Memoirs Of a Special Child

On a Rendezvous with Radio...

2021-10-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

3 years ago...I had my first official rendezvous with the world of voicing . I am calling it 'official' because before that as well, I was quite familiar with this ardor of audio in bits and parts, as my dad was a senior broadcaster at All India Radio . Infact, I had already recorded my first ever radio jingle years before I actually took this craft seriously.

But it was not before the completion of my Post Graduation Diploma in Mass Communication that I decided to pursue my internship in radio production and programing from the official community radio of Punjab University: Radio Jyotirgamaya.

Since then I have come a long way learning the unlearned, rediscovering myself again and again in this vast and wonderful world of voices

I will be putting up some of my creations made during the internship on my Instagram page So don't forget to follow me and do stick around to check out some of my initial voicing works in the world of audio😊

कहानी एक जुमले की....

2020-10-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

सुगम्य भारत अभियान, एक ऐसा जुमला...जिसपर हँसी से ज़्यादा रोना आता हैl

3 दिसम्बर 2015 में हुई थी इसकी शुरुआत, पर यकीन मानिए, 5 साल बाद, आज भी इसकी comic-timing जस कि तस हैl लेकिन इसपर हँसने के बजाये रोना इसलिए आता है, क्योंकि यह उसी का मज़ाक उडाता है, जिसके लिए इसे बनाया गयाl

विडंबना तो दिखिए, जिन दिव्यांगजनों के कल्याण हेतु यह अभियान चलाया जा रहा है, उन्हीं लोगों को दिव्यांग प्रमाण पत्र, यानी कि Disability Certificate, बनवाने के लिए भी सरकारी एवं ज़िला अस्पतालों कि पहली दूसरी, या तीसरी मंज़िल तक चढ़कर जाना पड़ता है! और यही नहीं, सरकारी दफ्तरों के बाहर बनें so called ramps आज भी उतने ही उबड़-खाबड़ हैं, जितने कि पहले थेl और मज़े कि बात पता हैं क्या है: आज भी इन ramps को वही निक्कमें लेकिन highly qualified engineers बनाते हैं जो अक्सर basic norms और standards को follow करना ही भूल जाते हैंl

अरे साहब! ऐसे बहुत से उदहारण हैं, जो भारत को दिव्यांगों के लिए ‘सुगम्य’ से ज़्यादा दुर्गम बनाते हैं l But who cares? हमने तो अपना काम कर दिया न ? अब किसीका फायदा हो या नुक्सान...उससे हमें क्या? पर जानते हैं, असली मज़ा तो तब आएगा, जब भारत और उसकी सरकार,इस जुमले को गंभीरता से लेगी और ये जुमला न रहकर एक जनसैलाब बन जाएगाl

Love at First Fight!

2020-08-08T01:10:00.002-07:00

Do you believe in love at first sight??

What‘s your idea about this most iconic concept of ‘True Love’?

Well for me, it’s not an ordinary idea of seeing each other for very first time and falling in love, just like that, but an action packed movie with a romantic score playing in the background.

Let the fun begin...

I am at a mall, coming back all charged up, ready to take on the world after watching Ong back 5. As I was going towards the lift, suddenly a voice comes from behind...pakdo pakdo! (Somebody please catch him) .

Before I could turn around to figure out what's going on, I saw a guy running like Usain Bolt, holding the purse of my dream girl.

You bet, with him running like that, India had a sure shot chance of bagging a gold in Athletics in the next Olympics. But Alas….he ventured into the ‘wrong profession’ (don’t say you didn’t see that coming….pun intended) So without wasting a split second I ran after him...

Well if he was Bolt….than I was also no less than The Flash (A superhero of DC comics)

It was really a close call. As the chase was about to end…with my hand just a millimetre away from catching him…. he did the unexpected...he jumped off from that 9th floor of the mall

And BANGGG!!!

A perfect landing...

It made me chuckle in disbelief : D… I was like.... WTF MAN!!!

With a little smirk appearing on the left side of my face, I said to myself or rather to him: “Dude you are still playing it at AMATEUR LEVEL, whereas I am way beyond the LEGENDARY MODE.

Sometimes, life doesn’t provide you with MCQs, and it all comes down to taking a leap of faith. It was that moment So without a second thought, I took a run up, did some calculations....and here I was ready for my ULTIMATE Parkour Jump .

It took me almost 5 seconds to realize that I had landed perfectly, all with flying colors ( Well literally :D).

After that we both had some real action kicking in (See..I am becoming really good at puns…no? :P) . Hand to hand combat…round house kicks…kung-fu, karate,this had it all. Martial arts at its best. Showed off some spine chilling skill combos of JackieChan, Bruce Lee, Vidhyut Jammwal, Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Van Damme etc. However, he too was one real badass…a tough competition after a long time, I must admit that.

But with a finishing move inspired by Rey Mysterio’s 619 in the climax, accompanied by so much buildup….do you really think I will let him win at the end???

Naaaah! :D

Everybody clapped and made videos as I returned the purse to my dream girl!

And there it was.... love at first sight.

Should I say… love at first Fight! ;)

Epilogue: We went on a date just like the Bollywood movie Om Shanti Om. Main aagar kahun...tum sahaseen...playing in the background. :)

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Image Source: Opinion Stage

Defying Disability

2020-06-19T22:17:00.002-07:00

“Disability is not a Limitation….
It is just a Mindset”
_Chaitanya Mukund

In the third installment of #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES, lets meet Dr.Rupinder Kaur, an Ayurvedic medical officer, who has defied her disability for serving the humanity.

Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself?

Ans: Hailing from Ludhiana, Punjab. I am working as Ayurvedic medical officer under national health mission from the last 10 years, currently posted in PHC Jodhan. I got diagnosed with Polio, when I was just 6 months old. But despite that, today I am as independent as anybody else, and my only motto in life is to serve the humanity, help others and fulfill my duties as a doctor.

Q: What are your responsibilities and challenges as a COVID fighter?

Ans: These days due to COVID, my duties are assigned in general OPDs and flu corner, which is a separate section within the hospital. Here we examine people with ILI (Influenza like illness). We inquire about their travel history, especially international travel, possible contact with a COVID patient etc. We guide them regarding precautions to be taken, and go for a COVID test in case the symptoms flare up.

I am also a part of Rapid Response Team (RRT), which is carried out at block level. So if someone enters our block, be it the contacts of a COVID patient or anyone returning from national or international travel, it’s our foremost task to quarantine them immediately, following obtaining of their travel history, bio data and other relevant information.

During the field visits, people look at our caravan of vehicles with so much wariness and alarm. To convince them that these are here for their own wellbeing is quiet a big challenge.

Q: So are there any challenges which you face as a specially-abled while doing your job as a COVID fighter?

Ans: There are certainly challenges when it comes to field work as there many places in rural areas which are completely inaccessible for persons with disabilities, due to uneven surfaces, under constructed roads, steep tracks etc, that even able bodied have a hard time to walk upon more often than not .

But having said that, our team is very supportive and cooperative and they help me at each step.

Q: What inspires you to work so hard and with such perseverance?

Ans: My biggest strengths are: my friend circle, my office mates and my family. They have always believed in my ability. Not even for a second, I feel my disability. With them around, I can be myself. Also keeping one’s willpower intact is very important, along with a positive approach for better decision making. It all enhances the essence of life.

Q: Your message to other COVID fighters?

Ans: First of all, my heartfelt thanks goes to all the corona fighters including sweepers, garbage collectors etc, who are doing their duties diligently despite all odds. People have realized their importance.

I just want to say that, they are doing a great job and continue to do the same. Because at the end of the day, it is our collective contribution, which will make way for a better tomorrow.

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Fighting The COVID Fire

2020-06-02T07:05:00.002-07:00

Contribution of Fire and Rescue Services, MC, Chandigarh during COVID-19.

1. All leaves and weekly rests were restricted in wake of COVID-19, and the Fire Service was deployed round the clock to handle Fire and Rescue operations in the City and nearby vicinity.

2. Sanitization of public places was carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services, MCC to disinfect the City.

3. Fire Service officials were deployed on CTU buses to supervise the adequate supply of Fruits and Vegetables in various sectors of the city during lockdown.

4. The daredevil officials of Fire Service are engaged to carry out the Home Quarantine of the Contacts of Positive Corona Cases, Negative Cases and those who are arriving at Chandigarh from other states.

Yes...they not only give fire a ferocious fight, but now they are also combating COVID with all their might!

In the second interview of the series #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES, let us meet Mr. Anil Kumar Garg, Additional Commissioner-cum-Chief Fire Officer, PCS (Nodal Officer Contact Tracing and Quarantine COVID-19). A man who is at the helm of all these efforts, leading from the forefront in fighting this fire of despair.

Q: What was the biggest challenge you came across as a COVID19 Frontline Warrior?

Ans: Nowadays, I am primarily looking after areas of contact tracing and quarantine. People with both higher and lower risk rate are getting quarantined. But the latter are the ones, who besides being positive have Primary, Secondary and Social contacting. Primary contacts are a great threat to the people within their vicinity. Therefore, in order to undertake the task of contact tracing and quarantining effectively, it became imperative that the workforce on board was highly motivated and willing, which was quite a challenge.

Q: How does this contact tracing really works? What are the key factors you keep in mind while undertaking it?

Ans: The first thing we do in contact tracing is to have a telephonic conversation with the positive patient, providing them moral support and counseling. After obtaining information like; where did they go? Whom they came in contact with? What all they did during that time period? etc, our ground team simultaneously visits the friends and family members of the patients in order to verify their versions. Then we quarantine all those who came in contact. Even after the verifications, if we feel that there is still something more to it and the patient is not co-operating properly, we trace their calls, locate the mobile tower, get the call log and talk to people he or she contacts frequently. But during the whole process, we ensure full secrecy of the patients, as people regard it as defamation which is not true. It is just an illness and not a stigma.

Q: Your fire department has a taken this unique initiative of bringing smile on the face of kids as well as homeless people who cannot celebrate their birthdays due to this outbreak. Tell us something about it.

Ans: Since lockdown was going on and there was nobody to cheer them up on their special day, we decided to take up this initiative. So whenever we got to know about these birthdays through newspapers, social media, friends and relatives of the person, we made sure to make the day special and once in a lifetime event for them. Our team used to go around singing ‘Happy Birthday’ on PA (Public Announcement) System, making the birthday a well known fact for the whole locality, and wishing that person with a homemade cake.

Q: How was the response?

Ans: The initiative got a lot of appreciation from everyone. People felt thankful and cared for during these testing times. After all, even a small moment of happiness can make a big difference.

Q: Your message for other COVID fighters?

Ans: My only message would be that one should keep serving the humanity and our respective nations. If we continue to work with utmost passion and perseverance, we will definitely win over corona.

Moments of Joy

Spreading Happiness

Celebrating Life :)

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SALUTING THE SUPERHEROES

2020-05-20T07:44:00.007-07:00

Do you know, what is common between fictional superheroes and real life superheroes???

Well they both are ever-ready to save the day, no matter what....keeping their personal as well as family lives on tenterhooks 24×7.

In present times, when the world is combating with COVID19, our real life superheroes, the frontline warriors are giving their all to keep us safe by risking one's own life , taking every turmoil head-on.

In an effort to pay my gratitude for their selfless service I, Chaitanya Mukund, in association with Art Infinitii brings you some incredible interviews of such amazing personalities.

Starting this special spree of #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES with Mrs. Nilambari Jagedale, IPS, SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) U.T CHANDIGARH, get ready to unveil the challenges....the struggles and the inspirations behind being a COVID19 frontline warrior.

Q: What are the challenges you come across as COVID19 Frontline Warrior?

Ans: First of all, it’s our obligation as well as a responsibility to ensure that everyone is safe, including our own force, because if and when we are safe, we can keep others safe. Making the people aware of rules of the current times and motivating them to adhere, is a big challenge. It took some time for the public to understand the seriousness of the pandemic at first. It was getting exhausting for people to stay at home. So to convince them was a humongous task. In case of an emergency, the timely providence of essential services like groceries, medicines, etc to the senior citizens and weaker section of the society by our team was another big challenge. Apart from this, to convince migrants to stay back for their own safety and providing daily wage labourers with adequate food were some the major challenges.

Q: How your family is supporting you during this?

Such things are possible only due to support of the family. My husband is also a frontline warrior who is in army and is doing his duty at the borders. My little daughter too is handling the situation very wisely. She knows that her mother needs a proper cleanup before she can hug or play with her after coming back from duty. Besides wherever you are the moral support of friends and family is always there.

Q: We all are witnessing how the police force is working day and night, tirelessly in order to keep us safe. As a team leader, how are you keeping them motivated and on the go?

Ans: I send time to time messages to my team to keep them motivated. Once I recorded an audio message, telling, how much I am proud of them, of their contribution towards curbing the crisis, prioritizing the wellbeing of the masses over their own family needs. Some of them have even arranged Langer (a free meal service for the community) for poor people from their own pocket, provided medicines and medical facilities to the needy.
I also visit their check posts individually on a regular basis and provide them with bottle of juices, water, masks, sanitizers etc.

Q: What inspires you for such a selfless service towards the society?

Ans: In the current scenario, the ground reality is that , many people are struggling to get even a day’s meal, So to fulfill their needs , while working towards the welfare of the society, is what inspires us the most. Also media has played quite a positive role by showcasing the good aspects and various wonderful initiatives, taken in India and around the world during this time of crisis. Watching people help each other like this, serves as a huge inspiration for all of us.

Q: As we all know, the number of cases will increase exponentially in coming times. What are the foreseeable challenges according to you?

Ans: The biggest challenge will be to restrict the entry-exit of the containment zones in our area to avoid further contractions. To facilitate the movement of migrants smoothly, without violating the norms of social distancing, is yet another major challenge. In the wake of rising cases, to ensure proper security of increasing quarantine centers, hospitals and medical staff is also one of the greatest responsibility

Q: What is your message for other warriors of COVID19?

Ans: They should continue working with as much passion, motivation and zeal as they are working now. One must always remember that no difficult situation is everlasting and this too will get over pretty soon with our action-oriented efforts.

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The Healing Effect

2020-04-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Following his daily routine, he woke up sharp at 4:45 am . After getting fresh, he sat down for meditation. The words of his guru were doing rounds in his mind:"Anything done at a stretch of 90 days, becomes a habit" . It was the 90th day and Rahul has given it all to achieve the ultimate victory of his life; to defy the doctors...to prove them wrong, who had declared his physical condition Cerebral Palsy as permanent, which is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. It occurs due to abnormal brain development, often before birth.

Rahul never accepted his condition because he always believed that he can overcome it. And now through rigorous 90 days meditation practice, he was able reach such a spiritual level that he could bend and control time and space with his sheer will, as well as power of mind….In short he had mastered the art of time travel...

After sometime of being in deep meditative state, he embarked on a journey of time and space as a celestial being, leaving his physical body behind still in the meditative state...

Using his yogic powers he went back into the year of 1995, at the time of his birth.

At the hospital he saw the doctors arguing with his mother about not going for a delivery, despite being told a thousand times that the moment of the baby in womb is slowing down, with every passing second...

He also saw them freaking out in panic and finally opting for an emergency cesarean when the baby stopped moving once and for all...

His saw his birth and the first reaction that his mother gave after watching him for the first time...

He saw himself in the nicu(Neonatal Intensive Care) where premature babies are kept for a recovery period after birth.

Watching all this from a higher perspective and being invisible from everyone was a feeling beyond expression. It was just like; You are there but you're still not there....

He wanted to stay there and watch his entire childhood unfold again in front of him. He wanted to relive those sweet memories. But he knew it was not possible...he has to go back and live in the present rather than dwelling in the past. He has to go back to complete the circle of life and finish what he has started.

He went near the incubator where the baby Rahul was still recovering. He kept his hands onto the incubator and transferred the divine energy to the sleeping baby. The energy penetrated deep inside the baby's body and healed all neurological damage done to the brain.

As the present day Rahul was passing on the energy to the baby, he could also feel the healing effect simultaneously...

At last he got fully healed, and the baby in the incubator also gave a smile of accomplishment while still sleeping his meditative sleep...

After having a last glance at his young mother... Rahul came back to the present...all healed from deep within...ready to take on the world...

My First Date...

2020-04-12T02:15:00.001-07:00

It was a Sunday morning; I was sitting in the balcony with newspaper in one hand, and sipping my all time favorite cappuccino from the other. You hardly get such kind of ‘me time’ when you are working in a BPO. Round the clock working, night shifts with hardly any breaks, prolonged sitting hours and continuous callings leaves no room for a me-time or to even have the slightest desire for the same. Thankfully it was my week off today. No, the reason was not it being a Sunday, but because I got a double week off, based on my ‘par excellence’ performance in the previous week’s ‘pressure test’, where you had to take maximum number of calls, while maintaining a 8 out of 10 ratio of satisfied customers throughout the week . I broke my own record of 200 calls a week with a power packed 250 calls this time along with 30 appreciation mails from satisfied customers. I could have asked for anything else from my team leader who was boasting around about my performance with other team leaders and how he got best team players in his team on the entire floor. He was a bit reluctant on giving me a double week off at first, but finally agreed as he didn’t want to lose the ‘ace performer’ of his team.

So here I was enjoying my ‘Sunday’ and making full use of my ‘me-time’.

Suddenly my phone beeped and I saw messages from my bff Rahul

“Hey power packed performer… how are you doing?”

“Enjoying your week off huh?….Oh sorry I mean week offs ;P”

“Just wanted to let you know that Ms Riya Khelkar wants to meet you in CCD sharp at 10:30am”

“Good luck buddy… have fun ;)”

Riya was an office friend. We shared a great rapport with each other. We often hang out together, pulled each other’s leg and enjoy spending time together. People often thought we were a couple. Although, Riya didn’t mention or showed any such inclination towards me, but I had feelings for her, and only my close friends like Rahul knew about it

I looked at my watch. It was already 10:15 am, and I only have 15 mins left for my first date . I didn’t want to get late, so without a second thought, I grabbed my jacket and car keys and zoomed out of the apartment.

CCD was a 10mis ride from where I lived. I reached just in time. . I didn’t want to look like a jerk that haven’t brought anything for his lover on their first date. So with a bouquet in one hand and a chocolate case in the other , I reserved a sitting place for ourselves near the window.

It was 10:45 and still there was no sign of Riya.

“Its our first date, maybe she is finding it hard to choose a gift for me, which is why it is taking her a long time to come. But somebody should tell her that my biggest gift is her only. I don’t want any materialistic gift” I mumbled to myself .

Just then the waiter came and asked for my order.

“I am expecting someone….we will order in a while”

He nobbed and went away

It was almost 11:00am and Ms late laatif Riya was nowhere in sight.

Exasperated I dialed Riya’s number…but it was coming out of reach. I tried 2-3 times but all went in vain.

Then I called Rahul

“ Kyun bhai, mil liya bhabhi se..?” he said in a teasing tone

“Kahan yaar…. woh to abhi tak aayi hi nahi…kab se wait kar rahan hoon” I grumbled

“Beta woh aayegi bhi nahi” , he smirked

“But why??? Tune hi toh bola tha ki woh mujhse milna chahti hai?” I said shocked

“Aaj Kya date hai Bhai?”

“1^st April” I said puzzled

Toh phir Happy April Fool’s Day. He chuckled and cut the phone.

I went into a coma like state for a few seconds. I didn’t know how to react.

After sometime, I laughed at my own stupidity and realized that I stood up on my first date :D

THE CURE

2020-03-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

I still remember the day I buried my dog Bosco a golden furred Labrador. We were together since I was 4. Mom and dad had brought him as a birthday present. We grew up together...

We played together. I taught him many games and tricks, but his most loved game was ‘bring bring’ in which he we would bring the ball back thrown afar. Everything was going great. We were happy in our lives, enjoying ourselves, until suddenly he started acting weird. He started howling and growling for no reason. He just kept sitting in a corner all day long staring, being clueless. Didn't eat much or made eye contact with anyone. We all got worried and took him to the doctor where he was diagnosed with an incurable tumor in the brain. Devoid of any hope he was put to sleep.

I was shattered, my world went upside down. He was not just a dog...he was a family member...he was my younger brother. After he passed away, I started hallucinating him everywhere, developed psychiatric symptoms because of which I was taken to doctor. But even medicines didn't work. I found relief in sleeping all day because I didn’t want to open my eyes just to find out that he isn't there. I didn't want to face the reality.

But one day he came...and talked to me in human voice, he said; “Brother what have you done to yourself...you are not the one whom I have known from the day one, he was strong...he was caring....he was empathetic. I know you are disturbed with my death. But brother life must go on.... you have so many responsibilities on your shoulders...so much to accomplish in life. I will not allow you to morn my death anymore. Stay strong and take good care of mom and dad. I am always with you right there in your heart. Now leave all the worries aside and get up ...GET UP!”

I woke up with a jerk, soaked in sweat.

It was a dream... he came to cure me...to reinforce the sense of responsibility...to let me know that it's time to get okay, because he's okay. After that day I became alright. But the void he left in my life is still there. I miss him a lot...a lot!

THE MYTH GODDESS

2020-03-22T00:21:00.001-07:00

I was sitting in my room surrounded by crenellation of paper clutter scribbling down some ideas illegibly onto my notebook when suddenly the doorbell disrupted my thought process. I dashed towards the door praying that it should not be the same cunning cable waale bhaiya , who comes every second day with his huffy ‘aaj ka best offer ‘ and tries to coax me into buying his cable connection , despite being told a thousand times that there is no need for a cable connection as I don’t watch TV and like being accompanied by my pen and paper most of the time while watching some infotainment content online itself.

If boomerang could be person, it would be him only, because ; Chaahe jitna zor laga lo…yeh wapas zarroor ayega ( Do whatsoever…..but this man will return)

Dandling with deliberation I opened the door, and to my pleasant surprise, thankfully it was not him.

He was the postman, who usually doesn’t have much to offer me, apart from subscription letters from various scholarly magazines and journals about which I keep inquiring through mails.

He scanned my shabby appearance from top to bottom and gave an understanding and sympathizing look. He handed over an envelope. I took the envelope and put it in my pocket without a glance. I thanked him and went inside back to my crenellation of papers and opened laptop .

Due to constantly working upon my ideas for weeks now, I hardly got any time check mail box . The inbox was filled with junk mails from various social media platforms and websites which just keep on bombarding your dashboard with latest offers and end of reason sales . I was scrolling, being clueless... unsure of what I am looking for. But just then something caught my eyes. It was a mail from the representatives of Booker awards. I was flabbergasted.... you don't witness such mails every day. I opened the mail while earnestly praying to my favorite deity...

In the mail it was written:

Dear Mr. Chaitanya

We are pleased to inform you that your book 'THE MYTH GODDESS' has been longlisted for the booker award.

Regards

Booker Awards Association

Further in the post script it was written; a hard copy of this mail will be sent to you at the given address within a week.

The post script of the mail really gave me goosebumps because today was the 7th day since the mail has been sent and I should be receiving the hard copy today itself.

Just then, something struck my mind and I went for my pocket with shaking hands. I somehow managed to pull the envelope out. And after actually looking at it for the first time...I was about to faint not because of a psychogenic shock but because of the shock of disbelief and excitement. It was that hard copy from booker Awards Association. I got escalated with joy. It was hard to believe my luck. I phoned my agent to confirm the news, he said: Yes!

I thought of replying the mail to express my gratitude.... but just when I sat down to write...

Somebody tapped on my shoulder.

I turned around to see who it was…

My mother was standing there... she said to me. ...” beta it's good to right down your affirmations but it's more important to act upon them...plus whenever you sit to write down, you don't keep track of time, come and have dinner it's already getting late”

All of sudden I realized that I got so immersed in my affirmations that I actually started visualizing them....and The Myth goddess was still in its first draft.

Image Source: https://www.britannica.com/

Story Time...

2020-03-21T12:56:00.002-07:00

Author Richard P. Denney says:
"Authors do not choose a story to write, the story chooses us".

My latest collection of original short stories is one such example. The source of this stories are prompts, whims and self-realizations. Unbox a certain aspect of everyday life with each story.

Starting with first story ‘The Myth Goddess’ , coming up this Sunday i.e 22.03.2020, get ready for some story time every weekend to upbeat yourself for the challenge called LIFE.

Don't forget to Like, Comment and Share

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MAIN SAMAY HOON....

2020-01-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Time is relative...and so are we….

If we value time, we value ourselves.

If we waste time, we are wasting ourselves.

We can't waste time of others as this privilege is limited only to us.

For example: It is wrong to say that a particular person or a movie has wasted your time. Whether by will or out of compulsion , It was YOU who chose to be with that person or watch that particular movie while giving your time, there was no by default mechanism involved.

Don't see your time as a separate entity from yourself, because it's not.

Also there is no such thing as: APNA TIME AAYEGA (OUR TIME WILL COME).

Always Remember; You bring your own time, your time doesn't bring you!

After all, at the end of the day, all of the above sums up into just one sentence:

MAIN SAMAY HOON

(I AM MY OWN TIME)

YOU Are The Kaal Chakra (Wheel of Time) of your Life

An act of Positivity in the movie called Life....

2019-10-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

Highs and lows in life are a part and parcel of it which are quite inevitable like dawn and darkness...

Right now I am also going through a rather low phase in my life both mentally and physically. And I always felt that going through a low phase in life is an opportunity for you to be more positive.

I know one cannot be positive all the time but one can always pretend to be positive...right? Because at the end of the day, even this pretention will have some positive fruit bearing in your life, as somewhere out there you are actually trying to deceive your mind into getting some positive things done...even if you are just enacting. But as you know,even an act done with conviction could fetch you an oscar. So acting positively with conviction can also get you an oscar of positivity! As they say in law of attraction...the more you think about something....the greater are the chances of its manifestion . So the lower the lifestate ...greater the chances of enacting positivity.

Like negativity...positivity is also contagious..
And once spread....it is bound to come back in manifolds :)

IT'S HERO TIME!!!!

2019-09-19T04:24:00.003-07:00

Is that a bird? Is that a plane? It's Super....

Naah! Its not a Superman this time!!!

Neither its a BATMAN!!!

No even IRON-MAN is not making a comeback...

And I am definitely not talking about BEN 10 ( Please DO NOT go by the title) :)

This time he is someone who is full- on Indian!

An all new super warrior is making his way to the world of superheroes. He will be the first of his kind in India !

A Hero with a Difference!

Created by none other than.......ahh well no prizes for guessing..... :D

Presenting to you the teaser of my First Book : Shivaye- The Wonder Boy..... a short story....a Superhero Saga with a twist!

Coming Soon for Pre-Orders!!!

Stepping into the realm of Responsibility...

2019-04-08T09:44:00.001-07:00

An old wise man once said..."With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility".

Here power does not refer to any kind of supernatural power or superhuman strength; rather it’s the power to do greater good, power to work for the well-being of mankind, power to bring some action-oriented changes, that are in accordance with the welfare of the society.

But at the same time, the meaning for the word 'responsibility' remains the same: To serve Humanity.

This realization of ‘greater responsibility’ happened to me on the breezy cold night of 14.02.2019 (Chances of getting such ‘realizations’ are always higher, as compared to the possibility of getting yourself a valentine) when I took my first step of ‘independence’ (Well…sort of).

The first occasion was Empowering for Inclusive Summit 2019 at Delhi, a national level summit on new technologies in disabilities which was organized by National Association for Deaf in collaboration with Microsoft, where I represented CORD or Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development, an organization that helps with rural development throughout India and South Asia. It is also known for its extensive contribution in the disability sector.

It was an honor for me to represent CORD because I have been associated with it since I was a kid.

There were quite a few ‘Firsts’ this time….

It was the first time that I represented someone besides myself :-D

It was the first time that I went out of station all by myself without my parents.

It was the first time that I shared my hotel room with someone unknown (Now this Mr. Unknown is a very good friend of mine).

It was the first time that I set off to evaluate the length and breadth of Delhi roads and traffic with my new found friends.

It was the first time that I celebrated my birthday without my parents.

My first meeting with Ms. Nidhi Goyal, India's first visually impaired female comedian.

By the end of summit, my long- awaited dream of working for disability advocacy and be a change-maker also became a reality.

The second occasion was a Two Days Partner Meet on the issues of people with disabilities, RPWD Act 2016 and National Trust Act 1999 at CORD Training Centre Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh.

It was yet another learning experience for me, but with a difference, or to say a 3D difference.

Shocked right???

Well, it simply means that I gained experience in 3 different dimension viz :

Personal

Professional

Spiritual

Personally and professionally, there was a lot to learn about the issues of people with disabilities, the government initiatives taken towards well-being of this community and how the society is becoming not only sensitive but also inclusive for the specially-abled.

Talking about spirituality, staying at CORD premises itself feels like living a dream full of spiritual awakenings and contemplation of the conscious. It reinforces your faith in the ‘One’ while assisting in the attainment of ‘inner peace’.

The movie has just started gaining its momentum…..there’s lot more to come…..

So don’t go anywhere :)

Here are some memories from my 'Realization of a Greater Responsibility' :)

A brother beyond blood....

With the bigwigs of disability sector

At the Summit

The Terrific Trio!

My gang of change-makers

During an interaction with the audience

At CORD Centre, Sidhbari

My Fanboy Moment with Ms. Nidhi Goyal

Fun...Friends....and Fashion !

2018-12-30T07:04:00.001-08:00

It is said: Everything in this World happens for a reason. Well my recent visit to Chennai is a perfect example of the same.

I got this chance to visit the Detroit of India by chance actually.

It was a breezy cold December evening, when suddenly a message popped up onto my social media account. And the first thought that came to my mind after reading that was: "Dreams seen with utmost determination and dedication do become a reality one day!"

This was the message for which I was waiting for with lots of anticipation and optimism. Although I did imagine myself being a part of such kind of thing, but to be very honest, I didn't see it coming this early!

The incident also strengthened my faith in one more thing , which is : The famous Law of Attraction from the movie 'The Secret' do really work !

Anyway, coming back to the message...the message was from Mrs Shalini Visakan the brain behind Suvastra Designs, a fashion designing venture that designs clothes for the specially-abled people keeping in view their specific clothing needs and requirements. It was my dream to work with her someday, and when the opportunity came, I could hardly believe my luck! I was getting the opportunity to do a ramp walk for her and that's also in a combined event for Guinness book of World Record and Unique World Records.

I told you na: "I NEVER SAW THAT ONE COMING"....:)

So the day finally came. At the venue, I was like this little curious kid who has just stepped out from his homely environment into the outer world...full of inquisitiveness and that urge to know more, accompanied by the typical nervous mind which is afraid of missing something or the other in its process of exploring each and every bit of the place.

There were some 350+ fashion designers from across the India who participated in the event to make the world record for the longest fashion show of the world a reality, with Suvastra Designs being one of them.

I met some wonderful people along with some great souls. There were also other specially- abled models like me who fired up stage with their ramp walk on wheelchairs.

.
Amazing right....?

By the way I too tried to ignite a few sparks while walking with my elbow crutches..:D

During the show, before we made it to the ramp, Shalini ma'am acted like a mother , who ensured that each of her children (we models) is comfortable in every possible way, motivating us the whole time to rock the stage no matter what.

I enjoyed and lived every second of it (even the slight delay) .

The audience present had lost their interest in the program due to the delay as they were hardly paying any attention onto the stage when other models were trying their level best to impress the spectators , even after being exhausted themselves , all due to that long wait...but when we made our grand entry, every single person sitting there suddenly got charged up. The hooting....the cheering started ....lots of applauding was there....a once in a lifetime moment. We even got a standing ovation from the crowd, when we finished.

One doesn't get these kind of moments every day , so enjoy your life to fullest and leave the rest to the Best...the Almighty !

On our second day we went Shri Aurobindo ashram in Pondicherry. You can feel the presence of Maharishi Aurobindo and 'THE MOTHER ' in every nook and corner of the premises. One can do an eye to eye interaction with Shri Aurobindo and Mother in the photo gallery of the ashram. Almost every portrait present there seems to be watching over you and pouring the divine blessings at the same time.

The place where Shri Aurobindo took 'Samadhi '(his resting place) has a divine aura around it .Just by being there, it feels as if peace is penetrating in your body and getting straight into your soul. Such a kind of experience can just be felt and not described.

On our last day we did some shopping in the morning. In the evening we celebrated our Christmas with two of my best brotherly buddies and their loving families. They are also specially-abled champions like me. We had lots of fun moments, a few leg-pulling sessions, complimented by a charismatic coffee, the yummiest gajar ka halwa I have ever tasted and some fritters made from banana flowers.

I had the best time of life during this trip . It has changed me in many ways , which the world will witness in coming time !

Here are some of my memoirs from the trip:

An official photograph from the event

ONE FOR ALL...ALL FOR ONE! Team Suvastra

The Ravishing Ramp Walk....

My Two Champion Buddies :)

Last saw it when I was 4 !

Reunion with my Childhood love....❤❤❤

BACK INTO THE TIME MACHINE....

2018-08-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

How would you explain the experience when memories from your childhood suddenly do a merry- go- round in front of your eyes after seeing the school report card of your very first class?

I started going to school when I was 4. I still remember, our school at that time , didn't have a nursery class. So I started my academic journey straight from the 2nd gear instead of 1st i.e kindergarten ( in India the school classes usually starts from nursery,KG and first). This led me to always being the youngest student of my class during school time.

After reading all those remarks given by my favorite class teacher , I feel like I have come a long way since my kindergarten days.

The boy who only knew the alphabets from A to R( You can read the remarks for more details), is now using this 'R' to 'Redefine' his life with all new possibilities and opportunities.

The boy who only knew counting from 1 to 15, is now making every second of his life count to get the best out of it.

So never consider your present life state as your ultimate, because life is just like the finger-snap of Thanos (from Avengers Infinity War), you can always reverse the effect of the consequences at your own WILL ;)

Here's my report card for your kind consideration... :)

The remarks given by my class teacher

On a Date with the Matchmakers....

2018-03-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

"Never give up on love if that is what is in your heart"

-Nick Vujicic

Being in relationship is one thing, and to make it work with success is another. This statement is especially true in the case of people with disabilities, as they usually have a hard time. finding an equilibrium among both these aspects .

But organisation like Inclov act as a 'walking aid' for the specially- abled, assisting them on the road of love by providing them with the right kind of soulmate at the right time.

Inclov is the world’s first matchmaking app designed for people with disabilities and health disorders to find a life partner of their choice. It provides people with disabilities a platform to meet new people, make friends, find love, form new connections. Inclov is fully accessible to everyone including people with visual impairment and matches people on the basis of medical condition, cure availability, level of independence and lifestyle choices.

Recently I attended one of the most popular meet-up event of Inclove known as ' Inclov Social Spaces' in Chandigarh. Such meet-up event invites specially-abled from all around the city to come together at one common place to meet and greet each other, have fun and maybe find that special someone for yourself. These events take place at a location, fully accessible for the specially abled.

Here are some pictures of the event :

So Did I Find the love of my Life????

Naaaaah!!!!!!

I am already in so much love with the goals of my life that I can't think of any other love right now :)

According to me, love has many facets. It is more than just meeting of two soulmates, or finding the right kind of life partner.

Love is like a multiple choice questionnaire. You can choose from an array of options. From devotion, passion, compassion, to an urge to do something in your life. The list is endless and so is love....

No matter what option (or options) you choose, you are always choosing love in one form or the other. Because at the end of the day, love in something eternal and beyond boundaries.

Cricket...Courage...Compassion

2018-02-27T04:23:00.004-08:00

Two occasions, One uniting sport & one fighting spirit........

NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR CRICKET LEAGUE MATCH SERIES -2018

Had the privilege to meet and watch these Amazingly talented and extremely courageous players of Punjab ,Chhattisgarh and Gujarat Wheelchair cricket teams respectively during a tournament. I bet one can have more fun and feel proud at the same time watching them rather than seeing and supporting all those Kohlis and Sharmas.

A glimpse of their warrior spirit

Louis Braille Day 2018

National Association for Blind(NAB) celebrated Louis Braille Day by organizing a special program dedicated to the visually impaired people. Apart from various cultural activities, events and competition, it also held a T-20 cricket match between visually impaired teams. Upon watching them,nobody can say that they are watching some different kind of cricket, You get the same feel and enthusiasm throughout the match. A special kind of sounding ball is used during the play which makes noise whenever it moves, enabling a player to sense the direction of the same while the game is in progress

With cricket team of visually impaired

Matching up-to the spirits and passion of these players cum warriors is a task that many cannot master....

These two incidents aptly shows that:

Why nothing is Impossible

Why specially-abled in India are called 'Divyaang'

PS. The word 'Divaang' means someone with superhuman capabilities.

Beginning of a new Journey

2017-12-18T08:37:00.002-08:00

Life is like a Video Game. In a video game, you get bonus XP (experience) either upon completing a level successfully or performing well while the game is still in progress. Its the same case with Life, you get such XPs from time to time as you progress.

I got mine recently on 13.12.2017, when I became a member of Chandigarh Management Association or CMA. And that also on its 51st Foundation Day. (what a coincidence na... !)

CMA is an apex body of professional management, working closely with industry, Government, academia,and students to further the cause of management professions in and around Chandigarh.

I also got the opportunity to meet and receive my membership certificate from Mr. Christopher Gibbins, Consul General of Canada. I also had the chance to meet some of the biggest names in Professional Management and Technological Development industries

Well it feels great when, the prefix before your name changes from 'Master Chaitanya' to 'Mr. Chaitanya'.

There's still more to explore in life.....

The Game is ON!!!!

.....When 14 years of wait FINALLY came to an END......

2017-10-21T23:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I found out one of the initial mentors from my childhood days after a time lapse of 14 years!!!!! (Thanks to this 2.0 age of Google and Facebook).

We last met around 2003, after which I completely lost contact with her . All these years, I had been searching for her, finding out ways to reach to her but all in vain. But I didn't lose hope and kept up my 'Never Give Up' attitude, as I always believed in : Every Cloud has a Sliver Lining.

So one lucky day, my wish was finally granted, 'The Great Google:' opened its gateways for me on the other side of which, I FINALLY found her.

She was my counselor and special educator .
She was my Amir Khan and I was her Ishaan Avasthi :) as she was the one to detect my Dyslexia for the very first time. So by default, she played a very important and crucial role in my
Memoirs of 'A' Letter journey.

I don't know if without her, I could ever have been able to put even a proper 'A' into the Aim of my life or not :)

This Diwali I got the best Diwali gift of my life, as I got my dear didi back!

Memoirs of My Europe Trip

2017-07-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

This was the best trip of life.........not just because it had beautiful scenic view, buttery smooth roads, people had excellent road sense,disciplined lifestyle and of course wonderful people...........but because this trip taught me a lot about life, lessons which are not available in books of best selling authors, lessons which even top rated universities of the world can't teach you.

They can only be obtained by cherishing and comprehending the experience called 'Life'

Here are some of the Lessons which I want to share with all you guys:-

True relationships are not bounded by Time and Distance : One can't explain the joy and contentment of the moment when you meet your near and dear ones after an endless wait of 17 years!

Age is just a number : You can still drive across 3 countries in a day single-handedly at a very tender age of just 70! ( This we discovered in our very dear Dutch friend Gwenn )

Where there is a Will there is always a Way : Have Faith in yourself and you can do Wonders!

We made wonderful memories, met great people, had everlasting bonds and got some of our most valuable Lessons of our lives.

..........."Life is not about sulking about the Past or taking not-so-worthy tensions about the Future, it is just about living in the moment and enjoying the Present" :)

Here are some extract from my memoirs of Europe trip :

Baseball Ground in Amsterdam

View from our Balcony

Friends are Family

Its Cruise Time!

Streets of Gauda

The famous Cheese Market of Gauda

View of Rotterdam from the famous EuroMasst

Friends are Family

Shameless Politics !

2017-03-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

These morons are called our leaders. What a shame ! Basking in his self glory, this joker mimicked the appearance and body movements of children with Cerebral Palsy, while addressing the public. And the equally " blessed" audience, many of whom were MLAs and other important officials were laughing and enjoying his performance.
What better reflection of the callous attitude of the society towards differently abled than this man and his puppets? They are a perfect example of sufferers of " Emotional Palsy", dribbling nothing else but contempt and insecurity and creating pollution with their very presence. These self centered parasites being severely myopic, can't see beyond their own selfish shell. Certainly they are afraid of the extra ordinary abilities of the differently abled !
And they can't think beyond doing some cheap act that perfectly suits their dwarfed thinking.
Shameful indeed !

Text Courtesy- Dr. Rita Dutt

My Best Birthday Ever!

2017-02-22T05:32:00.002-08:00

16.02.2017

It was one of my Best Birthday ever!

Why????

Because I celebrated it with my 'true friends'

Who 'true friends' really are???

Well, the answer may vary from person to person.
But if you ask me, ' true friends' are those precious gems who can never lose their shine in your life :)

I celebrated my birthday with my old friends at an NGO which works for the welfare of the specially-abled.

The friends whom I invited were also specially-abled in some way or the other..But despite their challenges, they still came just for me :)

Many of my friends are working . Hence they took a half day leave and some even took a complete day off from their respective jobs to celebrate with me :)

So inspite of having a busy schedule and being a specially-abled themselves, they came to enhance the 'happiness' of my birthday celebrations :)

One of my friend at NGO said, "How-come so many friends have come for your birthday??? .Do you have some sort of magic wand or what"????

Its not my magic neither do I have any sort of magical powers!

But its the magic of 'true friendship'

I feel myself very much blessed to have such 'real' friends

Such rare friends are hard to find in today's world where everyone is living for themselves .

Here are some picture of that memorable moment :)

Back To School......!

2017-01-29T05:01:00.000-08:00

On my last trip to Dharamshala 2 years back. I went to my old school i.e. Dayanand Model Sr. sec. School. It was one of the best schools I have ever had. The teachers, the staff and my classmates, all were so cooperative that I didn’t feel for a second that I have some limitations of my own. They helped me in every possible way, and for the first (and probably for the last…) time in my life, I felt like going to school can also be fun… It gave me an all new definition of Bonding & Friendship J

I am very much choosy when it comes to making friends, but here, the whole class was my friend. I remember, some girls of the class writing “East or West Chaitanya is the Best” on the Blackboard. Though the word ‘Specially-abled’ was not much prevalent at that time in India, but still my classmates made every effort to make me feel special by doing such sweet little gestures J

I studied there for only a year or so, but that year was one of the BESTEST years of my life till date…!

I would like to thank Mark Zuckerberg who made it possible for me to connect with two of my best friends from this school: Diksha Ahuja and Tarun Dhiman through Facebook J

I would also like to thank Brian Acton and Jan Koum, makers of Whatsapp, who connected me with two of the my most favorite teachers of all time from this school: Minakshi Mam and Nirala Mam who are as sweet and charming today as they were 15-16 years back J

I have many wonderful memories with this school, out of which some are ‘sweet’ while others are just ‘too funny’.

One such funny instance goes like the; A girl in my class wanted to make me her brother ( you see, guys like me are hardly good enough at making girlfriends J) so she offered me a Rakhi ( an auspicious piece of thread, symbolizing the sacred bond of brother and sister in India).

But me ‘Chaitanya The Great’ rejected her request, because like any other responsible parents in India and abroad, my parents also taught me “NEVER TAKE anything FROM ANYONE OUTSIDE HOME” .So unfortunately for me , this Rakhi was also one those ‘Unidentified Objects’, out of home , which constitutes ‘anything’

Later on when my mom & dad came to know about my ‘anything saga’, they were like; “YOU FOOL!!!! A Rakhi does not come under the category of ANYTHING!!!!!!”

And I was like; “Huh! Have I done something wrong??? But I was just being obedient"

Soon I realized my ‘Greatness’ and how I acted like an absolute jerk!

I don’t remember if I said sorry afterwards or not…..but if I get a chance today, I will definitely apologize to her for my ‘act of Greatness’…..

So to ask; How much ‘Great’ can a Kid act at this age?????
The Answer is; Well it depends………. ;)

Here are some picture of my memorable visit :)

Back to your classes Everyone !!!!

Its time for some excercise!( with my PT teacher)

The most strict yet sweetest teacher of all time ( my maths teacher)

From left to right- Minakshi mam, my brother, Nirala mam and me

I owe very much to my English teacher for writing this blog :)