December 31, 2016

#YearInReview: 2016 - The Year of Marriage, Re-branding, Travel and Books!


Dear 2016,

In a few hours, you will be History. Strange are the ways of Nature, that the Future and the Past lie on either side of that tiny fickle Present. One would think that if the concept of Time was so critical, Mother Nature would let us breathe a little and embrace a moment, before moving on to the next one!
Alas, that's not quite Her way.

But you, dear 2016, still managed to get a whole extra day in your name. It's no mean feat to get a phenomenon, that happens once in over 2 million moments! Kudos, to you mate!

Please, pardon my myopia, but I can look at your greatness only through your impact on my life. This is a limitation of "being a human" where we tend to gauge the greatness of time by its consequences on our meager selves. 

On me, you had 4 major consequences:

1. Getting Married

No matter how you get judged by historians, you would remain a memorable year for me - the one that got hitched to my destiny!

The single greatest highlight that you gave me, my dear 2016, is this lovely lady - how did you pull that off! Seriously, how! 💓

Happy New Year, New Year, YearInReview, #Blog, #Blogging, #writefullyyours, #Amwriting, writingtips, #vlog, #Photoblog, Marriage, Wife, #travel, Faith, Family, #Love, Marriage has been a blessing and feels like a gift that would keep on giving! I had many moments this year when the simplest of things left me awed, just because of the person next to me. The wedding itself was an unforgettable extravaganza, not just for us, but for everyone who attended it. It was a dream of our parents that was very beautifully and meticulously executed. It was also captured with equal diligence by the lens. I compiled that experience in my most famous piece this year - here!
2. Rebranding of Blog

Well, 2016, while you brought me within dangerous reach of the big 3-Oh!, my 7+ year blog reset its counter to 1 ! It was time for "Me and My Darkside" to make way for "Writefully Yours" ! The name and look change seemed inevitable to encompass the wider range of topics that I wanted to write on.
And I did!
2016, you saw my first #photoblog, my first #vlog, 3 posts on #DonaldTrump and a few #Instablogger posts specific for #microfiction.
The blog also got some cool widgets, share tools and finally, a subscription option.
Not bad for a part-timer, eh!

3. Travel

As a newly wed couple, we got really lucky to have got many opportunities to travel in one year.
You, my dear 2016, did something that your past 7 predecessors couldn't! You got my parents to the United States!
With them being here for a limited time, coupled with our wanderlust, we covered 7 states and over 10 destinations, in about 3 months. That's almost one destination every weekend! Now, that's an American Summer!

Happy New Year, New Year, YearInReview, #Blog, #Blogging, #writefullyyours, #Amwriting, writingtips, #vlog, #Photoblog, Marriage, Wife, #travel, Faith, Family, #Love,
In My Favorite City of Chicago, IL !

4. Books

Of all the accomplishments, this is the one I am most proud of! I developed a reading routine during my office lunch hour and was therefore, able to read almost every working day. My schedule and routine, coupled with a new marriage and a few other hobbies, do not leave me enough time for reading at home. Hence, this worked perfectly. I read everyday for 20-40 minutes and found it incredibly relaxing and satisfactory.

I cannot recommend enough to read Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. My abilities as a writer are not enough to describe the experience that was reading this magnificent book. For politics buffs like I, The Wilderness by McCay Coppins is a good read too.

I finished the classic Jonathan Livingston Seagull on my last working day of 2016, hence bringing a perfect closure to a good habit. I already have books lined up for 2017!

Thank You, 2016

It's always fun to sit down in December and recount 12 months of a year. Barring some irreparable loss or a family tragedy, everything, quite funnily, seems in control, in these days. There is something in our attitude, as humans, that makes us stronger with every passing year and for that reason, come every January, the World seems more hospitable and within reach.

For renewing my belief in myself, yet again, Thank You, 2016. How 2017 would go, would depend a lot on the lessons that you have taught and the tests that you put us through.

To Faith and Belief, Cheers!

November 26, 2016

#26/11 - This Time I will Remember



#India,#Indian,#26/11,#Mumbai,#NeverForget,#IndianArmy, Mumbai,#Public,#Emotions,#Politics,#Government,#Police,#Blog,#Blogchatter,#Blogging,#Amreading,#Amwriting,#Taj,#Leopold,#Oberoi,#CST,#NarimanPoint
Image: oneindia.com

26/11 was personal for me. No, I wasn't personally struck by tragedy on that day, but it did blur the lines of whose tragedy is mine and whose is not. I had never been to Mumbai, still haven't, and didn't know CST or Leopold Cafe or the Taj Hotel. Quite embarrassingly, even at the age of 21, I was not aware of any Jewish population in India either. Yet, those images and those people seemed, known. No other terrorist act has had that impact on public life. In 8 years since 26/11, only #UriAttack probably comes close to have created such waves of public emotions. The terrorist infiltration had come to our backyard and this no longer seemed like a war, just for the army. 

The reason I am focusing on the aftermath, rather than the attack itself, is because an attack does not fundamentally change the course of a nation; The reactions to the attack do! 
How we react and rise or fall, determines the destiny of a country.

And that is where 26/11 feels personal.

Every year, this day brings a ripple of introspection. I always knew we would survive a terrorist attack; The nation would not lose itself to separatists; The economy wouldn't crash and people would not lose their belief in being safe. That is what being Indian entails. But I remember 26/11, for this was the day, when India evolved. We united against the terror, never to back down. The public learnt to accept that, for all the ugliness in our polity, the governments and the army still know how to protect us, the best. India could have stumbled and crumbled under the weight of vengeance but we chose to act how a Republic should, and for that, I am immensely proud. 

The words of Prasoon Joshi, a remarkable poet and noted Bollywood lyricist, sum up the emotions of that fateful day with haunting beauty. These words are the reason why I feel so personally connected with 26/11.

Hope they will resonate with you too -

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER...
A MOTHER CARESSING HER DEAD SON'S FOREHEAD AND PREPARING HIM PRE-MATURELY FOR HIS FINAL DESTINATION. 

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER...
INNOCENT DINERS LINED UP AND SHOT AT POINT BLANK, CAUGHT IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S WAR.

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER... 
BLOOD SPLATTERED WALLS WITH GROTESQUE IMAGERY, FRESHLY BURNT FLESH, SHATTERED MIRRORS AND BROKEN LIVES,

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER... 
A MOTHER AND HER TWO YOUNG KIDS CHARRED BEYOND RECOGNITION WHILE THE DAD PUT PUBLIC GOOD AHEAD OF THE PERSONA,

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER...
GUN TOTTING TERRORISTS CREATING MAYHEM ON THE STREETS, TARGET PRACTICING AT A RAILWAY STATION.

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER...
BACKPACKERS AT A CAFÉ OR RECEPTIONIST AT A HOTEL REDUCED TO PIECES FOR NO REASON.

THIS TIME I WILL REMEMBER...      

#India,#Indian,#26/11,#Mumbai,#NeverForget,#IndianArmy, Mumbai,#Public,#Emotions,#Politics,#Government,#Police,#Blog,#Blogchatter,#Blogging,#Amreading,#Amwriting,#Taj,#Leopold,#Oberoi,#CST,#NarimanPoint

#India,#Indian,#26/11,#Mumbai,#NeverForget,#IndianArmy, Mumbai,#Public,#Emotions,#Politics,#Government,#Police,#Blog,#Blogchatter,#Blogging,#Amreading,#Amwriting,#Taj,#Leopold,#Oberoi,#CST,#NarimanPoint
Sand Art by Sudrashan Patnaik
Source - http://bit.ly/2fjbrDB


P.S. In February 2009, I got angry at public apathy about #26/11 after a frustrating encounter in my college. The words of Prasoon Joshi struck a chord with me and I jotted down an emotional post on my old blog. That was the first time #blogging seemed a perfect medium to share, even vent, my emotions.


November 8, 2016

America's Chance To Grow Up !


#DonaldTrump,ElectionDay, #election2016, #HillaryClinton,#iamwithher, #Amwriting, #Amreading,#USA,#Trump, #Blog, #Blogchatter,#Abortion,#GunRights,#Terror,#GlobalWarming,
It may not be  a black and white choice but it's a Red and Blue choice!

Today is #ElectionDay and, by the time I would finish writing this, #voting would be underway. Millions of Americans would exercise their fundamental right as citizens of a great Republic in yet another historic election.

For a generation, in love with instant fame and obsessed with documenting each instant, the word “historic” has lost its glory. We have become very liberal with its usage.

History is not merely the passage of time. History has more to do with future than the past. An event is not instantly historic; only its impact in future makes it so. In an environment of hyperbole, we miss this significant distinction.

So what makes this #Election2016 truly historic? It’s not the candidates, or the lack thereof. It’s the chance America has, to “grow up”, as a nation, that makes this historic.

America today has an important question to answer - What do you want to be when you grow up?

Elections are contested not just on facts but on emotions. It’s these emotions that would decide whether America turns a new leaf in its history, today, or goes back many a decades.

And emotions need to evolve!

Does America want to be a country that succumbs to the irrational fear of immigrants and refugees or does it evolve to embrace the fluidity in global borders and become richer with the influx of cultures?

Does America want to be a country where women don’t have the right to choose if they want to be mothers or does it evolve to be a country where this fundamental right of women stays within their best judgment?

Does America want to be the only developed country with over 70000 firearm related instances and over 400 “mass shootings” per year or does it evolve into a country where the Right to Carry A Firearm does not supersede the Right to Live ?

Does America want to turn a blind eye towards the seemingly obvious catastrophe of global warming and climate change for vested interests or does it evolve into the global leader, it always has aspired to be, and leads the world in its fight against the impending doom?

Does America want to be a nation where demagogy counts as the fight against terror or does it want to evolve into a mature nation that can distinguish a credible threat from fear mongering?

Does America want to be a country that treats its own citizens with discrimination because of their sexual orientation or does it evolve into a nation that understands that every diversity, including sexual, is natural and need to be respected?

 



November 8, 2016 is not historic. Not yet.

It could very well be, if Americans choose to vote for the future rather than reminisce about a past that never existed. It may not be a black and white choice, but it sure is a red and blue choice!
For now, all it is, is a chance.

America’s Chance to Grow Up!

November 8, 2016 would not decide if America has voted in a historic election or not.
November 9, 2016 would!
Now, #GoVote !
#DonaldTrump,ElectionDay, #election2016, #HillaryClinton,#iamwithher, #Amwriting, #Amreading,#USA,#Trump, #Blog, #Blogchatter,#Abortion,#GunRights,#Terror,#GlobalWarming,


November 5, 2016

From America's "Gotham", Rises "The Joker" #Trump

America's Gotham is the party that has, in the past decade, romanticized the ideas of racism and xenophobia while normalizing an environment of fear, distrust and hypocrisy. In desperation, they turned to a guy whom they didn't fully understand.

(1)

Does life imitate art or art imitates life? The beauty of this philosophical wondering is that, either way, it is equally intriguing. However, while an artist's fascination for life is eventually manifested on a chosen medium, for all to see and evaluate, a vice versa scenario is hard to fathom.
An election year like 2016 seems to bridge the gap between an inconceivable thought and the tangible reality.

(2)

The Dark Knight (2008) is a widely respected movie. For many, it was like a piece of art - pleasing, shocking, unique and open to interpretations. Despite being set up in a fictional Universe, it portrayed the depravities of human mind and the shortcomings of our morality in the glaring light of truth. The most distinguishing feature of the movie is the character of the Joker. He brings to the movie an unparalleled degree of mayhem and menace. 
It's as surprising as it is horrifying, to see him singlehandedly bring an entire system down.  

(3)

In one of the many intense sequences of The Dark Knight, an older and wiser, Alfred, makes Bruce Wayne realize that he is partially responsible for Joker's acts. Batman pushed the mob to a point of desperation, where, they turned to a fiend, whom even they didn't fully understand.
In the American political scene, that mob is the Republican Party's leadership.

Gotham is a symbol of disorder - corrupt, sinister and degenerate. It is emblematic of complete breakdown of moral and civil codes. America's Gotham is the party that has, in the past decade, romanticized the ideas of racism and xenophobia while normalizing an environment of fear, distrust and hypocrisy.

But that's only half the story.

The story began in 2012 when a charismatic, though tired, but still dynamic Barack Obama got re-elected in a historic fashion. The GOP leadership was befuddled, yet again. The public support for @POTUS and his penchant for executive orders, pushed the GOP to a corner, much like Gotham's mob.

If they had to give any real shot at the White House again, they had to break the system. And in their desperation, they also turned to a guy, they didn't fully understand.


Enters Donald Trump

(4)


The Donald is every Alfred's worst nightmare. As uncomplicated (and uncouth) he might seem on the surface, he remains a puzzle. His motives are not obvious and his ways are beyond the realms of normalcy.

Much like the Joker's were.

Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP

Donald Trump's disdain for others is well known. Anyone who has remotely disagreed with him has met the same fate. Trump talks, in his peak incoherence, about Us v. Them. He has convinced a large section of America that the "elite" (read:civilized) are after them and he is their only savior. For him to spout these theories, he must stay in a constant state of delusion that makes him believe that it is true!

Sounds familiar?

Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP


The Joker proudly called himself "an agent of Chaos". In an unprecdented manner, Trump has rode the chaos train to reach within a heartbeat from the US presidency. His calls to ban all Muslims, build a border Wall, and going as far as, disregarding the results of the elections have all generated unimaginable chaos. He has empowered his followers with means to advance his chaos by feeding them half baked cospiracy theories against everyone of the "established order". 

The ripple effects of his vitriolic rhetoric and demagougery would be felt even if he loses the #election2016. 

Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP

Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics






The Joker won his battles by waging psychological warfare against his enemies. He had the ability to break a seasoned cop, make the Batman choose whom he wants to save and bring the worst out of The White Knight of Gotham, by mere mind games.

Donald Trump has done the same! 

America's sanity has always hinged on a delicate balance of power between the Liberals and the Conservatives. These polar opposites have managed to govern a world super power despite their deeprooted differences on fundamental issues. The undercurrent of racism, xenophobia, religious conservatism, differences on women health issues, gun rights etc has always bubbled in the American society.
However, Trump has exposed these conflicting emotions on the surface. Trump has appealed to people's primal fears, creating a toxic environment where the madness knows no bounds.


Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP


(5)

A masterful piece of writing, philosophical clarity and execution was the climax of the movie. The Joker banks on people's darker sides and expects one boatful of people to kill the other boatful, to save themselves. 

Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP


When the moment of truth arrives, it is not the Batman. but the people who save Gotham. They do not let the madness unleashed by the Joker to get the better of their inner instincts. 

America's moment of truth is now.

The Joker Trump  has done his best to divide the people into 2 boats. He has created an environment where we are led to believe that only one will survive. But that is not true. The collective good of this great nation shall outweigh one man's madness. 

The remote is in your hands.

Choose wisely!


Batman,Joker,Nolan,Dark Knight, #DonaldTrump,#DonaldDrumpf, #Trump,Heath Ledger,#Amwriting, #Amreading,#Blog,#Blogging,#election2016,#Blogchatter,Hillary,Obama,Barack,Clinton,USA,Democrats,Republicans,Marvel,Superhero,Comics,#POTUS,#GOP

the dark knight heath ledger

Image and Gif Sources

1. Google Images
2. Giphy

October 28, 2016

#DonaldTrump and the Indian Americans

The Indian American community is the most prosperous ethnic minority in the United States.The median income of an Indian-American (IA) household is almost twice than the national average. Known for their academic prowess and humility, the Indian-Americans, off late, have gained substantial political ground. President Obama, over the course of his presidency, has appointed many members of the IA community to significant and prestigious positions. Most notable of those has been the appointing of Preet Bharara as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of the State of New York, Manhattan who has spearheaded many crusades against the Wall Street. Even the Surgeon General of USA, or "America's Doctor", is of Indian origin, Vivek Murthy.

The stellar positioning of this community comes with the responsibility of staying united in their endorsements and the use of their political clout. The fact that they possess a considerable fortune and money is the most crucial component of an American political campaign , only makes this responsibility greater.

It's because of these reasons that an event endorsing Donald Trump for President and courting support for him by the Republican Hindu Coalition on October 15th in New Jersey, has set a dangerous precedent.

#DonaldTrump,#Republican,#Hindu,#Coalition,#Party,#Politics,#Modi,#BJP,#Godhra,#American,#Indian,#Immigrants,#Amreading, #Amwriting,#Blog,#Hillary,#Clinton, #Blogchatter, #Blogging, #RHC, #Trump, #Bollywood,#USA
The Hindu pandering extended to the use of inflammatory hashtags on social media.

The event masqueraded as a charity fixture but was a propaganda event of the Hindu Right Wing fringe. It was publicized on the social media with inflammatory keywords and hashtags like #KashmiriPundits, #HinduRefugees and #VictimsofTerror ! Staying true to every Right Wing propaganda, issues seemed to have been strategically mixed and convoluted to serve the sole purpose of rabble rousing. For instance, while the matter of displaced Kashmiri Pundits is old, legitimate and complex, the term "Hindu Refugees", placed right next to it, makes the two look related, which is far from true. But if said in the same vein, it has the potential of unearthing painful memories, from more than 25 years ago. The Hindu Refugees mentioned above are indeed the refugees from Bangladesh (in some cases, from Pakistan) which the Modi government has decided to grant citizenship. For the common public, especially the Diaspora, to realize such nuances is hard.
The dangerous cocktail of dreadful memories and little known facts, served along with, misplaced emotions, and bingo, you have an agitated crowd. That's Politics 101 which RHC probably learned at the Trump University!
#DonaldTrump,#Republican,#Hindu,#Coalition,#Party,#Politics,#Modi,#BJP,#Godhra,#American,#Indian,#Immigrants,#Amreading, #Amwriting,#Blog,#Hillary,#Clinton, #Blogchatter, #Blogging, #RHC, #Trump, #Bollywood,#USA
What could be the common denominator between Donald Trump and an American Hindu fringe? Or between the displaced Kashmiri Pundits from 1989 and the Bangladeshi Hindu Refugees from today?

Islamophobia!
Yes, as accomplished as American Indians are, there is a fringe that harbors communal hatred against the Muslims. Some afflictions die hard! Distance and nostalgia may just aggravate that. The political activism among Indians in USA, since the "Hindu Hriday Samrat" (roughly: Emperor of the Hindu Hearts), Narendra Modi came to the national political forefront, has increased manifolds. The "academically inclined" and "humble" Indian Diaspora has since then, roughed up journalists and thrown members of the LGBT communities at his rallies, in USA. The community has conveniently also ignored that the aforementioned citizenship program for the Hindu Refugees is religion based, conveniently ignoring the Muslim refugees who are also escaping the same terrorism in those countries.
All Trump had to do to pander to this rich fringe, was just to be, well, Trump! He equated Indians to Hindus, insulting the rich and complicated communal fiber that connects the country. He proclaimed that, if elected, he would be a great friend of India, and famously, in his signature incoherence, that he is a big fan of  "The Hindu" (not the newspaper, I assume)!
#DonaldTrump,#Republican,#Hindu,#Coalition,#Party,#Politics,#Modi,#BJP,#Godhra,#American,#Indian,#Immigrants,#Amreading, #Amwriting,#Blog,#Hillary,#Clinton, #Blogchatter, #Blogging, #RHC, #Trump, #Bollywood,#USA
Via @SchrekReports on Twitter
For Trump, it was not hard to win over the communally charged crowd. As most of the expat Hindus, the crowd was pro-Modi. And if there's one thing that will appeal to them is their leader being not related to the infamous Godhra incident and the Gujarat riots. As ridiculous as it may sound, flyers accusing Hillary Clinton for framing Modi were distributed at the event.
Enough said!
Though the Indian Americans are not expected to deviate from their traditional stance of voting Democratic, because of Trump, such coalition of two extreme nationalistic ideologies is dangerous. The chaos of the Right Wing is contagious. They appeal to the primal fear of the masses and are reluctant to the New World Order. 

Most dangerously, it eventually makes obscene, palatable! 

Donald Trump is obscene and the Indian American community must not contribute in him becoming palatable.



P.S.

Since this event, Trump has allegedly, appeared in a #AbKiBaarModiSarkar kind of video, speaking Hindi, on the pretext of #Diwali wishes!

Now, I have seen it all!




Suggested Reading 

October 26, 2016

#Blogchatter : #Blogbuddy 3.0 - One For All and All For One !

That constant yearning for writing something new; Being preoccupied till it's done; The frustrations of Writer's Block; The elation of just finishing a post; The immense satisfaction of knowing that people read it and found it a story or a point of view worth telling are just some of the stages that have been a constant for me for a long while now.

7 years, to be precise!


But make no mistake, everything else associated with blogging has changed!

This is the part where I am going to sound like an old man. Trust me, I am not! But I can’t help the reminiscing, when it comes to blogging.

Back in the day (Yo Yo Grandpa, in the house!) blogging was just about two simple things – expression and feedback. I remember writing my posts, from PoliticallyIncorrect, in my hostel room and then sending emails with the link to a group of about 20 people. All that mattered was for those 20 people to read that post and comment on it. Not that my entire readership was just those people, but the concept of “hits” had not, well, hit home yet! The “word of mouth” publicity was unbelievable, largely because it was a University and Hostel set up. The satisfaction of comments cannot be stressed more. In a world where there were barely any smart phones or free Wi-Fi in hostel rooms and Sify “cyber cafes” still charged an upward of  ₹30 per hour, logging in multiple times a day to check on every comment and replying back, gave immense contentment.

Things changed rapidly, post 2010, when blogging was no longer, just a hobby. It got elevated to a life choice and even a profession.
Some made it big in the Bull Run, some dropped out, and most, including yours truly, hung around, somewhere in the middle.
The most important reason that I am an active @Blogchatter member is because it’s a great platform that combines the nostalgia of blogging with the need of changing times. Its focus on community building through the weekly chats and the #Blogbuddy program, is today’s version of sending out emails to people with the blog link.
With leaving India, I had left behind great opportunities of networking with fellow bloggers. I left when blogging had started to become big there. I can neither be a part of the lavish and extravagant bloggers’ meets nor can I win any sponsored contests that are commonplace in India now. (Thus depriving my mother of many a “Sharma ji ka beta car jeet laya blogging mein!” moments!)

That’s when #Blogchatter comes into play for me. It stands out among many blogging forums out there in being personal. It lets me be me, while reminding of what needs to be done to stay current and relevant. What I can be is a #Blogbuddy to a select group of dedicated writers with similar goals and shortcomings. I can share my experience and learn from them. The certainty of having a bankable group of people to fall back on is a great motivation to keep moving forward!

Therefore, I am a #Blogbuddy with #Blogchatter !

I had a great year with Blogbuddy 2.0. I am going to be friends with my previous group for life! I am so grateful to them that I am speechless, talking about it. Thank you, #WriteHouse for a fantastic year!

#Blogchatter, #Blogging, #Blog, Bloggers, instablogger, Blogbuddy, #Amwriting, Politics, Love, #Writer, write, Expression, Motivation, Emotions, #Memories, Memory,


I am entering another phase of Blogbuddy with similar expectations and hopefully with greater wisdom.
Go Team #BlogBusters

Let the games begin !

#Blogchatter, #Blogging, #Blog, Bloggers, instablogger, Blogbuddy, #Amwriting, Politics, Love, #Writer, write, Expression, Motivation, Emotions, #Memories, Memory,






March 9, 2016

I Want To Take My Blog To The Next Level - #Blogchatter

I was tagged by Navnish  to write this post.

If someone asked, whether you wanted to take your blog to the next level, how much would you ponder, before jumping in, and saying yes ?

Umm...
3 seconds !

Too much?

Yeah, may be!

For most of us, blogging is just passion more than anything else. The natural instinct and urge to , express and share our views trumps everything. 

What may or may not follow, be it, money or followers or fame, is all secondary. 

So a chance to enhance that experience, mutually for the creator and the observer, is one to jump on to !

When #blogchatter floated the idea of elevating the blog to the next level, my first thought was to do something different. In 7 years, I have experimented with language and genre of writing, and I would continue to do so. 

But this time, I decided to have my first #videoblog ! It was a spontaneous decision to record this video and I did that without a written script :). 

In the video, I talk about where I have reached and where I want to be. I recognize the areas where I need improvement and, also, my road map to my goals. I am confident that there would be many like me, with same issues and aspirations.

I hope my stress on evolution, definition of 'next level' and significance of collaboration, appeals to all.

Let's join hands! 





I wish all my fellow #bloggers, good luck and offer unconditional help to anyone who needs it :).

I now tag Neha to write his take on the topic.

I want to take my blog to the next level with Blogchatter








Connect. Read. Share. Comment. 

Twitter - @prateekmathur03
Facebook - Writers' Block
Instagram - WritefullyYours
The Prose - WritefullyYours
Google Plus - +prateekmathur




March 6, 2016

#Photoblog: The Story of Our Wedding...

A Wedding is the celebration of a lifetime to commemorate the beginning of a lifelong journey called Marriage!

Whether marriages are made in heaven or not, is up to interpretation, but I can assure you, Weddings, especially, North-Indian weddings, are made in photo studios!

And I am not complaining :)

Thanks to the craze of sharing photos on social media, especially Instagram, wedding photography has taken a quantum leap in the last 5 years. The photographers of today are not only helping couples treasure their most cherished day but are also helping them create moments that are a reflection of their creative geniuses.

But the best memories are not created by the lens but by those who are covered by the lens.

My wife and I, are forever indebted to our families and friends who took the time to make it to our wedding and make it a memorable occasion. This post is dedicated to, and is my way to thank, all of them.

For my online family, let's relive those magical days which made us feel like the real Rajasthan Royals :).



Engagement !


wedding,marriage,love,life,lifetime,wedding photography,photography,photo,photoblog,amwriting,amreading,blog,blogger,blogchatter,happiness,families,friends,parents,share
Here I am! I got my swag on and so does my team! :D

wedding,marriage,love,life,lifetime,wedding photography,photography,photo,photoblog,amwriting,amreading,blog,blogger,blogchatter,happiness,families,friends,parents,share
Let's go !


wedding,marriage,love,life,lifetime,wedding photography,photography,photo,photoblog,amwriting,amreading,blog,blogger,blogchatter,happiness,families,friends,parents,share
Rang de tu mohe "gerua" !

wedding,marriage,love,life,lifetime,wedding photography,photography,photo,photoblog,amwriting,amreading,blog,blogger,blogchatter,happiness,families,friends,parents,share
Rings of Fortune !
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Grandparents' Blessings !


And the most important question of all !

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"Honey! Are you sure? You still have one more day to decide !"




Wedding Day


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And so it begins :)

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OK! Drying Mehandi, is not my most manliest of moments :D

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But let's embrace it with smiles :)

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My younger sister gets the joke, now !

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निर्विघ्नं कुरु में देव 

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Accessorizing :)

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Wedding party all set to go!

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I won't caption this :)

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No wedding is fun till friends show up! But you know, har ek friend______hota hai! Dancing on "tujhe ghodi kinne chadaya___" :-/

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My bachcha getting the swag on :)

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Azeem-o-Shehanshah ;)



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Once again, my friends were the life of this wedding :)

In the meantime, the bride was still posing.....

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Until....


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"More poses? Talk to the hand , Mr. Photographer!" 

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 "Let's do this thing!"


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It's a bird! It's a plane. It's a Groom !

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Our Parents :)

That moment, which defines the essence of a Jaipur wedding!


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Ever Mine. Ever Thine. Ever Ours.

And if you had any doubts about who would call shots in our home, I present to you....


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Reception !


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Bachcha Party ! :)


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There's a story behind these 'two' boxes. Remember, har ek dost____hota hai ;) !

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They wondered how did she say yes to me....

...........and I kind of agreed (not that I am ever going to ask the question ;) ) 



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Sincerely Yours,

Mrs. and Mr. Prateek Mathur :)


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