In My Hands Today…

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Blasphemy – Tehmina Durrani

 Set in south Pakistan, the novel inspired by a true story, is a searing study of evil; an uncompromising look at the distortion of Islam by predatory religious leaders.

In prose of great power and intensity, the author tells the tragic story of the beautiful Heer, brutalized and corrupted by Pir Sain, the man of God, whom she is married to when barely fifteen. But the nightmare she is locked into is not hers alone; it affects the entire clan that owes allegiance to the pir. In the Pir’s haveli, unspeakable horrors are perpetrated every day and every night, all in the name of Allah. Sucked into the fetid hell of her lord’s making, Heer loses her dignity, her freedom, even her humanity, till a terrible resolution gives her back to herself.

2015 Week 12 Updates

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This week has been dominated by the passing away of Mr. Lee Kwan Yew. Feeds in Facebook plus the other media spoke about the love that people has for this man, who single-handedly was responsible for making Singapore what it is today. I too penned a few words on this blog. People were queuing over 8-10 hours just for that one minute where they could pay their last respects to Mr. Lee.

Other than that, a very uneventful week, one where a lot of us did some soul-searching. I too did and have come to some decisions, one of which was the rewriting of my resume. It is going on as we speak and once that is done, I will start, if not searching for new opportunities, but atleast have the chance to do that when a good opportunity comes my way.

PSLE Week 12 Update

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Another uneventful week for us, is this the calm before the storm?

School this week has been filled with Mr. Lee Kwan Yew. The children came with me to pay our tribute at our local CC and then later in the week, the school also took them down to the CC to pay their respects. They didn’t write in the book (imagine 500+ students trying to do that)! What they did was stand in groups in front of the portrait of Mr. Lee and bow down thrice to show their respect.

We’re down the two weeks before the Hindi SA1 and need to get BB & GG upto speed there. Next month will also start the Open Houses in schools which we plan to go to, more on that later.

In My Hands Today…

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A Golden Age – Tahmina Anam



As young widow Rehana Haque awakes one March morning, she might be forgiven for feeling happy. Her children are almost grown, the city is buzzing with excitement after recent elections. Change is in the air. 


But no one can foresee what will happen in the days and months that follow. For this is East Pakistan in 1971, a country on the brink of war. And this family’s life is about to change forever. 

Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, ‘A Golden Age’ is a story of passion and revolution, of hope, faith, and unexpected heroism. In the chaos of this era, everyone must make choices. And as she struggles to keep her family safe, Rehana will be forced to face a heartbreaking dilemma.

Festivals of India: Rama Navami

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Tomorrow is Ram Navami, the festival which celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, the oldest son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya and the protagonist of the Hindu epic The Ramayana.

The day is traditionally celebrated on Shukla Paksha on the Navami, or ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. This day also marks the end of the Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri which is celebrated mostly in Northern India.

Lord Rama, one of the oldest know Gods having a human form, is known as the perfect man and ‘Maryada Purushottam’ which translates to an ideal, righteous and perfect human being. In this avatar or manifestation of Lord Vishnu, as Lord Rama, he destroys the demon king of Lanka (present day Sri Lanka) King Ravana.

In his Sanskrit text Ramayana, Valmiki, describes the birth chart of Lord Rama as

“On completion of the ritual six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra month [March–April], when the presiding deity of ruling star of the day is Aditi, where the ruling star of day is Punarvasu (Nakshatra),  the asterism is in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets viz., Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are at their highest position, when Jupiter with Moon is ascendant in Cancer, and when day is advancing, then Queen Kausalya gave birth to a son with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate lips, voice like drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshwaku dynasty, who is adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome of Vishnu, namely Rama.”

— Book I: Bala Kanda, Ramayana by Valmiki, Chapter (Sarga) 18, verses 8, 9, 10 and 11

Temples celebrate his birth at noon, with cradles and small image of Lord Rama in it as he is traditionally supposed to be born then. Many people may fast with the temple offerings being their main meal of the day.

In South India, the day is also celebrated by performing a Kalyanosatvam (marriage celebration) of Rama and Sita and then temples have processions (which is dwindling these days).

A sweet drink called Panakam, made using jiggery, lemon, cardamom and pepper is made and offered to the Lord on this day as prasadam along with a cooling yoghurt drink called Neer Mor and a lentil payasam.

Although an important festival in the Hindu calendar, this is not a festival, I remember celebrating much. I do remember drinking panakam made by my mother and that is the extent of our festivities. I don’t have any memories of any special dishes made for this festival. This year, I will most likely make the drink, offer it to the Lord and then share it with my family.