Storizen Magazine April 2022 | Annie Zaidi

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april 2022

Celebrating 4 Years of Storizen!

A WRITER WITH A RATIONAL EYE

ANNIE ZAIDI Exclusive Digital Issue For more Columns and features, scan the QR code

Exclusive Feature on PAGE 8

Cover Story

Book Reviews

A Writer With a Rational Eye - Annie Zaidi

Swapna Peri

Brand Partners Aleph Book Company Bloomsbury India

Editors Pria Raiyani Saurabh Chawla

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 7

EDITOR'S NOTE

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STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE The road less traveled...

- Madhumathi H

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COVER STORY A Writer with a Rational Eye Annie Zaidi

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Stay Safe During the Sweltering Summer

- Pria & Swapna 16

STORIZEN HEALTH

- Sushma M Bhardwaj

HOT OFF THE PRESS We Move by Gurnaik Johal - Hachette India

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- Neelakshi Banerjee

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STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Are We Living

HOT OFF THE PRESS

- Madhusudhanan S

Azad Nagar by Laura T. Murphy - HarperCollins India

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Trying to understand Spirituality

HOT OFF THE PRESS Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman - Hachette India

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STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Inner Peace Is The Real Wealth

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HOT OFF THE PRESS The Tiger of Drass by Meena Nayyar and Himmat Singh Shekhawat - HarperCollins India

- Aparna Mukherjee

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STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE How to Measure Success - Mihir Manek

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 46

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE

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Me and my God

STORIZEN REVIEW The Soul Catcher by Monica Bhide

- Suparna Rijhwani

- Swapna Peri

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STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Am I a Chattel

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Premier Amour by Abhay

- Ankur Rastogi

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STORIZEN FOCUS

- Swapna Peri

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STORIZEN REVIEW

Flowing With Life

Over the Edge by Vandana Kumari Jena

- Sumit Gogia

- Swapna Peri

STORIZEN INTERVIEW

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- Riya Gulati

STORIZEN REVIEW ‘Ganga: Reimagining, Rejuvenating, Reconnecting’

by Rajiv Ranjan Mishra & Puskal Upadhyay - Abhijit Basu

STORIZEN ASTRO Monthly Horoscope - May 2022

Interview: Ravi Gupta

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STORIZEN REVIEW

- Himani Goyal

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STORIZEN POETRY Speck in the Crowd - Vidya Shankar

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STORIZEN POETRY My Faith & You

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STORIZEN REVIEW The Shotgun Wedding by Suchandra Roychowdhury - Swapna Peri

- Shilpa Bamboria

To read Storizen on the web, visit storizen.com. Follow Storizen on Instagram @storizenmag.

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Books we are loving this month

2022

CLICK HERE TO READ NOW! Exclusive Digital Issue For more columns and features, scan below

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from the editor

calling all writers!

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF STORIZEN FAMILY? You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues.

S pirituality is a way of life. It takes you in the right direction,

helps you learn about your own self, gives a purpose tour life, and in this way it uplifts you! Personally, I was more kind of a religious person per se but as soon as I stepped out of the boundary, I realized how stuck I was! The spiritual journey of life is the best journey you can ever crave for or best I could say that it's even worth dying for.

We are delighted to feature on the cover of this month's issue of Storizen, the winner of the Tata Literature Live!

Book of the Year Award - Fiction (2020) for her book Prelude to a Riot, An Author with a Rational Eye, Annie Zaidi. Don't forget to check out the exclusive feature on page 8!

Dedication to reading, and consistency have helped me & many around me gain something in their lives. That's why we encourage you to read consistently by sharing with you the latest releases every month. Do check out the books for this month and let us know your TBR list.

We all know that health is the real wealth, and with this scorching heat we are facing this summer, we seriously need to cool down! We share with you some cool tips to avoid getting affected by the sweltering summer.

This month, we have an inspiring author, teacher, artist, and motivational speaker who is an inspiration to all. A patient with Multiple Sclerosis, she didn't let her disease take control over her dreams. Check out the story of Sumit Gogia inside.

We loved reading all the submissions, articles, and poems we received & are overwhelmed with such a wonderful response from our readers. Keep showering your love & blessings so we can share with you more impactful content every month.

We are sure that you are going to love this issue and keep coming back for reading it again. Do share with your friends and family members.

Happy Reading!

editor@storizen.com Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief

COVER STORY

A WRITER WITH A RATIONAL EYE

ANNIE ZAIDI A Storizen Exclusive Feature Having seen a lot of Struggles and coming a long way as a writer to winning the prestigious Tata Literature Live! Book of the Year Award Fiction(2020) for her book Prelude to a Riot, Journalist & Author Annie Zaidi is back with another book, City of the Incident!

by Pria & Swapna Peri

The years we spend growing up play a crucial role in building up the foundation of our thoughts, and our beliefs in the upcoming adulthood we are venturing into.

Born into a family that all supported the art and literature, who would have known that one day, she would herself become a writer and would receive the prestigious Tata Literature Live! Book of the Year Award - Fiction (2020), the author of the Book "Prelude to a Riot", Annie Zaidi shares with us her journey as a 8

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writer with Storizen & we also discuss her latest release, City of Incident.

EVOLUTION AS A WRITER Born & brought up in a tiny place with no access to cinemas or restaurants, Annie was not devoid of reading books.

"Reading was the one thing that was not interrupted in my life. I grew up in a tiny place without access to restaurants or cinemas or even public transport. My mother ensured a steady supply of books. I wrote some essays and debate speeches in school but had no literary ambition. It was only in college that I APRIL 2022

Annie Zaidi: Author

Books were my principal entertainment, my window to the world, and my succor when I felt isolated and lonely.

COVER STORY

realized that I was perhaps good with words and decided to train as a journalist, so I could continue writing in one form or another, " she says.

Be it a birthday or a long train journey, she received books as a gift that probably helped her in building up that reading habit. "We were given books at birthdays, books for long train journeys, and books were privileged over new clothes or jewelry. Most of my reading was fiction but my mother did spend substantial amounts of her small savings on Reader’s Digest subscriptions and books about architecture or flowers, or the basics of medical science or the human body."

We believe that reading not only enhances our vocabulary but also helps us in becoming open-minded.

Annie is glad to grow up reading a lot and how it has helped her in her life.

"Books were my principal entertainment, my window to the world, and my succor when I felt

isolated and lonely. In retrospect, I am glad that, as a child and teenager, I didn’t have access to 24/7 TV programming, multiple channels, the Internet, or video games. That’s how I stayed invested in the text as a way of thinking, which was essential for my own formation as a thinker," she elaborates further.

REVELATION OF FEMINISM Unlike many, Annie had realized that she has a feminist inclination in her 20s. She also shares with us how she understood the true meaning of being a feminist as she grew up. "As a child, the only exposure I had to the word ‘feminist’ was that these women were objects of some ridicule. Whenever I expressed opinions about gender and women’s lives, the word ‘feminist’ would pop up, not always in a complementary fashion."

What helped her in deeply understand being a feminist was reading a lot of non-fiction. "Reading the history of women’s movements, meeting older

In retrospect, I am glad that, as a child and teenager, I didn’t have access to 24/7 TV programming, multiple channels, the Internet, or video games.

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women who proudly wore the feminist label changed everything for me. Everything that is decent in this world, and most political movements that have led us towards a better, more equitable politics or made the world more livable, were linked to feminist struggle," she says.

Not only reading about such struggles but documenting them helped her in deciphering the true meaning of being a feminist.

"The work of documenting these struggles, especially in India, has also fallen to feminists and Zubaan (publisher) has played a major role, as have other presses like Kali for Women, Women Unlimited, StreeSamya, and others in different Indian languages," she elucidates further.

TAKING ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT As a journalist, Annie is vocal about women & their freedom.

We wanted a glimpse of her thoughts about women's empowerment in the country & its impact when she got vocal about it. She was quite not happy with the kind of progress APRIL 2022

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in bringing up the change. "My views about the history of women and their dis/empowerment are constantly evolving as I read further. But I do think that we are at a fragile moment in time. Women made great progress since the reform movements of the late nineteenth, and early twentieth century and since 1947, with so much investment in school and college education. But since I started writing, I’ve noticed that there hasn’t been enough of a progressive forward push."

Touching upon the cases of domestic violence, dowry & safety of women, she also condemns the lawmakers for not enabling the women's agency.

Talking about it, she says, " Much of our society, and our law-makers, are unwilling to do something as simple and small as declaring that women have an absolute, inalienable right to decide whom they want to have sex with, and whose children they want to bear. How can any individual be said to be free, if she is not free to do what she wants with her own body?

Similarly, there is a security discourse viz women, but there is no conversation around the fact that women must have secure jobs and the ways in which overall unemployment is worse for women."

On her thoughts of empowering women, she backs literature.

Humanity has lost its course with time and literature can bring it back on track provided it itself is in the right direction. Discussing this, she says, "Literature can help humanity, provided it is allowed to. This is also why cultural expression of any kind is so tightly monitored and controlled. The objectification or dehumanization of women comes from particular cultural narratives after all. Women have challenged these narratives by establishing their own counter-narratives. Or they have made a lot of noise complaining about their grief and anger at certain representations, certain public conversations, and if they have not been able to shame

Literature can help humanity, provided it is allowed to. This is also why cultural expression of any kind is so tightly monitored and controlled.

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COVER STORY

everyone, they have at least made a few people nervous enough to tweak the kind of stories they tell."

INSPIRATION BEHIND CITY OF INCIDENT Every writer derives some inspiration from the book he or she writes. For Annie, she derives her inspiration from the places she lives in. Answering the question of what inspired her to write the book, she says, "The city itself is an inspiration. I’ve lived in big cities over the last two decades and I find there is inspiration (romance as well as tragedy) lurking in every corner, every apartment. It is also obvious that our lives are extremely interconnected. I noticed how one person’s heartbreak, can be made suddenly visible in all its nervewracking, blood-and-bone intensity in our public spaces. I also see the ways in which people reach out to help, reach out for love, in hundreds of ways."

artists, I think, the main challenge is financial. My family wasn’t wealthy and going to another city for higher education meant being very, very careful with what I could do, what experiences I could risk. I couldn’t afford to be a full-time ‘creative writer’ and still can’t afford to be one."

The one statement that hurt her the most is about something that is written from the heart of what the writer actually wants to convey through the written word. "The one thing that hurts most, of course, is that horrible gas-lightey sentence: 'But people don’t want to read/see that."

She continues, "This is antithetical to art itself. Our job is not to deliver a product made to specifications. It is to offer them something that may delight, shame, surprise people, or make them reflect, empathize, or even, want to change."

THE CHALLENGE Artists crave good critics ratings, great reviews, awards, etc. For Annie, the struggle & the challenge was financial. "For me, and for most

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FINAL WORDS It was a pleasure discussing her journey as a writer & how her struggles helped her shape up as a strong individual, we asked her about any advice she would like to share with our readers. "Read widely, and without fear. Read compulsively. Gift books. Read poetry aloud. Read as a way of experiencing life in all its fullness," she says.

We thank her for her time and congratulate her once again for winning the award for her book Prelude to a Riot. We wish her all the best for her latest book and future projects & we are sure that they will appeal to readers not only across India but abroad as well!

About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too.

She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.

(As told to Pria and Swapna)

pria@storizen.com

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Hot Off the Press Mapping an area of West London, these stories chart a wider narrative about the movement of multiple generations of immigrants. In acts of startling imagination, Gurnaik Johal's debut brings together the past and the present, the local and the global, to show the surprising ways we come together.

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HOTthe OFFpress A powerful guide to owning our emotionseven the difficult ones-in order to show up authentically in the world, from the popular therapist behind the Instagram account @sitwithwhit.

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Azad Nagar by Laura T. Murphy

Millions of people around the world today are enslaved; nearly eight million of them live in India, more than anywhere else. This book is the story of a small group of enslaved villagers in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, who founded their own town of Azad Nagar after staging a rebellion against their slaveholders.

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STORIZEN EVENTS

Laura T. Murphy is a Professor of Human Rights and Contemporary Slavery at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. Her work has been funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the British Academy, and the National Humanities Center.

ABOUT THE BOOK A celebrated revolution brought freedom to a group of enslaved people in northern India – or did it?

Millions of people around the world today are enslaved; nearly eight million of them live in India, more than anywhere else.

This book is the story of a small group of enslaved villagers in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, who founded their own town of Azad Nagar after staging a rebellion against their slaveholders.

International organizations championed this as a nonviolent ‘silent revolution’ that inspired other villagers to fight for their own freedom. But Laura T. Murphy, a leading scholar of contemporary global slavery, who spent years researching and teaching about Azad Nagar, found that whispers and deflections suggested there was something troubling about Azad Nagar’s success.

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Murphy embarks on a Rashomon-like retelling – a complex, constantly changing the narrative of a murder that captures better than any sanitized account just why it is that slavery continues to exist in the 21st century. Azad Nagar’s enormous struggle to gain and maintain liberty shows why it is unrealistic to expect radical change without violent protest – and how a global construction boom is deepening and broadening the alienation of impoverished people around the world.

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The Tiger of Drass by Meena Nayyar and Himmat Singh Shekhawat

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STORIZEN EVENTS

Meena Nayyar is the mother of Capt. Anuj Nayyar, MVC – a retired librarian of Delhi University, a protective mother, and a loving wife.

Himmat Singh Shekhawat has made it his life’s mission to help the families of fallen soldiers and share their stories with the world.

ABOUT THE BOOK In May 1999, the Kargil insurgency was still being viewed as a routine affair. No one quite understood the magnitude of the situation. However, it soon emerged that infiltrators had captured high-altitude posts vacated by Indian soldiers during the winter months and thus had a tactical upper hand, while the Indian Army struggled with intelligence.

neutralized tens of infiltrators in close combat. During the attack on the fourth bunker, the twenty-three-year-old captain was hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade, dying instantly but saving the lives of fifteen men in the process, who eventually finished the mission and hoisted the Indian flag on the peak.

For the next month or so, Capt. Anuj Nayyar and the men of 17 Jat went on various reconnaissance missions in the boulder-strewn Drass sector where enemy troops had set up base. They fought relentlessly in a gruesome battle for two nights in July, before securing the peak that was critical to the success of Operation Vijay and India’s victory in Kargil. Amid heavy artillery and mortar fire, they destroyed four enemy bunkers and APRIL 2022

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The Road Less Traveled

by Madhumathi H

T

he road less traveled always fascinates me. Tired of the cliche, rat race, the mundane, the seeker in me land in love with moments, unfriending haste...

Journeys began, and so did challenges, and chaos as part of life.

Untrodden paths are rarely understood, yet I was/am determined, not to let go of my dreams, quest, and the pilgrimage inward...

The bunch of "Who am I? What's my purpose? Am I doing it right?! What if...

If only", questions and sighs weighed me down often.

To quote Emily Dickinson,

My Anchor, hope to hold on are in different forms since childhood.

I address the conversations

Almighty,

have

with Him/Her like how I would speak to a family member/close friend. Felt no gap between myself, and the divine.

Yet yet yet!

I have felt a huge void, lost the light, and route, and felt let down, too.

Broken, frustrated, I have been listening to tired angry voices from within...

So what calmed/calms me?!

"I am out with a lantern, looking for myself", was/is me.

Solitude. Silence. Nature.

But the universe never fails to answer.

In silence, we hear the much-needed answer...

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In solitude Nature gifts all the healing, and clarity, to gather one's spirits and move forward in replenished hope...

I also realized, that the more I listened calmly, the more I observed, the better and easier life unfolds...

And, it's uplifting to listen within in surrender, knowing where our search actually begins, ends, and maybe, flows into eternity...

I find the true meaning of life, through art.

All forms of art. Especially in writing. A river of joy flows within, every time someone says, they could relate to my poems, write-ups, or my words changed their perspective, made their day...

The true meaning of life blossoms within, when one evolves as a giver.

Giver of love, hope, time, knowledge, compassion, gratitude, and humility...

Reaching out to a weary soul with a cup of tea, a few loaves of bread is GIVING. For that soul, no amount of gold or diamonds would give happiness but that moment's hunger understood, and being fed would gift abundant joy. Being a chosen instrument to be a giver, 3fibd me in the happiness that twinkle in others' eyes, and tears that flow out of love, a sense of peace...

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I find myself in moments when the divine speaks to me through my words.

My poems question me at times, why am I far away from the thoughts, and emotions that are brimming in the art I create with so much love...

I realize, I evolve through my words...

I wrap my soul with my own words and feel at home.

Life is a journey and not a destination. I have been discovering life's meaning in moments that gave me wings to fly, and in moments that broke my wings too...

The seeker-dreamer in me, often finds it difficult to go with the flow of realities.

Finding responsibilities overwhelming, but amid all the challenges, and chaos, I feel the light from within whisper, "One day at a time... One baby step at a time", and that's how I meet life...

That is how I evolve spiritually, and emotionally, allowing the lessons learned, to nourish my body and mind...

I travel the road less traveled. Please to meet my heart prints...

A bilingual poet-writer(Tamil, English), Madhumathi is an ardent lover of Nature, Poetry, Photography, and Music. Her poems are published in Anthologies of The Poetry Society(India), AIFEST 2020 Poetry contest Anthology, CPC- Chennai Poetry Circle, IPC – India Poetry Circle, Amaravati Poetic Prism, and in e-zines UGC approved Muse India, Storizen, OPA – Our Poetry Archives, IWJ International Writers Journal, Positive Vibes, and Science Shore. ‘’Ignite Poetry'’, “Arising from the dust”, “Painting Dreams", and “Shards of the unsung Poesies" are some of the recent Anthologies her poems, and write-ups are part of.

Besides Poetry, Madhumathi writes on Mental health, to create awareness and break the stigma, strongly believing in the therapeutic and transformational power of words.

Contact: madhumathi.poetry@gmail.com

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TIME '

IT S SUMMER !

1990 NOW

2022

WWW.STORIZEN.COM

by Sushma M Bhardwaj

STORIZEN HEALTH

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. It does not intend to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases. Get the help of a certified medical professional or a certified dietician before making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

D

If the suspected hospitalized person immediately. older people children sick or overweight individuals are at great risk of extreme heat.

uring extreme heat, our body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature which can lead to death. there are more deaths reported during summer than in any other season.

First of all we have to diagnose the signs of heatstroke: 1) Extremely high temperature 2) Red hot and dry skin with no sweat 3) Rapid Pulse Rate 4) Muscle pain or spasm in the stomach arm or legs 5) Nausea, weakness, vomiting, dizziness, confusion & unconsciousness

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Some Initial Precautions During Summer: 1) Take cool showers or baths 2) Wear loose lightweight light-colored clothing 3) If outside, try to find shade.

9) Avoid alcohol and sugary soda press for homemade drinks like lemon water mint water buttermilk etc.

10) Do not eat spicy and fried food

4) Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated

11) Drink a lot of water even when you're not feeling thirsty

5) Avoid high energy activities during midday heat

12) Use umbrella or cap during known and use sunscreen

6) Use fewer ovens to reduce the temperature of home Some initial precautions during summer

13) Do not rely on fans, as your primary cooling device as fans create airflow and give a false sense of comfort.

7) Using a mask, make sure it is made of cotton material rather than polyester 8) Don't drink too much aeriated drinks as they give false feeling of coolness

Besides these, you can practice the following: Be aware of the weather forecast, take small meals & food with higher water content (fruits and vegetables), protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, putting your feet in cold water can help a lot in cooling the body

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14) Go to community placed to stay cool as library or shopping center 15) Use window reflectors to reflect heat outside

By practicing all these precautions, you will be able to stay safe and healthy during the sweltering summer.

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Trying to Understand Spirituality

by Neelakshi Banerjee

S

pirituality is a realization, a state of mind of supreme bliss, a vehicle to attain everlasting happiness. In books, there are more literary meanings for the terms. But I feel it is subjective, distinct for different people, varying from man to man. But there is a stark difference between religion and spirituality where the former is somewhat subsumed within the latter. Spirituality transcends the boundary of religion and becomes much bigger, much greater.It emanates unfettered peace, a subtle sort of contentment, distinct from the transitory sense of exhilaration and is actually a process of attainment of happiness which means the addition of positivity with the removal of negativity.

Happiness is a state of mind driven by optimism, contentment & joy which is long-lasting. It can be attained by directing our thoughts with the oars of wisdom and knowledge in a positive direction and then sustaining it. And spirituality is one means of attaining it.

There are certain attributes of spirituality that infuse an innate impression within our mind and hence evoke unadulterated happiness.

For example, the belief of someone higher is looking over us and we are under his divine providence, this very faith forges us with newfound strength and hence instill a fresh sense of confidence in our heart to perform well in our day-to-day activities. Faith, an

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the outcome of spiritual belief is an anchor which holds our hope in trying times and prevents it from getting extinguished.

Spirituality helps us to demolish the citadel of superstitions and walk boldly with faith as our guiding light.It broadens our intellect without making us arrogant. It provides us wisdom to direct our knowledge in the right direction.

Spirituality helps in fortifying concentration. As Swami Vivekananda said “The power of concentration is the only key to the treasure-house of knowledge”, spirituality helps in the attainment of true knowledge, of sagacity to discern the right from the wrong.

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realization of Self(parajnana) which is spiritual knowledge. Our six ancient schools of philosophy also explicitly talk of spirituality. Samkhya's philosophical system talks of Prakriti(energy) and Purusha(mind) from which the reality which we are perceiving has emerged.

The belief in a higher power and our connection with him is a fundamental aspect of spirituality and is clearly enumerated in Ramanuja’s Visishtadvaita or Nimbarka’sDvaitadvaita which tells us about our relation(atman) with Almighty (Brahman).

Spirituality emanates peace and hope and is efficacious to battle depression.

It inculcates within us a sense of compassion, empathy, philanthropy & a sense of happiness. We have often felt untainted joy when helping others or doing some charity. This is an outcome of spirituality.

Spirituality is a balm to calm a raging mind and instill in it a sense of purpose.

And when it is coupled with some healing tunes it magnifies its influence.

Often religion is intricately related to spiritualism where practicing certain religious customs provides enormous peace to the devotees.

Our Vedas are a treasure trove of spiritual knowledge.

Veda means knowledge. One type of knowledge is subject to time, space, or person(aparajnana) while the other is the 32

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It also bolsters hope in a dying heart and is a perfect tonic to fight anxiety.

It is also a source of happiness and thus fortifies our immune system.

Meditation is also another method of practicing spiritualism that not only improves concentration but also attenuates stress.

This when supplemented by yoga becomes a panacea for a plethora of problems.

Every person's methods to practice, spirituality may vary. While some may find indomitable happiness in religion, for others practicing philanthropy is the road to unimpeded joy and for some meditation may bring the long-awaited peace. But the one thread connecting all these is the quest for joy much larger than one attained through materialistic means.

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From my personal experience, I can attest to the magical impact of concentration when aligned with the right dose of healing music and pranayama. Once in a bumpy flight and amid an extensive feeling of trepidation, my stomach churned in anxiety making my breath erratic. I silently resorted to listening to Mozart's healing music on the LCD screen fixed within the front seat and supplemented it with the rhythmic pressing of my nose to prodigally inhale oxygen and amid the hue and cry of the airplane I delved into a subtle sense of tranquillity only to wake up to find the airplane reinstated to its normalcy.

For me spirituality is much bigger than religion, it is a faith unshaken and a belief in The Almighty protecting us which gives me the strength to walk in my life with a smile.

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My name is Neelakshi Banerjee.

Recently I have developed a budding interest to delve through the subtle beauty of art and articulate my imaginations with the help of words.

Music holds a pivotal place in my life.

Though am an engineer by profession I believe both science and arts are equally imperative to make this world a more beautiful place.

@justice11254

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by Madhusudhanan S

one day you will realize your journey

H

ave you ever pondered on this question! Are we living life or life is living us? For many people, life is living us. Before that arises an important question – what is life? The simple definition is that any aspect of existence that acts, reacts, processes, evaluates, and evolves (through reproduction and metabolism) is called life. Now coming back to the previous statement that - in most or for many of us the life is living us – this may have puzzled many. But, that’s the truth.

Many people don’t live life consciously in the world. Many of us get up in the morning rush to the office/school/ college and come back in the evening to watch TV/ Favourite series/ Movies/ read some books to relax and hit the sack (go to bed to sleep). Along with that, we enjoy having some great dinners or partying out during the weekends with friends.

Many may ask what’s wrong with it what else is there to do in life!? Nothing wrong with enjoying life - in fact, one should celebrate life (as it’s a rare gift), but not in a way or to the extent that our life has lived us. Many may wonder what the writer is trying to say, well it is important for us first to understand what is life and whether we are living life or life is living us. Now coming to the point, that very few of us live life consciously.

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PONDERING OVER THE PURPOSE OF LIFE: Many may exclaim by seeing the subhead “oh it's philosophical stuff!! Oh god!!” No, it’s a very simple question that have we ever pondered over the purpose of life. The purpose of life may be different for each person, but in the race of success or say even in the race of life, have you ever wondered what the purpose of life is for me? Have we ever taken the time or taken a pause in life to ponder over where we are leading to? Today life has become more stressful for many because they have forgotten to relax and few of them live life in such a way that they even forget to smile at times.

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Many of us are getting lost in the race to success. Living consciously in day-to-day life is very important in order to feel Alive/Lively. Many of us are living, but, how many of us are feeling alive or say lively every day!? Most of our time is lost in chasing after success in work areas/ education or some other things. How many of us enjoy the morning sunshine or evening sunset or bird chirpings without any other thoughts?

Simple living can bring more joy, and success in life provided one life more consciously. A simple life can be by doing simple things like i) Spending Early morning with sunshine/ listening to birds chirping/Watching the sunset (without any other thoughts) ii) Doing meditation/ or listening to any music or doing anything where we forget ourselves in it iii) Spending more time with family members and having a better understanding of their needs iv) Spending quality time with friends (without any gossip) v) Without Judging anyone (no matter who they are) vi) Giving your ears or say listening to the people who are in agony and help them if possible (even speaking some kind words can be a good uplift for them)

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The above list is just an example and not necessarily the ultimate for living a simple life. It’s our life and we need to live life and life should not live us. Let us make our life count to the extent possible. As a famous anonymous quote says “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”Let us try to lead such a conscious life.

Madhusudhanan S is an Economist by profession. He loves to write Fiction and issues on Economics.

As our Great Indian Saint, Sri AadhiShankarcharya said in Vivekachudamani, “Durlabham Trayamevaitat Daivanugrahahetukam; Manushyatvam……” that is “Three things are very difficult to obtain. Only through the grace of God, these can be obtained. To be born as a human being (is no small privilege)…..”

Many Saints in India have said that “Rare is human life”, so let us try to live it more consciously and do not waste this rare opportunity called Human Life.

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INNER PEACE IS THE REAL WEALTH

"Wish You All A Peaceful."

by Aparna Mukherjee

I

n the materialistic world, everyone runs after materialistic things. The more you have wealth, the more you run for it.

Your friend or relative has bought a new four-room apartment in a 43-story building. You are staying in a one-bhk flat. You wish to flaunt money like your relatives or friends. You wish to splurge money on expensive items in shopping malls. You wish to dine in high-class restaurants and stay lavishly in the luxurious ambiance of your flat. You wish to flaunt your diamond jewelry to your friends. To fulfill all your wishes, you need ample money.

You also might have to take the wrong path to fulfill your big materialistic dreams. Today's world is a competitive world where every person is running after money in the hope of becoming wealthy. In a bid to become a well-off person, you have to gain wealth in abundance. As a result, you will affect your health, and eventually, you will

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end up with a serious health issue that could be life-threatening.

It is known to all people that wealth is important for survival. When you earn money to become rich or to compete with your friend's or other's wealth, then you start harming your health.

Competing with your relatives, neighbors, or your friends in terms of wealth can take a toll on your life. You have to strive hard and work day and night to earn wealth. Stress, anxiety and tension will surround you. Finally, when you earn loads of money and become successful in becoming a wealthy person, then you will not be in a condition to enjoy your wealth. The reason is you have lost your inner peace by the time you become rich.

It is a fact that money helps you give the materialistic things you have ever wished for yourself. At the same time, you should keep in mind that you are STORIZEN MAGAZINE

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losing your inner peace which is more important than your money. What will you do with lots of money when you do not get inner peace? Even after earning money, you feel restless, you do not have time to eat and you do not get sound sleep at night. You take the help of sleeping pills to sleep, your blood pressure mounts day by day because of your imbalanced lifestyle.

If you are looking for inner peace, then you should pay heed to your body and mind. You should heal your soul with meditation and yoga. It is necessary to realize that money is the necessity of life but do not run after earning lots and lots of wealth which will steal your inner peace. When you are satisfied from within, then you will feel your surroundings happy. Spiritual upliftment can be a turning point and can help you attain peace. When you see lots of money in your bank account, you will feel elated which is natural. But, when you feel satisfied or when your soul is at peace, you will feel that your mind is starting to heal from within and you will get energy in abundance.

Start doing meditation in the morning which will give your mind the peace it needs. Treat your mind and body as a temple and worship every day with good thoughts, a healthy diet, rest, proper sleep, and meditation. It is important to realize that your inner peace is your biggest wealth. Running after materialistic stuff will give you happiness for the time being. Eventually, you need peace of 40

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mind which is more precious than diamonds.

When you awaken spiritually, then you realize the value of peace which is extremely essential in your life.

In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master's degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online Senior Content Writer and Blogger who writes informative articles for various Indian, UK, and US blogs and websites.

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by Mihir Manek

W

hat is success? Is there a tangible yardstick to measure it? Or is it a state of mind? When can we say that we are truly successful in life? Let’s try and explore the possibility of measuring a term, we use frequently in our conversations. Let’s try and see if we really balance the success in our lives or fall prey to the golden deer who always evades us.

Success is a subjective term. It means different things to different people. A beggar will have a sense of contentment and probably feel successful even if he manages to get fifty rupees a day. However, a business tycoon’s appetite for multi-million-dollar deals may keep on increasing with every deal he clinches.

A classic example of what success means to different people can be found in the 70’s classic blockbuster ‘Deewar’, where Big B’s character arrogantly says he is successful because he owns a house, car, and several other add-ons; to which his brother retorts, “Mere Paas Maa Hai”. Sure enough, different yardsticks were used by both individuals to measure success.

Success is often scripted by the underlying character of the individual.

Character, in turn, is an amalgamation of four different aspects, which, consciously or otherwise, govern our lives. These four aspects, when viewed

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The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.

- Thomas A. Edison.

collectively through the prism of character, decide how we live our life.

The four aspects are spirituality, relationships, health, and wealth, in that order. The order is based on the priority which we should be giving in our lives.

However, in practical life, we tend to follow the aspects in the reverse order.

Each of these aspects brings about inner instincts in an individual that helps him to strive and achieve success. Let’s try and understand them and their influence on our character.

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Spirituality is the process of connecting with the Supreme power above. In many ways, this aspect is more important than others. It is a foundation on which the pillar of our character is built. So, how do we connect to the One above? Many spiritual books have been written and many spiritual leaders have given hearttouching speeches. Does the process end by reading a book or listening to a good orator? Spirituality is a continuous process that needs to be inculcated in our lives. It’s not as complicated as it sounds.

Greater than anything you desire, connecting with the source allows you to develop a relationship with the Source.

You may have heard it before - go with the flow. It does not mean that you must be a part of a herd. It simply means to connect with the source and let the life flow. Don’t overburden yourself with the pressures of life. Give it your best shot and leave the rest to the Mighty source above. He knows what is best for you.

Trust Him and just go with the flow.

Relationships are all about interactions with different individuals. It begins from the moment we are born till the time we die. The relationship-building process, as we know it, begins at home. David O McKay, a religious leader, once said, “No success can compensate for failures at home.” The fullness of success is enjoyed when we share it with others. It has rightly been said that if you want to see a man’s character, see how many people are happy when he is successful. It shows the true character of the person. Sharing

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Spirituality is the process of connecting with the Supreme power above. In many ways, this aspect is more important than others.

your success within the relationships strengthens the chords of emotional bonding, which in turn increases the emotional quotient of the individual.

Health brings about an instinct for wellbeing. Every individual is striving to upgrade his or her personal life. You must have heard this before; a healthy mind leads to a healthy body. However, these days healthy body leads to, well, a subconsciously arrogant mind. Being healthy encompasses the mind, body as well as soul. We should try to achieve a sense of well-being in all these aspects. A healthy mind and a healthy body can do wonders to the character of a person as well as for the people around him.

Wealth creation is essential for the survival of mankind. Wealth creation leads to value addition in whatever we strive to achieve. The process of wealth creation was with an intention to add value to the work as well as to the character of a person. Creative satisfaction was of more importance than APRIL 2022

wealth creation. However, over time, in a bid to increase the pace of wealth creation, value addition and creativity have taken a backseat. This in turn may lead to the deterioration of the character of an individual. Wealth creation is essential for survival.

However, the ways and means to achieve wealth are also of utmost importance. Wealth created unethically goes as quickly as it comes. Hence, wealth creation and value addition to the society as well as the self should go hand in hand.

It is very important to have the right balance in all these aspects of our lives to love and be loved. Without these aspects, we are more like a lifeguard who can’t swim. Each of us possesses all these quality aspects, albeit in varying degrees. We only need to polish and refine them a little to make our lives worthwhile and make the world a better place to live. When you know who you are and you are confident that you are headed in the right direction, success follows eventually. The irony with success is, that you don’t have to push too hard. It is more like a shadow; you move ahead and it will follow you. However, if you try to run after it, you will never be able to catch it.

Mihir is a finance professional based out of Bangalore. In his free time, he likes to read, cook & create new recipes for cocktails. Given a chance, he would like to explore every nook and corner of the world, living with the locals and recreating their life. A sucker for the latest tech gadgets and a student of geopolitics, history & mythology; you can have a conversation with him on literally any topic. @mihirmanek

Take a moment right now and stop what you are doing. Take a careful look at these four aspects of your life and see whether your instincts are headed in the right direction.

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Me and my God

by Suparna Rijhwani

I

’m not an atheist and I’m not a part of a planned religious group.

I am but a handshake with God. ‘God’…. that word has been overused, over-interpreted, and then defiled to a certain extent…

Some would say half of our world’s problems would disappear if God was not in the picture.

Maybe, maybe not!

However why blame everything on that undefined force and not on the herd mentality we have as humans?

Validation, belonging and selfrealization through others, is what most people associate with God. God to me is just the opposite, it is believing in oneself, creating rather than destroying, and knowing you are never truly alone, even if you are sitting by yourself on a couch.

God is synonymous with spirituality, the journey to connect with oneself and be at peace with the revelation that comes through.

On several occasions have I discovered and touched the force, on several occasions when I could have swerved and crashed, has that force aligned me to stay on course.

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God is but a personal dialogue for me when I almost gave up when I lost hope and was at my lowest!

When I became a mother, it was that life force touching me.

When I moved to another country and sought to build a new life, it was that force that made me stay afloat.

When COVID struck and I missed seeing my parents for 3 years, it was that force that did not let me lose hope.

Every second I breathe I can feel its presence, every wrong step that I take I face consequences.

Suparna is a creative person with a strong inclination toward education and writing. She loves to travel, do maths & be a parent. Over the course of years she has written for many blogs and maintains her own personal blog, along with that she co-founded an online magazine Festive Riot, focusing on festivals.

However, God is not a ‘punishing stick’ nor a ‘wishing well’.

It is a barometer of your inner awareness!

Spirituality or ‘God’ to me is being so tuned to oneself that there is no way forward than the one filled with hope, compassion, and determination to go through with this journey called LIFE!

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AM I A CHATTEL (MARITAL RAPE)

by Ankur R Gupta

Many stories are not written on paper but are written on the body and minds of women.

-Amrita Pritam

R

iya was standing on her balcony staring at the tiny droplets from last night’s rain still clinging to the glass of a window.

Golden rays of dawn falling on her face unveiled the bruises, silently screaming out an untold story. She continued looking at the droplets on the window and muttered," why are you still clinging to this window, go and set yourself free". Suddenly, she felt the droplet whispering to her, “Are you able to break free?”

“Coffee”, said a voice behind her, breaking the chain of her thoughts. She turned to see her childhood friend Maya holding a hot coffee mug. Riya silently took the mug from her. “Now, tell me Riya, what happened last night”, asked Maya with concern. Her heart sunk when early morning she saw Riya at her doorstep. She looked like a ghost, pale, listless covered with bruises and bitten marks all over her body. She was trembling and tears were profusely falling from her eyes.

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“He raped me, Maya”, howled Riya with grief. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Who? screamed Maya anxiously.

“Ravi”, she cried with anguish. Kya! your husband, Maya voiced with distress. “Yes”, nodded Riya. “I kept pleading but it went unheard”. “He disrobed me and mocked me that I should feel blessed for being loved by him”. “Then he bent down on me like a vulture to feed on every part of me”, cried Riya inconsolably. The agony of humiliation, the trauma she has gone through kept pouring out.

“Oh! Dear” said Maya when Riya paused narrating her ordeal. She then put her hand around Riya to comfort her. For while no one spoke as it was hard for them to understand what happened?

“Riya, did you do anything to make him angry?” asked Maya. “Nahi” replied Riya with despair. “During my six months of marriage, I well understood that he has a short temper and a dominating instinct”. “So, I kept ensuring not to do anything that may trigger off his volatile nature”. “But, yesterday I was not feeling well and when he approached me at night in bed, I simply said to him, “Ravi, not today”.

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“The moment I said that”, Riya trembled with fear, “hell broke loose on me and he started abusing me for saying NO to him”.

“Then he pinned me down forcibly”.

“Once he was done, he simply walked out of the room with a smirked smile saying I hoped I learned my lesson of saying NO to him”, cried Riya with agony, and broke down again. Maya tried to console her.

But her heart was seething with anger for what had happened with her beloved friend.

Maya could hear the protesting voices of Riya from the adjoining room where she was on a video call with her parents. After an hour she came out of the room completely drained out. She said in a bleak voice, “Maya, it’s getting dark I need to go”. But why? exclaimed Maya.

“How can you go back into the house to a man who did this to you?” “Then what should I do”, spoke Riya in despair. “How did your family respond?” asked Maya.

“My parent’s initial reaction”, spoke Riya, “was anger but the moment I said that I cannot live with Ravi anymore, their expression changed into fear”. “My mother pleaded with me not to do that” and said, ‘What will the people say? Your action will bring shame to our family in front of our relatives”. “She further added that as a married woman I should learn to compromise on such petty quarrels that are part of everyone’s marriage”.

Maya” replied Riya in a defeated tone. “I had tried talking out with them earlier too about Ravi’s volatile attitude. But they coaxed me out of it advising me to be patient”.

“While in the video call”, added Riya, “I tried protesting, why my consent has no value?” they snapped at me and waive off all this noise about the wife’s consent or wishes as feminist words that have no meaning in real life”.

“My Dad has asked me to go back to Ravi and try not to do anything that infuriates him again”. “I am devasted, Maya, to hear that from him” continued saying Riya sadly. “As a child, my dad never allowed not even my mother to even lay a finger on me”. “But today, (she inhaled sharply) it didn’t take him a second to send me back to a guy who did this to me?”

Quarrels! Outcries Maya. “This is not a mere squabble but a violation of your dignity”. “It’s no point arguing with them 52

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“And Why? just because he is my husband”, added Riya bitterly.

Riya then paused for a moment and spoke again agitatedly “Maya, the problem is, that no one, not even my parents see marital rape as a serious offense”. “In fact, for our patriarchal society, it’s not even an issue to be discussed”.

“You know what my mother just told me” continued saying Riya, “that marriage means a woman completely belongs to her husband especially physically” (she scoffed).“So, Maya technically after marriage we woman become the chattel (personal property) of our husband”, said Riya sarcastically.

She then took a long deep breath to speak again, “I guess they are right”.

“Maybe it was all my fault, and should mend my ways to make this marriage work”. Riya looked at Maya helplessly.

“Are you real! such looser talks from an IIMs pass out, amazing” said Maya critically.

“My dear friend, education gave me financial independence but my roots are attached to my family”, replied Riya. “In no way do I want to be responsible for any embarrassment for my parents and siblings”. “Though however shallow I feel about it”, she sighed with a heavy heart.

“Chalo”, “I need to go, Maya, it’s getting dark, Ravi will be back soon”. As Riya reached the door she turned back and APRIL 2022

spoke again. “Even if I decide to fight against Ravi, who will I approach?”.“I mean even our legal system does not find marital rape an offense”. “So, on what basis, I can end my marriage”, she questioned with despair.

“Maya, being financially independent can be a driving factor but I need the support of my family and law too”, voiced Riya listlessly. “My culprit is not only Ravi but the entire patriarchal system in our country which has disrobed women like me of their dignity”.

“But Riya, how will you live like this?” asked Maya desperately. Riya smiled and spoke in a drowning voice “Khata ka pata nahi baas Saza Kate Jaa Rahe hai…par Kab Tak uska pata nahi”. She sighs with pain and then went out in darkness looming behind many questions.

Is marriage a legal license for marital rape? Why is our society so hell-bent on that a woman is the personal property (a chattel) of her husband?

Our constitution talks about the right to freedom, the right to speak, but when it comes to the right to live life with dignity, why does it stay silent.It is high time that our Judiciary and society stand up to make marital rape a criminal offense too and preserve the dignity of women.

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Marital rape scars may not be visible bodily but cripple a woman’s soul forever.

Ankur R Gupta - I'm a blogger, an author, and a certified content creator.

My writings revolve around the simple motto “Write to bring Smile”. I believe in understanding behavioral aspects of human life linked with their different phases and then ink my words about them in a simplified way to spin out positivity and purpose associated with them.

A hardcore history enthusiast and traveler. I love to read & explore our ancient cultures and civilizations.

My reading page is inkmyword -the reader community.

@writingstomakeyousmile

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LIFE MOTIVATION

Flowing with Life

by Sumit Gogia

S

umit Gogia, an aspiring doctor & juvenile author is an inspiration to many people fighting in their everyday life to achieve their dreams.

Being a patient of multiple sclerosis, a neurological autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which surrounds and protects the nerve fibers, causing inflammation; thus, disrupting the communication between the spinal cord and body organs. All in all, the body loses control over its parts, and a person cannot have reasonable control while talking, walking, and doing daily tasks becomes a challenge.

Despite these challenges, Sumit Gogia decided to not give up on life and achieve her dreams. She has defeated death 7 times, she became an author of 2 books Khwahish and The Unwinded Hope.

Despite her challenging health condition, she didn't give up her studies. Although she aspired to be a doctor, she continued her studies in Commerce stream and completed her Bachelors of Commerce degree.

There was no stopping her after that and she joined her MBA program, but due to some unavoidable circumstances, she had to leave it after completing 3 semesters.

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Sumit Gogia is an author, artist, teacher, and motivational speaker.

Defeating death 7 times, she inspires people to achieve their dreams and never give up.

@sumeet.gogia She says that she had composed her first poem in Grade 3, and ever since, her father has been keeping all the lyrics written by her. Her first book, ‘Khwaish: A Wish,’ is an anthology of 23 poems, each with a beautiful adjoining illustration. You must check the book out!

Having faced challenges in life, she now has become a motivational speaker and aims at inspiring people out there that no matter what life throws at you, face it with utmost confidence, stay grounded and find a solution.

We here at Storizen salute her spirit of motivating and inspiring people, setting an example that no matter what comes into your life, you can do everything you set your mind to!

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A SPECTACULAR INTERVIEW WITH BUSINESS TYCOON & PHILANTHROPIST

Ravi Gupta

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SWADESH GREEN INFRA LIMITED AND DIRECTOR OF INSTINCT INFRA & POWER LIMITED Interviewed by Riya Gulati

Ravi Gupta is a Business Magnate who is the Managing Director of Swadesh Green Infra Limited and Director of Instinct Infra & Power Limited is very well known for his humanitarian work.

The maestro is the Co-Chairman of the Metals & Mineral Committee, P.H.D. Chamber of Commerce & Industry; an alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and national benefactor. As a businessman, he did have his own part of the struggle in the initial years, but he did overcome the same by putting forward his intense efforts that now he has his business lined up in a new domain, i.e., power trading. The entrepreneur has walked the extra mile to touch the lives of people. He is a gem who does charitable work and stands up for social causes. He has even contested the election against Arun Jaitley without any political support whereas his contender had a strong political backup.

He is the pillar of strength of our nation as he has helped the needy students in attaining good education; provided housing facilities, basic livelihood requirements and health benefits to the indigent; and most importantly

generated employment in the nation even when he did not require the workforce. The doyen is a perfect exemplar of what a leader should be likevisionary, brilliant, wise, courageous, humble & compassionate.

I am elated to share the excerpts from one of my favorite interviews with the readers’ coterie: What encouraged you to become an entrepreneur? Who has served as an inspiration for you to enter the business?

I have been brought up in a business family so I was naturally inclined toward running a business. What fascinated me about business was tapping up the creativity and adroitness to bring about a constructive change in my business line. I admiringly regard my father as a true inspiration for me as he was a legendary businessman.

Your businesses are lined up in steel manufacturing and power trading- is there any more area you would like to explore?

I would be delighted to explore the reserves for coking coal and minerals.

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There lies a paucity in their availability and logistics challenges in the mart.

Herein, I would like to collaborate with Kazakhstan marts which have untapped potential for the same.

According to you, what are the key qualities of a business person?

A business person must possess leadership skills, strong determination, sincerity, discipline, perseverance, decisiveness, social skills, integrity, empathy, respectfulness, compassion, a good attitude & willingness to improvise. One must be adaptable to the changes, knowledgeable, up to date & keep on learning new things.

The work ethic and personality of a business person must outshine per se.

You are well known for your generosity and altruistic nature which definitely makes you stand out- what drives you to contribute to societal welfare?

If I see anyone in need of help, I would put an effort to help that person- that’s my natural instinct. It does bring inner joy and contentment to me when I see myself or any other person indulged in the simple act of kindness. We must all endeavor to help others and make the world a better place to live in.

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What has been achievement?

your

milestone

To serve as the Co-Chairman of Minerals & Metals Committee, Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce & Industry- as I got the opportunity to work on the developmental issues.

What improvements do you think are required in the business industry?

Upgrading and rolling out the latest technologies in day-to-day business activities can play a pivotal role in business development. Also, infusing a culture of skill development(periodically)in the staff members can bring about affirmative improvements both on a personal and professional front.

The one change you would like to bring about in the nation and why?

I would like to revamp the education system of our nation. Indeed, our educational system does build up a strong base for our children, but still, many students prefer going abroad for attaining qualitative education which eventually leads to brain drain. Making qualitative education easily accessible to everyone in the home country and that too at a reasonable cost is something that needs some groundwork.

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How has the business sector revolutionized since the time when you started?

Technological advancement has indeed brought a renaissance in the business industry. Also, globalization has opened doors for international trade, services, innovations, and talents which eventually bestowed access to new markets. It has boosted not only the business sector but has also promoted the economic development of our nation.

What recommendations would you like to give to the new entrepreneurs or someone who is planning to start up a business?

Firstly, I would recommend that new or budding entrepreneurs ardently conduct their market research. Herein, you will be required to skillfully formulate your business plan, prudently choose your business structure, study your competitors and customers, get professional help, actively train your employees, assess the legal aspect of your industry, and invest wisely, embrace technology and seize the opportunity. Secondly, always have the right mindset and revamp your business idea from time to time to meet the market and societal demands.

Thirdly, always be keen to learn from mistakes, get organized, write your daily goals and keep detailed records.

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Fourthly, always value your employees and clients. And lastly, do provide great services to the society.

What message would you like to impart to our readers’ club?

“It only gets better when you get better” so invest in yourself and strive to be a better person. Never ever doubt yourself.

Keep on exploring new opportunities.

Enlighten yourself and work smartly towards your goals. Spread good vibes, peace & happiness.

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Riya Gulati is a Paralegal at Law Offices of Caro Kinsella, Ireland. She is LL.M (Intellectual Property & Information Technology) from University College Dublin & BA.LLB from Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University.

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eimag R : a ini g n

conne , Re c t ng

u j v e e na R , t g i n

BOOK REVIEW

g in

G a Reviewed by Abhijit Basu

T

o discerning readers, the book on River Ganga, jointly authored by Mishra and Upadhyay, would stand out as a blueprint for redressing Eliot’s philosophical lament in the context of man’s loving relationship with a great river. It is a labor of love on the part of the authors, presenting before the world the data, information, knowledge, insight, and wisdom elicited by them in their insider roles as drivers of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), arguably one of the world’s most ambitious river management and rejuvenation missions, with profound bearing on ecological, socioeconomic, and emotional sustenance of a whole landmass and its people.

The book provides a veritable wealth of information and analyses – with its vivid exposition of geographical, demographical, hydrological, and sociocultural features of the Indian subcontinent and its metaphorically ‘maternal’ river system of Ganga and her tributaries, flowing through eleven states and providing livelihood to “nearly 43 percent” of Indians. In that sense, it is an integrated case study on managing a great river basin and its connected ecosystem, with all attendant complexities involved in the process.

FEBRUARY 2022

Another notable feature of the work is its exploration of a possible scientific basis behind the widespread belief in the abiding purity of Ganga water. As mentioned by one of the authors, the faith finds expression in the act of sprinkling _Gangajal_ during sanctifying rituals before Hindu devotional rites.

The belief is also supported by the empirical evidence of foreigners carrying loads of putatively therapeutic _Gangajal_ in their transoceanic voyages back home.

The book tells us that scientific studies conducted in collaboration with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) have also confirmed that Ganga waters, despite their heavy pollution load, do retain high levels of dissolved oxygen which is primarily attributable to the presence therein of biologically decontaminating bacteriophages, a gift from the flora and fauna in the river’s upper reaches and the minerals in its bed.

What is no less important is that the whole exposition is both informative and instructive as an aid to understanding the complex issues and as a resource document for present and future action.

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The cogency and lucidity in presenting some of the technical information further make the exposition understandable and interesting to lay readers. As an instance of reader-friendliness, one may, for one thing, cite the simple yet revealing line graphs showing time-trends of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) to show the reduction in pollution load at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Varanasi segments. For another, the twin paradigm of restorative missions of viral Dhara (ensuring adequate ecological river flow) and Nirmal Dhara (maintaining the purity of the river), has been explained well as the background ideas behind the human and infrastructural interventions germane to the effectiveness of the mission. The good effects of expanding the network of

Pic: Puskal Upadhyay

Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in reducing pollutants and retiring waterguzzling Hydroelectric Plants (HEPs) have also been demonstrated with quantitative details supported by qualitative commentaries.

Yet another striking aspect of the book is its engaging commentary on the geodemographic and historical aspects of the upstream and downstream areas washed by Mother Ganga. These parts of the narrative may strike a reader as an evocative travelogue of a journey of discovery across Northern and Eastern India. Equally important are the heartening specifics of that great journey of rejuvenation. These include: the initial

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Pic: Rajiv Ranjan Mishra

FEBRUARY 2022

the success story at Uttarakhand; the industrial challenges faced at Kanpur; the composite approach of sanitation, microbial treatment of sewage, and periodical dismantling of the “world’s largest ephemeral city” at the sprawling temporary township during Kumbh Melas; reviving the glory of eternal Varanasi; refashioning the city-river connect in Bihar; rejuvenating river banks in Jharkhand; “future-proofing” the West Bengal stretch, including measures to withstand the threat of climate change by saving the mangroves on Sundarbans delta. The final chapters, including informative accounts of various Ganga tributaries, constitute a figurative icing on a cake that should be food for thought for people at large.

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STORIZEN REVIEW

A HILLARIOUS POLITICAL ROM-COM! A comic, hilarious tale about romance tangled up in the complex politics of rural Bengal, The Shotgun Wedding is a sparkling debut showing us the power of love once again.

Reviewed by Swapna Peri Sometimes funny and straightforward stories also hold man lessons and morals to be learnt.

This is a rom-com story written against the backdrop of the political scenarios in the Bengal state. The story is set up at a particular time, and the image of students and their active participation in politics is described good. This is the story of the newly appointed lady teacher in the State's rural area. Her plight and her story when new characters get introduced are what make the story.

Apart from being engaging, the narration is informative and humorous. The incidents that involve good humour are always appreciated, and the same is proved here.

STORIZEN REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

Including Dita Roy, a young and intelligent English teacher, Palash Bose, and other characters, including the village, Phulpukur, which has an exciting name, are all well-drafted.

This story explores the darker side of love and how it is exploited for political gains. There are selfish motives and ugly politics involved.

Out protagonist, Dita, makes a place on this roller coaster. All these are written with clear language and good wit. The writing thus makes the story interesting to read.

About the Author Suchandra Roychowdhury is an educator with almost twenty years of teaching experience. She has taught in several well-known colleges in Kolkata and has an MA from Presidency University, Kolkata, and an MPhil from the University of Calcutta. The Shotgun Wedding is her first novel. She lives with her Vijyant Thapar husband and son in Singapore.

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A Must Read

A comic, hilarious tale about romance tangled up in the complex politics of rural Bengal, The Shotgun Wedding is a sparkling debut showing us the power of love once again.

The book has all constructs to be a good entertainer.

Photo by Alexandra Gorn

The Book

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

My Final Verdict The book has all constructs to be a good entertainer.

Rating Final Rating: 3/5 Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date.

Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

APRIL 2022

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A Fight With Destiny!

A story that talks about expecting the unexpected.

Reviewed by Swapna Peri

This is a novel about life & death, hope, loss, discouragement, love & fear in the modern world.

The Soul Catcher this book is a carefully woven garland of small stories in a big story. Each story has a narrative about life, destiny, grief, loss, faith, love, and compassion. The story is a supernatural thriller; there is tragedy and fate involved.

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About the book The Soul Catcher this book is a carefully woven garland of small stories in a big story. Each story has a narrative about life, destiny, grief, loss, faith, love, and compassion. The story is a supernatural thriller; there is tragedy and fate involved.

A Must Read The book is full of drama and activity that will intrigue the reader's mind and thus make a definite entertainer.

BOOK REVIEW

STORIZEN REVIEW

Over the years, though not a fan of supernatural fiction-based books, I have had a chance to read some of these thrillers. In 2022, this happens to be the second book. Also, this is my first book from the author Monica Bhide, and with this experience, I wish to pick up her other books. What I liked in this book were the narration and the storyline.

A very engaging and exciting narration is found in the book. The drama, adventure, and emotions are rightly described.

Yamini is a soul catcher, and she has the power to transport a soul from one body to another. Her character and her deeds are described interestingly. The way she handles every case in transporting her soul from one body to another and the amount of pain, stress, and emotions she undergoes are well explained. Likewise, the other main characters are well crafted.

A fine language with nice vocabulary is found in the book. The language is quite accessible, and a beginner reader can also pick up the book.

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Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

My Final Verdict The book is full of drama and activity that will intrigue the reader's mind and thus make a definite entertainer.

Rating Final Rating: 3/5

Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting is her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has a paved way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

APRIL 2022

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A Beautiful Story!

Reviewed by Swapna Peri

STORIZEN REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

This is a love story with life lessons and emotions. Beginners also can pick up this book. The love story might also appeal to other readers, and hence everyone can read the book.

The book finds engaging narration and a nicely crafted story for a debut novel.

The mountains and their untouched cultures are depicted in the beautiful Zanskar valley. The stories that are woven across many years yield history and emotions. These are narrated in a scenic way where readers will taste the flavor of love and longing.

Pic: Abhay

The story has the lead, and other characters are written with care, honesty, and love. The bond between every character spills out love unconditionally. Jigmet is one of the powerful and nicely written characters.

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About the Book A love story that is at once exciting and tender! The fact and fiction about love stories inevitably merge, and one becomes the other. Premier Amour – First Love brings out this truth vividly.

STORIZEN REVIEW

Book Review

It has got everything to be a good entertainer.

Visit storizen.com for full review

A passionate book reviewer, writer, narrator, translator, and copy editor, Swapna has a B. Tech in Computer Science and is a former SAP Technical Consultant. She is the writer, narrator, editor, and translator for three books published with Literoma Publishing, Kolkata. She created and manages the “Book Reviews Café” official blog and Facebook page that contains all the book reviews.

Swapna is also a content writer and reviewer with Storizen Magazine, CriticSpace Journals website, The Literature Times website, The Asian Review website, and the Literature Today website. She is a columnist with one of the leading women's websites in Telugu named 'Vihanga'. @swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

APRIL 2022

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Over The Edge

by Vandana Kumari Jena

Our Love for

READING Reviewed

by Swapna Peri

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STORIZEN REVIEW

Neena happened to be my favorite character for her jubilant attitude and unnerved excitement.

HOW IS THE NARRATION: The book has 24 stories in total. Each story has its own character and sense.

With an engaging and appealing storyline, the narration takes the reader's mood and mind to the peak level; if one story rides high on emotions, the other mellows down the mind.

WHO CAN READ Some books are to be read. Keeping this in mind, I would recommend this book to regular readers. The stories have great content that can be dealt with and compared with one's life.

However, those who wish to improve their reading skills with quality content can pick up the book.

BOOK REVIEW

Short stories always have this quality of mesmerizing the readers with a small word that each story creates within.

Similarly, in this book, with an interesting story-telling manner, Author Vandana has captured her readers' minds with great stories. As the blurb says, every story comes under a different theme. The way the story is dealt with remains the best part of the book. I will recommend this book to all the readers who like to read good stories.

WRITING STYLE From the very beginning of the book, traveling with Manisha and her dead partner, the book and its stories are intriguing. As the stories move from one to another, the reader will definitely get excited to read more. Author Vandana's simple, honest and attractive writing style hooks the readers in the book.

ABOUT THE CHARACTERS: Each story has a minimum of one interesting main character through which the story is either treated or talked. Most of the stories have relatable and realistic characters. In the attempt of portraying human emotions involve in drama, all the characters have blended well into the drama quotient. In the story Eureka Moments,

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About the Book Over the Edge is a collection of stories where you will find love and longing, recriminations and regrets, murder and mayhem. Some stories are poignant; some are edgy, others whimsical. The range of experiences presented is varied, but the common thread running through this eclectic mix is that each story will keep you on the Edge and sometimes take you over it.

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

The book is quite an entertainer in the content and the themes of the stories.

Rating Final Rating - 3/5 Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date.

Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream! @swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

APRIL 2022

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TO READ SIMILAR STORIES, VISIT WWW. STORIZEN. COM

ARIES MOON SIGN: 4 OF WANDS This Month, it is the time for enjoying and celebrating with your family.

It can be marriage on the cards for singles and anniversary celebrations if you are already married. This month Aries it is a small victory or success in your life.

TAURUS MOON SIGN: 7 OF PENTACLES This Month, your need to continue to work hard to achieve success in life. Have patience, things will move when the right time comes.

Don’t be frustrated.

Some might be planning for the future and longterm investment.

GEMINI MOON SIGN: KING OF WANDS This month, Gemini You are passionate and ambitious about your goals. You have the clear vision and as a leader, you are directing your juniors for achieving common goal in your workplace.

APRIL 2022

CANCER MOON SIGN: 2 OF SWORDS This month, Cancer you might be indecisive on taking certain decision in your life. You have two options but unable to decide. Just be practical and choose the right option based on research.

LEO MOON SIGN: 8 OF PENTACLES This Month, Leo you will be putting efforts to be victorious and successful in your work.

Some might be learning new skills to improve their working style necessary for growth.

This month you will be having a great learning experience.

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VIRGO MOON SIGN: KING OF CUPS This month, you will be emotional and creative at the same time towards your work. At the same time, Virgo you will be compassionate towards your colleague and help them to achieve their goals.

LIBRA MOON SIGN: 10 OF WANDS This Month, youhave lots of pressure and responsibilities at your workplace or home which might cause you stress and anxiety.

Instead of working alone, it’s the time to delegate your responsibilities to others to control stress in your life.

SCORPIO MOON SIGN: LOVERS This month, It is the card for love and romance and enjoy your time with your partner. Also, if you are starting business in partnership this is the right month to start as you will be successful in partnership and understand each other’s values.

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It also indicates follow your heart in your workplace.

SAGITTARIUS MOON SIGN: QUEEN OF PENTACLES This month, Sagittarians you must be maintaining a healthy balance between your professional and Personal life.

New opportunities will know at your door that will help you to grow financially. You will be focused towards your work.

CAPRICORN MOON SIGN: 5 OF SWORDS This Month, Capricorns you must control your speech as there might be difference of opinion at your workplace with your colleagues or superior.

Sometimes, Silence is the best way instead of winning the battle and regret in the end.

Once spoken statement cannot be taken back and it might spoil the relationship.

APRIL 2022

AQUARIUS MOON SIGN: THE DEVIL This Month, Aquarians you might be facing emotional blockage or handcuffed on certain things which might hamper your health. You are aware of its effect but unable to come out of the situation.

Just think peacefully how to come out of the situation.

PISCES MOON SIGN: ACE OF CUPS This month, you might receive new opportunities that will make you happy and joyful. It is the month of emotionally happy and joyful. Singles might be getting new relationship.

Overall it will be a nice and great month for you Pisces.

APRIL 2022

I am Himani Goyal, By profession, I am an HR Manager working in Banglore.

Reading is my hobby which led me to write reviews for my readers. I have read and reviewed numerous books so far. I am also a practicing Tarot consultant and would be sharing daily, weekly, monthly horoscopes for you all here.

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STORIZEN POETRY

Speck In The Crowd

by Vidya Shankar Temple drums boom deeply Announcing His arrival Devotees waiting in the corridor Stop their chatting mid-sentence Ready for His Darshan Palms pressed in reverence I, speck in the crowd Camera slung across my shoulder Wait too, my worship to offer To my Lord Parthasarathy He appears His exalted, resplendent Frame Filling the ancient temple doorway — An enchanting Vision In vibrant green-blue-gold silk robe Rubies and diamonds Embellishing His broad Chest With the nadaswarams scaling Melodious Mallari notes And the hefty thavil accompanying with the beat He crosses the threshold majestically To float into the throng Jasmine and sampangi garlands He wears around His Shoulders Tease my nostrils with their heady fragrance Intoxicated, my heart flutters, my skin quivers My focus intensifies

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STORIZEN POETRY

I step forward, camera in hand Place my eye in the viewfinder Compose the frame The crowd jostles me but I am undisturbed My feet planted firmly, my hands steady My intention determined, I set the exposure triangle My eye meets His As a yogi would their Ajna chakra click Footnotes: Darshan: an opportunity to behold the image of a deity Lord Parthasarathy: The reigning Deity of the Parthasarathy Swami temple, a 6th-century Vaishnavite temple located at Thiruvallikeni, Chennai, India nadaswaram, thavil: The nadaswaram is a double-reed wind instrument. The thavil is a barrel-shaped percussion instrument. Widely used in South India as traditional classical instruments, they are often played together.

The music produced by this pair of instruments is considered very auspicious Mallari: a musical item played on the nadaswaram when a temple deity is taken out in procession sampangi: tuberose flowers exposure triangle: a technical term in photography consisting of three variables that work together to produce a good photograph yogi: one who practices yoga or exercises to control body and mind Ajna chakra: also called ‘Third Eye’, it is situated between the eyebrows and is the focal point in meditative practices APRIL 2022

Vidya Shankar finds meaning to life through yoga and mandalas which invigorate her to write poetry that wins accolades and finds its way into the ‘Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English, 2020-2021’. Be it stories, articles, blogging, editing, her work is suffused with passion. Awarded ‘Star Poet’ by Storizen, and featured in a unique coffee table book, ‘50 Inspiring Women boys and girls should read about, Chennai Edition’, Vidya Shankar, a motivational speaker and a “book” in the Human Library, is the author of The Flautist of Brindaranyam (in collaboration with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan), and The Rise of Yogamaya (an effort to sensitize her readers about mental health and the need to break free from an outdated society). @shanvidwinsalways @vidya.shankar.author

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STORIZEN POETRY

My Faith and You

by Shilpa Bamboria Somewhere in the corner of my eye Dreams never die life's full of crests and troughs with lots of sighs and hiccups but somewhere my faith never dwindled dark sky adorned me but a star always twinkled gleaming and shining my way behind the darkest woods so I kept on walking between all can'ts and coulds when I was about to leave the hope and move for a different path uphill things amazed me how they got possible was it you who strengthened my will I don't know whether it exists or not but somehow I could feel the gentle touch, the tender care your hands on wounds, how u made them heal how wonderful are these experiences how I express what I adore how to tell others about you how to share it more oh I am so privileged to talk to you you filled my empty soul I want to be your true child god in the ways only you will unfold.

Shilpa Bamboria is working as a senior business analyst in Target corporation with a BE, MBA degree, writing has always been her first love.

Her first article was published in a leading Hindi daily when she was 15 and around the same time, she selfpublished a poetry collection. She has had a couple of publications and selections in both Hindi and English online and print forums, like speaking tree, high on poems, Great Indian Films, and Literature Festival to name a few. She is active as a contributing author to womensweb.in, thriveglobal.com and had her first international English anthology published by Raindrops publishers.

She is also a part of Bangalore’s HindiUrdu poetry club. @shilpabamboria @shilpa.bamboria

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