tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81331513000707338452024-02-29T05:12:07.393+05:30Survival of the OptimistChange of theory Mr. Darwin!Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-2478078555967282782023-12-30T18:22:00.003+05:302023-12-30T18:22:43.911+05:30Book Review: The Secret Songster<p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;">Title:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;"> The Secret Songster</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Author:</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Shyama Panikkar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>Publisher: </b>Self-Published</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Type:</b> Children's Fiction<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Price:</b> INR 399</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Available on:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Secret-Songster-Shyama-Panikkar/dp/9359801364/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OMPMC4W0IC9L&keywords=the+secret+songster&qid=1701678157&sprefix=the+secret+so%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1">The Secret Songster : Shyama Panikkar, Radhika Tipnis: Amazon.in: Books</a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">When was the last time you read a book on birds?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">Or a story about birds?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">So, here's a wonderful book that I picked up for my little one lately.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7oyUHwXk3l7nlHz8Pw0v2Nl2FxGlocCZG0i6WSEo9VDXHCahA2BYm5t7lV1a1v6PZR-L9yfAMAu3YzB5PToQxhnB9FJ9Q5z8fxMssJPOSetpgeMiBKM0cPo5j8M_klNciErDbYvUhLETatOcLKTz6u8j4E1FWymWxDEnDM6ePFG1E6WJGDNV8-2PWQU/s1275/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-22%20at%2021.19.03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7oyUHwXk3l7nlHz8Pw0v2Nl2FxGlocCZG0i6WSEo9VDXHCahA2BYm5t7lV1a1v6PZR-L9yfAMAu3YzB5PToQxhnB9FJ9Q5z8fxMssJPOSetpgeMiBKM0cPo5j8M_klNciErDbYvUhLETatOcLKTz6u8j4E1FWymWxDEnDM6ePFG1E6WJGDNV8-2PWQU/w400-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-22%20at%2021.19.03.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">The book is a short story about three birds, Sona the Shama, Chiru the Crow and Babli the Bulbul living in Bird Valley. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">These three birds are good friends with differing personalities, just like how children are. One is shy and introverted who dislikes attention, another is an extrovert and confident to tell the world and the other who needs that little extra nudge.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">One day, the annual Bird Valley fair was declared, and a singing competition was going to be held. While Babli is super excited to perform, Chiru and Sona are not too confident about it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZFHsvA6mWRTSj5ZR0zdtNzFzEzbsUHVvNi2s5SWuDZQ2T78oK_zpUX0XiNwszcDfL_Q2aSGBgcW1a6dV0mT-JWi8XqbPBu4YY2oEcLrID3Utra2m7W6WpldWg_EN4CHIZQvd8Mr061xT-GSi-kvtQpJJPFtqhir_RmZTRLYF9Y4_gz5zB82kP72X-5E/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-22%20at%2021.19..jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZFHsvA6mWRTSj5ZR0zdtNzFzEzbsUHVvNi2s5SWuDZQ2T78oK_zpUX0XiNwszcDfL_Q2aSGBgcW1a6dV0mT-JWi8XqbPBu4YY2oEcLrID3Utra2m7W6WpldWg_EN4CHIZQvd8Mr061xT-GSi-kvtQpJJPFtqhir_RmZTRLYF9Y4_gz5zB82kP72X-5E/w400-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-22%20at%2021.19..jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>This story is about believing in oneself and giving yourself a chance to shine.</b> It also talks about what it means to support friends even when competing with each other. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">My favourite quote from the book:</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><i><b>"Sometimes, what other people say about us, starts defining us, and we forget who we really are, and what we are capable of."</b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">The illustrations in this book are bright and colourful, making it difficult to put down once picked up. Perfect for gifting for Christmas, Birthday or simply for the love of books to <b>early readers, ages 5-8</b>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;">Needless to say, my little one enjoyed this quick read. This easy-to-read simple story is bound to delight all age groups. The author, <b>Shyama Panikkar,</b> has also written two more books prior to this, all revolving around music. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div>Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-15102503925600823222023-08-03T15:51:00.000+05:302023-08-03T15:51:14.528+05:30Book Review - Forms of Hindu Deities<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkLgcd_C8_7Vq1CcOs7o2U4tr4leBMK9UIgvXhSTF2sgRo19TsbnlTTvP1-0xMDieitenJjOrNEe7Z_VwYA8wzc9jRTEc0vQ-muXONn04zomBK-5XfEl9cBP8JM8hqmlmOemGCr2kSKjeCL1lMITLOtIrWG1WoKiWub7ORBh8X-LS9b5IKI9Nugfi14E/s680/FormsofHinduDeities.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkLgcd_C8_7Vq1CcOs7o2U4tr4leBMK9UIgvXhSTF2sgRo19TsbnlTTvP1-0xMDieitenJjOrNEe7Z_VwYA8wzc9jRTEc0vQ-muXONn04zomBK-5XfEl9cBP8JM8hqmlmOemGCr2kSKjeCL1lMITLOtIrWG1WoKiWub7ORBh8X-LS9b5IKI9Nugfi14E/w250-h400/FormsofHinduDeities.png" width="250" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I recently got my hands on a colourfully illustrated book
for children called </span><b style="text-align: left;">Forms of Hindu Deities by Amita, </b><span style="text-align: left;">the author of ‘Know
India Series Books for Children’. This book is not just any Indian mythology
book. It presents an objective view on our Indian mythologies and the stories around
Hindu deities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This<a href="https://www.walnutpublication.com/board-book-packages/"> illustrated book</a> focuses on <b>ten revered Indian Gods and
Goddesses</b>, namely Brahma, Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganapati,
Dattatreya and Indra.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The content in Forms of Hindu Deities differs a bit from what we, as millennials, heard and grew up to. We have listened to our
grandparents and parents talk about characters from epics like the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana. The stories that we learn did focus on good versus evil,
bravery, sacrifice, but at the same time it also revolved around violence, revenge,
deceit, hatred, vengeance, and war. Our generation may not have questioned over
the intent of the characters’ actions, but the newer generation begs to differ.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This book changes the narrative in a refreshing way. <i><b>Along
with vividly bright images, the realistic attuned explanations that meet
the intellectual needs of today’s generations, concise one to two sentence
descriptions in simple and lucid language are indeed a welcome change.</b></i> It
does not focus on hatred, war, violence, deception, or any such hidden agenda. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I would recommend this book for young kids, between ages of
2 to 6, who want to be introduced to the wonderful world of Indian mythology.<o:p></o:p></p>Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-13302354333584496422020-06-22T13:10:00.002+05:302020-06-22T13:40:46.373+05:30Book Review - Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur by Jason Kothari <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia"><span><b>Title:</b> Irrationally Passionate: </span><span style="background-color: white;">My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur</span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="georgia"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia"><span><b>Author:</b> </span><span>Jason Kothari </span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia"><span><br /></span><span><b>Publisher: </b>HarperBusiness</span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="georgia"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia"><span><b>Type:</b> eBook (Kindle edition)</span><span><br /></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="georgia"><br /></font></span></div><div><font face="georgia"><b>Price:</b> INR 101 </font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOerxeqlwy6abMMunqvs5KWATbUSXQjC-pZDatmYs7eOgc2WMivllIQ-CXuIuUoYJmIBBrljZr2ABf_PPSaK7ws9ksL9EfLGI2Xk8CdMKDCDKigVHeRqfUpBonPk9O-ZXOZIwKpy-TTI1S/s2560/JK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOerxeqlwy6abMMunqvs5KWATbUSXQjC-pZDatmYs7eOgc2WMivllIQ-CXuIuUoYJmIBBrljZr2ABf_PPSaK7ws9ksL9EfLGI2Xk8CdMKDCDKigVHeRqfUpBonPk9O-ZXOZIwKpy-TTI1S/s320/JK.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic source: amazon.in<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><b><font face="georgia">Blurb:</font></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><font face="georgia">While a college student at Wharton, Jason Kothari scraped together money from family and friends to save his childhood favourite comic book company, Valiant Entertainment, from bankruptcy and bring it back to life. A few years later, he transformed Valiant into the third-largest superhero entertainment company in the world after Marvel and DC Comics and sold it for $100 million. Jason then became a professional turnaround leader and went on to transform distressed Indian Internet icons Housing.com, FreeCharge and Snapdeal, helping save billions of dollars in value, and advise giants like technology investor Softbank and real estate developer Emaar, who have invested billions of dollars in India.</font></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><font face="georgia">Irrationally Passionate reveals the inside story of how a rebel, train-wreck kid transformed himself into a successful young entrepreneur and business leader who became one of the top ten paid executives in India while only in his 30s. From getting his first job as an assistant to Jackie Chan in Hong Kong, to learning strategy from champion Muay Thai fighters in Thailand, to tackling huge personal setbacks, to becoming a CEO in 60 seconds, among many other stories - Jason's inspiring journey across countries, industries and companies has something for everyone, right from students to entrepreneurs to corporate CEOs to even parents of students and entrepreneurs. Irrationally Passionate is a highly personal, authentic, open, and complete account of a young entrepreneur's life. Brimming with practical advice and philosophical insights, it will force readers to reflect on how they perceive life, work, family, and spirituality by giving them a fresh perspective.</font></span></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><b>My Review:</b></font></div><div><font face="georgia">When the good folks at Blogadda.com chose me to read and review this book, I assumed I was in for a boring second-person account of an entrepreneur's journey. Boy was I wrong. This book is his own account of how he shaped his rebellious self into an entrepreneur, moreover, a credible name as a turnaround king and a sought after entity in the business world.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia">His first-person account starts on how he recognized and developed his business acumen from a very young age. The account of how he haggled a chess set for himself as a souvenir during a family trip displayed his likeness towards business. Jason kept moving from one city to another on account of his father’s job. During this time, he explains also faced racism and bullying in the many places he stayed during his childhood. </font></div><div><font face="georgia">His love for comic books is evident which nurtured into a passion and determination for saving and building Valiant Comics to becoming the third-largest superhero franchise after heavyweights Marvel and DC.</font></div><div><font face="georgia">Jason's passion for comics also helped him learn the ropes of business in his teenage days. His favourite Valiant comics comic book characters taught him certain life lessons: </font><span style="font-family: georgia;">“One of my most sacred beliefs is that thoughts become things, the latent becomes manifest. Would-be entrepreneurs shouldn’t just guard their words, but their minds as well. The subconscious is extremely powerful. What you put in, you get out.” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">One of the most difficult hurdles for anyone doing business is how they face problems. Either you deal with them or run away from them. Jason l</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">earned early on to face problems head-on than to run away from them - a wise lesson for all, not just budding entrepreneurs. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><font face="georgia">Like many success stories, his too had some setbacks. Jason got into bad habits and bad company but gradually realized and learnt from the mistake. This too he took it into his stride with the lesson: A failure or setback is not the end of everything. </font></div><div><font face="georgia">A resounding concern from his mother nagged him and a sound piece of advice from his sister-in-law helped him bounce back to his goal - ‘Jason, you just need to ask yourself: where are you now, what do you want to do, and how are you going to get there from today.’ </font></div><div><font face="georgia">He also channeled his energies in becoming more fit through martial arts like Muay Thai which also taught Jason a lot of lessons that he took to the boardroom. </font></div><div><font face="georgia">“Pain was a non-factor; train your brain to say, ‘Something hurts? So what? Continue. Keep going,”” was an enriching outcome of his experience with the Martial arts masters.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia">The book entails more such experiences of his career and how he launched himself from business school to becoming the CEOs of Snapdeal, Housing.com and Freecharge.in and an established turnaround expert.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><b>What I Liked:</b></font></div><div><font face="georgia">The inspiring journey faced with ups and downs. </font></div><div><font face="georgia">Especially the nuggets of wisdom, such as: - “....running towards, not away, from personal weaknesses—became a habit I cultivated and later pushed to extremes in life and business”.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia">A major highlight is that how Jason repeatedly says how entrepreneurship need not be inherited or ingrained. It is a combination of passion, determination and focus.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia">The writing and narration is lucid and the book is easy to read.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><b>What I didn't like:</b></font></div><div><font face="georgia">Nothing much to not like, however I felt that some chapters were a little too long that drawled at but and kept the reader off focus. </font></div><div><font face="georgia"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><b>Overall:</b></font></div><div><font face="georgia">A good read for those who crave for a dose of inspiration for building their own entrepreneurial success story.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div>Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-9106513438949068212018-08-07T23:04:00.000+05:302018-08-12T14:59:15.509+05:30Book Review: Eleventh Hour by S. Hussain Zaidi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Title:</b> Eleventh Hour <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Author:</b> S. Hussain Zaidi<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Harper Collins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Type:</b> Paperback<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Price:</b> INR 299</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51jORuZ8NXL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="325" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51jORuZ8NXL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleventh Hour Book Cover - Source: Amazon.in</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Blurb:</b><br />
New Delhi, 2017. It is nine years since the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and
the wounds have still not healed. Especially not for Superintendent of Police
Vikrant Singh, who ends up landing a slap on the High Commissioner of
Pakistan's face when he meets him at an event. Meanwhile, in Bhopal, five
members of the Indian Mujahideen, arrested by Vikrant, break out of the Central
Jail. Vikrant, suspended for the diplomatic disaster, is unofficially asked to
assist the team in tracking the escaped terrorists. In another part of the
country, a retired tycoon, a heartbroken ex-soldier and a young woman dealing
with demons of her own embark on a journey of self-discovery aboard a cruise
liner from Mumbai to Lakshadweep. Fate, however, has other plans, and the
cruise liner is hijacked. Racy and riveting, this is Hussain Zaidi at his best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My review:</b><br />
I’m a sucker for crime thrillers and if it has to do with <a href="http://survivaloftheoptimist.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-private-india.html" target="_blank">investigators and detectives</a> then I’m all game. Coincidentally, I’m typing this at the eleventh hour as I’m a
little behind schedule in posting the review, but I’m glad I picked this book
up for review. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eleventh Hour by S. Hussain Zaidi has all the makings of a high-octane, fast-paced thriller that talks about the
cat-and- mouse chase of the country's Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the terrorist group.
It starts with a reference point of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai that transpired
in the year 2008 and what is going to transpire nine years later in 2017. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The story begins with a bang, quite literally when an irate SP Vikrant Singh punches a Pakistani diplomat for not delivering justice to the victims of the 2008 terror attack. It
revolves around the efforts of this passionate and patriotic officer and his senior
Mirza - the mentor-protege duo - and how go about catching the culprits and bringing them to book whilst preventing a major bloodbath. The beauty of it all is that it all boils down to the eleventh hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The author does a great job in storytelling and it is easy
to paint the scenes in your head while reading. Also gives us a glimpse of how the minds of the IB and police work in the country. The camaraderie between Mirza and Vikrant is well-written. One aspect can also work well for an anti-smoking campaign (ha ha!). Besides the fact that it has an engrossing storyline, it also has all the
makings of a thrilling Bollywood script. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I liked:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gripped me from the very first page. It’s a rare trait for
books now-a-days.<br />Secondly, the surprise element right at the end of the climax caught me by surprise.<br />Thirdly, a Mumbaikar can easily relate to the locations mentioned in the book.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I disliked:</b><br />I found it easy to identify one of the culprits. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I feel:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A must-read for thriller buffs like me. Cannot put it down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-63143139325719160902018-07-08T22:32:00.001+05:302018-07-08T22:32:13.431+05:30Book Review: Job Be Damned - Rishi Piparaiya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book Review: Job Be
Damned</b></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVI0Gy0bkLY/W0JDHOX8t2I/AAAAAAAAgoc/s3Sh0C_TTTgXhXLEQqlcsprJUJuU_5UdwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180708_222601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Job Be Damned book cover" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVI0Gy0bkLY/W0JDHOX8t2I/AAAAAAAAgoc/s3Sh0C_TTTgXhXLEQqlcsprJUJuU_5UdwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180708_222601.jpg" title="Job Be Damned book cover" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Title:</b> Job Be
Damned<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author:</b> Rishi
Piparaiya<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Publisher</b>: Harper
Collins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Type:</b> Paperback<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MRP:</b> INR 299<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Blurb:</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Work Less. Career Success.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you think you’re a hardworking professional who has a lot
to offer? Are your ideas brighter than everyone else’s in your team? Did you
deserve a standing ovation after your last performance appraisal? Even if the
answer to these questions is a resounding yes, do you still find yourself
trailing behind corporate losers – the devil boss who takes all the credit; the
slimy politician who stole your promotion; the sweet-talking weasel whom
everyone seems to love? Job Be Damned is the kick in the backside that you so
desperately need. This book recognizes that you are an average employee and
ensures that, by the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be the best average
employee there can be. You will gain a unique perspective to help navigate
every tricky workplace situation-and unmatched bullshit-doling and handling
capabilities to wing it through your spectacularly unexciting job. After all,
isn’t that what corporate success is all about?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
My review:</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What attracted me towards this self-help book, you ask. The DAMN interesting blurb, of course! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right from the word go, the author has you hooked. His
uncanny way of describing the inner workings of any company - be it a start-up
or an MNC - is simply hilarious to the tee. He describes, sarcastically of
course, the ‘better’ way of doing things - does not matter if you are a fresher
or a part of middle-management. Rishi does justice in the description of the work
atmosphere in various types of organisations, even Public Sector Units. In a
rib-tickling manner, he highlights the inner workings and well-known but taken-for-granted
details in the job way of life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Designed as a self-help book of sorts, he suggest you ‘stop
wasting time’ and try and follow the ‘principles’ he suggests. They are bound
to fit perfectly well with any and every type of Indian job scenario. Rishi
cites ‘anecdotes’ or real-life examples as proof of the ‘principles’ he asks
you to imbibe and follow in order to ‘Work Less. (And achieve) Career Success.’
Needless to say, these anecdotes are guaranteed to leave you in splits! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When reading this book, you cannot help but sit back and
reflect on how you must have acted in those typical situation in any job. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What I liked:</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter which junction of your career you are in, you can
relate to most things written in this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I didn’t like:</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fact that I can’t read this when I’m in office. My boss
won’t look too pleased if I keep sniggering like maniac!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What I feel:</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are a fresher or a highly experienced professional,
do give this book a read. Fans of Dilbert’s comic strip are going to love this
for sure. You might just learn a thing or two or can just simply reflect back on
those DAMNED days! <o:p></o:p>If this is a series, I'm looking forward for the next one!</div>
<br /></div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-82950906692210556102018-01-27T22:27:00.001+05:302018-01-27T22:27:43.616+05:30Why air purifiers are the need of the hour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The deteriorating air quality in our
country is there for all to see. </span>Dealing with impure air is a battle that each one of us goes through day in and day out. Various cities including the national capital
are suffering from the after-effects of increased air pollution and subsequent
diseases of the lungs, nose, skin, etc. Breathing in contaminated air can make us more prone to various acute and chronic respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, asthma and various allergies. <b><a href="https://www.livpure.in/air-purifier" target="_blank">Air purifier</a></b> as a concept may have been a novelty few years back, but in
today’s times it has become an absolute necessity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/indiaairpollution.jpeg?quality=80&strip=all&w=4513" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/indiaairpollution.jpeg?quality=80&strip=all&w=4513" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: qz.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The deteriorating air quality is leaving us breathless, however, the quality of air indoors is no different. </span>Many schools were recently closed down in the capital due to the alarming air quality. <span lang="EN-US">Such steps become the need of the hour, because kids are most vulnerable to air pollution.</span>They spend a lot of time indoors playing or studying. The air outside combines with the indoor air, hence making it difficult for kids and elderly people to breathe clean air. This makes a case for investing in a <b><a href="https://www.livpure.in/air-purifier/home" target="_blank">roomair purifier</a>. </b>When an
appliance like an air purifier is installed in a room, it removes contaminants
from the air, making it cleaner. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Prior to purchasing one for your home, consider the room size, the type of filter in the device, the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), and the air changes per hour. Air purifiers can be categorized on the
basis of their coverage area. Some can cover an area of 450 sq. ft. while some
can cover a 300 sq. ft. room. Depending on this factor, the <b><a href="https://www.livpure.in/air-purifier" target="_blank">air purifier price</a></b> differs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Also, you
can determine the different price brackets basis the CADR. Livpure is one such brand having a wide</span> product range. You can browse through and make the right choice as per your needs and budget. You can buy one for your home and another for your car as well! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out <b><a href="http://www.livpure.in/air-purifier">www.livpure.in/air-purifier</a></b> to get more information. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9jckCpIO1Oub0ELuZGkfoFdQJ1iBTj7TnpinnaVqa3st5MMgK_coY-0BMXVLM5ehLjUU3yDVDkcZcTSYW5m7Pd063AVBDbZB_EfnDi3nIGsVilOe3_54v4r-ZF4rqAZfn2IfQfojdZTB/s1600/livpure2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="234" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9jckCpIO1Oub0ELuZGkfoFdQJ1iBTj7TnpinnaVqa3st5MMgK_coY-0BMXVLM5ehLjUU3yDVDkcZcTSYW5m7Pd063AVBDbZB_EfnDi3nIGsVilOe3_54v4r-ZF4rqAZfn2IfQfojdZTB/s320/livpure2.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livpure Air Purifier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAv_acjRGu0/WmysUGr5qII/AAAAAAAAc2A/IrTvhBY-66EJjgpERw7007l-J6KDzGI3ACLcBGAs/s1600/livpure1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="234" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAv_acjRGu0/WmysUGr5qII/AAAAAAAAc2A/IrTvhBY-66EJjgpERw7007l-J6KDzGI3ACLcBGAs/s320/livpure1.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livpure Car Air Purifier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-38359798564020891252018-01-05T17:24:00.002+05:302018-01-11T09:11:46.378+05:30How to keep kids safe from mosquitoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Picture this:</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Under the open sky, your kids are playing in the park with wild abandon, while you open the picnic basket with packed goodies for you and your family. As the sun sets, there's a smile on your face as you sit on the grass sipping juice and watching your children be happy.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frankly, a mother like me would actually 'freak out' at the prospect of letting kids go free and wild in the open air surroundings. The probability of getting bit by mosquitoes is too high and is not one that is cherished. Not just kids, adults too are prone to mosquito bites that can increase the chances of diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya. And if you would have thought that wearing full-sleeved tops and bottoms is fine to avoid getting bitten, guess again! Not just in playgrounds and gardens, we need to protect ourselves and our family in indoor places too.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As parents, most of our focus lies around our kids, with them being the centre of our universe. However, they cannot be figuratively tied to a leash, kept indoors all day and be disallowed from exploring their surroundings. In fact, the more the kids explore and figure out things by themselves, the faster they learn.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So how do we solve this conundrum?</span></span></h3>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As it is rightfully said, prevention is better than cure. It is perhaps best to prevent mosquitoes from biting you and your kids. There are some ways and means to protect yourself and your kids from mosquito bites:</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Clear out stagnant water</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stagnant water is said to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. These insects are known to lay their eggs in the water which breed rampantly and infest your home. You out to check the flower pots, the roofs, the verandah and your bathroom for sitting water that may act as breeding pools. This must be done time and again, especially in the rainy season.<b><br /></b><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Placing herbal plants</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is believed that plants and trees like Tulsi (holy basil), Neem and Lavender are helpful in killing mosquito larvae. Once the larvae are under control, it can help in curbing and controlling the population of mosquitoes.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Using repellents</b><br />One of the ways is using a<a href="http://www.goodknight.in/" target="_blank"> <i>safe mosquito repellent</i></a>. The idea of a repellent is to repel the mosquitoes by preventing them from landing or coming close. Although there are multiple brands in the market, the renowned brand, <b>Good knight </b>has designed repellents in the form of non-sticky gels, patches and fabric roll-ons that are 100% natural and provide up to 8 hours of protection from mosquitoes.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl5dpxXB0XA/Wk9m_q1eYpI/AAAAAAAAcN8/wVoC_ah59kApj2TvCzo912U8EdVuA_GCgCLcBGAs/s1600/gel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl5dpxXB0XA/Wk9m_q1eYpI/AAAAAAAAcN8/wVoC_ah59kApj2TvCzo912U8EdVuA_GCgCLcBGAs/s320/gel.png" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good knight Cool Gel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVF18Y9_E92NQVpb8uebk6SUOfqWa3al5PUlbBA0kjsBz32-UIi9kMXVJbttXH9Ea4DGg5A2Tp6fvUlwlRU9X4RmtLobBKZCMut3GvyJSrBxJX8mmhTF1M8TzPBwhz37k40qUfaFj86mi/s1600/patches.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="505" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVF18Y9_E92NQVpb8uebk6SUOfqWa3al5PUlbBA0kjsBz32-UIi9kMXVJbttXH9Ea4DGg5A2Tp6fvUlwlRU9X4RmtLobBKZCMut3GvyJSrBxJX8mmhTF1M8TzPBwhz37k40qUfaFj86mi/s320/patches.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good knight Patches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can easily stick the patches onto your child's clothes or apply the aloe gel when they are playing on the playground. The <i><a href="http://www.goodknight.in/products/outdoor/cool-gel-tube/" target="_blank">mosquito repellent's aloe gel</a></i> is a natural element that is not only cooling but also works like a charm. You can safely use this <i><a href="http://www.goodknight.in/products/outdoor/good-knight-patches-14/" target="_blank">mosquito repellent for infants</a></i> by sticking the patches on cribs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By using the ways that are in the best interest of you as well as your family, say goodbye to your fears of getting bitten!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-62649680115979962632017-09-09T21:33:00.001+05:302017-09-19T10:19:24.020+05:30Book Review: What Kitty Did by Trisha Bora<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Book Name:</b> What Kitty Did<br />
<b>Author</b>: Trisha Bora<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Harper Collins<br />
<b>Price: </b>INR 299 (MRP)</div>
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I am reading a book after what seems like ages, and I'm glad I picked up this one. It has opened up the floodgates for reading quite a few more. Thank you, Vivek and Flipkart for shortlisting me for reviewing this book. Will keep this review short and simple.<br />
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The story revolves around Ketaki Roy, aka Kitty to her close friends and family. Working as a journalist for a fashion magazine, at times Kitty feels like she's a misfit. However, she is handed to cover the life of a high-profile yesteryear actress and socialite, Roxanne Merchant, which ultimately leads her into a web of the murky lives of big shots. At the same time, an incident helps her realize her true interest: baking and spreading the sweetness with the world. How she unravels the real cause behind Roxy Merchant's death is what the crux of the story is.</div>
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Firstly, this is one really great weekend read, filled with rib-tickling lines and funny innuendos. Trisha Bora does a fine job with the narration, sticking to the storyline, at the same time digressing when it is required. For example, she talks about the city of Delhi - where the story is based - quite well; where a non-Delhiite like me could relate and understand. All in all, this book is very in-sync with today's generation and most parts are quite relatable.</div>
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If you feel like you need an entertaining read, go for this.</div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-91049151085760372522017-04-23T15:57:00.000+05:302017-04-24T16:01:14.733+05:30Tinkle Buddy Box from Amar Chitra Katha - Product Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My childhood in the nineties revolved around reading Tinkle, Champak and Chandamama. And from these periodicals stemmed my passion for books, series like Harry Potter and Poirot, and helped me take baby steps towards the world of literature. However, what I did not realise then was the magic of the colourful characters like Suppandi, Chacha Chowdhury and Shikhari Shambhu that were amusing and how most had a moral or a lesson to tell in the end. I also looked forward to solving a riddle or puzzles like spot the differences.<br />
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Over time, we all grew up and we pushed it away for more trivial pursuits including our affiliation for technology. We forgot about the charm and unadulterated joy that a freshly minted copy of Tinkle or Champak got us when we were gifted one or spotted one at our sibling's or friend's place. An irreplaceable part of my childhood were these periodical paperbacks.<br />
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It was after a really long time that I got my hands on a Tinkle digest. This happened when I was asked to review <b>TinkleBuddyBox</b>, an activity box. And no points for guessing who was more excited than my daughter! :)<br />
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I soo wanted to do an un-boxing video, but my daughter beat me to it. She was super elated with her shiny new box of things that she has seen for the very first time. It was perfect timing since she has her vacations and I was just thinking of purchasing an activity box to keep her busy while I was away.</div>
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The contents of <b>TinkleBuddyBox</b> are:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a never-seen-before Tinkle board game</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a 108- piece jigsaw puzzle with Shikari Shambhu</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">an exclusive Tinkle card game</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tinkle merchandise: four badges</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 DIY art projects</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 mega Tinkle digests</span></span></div>
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All this equates to a whole lot of fun.</div>
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Even though my darling daughter isn't 6 yet and is still young to understand most games, she thoroughly enjoyed piecing the puzzle and making an aeroplane and Suppandi's autorickshaw - the DIY art projects. </div>
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Take a look:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The contents of my TinkleBuddyBox</td></tr>
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<b>My thoughts about the Tinkle Buddy Box:</b></div>
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For kids ages 6 and more: It is hours of fun and learning for your child, away from the television or smartphone. They are bound to be glued to the activities that will keep them engaged. I had my nephew and niece go ga-ga over the fun-filled activities.</div>
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For kids less than 6 years of age: This box will give you an opportunity to spend quality time with your kid. knowing that most of us parents have very little free time on our hands. You can develop a lot of your child's skills through this pack of activities and keep them engaged and away from the smartphone mania.</div>
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I know I created a mini storm on my Instagram account @missalpao just by posting a snapshot of this box.</div>
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My kiddo and I had loads of fun with this activity box. So head out and grab a box for your kid (or may be for you!).</div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-70927045419973200372017-03-20T10:11:00.000+05:302017-03-20T10:11:00.096+05:30Colgate Magical Stories - A Toddler's Adventure in Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As kids, our lives kinda revolved around stories. Be it before going to bed or for being coaxed to eat up those veggies. Our grandparents, parents as well as our elder siblings showered us with stories of their experiences, sojourns and life's lessons. Enriched with these stories, we took each day as it came...with a burst of creativity and imagination.<br />
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But then arose a problem.<br />
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We stopped sharing these stories. Partially to blame is the addiction we have towards gadgets. And partially, because we may have become lazy and uninterested in this ritual.<br />
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This thought made me wonder, how limited our kids' imagination might become if we don't encourage them to build and share stories. We may have developed a habit for thinking practically but kids are still young and need to be exposed to various creative experiences and develop their own way of thinking, questioning and understanding.<br />
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<b>Colgate Magical Stories</b> - An breakthrough initiative by Colgate Palmolive has reopened the doors of creativity and imagination in the children's lives. In association with <b>BlogAdda</b>, India's leading network of bloggers, they've tried to bring back the beauty of incredible stories in children.<br />
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I too signed up for this initiative for my daughter. I want my daughter to start young in expanding her creative skills.<br />
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I received three packs of Colgate toothpaste with a different space adventure inside.<br />
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My daughter was elated in learning about the contents of these packs. As she has limited knowledge of the planets, space and the solar system, I took this as the right opportunity to show and tell her about them.<br />
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<b>The story goes like this:</b><br />
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Here is Tony, our space crusader.<br />
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Like every astronaut he sits in a rocket. Ready to launch, 3...2...1...BLAST OFF!<br />
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The rocket travels far away from the earth and into space.<br />
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It passes through the International Space Station. "I'll visit my friend Tina after I complete my mission." says Tony.<br />
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He successfully lands on the surface of Mars. Tony places his flag on the Martian land. Now, it is time to explore this planet.<br />
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He sets out to explore in his buggy.<br />
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"What's this. We have company!?" Tony exclaims on eyeing the spacecraft and the Alien being.<br />
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"Hello" says Tina and Tony is surprised to see her there. The Alien gets scared and leaves the planet in his spaceship.<br />
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Tina invites Tony to her Space Station. Floating in outer space, Tony gets to see the various planets and inter-celestial bodies.<br />
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Having successfully completed his voyage, Tony bids adieu to Tina and heads back to earth.<br />
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Wasn't it a magical story? What did you think?<br />
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-72691461678118793702016-12-22T18:08:00.001+05:302016-12-22T18:20:52.773+05:30Big Bazaar Kids Carnival 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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At the end of any year, I always look forward to a lot of get-to-gethers, weddings, fests, shopping sprees and meets. But unlike every year, this year we had to struggle with the burden of demonetization and are reeling under its effects. Yet the year end still has a silver lining for me. It did not dampen the celebrations much as I would've thought it would.<br />
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So when I was invited by the good folks at<b> Big Bazaar</b> to be a part of the Mommy Bloggers meet I was elated. Usually blogger meets are all about the blogger, but this one was with a difference, my little one was invited too! My kiddo and I were invited to the exclusive launch of the <b>Big Bazaar</b> <b>Kids Carnival 2016</b>, a fun initiative by BB Kiddie Club.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Emcee welcoming all mommy bloggers & kids to Big Bazaar Kids Carnival 2016</td></tr>
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My kiddo and I were warmly welcomed by the BB team. After a round of introductions, all kiddos were encouraged to participate in some fun and games. Moms were not left behind, as there were fun games for us as well! The zest and the enthusiasm was infectious when we witnessed the staff of the Malad store cheering for the moms. Though the winners were rewarded a sweet token of chocolates, the fun we had was one to cherish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the latest in fashion for kids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toys section: Kids love this section, but is a danger zone for parents!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group capture of all the mommy bloggers and their kids present at the event.</td></tr>
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We were made aware of the exclusive benefits of being a <b>#BBKiddieClub</b> member.<br />
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The <b>Big Bazaar Kiddie Club</b> is a novel idea which aims at providing a platform for 3 to 15 year olds to pursue their passion and showcase their talent whilst having fun. This Club offers these kids an exclusive card which entitles them to accumulate points when they shop at Big Bazaar and also by participating in the events held.<br />
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The key highlight of this carnival would be that kids to stand a chance at being featured in the <b>Chhota Bheem TVC</b>! And all they need to do is take a selfie at any of their stores!<br />
There will also be Stores will have a dedicated area to engage kids and will follow a theme that ranges from superheroes to a jungle setup.<br />
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Isn't it a win-win situation for parents, when they can shop at ease as their kids are engrossed in the various fun and engaging activities held by one of the leading retail chains in India?<br />
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So head to their store right away! This carnival will be held at Big Bazaar stores across the country from <b>December 10, 2016 to January 8, 2017</b>.<br />
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The event concluded with some mouth-watering refreshments for the kids and their mommies as well as a loaded goodie bag full of toys for all ages! What a fun day it was!<br />
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-86205444700830472212016-11-27T17:19:00.000+05:302016-11-27T17:19:09.173+05:30Book Review: Graffiti by Joanie Pareria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Book Title:</b> Graffiti </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Author:</b> Joanie Pariera</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Publishing House:</b> Author House</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Available format(s):</b> ebook </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Genre:</b> Fiction, Comedy, Drama</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I picked up Graffiti through Book Review program on <a href="http://writersmelon.com/">Writersmelon.com</a>. Graffiti showcases a medley of human emotions, from bereavement to elation. It is a fine depiction of the central characters, which are Rene, Vipin, Pournami, Upi (Upasna), Mark and Agni. Narrated in first person, the story takes place simultaneously across Denver, Bangalore and Mumbai. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Off late I've been reading a lot of ebooks on my kindle app, particularly for the convenience it offers over a paperback. So, I had instantly applied for this one thinking the same. However, I couldn't finish this book at one go, and it did take me longer than usual to read it entirely. But having said that, it mustn't daunt a reader to pick this one up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joanie takes the story of each character and describes it well. In my opinion, the initial pace of the book is slow but it does keep a read engaged to a certain extent. However, certain place the story seem to dawdle a bit. She has depicted the pain and the emotions of losing a loved one - one's spouse - somewhat realistically. Most of the chapters are peppered with some playful banter and awkward hilarity that is charming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The author has aptly tag-lined Graffiti to be a sensual, tragic, sexomedy; which readily I agree. All in all a good, emotional read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the Author:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;">Joanie Pariera (Pen Name), has apparently been thinking about writing fiction since the time she learned to say the word ‘pencil’. It came to be, that that was the first word her parents taught her to say. According to them, she then made up her own word for it just to see them squirm. </span><br style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;">She likes to think she is a master of many things, including making up words. To start with she has two master’s degrees. She cooks, keeps house, codes and programs, and until recently used to write specifications for Information Systems for a living. Having travelled extensively, she has self-assimilated the cultural nuances of various unsuspecting anthropological groups and stealthily continues to put down her impressions in her writing. </span></span><br />
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-45300613244846245252016-11-27T16:56:00.001+05:302016-11-28T13:33:43.755+05:30Book Review: Skyfire by Aroon Raman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Book Title:</b> Skyfire</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Author:</b> Aroon Raman</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Publishing House:</b> Pan Macmillan India</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Available format(s):</b> ebook and paperback</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Pages:</b> 256</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fEGuv-OONplGyc2x5qh1638WVSKddHHwolTAY073M8x9ZJDi4KsPcQU-JLXnNR2Qa-6zzKr2uhviXqwnwc265J1ufgJmsN4k-6CflsrJcIQh6xv-YecdXpaKrV_PrfOIe9IQo7MBsRyo/s1600/IMG_20161127_124540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fEGuv-OONplGyc2x5qh1638WVSKddHHwolTAY073M8x9ZJDi4KsPcQU-JLXnNR2Qa-6zzKr2uhviXqwnwc265J1ufgJmsN4k-6CflsrJcIQh6xv-YecdXpaKrV_PrfOIe9IQo7MBsRyo/s640/IMG_20161127_124540.jpg" width="358"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May 2012. India is hit by a series of freak weather disturbances and startling epidemics that threaten to bring the country to its knees. At the same time, children are disappearing from the slums in the capital and nobody seems to care. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stumbling upon these strange and seemingly unrelated incidents, journalist Chandrasekhar, historian Meenakshi Pirzada and intelligence operative Syed Ali Hassan start upon a trail that leads them into the drawing rooms of Delhi's glittering high society before reaching a terrifying climax in Bhutan, where they come face-to-face with a force of unspeakable power and evil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">One word: Unputdownable. I am so glad to have picked this book up. Though the initial pace of the book is slow, it catches up as the author describes the fine details of each of the freak weather disturbances and unusual natural occurances. The character sketches of the main protagonists, the trio of Chandrashekhar, Meenakshi Pirzada and Syed Ali Hassan have also been defined very well, each of them have a key role in the plot. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;"><br></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Overall, a pacy and a racy read, not a single dull moment! Now I'm compelled to read the first two of his books as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>This is review is a part of the Flipkart book review program; I've recieved the book in exchange of an honest, unbiased review. I thank Flipkart for shortlisting me for to review this book.</i></span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-24528344917857039732016-09-13T22:27:00.003+05:302016-09-13T22:28:56.864+05:30Book Review: Stories of Work, Life and the Balance in Between by Tomson Robert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Book Title:</b> Stories of Work, Life and the Balance in Between</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Author:</b> Tomson Robert</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Publishing House:</b> The Write Place</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Genre:</b> Non-Fiction</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovMhY0TO-_YqbOrdltdHaD6ZjPEJP-eMlyvjnzVYjZ8mjc0lGjLYZTdjZjl3HL79yG95tU7wRyQ1GqYIebDhoxbifumYS1gFCb3UxLtth7jvkLs2Arbf1b8b21QGxMmurMaFAMGgFeqSF/s1600/WLB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovMhY0TO-_YqbOrdltdHaD6ZjPEJP-eMlyvjnzVYjZ8mjc0lGjLYZTdjZjl3HL79yG95tU7wRyQ1GqYIebDhoxbifumYS1gFCb3UxLtth7jvkLs2Arbf1b8b21QGxMmurMaFAMGgFeqSF/s400/WLB.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are you stuck in a job you don’t love? Are you made to do flunky work in office? Do you struggle to balance work and life? Do you want to quit your job and start a business of your own? Do you wonder about the meaning of love and life? If these questions apply to you, then this book is for you. This book is a collection of 10 contemporary short stories based on the corporate world and life in general. Although these stories are a work of fiction, they capture real life situations and dilemmas that I have seen and faced. Each story is aimed to leave the reader with a message. I believe these can help you answer the above questions. If not, I have tried my best to keep the stories as humorous and entertaining as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet again, I thank the good folks at <a href="http://writersmelon.com/">writersmelon.com</a> for sending me this ebook for review. This book entails the author, Tomson Robert's fictional accounts of his corporate life and his personal life. Through 10 contemporary short and crisp stories, the situations one usually faces in work life are highlighted through various perspectives - the boss, the employee, etc. I found it entertaining and a quick read to be completed in a single sitting (1 hour max) as it is about 70 pages long. My favourite story from the lot is 'How You Became A Horrible Boss'. All the stories are generously sprinkled with humour and make it a light read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the author:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Management Consultant by day and amateur author by night. Husband to a beautiful wife, father to an adorable baby girl and raised (along with a smart younger brother) by loving parents in God’s Own Country (a.k.a Kerala, India). Currently living in Dubai and working for a consulting firm.</span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-62407123285417138592016-08-25T14:47:00.001+05:302016-08-29T22:20:03.348+05:30Book Review - Corpokshetra by Deepak Kaul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Book Title:</b> Corpokshetra - Mahabharata in the MBA Yug</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Author:</b> Deepak Kaul</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Publishing House:</b> Westland Ltd. & </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bloody Good Book</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Available formats:</b> ebook & Paperback </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8EWS29cO8jUJwCSmdd1ITXsLHplhsYJUaKJtbSQhZwWYUfqGFPtNPlLh4ctiZdt_g66VtUTYwKu27lQFYweSs8HnZ5LghqoDbd_nsYa7Ctxszda0yj5k9QEAITBtF_rPpEdG7y0FvHvz/s1600/corpokshetra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Corpokshetra ebook book" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8EWS29cO8jUJwCSmdd1ITXsLHplhsYJUaKJtbSQhZwWYUfqGFPtNPlLh4ctiZdt_g66VtUTYwKu27lQFYweSs8HnZ5LghqoDbd_nsYa7Ctxszda0yj5k9QEAITBtF_rPpEdG7y0FvHvz/s640/corpokshetra.jpg" title="Corpokshetra ebook book" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amusing book cover. Image source: amazon.in</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">The Pandavas have returned home after 13 years of exile. And they are demanding their stake in Hastinapur Inc. But the Kauravas, led by the haughty Duryodhana, aren’t ready to give them a penny. The battle lines are drawn, only this war is in the present-day Kurukshetra - the corporate boardroom.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the Kauravas and the Pandavas don their sharpest suits, Krishna - the wily Consultant - strategies for peace. This is a humorous, modern take on the Mahabharata (with due apologies to Rishi Ved Vyas). An epic story retold for the MBA generation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to <b>Writersmelon.com</b>, I recently got my hands on <b>Corpokshetra by Deepak Kaul.</b> This book is a modern corporate twist to the tale of epic proportions - The Mahabharata. As rightly described, it is <b>retelling of the Mahabharata for the MBA generation</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the story of all the beloved and celebrated characters, but in a corporate boardroom. Where Lord Krishna is running a successful international CSR consultancy. Kansa is the CEO of Mathura Corp and Lord Indra is the chairman of Govardhan limited. When Kauravas are back from their exile they demand a stake in Hastinapur Inc. Instead of the battlefield, here the battle is in the boardroom with wit and politics as the weapons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unlike in every corporate, the top bosses call the shots when the going goes tough. With all characters in place, the story starts a board meeting. (Guess what they also hangout at Starbucks!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A well described story, Corpokshetra incorporates and merges all the corporate elements effortlessly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a reader like me who always gets confused between characters of the original tale and has lesser knowledge of the nitty gritties, found this book a recap of the original tale, but with a twist of course. Interspersed with wit and humour, it makes for a quick and easy read.</span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-20074339220814083742016-07-17T21:26:00.002+05:302016-07-17T21:34:25.916+05:30Book Review: The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px;">eBook: </b><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The Devil's Prayer</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Author: </b><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Luke Gracias</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Pages: </b><span style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">294</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Genre:</b><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"> Thriller</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Price: </b><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Rs. 189.58 (Amazon.in Kindle Edition)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Publisher:</b><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Australian eBook Publisher (18 February 2016)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction? </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: justify;">My Review:</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Needless to say the name of the book itself is intriguing. With a stellar start of a nun allegedly committing suicide, this book becomes unputdownable and captivating from the word go. The book is cleverly divided into four parts with each part seamlessly connecting the next. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One can read the first three parts in quick succession; I found it difficult to tear away from the book (sacrificed some sleep in the process). The fourth section deals with a lot of research and details pertaining to religious history where the author has done a lot of his homework well and with supporting proof. It is here that I lost some interest, a tad too much history had me waiting for the cliffhanger. Eventually, I did finish reading it and boy, it has me waiting for the second part.(I really hope he writes it.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I totally recommend this book to lovers of supernatural fiction. All I can say is, Mr Luke Gracias is certainly a Dan Brown in the making. Goosebumps guaranteed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Disclaimer: I've received this ebook from Writersmelon.com in exchange for an honest review.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-32358089985015464262016-06-03T07:25:00.000+05:302016-06-03T07:25:10.254+05:30Are your ready-to-go in a Datsun redi-GO?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve owned a two-wheeler (scooter) for long now. Though I use
it less often than before, a two-wheeler has limitations over a four-wheeler.
Limitations include: seating only two passengers, inconvenience riding in the
monsoons, luggage space constraints, to name a few. One of the main reasons why
my loved ones constantly caution me when I ride a bike is for the safety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A two-wheeler may not provide the safety to the driver from a head-on
collision or an accident. Not to sound pessimistic here, but having lived in a
metropolis where for road rage incidents and road accidents are on the rise,
women are recommended to purchase a hatchback meant for the city to drive safe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The other reason is for traffic. It cannot be stressed enough how the levels of
traffic in a locale of a city plays a crucial role in the decision making process
of taking the car for a spin or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And whilst contemplating the many options available in
four-wheelers, particularly cars, I chanced upon this brand new car that
symbolises<span style="background: #F3F3F3;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">Fun. Freedom.
Confidence. The ultimate<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.datsun.co.in/redi-GO.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #3463b1; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Urban Cross<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">- Datsun redi-GO - the capability of a crossover with the convenience
of a hatchback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">Datsun
India has launched India’s first-ever urban cross car to cater to the current
generation who are ‘always on the go’. Using the best of Japanese technology,
Datsun has designed redi-GO car with a host of features; three of the following
appeal to me the most to take this car for a spin:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">1. Best-in-class
Ground Clearance</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">A
much needed feature when you’re <s>wading </s>driving through water-logged streets
full of puddles the size of Moon carters. With 185 mm ground clearance,
smoothly sail over the craters like a moon rover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">2. Small Turning
Radius</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">If
I have not stressed on the craziness of Mumbai’s traffic, let me highlight it
more. There is barely any space for manoeuvring a car in neck-deep traffic.
Moreover, this feature will be gold for parking in a tight spot. Datsun redi-GO
promises to make a full turn-around with just a 4.7-metre turning radius. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">3. Superior
Air-Conditioning</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This
may be seen as a trivial point to many, but with humidity levels that touch close
to 90%, Mumbai certainly becomes hot during the peak summer months – April and
May. Datsun redi-GO has air-conditioning that is optimized for the Indian
weather conditions – which can be totally unpredictable.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">Testing The Datsun
redi-GO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">The
ultimate test of the Datsun redi-GO would undoubtedly be at the bustling
metropolis of Mumbai. And that too in the upcoming monsoon season. Any
Mumbaikar driving a car in Mumbai would know how traffic-clogged streets can
become in the monsoon. I wish to test driving this car out in Andheri suburbs
of Mumbai with a sole intention to check whether it is ideal for traffic city
drive. I want to know whether a novice driver like me can safely reach home
after being met with puddles, cacophony of the traffic-clogged streets with no
or little room for manoeuvring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">For
a city-slicker like me, if the Datsun redi-Go promises to get me out of the
peak rush hour traffic with smooth manoeuvring abilities; get me in and out of
a tight parking spot and help me be safe and secure at all times, it will
certainly help me beat the urban driving blues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-61109049941109079782016-05-02T11:35:00.001+05:302016-07-17T21:35:09.766+05:30What's in your cup?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of all the innovative ways of marketing content, there are some that stay in one's memory longer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To cite an example, I still remember how innovatively a hand sanitizer company advertised their message by tying up with bhel puri wallahs. They served their message in the paper used by bhel puri wallahs which drove home the point of the importance of keeping ones hand clean after eating food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Such and more innovative means not only effectively drives the message to the end users but also is recalled effectively in the long run. Just like I did :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thus it is imperative to break the clutter in marketing your products or services and stand out from the crowd.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Precisely what <a href="http://www.gingercup.com/">gingercup.com</a> does!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through innovative paper cup advertising and flyer advertising they make sure your brand stands out.</span></div>
</div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-33102696669239017872016-04-19T09:50:00.001+05:302016-07-17T21:35:35.478+05:30Book Review: The Honest Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Book Title: </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">The Honest Season</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #606569; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Author: </b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Kota Neelima</span><br style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;" /><b style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Pages: </b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">376</span><br style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;" /><b style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Genre:</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"> Political Fiction</span><br style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;" /><b style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Price: </b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Rs. 206 (Amazon.in)</span><br style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;" /><b style="color: black; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">Publisher:</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"> Random House India</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #606569; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp8iPhwboJqBr1XF69KpLFROV9LNrIgcraYRABFfzpiCfDiYRqrmrepxHMX94MPyoHxhex8cNrtCUj_rnvVwc0lNDaPObN2ExZaT2MzobNXfVzPY1gbEpxG0TGM4HXVGD15gf3Lh7ueRp/s1600/IMG_20160317_130932513_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp8iPhwboJqBr1XF69KpLFROV9LNrIgcraYRABFfzpiCfDiYRqrmrepxHMX94MPyoHxhex8cNrtCUj_rnvVwc0lNDaPObN2ExZaT2MzobNXfVzPY1gbEpxG0TGM4HXVGD15gf3Lh7ueRp/s400/IMG_20160317_130932513_HDR.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #606569; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Blurb: </span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sikander Bansi, an unlikely political heir in Delhi, secretly records politicians in Parliament as they haggle to become cabinet ministers, bag defense contracts, dodge criminal charges and collect corporate largesse. Among them is a rising leader of the People’s Party, Nalan Malik, whose success has come through unscrupulous means. When Sikander suddenly disappears, Mira Mouli, a newspaper journalist with an unusual gift of knowing people’s thoughts, receives the controversial Parliament tapes along with clues to find him. She is attracted to Sikander’s principles and is wary of Nalan’s deceit. But her powers of knowing tell her a different story, one that she can unravel only at the cost of her life. From the bestselling author of Shoes of the Dead, this is disturbing political fiction that reveals why Parliament functions behind gates closed to the public.</span></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 25.998px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">About the Author:</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kota Neelima</span><span style="background-color: white;"> has been a journalist for over twenty years, covering politics in New Delhi, India. She is Senior Research Fellow, South Asia Studies at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced international Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. Her recent academic research in India on perception seeks to develop a structure based on rural and urban voter choices .Her previous books include the bestselling Shoes of the Dead and Death of a Moneylender, among others. Also a well-known painter, Neelima’s works are a part of several collections in India and abroad, including the Museum of Sacred Art, Belgium.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: justify;">My Review:</span></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">It would be an extremely rare case that I would pick up a book on politics. But the word fiction added to it certainly drew some intrigue. And boy, I'm glad I picked it up. Right from page one, the author does not let you put this book down. She has orchestrated the plot so beautifully, I </span></span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">thoroughly</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> enjoyed all the twists and turns. Kota Neelima has a impeccable hold of the language and the subject matter that she is an expert in. Each page shows the amount of research that has gone into writing the book, and not leaving any loose strings. I would readily recommend this book to those who are uninterested in Politics as I am, because this is nothing short of a best-seller!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Disclaimer: I've received this book from Writersmelon.com in exchange for an honest review.</i></span></div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-84959169249476552692016-04-14T01:23:00.001+05:302016-04-14T01:29:07.696+05:305 key things to know about IndiPR.com<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Influencer marketing is the latest buzzword riding the wave of content marketing. With brands now targeting influencers in the relevant product and service categories to create engagement that will eventually lead to sales, this trend seems here to stay.<br />
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Keeping this in mind, the pioneers of an systemic Indian Blogging Network have recently launched a system to automatically cherry pick the relevant influencers for a brand's campaign. This system is called <b><a href="http://indipr.com/" target="_blank">IndiPR.com </a></b>and is the brainchild of Indiblogger. Simply put, IndiPR acts as a content marketing platform for a brand's press releases.<br />
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<a href="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/indipr/v1/img/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/indipr/v1/img/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Promising? Some reading and analysis of IndiPR's website and press release has made me highlight the salient features of this content marketing platform.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
All it takes is one press release.</h3>
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Since a press release is a bonafide public document stating clearly giving out all the information about the product or service, business or campaign to one and all, so one really cannot go wrong with it. It is a There are no 'relevant campaign information will be shared with shortlisted influencers' sort of declaration. It is all plain and simple and out there in the open. So bloggers will get to view and know what the campaign is all about and then apply for it if it is relevant to them.</div>
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<br /><b>Start with a free trial</b></h3>
At first you need not pay. You can use a one-time free trial to test the waters. A free trial allows you to get up to 5 blogposts. All you need to do is upload your press release after registering with IndiPR. And then after 72 hours, volia! Post 72 hours, relevant publishers/bloggers have utilized information from the press release, websites and other sources to create an article/ blogpost about the campaign. IndiPR estimates a 75% publishing rate on an average. Which means out of 10 at least 7 to 10 publishers/bloggers will publish the article on their blogs.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
ETA: 72 hours </h3>
All the magic happens in just 72 hours. The 72 hour clock starts ticking the moment the press release is out in the public. A steam-lined process flow makes it simple for anyone to understand. Within 12 hours of the press release being published, it is open to all to apply for the project. In the next 12 hours, the AITE automatically shortlists bloggers/publishers according to certain parameters like the relevance of the project to the publisher's blog theme and more. The blogger is notified as soon as possible, and can choose to accept or reject the project. If accepted, the remaining time can be utilized by the blogger to compose and publish the article on their blog and submit the blog link.<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.5714px;">There are 5 stages to a blogger's application -( source: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18.5714px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/indione-faqs.php">https://www.indiblogger.in/indione-faqs.php</a>)</span></span></div>
<ul class="list-group" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 18.5714px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px;">
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1: Applied – </strong>In this stage, a request for publishing of a press release will be sent out as an email. You can apply to only one campaign at a time. So choose the one that best suits the content of your blog. The application process will be open for 12 hours from the time the project is posted on IndiPR.com.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2: Shortlisted - </strong>AITE will automatically shortlist the best candidates for the project and if selected, you will receive an email with the subject line “Shortlisted - <project name="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">”.</project></span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3: Accept/Decline – </strong>In this stage, you have to accept or decline this project within 24 hours from the time the project is posted on IndiPR.com. If you reject this project, it will be passed on to the next publisher in the queue. Although a project could be passed on down the queue, the timelines will not change as the project has to be completed with 72 hours from the time the project is posted on IndiPR.com.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4: Completed – </strong>Once you have ‘Accepted the project’, it cannot be declined. You will have to submit the article within a total of 72 hours from the time the project is posted on IndiPR.com. Once your status shows “Completed”, you will be able to apply for other projects. Please note that Businesses will rate your IndiPR articles on a scale of 1 – 5 and that these ratings will be by AITE.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5: Paid – </strong>Payment will be made within 14 business days of the project being posted on IndiPR.com.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_xOfthLXH4/Vw6gUxDKdfI/AAAAAAAAMP0/bM7hrc6eMTk6FCbhlB119s7HW54ppS2GACLcB/s1600/facebook-share-aite-greetings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_xOfthLXH4/Vw6gUxDKdfI/AAAAAAAAMP0/bM7hrc6eMTk6FCbhlB119s7HW54ppS2GACLcB/s400/facebook-share-aite-greetings.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fairness and Transparency</h3>
One thing that affiliate marketing and influencer marketing platforms lack is the transparency in the process of shortlisting. When there is manual shortlisting process involved, there are bound to be certain biases or certain errors in judgement. But with AITE in place one can be rest assured that an automated software make no judgement biases, no matter how many cookies you offer him.<br />
And understanding the history of IndiBlogger, they have always maintain a fair stance and have more often than not been transparent about their processes. It is my belief, that they will continue to do so with IndiPR as well.<br />
Brands can also rate a Blogger anonymously, using the following parameters (picked from: <a href="https://www.indipr.com/faqs">https://www.indipr.com/faqs</a>)<br />
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<ul class="list-group" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; list-style: none; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Star – Never Again - You will never see this publisher ever again</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; list-style: none; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Star – Acceptable - This publisher will be given a very low priority for future campaigns created from your account and feedback will be sent to the publisher.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; list-style: none; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Star – Nice - This Publisher will be considered as an average individual and will only be given priority if the slots for your project haven’t been fulfilled.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; list-style: none; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Star – Highly Usable - This Publisher will be considered above average and will be given a higher probability of being accepted when you come up with a similar project.</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 10px 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 Star – VIP - This publisher will be given top priority for your future campaigns with similar projects.</span></li>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Win-win situation </h3>
The real potential of a serious blogger is now slowly being realized as brands tie up with them for paid assignments. However, there are many bloggers who also want to take up paid projects at their leisure and whim. This platform can cater to all since all projects are time intensive. If its a paid project, the blogger would be remunerated withing 14 working days from the publishing date of the press release. And of course, the brand gets their article published on the desired number of blogs, thereby attaining their content marketing goal.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Post the launch, Renie Ravin, the Founder and CEO of IndiBlogger, said, </span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">“We believe that this system will help Influencers with fresh and new content on their site every day. In a way, you could be writing about the next Google without even realising its immense potential.” </i><br />
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So what do you think of this brand new content marketing platform: Promising?<br />
Yay or Nay?<br />
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-68952609983023318682016-04-13T23:50:00.003+05:302016-04-13T23:50:36.221+05:30Book Review: Ramayana The Game of Life - Stolen Hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Book Title:</b> Ramayana The Game of Life - Stolen Hope</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Author:</b> Shubha Vilas</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Pages: </b>312</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Genre:</b> Mythology </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Price:</b> (Paperback): INR 299</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Publisher:</b> Jaico Publishing</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I was elated when I was directly contacted by the author <b>Shubha Vilas</b> to read and review 'Ramayana - The Game of Life - Stolen Hope' early in January this year after reading and reviewing the previous book in the 'The Game of Life' series. Pleased that this book landed in my lap just as soon as I took up the #HTBrunchBookChallenge 2016 for the first time ever. And it helps the criterion of the Brunch Book Challenge of having to read at least 3 books surrounding Indian context.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">But perhaps the main reason for me to read the books - even though it is definitely not my favourite genre of reading - is that I haven't been lucky enough to know the entire story of Ramayana from my grandparents or parents. That somehow motivated me to read this book.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful note from the Author Shubha Vilas</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>About the Author: </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">Shubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with a specialization in patent law. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">He has just launched his first book, Ramayana - The Game of Life Book 1 which is a modern rendition of the Ramayana with practical life lessons. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He addresses their crucial needs through thought- provoking seminars on themes such as ‘Secrets of Lasting Relationships’, ‘Soul Curry to Stop Worry’ and ‘Work–Life Balance’ to name a few.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">He believes that a good teacher, no matter how knowledgeable, always sees the process of learning and teaching simultaneously as an inherent aspect of personal and spiritual growth.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Shubha Vilas periodically interacts with the youth in premier institutes across the country, inspiring them to live a life based on deeper human values. Close to his heart is his role as a guide and teacher to school children, teaching </span></span><span style="line-height: 17px;">foundation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"> values through masterful storytelling.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">He also helps individuals apply the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern- day life situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">Source: LinkedIn.com</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>What I liked about this book:</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">You need not have to read the previous books to understand the overall story of Ramayana. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This book helps you reflect on the teachings of Ramayana and apply it to your day to day life. This book not only narrates the story of Ramayana, but is packed with the interpretation of wisdom from the popular epic.</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What I did not like about this book:</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This book comes across as a mythological book, but is actually is a pleasing read. A lot to takeaway. I felt the length of this book is a mighty constraint for hardcore fiction readers like me who want their readings to be that hooks them, understandably this genre is not one.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Why you should read this book:</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There are literally many nuggets of wisdom packed into this book. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It took me a lot of time to read and review this book as mythology is really not my cup of tea, my I'm glad that I determinedly finished reading it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Disclosure: I have received the author signed copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. </i></span><br />
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-60743960473073233602016-04-13T23:43:00.003+05:302016-04-17T23:57:46.645+05:30Book Review: Life Mantras<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Book Title: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Life Mantras</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Author:'</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Saharasri' Subrata Roy Sahara</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Pages: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">298</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Genre:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"> Memoir</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Price: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Rs. 160 (Flipkart)</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Publisher:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"> Rupa Books</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VCWHT5exL._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VCWHT5exL._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Source: amazon.in</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">About the Author:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Subrata Roy Sahara (born 1948) popularly known as 'Saharasri', is one of the most successful, bold, vociferous and talked-about figures of corporate India. When he laid the foundation of Sahara India Pariwar in 1978 with a capital of `2,000 (about $32) and three workers, who would have imagined his company's meteoric rise to a worth of `1,80,000 crore (about $27 billion) within a span of thirty-seven years! A teacher, guide and a proud guardian to his over 1.2 million fellow workers, he ascribes his success to his philosophy of 'Collective Materialism' which means continuous collective growth for collective sharing and caring. Renowned institutions like Harvard School of Business, USA; the Indian Institutes of Technology; the Indian Institutes of Management; and Banaras Hindu University have invited him to address their faculty and students, besides which, a host of awards have been bestowed on him that include the 'Indian Business Icon of the Year' at the Powerbrands Hall of Fame Awards in London; the Doctor of Business (honoris causa) by the University of East London; and the highest honorary degree, 'D. Litt.' by the Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Bihar for his contributions in various fields.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At first glance of the book, the cover is not very appealing, rather it is just pleasant to look at.<br />Perhaps my only reason for picking this book up for a read, is wanting to know the pysche of the renowned Subrata Roy Sahara and how he built his empire -The Sahara Group - keeping the current soup he's in aside for a while. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, contrary to my expectation, this book is not an autobiography, but certainly unravels some life lessons that we have long forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This book can be said to be a reminder on how to progress with life with certain 'mantras' to make it into a fulfilling one. <span style="line-height: 107%;">It speaks to you about the meaning of life, about happiness and positivity, just what an optimist like me would like to hear. It is certainly something that anyone in general can relate to. You might too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the </span>flip-side<span style="font-family: inherit;">, some bits in the book may get rather preachy. And some bits made me lose interest for a while. </span></div>
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All in all a good book if you are looking to reinforce and pump in some motivation and positive thoughts back into your life pick up Life Mantras.</div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-63337326302714085692016-03-07T01:32:00.003+05:302016-03-07T01:36:55.301+05:30Book Review: Raakshas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Book Title:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Raakshas: </span><span style="color: #111111; line-height: 1.3;">India's No.1 Serial Killer</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Author:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Piyush Jha</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Pages:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> 242</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Genre:</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Thriller</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Price:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Flipkart: INR | Amazon: INR 192</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Publisher: </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Westland Ltd</span></span></div>
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One look at the cover of the book and you'll know what it's all about. But the question I asked was, 'do serial killers really exist in India?' or is it purely a work of Indian fiction writers in a bid to mimic the West? The 'Soon to be a motion picture' had me interested.</div>
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Intrigued, I picked up a copy in lieu of <a href="http://www.writersmelon.com/" target="_blank">Writersmelon</a> book review program. And once it landed in my lap, I could not put it down.</div>
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The author of this book is Piyush Jha,a noted filmmaker in Bollywood, who is not new at writing books. </div>
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The blurb:</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">What made him a serial killer?</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Was he born with homicidal tendencies?</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Did a harrowing childhood render him criminally insane?</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">The questions haunt, Additional Commissioner of Police, Maithili Prasad as she discovers the horrific murders across Mumbai. As she spearheads the greatest manhunt in Mumbai’s history, she’s determined to contain the reign of terror unleashed by the ruthless serial killer. But before that she must grapple with her personal demons that surface to plague her with self-doubt.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Just as it seems that Maithili has begun to understand the deep-rooted resentment that drives the serial killer, he turns around and makes her the object of his revenge. Will she emerge unscathed from this ordeal?</span></span></i></blockquote>
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The first few chapters had me hooked with the entire description bordering on graphic details. Sinister yet gripping, is not for the faint hearted. One begins to question, whether serial killers are born so or is it the environment they are in or conditioning they get make them so? </div>
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Initially, the chapters highlighted the story of the main protagonist interspersed with chapters on the history of Maithili Prasad. I had thought initially that it is the author narrating the story, but in fact the author weaves the story together from the point of view of Maithili. </div>
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Through and through the language used is good, and so is the flow of narration. I felt somehow the pace of the book dips halfway through. But overall, I feel Piyush Jha has done a remarkable job in storytelling and touches the right emotions of the reader.</div>
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At the end of the book, is a special section dedicated to Serial Killers in India - which answered my initial question.</div>
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I recommend this book to those want a real slice of a thriller.</div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-41601626742257301602016-02-21T16:39:00.000+05:302016-02-21T16:50:04.248+05:30My Valentine Walk in the Woods with Shortcut Safaari <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Haven't we heard or read this quote at some point in out life? Robert Frost's quote does remind us of the woods, but we don't keep our promise of visiting it! This valentine's weekend, I was going to keep my promise!<br />
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For the first time ever, as a blogger, I was invited to be a part of a movie promotion event. If you've been thinking, what's the connection with the title 'Valentine Walk in Woods' and a movie promotion, let me enlighten you...This was unlike any other run-in-the-mill film cliched promotion announcement- this was a <i>zara sa hatke</i> and a fun way to promote the film that keeps it's theme with nature and relates to children.<br />
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So on 13th February 2016, I traveled to <b>Bombay Natural History Society</b> (BNHS) the Conservation Education Centre (CEC), located near Film City in Goregaon East, Mumbai for a <b>Blogger Safaari</b> with the team of <b>Shortcut Safaari</b>.<br />
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I was to meet my fellow bloggers Sujata Tawde, Geeta Sridhar, Amreen Sheikh, UK, Priya, Manujsha Pandey and a few others, invited by Riddhi Sharma. Reaching at 10.30 a.m. a wee bit late thanks to my autorickshaw driver, who had decided to go for his own trail by taking a detour from the venue.<br />
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From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm we had set out for a nature walk in the woods, at <b>BNHS - Mumbai's best kept secret</b>. Joining us bloggers on this walk was the Director of Shortcut Safaari movie himself, <b>Amitabha Singh</b>, who had earlier warmly welcomed each Blogger to the venue. And our VIPs of the day were the school children from Nehru Nagar Public School, Kanjurmarg. With instructions registered, pee breaks done and water bottles filled, we formed two groups and dispersed with two BNHS experts, one for each group. As soon as I stepped out side the BNHS observatory and classroom, I was taken back to my school days, a good 15 years ago. <i>(Stop guessing my age!) </i><br />
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</i> It took me back to the time our school had taken us to BNHS, perhaps for an Environmental Studies assignment. And I'm sure, at that age I was not really paying a lot of attention to information given out about the trees and the critters there. But this time, it was different.<br />
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I was refreshed to know so many interesting facts on the bio diversity that is packed inside the green cover of Mumbai. Like did you know, Mumbai is home to the world's largest moth, the Atlas Moth? Or did you know about the agility of the Grey Hornbill or the beauty of the striped Tiger Butterfly? <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They all live in a biodiversity park within Mumbai's limits almost undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of urban activity.</span></span><br />
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Egged on by the inquisitiveness and enthusiasm of the children, 15 years later, I paid attention to each word by the BNHS expert. What surprised me to no end was the sheer unadulterated enthusiasm of the school kids in asking and answering questions to the BNHS Experts. And what did not surprise me was the eagerness of the children to pose for snaps! <i>(Yours truly clearly remembers being camera shy, and still is) </i><br />
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And to cater to such enthusiastic kids with bright and alert minds, a movie on nature is the need of the hour. That's what the movie Shortcut Safaari aims to do. At the end of the trail, we were treated to the music clip of a song from the movie but coded language! Can you guess what they are talking?<br />
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About 'Shortcut Safaari'</h3>
Shortcut Safaari is an independent film written and directed by <b>Amitabha Singh</b>. Other than being a fun-filled journey, it highlights certain touch points that affect us on a day to day level. In the broader stream of events and themes, the film also focuses on nature sensitizing. To a great response, the Film was premiered during the National Children's Film Festival at the Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi in November 2014, organized by the Children's Film Society of India (CFSI). <br />
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Furthermore, it received huge resonating appreciation from the audiences at Nandan, Kolkata during the Kolkata Children's International Film Festival in December 2014 organized under the aegis of Shishu Kishore Academy, Government of West Bengal.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Shortcut Safaari has made its presence felt over various National and International children’s film festivals across the country and now the film has embarked upon a new journey to connect as many children as possible to nature through various innovative activities and screenings. With Shortcut Safaari, Amitabha consolidates his position in the children’s film category. He has earlier helmed the camera for Chillar Party, Khosla Ka Ghosla and India’s Oscar entry in 2014- Good Road.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">I'm glad I got a chance to be a part of this Nature Trail cum Bloggers Safaari. I am sure such an initiative fulfilled its aim to </span>view and to reconnect children with their roots and showcasing the natural world amidst the humdrum and chaos of daily city life.</div>
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Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133151300070733845.post-85856787029056763312016-01-29T17:11:00.002+05:302016-02-27T10:30:45.857+05:30Say Cheese!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If I were to pen a love story, it would probably be a funny one.<br />
The reason being, I am induced to a fit of giggles whenever I am asked to do something remotely romantic. I could probably give a better sarcastic comment instead. You could say, I am The Chandler Bing of romance!<br />
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My dear husband on the other hand is a shy romantic. Yes, he's the more romantic one. Truly the better half in the world of romance. And I'm the funny one. But only when it comes to gifting, we both rock the romance boat. *giggles*<br />
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If you ask me to choose the funniest moment, it has to be from my wedding day. <i>No, don't get me wrong.</i><br />
The funniest moment so far follows a heavy moment of tension and anxiety. <i>And NO it's not about the wedding night.</i><br />
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Let me share the tale:<br />
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A couple of years ago, the whole 'spontaneous-in-the-moment photography' - that is now as common as the gulab jamun in weddings - was just very new and very experiential. And to just experience the whole new fad, I had asked my family photographer to capture those emotions by showing him some similar photos. This was after our engagement ceremony. Typical to arranged marriages, we had the wedding post the couple of months of 'dating'.<br />
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One day prior to the wedding, all hell broke loose at both our houses when the news flashed:<br />
'<b>Mumbai Sena's Top Chief has passed away. Cremation to be held the next day</b>'<br />
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The penny dropped. The next day was our wedding day. I gulped.<br />
Having a wedding celebration on the very day thousands of mourners from far flung corners of Maharashtra will be bidding the final adieu to the revered and feared political chief - was a tricky tricky situation. His followers could anytime gatecrash and <b>put a full stop to our new beginning</b>. And moreover, the wedding hall was only 10-15 odd kilometers away from the crematorium.<br />
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Needless to say, we did a cross check of the wedding hall, the panditji and but of course husband's family and husband himself.<br />
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And in that tense moment, in one of the phone calls I had made to my then husband-to-be, tensed and worried said the sweetest romantic dialogue I will never forget:<br />
"Come what may, we will get married tomorrow!"<br />
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The entire night I could not sleep a wink thanks to the lethal concoction of anxiety of what ill will befall tomorrow's scheme of things and anger at why has it to happen in my case?<br />
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THE D-DAY</h3>
The day finally dawned, and as expected the never sleeping Mumbai was deserted. At 6.30 am there were no cars, buses or two-wheelers on the roads. Not a soul in sight. It was like an unofficial <i>bandh</i>. All but our families were in the comfort of their homes, just hoping to get to the marriage hall as soon as possible. Luckily for us, our cars plied us safely to the hall. And upon arrival, I was glad to see hubby smiling his usual cool smile.<br />
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<b>His smile had turned my frown upside down.</b><br />
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Morning passed with all the ceremonies (minus a lot of relatives) and we officially tied the knot by noon. Luckily there was no unwanted interference.<br />
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As expected, the well wishers and relatives' turn out was less than 25% of the number expected. And my Dad was already trying to control the damage with the caterers by limiting the quantity of food for the evening reception.<br />
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Now for the fun part:<br />
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One thing about weddings I realized after my own, is the amount of smiling one has to do. So here we were two souls, genuinely happy to be married to each other, but were not happy of the hushed happenings. The sleeplessness, the bubbling tension along with the fatigue of the long drawn wedding rituals was now showing on our faces.<br />
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And so came my brother to the rescue. With two Red Bulls.<br />
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Handing us a 'refreshing drink' right before our reception meet-and-greet programme, my sneaky brother had given us a disguised Red Bull each to drink. It was like a shot in the arm for us, quite literally, but a high intensity one. Never having tasted it in my life before, the results were stupendous for all there present to see. (I thanked there were few outside the family to witness my theatrics).<br />
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Our smiles were now broader, laughs louder, handshakes firmer, and we became more chattier. Our appetites had grown as we were oblivious to the people watching us loading our plate with all the food and eat voraciously.<br />
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And thanks to my wedding photographer, he had captured these finely embarrassing moments very nicely. We relive that funny moment in our life again and again when my daughter wants to watch the wedding video. If I may say so, it could well qualify for America's Funniest Wedding Video.<br />
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My wedding was one that all others who didn't make it to will remember of missing it. As for us, it will be highlighted by this funny moment.<br />
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Caratlane did this cute video with couples and found that funny moments are what binds a relationship. I agree, and laughing off worries together, makes a relationship stronger.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ya3Z1AC1CHA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">“This post is a part of <a href="http://caratlane.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#LoveAndLaughter</a> activity at <strong><a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BlogAdda</a></strong> in association with <strong><a href="https://www.caratlane.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Caratlane</a></strong>.”</em></div>
Gaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502915691020891469noreply@blogger.com13