Saturday, August 16, 2025

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara: Memories of Unity in Diversity


This Independence Day, stand-up comedian Shraddha Jain (Aiyyo Shraddha) revisited the iconic national integration song of the 80s that many of us grew up listening to – Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. Her message was simple yet powerful: our greatest strength as Indians lies in our ability to understand each other, even if we don’t speak the same language. That sentiment instantly brought back a flood of memories for me, reminding me how fortunate I am to have been born into a family of freedom fighters, writers, and poets — a legacy that rooted me deeply in India’s cultural richness and spirit of unity.

Being originally from Uttar Pradesh, yet born and raised in Gujarat, I was exposed to the rich diversity of India in its truest form. I never identified as just a “UPite” or a “Gujarati” — I have always felt deeply, unapologetically Hindustani. Growing up in the “Sanskari Nagri” Baroda, in a cosmopolitan community shaped by my father’s workplace at ONGC, I absorbed languages, religions, and cultures with ease. Studying in a Muslim school with a Hindu majority, beginning our mornings with Surah Fatiha followed by the Sanskrit prayer Adharam Madhuram, I saw how beautifully faiths intertwined. Every child knew both prayers by heart — without hesitation, without reluctance, only with acceptance and respect.

Doordarshan, our only window to the world, played a profound role in shaping our sense of national pride and unity. Songs like Mile Sur Mera TumharaEk Anek, and countless others planted seeds of love for our diverse yet deeply connected culture. Despite Urdu being my mother tongue and Gujarati my regional language, it was Hindi that I grew to love the most — thanks to my father, who led the Hindi Rajbhasha movement from the frontlines of his training division at ONGC. All through my growing years, I was immersed in kavi sammelans, mushairas and nashists, where poetry opened doors to the richness of languages and fearless expressions of thought. Among my father’s many poems, Main Ek Vyakti Hindustani is closest to my heart, for it captures the very essence of why I feel enriched and empowered to be an Indian.

Language was never a barrier — it was my gateway. I wrote my first Hindi poem, Naari, at 14 and won an award for it. I scored highest in Gujarati, much to my teachers’ delight, who would tease my classmates saying, “Imagine, she scores more than you in your own mother tongue!” I devoured Satyajit Ray’s Bengali films on Doordarshan, understanding and enjoying every word, as though the language had always lived within me. Marathi heritage surrounded me in Baroda — through the grand palaces of the Gaekwads, Laxmi Vilas PalaceKala Bhavan, and the city’s music and art colleges, the Sur Sagar and numerous baghs across the city. At home in ONGC colony, my neighbors were Bengali, Telugu, Assamese. Our apartment was called Vasudha — rooted in culture, unlike today’s modern, imported names like Irish Platinum, Cleo County, etc. that distance us from our own heritage.

At just 11, I felt empowered as a young Muslim girl, taking charge of my building’s Independence Day cultural program. I brought together children from across the community, scripted the show, choreographed dances, taught songs, and even compered the event. Through our little performance, we showcased the diversity of India — and the program was received with immense appreciation.

At the age 15 and 16, I twice had the rare honor of representing Gujarat at the National Integration Camps in Delhi organized by Nehru Bal Sangh— gatherings that united hundreds of children from across the country in a celebration of India’s diversity. The experience was nothing short of transformative. Sharing a tent with nine others from different states, I tasted their food, sang their songs, learned their dances. Each morning we woke up to patriotic songs in different languages, followed by the parade. We visited historic landmarks, met war veterans and ministers, and prepared for a grand cultural showcase — we learnt and performed Nagaland’s bamboo dance and Maharashtra’s koli dance, and of course, presented Gujarat’s colorful dandiya. Performing in the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan before President Shankar Dayal Sharma remains etched in my memory as one of the most cherished experiences of my life. That camp shaped us beyond our years; we walked away not merely as teenagers, but as proud Indians, enriched with friendships and lessons woven from the diversity of our land.

And yet, today, I find myself asking: what happened to that India? How did we lose the tolerance and warmth that once defined us? When did region, religion, and language become barriers instead of bridges? It pains me to see the beautiful fabric of our composite culture fraying at its seams.

But perhaps, on this Independence Day, songs like Mile Sur Mera Tumhara can remind us of what we once believed in — and what we still have the power to rebuild.

 

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Who bring up children better – working mothers or stay at home moms?


The mother in a woman whether she is working or stay at home is just the same. A mother’s love is selfless, she would go any length to protect and nurture her child. It’s the way Almighty fashioned her. Once she becomes a mother, the woman changes forever! Motherhood brings perspective she didn’t have earlier. The focus shifts, priorities change and she begins to realise her limitless zeal and capacity when it comes to her child. She will bend and stretch to any length to make her child comfortable and looked after. Even if it comes at the cost of her own sanity. She can’t help it. The motherhood juices flowing in her veins by now make her incapable of thinking about herself before her kids. 

All said and done. It still takes a village to raise a child and it is not the sole responsibility of a mother to single handedly take up this humongous task. But many women do it any way, with help or without it. A few women are lucky enough to have that support system, and I use the word “few” because there really is a dearth of such support. If the immediate family and helpers are there to ease her task then she can manage work as well as home in a very efficient manner without having to compromise on her career. But when this support system is missing, she has to take tough decisions of choosing children over her career. Even if she is a stay at home mom, she still needs that support system to help her raise the kids. So working or not – a mother’s task is never easy. 

Now, the question comes that do all women who stay at home focus on their children’s upbringing? Is the stay at home mom better than the working mom? The answer is no. Staying at home doesn’t guarantee good upbringing skills. It depends on how educated the mother is, how she has been brought up, how sound is her mental and physical health, how good she’s being looked after! If she is a happy and content person, she will create a conducive environment for upbringing her children. A troubled mother, whether the reason for her troubles is work place pressure or family and home problems, is never going to be able to impart good upbringing. 


A stay at home mother does have the advantage of being there for her child 24x7, which is impossible for even the most efficient working moms. This is a very crucial factor in the learning years of a child, especially when the child starts interacting and expressing itself. The child’s need for a mother is never ending and her presence makes the child feel secured and this helps in building the confidence and all the skills that the child learns as it grows. No one in the world can compare/compete to a mother’s patience with a child. Be it a father or a grandparent or a nanny, no one is going to encourage the child and be as patient with it as a mother can. Although the child will grow up just fine under the wings of these people but the ‘extra edge’ or compassion can only come through a mother. 


With the growing technology and ease of communication, it is also possible to be present 24x7 remotely from your workplace or there can be work from home options. It all depends on the priority the mother sets. If her work is so crucial that it cannot take a back seat for a few years, then she can create a support system to bring up her kid. Else if there is an option to be a full time mom, it is always in the best interest of the child, but if the mom is doing it half-heartedly then there is no point being a fulltime mom. All a child needs is a happy and content mother because the child is a reflection of her and if she’s an unhappy person the child will be no good either.

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Mann chahta hai

mann dur kahin jaane ko
betaab hamesha rehta hai
koi sagar ho kuch ret ho 
koi hara bhara sa khet ho
pag dandi ho koi lehrati
phoolon ki bagiya madhmaati
koi shaam suhani dhalti si
koi subha rang badalti si
in rangon mein sab ghul jayein
mann k sare dukh mit jayein
hum so jayein sab bhool jahan
Koi na pukare hamein wahan 





Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Dreamy thoughts!

 On a lovely night by the beach, I would love to lie down on a chair listening to the waves splashing gently on the shore, feeling the breeze on my face, looking up at clear starry sky, soaking in the serene moment. All by myself, yet not alone, filled with gratitude for the bliss.


Not bothered by phone calls, messages, banal chit-chat. Away from the chaos.


Or on a rainy afternoon, off to a long drive, listening to soothing music, feeling the rain drops on my hand sticking out of the car window, soft wet breeze touching my face. Stopping by at a road side stall for a steaming cup of tea and yummy hot pakoras or maggie!


Or on a beautiful morning, beholding the splendid sun rise over a mountain, immersed in the scent of gorgeous flowers and lush meadows. Smell of freshly baked croissants, steaming hot cup of tea, sumptuous breakfast table laid to please the eyes as well as the tastebuds.  synchronous melody of a stream flowing at a distance and Birds chirping on the trees swaying nearby. 


So tranquilizing, so calm, so therapeutic!

Monday, August 31, 2020

ANGREZI MEIN KEHTE HAIN! HERE'S HOW TO TEACH ENGLISH TO YOUR CHILD AT HOME.

Many parents these days are distressed by their kid’s poor English speaking skills. English being the global language has become an essential skill to have. Many moms are hoping to find a magic wand that will hone their kid’s skill overnight. But there are no shortcuts. It requires consistent efforts and heaps of patience. The good news is that it is not impossible to master this language; in fact, it is easier to learn English than many other Indian or international languages.

Starting early will help the kid to master the language better but there is no reason to fret if the kid isn’t catching up. Every child is unique and has his/her own pace of learning and grasping. If the mom is fluent in English, it serves as an advantage as the kid learns the most from the mother. It does help if moms equip themselves better to help the child learn faster. Moreover, a favorable environment at home plays a vital role. So, here’s a guide to help the parents struggling with this issue.

·         Introduce English to your child

Begin by introducing English words to your child. As we all know, there are small hardboard books available in market which have pictures and names of birds, animals, body parts, colors, shapes etc. Buy them and let your child look at them on a daily basis. Read these out to your child and let them repeat after you. When they hear one word at a time it helps them connect it to the picture.


You need not start conversing fully in English language from day one. First let the child get acquainted to English words used in daily conversations. For example: Come, go, drink, sit, eat, stand, chew, sip, turn around, run, jump, here, there, like, want, do, etc. Mix these words with the language you speak at home. Also, try to put up some charts or printouts around the house listing the basic English words, simple conversations and courtesies.   

·         Translate:

Talk to your kid in Hindi or whichever language you speak at home but repeat the conversation in English.

For example some regularly used sentences:

 idhar aao – come here,

ye kha lo – eat this,

darwaza band kar do - close the door

ye pasand aya – you like it?

Ye chahiye – you want it?

·         Talk in Hinglish (Mix Hindi-English):

While talking in Hindi, replace the names of simple commodities/things in English, like body parts, fruits, vegetables, animals, furniture, etc.

For example:

Pani – water, Khana – food, dudh-milk, kapde – clothes, bal – hair, haath – hand, pair -leg

Mix these words in daily conversations like:

water drink kar lo

clothes pehen lo

hand idhar karo

jump karo

mamma cook kar rahi hain

papa rest kar rahe hain

is doll se play karo


·         Start with very basic and small sentences.

Eg: I do, I want, I like, give me, take it, open it, close it, etc.

Remember when they are able to say two/three word sentences like the ones mentioned above, it boosts their confidence and makes them more prepared to soak in more information. So, take tiny rewarding steps at a time. Build it up slowly.

 

·         Teach them basic conversation, question-answers and courtesies.

Thank you. You are welcome

I am sorry. My bad.

Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night

I like this. I want this.

What is your name? My name is ------

How are you? I am fine, thank you

How old are you? I am three.

Where do you live? I live here.

Can I take it? Yes, you can

May I have water, biscuits, chocolate, etc.? Yes, you may.


Please refer to the charts provided at the end of this article. You may put them on the walls of the kids’ room or the fridge or any place where they can observe them easily several times a day.

 

·         Role play: 

      Do role play exercises with your kid at home. Play doctor, teacher, shopkeeper, etc. and make a set of simple dialogues. Show the child how to talk while playing the character of a doctor or patient and then ask them to enact. This makes it easier for the kid to learn by applying. It also develops their interest in English along with the game.

Example: 

Let’s play doctor-doctor!

So the conversation will be like :

What is your name? My name is ----

What happened to you? My tummy hurts! 

I will do your checkup. But I am afraid.

It will be fine, don’t worry. OK

I will give you medicine. OK 

Let’s play Shopkeeper:

 I want to buy a packet of biscuit.

Sure, Here you go. Please pay 10 Rs.

These are just examples. You know what will be better for your kid as per his/her interest. Some may like to play avengers; some may like to play Elsa or Ana from Frozen. Improvise; find out ways to engage your child in a conversation in English in a fun way! You may even record videos of them enacting these characters, it will boost their confidence.

·         Audio-Visuals

Audio Visuals strongly influence the learning and development of children. Let the child watch educative programs in English language on TV or YouTube under your supervision. If you cannot sit with them then let them watch it while you go about your chores and then ask them questions regarding what they saw and what were the names of the characters, what were these characters doing etc. Beware not to let the kids switch channels or select programs/videos to watch on their own, as there are many predators waiting out there to expose your child with filth. So please let there be strict supervision when they are accessing videos online. You may want to apply child lock and YouTube kids etc. to be safer.

Here are a few recommended programs which will help your kid to learn English:

For younger kids up to 5 years of age

– Coco melon, little baby bum, story bots, ChuChu TV, Dora and Diego, Mickey Mouse clubhouse, Doc Mcstuffins, etc.

For kids up to 6-10 years

– Princess Sophia, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Handy Many, Seven and Me, Richie Rich, The inbestigators, Odd Squad, etc.

·         Bedtime Reading Habit

Make sure you develop your child’s interest in bedtime reading. Make it a ritual starting at the age of two. Buy some nice colorful story books which are age appropriate and let your kid develop a relationship with books and reading.

 For beginners, you may buy big illustrative books to make it easier to read and understand. They introduce the concept of print and help the kids understand that the book is read from left to right and from top to bottom, how to open the book, which is the front side, which one is back.  


Some kids get hooked right away whereas some don’t find books interesting enough. Try to find out what topic interests them more, they need not be typical story books. If your child is more interested in cars, space, comics, etc. then buy those kinds of books. These days there are activity based or interactive reading books as well. 








Take them shopping with you, let them choose their own favorites. Go to interesting bookstores like Crossword, OM bookshop, etc. Buy what suits your child’s temperament. 


Keep trying and have the reading session religiously every night. Make it a habit and eventually they will start liking it.

·         Appreciate, applaud and support

Remember, each child has his/her own pace of learning. So, be patient in your child’s journey and keep the appreciation and applause coming consistently. Your support and belief in your kids will work wonders in them.


Images source: Pinterest









Monday, January 1, 2018

A Poem after a long time!!

Salam,

Here I am on the first day of a brand new year with a few insights on our life and purpose....our relationship with the Almighty and the key to meaningful living - Zikr (remembering Allah), Shukr (gratitude) and Sabr (patience)!

Jo nahi mila hai uska gila, Jo hua ata vo bhula dia
Na milna bhi hikmat Rabb ki hai, sab bhed usko hai pata
Hai patay ki baat suno zara, Kabhi gaur ispe kia karo

Rahi fitrat teri ae banda e khuda, Kiye gham mein to sajde sada
Jab rahaton ki chali hawa, Tunay Rabb ko khud se juda kia
Khushiyon bhare lamhaat mein, Kabhi yaad Rabb ko kia karo

Jab se hai hosh ye tab se hain, Kitni shikayatein sab se hain
Ruthay huay qismat se hain, Beparwah har ne'mat se hain
Ehsan Rabb ne jo hain kiye, Kabhi shukr unka kia karo

Jab jab kisi ko hai kuch dia, Rahi arzoo k milay sila
Lekin khuda ne jo ki ata, uska sila kya tu de saka?
Vo tera imtihan hai le raha, Kabhi sabr bhi to kia karo

Mili saparasti jinse tujhe, Mamta mili...mili rahatein
Jinki qadr na kar saka zehan, Maa baap bhai aur behan
In begaraz se rishton ka, Kabhi haq ada bhi kia karo

Some word meanings:
hikmat - wisdom
bhed - secret
gaur - ponder
lamhaat - moments
ne'mat - blessing
qadr - value, appreciate
begaraz - selfless

PS: Writing after a long long time, so please excuse the lack of rhythm and rhyme! :-)