Shailaza's Blog

Author: Shailaza Singh

  • Predictions for the New Year 2020

    Predictions for the New Year 2020

    Dear Friends,

    The internet is full of predictions for the new year. Predictions for star signs, predictions for people with names, predictions for numbers and what not. So, I decided to make some predictions too. But, these predictions are different. These predictions are not based on anything except the thoughts that I have right now. Calculate the total of your birth date and scroll down to see what 2020 has in store for you. For example if your date of birth is 22-03-1950, then the total is 22. 2+2=4

    1. People with number 1 – Life has never been as good as it is now. If you have been working hard for something, the time is right for the manifestation of your desires. This year, you will get your heart’s desire and more. Just stay focused.

    2. People with number 2 – If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Work on your dream. Everything is possible if you decide to give it all that you’ve got. Have faith. This year, miracles will happen.

    3. People with number 3 – Look at the rising sun. Your destiny resembles a rising sun this year. Everything will happen in its own time. Just keep walking towards your goal. Impossible says I am possible.

    4. People with number 4 – The world is your oyster. This world will support you in every way. Your positive frame of mind will ensure that you meet the right people at the right time to achieve your dream. Remember, there are unseen forces at work. They are there to support you in every way.

    5. People with number 5 – The airplane has taken off and the flight is smooth. There are tailwinds that support your flight and will help you reach the destination sooner than you expected. Believe in yourself and the world around you. All that you want is right here.

    6. People with number 6 – Your timing is perfect. Trust yourself to be at the right place at the right time for the realization of the dream that you’ve always had. The sun is shining brightly in the sky and all is right with the world. Serendipity will help you to succeed. Just keep your mind focused on your goal.

    7. People with number 7 – You are the best in whatever you do. Your hard work and prayers will create your reality this year. Everything will be just the way you’ve always dreamed of. Time and tide are right. The stage is set. Get ready for making it big this year.

    8. People with number 8 –  Every sweat of your brow, every prayer of your heart, every thing that you’ve ever wished for is about to come true. Life is as good as it gets. New destinations await you.You have worked hard for it and you will get truck full of bouquets of success and accolades. You are the best and you better believe that because you’ve spent years perfecting your craft. Now, it is showtime!

    9. People with number 9 – The universe is in a benevolent mood and it has chosen you for all the possible blessings and grace. So, get ready to receive all this and much more for you truly deserve every bit of happiness, love and laughter this year. The best of the best is coming your way. 

    All your dreams will come true this year. Just have the faith and keep praying. My predictions will come true for you if you believe them to be true.

    Have a fantastic and great 2020!

    With love and best wishes,

    Shailaza Singh

  • LESSONS FROM 2019- THE YEAR THAT WENT BY

    LESSONS FROM 2019- THE YEAR THAT WENT BY

    2019 has been a year of revelations for me. It has helped me to realize some hard facts and taught me some lessons for a lifetime. Some episodes were painful and even scary but then like the others they too passed.

    1. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time- I took things at face value when I met a particular person. This person was very polite, spoke very well but her actions did not complement her words. I did not pay attention to the actions. The words were laced with saccharine. I realized that later when she showed her true colours.

    2. Stop expecting from anyone– We often hope that we will find people who will help us, understand us and be with us. However, people are generally so involved in their own struggles that no one has time for anyone. As the world, we are like islands separated by the oceans of our own stories. So, don’t expect people to understand you because they are busy figuring out their own lives.

    3. Pray all the time, for everyone- We cannot control anything! We think we can control our lives but nothing is further than the truth. Miracles happen all the time but all those miracles are a result of all those small whispered prayers. Pray for everyone, even for people you don’t like because they are the ones who’ve taught you the most important lessons of your life.

    4. Mind over matter– After about 15 years, I climbed a mountain this year. It was initially very tough since I am not that fit or young anymore. But I realized that I could not give up halfway because my daughter had to understand that you must finish whatever you start. It was a slow but steady climb full of leeches, storms and rain. But in the end, all that mattered was the view from the top of the mountain.

    5. Believe in your ideas – After a lot of procrastination, I published a book this year. The book Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl has been appreciated by people all over India. When I was writing this book, I had a lot of doubts about what would people say because most of the book has been inspired from the events of my life. But then, people who read it, liked it. This taught me to believe in those little ideas and work on them.

    6. The unseen world rules the seen world – We think we know the world but things change overnight. This world is ruled by thoughts, emotions and forces of energy which are beyond the comprehension of the human mind. Help comes from the least-expected quarters, people turn up at the most unlikely of places and plans fail yet people succeed. There are unseen powers at work and nothing is what it seems.

    Life is an adventure, probably a game of Jumanji (only less jungle and funny animals- for some of us at least) where we face the challenges that are presented to us without any prior preparation. Yet, it is fun and exciting too. So, take life as it comes and be thankful for all the small and big blessings that come your way.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

  • Is mind a part of our body? Lessons from life and Dear Zindagi

    Is mind a part of our body? Lessons from life and Dear Zindagi

    We go through such a lot in life. When we are young, we have dreams and some preset notions about life which are generally proven wrong by life. We face setbacks and failures that shake up the very foundation of our existence. Regardless of what we face, we carry on with those scars, little realizing that these wounds scars slowly and steadily creep into our psyche and alter the very perception of life. Yet, most of us don’t even think about healing these wounds.

    In the movie Dear Zindagi, Dr. Jahangir Khan (played by Shahrukh Khan) has a very interesting observation. He says that when we get a disease like jaundice or typhoid or even cancer, we love to tell every one about it. However, when there is a problem with our mind we hide it or deny it as if the mind is not even a part of our body.

    When my husband passed away, I did not know how to react. My marriage was not a very happy one. I had tried to reason with my husband but to no avail. I was hoping that some day he would see the light and come back to his daughter and me but, his death took away that hope. So, when I was told about his death, I had no idea what I was feeling. The days that followed are kind of blank in my mind. I went through the normal motions of life. I tended to my daughter, I did what I was supposed to do, but something in me had probably died with him. I thought life would never be the same again. However, I had not accounted for the resilience that tries to save us at these times. It was the kind of resilience that makes a person come up for air when he is drowning in water

    Though I felt dead to the world, there was something in me that wanted to be okay. I told my parents that I wanted to go for therapy. I had read Dr. Brian Weiss’s Many Lives, Many Masters and many other such books that talked about therapy. I was sure I did not want medicines. All I wanted was to understand the reasons for whatever had happened in my life.

    Therapy to the people around me was something akin to the treatment of some one who had gone mad or lost his mind. They resisted. They had seen too many movies about hypnosis and people trying to control other people and believed that a therapist can hypnotize his patient and make the patient do anything that he wanted. After a lot of cajoling, they finally gave in and I visited the therapist for the first time.

    I had told the therapist that I did not want any medicine and she was okay with that. She asked me to talk and she simply listened. That was something I had not done for a long time. Actually, today, it is impossible for people to take out time to listen to anyone in such detail. Life today is a hectic affair where people are busy running after their desires and dreams. As I talked, she asked me questions which helped me to find answers to the questions that I did not even know I had.

    Slowly and steadily with each session, I gained some understanding and insight into my situation. She hypnotized me but I was conscious of everything around me (those fears were unfounded). She helped me to understand the true meaning of letting go, of forgiveness, of love. Slowly, with each session and the exercises she had given me, the fog in my mind cleared. I stopped blaming myself, I stopped blaming the world. I started understanding the ‘me’ in myself a little better. There were times I cried like crazy and at those times I realized crying is important to let go.

    I realized that we let these hurts, disappointments, setbacks, problems accumulate in the closet at the back of our mind for years. We do not address them. Unexpressed emotions are constantly shoved to the back of the mind. Then one day, a storm opens this closet and all those small hurts and disappointments combine to become a big, huge monster that makes us think that life is not worth living. Don’t let that happen. Seek help and resolve your issues. There is nothing wrong in doing that.

    I started writing about my experiences during this time. However, I was still reluctant to show it to the world. My therapist helped me to realize that what really matters in this entire story is my reaction to the situation. What people think about me is not my problem. Understanding my past helped me to understand my patterns, my thoughts and my emotions and resolve them.

    I don’t claim that my healing is complete. There are still setbacks, there are still times that the past raises its head, there are times I get overwhelmed by the challenges of life. However, what really did happen was that I understood my self a little better. I understood my own reactions, my own tendencies and perhaps that helped me to deal with everything.

    Today, there are cures for many diseases which were deemed incurable earlier. However, no one has been able to find a perfect cure for the problems of the mind. We keep facing setbacks in our lives, in relationships but we hardly pay attention to what these experiences do to our inner self. Perhaps, we need to first understand ourselves more than the people around us. Therapy can help us to do that in a big way. Don’t worry about what people will think of you.

    No matter how accomplished we are just like we need a mirror to see our selves, we need some one else to help us understand ourselves.

  • Lydian Nadhaswaram: The music maestro with a difference

    He is just 14 years old and he is the world’s fastest piano player. Shailaza Singh talks to Lydian Nadhaswaran, the child prodigy who has taken the world by storm.

    When I met Lydian Nadhaswaran, the 14-year old piano prodigy at India Music Summit which was held at the Fairmont Hotel, he was busy eating chocos and talking about his life. I watched him eating and answering questions without an iota of arrogance or entitlement which infects almost everyone who is catapulted to such fame in such a young age. Lydian’s talent has earned him appreciation from the best of the best in the world which include music maestro A.R. Rahman, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres (where he played the piano blindfolded) and billionaire Michael Novogratz who gifted him him a Steinway grand piano from half-way across the world.

    The conversation was as interesting as this enigma of a boy who is only interested in making music.

    Tell us about your journey to CBS Talent Show ‘The World’s Best’ where you won the million dollar prize?

    My father (Varshan Satish- a Chennai-based music director) used to upload my videos on Youtube. We got a call from India’s Got Talent. I played the drums and piano there. All the three judges gave me a standing ovation. They told us that I was directly selected for the semi-finals. However, after coming back home, we did not hear from them for quite a while. A couple of months passed and my father called them up to inquire. They told him that since they do not get any TRP rating from South India, they could not telecast the episode featuring me. This really disappointed us. It was then my father decided to apply for international platforms  rather than the ones in India. We applied to CBS and Ellen DeGeneres and I was the only contestant who was selected from India.

    How did you first start playing the piano?

    My father showed me a Youtube video of a Chinese prodigy Tsung Tsung playing the piano. I saw that and started playing the piano.

    Now that you are performing on the stage, did you feel any pressure?

    I don’t feel any pressure to perform. I am always excited to perform on stage.

    Is it because of the atmosphere in the house, that you were drawn into music?

    Of course, my sister sings. My father plays piano, keyboard and the flute. Since my childhood I have been listening to a lot of music.

    Don’t you get tired of music?

    No, when I play my instruments, it makes me happy. So, I don’t get tired.

    You said you are home schooled. How do you learn Mathematics and English all on your own?

    I have to learn English because it is the universal language. Mathematics too is important because I am learning Indian percussion so everything is about multiplication and division. So, I see a lot of YouTube videos and explore on the internet. I also read books on the subject.

    How much of your learning would you attribute to YouTube videos?

    Most of my learning has happened through YouTube. I watch the video and then I learn. Youtube has really inspired me a lot.

    Now that you’ve travelled a lot, which is your favorite place in the world?

    I love my home because my parents and my sister take care of me and I feel very happy there. I also like going to Los Angeles in USA. I have been there nine times. We will again be going in February 2020, so it will be my tenth visit.

    What do you like about Los Angeles?

    People are very nice and kind. I meet a lot of musicians and get to see a lot of music instruments. In Los Angeles, there is a shop called Guitar Center which is like an ocean to me. Whatever kind of instrument I want, it will be there in the shop. So, it is a kind of a toy store for me. My trip is never over without going to the Guitar Center. I have bought a synthesizer, a guitar and many small accessories which you don’t get here.

    What do you think of the musical instruments of Rajasthan? Have you tried playing them?

    Yes, I looked at the instruments that were on display in the hotel. I tried playing the drum and the violin like instrument (ravanhatha). I liked the tone of the ravanhatha as it gives more feel and makes me feel calm and happy.

    What’s your favorite food?

    I like everything that my mother cooks. I love to eat sambhar rice and idli, sambhar and dosa cooked by my mother.

    What are the foods you don’t like?

    I don’t like pizza, burger or sandwich and cheese. I did not like ice-cream earlier but now I only like McDonald’s ice-cream.

    What is your relationship with your sister Amrithavarshini?

    We both are musicians and best friends. She is about 3.5 years older to me. We only argue on music.  I have this sense called perfect pitch. I can hear a note and tell if it right or not. My sister cannot do it and then we argue and then she agrees with me. However, I believe she is a better musician than me because she has been topping in music exams.

    Do you watch movies?

    I like watching animation movies. I am currently composing for a Malayalam animation film called Barroz which will be the fourth 3-D film in India and is being produced by the people who made ‘Chota Chetan.’ It is being directed by the well-known actor Mohanlal.

    People kept coming to congratulate Lydian on his performance and accomplishments. He kept obliging them with pictures and handshakes. It was quite evident that though he loves flying high with his talent, he also has his feet firmly planted on the ground.

    The interview was published on October 8, 2019 in Rashtradoot Newspaper’s Arbit Section

    Shailaza Singh is the author of the best seller novel Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl

  • Can Passion turn into a Profession?

    Can Passion turn into a Profession?

    The blockbuster “3 Idiots” has brought about a significant change in our thinking. Thanks to this movie, a lot of people have realized that it’s important to do what you love rather than following the dictates of the society. Parents are no longer forcing their kids to take up clichéd profession like engineering or medicine. Instead, they are quite happy with their kids finding their true passion and carving their own path in the road of life.

    So, how do you find your passion? Do you know what you want to do? Moreover, if you know what your passion is, then do you know how to convert it into a profession?

    Passion is all about doing things from your heart. So, to find your passion, you need to do some serious soul searching. Passion can be defined as something that you like doing over and over again. It can be anything, from watching television to reading books or even daydreaming. On the other hand, if your profession or business is your passion, then you will love doing it. You will love facing challenges and beating the odds every day. You may work long hours and get tired but deep down you will satisfied and happy about it. When we work at something that we are passionate about, we love trying to find new ways of doing it or growing in it.

    Different people discover their passion in different ways. Some discover it by accident, some by intent and for some it’s a spiritual awakening. Ace choreographer and performer, Shiamak Davar reveals that he was guided by his soul guides “Bhavnagris” to take up dancing about 26 years ago. At the time, Shiamak had no idea that his passion would translate into such a successful career for him and millions of dance enthusiasts around the world. For the cultural activist and dancer, Dr. Navina Jafa, finding her passion has been a process of self discovery.

    Well known television actor, Mohan Kapoor who has given some spellbinding performances in soaps like “Laagi Tujhse Lagan” and “Kitni Mohabbat Hai” says that acting ‘just happened’ to him. He loved facing the camera and now acting has become his passion. He loves experimenting and exploring new horizons in the field.

    Devraj Singh, the owner of the famous restaurant “Mirch Masala” has a different tale to tell. A government employee, Devraj loved cooking Rajasthani dishes for his family and friends. During one of his many parties, his friends advised him to turn his passion into a profession. Devraj liked the idea and soon “Mirch Masala” was born. Today, his restaurant is quite popular in Jaipur.

    So, what does it take to turn your passion into a successful career? Actress and singer Manasi Scott believes that it’s about faith. She feels that people who pursue their passion need to constantly believe in a higher power and be optimistic regardless of whatever happens.

    Indeed, faith does play an important role in pursuing your passion. The owners of “Moolis”, an Indian restaurant in downtown London can vouch for this. Sameer Singh, chef Raju and Mathew Chandy gave up their secure jobs to run pursue their dream of opening up an Indian restaurant in London. Initially, thanks to the recession, the going was tough. However, the trio kept their faith and thanks to their efforts, today “Moolis” has become one of the most popular restaurants in the city!

    However, following your passion is not a piece of cake. It takes a lot effort, persistence and determination. Neeru Raghuvanshi who has been exporting Rajasthani handicrafts for the past 15 years can tell you about it. Her job requires extensive travelling. Being a home maker, she tries to balance her work and her family. Nevertheless, she doesn’t mind the deadlines and challenges, because her business is her passion!

    Behavioural trainer, Abhimanyu Rathore agrees. He believes that doing something you love gives you the deepest satisfaction and makes you a happier and a more fulfilled person. He believes that the world today is open to experimentation and you can make a career out of anything, as long as you are good at it!

    How to turn your passion into a profession

    Here are some steps you can use:

    1. Get to know and understand your real self. What is it that lights your fire?

    2. Research on how you can turn your passion into a profession or business. Look up people who have been able to do it. Talk to them and find out what it takes.

    3. Take one step at a time and slowly inch your way towards your goal.

    4. What are the things that limit you? Is it money, training, education or simply fear? Search for ways to tackle these fears. Ask friends to help you.

    5. Act! Don’t procrastinate! The time to act is now. Doesn’t let fear of failure bog you down! Like Nike says it “Just Do it”

  • The Wrapping- All That Glitters May Not Have Gold

    The Wrapping- All That Glitters May Not Have Gold

    We all love the flashy and the bling. People are drawn like flies to the glitter and glamour and for most of them it does not matter what is beneath the wrapping. 

    As I was watched the children tear open their presents for Christmas, I wondered if the joy of opening these presents would still be the same had the presents been simply wrapped in brown paper?

    The joy of tearing open the gift and discovering what is inside has become a momentary joy in today’s world. After a while, the gift becomes inconsequential like the hundreds of gifts that we get every now and then. For most of us, if the gift is not wrapped in shining paper, we feel disappointed while receiving it and may even hesitate to open it.

    Whether gifts or human beings, the case is the same. We love the stars that glitter in the sky but fail to notice those lone light houses that stand bravely in the raging storm while the stars are covered in the clouds. Not many ships may come that way but those who do come find their way home thanks to the bright shining light of that lone light house. Yet, the light house stays forgotten while the world gazes in wonder at the stars.

    Ships may have been able to chart their courses because of the north star but had it not been for the light houses they would have crashed against the rocks.

    We love admiring those famous faces that stay in the news for every little sneeze that they take but we hardly pay attention to those who are quietly making their way in the world, building their life, fighting their challenges and inspiring people around them. Not many people may know them but these people work as light houses for those who come their way. Perhaps if we were to pay more attention to these every day heroes, we would also be able to create something out of our own lives.

  • Mountains of Waste

    Mountains of Waste

    The setting is idyllic, surrounded by picturesque mountains on all sides. The area is known for its scenic beauty, fertile soil and delicious fruit. But today, the villages of Uttarakhand are reeling under mountains of waste says Ashish Mukherjee.

    I am writing this article on a Sunday evening sitting in my house in Meora village in the Reetha cluster of villages in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The air outside is heavy with acrid smelling smoke. Plastic, food wrappers and almost all kinds of inorganic waste are burned routinely here.

    Uttarakhand has always been a vacationer’s delight. Lakes, hills, lush green forests, abundant fruits make this state an ideal spot for tourists. Pilgrims routinely visit the many holy sites in this state. More than 3.6 crore tourists visited Uttarakhand in 2018 and the numbers have been increasing every year.

    Garbage collection and disposal has become a burning issue in Uttarakhand. Though places like Nainital have well-maintained garbage collection and disposal systems, there are many off-beat locations which have now become hotspots for tourists who are constantly looking to explore uncharted terrain which is away from the hustle and bustle of places like Nainital and Almora. Most tourists come laden with food packets and plastic water bottles which are dumped either on the to the resort or in the bins in provided in the resort. However, the resorts do not have any way to dispose off the garbage left behind by their guests.

    The interesting thing is that the consumption patterns of these tourists have also influenced the local consumption patterns, thus generating more waste. Further, even local produce is sold or exchanged in polythene bags amongst the villagers. Generally the nearest garbage dump is an hour’s drive from these villages which is why the waste is either burnt or thrown into the forest or water bodies. All these methods increase the all ready existing pollution.

    Conversations with multiple villagers reveals their helplessness in the matter. Most of them are not aware of the hazards associated with burning waste. They typically burn waste once a week and feel that burning waste in small batches may not impact their health greatly. Further, there is a lack of awareness of environmental impact of throwing non biodegradable wastes into the forest. They are candid in admitting their helplessness as civic officials are absent from the villages and there is no process for waste collection.

    Dangerous Side-effects

    The burning of plastic is particularly dangerous as it gives rise to dioxin (a class of Chlorine compounds) which are toxic. Chlorine toxicity can lead to pulmonary oedema and consequent heart problems. This is a trend which is already visible in some parts of Uttarakhand. Furthermore, such air pollution has resulted in climate change, as seen by the rising temperature of Almora over the years. Dumping of waste into the forest can affect creatures who may eat it or contaminate the soil with micro-plastic or other hazardous material present in the contents.

    Way Forward

    The way forward for Uttarakhand, particularly the rural belt is not just to sensitize citizens to practice the 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle but also provide the necessary infrastructure and services for citizens. The following measures would go a long way in addressing the environmental problems arising out of accumulation of solid waste –

    Compulsory composting

    Compulsory composting of organic waste like fruit and vegetable peels, cuttings for resorts would go a long way in reducing the load of waste generated by resorts in tourist season.

     Promote eco-friendly packaging material

    A strict ban on plastic bags while promoting bags made of alternate material like jute or wicker which are both durable yet not ecologically damaging can counter be an effective counter to the volume of plastic waste generated.

    Also, incentivizing local manufacturers of food products to use eco-friendly packaging instead of multi-layered packaging would be a great step forward in curtailing the menace of waste generated by food and beverage wrappings.

     Solid Waste Management

    Despite the above measures, there would be significant volume of solid waste generated which includes food wrappers of popular commercial food products. The critical step for effective solid waste management is waste segregation and collection. Specific kinds of waste like PET bottles can be sent for recycling.

    Since Uttarakhand is a mountainous state with most of the land being either agricultural or forest land, land-filling may pose a challenge and waste-to-energy plants may effectively treat non-recyclable waste and help to meet the growing energy demands of the state as well.

    As I sit here thinking about how to address this problem, I wonder about what our government is doing to curtail these mountains of waste. The swacch Bharat abhiyan will hardly be successful if we are left grappling with these piles of non-degradable wastes in one of the most beautiful states in India

    The following article of Hindustan Times of March 2018 states that Uttarakhand generates more than 1400 tonne of solid waste daily, most of which goes untreated –

    https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-generates-1-406-tonne-solid-waste-daily-but-processing-is-zero/story-47oR4P7WxHqjpVwYJvWIMJ.html

    The following Times of India article of Sep 2018 reaffirms the crisis facing the State –

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ukhand-among-worst-states-in-terms-of-waste-management/articleshow/65801394.cms

  • Giving In Is So Easy For Most of Us

    Giving In Is So Easy For Most of Us

    Giving in is so easy for most of us. Fighting or resisting is tough.

    Giving in is so easy. No wonder, most people remain in the wrong relationships, wrong jobs for most of their lives. They don’t want to resist or fight because fighting requires courage, fighting requires consistency, fighting requires giving up your peace of mind.

    People don’t want to fight. All they want is to go on mindlessly from one day to another, from one season to another, from one lifetime to another…as if they are sleepwalking until one day some one or some thing wakes them up from their slumber, shakes them up from their lethargy. But then, that some one who wakes these zombies up does not wake them up to fight ‘their’ fight but inspires them to fight his fight. People get fired and spend their lives living and fighting for some one else. Then, in the end they realize (sometimes) that they never lived their life.

  • The Christmas of Hope

    The Christmas of Hope

    There is nothing more everlasting than hope. There is nothing more fragile than hope. Yet, there is nothing more persistent than hope.

    No matter how many disappointments we face, no matter how many challenges defeat us, we still hope to win one day. We hope that one day, we will truly become the heroes that we are. We hope that one day some one will recognize us for our achievements. We hope that one day we will truly be awarded our place under the sun.

    It is this hope that makes an artist create a plethora of masterpieces, each better than the other. It is this hope that makes a writer create stories, even when all his stories can see is the inside of a cupboard or a bag. It is the hope of achievement that makes children strive and work hard. It is this hope that helps patients of deadly diseases that keeps them away from the darkness of despair that some day they will defeat their nemesis.

    We all have a wellspring of hope inside us which keeps feeding us thoughts of a better tomorrow. Hope is a wonderful thing for it is the foundation of faith. It is the hope that creates the faith and it is the faith of a mustard seed that moves the mountains and creates an entire universe.

    So in that hope and faith I wish you a very merry Christmas. May your hope be everlasting and may your faith create the world that you’ve dreamed of. 

    – Shailaza Singh, author of Faith- The Mystery of the Missing Girl.

  • The Death of Gods

    The Death of Gods

    Do you know Gods die? Gods are born and they die. We’ve had Gods from the beginning of time, ever since we became humans. We fight over Gods and never understand that Gods die but love does not. Love is the real God.

    Even the mightiest of the Gods die,

    Oh yes, they do.

    It is shocking isn’t it?

    After all the hullabaloo!

    Ask the ancient Greeks, Romans, Indians, they will tell you,

    Each civilization begets a God new.

    Then come the misdirected religious bigots that fill people with such rage,

    That vanish, crumble and disappear after the end of an age.

    Nothing remains forever, yet people fight for momentary righteousness,

    Hurting and killing and creating this mad mess.

    Only love remains in the end, in this never-ending time and space,

    And it is love that creates a new era and a new race.

    But as the new race grows, they somehow want their new god to reign supreme,

    To suppress and subjugate, the elusive power remains every civilization’s eternal dream.

    You think at least now they would have realized looking at the thousands of years of history,

    That no one will win in this pointless struggle, it is no mystery.

    We want to prove that our God, our way is right and true,

    We forget that no one will live eternally, neither me nor you.

    Neither my God will survive, nor your God will live for long,

    So lets just forget this fight and sing the ever-lasting, eternal love song.

  • Author Shailaza Singh at the 6th Ajmer Literature Festival

    Author Shailaza Singh at the 6th Ajmer Literature Festival

    Author Shailaza Singh recently participated in the Ajmer Literature Festival. She read an excerpt from her book Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl. Her book was appreciated by all those who attended her session.

  • What is the point of a big fat Indian wedding?

    What is the point of a big fat Indian wedding?

    Does spending all that money in a fat Indian wedding guarantee happiness for life?

    My marriage had been fixed. My prospective in-laws very categorically told my parents that whatever my parents will be giving, will be to me, their daughter. We were quite naive at the time. We thought that they didn’t want anything. But more of that later. Anyways, my parents started collecting their savings. After all, it was their daughter’s marriage.

    My marriage wasn’t a very lavish one. But then, we are a middle-class family which doesn’t have that kind of money. The relatives and friends who were invited for the wedding came with their bag and baggage. Every thing went as per the plan. However, the marriage for which so many people came, so much was done, did not last long.

    Today, as I look back, it makes me wonder why do some people spend so much on a daughter’s marriage especially on all calling and hosting relatives and friends for days or even weeks? They take out all their savings, some of them even mortgage their houses, all for a grand wedding. I know they do it for their daughter but why? What is the point?

    If the parents have kept some money aside for their daughter’s marriage, why cannot they have a small wedding and then give that money to their daughter in the form of a fixed deposit or investment so that she has something for a rainy day? In today’s day and age, where people can be equated to chameleons and relationships are so fragile, why cause so much of pollution with all that band-baaja-baarat? Why have such a big carbon footprint?

    Why not have a solemn affair which is more about the union of two souls and the blending of two families?

    I know age old customs will not die. But then, it is just a thought.

  • Mothering Environmentally?

    Mothering Environmentally?

    A mother is not born, a mother is made. Some people equate a mother to a God. I some how disagree. As film maker Gulzar puts it very succinctly, ‘Mothers or parents for that matter are as old as their children. If a child is two years of age, a mother is also two years of age because that is the time she has spent in learning how to be a mother.’

    Sometimes, I wonder how is it that some parents are able to accomplish this Herculean task so easily. As a single mother, I am constantly on a balancing act where I keep falling, failing and sometimes succeeding in my effort to get it right.

    Let me be very honest here. Teaching my daughter about protecting the environment has not been an easy task. Not when life has become so use-and-throw friendly. We’ve got disposable toys, disposable utensils, disposable clothes and even disposable electronics. So, telling a child to not use disposables amidst this hullabaloo is like trying to record a new song on a tape recorder which is playing its own song.

    When I resolved to teach my child about being conscious about the environment, I realized a simple fact. Children today don’t do what you say, they do what you do. So, I decided that in order to teach this life-long lesson to my child, I had to first understand and imbibe those teachings in my own self.

    As a single mother, its not easy. Buying a plastic Bisleri bottle is easy every time I felt thirsty. Carrying a water bottle of your own is not tough but during the course of the last six months, I have forgotten three bottles in three different places and never found them again.

    When I was a little girl, there were small water huts called piyau here in Rajasthan. People used to sit in those huts. If one felt thirsty, all one had to do was to cup the palms against the spout through which the person sitting inside would pour water from an earthern pot. Now, we don’t see those anymore.

    Some steps like carrying a jute bag in my purse for impromptu shopping are easy.

    We have a small rooftop kitchen garden where we grow some vegetables. Getting my daughter to eat a brinjal curry made from the brinjals from the garden is a trifle tough but when she does eat the curry, she wonders why does it taste so good. When she goes to our village in Rajasthan, she loves eating the food because it tastes so good. No special spices, no masalas but the food tastes more organic than the best of the organic brands.

    However, fighting the lure of Cup-o-noodles and the ever-available Maggi noddles is not easy. But then who said food was easy? There are times, these junk foods become an paradox of sorts, especially when the children enact a play about eating healthy food in the annual school function and then straight after the show pester parents to buy burgers from the school cafeteria.

    As a convenience oriented society, we still have a long way to go. Though people like Greta Thunberg talk about climate change, it is us mothers who have to wrestle with this ever-confusing world which are full of paradoxes where children are constantly lured by advertisements for fast foods, fast gadgets, fast toys and then lectured about environmental change by grim faced teachers.

    I only have one question here- As a society,when will we be able to practice what we preach especially in the arena of demand and supply? Why cannot the teachers really tell children about being happy with what they have? Why cannot the multi-nationals focus more on sustainable products rather than always launching new products?

    We teach our children about protecting the environment but when they grow up, they still have the same choices, they still follow the road more traveled. Why?

  • Of Permissions and Women

    Of Permissions and Women

    Why do women need permission from men to pursue their dreams or do what they want?

    When we are children, we often ask for permission from our parents or guardians to do something new. However, that is perfectly okay since we are young and need guidance to understand the world. However, as adults why is it that most of the times it is the women who need permission from men and not the other way round?

    Some days ago, I was talking to a very well-educated lady. Her only dream was to write a book. I asked her what is stopping her and she said that her husband did not ‘permit’ her. According to him, it was a frivolous pursuit and she should concentrate on more important matters like their children, her job etc.

    This made me wonder. Why do women need permission from men to pursue their heart’s desire? For the woman in question, I would have probably understood her husband’s reluctance if she had expressed the desire to relocate to another city, state or country in the pursuit of her dream. Such a situation would require a detailed discussion since it would impact the children and every day life. However, here there was nothing like that. All that the lady wanted to do was to write a book and she was quite qualified to do it.

    I have heard of women who want to study further or those who want to do a job but their husbands don’t ‘allow’ it. On the other hand, if the men want to pursue a new career or want to learn something new, they seldom ask for permission.

    In the movie ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ when Rahul Bose’s character informs every one that it was he who ‘allowed’ his wife to start her own business, Farhan Akhtar’s character questions him as to why did his wife need to seek permission from him because if we allow someone something we place ourselves a notch higher than that person.

    So the question is that in the twenty first century where we are constantly shunning and fighting off gender biases, why do women need permission from men to follow their dreams? Why cannot they follow their dreams just like men?

    Do you have any answers? Please do let me know.

  • An Excerpt from Bestseller Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl

    An Excerpt from Bestseller Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl

    ‘I don’t, but I don’t know what else to do? We have just met this person whom we don’t know and then you decide to get married to him?’

    ‘Mummy, Amit has known him for an year now. He is a nice guy. At least better than all those people who rejected me just because I am not as fair or slim.’

    I remembered the time when Ma forced her to marry Rohan. She had tricked me and locked me out of the room. I pleaded to her as I looked helplessly from the window of my room.

    ‘Ma please don’t do this. If she doesn’t want to marry him, please don’t force her.’

    Ma looked at me, ‘Keep out of this Shirin’

    ‘I don’t want to get married Dadi. Please leave me alone. I will walk out of the house if you force me.’

    ‘Walk out? You will not listen to me? Your Dadi? What a disgrace! Okay I think I should leave this world.’

    She took out a bottle.

    ‘Faith, you live your life. I won’t stop you now.’

    She opened the bottle. ‘Dadi! cried Faith.’

    ‘Don’t come close to me Faith. I will drink this.’

    ‘Dadi please don’t do this.’

    ‘Will you marry Rohan? Yes or no?’

    ‘Okay yes! Drop the bottle.’

    ‘Really yes?’

    ‘Yes Dadi,’ Faith replied in a broken voice.

    Ma closed the lid of the bottle and kept it back in her bag.

    ‘Remember you have given your word Faith.’

    ‘Yes Dadi, I will marry Rohan.’

    ‘That day I had resolved that Faith will not be coerced into anything ever again. But once again, my mother-in-law and husband had won the battle.’

    Taken from Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl By Shailaza Singh

  • A reading session by Shailaza Singh!

    A reading session by Shailaza Singh!

    Do attend a reading session by Shailaza Singh, the author of Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl on 22nd December 2019 at the 6th Ajmer Literature Festival! Get signed copies too!

  • Of other worlds and possibilities

    Of other worlds and possibilities

    Most of us believe that time travels in a straight line. Actually, if you look at the world, life moves in a straight line, nothing can go backwards or forwards.

    However, when I started watching the famous BBC show Doctor Who, my ideas about time changed. Time can move in any direction, in any way, in any manner. Yes, most of us would argue that this is just a story or fiction. However, every story has a basis in fact.

    Here are some theories of science that are now a reality.

    Titanic- the magnificent ship that sank in its maiden voyage

    The book was written in 1898 and the ship sank in 1912. Is it just a coincidence or something?

    About travel to the moon

    Jules Verne wrote the book in the 18th century. But now, moon travel has become a reality.

    Edward Bellamy wrote about people using credit cards in the year 2000 in 1887.

    These book and more make me wonder if the time travel in Doctor Who and many other novels can indeed become a reality. Imagine if you could travel in time and space..would you grow old quickly or stay young forever? Where would you go? What would change?

    Every one talks about we being alone in the universe. Is it so? Or is some information being deliberately kept hidden from the public. How can creation be so perfect to form different species of animals so accurately? Was Noah’s arc actually a spaceship that delivered these species here?

    What do you think? Is time travel possible? Where would you like to go in time and space if given the chance? Do share your thoughts.

    Shailaza Singh

  • Feedback for Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl

    Feedback for Faith-The Mystery of the Missing Girl

    Madella Shobah from Madanapalle says-

    ‘really it’s a good book to read ..it takes couple of hours to read with lot of interest..every page provokes u to read the next ..u can’t anticipate the things..while reading u can imagine the characters..such a simple vocabulary. .all the best shailaza garu …’

    Thank you for the feedback. If you would like to read it, please order your copy from the links given below!

    Flipkart.com

    Amazon.in