Kaleidoscope – The Blog - Kaleidoscope Training & Development

Kaleidoscope, Life's Metaphor

a collection of beautiful pieces... a beam of light... a twist in the perspective... and a spectacular pattern to see. Read the kaleidoscope blog for a whole new vista of colours and patterns on varied topics - same world, varied perspectives.

Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana

15 March 2022 | Plays, Theatre, Uncategorized | folk theatre, Girish Karnad, traditional stories, yakshagana

Two best friends. One lady love. Talking dolls. Mute kid. Cursed horse-man in search of completeness. Goddess Kali. Elements of folk theatre – Nata – the actor, Bhagavata – the singer-storyteller, masks, stage hands holding curtains that illustrate the scene. Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana (I read the English translation) combines myth, folklore and man’s quest for […]

Vijay Tendulkar’s Plays for Children

18 February 2020 | Plays, Theatre | Children's Play

Tendulkar wrote some short plays for children during 1960 to 1972. Ithe Bale Miltat (Here you will get infants) –1960, Meshpatre (1961), Patlachya Porich Lagin (Marriage of Patil’s Daughter), Chimana Bandhato Ghar (Sparrow built a house) 1966, Rajaranila gham hava (King and Queen need sweat), Baba Harawale (Baba is lost), Bobychi Goshta (Story of Boby), […]

Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala

27 February 2022 | Plays, Theatre | Girish Karnad, Indian Theatre, scripts

I was amused by the beginning of the script. Having read, studied and performed A K Ramunajan’s A Story and A Song as a storyteller, I was delighted to see such an adaptation of the beautiful story as the prologue of a play. His other story ‘The Serpent Lover’ provides the main storyline. This is […]

Peter Brook’s Mahabharata

25 February 2022 | Plays, Theatre | classics, epic, Peter Brook

The massive 1980’s experiment and production was 9 hours long, with 30 performers from 18 different countries. The nine-month rehearsal was largely based at the Bouffes du Nord and an extended visit of all participants to India. Performed at the center in France, in quarries, depot, majestic concert hall internationally, The Mahabharata is considered culmination […]

Kamala

19 February 2022 | Plays, Theatre | Marathi Theatre, Tendulkar

Once, as a kid, while driving past a huge ground with my family, I saw a whole lot of men embarking a truck. India is full of people and crowds are a normal sight. Yet, I had never seen so many humans herded together. Their bodies shrunk horizontally, vertically, as if under the burden of […]

pars pro toto

12 February 2022 | Terminology, Words Worth

pars pro toto (part for the whole) is a figure of speech in which a part of an object/ concept or a place is used / named to represent it in its entirety. e.g. save your skin, mouths to feed, earn my bread and butter, England for UK totum pro parte, on the contrary, is […]

Some Henry Ford Wisdom on Money

28 January 2022 | Money, Money, Moneywise | Ford, Quotes

Who was Henry Ford? Founder of Ford Motors, Henry Ford was also the main developer of assembly line technique of mass production which helped reduce the production costs and made cars affordable to middle class Americans way back in early 20th Century – the days when cars were a luxury. This technique of mass production […]

Airlines are ditching first class

02 July 2020 | My Reflections, ReloD 2020, Scrapbook

Airlines are ditching first class – will Covid-19 kill the front cabin? This Telegraph article clarifies why we were unable to get a first-class ticket on our preferred but with fully-booked business class flight to LA. Well, it’s not just about the first class for us. This is not even our preferred route. The tickets […]

Migration of Nurses amidst the Pandemic

25 January 2022 | Money, Newsroom | news

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, the demand for healthcare and care workers is increasing everywhere in the world. With the demand for healthcare workers, everywhere, more than the supply, councils, countries and administrations are doing everything to balance the two. With ever growing demand for nurses the developed world is easing visa, […]

Agni Mattu Male – The Fire and The Rain

23 January 2022 | Plays, Theatre | Girish Karnad, Indian

Girish Karnad’s English translation of his Kannada play is based on a short narrative from the epic Mahabharata. It is in a play in play format, set in a land facing drought and famine so severe that many have fled it. The king of the land is performing Yagna (a 7-year long fire sacrifice) under […]

Tendulkar’s Very Humane ‘A Friend’s Story’

13 January 2022 | Plays, Theatre | LGBTQ, Marathi, Script, Tendulkar

Written in the 70s and staged first in 1980, Vijay Tendulkar’s Mitrachi Goshta is a play way ahead of its time, radical for the time it was written and staged in. My introduction to it is through its English translation by Gowri Ramnarayan. And I have to say that I was riveted through the reading […]

Kanyadaan

16 January 2022 | Plays, Theatre | father-daughter, Marathi, Marathi Theatre, Tendulkar

Kanyadaan literally means donation of a daughter (almost always in marriage to the groom’s family by the father of the bride). It is a very important ritual in a Hindu wedding ceremony and often an emotional, private and religious part of the otherwise noisy, very public celebratory event. The concept, held sacred by Hindus, is […]

Ghashiram Kotwal

11 January 2022 | Plays, Theatre | Marathi Theatre, playwriting, Tendulkar

A masterclass in playwriting, directing, storytelling and theatre experiments. I’d watched Ghashiram Kotwal on YouTube and was thoroughly impressed with the unique way of presentation, the combination of folk arts used in it and the dialogues in verse of most of this 2-act play. I’d been looking for it’s script. And ironically found it’s English […]

Vijay Tendulkar’s Political Satire – Encounter in Umbugland

08 January 2022 | Plays, Theatre | India, Marathi, Play, Political, Satire, Tendulkar

Encounter in Umbugland is translated by Priya Adarkar from the Marathi original Dambadwipcha Mukabala (1974, although some publications say it’s a 1968 publication). I read this play in its English translation and now am keen to read the original in Marathi (awaiting access to a copy). It is a playful take on politics, power, hypocrisy, […]

Poems to cope with the pandemic isolation by Hafiz

14 January 2021 | Words of Wisdom, Words Worth | poems, poetry

Some of the most potent messages are packed in fewest words. Like these little poems by the 14th century Persian poet Hafiz. I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being. In the dull dark winters or during the unprecedented universal isolation due to […]

Book about Human History of Himalaya

11 January 2021 | Books, Swapna's Writing | history

Himalaya is full of intrigue, contest and lure to the countries it passes, to the avid mountaineers, to spiritual travelers. Since a long time ago it has also been a trading hub. Around the Himalaya lie world’s few of the most populous countries and ancient civilizations. Multiple rivers originate from the mountain ranges and nurture […]

Ikigai

02 January 2021 | Actionable Insights, Books, Glossary, Mind, Swapna's Writing, Words of Wisdom | flow, Happiness, ikigai

What keeps you awake? The reason to live... is at the core of Japanese concept of ikigai. Ikigai is also the key reason to longevity and happiness of the many super centenarians of the Okinawa region in Japan.

‘At 110, everything I create will come alive’

02 January 2021 | Art, Mind, Sharing from My Passion, Swapna's Writing, Words of Wisdom

Art in all its forms, is an ikigai that can bring happiness and purpose to our days. Enjoying and creating beauty is free and something all humans have access too. – say authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles in their international bestseller ‘Ikigai, the Japanese secret to a long and happy life’. From the age […]

पैशाची किंमत

07 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

येता-जाता नको त्या गोष्टींवर पैसे उधळणारे, आणि मुलं म्हणतील ते घेऊन देणारे आईबाबा, त्यांना आर्थिक वळण कसं लावणार? ——————— तुम्ही तुमच्या मुलांसोबत रस्त्यानं चालला आहात आणि मुलांनी चालता चालता दुकानातली एखादी वस्तू मागितली, तर तुमची प्रतिक्रिया काय असते? तुम्ही ती वस्तू त्यांना घेऊन देता, स्पष्ट नकार देता, की आणखी काही? आपल्या प्रत्येकाचं व्यक्तिमत्त्व वेगवेगळं असलं, तरी जेव्हा पालकत्व आणि पैशांचा […]

‘लक्ष्मी’पूजन!

26 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

अवघा भारत अपूर्व उत्साहानं दिवाळीचा सण साजरा करतो आहे. आज ‘लक्ष्मीपूजन’ म्हणजे या सणातला महत्त्वाचा दिवस. माता लक्ष्मी म्हणजे संपत्ती अन् समृद्धीची देवता. दिवाळीमुळे चकाचक झालेल्या आणि उत्साहाचं उधाण आलेल्या घरांनी आता छान फुलांचे दागिने ल्यायले असतील. दारा-खिडक्यांत पणत्या पेटल्या असतील. रंगीबेरंगी, कल्पक रांगोळ्यांनी नटून अंगण छान हसत असेल. नवे कपडे, हिर्‍या-सोन्याचे दागिने लेवून, घराची […]

Happy Diwali! – Lakshmi Pujan

27 October 2019 | Money

India and Indians around the world are celebrating Diwali or Deepawali. Today is Lakshmipujan – puja of goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity! The cleaned and tidied homes adorned with flowers, diyas and rangoli and their wonderful occupants decked up in their best silks and satins, gold and diamonds, colours and perfumes will […]

We Must All Do Theater

12 February 2020 | Theater Theory Read More →

Vocal Warm-ups

12 February 2020 | Acting, Exercises, Theatre, voice

Start each rehearsal session with these 10 exercises – Breathing – Resonance – Opening up – Articulation Breathing from stomach 12 times Breath & Relaxation– sit on chair/ lie on floor, 1 hand on tummy and 1 hand on side ribs. Observe breath. Awareness. Breath in through nose – deep, hiss out Prepare body. […]

2018 – Kon Banel Kaviraaj

12 February 2020 | Plays, Theatre

A musical based on a radio play (nabhonatya) ‘Paksyanche Kavisammelan’ by Sai Paranjapye. This children’s play was directed by Swapna Mirashi and performed by children ages 10-15 years (Jai, Anushka, Tvisha, Ishita, Neil, Shruti and Arohee) of Maharashtra Mandal Singapore at the GIIS Punggol Auditorium on 21st October 2018

What you can be, you must be!

13 February 2020 | Making Choices

Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves. What human beings can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature. This need we may call self-actualization. – Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970)

Absurd

14 February 2020 | Glossary

Absurd – wildly illogical or unreasonable, silly in a humorous way. Generally used to express something that is so unreasonable that it cannot/should not be taken seriously, should be laughed at. In philosophy, the Absurd refers to the human tendency to seek meaning and purpose of life in a purposeless, meaningless, chaotic and irrational universe. […]

Absrurdism

14 February 2020 | Glossary

As a philosophy, Absurdism explores the fundamental nature of the Absurd and how once becoming conscious of it, human beings should respond to it. “Man stands face to face with the irrational. He feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason. The absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and […]

Albert Camus

14 February 2020 | Writers | Quotes

Albert Camus (November 7, 1913 – January 4, 1960) was a French author, absurdist philosopher and winner of the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature at age of 44 (still second youngest in the history of the prize to win it). Here are some of his quotes. “The aim of art, the aim of a life can only be to increase the sum […]

Absurdism in Art

14 February 2020 | Art, Writers

Absurdist art grew post World War II from the absurdist philosophy. Absurdism, in turn stemmed from part hopelessness from the World War, part discovery that ‘life has a meaning’ is an absurd concept. “I’m afraid if you look at a thing long enough, it loses its meaning.” – Andy Warhol Absurdism is closely linked to […]

Tragicomedy

15 February 2020 | Theater Theory, Theatre

Tragicomedy in a dramatic work incorporates both tragic and comic elements at the same time. It was coined by the Roman dramatist Plautus in the 2nd century BC. The word denoted a play in which gods and men, masters and slaves reverse the roles traditionally assigned to them, gods and heroes acting in comic burlesque and slaves adopting tragic […]

Theatre of the Absurd

15 February 2020 | Theater Theory, Theatre | ism

Absurdist art grew post World War II from the absurdist philosophy. Absurdism, in turn stemmed from part hopelessness from the World War, part discovery that ‘life has a meaning’ is an absurd concept. A number of European and American dramatists of the 1950s and early 1960s – post World War II – wrote plays that […]

Chambhar Chaukashiche Natak

17 February 2020 | Plays, Theatre | chambharchaukashi

One of the very few children’s plays written by noted playwright Vijay Tendulkar and published in 1970 by Mouj Prakashan. Since that first edition, two more editions have been published in 1987 and 2005. A translation in English by Dr. Ajay Joshi was published by Scholastic India (along with English translation of 4 other Tendulkar’s […]

Vijay Tendulkar

18 February 2020 | Theatre, Uncategorized | Playwright

Vijay Tendulkar was one of the most important and influential Indian playwrights for six decades. Tendulkar mostly wrote in Marathi. His plays were translated in Hindi and English for pan-India and international audience. He achieved worldwide fame for his daring themes, brilliant writing and strong voice. Much of his work focuses on violence, both physical […]

Vijay Tendulkar’s Plays

18 February 2020 | Plays, Theatre

Vijay Tendulkar was a leading dramatist of twentieth century. He was playwright, screen and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, one act play writer, novelist, short story writer and social commentator. After 1950, he has been the most influential dramatist and theatre personality for next five decades in Marathi.Tendulkar’s drama highlights the complexity of human […]

Brief History of Marathi Theatre

25 February 2020 | Theater Theory, Theatre

Earliest Marathi Theatre was inspired by ‘Yakshagaan’ of Karnataka, and these were mostly mythological tales. Then going through the phases of Shakespearean plays (late 19th Century), social plays highlighting women’s issues and farce with huge English influence, it stopped for a while on the hugely popular Sangeet Natak. Snageet Natak, that had influence of western […]

Time to ‘hold on and not eat that marshmallow now.’

24 November 2020 | Choice, Making Choices, Mind | Delay Gratification, Self Control

Way back in the 1960s, a researcher and his students setup an experiment. Their lab was called ‘Surprise Room’ in Stanford University’s Bing Nursery. Their subjects of study – a bunch (several of them) of preschoolers – 4 & 5 year olds then in the 1960s and at their different life stages then as they […]

The Story of English

10 June 2020 | Books, Words Worth

How an obscure dialect became the world’s most spoken language. A book by Joseph Piercy An interesting read of how once a peasants’ language has now become a distinction of class in many societies world wide. Interesting also to read the key milestones in the evolution and popularity of the English language as we it […]

Overview – Needs and Wants

28 March 2020 | Needs and Wants | Need vs Wants

One Man’s View of the World

27 March 2020 | Books | Non-Fiction

Living in Singapore, one cannot not be in awe of this ‘Founding Father’. What he (& his team) created from mud swamps – with no natural resources of its own, multi lingual, multi racial society and no major employment opportunities, and no major international significance being so tiny, besides of course the ports – in […]

Thrive

27 March 2020 | Books | Non-Fiction

Read ‘Thrive, the third metric of redefining success and creating a life of wellbeing, wisdom and wonder’ (that whole sentence is the title. Phew) by Arianna Huffington It is author’s own story of transformation and moving from ‘wealth’ alone, and redefining success that moves towards ‘wellbeing’, ‘wisdom’ and ‘wonder’. It reinforced my own beliefs, from […]

God of Small Things

27 March 2020 | Books | Fiction

The Booker Prize winning debut novel by Arundhati Roy published in 1997 is already termed as a classic. It is a highly visual story – a beautiful piece of art, in which the artist (author) paints the story, the setting, the characters and their thoughts, with words, rhythm, repetition. This was my fifth attempt at […]

Mind and Money – Why lose one over the other when you can have both?

26 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Mind, Money, Money

The biggest problem with money is that it is never enough – too little or too much, never just right. After spending years with this problem, 14 years in Financial Literacy and last 8 years studying and working on it, I have been able to make sense of money and its role in our lives […]

Wonder More and Want Less!

17 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Media, Mind, Needs and Wants | OJBB

It is easy to get blinded by wants – they are all around us, shouting loud for our attention with bright colours, dazzling lights and displays, music, engaging commercials and peer influence. It becomes easy then to lose sight of our genuine need, the unglamorous, unattractive, mundane, boring need. It is not a fault of […]

Nature inspires Wonder

17 March 2020 | Making Choices, Media, Mind, Needs and Wants | OJBB

‘The more high tech our lives become, the more nature we need.’ – Richard Louv, The Nature Principle It is common sense that spending time outdoors, in nature is good for all. But as our lives and our children’s childhoods got busier, high tech and demanding, we have lost track of how little time we […]

Two Tools and a Mantra

17 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Media, Mind, Money, Needs and Wants

Can parents help their child from getting into the want bubble at all? They sure can! In fact, parents have at least 3 chances to help out their child before she slides down the trouble track. The stages are distinct and have gaps between them. Give them 2 tools and a mantra! Use the tools […]

Jay’s Journey along The Trouble Track

17 March 2020 | Making Choices, Needs and Wants | OJBB

Beach Bungle follows 2 young seagulls – Olive and Jay – through their day on a beach. Jay is accompanying big sister Olive for the first time to play on the beach. He is obviously excited about the new experience – new things he sees, new games he plays. He gets so engrossed in ‘exploring’ […]

The Trouble Track

17 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Media, Needs and Wants

After spending hundreds of hours observing preschoolers in different environments – at home, at preschool and other organized activity, at supermarkets and other stores, at birthday parties and during outdoor free play, I discovered a pattern in their behaviour that leads to commotion so common at that age. It looks like seagull’s behavior. Anyone who […]

Needs and Wants

17 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Needs and Wants

Amidst the chaos of stuff that caters to our wants or stuff that makes us want, it is quite natural to lose sight of what one needs. Research shows that being able to meet all that we need and a few wants gives a feeling of abundance and leads to satisfaction and happiness in life. […]

Children and Advertising

17 March 2020 | Media

Children are surrounded by stuff. And through continuous media messages and advertising they are enticed, encouraged and reminded to ‘want’, ‘want NOW’ and ‘want more’. Theorists of advertising psychology have argued that if repeatedly exposed to trademarks and brand names, children could gradually and unconsciously acquire brand preferences that would last a lifetime. No wonder […]

Rich Kids Learn about Needs

17 March 2020 | Making Choices, Media, Mind, Money, Needs and Wants

Affluenza refers to a condition in which we are confused about what it takes to live a worthwhile life. Part of this confusion is the failure to distinguish between what we want and what we need. – ‘Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough’ by Clive Hamilton & Richard Denniss Scenes – Seen and […]

Why ‘Needs and Wants’ is a crucial lesson for privileged kids?

13 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Media, Mind, Mindcraft, Money, Moneywise, Needs and Wants | OJBB

“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.” ― Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice “The ability to choose well seems to depend in no small part upon our knowing our own minds.” – Sheena […]

Making Choices – Parents Teach Your Child!

16 March 2020 | Making Choices, Media | Making Choices

Life is a series of Multiple Choice Question Tests. The sum total of these test scores becomes our life. We are so meticulous in training our children to get a perfect score in their tests at school. We spend much time, effort and money in making the best resources available and creating the most conducive environment […]

Epidemic of Choice

16 March 2020 | Making Choices, Media | Making Choices

Once Upon A Time I grew up in small town India in the late 70s and 80s. The choices we had back then were very limited. Reading, playing outside with friends, fighting with siblings at home, listening to stories from grandparents were our favourite pastimes. Holidays were about visiting cousins and doing the same (add […]

The distractors, organizers and accomplice

16 March 2020 | Making Choices, Media | Making Choices

Anyone who has prepared for and taken a multiple choice test, will be aware of the distractors among the choices. The sole purpose of these plausible but incorrect options is to confuse and distract the test taker from the one correct answer. The test itself is objective in nature, limited to choices of fixed alternatives […]

Give Your Child Money Sense. NOW!

16 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Moneywise | Money Management

Have you ever been nagged by your 3-year-old into going to a fast food joint because a special toy comes free with the meal? Has your 4-year-old outwitted you in negotiations for a ‘princess themed birthday party’ costing thousands of dollars? Have you taken your 9-year-old’s opinion on a brand of car to buy, and […]

Pause & Think

09 May 2019 | Choice, Making Choices, Peer Pressure, Try This

Whenever you are in doubt; when you do not know what to do. When your mind says something, your parents/ siblings/ teachers/ friends say something else. What do you do? Take a deep breath – PAUSE Let the chaos in your head pass/ settle down – this might take minutes, hours, even days. Do a […]

Olive & Jay Beach Bungle – Preview

12 March 2020 | Making Choices | OJBB

Click here to Preview

Needs and Wants – Broad Learning Objectives for the Privileged Children

12 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Needs and Wants

The ability to identify one’s need and to prioritize needs over wants is one of the most significant lessons in financial literacy for children, that may also be the key to emotional well-being and this must be shaped from a young age. And this is especially important for children with privilege of options and choice. Below […]

Beach Bungle – Reviews

11 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices | OJBB

highly recommended! We love this book, young and old. Lighthearted, hopeful and thought-provoking at the same time, it brings a message that kids will easily get. Let the kid read it to the adult! We also love the illustrations. The gulls wear their personalities on their sleeves. And the colors of all the things in […]

Children’s Smart Book – Olive & Jay Beach Bungle

10 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, Making Choices | OJBB

Category – Junior Fiction/ Illustrated Early Chapter Book/ Bridge Book/ Educational Book/ Fable Tags – Financial Literacy, Needs and Wants, Making Choices, Environment Synopsis Research shows that being able to meet all we need and a few wants gives us a feeling of abundance and leads to satisfaction and happiness in life. Getting all that […]

Author – Olive & Jay Beach Bungle

08 March 2020 | Uncategorized | OJBB

Author Profile & Portfolio Swapna Mirashi is a Financial Literacy expert. She was on the Reserve Bank of India’s Steering Committee for Financial Literacy in 2007. She was a consultant to big banks and organizations in India. Swapna has authored 3 other books on Financial Literacy. Money Wise (2003) – Pocket Money book for children. […]

Teach Children to Make Wise Choices

10 March 2020 | Early Years, Financial Literacy, Making Choices, Money | OJBB

In world full of options and distractions and instant gratification, how can children make wise choices? The ability to identify one’s need and to prioritize needs over wants is one of the most significant lessons in financial literacy for children, that may also be the key to emotional well-being and this must be shaped from […]

Financial Literacy for young? Start with a book…

08 March 2020 | Financial Literacy, For Kids, Making Choices | OJBB

Start as young as 4 years. Read a story, talk about it. At 6 delve deeper, read the interesting information with the child. At 8, see them get engrossed in the awesome activities of the book. This book is listed as a personal finance educational resource on Jumpstart Clearninghouse USA What the book is about? […]

Montage

05 March 2020 | Screenplay, Theatre | Film

Montage comes from the French word monter which simply means assembling or editing. Films have been used as a tool of persuasion, change minds and shape public opinion. And they remain so till date. And films derive their ultimate power and meaning by the way the shots are cut together – their order, duration, repetition […]

Mentobics

27 February 2020 | Mentobics

Mind, like muscles, develops with use. The more we stimulate and challenge its resources, the more will be its information processing powers. The more one generates ideas and applies one’s mind in play, art and games, the more fluent one will be in generating solutions to real and important opportunities and problems of life. Everyday […]

Thumb Rules to Creative Thinking

27 February 2020 | Creative Thinking

There is an impulse in all of us to create. It stems from our tendency to be curious, to wonder and to question. Creative thinking is imaginative, inventive and involves generation of new ideas. Creativity is arguably the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be […]

Modern Culture

03 May 2019 | Listen

Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high bar Why is parenthood filled with so much anxiety? Because the goal of modern, middle-class parents—to raise happy children—is so elusive. The parenting section of the bookstore is a proof to this. It is “a giant, candy-colored monument to our collective panic,” as writer Jennifer Senior […]

KGOY – Kids Getting Older Younger

03 May 2019 | Glossary, Media

What is KGOY? It is a new marketing term used by marketers and advertises to describe the influence of young children these days on family’s purchasing decisions and their brand knowledge. What is means? Socially, what it means is that kids are getting more sophisticated in their choices, more mature and eager to grow up […]

Whose Choice Is It Anyways

14 March 2017 | Choice, Read

Have you ever been nagged by your 3-year-old into eating junk at a fast food joint because of a special toy that comes with the meal? Has your 4-year-old outwitted you in negotiations for a ‘princess themed birthday party’ costing thousands of dollars? Did you ‘have to’ buy an iPhone for your ‘tween’ just because all her friends […]

Sichuan Travel Diaries – Chengdu Arrival

15 December 2017 | Travel Diaries | Chengdu, My Explorations, Sichuan, Travel Diaries

20 October 2017 Chengdu The first thing I realised is it’s not the way we pronounce it. It’s pronounced almost like chandu with a very soft ‘g’. The airport walk is lined with welcome messages with pictures of pandas. Air is smogy. It’s 5:30 pm but looks like 7:30 in Singapore. It must have just […]

10 Books for children (6-9 years) on making choices

21 February 2018 | Choice, Media, Mind, Money, Reading | Choice, K-2, read, Swapna Mirashi

1. Olive & Jay Beach Bungle by Swapna Mirashi (Illustrated by Sudakshina Ghosh) https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Bungle-Olive-Jay-Book-ebook/dp/B01AXSV494 2. Charlie and Lola – I really really need actual ice skates by Lauren Child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpXstWCnYfs 3. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts http://www.amazon.com/Those-Shoes-Maribeth-Boelts/dp/0763642843 4.Something Good by Robert Munsch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq4kp4vGcPQ 5. If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Numeroff (Illustrated […]

Enduring Boredom

13 April 2018 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Boredom, Mind | Boredom

“A generation that cannot endure boredom will be a generation of little men… of men in whom every vital impulse slowly withers, as though they were cut flowers in a vase.” – Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness) One simple recollection by a grandmother, also an artist hailing from a noted Indian family struck me […]

In Pursuit of ‘Eliminating Boredom’

12 April 2018 | Boredom, Mind | Boredom, Creativity, Eliminating Boredom, Swapna Mirashi

How many of us, parents, dread the remark; ‘I’m bored’, from our child of any age? Our parenting pursuits are as much focused on ‘eliminating boredom’ from our child’s life (and ours) as it is on the child’s education and skill building. Hence besides the school and after-school, during the school week and school term, […]

KGOY – Kids Growing Old Younger

09 May 2019 | Glossary, Terminology

If you are 10, do you want to be 14? If you are 14, do you wish you were 16 soon? If you are 16, did you always wanted to be 18 or 19? If not you, your friends? Or kids in your school or gymnastics/ soccer? And if you have younger siblings, they may […]

Actionable Insights

16 September 2019 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Glossary, Wiser Than Before

Where is the Life , we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom, we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge, we have lost in the information? – by T S Elliot (from ‘The Rock’) Actionable insight, term borrowed from big data analytics, stands for information that gives enough insight into the future, so that the […]

Mind and Money – Why lose one over the other when you can have both?

16 September 2019 | Making Choices, Mind, Money, Swapna's Writing

The biggest problem with money is that it is never enough – too little or too much, never just right. After spending years with this problem, 16 years in Financial Literacy and last 10 years studying and working on it, I have been able to make sense of money and its role in our lives […]

पैशाला बरकत

06 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

सुरक्षितता, आरोग्य, पोषण, स्वातंत्र्य ही चार महत्वाचे मंत्र आपण समजून घेतले. आता पंचसूत्रीतला पाचवा मंत्र किंवा सूत्र म्हणा! ते आहे शिक्षण! आपलं मुल गुणी आहेच, पण त्याला उत्तम शिक्षण मिळावं असा विचार आपण करतोच ना! त्यासाठी त्याला शाळेत घालतो, संस्कारवर्गाला पाठवतो, त्याला वेगवेगळी स्किल्स शिकवतो. हेच आपल्या पैशांबाबतही करायला हवं. पैशाचं नियोजन कसं करायचं हे […]

पैशाच्या मानगुटीवरचा बोजा

05 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

पैसा येतो, पण त्याला ‘जायच्या’ वाटा दाखवतात आपली कर्ज आणि देणेकर्‍यांचे तगादे. हनी आणि मनीच्या आरोग्याची काळजी कशी घ्यायची, ती जोखीम कशी निभवायची हे आपण मागच्या लेखात समजून घेतलंच. पण नुस्तं आरोग्य उत्तम असून कसं चालेल? त्या दोघांनी मस्त वाढावं, फुलावं म्हणून थोडं मोकळं आकाशही हवंच. त्या मोकळ्या अवकाशात नवं काही शोधण्यासाठी सर्जनशीलतेनं मनसोक्त बागडूही द्यायला हवं. म्हणजेच […]

पैशाला जंक

04 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

‘हनी’ आणि ‘मनी’ला सांभाळण्याचा मंत्र आपण मागच्याच लेखात समजून घेतला. आता ‘हनी’आणि ‘मनी’च्या आरोग्याचीही उत्तम काळजी घ्यायला हवी. त्यासाठी हे दोन मंत्र. नियमित व्यायाम ‘हनी’ आणि ‘मनी’ नेहमी धडधाकट राहिले पाहिजे. त्यासाठी व्यायाम हवा. त्यामुळे दोघांकडूनही नियमित व्यायाम करवून घ्यायला हवा, तर त्यांची तब्येत बरी राहील. सर सलामत तो पगडी पचास हे सूत्र लक्षात ठेवलं, […]

हनी आणि मनी

03 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

आठवतं, मागच्या लेखात मी तुम्हाला एक गोष्ट सांगत होते. पप्पा अन् मम्मी असलेल्या राजा-राणीची आणि त्यांच्या लाडक्या राजपुत्राची म्हणजे हनीची. त्या गोष्टीत राजऋषी हे राजा-राणीला सांगतात की, स्वत:चं अपत्य आणि स्वत:चे पैसे वाढवणं या दोन्ही गोष्टी सारख्याच आहेत. म्हणूनच हनी (राजपुत्र) आणि मनी (पैसे) एकत्रित अन् उत्तमरीत्या कसे वाढवायचे, याविषयी ते पाच मंत्रही देतात.. आठवलं? […]

गोष्ट राजा-राणीची!

02 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

राजऋषीनं राजा-राणीला सांगितलं, या झाडाच्या बिया राज्यात पेरा. त्या झाडांना जादुई फळं लागतील. ही फळं खाऊन राजपुत्र नंतर चक्रवर्ती राजा होईल, पण लक्षात ठेवा, झाडं वाढवणं इतकं सोपं नाही. त्याची फळं खूपच मधुर आहेत, फळं खा, पण ती संपवायची नाहीत, नाहीतर तुमचं राज्यच खालसा होईल!. ————- आज मी तुम्हाला एक गोष्ट सांगणार आहे. राजा अन् राणीची! आपण सगळ्यांनी आजी-आजोबाच्या मांडीवर बसून […]

‘खिशातली’ सुपर पॉवर!

01 October 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

‘सुपरमॅन’ इतकी अचाट कामं कशी काय करू शकतो? – कारण त्याची अद्वितीय शक्ती! आपल्या प्रत्येकाकडेच अशी शक्ती असते. त्यावरच तर ठरतं, सारं काही! ——— ‘सुपरमॅन’.. तुम्ही अनेकदा हा शब्द ऐकला, वाचला असेल.. ‘सुपरमॅन’ हा शब्द ऐकल्यावर तुमच्या मनात काय येतं? अद्भुत शक्ती असलेलं एक काल्पनिक पात्र.. हॉलिवूड चित्रपटांत दिसणारं आणि विशिष्ट पोषाख परिधान केलेलं.. हा ‘सुपरमॅन’ सर्वाना […]

रोज फक्त 1 रुपया!

30 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

थोडीशी बचत ना? त्यात काय एवढं? जमेल की सहज!’ असं बचतीला नुकत्याच सुरुवात केलेल्या कोणाच्याही तोंडून निघालेलं एक सहज वाक्य. बचतीचा निर्धार करताना सुरुवातीला असंच सोप्पं-सोप्पं आणि सहज वाटतं. पण प्रत्यक्ष बचत करताना मात्र तारेवरची कसरत करावी लागते. दिवसेंदिवस वाढती महागाई आणि जबाबदार्‍या पाहता अनेकांसाठी बचत ही खरोखर अवघड गोष्ट झाली आहे. बचत न होण्याची […]

आज, आत्ता आणि आधी

29 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

बचत.. एक लहानसा आणि नेहमी कानावर पडणारा शब्द.. पण हा एवढासा शब्द किती ताकदीचा आहे, हे माहीत आहे का तुम्हाला? असेलही आणि नसेलही कदाचित. आणि जर नसेल तर ही बचतीची ताकद प्रत्यक्ष अनुभवून बघायलाच हवी. बचतीबद्दल आपण गेल्या दोन आठवड्यांपासून बरंच बोललोय. पण ते सर्व वाचून झाल्यावर आपण बचतीला तयार झालात का? हा माझा आजचा […]

घरचं बजेट

28 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

बजेट. ते भलेही घरखर्चाचं का असेना, पण ते व्यवस्थित आखलं तर आपल्याला कशी आर्थिक शिस्त लागते आणि बजेट कसं प्रत्येकाची मदत करतं हे आपण मागील लेखात पाहिलं. बजेट हे आपल्या आर्थिक व्यवहारात महत्त्वाचं तर आहेच पण ते तेव्हाच उपयोगी पडतं जेव्हा ते नीट आखलं जातं. आपलं उत्पन्न हे किती का असेना पण ते आखण्याचे काही […]

पैसा. येतो कुठून, जातो कुठे?

27 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

‘बजेट’ म्हटलं अनेक गोष्टी आपल्याला आपोआप आठवतात. एखादी महागडी वस्तू घ्यायची असली किंवा अनपेक्षित खर्च आला की लगेच आपल्या ‘बजेट’ची मांडणी करायला लागतो. फेब्रुवारी महिन्यात तर सगळीकडेच ‘बजेट’वर चर्चा झडू लागतात. देशाचे अर्थमंत्री दरवर्षी फेब्रुवारी महिन्याच्या अखेरच्या दिवशी ‘बजेट’ म्हणजेच केंद्रीय अर्थसंकल्प सादर करतात. काय असते हे बजेट? ते कशासाठी सादर करतात? तर पुढच्या वर्षी […]

पैसा करा ‘मॅनेज’

26 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

तुमची जीवनशैली कशी आहे? तसे जगण्यासाठी तुम्हाला किती खर्च लागतो? विचार करा, दरमहा तुमच्या हातात जेवढा पैसा येतो, त्यातून तुम्ही सध्या जी जीवनशैली जगता आहात, ती आयुष्यभर जगू शकाल याची खात्री मिळते का? याचे उत्तर येते ‘नाही.’ मग काय करावे लागेल? तुम्हाला तुमच्या गरजा आयुष्यभर भागवता येतील, एवढा पैसा कसा पुरवायचा? विचार करून टेन्शन आले […]

चुकांवर फुली

25 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

आर्थिक फसवणुकीच्या अनेक घटना हा रोजच्या बातम्यांचा विषय व्हावा इतक्या वाढल्या आहेत. ‘अमुक ठिकाणी आर्थिक घोटाळा, गुंतवणूकदारांची लाखो रुपयांची फसवणूक..’ अशा बातम्या वर्तमानपत्रातून, वृत्तवाहिन्यांवर नेहमीच वाचायला-ऐकायला मिळतात. आपल्या आजूबाजूला हे प्रकार आता नेहमी घडत आहेत. संबंधित ग्राहक किंवा आर्थिक सेवा घेणार्‍या, आर्थिक व्यवहार करणार्‍या व्यक्ती जेंव्हा आपल्या हक्क आणि जबाबदार्‍यांबाबत सजग आणि जागरूक नसतात, तेव्हा […]

सापशिडी

22 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

सापशिडीच्या खेळात काय होतं? शिडी हाताशी आली की आपण झप्पकन वर जातो आणि सापानं गिळलं की दाणकन खाली आदळतो ! रोजच्या जमाखर्चाच्या सारिपटात हाच नियम लक्षात ठेवायचा. ‘शिडय़ा’ वाढवायच्या आणि ‘साप’ काढून टाकायचे! बस्स! —————- लहानपणी तुम्ही सापशिडीचा खेळ खेळलाय का? त्या पटावरच्या शिडय़ा तुम्हाला झटकन वरच्या आकडय़ार्पयत म्हणजे प्रगतीकडे पोहोचवतात आणि साप मात्र दणदिशी खाली आणून […]

‘खड्डे’

21 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

हौसेनं आपण एखाद्या प्रवासाला निघतो, रस्त्यातला एखादा खड्डा, ट्रॅफिक जाममुळे अख्ख्या प्रवासाचा विचका होऊ शकतो. आपल्या आर्थिक नियोजनाचंही असंच असतं. एखादा छोटा खड्डाही नियोजनाची ऐशी की तैशी करून टाकतो! समजा तुम्ही कारनं प्रवास करता आहात. वाटेत एखादा छोट्यासा खड्डा आडवा आला किंवा एखादं अवघड वळण लागलं तर .. म्हटलं, तर ही अगदी छोटी गोष्ट, पण त्यामुळे तुमचं प्रवासाचं […]

गडबड है भाई

20 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

गरजेला पुढय़ात घ्या, इच्छेला मागे बसवा! गरजा.. या एका शब्दाभोवती आपलं सारं आयुष्य गुरफटलेलं असतं. हो ना? छोट्या-मोठय़ा वस्तूंची खरेदी असो, करिअर वा जोडीदाराची निवड असो. या प्रत्येक बाबतीत आपल्या गरजा समजून घेणं अत्यंत महत्त्वाचं असतं; पण आपल्या या खर्‍याखुर्‍या गरजा कशा ओळखायच्या? वरवर पाहता, हा प्रश्न खूप साधा-सोपा वाटेल; पण आपल्या अस्सल गरजा ओळखणं ही […]

‘रेकॉर्ड किपिंग’चे चार टप्पे

19 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

1) महत्त्वाची कागदपत्रं ओळखा तुम्ही वेळोवेळी जमा केलेली महत्त्वाची कागदपत्रं शोधून काढा. त्यांचं योग्य वर्गीकरण करा. लक्षात घ्या, प्रत्येक कागद वर्षानुवर्षे जपून ठेवण्याची गरज नसते. त्यानुसार मुदतीतली कागदपत्रं ओळखून ती बाजूला काढा. 2) सुरक्षित ठिकाणी ठेवा ही सगळी महत्त्वाची कागदपत्रं गरज लागेल तेव्हा चटकन सापडतील, अशा रीतीनं ठेवा. त्यासाठी फाइल्स, सुरक्षित खोकी किंवा ब्रीफकेससारख्या […]

तुमच्या पैशाचं ‘कॅलेंडर’!

18 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

आज सर्वात आधी एक अशोक नावाच्या तरुणाचं उदाहरण सांगते. अशोकनं आपली बाइक रस्त्यावर पार्क केली होती. या बाइकला एका टॅँकरनं जोरदार धडक दिली. त्यात गाडीचं मोठं नुकसान झालं. बाइकच्या दुरुस्तीसाठी बराच खर्च येणार होता. अशोकला वाटलं, आपण बाइकचा विमा काढलाय. सरळ विमा कंपनीकडे जाऊ अन् भरपाई मिळवू, म्हणजे अचानक अंगावर आलेल्या या खर्चाचा ताण कमी […]

‘जुनी’ गाडी

17 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

कर्जाऊ घेतलेली, खूप इंधन खाणारी, खुटुखुटु चालणारी गाडी ‘चांगली’ कशी? अमक्यानं शेअर्समध्ये पैसे गुंतवले, तमक्यानं बॉण्ड घेतले..कोणी अपघात विमा उतरवला वगैरे वाक्यं नेहमी आपल्या कानांवर पडतात. आधीच आर्थिक गुंतवणूक, शेअर मार्केट, म्युच्युअल फंडस् या क्लिष्ट, किचकट गोष्टींविषयी आपल्याला काहीच माहिती नसते.. त्यात अशा गोष्टी ऐकून आपल्याला खात्रीच पटते की, आपल्याला यातलं काही कळत नाही! पण असं […]

श्रीमंतीचं स्वप्न

15 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

छान टेरेस असलेला, किचन ट्रॉलीज, सोफा, पडदे, फर्निचरने सजलेला फ्लॅट, इंग्लिश मीडिअम शाळेत मुलांचे शिक्षण, आठवड्यातून एकदा (तरी) मॉलमध्ये मनसोक्त शॉपिंग, वर्षातून दोनदा निसर्गरम्य स्थळांची भटकंती अशी लाइफस्टाइल जगण्याचं सध्या प्रत्येकाचंच स्वप्न असतं. त्यासाठी रात्रीचा दिवस करून कामाला जुंपून घेतलं जातं.. एक स्वप्न पूर्ण झालं, की दुसर्‍याच्या मागे सुसाट वेगाने धाव घेतली जाते.. थोडक्यात, प्रत्येकाला […]

पै-पैसा

15 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

एक साताठ वर्षांची मुलगी. आईबरोबर नेहमीच खरेदीला जाणारी. आईला कॅश हवी असली, की ती एटीएममध्ये जाऊन पैसे काढते हे त्या मुलीनं अनेकदा पाहिलेलं. तिच्यासाठी सोप्पाच होता सगळा व्यवहार. मशीनमध्ये कार्ड घातलं, काही बटणं दाबली, की पैसे बाहेर ! आणि आई तशी जागरूक. जे हवं ते लग्गेच विकत घेता येतं, असा चुकीचा संस्कार मुलीच्या मनावर होऊ […]

पैशाचे प्रश्न सुटतील..?

15 September 2019 | Marathi, पैसा

पूर्वीच्या चित्रपटांमध्ये खास करून मराठी चित्रपटांमध्ये एक शॉट अगदी कॉमन असायचा. एक तारखेला नायक पगार झाला म्हणून हौसेनं बायकोसाठी गजरा, मुलांसाठी खाऊ आणायचा. आईचा किंवा बाबांचा चष्मा तुटलेला असेल तरव तो दुरुस्त करून आणायचा किंवा नवीन चष्मा आणून त्यांना सुखद धक्का द्यायचा. दादानं काहीच नाही आणलं म्हणून रुसलेल्या भावाला किंवा बहिणीला मग पुढच्या महिन्याच्या एक […]

The Danger of a Single Story

21 March 2019 | Stories, Words of Wisdom

I was also an early writer, and when I began to write, at about the age of seven (…) I wrote exactly the kinds of stories I was reading: all my characters were white and blue-eyed, they played in the snow, they ate apples, and they talked a lot about the weather, how lovely it […]

My Grandmother, My Child’s Grandmother & Me – A Grandmother

28 May 2019 | Grandparenting

Retired teacher and grandmother Manorama Ramanadhan, gives us a peek into grand parenting through changing times, across 3 generations, her grandmother’s, mother’s and hers. She smelt of vibhuti, her fingers were bent and she embraced me in love. Those are my first memories of my grandmother. Paati wore 9 yard saree, but that did […]

The Family Bond – A Storyteller’s Perspective

03 May 2019 | Storytelling

Internationally well known live-wire storyteller, Jeeva Raghunath shares her passion for storytelling and a few practical storytelling tips. Once upon a time It was a time when joint family existed. Ours was one such big big family. It still is, though with fewer members now. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, siblings and I, we […]

Tale I Love to Tell

03 April 2019 | Tale I Love to Tell

Bedtime stories, travel tales, folk and fairy tales, myths and legends – many stories, shared all the time. Telling a story is passing wisdom, sharing cultures, moments and creating a bond. 3 Professional Storytellers of Storytelling Association of Singapore help decode ‘storytelling’ by sharing their memorable moments of telling their favourite stories. Storytelling Association was […]

Healing Teenagers With Stories

03 May 2019 | Storytelling

Professional storyteller and mindfulness coach Nandini Nagpal explains why storytelling works with teenagers, what kinds of stories to tell and how parents can do it well. I still recall the first time I shared a story with a group of teenagers in a workshop. I must admit that I was a little anxious as […]

A Laotian, underdog story

11 September 2019 | Tale I Love to Tell

By Wong Swee Yean The Tale – Thao Kham The Pebble Shooter Thao Kham The Pebble Shooter is a tale from Laos. t is about an orphan, disabled boy who cannot walk. But his community cares for him. By chance, he learns to aim pebbles and discovers he can aim them well. He is clever and […]

Nigerian Pourqoui Tale

11 September 2019 | Tale I Love to Tell

By Kala Sundaram The Tale – Why The Sky Is Far Away In the beginning of time, the sky was close to Earth and what’s more, it was edible too! People always had enough to eat, without ever having to work for it. However people grew careless with the sky’s gifts and they didn’t care. […]

A Jewish Folktale

11 September 2019 | Tale I Love to Tell

by Karen Lee The Tale – Tailor The story is about a tailor who, when given a piece of cloth by a grateful customer, makes a coat for himself from it and wears that coat proudly everywhere. But the coat soon gets worn out. The tailor, then makes a jacket out of the coat and […]

Nora Ephron on modern Parenting

11 September 2019 | Growing Up In | Books, Parenting, read

Back in those days – and let me stress that I am not talking about the 19th century here, it was just a few years ago – no one believed that you could turn your child into a different human being from the one he started out being. Suddenly, one day, there was this thing […]

Life and Parenting in Sweden

03 May 2019 | Growing Up In

Born in a small town by the sea in the south of Sweden, I am the youngest of three sisters. Languages and different cultures have always caught my interest. After high school I travelled and worked abroad for a few years. I have a Master’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations. I work as […]

Growing up in Traditional Japan

03 May 2019 | Growing Up In

I was born and raised in Japan. I love photography and telling Japanese folk tales and stories with morals and culture especially using Kamishibai (traditional picture cards show). I have a nursing background, having worked as medical nurse for the hospital, public nurse for several companies in Japan and school nurse in the US. […]

My Childhood in India in the 60s

03 May 2019 | Growing Up In

I am a retired Chemistry teacher and an artist by passion. I work across mediums; painting with coffee is my current favourite. I have exhibited art works in various parts of UK, US, India and in Singapore. When I sit in front of an empty canvas, I feel like a child running aimlessly in a […]

Life Lessons From My Mother Who Never Went To School

03 May 2019 | Growing Up In

Growing up in China ‘My mother never attended a school, she cannot read or write, but she taught me invaluable life lessons that have helped me achieve things beyond my imagination.’ – May Zhang on her role-model, her mother who turned 80 in 2018 My mother does not read or write. […]

The Modern Myth

10 September 2019 | Media, Stories

Symbols, Stories and rituals make up a culture. The above illustration encompasses the modern symbols, our everyday rituals and popular stories of our time. See if you spot your favourites here.

Diamond Business Is A Deck Of Cards And We Are All ‘Jokers’

13 February 2018 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Media, Mind, Money, Swapna's Writing | Diamonds, Media Influence, Swapna Mirashi, Valentine's Day

Diamond business is a deck Of Cards. The objective of this game is – Ensuring ‘Money Is Forever’, At Whatever Cost. Here is some intelligence on the business of diamonds and a reminder that our love and the way we express it to our loved ones, is none of their business. Or at least it should […]

Of Diamonds – Rear View Into The Not-So-Rare Stones

09 February 2018 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Money | Diamonds, Media Influence, Swapna Mirashi

Did you know: Diamonds are NOT rare, NOT valuable and hence certainly NOT a sign of prestige as they have come to mean. What diamonds and the aura they carry around them indeed are, are a proof of millions of people over the years, around the world falling for a clever marketing campaign and a shrewd […]

Of Hearts and Diamonds – How Diamonds Came to Rule Hearts

10 February 2018 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Media, Mind, Money, Swapna's Writing | Commercialisation, Diamonds, Media Influence, Swapna Mirashi

Diamonds have become ubiquitous for expressing love. How has a practically worthless stone, come to become a necessity; a metaphor for love and esteem? This post explores the strong connection between hearts and diamonds, a result of nothing more than a clever marketing campaign that people all over the world are falling for, for years. […]

Of Diamonds and Clubs and Spades – At Any Cost?

12 February 2018 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Money, Swapna's Writing | Diamonds, Media Influence

Diamonds may be made to look pretty. But the diamond business is far from it. Diamonds are not rare, they are hard to resell – not a good investment and they are expensive. Despite being the cheaper cousins of the truly rare gems, diamonds have been ruling public imagination and drilling people’s pockets for years. […]

Of Diamonds – Web Resources

11 February 2018 | Money, Swapna's Writing | Diamonds, Media Influence

Since the 1982 investigative report by Edward Jay Epstein, there has been a lot of studies and reports in media to create awareness about the business of diamonds, this game of cards. Here are a few resources off the web;

Whodunit? – Printer/ other devices WiFi issue

09 March 2018 | Swapna's Writing | Planned Obsolescence, Printer issue, Swapna Mirashi

One morning suddenly, out of the blue, my reliable canon all in one stopped obeying my command sent over a wifi network. I tried printing from multiple devices. But the promising employee in my home office won’t budge. After checking with techie friends and online, I reset everything to get the printer back to its […]

Standing Up against Planned Obsolescence (as long as possible…)

09 March 2018 | Swapna's Writing | Planned Obsolescence, Swapna Mirashi

Backstory Today I added a few more prints to the life of my 3-year-old printer which I bought in Australia. Now in Singapore, the ink cartridges are unavailable. Due to my tendency to keep spare cartridges, I did not need to buy cartridges here till last week. But when a couple of cartridges ran out […]

Age-wise Money Wise step-by-step DIY for your kids

14 June 2019 | Money | Financial Literacy

Get a piggy bank for your child. You can start this with children as young as 3 years. Have your child put coin/s on a schedule (daily, weekly). This will help her/him get into a saving discipline – which is the foundation of self control. See them witness the magic of ‘regular savings’ in months. […]

The Secret of Childhood – Maria Montessori

16 February 2011 | Mind | Books, Early Childhood, Montessori, Secret of Childhood

The Secret of Childhood As my lil one started Montessori, and I got some time and access to Montessori book. Borrowed this one titled Secrets of Childhood, from parent library at school. Have always been curious about early years education (at least since TV) and have been reading a bit here and there about various […]

Publishing your book

15 February 2018 | aim (for parents), iam academy | how to, meaningful gifts, publishing, singapore, Swapna Mirashi, writing

I have been often asked for guidance on how to get your book published. If you have a piece of literature that you’re proud of and think that others would enjoy reading it as much as you, your family and friends do. Or you are proud of what your loved one has created and want […]

Many Teenagers Struggle With Money Matters

07 June 2017 | Money, Newsroom | Financial Literacy

A fascinating study on financial literacy assessed about half a million 15-year-olds from 15 countries on their knowledge of personal finances and ability to apply it to financial problems. PISA 2015: Students’ Financial Literacy issued by the OECD in May 2017, using the same Pisa scoring system that ranks abilities in reading and maths. The […]

Money and Kids

13 October 2017 | Money | Financial Literacy

Below is the summary of parents’ discussion on Money and Kids facilitated by financial literacy professional Swapna Mirashi We had a lovely Connect on September 29 at our usual venue, CCK Library. As always, I am grateful for the love and support the librarian and staff provides us at every Connect. I am also thankful […]

Many Teenagers Struggle With Money Matters

14 June 2019 | RWIQ | Financial Literacy

A fascinating study assessed about half a million 15-year-olds from 15 countries on their knowledge of personal finances and ability to apply it to financial problems. PISA 2015: Students’ Financial Literacy issued by the OECD in May 2017, using the same Pisa scoring system that ranks abilities in reading and maths. The survey showed that; […]

Wisdom – Cover Photos

06 November 2017 | Family Lounge Read More →

The Animal School

24 November 2017 | Stories, Stories | iam, Peer Pressure

Once upon a time the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a “new world”. So they organized a school. They had adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects. The duck […]

Millennials

13 June 2019 | Terminology

If you are in your late teens, then it is highly likely that you may be familiar with the term. In fact you may be referred to as one. But do you really know what it means? For the sake of better understanding for older teens and for kids and young teens, below is our […]

Generation Labels

13 June 2019 | Terminology

What is common between – The Greatests, The Silents, The Boomers, The Xs, The Millennials? Well, for one, they are all (American) labels given to people in different generations. American labels – as this system originated in the US. American in parentheses as, the system is now followed almost everywhere. So what do the labels […]

Q #1

09 May 2019 | RWIQ | Quiz

Real world is full of interesting clues and quizzes. Find one. Solve one. Start here today. Why are supermarket checkout counters lined with candies in colourful packaging or promotional items? So? So, Candy Manufacturers ‘promote’ candies; they pay a rent to supermarkets to let their candies sit on the very visible spot – on the […]

A Valid Question 😉

05 March 2011 | Mind

TV: mom, when I grow up will I be still a girl? Me(driving her to preschool): of course TV: and Kian, will he still be a boy? Me: yes TV: when I was a baby, I was a girl or a boy? (driving me nuts) Me: you were a girl when you were a baby, […]

Teach your child to be ‘money wise’

09 February 2017 | Read

We have been acquiring financial skills by a trial and error method. It is time we initiate a change and consciously groom our children to become educated earners, consumers, investors and positive contributors to the society. But where does one go for help in this area of education? Schools have not yet included it in […]

Choose Your Way To Happiness

27 February 2017 | Read

Everyone is different. Each of us has a different need, different taste. And hence ‘one size fits all’ does not work. Gone are the days when ‘you could have the car of your choice, as long as it was black,’ as Henry Ford had famously said. But also think about this – gone are the […]

Free Family Fun

28 February 2017 | Family Lounge

It seems like this weekend is going to be a sunny weekend after last few cloudy ones on this sunny island of Singapore. How is the weather at your end? If it is sunny and clear, how about a trip to the nearby beach or sandpit? Building sand castles is a fun, creative and FREE […]

The Incredible

28 February 2017 | Newsroom

Just 8 richest men own the same wealth as 50% of the world’s poor The incredible Oxfam International published a report in January and the media was abuzz with the new ﬁnding. In 2016, the wealth of only the 8 richest men was equivalent to that of about 3.8 billion poorest people. That is half […]

Parent Alert

28 February 2017 | Newsroom

Cyber bullying, particularly in children, is making headlines all over the world. While netizens recently witnessed cyber bulling of the new kid in the WhiteHouse, the disturbing trend made headlines elsewhere too. Here are a few; Two thirds of Singapore Parents’ key fear: Kids bullied online www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parents-key-fear-kids-bullied-online 54% Indian parents fear kids bullied online more than on […]

The Inspiring

28 February 2017 | Newsroom

Zohra, an Afghan all-girl orchestra is Making Music (& news), against all odds.What does one (30, in this case) do when one receives an invitation to perform at the World Economic Forum, in front of some top world leaders, corporate titans and the world media? Practice. And what if one also receives advise for not […]

The Wonderful

28 February 2017 | Newsroom

New Discovery: A treasure trove of earth sized planets discoveredMom: so if we keeping making so much trash, earth will be full of it. Then where will we go?Kid (4-year-old): Mars or some other planet? Discussions (without being judgemental) with kids have dual advantages; They become aware of the problem They come up with creative […]

Do’s & Don’ts of Money Wise Parents

17 April 2017 | Read

Parental behaviour with the child and in front of her has a significant influence on how the child shapes up. This is particularly visible in case of her attitude towards money. Here is a gentle reminder – a few dos and don’ts to influence a healthy financial attitude in your child. Dos Inculcate in yourself, […]

Grumpy Kids, despite so much choice?

18 April 2017 | Read

“I can’t believe you are bored again. You have a play station, DS, so many toys, books and TV channels. When we were your age, we didn’t have as much choice but we never complained.” If you grew up in the 60s, 70s or early 80s in Asia, you can visualise what life with limited choices […]

Panch-A-Mantra

07 May 2017 | Read

Bringing up a child and managing finances are perhaps two of the most crucial and challenging activities in the life of a married couple. Bringing up a child in itself, is a financially challenging activity. As you think and plan about your child’s development for a bright future, you also need to think and plan […]

Screentime & Kids

07 June 2017 | Newsroom

The Straits Times recently reported that an extensive study in Singapore, revealed that an average 12 year old in Singapore spends 61/2 hours on screens per day. Similar stats emerge from the US and UK. Children go online to use search engines, listen to music, watch videos and play video games, the study found. The […]

Fidget Toys Calming Device or a Fad?

07 June 2017 | Newsroom

Trendy little toys spinning between little fingers is a common sight in schools across the developed world. Since it hit the markets in March, Fidget Spinner – along with its partner, Fidget Cube has captured the imagination and playtime among kids and youth. According to a recent article by CNN, the fidget spinners and fidget […]

Are You Largely A YES Parent Or A NO Parent?

08 June 2017 | Read

Ever realized how often money and (related) material things creep in your everyday conversations and dealings with your children? Whether you buy them their justified need of a book/toy/CD or deny them their demand of a latest gizmo or gadget. Whether you make a conscious effort to make your kids/teenagers aware of their responsibility towards money […]

Can I raise a child who is rich and responsible?

14 July 2017 | Read

Money is a mere number today as most transactions happen electronically. Children hardly see any physical transactions, except at times witnessing the magic of casting a spell at the ‘hole in the wall’ to get money called the ATM. Children influence family finances, although they are not fully developed to have a long term view […]

Read Aloud to children of any age

09 August 2017 | Read

Do you know, what is the easiest way to improve your child’s chances at school and his ability to entertain himself for hours?Reading. It has been found that children who are read aloud to by parents get a head start in language and literacy skills and go to school better prepared. Language in books is very […]

‘Are we rich, poor or middle class?’

08 September 2017 | Read

These days you ask children in the city ‘where milk comes from?’ and you are most likely to get ‘supermarket’ for an answer.‘Where does money come from?’ Pose this question to your child and the answer you are likely to hear is ATM – ‘a machine,’ ‘a hole in the wall.’ Many children today think […]

An Era of Mass Extinction

26 September 2017 | Newsroom

An alarming message came out loud in July from scientists, warning us of something as dire as a mass extinction. From the common barn swallow to the exotic giraffe, thousands of animal species are declining, a sign that an irreversible era of mass extinction is underway. The previous ﬁve extinctions were caused by natural phenomena. Conservatively, […]

Fake News

26 September 2017 | Newsroom

Catchy headline, famous, powerful people, popular themes, sensational story – excited to read further? Cashing in on exactly this interest from readers to read and want to share a story, a lot of anonymously-hosted websites have emerged around the world. Fake news websites, as they have come to be known, are spreading more than rumours […]

Grannies Rule

26 September 2017 | Newsroom

On August 9 2017, Singapore celebrated its 52nd Birthday. One of the highlights was Grandma Mary’s Guitar Solo at the National Day Parade – Singapore’s grandest annual event. 81-year-old Grandma Mary, as she is popularly known, is an internet sensation, having cut her own Latin Rock album. She started playing the guitar at 60, fulﬁlling […]

How much is too much?

26 February 2018 | Money, Money

Doing for children hinders them from mastering their needed developmental tasks and from learning life lessons. ‘God gives food to every bird, but does not throw it into the nest.’ – Montenegro Proverb And absence of rules or inconsistency in words or action from parents result in confused, directionless children. The result of overindulgence is that […]

Creativity – Exercise

10 March 2018 | Mind

In the rapidly changing world we inhabit today, change is the only constant. On the one hand, it may seem confusing, at times scary. On the other, it is the time for new ideas, open minds and experimentation. It is the time of creativity! What creativity is may be best illustrated by these quotes from […]

Watch

30 January 2019 | Watch

In this age of information overload, what is rare to find is wisdom. Here is our attempt to discover wisdom – our debut on YouTube with freewheeling conversations with wise experts who are passionate about their field of work and have studied it in depth to write, talk and comment on – Words of Wisdom […]

Different Worlds

21 March 2019 | Stories

Alexander the Great and Sadhu dialogue via translator in India From Red Earth and Pouring Rain by Vikram Chandra

The Blind Men and the Elephant

21 March 2019 | Stories

It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “God bless me!—but the Elephant […]

Parenting, back in those days…

21 March 2019 | Stories

A Story & A Song

21 March 2019 | Stories

A housewife knew a story. She also knew a song. But she kept them to herself, never told anyone the story or sung the song. Caged within this woman, the story and the song felt choked. They wanted release, wanted to run away. One day, when she the housewife was sleeping with her mouth open, […]

Exercise #1 – Warm up your mind with Fluency

18 April 2019 | Mentobics

Fluency is the ability to generate many ideas. Material Needed: Pen and paper, Timer to keep time. TIME LIMIT: 2 minutes total Tips: Don’t limit your mind to the normal, the ordinary. Don’t question your ideas. Think out of the box. Start the Timer Which alphabets are also words? (There are at least 10) List […]

Is Money and Kids driving you nuts?

03 May 2019 | Long Read

Amidst the many New Year Resolutions you will make for 2017, add this important one; That of helping children pick up key life skills with money as a teaching aide. It will ease parenting woes and modern societal pressures AND set your child for success. The 2 biggest priorities of modern parents can be summed […]

What are the 2 biggest concerns of modern parents?

03 May 2019 | Long Read

We asked a 100 parents and looked through the ‘parenting’ sections in newspapers and magazines, bookstores and libraries to find the answer. The concerns and questions range from the simple and practical to the more strategic and philosophical. How to handle toddler tantrums? How to interact with my teenager? To quit my job to stay […]

Are we rich, poor or middle class?

03 May 2019 | Long Read

These days you ask children in the city ‘where milk comes from?’ and you are most likely to get ‘supermarket’ for an answer. ‘Where does money come from?’ Pose this question to your child and the answer you are likely to hear is ATM – ‘a machine,’ ‘a hole in the wall.’ Many children today […]

Find Free Fun

03 May 2019 | Short Read

Modern society children live in an essentially strong peer culture. They spend, since very young, more time with others their age than with the adults responsible for them. Advertising encourages this peer culture due to its appeal to spread ‘craze’ and ‘fads’ and thus drive sales. Children are surrounded by stuff. And through continuous media […]

Boredom is good for kids

29 May 2019 | AIM (Actionable Insights), Mind | Boredom

iPads at restaurants to ease the wait. Smartphones on school buses to amuse through the ride. On demand shows, movies… Sounds like a story of your child? The quest of modern parenting (for our children especially) seems to be hitched on one agenda – to avoid boredom. We spend much of our mind space and […]

Exercise #2 – Flex your mind muscles

08 June 2019 | Mentobics

Flexibility of mind is the ability of looking at the same thing differently. Flexibility is one of the four cornerstones of creativity. ‘Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought.’ – Albert Einstein See what everyone sees and think ‘creatively’ while reading the letters/ words in the […]