Theme Rveal 2020 - Life just in 5 Sentences.

Life is a learning - A constant learning. So why not share the same . Sharing doubles the joy. Right! 

So this year I'll take this as the theme and put it across to you in just five sentences each day tailoring it around an alphabet each day - in the sequence A to Z …. That's the way Right.  

In the past I took this challenge twice. In 2015 I wrote travelogue - all about Himachal Reflections from Adi - A to Z Challenge and made you travel throughout HP - the hill state of India. In 2016 I took two writings each day - One was my poetic journey Reflections on A to Z 2016 - Let the Soul Pour and the other was Festivals of India Reflections on A to Z 2016 - Festivals of India. 

So now, stay with me - and this year enjoy four blogs each day. The first one would be the Learnings of life  - 5 Sentence Fiction.

Others would be my favourite - A poetic journey both in English & Hindi. And there would be a food blog too.....  True Indian Regional Cuisine.

So - Just stay glued.

Aditya Sinha

26.03.2020

A - for Apple State

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z challenge. So we start the challenge with the first letter A and for me this A is Apple State that is directly to the epicenter of the theme. The theme for the month for this challenge is travel and my stories are to revolve around the Himalayan State of HP.

Apple State of India

Snow Capped Dhauladhar Range in a Moonlit Night.

                               

So which is the apple state of India? 

No its not J&K its Himachal Pradesh.

Right! Though J&K produces the highest amount of Apples, the Himalayan State of Himachal has earned the fame as Apple State. Further, from Apple this is poised to now earn the distinction of fruit state of World. The Kullu valley here is famous for some of the rare fruits and has earned the state another name viz. Fruit Bowl of India. Aside from Apple, Figs, Apricots, Pomegranate, Almond, Pear, Plum, Walnut, citrus fruits like oranges, kinoos, grapes, raisin, and even fruits of deciduous region like mango, litchi, guava etc. are found in plenty over here. 

The Apple Orchards in Kullu

How the apple arrived in HP is also an interesting story which we can read on AIR page here. 

Aside from the Kullu Valley, the Shimla range, the Kinnaur valley are other famous fruit belts of the state. The state also provides rich supply of winter vegetables to the northern states of the country.

The Cauliflower field in Keylong

So, now if you are travelling to this hill state, be assured to return rejuvenated not only by enjoying the Himalayan ranges, the snow covered peaks, the deep gorges, the gushing streams, vast jungles, the arrays of tall Pines in the lower range giving way to Deodars in the upper, and even ending to cold deserts at high altitudes, the contouring roads etc. but also by visiting the bloom of orchards of the fruit valleys of Kullu, the vegetable fields in roads from Rohtang to Keylong among others. The state also offers enormous opportunity to pilgrims’ sites, pagodas, monasteries, mesmerizing hill stations, adventure sports, trekking routes etc. Even a month would seem short.

Glacier frozen in deep gorges

Beas flowing between mountain ranges

Fresh water lake at High Altitude enroute from Keylong to Leh

The Roads at high altitudes

Jwalaji - one of the Many Shakti peeths in HP

Paragliding at the World famous Paragliding Site - Bir

The Parashar Lake

River Beas

Enjoying Snow fall

Tea Garden of Kangra

The Contouring Routes

The Dense Deodar Forest at the back

Kal- Kal karte Jharne 

In the next thirty days I would try to touch some of the places to cover all the above aspects of your itinerary. Keep visiting. Tomorrow would be 'B'.

Aditya Sinha

Map Courtesy: http://hptdc.nic.in/map.htm

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge

A to Z challenge

So many of you taking the challenge! I couldn't resist any more . 

Let's see how I cope up with the busy schedule and the travel plans in April. But yes I am with you all fellow bloggers. A special thanks for Sweta, Shashank and Amita, whose posts acted as a propellant and charged me to take this tour.

Now after deciding to enter the A to Z challenge, I was first planning to go on random thoughts. But then I have zeroed upon a common theme in the list. And the theme would be TRAVEL. So my blogs in the month would move around this theme with some travelogues, some places of visits, may be some food items, adventure sports, pilgrim points untouched locations some photoblogs and likes. Most of these would be articles, but surely I would not miss adding one or two poem in the whole month revolving around the theme. And the last but not the least - the places or spots would be from the Indian himalayan states of Himachal and Uttaranchal. I have spent around two years in each of these states and so would be able to do some justice. I am sure you would love it.

So let the Pandora Box open....

Aditya Sinha

01.04.2015

Aligarh.  

Surname - Identity to fantasy

Keeping one’s child name is a memorable event and an element of personal satisfaction for every parent. Even before a child is born Parent start discussing and dreaming of different names and then the best is chosen after a son or a daughter is born. A lot is even consulted in the family. Elders view is taken as blessing. Now a days even google is thoroughly searched. It is also debated that a family surname should be continued or modern surnames should be added. And then in most religion it is formally announced through a sacred ceremony.

With all this the child then develops his or her own identity and grows. Grows till the age when he / she can decide about the life partner for oneself. And after the marriage you say – the girl should change the surname? Why only girl? If we talk of gender equality why not it should be both?

Changing surname thus has no logic. Yes, its ones choice. The girl is matured enough and so it should totally be as per her preference. After all, she has to carry this further. She wants to add the surname with her original name to give an add on identity and boost to her own self, or she wants to shed her present title to that of husbands as a mark of  new development in her life or she wants to carry her own title to maintain her identity should never be topic of debate but only personal choice.

I must add on here as a child and developing age all of us fantasise adding and changing surnames. So marriage and change of surname can also be part of fulfilling that fantasy. So why bother. Let one decide.

In my family – My mother is continuing with her original child name – not even removed Kumari what to ask of changing the surname. While my wife switched to Sinha as her surname.  So….....

Aditya Sinha 

This post is written in response to Indispire edition 56 prompted by Anita Should a woman change her maiden surname after marriage?#SurnameChange 

The Important Question

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 52; the fifty-second edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with Metro Diaries by "Namrata". To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

The Important Question …..

Raj increased his pace returning from the school. It was exactly eight days he had sent her the last letter. Tabassum had asked her important question -my views on arranged and love marriage.  

And I had expressed in length - my views on arranged marriage and love marriage. What I liked? Why I liked?

He knew somewhere she had started liking her. He too couldn't live without her. But they were still in 12^th. And so can’t take such decisions. He had thus abstained from committing anything. Not even tried to show his interest in this topic.

Further, their religions were different. How would the families be taken in confidence? He needed more time. So he had said -

“It’s time to build career. Let’s devote our time on studies now. Let’s not get distracted by thinking of marriage. We are good friends and let’s remain same.” He had tried to put the things off for the time being in his last letter.

And he was eagerly waiting for her response. He knew it would be difficult for her.

The messages in his last letter were clearly visible in his eyes. He kept reading them relating and evaluating, and the pace increased on its own till he reached the gate.

He screeched the gate open and their lied the letter – letter he knew would be waiting.

He threw the bag on one side and picked it up. As usual there was a flower sketched at the back and beautifully written in her writing 

“Always your – Tabassum.”

He sighed and opened it.

“Dearest Raj,

You are my best friend. You are my part. You had rightly said – it’s not time for us to get distracted by thoughts of marriage. But, I am girl. And in our family the marriage happens early. My family is regularly talking about it. They even ask if I knew someone or have a choice of my own. I know you love me. As you rightly said it’s time to be devoted on career. Raj, you devote time without being distracted. I wish all great things for you. But, I need to tell them. So I have no choice but to agree to their choice……”

Tears trickled down his eyes…..

Aditya Sinha

08.03.2015

Dharamshala.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: 01

Also linking it with the Indispire weekly topic for Indispire edition 55 - The Unsent Letters  இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ— #UnsentLetters 

Round Rotis – A Marketer’s Perspective.

Round Rotis – A Marketer’s Perspective.

The world is a market place and it’s an era of Consumerism. So, the consumer satisfaction has to be kept in mind be it any product, a high end mobile or the docile, humble Roti in Indian kitchen.

The Indispire prompt for the week has thus given me an opportunity to analyse Roti from a Marketer’s perspective.   

So let’s analyse if a Round Roti will satisfy more (taste better) or it’s just a jargon, in the light of the P’s of marketing.

As we are talking of a single Product i.e. Indian Roti – let’s integrate it with three customers and understand –

1.     A labourer who merely earns food for two times in a day for his family – Do you think – the shape and fluffiness etc. would make him more satisfied. No. He just needs to fill his empty stomach. So he just needs a few ounce of cooked food. And Roti serves the basic purpose.

2.    Now if the same Roti is in the shape of maps of different countries stacked one upon another and put on a well laid dining table with two types of Sabji and Dal and we had some pakoras in the snacks in the evening. So what would be the reaction? I know – it’s good that we don’t use glass plates in our daily course.

3.    However, these Indi – Pakistan maps if brought hot perhaps cut in different shapes and wrapped in a silver foil when we are sitting in a uniquely coined unreadable named restaurant – we would relish it as innovation.

A single product can be successful in serving its purpose and can be a hit if it is properly positioned. The above is self-explanatory for the P’s – Product, Place, Promotion, Packaging and Positioning,

Left is people and price.

So if we are having the Roti at our “home” and my wife is master in making maps – It depends how much the people are important for me. Either I start loving only the map shaped rotis or I help her (training) make perfect round rotis.  Depending on the price (satisfaction) I am ready to pay I can decide.

So doesn’t the above three situations explains and confirms that it’s the state of mind of the consumer that actually makes the Roti taste better.

Aditya Sinha.

03.03.2015

This post is written for Indispire #RoundRoti.

Ramayana – The Game of Life - Shattered Dreams by Shubha Vilas - A book review

Ramayana – The Game of Life

Shattered Dreams

Book2

This is the second book of the series by Shubha Vilas.

                                                                                – A book review

Books have always fascinated me. And the moment I get time I love going through novels that flow easily and have lessons embedded. Recently there had been series of books on mythology and mythological characters. I had been through some of these so there was always a question how would this book do justice to the epic Ramayana. A perpetual question was there if there is play with the plot and the characters to suit the present modern society?

And last week the book arrived from BlogAdda for the review. I was elated. Right I was elated as this was the first book I was getting as a free copy for review.  The first page with the praise of the book made me assured that its going to be worth.  And the joy perpetually increased as I went through the book. Despite the entire busy schedule I finished the book within a week. This is itself to say how gripping the book was.

The details of the book:

Title:                            Ramayana – The Game of Life  - Shattered Dreams – Book 2

Author:                       Shubha Vilas

Publisher:                  Jaico Publishing House

Year of Publication:   2015

ISBN :                        978-81-8495-531-6

Binding:                     Paperback

Number of pages:      387

Price:                         Rs 350

(In this series 1^st Book -  Ramayana, The Game of Life  - Rise of the Sun Prince Book 1)

I had read Valmiki Ramayana once but could not get much from it. But, I have read Tulsidas’s Ramcharitramanas quite a number of times as we read it in every Navratra (as Navahparayan). So the epic is well in my veins. 

About the Book:

The book is all about the Ayodhya Kand of Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas, beautifully presented as a narration keeping intact all characters and plots. Keeping the essence of the mythology intact, it is very lucidly narrated and made understandable for the modern society. The third person narration with link to modern principles of life makes you awe for the wonderful understanding of the original books and rewriting with modern approach. From the stage “Dasaratha” having nightmare in dreams – the “Kaikeyi” episode - Rama leaving Ayodhya - on to chitrakoot – Bharata coming to Chitrakoot to take Rama back, Anusuiya Mata and story – all are so vividly retold. You easily figure the live episode. And the best part is the fore linking and back linking of each act with future and past makes you understand how the universe works.

I must mention here the foot notes that are present in abundance on each page are gems in itself. If you miss the essence of the line or word in the novel reading, the foot notes make you realize how true and applicable it is.

e.g. (the paragraph ends with – “Wasn’t this what life was all about”⁴ )

And the foot note reads: Life is a combination of hope and despair the one dominates you carves your personality.

There is innumerable of these and a must read.

Adding to these are special pages especially highlighting the learnings and principles. These are so true and so practical that it should be incorporated in modern studies.

Just to quote: When Bharat comes to Chitrakoot to request Rama come back to Ayodhya – Rama gives the Management Mantra – The 5 Management Concepts –

Respect Management, Decision Management, Reputation Management, Team Management & Character Management - so relevant to your day to working.

There are many other in the book. It makes you understand why Ramayana is an epic.

My take:

I had loved the book for the sheer that it maintains the fragrance of the epic and has originality in presence with abundance of relevance to modern life. This book has made the epic reach to the modern youth society maintaining its originality and establishing its relevance. A must read for the youths. It makes you yearn to wait for the next in the series.

I would like to add on the personalised letter and the bookmark has just added to the sweet experience of reviewing the book.

This review is a part of the biggest <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank"> Book Review Program </a> for <a href="http://www.blogadda.com" target="_blank">Indian Bloggers.</a> Participate now to get free books!

Aditya Sinha.