Toastmasters Club

I am terrified of public speaking. In a formal gathering of even 5 people, I cannot talk. My heart thumps faster, my hands and feet go numb, I start shaking and shivering. Almost all times, I have wished I were dead.

Now, my role in the organization demands that I walk up to the stage and talk in front of at least 250-300 people at any given time. I have been shirking all opportunities of public speaking. However, when I realized this was becoming hard and almost impossible, I decided to do something about this.

That's when I heard of Toastmasters club. This re-kindled my interest to get over my fear of public speaking. So, as soon as I got an opportunity, I enrolled myself into Toastmasters Club.

It has been extremely good experience so far. I have managed to complete 4 speaking projects (out of total 10 to become a competent communicator (CC)). I will be doing the 5th one this month. So, wish me luck.

For those who want to use my projects as templates, I will start posting them here... :)

Heartless in Bangalore?

Day in and Day out, I read numerous accident reports in the newspaper. Each article, there definitely is a mention of how people seldom help the accident victims and the need to change the mindset.

There has been tons of accounts when I have empathised with the victim(s) and have really cursed the spectators for not rushing to their aid.

And then, yesterday, I did the unthinkable !!!

I was driving back home from work. Enroute, I take a short cut to reach the main road. As I took this turn, I saw a middle aged person trying to climb on to his scooter. In the process, he fell down and the scooter fell on him.

I was the first one to see him. I hesitated for 1 minute on whether I should park my car and help this gentleman or drive-off. And to my horror, I just drove off. It took me 1 whole minute to realize what I had actually done.

I don't really have an answer to why I did not help this person. I could have helped him. Have I become so heartless?

Belgaum Beauty

Who would have thought there was so much to Belgaum than just kunda. A colleague at work shared the following data about Belgaum. I am so impressed with these facts and pictures... that I decided to share it. Specially when i have travel-o-freaky friends on the blogosphere... I am sure someone will benefit :P

Gokak Falls - The Gokak falls can be accessed from Gokak (8 Kms) which is an hour journey from Belgaum.


Hanging Bridge - Walking on the Hanging Bridge and listening the gushing sound of the waterfall are the wonders of the Visit.


There's also a Hanging Bridge that runs across the fall, which was also built in 1887, runs strong, but the visitors are advised not to take it. The Bridge is reserved for Mill employees only, but normal visitors out there don't care for the notice and take a trip on the bridge on their own risk.

There's also a small temple of Lord Shiva on the banks of the falls.

Belgaum Fort Lake - called as KOTEKERE....Beautiful Boating spot...During Night Times

What's in a name? Part - 2

Puttaswamy - or Putta. This was what he preferred to be called. A bright smile on his face and ever twinkling eyes. Contrary to his name, he stood tall with 6 ft and bulky frame. Who would have thought this person had a legacy behind him that he wanted to forget?

Putta, hails from Mandya. Younger out of 2 sons, he has been the black sheep in his family - in fact the entire village. While elder brother is a software engineer settled in London, our putta stayed back in his village to do business. And business he did, one after the other to count 40. And all 40 failed.

It went to the extent where villagers would shoo him off any gatherings, no relative would invite him for any family ceremonies. He was looked down upon. Last year when his 40th business failed, he wanted to commit suicide. That's when his brother recommended Landmark Forum to him.

Day 3 of the forum, I told him (ofcourse, in kannada. I have written the translated version here) "Putta, One day, you will be so very successful in your business that you will come back into this very forum and share your success story with fellow landmark graduates. Mark my words.
Don't give up and success will automatically be yours!!!"

The look he gave me was full of gratitude. There was no need for any words. He had tears floating in his eyes. All he could do was merely nod his head.

Putta, All the very best to you too. Phenomenal that without understanding one word english, you understood the landmark forum 100%. I realized that this day, you started your journey towards success!!!

What's in a name? Part - 1

Yes, this was the title of a blog by one of the fellow bloggers. And I picked this on purpose.

3 weeks ago, when I attended The Landmark Forum, along with 320 other people. This was a life enriching experience, which I truly cannot explain in words. I want to share 2 specific stories that individuals shared during this forum. I will post them separately.

1. Dr. Rajalakshmi - Or Raji, the way she likes to be called.

Day 1 - when I met Raji, I saw this hep person wearing cool top and jeans, well combed hair, excellently maintained figure. String of achievements to talk about - Successful Gynaec, written & published cookery books, opening her own Nutrition Boutique for ladies very soon, extremely successful, beautiful and she seemed to have it all - enviable career, daughter, family everything. She came across as a super human being - able to juggle work/life, yoga/dance/hobbies/reading all into one day. (I thought - "wow... amazing that she can actually do so much in the same 24 hours she too has... I am sure there is something going on in her personal life, which is why she must be here")

Day - 2 - I came to know she is struggling to come to terms with her 11 years old divorce. Her daughter is a child prodigy when she started driving a 4WD at the age of 4. She did her maiden rally from Hyderabad to Bangalore at that age. Today she has joined Bangalore Medical College to study medicine. (I thought again, "Now I know why she is in the Landmark Forum. Just like I thought yesterday, this should be the dark side of her personal life, which she wants to complete")

Day - 3 - Raji came on stage to share her story. She was orphaned at the age of 3.5 months. She grew up at an orphanage that was not allowing girls to go to school. One day, the caretaker caned her so much that her skin peeled off and stuck to the cane. She walked over to where the cane was lying, picked up the piece of skin, stuck it back to her arm and determined "I am going to school and will be successful one day". From that day onwards, she worked as a house maid to earn her living and take herself through school and college. She won 18 gold medals and went on to study medicine and become a gynaec. (I thought "Do I really know this person well enough to judge her life?")

But fate had something else in store for her. 2 years back she was diagnosed with Cancer.

My impression of Raji changed drastically from a super woman - to - an achiever, a fighter and simply a WOMAN in 3 days time.

So, despite having the name of Rajalakshmi, she went through sheer poverty and misery to where she stands TALL today. And that too with equal elan. Hats off to you, Doctor. May you be all the more successful in your life. I am sure with the positive attitude that you already have, cancer can be easily defeated. Wish you all the very best!!!

Little Devil or Angel?

After a tired day and a long drive, I reached home. Refreshed myself, took my son through his homework. Fed my kids. It was then time for me to prepare for next day's breakfast.

I washed the wet grinder and started putting the chawal and urad dal combo in it. On the kitchen platform, sat my latest possession - Tupperware water Filter (10 ltrs) with a tap. I am in fact proud of this possession as it really quenches our thirst during hours of load shedding.

While I was busy with this activity, I did not hear little aditi walk over to the water filter, press the tap and let half of the water out...

Before I realized... I was standing amidst large pool of water (5 ltrs). As I turned towards her in total disbelief, she gives me this angelic smile that really floors me.

All I could do was lift her up, give her a tight hug and a mock slap on her B*M

Rangoli and Kasuti Embroidary

A form of embroidery in Karnataka, it is called Kasuti there and means same as kashidakari or embroidery. It has also been desiphered as art of cotton thread and hands. The art was practiced by ladies of Maharashtra and Karnataka specially in Dharwad and Bijapur. The embroidery gives an exquisite effect to the soft furnishings.
I simply love the geometric patterns. Especially when Kasuti is done on Ilkal Sarees or dress materials, the effect is awesome. Ilkal sarees usually use a darker background on which this emobroidary is made using shades of Red, White, Yellow and Blue to get the desired effect.

There is a strong resemblance between kasooti and Rangoli motifs, only that rangoli is done on floor at the doorsteps of houses and temples and Kasooti on fabric with needle and thread. The similarity of the motifs can be because both the things are done by the lady of the house, one as a religious ritual and another to occupy her after the household chores. The pattern is never drawn on the cloth. The design remains in the mind and is recreated on the cloth directly with the needle and thread.