7 Reasons to Follow Me

 

Answering Blogchatter’s prompt in the Half Marathon, here are my 7 reasons to follow me. Just like the seven colours of a rainbow, my blog too has seven different shades—each one distinct, yet together making it what it is: Stamina, Variety, Selection, Language, Substance, Source and Surprise.

 1.    I blog every day (stamina)

I have been daily blogging, so there is something new to discover regularly. Keeping up the habit of writing and publishing every day requires stamina and commitment. If you enjoy following a blogger's journey one post at a time, you can follow me through my blog or social media.

 Daily blogging! so there is always something new to read. Worth following, isn’t it?

2. You will never be stuck with just one topic (Variety)

I don’t restrict myself to one particular topic or write repeatedly about the same subject. I explore different topics and ideas, so there is always variety. You definitely won’t be bored!

3. Choose what interests you (selection)
There are nearly 10 labels/categories under which I write. You can simply pick the topics you enjoy reading and follow the ones that interest you most.

4. English and Hindi too (language)
Apart from these categories, I also write general pieces in English and Hindi. So, if you enjoy reading in Hindi as well, there is something for you too.

5. Always something new (substance)
I participate in various Blogchatter programmes, campaigns and challenges, which bring different themes and ideas to my blog. I try to make every post fresh and original rather than repeating old content.

6. Contests bring another kind of content (surprise)
I also participate in online writing contests. Some of my entries have won and have been published on the respective websites. These can be accessed through the publication List page on my blog and offer content different from my regular blog posts.

7. Something for young readers and parents too (source)

Children’s book reviews and content related to children’s programmes and activities are also part of my blog. So parents and young readers can find something interesting here too.

And one more reason:
I may not have the biggest number of followers or likes, but I put my best effort into every piece I write. For me, it is not only about numbers—it is about continuing to write, explore, learn and share something worthwhile every day.

“Seven reasons to follow me? Let me give you seven—and perhaps you’ll discover a few more while reading my blog!”

You can follow me through my blog, subscribe with your email ID, or connect with me on social media. All my details are available on the Contact page. Choose the way you find convenient and follow along!

(This blogpost is a part of Blogchatter's half marathon from a team member of piyush plotter's. Details here : https://www.theblogchatter.com/campaign-registrations/the-blogchatter-half-marathon-2026-version-2)

                                                       

BOOK REVIEW OF THE BLOOMSBURY BOOK OF GREAT INDIAN LOVE POEMS EDITED BY ABHAY .K

   

Author : Edited by Abhay .K.

Publisher: Blooms bury ,India

genre: poetry

Book buy link:  @Amazon

“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” — T. S. Eliot

That is exactly what The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems does. Before you understand it completely, you will begin enjoying the poem. This book of great Indian love poems is exceptional in its selection, presentation, style, font, print, cover and what not! The whole book is indeed a treat to all the five senses, and it makes you use them thoroughly and properly.

For a poetry lover, there can be no greater treat than reading this book.

Poems from the Vedic period to the present day — what a vast expanse! The collection leaves you spellbound in its structure, meaning, message and, no doubt, love. Love, love-making and all kinds of love — every love, and just love, love, love.

Abhay K. says, “The focus of this anthology is on the poems instead of poets, and therefore, the anthology has been organised alphabetically with the titles of the poems, instead of popularity of the poet.”

Moreover, the editor adds, “All the poems included in the anthology have been voluntarily contributed by the poets and/or their translators. Permission to include the poems has been granted by the individual poets, translators and publishers.”

These too add a special focus to the book.

There are nearly 142 poems, from A to Y, translated from nearly 25 languages. That makes for a wide reading experience in just one book of poems.

Love poems range from lovers to love, seasons, biscoot, Raksha Bandhan, rain, Krishna, the Lord, and many more — a whole bunch of fragrances tied together with one beautiful theme: LOVE.

The poems vary in length — some are as deep as oceans, while a few are just a dew drop that leaves the reader chilled.

Here, I remember Emily Dickinson:

“If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold
no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.”

The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems brings  languages such as Kokborok, Mising, Maithili, Braj Bhasha, Gondi, Sindhi, Persian, Khasi, Prakrit and Tibetan, apart from the regional languages of the subcontinent.

It is a wake-up call to every Indian to look into the beauty of our own motherland. For the rest of the world, it is a grand representation of a country with endless colours — colours that add love to life and make life into love.

Through translation and selection, these languages enter the lives of readers who may otherwise never have encountered them. With these baby steps, they will mingle with the larger literary world, and then we may no longer be able to find a single, particular colour. It becomes a beautiful mingling of many colours, languages and expressions of love.

Every poetry lover is sure to love this book and hold it dear.

Finally, this book is successful in doing what P. B. Shelley says:

“Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world
and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.”

The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems does exactly that — it lifts the veil and allows us to see love, language and India in many unfamiliar yet beautiful shades.

Do grab a copy of the book and start enjoying poetry!

(This blogpost is a part of Blogchatter's half marathon from a team member of Piyush plotters'. details here : https://www.theblogchatter.com/campaign-registrations/the-blogchatter-half-marathon-2026-version-2) 

Book Review: The Book of Bihari Literature by Abhay K.

 

Author: edited by ABHAY K.

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre:  Fiction

book buy link : @Amazon

“All languages, large and small, have a lot to contribute to our common humanity.”
— Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

 

Pali, Urdu, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Maithili, Persian, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Bajjika, Magahi, Angika, and English — all these languages and the works in these languages, writers and translators are all part of this book and eventually come together under the huge Bodhi tree of Bihari literature, where all these profound scholars are strong branches in their own language.

It is a book of stories and poems, totally 61 pieces in various regional languages, translated into English, with a few pieces originally in English, from the state of Bihar. Around 360 pages, edited by Abhay K., the book opens up a new perspective of leading a rural life, especially in Bihar.

The stories range from various time periods, from ancient to recent times. There are clean footnotes with explanations for all the words that are perfect in their original language, helping the readers with their meaning and leaving them with a cute chance to learn a few words from the regional dialects of Bihari literature.

The book is of a class apart, with a selection of stories from a wide range of authors from almost 11 languages within the state. The book brings out a treasure which otherwise would have been a hidden one to readers who cannot read all these languages of that particular state.

There is a warm change in the style, narration, language, theme, message and the plot, with every story or a poem. Though the medium is English, the touch and the rural effects and the regional substance linger throughout the book.

The rural life obviously turns first towards farmers, crops, their way of life depending on weather and their beliefs, caste system in rural regions, marital life, rural system and the need to be bound to it. The role of weather in their lives, food, occupation and especially how women are succumbed to the congested way of life, with no freedom, are all brought out through the stories.

Religion's interference and nature — birds, animals, insects, plants and flowers — and their use and support to sustain life also find their place. Hardships and politics, and how they interfere in the lives of the uneducated, are very well penned, with tough decisions and strong will to overpower these.

Relationships, money and many facets of human lives are intertwined on many occasions in the stories. And above all, in any language, LOVE finds a subtle space and gets into the lives of humans in many abstract forms. The book is no exception. Love poems and stories leave a soothing touch in the readers' thoughts.

The idea of combining short stories in between with poems is a presentation that brings together two different literary forms. It gives a little twist and a quick balance, like a cyclist on a mountain road, where an excellent view keeps coming up in sequence.

Finally, this anthology shows how literature can preserve a way of life. This is an invitation to look at Bihar through its many literary voices—and to discover how many languages, cultures and experiences can grow together under one enormous literary Bodhi tree.

Do grab a copy of the book and delve into the literary landscape of Bihar.

(This blogpost is a part  of Blogchatter's Half marathon from a team member of Piyush plotter's. Details here : https://www.theblogchatter.com/campaign-registrations/the-blogchatter-half-marathon-2026-version-2)

Car-Free Day: When the Fancy Cars Take a Day Off!

  

Imagine the fancy cars resting quietly at home for a day. No engine starting, no reversing out of the parking space, no traffic jams from behind the steering wheel. Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

That is the idea behind Car-Free Day—a day when we leave our private cars behind and experience the city differently.

For someone accustomed to the comfort of driving their own car, the day can begin with a small adjustment. Instead of getting into the car, you walk to the metro station. Or you catch a bus—which may arrive already carrying its share of passengers, leaving you with just enough space to stand!

And if the office is nearby, walking becomes the best option. A short walk that would normally have been replaced by a car ride suddenly becomes part of the day's routine.

Of course, there is another interesting character in this story—the car driver. The person who normally drives you around gets a day off, perhaps even with pay! While the car enjoys its holiday at home, we discover what it feels like to depend on public transport.

The public transport adventure

Travelling by bus or metro in Chennai can be an experience in itself.

You have to plan differently. You cannot simply leave home whenever you feel like it. You check the bus or metro, walk to the stop, wait, board, find a place to stand or sit, and keep an eye on where you have to get down.

Then comes the little practical inconvenience: what happens when you have shopping bags?

A bag of vegetables, a packet from a shop, a book or two, and suddenly that comfortable car boot you took for granted begins to look very attractive!

Rain creates another challenge. A sudden Chennai shower can turn the simple walk from the bus stop into a small adventure. In summer, the heat reminds you why air-conditioning feels like such a luxury. And during peak hours, squeezing into public transport can test one's patience.

Yet there is something to be gained from all this.

You notice the neighbourhood. You see the small shops you normally pass without looking. You observe people going about their daily lives. You discover a lane, a bakery or a flower shop that you never noticed while concentrating on the road ahead.

And then comes the bicycle!

Cycling is perhaps the most adventurous option.

Cycling around Chennai in neatly dressed corporate clothes may itself qualify as an adventure! Imagine arriving at office after negotiating traffic, signals, buses and two-wheelers—while trying to remain reasonably presentable.

But once you get past that practical difficulty, cycling offers a completely different relationship with the city.

You feel the breeze. You notice the trees. You can stop whenever something catches your attention. A familiar road suddenly looks different when you are moving at cycling speed rather than driving speed.

And today, Smart bicycles make the idea even more inviting. They stand there almost saying, “Come on, give me a try!”

A day without the car

Car-Free Day need not mean that we suddenly give up cars forever.

It can simply be an opportunity to ask ourselves: Do I really need the car for every short journey?

Perhaps the metro will do. Perhaps the bus will do. Perhaps the office is close enough to walk. Perhaps a bicycle can take us to the nearby market.

There will certainly be inconveniences. We may reach a little later, carry our own bags, wait for a bus, walk a little more, or occasionally wonder why we voluntarily chose this adventure!

But perhaps that is the point. For one day, the fancy cars get to rest, the driver gets a break, and we get to experience our own city differently. What begins as an inconvenience may end as a new experience—and perhaps even a small habit worth carrying beyond Car-Free Day.

Neither Dusk Nor Dawn

Neither dusk nor dawn can delude me,
says the leaves that fall in the autumn.

Everywhere they are feeling the earth and the soil.
All these days, from a height, they have seen it.
It’s now the time to touch,
feel,
and be part of the earth
with their skin upon it.

The leaves of the trees
happy to be with the soil,
but a longing and a miss—
its mother-like tree
and its caring branches.

But nearing its roots
is like strength gained.

Though dried its colour,
the coarse nature of texture,
and the experience of being green all round,
and now the season of autumn—
the evening in their life.

And these leaves
always add life to our lives.

As humans,
we enjoy watching the leaves change colour,
turn different from the way they sprouted—
still they serve us humans.

And neither dusk nor dawn can delude them.

They are from nature
and always remain as one—
though autumn or spring.

3 Workshops in Two Days – Writing, Reading and Learning

 

Friday and Saturday were very busy days, attending 3 workshops about writing and reading.

First, thanks to my Wi-Fi, that was with me like a sincere friend and who proved trustworthy this time. I was able to listen to the words of the speaker without interruption, able to see his face clearly with no misshapes of his face. A good internet connection can make such a difference when attending online workshops!

Medium Day – September 18

The first workshop that I attended on Friday was the celebration of MEDIUM DAY – SEPTEMBER 18TH.

It started at 5.30 PM IST and ended by 6 AM the next morning (IST). There were workshops back to back. Here, I was able to attend only two of them, though I bookmarked another three, which I am planning to listen to through the recordings.

The first workshop was MORNING PAGES WRITING SESSION BY KASSANDRA MENDES.

The second one was WHY EVERY HUMAN SHOULD WRITE A DAILY BLOG (and how to consistently do it) by NIKLAS GOKE.

Both were highly informative and thought-provoking sessions.

Reading Between the Lines

On Saturday, from 12 to 1 PM IST, there was another workshop, READING BETWEEN THE LINES, organised by YOUTH KI AWAAZ, moderated by NIPUNIKA SACHDEVA.

The workshop guest speakers were NIKHIL KAMATH AND NATASHA RAMANATHAN, and the topic was about writing book reviews without using AI.

This session was highly amazing. All the three members were cool and enjoyed answering the questions of the participants.

There were small, big and medium questions around books and book reviews. It was so refreshing learning from the guests.

Online Workshops Can Be Engaging Too

These workshops were a learning experience and once again proved that even the online can be so engaging.

Three workshops, two busy days, and plenty to learn about writing, blogging, reading and book reviews.

Sometimes, attending a workshop is not just about listening to the speakers. It is also about the questions asked, the answers shared, the ideas that emerge, and the new thoughts that stay with us even after the session ends.

For me, these workshops were a definite proof that online learning can be engaging, interactive and refreshing.

Foray into new territories: Connecting with newer tongues

 

When Anuradha Sowmyanarayan (AS) reached out for a guest post, I was hesitant.  I had my fingers in several pies, so I was reluctant.  But I’m glad I found time to peek into her blog, gather insightful information, and eventually share my two cents.

“Ten Years of Writing, and a New Chapter Begins.”

At the outset, hearty congratulations on a decade’s achievement. May daffodils bloom and spread joy all around. Let the daffodils continue to bloom alongside asters, irises, lilies, gladioli, roses, and rouse more sensitive souls.

Quoting from the blog chatter page: “Book Food Language”

“Ten years of writing, learning, experimenting, submitting, waiting, receiving responses, facing rejections, discovering new possibilities and, above all, continuing to write. When I look back at this decade, I realise that the journey has been much more than maintaining a blog. It has been a journey of learning through writing and growing through experience.”

 

The Simple Mantra

Continue to write, edit, present, and repeat it all, without giving up. After all, that’s the roadmap to recognition.

We’ve read innumerable success stories. 

Walt Disney, after several setbacks and learnings, achieved long-term success through resilience.  J. K. Rowling faced multiple rejections and poverty as a single mother before Harry Potter was finally picked up. English writer John Greasy has probably faced the record number of rejections – seven hundred plus, but he went on to publish over six hundred books, under pseudonyms too. As a prize-winning author and poet who has faced many rejections in my literary journey, I deem it appropriate to share a few thoughts –

 In the game of writing, one must keep creating, keep sharing, and keep learning.  The journey is continual.

 

The following lines, I believe, will reflect your creative journey.

 

YOU HAVE IT WITHIN…

 

The night was dark and silent.

The only light was the cursor; it blinked on the screen.

She sat, hesitant to key in something onto the page.

What would she write about?

Work, Hobby, Passion, Home, Kitchen, Life…

In her heart, she knew she could, if she persisted.

 

The afternoon was sultry and quiet.

People were resting in their airconditioned rooms

The whirring fan overhead was the only noise in that room.

She was keying in – writing her thoughts on the blog page.

She wrote about people, places, poets, personalities and more…

In her heart, she knew should would, if she persisted.

 

The evening breeze was gentle and soothing.

As she worked in her favourite niche,

Words, paragraphs and pages came tumbling as torrents …

 

“Pootling contains an attitude towards time.”*

“A city that gives shelter.”*

“Give the instrument its own designated space.”*

Reading as a scooter pillion — Is it possible?*

 

And then, she became unstoppable…

 

(* - taken from the blog posts)

 

 

About Me: Hema Ravi is a poet, author, reviewer, and editor of Efflorescence. She is also an event organizer, independent researcher, and resource person for English language development workshops. Her creative work - poems, short stories, travelogues, and articles has appeared in reputed international journals and leading Indian publications. Her writings have won prizes in literary contests.

She has authored several books, including The Greatest Sweepstake (short stories), Joie De Vivre (108 poems), The Cuckoo Sings Again (short stories), Everyday English (self-tutor), and the Write Right Handwriting Series. She has co-authored Sing Along Indian Rhymes and Everyday Hindi.

After serving briefly in the Central Government and teaching English and Hindi for over two decades, she now freelances in IELTS, Communicative English, and Soft Skills. She has conducted sessions for IIT Madras initiatives such as SheViL STEAM (IViL.iitm) and has been a guest faculty trainer in the IITM communication programs (2020-2021)

As Secretary of the Chennai Poets’ Circle, she nurtures creative talent. A lifelong learner, she believes Learning never stops.

( This is the 2nd WEEK- 11TH YEAR- GUEST POST SERIES - POST 2)