The year was 1947. India had won independence but the country was partitioned.
Partition saw many families migrating to India and an equal number of families moving to Pakistan. Suraj Sadan, an eight-year-old boy, was a part of one such family that walked from Pakistan to Delhi.

The life in the refugee camp had a bright lining, remembers the young boy, now a 69 year old man. "It was October. One day Mahatma Gandhi visited our camp. Even today, I remember him; he was like a bronze statue, shining. He sat on the floor and sang Easwar Allah tero naam, sabko sanmati de bhagwan with three girls. That was one of the most unforgettable moments in my life," Sadan says"Gandhi is dead for all the others but for me, he will always be alive. I saw him alive, and I can still feel the magnetic vibes that came from him. As I looked at him, I said to myself, when I grow older, I will make his drawings. I had been drawing even when I was in the refugee camp."
He did draw the Mahatma when he was older. In 1956, the Hindustan Times and Navbharat Times asked him to do the drawings of Gandhiji for the newspapers. For the next ten years, he mainly drew various poses of the Mahatma and also many other political leaders like Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, etc.

"But it was mainly Mahatma Gandhi."

Laurels came to him soon, one after another. In 1965, he won a scholarship from the French government and moved to Paris. Soon after that, he was able to hold an exhibition of the Gandhi paintings in Paris. In 1969, the French government decided to celebrate Gandhi centenary, and he was invited to have an exhibition of his Gandhi paintings again in Paris.UNESCO published his paintings on the cover page and the French government also selected a painting of his for a stamp.
Once a person approached him at an exhibition and invited him to Canada saying he 'could contribute a lot to the country'.

So, Sadan moved to Canada in 1971. From then on, Montreal in Canada has been his home. "But I pass my time travelling all over the world painting Gandhiji. Rather, Gandhiji takes me to all these places."

He paints Gandhiji because he wants to keep his spirit alive through his paintings and his quotations. "Every time I paint Gandhiji, I get new inspiration, new composition, new expression and new vibrations. Every time I paint him, he is different. I get peace when I paint him. I don't know why. Before spreading his message of peace, I feel peace first!"
In 2006, Sadan started the Mahatma Gandhi International Foundation, and the foundation invites people who can spread Gandhi's message.
"Those who come to listen to them get the message of peace ad non-violence."

Sadan feels that Gandhiji's message of peace is more appreciated in other countries than in India. "Their faces brighten the moment you utter the name of Gandhi but in India, he is forgotten. Many outside India tell me that he would be the only guy who could bring peace to today's world. In India, his name is uttered many times but in India's heart, he is not there. I feel Gandhi is more celebrated in other countries than in India."




.

when a new bride enters her new family and household she has many dreams and aspirations .she is exicted and happy yet shy.
it is rather cruel when all her dreams are shattered with inthe very first hour and she doesnot even know how to react.
the reason -dowry.
she is then tortured ,insulted and made to work like a servant.
yet she keeps quiet.when her husband tries to interven than he is ridiculed by his family.his dad decides to boycott the new couple. amazingly whole clan follow suit. what is the fault of this new bride . nothing. yet gossip mongers shred her reputation.she is given the tag of son stealer.some even accuse of doing magic.some call her a witch
when her parents try to intervene they are insulted by all relatives.
reason -dowry. is money more important than human beigns?
than time passes by. young couple learn to live on their own.
suddenly the cruel inlaws run out of money. now they want money from this young couple. shameless people.yet they want this couple to say sorry and plead forgiveness. the couple is still threatened with dire consequnces. reason-money and false pride.
now the father in law brings in his friends and ask these freinds to make his son say sorry and hand ocver money.but when these people learn about the whole issue. some find about it though their investigation.they tell the father in law about his follies. wise father in law decides to discard these freinds and now is looking at alterantives to trouble this couple.he doent wnat this couple to settle down.he is ably aide dby his family.
amazingly he has spread stories about his mistreatment by his daugther in law.yet he asks this daughter in law to give him breakfast.double standrads.when daughter in law run their errands they dont acknowledge it.
the young couple works hard to make their ends meet.they are not beign able to spend quality time with each other.they are constantly beign insulted by all relatives and ridiculed. whole family wants them to leave the family home and live on streets.reason -pride and want to control business of this couple.
wise father in law once asked his daughter in law to take up a job and give the salary to him.as she didnt brought enough dowry. he wnated to be compensated this way.when thsi issue became public he backtracked but still wants dowry in cash. the whole wedding expense was met by girl's family and rest by groom. groom's family just wnated dowry and gifts.when the couple was on their honeymoon than their rest saving were also encashed by greedy family
cruelty of such people know no bounds.
young couple has never retorted back coz they belive in god and know one day truth will come out.
hope God is listening to their prayers.

Rutali married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party,

Rutali's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook with Rs.1000 deposit amount.
Mother: 'Rutali, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriagelife.
When there's something happy and memorable happened in your newlife, put some money in.
Write down what it's about next to the line. Themore memorable the event is, the more money you can put in.
I've done thefirst one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh.
When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'
Rutali shared this with Hitesh when getting home.
They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can bemade.
This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Rutali
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs..2000, Rutali got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted
...... and so on...
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things.They didn't talk much.
They regretted that they had married the nastiest people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?
One day Rutali talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if youreally can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first.
Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first.
You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'
Rutali thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queueand planning to cancel the account.
While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked.
Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.
When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce..
The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Rutali. She found a newdeposit of Rs.5000.
And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.'
They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did notask.I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.

"When you fall, in any way,
Don't see the place where you fell, instead see the place from where you slipped.
Life is about correcting mistakes."

A Special World

A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.

Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.

And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.

- Sheelagh Lennon -

Friends

A friend is someone we turn to
when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure
for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives
with beauty, joy, and grace.
And makes the whole world we live in
a better and happier place.

- Jean Kyler McManus

One of my favourite things about my apartment building is the informal recycling program in the lobby.  There’s a certain corner where you can leave behind slightly used goods for use by the next person, or find treasures of your own.
In a weird coincidence, the other day, as I leafed through a pile of books [...]

Living in a Cobourg, a small rural community east of Toronto, over the past year I have found out that the occurrence of development events is much less frequent then when I was living in the city. Looking into what is going on in Northumberland County and the Kawartha’s, I came across ReFrame the Peterborough [...]

I am very happy here and am always surrounded by care-free people, who keep laughing, jumping and doing what they like most. No one tells me to do this or that. I can be what I like to be. There is so much of vacant space with many big trees providing cool shade and breeze with benches underneath to stretch along. I never like to be confined to my small room and always wish to be in open space looking at the sky. Even a passing dog or running squirrel interests me. Many people come and talk to me on their own. Frankly I am not a mixer and would like to be left alone with my thoughts. I know many subjects from economics to philosophy though the latter is is my favourite subject. I have read many books but most of what I have read has oozed out of my sieve like memory. I try to remember the same. I am not spiritual or religious but yet often think of the creator who made this world and all the beings in it. But these friends who surround me are unintelligible to me though they passionately try to make me understand what they keep telling me. When I do not evince interest, they leave me alone to pursue my thoughts. Everything is orderly in this place, an old age home, I think. I am comfortable except for one thing that disturbs me a lot. I should tell you in detail about this young lady who is bothering me with her constant unwelcome attention.

She has made it a point to come almost daily failing which on alternate days. She does not go to others but makes a beeline towards me. She comes and sits by my side too close to my comfort. Something must be bothering her for she is always in tears. Even her smile is strained. She caresses me with her hand and strokes my head. She invariably brings some snacks or sweets in a small box for me to eat. However much I decline she would not leave me without ensuring my eating the stuff. I have told her in angry tones times without number that I would wish to be left alone and have asked her why she was troubling me always and not others. But she would not get upset. Funny she called me her appa (dad) and said she did not know others nor had she any interest in them except me. Frankly I do not know this lady at all though her face is familiar and reminds me of my long dead wife. She is no doubt kind to me but I wish to get along with thoughts undisturbed. I am actually planning to write a book on how a man can maintain his faculties at the optimum level by constant practice .But she daily breaks my chain of thoughts and my treatise is getting delayed .Am I wrong in expressing my annoyance at her and speak to her harshly? But she cries making me more miserable. I don’t know whether I have developed a fondness for her.

I have seen her always approaching one man in white pants and shirt near the office building. That man is not good. I think he is a cruel man as he has hurt me many times dragging me to his room with his henchmen. She should not go near him for her benefit and safety. I told her of my apprehension many times. But she just smiles and ignores my caution.

Today after she met me, she started moving towards the office, I followed her without being noticed. I wanted to be of help in case some harm came to her. When she went inside the office and I hid behind a partially closed window to overhear the conversation. I heard her asking him “Is appa improving? I do not see any sign of improvement. I could see no sign of recognition in his face.”

He replied “Sorry madam, it takes long time in some cases. We are doing our best and even made him undergo shock therapy. Let us hope he becomes ok soon. Pray to God.”

I could not understand about whom she was talking to him. I was determined to ask her when she came out who her appa was.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.
Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth

A recap seems to be the thing to do in the blogosphere, although I’m a few days too late.  I got my inspiration here: Blood and Milk and Global Health Report.  So, here are the top five most popular posts on my blog in its first year - its a surprising mix!

Ethiopian Nativity of Mary: [...]

OH GAZA...







my heart bleeding now...
my eyes got blind because of its tears...
because of my nation there...
there in GAZA..
while no one care...
only that great nation ...
that nation who cares...
that nation who never to kneel down...
never to bow down...
only you, GAZA who cares...

yes GAZA,,,
i am sure of that...
certain that you will never give up...
never kneel down...

OH GAZA...
great land...
oh people there...
great nation whom ever created...

GAZA...
nation of Gaza...
be ready for more..
resist...
face that savagery...
resist...
don`t give them a chance...
they got tired ...
tired because of your resistance...
tired because of your steadfastness to your holy land...
because of the power which are inside your heart...

GAZA...
my nation there...
don`t care about those terrorists...
don`t kneel down...
soon they will leave us...
they will give up...
they will...
because we are right...
and Gaza its our rightful possession...

great Gaza...
brave nation...
happy and lucky you are...
to fight and to resist that barbarity...
those whom have no feelings and no hearts...
those whom killing a kids and women...
those whom never knows about humanity...

GAZA...MY NATION THERE...
go ahead...
don`t stop what you started...
resist...
give them the right lesson of a humanity...
through your resistance...
and soon the whole of world will know..
how great you are...
how right you are...
don`t give up...
don`t kneel down...

by: hazem02@yahoo.com
By hazem02

© 2008 hazem02 (All rights reserved)

http://www.thestarlitecafe.com/poems/105/poem_91087914.html

end GAZA SIEGE...
PLEASE ...
feel free to leave your comments through my link..
yours,...
hazem al...

We are the ones we have been waiting for." The statement made by Barack Obama on February 5-Super Tuesday-when 13 state victories made him the front-runner over Hillary Clinton.

"I don't talk about these tabloids. The tabloid trash is full of lies." Former presidential candidate John Edwards reacted to his alleged affair with the producer of his campaign video series Rielle Hunter. He uttered the words on July 23 at a press conference in Houston, after the National Enquirer subsequently reported that he had visited Hunter and their "love child" at the Beverly Hilton. Edwards continued to deny the allegations until he admitted the affair to ABC News and released a written statement.

The fundamentals of our economy are strong." John McCain made remark at a rally in Florida on September 15, as Lehman Brothers was filing for bankruptcy and the stock market continued to tumble.

"Barack Obama targeted the comment and asked: What economy are you talking about?" U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a state Democratic election celebration party in Manchester.
I can see Russia from my house!" Tina Fey made the comment while taking a jibe at Sarah Palin's remark: "You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." Palin's bizarre statement on foreign policy experience had people questioning the Republican vice presidential candidate's qualifications for higher office.

"I want to cut his nuts off." Jesse Jackson's comment got him a slew of unwanted attention, especially since he was talking about the soon-to-be president-elect, Barack Obama

"Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice, in '84 and '88, and he ran a good campaign, and so did Obama." Bill Clinton spoke of the old guard of civil rights leaders, and was apparently eager to draw comparisons between his wife's primary opponent and other black candidates who proved to have limited national appeal.

Stop back in January!

There is little chance I'll update again before 2009 so here's my attempt at a Christmas blog - I'm off to Wales this evening to spend Christmas with the whanau and then back to London to earn my keep and party into the New Year with the LSE posse and a few others. Apologies to those reading this for the second time.



Merry Christmas! It's been wonderful to hear news from around the world with Christmas letters and emails pouring into my inbox.

 

This year has been an interesting but very fun year for me. I have (in no particular order):

• spent New Years with my lovely sister


• attended the ANZAC Day dawn service at Hyde Park Corner followed by the service at Westminster Cathedral


• organised three national conferences for work and run around the country trying not to look flustered


• been to the Red Bull flugtag in Hyde Park


• held a surprise birthday picnic for a friend, involving me pretending to have been proposed to (she was completely convinced by this)


• been to the Nelson Mandela birthday celebrations in Hyde Park


• spent a day in the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot


• travelled around parts of France and Spain for holiday with my LSE friends,


• attended the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen with my mum and her friend Kay (was so wonderful to see them both!)


• spent a weekend with pastorate at the Malshanger Estate, owned by Colman's Mustard man but part-gifted to church


• helped out on the Worlds End council estate with my church posse - we painted most of one flat in one day. It was madness!


• attended too many of the BBC Proms and made lots of new promming buddies - favourite was probably the Dr Who Prom I think :o)


• been to Ireland with 7 friends from pastorate for the weekend


• been to a Madness concert (80s ska/crazy band from London) followed by a Christmas pantomime the next night


• had loads of lovely Kiwi friends visit and/or stick around

Quite astonishingly, I have now been in London for 2 and a 1/4 years and feel like a proper little Londoner. I'm very lucky to have a wonderful little flat in Zone 1 (near Russell Square for those that know London) with an Aussie girl and a Swedish guy. I am really lucky to have plenty of spare time to pursue other interests.

 

I am really enjoying being more involved with my church, Holy Trinity Brompton, and one of the highlights for my pastorate (a small goup that's not so small) has been involvement in a homeless shelter over the Winter months. I'm also involved in a start-up charity that will be setting up a halfway house for women coming out of Holloway Prison and looking forward to our first major fundraising event in mid-February. In a moment of total work boredom I also agreed to be a voluntary project manager for a major youth development charity based in Toronto, the wonders of the internet mean I can do this virtually. It's fabulous to have time to do all these things and in some ways this makes up for the less interesting parts of my full-time job.

 

Next year holds a number of delights - the most exciting of which right now is a trip home for a month in March/April. It's my first trip home since September 2006 and I am really excited at the thought of seeing friends and family again. If you're keen for a catch-up, I'd love to see you. Send me an email and we'll organise a date/time.



For a few photo highlights of 2008, visit my Webshots photo site and head for the "Best of 2008" album.

 

It would be lovely to catch up with as many as possible while I'm home next Easter.

 

Have a Happy New Year and I hope to see many of you in three months or so.

 

Love and hugs,

Fi x

Thank you for your support.

That is the simple card I got, tucked inside the leather folder, when I asked for my bill after a short lunch at Frangipani, one of Hotel Trident's famous restaurants. A questionnaire accompanied the card.

I signaled the waiter again and requested for my bill. The courteous sari-clad hostess came over and said, "Ma'am, it is on the house. Thank you for your support."

The Trident, one Mumbai's oldest hotels, reopened on Sunday after being shut for more than three weeks since 26/11, when it
was attacked by three Pakistani terrorists with guns and grenades. In the ensuing carnage, 22 guests and staffers had been killed.

Frangipani, the all-day continental cuisine banquet area that opens first, was serving its guests by 7 am. And though the
restaurant was nearly half full at lunch -- actor and rugby player Rahul Bose [Images] was entertaining a group of friends as were a number of the invited dignitaries -- Frangipani was functioning crisply as if it was an ordinary day. Service was probably
at its best as numerous staff members solicitously hovered around and managers came across to check if diners were happy with their meals.

At noon, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan [Images] and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, along with nearly 100 long-term patrons and guests, gathered at the lobby of the Trident for a special multi-faith prayer meeting organised by the hotel. The guests included dignitaries like Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP-Merrill Lynch and Anil Madhok, former general manager of Oberoi.



They were welcomed by P K S Bikki Oberoi, chairman and chief executive, East India Hotels. Each patron/ guest received a pink rose with a card that said: "Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realise it! Life is a game, play it! Life is love, enjoy it" - Sathya Saibaba.

The second quote was from William [Images] Ellery Channing: "Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict."

A Parsi priest, a Buddhist monk, a Catholic priest, a Hindu pujari, a lady Jain priest, a maula, a rabbi and a Sikh priest chanted prayers for those who had died, those who were injured, those who had assisted/saved lives. They also prayed for the hotel, the city and the country.



A hymn incorporating all faiths was sung to the accompaniment of low table and harmonium. It was a solemn, emotional ceremony and the atmosphere was somber. Waiters, housekeepers and bell boys gathered on the stairs that connect Trident with the Oberoi, the passage through which the terrorists moved between both hotels.

The chief minister quietly came across to Oberoi, shaking hands and congratulating the hotel staff.

In a grim reminder to the terrible tragedy, Hotel Trident has put in a series of security barriers beyond the hotel doors.



Guests have to alight at road level, show an ID and then enter the hotel driveway. A large X-ray machine is in place for luggage and bag surveillance, supervised by security personnel and polite bell boys.



Another security arch and bag check is conducted at the doors, before a guest walks in.



Ranjit Singh and his doorman colleagues, in their high turbans and white uniforms, who once called for your car by microphone and ushered guests to their cars, are now reduced to cordially ushering guests into the security areas.

Rattan Keswani, president of Trident Hotels, had informed the media on Saturday, "About 100 of our rooms are booked from tomorrow." He clarified that 50 to 60 were Indian guests. Occupancy by business guests is usually lowest during Christmas and New Year, Keswani said, and added that the real test for the hotel would be the growth of occupancy levels in the first week of January, traditionally the beginning of the hotel's busiest season.



"I seek help from all of you (the media) to direct your efforts in portraying Mumbai and India as a safe destination. Fears of guests and the implications of travel advisories must be allayed aggressively. These only affect our citizens and our economic well being. We need you to help us get the travelers back," he had said.

"Our team performed its duty with valour and diligence at grave personal risk. It continues to work tirelessly to reopen Trident," he said.



The staff worked tirelessly for over three weeks to get the hotel back into the pristine condition it was in when it reopened today -- gleaming floors, shining marble and brass. Keswani said that the hotel staff wanted to make sure that no signs of the terror attack remained inside the hotel.

He added, "We must not forget the many unknown citizens of Mumbai who helped our colleagues with food, water and medicines through the events day and night. They were unknown angels who emerged from nowhere and faded away. I wish we could somehow thank them individually."



The Oberoi, Trident's sister hotel, has still not opened. Parts of it are boarded up. The main picture window that looks out onto the Arabian Sea has not yet been repaired. The hotel authorities could not offer a tentative date of re-opening.