Closed for Repairs

This blog is closed for the moment. Will be back... well, when it's back.

Meanwhile, check out another relevant blog here.

Vande Mataram!

On 26th January, we celebrated India's Republic Day with amazing energy and patriotism. The turnout of people was large and participation was uninhibited. Mr. Gurwara raised the national flag on behalf of all of us, while a choir of young children led us in singing our national anthem.

A painting competition was also held, and our talented kids won lots of prizes for their efforts.

And of course, since we're Indians, we had to have a cricket tournament as well - which was played by young and old alike.

Sandeep Khanna has posted some lovely pictures of the morning here [click here to see them]. Thanks Sandeep!

Galat Raaste Pe Chalna!

Taking the wrong path seems to come naturally to people in the NCR. And surprisingly I find, this includes a lot of people from Belvedere Towers. The number of people I see everyday breaking the law is not funny!

Wonder what I'm talking about? It's all of our residents that take the wrong side of the road to take a short cut into our gate from the other side! Decency and danger aside, the fact is, it is illegal to drive on the wrong side of the road. And forget motorists in most parts of the world, even people in Mumbai and other cities of India have more class than some of us here.

If you look carefully, it's this kind of indecent, criminal-minded apathy that causes most of the traffic jams in Delhi. The moment traffic slows down on the road we're on, some people quickly cross the verge onto the other side - piling up against oncoming traffic, glaring at any stranger who dares question them! And I say strangers, because the moment they see someone they know, embarrassment sets in, and out come some of the lamest excuses on the road - "I was getting late" and "Everyone's doing it!"

I hate to think some of these people live in our condo - because psychologists say, the way you behave on the road, is a reflection of your mental make up! And anyone who can be so thick-skinned and careless on the road, is not someone I want to be friends with.

Think about it.

On Lohri

We're celebrating the festivals of Lohri and Makar Sankranti on the 13th of January 2006 in front of B Tower in our condominium between 7 and 9 pm with a bonfire and traditional til, gur, gajak, mumphali, makkai, and phuliya.

Our cultural sub-committee has organised the above, but you are welcome to share your own goodies with others as well.

Most importantly, bring along your dhol and your enthusiasm to sing around the bonfire!

This is one of the most important festivals in India, and it is celebrated under different names in different parts of the country - Lohri [North], Makar Sankranti [West] and Pongal [South].

This day, the 13th of January marks the beginning of the ascent of the sun god to the north after winter, and celebrates the harvesting of rabi, or winter crops.

To know more about this festival, go to the following links [each will open in a new window]. Or you could use the Google search tool in the right side panel of this blog.

More About Lohri, More About Sankranti, More About Pongal. [some of these links also have delicious recipes for festive foods! Yumm!]

Note: Cars will be diverted around the back of the condominium between 7 and 9 pm to ensure the safety of both cars and residents.

Thank You All~!

While I wanted to publish something about the efforts of all the people behind the New Year's Eve Party - the humility inside me, brought out by the fact that I was part of the organisation committee made me resist.

But I must say, I'd like to really thank all of you who have come up to us and raved about the party. I must re-iterate however, we couldn't have made it such a hit without everyone's unconditional support!

And to end this note, I'd like to share a letter posted on our Yahoo! Group by Jayakrishna Kayalakal - which I believe speaks for everyone, including the Board of Managers. It is email like this which makes people do more for the place they live in, and bring out the best of everyone living in a community.

Here is the letter... verbatim:

"Dear Nosh

Just about everybody was there at the New Year's Eve Party! This probably was the first time that we did not look back with nostalgia about wherever else we had shifted into Belvedere Towers from.

One must hasten to felicitate and thank all of you who have put in days of meticulous organising and intense worrying that things may turn out well.

For I speak for all of us who came, saw and were conquered. It is hearfelt and it is with humility that I say 'Thank You!' to everybody who made this wonderful get together just that.

I believe there is a tremendous ownership of the Resident's Association and all of us came also to tell each one of you on the council that "we are with you".

May this year give us all many more reasons to celebrate!

Jay"

Happy New Year!!!

If the party last night at Belvedere Towers is anything to go by, we can look forward to a terrific year ahead.

Almost all the families of our condominium joined in last night to drink, dance and dine in the New Year 2006 – with friends and neighbours, old and new!

The amazing bit about last night, was the complete ease with which everyone mingled and partied with people they’d only just met – which is what great condominium living is all about!

Terrific snacks followed by hot and yummy food from Dana Choga delighted our taste buds as well.

The highlight of the party however, was the enthusiasm of the dancers on the floor – moving to the tracks pumped out by DJ Gaurav’s team till way past midnight.

My vote for the coolest dancers goes to the following people - Amar [the first on the floor, delightful to watch all through], Mrs. and Mr. Das Gupta [the oldest couple on the floor], Meenakshi and Rajan [never left the floor, never failed to entertain], Prema [enthu and glamorous in a sari], and of course the exuberant and stylishly dressed teenagers - who didn’t want to leave the dance floor, even after the party was over!

There were loads of prizes won, by juniors and seniors alike – prizes sponsored by names like ICICI Bank, Airtel, HDFC Bank, Seagrams, Nestle, Narula Jewellers, Chor Bizarre, Raheja Associates, Bates India, The Body Care, Arvind Associates, and Cream Bell.

All in all it was the best New Year’s Eve Party my wife and I attended in a very, very long time – no fog, no drunk strangers, just loads of food, friends and great music!

Happy New Year, and let’s plan for bigger bash to bring in 2007!

PS. If anyone has pictures of the party you can share on this blog, email them to me here. The christmas party pictures were courtesy Moushmee Jha.

Merry Christmas!!!

Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

I'm sure all of you know that we celebrated Christmas Eve at Belvedere Towers yesterday, with Santa Claus dropping by with gifts for our children. I think he read my last post in this Blog on parking, so like a good visitor he parked his Reindeer Sleigh outside the complex in the visitors parking - Thank you Santa!

Coming back to the party, it was an amazing display of collective celebration, which started with a talent show, followed by gift distribution and snacks for the little kids and the elders who joined in the fun.

This show was put together by the Cultural Sub Committee, and full compliments to the volunteers led by Moushmee [who's been running around since the last ten days to get this going], Ritu [who organised the games, MC script, and helped hold the evening together] and Archana [who chipped in with whatever help was required throughout].

Ragini Kumar, Bunty Singh and Sunita Sehgal pitched in with moral support and advise whenever required.

Most importantly, credit goes to the amazing talent on display - Tanmay and Chanakya who were the MCs, and the amazing performances by all the kids - I don't remember most names, but I think Indian Idol should hold one round at BT, for our kids as well!

The pictures on display here have been taken by Moushmee Jha. The entire lot will be displayed on the notice boards soon, so you can order copies for yourself.

Now I just hope we have equally enthusiastic participation for the New Year's Eve Party on the 31st as well. Enjoy!

Christmas Eve Party Pictures - 02

Our very own Masters of Ceremony! Great work, boys!

Christmas Eve Party Pictures - 01

The Value of Values

They say it is determined whether you will be a leader or a follower, by the time you are 4-6 years old. Because it is only till this age that actual 'intelligence' gets embedded into your psyche and personality.

Your ability to grasp new things, your analytical ability, your 'initiative', and everything to do with 'pure intelligence' is formed in your brain at this age.

Quite like a foundation stone of the building of your life.

In the next stage, between say 6 and 12 years of age, your 'values' get defined, based on your foundation of 'intelligence' and its ability to handle new information about 'right' and 'wrong' being layered upon it by parents and the environment.

Quite like the beams and superstructure of a building indicate the shape of things to come.

Beyond this, everything you learn at school, play and later on at work, is just 'information' being added to your 'intelligence'. And what they do with this information - how you absorb it, analyse it, and use it - depends on the 'intelligence level' already fixed in your brain at childhood.

And this in effect, defines your personality, and the way you carry yourself mentally for the rest of your life.

Which is why despite going to the same schools, reading the same books, and working with the same environment and exposure, some of us are smarter or dumber than others!

Now we're parents. And this 'new found information' puts a huge burden on us who are in the delicate and hugely responsible position of nurturing the little minds of our own children.

I believe to inculcate values at this early stage, you need to treat them like adults, and point out what's right and wrong from an early stage. They may not seem to understand it right now, but they'll record it to memory and replay it when their minds are ready to understand.

And "pleej dont chpeak to them in thotla" - children absorb and learn by recording and replaying things in their mind. You only delay their growing up and speaking right, by speaking to them 'kiddy and silly'.

Here's a web page on 'learning' and 'values' I found on the subject. It makes for interesting and thought provoking reading - to say the least!

Christmas Reminder!

Christmas Eve is just around the corner, and I hope all you parents have arranged to have Santa Claus bring presents for your kids at the party.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the Notice Board in your Tower.

Santa Claus is coming to Belvedere Towers on the 24th of December between 3.30 and 5.30 pm and the Belvedere Towers Condominium Association is throwing a party with music and snacks for the kids.

Plus, your child can participate in the Talent Show where they can sing or dance in front of an audience of their friends and parents.

Hurry, confirm your participation and organize your kid's gifts!