R@J aur Sweety ka Scribble Pad

One of those evenings when solitude beckoned me. Something troubled me deeply, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts I couldn't quite grasp. I couldn't articulate it, but the feeling insisted on solitude. With rain confining me indoors, the only respite was pretending to be engrossed in my laptop. After aimless clicks and a brief glance at the news, I sought solace in familiar melodies.         

It's been a year since Cookie chose us, and what a year it has been! Being the youngest in the family, she has brought us closer together and added a new sense of discipline to our lives. Cookie has become our natural alarm clock, waking us up every day between 5:30 to 6:00 am. She moves from bedroom to bedroom, making sure everyone is awake and won't rest until I take her out for a walk. This routine has been particularly beneficial for me. Although I always enjoyed walking, working from home post-COVID had significantly reduced my activity levels. Thanks to Cookie, my health parameters have returned to normal.    In the past few months, we stopped tying her at night. She now roams freely around the house, finding her best spot to sleep. She has figured out the do's and don't to enjoy the privilege of being left free. On the occasion of her birthday, we were planning a small family get-together. However, we had a health scare with Cookie when she developed some allergi...

Exit polls rarely miss the mark entirely, but this election was an exception. The BJP fell short of an outright majority, yet its pre-poll alliances with the TDP and JDU likely ensured Narendra Modi's return as Prime Minister. Despite the Congress party's celebrations, they still haven't crossed the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha in the last three elections. The Nifty saw a dramatic surge of over 1000 points following the exit polls, only to drop by 1300 points on results day. The TDP, led by Chandrababu Naidu, and the JDU, led by Nitish Kumar, have a history of political flip-flops and maneuvering. With the dust now settled, the National Democratic Alliance, led by Narendra Modi, formed the government on June 9th. The stock markets responded positively, reaching new highs. Although portfolios still need finalizing, it’s clear that the key ministries—Finance, Home, Defence, and External Affairs—will remain with the BJP, ensuring policy continuity. As the swearing-in ceremon...

Writing after a long time. life has been hectic, May has always been about the heat, mangos, and ice cream. This time it has also been about elections and some record voting. The largest democracy in the world has voted and voted decisively to bring back Narendra Damodardas Modi. I voted for BJP and ensured the extended family voted for them. Modi will end up as the most successful Prime Minister of India. four-time Chief Minster and three-time Prime Minister, increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats in each election. BJP is set to expand its presence in every state including the southern states - Andhra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. If exit polls are to be believed BJP alone may cross the 350+ mark, while NDA may end up close to 400. Next week after the declaration of the poll results, the focus will shift back to growth and economy. Yesterday one of my friends called me and he reminded me of what I had said about Nifty in 2019. I had predicted that by 2024 election Nifty would rise 50%...

In life, we often make plans, set goals, and envision our future. However, as the famous boxer Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." This quote isn't just about boxing; it is a universal truth: no matter how meticulously we plan, unforeseen circumstances can knock us off course. So, how do we prepare ourselves and, more importantly, our children to navigate life's inevitable challenges? The answer lies in resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity and persevere in facing challenges. It's a crucial life skill that can help children navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and determination. However teaching the next generation to be resilient can be challenging, especially when they are accustomed to better facilities and lifestyles than we had as kids. One way to help our kids develop resilience is to teach them to embrace the unexpected and remain calm when failure happens. We should coach t...

As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the understanding that challenges are a natural part of life, but with perseverance, they can overcome anything. The quote, often attributed to Lance Armstrong, beautifully encapsulates this message: "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, an hour, a day, or a year, but eventually, it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with?" Life is full of ups and downs, and there will be moments when our children face difficult situations. Whether it's struggling with a challenging school assignment, facing rejection, or dealing with a setback in their hobbies, they may feel like giving up. It's during these times that we can remind them of the importance of perseverance. Pain and challenges are temporary. Like passing clouds...

 Starting 9th April 2024 this year is called Krodhi i.e. Anger in the Telugu calendar. This year as per panchangam is marked by Anger, aggression, and losing temper at the slightest provocations. We are already seeing the anger and aggression across the world. Israel's war against Hamas has spread to Iran, now adding another front to an already multi-front war.  Israel's bombing of the Iranian embassy in Sirya probably has set the ball rolling for World War 3. Surely Russia, China and North Korea must be watching these events very closely.  With this bombing,  the world is bracing itself for an oil price shock, and the US must be happy with the expansion of war. The military-industrial complexes must be salivating for more orders of weapons. 

The global economy is in turmoil, with China facing a slowdown worsened by its aging population. In contrast, the United States has been expanding its money supply, resulting in a massive national debt of 34.4 trillion dollars. The US is accumulating debt at a staggering rate of about one trillion dollars every 100 days and spends approximately 750 billion dollars annually on interest payments alone. the next generation of Americans will have to fund this interest payments. The recent Russian elections have concluded, bringing Putin back to power. The focus now shifts to India, where elections are upcoming. The election commission announced the month-long exercise with poling happening in 7 stages,  Modi is expected to secure a third term with an even larger majority, with the NDA aiming for over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP is hopeful that the Southern states will play a crucial role in swinging the election in their favor. Eagerly looking forward to the June 4th when elect...

It's been a month since I last found the time to write. Life has been hectic; weekends often feel busier than workdays. In this past month, we've crossed the two-year mark in the Ukraine conflict. I remember comparing Ukraine and Afghanistan on LinkedIn at the conflict's onset, likening the situation to the Hind proverb "Paisa Pheko Tamasha Dekho." Despite over 100 Billion Dollars in military assistance poured into Ukraine, the war's momentum remains unchanged. Western arms and ammunition have not lived up to the hype. With the Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, BJP is on a roll, aiming for 370+ Lok Sabha seats. Their star campaigner, as always, seems to be Rahul Gandhi. Some things never change; Rahul has been a youth leader for the past 20 years 😜, despite the numerous launches and relaunches he has not grown up. US elections are around the corner again, the way elections were stolen last time makes Pakistan elections more legitimate. I am sure Bid...

 Over the past month, I've engaged in discussions with four individuals who share a similar background. Each of these conversations revolved around a common theme: the contemplation of returning to India for retirement. These individuals, all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who migrated to the US in the late 90s or early 2000s, have established themselves professionally, with their children either growing up or beginning college. Their considerations for returning to India stemmed from a variety of factors, including societal and personal concerns: - Wokeism, LGBTism, and the state of moral values- they expressed apprehensions about what they perceived as societal changes in the US, particularly regarding issues such as gender identity and moral values. They were vocal about the influence of certain political movements on younger generations. They spoke at lengths about how Democrats are poisoning kids' minds into considering gender change.  - Flawed policies on uncontrolled i...