Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Chewing Gum for...........Happiness !!



I am sure everyone noted how the U.S President, Barack Obama, kept on chewing gum while enjoying India's Republic Day parade  this 26th January.


well, here's something for you all to chew on...........!!


Happy chewing......!!//mg


Chewing Gum for............ Happiness !!



Surely nobody failed to notice U.S president, Barack Obama, continuously chewing gum during India’s 66th Republic Day parade event on Jan. 26, 2015.


            One just wonders why? Why, pray tell me, did Obama chew so much gum (or was it ‘Gham’ ??) when there was such a pleasant and heavy shower of ‘khushi’  all around due to his gracious presence on our R-Day !


            Generally speaking, reasons for people chewing gum can be many. From tension to depression to nervousness, thirst, hunger, or simply boredom, one may indulge in this activity due to any of these. Some may even do it just out of habit or for fun. Then there are those who do this to curb themselves from eating a lot. This could be especially true of those wanting to reduce weight. These could just be probable causes, though the effects could be as varied. Most people would vouch for the fact that chewing gum for long will definitely result in some ill-effects, some problem or the other. This activity may result in serious health problems like tooth decay or stomach ulcers.


But, surprisingly, this habit may not be all that bad. There is always a second side of the same coin and it is heartening to note that there could also be a positive side effect of this habit. Researchers, on the basis of their scientific findings, suggest that there perhaps are some benefits of this too.  Ranging from improving memory, concentration & focus to reducing sleepiness & laziness, the positives could be as many. It could also be a strategy to not get bored by keeping oneself occupied with the chewing. Just give oneself the feeling of doing something, even while not doing anything at all. This could be with people who are always extremely busy and cannot sit idle for a long time. And our honourable guest, Mr Obama, definitely fits into this category. Of course he may also have been utilizing this time during the parade viewing to work upon improving his memory & concentration to still higher levels.


And if it was any gham that he was chewing along with the gum, on second thoughts, one really wonders why not!! Why shouldn’t he chew it?


            The reason being simple. If you chew all your ‘gham’, and keep doing it for a while, ideally, the ‘gham’ like the gum, will be left tasteless and ineffective and immaterial after some time. Which means that it will no more impact or affect you or your life. The result being, you will automatically end up with more ‘khushi’ (happiness) than ‘gham’ (sorrow). Wow ! Chewing 'Gham' for 'Khushi' !


            Now, had Obama not chewed gum throughout our R-Day function this year, this enlightenment of chewing ‘gham’ for 'khushi' would never have dawned on me. So, happy chewing ‘gham’ (and maybe some gum too after knowing the benefits!) to all of you for experiencing a heavy shower of happiness in your lives !!


 Manisha Gupta


 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

New book from LOGIHQ

Soon you can read how and why pain can also be a gift. LOGIHQ will be coming out with a poetry book in Hindi, titled  " Dard Ek Tohfa" . The poet whose collection of poems this book features is a Doctor- Dr Govind Namdeo. This promising poet's book sure will be a good read.

Happy waiting.............!!
//best//mg     

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Writing Workshops .....

I have just been part of two very great workshops for mentoring writers.


The regional one, for the northern region, the CBSE-Katha-Regional Writers workshop-2014, took place in Nov. and the CBSE-Katha International Writers workshop-2014 took place from Dec-26-28, at the Sanskriti School, New Delhi.


I was a mentor at both these workshops and it was great mentoring school students to become better writers.


At the Regional workshop, I taught them  to write HAIKU , Japanese poetry. "Weaving Culture in Haiku" was my session.


At the International writers workshop at "Katha-Utsav-2014, I mentored students to write "Slice of Life" stories. It was very satisfying to bring out the budding writers's creativity and see it soar to great heights.


Some photos from the 2 events.





Monday, December 22, 2014

Baby LOGIHQ is THREE Today....!!!!!!!

LOGIHQ, my little dream that was born three years ago, is beginning to take shape, growing slowly and learning to walk.
With this dream of mine, are linked the dreams of many budding/aspiring/new writers, who wish to bring out their writings into this world, as books. In LOGIHQ's 3 year old journey, I have seen a number of writers fulfilling their dreams of publishing their book, their first ever book.
And, in helping them achieve this "Intellectual Happiness", I feel elated.
May LOGIHQ continue tirelessly in its endeavour of helping people attain this higher form of happiness - "Intellectual Happiness" .
//best//mg
www.logihq.com
www.logihq.blogspot.com
  

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

New book from LOGIHQ......

A young and talented engineer from Mumbai, Shalabh Bhatnagar, has come out with his Hindi poetry collection  "Zindagi Chand Alfaazon Ki...".
This book is nothing but the pages from his diary, unfolded. This is Shalabh's first ever book.
In his own words 
"एक किताब ही है जो मेरा ग़म समझती है।
मैं जो इसे कहता हूँ अपने तक ही रखती है…."

He unfolds his innermost thoughts for all to read.
The details of the book can be found at the LOGIHQ Blog  www.logihq.blogspot.com
The book can be ordered by writing to LOGIHQ  at  logihq@rediffmail.com   or  info.logihq@gmail.com
The preview of the book can be read at  www.logihq.com
//best//mg


 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

"Holy" Turning Point........

Last Saturday, the 22nd of Nov. 2014, will be etched in my memory for years to come.    
                     
Had been invited by ASPEN India to attend the talk "Cultivating Key Human Values" at the Imperial Hotel. The talk was by none other than His Holiness, The Dalai Lama !!

This in itself was a great experience, having the good fortune of witnessing & listening to the  great thought leader in person. And before I realized it, the 2 hours of his lecture just flew past and it was time for him to leave.

I moved closer to the stage in the hope of meeting him, but he came a little to this side of the stage and then turned and started walking away to the other end. I felt really bad about coming this near and not being able to meet him and as this depressing feeling was going on in my heart & mind and getting worse with every step of his moving in the opposite direction, my heart really sank.

and..... then........ suddenly... he took a U-turn  on the stage and started moving in my direction, with his hand extended and his charming smile reaching his eyes. I really didn't know what was happening. I just stood there, amazed, with both my hands tightening on my purse and not knowing what was going on. By now he had come straight to me and while I was still in a trance, he was bending from the stage, with his hand extended directly towards me. I don't know when I put my right hand in his hand and shook hands with him, my happiness knowing no bounds. It was as if he had heard what I was thinking & feeling and had automatically reacted.


Till even moments after this Great & Holy experience, I could not believe that he had actually come back just to shake hands with me. And now I firmy believe that if you really & truly want something, God makes sure you get it. or in SRK's words " agar tum shiddat se kuchch bhi chaaho, to poori kayenaat use tumse milaane me lag jaatee hai".


I can never forget this experience........!!


//best//mg    

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

"Sounds of Silence...."

Soon, the book "Sounds of Silence...." will be released by LOGIHQ.
It is a collection of poetry in English.


//best//mg