Bonding over bondas--and a book for Mother's Day

Yesterday was a long anticipated day.

I am pretty new to the world of blogging, although I had been following some bloggers regularly. A friend blogs on Saffrontree, a blog where I could read about my own passion, books. Reading this blog had become a regular feature for me. As soon as A left for school and my husband for work, I would make myself a hot cup of tea, switch on the laptop and go online. Over a period of weeks, I followed not just ST, but also the individual blogs of some of the bloggers. It became an addiction, a must-do thing with my morning cuppa.

Like any other mom, a bulk of my reading was age-appropriate books for A, age-appropriate reading for myself often taking a backseat. I began to enjoy these books, and had occasion to re-visit some of my own childhood favourites. I had always read a lot, devoured is a better word, and soon got big-time into the world of children's books. Saffrontree was like an extension of that love, and I had a ball reading the posts and adding my bit to them. Slowly, I began to get to know the bloggers and their individual styles. Connected with some of them. I knew I would like to get to know them, get into their world.

Then Artnavy moved to town and invited all of us to her place. Now I do not usually make friends easily. I was not sure if I could go and meet a whole group of strangers. But then I chided myself. Told myself that we had already been introduced to each other and communicated through our blogs. I should go and meet these lovely ladies. They were not strangers, not by a long shot.

What about A? She had a birthday party to attend on the same day, around the same time. I had read quite a few posts to her, and when I showed her the pictures of Art's two girls on her blog, she was quite keen to meet them. So we arranged it so that we go to Art's place first, followed by her birthday party.

Found her place quite easily. A and I walked into the complex, not knowing exactly where to go. There was a lady standing on the way, with two kids, a welcoming smile on her face. As soon as she saw me, she knew who I was, and I knew who she was. A and I had recognised Anush and Aditi! Soon  Usha Vaidyanathan, Shubha, and Swapna, who does not blog, but is a participant in the comments on ST, were there too, Swapna with her little one, who took an immediate liking to A, and kept telling her that she should visit her home. Her home was very warm, welcoming, very tidy for someone who had moved in there so recently, and very tastefully decorated. I was especially impressed as I am a very sloppy person myself in these matters. We saw the famed "Kawad", too.

Art had some wonderful kairi-lassi for us to drink, followed by yum batata-wadas. (Actually I should do a post sometime on batata-wadas or aloo bondas as they are called here. They don't taste anywhere like they do on the streets of Mumbai. More about that some other time!) These were lovely. Hot, crisp, with the right spiciness of the filling. Swapna had got some home-made cake, which I am sorry to say I ate only one piece of. I shall have to ask her for the recipe on A's demand. It felt just like attending a birthday party of sorts with good company, good eats, good conversation, and of course the (return?) gifts. I came back with a goody bag filled with gifts and a box filled with Art's batata-wadas for my husband, which got demolished in no time at all on reaching home after finishing with the other, actual birthday party. The gifts were duly (A's work) opened, admired, and immediately put to use.

As I said, I was initially apprehensive about going, but I was made to feel so welcome, so much one of them, that I was overwhelmed. They all felt like kindred souls, and I am glad I went. I really have a lot to thank Saffrontree  for. I only wish that the other ladies could also had made it, but let's keep it for another place, another day.

Here's also a book- on occasion of Mother's day. For our motherland.

Picked up this new book in Landmark the other day:

WE, THE CHILDREN OF INDIA

THE PREAMBLE TO OUR CONSTITUTION

Written by Leila Seth. Illustrations by Bindia Thapar. Published by Puffin books. Ages: All.

Image: Courtesy Penguin books India.

Leila Seth was the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court and the first woman Chief Justice of a state in India. Her credentials listed on the introductory page amply testify to her being the best person to have taken up this project. By her own admission, this book has been written with the help of her grandchildren, ages 5 and 8.

Leila Seth has beautifully deconstructed the heavy vocabulary of the preamble to make it comprehensible to all. She has gone word by word, giving succint examples and explanations with the help of speech bubbles--with a lot of help from the vivid illustrations by Bindia Thapar.

For example while discussing the word "Socialist" she explains:"socialism meant bettering the life of the people of India". Here the children in the illustrations explain to us:"so that
everyone should have enough food
everyone should be able to go to school
everyone should have a safe home
everyone should be able to lead a healthy life and be able to go to a doctor when they need to"
Clearly explained, with happy illustrations.

My favourite are the words used while explaining "Secular". To the names of all the religions prevalent in India, she has added other belief groups: "Agnosticism, Atheism, Rationalism, Humanism, Animism" There are these groups, too. They are part of "We, the people", and have to be included.

On each page, there are boxes where we are given the facts pertaining to those words. There is also a short account of the events leading up to and culminating in our constitution as well as an account of the people involved in writing it, with wonderful photographs.

The book ends with a simplified version of the Preamble with the word "people" replaced by "children", a short account of what needs to be done, and a short poem to help us remember the spirit of the preamble.

"Let's be equal, just and free-
Strong in our diversity:
Free in thought and free in prayer,
Free to dream and free to dare,
Free to love and free to care.
Let's be equal, just and free-
Strong in our diversity."

"Let's be equal, free and just,
Unified in love and trust:
Strong to lend the weak a hand,
Strong to help and understand,
Strong to build a happier land.
Let's be equal, free and just,
Unified in love and trust."

This poem is followed by a drawing by the writer's 8yr-old grand-daughter, Nandini.

A wonderful and timely book, making the preamble easy to understand for all, and more important, easy to remember and follow. A true gem, which should be recommended for all children and all schools.

Crossposted here.