A Hundred Quills
"Words.Words.I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination will say what I want" -Doris Lessing
Book Review- Ebook Carnival (Marvellous Rhymes by Jyotsna Atre)
‘Marvellous Rhymes for children about the Wild’ by Jyotsna Atre is a trove of beautiful rhymes coupled with colourful illustrations. As the title suggests, the poems are all about wildlife.
About the Author
Jyotsna Atre isn’t new to the world of writing. Some years ago, her retelling of the tales of Tenali Raman had been published in two volumes. Her stories for children have won awards on several platforms. Professionally she is an instructional designer and creates learning content for children. She has also been conducting cyber safety workshops for them.
We now know why a book for children!
शोर
अंग्रेज़ी में एक कहावत है, Grass is greener on the other side. दूर से जब हम क़ामयाबी और प्रशंसा को देखते हैं तो वो ताजमहल प्रतीत होती है। मगर पास आने पर वो कामयाबी सिर्फ एक खूबसूरत मक़बरा बन कर रह जाती है। उसका मधुर सा लगने वाला संगीत शोर बन जाता है। ऐसे ही कुछ विचारों पर प्रस्तुत है एक कविता…
वो तो एक गीत था
हरे मैदानों में बहता हुआ
सूरज की लालिमा में विलीन
निर्मल साधना सा
उत्सव मनाता संगीत था
रंगीन पंखों पर उड़ान भरता
मुझे सुनाई दे रहा था
कहीं दूर से आता
एक मधुर तराना
मुझे उसकी चाह हुई
जीवन की जैसे वो
राह हुई
फिर वो कुछ
करीब आया
लगा कोई
रकीब आया
अब वो संगीत नही
शोर था
मेरे तो चारों ओर था
कानों को माने
काट रहा था
मैं अब उससे
भाग रहा था
ताली ने कैसा
यह नाद बजाया
उत्सव सा मन
मायूस हो आया
हरा मैदान अब
कहीं दूर था
कुछ अजीब
मन के हालात थे
स्तुतियों ने
बहा दिए जज़्बात थे
मैं नही चाहता था
शाबाशियों का ढेर
मुझे फ़क़त अपनी
कलम का इंतज़ार था
करताली नही
मैं जान गया था
लिखना ही उपहार था
लिखना ही उपहार था।
©Sonia Dogra
To download my book on historical verses click on the link given below
https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/unlocked-by-sonia-dogra/
Book Review- The Woman That I Am
The Woman That I Am – An Anthology Celebrating Womanhood is like a bouquet of flowers with several shades and variety that blend in perfectly to give you a charming ensemble.
Conceived and compiled by Rashi Roy and Manas Mukul it brings thirty writers under one roof, which in itself is proof enough of the diversity the book has to offer. Rashi Roy, who was an HR Professional, is now a multi-lingual blogger, author and You Tuber. She dons multiple hats with much elan. Manas Mukul, previously a Business Consultant has been blogging for ten years and is passionate about theatre. The experience of the duo who successfully pulled off two blog hops earlier this year is reflected in the book which is structured and threaded well.
Content
- The book is a collection of poetry and prose- fictional, non-fictional and poetic. It is bilingual with contributions in English and in Hindi. For a poetry lover like me, the poems are definitely one up but prose is a good match too.
- Both the compilers Rashi and Manas have penned powerful pieces of poetry. While Rashi sounds fiery and assured, Manas offers to encompass the universe in his representation of a woman.
- POETRY- From the irony that stands out in Mayuri’s rhythmic piece to the profundity offered by Namratha Varadharajan’s dewy words; Nidhi Rawal’s unapologetic acceptance of womanhood; Pragun’s placid depiction of a woman; Srishti’s affirmation of self-belief or Srivalli’s seamless flow of words; Ujjwal’s candidness to Surbhi’s call to awaken the power within- poetry is definitely the favoured one in this anthology. And it’s hard to choose one!
- PROSE- Deepika Sharma’s story, I- Am a Woman is such an inclusive piece of writing that is sure to warm the cockles of your heart. Deepti Sharma offers both prose and poetry together and both splendidly penned. You wouldn’t want to miss her contribution. Jyoti holds a mirror to society while Noor pens an ordinary story of an ordinary woman in a most extraordinary way. Priyanka Nair is the woman on fire in this anthology and how you love her for saying all that she does. ‘Sanity in Sanitary Pad’ – Does that make you curious? Well, you need to check out this honest prose piece by Meera V. Swarnali’s ‘All of Me’ and Supriti’s ‘I Make Her the Woman’ make for beautiful reads.
- HINDI- There are only four contributions in Hindi by Deepika Mishra, Pooja Priyamvada, Ramandeep and Sangya and all of them truly stand out in this collection. Pooja Priyamvada’s dedication to her father leaves you teary-eyed while Sangya Nagpal holds your attention with her style and content both.
Did I miss something?
Just a few more writings in Hindi would have been a double treat and a concluding note at the end, the icing on the cake!
Concluding Remark
Finally, womanhood joins all the dots and each piece stands as a reflection of the other, while maintaining its individual identity. That is the beauty of The Woman That I Am. An absolutely enjoyable collection that completes your reading experience. You may download the book from the Blogchatter library by clicking on the link given below.
EBook Launch
Dear friends
The hysteria on Twitter doesn’t seem to be dying out today because it is the Blog chatter Ebook Carnival!
Unlocked- Historical Tales in Verse my debut book based on the A to Z Series 2020 is enlisted right there and is available for free download for a short period.
So, what are you waiting for? This book that can be enjoyed by both children and grown ups is right here. Just click on the link below and there you go!
https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/unlocked-by-sonia-dogra/
Thank you!
जो छूट गए…
जो छूट गए
वो पल भर थे
सागर नही
बस लहर ही थे
मंज़िल तो नही
पथिक ही थे
फिर क्षोभ है क्यों
उनके जाने का
क्रोध है क्यों
संसार मे जिसने
जन्म लिया
पृथक ही उसने
जीवन जिया
आते जाते कुछ
हाथ मिले
जो एक मोड़ तक
साथ चले
फिर राह चुनी जो तूने
उनकी राह नही वो थी
जो तेरी थी इच्छा
उनकी चाह नही वो थी
फिर क्षोभ है क्यों
उनके जाने का
क्रोध है क्यों
जो संग जिया
वो खूब जिया
क्यों मांगे आँचल सारा
सौरमंडल की आस में तू
भूल न जा इकलौता तारा
जो साथ अभी है
रात जभी है
वही रहनुमा
सौगात वही है
अब जीने की
आस वही है
तो क्षोभ न कर
तू क्रोध न कर
वो छोड़ गए, अफसोस न कर
जो है वो साथ निभाएगा
समय पूर्ण होने पर वह भी
अपनी अलग राह बनाएगा
लिखा है जितना साथ है जिसका
उतना ही वो निभाएगा
एकल जो तू चला कभी तो
प्रभु सखा बन आएगा
प्रभु सखा बन आएगा!
©Sonia Dogra
#IWSG Post for May 6- Writing Rituals and Co-existence with a Virus
Another IWSG Day is right here. Thank you to the wonderful team of the Insecure Writer’s Group for this uplifting and encouraging group, where writers can share their feelings without the fear of being judged.
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting! If you wish to join please
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!!!
May 6 question – Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?
The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!
Do visit them and show some love!
********************
I missed posting last month because of A to Z. I’m bad at multitasking and I was already doing a lot of that due to the lockdown here in India.
So, how has living with a deadly virus been? I’m confused. On days I feel blessed to be in a better position than so many other people; I feel glad for my family, for their safety and for other little things in life. On other days I feel like we’re all treading a tightrope and it’s going to collapse soon. However, I do believe that for a long time we will have to live with these vacillations and contradicting thoughts. The virus will co-exist and the only way to deal with this is to learn to live with it, at least for now.
With this in mind, I feel glad to share that I have decided to turn my A to Z posts into an e book under Blogchatter’s Book Carnival next month. It’s the first step I’m taking towards developing a body of work and I hope there will be no looking back. To plan in these circumstances seems a little weird, but to not plan seems like giving up too soon.
Now for this month’s question.
Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?
I’ve never followed any sort of ritual when it comes to writing. But if reading could be called one, then I’m doing it most of the time. It helps me to stay focused. I could also say that most of my thinking happens after lights out at night. And I sleep with the iPad by the bedside. Think and save, think and save… until my eyelids become heavy enough. So, maybe, lights out is my idea of getting into the zone.
I hope we all find our ways and means out of the present maze and can heal ourselves and others through our writing. At least offer some sort of coherence in this mayhem.
Wish you all safe and happy times!
A to Z Challenge 2020- Reflections
April 2020 was unusual. The A to Z Challenge, one of the biggest for the blogging world, commenced in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Life in the time of this pandemic has been anything but a bed of roses. Uncommon, atypical circumstances have marred everyday living. Yes, some of us around the world have been better equipped to deal with this new life but only ‘better’. There is no one who is not vulnerable…much more than before.
Well, despite all odds, the blogging community came together to brave it out by writing once again with Arlee Bird and Richa Singh coming to their rescue. Gratitude to both. As everyone else, I decided to take the plunge too.
HISTORY IN POETRY
The chosen theme was more of a coincidence than a choice. Poetry and history, both are bae. I was mostly dilly dallying between the two. Different poetic forms definitely were one up, but on and off history would reappear and cry hoarse betrayal. It was hard to choose, so I decided to take both of them along in this journey.
It wasn’t an easy task. I started work around the 20th of March and by the end of the month I had roughly seven posts ready. Enough to add that dash of confidence. If there is someone, I must express gratitude to, for the innumerable ideas, it has to be my son who I feel has the soul of a historian and a litterateur but who himself believes that he is a man of science and reason. Most of my posts emerged out of stories narrated by him and further researched by me. Another man who I must thank is Phil Mason for his book Napoleon’s Hemorrhoid’s and Other Small Events that Changed History. My pieces were much influenced by this book. Finally, my husband who was the first reader and critic of every single post. Parents, they say, can’t get enough of their children. Thanks to my parents and sister who shared each post of mine relentlessly and over and over again… sometimes without even realizing it!
Some of my poems revolved around women from history and they were much appreciated. I was even asked if I have deep interest in stories of women and whether I specifically look for tales of courage. Maybe. It’s hard to say. I don’t think I looked for something specific, but when I found one, I had this urge to tell it to the world.
FLASHBACK
Looking back at the A to Z Challenge 2020, I feel thankful and glad. Thankful that I was able to complete the challenge, for all the love received by the blog and for the fellow bloggers who I hope to meet again and again in this virtual space. I discovered some amazing talent, beautiful writing pieces and added tons of data to my storehouse of information. I will most likely be assembling the posts in the form of an ebook under Blogchatter’s Book Carnival. I hope to receive your support in that venture.
Three cheers for the blogging community and these amazing bloggers. Do check out their blogs and show some love!
Thank you. Love and safety to all!
I proudly display my survivor badge here, the second one in a row! Yaayyy!!!
In case you would like some goodies please visit the wonderful Jeremy here
Check out some of my amazing blogger friends here,
Blogchatter A to Z Challenge 2020- THEME REVEAL
April is around the corner folks and the Blogging World is gearing up for yet another A to Z Challenge 2020.
Last year, I had jumped in at the nick of time, without a theme and without preparation, and had landed up burning the midnight oil. But what a time I had! I found some wonderful friends from the blogging zone who held my hand for the entire year, and opened up new doors of the wonderful writing world. I am so grateful to A to Z 2019 for that.
This year I am a tiny little veteran (Ha!), having taken my lessons in ‘A to Z Management’. I HAVE A THEME!
My theme for the A to Z Challenge 2020 spearheaded at two levels by Arlee Bird and Richa Singh is,
I love rhyming. And I love researching History books. So, I decided to bring the two together and present tiny events from history- people, places, books, science, incidents- whatever interesting pieces I could find and turn them into a poem.
I hope to make my little pieces enjoyable, easy and breezy reads for all of you. I hope you go back from this page with a desire to find out a little more of what I tell you here. I wish to ignite that spark!
At the same time, I hope I can read lots of new bloggers/writers and meet like-minded people in this journey.
So, see you all, right here, each day starting April 1, 2020!
WEP February 2020- Results
Here are the results of WEP February 2020. An invigorating prompt “Cafe Terrace” .
I feel elated to have made it to the final shortlist. Do check out the results as well as the lovely blurbs by Nilanjana here..
You can read my entry here,
https://soniadogra.com/2020/02/19/wep-iwsg-february-2020-cafe-terrace/
Check out the winner Anstice Brown with her story on the following link
Portrait of a Man #WEPFF #flashfiction
The Runner-up Damaynti Biswas on the following link
The Night is Not Black #WEP
And the Encouragement Award winner C. Lee McKenzie on this link
It’s February WEP Time
Keep watching this space in April for yet another piece of fiction!
A Neighbour Molested her at the Holi Bash but She Had to Let Him Go. What Would You Do?
I write at Women’s Web.
She was molested while playing the Holi, she was sure of that, and she even knew who it was. Should she stand her ground and make an example of him, or let him go because…
Not all stories get a closure.
It was around Holi last year. …
To read the full story click on the link below ,
A Neighbour Molested Her At The Holi Bash, But She Had To Let Him Go – What Would You Do?
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