Shilpi's Blog, page 5

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Published Novels

Hangover (Blurb)
Sneha, a beautiful young woman, was too rigid to fall in love. When he gave a knock at the locked doors of her heart that were meant to keep any man from entering her life, she resisted in opening it.
Love entered her life when she fell for Vikrant. However, life took a different turn and they parted ways. After being married to different people for a long term, they realize they are still in love with each other. There is no infidelity or cheating here, but only love.
Hangover attempts to redefine love, and in the process, make you realize that love has no definition, that it is boundless.
Bios
An MBA turned homemaker turned author who writes short stories, and write-ups for magazines and academic projects. I speak more through writings than verbally.Despite being a trained management professional, I opted to being a full-time mother because she enjoys spending time with her children. I have always been inspired by fictions and wanted to deliver one. To know more about me, go to shilpisignodia@facebook.com.  

Being Malala- Part III

Part-III
Followed by the documentary of The New York Times, she was interviewed by many newspapers and radio stations like AVT Khyber, a national Pasto-language station, the Urdu Language Newspaper, Daily Aaj,  and Canada’s Toronto Star. By now she was emerging as an activist fighting for female education. On 19th August 2009, she made her second appearance on Capital Talk, and her blogging identity was also revealed. She was actively speaking for female education on television and radio channels, from a place which was under the threat of militants. She belonged to a place where most of the people were illiterate, and those who were literate were mainly men. Only a very small chunk of females wasgetting the opportunity to study and in this worst scenario, this opportunity was also fading away. This young woman turned out to fight for her rights to get educated. Though she was getting name and fame for her protests for female education, it was at the cost of her life. The family was threatened for their protests and public appearances. 2 months later, in October 2009, this little girl was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Award by Kids Rights Foundation. She became the first Pakistani girl to be nominated for this award. The award was though won by Michaela Mycroft of South Africa, this girl is now known all over the world for her courage and protest for women’s education. The announcement for her was as “she dared to stand up for herself and other girls and used national and international media to let the world know girls should also have the right to go to school.” Later in the month of December, she was awarded Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize, by the Prime Minister of the country. In her speech, she mentioned that though she is not a member of any political party, in the future, she would like to have her own national party, with an aim of promoting education. Her efforts for women’s education were showing results, the Prime Minister of Pakistan  at her request, ordered for setting up an IT Campus in the Swat Degree College for Women. By 2012, she was planning to organize an education foundation, which would help poor girls to attend school. She was rising like a star from a small village in the Swat valley, but this recognition was generating more dangers for her. The situation of women in Pakistan is not hidden and in the Swat valley, it's pathetic.  The sort of work she was doing for improving women’s education in the valley, could not be borne by the  extremists. She was continuously getting death threats to stop her activities. Fake profiles in her name were created in the social media by the Taliban militants. But she didn’t stop. Then in 2012, Taliban leaders unanimously  decided to kill her.


To be continued....
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Attachment with Detachment

Recently, I also came across a similar article by Ms. Sudha Murthy on attachment and detachment, and wanted to write my views on the same as a blog. It was very beautifully explained by her, that attachment with detachment is not by choice but at a point of time it becomes a necessity for survival, esp for women. After 50 or 55 when your children are busy in their lives, husband in his, at that point of time you need to detach yourself from the attachments and have something of your own. It increases love and respect in the eyes of family and your loved ones. 
A woman is so much emotionally attached to her children that it  becomes difficult for her to accept the change of time that occurs, when their priorities divert. At this point, this attachment could be named as interference by her own children.  The solution to this is attachment with detachment.

By attachment with detachment you are giving space to your loved ones...:)

Almighty, Kya socha hoga usney

Being Malala -Part II

Part IIThings were becoming more threatening, the streets were deserted and silent. Only boy's schools were allowed to function, but only 10% of the students attended the school. It was 15th February 2009, there were gunshots and firing on the streets of Mingora. Children were scared of hearing the loud noises of the firing. Zia told them that this fight is for peace, and soon everything will be peaceful. But, she was not satisfied with the answer. Later that night, Taliban announced the peace deal on their FM Radio station, with a strong round of firing. Just three days after this so-called peace deal, on 18th of February, 2009 Malala spoke against the deed of Taliban on a national current affairs show ‘Capital Talk’,and within three days of the show, Taliban lifted the ban on women’s education till March for exams, but they had to wear burqa to their schools.This little girl of 11 years is fighting for educationwhen her life is at stake. In this threatening situation, she is more bothered about her exams, than life. What a brave soul, she is!  Children were now allowed to attend a school and they were having fun in the class. But their fun and peace weretemporary, as the Taliban militants were still active in the area, looting and threatening local people. The usual life of the residents had become very difficult and horrifying. Amidst all the tensions and the activities of the extremists, life had chosen this girl as the medium to express and reveal all the miss-happeningsin the Swat region to the World. Her first battle of Swat as a blogger in BBC Urdu ended on 12th March 2009. Later, Zia was approached by the NewYork Times reporter Adam Ellick for filming a documentary on their lives and struggles in the Swat.  In May 2009 Mingora was evacuated and the family was separated. The girl with her 2 brothers and mother moved to one of the relative's places, whereas Zia with three of his friends left for Peshawar, Pakistan to protest and lobby for support. Adam Ellick was recording everything for his documentary, their struggles, life away from Mingora, protests, and conferences, everything. Kids were missing their father and were worried too. The girl was not happy in that place and said that I am feeling very bored here, as there are no books to read. Meanwhile, Zia was getting death threats from Taliban for his protests and press conference. The little girl who wanted to become a doctor now had a new dream. She says that she now wanted to be a politician and not a doctor so that she could remove all the crisis from her country. She was deeply inspired by her father and his courage to fight, for their rights. Zia and his three other friends protested for almost three months in Peshawar. They were living in a small room, in not a very good condition. They were feeling guilty when they saw, the thousands of Swat refugees, living in camps in sickening condition. Zia said that it would be better if they would have lived in those camps. They revolted and protested for peace in the Swat. On the other side, the little girl and her family were missing Ziauddin. It was her birthday, but her father was busy protesting and so forgot to wish his dear daughter. Zia and his friends badly missed their families. They were unaware of whether their properties and belongings in the Swat were safe or destroyed. They were worried, sad and depressed and were hoping for some positive support from their Pakistani government. By early July, the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced the most awaited words, that it is now safe to return back to the Swat valley as the Taliban militants have been pushed out of the cities. The family reunited on 24thJuly 2009 and headed towards their home.  It was a very emotional moment for the family as they were meeting after so long and were all safe. Till now, they were not aware of the situation of their house and school, but they had a hope that it would be in a good condition. But before that, someone was waiting for them.  The US representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, met the activists, including Zia, who protested for the Taliban’s control in the Swat valley. This girl pleaded to Holbrooke to intervene in the situation and help them for their education. What an amazing soul, she is! So much crave for education in the adverse situation too. Then finally they reached Mingora. It was no longer a vacation destination, but a barren land where dead bodies were lying here and there on the streets. It was silent. Not even a single alive human or animal could be seen on the streets.  Most of the places were blown up and damaged. This place was not her Mingora.The scene was very depressing. But they were still hopeful that might be their house is saved from the militants. They reached home and were shocked and happy to see that their house was safe, but their two little chickens were no more. The girl went straight to her room to see her bag and books, and she cried seeing them safe. The books meant a lot to her. Then they proceeded to their school. The lock was not opening from the keys, it must have been changed. One of his brothers climbed the wall and opened the small gate from inside. The place was not in good condition. It seemed that militants or the army were residing there. But whosoever they were, doesn’t seem very cultured as per the little girl. They have spoiled the classrooms, and the school was messy. But by god sake, nothing major damage has happened to their school.
#Malala #Pakistani #Taliban #righttoeducation #femaleeducation #nobelprizewinner

To be continued.......
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The Sound of Waves

Raj was listening to the sound of waves. He was sitting near the shore and listening to the sea talking to him. He could hear the voice of his heart whenever he is alone in the seashore, away from the noise of the society of being correct or incorrect. It was not his fault, he is like that. The sea says, “be as you are, don’t mould yourself because they think you are improper. If will try to force yourself as they want you to be, you will end up nowhere”. He could hear the sound of waves as it gives a message to him, somebody who guides him because rest all doesn’t understand him. Raj…. Raj….. he heard somebody calling. It was Prabhu, the domestic helper. Raj asked, “Yes Prabhu, what happened?” Prabhu said, “Madam is looking for you. She has asked me to call you.” He said, “Ok, I am coming” and Prabhu left. He said bye to his friend, sea and returned home. When he entered his Mom said, “Why you need be outside at lunchtime isn’t it hot near the shore. Come on, join us for lunch.” He came and sat for lunch without saying anything. His dad asked him, how studies are going on, and how are your girlfriends. He said, “Dad, my studies are going good, and you know very well that I don’t have girlfriends, then why you need to ask this every time”. Dad said, “Sheela, this is what surprises me most about your son, that how does not have any girlfriend at the age of 21. In my college day, I had so many.” Mom said, “Yeah Ajay, I know very well how many, but my son is not like you, he will have only one, and when he will have he will tell me. Please don’t irritate him for this. It is his choice.” Raj was not interested in this conversation with his parents. He had his lunch and straight away went inside his room.After an hour, he told his Mom that he is going outside to meet his friend. It was Sunday, so college was off. He went out and again sat on the Seashore. Raj had no friends accept the sea. He was so alone; he needed someone with whom he could express his feelings. He was burning inside, but who will extinguish this fire that was killing him. The next day he got ready and left for college. The college fest was close and everyone was busy in the preparations for the fest. Everyone seemed to be in the festive mood leaving Raj. There were so many things that were happening for the fest like, plays, games, rock show, solo and group performances, and many more but Raj wasn’t interested in any until Andy approached him.Andy means Anirudh but he doesn’t like himself to be called as Anirudh so Andy. He was directing a play for the fest, but his condition was the play will be made only by boys. The casting was done, but for the led role, he required a soft looking guy, who would look good in the character. He was suggested to ask Raj for this, but also being told that he is an intro and might refuse for this. Andy said, “Let’s try, if he agrees, well enough”.   Andy saw Raj sitting alone in the class. His first look touched Andy’s heart and he was stubborn now to cast him as Draupadi, in his play. Andy said, “HiRaj, how are you?” Raj said “I am fine, thank you. How may I help you?” Andy said, “Only you can help me, darling.” Raj was furious now, “Come on Andy, what’s that darling thing, tell me your work and leave.” Andy replied, “don’t get furious dear, actually I am directing a play for the fest called Mahabharata by boys, so all the characters are male in this, no females.” Raj said, “Very good, keep it up, so how may I help you?” Andy was now hesitating a bit and said, “Actually we are not getting a good cute looking boy for our lead role of Draupadi and every one suggested your name.” Raj got up from his place, “What, me as Draupadi!  Have you gone mad? No, I am not doing it.” Andy fell on his knees, “Please Raj, for me, please.” It was the first time in college somebody was actually nice towards him, and he liked Andy. Raj said, “I am not sure if I’ll be able to do, but I will try.” Andy said, “I know only you cantrust me.” Andy was holding his hands and they both were looking at each other’s eye. Raj asked, “When is the rehearsal?” Andy replied, “You need to be in the auditorium from today evening by 4pm. I will wait for you, do come soon.”Raj, for the first time in last 8 years felt good and wanted for something. As if he was waiting for this. His heart was dancing inside. After coming home, he went straight to his mother’s dressing table and wanted to try her new lipstick on his lips. His mother walked into the room just as he was about to apply her new lipstick. She was startled. He was startled. "What are you doing with my lipstick? It's new...I haven't used it so far. Couldn't you have waited?" He smiled and handed it back to her. "I forgot to tell you...I am playing Draupadi in our college production... rehearsals start this evening."“Oh wow! That’s wonderful son, but Draupadi… Isn’t that a little awkward. You will be playing a female character, why?” Raj was smiling, “Mom, it’s a play only by boys, so all characters are males and I am in the lead role.” Mom said, “Wish you good luck. Hope this makes you feel better. You should get involved sweetie.” Sure Mom, bye.Raj was getting ready and was looking at himself in the mirror. Today he was feeling happy to himself in front of the mirror. The mirror was not letting him feel low as it always used to. He had his Mom’s new lipstick in his hands, he wanted to apply them but was feeling shy to do so. He kept it in his bagand rushed to the auditorium. He saw Andy there and smiled at him. He heart was pumping fast, he was nervous. Andy came close to him, “Hi, my new friend. Here is your script and all the best.” Raj read his script and after going through it, he went on stage to give a trial. The firsttime it was a havoc, then Andy came to him, he was holding his hands, “Look Raj, my hopes are on you. Please don’t make me feel low. I know you can do this. Forget about everything, there is only you and me here. You say your lines and I will hear, rest all are donkeys with no brains, ignore them. I want to hear you, please say your lines for me.” Raj got the confidence and he gave his trial so beautifully that everybody got up and applauded for him. Andy was just smiling and Raj smiled back.Raj was having a good time these days. He was enjoying the play and his role, but his dear and only friend, Sea was missing him. Since the day rehearsals have started, he has stopped going to the seashore. He was enjoying the company of his new friend Andy. Everyone was enjoying, and since all were boys, the fun and excitement were more. Suddenly, Mayank took Raj’s bag unknowingly and threw it on someone as a part of the fun, and the lipstick in his bag fell down. Everyone saw and started making fun of Raj. There were tears in his eyes; he was feeling ashamed as he was standing naked in front of all. He wanted to run away, but Andy came for his support and said, “Raj is a true actor, he had the guts to carry a lipstick for the character, does any of you can. I am proud of you Raj.” He hugged Raj and said don’t worry I am with you. On the D-day, when the play was going to be presented, Raj draped a beautiful saree and wore her Mom’s new lipstick. He was looking absolutely ravishing and any boy would have fallen in love with him if he was not a guy.  His performance at par with his looks and was admired by all. Andy, the director was dancing on cloud 9 for the success of his play and he gave credit to his team and Raj especially. In his Thank you speech he mentioned that “Draupadi was the most difficult role and character of his play, which wouldn’t have been possible without Raj”. It was a great feeling of accomplishment for Raj, and he ran away from the auditorium. Andy found it strange and followed him.  Raj straight away reached his seashoreand was hearing the sound of waves. He was trying to understand what his dear friend was saying. Raj said in a loud voice, “O’my dear friend, till now you were my only friend and I used to hear you every day. I know you must have missed me, but I was preparing myself for this great day to accomplish something. See I have achieved recognition for a role of a female. You only told me to be as I am and not to mould myself. Dear sea, I have loved myself doing this role. I know the world don’t like incomplete people like me, but I am as I am.”Andy heard everything. He had a doubt that Raj was incomplete, but Raj didn’t knowone thing that Andy wanted to confess at this very moment. He went straight to Raj, and he was shaken up seeing him standing in front of him. Raj said, “why are you here, I mean you are supposed to be in the auditorium, what are you doing here.” Andy was just looking into eyes which had so much pain and grief hidden inside. He said, “Up till when are you planning to bury all these inside you. Your heart is bleeding. Up till when are you going to share your feeling with these waves?” Raj was not comfortable, he said, “What crap are you talking, let me go.” Andy said, “Just shut up, enough hearing to sea waves, and now hear me.” Raj said, “Why should I hear you, Andy? I think you have heard me talking to myself. Saying, someone is not good manners. And now when you know everything, what you want me to do.” Andy said, “I want you to know me. I am in love with you Raj, from the very first day when I saw you but I didn’t have the courage to say this to you, as normally considered to be a taboo. I was not sure how you would have reacted, but you don’t know how blissful I am today when I heard you. I have thanked God a hundred times for sending you, just for me.” Raj’s face was shining, he too had same feelings for Andy but he couldn’t express for the same reason. Now, they both used to come together to hear the sound of waves.Love is a love it completes the incompletesoul on the Earth.

The Clash of My Mind and Heart

I observed the clash between my mind and heart.....The condition of my heart was timid and low,whereas the mind was trained to rule the every show....I realized, a step motherly treatment was offered to my heart, and his every urge had gone in vain..Had I understood this before,the decisions taken from heart are more logical than mind,then the trivia, I, heart and mind would have been free from the Crossroads of regrets....

Being Malala

Being MalalaPart I
Mingora, a small town in the Swat district of Pakistan, was the Paradise on the Earth. But it was the past. It was the past when people in the town meet and have tea in the corner tea stall to discuss various issues, where small kids would be running and playing without any inhibitions in their minds. It was past when women were roaming freely in the vegetable markets of the city, bargaining with vendors. It became past when Taliban’s evil mind entered into the city and destroyed everything. The peace of the village was ruined and turned into terror and fear. A small brain of 11 years was observing everything. A little girl from Mingora who was very fond of studies was observing everything that was happening in her hometown. Unlike other children of her age, she wanted to protest and to raise her voice against all the evils happening in Swat. It was late 2008, when Aamer Ahmed Khan of  BBC Urdu, was trying to cover the influence of Taliban in the Swat valley, in his own creative style. He was searching for a school child, who could blog anonymously about their life and situations in the Swat region. The little girl’s father, Ziauddin aka Zia, was in touch with the BBC Urdu correspondents in Peshawar and was helping them in their search but none were willing to do so. The parents were scared of the Taliban militants and were afraid that if they stood up, they would be killed. Finally, Zia suggested that his daughter could help. The brave girl took her first step of revolt and started writing blogs for the BBC Urdu Service under a pseudonym, ‘Gul Makai’ as they were concerned for her safety too. She mentioned the increasing military activities in her village, and about her fears that her school would be attacked by the Taliban military.By this time, the terror of Taliban militants have increased and they were ruining the Swat valley, distressingly. Policemen were beheaded and hanged in town squares. Music, education, television  everything was banned. She wrote handwritten notes about Tabilan’s influence in the town. Then those notes were handed over to a reporter who scanned and emailed the notes to BBC Urdu. Her first blog was posted to the BBC Urdu blog on 3rdof January, 2009. It thrilled the world and Taliban leaders were in the shock. They were confused that how the outside world is aware of their activities in the Swat valley. Taliban reflected their furious reaction over the blog on 15thJanuary 2009 by setting an edict that no girl would attend school from now. Since then, the girls of Swat were banned to receive education and  their right to education was slashed. Her struggle for education, peace and life had already begun. The biggest support for her in the struggle was her father, Ziauddin, who ran a school near to their residence which supported their lives for the last fourteen years. Their school was also under the threat of Taliban militants, as hundreds of girls’ schools were blown up by them. Every other moment, the residents of the valley have a fear that whether they would see the next sunset or sunrise, and their family would be safe or not.

(The next part of the story will be coming soon....)

Book Review of Shaheen Must Die by Captain Walia

Book: Shaheen Must Die
Author: Captain Rakesh Walia

Overall Ratings: ****Publisher:Writing Geeks and StudioandallCover Page: ****Story: ***Narration: ***1/2*

Shaheen Must Die is the second book by Captain Rakesh Walia. This book gives a complete feel of army background, and how a trained army personnel's discipline inspires others around him. In the initial chapters the book revolved totally around Mohit, a young boy, Arijit and Captain Walia, which became a little monotonous and boring but with the entry of Shaheen, the story took new turns and I could not stop myself to turn the pages as early as possible. With interesting plot, and impressive cover page, this book should be read by all the book lovers. In the initial chapter, the author has explained too much about the characters which makes it boring for the reader. In the later part of the book when Shaheen is introduced, the story appears to move. It take interesting turns and engages the reader thoroughly. Over all, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend to all the book lovers to have a feel of military life through Shaheen Must Die