Fishing On Sunday Morning

A Fish-hunter is fortunate to be counted amongst the so-called "Shikaris" brandname in India. Every Sunday morning I happen to witness a fishing that happens in one of the neighborhood ponds. Fish Hunting is a passion with patience. This Sunday as I pass by, taking the short-cut to reach the main road, a smile cut cross my face. Sunday is the day for Fishing here. I am happy to see so many people around preparing themselves with bait, net, towel, rod, reels and other essentials. 

The pond is quite large and the water is absolutely clean and maintained. The widely-branched bushy green trees surrounding the pond casts a beautiful green reflection on the water. These trees are the home to a variety of species of birds. Their  chirping can be heard loud at sunset, too lovely and sweet to be overheard. Wooden planks, square shaped have been erected around the banks of the river. A large Campaign umbrella have been hosted on each of them. Water-ripples are astonishingly being formed and travel towards the other edge. Bait is the food for fish which is hooked on to the fishing rod hook which is then thrown  at a distance in the water. People wait patiently for the fish to get tricked by this. Everyone hopes to return home with a big, fat fish that would his family happy and make him feel proud.  Bait - is made by mixing wheat flour and water into a semi-solid paste. Fish love it and are attracted.

Small fish - the babies of the large ones are seen on the surfaces of the water on the banks. I think myself - How organised and deep bonding unites them! Suddenly, I see one of the fish rod strings getting heavier as if some strength is pushing and pulling it down. It catches the attention of the near-by men who have been watching the whole spectrum since hours. There are faces of hopes around. The man sits tight and puts all his strength. A large hefty fish has been caught to everyone's delight. 

Let No Child Go Hungry

A child today is a citizen tomorrow. The future of a child is shaped much ahead in his childhood days. A child needs love, affection, wisdom, guidance, education, food and shelter. Our nation has been striving hard to push children across all income-level households to school. They are making constant efforts to ensure there are no drop-outs. However, its not so easy - neither for the children nor for the parents. The parents of these kids are so poor that for them education is a thing of privilege. One kid going going to school means one less working hand. Those who struggle hard the whole day to feed the family find it hard to send their children to school. Most often these children come school empty stomach and hungry. A hungry children cannot concentrate on the teaching in the class. His mind wanders around food all the time. He finds it hard to sit in the class and continue with others. The child is always malnourished. Often the child falls sick and suffers stomach aches.

Our Government should start a Breakfast program at school where a child can start the day healthy. Breakfast should comprise of bread/chapatti/upma, fruit - banana/any other fruit, milk. A healthy child is a happy child. A happy child enjoys learning at school and would take interest in the co-curricular activities at school. There should be provision of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Government has already taken the initiative of providing free meals at lunch hour. This would surely help the child to continue his education. There should be regular inspection at the cleanliness and the nutrition provided.

The rich private schools should donate a certain percentage of their profits for the meals and other benefits of the poor kids. Each child is entitled to right to education. No child should go hungry and deprived. A lot of crimes would never take place if the world has access to food and clothing. No child would move towards wrong-doings if he is well fed and has education in his life. He would learn the difference between the right and the wrong. He would pursue an ambition in life and would have moral values instilled in him. These children could become the proud citizens of our country, only if we let them.

Instead of throwing a bashing party on birthdays and other occasions, the rich can sponsor a good meal for few children who are not so lucky to afford it on their own. They can run a feast at one of the local government schools and sponsor the meal for few classes or the entire school.

At marriage functions, the guests should serve themselves only as much as they can consume. They should avoid excessively filling their plate  and then dropping off everything to the dust-bins. The over-stock of food which is left un-served can be sent to these children who would love to have a share of it.

Its equally important to win the trust of the poor parents who are still managing to send their children to school. We need to listen to them, understand their problems, empathize, seek out solutions. We have to explain to them how educating a child will help them and the nation. We have to make them belief in us. We too, have to keep our promises made. 

I am going to #BlogToFeedAChild with Akshaya Patra at BlogAdda.com

Child's Treasure World of Rhymes

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!

One for the master,

One for the dame,

And one for the little boy

Who lives down the lane

I Still Love Singing Along. Feel Like a Kid Again!

When I was a little girl, my mother used to read out these poems loud to me from a colorful book. I used to imagine everything right before my eyes as if they were real and true - There must be this black sheep somewhere. I would find him one day. And where did these people live? Could I go and meet them? Where could I see the old man and the little boy of my age. He could be my friend too. I could play with him.

And the Black Sheep was very precious for me. More Precious than the glittering diamonds and the gold I have today. The little boy was so lucky to have this Baa Baa Black Sheep. He could get wool whenever he desired. The Black Sheep had never-ending stock of black wool all over him. He shared wool with all his friends. They could spun many warm sweaters. 

I wished someone to take me to this Black Sheep. I would befriend him too. And then I would also sing to him like the others do - Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, Have you any wool?

And He would Say To Me: Yes Sir, yes sir, three bags full!

One for the master,

One for the dame,

And one for the little boy

Who lives down the lane

And He would love me Too! And would Give me plenty of Wool for the Winters. 

I would give all these Wool to my Mother.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!

As a kid, I looked up at the night sky and would see the blue sky full of bright - twinkling stars. I felt they were twinkling at me. They were my friends. They were watching over me and smiling at me. One day, I would grow up and reach there. 

Once I even made a drawing which showed an Aeroplane travelling in the sky (assumed I was sitting inside) and there were were big stars all around the plane. I showed it to my Arts Teacher. She smiled and added one more Red colored star to it.

Hahahahaha!!! Little did I know no stars can actually be seen from a plane while flying.

At times, I found them looking so beautiful, I wished I could reach so high and pick few of them and keep them next to my bed.

Such is the beauty in the the imagination and innocence of a child.

This post is a part of Kids Hut activity at BlogAdda.com

Karthik Puja in Kolkata

As I stepped outside and headed towards the local market, I could sense the arrival of  some puja in the days to come. Lanes of Bows and arrows hung outside the bhandara stores. Peacock Fan or the Mayur Pankh were also displayed alongside. It looked so attractive - Colorful artificial garlands, small earthen pots, diyas.

Karthikeye Idols of different sizes - big, small, medium were lined up in rows. The display looked somewhat similar to the Goddess Saraswati and Laxmi puja idols . 

Karthikeye is known as the God of  War and Victory and is worshipped in many households across West Bengal. Idols of  the God are secretly put in the rooms of the newly married or those who are expecting a baby. The celebration is carried with huge pomp and splendour speacially amongst the traditional rich bengalis who still believe in the so-called babu culture that prevailed in the old days.