Reflections

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Reflections Area 33

November 2013

Issue 1 Desert Divas’ Desert Divas’

ReflectionsReflections

C l u b N o : 0 3 37 3 3 92

A re a 3 3 D i v i s i o n J

D i s t r i c t 2 0

Volume 1

November 2013

Reflections

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Contents

President’s Message 3

Mentor’s Message 3

VP ( Education) Speaks 4

Mentors and Sponsors 5

EXCOM Members 6

Potpourri - expat culture and

traditions

7

Perspective - column by our

guest writer

8

Kith and Kin - parenting views 10

Wanderlust - travel feature 11

Temptations - recipe corner 13

Wealthy Wise - money matters 15

Myriad Musings - mixed bag of

thoughts and opinions

16

Picture Perfect - photography 21

Collage of the group 22

Caption Contest 9

Challenge - word puzzle 18

The verve and restless en-

ergy of an enthusiastic al-

beit apprehensive group of

home makers gave form to

Desert Divas, a Toastmas-

ters Club exclusively for

women. Barely two months

old we are still very much

in the infant stage toddling

and stumbling but steadily

discovering and learning

the art of expression.

Learning itself has taken on

a different meaning in the

last few weeks. While it is

certainly heartening to see

the surge in eloquence, ar-

ticulation and confidence

levels in each one of us,

what is more heartwarming

is the parallel growth of

sensitivity and understand-

ing.

Be it a song of love or a

shout of joy, a quivering lip

or a bashful walk, every

gesture spoken or unspo-

ken is an expression. Wo-

ven into a colourful fabric

with threads of fact, fiction

and fantasy “Reflections”

is Desert Divas’ valiant

venture into another

realm of expression. Add-

ing adventure to our jour-

ney o f d i s c ove ry ,

“Reflections” is a mirror of

our passions and inter-

ests.

Hoping that you find the

read enjoyable and look-

ing forward to your feed-

back on our inaugural is-

sue.

From the Editor’s Desk Sowmya Rangarajan

We would heartily welcome suggestions and feedback on our

inaugural issue.

Click away with your cameras and send in your photographs. The

best picture will be selected for the cover of our next issue .

Look out for our Caption Contest and Challenge section.

All feedback , answers to contests and photographs may be sent to

sowmya100863@yahoo.com

Reflections

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It is indeed an honour to be elected as Presi-

dent of the Desert Divas Toastmasters Club. It

is also a privilege to be a part of this unique

‘Ladies Only’ club in the U.A.E. Though we are

a fledgling club & only five meetings old! We

have a dynamic executive committee, commit-

ted to maintain the highest standard & bring in

breathtaking ideas to make our club an out-

standing one. With distinguished mentors like

Dr Mallika Ramanathan, Anupama Parkar,

Ranjani Jaidev & Sumita Narayan we are on

the road to success.

I do believe all of us have a choice on how we

view & react to the world around us. I have a

tendency to look forward to the events that

are coming up & embrace them whole heart-

edly. I would like to encourage you all to find

something you are passionate about & em-

brace it. I wouldn’t be wrong to assume that

our passion is the Desert

Divas TM club!!!

Toastmasters, is all

about teamwork & we

will continue in our ef-

forts to ensure that each

& every member has the

opportunity to achieve

the goals they have set

for themselves.

I would like to sign off

with a quote by Henry

Ford... “Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress. Working to-

gether is success.”

Please remember to invite & bring your friends

to our meetings.

President’s Message Usha Mohan

Mentor’s Message Mallika Ramanathan

Seeing the “Desert Divas” come into fruition has

been a dream come true! It gives me great

pride in being a part of this forum..... "a ladies

only” Toastmasters club in the UAE. I believe

that Toastmasters’ has helped me immensely in

becoming a better leader and a better

communicator and I felt it would be wonderful if

more and more women experienced this.

Mentoring and help form Desert Divas fulfilled

this desire.

Desert Divas ……is an idea……an experiment in

excellence in which “stay at home” moms can

discover and hone their traits as excellent

communicators and leaders. Harvard professor

of psychology Steven Pinker says that life would

be more peaceful if women were in charge. So

let’s prepare ourselves to take charge!

Traditionally women are thought to be better

than men when it comes to verbalizing what

they think. Women look at problems differently

and have the ability to think long-term. These

traits do not definitely need to be used only in

the board-rooms……they can be used in every

walk of life. From raising a family, being a good

mother, wife, daughter or sister…..to being

useful but significant member of the society, the

country and the world!

I would like to welcome you all aboard this

wonderful journey of discovering ourselves and

honing the latent talents that are within……to use

them to make a difference to ourselves and to

the world around us……. TOASTMASTERING IS

CONTAGIOUS…..BE A CARRIER!

Reflections

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Desert Divas is the

fruition of a dream

that a few of us had

envisioned - To grow

as a group, enrich

our lives with the

invaluable skills of

listening, analysing

and speaking and to

acquire leadership

skills. Communication is the key to success

in every aspect of our lives; be it social,

personal or commercial and we believe that

by joining Toastmasters we are at the

threshold of discovering new facets within

ourselves.

Our journey is not going to be easy for as wom-

en we don several hats and have numerous re-

sponsibilities but challenges are what make life

more interesting. Each of us has our own fears

to deal with but with the support of our mentors

and fellow toastmasters we have set forth on

this wonderful journey. The educational pro-

gram of the Toastmasters is structured in such

a manner that it is bound to tap our latent

strengths and empower us. We at Desert Divas

are enthused at the prospect of all the learning

that is to be acquired!!

VP ( Education) speaks... Vijaya Sukumar

Dr. A.P.J. Kalam’s words in particular are

exceptionally inspirational -

“Each setback teaches us a new facet of life

and something about our own personalities. When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden

reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are

faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We

only need to find them and move on with our lives.”

Reflections

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Toastmasters International Mission

We empower individuals to become more effective

communicators and leaders.

A mentor is

someone who

allows you to see

the hope inside

yourself -- Oprah

Winfrey

Mentors and Sponsors

Mallika Ramanathan Anupama Parkar

Sumita Narayan Ranjani Jaidev

Reflections

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CLUB MISSION

We provide a

supportive and

positive learning

experience in which

members are

empowered to develop

communication and

leadership skills,

resulting in greater

self-confidence and

personal growth

EXCOM MEMBERS 2013-2014

Usha Mohan

President Vijaya Sukumar

VP Education

Sowmya Rangarajan

VP Public Relations

Radha Hari

VP Membership

Shedly Patrick

Sergeant At Arms

Anita Sambhus

Treasurer

Padma Ramji

Secretary

Reflections

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Culture is the foundation upon which we rebuild

our lives on faraway shores. We find our iden-

tity unspooling itself in the customs, commem-

orations and celebration of our festivals, with

relish. And this is so true of the immigrant nee

‘expat’ Indian population of the UAE, of which

we are such an integral part.

Every year, at

the beginning of

the festival cal-

endar, we get

sucked into the

vortex of fren-

zied prepara-

tion and elabo-

rate planning to

establish who

we are as a community. It is as if we try fer-

vently to hold on to our ‘Indian-ness’ than even

our kin back home. One wonders if this typi-

cally represents the angst of a diaspora to pass

on its cultural legacy to its progeny lest it fades

away into oblivion. From Onam to Navratri to

Diwali…to many, many more…unique as we are

from different parts of India, we transcend

those gray shades of confusion to stand as one

with unadulterated enthusiasm. All this is un-

doubtedly possible because of the pragmatism

of the Rulers of this country.

A walk down the old quarters of Dubai during

any of the Indian festivals is an eye opener of

sorts. Suddenly one is aware of the Indian

presence in sheer numbers and economics.

The familiar sounds, smells and sights assault

the senses and evoke a strong feeling of nos-

talgia- somewhere deep down, a memory of a

past so sweet and sentimental. Strangely,

there is no twinge of regret nor a longing for

HOME- for here we have created a niche we call

home, with all its trappings- Garbha nights and

Diwali lights to boot!

Friends become extended family and kith, visiting

each other and participating in the customs and

rites with no compunctions about fluid culture.

And our children who straddle two different worlds

simply toe the line wearing traditional Indian attire

and follow the customary pattern of festivity.

Maybe because of the proximity to our homeland,

there is no sense of ‘otherness’ amongst our

younger generation. And the existent ‘reverse

traffic’ of parents visiting their off springs who live

and work here, on a regular basis, makes this

transition all the more easier.

Not to be left behind, the fifth session of Desert

Divas Toastmasters Club, held during Diwali, had

flowers and lights thrown in to add to the excite-

ment. You may take an Indian out of India but it

is difficult to take India out of an Indian.

And yet

there are

these wistful

moments

when we si-

lently won-

der if we

could cele-

brate these

festivals after completely comprehending the spirit

behind them and not facetiously as a show of

one’s power and social standing.

The Great Indian Gala Deepa Umashankar

Potpourri

Deepa is a freelance journalist

and eco warrior.

Reflections

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The Red and Yellow, they are distinctive

from the rest

The Red, serene & adorable, yet a trifle wild

The Yellow, chirpy & lovable, a tad fiery

though

The twosome is our garden’s buds most

coveted.

Seasons go by and then the Orange enters

our garden

A gentle giant, he mesmerizes and mellows

our blazing young Yellow

A while later comes the sprightly but fragile

Pink to grace our garden

Planted next to our prized Red, it fills our

garden with its fragrance.

We, its keepers are happy and excited to

receive Pink, in fact even a little nervous

That we should not fail in nurturing it, as

did its gardeners in their home turf so long

And then one day we see signs of distress -

Pink’s appendages show up tinges of brown

We do not want it to wilt, to wither

We, its shepherds wonder if we are tending it

enough, if right

Or perhaps, smothering it with nutrients too

much

We walk a tightrope wondering how to balance

it on our soil

For we realize, if not entirely, it comes from

grounds different to ours.

We wonder how to rid Pink of its discomfort

Our action is a little tardy, for we weigh our op-

tions

Is it the water, the soil, the manure – what is it

that needs remedy

Meanwhile, to our horror, cobwebs spread their

labyrinthine veil around our Pink

Are we getting lost to each other for no good

reason, We need to act right away, but how

We need to remove the veil between us, without

our Pink suffering a tear, a wound

How do we face its gardeners and our failure to

nurture it

We wonder where our green thumbs have gone

We give one final

purge, bring in all

the resources we

can muster

A gentle push, the

veil parts

Pink stands in all

grandeur, lucid

before us

The clouds dissi-

pate, the browns

are gone

We the Custodians Chitra Ramaswamy

Perspective

Reflections

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Pink blossoms, its confi-

dence brimming, filling our

garden once again with fra-

grance

The gentle breeze carries

our whisper to Pink

We managed our way

through this veil today to

steady it on our soil

But in the fading glow of dusk, we, its caretak-

ers might falter

We may no longer see or sense the cobweb

And then we will need Pink to lend us a hand,

not as payback

But to extend its sturdy phalanges to its now-

feeble custodians

As a mark of that bond we forged and shared.

Chitra is a Bangalore based freelance journalist

with a passion for photography and travel.

Send us your own witty snazzy caption for

this picture.

Caption Contest

Don’t you dare

mess with

me ???

Reflections

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Kith and Kin

Based on day to day experiences with my own

teenage daughter and pre-teen son, I wish to

share my thoughts and views on how best to

h a n d l e t e e n a g e r s .

For both the parent and teenager these are the

most difficult years. It is a period of conflict and

confusion. As parents we feel hurt that they

confide less in us and more in their friends. While

their friends become the most important people

in their life, we parents are treated like 'distant

relatives'. It bothers us that they listen less and

talk more (that too only

when they wish) and

invariably have a

different opinion on

almost anything and

everything.

These are the years

when seeking their own

identity teenagers become fiercely independent.

It is very important to them to look their best,

even if it means a complete wardrobe change.

We appear too old fashioned for this modern era

and they always have a feeling that we parents

neither understand them nor their points of view.

Despite the frustrations and irritations, I have

come to an understanding that these are very

delicate years in which children need to be

handled very patiently. The first step is in trying

to be a friend first and parent next. Yes, I firmly

believe that a parent can be a friend as well.

There are times when they just need someone to

listen to them and understand them. Do that and

they will for sure appreciate you and take your

Teenage Parenting Shedly Patrick

advice too.

Be there for them always, you never know

when they might need you. Try to be available

when they get back from school/ college ,

that’s when they have lots to share. Talk to

them about their friends, their routine and

always be connected, in whatever way you

can. Give them the privacy and independence

they crave for, but with a few rules laid down.

They are bound to follow them quite happily.

All said and done they may belong to the

modern era, but we as parents are

u n d o u b t e d l y m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d .

We need to explain the pros and cons when a

situation demands it and inculcate in them our

social and family values. With our firm yet

gentle guidance, they will turn into well

g r o o m e d i n d i v i d u a l s , c o n f i d e n t

and responsible. Says American author and

storyteller Garrison Keillor,

" Nothing you do for children is

ever wasted. They seem not to notice us,

hovering, averting our eyes, and they

seldom offer thanks, but what we do for

them is never wasted."

Shedly is a homemaker

and trained language

instructor who enjoys

reading.

Reflections

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MASAI MARA

Miles of seemingly endless long swaying

grass stretching up to the distant horizon,

occasionally interspersed with a few scat-

tered trees and shrubs – this is the land-

scape of one of the world’s most famous

wildlife regions “The Masai Mara National

Reserve.” Located in South West Kenya

about a 270 kms from Nairobi this prolific

reserve is home to the most amazing array

of wildlife and the annual migration of wil-

debeest, zebra and gazelles from the

Serengeti in Tanzania.

A game drive is the best way to see animals

up close. Just minutes away from the gates

of our lodge we squealed out in excitement

as we spotted a zebra. The beauty of the

black and white striped hide had us in rap-

tures as we stumbled on dazzles of zebras.

The next hour one felt as if one were part of

a National Geographic wildlife show as we

came across a whole gamut of animals from

the dainty gazelles, blustering baboons, the

stately giraffes, the dazzling zebras, the

lazing rhinos to the imposing lions and lum-

bering elephants. Astounded we sighted the

quaint wildebeest also known as the gnu an

animal that belongs to the antelope family and

sport beards as well as manes. Rhapsodizing

over the beauty and majesty of each creature

we soon sank into an awed mesmerised silence;

revelling in the marvels of nature.

Driving out in the wee hours of dawn the next

day we watched the grassland coming alive

bathed in the golden amber rays of the rising

sun revealing a spectacular vista. Our minivan

driver was in constant contact with other drivers

trying to identify the exact location of a preda-

tor hunting down its prey. When the drivers’ ra-

dio crackled to life with the news of a ‘kill’ about

to happen our pulses raced high with excited

anticipation.

Wanderlust

Vijaya Sukumar

Masai Mara

Reflections

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By the time we got there the lioness had done her

job. The lions and their cubs were feasting on the

unfortunate gnu that had fallen prey. The sight was

unforgettable - fascinating in its savagery. Within

seconds the scavengers – the jackals, the hyenas and

the vultures circled around awaiting their share. It

was an emotional experience as we had seen unfold-

ing in front of our own eyes the oft-heard adage

“Survival of the fittest”!

No visit to the Masai Mara Reserve is complete with-

out a visit to the Maasai village. The Maasai people

are semi-nomadic cattle rearing folks who live in sim-

ple huts constructed of sticks, a mixture of mud and

cow dung. Men geared in their striking red robes and

bright bead jewellery welcomed us by performing a

captivating jumping dance known as the ‘adumu’.

The women regaled us with some lovely songs. The

kudu horn, a means of communication used in the

past was displayed and their fire making techniques

were demonstrated. We wrapped up the tour with a

purchase of vividly coloured Maasai bead crafts that

make the perfect souvenirs!

The brief trip to the village offers an insight into a

world diametrically different to most urban societies.

The whole Masai Mara trip is a surreal experience that

brings home the fact that we are but one small speck

in the whole spectacular universe. We return en-

riched yet humbled by the resplendent bounties of

nature and God’s creations.

Vijaya is an avid travel

enthusiast with a passion for

writing, reading and music.

Maasai Mara Trivia

Location: approximately 280 kms

west from Nairobi City.

Nearest airport: Nairobi

Travel time from Nairobi:

By road 5 to 6 hours,

By flight 40-45 minutes

Best time to visit: December to

March and July to October

Annual migration : about 1.5

million wildebeest, zebras and

gazelles from the Serengeti in

Tanzania during July to October.

Get a bird’s eye view of the migration

by taking a hot air balloon safari.

The African big 5 ( lion, buffalo,

rhino, elephant, leopard)

The best way to enjoy the entire

experience is to book a safari

package that is inclusive of airport

transfers, accommodation, safari

drives with English speaking guides,

park fees and meals.

Check www.maasaimara.com for

details.

Reflections

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Method

For the dough

Mix all the ingredients and knead into a stiff

dough with enough water. Keep aside for ½ an

hour.

For the stuffing

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, add sesame

seeds, ginger, green chillies and curry leaves and

sauté for a minute on low heat. Add turmeric

powder, red chilli powder and potatoes and cook

for 4 to 5 minutes. Add amchur powder, garam

masala powder and salt and sauté again for a mi-

nute. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

How to proceed

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Roll out

each portion into a large thin rectangle sheet.

Spread the stuffing evenly on the sheet and roll it

up tightly. Cut into round slices with sharp knife

and sprinkle some more sesame seeds on each

slice. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 25

minutes or deep fry in the medium hot oil till

golden in colour. Serve hot with green chutney.

Vandana Jain

Temptations Sesame Pinwheels

Ingredients

For the dough

2 cups plain flour 3 tbsp. oil ½ tsp. ajwain

½ tsp. salt

For the stuffing 4 potatoes, boiled and mashed 2 tbsp. sesame seeds

1 inch ginger, grated 4 green chillies, finely chopped

10-12 curry leaves, chopped 1 tsp. red chilli powder ¼ tsp. turmeric powder

¼ tsp. amchur powder ¼ tsp. garam masala powder

3 tbsp. oil Salt to taste oil for deep frying

Reflections

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Ingredients

1 cup shredded broccoli

½ cup potatoes, boiled, peeled

and mashed

½ cup fresh grated paneer ( fresh Indian

cheese)

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tsp. crushed garlic

1 tsp. finely chopped green chillies

2 tbsp. oil

2 tbsp. corn flour

Salt to taste

4 tbsp. bread crumbs

oil for deep frying

Method

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Add the on-

ions, garlic and green chillies and sauté till

light brown. Add the broccoli and sauté for 2

minutes. Finally add the potatoes and paneer

and mix well.

Remove from heat. Add corn flour, 2 tbsp.

bread crumbs and salt. Mix well. Divide the

mixture into small equal portions and shape

each portion into a ball. Coat all the balls

with the remaining bread crumbs and deep

fry in medium hot oil till they are golden in

colour. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot

Vandana is a culinary expert whose recipe book “Vandana’s Veggie

Creations” was awarded the “Best Indian Cuisine Book of the

World” at the Gourmand World Cook Book Awards Ceremony in

Paris.

Broccoli Cottage Cheese Balls Vandana Jain

Reflections

15

Transmission of securities including shares in

Demat as well as physical form leads to hassles

for the nominee or sometimes even the joint

holders. There are various conditions that need

to be followed during the transmission

(transfer) of shares and a careful look at the

details shows that proper understanding is es-

sential.

What is transmission of shares?

Transmission of shares refers to a situation

wherein on the death of the shareholder his/her

shares are transferred to the account of joint

holders or the nominee or the legal heir.

What is DEMAT ACCOUNT?

In India shares and securities are held electron-

ically in a Dematerialized account, instead of

the investor taking physical possession of cer-

tificates. A Dematerialized account is opened by

the investor while registering with an invest-

ment broker.

If the shares are in DEMAT FORM: -

If the shares are held in DEMAT mode in a sin-

gle holder's name with a nominee then a sim-

plified procedure should be followed. Nominee

has to submit a share transfer form along with

application and death certificate of shareholder.

If the shares are held in DEMAT mode in a sin-

gle holder's name without a nominee, then the

question arises as to who would these be trans-

ferred to and the procedure involved. A simpli-

fied procedure can be followed; the legal heir

(s) would have to make an application to the

depository participant in the specified transmis-

sion form, along with mentioned documents-

1.Copy of death certificate, duly notarized.

2.Copy of the succession certificate, duly nota-

rized.

3.Copy of probate or letter of administration,

duly notarized.

In case the succession copy or the probate

cannot be produced, then they have to produce

some additional documents like,

A) A letter of indemnity.

B) Affidavit made on appropriate non-judicial

stamp paper.

C) No objection certificate from all the other le-

gal heirs who do not object to the transfer.

If the required documents are presented to the

company the process can be completed quickly.

If the shares are in PHYSICAL FORM: -

When it comes to a physical holding in a single

holders name, with or without a nominee, of

value not more than Rs. 2 lakhs per company

then following documents should be submitted

to the investors company:

1. Transmission form.

2. Copy of death certificate duly notarized.

3. Copy of succession certificate duly notarized

(if nominee not mentioned).

4. Original share certificate.

5. Claim of legal ownership certificate from the

other legal heirs on non-judicial stamp paper.

(If the nominee not mentioned in the share cer-

tificate)

In case the value of shares is more than Rs. 2

lakhs then the additional document would in-

clude a succession certificate.

An element that would need to be clarified is

that in the physical process for applying for the

Rs.2 lakh limit, the value is to be considered per

issuing company, not for the portfolio of the in-

vestor as a whole.

LIFE MADE EASY—No more loss in

transmission

Wealthy Wise

FCA Nivedita Jain

Nivedita is a practicing

chartered accountant based

in Dubai

Reflections

16

Gene - I thought the word played a significant

role in determining your appearance and intel-

lect; basically all about inheriting brains and

brawns. On an encouraging note it could

mean that your sheer lineage

endows you with strengths and

aptitudes which others may

give their right arm for. Call it

a quirk of fate, but more often

than not you end up with less

of these and more of the maladies your par-

ents and their parents suffered from. Mala-

dies that are bequeathed to you, rather thrust

upon you, as you don’t get to exercise the

option of rejecting them. There’s no ‘take it or

leave it’ option at all. You just have to live life

with the inherited disorder or the diabetic

condition.

Chromosomes, DNA, Rh factor etc. are inter-

esting enough as long as they remain within

the confines of a biology book, but no - they

insist on making inroads into every part of

your life! They determine the way you speak,

you walk, and you behave! Gene - the seem-

ingly innocent little word appears to encom-

pass just about everything – looks, attitudes

and behaviour patterns. Realization dawns

that nothing about you is really original not

even a mannerism to call your own. You just

happen to be an entity created by the al-

mighty using permutations and combinations

of various characteristics of your forefathers.

If the sharp nose is your uncle’s, the flat feet

are your grandma’s, the artist in you is great

aunt’s contribution and the haughty attitude

is dad’s input. Sorry to disillusion you but you

can take credit neither for

your irresistible charm nor

for the cute dimple on your

left cheek.

Lately I have been more

than a little worried, I seem to be echoing my

mom’s words uttered several decades back.

The same phrases, the same clichés – money

doesn’t grow on trees, when we were young

we were so responsible, we never had the

comforts you have now…………….. I truly don’t

know, but could there be a gene gov-

erning dialogues delivered? That’s

rather spooky I’d say!

Gene- intimidating though this word might be, it

offers a great escape too. Great thing to fall back

on. Your children’s fiery tempers

and obstinate behaviour have

nothing to do with your upbring-

ing but entirely to do with your

spouse’s genes. Should the son’s

arrogance get remarked upon,

you explain in a loud whisper,

“Just like my mother-in-law, so difficult to han-

dle,” but of course when your daughter gets com-

plimented for her lovely eyes you enthuse with

pride and quip in generously, “Oh yes she has

inherited them from my mother!” Your children’s

traits are always a bone of contention - laziness

is most certainly from the brother-in-law but the

caring nature is from your dad, selfishness is un-

doubtedly from the sister-in-law, but the gracious

nature is just like your sister’s.

Hope – that’s another of those boons about

genes. If you are bothered about your son’s

height or rather lack of it there’s always a reas-

suring someone who says, “Don’t worry it runs in

the family, all the boys shoot up after 16.” If your

daughter’s shy and quiet nature is troubling

there’s a comforting voice to say, “Don’t bother,

she has taken after her aunt, watch how she

changes after school”. Hey, talking of hope, my

mother and sister took to writing after the age of

40. So is there hope for me, or do you think

those genes completely skipped me?

Faithfully Yours Sowmya Rangarajan

Myriad Musings

Sowmya is a math tutor fond

of children, teaching and

music.

Reflections

17

Reading - the Lost Habit ??? - Kamna Mohan

In this modern age of

instant connectivity, it

would seem that reading for

pleasure has developed into

an archaic pursuit. It is no

longer a hobby that fits into

a hectic lifestyle, or a

conversation starter at

social gatherings.

Reading statistics in the Middle East are at an

alarming low, indicating that the average amount

of pages read in a year is about half a page.

Surveys also suggest that just 22% of the UAE

population consider themselves to be regular

readers. This is inclusive of the concept of

reading for pleasure, reading to stimulate the

senses and reading to captivate and fuel one’s

imagination.

Could the internet be blamed for this? It could be

a major reason, as people in the Middle East are

heavy internet users and the region has a higher

percentage of internet penetration (40%)

compared with the world percentage (34.3%). It

is a great temptation to get caught up in

accessing all kinds of information, as well as the

addictions of social media. This leaves people

with less time to catch up on their reading, even

if they enjoyed it prior to the internet. The art of

multitasking also results in easily losing the

concentration and focus that could be applied to

reading a book.

However there are

reasons to be

positive. The UAE has

made significant efforts to replenish its

cultural landscape, and this includes hosting

events such as the

Emirates Airline Festival

of Literature and the

Sharjah Book Fair. These

occasions provide great

opportunities for people

to celebrate the written

word, while inspiring and

reminding bibliophiles of their love for

reading.

Perhaps it would make more of an impact if

the benefits of reading were highlighted.

Avid readers become better writers, and

display greater analytical skills and cognitive

thinking. They receive more exposure, and

are thus able to punctuate their debates with

different ideas. Reading encourages a

healthy form of escapism, a chance to

recharge the batteries

while enhancing the

powers of the mind. A

reader is not only

introduced to different

worlds, but he is often

inspired to change the

world around him. When

faced with this evidence,

how could anyone even say that reading is a

waste of time? Or that they have better

things to do?

In order for reading to flourish, a helpful way

would be to instill a community spirit into it

again. Book clubs could be made more

accessible and more libraries should be

encouraged. Literature should be introduced

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as an enjoyable extra-curricular activity.

We need younger minds to read more, so

they can inspire future generations.

It is very easy for modern individuals to

lose their identity in between juggling all

their responsibilities. But every once in a

while, it is

okay to step

back and

take some

time out to

f i n d

ourselves. It

is alright to

b r e w a

strong coffee, settle down in a comfy

armchair and read that book, before the

film comes out and does all the imagining

and discovering for you. As George R. R.

Martin says,

“A reader lives a thousand lives before

he dies.

The man who never reads lives only

one.”

(A post graduate in Marketing Communications

Kamna is an avid reader & collecting books

especially hard copies of first editions is her

passion)

1. 4 words

2. 5 words

3. 4 words

4. 2 words

5. 6 words

Challenge The picture alongside

depicts in literal terms the

well-known phrase “Jump

the Gun”. Find an apt

phrase with the given

number of words for each

of the pictures below.

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Although the famous saying does say that

“Beauty is skin deep”, unfortunately there

seems no truth left in this

adage in today’s world

where every teenager’s

dream is to win a beauty

pageant. A fortune is spent

on advertisements of fair-

ness creams and men still

dream of fairy tale prin-

cesses as their life partners!

We are in a superficial world where young

girls are made to believe that the dark

skinned are ugly ducklings and the fair

skinned are beautiful swans!!!Even fairy tales

with their ‘who is the fairest of them all’ sug-

gestions associate beauty only with fairness.

It is a well-known fact that from the days of

Cleopatra, looks have mattered….

I neither possess drop

dead gorgeous looks

nor do I believe in un-

dergoing cosmetic sur-

gery to enhance my

looks. I am proud to

be an ordinary woman

if I am that, as I am

what I am…..

In particular why is Indian society so obsessed

with fair skin I wonder ? The first comment

made ( from maid to granny) when a baby girl

is born in the family is about her complexion.

She is compared not just to her immediate

family, but to girls in the entire neighbour-

hood.

Isn’t it ridiculous that even today in the 21st

century this happens in Indian society? Tele-

vision channels compete with each other in

their advertisement of fairness creams. If one

says ‘become fairer in 6 days’, another one says

‘get fairer overnight with our creams’! Unfortu-

nately, most of these supposed miracle creams

are endorsed by famous actors who are paid a

fortune for the endorsements. Some advertise-

ments even blatantly suggest that success and

fame is determined by one’s fair complexion.

What is surprising is that this fairness fixation is

not assailing just women but men too !!

‘Wanted fair, pretty,

beautiful brides’ is the

most common line in

any matrimonial col-

umn, seeking brides.

What then happens to

a ‘simple, plain looking

or dusky bride’??? Such

girls are convinced

(thanks to society) that

no Prince Charming is ever going to propose to

them because they are not ‘fair and beautiful’.

While her contemporaries are busy endorsing

beauty products, Nandita Das, a dusky beauty

and a highly acclaimed actress of Bollywood is

supporting a campaign called ‘Dark is beautiful’.

Launched in 2009 by a group called ‘Women of

Worth’, Das has joined the campaign this year

and is taking a stance

against this craze by lend-

ing her support. She her-

self being a perfect exam-

ple of ‘beauty beyond col-

our’ is what is adding

greater strength to her

support. “Be yourself and

be comfortable in your

skin. Don’t let anybody rob

you off your self-esteem,” says Nandita Das. The

talented actress says she has faced several situa-

Do Looks Really Matter ??? Radha Hari

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tions in the film industry, when she was asked

by directors and makeup artists to lighten her

skin colour to suit the role of an upper class ed-

ucated women.

Ever since she became the face of this ‘Dark is

beautiful’ campaign her mail box has been inun-

dated with mails from young girls who have

been discriminated by their family and friends

because of their skin colour. Thousands of peo-

ple have signed this petition and the Facebook

page of the campaign is receiving great re-

sponse.

Radha is a staunch

environmentalist who is also

commit t ed to r esolving

community issues.

Let us hope that the era of prejudice

against dark complexion soon disappears

and we enter into a new world where peo-

ple can be more discerning.

Women are often troubled during menopause by

various symptoms such as hot flushes, night

sweats, weight gain and mood swings. Diet plays

an important role at this stage and eating the right

foods can reduce these symptoms .

During menopause what you eat can have an

effect on how your body deals with the changes it

g o e s

through. Women

tend to put on a kilo

or more each year

during their mid 40's

or 50's. This may be

more due to the drop in their activity level rather

than due to a change in hormones. Hormonal

changes can shift the body composition, so one

tends to gain weight around the abdomen.

Here are some points and ideas on how to stay

slim, reduce menopausal symptoms and cut the

health risks that can arise after menopause.

. Eat more tofu and soy. Soy may give relief

from hot flushes so drink soy milk. Add tofu

to your salads.

· Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fibre,

vitamins and minerals in fruits and veggies

help in reducing discomforts caused by

lower estrogen levels during

menopause. The best fruits are

plums,prunes,apple tomatoes, pear and

grapes. The best veggies are beet, bell

pepper, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli,

carrot, cucumber and lettuce.

· Eat beans more often, they give lots of

benefits in little packages. They slow

down the absorption of glucose in the

blood stream. They are full of fibre and

have low fat protein.

· Eat more of the right fats

· Choose your beverages wisely

· Eat calcium rich food.

· Avoid high fat and high sugar food

· Add flax seeds to your diet.

Along with diet changes do not forget to

Exercise, exercise and exercise

Tackle Menopause Woes with Diet Ila Mohnot

Ila is a clinical chemist , an

avid crafter and accomplished

dancer.

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Sunrise Spectrum (captured in Australia) Sumathi Hariharan

Picture Perfect

Nature’s art is always

beautiful, but there is

something spectacular about

the sun when it rises in all

its glory. The vibrant rays

dispelling the darkness of

the night breathe life into

the new day and suffuse it

with hope and cheer.

A woman is like a sunrise

trying to fill the lives of her

family with radiance and

happiness.

Sumathi is a homemaker with a

keen interest in photography and

cooking.

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