Ahoy Businesses! Content Marketing Now Easy-Peasy with IndiBlogger's IndiPR.com!

A couple of days back, IndiBlogger launched its brand new project  in the market – IndiPR.com, a self-learning engine that automatically targets the right publishers. What this simply means is that now businesses of various sizes, including start-ups, can now have their Press Releases published by relevant influencers viz. bloggers like you and me in less than 72 hours! Exciting isn't it? I think this initiative is going to raise the bar of content marketing to a whole new level.

Win-Win situation for both businesses and bloggers.

Clearly, it’s a win-win situation for both, the bloggers who are more than happy to spread the word around through their influencer platform called blogs and the businesses who are looking to drive their latest products across the internet.

The main point here, especially for bloggers is to be true to their blogs and pick only those drives that are relevant to their niche and loyal to their audiences. After all, the world of blogging today stands on pillars of authenticity and users all over the internet world trust blogs only because they are known for their voice.

For the businesses, it’s a piece of cake, literally!

Simplicity is the key.

IndiPR.com is built in such a way. It makes it extremely simple for a business to get their Press Releases published by top bloggers. All a business has to do is upload their Press Release and the ‘Automated Influencer Targeting Engine’, or ‘AITE’ for short, proceeds to accept applications and automatically shortlists bloggers based on various factors including internal ratings and rankings. Once short-listed, the influencers do their research and publish their articles and also rake in some much-deserved moolah. Simple!

Anoop Johnson, Co-founder & Director of Marketing at IndiBlogger, summarized this best, “With a starting budget of just USD 150, a business of any size will be able to get their press releases published by influential bloggers with a few clicks.”

Time is precious!

The automated system is a real boon for people who are tired with all the office jargon of running counter after counters. For example, one of the main issues that most marketers face when working with influencers is the cumbersome process associated with identifying and targeting each Influencer. Karthik DR, Co-founder &Business Head at IndiBlogger says, “The amount of time that people spend in trying to identify and contact influencers is huge. With IndiPR.com, you don't have to worry about any of this as the system just needs your Press Release. The rest is history!”

Get ready to be a star!

What we see at IndiPR.com right now is just the tip, there’s still lot more to come. They say, Influencers will be able to get creative assignments, get invitations to attend the trendiest launch events and be privy to the latest news on the planet before the world wakes up to it.

Adds Renie Ravin, the Founder and CEO of IndiBlogger, “We believe that this system will help Influencers with fresh and new content on their site every day. In a way, you could be writing about the next Google without even realising its immense potential.”

Now, who would want to miss an opportunity like that?

Contact Information:

Anoop Johnson

contact@indipr.com

Phone - +91-9900-001655 or 0124-4891498

#JeetegaIndia - A Unique Twitter Campaign by Gaana and Kailash Kher!!

The India West Indies clash at the WT20 2016 was expected to create frenzy on the field with fans lining up at the Wankhede to watch the epic semi final clash. India had got there after a bit of a hiccup, having lost their opening encounter to the Kiwi’s and then clinching a heart stopping victory against neighbours Bangladesh before a Kohli special drowned the Aussie’s.

West Indies on the other hand, with all their flair and easy-to-go style had captured the imagination of the Indian crowds and players like Gayle, Bravo and Simmons who already have a huge fan following here were all set to enthral the Indian public once again.

The Wankhede crowd did it’s best for the big occasion, turning up in huge numbers and supporting India to the hilt. There was color, fanfare and truly maddening love for the Boys in Blue!!

Off the field too, on various social media channels there was support pouring in for the Indian team, the whole nation was backing India to go through to the finals by defeating the Windies. Now, music and Cricket go hand in hand, especially when the Calypso Kings are involved, what with DJ Bravo having launched the much appreciated and adored #Champion song just before the World Cup began!

On this occasion, KailashKher and Gaana.com cheered Indian Cricket team like no one else!

Gaana roped in the singing legend for a unique social media engagement

India’s first Jugalbandi campaign on Twitter, caught the imagination of the entire nation. Gaana.com provided its followers an opportunity to applaud the ‘boys in blue’ along with KailashKher. Participants cheered for Indian team with their tweets while  Kailash turned those into a song live! Watch the activity here - http://bit.ly/1qmUWHW. The unique activity #JeetegaIndia twitter reached 14 million viewers trended for 8 hours and garnered over 278 million impressions. It was quite a unique and novel way to cheer for Team India and was a hit on the social media.

Although India lost the Semi-finals, they played really well and the fans had no reason to complain. From the music composer Sulaiman Merchant to news channels like CNN-IBN, journalists and eminent anchors, everybody cheered for India through #JeetegaIndia. Some really quirky and creative lyrics were shared for the maestro to execute. One of Kailash’s song ‘TootaTootaEkParinda’ was turned into ‘TootaTootaEk Wicket to AiseToota, KephirJudh Na Paya’. 

KailashKher enjoyed the gig to the hilt, and every song for him was like an anthem pumping the nation with energy and determination. This rare treat which perfectly amalgamated the thrill of an epic encounter, eulogized by one of the best voices in Bollywood made fans on social media go berserk. 

In less than five hours, over 17,000 tweets with song requests reached Gaana.com, turning it into a highly successful campaign. In a first time case, a campaign forged such an intense connection between sports and music. 

Some of the brands and celebs that used the hashtag - #JeetegaIndia

• Radio City 91.1

• SAB TV

• AbhijitMajumder (Managing Editor, Mail Today)

• Mohit Yadav IFS (Indian Dilpomat, Squash Player)

• Sulaiman Merchant (Popular Indian Music Composer)

• Lakme India

• AkashSoni (Anchor @ IBN7)

• Box Office Detail

• ShivamVij

• Kamala Sripada (Journalist @ IBN7)

• Shweta Bhattacharya (Broadcast Journalist @ Network18)

• Zee TV Middle East

• Anchal Vohra (Senior Anchor @ CNN-IBN)

• Telugu Filmnagar

• Times Now

• MrityunjoyJha (Journalist @ IBN7)

• SumitAwasti (Deputy Managing Editor @ IBN7)

• CNN-IBN News

A Snapshot of the Gaana.com Twitter timeline!!

Although India went down to the eventual World Champions, West Indies, this campaign showed that a cricket match can be best enjoyed and celebrated with music giving it a lovely touch! The celebrations of the West Indian players who sang and danced to the Champion song after their victory only exemplified the deeper bond between cricket and music!!

My Gold Morning Dreams!!

#Mornings

I am a morning person. Fewer moments awaken an unbridled joy in my heart than a beautiful orange-candied sun kissing the gloomy silver draped skies, heralding a new dawn, a bright brand new day. The cup of a new day brims over with the promise of an abundance of gifts that the universe holds for each one of us. The warmth of positivity seeps deep into the layers of the skin. Rays of hope break open the barriers anchored in our hearts. We are inspired to rise and awaken in our own uniqueness that paves the path to freedom. It's a universal feeling I believe. There's a reason people all over wish each other GOOD Morning as a greeting, isn't it?

#MyGoodMorningsNow

I get up at 5 in the morning everyday and yet I don't remember the last time I watched the spectacle of sunrise. How disappointing! It's the same old grind of the urban routine that most of us stay trapped in for most of our lives... Work, eat, sleep, repeat. Where is the time then to bask in the beauties that life comes endowed with? Instead there are deadlines to adhere to, projects to complete, reports to submit... so much stress!

As hopeless as this scenario may sound, I consider myself really fortunate to witness a few such glorious sunrises all over my life. I have readily left the warmth of the quilts to catch the rising sun spark fire on lofty icy mountain peaks. Ah, what a mesmerising sight! Cut to the fast-paced city grind though, my morning loving soul only finds solace in gazing up at the sky for a few minutes after leaving home for office at 7. That rendezvous with nature is one of the best parts of my day. The time when I look up towards the sky and find my mind totally at peace in her soothing embrace.

#Colgate360GoldMornings

But you know something? I wish my mornings from turn from good to gold one day... I dream of waking up in the silences of the mountains, somewhere one day. When the sky is dark and the stars are still twinkling; I will take delight in the colourfully changing scenes of the sky. Like a blushing bride, she will slowly come out of oblivion. Painting the entire silhouetted canvas of the horizons from black to silver to crimson to red, then finally that veil of golden. I will bask in the beauty of her golden company, breathing life into every being. Mine, yours, us, care-free, worry-free... Reminding us of the infinite beauties of nature. Reminding us that there is more to life than appointments to keep and bosses to report to. Reminding us to be happy. To enjoy every precious moment, spent in the company of ME in the lap of nature.

Aamchi Mumbai - The City of Dreams!!

Mumbai, The city of dreams... The city that never sleeps... The city whose 'Never Say Die' spirit runs in the blood of the people who live here... The financial capital of India... The adda of Indian Film Industry 'Bollywood'... The home of Indian Cricket...

I can continue my post in this way and still I won't run out words to describe my beloved city but I'll try to do full justice to Mumbai as half-baked efforts are not something that this city appreciates!!!

Mumbai is named after Goddess Mumba Devi before which it was known as Bombay!! Life in Mumbai starts in the wee hours, when the whole country is sleeping, Mumbaikar's are already up and about, ready to catch the local train which will take them to their place of work or study! The humble 'Local Train' is the lifeline of this great city which connects every citizen to one another! It's a thread that binds all of Mumbai together, the link between the different parts of this huge city. It does not only link the vast city it also links the very hearts of Mumbaikar's, no wonder it's also referred to add the 'Heart of Mumbai'. It is also very well connected with Auto-rickshaws, Kaali Peeli Taxis, BEST Buses and Metro Rail System!!

The food of Mumbai is something that drives it! Literally! In a city where a huge amount of energy is spent on traveling to and fro between two places, there are a lot of hungry souls. People of this city are food mad and the city offers enough variety and choice to satiate everyone. From the delicious Indian burger 'Vada Pav' to the spicy 'Pav Bhaji'... From Bhel Puri to Pani Puri to Samosa, to exquisite high class dining options.. There is something for everyone no matter what your budget or taste!!

Mumbai is a city which is designed to enthrall anyone who lays his out her eyes on it. Take a walk along the Marine Drive for sheet beauty, take the blessings of Lord Ganpati at the famed Siddhivinayak Temple, listen to sufi songs at Haji Ali Dargah, marvel at the architectural wonders of the Gateway of India and the CST Railway Station, watch the kids play a game of cricket at the numerous maidans that dot this cricket crazy city, visit the Prince of Wales Museum or the Hanging Gardens... Or just sit back and relax at the Chowpaty or Girgaum beach and watch the sun set gloriously in the horizon. You will never run out of options in Mumbai, your bucket list of 'Things to Do' will keep on burgeoning until it bursts at its seams!!!

There are so many aspects of this city that I want to talk about, I feel I have barely scratched the surface! There are so many things which are unique to this coastal city of India. It's reverence of its Bollywood superstar's, the 'Tapori Bambaiyya' language, the daily trials and tribulations of its people, the maddening hurry of its people but still them finding the time to help others when needed, the killer traffic, chants of ‘Sachinnnn Sachinnnn’ reverberating through the Wankhede stadium, the Ganpati Festival, etc... The city embraces all with a smile, a reason why it’s also fondly known as ‘Aamchi Mumbai’

All I can say is that it is the best place to live in India, a person who has lived in Mumbai will not like any other city in the whole world. There is Order in Chaos, Symmetry in Disorientation... Something in its humid and sticky air makes the person cling to this magnificent city like a magnet!!!

PS - This Post is Written for the Tata Motors #madeofgreat Zonal War

Choco Chips and Strawberry Ice Cream Sugar Free Milk Shake!!

Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like

 and let the food fight it out inside ~ Mark Twain

Food – It is something that triggers a wave of goodness, joy and happiness coursing through the body and mind, like electricity, when it satiates you completely. It is probably my saviour when I am in a bad mood and I need to elevate my mood, it is my good friend which gives me company when I am happy! In short, we share a very unique relationship, Food and Me, we love each other deeply, madly and truly and have been through many thick and thins but our bond is too strong to be broken by a few stray incidents when we have been at loggerheads with each other for days on ends!

I am a self-proclaimed foodie and though my love for cooking may not be as high as my passion for eating but I still love to get my own hands dirty on some occasions. It is in these moments that I realise that cooking and creating a dish, which, when appreciated, can be such a fulfilling thing in itself! While making the main course can be tiresome and requires some level of expertise, making a dessert is where you can really let your imagination run wild and experiment to your hearts content. Even a novice like me and someone who is short on time can really get in to the thick of things when a dessert is considered.

Now, I love having Milk Shakes after eating like a horse and that makes my stomach feel much lighter and I am filled with a sense of happiness and joy when the sweetness effused in the shake is transferred in to my body!

Here, I will share with you one of my favourite Dessert recipe’s – The Double Trouble (Chocolate Chips and Strawberry Ice Cream) Milk Shake!!!

Main Ingredients:

2 medium scoops of Chocolate Chips Ice Cream.

2 medium scoops of Strawberry Ice Cream.

1 glass unsweetened milk.

2 teaspoons of Sugarfree Natura.

Optional Ingredients (for Garnishing):

1-2 square broken in pieces of any chocolate of your choice (I used Lindt Intense Strawberry and Cadbury’s Bubbly). You can also opt for 2 Fresh Strawberries finely chopped when available.

1 scoop of Chocolate Chips Ice Cream.

1 scoop of Strawberry Ice Cream.

Directions

1. Blend all the main ingredients (2 medium scoops of Chocolate Chips Ice Cream, 2 medium scoops of Strawberry Ice Cream, 1 glass unsweetened milk, 2 teaspoons of Sugarfree Natura) till you achieve a smooth consistency and a thick froth.

2. Fill the Shake in two glasses and place them in the freezer for 30 minutes.

3. Garnish with 1 scoop of Chocolate Chips Ice Cream and 1 scoop of Strawberry Ice Cream.

4. Garnish with broken pieces of Lindt Intense Strawberry and Cadbury’s Silk.

5. Serve Chilled!!

Drool over my Double Trouble and get down to making yours, now!!

Try a Variation!!

You can also play around by first blending only Strawberry Ice Cream scoops with the milk and Sugar Free Natura and filling only half a glass and letting it set in the freezer.

Till this sets, you can blend your Chocolate Chips Ice Cream scoops with the milk and Sugar Free Natura.

You can then pour this over the set Strawberry, garnish as you wish and can enjoy a layered Double Trouble!

I am sure that when you will all try out this Double Trouble and you find that all your troubles are blown away in a jiffy!!

PS - This Post is written for the Sugar Free Dessert Challenge contest being held at Indiblogger.

The Real Joy of Togetherness

We live in a world that has been spiraling towards digitization at a maddening pace. Out on the roads or indeed inside the homes or even the schools and colleges, wherever we cast a glance all we can see is people of all ages and genders immersed in their mobiles or laptops. School children, instead of playing on the streets or playgrounds are spending more time with their heads immersed in a mobile phone. College students, when they should be enjoying their best days talking and interacting with their friends in real time are instead wasting time 'Liking or Re-Tweeting or Updating their Status' on various social media sites. Colleagues in offices are submerged in either writing long drawn e-mails or worthless chatting.

Two of my very close friend's celebrated their birthdays just last week. The best that I could do for them on this special occasion was WhatsApp them a 'Happy Birthday' message. Throughout the day, I thought about calling them and wishing them but office work had consumed me so much that I kept putting it for later. By night I thought it was too late to call anyway and dropped the idea finally. And they were my very close friends, people with whom I have practically lived in a single room for 4 straight years.

Last night, I remembered what birthdays meant to us in those heady engineering days when we lived in a hostel and when upcoming birthdays meant an almost festive like atmosphere amongst us. I remembered those Birthday bumps where the Birthday boy co-operated with a large heart. Those dinner parties where the amount of cake applied on the faces was much more than what was left to eat by the end. Those short trips to a beach where we would spend time playing cricket or just sit on the warm sand, watching the sunset and saying nothing as if silence and nature was everything that was needed to magically transfer our thoughts to each other. Ah!! How I miss those beautiful days, when we connected with each other by talking to one other and by being there physically in times of both joy and sadness or indeed madness!!!

Today I feel both, the warmth of happiness and the pang of sadness inside me - happiness because I have been lucky enough to have lived a life when we were not slaves of technology and sadness because I know that however hard I may try I will never be able to replicate those good old days again.

It is imperative that we give more importance to face to face communication, where we spend time with our family and friends and where we laugh and cry together, where we increase our happiness by sharing them and reduce our sadness, where we discuss our problems and try to lend a helping hand to others. We must live a life where we are still connected to people around us as indeed with our own selves!

Do watch this beautiful video of Kissanpur that talks of bringing back the 'Real Joy of Togetherness' :

Browsing Internet with Airtel 4G: Are You Ready?

Cricket and Mobile Internet: Where is the problem?

I am a cricket freak, as you all know. Caught between a full time grueling office job during the day and a busy cricket calendar, it is the internet that often comes to my rescue. That’s how I satisfy my cricket cravings in office or on the move.

Sounds perfect, right?!

Wrong. Imagine the disappointment when the same solution also doubles up my problem. Thing is my internet browsing network, which works at 2G internet data plan, is horrendously slow. This means I am left with videos that keep buffering endlessly only to stream at low resolutions, making it difficult to track the ball and the scores, when refreshed, take an eternity. Leaving my dream of matching matches LIVE just that – a dream…

Saying hello to high speed internet - Airtel 4G:

If you find your own story mirrored in mine, worry not, my friend - The power of 4G service is now here to our rescue! Get ready to jump to the next generation because gone will be the days of  ever-buffering cricket downloads & low resolution video streams. Thanks to India's leading service provider Airtel 4G, is the first telecom operator to do a nationwide roll out of high-speed 4G internet services across 296 cities in India! Isn’t that exciting news?!

It definitely is, for me! You know what this would mean -

Living all my cricket dreams with Airtel 4G data services:

This would mean now I can watch cricket matches – LIVE – yes, you got that right - LIVE that too in high resolution videos. No frustration of the low buffering speeds, so I get to watch the game as it is happening.

This would mean ball-by-ball commentary refreshed in mind-blowing accuracy and timing. As on TV, so on my mobile. Seriously, that is the only way a game like cricket can be enjoyed.

This would mean browsing at a neck-break speed! Faster than any available network out there and swifter than any we have previously known. Videos, text, graphics – everything at the touch of my fingertip, in full clarity and with no lag time whatsoever.

This would also mean more of blogging and keeping my beloved blog, CricketWise updated with all the latest in the news. No excuses any more after watching a game and getting on the job right away - bang-on with my analysis and opinions!

Am I dreaming or is this really REAL?

Such speed sounds almost unbelievable, right? All I can say is that it’s a boon and the prices that the service is being rolled out is very reasonable as well (4G available at 3G prices). You just need to grab a 4G device from the market and request for a 4G sim - Airtel will do the rest for you. For Free!

So yeah - It is REAL. And for all of you skeptics out there, there's something in store too - Airtel is offering a free demo in their stores to experice 4G first-hand. You can even challenge them and if your network is faster, they will pay your mobile bills for life!

About me, well, I am already convinced and can’t wait to upgrade my services - so here's to my cricketing passion and here's three, umm... nah - Four cheers to Airtel 4G! Hip Hip... Hurray!!!!

Important features: Quick Glance and How you can activate?

•  Airtel 4G is the first telecom operator to roll out 4G services

•  Nationwide rollout across 296 cities

•  4G available at 3G prices

•  Getting a 4G SIM is just a tweet away - #GetAirtel4G

•  Free home deliverey of 4G SIM

*Image source credit: iservice.co.in

Say NO to Crash Diets, Say YES to Honey Diet!

Who doesn’t like to look slim, tall, and slender and well, just - beautiful?

I, for one, do. For this, summer season is one of the best times to cleanse and detox your body to get in good shape. As the weather gets warmer, the body tries to remain cooler by yearning for less food and more water and watery fruits like watermelon that are seasonally available in abundance.

While detoxing or getting rid of bodily waste can be a great idea to keep your body energized and revitalized in general, it also means that the resulting health impacts resulting from your detoxification efforts will depend on how you go about doing it in the first place. Let’s try to understand this in detail… read on:

Why say NO to Crash diets?

In a bid to lose weight fast, crash diets allure – what with the shortcut promise of ‘instant results’ that they bring along but be warned: Indulging in a rapid crash course diet can play havoc on your body as well as the heart. A dangerous remark indeed, but one that most nutritionists and cardiologists all over the world confirm.

Researchers suggest that crash diets slow down metabolism causing a major imbalance obstructing the regular efficiency of the body. In return, even though the goal of getting thin fast may be achieved – the long term effect of the entire diet-quest can be hazardous to the health. The changed functioning patterns in the body start to manifest in drastic health problems like drowsy posture, lack in stamina and strength, dark circles, weak immune system and cardiac stress.

Here's a Sweeter and Safer Alternative: Honey Diet -

Now that we have crossed ‘Crash diets’ and anything and everything that is harmful for the body (including sugerated drinks, smoothies and ice-creams) out of our summer detox plan, there must surely be an alternative to losing weight – safely and sweetly while still enjoying the season?

YES, there is and that is: The latest Dabur initiative - Honey Diet.

Traditionally, the benefits of honey are many proven over the ages and recognized in the Ayurvedic healing system. A spoon of honey, laced in natural sugars and carbohydrates, taken early in the morning acts as a wonderful energizer helping you manage your weight and aiding in easy digestion. It’s moisturizing and nourishing qualities helps to protect the skin against the harsh sun-effects by keeping the skin soft and supple.

What you can do is get innovative by introducing honey as part of your recipes and daily regime. Or, you can chart your own personalized fitness plan by taking a 3 click online fitness test here.

Why say YES to a healthy balanced diet?

Say yes to a healthy balanced diet… why?

Because you respect your body. Because, you know that nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved by embarking on shortcut routes. Because you realize that the joy of achieving something, anything lies in the journey and not the destination.

And that journey - if healthy, if balanced, if natural - will reward you with your ‘beautiful’ dream in the sweetest (pun intended!) form, one that will be with you to cherish for a lifetime! Right?

Staying Cricket-Connected with UC Cricket!

I have been a cricket buff ever since I can remember. I guess my craziness for the game was inherited from my father, running through my genes even when I was born. This explains why I have been addicted to the game right from a young age. I could bunk classes, skip my homework, forget about my meals – someone just had to spell the word ‘CRICKET’ for me and rest assured, I would be glued – much to the chagrin of my parents and teachers.

My sister often remarked in vain: You are not the umpire, for goodness sake - you can move!

Hah! If I really cared?! What I did care about was if my favorite players were running in good form and the records being stashed and milestones achieved – all this was duly recorded and preserved in the mini cricketing café I built for myself, in my cricket-captivated brain.

Unfortunately with the advent of times, with a full time job, a career to handle and ambitions to take care of, my first love – cricket had to take a backseat. I was literally left with no other choice. Missing out on cricket matches was now the norm. Browsing various cricket sites led to disappointment because of their huge lag in transmission and coverage speeds. Checking latest score updates on Google became a headache! Deep down, I felt a tinge of sadness on having to miss out on something I loved so much…

But as they say, patience bears fruits. So here, finally, came the good news: NOW - I have a solution!

And the solution is UC Browser - UC Cricket – Surf it all, Surf it fast!

UC Browser has introduced its new section, UC Cricket that comes pre-loaded with all the features promising to make life easier for professional people like me.

Just one click from the homepage of the UC Browser and you get access to UC Cricket (in blue icon) – it’s that easy to install!

Now, you don't have to miss the cric-fun - Download UC Cricket on UC Browser.

Browsing UC Cricket on the go has made my life so much easier and cricket-connected. Latest cricket scores refresh automatically so that I can keep an eye on it even while managing important work in my office. Browsing news while in trains or buses is super speedy too. Now, my work is no longer neglected in my craving for cricket. In fact, I have become so much more efficient that is well reflected in my interactions with my co-workers, colleagues and family.

The best thing, however, that I love about UC Cricket is the live streaming of videos – its seamless transmissions give me the same joy that I used to enjoy in my childhood days.

Really, for a true-blue cricket lover, UC Cricket has been nothing short of a Godly-boon for me. It’s so nice to have someone who understands and by dedicating a space exclusively for cricket fanatics like me, UC Browser, has indeed hit a sixer with UC Cricket that, I believe, is bound to break all boundaries and win many hearts.

Have you tried UC Cricket as yet?

How do you stay cricket-connected?

Tips for Healthy Radiant Skin - Naturally!

Nowadays, with the busy hectic routine lives that we have come to be accustomed with, does it often seem easier and convenient to you to just pick a skin care lotion or a cream right out of the shelf for a few bucks instead of investing time and energy by our own selves as our mothers and grandmothers used to do in their era?

Yes - so, what is wrong in that? The results are fast and the skin glow –instant, isn’t it?!

Right. But, did you know - this beauty that you regale in is temporary! What’s more, instead of nourishing your skin, some of these chemical-laced products can have drastic consequences in the long run including dangerous disesases like cancer!

The only solution is to go back to our roots and follow the skin care regimes already outlined by our ancestors. This was a time when beauty was not a dictate followed by the market driven community but a wisely driven venture that was natural, healthy and ayurvedic (Remember that ad: Vicco Turmeric – Nahi cosmetic…).

Natural remedies for beautiful skin known over the years have many benefits over their cosmetic counterparts - one of them being that they are really really easy to incorporate in our busy lives. Let me share a few of these, passed down by my mother to whom I am and will forever remain indebted for my healthy and youthful skin:

1. Drink plenty of water.

My mom always tells me “drink lots of water” and it makes sense too. Our bodies are 65 % water. No wonder then, our skin loves it. Water hydrates our skin and keeps it supple, smooth, wrinkle free and ageless. The benefits of drinking water on our bodies are truly innumerable.

2. Use of Multani Mitti.

Dirt and grime are a part and parcel of my everyday life, thanks to the pollution all around. Owing to my oily skin, there are times when an odd painful pimple pops out suddenly. In times like these, I turn to my mom and she has a remedy: Multani Mitti. Multani Mitti or fullers earth is a natural clay substance that has amazing healing properties against acne and sores. I have used it on numerous occasions and it has worked wonders for my skin – always!

3. Avoid Junk Food.

Jaisa Ann waisa mann. My mom always stresses on eating home cooked food which is full in vital nutrients and cooked in a hygienic, loving manner. Who can deny the benefits of natural fruits, vegetables and spices like papaya, blackberries, oranges, turmeric, broccoli, etc. over junk food filled in artificial flavors and preservative? Natural foods are laced in essential vitamins and antioxidants that are needed for a blemish free radiant skin.

4. Get adequate sleep.

Sleep is the best form of meditation. So says the global spiritual leader, Dalai Lama. My mom agrees. Sleep is often one of the most neglected, overlooked and abused part of our lifestyle that can cause puffy eyes, increase anxiety that can lead to lackluster lifeless skin. Imagine giving an important presentation in such a state! A good night's sleep keeps you and your skin fresh and beautiful for any and all kinds of activities during the day.

5. Protect yourself from the harsh sun.

Proper skin care from the harsh UV rays of the sun is important. Roaming unprotected in the sun can wreck havoc on the naturally sensitive skin making it coarse severe and sometimes irreversible sun damage. Carry an umbrella or wear a hat before stepping out of the house. I also use Aloe Vera leaf gel which has tremendous moisturizing effect, an instant relief to soothe my ultra sensitive skin.

These are the tips I follow. What about you?

Share your natural and healthy skin care tips and tricks in the comment section too!

'My Airtel App' download kiya kya?

Look around you: in trains, buses, even while walking down the streets, almost everyone we see is well-equipped with a smartphone today. Like it or not but a smartphone has made its way as the modern age ‘friend in need’ of a lot of people around us, age no bar. It’s the age of digitization after all. In the recent times, it has been difficult to rationalize just how fast companies have rolled their app-lications out. Their demands have increased and companies are more than happy to find a place in the pockets of their consumers. A WIN-WIN situation for all.

The latest app by Airtel - 'My Airtel App' which speaks of managing all your Airtel services like mobile, DTH and broadband in a few clicks on your mobile screen is the latest entrant in this app convoy. When I first heard of it, I thought why not give it a try and decided to download it for a better understanding of its features. Here’s a low-down on 3 key easy-to-use and handy features that caught my eye instantly:

1. Wynk’ing / Cricket News.

Wynk is a music feature that lets you stream, pick, download and play music of your choice. I love listening to music when I have got nothing else to do. It’s an immediate stress buster. So, this one has got to be there high up on my list of favorites.

Cricket scores and news is again something I look forward to be up to date with, no matter where I am, at home or on the move. With the one touch feature of ‘Airtel Live’, checking scores and browsing through the latest happenings in the world of cricket has become super easy!

2. Surprise coupons and bargains with every recharge.

Gone are the days when I had to stand in long queues and wait my turn. My Airtel App has made it extremely convenient for users to recharge by designing an interface that’s not only intuitive but also pretty simple to understand. The payments are safe and secured, so that really makes the process really stress-free.

The biggest perk of going for an app recharge is that after every recharge - the app rewards you with exciting coupons and bargains that can be redeemed for a variety of categories like shopping, food, etc. I am yet to recharge my cell but it’s the first time I can’t actually wait to do it!

3. Alerts on low balance, low data, bill payment, etc.

In the busy schedule of my routine hectic life, sometimes I tend to miss important deadlines and significant dates when bills have to be cleared and payments made. There have been times when I completely forgot about the recharge and had to pay the price by losing my connectivity with my near and dear ones.

This brings me to this feature which is a huge relief for forgetful people like me who have always worried about keeping reminders and notes. Times have changed though. With its intuitive and personalized push notification on payment due, low balance and pack refills - My Airtel App does that for me now!

PS: All features are currently available on Android. IOS release - coming soon.

This has been my experience till now. What about you?

Have you tried the ‘My Airtel App’ yet?

Which key features would you recommend to your friends?

Redefine Your Smartphone Experience with the ASUS ZenFone 2

Smartphones today hold an important place in our day to day life. We can hardly live without them and they have almost become a part of our own body. It is thus imperative that we choose one that is made for us and one that will give us the maximum pleasure and the ease of use. With new models packed with all the latest and innovative features flooding the market every other day, it has become an arduous task to choose one fitting your bill.

The ASUS ZenFone 2 is about to be launched and I will give below 5 reasons why I think that the ASUS ZenFone 2 could redefine your smartphone experience!

• Luxurious Ultra Thin Ergonomic Arc Design

The first thing that attracts an user towards a new phone is its look and design and this is where the ASUS ZenFone 2 wins the battle hands down. Coupled with killer looks that taper to extremely thin 3.9 mm at the edges for a stunning finish and a luxurious brushed metal finish with the signature concentric circle detailing the ZenFone will give bragging rights to anyone that will flaunt this beauty! It is also available in 5 different colors that you can choose to match your style and up the glam quotient.

• PixelMaster

The 13 MP rear camera is perfect to capture stunning images and the 5 MP front camera with its 85 degree wide arc lens provides for terrific selfies and clear video chats. The low light performance is unbelievably good as the ZenFone, through its latest technology increases the light sensitivity by an astounding 400% to give pictures that will make heads turn. The shutter lag is zero which makes sure that you do not miss anything of importance and everything is caught in real time. The manual controls open up an entirely different horizon and the ZenFone 2 will almost feel like a DSLR in your hands.

• Performance for Today, and Beyond

This phone is packed with an upto 2.3GHz 64-bit intel Atom Z3580 processor and a 4 Gb RAM that will enhance the phone experience by almost 3 times and the gaming experience by 7 times when compared to its predecessor. The Super Quad Core processor enables the apps to open in the blink of an eye, the games to run smoothly and the internet pages to open without any lags.

• BoostMaster

The ASUS BoostMaster technology facilitates super fast charging of your ASUS ZenFone 2 device. The ZenFone 2 battery is charged to almost 60% in 39 minutes! Now that means that you no longer need to worry about constantly charging the phone and can enjoy watching movies or playing games at almost every possible moment when you want to. The high capacity 3000mAh battery means that you can probably go through an entire day without charging the device, thus enabling you to enjoy your phone!

• Incredible SonicMaster Audio

The world renowned ASUS Golden Ear team provides the user with the best audio that a smartphone can offer. The SonicMaster technology delivers a crisp, crystal clear audio that remains unaffected whether you are on headphones or on speakers.

These are the 5 features that I look forward to the most when the ASUS ZenFone 2 will come out. Which of these features appeal to you the most?

Naashta With Guptaji's Family! Who's coming along?

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last,

"What's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”

Well, I am someone who just loves to have a good breakfast; I can safely say that they are my unsurpassed choice of meals. Breakfasts are more or less like a morning ritual for me. A good breakfast means that I start my day on a high and that leaves me energized and makes me feel excellent about the whole day. My mood tends to be scrawny and sometimes awful if I do not eat well in the morning! I especially love my breakfasts on the weekends, they give me a chance to sit with my family as we laugh and talk about the week gone by and discuss about the upcoming week. Talking with your family over a good breakfast, well what better way to start your day!!

But sometimes these breakfasts can get a bit dull and boring. I mean what new can one have for a breakfast each day? Eating the same thing over and over again, each day, that too in the morning can get monotonous. This search for something new and delicious often pushes one towards unhealthy breakfast, breakfast that may taste just fine but does a lot more harm to your body than any real good. It is necessary to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, a breakfast that will fill your tummy and also your mind and soul. The food should be such that you should feel energized and nourished which get you up and about for a tough day ahead, not heavy and fast food which will leave you drowsy and sick.

Being such a huge foodie, when I heard of the large array of breakfasts that the Gupta Ji Family has in the offing, I just could not resist myself! You have to visit this facebook and youtube of theirs - https://www.facebook.com/anaajkanashta / https://www.youtube.com/user/kelloggindia to know what I am going on about!

I found many great recipes there which got my taste buds all excited. I love fruits and I found breakfast that uses some of my favorites, Strawberries, Bananas, Kelloggs and Sitaphals! Who would not be tempted to visit their house when they are ready to offer Strawberry Strawberry Banana Cornflakes, Sitaphal Cornflakes, and Walnut Cornflakes Chocolate Balls in breakfast? I am just waiting for the upcoming Sunday when I will be visiting their home to try these out and also a lot more of the good stuff!! It will be surely an epic nashta and one that I will remember for a long time, which I am sure of!

So all those who have never loved the concept of starting their day with a nice quick bite, do start this morning ritual and you will never be the same again. Start your mornings with a joyful laugh, a hearty breakfast with your near and dear ones and watch your whole day go well!!

Little Things that Make Me Happy!

I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, 
a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. Nothing else - 
Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Happiness is indeed a very personal thing, something that depends utterly on our own selves. We are the masters of our own joys and what may provide us with happiness may be the transmitter of sadness for someone else. We may possess all the riches of this world, we may have name and fame that is spread far and wide but if we are not happy, and I do not mean an exterior show of happiness, then all the money, the name and the fame are pretty much futile.

If I had to modify the above quote tailored for me it would be something like this:

I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: witnessing a stunning sunrise, 
a day spent with friends, a bit of gardening, watching a cricket match lazing on the couch and then blogging about it, spending time with the family, the sound of the sea. Nothing else – DS

Some things that make me happy are:

Watching a Sunrise!!

I am a huge lover of nature and I will do anything to watch a dazzling sunrise. I have woken up at 5 and been on the terrace waiting for the sunrise in the chilly December months. Oh! What joy it is to see the mist slowly rise up and the sun break through the clouds amidst crazy colors that are spread across the huge canvas by God! I also love watching the stars in the night and have spent hours staring at the dark black sky just lost watching them twinkle in the sky.

Watching a Cricket Match!

I am a huge Cricket buff and will do anything to watch a match. I have missed college exams just to sit in the hostel mess and enjoy the match with a bunch of friends, I have taken holidays from my job to watch cricket and like many cricket fans I always have a cricket website open in office or while I am blogging at home.

Blogging!

My love for Cricket, when combined for my love for blogging is pretty much unparalleled! It gives me immense joy and happiness to first do the analysis of an upcoming match and then see how it all unfolds and finally blog about the whole affair. With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 going on, I have already written almost 70 comprehensive articles on cricket in 45 days and am still going strong!

Reading a Book!

How nice it would be to just spend your day cuddled up in a warm blanket and read your favorite book? I love reading and the characters come alive when I read, I usually become so engrossed in the book that the boundaries between reality and fiction often dissipate into thin air!

Spending Quality Time with Family and Friends!!

I love it when I am at home, spending time with my parents and my sister. Family is something that stands by you in all situations, they are the pillar of strength and the source of inspiration in most of the things that we do and their happiness is the single biggest source of happiness for me. I did my engineering living in a hostel and made some great friends, they are like a second family to me. I love talking to them or going out with them, we talk about anything and everything, share things with each other and seek opinions from each other. Those hostel memories mean a lot to me and bring a smile to my face even on a tough day!

There are so many little things that give us happiness, that bring a smile to our lips, that brighten our day and which give us the strength and vigor to face the world. It is we who must seek our own happiness because it is we who control that and no one else. So, go find your happiness, find what makes you tick and do tell me what makes you smile!!

This post is written for Coca-Cola

Because Together We Can and Together We Will…

‘Because #Together We Can and Together We Will’ This was the motivational tag line between me and 2-3 of my friends who were also my roommates while I was doing my engineering. There were times when we felt down on confidence, when we felt as if the world was against us, when we felt that the forces of nature were conspiring to defeat us. It was in those dark moments, that we would hold each other’s hands and repeat our magical mantra and instantly would feel the negativity around us dissipating in thin air.

I remember an incident very vividly when this little motivational gig of ours had a big influence on the way our engineering life panned out. Engineering exams are laced with poison that every student has to swallow and life often becomes lonely and tedious while studying for those exams which will in all probability, will shape the careers and determine where life will take them in the future. A single blot on the scorecard is frowned upon by prospective employers and the scorecard is supposed to be a mirror of the students’ abilities which is often not a correct reflection of the same.

It was before one such exam, the name of which was enough to strike fear in the heart of students, to paralyze them with dread and terror, EMT which was shortened for Electro Magnetic Field Theory, that I was very low on confidence. The vast nature of the field and the absurdly difficult problems posed by the subject had me all sweating and feeling the heat just the day before the exam. It was not as if I had not studied for the subject but I was not confident at all if I could reproduce the goods in the exam. That was what mattered at the end, everyone remembered and gave importance to the scores not how hard or how many hours one put in to studying.

The night before the exam, as before every exam I and 2 of my roommates went for a short walk around the hostel campus after our dinner. That was the time when studies, at most times took a back seat and we just chatted about frivolous things. My friends knew my anxiety of the upcoming test and decided to give me a nice little pep talk. While we were lying down on the green grass of our lawn, facing the innumerable stars that twinkled without a care in the world, my friends made me look in the direction of the star which was shining the brightest and seemed a little bigger than the rest of them. I tilted my head slightly to get a clear view of that large shining star. My friends said to me that I was like that star and that I would be alright in my exam. They reminded me about how I had done well previously as well when the chips were down, they told me about the time I had topped my CS exam while studying in the jungle all night, they harked about how I was one of the few guys who had passed the very tough Math paper the last year, etc… We often saw shooting stars in the sky when we were lying down facing the night sky and we saw one just as my friends were talking to me. We all became silent for a moment, closed our eyes and as always made a little wish. When we opened our eyes, and looked into one another’s I knew that there was only one wish that they could have yearned for that night.

Just then, as we were getting up, holding on to each other’s hands for support, we said in a chorus ‘Because Together We Can and Together We Will…’ That little time spent with my friends fired me up and approached the exam not with trepidation but with a renewed confidence. I managed to scrape through that test and really had my friends all to thank for as without them, I would surely have been tense and made a hash of things as a result.

My Journey From Home To Hostel ... #StartANewLife

My 12th standard HSC board exams had just got over and I had decided that I will do engineering just like many of my friends. The wait for results was an excruciating one but that time gave many of us friends some time to contemplate about our future and the choices that we were going to make. The results were announced and I did not get very good marks, not that I was expecting to top the exams but the results left me disconsolate and worried if I will be able to secure admission in a good engineering college in Mumbai. The admission process for engineering stream is a long drawn one which can go on for several months.

We had to fill up a form in which along with all our personal and academic details, we were required to fill in the 'Top 50 Colleges along with the Field of our choice' in descending order. So that was it, everyone filled up that form like their life depended on that sheet of paper. Since many of us friends had got similar marks we filled up the form in the same way. The best 40-45 Colleges of Mumbai were filled at the top and then the last 5-10 choices were filled keeping in mind our moderate marks. They were supposed to be the fail-safe in case we did not secure a place in the top 40 colleges, the chance for which was minute.

I filled up colleges only from Mumbai itself as I did not want to relocate and live in a hostel. The mere thought of it made me uncomfortable. Nobody in our whole family had ever done engineering, forget about staying away from the family in some hostel. My friends, however had no such tough decisions to make and they included some colleges which were situated out of Mumbai and could take in students with a little lesser marks. As expected, I did not get selected at any of the top colleges of Mumbai and time was fast running out. I had to make a decision soon.

One day, suddenly, out of nowhere, I received a call from one of my childhood school friends who told me that he had taken up engineering at a college in Ratnagiri. We had not been in contact since school as we had taken admission in different colleges. When I told him about my current predicament, he told me that his college still had a few seats left in the field of my choice and that I should try over there.

I told him that I will tell him in a few days about my decision and also asked him about how was the college, its environs, its students, etc. He told me that many of the students were from Mumbai and the college was located at a good place. Then we talked about our good school days and the mischief that we used to have together.

I had a talk about this with my Father and together we decided that in order to progress one has to make sacrifices and live away from the family. Change was the only thing that is constant in the world and without change the world would stagnate. My Mother was not approving of me going away to live in a hostel but me and my Dad persuaded her. I told my friend about my decision and he was elated, he assured me that all would be fine. I paid the fees and took admission in an engineering college that I had never heard of before.

I was very circumspect about this whole 'Living in a Hostel' affair and set out from my home towards my destination with a heavy heart and perhaps with a tear in my eye. When I reached at my college, my friend was there to welcome me. He showed me around the campus and I was delighted to know that he had arranged for us to be room-mates! 

I remember that I could not sleep for many days at that place, the room was too small as compared to my house in Mumbai and the bathrooms stank. The food at the mess was the worst, it was insipid and tasteless. I was homesick and badly wanted to return home. With Diwali approaching, we friends were involved in a dare devil act to escape from the hostel, my first of the very many adventures that I would have during my engineering days.

Slowly, I settled in at my new home away from home and made new friends. The hostel life gave me so many experiences to savor, so many memories to cherish. I learnt so much during those days; how to do my own work, how to enjoy while studying, how to take decisions independently, how to survive without sleep and food, etc. I and my friend remained room-mates for the next four years and had a blast. Those late night vada-pavs, the mid-night birthday parties, spending the whole night playing card sessions, playing cricket on the terrace, studying in the jungle for an exam!!

When the time came to leave the hostel and return back home, we were all very very sad. I remember that we did not want that time to get over, those days spent at the hostel was the best time of my life. That was nearly 13 years ago. Even today whenever, we talk, the talk invariably starts from our college days and proceeds further. Change, as my Father had rightfully said, was the only constant and changing for the better was the only way to success.

Hostel Memories - Story of Optimism about Life!!

The last semester engineering exams are going on and everybody is so excited. The students have spent four long years in a hostel, miles away from families and friends, slogging away day and night to realize the dreams of their parents and to build their own career. Plans are being chalked out every single day, we will do this, we will take a vacation there, we will shout like crazy in a chorus after the last exam, etc… There is a ‘Days to Freedom’ counter that has been set up on the wall of my hostel corridor. The last 31 days are written on the wall and with each passing day one number is stricken off by a member of the hostel with his autograph. The hostel is a mixed bag of emotions; everybody is excited and nervous, sad and anxious, some are confident and assured while some are apprehensive and confused… There is that strange sensation of impending joy and happiness mixed with a tinge of anxiety and sadness which is just around the corner but which is very difficult to put in words.

Only the last two papers remain now. Last 9 days before a new batch of engineers graduate and join the grind of corporate lives. Just a day before the second last exam, a friend and fellow hostelite suffers from what appears a heart attack and dies while on the way to the hospital. Let us call that friend ‘Amar’ because he will always remain alive in our memories and hence is immortal. Amar was a friendly and jovial boy; a little shy and quiet, always ready to help other students in times of their difficulties. He was not spectacular with his grades but he was not a failure either. The whole hostel was in a state of shock and pain. We had lost a friend, a friend with whom we had spent the past four years and someone who was on the cusp of being an engineer. There was speculation that he may have had a bad paper and might be under stress but I had seen Amar for 4 years and he was not the kind to be distressed over fewer marks in a subject.

We did not know how to react to such a loss; I guess none of us had seen death from such close quarters. The hostel which was always buzzing during the exams was silent as a morgue. Almost all of us attended his funeral later that day with tears in our eyes. Yes, we had to study for the exam slated for the next day but that was the last thing on our mind. Sometimes, something’s are just more important than studying for an exam. We tried to comfort his parents but they were inconsolable. His mother cried non-stop and we told her that she may have lost one son that day but she has surely found another 20.

It was over the next 8 days that made me feel so much like a human being. The loss of a fellow student and friend had brought the rest of us closer to each other so much more intimately. We all stood united in the face of adversity and we behaved like mature and responsible people. The boys engineering hostel is a boisterous, raucous and messy place at the best of times. But it was all very quiet in the corridors since that incident. It was decided that the ‘Days to Freedom’ counter would not be updated in the memory of Amar. Where Amar had signed, we wrote messages for him. After the last exam there was no wild celebrations or chantings, loud music which was a norm after each exam was conspicuous by its absence. There was a heaviness hanging around the hostel and the eyes seemed weary. There could not be any victory party after a comrade had been left behind.

It has been more than 8 years since that fateful day but it is still very much clear in my head. It took a death as we students came together, showed solidarity and just the way we conducted ourselves in the face of grief is something that makes me proud even today. There were some heart touching scenes throughout the incident and it filled me with so much hope about our future. The love and emotions that flowed, the moment when we all observed a two minute silence for him after the last exam got over; those moments filled me with optimism about life, about love.

My hostel memories came rushing back recently when Phil Hughes died after being stuck by a bouncer at SCG. The way the whole cricket fraternity came together was just in a way that we had done. Cricket actually took a back seat and when it resumed it was a better place to be in. When Johnson stuck Kohli flush on the helmet in the first test, he seemed petrified. All the Aussie players seemed genuinely concerned and surrounded Kohli enquiring about his well being. In the normal course of events, they would have sledged him and giggled but death teaches us all so much. Remember Venkatesh Prasad once hitting Ponting on the head down under in the 90’s and rushing to inquire about his health but Ponting had just waved him away with an abuse. Yes, how times change and change for the better. Sometimes, it just takes death to teach us how to live.

Tell us your favourite story of optimism - optimism about life, about love, about the world and its future.