Friendship!

Dear Friend,

Lord help me never judge someone before I know the score.
Before I have walked in another's shoe,
At least a mile or more.
Your life is a lesson in friendship
Let me be quick to understand and slow to criticize
The world's a very different place
Viewed through another's eyes
So, help me lord to show myself as one
who'll always be ready to walk another 
mile with those who ask of me.
You always walk with others till you really understand
You often go the extra mile with an open heart and hand.
What difference does a mile make?
You have helped me comprehend - 
It simply is the difference
Between a stranger and a friend!!!


Here's to our special Friendship...

A big smile
A Little tear
Together they could be
the symbols of our friendship
A smile for all the tough times made easier because
we helped each other through them
I smile when I think of us sharing deep secrets
Watching sentimental old movies
I have to laugh all over again
When I picture us collapsing in giggles
Over some inside jokes
And its hard to hold back the tears
When I remember all the times
I have poured out my heart to you
And you have listened with such care and concern
Our friendship means so much to me
It means both smiles and tears
But because of you the smiles are bigger!!!

My Father – A Numismatist!

 The term 'Numismatist' applies to collectors and coin dealers as well as scholars using coins as source or studying coins. My father’s casual coin collection began as a hobby by saving notable coins found by chance. These coins were may be pocket change left from an international trip or an old coin found in circulation.

As and when the enthusiasm increased over time, random coins found in circulation were not enough to satisfy his interest. So, Dad started buying coins from dealers or mints. Thus his collection takes on a more specific focus. Given enough resources, it will eventually result in a vast collection…which is not far! His coin collection as of now is itself splendid. Scroll down and explore some of the rarest collection....

Coins can become famous for many different reasons. Sometimes a coin becomes well-known because it is worth a princely sum of money. Other times, the coin is famous because it depicts an important historical event and some coins are famous just because they exist and hundreds of millions of people use them every day.The first coins were made in Lydia, Turkey 600 BC. Early coins were made of precious metals. Today, they are more likely to be made of common metals like aluminium, nickel etc.

Silver coins dated 1888 n 1901

silver coins dated 1907 n 1912

Silver coins dated 1913, 1915 n 1917

Silver coins dated 1919, 1920 n 1922

Coins issued depicting historical events are designed to be commemorative coins, and never intended to be put into circulation.

Birth Centenary of Mother Teresa



Coins issued in the Birth Centenary Year of Dr. Homi Bhabha



Coin issued to celebrate 75 years of the Dandi March


Coin issued on 150 years of the First War of Independence



There are 4 Mints in India based in Mumbai, Kolkota, Hyderabad and Noida. Indian coins have a particular mark of the mints which are found under the date (year of issue) of the coin. Each mint has its own distinguished mark on the coin it issues. The following are the marks of the different Mints in India -

Mumbai  - It has a small dot or Diamond mark under the date of the coin.
Kolkota - It has no mint mark beneath the date of coin
Hyderabad - It has a split diamond or a dot in the diamond or a five pointed star under the date of the coin.
Noida - It has a small or thick dot under the date of the coin.

100 rupees coin issued by Mint 

150 rupees coin issued by Mint 

1000 rupees coin issued by the Mint

On independence, India was left with a legacy of non-decimal coinage. One rupee was divided into 16 annas or 64 pice, with each anna therefore equal to 4 pice. In 1957, India shifted to the decimal system. To distinguish between the two pice, the coins minted between 1957 and 1964 have the legend "Naya Paisa" ("new" paisa).

One Pice

The denominations in circulation were 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 (naya) paise and one rupee which remained as the same pre-decimal value. In 1964, a new denomination the 3 paise was introduced and in 1968 a 20 paise coin was minted. Both these coins however did not gain much popularity. The 1, 2 and 3 paise coins were phased out gradually in the 1970s. Stainless steel coinage of 10, 25 and 50 paise, was introduced in 1988 and in 1992, a new rupee coin was minted. This coin was smaller and lighter than the older rupee. In 1992, a 5 Rupees Cupronickel coin was introduced. In 2006, 10 Rupees coin was minted for the first time.

Lets have a look at the currencies the Eurozone used before the Euro was introduced -

coins used in Euro zone before the Euro was introduced

Austria - Austrian schilling
Belgium - Belgian franc
The Netherlands - Dutch gulden
Finland - Finnish markka
France - French franc
Germany - German mark
Ireland - Irish pound
Italy - Italian lira
Luxembourg - Luxembourg franc
Portugal - Portuguese escudo
Spain - Spanish peseta
Greece - Greek drachma
Slovenia - Slovenian tolar
Cyprus - Cypriot pound
Malta - Maltese lira
Slovakia - Slovak koruna

currencies used as of today
Euro, Pound Sterling, Thai Baht, Canadian Dollar, USA - Cents, Singapore Dollar, UAE - Dirham 

Some of the old coins used in different countries centuries ago made of fine silver -

Japanese Yen, Mexican Peso

Coins of Lima, Chile - Peso

Hong kong Dollar

Silver coin struck for trade purpose in 1780

International Currencies -

Nepal Coins

Coins of New Zealand - Dollar, Pakistan - Rupee n Bahrain - Dinar

Coins of Hongkong - Dollar, Indonesia - Rupiah n South Africa - Rand

Coins of Sri Lanka - Rupee, Cyprus - Cypriot Pound, Zambia - Zambian Kwacha

Coins of Jordan - Piastres, China - Yuan, Djibouti - Djiboutian Franc

Hungarian Forint, Bahrain Fils, Czech Republic Koruna, UK - pence

Coins of Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Bangladesh n Malaysia

Qatar Dirham, Brazilian Real, Iranian Rial, Croatian Lipa

Soviet Union coins - Koneek

The collection doesn't end here....these are just the glimpses of the coins of different countries from dad's collection. There are still different denominations of the above coins issued in different years. Dad takes utmost care for storing of the coins, maintains albums and spend hours behind organizing the coins in chronological order and segregating them. I truly admire his passion - his 'Treasure Chest!'

Life's Golden Autumn!

Life's Golden Autumn!

Birthdays come and Birthdays go
And with them comes the thought of all the happy memories
that the passing years have brought
And looking back across the years
its a joy to reminisce.
For memory opens wide the door, on a happy day like this
And with a sweet nostalgia we lovingly recall
The happy days of long ago
That seems the best of all-

But times cannot be halted in its
swift and endless fight
And age is sure to follow Youth
as day comes after night-
And once again its proven
that the restless brain of man
Is powerless to alter God's Great Unchanging plan

But while our step grows slower
and we grow more tired too
The soul goes soaring 
Upward to realms untouched and new
For growing older only means the spirit grows serene
And we behold things with our Souls
that our eyes have never seen
And birthdays are but Gateways to Eternal Life above
where God's children live forever


Growing older is part of God's Plan!!!

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”
― Vincent van Gogh

This defines my hobby, my world! I cannot imagine a world without colors…Engaging in one’s hobby is out of personal interest and for enjoyment rather than financial rewards. My hobbies take me into a different world all together. What spurs me to embrace this hobby so enthusiastically is that it’s not only a stress buster, a fun filled activity but also a joy of giving and sharing. 

Living in a city like Mumbai, that never sleeps, amongst the hustle and bustle, people have very little time to enjoy their space. Running a rat race, behind the monetary success, achievements, fame and goals, one barely gets the time to enjoy the small treasures of happiness. Of course, one has to work hard to survive, but a splash of color in our daily lives, a moment of carefree, heartfelt laughter or a deserving pat of appreciation, that is how happiness comes, in its simplest, purest and truest form. At the crossroads of the busy lives we lead, its good at times to pause and reflect and spend some time on what brings joy and happiness to you. Let me introduce you to my world of colors, craft and creativity. 

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” 
― Pablo Picasso

Art is becoming increasingly experimental as artists try out new ideas. Painting can be enjoyed in many ways: for the cleverness of their design, the quality of light or the beauty of the colors. Art in its any form is characterized in terms of expression or communication of emotion or other values. India is blessed in terms of the diversity and culture from where a varied forms of art originates. Indian paintings reflect opulent culture and heritage of the country. There are several forms of Indian paintings like mural paintings, miniature painting, madhubani painting, pichwai painting, patachitra painting, marble painting, silk painting, kalamkari, warli painting. Each form of Indian paintings differs not only in terms of material used, and style but also the mode of expression.

For me, my paintings include a variety of painting techniques like the Tanjore and Mysore painting, oil paintings, gem stone painting, nib painting etc. I could spend hours at a museum just enjoying different art work or spend days working on a canvas to draw down my thoughts. My hobby takes me to attend different workshops and enhance my skills. I love to learn different techniques of paintings. Here are a few of my paintings – 

Tanjore Painting - Ladoo Gopal!

Mysore painting - Balaji!

Before the Industrial Revolution, crafts people made furniture for home and tools for workplace. Today, these items are mass produced in factories. So hand crafted objects are valued for their individuality and because they often come from a tradition that is centuries old. There are several types of crafts – Basketwork, Bead work, stone work, stone and wood carving, embroidery, pottery and ceramics, weaving etc. Some people like me take up craft as a hobby. One such example of craft is punch craft. It’s a technique of using simple paper to create a variety of beautiful artwork. Do gently browse through my handmade cards and other products.

frames

trousseau decoration

gift baskets

gift tags

cards

envelopes

gift bags

I would love to share with all of you my experience at a NGO – “Sunbeam” where I volunteered to teach art and craft to the kids with the age group of 5-6 years.

My journey with sunbeam began 2 years back. I taught art and craft on every Saturday to the kids. I still remember, it was the first time for the kids to have a drawing teacher. They were so excited to have received colors and drawing book from the class. I was told that the attendance is full as the kids are looking forward for the art class. This gave me immense pleasure and motivation to teach them every time something creative and fun filled.

I started off by teaching the kids basic shapes and things related to the shapes like box resembles a square, ball resembles a circle/round, mountain resembles a triangle etc.  Then, I slowly started teaching them recognition of colors. Eventually, I realized that they are enjoying coloring a lot and still it is difficult for these toddlers to draw on their own so I then made them color pre-designed drawings. I had taken up different topics to teach them different concepts and themes along with coloring. I had included drawings of fruits, vegetables, flowers, animals, and vehicles etc for the kids to color. Also as and when festivals come across, I make them do some art and craft based on that particular festival. This helps the kids enhance their knowledge about that particular festival and it also gives them a lot of fun to enjoy the same at home. For Diwali, the kids painted divas. While painting the divas the kids were thoroughly enjoying as they were excited to take the divas back home and also they were happy to play with the vibrant colors and glitter. It was such a satisfying experience. Similarly, for Christmas we made Santa Claus mask from paper plates. The kids were excited to color the Christmas tree, bells and make the Santa face. This experience of making things and coloring on your own gives the kids a lot of confidence. It gives them a sense of belonging when they take back the stuff that they have made by themselves. This works as a personality building activity too.

I am happy that with art and craft, the kids are able to relate to a lot more things than just mere coloring. It’s fun as well as learning for them. In all I would like to say that the kids have given me so much love and respect. I am glad that my hobby has given me the opportunity to teach these under privileged kids and more so gain bundles of joy by sharing my knowledge. I wish that we can keep bringing smile on each face and add color to each one’s lives.