Sunday, September 18, 2011

Travel Light - Happy Journey


This is an article that I had written for my B-school (MICA) magazine ‘Black Coffee’ in the year 2002 and I just came across it once again and felt that it is relevant even today and so thought of putting it up on my blog. Though it has a Deepak Chopra kind of feel to it, I still felt like sharing it with all of you.

So, here it is…..

Most of us would like to travel light, but very few of us are able to minimise our baggage. So many times, we literally sit atop overstuffed suitcases in order to snap them shut, but we are not ready to admit that we don’t really need all of those things.

Being overweight is often a problem. But we continue undeterred; consuming and accumulating fat despite our health problems. We are loath to part with the extra kilos that we lug around.

Here, I am not only talking about the visible flab but also the real flab – the weight we lug in and around our minds, the weight that drags us down.

Trimming the flab in the mind is a very daunting task that most of us don’t even attempt to do. But if we can muster the courage and make even an inept beginning – the rewards are bound to be tremendous. It may seem strange to talk about weight in the context of the human mind, but any unhappy person would know how heavy the mind can become.

Picture the mind as a room with many windows through which thoughts constantly fly in and out. The room is full of light and air. But in the middle of the room, a shape is growing. Call it the ‘I-ME-MINE’ syndrome or simple the EGO. This shape traps thoughts like flypaper traps flies. It feeds on those thoughts and grows bigger and uglier, and gradually blocks the entry of fresh air. The room becomes dark, stuffy and claustrophobic. The atmosphere also becomes heavy and stifling.

It is our own mind that bothers us but yet we keep on trying to blame the world for our affliction. We also continue to look to for world for joys, not realising that the joys are devoured by our ego.

William Blake has put it very beautifully: he who binds to himself a joy/does the winged life destroy/ but he who kisses the joy as it flies/lives in eternity’s sunrise.

Despite its size, the ego is very clever. Compel it to shed weight in one area and it puts back in the other. Ego reduction is actually a Herculean task! A good sense of humour can do a great deal to contain the ego. The ability to laugh at oneself is one of God’s greatest gifts; it can defend us from the vicissitudes of life. Most of us laugh at others, but we become very justificatory and protective when it comes to our own faults and problems.

Those who can smile through both rain and sunshine realise that the two are inseparable. Such is also the human condition, but beneath it are depths of serenity that can be reached. It is these depths that sustain us and give our lives meaning.

Another way to reduce the ego is to concentrate on the work at hand, instead of being obsessed with oneself and one’s expectations as a doer. Concentration on any activity without the interference of the ego yields unexpected pleasures. It also makes you more creative. It is the dirty tricks department of the ego that causes the major stress.

The battle for ego reduction has to be fought every day. If you can hang in there and not give up, then you will emerge as the winner. The ego will begin to shrink; fresh air will blow through the room (the mind) again. Sunshine will stream in. You will start feeling lighter and freer. The world will start looking brighter and a better place to live in.

It is a long road ahead, so the lighter you travel, the more pleasurable it will be. Hope you all are able to manage a room that is well-lit, airy and with lot of sunshine. 

Saturday, September 17, 2011

DLF Emporio - luxury with a capital L


DLF Emporio - luxury with a capital L
If you want to indulge yourself and luxury is what’s on your mind, then just head to DLF Emporio in New Delhi. It is a mall that defines class, luxury and prestige. It will make you want to soak in its elegance, exclusivity and aesthetics every time you visit.
Located in South Delhi’s tony Vasant Kunj area, DLF Emporio houses 74 International brandsalong with 111 Indian designer brands and other lifestyle brands under a single roof. Designed by architect Mohit Gujral in a five-star setting and conceptualised around two dramatic atrium courtyards with skylight, it has openness as its central theme.
Some of the top-end international brands that form a part of DLF Emporio are Alfred Dunhill,Bottega VenetaCanaliCartierDKNYErmenegildo ZegnaGiorgio ArmaniGucciHugo BossJimmy ChooLouis VuittonTodsTom FordVersace, etc. These are brands that fashionistas love to flaunt and they spend considerable time and money here in a bid to make their lives more glamorous.
If you have a big Indian wedding coming up, then once again this mall is the place to head to, as you get a plethora of choices - Abu Jani & Sandeep KhoslaAbraham & ThakoreAshima LeenaAshish SoniKimayaMalini RamaniManish AroraRina DhakaRohit BalSatya PaulTarun Tahiliani. Any designer worth his or her money has a presence here. With so many options to choose from, you definitely won’t go back complaining that you did not get what you wanted.
After some retail therapy, one is bound to get hungry. Fret not, as they have taken good care of that aspect as well. They have a SET’Z – Restaurant and Barspread over an area of 19000 square feet featuring six world cuisines – Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian and Indian.  If you are in the mood for a quick coffee or an ice-cream, then head straight to CafĂ© DLF Emporio on the Ground Floor in the lobby area and enjoy the experience of Palm trees and their lovely sink in sofas. During the Delhi winters, if you want the lovely rays of the sun from the terrace, then you should order your pastries from On the Go and enjoy the weather.
All of this put together makes this the best luxury mall that India has to offer. If you have not visited yet, make sure that it's on your agenda the next time you're out and about or visiting Delhi.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Too little and too late

Dedicating this poem to people who were innocent victims of the bomb blast that took place in Delhi on 07.09.2011


The night grew dark but there was no fear,

The heart grew heavier yet there was no tear.

He knew this was not dope,

It was a life filled with hope.


All this meandering, where will it take?

Who cares when your life is at stake.

Words and thoughts don't matter anymore,

When your goal is at fore.


One shatter to break his sleep,

No thought could be as deep.

He just sat up wide awake,

Every breath of his was equal to a quake.


Now is the time screamed his heart,

His dreams had already drifted apart.

He tried to see his soul,

But all he saw was his body taking a toll.


He finally took his last breath,

With that he embraced death.

She suddenly remembered him again,

But it was too late as he had died with pain.