Unconference, the word piqued my curiosity for a while now.
I checked it up on the internet only to find that the idea has gained tremendous momentum across the globe.
The idea of un-structuring the ingrained structure seemed interesting to say the least, in creating spaces and possibilities to honour the learning.
Suffice to say recently, when I came across an Unconference event in the local newspaper I decided I must make a visit.
The venue of this Unconference was the well known Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts in Pune. I reached just in time for the proceedings to untold.
A customary registration ensued and I was greeted by a few volunteers with a relaxed warm and welcoming attitude. Clearly, the Unconference had started right there.
The word Conference kind of stiffens people up. There is a formal attitude, a thick air of competition to perform at their very best. There are fees and strict rules to adhere to. There are super busy organisers scurrying through and tension is writ large on their faces and their bodies as well are stressed out with expectations of the outcome of the event. Suited men and women whizz through looking super important. And yes there would be a Chief Guest of honour and a coterie of important people who need VIP handling… Adherence to their whims and fancies and most importantly their speeches which may or may not be of interest to any. But all must endure as to get up and leave is an offence to the speaker.
On the contrary here there was a prevalent free-spirited feeling in the first place that all were in it together. The sense of community always takes time to build so I stood in that room with a small group of people waiting for the (informal introductory practice,) the opening circle.
The Opening Circle :
Someone from the group had taken an initiative to design a pretty pattern made of flowers in the centre of the space and light a lamp there.
A few introductory rounds later which turned out to be icebreakers with a few games to let loose and get into the flow.
There was a board set up with a mention of few rooms and a time slot to boot. The participants were encouraged to choose to attend or conduct workshops or just wander around and network.
A few people got up to mention their workshops and claim their slot. On a moment’s impulse although I was not exactly in the right attire for a dance workshop I simply decided to go with the flow and offered a Dance connection workshop by me.
Encouraged by a decent number of participants I let the moment take the lead. As I began teaching I witnessed the flow of the energy in the exchange.
I spoke about the dance, hold, frame and positioning and started introducing them to partner dancing and some basic steps. Bit by bit people shed inhibitions as they were getting tuned into the moves.
The moment strangers began to hold hands and face one another… for many, there was harmony to be found in the mirror imaging. For after all the lead and follow were simply an extension of each other dancing as one unit.
The energy in the room turned up a notch with the Achy Breaky Heart country cha sounds of Billy Ray Cyrus for company.
All started sensing the tuning with their partners at that moment. And an all-new dance impression in the expressions birthed itself in their hearts.
After the dance workshop I asked what they felt in that moment and here is what they shared immediately…
Deeply grateful!
The Give and Take
Truly to immerse yourself in that which you love all you have to do is to take a step … for your own good as much as for the others.
Essentially the whole experience was to me simply about honouring life energy in all its uniqueness of expression.
Great experience being a part of this interesting initiative!
I am not a milk consumer, but at home, everyone loves plenty of yoghurts to go along with food. In fact, it is considered to be appropriate for digestion, and as Indians, we often tend to finish the meal with some buttermilk.
For the past few weeks the milk we would curdle to make homemade yoghurt became increasingly slimy, to say the least. The brand I was buying is one of India’s biggest and well known. I have often read about adulterated milk and it’s implications on health and wellbeing but somehow never got down to testing the milk itself.
Recently I came across a Milk testing kit and I decided to check it out myself. It is easily available once I began to check out for it … I truly wonder why I didn’t ever think of doing this ever before.
Although there are just too many milk adulterations in the market today … this particular kit listed the few rampant ones.
Found the kit very user-friendly and it was having four parameters to check the milk on for example.
On the Milk Quality
On the Urea Content
On the Starch Content
On the Soap/ Detergent Content
As suggested the vials were duly filled with the milk and in just a matter of minutes the truth was staring at us!
Here is what the colours indicate.
Blue …. poor quality /no milk content
Sediments urea
Yellow …. starch
Yellow …. pulverised soap
So it was nothing but a concoction of chemicals.
In leaving the milk in the vials for a while after the results came through… at the time of cleaning the kits I was aghast to find that the strip in urea check container was truly stripped out… in fact, there were only a few bits of the strip left it was eaten away literally ….uric acid perhaps!
Wonder what’s happening to our insides!!!
Essentially it was no surprise that what we were consuming was not milk at all.
We have stopped buying milk from this vendor. But as I also read recently almost 65% and more of Indian milk consumption is adulterated.
Here is a video that I received as a forward on Social media. Take a moment although I must add the clip is recorded in Hindi it speaks for itself.
This is just one of the sad reality of our times.
Knowing that a majority of Indians have grown up with the belief that milk is good for health…
What are we actually feeding children?
Who is going to punish the culprits?
Do share if you have had a similar experience…
I would be keen to understand how we can tackle and overcome the rampant milk and food adulteration.
Weathered and worn
I lie here today
In this moment
That you look at me
I know so many thoughts
May pass your way
Memories that only can fathom
Of a time passed long by
You and I
Have lived through
Those days protecting
Your dear child
Through rough weather
Your mother’s affection
I can sense till today
As you would lovingly
Clothe your precious baby
With me
I know we are privy
To those special times
When you child lived in me
Played and fed with me on
How many times
You would carefully wash dry
And iron me out
And keep me clean and warm
All ready for your baby to wear
Your baby may never know me
But you and I
We have a special bond
A recall of those memorable times
That we shared
Until one fine day
She outgrew me.
Today you found me
As you left me
Deep in the closet
Among the old and discarded
But am I glad to be caressed with love
And photographed with joy
And reminisced about…
For in this moment
Your little gesture
Touches my being
For I feel I have served my purpose well
Thank you as well
For choosing me
And caring to keep me with you
All these years and maybe more!!!
With love
❤An old baby dress ❤
Found my daughter’s old baby dress and I was suddenly transported back in time…
Today my daughter is indeed all grown up. I took a picture of this little dress and shared it with my daughter who studies in a land far away…
The nurturing years of her childhood flashed by and I sat down to pen my reflections…
