Candid Conversation with Author Dr. Riya Sharma about “Parenting a Necessity or Conscious Choice ?”

 

Dr. Riya Sharma is one of the best professionals to talk to in the Topic “ Parenting a Necessity or Conscious Choice.” She is a Dental Surgeon and a Maternal and Child Care Specialist. Let us start our conversation on this topic.

Q1) You are a Maternal and Child Care Specialist. Tell us about your choice on taking up this career option ?

Ans : motherhood was on my mind ,and i wanted to be fully prepared before the big responsibility , i started looking for theoretical awareness and came across by the diploma being offered by Apollo hospitals and decided to go ahead to enhance my knowledge and skill

Q2) In the 21^st century where both of the parents are working do you think the bond between the parents and the child has weakened. What are the possible ways to fix this?

Ans :The kids need more of quality time and not quantity , even if both parents are working , if they wish they can protect their bond by scheduling their way of reconnecting with the child after a long day at work

The bond will only get weakend if you totally dismiss your child and his emotions,  parents can read with their kids , take them out for  play dates , positive affirmations , fill in the kid about your day at work and ask him about his . We have 24 hours in a day and once you are back from that 9-5 job you have ample time to reconnect, A parent just have to prioritize his time

Q3) “Parenting”- What are the initial thoughts that come to your mind, whenever we talk about this topic?

Ans : its work , really one has to be fully aware of the responsibilities associated with it and this is one job we cannot afford to go on the wrong side .

Q4) The adolescents are subject to stress, anxiety and peer pressure nowadays. They have become a centre of expectations which keep hampering their confidence from time to time. Kindly address this issue and tell us about the importance of managing one’s stress.

Ans : 1rst we have to acknowledge the stress exists , second comes the role of parent , we have to trust our children and all the urges to change them should be dismissed .Kids are great all the parents need is to see them the way they are , Once a child  feels secure in his/her own house , it will get easy for him/her to not give  in the peer pressure . All the kid is doing esp the adolescents is watching the parents , you want the kid to be able to manage emotions , we have to lead  them by example by managing our own . every time you feel triggered just breathe in and out

Q5) Though it is a very broad banner to discuss one what would be some of your advice for the parents to have a positive relationship towards their kids ? Also share your email id where they can contact you.

Ans :Having a positive relationship with the kids begin with having positive relation with oneself , knowing what triggers you , knowing about your past traumas, and then working towards self healing , the moment you are one with yourself you will not feel the anger when your kid is being difficult , Also a parent has to learn that kids have different view points and we need to be able to see and acknowledge their thoughts , and then communicating to them about rules and society  in a more loving manner , as you work towards building a strong bond with the child , slowly the positive relation with them gets created without imposing punishments or timeouts

 

Candid Conversation with Author and Traveller Goutam Dutta

 In addition to being a distinguished author, Goutam Dutta has a strong interest in riding and travelling. His works "High on the Hills" and "Glimpses of Life" exemplify what it means to be a truly free spirit. Let's ask him about his recent journey.

Q1) Being a Traveler – you believe that “Travelling is an essence of life “. What are your life changing experiences while travelling?

Ans : Travelling is all about assimilating the experiences gained to become a more experienced person. One may recall that after his return to India and before embarking on his political journey, Gandhiji had spent a year travelling through the length and breadth of the country. His travel helped him to gain valuable insight about the country and made him aware of the plight of the people whom he wanted to serve. While this is an era of the internet and one can get access to all the data at the click of a button, it is still essential to travel as there can be no better way to improve empathy quotient; an essential element for making the world more humane. Empathy develops with people contact, reliving experiences in company of others and ultimately goes towards developing better human beings.

Life changing experiences occur in plenty during travel. Some leave an indelible mark while some simply remain etched in memory, to be savoured at later dates and occasions. “There is enough in this world to fulfil human needs but not enough to fulfill our greed”. Mahatma Gandhi's words find special significance in this modern-day world where consumerism and capitalism rule every human life. Travelling to remote, far-off places in India provides insight that possibly all is not lost. The rustic population, living away from the city still provide plenty of examples of how to live a happy, contented life without being consumed by the greed of possessing latest gadgets and clothes. 

 

At Dalim bustee in Dalimtar, Mr Deo Prakash Rai of Sudip Homestay regaled us with the story of legendary Lepcha King Paeno Gabyo Achok. Sitting around a roaring fire, his storytelling ability held us spellbound for almost 2 hours and reminded us that there are much better ways to spend time fruitfully than staring at the mobile phone’s screen. Not even for once during the period of his story-telling did we feel the urge to check our mobiles. No wonder organisations are beginning to note the power of story telling for effective communication purposes.

 Then there is nature, which is unobtrusive, though beautiful for all those who choose to revel in its hues and moods. Nature can turn fierce and menacing at the drop of a hat. While we were resting at Kopidara during our motorcycle ride through Hills of Bengal, the weather turned adverse in the evening. The sky became overcast, the wind turned into a shrieking banshee and the temperature plummeted drastically to send us scurrying indoors. It was the day of wolf moon and with approaching dusk the weather slowly calmed down and changed. Then, at the horizon, a coppery red moon rose over Darjeeling town, bathing the whole area in a magical glow. Despite the chill, it drew us out of our rooms and we stood wonderstruck, gazing at the beauty that nature had dished out in front of us.

 

 Q2) “High on the Hills” is a book written by you . Tell us about what inspired you to curate the book ?

Ans : High on the Hills is a book about journeys...there are two journeys that I made, the experience of which I have penned down as this book. My friend who runs an adventure tourism business proposed to me one day, of touring the hills of North Bengal on a motorcycle. While it was interesting, it scared me initially; having had quit riding a motorcycle 20 years back. So the first journey, which is the first part of the book, was a journey of sorts-to re-discover my courage, my motor-cycling skills and my self-belief. It was this journey, of diving into the depths of my mind to seek out the courage to undertake this adventure, which I felt was worth sharing with others. Hence the inspiration behind my book “High on the Hills”.

 The second part of the book is of course the journey that I, along with a few other 50+ like-minded individuals, made through the hills of North Bengal. We touched some beautiful, off beat places like Todey, Dalimtar, Takdah, Beesh mile, Megitar, etc. Every place had its own uniqueness and the book is about the way it touched us and enriched us. Our country is vast and unity in diversity is at its core of existence. This book is my attempt to take my readers along with me so that they can savour this diversity of our great country.

 

Q3) You know about the corporate life busy schedule. In corporates the office goers rarely have time to work. How is this affecting their schedule and mind?

Ans : Writing is a passion for me and any work done out of passion doesn’t tax the mind or the body. Hence my writing doesn’t affect my work schedule or my other commitments in life. I write whenever and wherever I can. I tend to write when I am waiting outside an office for a corporate meeting or even while waiting for a public transport. I am sometimes penning away my thoughts while having my lunch at work or even before going to bed. It is not at all taxing; on the contrary it is a great stress buster for me and sometimes works to relax me of some anxiety.

Q4) Tell us about a beautiful place that you visited recently ?

Ans : I would like to mention about a weekend destination not far from our place of residence. A small hamlet barely 35 Kms from the bustling fringes of the metropolis Kolkata, Sundargram, in Bengali, literally means a beautiful village. The quaint resort by the same name is set amidst rice fields that was full of near ripe paddy when we had visited. Prediction of a cyclonic storm that was set to approach in two days time had ensured a Ruby red sunset that splashed the horizon with shades of pink that held us captivated for a long time. A stiff barmy breeze occasionally rustled the heads of stocks of paddy, coloured golden with near ripe grains. With darkness gaining in opacity post sunset, we noticed the rice fields had been set alight all of a sudden, as if someone had sprayed the whole expanse with miniature bulbs that glittered in a synchronization of its own. Those, we realised then, were fireflies, which took flight after a few moments and turned the darkness around us into a magical, dream-like space. It is a sight that will perhaps remain etched in my memory for a long time to come. 

 Q5)  Are their any books that you have been looking forward to writing ?

Ans : In Dec 2021 I had made a trip to Mechuka, a beautiful quaint village in the north central Arunachal Pradesh and close to the Chinese border. This trip too was on a motorcycle, riding with a few friends. We started off from Dibrugarh on a hired bike and when we reached Mechuka, we were wonderstruck by the natural beauty of the place. Having obtained permission from the army, we rode to the last frontier, manned by the ITBP personnel. Barely 20 Kms away was the border and hence it was practically a No-man’s land; a reason possibly for nature to blossom un-tampered and leaving us mesmerized. My next book, which is also going to be a travelogue, would be all about this.

In Conversation with Eminent Author Ravi Valluri

 

The journey of an author is really an interesting one. The decision of writing a book includes several steps including deciding of a topic, penning down the thoughts in the mind and also making it reach the perfect audience. Let us know more about the journey of eminent author Ravi Valluri.

Q1) You are a faculty of Art of Living. Tell us how the experience is beneficial and what all can be learnt from there.

Ans:   

 Art of Living is an ocean, and one has to dive deep into it to acquire the precious wisdom and knowledge from the founder and Master.

The foundation was established by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the year 1981.He has transformed millions of lives through simple yoga, meditation, the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya (proper vision process) and practical wisdom spread over 180 countries across the globe.

“Whenever you are in love and feel joyous, your mind is in the present. That is when you achieve yoga. The art of living lies in being in the present moment,” says Gurudev.

Living in the present is the essence of the Art of Living, where one does not brood about the past or fret as to what will happen in future.

We all face misadventures in life but this cardinal principle (to be in the present), to my mind is the bedrock of spirituality and psychology, which is essential to be happy and contended in life.

I was struggling to combat alcoholism and that is when my wife enrolled me for the Part 1 Course (now called the Happiness Programme) during my posting at Jaipur in the year 2003. I finally quit quotidian drinking in November 2006 and by the grace of the Master and the prayers of my parents and wife. I have been sober since and am eternally grateful. In the year 2009, I became a faculty of the Art of Living. Since then, I have been conducting the Happiness Programme where the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is taught along with yoga, pranayama and meditation. In addition, along with other programmes, we organise Art of Living programmes (under the GEP- Government Executive Programmes) for the staff and officers working in government departments to improve their productivity and efficiency.

In addition, I counsel alcoholics and drug addicts, conduct courses for them to eschew this terrible dependency and help them lead normal lives.

 

Q2) “Make the Mind Mt. Kailasa” is another wonderful book and the title is evergreen. What inspired to write this book and how did you think of this title? Also attach the link of the book.

Ans:

The human mind is our biggest friend so that we become achievers in life or it makes us a slave where we succumb to all kinds of pressures and problems.  

The Art of Living Foundation trains the mind through various courses and programmes to accept challenges we confront in life and become suzerains.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had unveiled the book at the International Centre of the Art of Living, Bengaluru and remarked, “People go to Kailasa in search of Shiva and peace, he has brought Kailasa for you.” It was high octane stuff when the Master uttered these generous words.

 

This book is a collection of one hundred articles, dealing with human mind, yoga, pranayama, meditation, improving communication skills, transformation of lives, combating problematic situations and life stories of people like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Steve Jobs and Stephen Hawking to name some. There are also articles on organisations such as IKEA and others which provide us inspiration and motivation, essentially to make a paradigm shift from negative to positive thinking.

This is not a typical self-help book, but provides various tips from what I have learned through my experiences of being with Gurudev.

The link of the book:

 

https://www.amazon.in/MAKE-MIND-KAILASA-Ravi-Valluri/dp/B0797TK2QK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Make+the+Mind+Mt+Kailasa&qid=1677826375&sr=8-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q3) You have written several books from which the youth can learn a lot. How has life thought you the lessons that you have imbibed in the book?

Ans:

 Over the years I have written both fiction and non-fiction work, apart from contributing to the Mind Matters section of Free Press Journal, Mumbai, Life Positive E- Magazine, Sakshi Times and occasionally for The Hindu.

Non-fiction endeavours revolve around positive thinking and holistic practices such as yoga, pranayama, meditation techniques and inspirational and motivational thoughts to live in the present and emerge as suzerains.

I have also written about travels, to well-known and relatively unknown places, and travelling by Indian Railways to various places, which has caught the attention of readers.   

My realm of fiction includes two collections of short stories, drabbles and plays (based on Hindu mythology, Zen stories and Panchatantra, all with a spin tailor-made for modern times). Apart from these there are tales on the trials and tribulations of people, especially the migrant labour during Covid-19, the journey of a Chinese techie who travels westwards to India to overcome immense lack in her life and a true-life account.  

These books should fire the imagination of students, youth and adults to delve into life and face it as it unfolds.

 

Q4) “Divine Whispers” is also one of your creations. Tell us something about the book.

Ans:    Divine Whispers are akin to vibrations from the divine.

The name of the book is “Divine Whispers: 365 Spiritual Quotes of H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”. This book was released online by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during the lockdown.

It covers topics like love, lust, breath, meditation, yoga, Sudarshan Kriya, death, life, seva among others. There is one quote of Gurudev for everyday which an individual mulls over to suffuse positivity in his/her life.

Essentially after the sadhana which a seeker does every day, it would be efficacious to read a quote and feel the vibrations in body, mind and soul.

 

Q5) What is the one advice you want to give to the future generations who want to become authors?

Ans: 

Read, read, read and then write, write and write. Keep writing and mercilessly edit to separate chaff from the grain.

Writing is a lonely profession and any author has to practice the craft and hone the skills incessantly. I would recommend a strategy of maintaining three diaries (incidentally this is the title of a short story – Three Diaries in my collection of stories called “A Tale of Parallels”). The first diary can be to note down new words every day, another for new quotations and the third for ideas. This will form the fulcrum or scaffolding for a book to emerge.

It would also be prudent to write down 500 to 700 words daily without fail and in a couple of months a book will surface. There are several writing portals where one can contribute stories, articles, tales etc.

Recently I have launched a website called RustleofWords.com. Both budding and established authors are invited to send their contributions at rustleofwords@gmail.com.

And the most important advice, have patience and do not be in a hurry to showcase your talent. We all seeking instant gratification, look for likes on social media and seem to be satisfied with that.

 However, a good writer through well-researched subjects will be certainly be sought after for his/her works.