Thank you Zynga for FarmVille

Social networking has never been so fun! It’s getting better. Today I am going to thank my favourite Facebook application Zynga. This is not because I am hooked to their applications on facebook, but because it has given peace of mind, contentment and a diversion from the mundane, boring and stressful lives of so many people around the world. Zynga, though has many games on facebook, but I am here to talk about their most popular game FarmVille.

I remember the day when Puloshka called me from Delhi. Puloshka Dowerah, my college class-mate and a friend who is just like my twin sister, told me that since I am so fond of gardening, I must try FarmVille on facebook. As a good friend, I did and I got instantly hooked. It was so fun! You plough, sow and harvest different beautiful animated plants and earn coins and grow through experiences. It was an instant wow! I thanked her. But my work schedule kept me on my toes and eventually I became less regular in the game. However, I do sit to do my farming on weekends and holidays for few hours.

One of the best examples of how FarmVille is helping people to be happy and content is my MIL. During one of our visits to Tatanagar, Jamshedpur, my MIL was complaining about her routine life and how badly she wanted to have a diversion that she enjoyed. My MIL generally likes whatever I do. In so many ways, my best fan!  She is one of the friendliest and less complicated ladies I have ever met. So, I thought, may be she would enjoy this game and this could be her diversion from the routine. Hence, I opened the application on her laptop and taught her the game, rules, how tos etc. Initially she was slow, but boy, did she get deep into it or what! Now, very often, I get calls from her and she thanks me for introducing her to this game. She calls me and tells me what’s new in FarmVille and what I must try. I am happy that she is happy. I thank Zynga for FarmVille. My MIL is now a content lady who after finishing her chores and attending to her hubby, plays this game and gets involved in this beautiful world of insect free, mud free farming.

In this process of farming, my MIL has also got a social life now, online. She has many friends regardless of geographical boundaries. These friends have similar interests and are neighbours, yes, in their virtual farm. Happy, helping, cordial, gift giving neighbours who can interact on facebook chat whenever they feel like and what’s better than sharing similar interests with good friends? Bliss.

PS: The photographs here are of my farm :)

“Anger is only one letter short of danger”

Today I am here to write about my anger. Yes, it is perhaps the worst thing a person can have /develop/inherit or whatever. I generally get angry when something doesn’t go my way or a person is behaving in an unexpected manner. I get agitated when things are not organised and/or the house is untidy or the clothes are not folded and so on. I have always been told by my mother that anger is not a good emotion to have. However, I have seen her as the angriest person in our family. So, I somehow got confused, obviously! 

The worst part of my anger is - if I am angry at reason A, I can/may take out that anger at reason Z or person X. I know this is dangerous and real bad for me. However, I used to do that until recently.

A day before “that” day, I reached home from a trip outside. The house was a mess and I had overnight house guest with me.  Next day, I slogged like a donkey to clean the house. (I have this cleanliness OCD). I was tired and angry at my partner for not helping me in the cleaning process. The same day, my maid and cook, both didn’t show up. Yes, reasons enough for me to be at the peak of my anger. Then this friend of mine with whom I wanted to talk to wasn’t responding to my messages. And when this unfortunate friend did contact me back...he got the taste of all my accumulated anger. I feel sorry for myself for getting so angry. I realised that I was being unfair by misbehaving with this dear friend of mine, who ironically keeps telling me that anger is not a good thing, it’s equal to a devil. (In Assamese, it is said that “Khong namei Chandaal”). This friend, after being misbehaved with so much for none of his fault, suddenly became quiet. I realised my mistake. I thought I have lost this friend forever, for my own mistake. But thank God we are still the best of friends.

I also remembered my partner saying, “You may lose your loved ones for your anger.” I didn’t want to lose any of those who really love me. In my process of realisation of my mistake, I remembered the character of the movie, Julie & Julia. Julia Child, played by Meryl Streep, never got angry; she never got agitated even though she also had to face a lot of ups and downs in her life. She took things as they came. She was receptive of all the happenings and events in her life. Though she always pursued what she wanted to. That inspired me. That day, I promised to myself to keep my anger under control and to take it easy. I am sure I’ll be successful. Touch wood!

Twitter Killed the Blogger Star

It’s been really long that I have written anything on my blog. But this is not my fault. Trust me. Actually I have been blogging, not on Reflections of course! But, I have been micro-blogging on twitter.com. Believe me, it’s an addiction. And whenever I sulk for not being regular on my real blog, I hum the song... "Video killed the radio star" song with my own lyrics, which is “twitter killed the blogger star!”

Well, enough of excuses already. Day before, I’ve watched the movie Julie & Julia and oh boy, did I get inspired or what! So, Like the young Julie, I have also made a promise to myself to blog every single day of the year. It shouldn't matter what I write and how long it is. I am going to write every single day of my life now.

I always wanted to be a writer. I actually did become one. But I have always been writing for my employers. However, I did get my by-line when I wrote for the Asian Age, especially when I had to write filler features on special events or occasions or festivals. Yet, the hunger to write is not over yet...I write so many things in my head, but it never reaches a solid ground. But from today, I have decided to write on my blog every single day of the rest of my life and today is the first day of the rest of my life.

So, dear reader, be with me, encourage me, ask me questions and boo me if I don’t stick to my promise. Thank you :)

Holi – Indian Festival of Colour

The festival of Holi falls in the month of Phalgun or Fagun. Phalgun arrives as the curtain raiser of the upcoming Spring that brings in warm days and new life. Spring is the season of rejuvenation and rebirth. The earth discards its winter gloom and begins to blossom again. To mark this change, Holi flings colour into the Indian landscape and invites the celebration of life. Spirits run high as the preparations for the festivities begin, as households prepare sweets and colourful powder is bought, long syringes called 'pichkaris' are made ready with coloured water, water balloons are filled to colour family and friends with as many colours as possible.
Children, friends and neighbours gather on the streets and a riot of colour takes over. Coloured Justify Fullpowders known as 'abeer' or 'gulal' are thrown into the air and smeared on faces and bodies. 'Pichkaris' filled with coloured water are sprinkled onto people. Water balloons are thrown at friends and neighbours in the spirit of fun. Sometimes, mud baths are prepared and people are 'dunked' into it amidst much laughter and teasing. The young visitors carry 'abeer' or 'gulal' to pay their respects to elders by sprinkling some on their feet. The younger crowd is drenched with buckets of coloured water and pummelled with water balloons. Indian drums are played and the songs of Holi are sung by the merry-makers.
There is no religious 'puja' or worship associated with this festival of colours as such. However, some 'gulal' or 'abeer' is smeared on the faces of statues of Lord Krishna and Radha, at the commencement of the festivities.
There are some quaint customs attached to this festival as well. Holi is celebrated in the country with great zest and verve. It is a time to remember the brightness and splendour of life, a time to spread happiness, colour and love into the lives of others. Holi is, therefore, aptly called the festival of colour. Its spirit is uniquely Indian, colourful, exotic and full of life.

I am a big big girl too...

Love this song. Watch:

Mile` Sur Mera Tumhara (Old)

This is one song that makes me emotionally overwhelmed every time I listen to or watch it. So many memories of my childhood become fresh like it was yesterday! The big Television set in the living room, running from my study table to watch this song where I got to see so many celebrities in one single video, the variety of sur and the people of different states of India....this song is like a complete experience and a complete picture. I know for a fact that no "Phir Mile Mera Sur" or remake of “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” can be as melodious as this one. This is a classic example of unity in diversity that signifies India. I love this song. India is truly incredible!