2107: Speechless

I have always been fascinated by the overall execution, knowledge-sharing, and thoughtful narrations by ABji on the KBC program, which is why I watch it regularly. In one of the recent episodes, I was left truly speechless and inspired by both the contestant and AB Sir.

Participating in KBC itself is a long and challenging process—facing the camera, recalling answers under pressure, dealing with recordings, and doing all this in front of a studio audience, AB Sir, and millions of viewers across the nation. It’s undoubtedly nerve-wracking. On top of this, the contestant, a successful IT professional, had a slight speech difficulty. He had mentioned in his AV that this added an extra layer of challenge—worrying about answering on time, interacting with AB Sir, using the video-call-a-friend lifeline, and so on.

Hats off to KBC and AB Sir for their tremendous encouragement, support, and motivation, which helped him perform so well. It was inspiring to watch. Despite his challenges, the contestant participated with determination and confidence. AB Sir even remarked later that reaching this platform is the ultimate answer to all those who might have doubted or criticized him. Hopefully, this will also change perspectives and stop people from mocking his minor speech difficulty. Truly a motivating experience!

For me, this episode was a powerful lesson in perseverance and self-belief. It reminded me of the importance of encouragement and the need for resilience in the face of obstacles.

2106: A Golden Return

Engaging in one-on-one interactions with budding researchers is undeniably one of the most fulfilling experiences for me. While FDPs introduce participants to a wide array of tools that act as their research companions, the real transformation happens when they dive into their own projects. Inevitably, some get stuck along the way, and that’s where my personalized sessions come into play.

Today, something extraordinary unfolded. A vibrant and enthusiastic PhD scholar, feeling overwhelmed by an immense workload and seeking clarity, was considering heading to Vipassana for self-motivation and a mental reset to tackle her research. However, after our session, she had a remarkable change of heart. With a renewed sense of purpose, she confidently declared, "No more Vipassana for me, at least not in the near future. I now know exactly what to do, how to proceed, and just how simple it truly is. I was carrying unnecessary weight all along!"

Wow—a proud moment indeed! A pat on my back for making a difference. This success is not mine alone; it’s a tribute to my Symbiosis journey, which laid a solid foundation for my research expertise, to HIM for blessing me with the gift of storytelling, and to the relentless teams behind OpenAI tools who continue to empower researchers worldwide.

Moments like these remind me why I do what I do. Transforming confusion into clarity and witnessing someone reclaim their confidence—what could be more rewarding? Simply superb!

2105: Screen time

We constantly criticize the younger generation—teenagers and college students—for their excessive screen time. Middle-aged parents, academicians, and professionals alike wonder aloud, “What could they possibly be doing online all day?” Gaming? Instagram? WhatsApp? Endless scrolling through irrelevant platforms? It’s a million-dollar question that seems to plague us all. The consensus is that they're wasting time, damaging their eyes, necks, and overall well-being, with no meaningful outcome.

But let’s pause for a moment and redirect that critical lens. For years now, I’ve noticed a different reality unfold—one that calls into question the very people pointing fingers. Middle-aged and older individuals, the self-proclaimed role models, are no less addicted to screens. Under the pretext of being "responsible parents" or "working professionals," many are blatantly abusing their high-end gadgets and squandering valuable time.

Yes, some screen time is required for work or genuine responsibilities, but what about the hours they spend mindlessly glued to multiple screens? Watching irrelevant content, doom-scrolling, or juggling between OTT platforms and social media feeds? The same generation that once prided itself on reading hard-copy newspapers, pursuing outdoor hobbies, or meeting people face-to-face now finds itself anchored to couches, immersed in a world of digital distractions.

And let’s not ignore the irony—they complain about tiredness, neck strain, and overstimulation caused by loud music or flashy visuals. The same people who grew up in quieter, simpler environments now indulge in the very chaos they used to despise. How did this transformation occur?

Even more baffling is the hypocrisy. They berate the younger generation for "wasting time" while claiming superiority with anecdotes about how they "grew up in a disciplined era." Yet their actions scream otherwise. They’ve become the very couch potatoes they mock in the younger crowd.

So, let’s stop pretending. If we’re going to talk about screen addiction, let’s be honest about the root cause. It’s not just the younger generation that needs a wake-up call—perhaps the older one does too. Where are we truly heading if this is the path we’re all treading?

2104: Awaiting the Tooth Fairy, Once Again

When my twins were growing up, the tooth fairy became a cherished part of our lives. Unlike most families, she graced our home twice as often, given we had two little ones eagerly awaiting her visits. Each time, she was remarkably thoughtful, bringing just the right gifts, carefully tucking them beneath their pillows, and leaving silently. My twins would wake up with immense excitement, their faces lit with joy and encouragement from the magic of the fairy’s presence. Those moments were pure fun and unforgettable memories for us all.
Reflecting on my own childhood, school days came with their own set of unwritten rules—especially for girls. Oiling our hair and tying it tightly with ribbons was non-negotiable, and we followed this routine religiously throughout school life. It's now second nature to me, which is why I often find myself astonished by girls today, confidently leaving their hair open regardless of its length, texture, or thickness.

For me, a crocodile clip has become an indispensable accessory. These clips—strong, versatile, and colorful—are my constant companions. I have a collection of them in various shapes, sizes, and hues, and I feel a special connection with them. Recently, one of my favorite clips "lost a tooth" (yes, a tooth from the clip!). This particular clip has been with me for a long time, and we share an unspoken bond. Though one tooth is gone, the clip is still by my side, and the rest of its "teeth" remain intact.

This unexpected event made me think—why should the tooth fairy only visit for real teeth? After all, crocodile clips are like miniature replicas of the animal they’re named after, complete with teeth, jaws, and a firm grip. Doesn’t that make them deserving of a fairy’s visit too?

So here I am, waiting for the tooth fairy to make her magical appearance once again, this time for a beloved companion of a different kind. Come on, dear fairy—pay us a visit. We're ready for the fun to begin anew!

२१०३: दंत परी

खूप वर्षांनी पुन्हा एकदा कदाचित माझ्या घरी दंत परीचे आगमन होणार आहे. हळुवार, न कळत ती येऊन जाणार असं दिसतंय खरं. माझी मुलं लहान असतांना अनेकदा आली होती ती, हजेरी लावलीच होती, लावावीच लागली होती आणि काय काय म्हणून एक से एक बक्षिसं, भेट वस्तू आणल्या होत्या तिने, क्या बात है? मानलं बुवा तिला. कसा काय मस्त विचार करून जे त्या त्या मुलाला हवं आहे ते बरोबर आणून उशीखाली ठेवून, मस्त आणि भरपूर आशीर्वाद देऊन जाते नाही? गेली कित्येक वर्ष, दशकं, पिढ्या ती हे सातत्याने करतेच आहे. खूप अप्रूप वाटतं तिच्या बद्दल ऐकून, विचार करून, नेहेमीच. आणि बघा ना फक्त पहिला दात पडला कि फक्त येते असं नाही, ती दुधाचे दात सगळे पडेपर्यंत येतेच, अनेकदा. माझ्या कडे तर जुळे होते तेव्हा लहान त्यामुळे तिच्या चकरा खूप व्हायच्या.  आई गं. कित्ती मस्त आठवणी देऊन गेली आहे ती माझ्या मुलांसाठी, साधे पण मस्त गिफ्ट्स घेऊन आली होती तेव्हा. 

का कुणास ठाऊक पण तेव्हाची पद्धत म्हणा, शिस्त किंवा शाळेचे नियम, मुलींना व्यवस्थित तेल लावून घट्ट वेण्या घालणे अपरिहार्य होते. दोन वेण्या, रिबिन्स आणि वर बांधलेल्या. गळ्यात केस शाळेत तर नाहीच पण इतर कुठेही मी बघितल्याचं आठवत नाहीच. कोणतीच मुलगी तेव्हा असे गळ्यात केस पसरून वावरतांना कधीच नजरेस पडली नाहीच. त्यामुळे जे सर्वत्र बघत मोठे झालो तेच आता योग्य वाटतं सर्व तर्हेने आणि सोप्प सुटसुटीत देखील. अजूनही माझे केस वर बाधलेलेच असतात, कायम, का कुणास ठाऊक, नाही आवडतं मला ते मोकळे सोडलेले. आता अर्थात दोन वेण्यांऐवढे, आईच्या हातात होते तेव्हाचे घनदाट केस नाही उरले पण जे आहेत ते बांधलेलेच असतात हे खरं.  आताशा इतक्या अप्रतिम, रंगीबेरंगी क्लिप्स आहेत बाजारात उपलब्ध कि त्यांचा वापर करून फॅशन हि सांभाळली जाते आणि सोय देखील. मला हा ज्वलंत प्रश्न सतावतो कि मुली कसे काय ते गळ्यात केस घेऊन वावरतात, मग ते छोटे असो, मोठे, सोडण्या सारखे असोत किंवा नसोत. फॅशन च्या नावाखाली काहीही. असो. तो त्यांचा प्रश्न आहे. तर त्या ज्या क्लिप्स मी वापरते त्यांना क्रोकोडाईल असं पण म्हणतात कारण त्यांना मगरी सारखे दात असतात दोन्ही बाजूला आणि त्यांचा जबडा पण तसाच उघडतो, बंद होतो. त्यामुळे प्रेमाने तिला क्रोकोडाईल पिन किंवा क्लिप असे म्हटले जाते.  माझ्या कडे खूप पद्धतीच्या, आकाराच्या, रुंदीच्या ह्या क्लिप्स आहेत. लहान, मोठ्या, आडव्या, जाड सगळ्याच, त्यातली एक जी माझी सखी आहे, फारच आवडती तिचा बिच्चारीचा एक दात निखळून पडला हो काल, इतकं वाईट वाटलं मला, कारण ती माझ्या सोबत अनेक वर्ष आहे. तिची मला आणि माझी तिला फारच सवय झाली आहे, घनिष्ट आहोत आम्ही, सुचत नाही एकमकीं शिवाय आम्हाला, चुकल्यासारखं वाटतं सतत. आणि परिधान केलं कि कसं हायसं वाटतं. जरी एक दात निखळून पडला असला तरी बाकी शाबूत आहेत, पण मग खूप उत्साहात आहोत आम्ही कि आता नक्कीच दंत परी पुन्हा माझ्या घरी येणार, तिचे आगमन कधी होतंय ह्या कडेच आम्ही लक्ष देऊन आहोत. ये गं बाई लवकर असं म्हणावसं वाटतंय. माझ्या दातांच्या वेळी अशी हि परी आली होती का कोणास ठाऊक? आठवत नाही मला. त्यामुळे आता हिच्या दातांच्या वेळी तरी ये असं मी त्या परीला सांगते आहे, विनविते आहे. मज्जा येईल ना, एक अनोखा एक्सपीरियन्स.  

2102: Passion

Growing up, my earliest memories of men in the kitchen revolved around grand open setups, primarily during large-scale weddings or community events. Even then, these men were typically surrounded by women who handled all other chores, leaving only the cooking to them. Most of these men I observed took up large-scale cooking out of necessity—it was their profession, often chosen under compulsion rather than passion.

A different subset of men in the kitchen emerged later, with the rise of culinary arts colleges and the proliferation of cookery shows on TV. This wave was driven either by a newfound passion for the art of cooking or the allure of high-profile culinary careers. However, even in this modern context, men typically handled only the cooking itself, often on meticulously prepped platforms where most auxiliary tasks—preparation, cleanup, and logistics—were managed by other teams.

In contrast, the daily grind of home cooking remains a domain that Indian women have navigated with remarkable resilience for generations. It involves far more than just preparing meals—it’s about curating flavors that cater to the family's diverse tastes, adding seasonal and festive touches, and managing everything from planning, shopping, and pre-processing to serving, presenting, and cleaning. This exhaustive cycle repeats a minimum of four times a day, encompassing a spectrum of cuisines from local staples to global delights.

And yet, amidst this tireless effort, women often face a relentless stream of feedback—critiques about taste, spices, appearance, portions, comparisons to restaurant food, and much more. These unsolicited reviews reach the "lady of the house" without fail, day in and day out, for her entire life. It’s an unspoken reality, isn’t it?

Of course, exceptions exist, and when men actively participate in the everyday rigors of cooking, it’s a refreshing and heartening change. This shift, though visible, progresses at a snail’s pace. Nevertheless, despite the added spice of criticism and challenges, cooking remains an enduring tradition in every household. And somehow, life carries on with the smell of fresh meals filling the air, day after day. Yahoo!

२१०१: दोन सासवा

माझ्या आणि माझ्या आधीच्या पिढीला एक ठराविक पद्धतीची, वेगळी वागणारी अशी सासू माहिती होती. आणि त्यावेळी सासू म्हणजे खाष्ट असायच्या, खूप म्हणजे खूप कडक, सर्वार्थाने. बाकी सगळे लोक ठिक असायचे. सासू संपूर्ण आयुष्य तशीच ठसक्यात राहणार अशी. अर्थात सगळीचकडे आउट्लायर्स असतातच, मस्त आणि वेगळी माणसं असतात. पण बहुतांशी असंच बघायला मिळायचं. 

काही प्रत्यक्ष अनुभव बघितले, वाचले, ऐकले आणि थक्क झाले, म्हणून हा पंक्ती प्रपंच. वर थोडक्यात नमूद केल्याप्रमाणे आधीच घरी वेगळ्या पद्धतीची सासू, त्यात जर सासूच्या वरचढ जर नवरा मिळाला तर? सासू तरी कधीतरी काही तरी बोलणारी, पण उठता बसता, प्रत्येक श्वासाला चुका काढायला कोणी सुरवात केली तर? आणि ते देखील आपल्या सगळ्यात जवळच्या माणसाने, हो नीट वाचा, माणसाने, ज्याला हे शोभा देखील देत नाही, मग त्या मुलीने / सुनेने कुठे जायचं?काय करायचं? ऐकून घेण्या पलिकडे काहीही पर्याय नाहीच? काय म्हणायचं जेव्हा दोन वेगळ्या वयाच्या, दोन वेगळ्या गणाच्या सासवा एकाच घरी मिळाल्या कि? किती आणि काय काय सोडून द्यायचं? जगायचं कसं? 

अर्थात हे सगळे अनुभव मी फक्त ऐकले आणि वाचले आहेत, तेव्हाच एवढं मला वाईट वाटतंय, त्रास होतोय, जी प्रत्यक्षात ह्या सगळ्या दिव्यातून जात असेल तिचं काय होत असेल? तिच्या मानसिक, शारीरिक, सामाजिक स्वास्थ्याचं काय? ती कशी सगळं सांभाळत असणार? किती हा अपमान आणि त्रास? इतकं सारखं बोलून कंटाळा येत नसेल त्या सासवांना? 

सर्व सुनांना साष्टांग नमन ज्या दुहेरी सासुरवास सहन करत आहेत गेली अनेक वर्ष. त्यांना सर्वार्थाने ताकद मिळो आणि त्या स्वस्थ राहोत हि मनःपूर्वक प्रार्थना.