Asmani Jamdar Surve

We are adapting new ways in different aspects of life. It is time for us to look at the way we look at the gifting trends too. Before I tell you why I am saying this, I will request you to remember any recent or last event that happened in your life be it a birthday, housewarming, marriage, newborn, baby shower or any such occasion. And while you are recalling what are those things that you are remembering; is it the venue, experience, the process, the memories created, who supported you at the event, after-event fatigue and exhaustion or above all this what gifts you received and who gave? Also, be honest did you utilise all the gifts you received or you kept them for future charity? I experienced such 3 events in the last month, where I was a giver and also a receiver. In both my experience I did not see overwhelming value in the gifts in comparison to the efforts the person would have put to get those gifts. When selecting gifts I prefer the person's liking, their interests and

Time is passing, and it will be judgemental to say if we are progressing or deteriorating. There are two sides to each coin and the concept of passing time too has that. What concerns me as an individual is, the quality of life and the definition of changing life values. Deep down I am a true Indian and India has been an idol for culture and life values, which somewhere on the scale is falling with time. We are paying the cost of development which is too high to realise at this time, which will be devasting when surfaced.   As Indian we take pride in our diversified culture, literature, rituals and Vedas. What are we doing to nurture and maintain it? This whole thought came to me when I was listening to some of the current top-listed Bollywood songs and to my disappointment each song had words which speak about "intoxication", "physical attraction", "addiction", "vulgar video", "cheating", "many love relationships" and some a