Updated on September 7th, 2021
ज़िंदगी के उदास पहलू को देखते हो
और उस पर मेरे दिल ख़ुशी चाहते हो
यह न हुआ है कभी, न होगा कभी
क्यों नामुमकिन सी बाते ऐ दिल सोचते हो
ज़िंदगी के उदास…
सामना हो ख़ुशी से हरदम तुम्हारा
तूफ़ान में घिर के बी समझो किनारा
जानो की मंज़िल दूर नहीं
चलना है तुम्हे ले खुदी का सहारा
ज़िंदगी के उदास…
उम्मीद की किरणे नज़र आएगी
रौशनी बनके फिर वो बिखर जाएगी
राह के मुश्किलों से कर ले दोस्ती
वोह हँसते मुस्कराते गुज़र जाएगी
ज़िंदगी के उदास…
…from college Days (1984)
Updated on October 3rd, 2024
Today in the morning, one text by one of my friends, Nikhil, motivated me to rethink that life is never so dark that you can’t see any ray of light. Darkness and light are two sides of the coin in life and it is up to you whom you pick to affect your thoughts and finally what manifests in your life. Most of us are afraid of darkness as it may frighten us, but it is not always bad, so many times you get the greatest opportunities only in the dark phase of life. Preparing yourself for any situation is the only way to stand for the challenges of life.
When you face the darkness in life, you must try your potential to its maximum. Your entire existence gets more activated and you get wonderful results that you never thought would be possible. Quoting from somewhere, I can say, ‘ I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light. Things that have saved my life repeatedly, so that there is really only one logical conclusion, I need as much darkness a much as I need Light.
Today, most countries are struggling with a global pandemic, COVID-19. It has affected almost every part of the world. This virus affected worst even the developed parts of the world. Cases are rising daily everywhere. We Indians are also affected by this spreading disease. Everybody seems worried and governments are continuously trying every step to control the worsening situations. Complete lockdowns are announced and people are sitting in complete isolation in their homes. Life has come to a standstill. All activities of life are stopped and uncertainty of the future has chained our thoughts.
We can say we are facing the biggest health crisis and challenge of time after world war second. This crisis has the potential of creating devastating concern over our social and economic facets of life. Authorities in every country have ordered social distancing, quarantining citizens, limiting travels and cancelling large gatherings, closing of schools, offices, and more activities of life.
There is no doubt left that situation is really tough, we are getting bad news every moment; we are losing our business, losing breadwinning jobs, getting tight with money. Mentally we are getting down and depressed with every news. In such an unpleasant atmosphere, the only way is to get ready more confidently. And try to work out some resolutions to face the real problem. Self-meditation and the right focus of mind can change the perspective of the situation and we would be able to see life with more positivity.
No doubt we all are worried, and it’s very tough to estimate when and where all this will end, but there is another way to see life. Life has faced such disasters so many times and every time it came out with more flying colours. At this moment, it is more important to keep our self positive and inspire our surroundings so that we all can be winners in situations.
As in the very start I mentioned, my motivation to write up this article came from the small text of my friend. The theme of the text was to keep you busy with positive things and keep preparing for bigger challenges of life to come. Quoting the same text, I say, ‘when fishermen cannot go to the sea they mend their nets, so when you see no work you can prepare yourself for better things. There can be so many activities that you can plan. There can be so many dreams and hobbies in life; you never got time to fulfil them because of the busy schedule of life. Now, in this free time, you can choose a few of them and work on them.
Reading some excellent books, writing few blogs, if you have such passion, planning your future concerns can be few activities that you can work out. I agree all have different choices in life and everybody can plan what he likes more. Working from home is a new concept of today’s age and those professionals who are in the learning and education sector can design their activities accordingly.
As I am from the education sector, I know, few of my friends have worked from home. Universities, colleges, and other institutes have started their lessons, training programs on different online forums. Keeping yourself engaged in such activities will help you spend your time in home isolation. And it will create better results in your business or profession. Many institutes run many online programs, you can also choose any of your choices and upgrade your career skills. We have options of internet-based apps like Zoom, Skype, Webinar that can be helpful to interact with your staff and your clients.
I agree we are in a time of fear and uncertainty. With a slight change in attitude, we can make it more productive.
Taking care of yourself, physically, emotionally and even spiritually, can be your plan. You may work on improving your family relationship by spending a good time with them. Learning some new things can be an opportunity to add better aspects to your personality. Watching good movies that you always missed due to your working pattern can be the best thing to use your free time at home. These days we have many options like Prime Video, Netflix and so many Internet-based choices.
Isolation is not always bad; it has positive qualities as well. You get more time to introspect and review your own thoughts and feelings. Many of you must know the writing of outstanding books from prisons. Conversations With Myself is a collection of Nelson Mandela’s writings, many of which he composed while he was in prison. King James threw Walter Raleigh, in prison where he wrote a History of the World while locked in the Tower of London for 13 years. Marco Polo is famous for travelling in the 13th century. But not as many people know he was arrested in Genoa on his way back. While he was captive, he narrated his journey to his fellow prisoner, who turned the stories into a book, named The Travels of Marco Polo.
In the Indian context, Mahatma Gandhi spent a lot of time in prison for civil disobedience. And he did a lot of writing while he was in prison. My Experiments with Truth is one such example. Similarly, Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary wrote a book titled The Jail Note Book. The Indian Struggle is the work of Subash Chandra Bose. The Discovery of India, (1944) was written by Jawahar Lal Nehru in Ahmednagar fort prison between April to September 1944.
There is a long list of such books written from behind bars. Giving reference to such books here is just to say that isolation can be used for great things as well. Writers, Poets, Spiritual people have always done great things when they were alone.
I believe if you keep your faith and trust and you have the right attitude, life will certainly open new doors for you. Difficult moments are as much part of life as good ones, so we’re not supposed to quit believing and growing. Sitting at home, on one side you can spend quality time with your family. And on another side, you can use these moments of struggle and frustrations to motivate you rather than annoy you.
Keep your face towards the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you. History is full of examples where great things happened in the worst situations. Tough situations make outstanding personalities.
This darkness (COVID) will not continue for very long, as it’s not the rule of life. Good days will be there soon. Stay positive & keep yourself safe.
Updated on August 6th, 2023
We all are passing through a worldwide pandemic, named COVID-19 and the situation has compelled us for working from home. Almost and every part of the world is severely affected by this health crisis. The numbers of causalities are rising day by day, although few nationalities seem to have controlled the spread of disease to some extent. Governments have ordered the complete or partial closures of life activities; businesses and offices are shut down. And still, there is no certainty when life will come to its normal routine.
In this scenario, when we all are sitting at home, few new ideas are also developing. Life never stops for anyone in any situation. It always creates new tracks and better opportunities. No matter how many setbacks you get but the basic principle of life remains the same. In today’s situation, we are learning new things. Technology is playing an important role these days.
Working from home is not a new idea to us, but it has become more focused nowadays. I have felt and learned from the present situation that working from home doesn’t mean that you lose your job or professionalism; rather, it creates a better work environment. The idea of working from home is awesome. You are sitting with your family surrounding you. Your cat or dog is staring at you, and you are involved in your official work. Such an environment is never boring; rather, it increases your productivity.
During my travels and meeting different people, I always heard the concept of working from home. I was thinking about the concept and believed it is not for everybody. Sometimes professionals from the call centre sector, some other consultancies, and a few more used to work from home and at different hours due to time variation between nationalities. Being in the sector of International Education consultancy, I tried this concept with few staff members. Reasons for trying this concept were different, including changed family circumstances of staff members and not losing my performing staff. I experienced that idea really work, and those staff members are still working for my office and really performing.
Successful people are always focused on their work, so staying at home cannot stop you from being more productive. So many different modes of communication are being used to operate work activities while sitting at your home.
In the present scenario, it is a new way of working. I have seen in my circles that everybody is discovering new methods of working remotely. Today we have so many options like Zoom, Skype, Facebook LIVE, Webinars, and other such options to interact with clients and staff. Many professionals like doctors, consultants, IT people are already using these tools, but the present situation has given a big boost to shift on these modes of communications. Many Colleges, Schools & Universities have started online lessons and video conferencing classes. There is nothing wrong if I say work is changed forever. The concept of working from home can boost productivity if we learn the right ways on how to set up our working style at home.
While working from home, you get more flexibility to manage your time. In the early morning, when you wake up, you can easily switch on your computer and check few things like emails received and plan to reply to them as per your priority. As you will not get ready, dress up for the office, so you get plenty of time to schedule your tasks. You get the option to put on a pot of tea or coffee and start working. Same you can add a few tasks before going to bed at night.
Here I would like to suggest few tips. Start doing some things, what you normally do, when you are working from the office. Setting alarm in the morning, having breakfast and coffee, wearing a nice dress up, and fixing the schedule of things. Feeling like you are in the office is really important; otherwise, homely things will start distracting you.
Fixing a schedule for each day is significant to make your work and effort really productive. I agree we can’t generalize challenges that everybody faces while working at home. For some, it may be straightforward, and few may feel it challenging to stay focused. If we fix a fixed schedule, it will certainly help to maintain a working environment. Fixing things like coffee breaks, lunch timing will be supporting things for better coordination between team members.
When you are at your home office, no one is watching you. There is no boss, so you don’t feel any pressure to get stuff done immediately. But you have to keep in mind the necessity of completing that work done on time.
When you are sitting in your home, a lot of distractions and temptations may affect your work. Being transparent to your manager or other team members is essential; otherwise, the team’s productivity will get affected. In case, because of some reason, you are not on your computer, your team must know it. Making a list of tasks and sharing it with team members can be helpful. Updating your status regularly through any mode of communication will develop more confidence with team members.
Few brakes are necessary for better performance. Having tea or coffee breaks will improve your productivity, but you must manage your connectivity with your team during such breaks.
Here I am going to share an essential aspect of working from home. Working from home doesn’t mean that you are not as planned and scheduled as others sitting in the office. It would help if you had proper space and working area that supports your effective working. This purpose needs a particular room or space. All this will help you get into the right frame of a working mind.
The working environment certainly affects your performance, so you must choose the right place to work from home. I agree everybody is not having a home office. We need to set up some right place to sit and work. The room should be with minimum distractions and with unnecessary noises. An easy sitting place will be helpful.
Other tools like computers, cameras, and headphones are also important. Headphones can add more quality to all conversations and staff meetings. The selection of communication software should be easy to use for everybody. In short, we can say that working need support of working tools and we should select best one.
While concluding my article, I would like to add that working from home is the future of working. Even after the fading of the COVID crises, people will not stop working from home. Rather, few will adopt it as a new way to work. I feel I will not stop going office, but I will still fix some days in a week to work from home. It is easier, more productive, and relaxing as well. If you give the same privilege to your staff, they will feel more attached to your company, and there will be very few chances of their leaving your team.
Updated on September 8th, 2024
If you feel a love affair with the sea, sand, salt, and clear water, you will find all these in Melbourne’s bayside city. I got fascinated with the crystal clear water of Melbourne beaches during my recent visit, and my first encounter was with stunning Brighton Beach on 14 June 2010. Coastal Melbourne’s bay-side, touching its Yarra River, has a lot of breathtaking views.
Nobody can describe Melbourne’s ultimate beauty without its beaches. Coastal Melbourne faces Port Phillip Bay, and the city’s closest Melbourne beaches are Albert Park and Middle Park just south of South Melbourne. St Kilda, Elwood, Brighton and Sandringham, Williams Town, and Frankston are other beaches in Melbourne. Melbourne’s beaches have excellent facilities like beachside restaurants, water sports, beach games, surfing, cafes, bars, barbecue, pedestrian pathways, and parking areas.
Driving along the gorgeous Great Ocean Road, you can see the fantastic Port Campbell National Park and the famous Twelve Apostles rocks. Here are some of the most popular beaches in the Melbourne area.
Because of its proximity to the city center, St Kilda Beach is one of the popular beaches in Melbourne. Today St Kilda is the prime tourist destination on one of the most picturesque points of the Bay. Being Melbourne’s most fashionable suburbs, St Kilda is home to the wealthiest people.
In the mid of 20th century, this area was dominated by prostitutes and drug dealers. The haunt of prostitutes and druggies now has been pushed to some outer parts of the city. I found the shops and eating areas on the busy Fitzroy and Acland Streets. Carlisle Street is the right place if you prefer European delights.
The safe and sandy beaches of St Kilda offer you the best place for many outdoor activities like windsurfing, sailing, kite surfing, rollerblading, beach volleyball, jet-skiing, waterskiing, and sunbathing.
St Kilda Pier is the most famous attraction on St Kilda’s beach. Constructed in 1853, the wooden structure was originally used for loading timbers and other materials. At the end of the pier, the iconic kiosk was built in 1904, which got destroyed in a fire in 2003 but was rebuilt soon. The pier is a popular destination for cycling, roller-skating, strolling, and fishing. At the end of the pier, there is also a ‘ Little Blue Restaurant’ where you can enjoy a fantastic range of foods and local wines.
Having the reputation of being the cleanest of the many beaches along Port Phillip Bay, Brighton Beach is near St Kilda. Golden sand and sparkling blue water, and bright, colorful “beach huts” make it a colorful beach. The beach huts, symbolic of Melbourne Australia, and its beach suburbs, command high prices when they come up for sale.
Beach walks, sunbathing, swimming, sightseeing, fishing, and kite surfing are popular activities on this beach. There are a few excellent restaurants around with good beach views, including a café/bar and a restaurant at Middle Brighton Sea Baths. You can also glimpse the city at the end of the beach. Brighton Beach is popular with both locals and tourists visiting the Melbourne area.
Williamstown Beach was my favorite place during my stay in Melbourne. I used to go there whenever I felt like being close to nature. It is at the mouth of Yarra River, where it enters Hobson’s Bay and Port Phillip Bay, southwest of Melbourne city center.
Williamstown has developed from what was a neglected industrialized center into a popular maritime village. Water surrounds Williamstown on three sides. We can enjoy scenic views of the Melbourne skyline from Gem Pier, where cruises on the Yarra River and the bay depart regularly. I wish to go to this place again and again as I feel close to my soul while seeing seashores and changing the colors of the sky.
Any detail about Melbourne beaches can’t be completed if we miss Great Ocean Road and Torquay Beach. At around 105 kilometers in southwest Melbourne, it is a beautiful beach having so many fun-oriented activities you can spend your wonderful picnic. If you are fond of surfing, this is the best place. Even if you can’t go surfing like me, you will certainly enjoy the picturesque views changing every moment as the sun moves.
Because of surfing, it is also known as the Surf Capital Of Australia. Besides surfing, there are so many other options to make your trip enjoyable. So many cafes where you will find delicious eatables. Beer bars are there full of varieties of beers and other drinks. This place is also popular for fishing spots. Torquay is the most rapidly expanding town. Just 22 km from another area named Geelong. Torquay has many businesses and manufacturers of surfboards and surf-related products.
You can coastal walk or bike ride there. There is a 44-kilometer coastal walk, which is certainly not for faint-hearted ones. So many eucalyptus trees surround the beach, making it an amazing place to enjoy your time. There is an information center in Surf Coast Plaza. You can get all information easily if you are going for the first time. Torquay has been a holiday place since the late 19th century as they designed its beaches with grasslands and shady trees where you can sit and watch the movements of the sea. In summer, this place remains overflowing with visitors, especially day-trippers from Geelong and Melbourne.
Share your feedback in the comment section.
Updated on October 10th, 2021
A symbol of eternal love, Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most famous and beautiful buildings. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built Taj in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum, when Shah Jahan was on an expedition to the south and, like always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39 years old. She was the emperor’s beloved wife and trusted companion, travelling with him all over the Mughal Empire.
Initially known as Prince Khurram, Shah Jahan met Persian Princes ‘Arjumand Banu’ and fell in love with her. After five years, in 1612, they got married. In 1628, Shah Jahan became emperor, and he gave her the title ‘Mumtaz Mahal’, meaning ‘Jewel of Palace.’
On the death of Mumtaj, Emperor was so heartbroken that he ordered the court into mourning for two years. After her death, Shah Jahan erected the world’s most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved. Before she passed, she had her husband’s promise to build something unique in her memory.
Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It took 22 years and the labour of 22,000 workers to construct the monument. This was the last wish of Mumtaz Mahal.
Built as the ultimate expression of love, Taj remained a fascination for many poets and lovers.
Here are lines from an exquisite song written by Shakeel Badayuni:
“Ek Shahanshaah Ne Banavaa Ke Hasi. N Taaj mahal.
Saarii Duniyaa Ko Muhabbat Kii Nishaanii Dii Hai”
(In having the beautiful Taj Mahal built, an emperor has given the entire world a token of love.”
Rabindranath Tagore described Taj as “a teardrop on the cheeks of time”.
Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world, this edifice has been made;
To display the creator’s glory.
It is best described by the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold as ‘Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.’
In Agra, once the capital of the Mughal Empire during the 16th and early 18th centuries, Taj is the centre of pilgrimage. Tourists from all over the world visit Agra to see Taj. It is 125 km south of New Delhi, the capital of India. Travelling through the road route takes you approx 4 hours to reach Agra from Delhi. There are regular luxury bus and coach services between Delhi and Agra. If you catch a flight from Delhi to Agra, in just 30 minutes, you find yourself at the Kheria Airport of Agra, 7 km from the city centre and 3 km from the railway station.
There are different entrance gates to visit Taj. They made the main entrance gate of red sandstone. It is 150 ft. Wide and nearly 100 ft. high and consists of a lofty central arch with double-storeyed wings on either side. The whole courtyard of the Taj is framed in symmetrical. The only asymmetrical object in the Taj is the casket of the emperor, which was built beside the queens as an afterthought. The symmetry of the structure is there even in the flowerbeds and the small gardens dotting the place.
The real tragic part of the love story lies in the final years of Shah Jahan. When he was 65, his son Aurangzeb imprisoned him in Red Fort at Agra and became the throne’s successor. While he was in prison, he somehow managed to gaze at Taj from the grill of prison.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains, Taj attracts you to see the ultimate beauty designed in stones. A green carpet of the garden runs from the main gate to the foot of the Taj Mahal. According to the holy Koran, a garden is symbolic of paradise.
I visited Taj during my recent visit to Delhi on the 23rd of February. I went to Delhi to receive Bhawana, who was coming from Australia, and we planned to visit Agra before coming back to our place. It was an all-time fascination for me to be there and breathe in the air touching Taj. The beauty of the Taj has everything to create lifelong impressions on everybody’s mind. I still feel all vibrations; I felt being over there. Though it was a concise visit, we really enjoyed being there. Our ‘guide boy’ described all details related to Taj. The monument’s size looked huge as we entered, but as we approached it, it just receded to its actual size. They called this geometric illusion.
Very interesting, Taj changes colours with changing daylight. They build it to reflect the sky, pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, and golden by moonlight. As the day turns to night and the sun completes its journey, and the moon comes to heal the world; Taj becomes a mystery. You may even forget to breathe or blink, wondering it to be real or some illusion. Changing the colours of the Taj signifies the changing moods of a woman.
Impressed by the flawless beauty of the Taj, I wish to visit Taj again and again. Long live Taj and long live feelings of undying love, it is made for.
The article is written in 2011, so the dates mentioned regarding my visit to Taj belongs to 2011
Updated on September 7th, 2024
Nowadays, everyone wants to have an international degree, and it’s a golden chance if students who want to experience the international study environment before travelling overseas for further studies. Foreign colleges & Universities are setting their campuses worldwide. The University of Fraser Valley has set up its campus in Chandigarh’s beautiful city, and it is successfully delivering some courses in the business and IT sector. Students can start their studies here in Chandigarh (UFV India) and choose to transfer to CANADA after completing one or two years.
I visited this campus in Chandigarh a few years back. I was so impressed by this concept that I decided on it for my son. He got enrolled on an undergraduate degree in Computer Sciences. He has completed two years in Chandigarh and the other two years in the Canada campus.
The very first point someone can ask that what are the benefits of studying that pathway program? Being in the business of education consultancy, I normally face queries of students and their parents where they ask why should they study here in India when they are planning to go overseas for higher studies later. Here we can list few benefits of this pathway program.
With this pathway program, you will learn Canadian applied educational expectations and balance new academic demands. Students will be more ready for Canadian educational standards before travelling to Canada. This way, students will get ready for their future studies in Canada. Parents who will spend a huge amount of money on their child’s education evaluate their ward’s progress before actually sending them abroad. If students complete a two-year program here in India, they will get a Canadian diploma before travelling to Canada. That diploma will be beneficial for them to get better work opportunities while further studies in Canada. Another benefit is monetary as well. Students can get one or two years of studies at almost 60% less tuition fee, ultimately cost-cutting in your studies plan.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA): It is a 4 year-long course and is the first step to become relevant to the global business milieu and prepare students to play a role in the international marketplace. Then, choose to seamlessly transfer to UFV’s Abbotsford campus in British Columbia, Canada, after the first, second, or third year.
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS): A UFV Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS) can help students gain the analytical, problem-solving, and technical skills required to become a part of the global IT workforce or an IT entrepreneur. Maximize the chance of success in Canada by beginning your degree at UFV’s Chandigarh location.
Management Post-Degree Certificate (MPDC): This is a 1-year Certificate course making students eligible for graduate degree programs across North America.
Master of Management (MoM): It is a Master’s degree of 16 months. It can be completed at UFV (India) or the University of Windsor. For students who want to opt for this course must complete MPDC from UFV (India).
To apply for any of the degree programs, students should get at least 65% in grade 12. And for the Certificate course, the minimum requirement is at least 50% in an undergraduate degree.
Students need to have an IELTS score of at least 6.5, with no band score less than 6.0 (for degree & certificate course) or a TOEFL score of at least 100. However, for a Master’s, they should have at least a 7.0 IELTS score. Note: IELTS is not required at the time of admission in India.
Intake: September, December, January and April
If you are planning to have a Canadian degree in India, do contact any right consultant.
Updated on September 7th, 2021
If you ever had a dream to work & settle in Australia and you have recently graduated in engineering, then 476 Visa is for you. This opportunity can be a turning point in your engineering career and few right efforts can land you in your dream country. Every year Australia’s top engineering and construction companies look for talented and ambitious graduates to join their teams, so check with your eligibilities to apply for this visa. Continue Reading
