About Me

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Archana Kapoor Nagpal is an internationally published author of four books. She often participates in the short story competitions, and her winning stories are now part of international anthologies. She has seen her short stories, poems and Haiku published in other anthologies as well She has also been actively involved in the editing, proofreading and book designing of various anthologies. You can read more about her writing career at the below link: https://www.facebook.com/archanaknagpal/

Monday, August 15, 2011

Happy Independence Day!!


I am always asked why I chose to settle in India and married an Indian guy. My answer is below for my all readers and friends. India is not only my home but my ONLY HOME!

"Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||




Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||



Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujai.rdhR^itakharakaravaale
abalaa keno maa eto bale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||


Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire


Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||


TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM

Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||


ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |"



And now the english translation of the Vande Mataram

Translation by Shree Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.


Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.


Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.



Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!



And now Vande Mataram in Hindi Script

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलां मातरम्
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।। ।। वन्दे मातरम्
कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।। ।। वन्दे मातरम्
तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि, तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणा: शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि
मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे मातरम् ।। ।। वन्दे मातरम्
त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलां
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ।। ।। वन्दे मातरम्
श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषितां
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ।। ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।।
PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN!!!
I was not born in India but I want to die in India:)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

To My Brothers on Rakhi:)

This is a day that I should not write as I have been unwell since Monday. In last three days I have been just going through physiotherapy and medical investigations (:

But as I am better for a while, I want to use my time to write this post as how things will be tomorrow God Knows Better!

It’s Rakhi on Saturday so I wanted to post this poem for my brothers. I was born in a family with a sister and lot of cousin brothers. Somehow things never went that great as far as blood relations were concerned. But today I have my all cousins back on my FB list and above that my life given brothers. People I met as strangers during my journey of life and they became the biggest source of happiness as you see their names in FB Family.

To my birth given brothers (cousins) and my life given brothers....I love you ALL...and this Rakhi – I just want to thank you for being there with me. You make me feel proud as a sister and a woman!

A poem called ‘My Brother’ by Len Maonio!

my brother's so sweet
in times of need he is there

my brother's so responsible
he taught me a lot of things

my brother's so funny
we even teared from laughing

my brother's so fierce
don't mess with him when his angry

my brother fell in love
and he's very very happy

my brother made up his mind
and had a nice sweet family

my brother is away
i'm sad when i think of it

but my brother's heart is good
and i know he will never forget me
.
I LOVE YOU ALL ...GOD BLESSES!
Cheerio:)

Sunday, August 7, 2011

I dedicate to MY TRUE FRIENDS!


Few Lines I Read and I DEDICATE TO MY TRUE FRIENDS!

True friend
A pal is one
With whom you can have fun
Who'll listen to you and talk
With whom you can share a joke
One you can drink with
And who with you will dine
One with whom all will look rosy
All pretty and all fine...

But when comes adversity
You'll seldom find him by your side
And even if stay does he,
Not long will he abide.

A true friend is one
With whom you can talk
'bout all under the sun
With whom you can laugh and joke
Drink, dine and have fun
And who to you will lend a ear
With him all will be Okey doke'.

Then, when hardship knocks...
You'll find him by your side
Always.
You he'll never leave
But try best to you guide
When you sigh, he'll too heave
When you fail to succeed
He'll try to bring to fruition
Your deed
When you fall sick
He'll bring relief
When the whole world mocks,
He'll stand by your belief
If all else the other way looks
He'll share your grief
Even if harm befalls ye
He'll stand in its way
And will not hesitate even a bit
To endanger his life, to lay down it.
And prove that a friend in need
Is a friend indeed!

Such a friend is hard to come by
Who'll laugh with you, with you who'll cry
So if ever one you get,
Try to be worthy of your mate
And see that never breaks the bond
That you with him ties fond.



Open your hands to hug that one such friend today – Happy Friendship Day!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Are you Ready for Friendship Day? - History of Friendship Day!

We are just two days far from Friendship Day so forget about your enemies and just think about your friends. Friends, who give you a meaning to live, who are there to hold you when you fall and to take you home when you are drunkJ. Ironically, to what I write I love my enemies more than my friends as they gave me the real understanding about the word ‘friend’. They have eased the task for me to decide who my real friends are and who fake ones are.

This post is incomplete if I do not thank people who stood against me. I salute my enemies and their hatred for meJ. It is right in my case when you make ten enemies then only you make one true friend. I have more enemies than friends but I have more true friends than just friends.

I just have one request forget the word 'enmity' in life as “Life is too small to love then why to find time to hate and hurt others”. Join hands and make friends as friendship is not just a word but much more than that.

As I posted in my post on 2 August, 2011 my friends are my family so I wish all my friends a very happy Friendship Day. Indeed to all my readers and web editors who read and publish my stories. Thanks!

Now we all wish Friendship Day but have you realised how many of us know about the origin and history of Friendship Day?...No Problems...I will share with all of you here in this post.

History of Friendship Day

Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The noble idea of honouring the beautiful relationship of friendship caught on with the people and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival.

Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India.

In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie - the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Special performances by rock bands are also organized in countries like the US to enhance the jubilations.

Friendship Day with different customs, by giving the festival different names and holding it in times unlike that of the actual festival. For example, National Friendship Day is held on the first Sunday in August; Women’s Friendship Day is on the third Sunday in August; the third week of May is the old friends, New Friends Week and the whole of February is designated as the International Friendship Month. These days, Friendship Day is celebrated with a lot of funfare and great expenses. Just as in US and several other countries, the festival has been greatly commercialized. Days before the festival, card and gift companies launch an extensive campaign to lure people into buying cards and gift items for their friends.

ARE YOU STILL THINKING...GO GET THE CARDS AND GIFTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS...

Amilo TuttiJ

I could not think of a 'title'...........

This is my birthday month and I want to make full use of this month to communicate what I live with and what drives me to live better.

Below is a story for all of you. First read and in case if you have read then you need to read it again. Before the post ends there are few lines posted in colour ‘red’ for all of you as a message from my end!

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.” “Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.” “There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go and I want him to come live with us.” “I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.” “No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.” “Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was a suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know. Their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Message to My Readers

I have noticed a very important thing in life that we disconnect people or ignore those who suffer from medical problems. I have experienced it so I can write about this. We judge people with their physical companionship and how healthy they are to walk with us on our walks of life. When parents get old and sick we bind them to rooms with a nurse to take care of them. Or simply move with our lives without thinking who gave this life to us. Medical problem is a curse in itself and if it has no cure then you do not live with it but you die with the same.

Welcome people with medical problems with a smile and a hug – whether friend or family all they want is your love and attention. Maybe a smile of yours can give them courage to live a pain free life. If you cannot even do this you are good for NOTHING!

Do not forget if you ignore those who are suffering, tomorrow it could be you or your loved ones who could be ignored for the same reason!

Respect People and Spread LoveJ

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

My Rapid Fire Post!

As I posted, this is my Birthday Month so I share my few likes and things with my readersJ

Coffee or Tea

Of course COFFEE!!! That too black coffee with a pinch of sugar and few drops of low fat milkJ

Indian or Western Attire

My loved ones like my husband says ‘I look best in sarees (traditional Indian attire) but for me my blue jeans and a white shirt or maybe red top and black shorts (very casual and easy to carry)

Book or Pub

 Of course a good book!

Drinking or Smoking

I have quit both for a better skin but as preference drink that too only – JD with coke.

Family or Friends

Now this is tough but I prefer friends over family as my friends are my family. If you check my FB account I have a multilingual family – an Andhra daughter, an Italian brother, a Telugu brother and a Punjabi sister. So who says you cannot select family. I am lucky to choose my familyJ

Dance or Dinner

I am a hard core dancer so definitely dance with someone who can catch my spiritsJ

Work or Home

I work from home so both!

Swimming or Gym

They are like my babies but since I am a swimmer and my profession is around the same so ‘swimming’.

Junk Jewellery or Gold/Diamonds

Definitely, junk jewellery. I am a diamond in my eyes and there is a diamond in each one of us (read this book if you missed reading it). I have diamond/gold jewellery in my wardrobe but it makes no difference to me as “diamond is only a piece of carbon that can handle pressures very high”.

Salt or Sweet

OMG! I have a sweet jaw but I control to keep my weight in limitsJ.

Yoga in Morning or Late Night Parties

Yoga in morning!

I am tired of this rapid fire post. I am sleepy and need to hit the sack..

CheerioJ

Dolce vita!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

What is a Bigger Tragedy???


I read this story long time back and feel to share. A small message through this post – BE SATISFIED IN LIFE…

Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy than not getting what you want.

We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.

One day while he was counting a mysterious stranger came from nowhere and told the King that he would grant him a wish.

The king was delighted and said, “I would like everything I touch to turn to gold.”

The stranger asked the king, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” replied the greedy king. So the stranger said, “Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the golden touch.”

The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn’t be true. But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his clothes, and to his surprise, everything turned to gold. Of course, the king was very delighted.

He then looked out of the window and saw his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into gold and he couldn’t read it. Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and the glass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to himself, “I can’t eat and drink gold.”

Just about that time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a gold statue. There were no more smiles left.

The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his golden touch.

The king said he was the most miserable man. The stranger asked, “What would you rather have, your food and loving daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?”

The king cried and asked for forgiveness. He said, “I will give up all my gold. Please give me my daughter back because without her I have lost everything worth having.”

The stranger said to the king, “You have become wiser than before” and he reversed the spell. The king got his daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he never forget for the rest of his life.
To My Readers...
Live Life Kingsize means 'Living it to the fullest'...So be contented and satisfied in LIFE!
Dolce Vita!