A Mother, A Hero

Smita Nalawade

45, of Mumbai,

Died on Friday, the 28^th of February.

 She was the daughter of Sugandha Govindrao Karadkar and the late Govindrao Karadkar. The sister of Shailesh Karadkar, she was born on the 16^th of November, 1969.  She schooled at the Chembur High School and attained a degree in B.Com from Somaiya College.

 She got married to Shivaji Nalawade on 2^nd June, 1991 and they lived together at D/157, Nalawade house, Akkkalkot Swami math, near Jain temple, R C Marg, Chembur . She raised two beautiful children, Siddha Nalawade, 22 and Shantanu Nalawade,18 and denoted her life to fulfil their aspirations. She made the house a home for her family and brought a smile to everyone’s face.

Her heart was a precious gem, kind and caring. She loved meeting new people and talking to them. She was passionate about cooking, travelling and reading. She served as a housewife and started a small home business of Ayurvedic essentials. 

She was diagnosed with breast cancer and was living in the last stage. She lived through all her difficulties with great strength. She never let her hopes and will power down.  Her family supported her immensely and made her journey in this planet memorable. She fought like a hero.

Smita Nalawade continues to see the world by a humble deed of eye donation. We pray for her inspiring soul to rest in peace

Global Internships for Youth

     The world seems unimaginably big. Opportunities no longer knock the door because they are trying to stay ahead of the time too. Fashion fevers and periodical fads do not seem to appeal to the youth as much as an edge over each other in this competition. Even before settling to jobs, students across the globe are willing to take up internship programs to hone their pre-employment proficiency. But what we need to question is this- Can an in-plant training in a company in the vicinity give you all that it takes to polish your managerial and technical skills?

     Global internships solve the crisis. The idea is simple. Establishing a worldwide network would mean shrinking this global boundary that was referred to in the beginning. This would also mean creating a channel for opportunities that will enrich career and at the same time, provide life-long connections. Also, when we take a close a look at every problem that we are facing as world citizens, we will arrive nearer to the need for ‘leadership’.

      A lot of organizations are uniquely known for their international internship programmes – one for recent graduates and the other for undergraduate students. These Global Community Development Programmes are designed exclusively for students pursuing their undergraduate. Six weeks of community development projects to work on in a new country is sure to pull a young person out of his or her comfort zone and get him or her exploring his horizons.

      Learning to work with a team of internationals, exchanging culture and learning are all part of this game. The Global Internship Programmes, for the students that are qualified degree holders in a particular field of study, provide a platform for wider business perspectives, addressing real business challenges and learning in a cross-cultural environment for a minimum of six months.

     It is said that only when one is forced out of his or her zone of complacency and comfort, the learning happens. The comfort zone is a behavioral place of familiarities and patterns that fit the daily routine. Psychologists have discovered that higher performance is defined by the state of relative and optimal anxiety.

    Comfort kills productivity as well as the drive to seek newer 
knowledge. But when given the option of a new environment, the basic 
tendency to solve problems, brainstorm and harness creativity seem 
inevitable. 

Reliving the Past

       As he greeted me with a warm smile, I couldn't help but marvel at his perfectly tucked-in shirt, his neatly combed hair and his overall professional demeanour. Even though he knew that an amateur college student was interviewing him. "I always carry an extra shirt when I go for interviews. They [interviews] make me so nervous," he joked. L.G Chandrasekhar's transformation from a notorious, flippant teenager to a hardworking and successful businessman is highly inspirational. 

      The interview began with a nice hot cup of tea and a few anecdotes from his childhood. 

"So what was your most memorable childhood experience?" With a wide grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, he reminisced about his cricket playing days. "I played very well. I used the bat to hit my team-mates and swat all the unnecessary disturbances that came in the form of flies and bugs. My cricket playing skills were debatable," he said, his words dripping with sarcasm. 

       Wanting to unveil his mischievous teenage days, I asked him about his college. 

"I hardly ever attended college and when I did, I was always the back-bencher. I somehow managed to pass my exams, with no effort and no hard work. I am clearly not setting a very good example," he laughed, "But try not to bunk college, unless it's for food or for watching a movie or going out to meet your long-lost friend." 

         After a few more laughs and cups of tea, I asked him about his jump into maturity.

"What was your passion? Did you pursue it or did you do what everyone else was doing –engineering, medicine, etc.

"I loved arguing and winning arguments. I got deep satisfaction when I looked at my imaginary opponent's face, his droopy eyes and bowed head, bursting with thoughts about how he should've given up when he had the chance. I wanted to become a lawyer, using fascinating legal terms like 'Habeas Corpus' and 'Probation'." 

He ended up doing his B-COM and worked as a company secretary in J.L.Morison.

      "What was your first job like?" 

"Very clerical and boring. It was clearly not my cup of tea," he said, taking a sip from his cup. He finally decided to quit his job. Sensing an opportunity to start his own business, he set up a medical equipment manufacturing company called Sutures India.

     "What inspired you to start your own business?"

"I felt that my employer paid me 10% of my worth. I felt that it was the right time to take the risk and embark on this great adventure."

     "Did you face any struggles when you started your business?"

"Finance. Bank loan was difficult to come by due to the stock exchange scam. The company incurred several losses and quality acceptance by customers took a long time. But I took it as a challenge and made sure to improve the quality of products and indulge in better marketing ventures."

      As Steve Maraboli rightfully said, “Happiness is not the absence of problems; it's the ability to deal with them.”  Mr. Chandrasekhar's optimism and hardworking personality not only brought him success but also provided him with the much needed resources to set up a school for the under-privileged. 

       "How did you come up with the idea to start a school?"

"I believe that nobody should be deprived of education. Quality education brings about a sea of change in the fortune of an individual."

      I asked him about the activities that take place in his school,

 ‘Vidyadhan.’

     "Do you encourage extra-curricular activities in your school?"

"Yes. Arts, sports, dance, music and many others. School life without extra-curricular activities is no fun at all."

     "Do you have events like Annual Days for the children?"

"We have Sports Day in January and a Cultural Program, where the children put up a fabulous show for their parents," he said, his eyes gleaming with delight.

     His evident success in all his endeavours, prompted me to ask him about his definition of success.

"Success for me is satisfaction in any endeavour. Everything has its 'ups' and 'downs'. You have to be ready to face the ‘downs’ to embrace the 'ups'. You have to be prepared for the worst, in order to get the best."

    My meeting with Mr. Chandrasekhar in all, was an extremely eventful with cherished memories, refreshing stories and good tea.

  

A Palate for the tastebuds:)

                I recently visited this place known as Nom Nom in Bandra West on a Saturday night for a close friend’s farewell dinner. Since it was a Saturday and this place was known to be popular for it’s Asian cuisine it was bound to be crowded with a number of  visitors. Being less in number we managed to get a table right in the heart of the restaurant. I could throw a glance at the entire place and its clients. The ambience was pretty relaxing with dim lights, good music, plants kept in perfect places near some tables.  The seating arrangements were cozy with perfect spaces to walk through. The entire atmosphere changed from chaotic outside to a gentle, pleasant inside.

       The Menu was filled with interesting, innovative dishes for which I believed that one would probably have to generate a taste. So we planned to try out a new soup and a frequent appetizer to be on a safer side. We began with ordering the chicken tom yum soup and crispy chilly potatoes as appetizers. The order was laid on our tables within a span of 10 mins showcasing a prompt service. The soup was a perfect blend of herbs and spices with chunks of mushrooms and zucchini to feast upon. I enjoyed it considering I’m a fan of spicy food,  however one would find it very spicy. It had sufficient amount of chicken pieces and a delicious aroma. Complimenting the soup the crispy chilly potatoes were just perfectly crisp and well marinated. Served with a sweet and spicy dip the duo monopolized our mouth. This made us call for another serving of the same.

       

           Followed by this we all indulged in some authentic Thai food consisting of 'Chicken Thai green curry', "Lemon coriander rice' and 'Pad Thai noodles'. The very smell of the food crippled my nostrils. Thai curry with bell peppers, mushrooms, baby corn and other veggies was sumptuous. It was just enough creamy and tasted divine along with the well- seasoned Lemon coriander rice. After this having  the Pad Thai noodles, a different dish altogether, was delightful. It's sauce had a good tinge of tamarind that only enhanced the dish. The peanuts added a taste of crunchiness to every bite. To top it all was a refreshing drink of lemon ice tea as the sides.

   Full marks to the exquisite quality of food and helpful service. The food was served in generous quantities making it pretty filling. We were so full that we had to skip the dessert section. However most of the desserts sounded and looked mouth watering.   The waiters were very hospitable as they helped us frequently charge our phones without any fuss. Our glasses of water were refilled at proper intervals and food was served professionally. As the cheque came up we split it between 5 people and paid  Rs.1500 each. The place was expensive but totally worth it for its high-end menu. Overall with the pleasing environment and scrumptious delicacies I quite enjoyed my dinner and had a nice time. I would recommend Nom Nom for quiet dinners with friends and families.

Review of the movie Jai Ho

      
        In its most simplest form Jai Ho is about Salman Khan, a superman aam aadmi who plays a suspended army officer and is ever ready to help those who need it. His only motto is create a chain of goodness in society. Hence every time he helps somebody he tells them that instead of saying thank you, they should help three other people and ask them in turn to help three more people. there is no way of knowing why the number is three and not one, two or five. In between we see romance between Salman and debutant Daisy. This is followed by songs and dancing and of course loads and loads of action, much of it in slow motion.

      What kept me surprised throughout the movie was its unending cast with actors popping up at random. Tabu being Jai's upright sister, always having his back just like the Hindi cinema sisters. However hers was not much of a role to play. It makes it strange to see actors like Tabu agreeing to roles like this. There are a number of popular and renowned faces in the film. Genelia D'Souza comes across as a handicapped girl, that shows desperation for roles! She could do way better. Vikhas Bhalla is showcased as her brother, Mahesh Manjrekar as an auto rickshaw driver, SURPRISING AGAIN, Mohnish Behl as the Chief Minister, Danny Denzogpa as the Home Minister and so on and so forth. Suniel Shetty makes a sudden appearance to give a lecture and vanish. Last but not the least Daisy Shah's role withers away through the movie. The only thing audience would remember about her would be her dancing skills. Hers is much a story in this movie like that of Zarine Khan in all her movies.

        Directed by his youngest brother Sohail Khan, the movie is a typical Salman Khan movie, much similar to Dabangg and Dabangg 2 the only difference being this one has a social message attached. Salman as usual is all over the place snarling and kicking and scowling. The growling lead man is hilarious and will crack you up more than getting your respect. It's low on IQ and extremely lame. Jai Ho Salman is the version of Rajnikanth. When he roars goons literally run for their lives. This is a but too much to digest considering aam aadmi wouldn't be aam then! On top of this list is the horrible exploitative side-story of limbless little girls, beggar children being assaulted. The film stops at nothing in its attempt to move you to tears. If your heart does go out its for the few good actors who are wasted by being part of this silliness. 

         The screenplay is not as inspiring, the story cuts into too many episodes and is repetitive. The romance scenes are half done. There are these thunderous actions scenes blowing away 100 men at a stretch making it unbelievable and inlogical. The songs add on to the misery of the film. The preachings are overdone and had it not been for Salman Khan, the film would be entirely unwatchable. Despite a bullet in his shoulder and knife in his back, Salman rips off his shirt and shows off his rippling muscles and then pulverizes the bad guy. This was the first movie in which I felt sleepy due to its sluggishness. The film supposedly is about the victory of a man who lets his fist do the talking. Muddled message!

       The only scenes worth watching for Salman fans are the scenes where he finally tears his shirt off and mere two action sequences. On the last note this movie is completely avoidable unless you are a diehard Salman Khan fan. Jai Ho simply furthers Salman's Being Human status!