An enlightened mystic and
a contemporary master,
“Anandmurti Gurumaa”
is a living inspiration for
seekers of truth and love.
Gurumaa is an
epitome of wisdom,
guiding milliions towards
the realisation of true self.
Dialogue with Gurumaa
dispels the darkness and
gives a new ray of hope
to live a conscious life.

What is life? (Ravi Ahuja)
Life is so short but yet life is so beautiful. Life is a moment and moments are flickering. Life is a moment and moments are transient, changeable. Life is a beauty but it withers away. Life is a smile but it fades out. Life is a blossom but it dries out.
Again I repeat the question, what is life? Life is a cascade but yet it dwindles out. Life is a stream flowing endlessly but yet it dries away one day.
So these flickering moments, changing times, moving moments, an existence has to be explored which doesn’t change, does not wither, does not dry up, there is not a moment where there is ‘the end’ to that existence.
Life in its true purity has to be enjoyed, has to be tasted, has to be celebrated, but it isn’t possible until and unless a person is awakened enough to admire the beauty. The aesthetic value, if it is missing, then you might be living in the heaven, but you still be living in the hell.

The quality to appreciate the thing: Sun is rising in the horizon. Sun is spreading out its vibrant colors; and yet right before that rising sun a person can be engrossed, calculating his accounts, taking point of all the debts and the credits, taking point of how much money he made. There the priceless, the precious sun is rising and here this sleepy head is all bothered about the figures. Here you miss the life.

There is a beautiful saying of a woman mystic of Rajasthan; a small, at one time princely state of India, the queen mystic – Meera. Meera says: who will enjoy the essence of life? And she answers herself, “One who has drunk the cup of divinity will enjoy the life”. One whose cup is not full of divinity will never, never enjoy life.

What is the best time to do meditation?(Sudha Malhotra)
Meditation isn’t a feast to be done at one particular time of day or night, that you closed your eyes, sat in a padmasan, did some pranayam or did some Tibetan or Buddhist or Hindu or Yogic way of meditation.
And then popped up your eyes for twenty three hours doing all stupid things of worldly people. Worrying about each and everything; right from the politics to weather. to fashion, to cars, to houses, to women, to men, to affairs, all dwindling things.
The flavour of the meditation has to spread out in all day. Many people have asked me that they have problems in their knees. They have arthritis; they cannot sit for long in one posture. What to do?
Don’t Worry! You can stretch your legs. Definitely yes! You can sit with the help of a pillow as back support. You can sit on the chair and meditate. But the only prerequisite is that for the first twenty five to thirty minutes, if possible, be immovable. Don’t let the body move.

What happens is when you do this you change, you change and when you move enough your body, in those body movements the awareness flame will also move. Your concentration will keep on flowing from one part of the body to the other.
Although meditation is not just concentration, but definitely awareness has, this whole of awareness has part of concentration also. There is a beautiful aasan in yoga – Rajyoga which is called shavasan.
Do the meditation for twenty minutes, twenty five minutes and if your arthritis is giving you problem or your knees are giving you a problem then, no problem! Lie down in a shavasan!

Yoga Nidra
releases
all types of tensions-
muscular, emotional
and mental tensions.

Every human being is endowed with great potentialities but one need to have awareness and training to explore this inner treasure. Yoga Nidra is the way to turn inwards and bring consciousness to the constant flow of life happening within and rise higher within and without. It is the scientific way to eliminate the root cause of all negativities like stress related disorders, ailments like hypertension, depression, asthma, digestive disorders, etc which drain our life energy.

Yoga Nidra is an ancient tantric method, which can open new capacities of the mind. Stress, frustrations, insomnia, and psychosomatic diseases which have become part of modern man’s life, are being caused by our unstable mind. Unknowingly, we hurt ourselves and hold people and situations responsible for our turmoil. Yoga Nidra gives us an opportunity to understand our mind and cuts through its blind conditionings.
Yoga Nidra means sleeping consciously. It is a kind of deep sleep in which you don’t loose consciousness. It is a more efficient and effective form of psychic and physiological rest and rejuvenation. Normally, when people sleep, they do not unburden totally. They carry their frustrations, conflict, pain, and turmoil with them, hence, sleep never goes deep. Because of this, there remains great tension in mind and body.
The practice of Yoga Nidra not only relaxes but restructures and reforms our whole personality from within. With every session, we burn old sansakaras, habits and tendencies in order to be born anew. Yoga Nidra means sleep with a trace of awareness. It is a state of mind in-between wakefulness and dream.
At this moment, your intellectual mind is operating but when you relax, the subconscious and unconscious levels of mind open up. If you practice Yoga Nidra, then the nature of your mind can be changed, diseases can be cured and your creative genius can be restored.
The sub-conscious mind and the unconscious mind are the most powerful forces in the human being. Sub-Conscious mind is a very obedient disciple and it immediately carries out the orders that you put to it.
In Yoga Nidra, the most effective means of training the mind is found in sankalpa – resolution, which you make for yourself during each practice. Anything in life can fail you but not your sankalpa. It is an important stage of Yoga Nidra and a powerful way of reshaping your personality and giving a new direction in life along positive lines. When conscious mind-body is in deep relaxation, at that time, whatever sankalpa- resolution you will make, it will get fulfilled. The resolution you make at the beginning of the practice is like sowing a seed and the resolution at the end is like irrigating it.
Yoga Nidra is a practice which brings the deeper layers of the psyche into conscious experience. This brings deeper relaxation on all levels; physical, psychological and mental. This induces direct affect on glandular functions which means a better health and higher levels of energy.
During practice of Yoga Nidra your consciousness travels through one layer to another. Sometimes, it goes very deep and then you have exploding fantastic experiences. And sometimes it won’t go too deep. Experiences such as levitation may occur while consciousness transverses through sub-conscious mind. Temporary dissociation takes place in-between mind and body, and this is the time when you will have wonderful experiences.
In Yoga Nidra, you do not have to concentrate, rather you move your consciousness from one part of the body to another; concentration will rather create obstruction. Just hear the instructions aware fully and a deep relocation will occur at physiological, psychological and emotional levels. Sometimes, you will be close to your senses and then you will glide away; when consciousness is suspended for a few moments, periodically, which means that it alternates between sub-conscious and unconscious states.
Yoga Nidra releases all types of tensions-muscular, emotional and mental tensions. When muscular tensions are released, it heals nervous system and endocrinal imbalances. When emotional tensions are released, we come out of all dualities: love-hate, pain-pleasure to name a few, which are more difficult to release. But when these emotions are repressed, we loose our sanity and stability. Mental tensions are a result of excessive mental activity. Yoga Nidra is a science of relaxation which enables us to dive deep into the realms of sub-conscious mind thereby releasing all tensions.
For all seekers and those who wish to experience higher states of consciousness, best of health and a powerful method to heal oneself, this ancient method of yoga, is available in the form of cd, So relax and just listen to it aware fully. When deep relaxation happens, our glands function becomes better and makes our body healthy.

Yoga is a way of life, an art of righteous living or an integrated system for the benefit of the body, mind and inner spirit. To experience and learn the real benefits of Yog Nidra, log on to www.yogawonders.com

Must do: Watch your mind to see what kinds of thoughts come in it. Do not pass judgment on these thoughts saying that this is a good thought or this is a bad thought. Your mind is a showman; it brings so many shows in front of you, just watch these shows of your own mind. Adopting an approach of witness, watch your mind and its activities like an observer, unattached. Don’t get carried away by those activities. When you view your mind as an observer, the mind will cease to be a problem and become, instead, merely a free entertainer.

Carry out this experiment

Make a resolve, “I am not going to discuss others”. Sit with someone thinking that “I will surely talk, but today I will not talk about others.” Other means anybody other than the two of you. Even God & Guru come in the category of others. Do talk but the topic of your conversation must not be ‘others’. Then there will be nothing to talk about. When there remains nothing to talk about, you will become quiet and when you become quiet, only then will you be able to investigate your own mind. And what is required to observe one’s own mind? Silence is required. As long as your mind is noisy, as long as it goes on thinking about other people, you can not hear even the words of wisdom.

When you sit down for meditation, you say, “Numerous thoughts keep crossing your mind” All this thinking that you are doing, whatever you are contemplating, who are all these thoughts about? About others! When you begin thinking about others, you move away from meditation. You sat down with the intention of praying to God and are actually thinking of others. Whether this thinking is good or bad is immaterial; the fact is that your goal is not attained.

Stop thinking about others, stop discussing others and stop talking about others. Whenever thoughts of others begin to arise in your mind, then use the sword of knowledge to chop off the heads of those thoughts, saying, “I am not going to think about others.” When you quit thinking about others, when you set your mind absolutely free from others, then you become an aspirant, a discoverer, a saadhak in the real sense.
“Be a witness to your mind and then only you come to know that you
and your mind are different entities.”

Nature is not only a cosmetologist, but an expert chemist! It has provided such versatile natural ingredients that help to enhance the beauty of the skin. In fact, they have curative properties too. Indeed, natural ingredients can even be categorized under cosmetological terms.

Cleansers, toners, moisturizers, nourishers, astringents, masks, all exist in nature and some of these are within your easy reach. While using home ingredients, remember to choose items which are clean and fresh and follow the basic principles of hygiene while chopping, mixing and grinding them. Knowing your skin type and specific needs helps to select the right ingredients. It always helps to be aware of the look and feel of your skin to know which ingredient will be of greater benefit. If you have sensitive skin, apply the preparations on a very small area first and leave it on for about 20 minutes, to see whether your skin reacts or not. Beauty is the outcome of regular care. Indeed, regularity is the keyword. It is never too late to start taking care of the skin.

Cleansing

Our skin is exposed to dirt and grime, as well as chemical pollutants in the air and water everyday. Cleansing the skin at night is of utmost importance, to remove all the impurities that have been deposited during the day. Most of us love soap and water to cleanse our face. However, soap may not help to dissolve the pollutants and make-up debris and remove them totally from the skin surface. Besides, most soaps are alkaline in nature. The skin should not be washed with soap and water more than twice a day.
Cleansing for Oily Skin: For an oily skin, deep pore cleansing is essential, so that the pores remain free of oil. Mix rice flour with curd and apply on the skin. Rub gently, using small circular movements. Leave the mixture on for a few minutes and then rinse off with plenty of plain water. However, if you have rash, pimples or acne, facial scrubs should not be applied on them. You can apply them only on areas with blackheads. A cotton wool pad dipped in milk can be an adequate cleanser for oily skin.

Cleansing for Dry Skin: Take half a cup of milk and add five drops of any vegetable oil (til, olive or sunflower oil). Put this in a bottle and shake well. Apply it on the skin using cotton wool and then wipe off with moist cotton wool. Keep left-over mixture in the fridge. Remember that home recipes should not be kept for more than 4 to 5 days.
Cleansing Scrub for all skin types: Take one teaspoon ground dry orange and lemon peels, one teaspoon oatmeal and one teaspoon ground almond. Add one teaspoon rose water. Apply on the face and rub gently with circular movements. Then wash off with water. For dry skin, facial scrubs should be used only once a week. For oily skin, they may be used three or four times a week. Orange and lemon peels should be dried thoroughly in the sun and kept in a tightly closed container. You can use the oats which are available for making porridge.

Skin Toning

Skin toning helps to improve blood circulation to the skin surface, close the pores, refresh the skin and add a glow. It should be an integral part of daily skin care. Cotton wool pads of about 4 inches square in size are useful for toning the skin. Soak it in the skin toner and wipe the skin. Pat the skin briskly with it. Then, use it to stroke the skin gently, with outward and upward movement on the cheeks. Each movement should end at the temples. Apply gentle pressure at the temples. On the forehead, start from the centre and go outwards on each side, again ending at the temples. For the chin, use circular movements. Tone the neck too, going downwards from the chin. Tone around the eyes, using a very light touch. Rose water is the best known natural skin toner. For dry skin, rose water may be used daily to tone the skin.
Skin Tonic for normal to dry skin: For normal skin, mix together three-fourth cup rose water with one-fourth cup witch-hazel. For dry skin, mix three-fourth cup rose water with one-fourth cup witch-hazel and half teaspoon honey. Keep the lotion in a tightly closed glass jar in the refrigerator.
Toner for oily skin: Mix rose water and cucumber juice in equal quantities and use it to tone the skin. Cucumber has an astringent effect and helps to close the pores. Or For oily skin or oily areas on combination skin, mix rose water and witch-hazel in equal quantities and apply.
Toner for all skin types: Take one tablespoon honey and one peeled and cored apple. Pour the ingredients in a blender. Apply it on the face like a mask and keep it on for 15 minutes. Then, rinse off with cool water. This is a powerful skin toner.

Mask

A good mask is an ideal way of preserving the youthful qualities of the skin. They perform many functions that improve the health and appearance of the skin. A good mask should improve skin texture and make it clearer and more translucent. Before applying any mask, tie your hair back, away from the face. First cleanse your skin thoroughly. Use a flat, wide brush to apply the mask. Do not apply the mask on the sensitive skin around the eyes. Avoid the lips too. Leave on the mask till it is dry, or for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the mask by rinsing it off with plenty of water.
Cleansing Mask for oily and combination skin: Apply ripe papaya pulp on the face, keeping it on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Fruit mask for all skin types: Fruits like banana, apple, papaya and orange can be mixed together and applied on the face. They should be mashed or made into a pulp. Keep it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Papaya is rich in enzymes and helps to cleanse dead skin cells. Banana tightens the skin. Apple contains pectin and helps to cleanse the skin. Orange is rich in Vitamin C. It restores the normal acid-alkaline balance.
Mask for normal to dry skin: Mix together three tablespoon cornflakes with one teaspoon each of milk, honey and egg white into a paste. Apply on the face and wash off after 15 minutes.
For oily/combination skin and acne: Mix one teaspoon honey and two teaspoons curd to fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and apply. Curd can also be applied by itself, even on an acne condition. It helps to soften the skin and restores the natural acid mantle.

“Necessity is the mother of all inventions”, Ms Sudha Gupta has proved this statement to be correct with her unprecedented convictions. A woman with a vision, who has single handedly revolutionized pre-school education. She tells us in her own words that how she got there and where she aims to go next.

Meditation and yoga can really help a child in calming and controlling his mind as a result of which his concentration and spirits are lifted. Nurturing our children into good human beings is the real way of connecting them with God.

“If you want to thank God, be good to His people.”

Sudha Gupta

• Soul Curry: You have totally revolutionized the concept of pre-nursery schools? How did it all begin?

• Sudha Gupta: It was the year 1991. My son was 3 at that time. I went around looking for a pre-school which would add more colors to my child’s world. Instead I only found two bedroom dungeons where children were made to cram rhymes and concepts. That was the time when I decided that I will ensure that the children get their due and opened the first branch of Mother’s Pride in 1996. We built a spacious, colorful, child friendly building in Paschim Vihar where children could fully enjoy their childhood. For the first time, computers were introduced to pre-schoolers. A team of research and development under me designed innovative tools and activities to stimulate the senses of every child. Stage exposure brought about miraculous confidence in each child which even the parents could not believe. This opened the eyes of caretakers and parents about what crucial role pre-school years play in a child’s life. More and more airy and spacious pre-schools came up. Approach shifted from spoon feeding to experiential learning. This revolution has now engulfed almost the whole Delhi and NCR and I will always be proud of the fact that it all began with Mother’s Pride.

• SC: How important is it to inculcate the essence of right values in children as young as two year old?

• SG: Two is an age when a child’s mind is like a sponge. What ever is taught to the child, he absorbs it immediately and it stays with him for a lifetime. So values like honesty, truthfulness, respect for elders, love for every human being, family bonds, inculcated at this age leave an indelible mark on the child’s personality. If the foundation is strong, outside factors cannot uproot the basic value system of a child when he grows up.

• SC: What all activities can be introduced in day to day life to shape the complete personality of the child?

• SG: More than what activities, it is how the activities are conducted that matters. Every activity a teacher or a parent takes up with his child should raise the child’s self esteem and fill his world with love and fun. For example you pick up an activity of dance; instead of appreciating your child for what he is trying to learn, you criticize him for not doing it perfectly. Such activity is not only useless but will also have a negative impact on the child. In day to day life, you may include activities like pool activity, coloring, craft, story reading and narration, cycling, building blocks, memory games etc.

• SC: What is your take on introducing yoga & meditation to per-nursery children?

• SG: In my view, meditation and yoga must be made a part of the curriculum in schools. There is so much of stress and anxiety among children of today that this is no longer just an extra-curricular activity but a need. Meditation and yoga can really help a child in calming and controlling his mind as a result of which his concentration and spirits are lifted.

• SC: Are there incidents of children under stress, anxiety or any other psychological problem at such a tender age?

• SG: Very much. Stubbornness, aggressiveness, clinginess, anxieties are not just behavioral traits but can very much be the outcome of stress in children. Upset stomach, sleep disturbances, bedwetting, decrease in appetite, inability to relax etc. are all symptoms of stress. Stress can be due to various reasons like unhealthy home atmosphere; birth of a sibling; bullying at school; death of a pet; inability to cope with education and many more.

• SC: Whenever we talk about complete personality development, we usually mean physical, emotional, and mental development of the child. Do you think that the spiritual aspect of personality is not being given due importance?

• SG: If we take spiritual development as making the children aware of the presence of God and his power, then I think it is very much happening in our families. However, in my view an important aspect of spiritual development is compassion for fellow human beings. There is an old saying that if you want to thank God, be good to His people. We all worship God but only a few of us make an effort to create a difference in the lives of others. Parents should donate time to rouse compassion in their children for others. Nurturing our children into good human beings is the real way of connecting them with God.

• SC: How do you facilitate the importance of being connected with god in the children?

• SG: When a child is connected to God, it is easier for him to follow that voice inside him called conscience. Conscience represents God who guides us why to choose right over wrong. The sooner our children develop the muscle to hear and follow this voice the better.

• SC: Your parenting insights are very helpful. How is your vision so clear about every type of relationship with the children?

• SG: I owe my parenting expertise to my two sons, Pratik and Paras. They taught me that love, patience, listening and enjoying each moment that can bring the whole family together. As I explored parenthood, there was one person in my life whose valuable lessons always encouraged me to be good parent. That was my father-in-law. His one unforgettable lesson which I have also quoted in my book ‘Celebrate Childhood’ is ‘If you want to have a son like Krishna, become a mother like Yashoda’.

• SC: How do you cope up with your work stress?

• SG: One feels stressed only when you have to do something you don’t love. I love my work and my life, so I have never felt the need to unwind. I have always balanced my work with family. I holiday at least twice a year, watch movies, chill with friends, party. My family gives me the space to work with full freedom. It is an amazing feeling to live with when your family is as proud as you are of your work.

Our skin is perhaps the most vulnerable organ in the body. It is constantly exposed to pollution, grime, and changes in weather conditions. Not surprisingly, skin problems are a common occurrence and afflict almost everyone at sometime or the other in their lives. Not only does a neglected skin fade quickly but it cannot perform its functions such as nourishment, purification and rejuvenation properly. In order to understand and deal with common skin problems and also to follow an effective regimen for day today skin care, it is important to first understand the skin-its structure and its function.

Essence of Essential Oils

The term essential indicates that the oil carries distinctive scent (essence) of the plant, not that it is an especially important or fundamental substance. Essential oils are the oils extracted from flowers, seeds and roots of trees and plants.
Interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades, with the popularity of aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine which claims that the specific aromas carried by essential oils have curative effects. Oils are volatilized or diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage, or burned as incense, for example.

Essential Oils in Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine, in which healing effects are ascribed to the aromatic compounds in essential oils and other plant extracts. Many common essential oils have medicinal properties that have been applied in folk medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today. For example, many essential oils have antiseptic properties, though some are stronger than others. In addition, many are claimed to have an uplifting effect on the mind, though different essential oils have different properties. The claims are supported in some studies and unconfirmed in others. Aromatherapy has become the buzz word of the contemporary times. Owing to the manifold benefits that the aromatherapy essential oil offers, it has been witnessing mushrooming growth in demand. It is known to fulfill therapeutic, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of humans. The aromatherapy essential oil is also of great value in meditation. Aroma therapy essential oil massage is sure to rejuvenate you.

How essential oil effect the skin?

Essential oils are absorbed through the skin and penetrate its deepest layers and from there travel to the organs, glands and tissues of the body.
They also regulate the blood and the lymph fluid, improving circulation, which helps respiration of the skin. The antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties of essential oils help in healing skin inflammation. Essential oils are also helpful for treating burns and cuts. They not only reduce the possibility of infection but also stimulate new skin cells through their cycophylatc activity.
Several essential oils act as skin tonics and helps muscles to regain a healthy condition. The astringent action of essential oils helps in binding and tightening the skin tissues and thus arrests excessive oil lines of the skin.
Essential oil help to maintain the moisture level of the skin. Several essential oils act as a natural deodorant and even as a skin tonic.

Every first of the month Mullah Nasruddin used to cross the border with thirty donkeys, with two bails of straw on each. Each time the custom person stopped him to ask about his profession and Nasruddin would reply, “I am an honest smuggler.” So each time, Nasruddin, his donkeys and the bails of straw were searched from top to toe. Each time the custom folk could not find anything. Next week, Nasruddin would return without his donkeys or bails of straw. Years went by and Nasruddin prospered in his smuggling profession to the extent that he retired. Many years later, the custom person too had retired. As it happened one day, the two former adversaries met in a country far from home. The two hugged each other like old buddies and started talking. After a while, the custom person asked the question which had been bugging him over the years, “Mullah, please let me know what were you smuggling all those years ago?” Nasruddin thought for a few seconds and finally revealed his open secret, “Donkeys.”

Since you already know

Once, the people of The City invited Mulla Nasruddin to deliver a khutba. When he got on the minbar (pulpit), he found the audience was not very enthusiastic, so he asked “Do you know what I am going to say?” The audience replied “NO”, so he announced “I have no desire to speak to people who don’t even know what I will be talking about” and he left. The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next day. This time when he asked the same question, the people replied “YES” So Mullah Nasruddin said, “Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I won’t waste any more of your time” and he left. Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited Mullah Nasruddin to speak the following week. Once again he asked the same question – “Do you know what I am going to say?” Now the people were prepared and so half of them answered “YES” while the other half replied “NO”. So Mullah Nasruddin said “The half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the other half” and he left!

THE SINGING SENSATION KAILASH KHER BARES HIS HEART
AND SOUL IN AN INTERVIEW WITH SOUL CURRY. HIS EARTHY VOICE TAKES HIS LISTENERS THROUGH WIDE ARRAY OF POWERFUL EMOTIONS. THE MAN BEHIND ” ALLAH KE BANDE”, TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE, HOW HE SEES WORLD AND PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND MOST OF ALL ABOUT HIS PASSION ‘SINGING’.

• SOUL CURRY: TELL US ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY, THE PROCESS OF KAILASH KHER IN THE MAKING?

• KAILASH KHER: I was born to a very simple family at Meerut and later on we moved to Delhi. I would call it simple family because here too just like most of the families, the basic aim of parents was to see us receive education; find ourselves a good job so to settle down later. The usual office to home, home to office thing! When my family was talking about 9 to 5 jobs, I was developing a special relationship with music.
  However at the same time my earliest exposure to music happened through my father. My father, a simple man,
  Pandit ji, use to sing on, “ektara” amongst his circle of people; “paach baras ki meera ladali, sakiyon mein khelan jai re sun rana bai”. I was 5-6 years old then. But I use to get fascinated by this style of singing and presentation. When we would wait for our weekly doze of “Chitrahaar”, there also I would search for the songs somewhat similar to the above style of singing.
  Childhood is a vulnerable time and I feel blessed that I developed an attraction towards these expressions of life. A totally different world was opening up for me. I would call it as a very revolutionary phase of my life.

• SC: DID YOU RECEIVE ANY FORMAL TRAINING IN SINGING?

• KK: As I was discovering my affinity towards singing, the next step was to find somebody who could help me with my singing. But in 13- 14 years I almost changed 10 different gurus, so could say that I did not receive any formal rigorous training under tutelage of any one person.

• SC: SO WHAT WAS NEXT ON YOUR MIND?

• KK: Well I dabbled in different professions while still learning music, so to say. I got involved in export business run by a relative, did something here and there but soon realized this was not all I wanted to be or do.
  It was then my elder brother, now a lawyer, suggested me to go to Mumbai and try my luck in Bollywood. The next thing, I was off to Mumbai. One day, opportunity knocked and I got my first assignment – a jingle for Nakshatra diamonds. Then came the song that made people notice my voice, it was as we all know, Allah ke bande from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part-II. Initially I did not have my hopes set on a song in a small budget film. After this everything just started to fall in place.

• SC: TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIYAAZ, ANY REGIME YOU FOLLOW?

• KK: If we go by the definition completely, then I don’t. I do not have any particular regime where I practice for hours together. There is a regime in terms of studio rehearsals, while composing or during live shows. Most of my time is spent in singing so that is how it is for me. Here I do not mean to underestimate the importance of riyaaz but I do not have a set regime so to speak.

• SC: WHAT IS KAILASH’S DEFINITION OF MUSIC?

• KK: I cannot define music in words because it is difficult to do so. Whatever I am going to say will come from the programmed CD of my mind. I feel that around me too different mind softwares are at work. Some are programmed to say this, others that. Music is forever, Sashawat toh sashwat rahega, whether I say so or not. It does not matter.
  People ask me that you sing sufi or you are a sufi singer, I would like to talk about this current rage of Sufi singing or Sufi singers.
  Sufi’ as a word these days has become more of a fashion statement, a brand, a marketable commodity. It has suddenly become a trend; anything that sells becomes a brand. There are people who write thesis about Sufism yet they do not know what it means.

“I think Sufism is a very mystical legacy,
a different name given to the same truth which has been talked about abundantly in our
country and across the world by various seers. “
It is not a label, commodity or a genre but has most to do with love, and blissful living. And I do not think love has any one particular language! Preet ki latt mohe aisi lagi, ho gayi mein deewani, gayo bajayo apne piya sangh, meh to jayoon wari wari. Here it is described as latt, not like smoking or something but to dwell in an innocent environment of surrender.

• SC: WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

• KK: The whole life in itself is one big inspiration. Nature is inspiring, it shares so much with us, everyday. And even if we see our own body, it is full of wonders; heart is beating on its own, sharir mein koi jadhugaar jaan phukta ja raha hai and so much more. When I look around, I wonder there are limitless colours, every face is different from the other. Those who have derived words and languages have limited the awe. They say there are seven colours, ten directions, seven skies but I feel prabhu tere to rang he anant hai, he is limitless. The journey we take is full of wonders, concealing various secrets and experiences. As they open up the revelation becomes our inspiration.

• SC: HOW ABOUT ONE DAY YOU GET UP AND PEOPLE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE YOU. THEY TOTALLY FORGET THAT THERE IS KAILASH KHER- THE SINGING SENSATION, WHAT WILL BE YOUR REACTION THEN?

• KK: Honestly speaking, it will not affect me that people fail to recognize me or my singing. I know that I am born to sing. I will continue to sing because this is my foremost passion. I think I have gone through lot of challenges, hardships in life and then I have seen the best part of life too. Seeing both the sides, I think now it does not affect me. Singing connects me to everybody so I am sure that once I start to sing, there will be again heart to heart connect. And that is more important.

• SC: SO WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP?

• KK: Well, I do not plan ahead, just go with the flow. I want to be part of this journey, enjoying every moment of it. People ask me aap apne aap ko kahan dekhna chahte hain? They mean in my career. So I jokingly tell them, mein bus apne aap ko dharati per dekhna chahata hoon, data bus space mein matt basana. I want to do good music. As far as there is song on my lips and breath in my chest I want to savor it.

• SC: ANY MESSAGE OR SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE READERS?

• KK: My only message is no message. Already there are so many messages floating around. Just enjoy the journey called life; never drift away from humane attributes and thank god for all the blessings.

In 1993, when Sanjeev Kapoor started his first cookery show, ‘Khana Khazana’ nobody would have ever imagined that he would soon become a household name, not just in India but worldwide. Even after fourteen years, he still remains everyone’s favorite celebrity chef. Author of numerous best selling Cook books, winner of several Culinary Awards, Sanjeev Kapoor has also established up-market restaurants in the country and abroad. There is more to the ‘Master Chef’s’ life than just the ‘delicious food’.

• SC: ‘The Yellow Chilli’, the name of your restaurant chain, is quite an unusual name. How did you get the name?

• Sanjeev Kapoor: At times you need no logic to do what you want and this is what applies here as well. I belong to Uttar Pradesh and this name has been derived from my favorite street food in Merrut-Matre Ki Chaatt. They use a distinctively flavored chilly that is yellow in color and I simply savor its taste. I guess that’s a good enough reason.

• SC: What’s the secret to your never-ending energy?

• SK: I think that positive energy is more important than just energy. If you truly enjoy whatever you do then the strength to continue further and persevere comes from within.

• SC: Qualities to be a good chef/cook…

• SK: Being a chef could be very challenging. If you love experimenting with your culinary skills and dare to be different then it is the right thing for you. Apart from the right aptitude, one needs to have the commitment, passion and loyalty. The aspirant should have the ability to take criticism in his/her stride.

• SC: Do you share a special relation with the almighty? How do you connect with him?

• SK: Every individual shares a special bond with the almighty and even I do the same. I connect with him by giving my cent percent in whatever I do and I strongly believe in being a nice human being as a whole. Cooking is meditation for me.

• SC: Are you very choosy while endorsing any products or services?

• SK: I have just done seven commercials in 13 years. It’s not that I wasn’t offered any, but just because of the reason that I only believe in endorsing things that are genuinely good for the people.

• SC: Lot of work can be taxing at times. What do you do to unwind and de-stress yourself?

• SK: To be a winner you need to work like a horse not like a donkey. And if you enjoy your work, it can never be taxing. Moreover my profession at times demands a lot of traveling and that really rejuvenates me.

• SC: Your dream…

• SK: I really want to make Indian food the most popular cuisine worldwide and the most respected food in India when it comes to eating out.

• SC: Food for thought…

• SK: Whenever you are eating, start focusing on what is good rather than cribbing about what is not good and then talk about the goodness in that food. It takes a lot of effort even to prepare a single dish. Always relish the food you eat, provided that you are eating healthy.

The most celebrated chef of India shares few of his amazing recipes with the readers of Soul Curry. Try out the dishes yourself and trust us you’ll really like them all!

Simply Delicious- Lemon Rice

Method

1. Soak rice in four to five cups of water for about thirty minutes. Drain and then cook in four cups of boiling salted water until almost done. Drain and keep aside.
2. Heat ghee in a shallow pan or a kadai. Add asafoetida. Add red chillies, dhuli urad dal, chana dal and fenugreek seeds. Cook till dals change colour to light brown.
3. Add peanuts and mustard seeds. As mustard seeds crackle, add curry leaves and turmeric powder. Stir-fry for half a minute. Add cooked rice, salt and lemon juice. Mix well, cover and cook on low heat for about five minutes.
4. Garnish with coconut and serve hot.

Chef’s tip: You can use either roasted or fried peanuts in this recipe.

Spicy Goodness- Maharashtrian Kadhi

Method

1. Combine besan and yogurt thoroughly in a deep pan. Add two cups of water, salt to taste and turmeric powder. Cook on low heat stirring continuously.
2. Heat oil, add mustard seeds. When they crackle add ginger paste, garlic paste, green chillies and curry leaves. Cook for a minute and then add to kadhi.
3. Stir continuously on low heat until kadhi is slightly thick.
4. Adjust salt and serve hot with steamed rice.

Light n Refreshing- Curd Rice

Method

1. Wash and soak rice in three cups of water for fifteen minutes. Drain and cook the rice in three cups of water till just done.
2. Cool the rice then add curds and salt and mix well. Keep aside in a bowl.
3. In a pan heat some oil, add mustard seeds. Once they crackle add asafoetida and curry leaves. Add green chilies and ginger and sauté for minute. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.
4. Add the seasoning to the rice and curd mixture. Mix well and serve.

Yummy Mango Delight- Kutchi Mango Phajeta

Method

1. Take besan in a bowl, add turmeric powder, salt and mango pulp. Mix well and add buttermilk, stirring constantly.
2. Heat oil in a pan. Add asafoetida, cumin seeds, curry leaves, green chillies and ginger.
3. When they begin to change colour, add besan mixture. Mix well adding sufficient water to get a thin consistency.
4. Add jaggery and bring it to a boil.
5. Add coriander leaves and continue to cook for three to four minutes.
6. Serve hot.

Scrumptious Wadas- Baked Moong Sprout Wadas

Method

1. Mix moong dal and urad dal. Clean, wash and soak in three cups of water for two hours. Drain and set aside.
2. Grind the soaked dals along with blanched sprouts, green chillies and half of the ginger to a coarse thick paste using very little water.
3. Transfer into a large bowl. Mix well and set aside to ferment for six to eight hours.
4. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala and baking powder. Mix well. Stir in remaining chopped ginger.
5. Grease a Microwave plate. Place spoonfuls of wada mixture on the plate.
6. Cook on Microwave HIGH (100 %) for one and a half to two minutes.
7. To serve: Cover wadas with salted yogurt and drizzle with coriander chutney and sweet tamarind chutney. Garnish with coriander leaves.

*Sanjeev’s Kitchen Courtesy: The Yellow Chilli