Dawn: a daily fiesta

A rooster crows to herald a new day. Gradually, the sky lightens and a chorus of birds, squirrels and cattle sounds waft in the wind. A startled peacock flaps noisily into the tall teak trees. Beyond the church, the river that was a silvery grey now turns to molten gold. In the pale sky, delicate egrets and majestic yellow beaked hornbills fly southwards. Every living creature is celebrating a new day dawning.

My most memorable sunrise was on the Matunga hill among the splendid ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire in Hampi. Climbing up the steep rock face was daunting and exhilarating. A few tourists had camped at the temple on the hillock since sunset the day before. Everyone was silent. Then, quite suddenly, one saw the Book of Genesis come alive. The sky seemed to separate from the water. Trees gradually became visible. Clouds lazed over the horizon. Birds flew high in the sky. And then dramatically, cinematically, the sun rose… like a majestic God arriving on a slow chariot. When it was finally light, a sunbeam pierced the clouds and illuminated the golden top of the sacred Virupaksha temple. This remarkable Divine choreography happens every single day.

Many Indians celebrate the dawn with a Surya Namaskara, a dip in a holy river, hands folded in prayer; sacred chants are whispered and yogic asanas contort the human form. This ritual awakening is celebrated each day in India. Sadly, in many countries, it is routine to tumble out of bed at the sound of an alarm and race through a jog or hurtle to work. It is as if the sun is a cursed intruder, a slave driver, a sad reminder that another day of hard work is at hand. A pity! There is much to celebrate every single day at dawn. If nature does it so instinctively, we should all become a part of the almost miraculous process we call a sunrise.

Watching the sun rise and infuse life into the earth and its wondrous beings is vital to the optimism that energises a person. It illuminates the soul after the dark of night and gives one hope and positivity that there are joyous events to behold for the next 12 hours.

And the revelries continue…

Every morning, after the celebration of the sunrise, a breakfast tray arrives near my favourite balcão. At my feet is my menagerie of pets. A blue eyed Harlequin Great Dane called Zeus, a fiesty boxer Sophia and an adorable daschund christened Tyra. Three out of five cats are also within stroking distance. They live in harmony with their canine friends.

On the tray sparkling in the weak sunshine is freshly squeezed juice, an array of glowing fruits and water drawn from the well attached to our kitchen. And between all this, a bit of style that always makes me smile—a flower from the garden.

The flower does not belong on a breakfast tray, but it sits there glorious and resplendent. Some days it is a white hibiscus. On others an assortment of jasmines, arums, or the flowers from fruit trees… like this morning. The delicate pink petals and multi-stamened flower of the jaam [love apple] tree that will bear fruit a month from now. The flower on every serving tray is not just style. It helps celebrate whatever is on offer. Whether green tea or a glass of champagne.

Triumph in creating something new

In my studio every evening there is a celebration of a different sort. After a day of draping, cutting and creating… each a wonderfully blissful process, we have a cluster of garments that makes us all smile.

I cannot explain the miracle of my work. One day, there is an idea in my head that becomes a sketch. The next day the sketch becomes a garment that we celebrate because it gives everyone a high that we made this object of beauty. A month later, it is applauded on ramp. And a few months later, I see it in a room, worn by someone I do not know. It has come to life in a very real space. It is no more some object on a hanger or on a mannequin. It is a moving, living entity as part of someone’s life. At that moment my heart is singing in celebration.

When one reads my memoir The Green Room, it is obvious that I am the eternal optimist, opportunist, travel addict, foodie and art aficionado. I cannot fathom people who wonder what to do with the time on their hands. I always tell them to go for a walk or a drive. Outside your home is a world of wonders. There is so much to appreciate. A child’s smile. A wild flower growing in between a rock. The aroma wafting off the basket of a fruit seller.

Even in a bustling city, we can encounter sights and emotions that can instill happiness. Many are for free. An art exhibition, a film festival, a book reading by a celebrated author. Celebrations all! There is a choice… always… of how you want to plan your day. I could simply run from a cab to the train at the end of the day. Or I can turn it into a celebration. I love to do the unusual. Instead of hurtling to platform two at CST station, I sneak into the main building, go to the topmost floor and watch the fascinating spectacle of traffic and people below me. It is exhilarating. And all it took was five minutes.

Last month I went to an exhibition in Delhi. Indian calligraphy on stone, wood, cloth and paper. Straight from the airport, I took a half hour break en route and I am so glad I did. It changed forever my vision of our country. Through objects of great beauty, I could see why we are one of the best countries on earth. Before me were the various scripts of India. Each different, each potent and every one of them fantastic. Which nation has so many scripts? Europe and the Americas have Roman and Greek. Japan has Japanese. China has Mandarin. But India…shall we start counting or shall we simply begin to celebrate?

I was watching Sridevi in the movie English Vinglish the other day. Every single sari was a celebration of our clothing legacy that we wear. Since over 4,000 years, we must be one of the few countries that wear our clothing heritage. It is a pity that even enlightened countries like China are now in the limited repertoire of Western casual wear.

Trailing through many countries and a fabulous assortment of cuisines, we have been fortunate to celebrate via travel. For my 50^th birthday, we took a cruise that began in Grenada, went round the Cape Horn and up to Acapulco. On the way, we saw the carnival in Rio, tango in Buenos Aires, penguins in the Falklands, Nazca lines in Chile and the most beautiful sunset in Torres del Paine in Patagonia.

Star studded finale to the day

When the day is done, my partner and I go on our little boat in the backwaters of the Mandovi. A cool breeze whispers against our skin. In that open expanse the sky looks bluer, the clouds more plentiful. We have learnt to identify each bird that flies past. And we know where large crocodiles inhabit the island of Corjuem or the Cambarjua canal. When I took Lisa Ray, Malaika Arora and my godchild Arhan into the small rivers, I could see the wonder in their eyes at this daily spectacle we enjoy.

Talking about Lisa, we have just dispatched her wedding dress to Canada. What a brave heart she is. Battling and winning a dreaded disease and embracing each day like it is a celebration gifted by God. Like her, we should celebrate each day. Not just on festivals and weddings. Those are special in any case and we Indians know how to do those in grand style.

Don’t miss » “I believe with all my heart that I will heal completely”—Lisa Ray

When light falls on the river and the sun seeps into the horizon, we steer our boat to our favourite spot in the river. The sky is pink above and like an ombre dyed fabric, orange at the horizon. The waters reflect this wondrous colour palette. This spot is almost sacred to us because of what transpires next.

From beyond the hills of Chorao Island arrives a fleet in the sky. We are in the daily migratory path of birds returning to roost from the South. Friends like Amitav Ghosh, Rahul Bose, Rahul Khanna and Orhan Pamuk, among many others, have gasped in wonder as tens, then hundreds, then thousands of birds float home in the pink sky. It is the perfect way to celebrate another beautiful day gone by.

It turns dark now. The planet Venus shines brightly. The stars come out and are reflected in the inky waters. Suddenly I see fireflies flitting about and it seems as if the stars are above, below and now flying between us. The fireflies are an indication that the monsoon is nigh—our beautiful Goan monsoon. Soon the hills will turn green and the fluorescent green paddy fields will flourish, turning the landscape from summer brown to verdant green. There is always something to celebrate on this earth!

The post A million reasons to celebrate appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

From pins to planes

About three billion years before my grandfather and your great grandfather existed, first forms of life arrived on earth according to most scientists. According to Wikipedia the number of Earth’s current species is estimated at one trillion and less than one percent have been clearly understood and described. Our planet’s earliest organisms were unicellular and over a period of time they evolved into complex multicellular organisms. It is not very clear to scientists whether the first protein of life – RNA or Ribonucleic acid – came from complex interaction of chemicals or they were blasted onto earth by some impact of a large meteor from elsewhere in the solar system.

Modern humans evolved from a lineage of upright-walking apes that has been traced back over six million years. Human beings evolved over millions of years, walked out of the forest, lighted a fire, cooked their meals, grew their grains, developed their machines, rode bicycles and finally flew in their aircraft across the globe. They never looked back as they invented communication technology, gene therapy and what not and they were set to conquer everything forever. The story looks too predictable, right?

After the industrial revolution around 180 years ago the humble farmer transformed into a big manufacturer of a variety of machines which could manufacture virtually anything from a tiny pin to huge machineries which created mass employment. By the beginning of the 20^th century the Wright brothers created a flying machine which transported people across the globe and in another few decades the cellphone and internet was functional. Thus, a hungry trader sitting in a remote corner of Meghalaya can watch NASA putting out a satellite into space even as he struggles to push his handcart onto the unpaved mud path in his village.

Meanwhile the affluent class flaunted their wealth and kept globe-trotting without any care-in-the-world even as poorer sections struggled to feed and vaccinate their young ones. This arrogance among the masses gave rise to a generation of people who always expected that the earth could spin the way they decided.

Luxury and corruption

With money in their pockets and a mobile phone in their hand, the youth thought that the sky is their limit, especially with the older millionaires planning rides to space and the relatively less affluent planning trips after foreign trip on terra firma.

It was not long before greed overtook mankind and this also sprouted a generation of corrupt political leaders which spoiled the system of governance in our country. Corruption percolated from the ministers and high-ranking officials to the lowly chaprasi (peon) in government offices. Roads could be laid and metro rail networks could be built across cities with public funds but a share of the loot had to be apportioned to the official who sanctions the project, the party in power as well as the clerk who releases the final cheque!

Paid but not sprayed!

The public gradually learnt that in some cases there was no need to carry out work but just need to ensure that the paperwork is complete.

Government spends huge amounts to spray pesticides in trains but so long as the right persons are paid, there is no need to spray even a can of pesticide. So what if bugs bite passengers or children fall sick? Likewise, there is no need for the flood-affected destitute to get the financial compensation so long as middleman fudges the records accurately!

E-governance, a mockery

Have you tried to make a complaint on the citizen portal of any government or quasi-government department in India? It is very impressive.

The moment one files a complaint the system generates an automatic response and gives a complaint number. Surprise, surprise! Within a week the complainant receives an email that “the complaint has been resolved,” even while the dangerously dug up road remains uncovered or without proper barricades. If the complainant is persistent and repeats the complaint, he gets a message that he is complaining too much! This is not an exaggeration and the author is witness to this.

India is a vibrant democracy, they say. Elections are regularly held but no matter which when party comes to power the conditions on the ground level do not change. People are frustrated but no one really cares as bureaucrats are busy buying swanky cars with taxpayer’s money but the potholed roads remain as bad as the surface of the moon!

The poor were busy making both ends meet while the upper class profited even as they grumbled about poor economy etc. In the midst of such non-governance, government officials keep busy jet-setting across the globe on “study tours” and life is always hunky-dory for them.

Intermission!

Bang! Enter a new version of an old virus, as if straight out of a novel: The Novel Coronavirus-2! A mutant of the earlier SARS virus put on a new cap and has gone out for a kill bringing the entire world to a standstill. What is unbelievable is the scale of its havoc across continents as it spread through travelers from China to Iran, Italy and the United States all in a span of less than a few weeks.

We could never have imagined earlier that an entire nation, leave alone the whole world, could lock its people indoors and shut down all sorts of physical movement outside but allow birds and animals to roam free!

Yet, as I write this, billions of people across the planet are on an international lockdown and this is an unprecedented event in the history of mankind. A tiny bit of RNA has shaken the very core of our existence flattening out billionaires, educationists, scientists, doctors, teachers and everyone! Viruses are such tiny fragments which cannot reproduce on their own unless they find a host cell. Such a speck is probably “not even a life form” according to some scientists.

Now imagine how this tiny, invisible, lifeless crumb has been holding up every aircraft, space shuttle, president, prime minister, man, woman and child on earth, for weeks together and sending everyone scurrying for cover into their mansions or cubbyholes. What is even scarier is that it has just hit Indian shores and cases of suspected community spread are yet being analysed. If the pace of community spread increases, it will be a long and hard battle ahead for our country which is already struggling with so many known challenges.

Oh My Covid!

So what is this invisible force which we call coronavirus? It seems to have opened the eyes of leaders of developed and developing nations, forcing people across the globe to introspect on the wayward ways of mankind, at least temporarily.

As a country, Hindus believe that there were 33 crore gods catering to every sub-community and belief system. Only God could bring the entire world to a standstill and it appears as if, this time we have given God a new name: Covid-19!

Would this new God produce a change in our thinking? Would this global pandemic produce a change in attitude among the ordinary citizen to the highest ranking official the world over? Would there be a transformation among humans to love all flora and fauna as trustees of the planet and not just being owned by the two-footed animal in suit and ties? Would the persons involved in handling social infrastructure be more understanding of the needs of the man on the street? Would governments big and small stop bullying each other? Would the man on the street understand that no one owns this world but we all belong to it—together?

Everyone will agree that like Coronavirus, God too is invisible and people all over the world regard it as a supreme being which has power over nature and on human fortunes. It is a point worth pondering: has God taken on a new avatar to open the minds of homo sapiens who seem to have lost the way from the times of homo erectus or “upright man”?

If Covid-19 manages to make a sizeable change in our mindset from today itself, it would seem that God has appeared on the planet, in disguise. One hopes that the change happens in this generation’s lifetime.

The post Has mankind finally met God? appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

These birds hunt for food in the mornings, I know. But why are some of them flying so high in the sky? I can’t help but wonder. Surely they won’t find food on the clouds. It seems they are just enjoying being birds. Have wings, will fly. Some are flying in pairs, enjoying companionship in the midst of clouds. The clouds themselves are continuing on their journey; those that were adorning the sky just a few minutes ago are not to be seen; new ones have appeared. They are drifting continuously, sometimes hiding the mighty sun, and covering up most of the blue sky.

A thought occurs to me: I am so preoccupied with my life that mostly I remain unaware of a great unalterable truth—that I am a part of a much greater whole. I am flowing in the river of an incredible consciousness, unconsciously! My attention turns to the wonderful trees and flowers and another thought arises. As humans, we think of everything in terms of its utility to us. We’ve become economists, all of us. “Does it fulfil any demand?”, we ask. If not, it’s useless. We haven’t spared even flowers, whose beauty cannot be grasped by the human intellect. We have made them into a commercial proposition—growing them for sale. We’re civilized, we say, but does civilization mean being so disconnected from nature? Why has greed overshadowed everything else? Why has it colored every thought and every deed of humans?

Going with the flow

Meanwhile, the white clouds have now disappeared from the scene altogether. But they are there somewhere, moving along to some place they themselves don’t know; they are surrendered to nature. If they are conscious, they are wise; they offer no resistance. I wish I could ride the clouds—it would be so much fun, moving at a gentle pace to I don’t know where. When I have no destination, it doesn’t matter where I reach, it’s still the right place. And that’s how it is with life. If I have no resistance to what is unfolding, I will never be anxious about where I’ll end up.

No wonder animals and birds don’t need psychiatrists, I reckon. They live in absolute uncertainty, accepting whatever comes their way. They don’t think about future and so have no anxiety. Their fears too are instinctive—when there is clear and present danger—unlike ours, which are mostly psychotic, created by our overactive minds.

It’s time to go, get ready for work. As I leave the scene, I realize that we can learn so much from Nature—if only we would pay attention.

The post Float like the clouds, fly like the birds appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

It so happened that one of my friends asked me about my fascination for astrology. Now astrology was a subject of great interest and curiosity to me in my high school and college days. I had studied it in detail and my friends of the time knew about my interest and often made fun of it. This friend, a hard core student of science, and one who never believed in ‘esoteric’ things like astrology, carried in his mind an ancient image of me. What was annoying to me was that I could not do much to shake up that image, even though the present me had little resemblance to it. (Read No Fault in our Stars to know how I see astrology today)

Of course, the time we spent that day was too short to transform our perceptions of each other, which seemed frozen in time. But I realised one thing: just as others may harbour fixed perceptions of me, I too carry old and outdated ideas and perceptions about the others in my life. And, just like I have changed radically over the years, so may have others—for better or for worse.

We change

When we judge other people in our lives—friends, family, co-workers, business associates—we refer to their past actions in order to predict their future behaviour. In other words, we expect people to live up to the image about them in our minds. What’s worse, most of us do the same with ourselves. We carry a self-image based on our past thoughts and actions, and then expect ourselves to repeat the same thoughts and behaviours, ad infinitum.

I have seen that our prejudices often come in the way of sorting out differences and strengthening our relationships. Somehow, we have convinced ourselves that people remain the same throughout their lives. But people can, and often do, change.

Ancient texts across all cultures of the world are full of stories of cruel-hearted, mean-spirited men evolving into compassionate beings, who dedicated their lives to the service of the others. In my opinion, the scriptures employed stories of dacoits becoming saints with the purpose of showing us hope. Upon reflection, you will see that these stories urge us to drop our prejudices—about self and others—and embrace openness to possibilities.

Drop your prejudices

We humans are gifted with an amazing grace of self-awareness, which allows us to grow and evolve. Using this gift, we change several times during the course of our lifetimes. By insisting that people are prisoners of their nature, we impose needless limitations on ourselves and our loved ones, suppressing the beautiful growth and transformation that each of us can experience, naturally.

Here’s a suggestion: how about trying a new, prejudice-free approach? Just for today, consciously drop all old perceptions. When you interact with others, see them with a new pair of eyes, and detect the difference. I have a feeling you might be in for a pleasant surprise.

The post Refresh your perceptions appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Coco Shambhala

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Coco Shambhala at Nerul, Bardez in Goa is not your run-of-the-mill luxury resort. It is a cocoon of comfort and joy that is as rare as it is breathtaking. And unless you have experienced staying there, it’s difficult to imagine that such a gorgeous shelter is nestled in a touristy place like Goa.

Here, then, are the six reasons why we think you should choose Coco Shambhala for your next holiday to Goa.

The villas

Their website proudly states “Officially the Best villas in Goa” and if you have lived in one of these, you would have to agree. Coco has four villas to choose from (a difficult choice to make), each with two big yet charming bedrooms. The highlight of the villas, for us, was the tree top living pavilion where we spent endless hours chatting away through the day and well into the night. The décor is striking, and invites you to just lounge on the sofa. Add to that the chirping of birds in the backdrop and the delightful view of nature in its pristine form, our conversations were not going to end soon. To indulge you further, every villa has its own private plunge jet pool—makes for a nice romantic way to spend an evening or just relax by yourself with a good book!

The natural environment

Coco Shambhala is nestled in a tropical forest and Giles, the owner, has made sure that much of the original habitat of the place was retained while building this luxury retreat. Moreover, since we visited during the rainy season, the vegetation was in its full glory. Simply being in the midst of so much greenery is in itself rejuvenating and healing, particularly for city dwellers! Be forewarned that this may jeopardise your other plans, especially those of exploring Goa, because once you are in Coco, you just won’t feel like stepping out.

Facilities

Guests are given a mobile phone (a basic one) with a local sim card inserted. The device has phone numbers of all the key staff, should you need to contact any of them, even when you are not at the resort. There is also a car at your disposal with a driver, to take you around either for shopping or to touristy spots or simply to explore the beauty of Goa; you only need to pay for the fuel. This is one incentive that may make you leave the endearing cosiness of Coco.

The pool

It would be safe to say that this is one-of-its-kind of a pool in Goa. It’s not a sprawling one but in keeping with the theme of the resort, a quaint jungle style free-form pool. It’s what caught our attention as soon as we entered and we couldn’t wait to jump in. By the way, the pool is open 24 hours; where else could you get this kind of luxury?

The food

A new menu is created for each season by Director of cuisine, Shagun Mehra; it is then personalized to suit guest preferences. A few days before our trip, we got a call from Suhas, who looks after the kitchen, to enquire if we had any special food requests or choices. Before your food is served, the sit out in your villa is transformed into this magical dining place with dim lights, candles, fresh flowers and a perfectly set table. The food is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. The Mezze Platter that’s served with Goan Poe bread is top class. And so are the other delectable dishes. Chances are, the food at Coco Shambala will leave you craving more. If so, you can sign up for a cooking class with Shagun herself.

The Coco Shambhala Family

The staff are like family. Everyone—from the driver, to the housekeeping staff, to the chef—genuinely care about making your stay comfortable and enjoyable. If you make a request, they will try their best to please you. The eager staff, always sporting a smile, lend a relaxed and friendly aura to the place.

So there! If we have whetted your appetite enough, and you decide to visit Coco Shambala, you may find your own reasons to love the place. If you wish, please share your experience with us.

The post Coco Shambhala: Delightfully Cosy appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

In cities, the glare of the lights and the pollution makes it impossible to see the sky. So, I was not going to let go of the opportunity to be in the presence of the nighttime sky, which was inviting me with its vibrancy. The moon was flirting with the dark clouds that seemed to be moving across the sky with a definite purpose. The fierce summer breeze was making an otherwise hot summer pleasant.

The musical swaying of the tree leaves, and sounds of the  waves from the sea would have made for a perfectly peaceful night, except for one thing—the loud cacophony blaring from multiple speakers… from the late night weekend parties happening in and around the resort.

I could see sloshed people trying to forget their daytime worries. And I wondered about how different their idea of enjoyment was. How could they miss the grandness of this gorgeous night? Well, they were “enjoying” as they knew how to enjoy… but for me, the black sky was vibrant, with the moon, the stars, the clouds and the vastness.

The vastness of the nighttime sky never fails to trigger in me thoughts of our place in the universe. The seemingly endless space full of stars that look like little diamonds is inconceivably gigantic. The bigness of it all—where the Earth is nothing more than a speck of dust—cannot be grasped by our little minds that are limited by the sense perceptions.

Our lives seems so infinitesimal, so insignificant in the scheme of existence. And yet most of us go on living as if nothing else matters. We are oblivious to our virtually non-existent place in the Universe, living in the illusion that we are important.

No wonder our self-importance is the source of the misery in our lives. It reinforces our sense of separation and makes us forget that we are part of a grand scheme of things. But I have realised that spending time observing nature in daytime, and the endless sky at night, is a great way to reconnect with our true selves. Just noticing the effortless perfection of it all brings such peace, such joy.

We talk a lot about detoxifying our bodies. But getting away from the madness of the cities is like a detox for the spirit; just being under the open, endless sky soothed my being and refreshed me like nothing else could. I was in love with everything—the sky, the stars, the moon, the clouds, the vast sea, the breeze, the trees, the sound of the waves…and myself.

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