Why I like Modi and think that he is the best PM India can get at this point.

I know that there are several people in my list who hate Modi.  With due respect to them I am penning down my feelings towards our Prime Minister.  I didn't write this before election because it would be considered as election propaganda.  Now that the vast nation has chosen their leader I thought I will pen down my thoughts. 

I am now in my mid thirties and eversince I have been politically aware during my teenage,  I have got this fangirl feeling only towards two Prime Ministers - Rajiv Gandhi and Narendra Modi.  Rajiv gandhi was during my childhood and I became a fangirl because he was everything this nation needed at that time and handsome!  I had a poster of him in my room as well.  😃

In the past five years of Modi I realised how a leader with a vision can move the nation forward and put it in the global map with reverence.  I admire Modi for his leadership skills, his personal qualities,  intelligence, discipline and oratory skills.  I respect Modi for his staunch national priorities and his charisma as a leader.  Leadership qualities of Modi comprises of all nuances of a Charismatic and Intellectual leader with a purpose.

As a citizen,  I have for the first time felt connected to the central  Govt in the past five years.  How?  The transparency and accessibility to PM's office directly through online platform.  I have sent queries and complaints through this platform twice and have got replies with results both the times.  This was a new experience for me in the past several decades of democracy. 
He connected with the ordinary men through his emotional sensibility which was evident in all his speeches in his Mann ki bath. No other PM connected with the common man regularly in this manner. His intelligence and updated knowledge on all walks - be it agriculture or space research is a quality which is most important for any leader.

As a citizen, for the first time I felt a wave of patriotism and national pride in common man. I was recently at US where this sense of national pride is highly evident.  But in India we always used to highlight political pride over national pride. This changed a bit during the last five years.

His team of leaders - the way he identifies quality resources - officers,  ministers etc and nurtures them is exemplary. We saw how strong leaders emerge under a stronger leader. His choice of Ministers for various roles during last period was mostly based on credentials and not just votes or party politics . He also had some extremely talented women leaders whom he valued and gave freedom.  Smrithi irani,  Nirmala Seetharaman,  Sushma swaraj etc are great examples of women leaders who flourished under his wings. I don't remember seeing similar emerging leadership under previous PM other than the then FM Chidambaram.

For the first time in the past five years I have felt that India has got due respect in global forums and several Global leaders consider our PM with utmost reverence. 

Governance improved and the focus has been on development of nation with systematic planning rather than petty politics. There came better discussions in the parliament and lesser redundant representatives.   Investment multiplied and the people have a  general positivity everywhere.  However, there have been sects of religious and communalism and terrorism outcries which deter the progress. And Modi leadership has striked back in proper manner at those times. 

As a leader,  Modiji always took criticism with a right spirit. Even when opposition called him chowkidar,  he took it as a responsibility and made it glamorous by his win. He remained calm even at personal attacks. That is another important quality of a strong leader.

In the past five years, several nationwide development  projects have been initiated and it is important that we have continuity of governance inorder to get benefit of these projects. 

For eg : The start-up India project, the focus on quality education, swach bharath,  housing schemes, farmers program etc enable a country 's progress in all facets.  I am not saying that congress or any other party will not have similar projects if they got elected.  But the point is, unless there is continuity,  these projects will not meet its end. 

With Modi, as an ordinary citizen,  I have felt that  we are protected,  we are guided towards growth and we are respected. One area of improvement is women safety and equality  which I believe will be taken up seriously in the coming years. 

Having visited several countries,  I believe that Modi can provide a strong leadership globally which is most important at this point for India.  A booming economy, a great demographic dividend and a visionary leader all this will make India an indomitable force for the future. 

The next few years is crucial and as a citizen I have great trust and expectations on the inclusive and sustainable  growth of my nation under the able leadership of Modiji.

Yours Truly
Fan Girl !
#CeeVee

  #PM #Modi

Disclaimer :  this is not a political post and just my perspective on the leadership of my nation. I am an optimist and hence like to look at positive factors more than crying about the negative factors.

P.S :  This fangirl is more happy for the fact that I still have a chance in the next five years to meet and click a picture with Modi.. which would have not been possible if he got defeated. So this item in  my bucketlist is still on ! 😃

An Ode to the land of memories

The laughter and giggles of the ladies of worth,
Passing through the winding roads and past the drizzles
The unshaken care of the friend at all times
Making us remind of a life so beautiful!

The grand chandeliers and the sizzling drink on the hands of an alluring lass,
The smile of love on the eyes of the sweethearts
The lust and yearn on the yesteryear screens
The shimmering city lights peeping  through the window pane, 

The silent night, the cold whispers of the wind
The longheard love songs on radio and
As I hug on to the soft pillows, 
My eyes gaze at the endless sky in search of the unknown.
This moment will soon be a past destination in my journey
Yet, a memorable plan that destiny brought me to.

#CeeVee #May2019  #IVLP 

I am a bad mother !

Being in the USA during mother's day is an experience by itself. Past one week, most of the shops were "selling" mother's day with great pomp and show! There were "last minute" mother's day gifts , "under $30 " gifts, restaurant  table bookings and several mother's day campaigns . 

Keeping aside the festivities and celebrations, I think mother's day is a day to remember and acknowledge the role of a mother in the society. But the society has always dictated certain "norms" for being a mother. For eg: Let's look at the following 

- A good mother feeds her children first before she eats.

- A good mother helps her children do their homework 

- A good mother cooks great dishes - spends lot of time in kitchen making designer dishes which the kids love

- A good mother makes the bed of her kids after they wake up. 

- A good mother advises and guides her kids on all matters 

-A good mother punishes her kids for wrong doings  

- A good mother is always there and takes leave from work,  when her kids are sick. 

- A good mother saves for her children for their future (sometimes at the cost of not fulfilling her own wishes. Its a sacrifice she does for her family and she has to! ) 

- A  good mother teaches her kids religious and cultural norms 

- A good mother is also a  perfect wife for the  husband/ partner who ensures that the family is stable.

Well, we have been hearing this for ages and all these expectations mostly create a feeling of "guilt" to those mothers like me , whom I call "bad mother" . Well, what makes me a bad mother? Let me explain!

- I eat when I am hungry. If my kids don't want to eat at that time, its their choice. 

- I do not sit with my kids for their homework or even tell them to "Sit and study" , sometimes to the extent that once my son told me , "Amma , You are always studying yourself.  will you please tell me to "go and study" ?" , I replied, " I study because I want to be successful in my career. If you want to be so, you study. that's it! " He now studies because he wants to become a scientist in future. 

- I cook whenever I get time. And I cook whichever is easier and healthier. My dishes are NOT super tasty because I don't spend more than 2 hours in kitchen in a day. If the kids want so much decorated / designer dishes , I have Swiggy in my mobile or They have the option of cooking themselves as well. My son and daughter today bakes cakes and dishes they like by themselves, because they know that their mom doesn't like to do these. They enjoy baking / cooking while I don't.  

- I don't make my kid's bed / room etc. Infact every week, its their responsibility to clean their room and make it good. They arrange their shelfs , their uniforms , their books and I do NOT know where they kept their maths notebook or science notebook or socks!  

- I  don't advice my kids on every small thing. I discuss matters and ask their opinion. They share their opinions and I let them take decisions for themselves. Sometimes to the extent that they have opinion about family budget, purchases and their needs. 

- I don't punish my kids frequently. I shout at them once in a while when I have my fits of anger. However, I say sorry or they say sorry once they understand its their fault. 

- I celebrate both their  successes and  failures. I take them out for enjoyment especially whenever they fail in something. I discuss with them how they could have made their actions better and then succeed the next time. I don't compare them with other children because they are unique and exams / marks do not define my children. 

- I don't buy costly gifts for them. I don't save too much money for their future either. Instead spend NOW for giving experiences and exposure - meeting people and visiting places which they may not get in their school time. I share the stories of all my experience I gain through my travel so that they gain wider perspective. I spend my time for my fulfillment of dreams as well and tell them the importance of living a meaningful life. They know that they have to make their money and be independent in future .  They know that they should get scholarship if they need to get admissions in world class universities!

- I don't instill any religious rituals on them forcefully. Its their choice. 

- I am not a perfect wife who serves her husband and is always "adjusting". I fight and oppose when needed. My family days are not always happy as we see in movies or facebook ! 

Well, I am a bad mother, you know! 

My kids now in their teenage have chances of getting "spoilt" because I have made them too independent compared to other children of their age. They cook, they clean the house, they manage their studies , they take decisions about what they want, they have opinions of their own, they make their own choices. Well, this is a dangerous proposition for the society since they may become independent and fearless individuals as adults who may positively contribute to the society as leaders in whichever field they chose. They may become a worthwhile citizen to the nation setting high standards for themselves since they get more exposure to the world through their bad mother. 

Yes, I am a bad mother. :)

But, I would rather be a bad mother than be a good mother whose children can't manage themselves and expect parental support until their 30s. I would rather be a bad mother than be a good mother whose children end up purposeless in life , following the norms and expectations set by the society - ending up as ordinary . I would rather be a bad mother who enjoys her life and leads a life of purpose  thereby giving her children a path to aspire for in future. 

Yes, I am a bad mother and I too deserve a "Happy Mother's Day ! " 

Pic: Here are some Easter Egg Chocolates I ate while in the US. I know my kids would have loved to eat this. But I am a bad mother , you know! I sent them this picture and told them, " Go around the world when you grow up and you can eat many like these!"  

P.S: The above post may not be acceptable to many mothers and fathers. But you know, I am a bad mother - I express my mind freely! :) 

P.S 2: I am in the USA for 3 weeks trip as one the Fellows for International Visitors Leadership Programme , a premier professional exchange program fully funded by the US State Department. I am one of the 8 women entrepreneurs from India representing the country on a thematic study about women entrepreneurship practices in the US.