A delectable dose

I will pass on a favourite tip I received when I was a new mom, there are many of my additions too. The technology today is a little different but the results will be the same. 

My mother-in-law, has a suit that my husband wore on this 3 or 4th birthday (she is not able to re-collect exactly). A nearly 40-year old Silver Kada anklet used by my hubby (later his brother and sister) were preserved for my kids. This delectable dose of vintage charm is a treasured gift that I shall carry to the next generation.

For your newborn child create a monthly tape. Once a month, put your video camera /mobile device and sit down with your child and roll the video for 1 to 2 minutes. You will never realise who   quickly they grow and change right under your nose.


Take pictures at every stage/milestone. You would love it someday down the lane. In fact, I made a collage of my son's pic to make a banner for his recent birthday party. Our guests, specially  my parents enjoyed the display. Took time to recollect an incident related to that particular 'time'. I had put together pictures of his 1st day in hospital, no soon he was born; the next was, may be a-month-old baby; when turned over, to craw; 1st day in uniform, to school; and so on. 

Voice record his/her rhyme, with emm.. huo... Sounds. One such was the ring tone of my mobile, for long. The baby babble and mispronunciation: first gurgling vocalizations, to the entertaining and sometimes maddening long speeches. My son was a slow starter. But no soon he started, there was no stopping. He seems to be speaking in a language of his own. Now when i play him, we have a good time.


Smear a bit of pad ink on the little one's foot and take an impression, you would love to compare and see how the tiny pawprints latter turn to footprints. Sometimes when iam down and suffering from depression, loneliness, I take a look at the footprints, that I took when my little one was 3 months old. They remind me of the poem: Footprints on the Sand by  Carolyn Joyce Carty.  Similarly each picture carries with it, memories of some or the other incident. Life-changing or not, it is worth it!

Discuss all the new things that happened over the last 30 days. And pen down. We are doing this for our 2 kids. And plan to continue until they are 10. The results are awesome. We prefer to watch and read them time and again. Recently a old relative had been home, and we play one such video, and all loved to watching it. It is much better than any other movie or videos games.  Even kids love them, as they are the main character around whom the film revolves.. Wow Grandpa used to have hair!, Dad looked lean, Mom had long hair, …...Where is this frock now....that dress? Those shoes...

The nursery ID card, report card, test paper, all are preserved along with the class photo. Take a lesson or two from the  Montessori training class (a lot of material can be accessed on-line). They are not just for aspiring  Montessori teacher; young, 1st time parents too, need to know lots about sensorial work. These knowledge come handy in parenting. Learn a bit of  'child-psychology'. Most of the time you 'No' would mean 'Yes' to them. My son says 'tomorrow' when I actually means 'yesterday'.

Those ephemeral joys of childhood and initial years of the parenthood are just amazing. Take at look and recap those fine moments. Live the moment at the same time carry the memories so that you can live with it later too. There’s a mystery to be unraveled each time.

When I found the Profound...

To better-plan and balance the home- and work-life, an office close to home was what I was seeking initially; so that I could spend less on commuting, and more with family. But what I got in return was amazing, and beyond my asking.

Not just close enough to call it 'walk-able', it has all the best things an employee can ask for, put together. The woOw factor is the flexible timing. Like any other corporate office, we are required to stay in office premises for 40 hours a week but, the check-in and -out timings are not rigid, as long as one is able to keep up the deadline. This gave me a lot of flexibility to attend to my kids and their home work, make-up the PT meetings at school promptly, fix the leaking tap, re-fill groceries, visit bank, or any other task that otherwise would have called to apply for half-a-day's leave.

The 200+ that are employed here are young spirit, though remind me that Iam a decade older [may be Iam the only one who is dressed in saree most of the time] still, they make me feel young. The usual de-stressers are the carom, tt, and fussball. The bigscreen of the plasma TV for the cricket lovers, is definitely quotable. We have a few serious cricketers who would make up to challenge the internal teams to the out-doors, during week-ends, of-course. The latest in-line is the IRC ---Impelsys Runner's Club. Meet you at the Bangalore Midnight Marathon in Dec !

Within office space, we are very happy for it is fun to work in such an ambiance. Every Monday, the HR team brings to us something amazing, true and inspiring stories to get rid of the Monday blues and to energize the team for the day and for the week ahead. Mid-week, we get to know more about a couple of colleagues through the culture of 'know your colleagues' whom, we otherwise would have known as just 'Hi-Bye' friends. Come week-ends and the much awaited 'Fun-Friday' with mind-twists like: scrambles, caption content, crazy captions, crossword puzzle, picture puzzle, guess the celebrity, jumble words, and many more to relax. Just that we guys find it challenging to balance with the week-end project deadlines against the tempting prize gifts of the contest.

At times there are other events that make us 'feel-at-home'. Ethic day, birthday celebrations, festival celebrations and so on. Now, looking forward towards Impelsys' first ever Halloween Party. Employee satisfaction survey is conducted so that voices of the employees are heard. The candid input are considered for fixing problems that generally demotivate people.

The best part of my office is that there is no hierarchical seating. This means that the new floor where we recently moved has the management and the rest of the employees sit together in an open layout without any cabins separating the staff from the Boss. There is not even the cubicle separation that would normally be built around an employee. There are just big-long tables with teams seated facing each other across. There is no such thing as formal environment in our office and we are always having some fun event or the other. This is the reason why we see ourself full of life, even when we have to work to exhaust ourself to meet the critical (at times un-realistic) deadlines. All these help to improve relationships and in-turn productivity.

Overall, a great place to work at!

Yes, She is my daughter

I was a smart kid at school and college, and very popular among the teaching staff and class-mates. It was may be because, I took part in all activities in the campus, added to it was my thick and long hair, which gracefully was flowing well below my waist, upto nearly my knee. I still remember my last day in college, all friends longed to take a group photo with me. Thus was my popularity.

Once out of college and started to look for job, I slowly realised that being smart was not enough, one had to have a fair skin too. Newspaper advertisements called for good-looking candidates; one with pleasing personalities, and so on. Until then I was under the impression that personality was internal. But No ! 'pleasing personality' meant --- one with fair skin. I was a failure, in the job market, as a fresher.

Same was the case in the marriage market. People before me comment saying Iam dark and therefore ugly. At times it shattered my egos, bruising my self confidence and I was scarred for life. Everyone told me it would be difficult to find a groom for Iam very dark.

From the day, I began to realise that I am dark born, I tried different oils, lotions, creams to change my skin colour. But, it would not. It was in my genes. I had taken over my dark skinned dad. Instead of my fair skinned mother. [Relate the joke by Jagan in Ayyan: where he says "Amma paal, appa decoction"]. Everyone ridiculed me for being born a dark girl. Thanks to the Indians ideology 'white is beautiful'. 

Not long before, my prayers were heard. A fair skinned handsome guy came forward to marry me. Of-course our's was an arranged marriage, and fortunately for me, none from his family saw me as dark skinned. In fact, they credited me for being brave to overcome such racist approach. I no longer spoke of the black skin paranoia. But the devil re-appeared in a different form.

I gave birth to a baby girl. Was worried that I would have to undergo all the trouble my mom had and I may have to do all the things that she did to change my skin colour. The little angle saved me from all such trouble. Same as me, she took over her father. She is born Indian white.

It was not long before that I realised, when I took her out for a stroll, people thought I was her 'Ayya' [baby-sitter], I could read it on their face. Such was the difference between us. She in no way resembled me. I can re-collect the dialogue that happened between me and a known lady on an occasion unknown. It was as:

Acquaintance: Who is this beautiful angle? [coddling my baby in pram]

Me: My daughter [Proudly]
Acquaintance: Unbelievable ! [shockingly] Paatha apadi theriyalae. [trans. Doesn’t look like that.]
Me: emm...Yes, she is my daughter.[I insisted]
Acquaintance: Uhh .. I mean..., I meant … since.. She is not like you. You see ! [remorsefully]

The damage was already done. But, was she not right? Sahana did not resemble me in any way. As days passed, many said this to me. I had a solution to this.

Watch this one:

If not by looks, at-lest by cloths. Now I can tell: 'like mother : like daughter'

My Creations

My Creations

I love to design and stitch fashionable outfits.

The hobby started during my school days, when my younger sister was in her nursery.

The first dress that I stitched was for her--- a sleeveless salwar kameez. The sleeveless top was light pink flowery pattern with plain peach colour bottom. It looked great. And motivated me to move further in pursing this hobby.

Next was freel frock. Black for the base and creamy while for the flare. It boosted my enthusiasm. Next came many more like one. Each of which fitted my baby model very well. She was my experimental super-model, who made no fuss of any outfit-failure.

As I stated to attend college, I stitched my own Salwar suites. Everything that I saw, inspired and fascinated me. I even stitched curtains, sofa covers, cushions, and what not!

Once married, time did not permit to explore more, so I had to discontinue my hobby. But one of the wedding gift kept reminding me to re-venture. It was a sewing machine from my sister. On being a parent. ... things changes and was again pushed to stitching, from nappies to baby blanket, bed, mini pillow and so on.

This time, it was my daughter's turn to be my model. Below are few pictures of my creations

 Me and my daughter, in the rama-green hacuba pattern kurti

Sahana in a Keralan-styled long skirt, which i stitched from my Husband's shaylia.

Shanu in shades of peacock blue/green.Shanu in blue full skirt with green blouse, with green piping and copper-colour work attached

Full flair white with black cheetah print skirt; with a baby pink top and freel to match it. I stitched this for a get-to-gather, at my sis-in-law, this year. 

Peach colour with black print went well with black top and piping for the frock.

To attend Tanu's cradle ceremony, i chose to stitched a black with white polka dots, laced with red satin ribbon and red brooch, that i attached with a safety pin.

A bit of jenes with pink piping for the top went well with the bold multi-colour pattern of the long gown. All accessories are bold multi-coloured: her hair band, bangles and neck piece.

For the engagement ceremony of a cousin, I chose to stitch this lavender colour satin party gown, with side lock, that went well for the evening party.

The left-over's were put to maximum use. The piece of green satin with bronze colour chamki work and the golden colour lace that were the remains of a chocolate box wrapping, was used to make this frock which she wore for a wedding reception.

Inspired by Jyothika, in the song 'Motru ondru...' in the film Kushi, I made this one with a colour change. Replacing the cream colour with peach made it perfect for day and night wear.

The remains after switching a salwar suit from the dress material, was creatively used to stitch this two layer freel frock. All that was spent was the blue satin lace for piping/finishing and zip to fasten.

Many more to follow. Waiting to update with more pic.

In my gene

As I mentioned in another blog of mine, I once had thick-black and long hair. Which is now a chronicle of history for me.

Until my primary schooling I had a cute bob hair cut, when my hair was trimmed regularly to keep it short and manageable. By the time I was in my middle school, I had stopped going to the saloon for the hair cut. May be out of choice, which I cannot no longer remember. My mother applied oil regularly and combed my hair. She made a centre partition to tie up to make two plait that would be folded and tied up with the help of a ribbon. I got compliments from my class teacher for being neat and tidy till the end-of-the-day. To set an example, Mrs. Leema, my class teacher called me to stand in front of the class and showed the other pupils how to pin up hair, that would not be distorted till the end-of-the-day. It encouraged me to nurture my hair. I did not take any extra measures, but to oil and wash regularly to keep away dust and dandruff. Oiling one's hair with plain and pure coconut oil is all one needs for healthy hair.

As years went by, my hair had grown as long as three-feet and still growing, may be genes in fact are partly to credited for this. Just that it took a little longer to wash and dry, there was nothing that bothered me. No special maintenance, or any special oil and shampoo, just the regular ones that the rest of the family used. But have to admit that it would take me over an hour to wash it. Than another hour to remove knots & tangles and brush even. After washing I would never brush them. Just wrap up in a long cotton cloth until all moisture was absorbed. And used a wide-toothed comb, to avoid frizz and split ends. An unwritten rule at my home would be that I enter the bathroom last.

At times, I felt low as I could not reinvent or try some new hair style. The fancy clip and hair accessories that generally fit my friend's hair-do, did not go well with mine. I could not use a lot of clips, buns, slides, clutches, pins that would allow one to style hair. Even a simple pony tail was impossible was I could not roll up the bundle more than once. I had to tie it up or plait it. But was happy that I grew to be popular. People identified me by my long hair. All of us want to have a mane that we can play with at the right time. And even if a woman is not too fond of long hair, she also wants healthy hair and problem free scalp.

There were many occasion, like my wedding, when guests wondered if I was wearing extensions. At my wedding reception, I could not go for a bun, that was in fashion, at that time. I just let loose the hair, with hair-spray to let it stand in place. But, by the end of the show, a lot of it had tangled in the garland around my neck making it impossible to remove without chopping either one of them. I preferred to cut of portion of the hair, not the garland. While many drool longingly at the models in the shampoo ads, which strut their long hair effortlessly in the wind; believe me, it was not that easy, as it looks. More than the cost, the time and energy spent on maintenance is great. If proper care is not taken, they could become dry and brittle, and have split end.

At 4 ft 4 inches, I had to ensure that I hold in my hand and bring it to the front and wear like a dupatta across the shoulder, so that it does not touch the floor rather than sweep it. There have even been times when I sat on my own hair. Once, when driving pavilion in my husband's two wheeler, a traffic inspector alerted me, if my hair would go into the wheels. My in-laws would tease my husband asking to use me for advertisement and endorsement of hair-care products. Or, apply for records. I knew, that the crown sits proudly on the head of the clear winner whose hair was long enough to set the book of records, and mine stood amid a bevy of ladies whose hair barely reaches their knee.

At 5 ft, people would ask me the secret of my long hair, and I would advice saying: Actually it's not too difficult to maintain hair and have a good scalp. Apart from washing it frequently and nourishing it from outside, it's important that you nourish it from within. The actual secret was in my genes.

After the birth of my second child, I went for a tonsure. I could no longer boast of long hair as in my youth since I had now lost the treasured inheritance.

Many had earlier asked me if I felt it heavy on my shoulder, i had immediately reply with a big No. Now i cannot resist the urge to go to the parlour and get a trim if not a full hair cut. I immediately dismiss the thought of growing my hair again, if given a choice. The reason being the time and effort that goes into growing them. Whether it is incorporating a fringe, a splash of colour or adding length and volume to the hair, extensions can help to attain any style in minutes. And Iam quite happy with my less than half-feet long hair now.

Alphabetical Autobiography

A:  Age: [top secret]. Believe in 'Age is an issue of mind over matter' [If you don't mind, it doesn't mater !].
B: Bangalore is my home town and I am extremely glad and proud that I have born and grown up here.
    I hate it when I'm bored to death."
C: Good cloths and Compliments can sustain me for months.
D: I prefer going dutch because I don't want to feel indebt to anyone.
E: That's easier said than done, specially when hubby is around.
F: Whenever I feel blue, I like to listen to music or watch a movie. Family and friends are two of the most important things in my life. I value little else above spending time with them.
G: always wanted to be 'go-getter'.
H: I don't have the guts to go bungee jumping. Hate it when people lie.
I: I believe that Ignorance is no excuse.
J: junk food- i love them.
K: Kind even when I want to be mean
L: love to learn more and more languages.
M: mindful- specially when related to kids.
N: Nick name: Koms
O: optimistic in nature; at times opportunist too.
P: I like to find practical uses for everyday items.
Q: not Quite witty, sarcastic, and a little vain.
R: Rain or shine, one can count me in. I show commitment to word.
S: I spend my leisure time practicing sketching. I consider drawing/painting an area that I am gifted in, and I intend to keep developing that gift.
T: thankful, to my creator.
U: Unlikely to be a CEO, I daydream too much.
V: I am voluminous in personality, if not in physique.
W: Writing is my joy, but i know, iam not that good at it.
X: Xtra weird and proud of it.
Y: Yummy Food, i try to cook.
Z: 'Zindagi jeene ke liye' is my concept of life.

What is in thy name

The only thing that others use more often than me -- my name.

Komala, How I love the very sound of this name! It is pronounced Ko-ma-la and consists of 6 letters and 3 syllables. The popularity of the name Komala has changed over time. The origin of this Hindu name is Indian (Sanskrit) and is commonly used for females, exception listed below.
The meaning of the name Komala is: Pleasing to the senses, Tender, Delicate, soft,  green, [Orange in Manipuri]. Iam true to name, So: 'HANDLE WITH CARE'.
Komala has lots nicknames: Komal, komu,  koms, and so on. But one of my client often mispronounce as 'Kormala'
Some say there's no meaning for KOMALA other than, of course, that it's the name of a Japanese spy.

Some famous personalities by this name are:
Komala valli -- the birth name of J. Jayalalitha---Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Her Royal Highness Princess Komala Saovabha -- was the Princess of Siam[ later Thailand]. She was a daughter of Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam and Chao Chom Manda Wong.
A. P. Komala -- was a South Indian playback singer.
Komalah -- is a Kurdish political party in Iran.
Komala puram--  is a census town in Alappuzha district in Kerala.
Komal Kumar -- is such a Versatile actor in Kannada film Industry.

A Indian vegetarian restaurant chain is quite famous in Singapore, Pure Vegetarian, South Indian Refreshment in Mumbai, too.
Komala cafe. Komala Stores, Komala glasses and Plywood, and  what not !! A TV channel by KOMALA TV too. [www.tvkomala.com/kurdi/index.htm]
But i own none.

Here is the latest news with my name
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23848714