Is this a passing phase of my life? Even if it is not, even if it becomes a permanent phase in my life, I am only too happy. Right now, yes I am happy about this phase. And that is what matters!

I know many of these experienced, ardent lovers of serious reading may not approve of this phase. Many may think I am immature, so what? Many may think I am silly, so what? Many may think I am being childish, so what? Still I am enjoying and that is what matters!

Sorry, you must be surprised or should I use the word perplexed, I think that explains your emotion in a better manner, yes you must be perplexed about the phase in my life, which I am talking about. Hope you too won’t take it as silly, even if you take it that way I will say, I am enjoying it and that is what matters!

Now I will come to the core matter. Nowadays I prefer children’s books,
I should say everything related to children’s books, the story, the narration, the characters, the scenario, the beginning,
the middle, the ending and don’t know what not, to the so called heavy adult literature. Now do you think I am being insane, I will say I am enjoying it and that is what matters!

Till some days back, I too used to delve deep in to each and every word of the heavy books to find out the hard truths, the hard facts of life, the hard realities of life and to make out the meanings and if possible create my own meaning for those words. Was I hoping to find a solution for the bitter realities of human life through my interpretations of whatever I was reading? If that was so I should say that it was an unsuccessful attempt. Now you must be really thinking that I am insane. Then I will say, I am enjoying it and that is what matters!

The classical, neo classical, modern, ultra modern, what ever genre of literature I was reading till recently, I should frankly admit that, the alternate thinking strands they couldn’t provide, these what should I say, baby books or kids books has taken me to travel through those strands. Whatever is your opinion, I am enjoying it and that as what matters!

I am thoroughly enjoying Moin and the monsters, I am thoroughly enjoying Fun at Devlok, I am thoroughly enjoying Wonder, I am thoroughly enjoying the stories of Micheal  Morpugo and all the simple’ colourful, illustrated books for children. I am happy about it, I am thoroughly enjoying this phase and that is what matters!

Anuradha Nayar

A man who is contended is always happy, I know. But what is the definition of being contented? Or else when is a man contented? I would say I feel contented when I am in a situation, which I really want to be in. That means, when I could be in a situation of my liking, or in a situation which I want to be in. Does it have any connection  with my ambition? I think so!
Ambition, that reminds me,do we need to teach our children not to be ambitious? If so, why? Is ambition a negative emotion? I have my own reservations about it. Of course I am not an advocate of being over ambitious. But I think being ambitious of one’s own life, career or future is not an undesirable thing. A boy or a girl has the right to be ambitious. I think as parents or teachers our responsibility is to make them aware of the boundaries of their ambitions rather than putting tight boundaries for their ambitions itself. Teach them the synonyms of satisfaction and why it is important to be satisfies with waht you achieve. How miserable they will be if they do not practise this at an early stage of their life. So I think in stead of telling your child not to be ambitious, tell them not to be insatiable in their wants and needs.Gauge them to achieve their quite natural ambitions,but guard them from the pains of insatiable desires.

Anuradha