The Prevention of Sexual Harassment

By: Vandana Chawla

In India, the Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 considers it the obligation of the employer as well as other dependable people in work places to educate to “provide assurance against sexual harassment of ladies at work environment and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and things associated therewith or coincidental thereto”. This infers that these people are mindful to:

• Prevent or hinder the commission of acts of sexual harassment inside the workplace.

• Provide the strategies for the determination, settlement or arraignment of acts of sexual harassment by taking all required steps.

OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYER

The obligations of an employer and/or the suitable Government towards the prevention of sexual harassment within the working environment have been explicitly laid down within the Act as follows:

• Provide a secure working environment at the working environment which might incorporate security from third party (outsiders) coming into the contact at the workplace

• Display corrective results of sexual harassment

•Organize workshops and awareness programs at customary interims for sensitizing the workers with the policy of the Act

•Organize introduction programs for the individuals of the Internal complaints Committee

• Treat sexual harassment as unacceptable under the service rules and treat it as misconduct.

In order to implement the Act, it is imperative that employers and organizations take vital steps to prevent and address sexual harassment at work environment with solid commitment from pioneers and directors.

MEASURES TO PREVENT AND ADRESS THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Develop a policy

Developing and embracing a comprehensive policy on the anticipation of sexual harassment is one of the key activities in anticipating sexual harassment and advancing a secure working environment. The point of such an approach ought to be to alter conduct and demeanour of ladies and men at the work environment, and to supply a work environment environment conducive for both. The substance of a work environment policy on sexual harassment may include22

CORPORATE GYAN

A clear organization’s explanation on sexual harassment.

E. g. • Sexual harassment is entirely prohibited.

• Zero-tolerance approach: Organization will seek after all sexual harassment cases and not make any exemption for culprit in address independent of the person ’ s status

• Anyone found blameworthy of sexual harassment after examination will be subject to quick and fitting disciplinary action

• Key definitions and cases related to sexual harassment

• Reference to important legislations

• Consequences in case of breach of policy

• Responsibilities of administration and staff

• Adequate policys for normal and rehashed preparing of workers at all levels

• Details of the individuals of the Internal Complaints Committee

• Procedures and choices accessible for getting offer assistance and counsel, making complaints, and taking care of cases which can incorporate both formal and casual procedures

• Procedures and rules for harassment of or by third parties such as clients and customers

• Timeframe for redressal procedures.

• A clear information that all cases of sexual harassment will be kept confidential.

GO GREEN

All about Mulching

By Ila Pachauri

Mulching is the addition of undecomposed plant materials such as straw, hay, dried leaves, wood shavings, saw dust, paper, compost or processors ' refuse to the soil under the plants.

Mulching is a ultimate way to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruits like strawberry safe .

Mulch reduces soil water losses, suppresses weeds, and protects against temperature extremes, especially in places where it snows by preventing freezing of roots. Mulch also feeds soil biology as it decomposes, helping to create healthy, living soil. And don't we all know that healthy soil means healthy plants!

While Compost is best at adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure, mulch is best at limiting weed growth, preventing erosion and retaining soil moisture. Indian summers are harsh for plants ... Mulching is really a great idea to save the plant soil from excessive heat and loss of moisture. Mulches serve initially to warm the soil by helping it retain heat which is lost during the night. This allows early seeding and transplanting of certain crops and encourages faster growth. As the season progresses, mulch stabilize the soil temperature and moisture, and prevent the growing of weeds from seeds. Mulch layers are normally 2 inches or deeper when applied.

Materials used as mulches vary according to the purpose. They are-

Organic residues: Grasses, leaves, hay, straw, shredded bark, sawdust, shells, woodchips, newspaper, cardboard, wool, animal manure, etc.

Compost: Materials that are free of seeds are ideally used, to prevent weeds being introduced by the mulch.

Old carpet (synthetic or natural)

Rubbers

Plastic mulch

Rock and gravels

Types of mulches

Organic Mulches- Commonly available organic mulches are leaves, grass clippings, peat moss, wood chips, bark chips, straw, carpet etc. Organic mulches decay over time and are temporary. Soil mulch or dust mulch- Loosened soil surface acts as mulch to reduce evaporation. Inter cultivation creates soil or dust mulch in growing crops.

Coloured mulch- such types of mulches are wavelength selective and are used to absorb some wavelength from solar radiation and maintain leaf temperature. Thus, these helps in plant growth and development.

Plastic mulch- some plastic materials like polyethylene and polypropylene are used. Polyethylene is used mainly for weed reduction, while polypropylene is used mainly on perennials This mulch is placed on top of the soil to prevent soil erosion, reduce wedding, conserve soil moisture, and increase temperature of the soil.

Biodegradable mulch– These are plant starches / sugars /polyester fibres that come from plants such as wheat and corn. These mulch films may be a bit more permeable allowing more water into the soil. This mulch can prevent soil erosion, reduce weeding, conserve soil moisture, and increase temperature of the soil.

All in all, resource management, recycling of waste and upcycled waste material can help in retaining good health of plants .

Neeta Manwani Numerologist and healer

House Number 5

A very active energetic number that invites exploration and risk, not quiet and peaceful.

It favours communication and media connection with people, travelling adventure, pleasure and freedom. But these numbers don’t tend to be permanent addresses and people have a sense of unpredictability.

House Number 6

It relates to warmth, cheer, beauty and compassion. This is a wonderful family house and favours love and abundance. But it invokes strong responsibilities.

House Number 7

This number denotes peaceful meditative, spiritual atmosphere & favours personal development but certain health issues would be there in this house. Number 7 also favours learning and studying philosophy .

House Number 8

This number denotes a home business, but not necessarily family life. Women in this house will have a lot of worries and health problems. Also there would be fewer prospects of income in this house.

House Number 9

It favours spiritual leadership, empathy and unconditional love, teaching and family, but there would always be tension in this house, children of the house will be well educated but possibly some anger issues within the house

These are a few general traits we have discussed but more details can be saught after checking the compatibility with your date of birth which requires proper numerology reading so that you can understand whether this house address and house number are suitable for You and your family members or not .

If it doesn't suit then there is no need to change the address, we have some easy remedies in numerology that can help to change the vibration of your address and you can prosper peacefully and happily in your house.

BEING GRACIOUS!

By Sarmistha Mukherjee

“If you are gracious then you have won the game. ”

In today’s world which is chaotic there is a dire need to maintain well balanced interpersonal relationships. And emotionally intelligent people do exactly that! Now, what is emotional intelligence?

It’s grace under pressure. Emotionally intelligent people treat others and themselves with respect under adverse situations. Calm, cool and collected is their motto. Under any circumstances they are able to maintain a high level of interpersonal relationships. How to become emotionally intelligent?

1) BE SELF AWARE: Be fully aware how your emotions and actions will impact other’s thoughts and behavior. You must observe yourself closely.

2) MAINTAIN EMOTIONAL REGULATION: You must manage your emotions calmly in challenging situations. Don’t encourage excitement.

3) BE SELF MOTIVATED: You mustn’t depend on others / situations to motivate you. Have your values in place and goals chalked out.

4) EMPATHY: You must detect other’s feelings and act accordingly in order to make others feel better. Reading other people’s emotions is important.

5) SOCIAL SKILLS: The relationships they maintain with others are strong.

6) SELF CONFIDENCE: You must trust your own abilities and be assured of your own capabilities.

7) RESILIENCE: You need to develop a strong mindset to be able to bounce back from adversities and continue to maintain a positive outlook. To remember that good follows the bad is important.

8) FLEXIBILITY: To be able to adapt to new changes and environment effectively is to be emotionally intelligent.

9) GOOD JUDGEMENT: Smart decisions must be taken considering people and situations. Decision making plays a vital role in our lives.

10) NO EXTERNAL VALIDATION: Be your own biggest supporter. And you will need no external validations.

There is ample scope for improvement. We always learn from our experiences and learn we must so that the world becomes a better place for us all.

“Failure” is a choice

By Tapasya Sureka

It’s a “FAIL” .We all have dreaded this word since our childhood .The moment you read this word anywhere it seems that your whole world has come crashing down.It seems like a tunnel with a dead end .Now what will I do? How will I face my family ? My teachers ?My neighbours ? What will people think of me now ?How will I share this with my friends ?I know they will laugh at me .It’s so embarrassing .I’ve disappointed my parents .I couldn’t keep up to their expectations .

Your head starts spinning and everything seems blank .It’s like you are trying to breathe in a vacuum .Suddenly your whole confidence gets shattered and you start self-doubting your real potential .Many of us has gone through this at some point in our lives .But how many of us have spoken freely on this mental turmoil which we go through on many occasions ?Even today with so much emphasis being laid on marks oriented education system ,many students judge their real worth on the basis of whether they have passed a certain exam or whether they are getting into an elite institution which can guarantee them a secure job once they pass out from such biggies. What kind of closed mindset are we raising in our future generations ?It’s like telling them that you that there is

You sho e exams.T hy of consider unpleasa ng and lower se

Make us le but once you enaline rush wit yourself another chance as no one else will .You can either choose to make best at present or keep going in circles.It’s all about acceptance, reevaluating your approach and broadening your outlook.The standardised parameters set by all of us to judge someone ' s competence in numerical terms cannot evaluate or quantify anyone ’ s calibre ,their willpower or conviction and such other qualities .More than any marks or certificates these attributes actually take you ahead in your life.These can be acquired or developed all through your growing up years until you are alive and for that you need no certificates .The environment in which you are brought up ,the surroundings ,the people and some life events everything helps to develop them and help us evolve on a daily basis.If you have worked hard in life ,the shift which you felt within you is your biggest success.Knowledge always multiplies for that you have to be consistent in your approach and open to new learnings.

Most importantly it is how you perceive things.If you make decisions on the basis of how others perceive then that's failure..Your confidence comes with belief in your sincerity, your honesty, your dedication , acquiring life skills, doing things which seems impossible, experiences,respecting your efforts as well as sharing experiences with others etc.Self belief is the first step towards success..If you believe in yourself , it signals the brain to be more acceptable to every outcome whether it’s favourable or otherwise.So it’s all about what we choose to become.

INCREDIBLE MANALI: THE VALLEY OF GODS

By Aruna Sirohi

In the search of a place, beautiful yet best to visit in the month of January, we decided to go to one of the most popular Hill Stations “MANALI” by road which is 540kms from New Delhi & 300kms from Chandigarh. A perfect weekend gateway for the family, away from the hustle & bustle of the city. And quite ideal to witness the Snowfall in this month, the Majestic Mountains, all surrounded by the lofty cedar & deodar trees which covers most of the landscape in Manali.

A Hill Station along the Beas River bank and situated at the northern end of the Kullu Valley. We opted to stay in Old Manali which is believed to be much cleaner & less crowded as compared to New Manali and which provides a real Manali experience.

We reached there by the night and as we entered the beautiful town, we were mesmerized to see the mountains, trees, roads & the vehicles all immersed in the white blanket of Snow. And what could be as dreamy as a live snowfall. Another beautiful paradise was waiting for us, our Hotel - “The Snow Valley Resort”. The mountains & trees full of snow were overlooking the terrace of the Hotel and there was an absolute breathtaking view through the windows of the room there

Day 1: Left the Hotel in the morning for some city tour. All packed in jackets, boots & caps as the tempreture was around -2 degrees which even goes down to -12 during nights. The city was even more heavenly during the day time.

The snowy mountains & trees were shining white like a diamond because of the sun rays which instantly made me fall in love with the city.

We visited the Hadimba Temple which is an ancient Cave Temple built in 1553 dedicated to Hidimba Devi, wife of Bhima, located around 3kms from Old Manali in Dhungiri forest covered with Cedar Trees famous for its unique wooden structure. This Serene place is a famous tourist attraction & tourists loves to sit here peacefully and spend hours, feeling the beauty of the place. Don’t miss a ride on the Yak & taking pictures with white fluffy rabbits, which was one of the loveliest things around.

We took a walk to the Mall Road which is almost 1.5kms from Hadimba Temple, the popular shopping hub which is famous for its woolen clothes, Tibetian items, souvenirs & dry fruits. Do not forget to buy beautiful Handicrafts, the traditionally designed Shawls, the original Pashmina Shawls & the local Kullu Caps, all the items are quite affordable, a worth buy for the family.

After taking a stroll through the Mall Road which was lined up with Cool Cafes, Hotels & Restaurants, local shops & food stalls, we ended up to the Café- Johnson Bar & Restaurant which is an amazing place with an artistic surrounding, one can try the place for its good food for sure.

INCREDIBLE MANALI: THE VALLEY OF GODS - contd..

By Aruna Sirohi

2: Due to the heavy snow on the roads it became risky to travel with personal vehicle so we booked a 4x4 Gypsy for our 2nd days endeavor. We headed towards Solang Valley which is 14 Kms from Old Manali. Solang Valley is a must visit place for all the adventure lovers, provides you a plethora of activities, thrilling adventure sports and a perfect tourist hotspot.

Indulged ourselves into the fun activities like Skiing, Zorbing ball, paragliding, snowboarding, Zip line etc. Snow Scooters has been the best of the experience in the middle of the snow overshadowing everything, really magical. We had to wear those funny looking jumpsuits specially made for that weather. Cable Ropeway, Zorbing activities, Tube & Zip Lining & Trekking are few thrilling activities even children would love to do. Simply an unforgettable & memorable experience specially for the first time visitors like us. The adventurous ones should try their hands on the River Rafting activities too.

After finishing all the activities, since we were so tired and hungry, we had a hot cup of tea & the famous Pahadon ki Maggie which is the best thing on the hills, one should not miss.

Day3: Hotel itself was a place with such a magnificent view, we sat in the soaking sun & kept watching the serenity and scenic beauty of snow-capped mountains as if coming closer to you, beautiful lush green trees were wearing the white blanket.

I couldn’t stop myself from capturing the moments & went down to play with kids, the powder snow was perfect for making a Snowman and a snow ball fight, What fun! The snow lovers should visit there in the month of January for sure.

Another beautiful nature’s creation, swiftly flowing Beas River we got to see on the way back to our destination, what a peaceful & tranquilizing place it was, only the sound of the flowing water which was bringing even more calmness in the atmosphere.

The whole experience of the city was exceptional, a must in everybody’s travel list. One can check on the weather forecast, hotel bookings and transportation beforehand to avoid any hassle while visiting this place. Do carry enough pair of woolen clothes, caps, shoes & boots and the important medicines with you.

One can opt for buses which could be affordable, trains could be taken till Chandigarh and then drive from there, else you can fly to Bhuntar Airport located just 10kms from Manali.

Although Manali is an all season destination, it’s a pure excellence during the snow time. A highly recommended place, Take back a lifetime memory with you

How to find Peace and happiness Within

By Ripa Mehta

Everyone wants to be happy & peaceful & we all believe that peace & happiness are two important pillars of our mental wellness. Today I would like to share some easy to follow things to find peace & happiness within.

The most important question is, what is our ultimate goal of our life? What are we doing to achieve that goal ?

First let’s understand What is happiness & what we can do to feel peace & happiness.

According to me, inner peace & happiness both are states of mind. Inner Peace & happiness both depends on many factors depending on everyone ' s nature & needs.

What can we do to find inner Peace & Happiness?

*We can practice following things to feel peace & happiness.

1. Everyday be thankful for the things & people you have in your life means start living in gratitude.

2. Everyday you should spend 10 minutes with nature. Try to Walk in the garden or just walk outside.

3. Everyday do some breathing exercises - Pranayama or Om chanting for 10 minutes.

4. Everyday do meditation for at least 20 minutes.

5. Try to connect with like minded people and spend some time with them.

6. If you ever feel stuck in a problem or any situation, try to change your perspective.

7. Try to be in the present moment as living in the past can give you guilt, and thinking of the future can give you anxiety. so enjoy the present moment by being 100% in that moment.

One of the most important way to feel happy & peaceful is by practicing self love. We all feel good when someone praises our work. So when we start to acknowledge our work, praise our work, accept ourself unconditionally, acknowledge our needs & try to accept & love ourself unconditionally, we start feeling happiness & peace.

We all love our parents, kids, partner, siblings & our friends unconditionally & do so many things to make them happy but most of the time we tend to forget about our own self. That is the reason I try to remind everyone to do self love to feel peace & happiness within.

Basically happiness is a choice, it is only in your hand how to be happy or in Peace.

No one other than you, nothing other than your thoughts can make you feel happy or peaceful.

So start living in gratitude, start thinking more positively & Start doing meditation, yoga, self love and start feeling Happiness & Peace within.

LOVE IS A MANY FLAVOURED THING

By Payal

February is the month of love with St Valentine’s Day right in the middle of it. In its modern consumer- oriented avatar, love being offered as great deals and discounts, how about considering cooking together (or for someone, including your own self) as a love language? Food is the fastest way to the heart, after all. Moreover, you don’t want to be caught in the usual restaurant cacophony on a Tuesday evening. Not to forget that the word companion is derived from the Latin for ‘bread sharer’: cum panis.”

So, head to your spice rack, pull the drawer of knives, station that lidded saute’ pan and discover the warm fuzzy feeling of love, in cooking together Play with your favourite ingredients or try something altogether new. If you are a Jane Austen fan, consider pulling a recipe from Dinner with Mr Darcy - a collection of recipes inspired by the novels and letters of Jane Austen by food historian Pen Vogler. In the book and in this article, by Maria Popova, one entry reads:

“Pease [sic] Soup”

Take two quarts of pease. Boil them to a pulp. Strain them. Put ½ lb of butter into a saucepan. Celery, half an onion, and stew them till tender. Then put two anchovies, powdered pepper, salt, mint and parsley (each a small handful) and spinach, and heat of each a small quantity. Half a spoonful of sugar. The soup be boiled as thick as you like it and the whole be ground together, boiled up and dished.

Vogler adapts the recipe into a contemporary version, featuring proper spelling and the use of a blender:

FRESH PEA SOUP

Pea soup was an Austen family favorite: Jane wrote that she was not ashamed to invite an unexpected guest to “ our elegant entertainment” of “ pease-soup, a spare rib and a pudding” (letter to Cassandra, December 1, 1798.) This was a perfect way of using up the older peas from the garden to produce a fresh, vividly colored soup.

2 celery sticks, finely chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

Scant ½ stick (50g) butter

Few springs of mint and parsley, chopped

3 anchovies or 6–8 anchovy fillets, chopped

Freshly ground white pepper

4 cups (500g) frozen or fresh peas

Generous 1 quart (1 liter) light vegetable or chicken stock

Pinch of sugar

4–5 good handfuls of spinach (you could use lettuce and/or chopped cucumber instead of the spinach)

1. Gently cook the celery and the onion in butter until it is soft but not browned, then add the mint, parsley, and anchovy, grind in a little white pepper, and cook for a few minutes.

2. Stir the peas into the mixture, add the stock and a good pinch of sugar, and simmer for 10 minutes

3. Add the spinach (or lettuce and/or cucumber) at the end of the cooking time, and cook for a few minutes more. Let it cool, then whizz with a blender. This gives a nice grainy texture, but push it through a sieve if you would like a smooth soup in the Georgian manner. Reheat gently to serve. ”

LOVE IS A MANY FLAVOURED THING - Contd

By Payal

If you are looking for more inspiration, then consider Five Morsels of Love, a granddaughter's powerful love story, told through an Indian cookbook. Consisting of many edible delights, author Archana Pidathala has updated her grandmother’s cookbook into something contemporary and relevant.

The five morsels in the book's title refers to the cousins, who bonded over such exquisite meals. They're represented in the recurring motif of the five grains of rice in the book that prance across the soft yellow cloth-bound cover like snowflakes. This Valentine, the book and its recipes can offer you the chance to resume old roles, be among the familiar and add warmth both to the kitchen and relationships – all tied together with grandmother’s love-laden food recipes. And how about going a little luxe this Valentine? Go no further than “L.O.V.E FOODBOOK”. Believing that desire is no longer a single ingredient in today’s experience-driven world, the “L.O.V.E FOODBOOK” is an exploration of the relationship between food and emotion by presenting a collection of desire-based recipes from all genres of cuisine that defy the experience of traditional cookbooks.

The book is divided into Sweet, Savory and Cocktail categories. Each section is prefaced by an ingredient list describing the history and emotion behind the classical foods.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love. It’s about love in all its beautiful, nonsensical, selfless forms. The fierce, protective love between a mother and her children. The brotherhood between a man and his oldest friends. The deep friendship between childhood neighbours, roommates, or siblings. The joy of nourishing the heart with food.

This Valentine month in 2023, food is a four-letter word.

My Hubby My Valentine

तम हो तो फल भी मकरात

Art By Archana Joshi

Candles by Ranjana Majumdar

Tanjore Art By Vaishali Sidodiya

Manali from the lens of Aruna Sirohi

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