The light Within!

Turning 51: A Moment Between What Was and What Can Be  As December draws near, I find myself at a special intersection-51. It's not just another number; it feels like a mirror showing me the past and the future. Half a century and a little more-a journey filled with joy and sorrow, victories and losses, lessons deeply rooted in my soul. I have taken on many roles-daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother, principal, teacher, counselor.  Each role has shaped me in ways that words often can't fully express. As a daughter, I learned the value of unconditional love and the bittersweet beauty of letting go. As a sister, I carried both secrets and laughter, promises and distances. As a wife, I discovered that partnership isn't about being perfect-it's about being persistent. As a daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, I saw how families change-sometimes with grace, sometimes with difficulty. As a mother, my heart learned to live beyond my own body, to break a...

                                                                   

Why Are Our Children So Fascinated with Horror Tales?  The other day, I walked into a Grade 6 class, ready to narrate a story. To my surprise, the students eagerly requested, “Ma’am, please tell us a horror story!” I gently refused, but the request grew louder with repeated pleas. I thought it was just this class. But when I visited Grade 5, the same request echoed. And to my astonishment, even the little ones in Grade 2 chorused, “Please, ma’am, a horror story!” I walked away with a big question in my mind: Who started this trend? Why are children across different grades so keen on horror stories? Understanding the Fascination Children today are growing up in a very different world than we did. Stories of magic, folklore, and moral lessons are slowly being replaced by thrill-driven narratives—often inspired by what they watch on OTT platforms, YouTube, or even overhear from peers. Horror content, in particular, gives them: A rush of adrenaline – The “scary but safe” experience e...

“The Magic Backpack.”- An activity that  was a fun and thoughtful way to help children reflect on what values, emotions, and habits they want to carry in their life—and what they would rather leave behind. We drew a big backpack on the board and asked, “If you were going on a journey to a new land where only the best versions of ourselves are welcome. You have a magic backpack that can carry values, qualities, and emotions. You have a magic backpack that can carry values, qualities, and emotions. But it gets heavier with negative traits. W hat would you carry with you?” The children got excited and started sharing their ideas. And what they said was truly heartwarming. Here’s what they wanted to carry: Happiness, courage, truthfulness, kindness, helpfulness, politeness, being smart, saving energy, reading, spreading positivity—and even saving water! These weren’t just words from their textbooks. These were real choices they wanted to live by. One child said, “We should carr...

 In a lively and thought-provoking session with a group of Class 7 students, I tried something different — something that would push them to think, move, speak, and reflect all at once. We turned the classroom into a “choice crossroads,” with four corners labeled Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree , and Strongly Disagree . The students were asked to listen to a statement, go to the corner that best represented their choice, and then justify their stand . What happened next was a mix of honest thoughts, real-life examples, laughter, confusion, and most of all — a level of maturity that made me stop and think,  “Were we ever this aware when we were their age?” Question 1: “It’s okay to lie sometimes if it keeps someone from getting hurt.” The class was almost equally divided in their opinions on this — most students agreed or strongly agreed , while a few disagreed with quiet confidence. One student said, “Sometimes a small lie saves someone from feeling sad....and they can ...

This morning, my 17-year-old daughter boarded the metro by herself — for the first time. A moment that might seem ordinary to many, but for me, it held the weight of a thousand memories and emotions. I watched her walk out the door, bag slung confidently over her shoulder, hair neatly done, eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and nervous energy. She was dressed for her first day of college — a new chapter, a fresh beginning. And yet, all I could see was my little girl who once clung to my dupatta on her first day of school. She had insisted on going alone. “No, Mama, I’ll manage. It’s just the metro,” she had said, brushing off my offer to drop her. Just the metro. But I knew what it really meant — her first taste of independence , her first solo step into a world I couldn't hold her hand through. As I imagined her navigating platforms, scanning tokens, finding the right direction, standing amidst strangers — I also imagined the quiet storm inside her . The questions she ...