Impact of childhood stories

Each one of us has our own favorite rhymes and stories - Baa Baa Black Sheep, London Bridge is Falling Down, The Fox and The Lion story, The Clever crow story and many more. When my kid is now singing rhymes and telling stories, all my childhood memories are flooding back.

Impact of Rhymes and Stories:

1. They are good for the brain. When the child repeatedly hears the rhymes and stories, they understand the how language works. They understand complex words too easily. Children try to express themselves coherently when they recite the rhymes. Consequently, they develop the verbal skills quickly.

2. The visual and oral experience including pictures and music of rhymes and stories improve their memory capabilities.

3. They improve their cognitive skills and enable the children to quickly develop the skills of conceptualization of color, shapes, size and movement.

4. Movements, facial expressions, coordination, and gestures naturally develop their motor skills.

5. They improve their reading and listening skills.

6. They develop their imaginative skills. Stories and rhymes open up their imagination as they paint mental pictures of places and things.

7. They develop social and bonding skills also easily.

Fantastico Stories that I love the most:

Stories and Rhymes have the power to mold the children and load them with moral values easily. Though I have a lot of stories to share which taught me good moral values, I restrict myself to only 2.

1. The Clever Crow Story:

The moral of the story of The Clever crow story is thinking and working hard enables us to find a solution to our problem.

I used to participate in all competitions and won many prizes when I was going to school. There was an elocution competition when I was studying Class VII. I came to know about the competition only the day before as I was in one week leave due to illness. There were no mobiles at that time. Also, only very few houses had landline facility too. So, my teachers told me that they were not able to communicate about this competition to me earlier. They told me that they can participate if I could prepare within one night.

I was not able to control my tears as I thought I could not do it within one night. I returned from school and was crying continuously.

My mom asked me the reason. I told her everything. My mom said to me, "Raji, You are not going to find a solution by crying. It is useless". My parents call me as Raji. That is my alias name.  "Mom, if I did not get any fever, I could have participated in this competition. It is a district level competition and my teacher told me that  the 1st price is a very big cup. God only gave me fever but is not helping me now.", I told. It is ridiculous now to think what I have told.

"No dear. The competition has not over yet. God has given you one full night to prepare. Why can't you try?", she asked me. "Mom, the library must have been closed by this time. It is already late. How can I prepare now without any reference?", I asked her.

"You know about the thirsty crow story right", she told. "Yes, mom. I know the moral too", I said. "So, you know thinking and trying hard will help you to find a solution right", she told. "Yes mom", I told.

"Okay. Now let us sit and think what can be done. What is the topic?", she asked. "It is about the great leader K.Kamarajar. As tomorrow is his birthday, the competition is about him.", I told.

"Library could be really helpful to gather reference books. But now it is not possible. Okay. I suddenly got an idea. You had a lesson about Kamarajar in Tamil language paper last year. We have given your last year books only to our neighbor Priya. Go and get the Tamil book immediately from her", she told.

"Mom, This competition is for middle-class students. So, everyone knows that lesson. The other participants might tease me if I just talk whatever is in the book. There will be nothing new. How Can I win then?.", I asked her.

"Elocution is not only about the points you talk. It is important what you say. But it is more important how you say it. Be fluent, elegant and persuasive. Use striking and appropriate words and express them with strong emotions. Try hard and you can win dear.", she told.

I got the book from Priya and my mom helped me in preparing the content. I spent the whole night in preparing for the competition. My mom was there with me helping the whole night.

I went and participated in the next day. Luckily I was the one who was asked to speak at last. So, I got more time to prepare. Keeping the thirsty crow story in mind, I spoke well.

All the competition for that day were over. They had started announcing the results. They started with the middle-class Elocution competition results. I was nervous but I had hope to win at least third prize. Third place was announced first and I was not the one. Second place was also announced and it was also not me. I lost my hope and tears started coming out. The first place was announced and I couldn't believe that it was me. Tears flooded quickly but due to happiness. That is my biggest cup which I got for a competition. It is still there in my native. Everyone asks about the cup and appreciates me even now.

"Mom, Thank you. If you could not have helped me, I could not have won.", I told her. "No dear. God and The Thirsty crow story helped you.", she told with a smile.

Whenever I lose hope and think that I do not have a solution to a problem, I recollect this memory and story. That's it. It boosts my confidence instantly and make me go ahead in life.

Thank you, mom and the thirsty crow story for teaching me to try and working hard. The moral is the one of the biggest treasure which makes me shine.

2. The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs:

Moral of the story - Too much greed always leads great loss.

I learned this story when I was in Class I. Since I learned this story in early stage itself, the moral has set in my mind strongly. Thank God for making me know about this story and I never felt greedy in life. I am extremely happy with what I have. I have never been in hurry or greedy to get things.

I feel poor for the people who are facing a loss because of their greediness. If everyone understands the moral of this story, no one will go in the wrong path. Greediness is the main reason for people committing a crime.

I advise the parents to tell this story and its moral to their children in the early stage itself. They will never get greediness in life. They will learn to be ethical and patient forever. It also makes them feeling happy with whatever they have.

Not only Rhymes and stories teach us moral values. Every child's learning process starts with Rhymes and Stories only. Both of them have the power of stimulating the children's brain.


This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

The peppy sound of love

The sound of love is not necessarily a gentle, soft and silent one. The sound of your lover's voice, the beep of your phone when you get a message from your spouse, listening to your partner's heartbeats and knowing that everything is well with the world - so many things about love are related to sound, sometimes gentle and sometimes wacky. If you are not passionate or crazy about a person, it cannot be love. When it comes to my story of love, ours is peppy, crazy and wacky one.

On October 25, 2002:

It was a fine afternoon and all of us in our class were assembled in Physics lab in our college. My eyes were searching for him vigorously throughout the lab. But he was not there. "Where is he?", I asked myself. "He must have gone to his home for lunch. But it's too late.", I thought. After 10 minutes, he entered the lab and I was flying in the air to see him back. I reassured that I love him so much by those 10 minutes itself.

Almost 12 days ran over since he expressed his love to me. If you ask my heart whether I love him, yes would be the answer. I love him but I am struggling so much as I am not sure how to tell. Every day he asks me whether there is any positive change in me as I did not respond to his proposal on that day. I know that I am dragging him so much. He keeps telling that he believes that I love him.

Our Physics professor entered the lab at ultrasonic speed. He asked us to form 7 members group. As there were confusions in forming ourselves, he read out the names in alphabetical order to form groups. Luckily, both of our names start with 'S'. So we were put into the same group.

Our group was assigned an exercise with sonometer. There were only 3 sonometers in the lab. My physics professor told that 2 people had to do with one apparatus. He also asked the extra person to join the another group.

He came to me and asked me to join with him. I refused by words but not by heart. One of our team members Riya came to my sweetheart and told to come with her as I was refusing. "She is not interested in joining with you, right? Why are you begging her? Come with me. Let us do it", she told.

My sweetheart asked her to join another person but she told that she could not leave. The other four members started doing the exercise. Our professor noted that chaos among us. "One of you come out soon", he shouted.

Riya started pushing me to leave them. Suddenly my face got distorted with rage. Tears started coming out and I was about to cry. But she did not mind it at all.

"Why are you still standing?", she asked. "It is time to break the silence.", I thought. "You are the one who has to go.", I told.

"Me?", she asked. I know that Riya also has a soft corner for him. "Yes, you.", I said.

"But why?", she asked. "I cannot see him pairing with others", I told. "That is not my problem. Please leave soon.", she told.

"I cannot allow him to join with you", I told again. "Who are you to allow?", she asked.

My temper became very bad. I told her, "I am his lover."

She became sluggish and left the place. I was not able to rush out from the bad temper. "Why are you keeping silence? Do you want to join with her?", I shouted at him.

"No, I was waiting to hear such words from your mouth.", he told. "What?", I asked him. "I meant that I wanted to hear these peppy words from you. There will be no possessiveness when there is no love, right? ", he told.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Impact of losing the Spark in life and Tips to keep it alive

We all know that count of cases of marriage failures is increasing day by day. You cannot even imagine how rapidly it is increasing. The problem is people do not know how to keep the spark alive. They don't have even time to think about it. Be it gents or women, both of them are independent now even financially. Both of them are equally busy too. So, the probability of losing the spark and chemistry is so high in this hectic life.

Some people are smart enough in understanding things and they take enormous care to keep their wedding life smooth smartly. But some are missing their wedding boats. A tiny issue are leading to divorce also nowadays. If you have good spark and chemistry between you, both small and big issues cannot shake you anyways.

Breaking wedding life not only affects you. It also washes out the happiness of your parents and children lifelong. So, it is our responsibility to keep the passion.

Few Tips to keep the spark alive:

1. Everyone is different. Your partner might do what you do not like. Its okay if you fight with him for a couple of days and sometimes a week. But someone should come forward to resolve it. Let it be you also sometimes.

2. When you have major problems with your partner, think about your kids' future. At least for them, you need to keep the marriage life to move on.

3. Words can lie. Looks can deceive. But a touch has the potential to reveal the truth. So, do not mind to hold his hands, give him a hug or even a gentle touch. Do you think that it cannot melt your partner's heart? Sometimes when you cannot convince him with your words or looks, you can use the touch as your weapon. You will definitely conquer easily.

I would like to share a small story with you. Vishal and Meenu are a couple who got married after 5 years of love. They married after a lot of struggle but just after one month of their marriage, they got a small misunderstanding between them.

Vishal and Meenu stopped talking to each other. They don't even face them directly. Both of them are working. So, they both have no time to resolve the issue also. No one else is aware of their problem. They have the love but they did not have passion to reignite the spark. Vishal and Meenu had to attend a family friend's marriage. They went to attend the marriage. The time had come to take photographs. The wedding couple has compelled Vishal and Meenu to take photograph with them. Vishal went and stood with the bridegroom. Meenu stood near the bride. The photographer told that there is no liveliness in the face and the photo will not come good. He asked them to smile. They smiled but with no genuineness.

Photographer came to Vishal and pushed him near Meenu. "Go and stand there. Let's see whether you smile good", he said. He stood by compulsion but again with lack of passion. The photographer told that still it was not good. The bridegroom took the hand of Vishal and put around Meenu's neck. Can you guess what happened? The chemistry started working out and spark was reignited. They both had tears in their eyes due to happiness of being united again after a long time. They were not able to keep their fight alive after that minute. Both smiled nicely and the photographer finally took a perfect shot.

Bring back the touch and Have a Nice day!! I am signing off now. Bye.


This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

My hubby, A man who is #MadeOfGreat

The Almighty has given me a wonderful person as my life partner who is #Madeofgreat. I love him each and every minute and there were million times when he swept me off his feet. Five years have passed and we are blessed with a wonderful kid. But still our love is growing day by day. He is the one with whom I share my joys, secrets, sorrows and sufferings.

With all his good characteristics, he always inspires greatness in me. He is simple, confident, honest, jovial, helpful and kind-hearted. He possesses great characteristics like humility, morality, tenacity and respect. There were numerous things I can list out but I want to write about an incident which made my tears to come out in proud of having such a wonderful human being as my husband.

It was the day when we decided to buy an air conditioner for our home. All of us went to an electronic shop and ordered an air conditioner. They told us that they would deliver it on the next day. When we were returning back to home, we had crossed a temple. I asked him whether we could go there. He told me that he would take us next time. He never used to tell no for going to temple. For the first time, he told that he would take us next time. I was also okay but I never knew that it happened for a reason.

We were coming on the Grand Southern Truck road. It is a national highway and one of the busiest highways in southern India. Vehicles used to go in high speed and every one should be careful while crossing the road.

I saw a big crowd in one lane and we had crossed it so quickly. I spotted an old man lying on the road. I saw him only for fraction of second. I immediately told my hubby what I saw. He slowed down the car and parked it. He asked me to stay inside the car with the kid.

I turned back to check what was happening. Every one in the crowd was standing far away from the old man. I guessed that the old man got hit by a vehicle while crossing the road. I thought that the man might have lost his life and that should be the reason why every one was standing helpless. I saw my hubby walking towards the man. The crowd was standing in the opposite side. I thought he would go and ask somebody on what happened and he would help if required.

But he went directly to the old man and took his wrist to check the pulse. The whole crowd immediately came near the old man. I was not able to see what was happening after that since the crowd had surrounded the man. Tears started coming out like a flood from my eyes when I saw that incident. I felt so proud of having such a wonderful husband.

People were just watching the old man lying in a pool of blood assuming that he had died. No one bothered to check whether he was alive. Every one was simply watching him. But when my hubby started checking the pulse, every one came running. Every one had starting trouble even to save a life. My hubby became a role model for every one in the crowd.

I saw an ambulance coming immediately and taking the old man. I saw two more young guys getting inside the ambulance. The ambulance had started but the crowd had not dispersed. I knew that they all would be standing and talking for a while about the accident.

My hubby came back. I asked him whether the man was alive. He said yes. I was so happy and asked him what happened after he went there. I told him that I was not able to see from the car.

"When I checked the pulse, I found that he is alive. I immediately called the ambulance. That is when every one started coming towards the old man. The driver told that he was in a nearby place and reach in few seconds. The man was lying in a pool of blood and one of his legs got severely injured.", he told. "Thank God! We have seen him. If you had not gone, nobody should have bothered to call even ambulance.", I told.

"Two more medical college students came at that time and they are only going along with the man in the ambulance. They told me that they would take care of him.", he told.

I prayed for the man to save the old man's life. I also thanked God for giving me a wonderful soulmate. At that time, I realized that if we could have gone to temple, the old man might not have gotten timely help. I thanked God again.

After we returned back to home, I immediately called my mom and told everything. Every one in my family felt so proud of my husband.

I have never seen such heroism in the real world. On that day, I realized that I have a hero with me as life partner. He is my love and he is someone who is #madeofgreat.

He always insist that we should not think even for a second to help others. We might be able to save even someone's life. I realized the true meaning of it on that day. I still believe that the old man is living somewhere happily. I could feel a wonderful transformation within myself.


About #madeofgreat:

The #madeofgreat campaign is the first time Tata Motors is undertaking an overall brand association campaign with a brand ambassador. It rides on a strong consumer motivation of ‘Seeking Excellence’ and ‘Self Belief’ which is showcased by the confluence of two global brands-Tata Motors and Lionel Messi. The campaign builds upon Tata Motors’ DNA of trust, authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation.

Lionel Messi is talent galore with conviction and is an icon for today’s youth. He is a winner who is trustworthy, reliable, pioneering, simple and driven by self-belief, which is what is at the core of Tata Motors as well. Thus, proving to be an ideal fit for the role of Global Brand Ambassador.​

Do not forget to check out http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/.

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